Okay! So HUGE announcement here! I got this amazing spur of the moment idea that I'm probably gonna be flooded with later, but! I am going to be taking requests for a bit in a different way! They only way you can request is if you send a picture idea to my deviantart account! Which is TenshiNoCrystal. If you send me a picture on there of the pairing you want, even if you don't have a solid idea on the story. I will put it in the queue! This is a short time limited offer! I WILL NOT however take requests on fanfiction still. This is spur of the moment because when I don't have any ideas on a story I go through google and look up pictures to give me ideas! Just to make it clear! It HAS to be drawn from you with permission, or I can be copyrighted from using another's picture.
This story is for BirthdayGirl! It is AceXRobin and I hope you like it my dear! You don't see this pairing much honestly, but I always found it cute how similar they are and thought of how well they'd get along! I hope it's just as you wanted!
Next story is for Sgt Moore! Now just to brief you on the story, it's going to be a different kind of one. And Sgt Moore, I might have to change a few things due to legality rules on fanfiction and what I am comfortable with. I hope you don't mind. If you do mind that I change it a bit then please message me.
I hope all of you are having a marvelous week and look forward to the next one!
READ THE BOLD PLEASE******************************
Robin lived her life in a reckless sort of way. She treaded carefully so as to not make mistakes, but she always had to hang out with the wrong kind of people just to survive. If she wanted to stay out of the hands of the Marine's she needed to stay with these kind of people…Or at least that's what she told herself. Deep inside she was still a scared little girl that wanted a knight in shining armor to save her from this deep darkness that seemed to overcome her mind.
It wasn't until that faithful encounter with a black haired man with the power of flames came that he seemed to change her whole outlook on the future. He made her want to hope for the better, and to become stronger, not in pride or emotions, but in inner strength that was able to overcome the darkness that wanted to swallow her whole. She wanted to be on his side; to stand next to him when times got tough. Never did she think she'd run into him again during one of her worst moments, and then end up joining his brother's crew…But she was getting ahead on this story now wasn't she? Of course we all knew her story and where she would end up, but what we didn't know is how her and Portgas D Ace actually met, and their relationship with one another that was much more than people believed.
This was before she joined Crocodile and the problems with Alabasta arose. She was sailing on a small boat on the ocean, trying to get away from her previous "partner" that found out just how valuable she was as a bounty. Once again she had to stay on alert to keep away from guys like him, and now she was alone, trying to find someone else who was powerful and one that the Marines wouldn't go after so easily.
She had to go into hiding, so she grabbed the nearest cloak near her and put it around her and slipped the hood up, making sure that very little was seen of her and what was couldn't be identifiable towards her. It took her a bit, but she found a small tavern that was dark and recluse, giving her a place to hide out and possibly scope out her next partner.
"Just a bunch of drunks," She sighed, taking a large sip of her own drink, watching the men with their flushed face dance around, joke, and laugh at stupid little things. They were all pirates, but none of them seemed to be the type she needed.
"They're just having fun."
Robin suddenly jumped as a deep male voice spoke behind her, startling her and making her turn towards the man. There behind her in another booth in the corner sat a man with a bright orange hat, wavy black hair, and wide set shoulders that showed he was very well toned and muscled. She was surprised that she didn't even know he was there.
"Not judging," She commented back, turning back around and pulling her hood even more over her head to shield her face.
He let out a short chuckle and this time turned around to look at her, but of course was blocked by the cloak and hood that were hiding her. He raised an eyebrow, wondering to himself what this woman looked like. "Obviously since you came to this place of all places." He was trying to get her to look at him again; his curiosity peaked now that he couldn't see her. "So what are you doing here?"
Robin closed her eyes and gave a sigh, knowing he wasn't going to stop talking to her until she answered back and started talking with him. "Looking for someone," She replied simply.
"Is he here?" He asked, looking around the room, wondering who was waiting for. "Cuz it seems to me that that's a lie. So what are you really doing here?"
Robin felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise in paranoia and she quickly turned to look at him with scrutinizing eyes, not liking he was pressing so much into her work. Her bright blue eyes flashed at him in warning, and her jet black hair seemed to shine lightly in the light overhead. His eyes widened as he figured out who she was, and knew why she was hiding so much.
"Nico Robin huh?" He whispered, not letting anyone hear him say her name.
Robin looked back at him with pressing eyes, and knew who he was just as much. "Fire Fist Ace." She was mildly shocked at him being here alone, and wondered what lead him to this small tavern. "Well, you're not just here to hang out either."
