CHAPTER 2:
It's been a week since the Spade's captain officially became part of the Whitebeard pirates. And Ace has had better days.
"Freckles save me some food dammit!"
"No." Munch.
"Then at least stop eating all the meat!"
"No." Munch.
Ada attacked Ace, not caring whether she hit another crewmate or not. This was another daily occurrence on Whitebeard's ship. After they were both sick of losing to their captain, they decided that they would challenge each other and whoever wins will be the stronger one. They didn't just fight through fists, weapons, devil fruit or whatnots; they fought over who ate more, who was better at swabbing the deck, who was better at navigating, who was better at closing the door, who was better at getting on the crews nerves and they even fought over who was better at sleeping that Whitebeard had to whoop their butts the next day.
"I bet in a week that they'll get together," Thatch piped up, making sure that it was out of the hearing range of the arguing duo of teens.
"Make that two," another one laughed.
"I'm betting on a month," Marco joined in.
"I'm betting on never," a voice intervened, a voice that sounded irritated. She sighed as she downed a mug of beer. "That kid is an absolute ass! He won't admit that I'm better than him and it is downright annoying!"
"Maybe because he really is better than you," Ace appeared on the seat beside her, simultaneously drinking a mug of beer.
"I bet I can drink a heck lot more than you can!"
His face inched towards hers, both unfazed by the intimidating aura they were both giving out. "I'd like to see you try," he smirked.
Marco watched as two of his youngest crewmates fought valiantly in a drinking contest. He knew it was going to end in a disaster, at least with Ada, he didn't know about Ace's drunken state.
Now they were both drunk.
"You're the cutest guy I've seen in this ship," Ada's hand slowly moved to caress Ace's cheek, and in his drunken state, he welcomed it. "Have I ever told you that?"
"Nope!" he widely grinned. "But-"
And his head was immediately slammed into the table, courtesy of a certain white-eyed red head. "You're also the one I want to kill the most."
But Ace's head remained on the table, welcoming slumber as it took him.
"Oi, Freckles! Listen when someone's talking to you!" Threat after threat came from the girl's mouth, but the captive remained asleep, unknown to his demise. "I said-"
"Ada, calm down-"
"No fucking way," she interrupted him. "NO ONE interrupts me when I talk so you better shut your shitty little mouth, got that? Blondie?" she snarled.
Marco sighed. Great! They were having another night with a drunken Ada. Ada was different when she was drunk and it was a 'whole-new-person-different'; she cussed, she was unreasonably violent and when she was in the mood, she was flirty.
"Wake up, shithead!" She roughly shook the former Spade's captain, not caring about the nonsense he was sleep talking about.
"Ada-chan, maybe you should-"
"Who in the name of fuck called me Ada-CHAN?!"
The crew brought out their weapons, ready to fend for their lives against the white-eyed red head. Ada then reached for the weapons on her back, only to realize that there was nothing there. She cried out in frustration.
But everything stopped as they heard the voice of a person who just dug his own grave. "Ada-chan?" Ace was groggily rubbing his eyes and stretching his arms as he finally awoke from his 5-minute slumber. After that sleep, he was sober.
Ada smiled, but it wasn't the same smile that her crew was akin to, it was far too sweet… meaning lethal. "Portgas-san, what did you just call me?"
"Ada-chan?"
And everyone left the pub, praying fervently as they heard the screams of their fallen comrade.
THE NEXT DAY…
"I got drunk… again! I'm sorry I got carried away!" She stood at the edge of the patient's bed, her face frustrated and strained at the same time.
"No kidding! You practically broke my leg!"
"Yeah, right…" she trailed off, remembering all that happened that night. "I'm sorry, okay? Really am."
"How am I supposed to do things now?"
She stood there for minutes, thinking of all sorts of ideas on how she could help the injured young man. "How about I always carry you until your re-"
"No," he immediately answered.
"Then what do you suggest I do?!" Ace remained silent, not sure of what to answer. "How about I never leave your side until you re-"
"No," she got the same response.
The doors to the infirmary slammed opened and entered a big man with a white moustache. He smiled as he saw he interaction of his children.
"How are you doing, Ace?"
"I can't walk, I can't exactly fight like this and I can't get out of this bed due to your vigilant doctor so how do you think I'm doing," he retorted, not caring whether he sounded like a pubescent teen or not.
Whitebeard simply laughed and eyed his daughter who was right next his son. She looked like she was having a dilemma. Then an idea popped in his mind. "Ada, stay with Ace until he recovers!"
In unison, both screeched, "What?!"
"Wait! Old man, I," he started moving his legs in a weird up and down motion, emphasizing on his 'supposed' recovery. "I'm fine, see!" And then he winced.
"Dammit! You could at least try to improve your acting! You're not convincing anyone!" She shouted. She sighed as she got that knowing look from her captain. "Now we have no choice, but to stick together."
They both groaned as they were left in the infirmary.
There was silence for more than two hours and both couldn't stand the tension in the air.
"Um," Ace started. "So we both got off on the wrong foot… why don't we start over," he gave her an awkward smile, hoping she'd agree.
"Okay… as long as you admit that I'm better than you."
"Seriously?" Ace deadpanned. "Give me food."
"No, you give me food."
"You broke my leg."
"Why don't I just get food for the both of us?" she smiled, completely forgetting her previous argument. She grumbled as she finally got out of the infirmary. Now she was ordered to be with him, could fate get any crueler?
"So… having fun with the newbie?" Thatch appeared out of nowhere; normally Ada would punch him for startling her, but for once, it was alright.
"Thatch, don't leave me with him. Please."
"Ada," he smiled as he went to pat her head. "Can't you see cupid is at work? I can't interfere with that." He walked away, but not before ruffling her hair.
"My hair?! And what was that supposed to mean?" Legs heavy, she walked towards the kitchen and fetched them their lunch.
"I'm back!" She held both plates as she kicked the door open, only to see Ace trying to sneak out through the window. "And what do you think you're doing?"
"Um, I'm not trying to escape through the window?" It sounded more of a question than an answer.
"No, you aren't." She heaved a sigh as she places the plates on the table and sat on the stool beside the bed. "Can you please go back to your bed?"
Ace raised a brow before reluctantly taking his place on the bed.
"Okay, I'm sorry I acted like a kid." She stared at his face and looked deep within his eyes, the first time since she first met him. It was the first time she didn't see her reflection, but instead she saw darkness, complete and utter darkness. "I'm sorry, maybe we can start over."
"Yeah, I'd like that."
"Ada, not really my real name, but it's what everyone calls me. It's nice to meet you Portgas-san."
"You can just call me Ace. So what's your real name?" Ace asked.
"Sorry, that's classified information. Only the old man knows what it is and I'd like it to stay that way. Anyways, what do you think we can do now? Seeing as you're in bed, not much."
oOo
"Ace! Stop that!" Ada shouted.
"I am on crouches, woman! I can do this myself!"
"But. Your. Leg. Is. Broken."
"Whatever!" Ace tried to run as fast as he could… at least as fast as any man in crouches could go. Ada easily caught up with the teen and was now holding him by the collar as she dragged him towards edge of the deck.
"How many times do I have to tell you? You need to recover! I was given the task to stay with you which kind of implies that I'm your nurse… so yeah, you have no choice, but to do as I say."
"You're not my mom!"
"I prefer the term, babysitter."
"They're at it again," Marco sighed as he leaned on the rails of the deck.
"Yeah, but this time with less hostility," Thatch smiled. "And I might even win the bet."