Author's Note: The concept art is located on my deviantart page of the same username. I can't link on this website, but here's the back half of the url: slayqueen16/gallery/74343694/blacksmith All of you know who Silas is going to meet this chapter. *eyebrow wiggle*
Chapter Ten: Hello Alabasta
Handsome? Was she truly handsome as Silas? She wasn't typically seen as a beauty… handsome ideal. She was usually seen as some exotic thing that was either ignored or fetishized. As a man, however, she had several features deemed conventionally handsome. She had skinny boy abs, large biceps, and unreasonably strong forearms. Though, her facial features were soft, with a heart shape, and her lips were pouty which was typically seen as feminine. She liked those features though, and she liked them on men sometimes, depending on the man. She liked most of her appearance if she was honest. She came to terms with it when she compared her body to other women as a teenage girl or as a marine wife. She'd never be busty. And the truth of the matter was she liked existing as both separately. It was eye opening to be perceived as either a man or a woman. She didn't want to give up either one. She wouldn't mind a blend either. Queer was a term she heard, but it wasn't traditionally kind, and the label didn't quite fit.
"Look, it's a sea cat!"
Oooh.
Her stomach growled. She'd never eaten sea cat before, but she'd eat anything edible at this point. This starvation was dredging up some uncomfortable memories... It was sad that it was an almost familiar feeling, but it certainly didn't bring her comfort the way most nostalgia does.
When she stepped out of the cabin, she had to steady herself. The tell tale signs were setting in, and they weren't fun. She managed to kind of smith weapons with the metal given to her. She almost passed out one time and fell on the anvil. She called it quits that night.
"Almost fainted, Silas?" Zoro taunted.
"Yeah, and you didn't catch me," she teased back, feigning offense.
"Why would I want—" he stopped short and then collected himself. "Clearly, you've never fasted."
"Not willingly," she said casually.
"I understand that."
"Maybe, we'll eat you instead of the sea cat," Sanji said indifferently to her as he lit his cigarette.
She had to suck in her lips to keep her laughter and smile under wraps. If he knew what was actually between her legs, then he would not have said that. Well, he was a pervert, but he wasn't verbally disgusting. So, she doubted he would try that. Most of the things he said to women were of the dreamy romantic sort drowned with sexual desire. It wasn't her particular flavor, but she wasn't the one who said he wanted to eat her, now did she?
Some of the laughter escaped, and she had to cover her mouth because it was suspicious, so she excused herself without words. She stood by the rail and managed to get a look at the sinking sea cat before it was totally gone and recover from the laughter.
"Look, it's Baroque Works ships," she said, pointing at the horizon where the fog cleared.
Usopp, Chopper, and Nami winced. In the short amount of time she's known them, she would consider them the scaredy cats of the Straw Hats. She didn't even mean to rhyme, but there you go. Nothing wrong with being scared though. It was probably smarter to live life a little more cautious considering pirates usually have a limited shelf life unless you've got a talented crew. Silas felt as if she was on borrowed time and should live her life to the fullest now rather than later. How long could she continue pirating without consequences? Consequences always came.
Zoro, on the other hand, reminded her of herself a little. He was excited and a little unhinged if the Cheshire grin was any indication. She could feel it too, and her face almost hurt, she was so excited. She wasn't itching to fight per say, but she wanted to try out her new weapons. Mostly, she was going mad with hunger.
"We need to be careful. That Bon Clay guy can look like any of us," Usopp said. "Let's tie an arm band to let us know we're a Straw Hat."
It's been a long time since she was a part of a group. She had trouble connecting in a group setting since she felt as if she had to hold back the more unflattering parts of her personality. She did better with individuals, but the Straw Hats were the fit for the misfits. Everyone was wildly different: raccoon-boy who's a doctor, a perverted cook who only fights with his feet, a drunken swordsman who's sense of direction is skewed, a hyper dumb rubber-boy, a cowardly fabulist, a thieving money-obsessed navigator, and a rogue princess. Fun group. And now she was a part of it, for now. She wanted to keep her distance because she felt as if it wasn't going to last which hurt. Badly.
Silas wrapped hers around her forearm since she had bracelets on her upper arms. She pulled it tight with her teeth.
"Was that clone-clone guy really that good?" Sanji asked.
"He was perfect," Silas said, wiping her eyes for show and drama. "He's a perfect camp queen."
