So here is the next chapter! And I am so happy with this one! (For most parts, but I will get to that).
I am so glad to tell you more about Ace, and also Marco! I enjoyed that too! I was also glad to give you a bit more Smoker in this one!
I must apologize if all of them feels a bit strange, but well they will not be exactly like the original characters, but hope you like them anyway!
And yeah Jorah and Sansa are both names from Game of Thrones. Both are two of my favorite characters, so naming them, was just a bit of fun from my part. Nothing more. Don't worry, I will not bring Game of Thrones into this!
And well you will get more information about Ace and Luffy as kids, and also Sabo, but not yet. You will also get more stories from their life before the story started! I will also give you some timeline at the end, letting you know when some things happened.
The information about Marco, well I wasn't about to drop it yet, but I felt that it fitted here, so you got it now. And sorry if it feels like I make every character gay, but I did warn you that there would be a lot of gay couples in it, which mean a lot of gay characters. And well every character have been given a parter in mind. More or less, but more about that later.
Then we have the part I am not happy about, and it's the fight scenes. I am so sorry if they are bad. I felt like they was. But it's because a) I am not the best at writing fight scenes, but I try. B), One piece is damn complicated. You have so many things you need to think of, Devil fruits, haki, weapons, stuff like that. But hopefully you will like it anyway.
So here is the timeline, and it not set in stone, it's more a ish timeline. And it describes what happens before the story starts:
Long time ago, Brook is born.
38 years ago: Roger meets his friends, Sengoku and Garp are in the marines.
Somewhere in between, Robin and Franky is born.
21 years ago: Ace and Sanji are born.
20 years ago: Smoker joins the marines, 12 years old. The revolutions are created. Sabo, Nami and Zoro are born.
18 years ago: Sengoku dies. Roger creates his gang, Shanks joins him. Garp takes over the marines. Luffy and Usopp are born.
17 years ago: Vivi and Chopper are born.
16 years ago: Akainu kills Garp. Shanks sets sail. The Joker becomes a bigger name.
15 years ago: Roger is killed. Ace, six years old, gets saved by Smoker. Ace meets, Luffy three years old.
14 years ago: White Beards creates his gang. Brook gets into town.
12 years ago. Something happens with the Royal Family. White Beards and his gang moves into the palace.
11 years ago: Big Mom and Kaido create their gangs.
10 years ago: The fights within the marines starts, Aokijo disappear.
9 years ago: Akainu dies. The city falls appart.
8 years ago: Dragon dies. The revos disappear, Vivi and her family moves into the revo base.
7 years ago: Smoker becomes the leader of the marines. Vegapunk disappears, and Black Beard create his gang.
6 years ago: Law takes over his district.
5 years ago: Sabo becomes the blue gentleman. Ace joins, White Beards gang.
3 years ago: Shanks returns to the city, meets Luffy.
1 year ago: Luffy create his gang.
This list is far from complete, and I will ad more things, as I revile more things. But this is what you get now. And yeah all the ages doesn't fit the original, so don't try to think to much about it. And yes Smoker joined the marines when he was young. And I know that Fleet admiral isn't that fitting here, since they aren't sailing. But well since I went with the marines, I stick to it.
And that was all I had to say, except, thank you to everyone that reads it! And enjoy the chapter!
"Hey Ace!" Ace turned around when Marco called out for him, feeling that his brother always called out for him, when he was about to leave. Ace stopped and Marco walked up to him. "Need any company?"
"I am going on a standard patrol Marco, I think I can handle it!" Ace answered his brother.
"Are you sure? Don't want me to hold your hand, just like when you were a kid!" Marco teased and Ace gave him an angry glance.
"It happened ones! And you almost died that mission! I don't think you should joke around about that" Ace told him, but Marco just smiled.
"You sound so grown up Ace" Marco teased and Ace wanted to punch him in the face. Ace know that Marco only teased him out of love, like a big brother. And Ace did the same to Luffy, but sometimes he couldn't stand it. Mostly because he wasn't used to be the younger brother.
"I am an adult Marco" Ace said, but that only made Marco laugh and Ace sighed before he started walking away.
"Just be careful Ace!" Marco said and Ace waved lazy as he walked out through the gate.
Ace had been doing patrols since he was a kid, or maybe teenager was a better word. He had joined White beard when he turned 16, a bit disappointed that his brother wouldn't join him. But he didn't know what their plans was back then, just thinking they would do whatever he did. But even without his brothers, he never regretted joining White Beard, he had got a new family. Or maybe a bigger family was a better description, since no one could replace his brothers. His brothers were his whole life; he would do anything he could for them. Ace had known Luffy since he was six years old, since he saw him wondering the street.
