Not the next chapter but one of the dozen interludes I have written detailing their past, more to their conspiracy and the adventures of their friends in other places.
I have some completed for Shanks, Dragon, tiny!Luffy and Ace with more half done.
I actually have more of Chapter Eight written than of Six so I'm trying to motivate myself to finish that up.
I have the whole story planned out, it's just getting some of the details down on paper.
Ace is a pretty friendly guy y'know.
This excerpt is set not long before Chapter One where they have returned to base for a while.
Ace was really glad that he was a logia because rank be damned if he wasn't Tenzou would have done him a serious injury by now. He grimaced realising that his friend was probably still pissed about the 'sexy secretary' comment. I mean, it was normally something his friend would laugh off but circumstances were never normal when Luffy was involved.
Still, he did seem to have Luffy well in hand (How the hell did he manage to imitate Grandpas 'fist of love' technique so well?) and to do it with such politeness too.
Ace was impressed with the manners, really he was. He was a pretty friendly guy himself and it came through in his manner and the way he comported himself but Tenzou pulled off the 'I'm devastatingly polite and formal and I'm going to make you suffer and die you bastard' so frostily he wondered if Kuzan-sensei had given him tips. Ace ruminated on that for a minute before dismissing it as nonsense. The personality was all wrong.
He sighed and drummed his head against the desk with a pitiful thunking.
Tenzou merely turned a page in the report he was reading and snorted derisively.
"No."
"Tenzooooooooooooooooouuu"
"If that doesn't work for Luffy what makes you think it's going to work for you Rear Admiral?"
Tenzou concentrated on his own report and steadfastedly ignored the piteous expression Ace turned on him.
"This is because of the 'Sexy Secretary' thing isn't it?"
"No, this simply means that I do not do your work for you and if you keep bringing that up I'm sending you kairouseki laced cake for your birthday."
Ace hummed and scratched his head
"What do I get if I'm good?"
"An all access pass to an okama club started by Emprorio Ivankov on the Grand Line."
"You are such a bastard, you know that?"
Tenzou smiled cryptically
"Sticks and stones 'fire-fist'."
-break-
Ace sighed and scrawled some more on his report.
He would have actually passed it off to one of his sub-ordinates but Halia would have simply shot him and Maynard would have either ignored him or given him a long and tedious lecture on duty. (He wasn't sure which was worse.)
He paused as a thought flitted across his mind.
"Hey, did you convince Halia and Maynard to conspire against me?"
"No, they do that on their own and it's not a conspiracy if all they're doing is making sure you do your own paperwork. I won't deny that I encourage them."
"Traitor."
"I merely empathise with the pain that comes from an irresponsible commanding officer."
Ace pulled a ridiculous face and grinned in triumph when Tenzous mouth curved up into an amused smile.
"So, how're things going with Luffy?"
"We're very happy together. Luffy is changing his name to Luffyko and will be paying a visit to Emporio Ivankov. I hope you'll consent to be godfather for our first child. We're naming him after your grandfather."
"You are such a dick"
"Your father then."
"I do not think I've ever told you how much I hate you have I?"
Tenzou snickered and Ace slung an arm around his shoulder guffawing loudly as they made their way down the hall.
-break-
They could hear a loud ruckus emanating from the other end of the complex.
Ace smiled fondly.
"Sounds like Luffy is having fun. Seriously though, how is he getting on?"
Tenzou shrugged
"You know what Luffy is like. Drop him somewhere and however unorthodox his methods he'll survive."
Ace leered
"So what's this I hear about a certain sexy Shichibukai?"
"Definitely not what you're thinking. Carry on like that and you'll be your own memorial statue. What is it with you two and your complete lack of survival instinct?"
Ace flapped his hand dismissively
"Now where's the fun in that?"
They swung down a corridor and took the long route that took them around in a loop before reaching the canteen.
-break-
Ace casually scruffed his fingers through his hair.
"We can count on Halia and Maynard. If, no when that happens they'll come with me. It's not necessary but it's nice that I have nakama committed to me."
Tenzou nodded and calmly scanned the area for potential eavesdroppers or den-den mushis.
"I figured as much. They've got your back, we do too."
"What about Luffy?"
"I'm not going to abandon him now. Wherever he decides to head I'm looking out for him."
Ace nodded and halted by a window.
They stood silently for a bit, simply watching the comings and goings of the marines on the wharf.
The Rear Admiral fidgeted
"Will there be much forewarning?"
Tenzou glanced at him out of the corner of his eye.
"Likely no, just the prearranged signal. It could happen at any time or it could never happen at all."
