"Of course the next island is a fricken winter one!" Smoker shouted as he bundled another wool blanket around the shivering boy next to him. "Couldn`t be a nice summer one. Nope. It had to be a winter one." The poor marine went on and on rambling about how the log pose changed course last minute, derailing them from their summer island destination. Minutes later he was calm enough and spoke.
"Ace you stay put here with Tashigi and the other officers. I`ll go check to see if theres a town or better yet a hotel." The freckled boy nodded and continued to shake, the temperature was nearing below zero and he refused to use his logia powers in fear he would hurt the baby.
"Ace-kun." Tashigi was holding onto his shoulder with a look of concern plastered on her face, once she noticed that the boy acknowledged her she relaxed and smiled. "We should get back onto the ship." She took his hand into hers and began to walk him back to the ship. "It`ll be warmer in the kitchen when you get a mug of hot chocolate." Ace nodded to the girls statement and stopped looking back, disappointed that Smoker wasn`t back already even though he just left. After turned back around he began to waddle back to the ship with the swordswoman by his side.
Once inside the kitchen the ships chef began to work on a mug of coca and at the request of Tashigi some for the other officers as well. Watching the chef work made Ace miss his family a bit, Thatch especially since he was one of the chefs for Whitebeards crew. The fire logia must have dosed off because once again the woman was shaking his shoulder, a bit violent at that too. He nodded once then twice, first to Tashigi the second to him.
Over these four or so months he and the crew have begun to get along quite well. They joked together, shared meals together and laughed together, but best of all they told stories together. Stories full of each individuals journey and life to where they were today.
The cook laughed and told Tashigi that the boy was just a bit frozen up there, tapping his temple when he said up there. With care and ease he placed the steaming mug in front of Ace who smiled and thanked him.
Zach, the chef, picked up a tray full of mugs and asked Tashigi for help with the second, which was also cluttered with mugs. After repeatedly telling Ace to sit and stay, the duo left balancing trays with the steaming liquid.
Ace blew on his mug and then quickly drank it all down in one go, letting the warmth settle and make his stomach feel like a volcanos lava. He stood up and walked to the sink setting the mug inside, he opted cleaning it but decided against it knowing it would lead to a scolding from Zach later.
A scream ripped through the air and a rash could be heard. Shouting and yelling startled Ace so much the baby began to stir and kick. Unconsciously the boy began to rub soothing circles over his swollen abdomen.
The kitchen door slammed open and in stormed two men, evil grins plastered on his face. Ace was pretty sure his 550,000,000 beri bounty would let some people live the nice life for a while or forever. Fear began to take over the logia as they approached closer. He crouched low on the floor his hands wrapping around abdomen protectively. He grimaced when he heard the click of the pistols, all they had to do was pull the trigger and both boy and kid would be dead.
BANG
One of the men fell over to the floor, hit in the head with the serving tray. Zach stood there panting as blood began to run like a river down his head. He lifted the tray up and prepared to swing but the other man had already turned around and pointed the gun at the chef, with quick work he pulled the trigger. The bullet hit the cook and he stuttered, blood pooling at the shot wound around his heart and out of his mouth. Horror struck Ace at the sight of the dead cook, horror at the fact he was dead and that he saved him.
The intruders laughter is what brought the freckled boy back. With no second thought Ace grabbed a chefs knife from the knife rack which was in close reach and walked to the man, stabbing him once in close range. Over and over and over Ace had brought the knife down on the man. When the man fell to the floor like a limp rag doll Ace sighed and dropped the knife.
The fire boy adjusted his hat before walking to the far side of the room and catching a couple breaths, stress was like a poison and could induce Ace into labor. Once calm the boy took a deep breath and walked outside onto the deck.
The main deck looked liked a battlefield, bodies littered the deck whether many were dead or alive remains a mystery. That's when Ace saw her, leaning against the main mast was Tashigi sword in hand. She stood up and marched over to Ace double time. She called out two other names and sheathed her sword, quickly two navy soldiers appeared at her call, one Ace recognized as the ships doctor.
His name was Michael (Mike) and he was quite young only twenty-six. He was more than thrilled when Ace told him about his case of illness. He told him he would help him throughout the whole thing. That's what started the semi close bond between him and Michael or as close as Smoker would allow. Michael was essential to having this baby, Ace was still debating between C-section or the good old fashioned way, either way Michael would be the one to bring his baby into the world no one else.
The other was an old forty-five year old man, lost both his wife and son in a war against pirates on some forgotten island long gone and sunk into the seas. If recalled correctly his name was Finn and he had a crude personality, it wasn`t necessarily lucky to be stuck with him.
"Lets get Ace to the closest hotel, before more of those men come back and attempt to hurt us. Anything you need?" Tashigi spoke her voice strict and stern. Ace thought about it quickly and nodded.
"My backpack, it's the green one under Smokers bed." He paused debating whether or not to say it, judging by the look the three were giving him it looked like he was going to have to say it. "Its got the baby stuff in it and since I`m close I don`t want to be without it really." He paused for a moment as his hormones took over and began to cry a bit. "Sorry. Its not that important. Lets go." Ace began to walk away as a hand stopped him, it was Tashigis.
"I`ll get the bag Ace and meet you off the ship. Just hurry and get him to the shore Mike." Michael nodded and took Aces hand, guiding him the the edge of the ship. After disembarking the ship as fast the three could they set foot in the snow that had piled up a bit, Ace and the others began the walk to a close bunch of trees. They hid behind it until Tashigi walked past bag around her shoulder.
"Tashigi!" Michael caught her attention quick and she turned and ran towards them. She took initiative and began to bark orders. "Lets move, I`ll call Smoker when we get to the hotel." We nodded and began our walk hoping there was a hotel.
About twenty minutes later we stood in front of a hotel, though it didn`t look like a hotel more like a three story house. Shaking from the cold we entered and rang the little bell alerting the owner of our presence. He came out shortly and smiled.
Two suites on the third floor maybe around 500 beri later and the four, eventually five were set and ready. According to the man behind the desk each room had a bath, living room, kitchen, and two beds. The price was small too and luckily the man didn`t seem to recognize Ace.
Tashigi stopped in front of one of the rooms and spoke in a hushed tone for only us four to hear. "We all stay in one room till Smoker comes and protect Ace. Once he does arrive I'll go into the other room with Mike and Finn." We nodded and inserted the key to the room and entered Tashigi went first and checked everything to make sure it was clear and once okay she ushered everyone in the room and we all moved to the living room to sit. Despite being inside it was still cold as heck. Ace stood up to help draw curtains and lock the doors but Michael sat him back down.
"Lets let her handle this, don`t worry." Ace nodded and watched as Tashigi left and reentered blankets in hand. She gave one to each of us and then spoke. "I`m going to go use the front desks den den mushi I`ll be back as soon as possible." We all nodded and then she left again.
Left a wanted pirate with two marines in a hotel suite while said pirate was nearing eight months pregnant, what a situation. Mike smiled and pulled out a deck of cards. The loiga user wanted to play some poker or black jack, but nope Mike claims that it could be stressful and so they played goldfish for the remainder of the time. When Tashigi returns shes not smiling in fact its almost as if shes crying. We wait for her to speak instead of barreling her with questions.
In a low tone she spoke, "Smokers been shot."