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Tell it to the Marines Bonuses
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Chapter 35 - Law's POV
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It really has been too long since he last got laid and by god he should not be doing this.
Ris is the first pirate (she may claim otherwise, but he recognised that look in her eyes, she's a pirate through and through) that he's encountered since his consumption of the One Ope Fruit, that comes across as dangerous.
She's not at Doflamingo level, nowhere near, but she is unquestionably a step above the raggle that populate North Blue.
That alone is a weighty reason as to why this is a bad idea, the source of those creepy eyes a second validation.
Law's never been one to make the safe play though, that's obvious. Because what is life without a little risk anyway?
"I'm going to check how it responds to muscle movement," Law whispers, allowing the fingers of his right hand to trail down the smooth expanse of a tanned leg.
There might not be much bust on this woman, but Law'd be hard pressed to find another woman with legs as shapely as what Ris boasts.
Encircling her ankle within his grasp, Law slowly manipulates the limb, only giving the wound a second or so of thought. It is all healing fine regardless, he knows his own work well.
"Tense your leg."
The muscles twitch beneath his gaze and Law has a moment to fantasise about how those powerful legs would feel wrapped around his waist, imploring him to stay close, to keep bringing-
Ris laughing.
"Ris-ya?"
Because as he's rubbing the flat of one thumb into the sensitive flesh of her ankle, as the other hand strokes at the curve of her thigh, laughter is the last thing he's expecting to hear.
"Just thinking what my father would say about the current situation."
All motion ceases as those yellow eyes flash before his mind.
She doesn't seem like the kind of woman to hide behind her father though, and she never told him to stop.
Almost on autopilot, he offers up his conclusions, diverting her attention to the increased healing rate she possesses, only as a distraction it works a little too well.
God fucking damn it.
It's not like he'll even have time to hunt down a temporary partner on Barmork either, which means he's stuck with this woman for now, whom he's unsure of; is she teasing, is she rejecting? Is there something he's missing here?
Irritation sweeps through his body and Law needs to get out of this room now before he ends up spitting out a few choice words that he'll potentially regret later.
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Chapter 42 - Ace's POV
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Not quite aware he's doing it, Ace presses a palm to his cheek, still staring ahead at the spot Riskua has just vacated, disappearing over the side of the Moby as if she hasn't just done, just done-
Ace can't even drum up the will to be annoyed at Sabo's smug face, his wiggling blond brows and his just generally unpleasant presence. He's still rather in shock.
She'd kissed him.
They had kissed as kids like this; Riskua and Luffy used to dog-pile him or Sabo or both of them if the opportunity was there, lathering them in quick pecking kisses. Though Luffy had tended to lean more towards slobbering than was appreciated.
It was something they'd long since grown out of though, something that Luffy has stopped doing as he came to decide hugs were better for more physical contact and the sheer amount of emotion he could pour into wrapping someone up in his rubbery limbs.
Riskua, Riskua had just kind of stopped it around the time he'd got his crush on Harvel actually. Incidentally around the time Sabo had probably kissed her, come to think of it.
Sure the three of them had blown him kisses as he'd set off out to sea, but blowing kisses and then, and then what just happened are two very different things.
Sabo salutes him, disappearing over the edge of the railings and Ace can barely get one foot to move before the other, can barely get his ass in gear to really see them off.
Glancing down shows Riskua sat attentively at the front of Sabo's rip-off-Striker, Slice or whatever it's called. She doesn't glance up at him, but Ace understands that.
When he set off he'd been torn on looking back or looking forwards too. He doesn't blame her.
Has she got more affectionate in her time as a Revolutionary? Is he missing something here?
Ace doesn't think he is, but then again, he's long since acknowledged the fact he's not exactly knowledgeable in social niceties. A result of his upbringing.
He might have grown strong as a child running wild in the jungle, but there's been many jokes and references he'd not understood being passed around among his crew and then the Whitebeards.
Hell, he still gets tripped up every now and then.
"Oh-ho. Oh-hohohohoho!"
One bulky arm swings down on his shoulders, Thatch leaning into his side and he's wearing a grin wider than what Ace thinks a non-rubber human should be capable of.
"Just best friends are we? The blush on those freckled cheeks tells me differently!"
"Shut the fuck up!" Ace hisses, jabbing his elbow into Thatch's side and shooting a panicked glance towards where Sabo and Riskua have taken off on the knock-off-Striker. Sabo's such a copy-cat.
They've both turned back to wave, but they're unquestionably out of earshot.
"Ace has a crush!"
Burying his fist deep in Thatch's midriff, Ace straightens up with a scowl, valiantly ignoring the cat-calls of all his brothers. Each and every last one of them can go and rot in hell, the dirty betrayers. Bastards.
"Well, that was interesting," Haruta snickers, slinking up to stand beside the wheezing Thatch, kicking the chef's feet out from under him and then sitting himself down upon the ginger haired man's crumpled form. "But really, Hawk-Eyes' daughter? You're a braver man than I, brother."
They don't have a fucking clue, Ace realises.
They think Riskua is Mihawk's kid.
Of course she does use his last name, but that means diddly-squat in the long run. Ace uses his mother's name, though not for the simple fact his father has no last name.
That's not something he wants to think on right now though, not when he's just- when Riskua has just kissed him.
What does it mean, why did she do it? Was it just an affectionate gesture?
"Ace and Riskua, up in the nest," Haruta chimes, a recovered Thatch grinning like a mad-man as Ace drives his foot into the Twelfth Division Commander's face.
"F-U-C- Ow! Ace! That hurt!"
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Chapter 44 - Ace's POV
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"So, why haven't you made a move on Red yet?"
Ace doesn't twist around to give Thatch the deadpan stare, even though he'd like to. He's a bumbling oaf sometimes, an idiot who's purposely ignoring what he already knows in order to get Ace to talk to him.
Very, very few members of the crew have a significant other. It's just too dangerous, being attaches to someone with such a high bounty, to someone from such a high profile crew. Getting hunted down because of who you're romancing; that'd suck.
Ace'd know the consequences of it better than most.
It's even worse for him though.
Because if by some miracle there was someone out there who'd want him in that way (someone who'd know him and still shower him with love, who'd accept him for all that he is; a hot-head, an idiot, the Second Division Commander, and the son of a demon) they'd end up with a target on the back. Never mind what'd happen if the world ever found out just what tainted blood runs through his veins.
Ace could never do that to someone, could never look to put them in a position so similar to his own.
So yeah, he likes Riskua.
But he's sure as hell not going to do anything about it.
His affections'll either pass or remain, but regardless of what happens, he doesn't think he could try really chasing something. Not with what it could do to Riskua.
It's not even like she notices anyway, he can suffer in silence; it's what he's been doing his whole life, after all.
"Ace?"
"It's just a crush-" (lie) "-it'll pass," Ace insists, finally drumming up the mask to turn around and grin at Thatch. "Don't wanna fuck up things with my best friend, after all."
"Nah, just fuck her up instead!" Thatch cackles, skipping off before Ace can even think about throwing some fire after him.
Despite his mood, his lips twitch up slightly at the edges after Thatch's comment and Ace forces himself to his feet.
He's promised to live a life with no regrets.
And fucking hell, would he regret bringing the World Government down on Riskua's head any harder than it'll already attempt.
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Two snippets and I think that's it for today
Enjoy,
Tsume
xxx