Ace laughed. He reached a hand out and pushed her hood off of her head, making her jerk her hands up in shock at the reveal. But he didn't stop and kept pushing it until the hood was draping around her shoulders. He smiled at her. "You don't have to hide here. They're all too drunk to realize who you are." He jerked his chin towards the men.
Robin glanced over at the men and knew Ace was right, most of them were near the point of passing out they were so drunk. Plus they were lost in their own fun to even realize she was over here in a corner. Ace stood up from his seat and walked over to her booth, plopping himself down opposite of her and flashing her another freckly smile.
"So, I'm guessing you're looking for a new partner?" He guessed, taking a drink of his beer he brought over with him.
Robin blinked, completely taken aback by his guess. "You're more keen than you look," She finally chuckled at her own irony of thinking he was another clueless pirate, when he had her pegged.
"It's not hard. They raised your price on the poster and the news is out about how your previous partner went insane with trying to get you." Ace explained, just stating the facts on how he put two and two together. He flashed another smile at her, trying to get her to calm down and not be so paranoid that he was after her as well.
She couldn't stop the smile from spreading over her face and the giggle that came out of her. She felt no threat from Ace, and it was a new feeling she hadn't had before. She was so used to looking at the worst in everyone and always being on guard, that she didn't know quite what to think with feeling so comfortable around someone.
"Why not just find someone good? Not all these guys who are out to destroy people." He nonchalantly took a sip of his beer, making it seem like it wasn't that big of a deal if she answered or not."
Robin's eyes instantly turned dark as she registered his words. "There's no one out there like that." It was as simple as that to her. The only people that were nice to her and actually cared were taken from her. She realized she might have been a bit too harsh though. She shouldn't have disregarded how he thought so easily.
But Ace wasn't fazed at all. When she glanced back up at him, he was staring at her with a sad sort of smile. Not because she hurt his pride or anything, but because he felt pity for her. "Maybe you just haven't found the right people yet."
"What would you know?" She sighed. She didn't mean to be so harsh to him. She felt for him; because she used to be the same way, full of trust and carefreeness, but that was gone now.
"I know perfectly," He said, leaning back and propping his foot up on the booth on her side, so he trapped her in. "I was just like you. I was a thrill seeker that disregarded safety. I partnered up with others that were strong so I had something to fall back on, and I believed everyone was out to get me and hated me. Sound familiar?"
Robin opened her mouth, but nothing would come out. She was speechless. How was he able to understand her? Someone who was so carefree and joyous had gone through the same? It made the green monster inside her chest rage as jealousy began to consume her.
Ace could see the look on her face. His own eyes turned serious because he could see himself within her long ago when he was consumed with fear and anger. "You'll find friends who will help you. They'll save you from who you are scared to be."
"Those don't exist." She said through gritted teeth, her hands clenching under the table.
"Maybe you're just scared." He pointed out, giving her a raised eyebrow. "You're scared you're going to get drawn into that and become weak." He stopped and let her process that before continuing. "Before Whitebeard took me in, I was just like you. I thought I didn't need anyone. But then he came along and offered me a family. When you become part of a crew you don't just gain friends, but a family as well."
The green monster inside of her was being squelched by hope. She truly believed what he was telling her was true. Just like before she didn't understand why she was so comfortable around Ace or why she believed he was speaking the truth, it was just how she felt. She took a large drink from her cup and squeezed her hands around the glass tightly.
"What….." She stopped, clearing the lump out of her throat that was trying to keep her from talking. "What if I never find them…"
Ace didn't speak for a moment. He tried to remember how he was when he believed the same thing. But then he remembered his past, before Whitebeard came around and how Luffy and Sabo reached out their hands to him. And then to when Whitebeard did the same thing, offering him to become his son. It made the smile come back onto his face, believing if he could find people like that, then she could too.
He reached out his hand towards her, opening his palm so it faced towards the ceiling and was pushed towards her. "Here," He said, darting his eyes to his hand that pushed towards her again. Robin eyed his hand in confusion, but nevertheless reached for it and clasped her hand over his. He smiled and trapped her hand in his as he curled is fingers over her own slender ones. "It's as easy as that."
"What?" She asked, unsure what he meant.
He lifted his hand to show her the proof to his answer. "When someone reaches out their hands to you; to offer help and freedom, don't turn it down. Instead take it just like you took mine. It's a two way thing. They are willing to help you, only if you are willing to accept the help. Everyone deserves second chances, even me and you." He looked her in the eyes, seeing the water building up behind them as her heart clenched and ached. He lifted his hand and moved hers with it until they hand them up in the air facing one another. His fingers slid past hers until they were linked together. "You'll find them."