Ace was seeking shelter under some stairs. He was hiding from some men. Ace wasn't sure why they were after him. He had been playing with some friends a few days ago, like he did every day. When people suddenly started screaming. Ace had looked over his shoulder, only to see people storming the building. Ace saw them wearing the with uniform, only the marines wore. But he couldn't understand why they was here?
The men walked up the stairs towards them, and Jorah who had been closest to the men, got stabbed in the back. Ace couldn't believe it; why did they kill Jorah? Ace saw how they walked closer to Sansa, and when they were about to stab her, Ace ran. Ace ran towards his father, knowing he could protect him.
Ace didn't bother to knock when he entered his father's office. But his father didn't seem to mind, he knew that was happening.
"Ace" He called and Ace ran over towards him.
"Father, help" Ace said, with tears falling down his cheeks. His father took his hand and smiled towards him, before he showed him behind him, just as someone entered the room.
"We found him sir!" Someone called, and Ace could hear how someone was walking towards them, before they stopped.
"I am almost disappointed that you didn't give me a challenge. Some of my men thought you would run, but I didn't think you would. But I did think you would do something" the man said. "But this works well for me, I am glad that I don't have to chase you. I have done that enough, the past year."
"Sir, he has a kid with him!" the first man said and Ace got scared, but his father smiled towards him.
"Ace, run!" he said before his father charged towards the men, and Ace did just what his father said, he ran.
Ace was ashamed that he ran, why didn't he help his father? He could at least have tried. As he had run towards the house, he had seen dead bodies everywhere, both from his friends and family, but also dead marines. He had almost been out of the house when he ran into a marine. It was a younger marine with grey hair, and two cigars in his mouth. Ace looked scared at the man, fearing that he would kill him too. But the man only looked at him, before he picked him up, and told him to be quiet. The man walked him out of the house and to a hiding place.
"Whatever happens, you need to stay here" the teenager said, before he left him.
Ace had stayed in the hiding place for hours, and he had seen how the marines took his father away, Ace almost ran towards his father then. But Ace understood that he couldn't do that, he would die, without a doubt. But Ace hated that he couldn't do anything. His father was in chains, bloody, and he could barely walk. Ace coursed the marines, hating them from that moment. And he swore to try to free his father.
When Ace had left the hiding place, he had run as far away from his house as he could. And at first he had thought he was safe, but he soon learned that wasn't the case. That night Ace learned that he knew nothing, and that he had to learn everything to survive.
That was why he hide under the stares, he had spotted some marines further down the street, not particularly looking for him, but he didn't risk it, instead he hides. He learned that it was better to be safe than sorry. And Ace knew he couldn't save his father if he was dead.
"There he is!" Ace heard someone calling, and first he thought he was spotted, but he saw that wasn't the case. No they pointed at a toddler, if Ace would guess, the boy was around two, three years old. The boy was walking down the streets, laughing. Ace looked at the marines, pointing at the boy, and Ace couldn't say why, but he acted before he knew it. Ace left his hiding spot, he ran over to the toddler, picked him up and started to run. The boy in his arms laughed as they ran, but Ace started to panic, hearing how the marines was chasing him. Ace knew that this would most technically called kidnapping, but at that moment he didn't care, he didn't want the marines to have the kid. Ace could return him to the parents later, as long as the marines didn't touch him. Ace was afraid that they would do the same to the boy as they had done to his friends. So Ace kept running, hoping to lose the marines.
Thinking back at it, he could almost laugh, after actually, kidnapping Luffy, he hadn't been able to get rid of the kid. He had learned that Luffy didn't have a family either. Ace didn't know what happened to them, all he knew that Luffy said that they were gone, they had disappeared. Ace wasn't sure why the marines wanted Luffy either, but he was glad that he had taken him.
They had met a bloody Sabo four years later, standing there in the streets, looking more lost then Ace ever felt. Luffy had talked to the boy, and almost dragged him with them to their home, before Ace could react. Maybe one of the stupidest things Luffy ever had done, but also one of the best thing. Since that day Sabo had been a part of their family. And Ace was grateful, more grateful then he ever said that he had his brothers. He knew that he never would have been able to get through everything without them. And what he did today, he actually did for them, more so than himself. He had joined White Beards gang, hoping that the old man could rule over the whole city, brining back peace, and then giving his brothers a better life. Neither Luffy or Sabo said anything about it, mostly because they wanted different things. But Ace was hoping that would understand if White Beard won, and that they would be safe. Ace almost laughed when he heard Marco's voice in his head.
