"He won! That's Kuzan sama for you!"
"What is my life right now? Ann couldn't help but ponder perturbed as next she knew she was wandering through the desert with the ice ma by her side, blanking out the marines whining behind the two.
"…You doing okay?" Ann couldn't help but ask eyeing the ice man.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Befuddled, he looks down at her the marines trailing behind the two.
"You are an iceman." Ann deadpans.
"I'm fine." Firmly, he answers as he stares ahead.
"…Right. Um thanks by the way…" Ann sighs softly.
"What for?" Kuzan stares down at the girl simply staring ahead.
"Doing the signatures." Simply, she shrugs.
"Like you said it's my job." Kuzan reminds her.
"And for giving me the bed." Ann sighs softly bowing her head.
"It is your room." Resolved, Kuzan admits.
"So you admit it!" Ann accuses pointing at the tall, towering figure not eve batting an eye to her as next they knew, the tow perk up at the tremor and…
"Kuzan sama help up!" A marine scared screeches as they turn towards the Sandora Lizard.
"Ann-sama help!" Scared, another Marie cries as the purple lizard tries to dive at them, trying to eat the whole however…
"…Hm?" Together, the two-turn quirking their head to the side humming.
"Don't worry, I have a few knives up my sleeve." Smirking, Ann draws out her blade but…
"I think you mean cards" Calmly, Kuzan furrows his brow down at Ann.
"No, I do not." Ann answers as she swings said blade into the open air as a sharp slash of electricity hit however as it goes to do so…
"Ice age!" Kuzan slams said foot down, developing the beast as its swiftly slices down by Ann's arc cutting the beast in half.
"…I had that." Tense, Ann scowls at Kuzan.
"Sure you did." Dubiously, Kuzan remarks turning on his heel.
"Urgh...Hey Kuzan." Ann calls out to him smirking.
"What?" Kuzan turns his head.
"Whaddya call a fish with no eye?" Ann asks attempting to break the still silence between both of them.
"Myxine Circifrons" Kuzan robotically responds taking Ann aback.
"Fsh…" Ann squeaks out glancing to the side sheepishly.
"..." Silently, Kuzan stares ahead as Ann's hue twitches tense, trying to break the still silence between both of them.
"That was funny!" Frowning, Ann argues annoyed at the stoic stone-faced Kuzan.
"It really wasn't." Kuzan deadpans.
"Oh and you would know?" Ann scoffs.
"We're setting up camp we will use the meat form the beast alright?" Kuzan blanks Ann out.
"Yes sir!" The marines chorus as Ann's hue twitches tiredly as they set up camp…
"Come on…stupid…" Seething, Smokey scowls, staring down at the flint in his hand, his matches having betrayed him, his hue twitching tense tiredly glaring glowering at the bundle of sticks, paper and smoke, he had collected from his resources as the rest of the marines sit around him, hopeful for some semblance of heat of warmth of light as they sit around the cave of sorts, the ice cold chill of the desert light getting to the best of many marines huddling together trying to keep warm…
"Shouldn't you help him?" Sighing, Ann hints furrowing her brow as she turns her head towards the fool she had her back to, sat down around the attempt of a fire, glaring at the sleeping state of Kuzan, a part of Ann unable to watch such a pitiful sight any longer.
"He won't learn if I do it." Lazily, he turns his back to her, his coat folded up as a pillow of sorts for him with one of the blankets handed out draped over him.
"That's your excuse?" Agitated, Ann's brow twitches tiredly at him.
"…" Silently, said male simply stares at her before slowly sliding his mask down.
"Oh course it bloody is, oi Smokey." Scowling, Ann stands straightening up as she approaches the sorry state of Smoker.
"What?" Smoker growls glaring, his cigar swiftly snapped between his teeth unlit, his last match attempt at ignoring it but failing feebly much to his horror.
"Looks like Hina isn't here to bail you out." Amused, Ann teases trying to cheer up the sorry state of Smoker but…
"Piss off Ann." Aggravated, said smoker shoots her the middle finger.
"…Lovely. Just don't say I didn't do you any favours." Frowning, Ann places her hand upon her sheath startling a fair few familiar with the blade.
"Why are you drawing out your sword?" Smoker scowls as those immediately lurch back, making distance from their leader confusing the other marines.