Ace kept his hand clasped within hers as he dropped his foot and stood up, leaning over the table towards Robin. He grabbed her hood with one hand and lifted it up over her face, noticing the drunk pirates wobbling their way over towards them. Robin looked up at him in shock, his eyes boring into hers like there were flames inside of them. She could feel the water in her eyes pool around her bottom lid, threatening to spill over with any slight movement.
"oi!" One of the men called out.
Ace ignored them and leaned forward, his hot breath passing over Robin's face and making a shiver go down her spine. Her eyes gently closed as she waited for him to kiss her, her mind wanting it to happen. But instead she felt hot lips press against her eyes, one by one. She opened them quickly and stared at the smile that was passing on Ace's lips.
"Can't have them seeing a crying woman in front of me," He said, licking the little bit of salty water from his lips.
Robin's face grew hot and turned red quickly. She detached her hand from his and pulled her hood over her head more, blocking his sight from her red cheeks that were burning from the inside out. She was disappointed that he didn't kiss her, and she was embarrassed that she thought such a thing. She just met him and she wanted him to kiss her?! What was going on with her? She didn't care that she looked like a child moping in her seat.
Ace thought loved that she was looking that way. He knew she was expecting a kiss. At first that's what he was going for. Seeing her near tears because of the words he said made him want to kiss her. He wanted to wrap her up in his arms and protect her from that pain, but he his thoughts turned against him at the last moment, convincing him it wasn't what she wanted. So instead he changed his course to the tears in her eyes. The root of the dilemma. But now her face was red and she was pouting in the seat in front of him, all because he didn't kiss her. It made his heart race and the smile to grow. If he could, he'd take her back to Whitebeard's crew with him, but that would be going against Whitebeard whom he respected greatly.
"Don't give me that face," He chuckled, picking his hat off of his head.
Ace leaned forward, placing the hat right next to Robin's head. She looked up from her pouting towards the bright orange hat that was capturing her attention, but she wasn't stuck on it for long as Ace put himself behind the hat as well, locking his lips onto hers. It was like the fire he was able to control flowed through his lips into her.
This wasn't just any kiss that was plain and simple; it was a wild fire. Ace didn't wait as he pushed his tongue past her lips and into her mouth, sliding against her own tongue and wrapping around it. His other hand came up and cupped the back of her head, linking his fingers into her hair. He pulled her even closer as he tilted his head, making the kiss as deep as he could make it. Robin clutched desperately at his shoulders above her, her mind feeling as if it were melting from the fire that was slowly enflaming her whole body and mind.
A wet smacking sound echoed between them as Ace finally pulled away. He dropped the hat from between them and the others in the tavern and placed it back on his head as he licked his lips hungrily, as if he had just gotten his fill from a meal. He smirked proudly while reaching out his hand and tracing his thumb along the bottom of her lip, wiping off the smallest bit of saliva that dropped there when they part. Her eyes were glazed and her mind was still recovering from the immense heat, but she finally snapped out of it.
"You!" She said, face exploding in a puff of smoke as she covered her mouth and quickly gasped.
"What? That's not what you wanted?" He teased, knowing full well that's what she was hoping for. Her guilty face only proved that further.
Robin opened her mouth to contradict him, not wanting to give into his cunning ways just yet. But she was interrupted quickly, shutting off her words that were stuck in her throat.
"Hey! What's going on here?" One of the guys sang as he walked over and planted himself next to Robin in the booth, scooting her closer towards the inside. "Having fun here by yourself Fire Fist?"
Ace raised an eyebrow at him, but nevertheless kept the smile on his face though an obvious twitch was there at the corner of his eyebrow. "Yeah, and your bugging us. So how about you leave?"
"Where's the fun in that?" He slurred, his head spinning physically with how drunk he was. He slung an arm on the booth behind Robin, leaning in closer to her. "It's not fair if he gets to keep such a beautiful woman to himself like you."
Robin nearly choked at the smell of alcohol on his breath, and just as she was about to cross her arms to take him out herself, a fire erupted in front of his face. It blocked him from getting any closer to Robin, and lit the edge of his mustache on fire.
"Gah!" The man shouted, quickly backing out of the booth from the fire and trying to stamp it out of his mustache before it took it away completely.
"Quick!" He whispered to Robin as he jumped on the table and grabbed her wrist.
