Here's Z, I had a way easier time finding a word for this letter then my KiddxLuffy alphabet. I think it's because I used the Internet instead of my dictionary this time, there is no limit to the usefulness of the almighty Internet!
And can you believe it? I've finished both of my alphabets! Now all that's left is my Grand Finale which I will post to celebrate this fics birthday. The 17th of this month will be the finishing date of this fic, finally!
Definition: Zek- A prisoner in a labor camp.
Summary: He'd found his reason, the reason why he had fought.
Zek
Portgas D. Ace didn't know how long he'd been in hell; all he could remember was that it hadn't been his whole life. He remembers soft blankets, clean fresh air, and delicious chocolate cake. He's lost his sense of time, or has it lost him? Maybe he's the one who's gotten lost, left behind, forgotten? That wouldn't surprise him, he's scum so says the Taskmasters. And they know all and if you challenge their knowledge, well, it isn't pretty. The last man that Ace knows of that dared to question them was a green haired teen named Zoro, he'd tried to protect and defend a girl from one of the Taskmasters. The Taskmaster –for that was all they, the lowly scum of society, could call them- had been after the dark haired girl's innocence and Zoro had tried to protect it and the girl.
He'd managed to stop the Taskmaster from –when Ace thought of this word it made him shiver in revulsion- raping the girl, Kuina. But he'd been punished, he'd been beaten to within an inch of his life and left out without any protection. At the mercy of nature, weathering through the harsh storms that slashed through the camp and the maddening sun that drove others crazy. When his punishment was over and he was dragged down from the rock he'd been chained to he was taken to a room. And they could all hear his screams and some wondered what could be happening, what could the Taskmasters be doing to the green haired rebel to make him scream so? He hadn't screamed when they had beaten him and he hadn't uttered a sound when he was left out to die. So what could make him suffer so?
They found out two hours –was that really the time or merely a fabrication- later, Kuina, the girl that Zoro had protected was dragged out of the room. Blood seeping out from between her legs and blank unseeing eyes told them what had happened. The girl that Zoro had tried to protect, the girl he had suffered for had still been violated. She'd been broken in front of him and it in turn had hurt him. They all thought that Zoro would be taken back to his rock, to suffer more and be stoned by the Taskmasters when they were bored. But, it never happened and they were all left wondering what had happened to the green haired teen.
And they found out a week later when in the morning light when the sun just started his ascent into the heavens they found Zoro strung up, hung from the dead tree in the middle of the courtyard. He was obviously beaten, his clothes were in tatters. Whip slashes had ripped away the cloth and hot branders had charred away the filth. He'd had nails hammered through his hands at one point and there were scratches on his back that led down into his pants that gave them a sickening thought. That he to had been violated, that he'd been broken just as Kuina had who'd killed herself as soon as she was alone.
As Ace watched the sun rise and highlight the injuries on Zoro's back he couldn't help but wonder what had driven the teen to go against the Taskmasters. Zoro had been in hell almost as long as Ace and he knew the rules, he knew that you never questioned the Taskmasters.
Three days after Zoro was taken down from the tree a new group of people were brought to hell. Weeping women, crying children, and stone faced men. All people that had been classified as filth and scum who were removed from the publics eye. And in the group of twenty so people Ace saw him. A dark haired boy, with a light in his eyes that Ace was sure would be decimated before the weeks end.
His name was Monkey D. Luffy, and he proved Ace wrong. The dark haired teen survived in hell. His light wasn't blown out, it held strong and beckoned Ace near him. Like a moth to a flame.
Within two weeks of Luffy being in hell he'd caught many people's attention, Ace was included in this bunch. As was a Taskmaster, the same one that had wanted Kuina. And as the Taskmaster plotted and watched the beautiful boy known as Luffy Ace got to know the teen. And Luffy amazed him, he was so vibrant, so filled with light that shined ever so brightly that it chased the shadows of hell away.
And before Ace knew it he fell in love with the boy.
So when the Taskmaster finally acted, finally decided that the stunning dark haired boy would be his Ace fought him. He used everything in sight to stop the Taskmaster from touching his Luffy. And he overpowered the Taskmaster, he killed him. But his triumph was not to last for the other Taskmasters did not care for rebellion and they were infuriated that scum such as Ace had dared lay a hand on one of their own let alone kill him.
And as they tortured him, as they made him suffer Ace couldn't help but remember the thought he had had when Zoro was found dead. He had found the answer to his own question, Zoro had fought for the same reason he had. Zoro had suffered in silence for the identical reasoning as him. They both loved someone, someone who was threatened and they had fought to protect them. They had fought and saved them so they would not ask for forgiveness they would not utter a sound for they did not regret their actions. Because they had done it for a loved one.