"Camp queen? Sounds like a freak to me," Sanji said dismissively.
"Sounds like you're jealous you didn't get to see him," Silas teased. "He was quite the entertainer and charmer. You could learn a few things from him."
Immediately, Sanji rose to the bait. Good, she was tired of people calling gender non-conformist freaks or okama. It was a slur that many in the community are trying to reclaim, but so many outside of the community still used it as a slur. Specifically, it referred to foppish gay men, drag queens, and trans women as one in the same. It was so wrong. They're all very different identities, and she was tired of the dismissal and misinformation. Call her a freak instead. She knew she was one.
"What do you mean by that Silas?" Sanji said, getting in her face, clearly looking for a fight.
"I'm saying Bon Clay is way more charming than you, curly. Was that not implied?" she teased, feeling the mischievousness coming in through her expression and especially her eyes. No one said it to her face, but she knew she unnerved people at times. She could see it in their eyes since they never lied.
"You just liked him because he called you handsome," Usopp said, looking pickled.
"How dare you say something completely true," Silas chuckled softly with him.
"He called you handsome?" Sanji said, laughing airily as he lit a cigarette in his mouth. "Is he blind?"
"I don't know. You're the one who looked at my ass the other day, so why don't you tell the whole class if I'm handsome or not?" she teased.
Everyone turned around to face them. And, Sanji (she actually felt kind of bad for bringing it up) was beet red and mortified. He valued himself as a straight man who hates men, so to joke he was attracted to someone who presented as a man was quite a wound to his ego. For some reason, many straight cis men couldn't handle the possibility that they could find another man attractive even platonically. It didn't mean anything. She meant that when he looked at her ass that day: ass is ass, so it doesn't have to mean anything unless he wants it to. Everyone has an ass. He may not know she was born a woman, but she knew whenever a man called her or any woman ugly it was because he was trying to recover a bruised ego. Usually, the bruised ego was from rejection, but in this case it was her showing him up as a so-called lady's man.
"I DID NOT, YOU—"
"Ooh, look, land is close," she said, turning around just in time to miss a kick to the face.
She turned around again to see if the others were paying attention. Sanji was on the floor, having put his all in a missed kick and lost his balance. She ignored him and looked to the other Straw Hats. They seemed to be growing excited now, and she saw a wild look in Zoro's eyes. She could feel that. She'd been itching to test out her new weapons.
"No matter what happens, this arm band shows our solidarity," Luffy said, putting his arm forward.
All of them did so, putting their fists together. She felt Zoro and Sanji scowling at her, and she smiled wickedly. Picking on them was way too much fun. She didn't hold any contempt for either of them. She felt as if they found her as a potential threat of their own personal brand of masculinity. Zoro was detached and stoic except when it came to anger for some reason. Sanji was chivalrous and held a code of honor who fancied himself a gentleman despite being a raging pervert. Then, there was Silas: a trollish, intelligent himbo. She was beginning to understand why she appealed to women now despite not trying….
Neither interpretations were wrong. She just found it hilarious that they wished to compete with her as if she cared about a winner. She did it for the laughs, but she never took it seriously. She knew these boys took it seriously though, and she could tell it completely enraged them that she didn't seem to care when they tried verbal or physical violence to get a rise out of her and prove something to themselves. Silas didn't have anything to prove. She knew who she was, and the fact that she was winning effortlessly in this male competition thingy while not identifying as a man was amusing to no end.
"Agreed. Let's save Vivi's country," she said, giving the princess a smile.
Vivi blushed and looked away. It was cute, and it was funny when she felt Sanji's anger from all the way over here in their circle.
"We'll have to be cautious and tough," Zoro interupted.
Chopper made a nervous sound. She picked him up without care as the little raccoon squirmed at being held. She patted his back gently without a change of expression.
"If it ever gets scary, just run away," Usopp said to Chopper.
"I believe in you," Silas said, giving him a small smile. "I believe you can be brave one day."
Usopp blushed and spluttered, looking away and crossing his arms. He muttered something as she continued to smile and now laugh at his over the top reaction.
"I-I am not Vivi or Nami!" Usopp said, stamping his foot and still blushing furiously.
"Okay."