He pulled her up like it was nothing and rushed them out of the tavern and up the steps away from the ruckus that was growing larger and larger.
"Where are we going?" Robin shouted, hanging onto her hood with one hand so it didn't fly off as they ran.
"Anywhere away from there!" He laughed, looking back at her with a smile. His own hand was hanging onto his hat so it didn't fly off with the wind.
By the time they lost the men that started looking for them from the tavern they were completely out of breath and no one was around at all. They were at least safe for now. Ace and Robin glanced up at each other, taking in the others condition and how tired they looked. Before either one realized they were both laughing while plopping onto the ground with a thump. Ace stopped his laughing before her and was captivated by how pure her laugh was. It was like bells chiming in the breeze. Her eyes were flashing with bright light, showing how truly happy she was while laughing.
"See?" He said, cutting off her laughing and causing her to look at him. "It's not so hard trusting people now is it?"
Robin opened her mouth to argue again, but stopped and clamped her mouth shut again. Deciding better against it since she knew he was right. She let the smile creep back onto her face and she gave a small nod. "It's not hard at all."
Ace smiled from ear to ear at her, his pride soaring up to the sky. "You'll find a crew of your own that will make you just as happy as now." He looked at her from the corner of his eyes, seeing the flash of doubt cross her face for a very brief moment. "If not….Then I guess I'll have to come and take you myself. I can't have you losing that smile of yours after all."
Robin could feel her face flushing once more, and her smile widening at his sweet words. Her heart fluttered in her chest and a small embarrassed giggle came out of her. "I'll take you up on that then."
Ace pushed a hand towards her, startling her suddenly at his sudden fist that was sitting in front of her. He popped up his pointer finger and wiggled it, making her concentrate on it and not the sky like she had before. "One year," He said, but her eyebrows furrowed. "I'll give you a deadline of one year to find those people. If someone reaches out their hand to you, take it. If there truly is no one like you say, then I'll come to you and take you back with me and you can be part of my family!"
"MM!" She said ecstatically, happier in this one moment than she had been in a very long time. She hated the thought of having to part with him now, but the thought of seeing him once more made hope spring up into her heart and keep her going.
Robin tried her best to find those people Ace spoke of, but as more and more time passed, her hopes were becoming dampened. She kept what little hope she had to believe in Ace that he would come for her once the time limit was up….that's all she could hang onto. Inevitably she joined a man named Crocodile that was slowly taking over a desert country, spinning the people around his finger and making them believe he was a good guy. It made her want to puke. But she needed him to get further in life, and right now he was her only hope in surviving.
The year was almost up. Was he really coming for her? She was starting to doubt even that. What if he said that just to say something? Why would he want to come back for her of all people? She shook her head, knocking the thoughts from her brain. She couldn't think that way!
"Hey! Did you see him?"
"Yeah! Isn't that the Jolly Roger of Whitebeard?"
"I think is name is Fire Fist Ace."
"Apparently he's looking for someone."
Robin heard the small whispers of conversation around the people in town. She wanted to run up to them quickly, asking them for details on who they were talking about and where they might have seen Ace. But she was with Crocodile and couldn't blow her cover with him nearby. If he found out she was affiliated with Fire Fist Ace, he'd probably kill her. But now the hope inside of her that was nearly tampered out was lighting once more within her heart. She didn't need to worry about him not coming for her because he was already here waiting for the last day to come himself.
Robin never saw Ace that day, but it wasn't all bad. She ended up losing another partner. Crocodile was no match for Monkey D Luffy who took him down and saved the country. What she didn't expect though was for that boy to save her. He reminded her of Ace in a way, so she couldn't stop herself from saving him from the poison.
"I'm not letting you die here! You still have to live!" He shouted at her.
Robin was able to see the light once more through all of that darkness that surrounded her. She regained her strength and kept tabs on the StrawHat crew that was recovering within the palace themselves. And when the time came that they sailed off once more, she followed after. After all she promised Ace that if there were truly people out there that were willing to help her and reach out their hand, she had to be willing to take it and make an effort.
"I'd like to join your crew," She told Luffy as the crew stared at her sailing upon a turtle she so happened to stumble upon.
The crew seemed completely against the idea, but there stood Luffy with a smile beaming on his face, welcoming her to his crew. It wasn't long till Robin found out Luffy was actually Ace's brother. And it didn't take long for Ace to hear about the news of Nico Robin joining Luffy's crew. I guess they'd see each other more than they thought.