It had almost been a month since the Whitebeard pirates had decided to stay in Logue Town unexpectedly and for what purpose the marines still haven't figured out, Smoker was walking down the streets with Tashigi and the rest of the marines thinking about the incident about the fire fist pirate Portgas D. Ace.
Memories of what happened in his office flashed back into his brain: the minute he opened his mouth to speak, the moment his mouth was taken by a cheeky little brat. "Why did he do that?" thought Smoker as he reached into his left jacket for his two cigars, lighting them with his lighter.
He was shaken out of his thoughts when one of his subordinates abruptly stepped in front of him asking for the orders to be carried out to re-capture the Whitebeard pirates. "Huh? Err...gather the other members and surround this to- "began Smoker but was cut off by another marine.
"You've already ordered us to do that Taisa, we're looking out for them right now"
"Oh, I see...then... carry on with the lookout and report back to me about any suspicious movements!" ordered Smoker looking stern and serious again. "Yes sir!" chorused the marines and began to split into groups to have a higher opportunity of capturing those sneaky pirates.
"What's wrong Smoker Taisa? You're usually so composed and relaxed but today you look like you're deep in thought. Did something happen?" asked Tashigi looking a little worried.
"No...Nothing. Just thinking about something" said Smoker rubbing the back of his head trying to think of a good excuse to stop his subordinate from asking any further, there's no way he can tell her that a Whitebeard crew member came into his office and kissed him out of the blue.
"Just make sure everywhere is being watched by the marines and report anything suspicious right away"
"Yes sir!" saluted Tashigi and went to supervise her group of men to another area.
"Damn you Portgas! If I ever see you again I'll personally cuff you and send you to the gallows!" Smoker mumbled and took a long drag on his cigar.
"Would you really do that Taisa?" said a voice to his right
"Of course I would. Why do you think I...?" began Smoker but stopped abruptly and turned his head to the voice he just heard.
Portgas D. Ace walked side by side next to the captain with a smug expression on his face, untroubled to the fact that there are marines anywhere and he could be caught any minute. The captain made a grab for the younger's arm but Ace saw it coming, he dodged the hand and spun around, pulling on the captain's jacket forward just enough to place a quick kiss on Smoker's cheek before he was gone.
Smoker's face was flushed; his body still while he tried to find out where Ace could have hidden considering Logue Town wasn't such a big city. He thought about the place that he had first saw the fire user and gave it a shot.
He walked down the streets having a quick look around for any pirate crew members lurking around. His eyes caught a few gazes from a few ladies but shrugged it off focusing more on the criminals, other than that, there was nothing particular happening.
When Smoker reached the bar hidden along the alleyway he saw a sign stuck to the door saying that the owner had gone for a vacation and won't be back within a month. "Shit! Just when I thought I found a clue, where the hell can that brat hide?"
He sighed and turned back to begin his search elsewhere when a small shadowy figure reflected off the floor and Smoker knew he wasn't alone. He looked up to see Ace sitting on the rooftop grinning. "You have sharp eyes Taisa; I didn't think I would be spotted that easily"
Ace jumped down from the roof in front of Smoker and wrapped his arms around his waist, leaning his head on the broad muscular chest and inhaling the tobacco scent coming from the marine.
"What do you think you're doing you little brat?" Smoker frowned knowing he can pry the kid off of him if he wanted to.
"Giving you a hug" replied Ace if it wasn't obvious enough and tightened his grip around Smoker's waist making him scowl
Finally Smoker had had enough and pulled the arms away and pinned the pirate up against the wall, his face showing a displeased expression.
Ace thought that Smoker was going to take the initiative to do something fun but the Taisa just stared at him, deep in thought as if the fire inside Smoker had disappeared so Ace decided to make the first move. He placed a gentle kiss onto the elder's lips; the sudden contact with a pair of unfamiliar lips brought the smoke man back to reality and he pulled away from the kiss.
"Why do you keep doing that?" asked Smoker wiping his mouth with the back of his hand shooting a death glare at the young pirate.
"Because I love you" said Ace without any hesitation in his voice.
Smoker stared at the boy in the eyes raising an eyebrow. "Wha...what did you say?"
"I said, because I love you"
Smoker couldn't believe his ears. "The notorious Whitebeard pirates, second in command, in love with a marine? You've got to be kidding me" thought Smoker and straightened back to his original posture.
"Quit messing around kid and get serious" shaking Ace's shoulders hoping he wouldn't spout any of that nonsense again. "When are you going to learn to grow up?"
"I'm not messing around, I really do love you" this time Ace blushed a little and looked away from the captain hoping he wouldn't need to say it the fourth time. Smoker watched as the blush spread across Ace's face and let go of the boy's shoulders.
The captain face palms himself and sighs. He turned his back preparing to head back to the Marine Headquarters. "I'll pretend that I didn't hear any of that. Hurry up and get back to your crew, if Whitebeard heard you saying those things aloud to a marine he won't be very happy. I'll also pretend that I didn't see you today so be grateful". The marine's voice sounded tired after hearing Ace's sudden outburst. He needed to clear his head. Now.
Ace pouted little when Smoker said he didn't believe him and chose to ignore his confession but he couldn't blame him. A pirate falling for a marine is unheard of. He walked in front of the marine and gave Smoker a final kiss before he leapt onto the roof and disappeared.
Smoker headed back to the Marine Headquarters and sat down with a cup of coffee. He began to skim through a pile of wanted posters that had been printed out this afternoon when he came across a face with freckles. "To think that a brat like him would make such a confession..." Smoker murmured silently to himself he definitely didn't see that one coming.
Sure, the boy liked to joke around a lot and was never serious but today it felt like he saw a different Ace. It had only been nearly a month ever since Ace kissed him out of the blue and today, not only was he being kissed again he was also told that the boy liked him a lot.
Smoker let out a sigh and slowly sipped his coffee and went back to search through the wanted posters hoping to set his mind back to focus. Three minutes later a knock at his door made him stop his tactical thinking and looked up to see a low ranking officer standing in the door way with a salute. "Smoker Taisa! I have a report"
"What is it?" asked Smoker. He hoped the report didn't have anything to do with Portgas D. Ace right now because he certainly didn't want to face the fire user right now.
"It's a report about the Blackbeard pirates' captain. Apparently he was recognised by a few villagers today and we have already begun a full search on this man. This pirate didn't show any signs of bad activity so we think that he wouldn't move until he set himself on a target."
"Is that all?" asked Smoker taking in all the information he just received. The Blackbeard pirates' capturing priority is not far behind from the Whitebeard pirates and the Straw hat pirates. His brain was beginning to think up of a better plan than just doing a full search for that man. "No it isn't, we have a few reports about the Whitebeard pirates' Portgas D. Ace with the captain Blackbeard. Wherever Blackbeard goes, Portgas D. Ace would always be on the list as well"
This made Smoker pause. "Why would that brat have anything to do with Blackbeard? Both of them are on different sides aren't they? They're both pirates so why... It's as if that brat is searching for Blackbeard". Smoker nodded to the officer telling him that he got the message and sat down in his chair deep in thought.
All of a sudden, Smoker came up with a brilliant plan. It was a plan that may be a bit dangerous and risky but he didn't care, all he cared about was capturing the Blackbeard pirates. Consequences come later. His plan should be flawless if it went well, and his plan involves a certain pirate with freckles.
To be continued...
Okay, this is the third chapter of my story finally complete! I can't wait to think up of another chapter for this pairing already! I have no idea how long this story is going to turn out so it might take a while for me to completely finish this pairing. I hope you don't mind =D