She then put Chopper down before hopping over the rail and onto Alabasta soil. The hunger fueled her to find a restaurant, bar, grocery store, anything that sold food. She ended up at the Hamsa Hops. Cute name. She sat at the bar and immediately ordered whatever food they had in stock and arak. Then, she ate and drank like a king.
My, how this has become a frequent thing for her. Even before leaving Logue Town, she would stop by. With practice, she threw a shot back and shuddered at the strong liquor. The ability to care that this was a norm for her diminished significantly.
She was brought out of her thoughts when someone sat down next to her. She was curious as to who would.
From the side, she openly looked him up and down. The alcohol was to blame, of course. Normally, she wasn't so obvious, but normally she didn't see such attractive men on the regular either. It seemed shirts were forbidden for him which was fine by her. He was cut like a god after all. He had two tattoos: a large purple cross with a white mustache on his back and a word spelling out Asce with the 's' crossed out on his upper arm. An orange hat with smiling and frowning beads covered a head of black hair. His skin was a flawless beige including freckles along his cheekbones. His eyes were dark. Truly, he was gorgeous.
He cleared his throat, and immediately she looked away. It felt as if her face was on fire as mortification set in. What was wrong with her? It had been awhile since she lived the single life, and she was kinda drunk and left her husband, but this was ridiculous. She was being ridiculous, and he probably thought she was gross. After all, she was presenting as a man, and homophobia was a real thing. Shit.
Get a hold of yourself.
"Hey, you're kind of cute when you blush," he said.
It felt as if she was going to spontaneously combust. Was she not passing as a man right now? Did he see through her disguise, or was he into men? It peaked her curiosity and embarrassment simultaneously.
She let out a huff of breath out of her lungs and straightened stiffly. "D-don't say things like that," she said, making sure she was using her man voice, as she tucked a loose lock of hair behind her ear. She had to hold back saying 'I'm a married woman'.
He chuckled as she watched him from the corner of her eye. He didn't seem nonplussed like she was. He seemed totally at ease flirting with a married woman. Wait, she was on the outs with Smoker, and she was Silas right now. So, he was comfortable with hitting on a man. Interesting.
"You're interesting," he said.
She took another shot of arak to calm her nerves. It somewhat worked. Her heart was still racing like she was a school girl with a crush. She hadn't felt it in awhile. She forgot how to act right.
She straightened up and chanced a glance at him as she said, "Am I?" She was trying to be playful and brush it off like she normally did.
The bartender walked over and the man said, "Get me a double."
"What's your name? It's Ace, right?" she asked, gesturing to the tattoo on his arm.
"Yeah, what's yours?"
"Silas."
They took a shot at the same time. The burn down her throat relaxed her nerves more. She was loosening up rapidly. It should worry her, but her being flustered over a hot guy was silly. And, she needed it.
She couldn't help herself. "Do you really think I'm cute?" she grumbled, unable to keep a straight face.
"Why would I lie?" he said amusedly. "You're even cuter when you angry pout."
Her face felt hotter, and it wasn't just the alcohol to blame. This guy was shameless in an innocently honest way. It seemed she was going from one extreme to the other. Her husband (ex-husband?) was cold, distant, efficient, only showing glimpses of affection. Ace, on the hand, was warm, openly into her, and affectionate – at least verbally. She couldn't recount a time when she was openly hit on without being creeped out. She would usually have to be the one to initiate it with a guy who wasn't horrible. Good men were hard to find, and oftentimes, they were too good to be true.
"You're shameless," she said, feeling her voice crack as she tried to straighten up and not be bothered.
He was too handsome and again she was too drunk for this. Somebody come get her. She was embarrassing herself badly.
"Not interested?"
"No, it's not that. I recently left my spouse," she said, choosing honesty. "It's a little too soon for me."
"That makes sense," he said, taking a swig. "Is that why you're here? Trying to forget about him?"
"Aren't you enlightened?" she said playfully, getting some of her mojo back.
Now that she was kind of drunk it was far easier to talk to him. Ace was so attractive, cool, and flirted in such a casual way she couldn't imagine somebody not being entranced by him. Was this what she did to the girls in the crew? Surely, she wasn't seen as handsome as him. This was karma for sure. He caught her drunk and was effortlessly charming while she was on the rocks with her marine husband she left for a bunch of pirates. She was a terrible person; she was convinced.