"Just watch moron…" Ann huffs slowly unsheathing said blade.
"Eeep! Guys get away!" Anxiously, the group of marines far from their leader try to warn the others but…
"Eh what do you mean?" Mystified, one of the marines ponder perplexed.
"Captain Ann although great with her blade her control of Nioci is…" Anxiously, one of the marines try to explain but…
"AHH!" The suddenly sharp spark of blue comes crashing down alarming everyone but the sleeping state of Kuzan continuing to sleep…
"Fickle." The marine squeaks out staring at the scorched state of the black soot Ann coughing smoke of black out of her electrified state surprising many that she were still breathing from such a devastating blow…many seeing where the title of monster was coming from…
"You trying to get yourself killed!?" Snarling, Smoker scowls at the moron, blinking a fair few times, not even batting an eye to the crisp coal smoke spewing out of her lips.
"Wow Ann thanks for the fire no problem Smokey anytime." Ann sneers snippily at the scowling Smoker.
"You could have gotten us killed!" Seething, Smoker accuses angrily.
"We're in a desert." Deadpanned, Ann crosses her arms over her chest.
"So!?" Smoker challenges confusing Ann.
"…Do…do I need to explain common sense to you? " Ann asks astonished that she would have to explain something so basic…
"Tch…" Smoker growls turning on his heel.
"Ah come on Smokey don't pout you'll get it next time." Teasingly, she smirks watching said smoker plop himself down brooding…
"You just can't leave them to it can ya?" Coolly, Kuzan sighs softly sleeping mask still on from his pocket.
"Sorry if I actually care about my men." Annoyed, Ann huffs sitting herself down back still turned to Kuzan.
"You're smothering them." Tiredly, Kuzan tells her, her hues narrowing at his words.
"And you're doing nothing for them!" Tense, Ann snaps back brow furrowed fuming at the lazy bones.
"They won't learn." Kuzan simply shrugs.
"And they'll die if we don't teach them." Ann reminds him.
"They can teach themselves." Kuzan responds.
"They'll-no you know what screw it I ain't having this talk with you just go back to sleep." Scowling, Ann stops herself brow furrowed fuming.
"Fine by me." Kuzan shrugs returning back to his nap.
"Say Ann san that blade where did you get it from?" One of the marines asks intrigued.
"This bad boy, I got it from the new world." Ann answers as she shows said blade to them.
"The new world!?" The marines perk up at it.
"What's it like there? Is it as rough as they say?" Surprised, one of the marines ponder.
"It could be but if you were with the right people you'd be fine man the grand line was amazing though." Ann recalls fondly.
"Really? You'd think you'll settle there someday?" Smirking, one of the marines exclaims.
"Settle huh…maybe though I don't really know if I ever will settle…" Smirking, she admits.
"You settle? I don't think anyone could handle settling with a psycho like you." Smoker hollers from the back.
"Love you too Smokey." Amused, Ann smirks back at the brooding mess.
"S-So cold…" The marine mutters shaking, quivering quaking while huddling together, a blanket draped over the shared comrades.
"Guys stay close together, your body heat should help with the desert temperature." Truthfully, Ann advises the soldiers.
"Y-Yes A-Ann sama!" Smiling said lovestruck marines agree huddling together.
"Ann sama we have a problem!" Worriedly, one of the marines query.
"What is it?" Ann turns to furrow her brow at a marine.
"It seems we don't have enough blankets." A marine frets.
"That so…you guys can have my one, share amongst yourselves." Aloofly, Ann orders.
"A-Ann sama!" Touched, the marines whimper weakly.
"You sure? You going to be alright?" Smoker furrows his brow at her.
"Course this is nothing on me now rest up, we got a big day tomorrow." Ann assures the frowning Smoker scowling.
"But you need to sleep…" Smoker scowls.
"Hey who's in charge here." Sternly, she reminds Smoker.
"I am." The two perk up at the low groan.
"Oh now you speak." Scowling, she turns to glare glower at the supposed sleeping figure.
"I am the one in charge." Calmly, he reminds the scowling Ann.
"You could start acting like it then." Tense, Ann argues annoyed.
"And you could snuff out that flame it's making it hard to sleep." Sternly, Kuzan grumbles glaring.
"And have our men be lost to the cold? Not all of us are ice men you know?" Angry, Ann argues.
