Author's note:
So far this arc has been great fun. Hopefully, that will continue. As always please review and let me know what you think.
They were all in the market searching for Luffy. Knowing him he would follow the smell of food. Though there was also a chance he was dead in the desert somewhere. Though with his luck Addy doubted it. More likely to find a lost civilization or something. Addy was also hoping to run into Parcheth but she was having no luck their either. If anyone could find the idiot she could. Meanwhile, Usopp and Chopper were being conned by every salesman and shopkeep they ran into. Currently being conned by a man selling fake golden apples. Luckily Nami put a stop to it. Punching them in the back of their heads.
"Honestly, now!" she exclaimed. What are you thinking?!"
"I wouldn't take him seriously if I were you," Zoro pointed out. Lifting the curtain showing his compatriot painting golden apples. Nami started dragging Usopp and Chopped away
"Hey, let go!" Usopp shouted. "I was just about to live 1000 years for only 1000 berries!"
"Quit wasting time and look for Luffy! We're done shopping, so we leave for the next town the minute we find him!"
Addy letting out a sigh. "Trust me. Living forever is not all it's cracked up to be." She looked around but there was no sign of their Captain.
"Where did Luffy run off to, anyway?" Zoro asked walking beside her. Addy's attention was now drawn to something else. How close Zoro's hand was. How easy it would be to hold as they walked through the market. Nami still yelling at the other two. She was so caught up in imaging her and Zoro actually dating that she didn't notice him stopping.
"What gives?" she asked until she saw what he was looking at. A member of the White Beard Pirates. Not just any member, however. What in the Ocean was he doing here? He was talking to one of the shopkeepers. An older woman.
"Just a quick question," he asked. "Have you seen this guy?" He held out a poster.
"Monkey D Luffy?" the shopkeeper asked. He was looking for Luffy? Great. Maybe he could help them find him. It also grabbed the rest of the crew's attention.
"He might be here in town. I've been looking for him for a while now."
"Hmm. Never seen him. Oh, but if you're looking for someone, ask at the restaurant up ahead. The owner there knows a lot of people."
"Much appreciated." He bowed slightly before heading off to the restaurant. "The restaurant, huh? I was just feeling hungry, anyways." He walked off without noticing them. Addy grinned.
"Who's that?" Chopper asked, "He looks incredibly strong."
"Why's he looking for Luffy?" Usopp wondered.
"He is," Addy answered smiling. "As for the second thing no idea." She walked up towards him leaving the rest of her crew confused. "Oi Ace! Not even going to say hi?!"
He stopped in his tracks. His stance shifted. Addy knew it well. He was preparing for a fight until he turned around and saw her. Confusion quickly changing to joy. His smile matching hers. Both of them running up and hugging each other tightly.
"Adds!" he exclaimed lifting her up off the ground. "Wasn't expecting to see you here!" He put Addy back on the ground and let her go.
Addy lightly punched him on the shoulder. "How do you think I feel? You should be in the New World, not on some backwards desert island."
"I'm surprised you are on some backwards desert island. Considering your feelings on sand, heat, the desert," he could probably go on forever, "This is the last place I would expect to find you.
Addy rolled her eyes. "Oh, you have no idea. Trust me. I don't want to be here any longer than I have to be." Both of them chuckled. "Anyway, we should definitely catch up."
"I would love to but I'm currently looking for someone." He was about to hold out the poster when Addy held up her hand.
"Don't bother we're looking for the same person." He raised an eyebrow and shrugged his shoulders. Not questioning her on it. They had that level of trust. Surviving life and death situations certainly helped with that. "If you find him let me know. We'll stay in the market looking for him." She gestured to her crew behind her. Oh, they were definitely going to have questions.
"Same to you." The two of them briefly hugged again. Ace turning back to the restaurant while Addy headed back to her crew. Looking absolutely baffled.
"How do you know him?" Zoro asked looking slightly miffed and if Addy was hoping, jealous.
"Close friend," Addy answered with a shrug. That clearly wasn't enough. "My mom's crew and his are pretty close." Mostly because she was married to White Beard, a good portion of their crews were married to each other or were siblings. Really, they were kind of one large family.
Zoro continued to glare at Ace's back when he saw something else. Another shocked look on his face. Backing away slightly. Whatever he saw got him nervous. And a nervous Zoro wasn't a good thing.