She was about to say something, but the door opened to the bar. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw who entered the bar. And, of course, just her luck, it was her ex-husband. He hadn't spotted them yet across the expansive room. She immediately vaulted over the bar and crouched out of view like a reflex.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Ace said, somewhat amused.
"My husband I left just came in," she hissed, terrified. "Don't let him know I'm here!"
"Seriously?"
"Yes. Now, shush!"
He laughed softly, and damn it was smooth.
"Portgaz D. Ace, Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates," she heard her husband's deep voice say.
Mix the alcohol and guilt of leaving him and you've got Silas with a scratchy throat and watery eyed.
Wait, did he say Whitebeard? Oh, that's why that cross and mustache tattooed on his back was familiar. She was just too drunk on that strong as hell liquor and flattered by such a handsome man to really put two and two together. Damn, she bet the other marine wives have never had this happen. She had to keep from laughing by covering her mouth.
"Here to arrest me?"
"I'm not here for you. I'm… for… actually…"
As she was sneaking away, the conversation was getting harder and harder to hear. She wasn't ready to face him, so she gave the chef her best smile as she used the back door where the back alley and dumpsters were. She then took off at a full run, hearing a loud blast behind her.
"Shit," she said, feeling guilt sit in her chest.
She was across town, panting harshly. The people of Nanohana were looking at her with concern in their eyes. She couldn't blame them. She was running around like a psycho, looked like a pirate, and was a stranger in this small port town. She gave a smile as she caught her breath eventually. They eventually turned away and went about their day.
She would have to do better in blending in with this society. Marines were loitering not excluding Smoker, and she was not ready for that. As she looked through the shops along the sandy road and past the table kiosks filled with various perfumes and other products she didn't have a name for, she found a clothing boutique.
Suddenly, an old man with a hookah pipe gestured to her with a golden apple. She looked at it curiously.
"This apple can grant you immortality. If you give me a 100,000 beli, you'll live forever with just one bite, you man," he told her.
"I'm not into that kind of thing," she said.
She then stepped into the store, and her eyes immediately came across the perfect piece. An elated sigh escaped her, and a big smile stretched across her face. It was a pair of harem pants patterned with peacock feathers; a green tube top; a black and gold criss-cross patterned shawl with red on the inside; a red turban with the blue, green and yellow feathers coming out of it. It was beautiful and brought up feelings of nostalgia. There, she'd blend in and show off her abs while also being stylish.
It was a win-win for her. She stepped out of the boutique feeling better disguised. People screamed in terror as she took a seat on a bench, turning away and thankful that her pink-white hair was hidden for the most part underneath the turban. She pretended to be busy with something, keeping her head down as she felt her heart race in her chest. What if he did recognize her either as his wife or the pirate she's been hanging with? What could she do? What could she say? What—
"Hey," she heard, jarring her for a moment.
She then relaxed and looked at the guy at the bar. Damn, he was even better looking in the sunlight instead of the low light inside. Why was he hitting on her? She could see it in his eyes and face that he wasn't being deceptive and making fun of her. She had a feeling he was incapable of it.
"Hey," she returned. "So, you fought my estranged husband… is he still alive?"
He said, "Yeah, he's alive. I won."
"Any reason in particular that you fought him?" she said, feeling some of the playfulness come back. She still couldn't look him in the eyes. He was too bright and pretty like the sun.
"I never run from a fight. Besides, I can't resist saving a cute girl like you."
Her face felt like it was on fire immediately again. He was innocent and effortlessly charismatic. This was karma for sure. She just couldn't with this man.
"Thank you, I— wait, how do you figure out that I'm a woman?"
"I kind of guessed when I saw you, but I wasn't sure, and then your husband said he was looking for his wife who was kidnapped by a pirate."
Oh.
Oh, he was the first to admit his suspicions. Oftentimes, she wondered if some straight men were suspicious of her born sex when she was Silas given some of the looks she gets, but it could be bullshit. Either way, the idea of him being attracted to her, however she presented was appealing.
"That… makes sense," she said shrugging.
"What do you normally go by?"
"Don't tell anyone," she said, looking around. They were alone.
"Of course," he said, giving her a grin that strongly reminded her of her captain.
"Sienna."
He gave her a smile, and she couldn't stare too long due to its brilliance. When she looked away, she saw the Straw Hat flag flying and moving steadily away. Oh shit. She lingered too long.