"…" Silently, said male simply stares back brow furrowed at her.
Is sleeping your only retort tch…?! Asshole…Aggravated, Ann internally curses cross.
Shaking, Ann swore she could feel her tense teeth chatter, clash against one another as she grits grinds her teeth together trying to combat the fierce frigid weather of the desert night sky staring up at the sky's strangely enough bringing some sense of comfort of familiarity as she would recall her adventure aboard the ship simply staring at the stars would help lull her to sleep, she didn't know why it did but it did…
"Think you could keep it down? I can hear your teeth chattering all the way here." Haughty, Kuzan grumbles glaring at Ann.
"And I could hear your loud snores from all the way here and yet you don't hear me complaining!" Cross, Ann retorts.
"You really are stubborn…" Sighing, said male stands upright grumbling, bowing his head, his head to the side of his head tousling it.
"Eh?" Astonished, Ann's hues widen when he stands up straight leaning against the stone wall.
"Just get over here." Huffing, he drapes his arm over her bringing her into a side hug of sorts startling said girl.
"Excuse you?" Red faced, the girl glares up at the man simply scratching the side of his head unfazed by her fuming flustered face.
"Look you're going to freeze to death." Deadpanned, Kuzan states the fact firmly.
"I've handled the new world I can handle this." Tiredly, Ann grumbles glaring to the side not brushing the arm off.
"Just because you've been there doesn't mean you can handle everything." Kuzan sighs softly draping the blanket over her, the two-sharing said blanket.
"Is that a challenge?" Cross, Ann glares at the bored Kuzan.
"Smoker really was right about you." Kuzan grumbles scratching the back of his head.
"And what would that be?" Ann scowls at Kuzan.
"I feel sorry for the sorry sod who has to settle with someone as stubborn as you." Kuzan states the fact firmly.
"And I feel sorry for the sorry sod who has to settle with someone sleeping all the time!" Tiredly, Ann grumbles glaring lightly at him.
"Guess we can both feel sorry together then." Kuzan brings her closer to his side leaning back against the wall.
"O-Oi!" Blushing, Ann glares glowers up at the unfazed Kuzan.
"Stop complaining." Kuzan huffs leaning back against the wall with Ann joining him nuzzles into her side.
"Watch your hands got it!? I'll kill you if your hand goes lower you hear me!?" Mad, she warms glaring playfully at him.
"I hear ya, I hear ya…" Huffing, he brings her close as next Ann knew, her hues felt heavy feeling a strange sense of comfort. She leans into his side, nuzzling his chest, his head on top of her own as she descends down into the dark depths of her sleep…
"Roger's era is over we must eradicate all traces of his bloodline…"
Brow furrowed, the young girl adjusts the snow white cap labelled marine on top of her hair, her long locks of her pink ponytail being tied down by the ruby red band. She scowls down at the floorboard below, bubbles of foam smoothly squashed by the mop in her hand cleaning the floorboards below brow furrowed from the marine man going about his day unaware of her grim girted teeth tense tirelessly continuing her so called training….
"Five children were born this month."
Surprised, said girl jolts up at the man's words while she finishes said race, sweat sliding down her tense temple but she remains firm in her stance scowling ahead as the grown ass men older than her falling flat to their knees, to the ground their tongues out waggling, barely in the world while the girl arches a brow by the grown ass men below her…
"Kill any mother who seems suspicious…"
Scared, said girl jolts up at the news as she leans against the wall while listening in to the men mortified, noting the bottled boozes in their hands, her grip tightens around the flintlock in her hand, watching the men fire said guns, noting the many marks littered about the outer rim of the target, some barely eve nicking said target. She scowls at the blonde boy fumbling about with said gun, clumsily catching it looking anxiously at it with his fidgeting fingertips.