"Always looking out for your brothers"
And when Marco used to say that, Ace normally answered him, that Marco did the same. Being the commander over the first division, Marco always looked out for them all, including White Beard. Thatch always called him the mother of the gang, something Marco only laughed at. Ace loved his other family too, proud to be a part of it. Ace could never imagine how it felt to be a part of another gang, because of what he heard, none of them was as understanding as White Beards gang was. Maybe Luffy's gang was, but Ace felt like he didn't belong there. He had visited them sometimes, wanting to be sure what kind of people Luffy had around him, and they were all very nice, a bit fucked up, but Ace didn't blame them.
Ace knew how the city was, and he was just lucky that he had manage as well as he had. It could have gone so much worse after his father died. But taking care of his brothers and then choosing White Beards gang, helped him. Not everyone was that lucky, Ace know that, especially when he looked at Sabo. So with Sabo in mind, he walked the streets, hoping that they one day would be safe.
He had almost finished his round, without any problem for once. He had helped some children find a missing cat, and that was his biggest problem for tonight. Besides that, nothing special happened. And compared to Luffy, he felt like not everything needed to be an adventure. He enjoyed some uneventful nights, especially in a city like this. It was rare, and he knew it.
"Fuck" Ace said to himself. He had spoken, or rather thought everything was fine to fast. Of course something would happen, it had been to calm. Ace knew better than celebrate in advance, and yet, he had done it. He felt the men around him, before he saw them. As soon as he had taken the alley, he knew that something was wrong. And he almost cursed that he hadn't brought Marco with him. But on the other hand, he wasn't a kid anymore, he could take care of himself. He wasn't an easy target, so either the men, still lurking in the shadows, were new in town, and didn't know him, or they knew they could take him. Ace were wishing for the first one, but just because he wished it, he knew that it would be the second one.
"Portgas" a voice said, a voice that send chills down his spine. Ace know that voice all too well, he looked at the man walking out from the shadows, Shiliew. And Ace also know that he never come alone, and right he was. Soon Laffitte and an unfamiliar, man on a horse walked out from the shadows. Ace looked at the men with hate.
"What?" Ace answered, not even trying to hide his hate, what did it matter? The other knew it already. Shiliew and Laffitte, was the reason Marco almost died years ago. Ace wasn't sure why they hated him and his family that much. He knew that Black Beard wanted to kill White Beard for some reason, but not what. Sure the fat ugly man wanted more power and rule the city, and the old man was standing in the way of that. But it seemed to be something else, something that made Black Beard go after Ace leader more than anyone else. The bigger gangs rarely fought openly, not wanting to start a direct war, but Black Beard didn't care. But what Ace thought was strange was that they started with White Beard, the strongest man alive. Any other gang would be better to start with. Therefore, Ace got the feeling it was something else.
"We have manners, we thought we should say hello, before we kill you" Laffitte said and Ace stopped himself from sending flames towards the other man at ones.
"Or before you die!" Ace answered, without thinking. Something Sabo often schooled him for. Saying he needed to think before the talked.
"You are a funny young man" the unfamiliar man said.
"Shame I can't say the same" Ace said before he lit the fire in his hands and sent it flying towards the men. Ace knew that would barely, if even, hurt them. But he needed to do something. Ace turned into flame, when he heard how a pistol went off. The bullet flew through his body and melted.
"Aww, it isn't nice to destroy my bullets, young man" Laffitte said.
"It isn't nice to shoot people either!" Ace answered as he threw a fireball in their direction. The horse walked out of the way, and even if Ace thought it looked slow, it must have been pretty fast to avoid the fire.
Ace felt the mans present before he saw him. Spinning around and pulling his dagger to defend himself, just before Shiliew stabbed him.
"I was so close" the larger man laughed and Ace didn't answer. He knew how close he had been. And Ace knew that he was in over his head, but what could he do? He had to fight, until he could run. Ace wasn't proud of running away from things, knowing what happened to his father. But he also knew, that he didn't want to die. Ace pushed Shiliew away from him, as far as he could, before he raised a fire barrier between him and Black Beards men, and started running.
He knew he wouldn't get far before they got through, but he hopped that he could get closer home and seek help. Ace kept running as he looked over his shoulder from time to time, not seeing the others yet. But he could hear them back in the ally. Ace needed to try to lose them, somehow. He knew that he could try to run different paths, paths that may confuse them. But if he did, it would take him longer to get home. And if he didn't get home, he would die, that he knew. So until he saw a better way of doing this, he kept running straight home.