"Uh, I've got to go!"
She dashed out of there, feeling the wind clear her thoughts better. She got to the docks, catching up quickly. With a leap, she grasped the rope and flipped backwards onto her toes on the deck. She then bowed, laughing quietly to herself. She heard claps from some of the crew members.
"Nice landing," she heard Ace's voice behind her again.
She startled for a moment and turned around. He was crouched along the rale with a smile on his face. Did he follow her? What's with this guy? Was he determined in politely pursuing her?
"Oh, the cute guy from the bar is a part of my little brother's crew?" he said with a pleasantly surprised look on his face.
"Cute guy?!" the Straw Hats exclaimed sans Luffy who just looked happy to see his brother again.
Immediately, she felt her cheeks heat up at the casual compliment. Even sober, it was far too embarrassing, and he was far too attractive to be into her.
"Hi again," she said, having to force her man-voice, regaining some of her cool again.
"Yeah, he's cute," Nami and Vivi concluded in agreement with thoughtful expressions upon their faces.
Her face just felt hotter under the attention. It felt as if steam was coming out of her ears like a tea kettle. Truly, it felt as if she was about to boil over and die of embarrassment and flattery. It had been a long time since so many people called her cute. Her husband didn't call her cute when they were together, and no one would dare hit on a high ranking marine's wife in LogueTown. Also, presenting as a man was so new she wasn't used to the other side of that coin.
"No, my lovely ladies are calling him cute?!" Sanji exclaimed incredulously, angrily.
"I don't get it either," she said, closing her eyes and putting a hand on her forehead.
Everyone laughed except for Sanji. It was with her she knew. She was one that made the joke after all. However, it still felt like she was being dunked on today. Her husband came to this island after them because she left him without a word, and the guy who was hitting on her had to fend him off for all of them to make their escape. Pathetic, wasn't it?
"Why don't you all join the Whitebeard Pirates. You'll be welcomed."
Whitebeard? Roger's rival when he was alive, right? Hmm, she heard a skewed version about him through the marines. She was certain she wasn't getting the full picture.
"No thanks," Luffy said casually.
Figures.
"I thought I'd ask," Ace shrugged. "He's going to become the Pirate King, not you, Luffy."
"I guess that means we're going to fight."
She didn't understand the appeal of becoming Pirate King. It just put a giant target on whoever took up the mantle. She wondered what kind of power and privilege did it grant. She wasn't interested in it for herself, just curious.
"Here," he said, throwing a piece of paper at Luffy.
"What's this?"
"It'll make it easier for us to meet again, and hopefully you'll bring Silas along," he said, giving her a playful wink and smile. Her face felt hot again. "Keep it forever and safe."
She curiously looked over and stared at the paper given to him. It sort of looked familiar. Hmm, it must be a piece of Ace's Vivre Card. He must really love and trust Luffy.
"It's nice to meet you all. Thank you for taking care of my little brother," he said, bowing.
"So polite," everyone but Luffy and Ace murmured in awe.
"I have to go."
He then leapt from the ship down onto his small boat. She didn't want to see him go despite the fact that she really shouldn't enjoy the flirting from someone who wasn't Smoker.
"Where are you going?" Silas asked, trying to keep the disappointment out of her voice.
"I'm taking care of the marine ships."
His grin was brilliant.
"To think Luffy would have an intelligent and polite older brother," Nami said incredulously.
"I was expecting another Luffy," Usopp said.
"He's an awesome older brother," Zoro said.
"And he's into Silas," Chopper said, sounding as surprised as she was.
"He doesn't have any taste," Sanji said.
She just smirked and chuckled quietly to herself. He was just too obvious.
They watched as Ace sailed towards the ships, and he flipped through the air in a fiery form. So he was a logia type. Another wave of guilt hit her. Her husband was a logia type with smoke instead of fire obviously. Damn, her and logia types were becoming a thing, huh? He blasted away the marine ships that Smoker wasn't a part of with zero effort, and she understood why Whitebeard had him as a second division commander.
He then hopped back onto the ship, and she was glad he chose to stay. She probably shouldn't, but she knew she was already a terrible person.
Author's Note: It may not be manga canon, but more Ace is always appreciated. And, it cracks me up to no end that Silas is so flattered and thrown off by Ace being a charming flirt.