The girl doesn't bat an eye at it as she steps forward, with one arm aiming it as she ignores her trigger finger taunting her, telling her to shoot at the loud mouths at the murderers feeling her blood boil as next she knew, the blonde by her side gasps as a stray shot echoes alarming everyone diving down to hide as the young girl grins slightly smirking firing at the booze bottles in the older marine's hands, hitting them, startling scaring them when seeing said shards scatter, terrifying the older recruits…
"The following are expected to give birth next month…"
Quietly, the blonde boy shakes as he finds himself in the corner, staring shakily up at the older smirking boys before him, grabbing him by the collar, shaking him as a certain pink haired girl peers in, brow furrowed from the sight as next the group of boys knew…
Easily, the pink haired girl stands over the battered, beaten, bruised broken men, blood seeping out of their cracked crush skulls as she simply smirks down at them, the blonde boy before her shaking, quivering, quaking while she doesn't even bat an eye to it leaving the boy alone in the alleyway while her hands seep scarlet.
"Investigate those with husbands too it could be a bluff!"
Quietly, the young girl easily assembles her gun, brow furrowing from the strange sound by her side, seeing the blonde boy from before attempting to assemble said gun but his fidgeting fingertips struggle to do so. Curious, the young girl peers behind the two towards their instructor talking to another marine as she approaches the panicking boy, sniffling slightly as the other marines in training snicker at the sight sad of said boy but the soft hand on his stops him.
Sniffling, said boy perks up at the sight of the pink haired girl easily assembling his gun startling said boy but beofre he could even utter a small thanks, the instructor returns, time being up as he looks over at the models, his hues widening when next he knew, his gun was being held by the instructor ordering the marines to follow said example as the young girl simply stares ahead in a world of her own almost…
"There are no more pregnant women here. It's been ten months since Roger's capture maybe there was no child after all?" A admiral wonders while looking over at the report oblivious to the pink haired girl listening in leaning against the wall through the darkened streets of the hall, the only light there being the gas lamp the man holds in the rather secretive meeting, the elites converse amongst each other.
"So Roger's age is really over then?" The marine soldier says surprised as her hues narrow noting the footstep from the side scowling at the familiar footstep.
"…Are you finally ready to tell me where she is now kid?" The tall towering marine hero towers over the girl breaking curfew however while most would freeze flinch, scream even terrified of the man above she silently stares back bored almost at the sheer sight of him.
"….On one condition." Softly, she whispers back, her hues glaring glowering into his as next he knew…
Quietly, the two make it to the top of the hill, Garp holding a lantern as the stars shimmer shine down upon the town of Loguetown, a ship in the distance but no soldiers spewing out of it as the two make their way into the hospital…
"Stop!" The doctor cries clinging to Garp side trying to stop the marine hero however he easily pushes the man back, swiftly slamming the door open as the two stand before the bedridden woman, holding her hand shielding her hues from the bright blare of the lamp.
"Mom!" Worriedly, the pink haired girl rushes over to the bedridden side, concern clear on her furrowed features, the firm façade of coldness she once wore broken before the marine hero just from the sheer sight of the woman with similar features to the young girl rushing into her mother's arms.
"…Ann…my baby Ann." The woman weakly smiles softly at the teary-eyed girl.
"Mama…" Ann whimpers weakly, it had been so long since she last saw her mother, her heart ached seared from the sad sight of her mother…she wanted to stay by her side but she knew with her wanted poster and with her father's wishes she had to do what he ordered even if it meant separating herself from her mother and future sibling, she had to do it for their safety…
"You've grown into such a beautiful girl." Softly, she smiles cupping her daughter's had seeing so much of her from her freckles to her hair to even her hues but she could still see Roger within her little one…
"You're Portgas D. Rouge aren't you?" Garp breaks the reunion between both mother and daughter.
"I'm sorry I tried to keep away but…" Apologetically, Ann bows her head to her mother mortified, she tried to be strong but with the reports, she thought, she knew, she had to see her, see them both…
"You played your part perfectly sweetheart." The tender peck of her temple takes Ann aback as she snaps out of her sniffling turning to look up at the soft serene smile of her mother.
"Mother…" Ann begins but soon gasps when next she knew, her mother soon sharply inhaled as she held her mother's hand as the doctor rushed in, helping her deliver the little girl's future sibling…
"If we had a girl…it would be Ann if we had a boy…it would be Ace. That's what he decided." Lovingly, Rouge holds her baby boy in her arms as Ann stares stunned at the crying child before her.
"…Mom…" Anguished, Ann steps forward furrowing her brow at her mother concern clear on her face noting the stench of iron hanging heavily in the air as she spots scarlet smears across the linen startled smeared sheets.