As he had glanced behind him, he felt how he run into someone. Ace stopped abrupt, almost thinking that he ran into Black Beards men. But when he looked at the other man, he saw that it was a marine. The marine looked as confused as Ace did. Ace didn't know who the marine was, not that it mattered, all that mattered to Ace was that he got away. And now from the marine too. Ace didn't trust any of them. It was very few of them that was any good, and Ace could remember three. Sengoku and Garp, the two old men he met as a kid, often talking to his father. And the young man, helping him as a kid. Beside those three, he had met no honourable marines. It wasn't fair, since Ace knew that it was more honourable men in the marines, but since he hadn't met them, he didn't trust any of the marines he met.
"Ey, brat, see where you are going!" the man said and Ace just looked at him before he heard voice behind him.
"Run" Ace only said to the man before he started running away from him. The marine didn't have a chance to react before Ace left him behind.
Ace had thought it was only fair to warn the other man, if he was one of the good guys, even if he doubted it. And well if he wasn't, well then, maybe they could all kill each other.
"Stop" Ace heard the marine yell out for the others, and Ace knew that he had spotted them.
"Fleet admiral Smoker" Ace heard Laffitte say. Ace was surprised, was that Smoker? The Smoker? The man that lead the marines. Ace was surprised that the man hadn't arrested him, right away.
"Where are you doing here? This isn't your district" Smoker said, and Ace couldn't help himself from thinking it wasn't Smoker's either.
"We are hunting. We were going after a shitty son of White Beard. But I think Black Beard will be happy to hear that we took down a marine instead" Shiliew said.
"Especially after what happened the last time" an unfamiliar voice said and Ace figured it belonged to the man on the horse.
Just as Ace left the street completely, feeling a bit safer, he heard how the other men attacked Smoker. And Ace hopped that the scum would get what they wanted. Ace was about to cross over the bridge, leading to the lower part of the city closest to the palace, he heard Smoker yell in pain. At once Ace stopped. He looked back, unsure what to do. He could just keep running and return home, to safety. But the old man said that Smoker was a good man, maybe one of the best in the marines. And Ace knew that it was his fault that the men found Smoker. Ace sighed and cursed himself for doing this, he started running back.
As he returned to the plaza, he saw how Smoker tried to fight of the other three men. Ace saw the blood, streaming down from a wound in his shoulder. Ace saw that Smoker was a skilled fighter, and apparently a devil user, since he turned into smoke. Ace didn't know what to do. Black Beards men had sounded Smoker, and Ace knew that he would need to fight for his life if he jumped in the middle. And he saw that Smoker was good, but the man was wounded, and Ace didn't know how good he was. But Ace knew that he had made up his mind as soon he turned around.
When Ace saw that the man on the horse raised his weapon, Ace threw a fireball in his direction. The horse, that hadn't been prepared threw of his master and Ace rushed to Smoker side.
"What the hell are you doing her kid?" Smoker asked when Ace showed him aside, making Laffitte's bullet miss him.
"I think I am helping you, old man" Ace answered without looking at him.
"So you come back, Portgas! Well it's a bonus" Shiliew said and Ace just gave him a cold look.
"Run back to your island!" Ace answered as he dodged a blow and Smoker stopped Shiliew's sword, with his own. Ace saw that the other man was in pain, but he didn't have time to reflect too much up on it.
Ace saw the man who had fallen of his horse, walking towards him. He was walking very slowly, Ace wasn't sure why, but what he was sure of was that he didn't want to get hit by the large scythe he was caring. Ace started sending fire his way, but the other men avoided it. And Ace created a fire barrier between them, just as Laffitte was swinging his cane towards him. Ace turned into flame, to protect himself and Laffitte, smiled.
"Are we afraid to be hit?" he asked in a taunting voice. Ace didn't answer as he started walking towards him, with an angry face. Ace hated that smile, reminding him of when he almost killed Marco.
"Stay here kid! Don't go after him!" Smoker said and Ace looked at him, he had almost forgotten about him. Ace stopped and Laffitte almost looked disappointed. And for a second he was caught off guard and Ace threw a gigantic fireball in his direction, burning him. Ace heard Laffitte scream, and he couldn't help himself from smiling.
"We need to get back" the unfamiliar man said.
"I can still fight! I will fucking kill him, and feed him to the sharks!" Laffitte said in pain.
"I need to treat you, before you get even more hurt!" the other man said, and Ace sent another fireball in their direction, actually hoping to kill them, when the horse run towards them and both of them jumped up on its back.
"Shiliew!" the unfamiliar man said, and Shiliew looked at them.
