I am SO lost on my days! I was so glad that Wanda reminded me that it was Friday because I thought it was Wednesday still. That's how busy this week has been! I'm sure most of you understand because Midterms are here, and my accelerated class is about to finish up! It's just BLEGH.
This request is an AceXRobin Lemon made by Hana-Sempai! I hope you like it Hana! And I hope I did it well enough for you! This couple is a little hard to write for honestly because they literally have NO interaction in the manga or anime so it's a bit hard thinking of something that would cause them to meet and for these situations to happen. But I still like hearing about odd couples.
The next story is for Austrian Boy who requested a sequel to It's A Tie – ZoroXRobinXNami. Are you really from Austria? Are you Austrian by blood? Either way that is SO COOL! I love learning about languages and cultures and I want to one day travel the world just to see the different sights! I'm so glad you are a reader! And thank you for requesting!
Where are you guys from? Any others out there who are outside of the USA? X.x I didn't think that was possible for my stories! I'm so happy I'm crying T.T 3 You guys are the best!
Have a great day for all of you! And those of you taking Midterms, Good LUCK! I'll be hoping the best for all of you!
"Let me go!" Robin shouted, feeling the ice creep up from her feet and spread to her body. Soon she was nothing but a head that stared in horror towards the Admiral who was slowly creeping towards her. She felt the cold seeping into her bones, it felt like at any touch they would shatter. Her breath was freezing within her lungs, making her unable to take in another breath. She futilely shook her head, trying to chip off some of the ice that was moving up slower.
"It's no use," Aokiji told her in a sigh, not understanding why she continued to fight against the ice when she knew it wasn't going to work. "Nothing can melt my ice."
Robin felt her throat freezing, making her tilt her head back to try and get any air through while she could. How was it that he always found her? She was supposed to be under the protection of Crocodile, but when she was working on a mission he sent her on, Aokiji spotted her and captured her. Robin cursed herself for not being more careful. She forgot that she had to be on her toes at all times. Right now she desperately wished for some warmth to melt this ice off of her.
"Once you turn completely to ice, you'll be stuck here forever. Not even the sun could melt my ice." Aokiji explained to her, lifting up one side of his sleep mask and peeking at her gasping.
"Oh? I think you're wrong about that."
Robin's vision began to turn black when her oxygen deprived mind fell into darkness. She barely registered the voice that seemed to be directed in her direction. Robin felt like the ice was suddenly becoming warmer. She must have been on the brink of death because ice never felt warm. But the warmth grew stronger and stronger, spreading from her chest and over her body. Air flushed into her lungs, clearing the black from her eyes and making them open wide and look around quickly. She felt her body relax and no longer become constricted.
"You seem to forget Admiral a fire logia can melt your fire." Robin, with her now clear version, could see the man with shaggy dark black hair and brown eyes, with a chiseled face covered in freckles. He held up a finger and wagged it towards Aokiji, his smile cocky and teasing as he looked the Admiral in the eye. His finger suddenly burst up in flames and his smirk grew even bigger. "You're just unlucky that I am one of those."
He jumped from the tree he was nestled up in and flipped through the air. His feet thumped on the ground as he landed next to Robin. The man tipped his bright orange hat towards her, his eyes sparking with the same flames that was covering his finger before. He hooked his finger into her purple skirt and pulled her over to him and slightly behind. Robin looked at him incredulously, her mind buzzing in confusion by all that was happening in such a short amount of time.
"Fire Fist Ace," Aokiji grumbled, eyes showing pure displeasure with the interruption. "This is none of your business. Walk away now and you won't be involved. The only one I'm after is Nico Robin."
A snort came out of Ace as his hat dipped forward and covered his face. He looked back up and fixed his hat. "Man, you're really unlucky then. Cuz I ain't leaving. What kind of man would I be if I ditched a woman in need?"
Aokiji snorted himself this time, hands placed in his pockets and giving a small shake of his head. "This woman is no ordinary woman you need to come save. She's a monster. A human being no one wants alive."
Robin felt the cold shiver run down her spine at the words. It shouldn't still bother her, after all she's heard that most of her life now. Ever since her home town was destroyed no one has understood her. They see her as a monster that shouldn't be alive. Just as Aokiji said. Her arms automatically crossed over her, as if it would provide some defense from his words that seemed to stab into her most sensitive spots.
A chuckle echoed out of Ace as he tipped his hat over his face again. She could see the smirk on his face and the freckles that seemed to litter his nose and cheeks. "Funny. I hear the same thing about me." Both Robin and Aokiji stare at him in shock and confusion of their own, wondering what secret he was hinting upon.
"What?" Aokiji asked, taking a small step forward.
