Chapter 36
Sanji groaned. He could feel the wave of warmth rolling through him, spiking in his stomach, stronger than it ever had been before. It had been two weeks since he had been kidnapped, and god did he miss his real nest. He even missed Zoro. He wanted his mate.
The door opened up, and Sanji breathed in the warm scent of dark chocolate. Pudding wandered over to his side, kneeling next to him, while he whimpered. Sanji had collapsed against the cold wall what felt like hours ago. It was soothing against his skin, and he tried to soak it in.
"I-I... Y-You sh-shouldn't be in here, Pudding-chan... I'm not... I don't understand..." Sanji whispered, his voice shaky and rough.
Pudding softened, but her hand touched his shoulder, and he shivered weakly against her. Pudding ignored him, pushing him up against the wall, embracing him tightly. A soft gasp escaped him. He was pinned, surrounded on all sides by an Alpha who wasn't his mate. He didn't understand, neither he nor his Omega knew what was going on.
He was so hot, fluttery, and confused. Sanji didn't know why his heat was coming back. He hadn't had it for two months and suddenly it was here to wallop him.
"I am so sorry, Sanji. For all of this," Pudding sighed, nuzzling his cheek. "But Mama's orders can't be disobeyed."
Dark chocolate smothered his senses. He felt warm, flustered and confused. He tried to speak, but a wave of pleasure hit him, leaving his legs weak beneath him. It was a good thing he had already been seated against the wall, trying to cool himself off. He would have collapsed, then and there, otherwise.
He trembled, even as he tried to think. His Omega was calling for Zoro, begging for his scent to wrap around their own. He needed his Alpha, he wanted his nest. He wanted Zoro to relieve him, to help calm and sooth his body with his own.
Sanji nearly sobbed at the thought.
"I don't..." Sanji shivered. "I'm... What?"
"You've been eating my chocolates for a while now, Sanji," Pudding said, her cool hand stroking his neck.
He almost melted against her hand. It felt nice. Soothing even. He didn't understand what she meant by her chocolates, and right now it didn't matter. He nuzzled her hand, whimpering softly, because his Alpha wasn't here. Why wasn't Zoro here already?
"I am sorry," Pudding whispered. "But I had to do it. Otherwise you would have gotten hurt, and I don't want to see you hurt, Sanji."
Sanji whined, because he could feel his thighs becoming damp with slick. He needed Zoro. He needed his mate. But Zoro wasn't here yet. Where was his mate?
"You'll be fine once you're my mate, Sanji," Pudding said. "But the other Vinsmokes? Mama wants them dead, and I suppose the Straw Hat gang will have to die along with them if they try to interfere with us."
Sanji tried to focus on her words, but her body embraced him. It was so cool and calming. Her scent steady as he sagged against her. He felt Pudding's smile against his neck, and moaned weakly when her breath brushed over him.
He didn't understand. Why wasn't his mate here? Where was Zoro?
.::.
Ace stretched out in the bath, groaning in sheer relief. The bastard had kept him mostly tied up for two weeks. Ace had kept himself calm for three days, instead of his Omega soothing him, so he was being 'rewarded', by being finally untied.
If he got the chance, he would set those restraints on fire.
The bubble bath felt amazing, and Ace enjoyed the warmth all around him. He soaked in it for a while, before reluctantly making his way out. He dried himself off then slipped on the large fluffy hoodie, the leggings and his bright orange bunny slippers.
He steeled himself before the door, taking in a deep breath, before releasing it. At this point in time, he had to appear calm and obedient. Ace had to make sure he didn't get tied back up. That would only hinder his escape. If he got the chance, he would bolt.
Ace knew he couldn't stay here. Not after Teach said he'd use his baby if they were an Omega. He had to get out of the club and go somewhere safe for his baby's sake.
Ace walked into the bedroom, he spotted Teach lounging on his bed, typing away on a laptop. Ace went and sat down on the couch at the opposite side of the room, taking the brush with him to comb out his hair.