"You will pay for this Portgas!" he answered and was about to stab Ace when Smoker landed a blow, and made Shiliew fly away, landing a few meters away. Ace looked at Smoker and nodded in thanks. Shiliew stood up and was about to get closer when Ace raised another fire barrier to keep them safe.
"Next time!" Shiliew yelled and then laughed. "Say hello to the old man from us, oh and Marco!"
Ace was about to answer when he heard how the pistol went off again. Caught off guard Ace was afraid that he had been hit. He started search his own body, when he heard how Smoker felled down beside him.
"Fuck, I missed him. But I got that baster Smoker at least" Laffitte said as they rode away.
Ace turned to face the other man, he was bleeding from a wound to the head. And Ace wished he was knowing what to do. But he wasn't a doctor. Sure the old man saw to, that all of them learned some first aid, but Ace was sure that it wasn't enough here. And Ace was also sure he couldn't take Smoker back to his own base, to seek help. Even if the old man respected Smoker, he knew that wasn't the case with all of them, and Ace didn't wish to upset his family. Ace thought of what else to do, the only other doctors he knew of was, Surgeon of Death, everyone know of him, but Ace was very sure that man would kill both him and Smoker. And the other doctor he knew of was Chopper. And even if Ace was sure that Luffy wouldn't say anything if Ace walked over there with Smoker, Ace knew that they would never make it there in one piece. It was too far for him to walk with a wounded Smoker, people would kill them before that. Sabo could maybe help him, if Ace knew what his brother was. No all Ace could do was take Smoker somewhere safe, and hope for the best.
Ace was very careful when he laid Smoker on the bed. Ace looked around in the abounded hideout. He hadn't been here in years, not since he and his brothers moved out. But no one seemed to live here. It was the only place Ace come to think off, that was both close and safe. It was in the neutral district, and it was well hidden.
The lair was dusty and dark, and almost completely empty, besides a bed and a few chairs they had left. Ace had left all the furniture for Sabo and Luffy, knowing he wouldn't need them when he joined White Beard, and it looked like that had taken almost all of it. Ace lit some candles and Ace opened his first aid kit. He always carried one in his belt, not that Ace was sure if it would be too much help.
Ace sat down on the bed and turned Smokers head towards him, as he looked at the wound. It had grasped the left said of his head. It was long, thankfully not to deep, but it was bleeding, a lot. Ace almost panicked when he saw how much. Reminding him of the situation with Marco. But Ace forced himself not to think of it, as he started to clean the wound from the dirt that had gotten there, as Smoker felt. Ace tried to be careful, not to make the other man feel pain. Or well Ace wasn't sure if you could feel pain when you have fainted. But he didn't want to risk it. After cleaning the wound Ace looked down in at his kit. Well he had closing strips, but Ace wasn't sure if they would help at all. But hopefully they couldn't hurt. He removed Smokers grey hair, and Ace thought it reminded him of something, but he didn't know what. Then he thought it wasn't important and he used the strips, before he bandaged the wound, hoping it would help.
Ace then looked down at Smoker and remembered the wound in the shoulder, and it was only now Ace reflected that the men didn't wore a shirt. Ace had been too busy to notice it at first. Ace looked at Smokers chest and saw that he was very muscular, and Ace almost reached out and touched his abs. But just as he was about to, he stopped himself, thinking that Smoker, most likely would not appreciate it, if he was awake. Ace turned towards the wound instead.
"Fuck" Ace said, when he saw that it wasn't a threw and threw. Ace would have preferred that, now it was stuck, and he could do nothing about it. Well all Ace could do was bandage it, and hope it was enough. In this case, enough for Smoker not to die.
Ace looked at his work and could almost laugh, it was so shitty, and he knew that he had no future as a doctor. Luckily that wasn't his goal at all. And when he was done with looking at his work, he looked at Smoker. The older man was both bloody and pail, but Ace could still tell that he was good looking, like really good looking. Ace almost reached out and touched Smoker's abs again. He thought it should be illegal to walk around without a sweater and looking that good. And for a second Ace almost wished Smoker was awake so he could tell him, just that. Before he licked his abs.
Then Ace actually laughed, because that was what he thought about now. He was in his old home, with an enemy, that was wounded, and Ace wanted to lick his abs. Well Marco often said he stopped thinking when he saw someone hot, and this time Ace could only agree. Not that he would admit that to anyone, and if he did, he would blame Smoker for not wearing a sweater. That, and it was a long time since Ace got something. And Ace knew that he most likely thought of this now, because he didn't want to think about what happened before. But he wasn't sure that it was better to think about Smoker's hot body, then almost dying. He would most likely say that both was equal bad. Even if thinking about Smoker's body was more pleasant then thinking of death. And it wasn't like it hurt to think about it. Doing something else my hurt, but thinking, no.
