Freckles
chapter 16
Walking back to the Merry Eli's attention was drawn to a familiar orange cowboy hat. Ace was siting near the entrance of the shipyard.
"What are you doing ?" she asked walking to him.
Ace looked up toward the girl, his eyes stopped halfway on the manifold shopping bags. "You had fun ?"
She sighed excessively remembering the gut-wrenching ordeal she had gone through. "I guess... Though my feet hurt like hell." She dropped her bags on the ground and let out a deep moan of exhaustion siting down next to him. "So what are you doing here ?" she asked slipping her feet out of her, now too tight, shoes.
He smirked as a boy walked up to to him. "It's ready sir !"
"Come on I'll show you Striker Twig !" Ace said cheerfully.
"Striker ? What's a 'Striker' ?" Eli picked up her, too many, bags and shoes quickly as Ace and the boy walked away without waiting for her.
He looked over his shoulder a grin plastered on his freckled face. "You'll see."
When they had reached the docks Ace left the girl to talk with a middle aged man, probably a shipwright. Waiting for him she felt the need to dip her sore feet in the sea, a low groan escaped her mouth as they soaked in the fresh water.
A few minutes later Ace crouched next to her. "Come on it's ready." She growled as he pulled her up. "Come on ! You'll LOVE it." he said with a wide grin.
Eli chuckled at the young man's childish behavior, what ever Striker was, he sure did look proud of it.
"So that's 'Striker'..." Eli said staring questioningly at a small yellow raft. She leaned forward to examine it closely. It was shaped like a half-crescent, and had a large and mysterious engine in the back. "Is it...safe ? I mean... I can't swim, you can't swim, if we fall in the middle of the sea we're pretty fraked up."
"It's safe." Ace nodded before jumping on board, he offered a hand to the girl, which she accepted.
She sat on the bow of the raft and tilted her head quizzically looking at the engine. "So how does this thing work ?"
"You'll see." He smirked. "Are you ready ?"
"Ready for what exactly ?" She frowned at him slightly annoyed by his playful attitude.
As she saw his feet ignite, the engine roared loudly. Her head snapped in the other direction when she felt the sudden acceleration of the raft.
Eli grinned blissfully enjoying the strong wind on her face. She was amazed at the speed of the raft. Must be the fastest in the world, she thought. Ever since she was a child, way before she had eaten her devil fruit, she adored speed, it made her feel so light and free.
"Can you go faster ?"
"WHAT ?" he yelled. Apparently he hadn't hear her because of the loud roaring of the engine.
"FASTER !" She sounded like a child having fun on a roller coaster.
Ace grinned. As more fire burst from his feet the raft sped up tremendously, Eli whooped euphorically clutching the side of the boat with her hand. She had never experienced such speed on the open sea, and it was mind-blowing.
After a minute, the raft decelerated. "Why did you stop ?" Eli asked, looking over her shoulder she saw that Ace had crouched behind her. "What are you-"
The young man rested his left hand on her shoulder. "I saw something on the back of your neck..." Pulling gently her hair aside his eyes fell on a small tattoo. A small black star. "I didn't know you had a tattoo... When did you get it ?" he asked gazing at the little star.
Oh... The girl had completely forgotten her tattoo, it was so small, so concealed and so painfully related to her previous life....
"A long time ago..."
A shiver ran through her body as a quick flicker of repressed memories appeared in her mind. She curled up into a tight ball, desperately wishing that it would stop the tremblings.
"Are you alright Eli ?" Ace tilted his head on the side to look at the girl's face worriedly.
She gazed in his eyes, his deep, dark, and worried eyes. You have the same eyes, she thought.
"Are you alright Lizzy ?" a boy asked worriedly crouching next to a younger Eli lying on the grass bruises all over her skinny body.
"Hehe I kicked their arses." She smirked proudly.
The boy let out a sigh of relief running his fingers though his short raven hair, and got on his bike. "Come on I'll take you home." he said warmly looking over his shoulder.