Ace snapped his fingers and fire erupted into a wall around Aokiji, barely giving him sight of the two who stood before him. Ace looked up once more, face half shadowed by the flickering flames, giving him a deadly look, and giving his usually brown eyes a red tint that sent a shiver down Aokiji's spine. "People say the same things about me. I am a monster after all." His voice was deep and gravely, like rocks rolling across one another on disturbed ground.
Aokiji moved his own hand, freezing some of the flames in place and breaking them. But before he could step over the now shattered flames, a new wall appeared, even stronger than before. Ace tapped the edge of his hat with two fingers and saluted Aokiji in a mocking way, his smile now gone and his face serious.
"Though I'd love to have a fight against you and show my strength to this beautiful woman. I have other things to do." Ace told him, stepping backwards and pushing Robin, who was still behind him, in the direction he wanted. But it wasn't the direction she wanted to go because Ace was slowly pushing them closer and closer towards a cliff that delved straight into the ocean sea water. And she knew neither of them could swim.
"Ace," She desperately breathed, gripping his arm and digging her feet into the ground to stop his advancement. She didn't know what he was up to; maybe he was really trying to kill her. Maybe he was just playing to be on her side and then turn against her when she least suspected it. "There's a cliff! STOP!" Her voice rang out into the air.
Ace looked over his muscled shoulder to her, watching her slightly shaking shoulders that showed not only fear against the Admiral, but fear of falling into the sea and actually drowning to death. He grabbed her hand gently that hung onto his arm and pulled it from him. Before she could speak another argument against his actions he lifted her up into the air so his arm was wrapped around her waist and she was slightly bent in half while plastered to his side.
"Just trust me." He told her, the smile back on his face that showed her he not an ounce of worry for what he was doing so close to the cliff.
Robin didn't know why, but as he begged her to trust him, there was no argument within her to tell him to stop again. Why? Could she trust him already? But how? They'd only just met. Even as Robin asked herself this, she knew the answer. It was because she knew that what Ace had just said about himself being a monster, told her that he'd felt the same pain she has while growing up. There was no way he'd be turning against her if he was going this far to save her.
"Sorry Aokiji! She's mine now! You'll have to hunt your own monster. Only Nico Robin can compliment me as a monster." Ace teased, spotting Aokiji fighting against the flames with his ice, but every time he did the flames grew larger and stronger.
As the Admiral looked up at the two wanted people, he suddenly saw Ace run the rest of the way towards the cliff with Robin plastered to his side while he held her. Then he jumped, letting gravity take over and launch them towards the sea. His eyes stared in wide shock at the stupidity the pirate had. They were devil fruit users! They aren't able to swim! Finally the ice knocked the flames down completely, most likely because Ace was no longer focused on them, but it gave Aokiji enough time to run over to the edge of the cliff where they just were and stare down. He made it in time to see Ace land heavily on a small striker boat made for an individual rider. Nico Robin was moved from his side to in front of him as he caught her in his arms like a princess would be carried. Ace steadied them and lit his feet on fire, keeping her above the flames and zooming them off.
Aokiji couldn't stop the chuckle that seemed to vibrate through his chest. It wasn't one of anger or fun, it was one that was incredulous by the daring pirate who lived up to the rumors that were passed around about him. "Another time Fire Fist Ace." He mumbled to himself, pocketing his hands once more. "I'll let you have her for now. But you won't get her so easy next time."
Robin dipped her hand into the ocean water, feeling the cool touch of it glide past her. She could feel her strength weaken, but the ocean glittered from the suns rays like diamonds, and she couldn't help but want to touch it.
"Careful," Ace told her as he kept the fire fueling the striker so it was gliding across the ocean.
Robin was sitting on the front of the striker where there was room for her to stay safely from the flames that erupted from him. She didn't know where he was taking them, but she still didn't feel like she had to worry about any of that. It was something natural inside of her that said she could trust him…something she's never felt towards anyone before. It was always 'be on your guard', 'don't touch anyone', 'do whatever to survive'. But she couldn't stop the question inside her head from swirling around and nagging at her.
Robin swiveled in her spot so she was face him better in a comfortable position. "Why did you save me?" Though she trusted him, she couldn't understand why he'd come to save her in the first place, or why he was still helping her. Why go this far just for her?
Ace stared at her in the eye and then looked up to the sky, obvious thinking passing his face and giving him away that he didn't really know himself. His fingers thrummed on his leg inside his pockets, as if an answer would pop out if he looked around in there. "I just didn't like that the Marine's were forcing someone again." Robin furrowed her brows, taking off her own cowboy hat off and setting it in her lap. Ace sighed, knowing that she didn't find that to be a good enough answer. His ears tinged red as he rubbed his neck, letting out another sigh. "I just…..felt like I needed to save you."
Her brows furrowed deeper, still just as confused. "But you didn't even know me."