Ace leaned back against the wall as he kept studying Smoker, almost wishing he had Sabo with him, or Marco. Marco would do too, but he knew that Marco would tease him more than Sabo. But both men understood him when it came to this. Ace had known that he was gay since he sixteen. He wasn't sure how he figured out, or if he had always known. But it had scared the shit out of him, not knowing what to do about it. When he had figured it out, he had almost runaway from White Beard gang, thinking they didn't want him there. Ace wasn't too sure how people reacted to other people being gay, but what he had heard wasn't positive. So he had hide under some stares, like he used to do as a kid, when Marco had found him.
"Hey kid, what's wrong?" Marco asked, but Ace didn't answer. Marco hadn't known the new kid long, he had only been there a few months, but he could tell something was making him upset. Marco always kept an eye on everyone, being a mother to them all, like Thatch, called it. But Marco knew that Thatch did the same, he kept an eye on everyone. But for some reason Ace had become special to them, he had taken them by storm, and a place in their heart, making them look out for him even more.
Which was why Marco had followed him when he had spotted Ace, almost running from the building. The boy hadn't been crying, but Marco could tell he wasn't far from it.
"Make some room" Marco said and Ace tried to make some room for him. He wasn't sure how, but Marco managed to squeeze himself into the room under the stares, next to Ace.
"This was cosy" Marco said. "How did you even know there was some room here?"
"I hide her as a kid" Ace only answered and Marco was wondering why, but he didn't ask. He felt like Ace wouldn't tell him now.
"So why are we hiding here now?" Marco asked in a gentle toon. Ace didn't look at him; he only hid his face. Marco saw that the tears was streaming down his face, even if Ace tried to hide it.
"It's okay, whatever it is, it's okay" Marco said, putting an arm around the kid, with much effort, since the space was very small.
"It's not" Ace answered, almost in an angry voice.
"How can you say that without telling me what it is?" Marco asked him. He wasn't sure how Ace worked, but he hoped he could make him talk to him. And if not him, maybe Thatch, or some of the others. Otherwise, maybe he needed to find his brothers somehow, making them talk to him.
"I can't tell you. You will hate me, and make me leave" Ace answered, which made Marco laugh. But he soon realised that wasn't the right reaction.
"I am sorry Ace. But whatever it is, we will not make you leave, or hate you. You are a part of our family now" Marco told him, hoping it would ease the kid. And it seemed to ease him somehow, since he stopped crying after a while, but he didn't say anything.
"So, how long will we sit here?" Marco asked and Ace actually looked at him, a bit confused. "I mean until you start talking. It's very uncomfortable. So do you think you will speak today? Or shall I leave and come back tomorrow?"
"I…" Ace started and Marco didn't say anything to force him to continue. He knew that it was something that really bothered the kid, so Marco let him take his time.
"I…" Ace tried again, and Marco heard how he took a deep breath. "Ilikeboyspleasedon'tmakemeleave"
"Can you try say that again?" Marco asked, not understanding what Ace was saying. Ace looked away, in shame. "I am not mad or anything, if that's what you think. I just didn't hear you, since your forgot to breath, in-between words" Marco said in a gentle voice.
"I like boys" Ace whispered "Please don't make me leave"
Marco could hear how frightened Ace was and he just hugged him closer.
"Oh Ace, we would never make you leave because of that" Marco told him in a gentle voice.
"Are you sure? What if White Beard don't think it's okay, and force me to leave?" Ace asked.
"Well then you wouldn't be leaving alone" Marco said and Ace looked puzzled at him, and Marco smiled.
"What do you mean?" Ace asked.
"I mean that if he wouldn't allow it, I would be there out there, with you, on the streets" Marco told him.
"You?" Ace asked.
"Yes me" Marco answered him. "And I know that father will accept you, and not make you leave, because he accepts me"
"I am not the only one?" Ace asked and at those words Marco laughed.
"No you are not the only one. And I know that it's scary figuring this out, trust me, I have been there. But you can talk with me, or any of the others if you feel like it. I mean they may not see what you see, but they will try to." Marco told him and Ace smiled.
"I thought you would all hate me" Ace said and Marco nodded.
"I know. But we would never hate you, especially for something like that" Marco told him. "So do you want to get out of here, or do you want to stay here a bit longer?"