"This is much better, love," Teach said, grinning. "I'm glad you've finally managed to calm yourself down. Constantly fighting me was getting rather draining. Not that I mind keeping you tied up. It does keep you out of trouble, but this is nicer."
Ace blanked him out. Instead he headed for the bar, setting aside the brush as he made his way over. Ace poured himself out a glass of apple juice, something his Omega was still craving. Glancing back, he gestured to the bottle of whiskey and Teach grinned. He nodded and got up from the bed to walk over. Ace grabbed the glass bottle, sat out the glass, and listened to time it perfectly. He pretended to start unscrewing the cap.
This could be the perfect moment. He had surrendered in Teach's eyes, at least for now. He was quiet and distant, and usually he never did anything when he felt so down. He just needed Teach unguarded, and to come in close.
"I know you're angry with me, but you'll get over it," Teach said softly. "We just have to give it time."
Ace whirled round, smashing the bottle off Teach's head. Teach collapsed instantly to the floor, yelping and cursing. Ace darted for the door, slamming it shut behind him, and locking it. That should teach the bastard for having a damn lock on the door on the outside.
Ace ran downstairs. He managed to get down to the second floor, almost to the first, before he heard footsteps charging up from the ground floor. Laffitte's voice echoed from the stairs.
"Find Ace, but do not harm him! He is pregnant and must be treated gently. I shall release the Boss from his room."
Ace cursed, but threw himself back up the stairs. They'd search second and third, his best choice was to go to back to fourth and hide. Or even go to the forbidden attic space that he was ordered to never go in.
He continued up the stairs to the attic, and using a pick he'd collected on his rush, unlocked the door. He locked it behind himself before looking up, and froze.
All around the room there were photos pinned to the walls.
They were all of him.
At his apartment, walking through the park, doing shopping, there were even photos of him in his own bed. The worst of them was the ones in Teach's club, because most of them had been taken while Ace was asleep, and Teach had purposely put him into sexy positions, even stripping his clothes off. The obviously most recent ones were of the past week or two, with Ace tied up and gagged, fast asleep.
He saw his old clothes, things he had thrown out, neatly laid out on a table. Trousers, t-shirts, socks, underwear. Some of Ace's older daggers were on another table, no longer sharp, now dull. One of his guns were even there. Ace checked to see if it had bullets, but sadly, it was empty. Ace saw a notebook, and grimaced, because that was his Omega test results, all the details the doctors had written about him. That was from years ago.
Doctors appointments. Dental records. Eye check ups.
All his accounts, gamer accounts, bank accounts, emails, even his damn passwords.
Ace felt sick.
So many photos, so many private moments, and Teach had soiled them. Had clawed his way in, pawed at Ace's life. Ace stumbled, leaning heavily against the door. He gagged, his chest heaving, and he trembled.
He needed to calm down. The baby. Ace forced himself to breath, and went to sit down, he'd clear his head then think of a way out. Step one was done, he wasn't tied up. Step two was complete, he was no longer trapped in Teach's room. Ace nodded. He was doing fine. His Omega cooed in approval. Gingerly Ace sat on the chair, curling his arm protectively around himself. It took him a moment to look up again, to search around the room.
He froze. Ace blanked for a moment, then grinned. Three of his old mobiles sat on the shelf across from him. If one of them worked he could call for help. But who could he call? Marco was probably all the way in Sphinx, he'd take a while to get here. He didn't want Luffy anywhere near Teach, and nor did he want Sabo near either. He didn't even know what number Sabo used anymore, so he was completely out of the bag. There was Buggy, but no. He refused to endanger Buggy who was finally out of East Blue. That crossed Shanks off the list too. If he told Shanks, Buggy would know.
He didn't know who he could call. Yamato was shackled to Wano. His old gang were safely in Sphinx, and Ace would not pull them out of that safety.