"Yeah, but, I wanted you to notice me." He mumbled this out while looking away from her and out to the ocean, but Robin's hearing was great and she couldn't miss what he said. "Besides!" He turned back to her, wanting to give her another reason. "Even if people see us as monsters, it's up to us to decide how to live. Whether we want to give up and let them take us, or fight and live out on the ocean."
"I don't deserve to live." She mumbled herself, looking down at at her hat and messing with the strings that adorned it.
Ace bent forward and grabbed a lock of her hair, rubbing it over his thumb as it gleamed like silk. Her blue eyes turned back to him, and his brown eyes looked into her, as if touching her in the deepest parts that she thought she locked away long ago. "No one can decide that but you. If you really want to die, then give up, but in my opinion I'd want you to live."
"Why?" She asked, her voice cracking slightly due to the emotions that were creeping up into her throat and clogging it.
Ace squatted down in front of her. "Because then I'd get to see you all I wanted."
He said it with such confidence that it made Robin feel like his fire was inside of her and lighting her up. She couldn't break her eyes from him, it was like a magnet attracting towards the other half. Ace dropped her hair and tenderly slipped his hand along her neck and jaw, feeling her smooth skin glide across his. The closer he leaned towards her the more she found herself going towards him. She didn't even realize he stopped the striker by canceling his flames. His hot lips pressed against hers gently. It was plain and simple. Nothing intense or strong, just a soft press of the lips that lasted only a few seconds. But those few seconds were more heated than his flames were fueling the striker. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest and her breath got caught in her throat.
Ace pulled away from her and his eyes glanced up slightly. He sighed, dropping his forehead to hers. She finally opened her own eyes, wondering what was making him sigh. "Seems like we have guests."
Robin felt her muscles tense, causing her to pull away quickly and look around. But Ace's hot hand grabbed her elbow, stopping her from getting too jumpy. She looked back at him, watching as he held his hand up, telling her to stop and wait. He stood up and smiled, waving his arm over his head. The wave was accompanied by shouts of welcome from the ship that creeped up closer to them. Once Robin was able to finally get a good look at the ship without her paranoia she realized it wasn't a Marine ship, but a Pirate ship.
"Ace! We were wondering when you were coming back!" Someone shouted from the deck of the ship while they threw down a ladder.
Ace pulled a rope from his back pack and tied it to a small metal loop on the side of his striker, before using the ladder to pull himself closer to the ship and attach it to there. His hand slipped behind her, fingers dipping into the small of her back and urging her forward. "Trust me?"
Robin took a breath in and nodded her head. She grabbed the ladder and begun her climb, letting Ace followed behind her closely so she wasn't left up there by herself. But once she made her way onto the deck over the railing, she could see various men standing there looking at her in shock. She felt her muscles tense up again and she huddled closely to the edge of the railing while crossing her arms over her chest. She wasn't going to let them see her show weakness, so she had to put on a strong face and keep her eyes on them.
"Ace? Care to explain Oi?" A man with blonde hair asked, standing in front of all the others with a raised eyebrow of question.
"Nope." Ace said with a beaming smile on his face. It nearly made Robin fall over in exasperation, but her arms dropped in front her and she gave him a look that told him she didn't quite understand him. It seemed like his friends were used to this kind of answer though because they just sighed and shook their heads, and others smiled back at Ace as if they wouldn't expect anything else. "She's going to be our guest for the day Marco!" His smile didn't falter as he looked at the boss in front of him, and Marco just shrugged his shoulders, giving up the arguments against Ace and his randomness.
"Please enjoy yourself." Marco told Robin, looking over at her and giving a small dip of his head. "Feel free to relax around her Nico Robin." He watched her tense up again and he lifted the corner of his mouth up a bit, trying to put her at ease. "On this ship no one will harm you…..unless they want to burn to death….." His eyes glanced over at Ace whose smile turned into a dangerous smirk that was trying to seem like a warning to the others, but they chuckled and shook their heads. They each gave a small hello to Robin who was slightly relaxing, but still watching them carefully due to habit.
"They're…friendly…." Robin commented, not really sure how to react to the pirates who seemed to go with the flow on Ace's random guest appearance. "DO you do this often?"
"NO!" Ace said, holding up his hands as a defense. "Well, not bringing random women aboard." He chuckled and put his hand behind his head. "I do tend to do stupid things though."
"I see….." Robin hummed, not finding it all that surprising.
Ace reached out and grabbed her hand, tugging her away from the railing to follow him. He gave her a quick run down of the ship, along with introducing her to a few of the crew mates that were wandering around. He must've had those closer to him than others, especially his squad who was under his control. As she passed by them she gave an apologetic look for them to be controlled by him, but they laughed and waved her worry off.
"Ace! It's time to eat! Hurry up!" A large man, she believed Ace called Jozu, shouted, waving them over and stopping him from showing her around some more.
"Sweet!" Ace said, quickly pulling her towards the large group that seemed to gather on the ship. "A feast?"