"Can we stay a bit longer?" Ace asked and Marco nodded. "Thank you"
"Anytime, Ace" Marco only answered.
Ace had been so glad he had Marco, and also glad that Marco could stand all his ridicules questions. Back then they hadn't seemed ridicules, but now, well now he thought they was. But having Marco there, helped him. And it also made it easier for him to tell his brothers. Luffy hadn't care at all, saying he was still Ace, just like Ace knew he would. He had been more scared of telling Sabo, never knowing what his brother thought. But when he told him, very nervously, Sabo only laughed, and welcomed him to the club. Ace hadn't understood what Sabo had meant first, but when he did, he got surprised. He had never thought Sabo would be the same as him. Sabo only said he was surprised that Ace didn't figure it out earlier. Sabo had noticed that Ace was gay years ago, something Ace wasn't sure was true, but he had only thrown a pillow at Sabo, who had dodge it, and laughed as he ran away.
So sitting there, alone, or almost alone in the, almost dark room, he wished he had one of his brothers there at least. He knew that both Marco and Sabo would say that Smoker wasn't their type, but they would still understand. The other two had figured out their types years ago, but Ace had never figured out his. Maybe because he mostly took a liking for whoever he thought was hot, and didn't think about it. And maybe because he mostly did it for sex, not trying to find something for the longer run, something the other two did. And as he sat there, he could only think that Smoker was hot. Ace almost felt a shamed, thinking it about the man. Not that he was a shamed over being gay, no it was more like he felt like he took advantage. Smoker wasn't a wake and all Ace could think of was touching his abs, and licking them, and his lips.
How the hell, did I end up there? Ace asked himself as he leaned his head back and closed his eyes. You are so fucking strange, Portgas! Ace sighed, he felt like if he continued thinking this way, his thoughts would wonder someplace he preferred not to think of right now. Instead he tried to think of anything else, literally anything.
When Ace woke up, he saw that he was lying next to Smoker, his face against his bare chest, and one hand over it. Ace tried to think of how he had ended up there, when he saw that Smoker was awake.
"What are you doing brat?" he asked in a gruff voice. Ace blinked a few times.
"I have narcolepsy, I must have fallen asleep" Ace replayed, being the only thing he could think of, since the last thing he remembered doing, was thinking about Luffy's last birthday.
"Move" Smoker answered and Ace was about to be childish and stay put, but then he remembered that the other man was marine, and most likely could arrest him if he wanted. So Ace moved a bit, but still didn't get up, feeling to sleepy to do so. What surprised Ace was that Smoker hadn't moved him while he slept. Or arrested him, or even leave. Ace only wondered why? But felt like he couldn't ask, he didn't want to come out the wrong way, whatever that way was.
"Where am I?" Smoker asked and Ace looked at him.
"A place I know. You got hurt, and I didn't know where to bring you. Couldn't take you to my place, and I couldn't take you to your place either. Not wanting them to think I hurt you or something" Ace said, or arrest me, he added in his head. Smoker only nodded, and touched his head and shoulders. "Sorry, I am no good at patching up people, did what I could, but you need to make someone else cheek it out"
"Thanks" Smoker only said.
"Well not sure if thanks is the right word, since I dragged you into this mess" Ace said and Smoker looked at him.
"That is true" Smoker told him before his gaze returned to the celling. "Thought White Beard told his sons to be careful, but a brat like you may not listen"
"It wasn't my fault!" Ace defended himself, and Smoker only snorted. "It wasn't. They walked into our district and attacked me! Oh and well you. Wish I killed them!"
"Telling you want to kill someone in front of a marine isn't a smart move, brat" Smoker said and Ace gave him a cold glance. "But I wouldn't blame you if you did. Shitty people, all of Black Beards men are"
"Tell me something I don't know" Ace said.
"Where is my cigars?" Smoker asked after some moments of silence.
"Cigars?" Ace asked and Smoker gave him a look. "Don't give me a schooling look. I don't know where they are. Haven't seen them"
"Had them during the fight" Smoker said and Ace tried to remember if Smoker had any cigars, but he couldn't remember.
"Guess you lost them, when you fell. And I didn't bring them with us, I had other things to think off" Ace said and Smoker didn't say anything as he started to look for something in his clothes, Ace guess was that he looked for some spare ones, and he seemed to find two.
"Where is my lighter?" Smoker asked and Ace was about to answer that he didn't know. "You lost all my things, brat?"
"At least you are a live, old man!" Ace snapped at him, something that seemed to surprise Smoker for a second, before he laughed.
"Well guess I am, not sure if it's a relieve or not" Smoker said and Ace wasn't sure why he said it, so he didn't say anything about it.