"Come meet your baby brother…Ann." Rouge smiles softly at her daughter, shyly stepping forward approaching the baby bundle in her mother's arms screaming, crying his heart out…
"My brother…wow." Awestruck, Ann stares down at her baby brother spotting a set of familiar freckles already on the boy bringing a bright broad grin to Ann's lips at the sight.
"This child's name is Gol D. Ace. Take care of him okay?" Rouge tells Ann her hues widening when feeling her mother take her hand softly squeezing it.
"Mama…" Ann furrows her brow at her mother.
"His child…and mine…Ace…" Smiling, she places her temple to her son's head, softly shrugging the child nuzzling her cheek into the side of the baby boy as before Ann knew it, her mother's hand went limp in her own. Alarmed, Ann grabs the baby bundle, her ears ringing from his crying as next she knew…the flower freely falls from her mother's hair.
"Rouge!" The doctor rushed over.
"Rouge hang in there!" The nurse joins in.
"M-Mom?" Ann whispers weakly, her hues dilating, dread freely falling from her as her baby brother cries to the high heavens as she notes the coldness of her mother's hand and yet she smiles, so sweetly at the crushed children…
"Take care of him Ann…" Softly, she smiles at her, her hues slowly sliding shut as her hand soon goes limp in her hand, turning to ice…
"M-Mom? MOM!" Wailing, Ann soon screams tears freely falling, her voice cracking breaking before her as next she knew…
"…We have to go." Garp's stern strict voice snaps Ann out of her thoughts holding her baby brother in her arms, his cries ceasing curling into the young girl's arms as she holds him, the two outside the hospital, the evening sun shining glowing gold…
"…I know." The young girl's grip tightens around the baby bundle in her arms.
"…" Garp tries to reach for the baby boy but…
"Don't." The girl growls glaring, a wave of haki hitting the unfazed man.
"Ann….you can't take care of him not now." Garp reminds the young child clinging to her baby brother.
"I know that! You think I don't…!? He's…he's my last connection to papa, to mama…!" Mortified, the girl screams shouting at him only to falter mortified by the sharp sob of the baby below her in her arms crying his heart out as she sobs, soon realizing the reality of the situation…
"Your father asked me to take care of him, to take care of you both…please." Pleadingly, he whispers weakly, bowing before the girl bowing her head anguished at the reality of it all, at her helplessness…
"…I'm sorry Ace…if…if I were stronger…I'm sorry…" Sobbing, said girl sniffles, the tears freely falling for the crying babe, placing her temple to her baby brothers as she slowly but surely hands him over anguished at her failure watching her last link to her mother and father be taken from her…
The sun shyly peers out from the desert, the morning sun warmly welcoming the new day as Kuzan furrows his brow by the sharp shining sun peering through the sleeping mask. Slowly but surely, Kuzan arises awakening as he pulls his sleeping mask upwards his hues narrowing glaring, glowering up at the shining sun above as he glare at it. Irritated, he grumbles glaring at the shining sun before turning towards the weight on his shoulder seeing the slumping sleeping state of Ann as she sleeps soundly, his hues widening when taking note the tears freely falling from the girl. Kuzan's hues widen when seeing the tear trail reaching out he gently wipes the tears away as his hues soften slightly at the sleeping girl, the blanket draped fully over her as he lets her sleep in…
"Hm?" Ann hums, furrowing her brow at the strange comforting crisp chilliness as the searing sun shines down upon the surprisingly comfortable Ann. Astonished, Ann blinks befuddled by the comforting confliction sensation of heat and coldness confusion clear on her furrowed features from the strange soft, sturdy object she has her head resting on. What was…? Ann furrows her brow by the strange sense of comfort, of protectiveness, of safety, forcing her hues to open thanks to the bright blazing light above as she removes her head ignoring the ache almost missing it as she forces herself to wake up, feeling some sensation tighten around her, holding her almost alarming Ann.
Ann furrows her brow forcibly forcing her hues to open grimacing wincing when feeling the sharp sting of her hues being blinded by the bright broad light above as she blinks attempting to focus on her blurry vison.
"Good morning sleeping beauty…" Bemused, the voice calls out alarming Ann, wait were they moving!? Mystifed, Ann furrows her brow attempting to process what was happening, why were they moving!? When did they start moving? Had she been eaten by a monster? Was that what was happening?! Ann attempts to figure out why they were moving but came to nothing.
