Just a heads up, this chapter is all about Ace and Smoker.
Six years later...
"Hina must admit, Smoker's done a good job with raising Ace-kun." The pink haired woman spoke, observing the sixteen year old a little ways in front of them on the street, who just so happened to be assisting a young woman after she had the misfortune of dropping the shopping bags she was carrying. "He's turned into such a nice boy." Hina added.
"That's what you think." Smoker retorted, ever so negative on said nice boy, as he leaned back in the chair he sat in, arms crossed over his chest. "He's still a demon." Smoker stated, inhaling deeply on his cigars.
Hina remained quiet for a moment, taking a sip of the coffee she had ordered from the cafe they were at. "Hina still finds that unbelievable." The woman replied calmly, before her eyes went back to Ace, who was still engaged in some sort of conversation with the young woman he had helped. "Ace seems to be a charmer too..." She paused.
"Oh please." Smoker scoffed.
"That woman gave him a paper... Hina thinks it's another phone number." She smiled, ever so observant.
Smoker shifted somewhat in his seat, easily giving away how the words made him uncomfortable. "Well, what do you expect? The kid goes around shirtless most of the time, purposely showing off that body of his... He's bound to get some sort of attention." Smoker said through gritted teeth. Although, it wasn't his place to say because unless he HAD to, he didn't particularly like wearing a shirt and covering up his best assets either. Still though, it aggravated him for some idiotic reason that Ace got so much attention from all these girls at how he flaunted his body and Smoker knew it wasn't some damn sort of parental protectiveness. You only feel that for your daughter, right? A boy can handle himself.
Hina glanced to him, noticing his uneasiness and his tone of voice that was anything but pleased. "Hina thinks Ace has a superb body... Most sixteen year olds don't have abs." She said, with a smile. "Does Smoker not think he's well built?" She questioned, as if trying to weasel something out of the man which in all honesty, she was - Smoker knew this.
"What are you implying, Hina?" Smoker growled, becoming defensive suddenly, even though that wouldn't help his case.
"Nothing..." Hina trailed off, taking another sip of her coffee. "Just, Smoker ought to keep a close eye on him... With a young boy like Ace, females won't be the only ones Smoker must worry about." She informed and Smoker got the hint clear as day, and in an instant, his fist slammed against the table, startling those around them.
"If they know what's good for them, they will not touch him." He practically snarled and all Hina did was smirk at his reaction, clearly just baiting him.
"Hina sees why Smoker never considered Ace like a son now." She started coming to her conclusion of it all.
Smoker blinked a few times, before relaxing back in his chair again. "I don't know what the hell you're talking about."
"Smoker knew there was something different... Something deeper that would develop." Hina continued, her thoughts already collected. "Hina still thinks Ace is good for Smoker." She smiled once more.
"You've lost your damn mind if you even think that I have a thing for that brat." Smoker merely replied, although his irritation was proof enough that she was right.
Before Hina could get another word out, Ace returned back to them. "Hey, old man, guess what!" Ace said when he approached, yet he didn't give Smoker time to guess before he held out the piece of paper in front of him. "That woman just gave me her phone number... That makes the fifth one today... I'm pretty popular, aren't I?" The teenager chuckled.
Smoker growled, snatching the paper from him and making quick work of ripping it up. "She looked too old for you." He lied.
Ace watched almost in horror as the number was ripped up and carelessly tossed to the ground. "T-that's the fifth one you tore up too..." He muttered, before glaring toward the older man. "What the hell's your deal?! She was too old, the others were either too stuck up, too flirty, too peppy or too high class..."
"I call 'em like I see 'em." Smoker answered without much regard to the question. "A boy like you doesn't wanna just settle for anything. That's a good way to get yourself heartbroken." He further explained.
"Are you saying I'm too good for the girls I've met?" Ace asked, suddenly seeming more calmer at whatever boost of ego he acquired from that.
"Tsk.." Smoker fought off the blush that threatened to come forth. Maybe he did, and maybe Hina was right. Maybe a part of Smoker felt that Ace was his and it was his right to claim ownership over the boy completely, even his emotions - as twisted as that sounded but again that is something he would not willingly admit to. No, he'd find other ways around this than owning up to what he, himself felt. "Just don't go fucking your life up so quickly, is all."
Hina giggled. "Sure."
"Agh." Smoker pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance.
After a moment of considering the situation, Hina stood, deciding to make her leave. "Hina guesses she should finish her shopping for the day and return home."
"Yes, perhaps you should." Smoker replied, too fed up to care for the fact she was leaving. After all, if she was just going to run her mouth about none sense, it was best she did leave.
"Oh, Ace come here a moment, Hina has something she wants to tell you." She said, motioning for him to come toward her.
Ace raised an eyebrow out of curiosity but done so anyway, and Hina leaned down, whispering something to him that only he could hear, and it had him wide eyed in surprise within seconds, before he chuckled and asking her 'Is that so?'
Smoker had no idea what the hell the woman was up to now but he could guess it wasn't anything good with the way Ace was glancing at him through their little conversation.