"If you want fire I can help you" Ace said and lit his finger and Smoker nodded. Ace sat up, so he could lit Smoker's cigars, and soon the man took his first smoke.
As he did, something triggered Ace memories and he leaned forward.
"What are you doing?" Smoker asked as Ace was getting closer to his face.
"It's you!" Ace said and Smoker looked at him like he had lost his mind. "You are the one that saved me when I was a kid"
"You are Roger's son?" Smoker asked, not hiding his surprise, and Ace just nodded. "Huh, well what do you know, it's a small world"
"Well it's actually only a town, so of course it's small" Ace teased as he laid down again, and Smoker just snorted.
"I never thanked you back then" Ace said and Smoker looked at him.
"Didn't do it to get thanked. Just didn't sit well with me, killing children. And you were scared, so not that I expected a thanks" Smoker said and Ace just shrugged his shoulders.
"Not scared now, so thank you, fifteen years later" Ace said with a grin.
"Could say we are even" Smoker answered him and Ace nodded. They could say that.
"So will you be able to get back?" Ace asked and Smoker looked at him.
"Depends on wherefrom I am getting back" Smoker answered and Ace nodded.
"We are in the neutral district, with the market" he answered him and Smoker seemed to think about it.
"Then I should be able to get back without any problem" Smoker said.
"Sure? You don't need an escort?" Ace teased.
"From a shitty brat that runs away from his enemies, and let's the marines deal with them? No thanks" Smoker said, and Ace could hear that he actually tried to tease him back, but Ace didn't answer. Those words hurt, he knew he had run, and it wasn't a brave thing to do. And he had thought of just letting Smoker deal with Black Beard's men alone, but hearing it, hurt.
"Shit, I am sorry kid. Didn't mean it like that" Smoker said when Ace didn't respond.
"Doesn't matter how you meant it, it's the truth. I ran, just like I did when I was a kid" Ace said and was about to get up.
"Hey kid!" Smoker said and stopped him. "When you ran as a kid, it saved your life. Akainu would have killed you without thinking about it! And Black Beard's men! Well they were three to one, what should you have done? Fought them and died? Well then the shitty bastard would have gotten what he wanted. And my job is to deal with people like that!"
Ace looked at the older man, but didn't answer him and Smoker let go of him.
"Don't second guess yourself kid, you did the smart move!" Smoker said as Ace stood up.
"Almost got you killed" Ace said and Smoker laughed.
"Well everything almost gets me killed in this, shitty town." Smoker said and to that Ace could only smile.
"That's how it is" Ace said and Smoker nodded.
"I need to be going" Ace said and looked at Smoker. "Stay as long as you feel like"
"I will be going too" Smoker said and tried to stand, but Ace saw that he was a bit unsteady.
"Are you sure?" Ace asked.
"Can't be lying here, who knows what trap you have rigged for me" Smoker said and Ace just smiled this times.
"Yeah who knows. Maybe I am actually a part of Black Beard's gang, and they are waiting outside" he said, trying to joke. "Okay that wasn't funny. But you don't need to worry about any trap. I wouldn't have saved you if I just wanted to get you killed"
"Can't be sure of that. With all the crazy people out there, who knows what you are into, brat" Smoker said and Ace laughed.
"I am into guys, but that's not something that kills people" Ace confessed and Smoker gave him a look, before he just shook his head.
"Well glad to know, that it isn't something that will kill me" Smoker said as they started leaving the lair.
"I meant what I said, Thank you Portgas" Smoker said.
"Ace"
"Ace" Smoker said and Ace nodded happily.
"And it was nothing. Glad you didn't die, don't think pops would like if I let you die" Ace said and Smoker just snorted.
"That man is crazy" Smoker said and Ace laughed.
"He maybe, but he is the greatest man alive!" Ace said and Smoker just shook his head again as they stepped out to the empty streets.
"Take care" Ace said to Smoker as he started walking away.
"I should be the one saying that to you, shitty brat" Smoker said and Ace just smiled towards him.
"See you around" Ace said as he walked into the shadows and disappeared. Ace smiled, he had met the man that saved him when he was a kid, surprised that it was Smoker, but at the same time glad. Then he knew that someone good was leading the marines, not that he liked them more, but at least it wasn't filth as Akainu. And he also smiled because he had touched Smoker, and slept next to him. Not that it was intentional, but it had felt good, and Smoker was really soft. Ace laughed for himself as he walked into the base, making Marco and Thatch look strangely at him, before they walked after him, questioning on where the hell he had been!