"No…" Zoro muttered "It couldn't be! It is her!" He was clutching his head. Eyes wide with panic.
Now apparently it was Addy's turn to be jealous. Turning to look at the woman Zoro was staring at. She wasn't anything special. Short blue hair. Thin as a stick. Glasses. On Addy's scale, she might be a four. What could he possibly see in her? Even as a threat? Was it that she was looking over swords? Was he that into swordswoman? If so how could Addy even compete?
"What is that woman doing here?" he continued grumbling. He hid behind a large jar and sacks when his mystery woman turned in their direction.
"What're you doing, Zoro?" Nami asked walking up to him. Addy following suit.
"Why're you hiding?" Usopp questioned. Zoro didn't answer. Continuing to stare at the woman. Gritting his teeth. Addy started doing the same when she noticed the back of her shirt. Marine printed on it clear as day. Great. That's exactly what they needed. Addy pulled her hood further over her face. The last thing she wanted was to be recognized. Another man approached the woman. Tall, white hair, smoking a cigar. Wearing a Captain's jacket. Now they were all hiding behind the jars.
The smoking man was carrying three people and dropped them at the women's feet. "Hey. Tashigi."
"Captain Smoker!" she proclaimed.
"Small fry pirates," he muttered with distaste. "They thought they could act like big-shots around me, so I took care of 'em."
Tashigi crouched down to look at them. "Even in such a distant land, your distaste for pirates is unfaltering!"
"If you got time for pointless chit-chat, have the royal army take 'em!"
She immediately came to attention. "Y-Yes, sir!"
"There doesn't seem to be any word yet of Straw Hat Luffy having come to this country." Oh, they were also looking for Luffy. He seemed to be the most wanted man in town. "But don't let your guard down. They will show up. I'm sure of it." This made their lives infinitely harder. Hopefully, they could complete their mission and leave before the Marines even knew they were here.
"Smoker?" Nami questioned. "That's the Navy Captain from Loguetown!"
"Are you saying he followed us all the way here from Loguetown?" Usopp exclaimed trying to keep himself quiet.
"It seems so." Well, he was persistent. Luffy must have really pissed him off.
"And there's Addy's friend. Things could get ugly quick."
"They already are," Addy pointed out. Marine captains did not signal good times ahead. "Though Ace is on our side."
"Then tell me why he's looking for Luffy," Zoro grumbled. She wished she had an answer. But if Luffy was in trouble with White Beard for some bizzaro reason Addy could probably vouch for him. Where was that idiot?!
"Regardless we should return to Sanji and Vivi. Let them know what's going on." The others nodded. As soon as the Marines disappeared, they left their hiding spot. Making their way back to the other two. Considering their luck, the town would soon be crawling with Marines.
Nami and Usopp led the way back while Zoro and her took up the rear. Keeping an eye out for potential enemies.
"So how did you end up befriending a member of White Beard's crew?" Zoro asked.
"Like I said. My mom's crew and his are close." He gave her a look. She let out a sigh. "My Mom is married to White Beard. Due to that our crews are kind of an extended family. I'm close with a lot of the White Beard pirates."
"Seriously?" Addy nodded. "Does that mean…"
"My father is Ocean." He was still giving her a look. "I will be happy to get into the biology of it later if you want but I don't think now is the time. But I have a feeling that there is something else you want to ask."
"Have you slept with him?" Addy was actually expecting that. Considering how tightly he was gripping his swords. Normally she didn't talk about her previous lovers but since she wanted to be more with Zoro….
"Once… technically twice… actually three times but both of us were so hammered we don't actually remember. Just woke up naked next to each other." He held his swords in a death grip. "But it wasn't working between us. We decided we were better as close friends." She saw him relax. His grip on his swords loosening. Still, the jealousy was obvious. Which was actually pretty odd for Zoro. He didn't do jealousy. But something changed after Whiskey Peak and further changed once the truth came out and they had that one spectacular night.
She took his hand and leaned into his ear. "Don't worry. You're the only one I intend to spend the night with." That eased him up further but something else was off. It was about more than just sex. "Other than Riley you're the best stargazing partner I've had." That got him. The way he looked at her. Filled with emotions that Addy couldn't recognize. A blush covering his face. Though even with her reassurances Addy had a feeling that there was still going to be some tension with Ace until Zoro got to know him.
"Hey now!" Usopp called out when they got close to Vivi and Sanji. "This is bad! If feels like we'll be in big trouble if we don't move quickly!"