"Well we have to welcome our guest somehow." A man named Thatch explained, holding large plates of food next to his head. He gave her a charming smile and a wink while placing the plates in front of them.
Robin felt a finger hook on her skirt again, pulling her closer. Ace was glaring at Thatch lightly. "Don't even think about it," He told him, but also grabbing a large meant chunk and chomping on it.
"You bring a woman on board and you expect us not to hit on such a beauty?" Thatch asked, glancing at her with a charming smile once more.
"I told you no! She's mine!" Ace grumbled, as if he were a child who was staking claim on a toy. He lifted her up effortlessly and placed her on his crossed legs, as if he were a seat that would protect her.
It was such a childish thing to do, to claim her as his own and even place her in his lap to keep a protective barrier from the rest of the other crew. She couldn't stop the smile from creeping on her face, and when she glanced at Ace again and saw him pouting out his lips slightly to argue against Thatch it caused her to lose control. Laughter burst out of her before she could stop it. It rang through the air, showing her joy at the scenario going on, and it made everyone stop talking to look over at what was so funny. But once they saw who was laughing, it seemed to make them all stare in awe.
"What's so funny?" Ace asked, his smile beaming in pride to have made her laugh. He was wondering if she could laugh anymore.
"You're so childish." She told him, hitting the edge of his hat and knocking it into his face. Her laughter still pushed out of her slightly between words. "But I guess that's good."
"I think I'm in love!" Thatch teased, placing a hand over his heart and faking a faint. "Who knew a beauty could have such a lovely laugh!"
Marco appeared behind the cook and knocked him on the back of the head, stopping him from teasing her and causing a scene. "Stop teasing them."
Ace smiled though still and grabbed another smaller plate and handed it to Robin, urging her to grab some food. "It'll be gone soon if you don't snatch some up."
Robin understood why Ace had such a positive view on living now. Though he probably went through the same torment she did growing up in a sense, he found a crew that accepted him for him. They were friendly and welcoming, and it was always lively. It made her feel like she was a part of the family without even trying. The party lasted for a few hours as food and drink came constantly until everyone was full. Robin pushed everything from mind that seemed to do with the torment, crocodile, or the Marines. Nothing was bothering her now because she was freely able to chat with others and not have paranoia take over.
"Sorry, they can get a bit wild." Ace apologized later as they sat in his room.
She chuckled and shook her head. "It was nice. I wish I had a crew that was like that." She let out a small sigh and leaned back, flopping onto the bed in exhaustion.
Ace walked over and pulled off her shoes, and she barely glanced down at him her exhaustion was hitting her so hard. He set them at the end of the bed before hitting the bottom of her foot to tell her to scoot up in bed. He ushered her under the sheet, watching the sleep cloud her eyes lightly. "Get some sleep."
He walked towards the door, planning on going to Marco's room and crashing there so she didn't have to worry. "You're not sleeping in here?" She asked, but Ace shook his head. "You can stay in here." She told him, scooting over and holding out her hand from under the sheets.
Ace opened his mouth to argue, but he knew she wasn't drunk, so it wasn't as if she was making this decision on a drunk urge. He rubbed the back of his neck again, a habit he had when embarrassed. But he sighed and gave up thinking it through, and continued to walk back over to the bed. He kicked off his shoes and slipped under the sheet with her. But he left enough room between them that he didn't get the urge to do anything himself.
Robin was watching him with steady eyes, calculating what to do next. She wiggled over towards him until her head was in the crook of his neck and shoulder, using his body warmth to relax her. "Thank you."
"For what?" Ace asked, hands away so he was careful.
"For proving that there is still hope for living. For so long I thought there were only people out there who hated me and saw me as a monster. But you proved that there are people out there who don't care what I can do, but who I am." She explained, feeling the words pouring out of her easily. Robin could hear his heart thumping loudly in his chest, showing he actually was true to his words on how he felt for her.
Ace let out a deep breath and placed his hand on her head, brushing her hair down lightly. He was trying to comfort her and ease her mind into sleep once more, but he was happy she was seeing why he wanted her to strive to live again. He'd control his urge to touch her for now. He could do that another time, but for now he was content with her in his arms.
"If you ever need somewhere to run to or you just want to come visit again, you're welcome here anytime." Ace hummed through his chest to her. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, and wrapped his other arm around her body, pulling her flush against him.
"Hm," She hummed, feeling sleep overtake her. "I think…I'll do that…." Her words were slowly trailing off as he mind tried to shut down any coherent thought. "But…I think…it'll be to see you….."
Ace could have swore his heart stopped for a moment at her confession, making feel hot, and not from his flare powers. But when he opened his mouth to ask her to repeat that, she was already breathing lightly with her eyes closed. Ace soon followed suit into sleep, both of them feeling as if the moment would never end and they'd always be in one another's arms.