Hina nodded to the boy's question before giving her goodbye's and began to walk off.
"What was that about?" Smoker asked.
"Oh, nothing." Ace grinned, taking his seat in front of Smoker. He remained silent for a few moments, his fingers idly tapping against the table as he thought of what to say next. "You know, if you're lonely Taisa-San, that Tashigi girl from school would be a good choice for you... I think she really likes you... She's always wanting to come over and talk to you." Ace said, fighting back a laugh.
"You too have lost your mind if you think I want to have any dealings with her. She's worse than you when it comes to the level of annoyance." Smoker replied, trying to pay the comment little mind.
"Well, better get use to her 'cause she's always saying she wants to join the police force." Ace smirked. "Wouldn't it be nice if the two of you worked together?"
"That's all I need." Smoker rolled his eyes. "You know, you need to stop hanging around Hina if all she's going to do is fill your head full of romantic garbage."
"Hina didn't say that!" Ace defended. "It's just, no man should be without the company of a lover of sorts... It's pathetic." He said, and then sighed because his case wasn't much different simply because Smoker wouldn't let it be. "And it's no reason for you to restrict me on dating and make my life miserable too..." He grumbled, crossing his arms over the table and resting his head against them.
"I'm not doing it to make you miserable, I do it so you don't get into a shitty situation. Trust me, I was sixteen once and I know what young men think, and how easy it is to screw your life up and how hard it is to regain control over-" Smoker paused in his rambling, when he so happened to notice Ace had fallen asleep - more than likely bored with his reasoning.
"Great." Smoker sighed.
Later that night...
Ace is sitting on the couch, as he is many of evenings he's back home. It's not like there's anything else to do - when he's not out with his friends. Smoker is usually sitting by him, if his job isn't keeping him away. Tonight that's not the case though. Smoker has made his place by Ace after a shower and usually Ace always has something to say, something to taunt him about but... Right now he doesn't. Right now, there's too much on his mind weighing him down - Hina's previous words to be exact.
"Smoker likes you." Ace has been debating that statement since they returned home and it's eating away at him as he glances off and on at Smoker. What the hell does that mean; Smoker likes him? Does it mean Smoker's just became accepting of him as a friend or, is it more? Ace has his suspicions that the latter is more the case. Still though, Smoker and him?! It's kind of unreal - not that Ace has had experience in relationships or something but... He can spot a fake one from a mile away - his knowledge being mainly from relationships of others in school, such as their star athlete Eustass Kid and head cheer leader Bonney. They fought, if not more than Ace and Smoker but claimed to 'love' one another... Yet the whole school knows Eustass has it bad for this loner kid Law. However, they didn't exactly go together either...
Ace sighed. Now that he thought about it... The probability of Smoker wanting him in such a way was very much real, and that's what puzzled him. Love and all that isn't suppose to be fighting, correct? Yet he and Smoker find something to bitch about every day - mainly Ace who starts it...
Debating that, perhaps Ace was just doing it for Smoker's attention. He's heard of that... Being cruel to those you like and no matter how childish it seemed, some people never out grew such behavior... Was it possible he liked Smoker too?
The teenager swallowed deeply, red quickly tinting his cheeks. No way! No freaking way! It couldn't be... Yet, why the hell was his heart skipping beats at the mere thought of it?
"Kid, are you alright?" All of a sudden Smoker's voice brought him back out of his thoughts for a moment and Ace shook his head, fighting off that stupid blush. How pathetic...
"Yeah, I'm fine... Totally and utterly fine... Why do you care enough to ask tonight?!" He retorted, defensively.
"Oh, not that I give a damn or anything but usually you're already passed out - using me as your pillow by now... Not to mention, you're a little flushed. You're not getting sick, are you?" The man questioned in return, sparing Ace merely another glance. "If you are, I'm not going to look after you."
Ace felt cornered suddenly. Smoker noticed, huh? "I'm not sick..." He grumbled, glaring down to the wooden floor as he bit into his bottom lip. Should he tell Smoker what troubled him? Should he ask if it was so and would Smoker even care?
"Okay."
"It's just..." Ace trailed off, scooting closer to Smoker. "I've been thinkin' about what Hina said today..." Fuck it. The worst Smoker could do was say no. He was going for it with no regrets.
"Yeah, what of it?" Smoker asked, attempting to move further down yet considering he was already on the end of the sofa, that wasn't happening.
"Well... She told me that you liked me... Is that true?" Ace asked, attention back on the man and he couldn't help but to stare Smoker up and down, his eyes taking in every line of muscle visible on the man's abdomen and chest, and Ace was suddenly cursing the fact Smoker didn't like to wear a shirt either.
Smoker's chuckle broke his stern concentration though. "You're not serious, are you?" Smoker questioned, not really getting it at first. Of course.
Ace huffed. Had it been anything else, Smoker wouldn't question it, he would've understood right away but feelings and emotions? Yeah, that was something he supposed the man was destined to always question. "Yeah. I'am... It makes sense, 'cause you won't let me date anyone and you tear up every number I get..." Ace paused, onyx eyes looking down again. He's never felt this uncertain and nervous before. He supposed he had trouble with this 'feelings' crap too.