The only people he could think of was Law and Kidd. Kidd's gang were in East Blue last he heard. It was just debatable if Kidd would actually help him or not. He had to try. It wasn't like he had anything to lose by trying after all.
The first mobile didn't work. It wouldn't turn on. Ace scowled but sat it aside. He picked up the second, and while it turned on, none of his calls would connect, and half the text message was missing when he tried to text Law.
The third one turned on, and it even rang. While it did Ace got up and looked for a hiding spot, but unfortunately hiding in the wardrobe was the only thing that would do. More of Ace's old clothes were in there, and with a grimace he bundled himself in between them all.
"Hello?"
"Law?" Ace said softly, curling up. "It's Ace."
"Ace-ya?" Law startled. "I thought you were trapped with Blackbeard. Are you alright? Did you escape?"
"Sort of? I bottled him and ran out. I've had to hide though. I couldn't get out his club."
"You bottled one of the big bosses? You're insane," Law huffed, and Ace heard Kidd's laughter in the background. "Okay, you're calling me instead of one of your family members. So I suppose that's for a reason?"
"Teach and his men will find me sooner or later. Marco won't have enough time to get down here, but you're in East Blue, right? I'm sorry to ask you this, but could you cause some kind of distraction? To get Teach's attention away from the club? Just to give me enough time to get out of here."
"You aren't fighting your way out? I'm surprised."
"I can't..." Ace whispered, shivering.
"What do you mean 'you can't'? What's wrong? Are you sick or injured?" Law asked, voice going full on doctor mode.
"Marco and I mated... And our protection didn't work..."
"You're... Oh shit. You're pregnant."
"Yeah... I.. I really need your help, Law... Please..." Ace pleaded. "I took like, four boxes of tests, all different brands, and they were all positive."
He could hear Kidd babbling in the background, confused and horrified, even as Law hushed him.
"Eustass-ya, shut up. He's pregnant, not exploding or something insane like that," Law said, and Ace could see him rolling his eyes. "You and your gang go blow some of Blackbeard's territory up, enough of it to draw him and his top members out. I'll go get Ace-ya-"
"Wait," Ace gasped, startling. "What?"
"There is the risk that Teach might leave some of his men behind, or stay there himself-"
Kidd chuckled. "Heh, not if I go all out."
"Yes, sure, Eustass-ya," Law said dismissively, earning a complaint. "I'll head to the club as a precaution. If we both don't get out, Eustass-ya will call the Whitebeards and wait for them and your brothers to arrive."
Ace frowned. "What do you mean 'brothers'? Where is Luffy?"
"That is another situation entirely. One I can explain to you later. For now, the main focus is on you. Are you safe for now?"
"I'm hiding."
"Good. Stay hidden. Don't take any risks. I'll be there soon. I'll contact this number by text once I see Blackbeard and his goons leaving the club. I'll give you a quick check up once we get somewhere safe, and then we'll call your family and tell them the good news."
"Thanks, Law. Thank you so much," Ace said, grinning in relief. "And you too, Kidd-"
"Don't mention it. Really," Kidd grunted. "But jeez, pregnant. How did Phoenix manage that?"
"Well, Eustass-ya. When an Omega is in heat-"
"Oh shut up, you sarcastic ass."
"Then stop overthinking it, Eustass-ya. I have no use of you if your brain combusts now."
"Bitch!"
"Dumbass."
Ace snorted as he said his goodbyes, curling up further in his small space. He clutched the mobile tight to his chest, and listened out for anyone trying to come upstairs.
Sorry I've been away for a bit! I think I wrote myself into a slump with all the stories I've been working on 0.0 I've been getting a lot less hours at my job too, so now I've got to search for another job. Hopefully The Wardens of Strar takes off and I won't need to worry about hours anymore xD
Any help would be appreciated if you wish to help with The Wardens of Strar, liking the main Facebook page or sharing would be fantastic as it gets more eyes on it for the launch day. It's the 28th of this month, so it's really close now o.o