"Big trouble?" Sanji asked. He was organizing fruit.
"The Navy is here," Nami replied.
"The Navy?!" Vivi exclaimed.
"And a friend of Addy's" Chopper added on.
"Let's just find Luffy as quickly as possible and leave town," Nami suggested.
Addy nodded. "We can leave a note to Ace about where we are going."
"Hey!" Zoro shouted. "Hide!" He shoved them behind the walls. "The Navy!" Addy could hear it well. A stampede of boots and shouting.
"There seems to be a big commotion!" Usopp stated.
"Don't let him escape!" the Marines shouted. "After him!"
"Some idiot pirate must be running around town or something," Sanji suggested leaning against the wall.
"Idiot pirate?!" Everyone else said at once. A second later they heard Luffy screaming and the Marines yelling at him to get back here. "It's you?!" Oh Luffy was going to die. Because they were going to kill him.
"Heya! Zoro!" Seemed like Luffy noticed them. Zoro's eyes went black and he paled. "Oh! Is that where you guys are?!" He started running towards them.
"You idiot!" Zoro shouted at him "Go get rid of them first!"
"There's the Straw Hat crew! Over there!" Too late. The Marines had found them.
"So what should we do now?!" Usopp asked.
"We have to run, obviously!" Nami answered.
"Hurry! To the ship!" Vivi ordered.
"What're you doing?!" Luffy questioned as he ran past them. "Let's go back!" Now the Marines were yelling at all of them. As much as Addy wanted to kick their asses there wasn't time. Not with Smoker, Baroque Works and who knows who else. Speaking of Smoker there he was. Launching a plume of white smoke at Luffy. This could not possibly get any worse. Though it could get better.
"Kagero!" Ace shouted launching flames at the smoke. Stopping it in it's tracks.
"Oceans Damn! Ace!" Addy shouted for joy. "Thanks for the rescue!" The flames cleared. Revealing Ace standing between them and Smoker.
"You huh?" Smoker asked.
"Give it up," Ace replied. Flames still pouring off his body. "You may be smoke, but I'm fire. A fight between your power and mine would never end." Considering that neither of them were proficient in haki that would probably be the case.
"He had Devil Fruit powers?!" Zoro asked.
"Yeah Ace ate the Mera-Mera fruit," Astrid elaborated. "Saved us in a lot of sticky situations." Zoro shot her a look.
"How close are the two of you?"
"Is that why he's helping us at the moment?" Usopp questioned.
"Ace?!" Luffy couldn't believe what he was seeing in front of him. Did the two of them know each other?
"You haven't changed a bit, Luffy," Ace replied looking over his shoulder. Well, that answered that question.
"Ace?! Is that you, Ace?! You ate a Devil Fruit?!"
"Yep! As Addy said the Mera-Mera fruit!"
"Captain Smoker!" One of the Marines called out. Forming lines behind their Captain. "We're securing the perimeter!"
"Anyway, we can't chat like this! I'll catch up! You guys run! I'll hold these guys off! Unless you want to join me, Addy!"
She shook her head. "Lot has happened Ace. Not the nereid I used to be."
"I've heard." Not surprising though she wondered how much he truly knew. Though this was not the place or time to have that conversation. "Go!"
"Let's go!" Luffy ordered. They started running away again. "Addy! How do you know Ace?!"
"Close friend of mine. Met back when I was with my mom's crew. Known him for a few years now." This wasn't even getting into the fact that David was his uncle so she was bound to meet him at some point. Even if he never joined White Beard's crew. "But how in Ocean do you know him?"
"He's my brother!" Addy almost stopped dead in her tracks. Her mind temporarily fried. She had slept with her Captain's brother. And it wasn't even all that good. Like not terrible but definitely mediocre. She had mediocre sex with her Captain's brother! More than once!
Once she recovered from that brain-melting moment, she put more thought into it. She did remember Ace mentioning that he had a brother. Actually, that was something that he talked about on a near-constant basis. And thinking about Luffy and all the trouble that they had gotten into.
"That makes so much sense it's not even funny." Though it was still hilarious. The man who would be King of the Pirates is the younger adopted brother of Ace. The son of the previous King of Pirates. Though more importantly that also made Luffy David's nephew. Addy let out a laugh. The day those two met would either be perfect or utter chaos. But as of right now she had other things to think about. Such as how to escape the Marines chasing them.