Smoker sighed, no longer finding amusement in it all. "Hina's overly observant and needs to mind her own business."
"Then, it's true?!" Ace exclaimed, clear relief lying in his tone. When he caught onto that, he blushed all the more. "I mean..." To be honest, he wasn't sure what the hell he meant.
"I didn't admit to it!" Smoker growled.
"You didn't deny it either!" Ace exclaimed.
Ace had him there. How pathetic of Smoker, to succumb to such a thing as this and for a boy like Ace. He's pretty certain he's the crazy one now. "Well, even if it was so... You're just a kid." Smoker replied.
"I'am not. I'm sixteen!" Ace snapped. "I'm not that little boy you picked up off the street anymore." He defended. No way, no way was he letting this go now that he got an honest confession out of Smoker. He'd be damned before he let it go for the mere fact of his age.
"You're not grown yet either!" Smoker shouted, startling Ace for once.
"Funny... 'Cause the way I see it, I'am... After all, I've been taking care of myself these past 6 years... All you've done is bought me stuff, and cooked breakfast and dinner for me. Everything else? I was on my own." Ace wasn't purposely trying to make Smoker feel guilty, more so just defending himself. He didn't see that as fair, considering it's not like Smoker did much for him in his eyes.
"Who's the one that got the job to keep food for you, to buy what you needed and to keep this roof over your head? That's plenty care enough." Smoker stated, determined as ever not to give in this time. The way he saw it, Ace has gotten away with enough.
"A job that keeps you away most of the time! And it's not like you just took it for me... In fact, you probably took it to get away from me..." Ace paused, considering it for a moment. Did he honestly want Smoker's attention? He guessed he did because the only time he's had with the man, he was always trying to get Smoker's focus on him - no matter what means it took. Well, from the looks of things now, that wasn't important anymore. "Maybe Hina was wrong... Because I do not think you're capable of feeling anything." For the first time, Ace felt tears threatening to spill - merely out of his frustration of course. But as if he'd let Smoker see.
"Never mind it, forget I even said something." Ace added, standing.
"Where are you going?" Smoker question, resisting the urge to reach out and grab him. Wait, did he actually want him to stay? Well, yes but, he also wanted to get this straightened out. He wasn't the type of man to leave a problem hanging without a solution.
"To bed." Ace answered, daring not to look at him as he walked off to their room. Tonight's sure to be awkward... And he was suddenly wishing they were somewhere with two bedrooms. He really didn't long to sleep by Smoker tonight...
Smoker sighed. This wasn't his fault, but yet why was he the one feeling bad as Ace walked away? This was just absurd. The situation has gotten completely out of hand - all thanks to Hina.
"Portgas, wait." Before he knew it, Smoker was up too and making his way toward the bedroom as well. "Listen, you're just sixteen... I'm thirty. Think of the trouble I could get in." He reasoned, as he took his seat beside Ace who now sat at the edge of the bed.
Ace didn't look at him still, finding that reasoning a very wretched one. "I could keep it a secret for two years..." He grumbled.
"In case you haven't noticed, you like to run your mouth, a lot." Smoker retorted.
"Humph... Not this... Because it would be something important to me. Something worth keeping." Ace stated, frowning, his eyes boring into the floor.
"How can you say that, when you didn't even consider this until Hina told you?" Smoker questioned, trying to be a bit more understandable of the position they were put in. He supposed shouting and arguing would get them nowhere.
"That's what I don't know... I guess, I've always had this need for your attention..." Ace trailed off, looking up to the man finally.
"That explains a lot..."
"Yeah... I guess I've had this thing for you for sometime too... I mean, it took tonight for me to realize it... Want it... But," Ace paused as he leaned in closer to Smoker and before he could even think it through, his lips connected to those of the older man's.
For once, Smoker didn't have those damn cigars but the taste still lingered. Ace didn't care though, because he was finally kissing Smoker! Yet, he had to pull away eventually, to catch his breath and that was a real shame.
"But, there's nothing left to say is there? Aside from the fact I've let you get away with too much shit Portgas." Smoker finished the boy's previous sentence and Ace could tell there was a smirk hidden in that tone, yet Smoker was still repressing it.
"I suppose that's true or... Whatever there's left to say, we can say it in the morning." Ace grinned, nuzzling his face against Smoker's, before planting another kiss to the man's lips.
Smoker pushed him away somewhat. "You're a God awful kisser."
"Teach me to be better." Ace dared, giving a smirk of his own. It's not like he had much experience - just with Luffy but silly childish affection would be no comparison to what Smoker could give.
"You sure you really want to go down this road with me? There's no turning back if you do." Smoker warned, giving him one last chance to back out if he wished.
Ace released a soft breath. "I'm positive."
And with that, the rest was history.
Let me know what you think, yeah? :3 I know, I left things a little unfinished in the last part but honestly, I tried over and over to write a sex scene between these two but I couldn't make it happen. However, bits and pieces will be explained in the next chapter. Soo... Yeah. :P It's already underway.