"No" Ace intoned grimly "It will. This is Luffy we're talking about. It's only a matter of time really. I'd have already done it but…"
"Then the net would close on Luffy and likely no one would get out."
Tenzou looked out the window and neutrally commented
"Whatever happens, it's best to be prepared at all times right? You never know when you'll simply have to drop everything and run for your life."
"Tenzou…."
"Hmm?"
"Please look after my little brother."
He regarded his friend seriously for a moment before turning his line of sight out the window once more.
"Don't be silly Ace. I'll look out for all of my friends. How about you promise me something and don't go getting your narcoleptic ass killed."
This statement was punctuated by a large explosion followed by some indignant screaming.
Ace dropped his head onto the windowsill with a thud.
Tenzou snarled and let loose a string of truly vile curses (which Ace immediately made a note to memorize.)
"That idiot-Commodore" he stalked down the hall intent on his prey and Ace fancied he saw an icy blizzard following him but that could only have been his imagination,
He sat on the sill and looked out watching the ships docking and leaving, the marines scurrying to and fro', Luffy being terrorised by one of his best friends and the clouds drifting by.
He sighed and slumped backwards.
"Ahn~ I'm hungry again."
I like to see them interact like a couple of ordinary young men. C:
Now let's send them out drinking!
Moar supporting cast OCs!
Well Smoker has Tashigi, Luffy has Tenzou and Garp has Bogart so it makes sense that Ace they should have someone backing them up.
They haven't really made an appearance but I wanted to introduce them now because they'll be showing up with Ace whenever he pops in. Ace has assistants too! In fact , he has two since he's got more work than Luffy.
Halia comes from the latin term for sea-eagles. (Oda does it and names are hard!)
Maynard was the man who killed the historical Blackbeard. (Good man to work for Ace)
They're his most loyal and direct subordinates. Also, they do not put up with any of his nonsense, much like Tenzou and Luffy.
Halia is a sniper and has exemplary eyesight due in part to her devil fruit which is that of a type of sea-eagle. She has concentrated on training this ability primarily to take advantage of the keen sight her zoan form possesses. While she can perfectly use the eyes she lacks that level of control with the rest of her transformation and thus either has to use only the eyes or transform entirely to fly somewhere.
It gives her no substantial boosts in stamina or strength and her ability to fly is only on par with that of an ordinary bird. She can not carry any extra weight other than her rifle so is unable to ferry her comrades. She is fairly light and thin herself and while fit not unusually strong so when she transforms her basic strength increases a small amount but a taller man would still be stronger
She has no unusual history and joined the marines purely to pursue advancement of her sniping skills. Her skills are the result of excessive training sessions rather than any particular natural talent. She is good friends with Ace and regards him fondly even if she gets irritated by some of his shenanigans. She does respect him as a leader and has followed him to battle on numerous occasions.
Halia is romantically involved with Maynard even if no one seems to realise it. This is mostly due to their matter of fact nature and the fact that they don't act the way Ace insists a couple should act. Other than that, it's not like they're hiding it.
She is 28 years old and possesses the rank of Commander. She is occasionally known as 'Eagle eye'.
Maynard is an excellent Swordsman but he excels as a tactician. His strategic victories have brought him to the attention of the upper ranks.
He went through training with Smoker and Hina and remains on good terms with them both. Hina has mocked him for serving under a boy a decade his junior but he respects Ace as an excellent leader even if he is a bit fun loving.
Maynard generally only speaks when he considers it necessary but his expression rather than serious stoicness is generally one of polite detached interest. This is his natural default expression rather than Tenzou who cultivates his cold and polite smile.
He gets on very well with Tenzou and is involved in 'the project'.
While he is an excellent Marine and possessing a decent moral compass he has never expressed any particular love of dedication for the marine corps. He uses a similar sword style to Tenzou but is far more proficient in it. It is a fast flexible style designed to cope with opponents that outmatch you. He has a particular dislike for those that betray their comrades, wantonly destructive individuals and was part of the back up for Luffy during the X Drake fiasco.
He is romantically involved with Halia despite the disbelief of their surrounding comrades. Like Halia, he has an utterly unremarkable background with nothing of particular interest unless you feel the information regarding his favoured desserts is pertinent. (Apple tart with lashing of whipped cream)
He is 32 years old and possesses the rank of Captain. He is occasionally known as 'Go master'.
I would rather use some Spade pirates but we don't know anything about them! :(
They mostly show up doing work for Ace and don't really have much of a role until nearer the end of the story.