"Huh?!" Alarmed, Ann blurts out.
"Comfy?" Coyly, he asks as she stares stunned shocked at the situation, she found herself stuck in.
"I mean I g-Wait what?" Sleepily, Ann begins but she soon swipes at her hues noting the sleepy dust but she soon stops herself, panic pumping through her veins at the trap she found herself trapping in, oblivious to the small smirk of Kuzan, ignoring the crimson current to her cheeks cross glaring at him.
"Had a nice nap?" He asks her as she scowls at him.
"T-The hell!?" Horrified, Ann reels back baffled by the sudden change of height, had she grown!? A part of her had hoped for the thought of growing taller but sadly said dream is dashed away from her when noting the long legs moving ahead astonishing her, annoying her even as she feels her fingertips dig deep into the fabric before her. Wait…fabric? Frowning, she scowls turning to see a back of black making her hues widen when seeing the familiar beanie wearing male.
"Don't ask." Aloofly, Kuzan's curt cold voice cuts Ann off.
"I-I can walk on my own!" Flustered, Ann gawks gaping at the unapologetic Kuzan as she attempts to remove herself from the tall, towering giant. But his grip simply tightens as she finds herself reeling back baffled by it, attempting to get off but his grip stops her. She tries to lean back but squeaks slightly when finding herself being pulled back, struggling to get off thanks to the stubbornly fool holding her, continuing on as she stares stunned mortified at her soldiers smiling sheepishly, at a distance clearly too scared to even ask.
"It's fine we'll be there soon enough." Kuzan assures as she spots Smoker's stern scowl.
"Then I can walk on my own!" Aggravated, Ann argues baffled how he thought he could even do this.
"Relax, I told the guys you got a fever from not having a blanket." Bluntly, he attempts to assure her however…she still feels guilt gnaw away at her for having this happen, normally someone would shake her awake so why hadn't he?! Ann attempts to find some sort of solution for it furrowing her brow as she can't seem to find the thought process behind such a decision.
"But what about monsters?" Mad, Ann disputes, the soldiers couldn't do jack not with the desert being as hot as it were, they would be more than trouble they would be monster food for the beast but…
"Smoker has it handled." Kuzan answers as to Ann's astonishment said male shoots out brushing by them as a familiar purple lizard of sorts shoots out from the sandy shore below, smoke spewing out from his legs as with one bash of his sea stone stick…
"Smoker-san did it!" The marines cheer for the beast falling flat to the ground defeated just in the blink of an eye. Ashamed, Ann bows her head, she was supposed to do that, she couldn't be some sort of damsel she was a warrior, she was a fighter, she was strong, she shouldn't be acting like some sort of princess….
"See?" Smirking, Kuzan points out making the annoyed Ann's hue twitch tiredly.
"But…!" Ann argues, she didn't need special treatment she could walk, she was…
"But nothing, you know relying on others isn't weakness right?" Kuzan furrows his brow simply staring ahead as she furrows her brow by his words.
"Who said it was?" Ann eyes his back brow furrowed, soon plopping her head into the crook of his neck, her warm browns meeting his own as she soon looks away perplexing Ann.
"Please I've seen you around the headquarters you do everything on your own." Kuzan scoffs, he had seen her at work, never talking to anyone just doing her work, sure he had seen her speak to a rare few but they interacted with her never the other way around…
"Someone has to." Truthfully, Ann argues, she had work to do as did he, that was their responsibility they had to tend to it if they wanted to be paid or get anywhere in this job of theirs.
"Just as someone needs to rest." Kuzan remarks making Ann furrow her brow by his words.
"This coming from Mr sleepyhead." Smirking, Ann argues as amused Kuzan couldn't help the small smirk cross his lips from her words.
"Just enjoy it while it lasts shortie." Smirking, Kuzan teases lightly alarming Ann, her hue twitching tense tired even enraged even as she growls glaring at the amused ass clearly enjoying her anger.
"What did you call me!?" Mad, Ann growls glaring at the back of the stoic Kuzan as the group continue onwards through the desert hoping to make it to Alabasta in time.
*So I have to ask what did you think of Ann now? Of what she had to go through? What do you think of her and Garp's dynamic? Or what her and Rouge's dynamic was like?*