Welcome Home

Smoker stood in the middle of the police station trying to calm down as Portgas D. Ace left, presumably on the way to Smoker's apartment. He wasn't sure how long he had been standing there but Tashigi was starting to look at him oddly so he hurried into his office to avoid the suspicious gaze. As he walked away he realized he was still hard from the brat's words and light touch. The boy had barely touched him but he had been close enough to feel the heat radiating off of his half naked, and extremely fit body and that combined with the words he had purred had been enough.

He sat awkwardly in his desk chair and pulled the closest file folder to him opening it on his desk. He scanned through the documents and signed in the appropriate spots before tossing it into the 'done' pile Tashigi would pick up later. He grabbed another, and then another and signed sheet after sheet until his erection had faded and he felt there had been enough time passed since Ace's departure. He was itching to leave, an embarrassing eagerness coursing through his veins, so he forced himself to do two more files before neatly organizing everything on his desk and leaving his office, shutting and locking the door behind him.

"I'm heading out early; I have things to take care of." Smoker told Tashigi as he walked by.

"Hai!" Tashigi replied, oddly blushing.

Smoker had seen the girl blush hundreds of times but it seemed an odd time to be blushing. He seriously hoped she wasn't still blushing over Ace or worse had developed a crush on him he didn't want to deal with a sergeant who had a thing for him. Pushing thoughts of a love-struck Tashigi out of his mind he went out to the parking lot and climbed onto his bike. Thoughts of Ace and the events that were bound to happen gathered in his head and his foot became heavier and heavier on the pedal. He had to force himself to slow down to the speed limit a handful of times.

After what seemed like ages and a million red lights later Smoker steered his bike into the parking spot designated for his apartment. Or he would have if said spot wasn't currently occupied with a by-now familiar car with flames painted down the side.

"Cocky, presumptuous brat." He murmured to himself.

With a sound something between a laugh and a groan Smoker manoeuvred into one of the guest parking spots. He climbed off the bike and strode into the apartment building with a forced calmness debating whether he should take the elevator or simply run up the five flights. He jabbed the up button on the elevator a second time tapping his foot impatiently and seriously considering dashing up the stairs. He'd probably get to his room before the damn elevator made it down. The elevator did come and Smoker got in and pushed the button for his floor with a little more force than was strictly needed. He had half expected Ace to be waiting in the elevator and he wasn't sure whether he was disappointed or relieved that he wasn't.

Before he could analyse the confusing reaction he reached his floor and rushed off down the hall without a word to Hina, the woman who lived next door and happened to be getting on the elevator. Hina was a good friend but he certainly didn't have time to chit-chat and he wasn't looking forward to explaining the half naked boy that was bound to be outside of his place. However he needn't have worried for there wasn't a half-naked boy outside of his door or anywhere in sight. Thoughts flashed through Smoker's brain like a succession of gun shots. The first being Ace had been playing him and wasn't even in the building. The second thought had him breaking out in a cold sweat with the possibility of Ace taking the stairs, falling asleep and falling and breaking his neck. He quickly discarded that thought as being ridiculous which only brought him back to the possibility of Ace only teasing him.

Anger and embarrassment flowed through his veins and he lit a cigar pulling deeply on it before fishing out his keys and unlocking the door. He pushed the door open and trudged, not that he'd admit he trudged, into the small apartment room closing the door behind him. Cigar still in mouth he took off the jacket and hung it on the peg by the door. Smoker took another step into the room before stopping in his tracks and taking a step back. There dangling on another peg was a garishly orange hat that was certainly not his. He frowned at the hat and slowly it became familiar as being the one hanging from Ace's neck earlier.

Smoker's eyes widened and he looked around the room for the boy but only saw traces that he was there. His boots were tossed carelessly down the hall and there was a half-empty jug of juice sitting on his counter. Walking further into the room he saw a plate with crumbs on it and a belt hanging off a lamp. He noticed a lump on the floor down a separate corridor and as he approached it he realized it was a pair of pants. He nearly swallowed his cigar when he realized that with the pants every article of clothing the boy had been wearing in the station was now accounted for. Smoker found himself outside the door to his bedroom behind which a very much naked Portgas D. Ace no doubt stood, sat?, waiting for him.

Smoker pushed open the door expecting to see Ace in all his glory but instead his eyes fell upon a very messy but very empty bed. Ace was nowhere to be seen.