She grinned and hopped behind him wrapping her arms around his waist. Her long hair flew softly in the wind as he began to pedal.
She closed her eyes and hugged him tightly. "Faster Etowaru !"
"Oi Eli !" Ace shook the girl clamping her small shoulders.
She jerked away feeling tears building in her terrified eyes. She wanted to say something to reassure him but as the tears began to flow her throat tightened so hard she could barely breath.
Calm down ! Eli ordered herself digging her nails in the palm of her hands. Longing for pain to distract herself from the excruciating ache she felt in her chest, the girl smashed her fists repeatedly on the raft.
"ELI !" Ace walked toward the girl, he grabbed her arms and pressed firmly her shaking form against his bare chest.
"I'm... sorry Ace... I can't.. stop the tears... " she stammered with a choking throat.
He lifted gently her head. "It's alright Eli don't worry, I'm here..."
Don't look at me with those eyes... She rested her forehead against his chest to avoid his gaze. "It stupid really." She forced a smile pulling away, tears streaming from her eyes. "We were just kids... We never even kissed..." she trailed off incoherently trying to wipe away her tears but they kept on flowing from her green eyes. "Isn't it hilarious ?" She wept with convulsive gasps, clenching her fists against his chest.
Ace's grip on the girl's frail body tightened.
A few minutes later Eli managed to get hold of herself. She lay down on the raft and gazed at the clear blue sky above her, listening to the soft rustle of the waves gently rocking the small raft. Ace was silent too, she couldn't blame him, her hysterical crying fit must have been a shock for him.
Damn !
Her repressed memories had overwhelmed her like never before. Why ? Was it because of him, because they shared the same eyes ? It was almost four years ago, why does it hurt so much ? But somehow she knew why... Being with him she had let her guard down, she had let herself become vulnerable.
She sat up folding her legs, and looked at Ace. He was sitting against the mast, looking absently at his hat resting on his lap.
She cleared her throat startling the young man out of his thoughts. "I don't know what to say Freckles... I'm sorry." She gave him half a smile.
He stared worriedly at her puffy eyes, and opened his mouth to talk but no sound came out.
"I must have scared you there..." she trailed off with a sheepish laugh. "Let's go back to the Merry ok ?"
Seeing that the rest of the crew still hadn't return from Loguetown, Eli sighed deeply. Just when she really needed some distraction, she was stuck with Ace and his unbearable worried eyes. The girl was still haunted by images of her past, and because of them she felt dangerously exposed. She turned around to look at the young man, he was leaning against the railing his black eyes gazing into space.
Regret, sorrow, shame and countless other emotions blended in her mind, she wanted see his smile, she wanted him to forget this miserable side of her. Walking to him she felt her heart pounding faster, she yearned for his warm and comforting embrace but she restrained herself and gave his forehead a flick with her finger.
"Stop worrying !" she scolded. Seeing him frowning at her while rubbing his forehead she gave him a tender smile. Now that's more like you Ace...
She leaned against the railing next to him, and exhaled deeply. "You would have liked him you know... Everyone loved him." She ran her fingers through her hair remembering Etowaru's warm smile. "But no one loved him as much as me." She smiled resting her chin in the palm of her hands. "He died for me. He died so that I could live..." She turned around briskly and frowned staring at Ace. "So I don't have the right to be sad. Got it ?"
She had to live with her memories but she wasn't going to let them crush her anymore, or else Etowaru's sacrifice would have been meaningless. She had to remember the good things, and live on happily, for the both of them.
He stared deeply in her green eyes as if he was trying to read her mind. After a few seconds he sighed. "Got it Twig." He smiled softly.
Noticing that the sky had filled with dark clouds, Eli decided to go look for the crew, she insisted that Ace stayed on the Merry, right now they needed some time away from each other.
She walked aimlessly through the streets until she reached a large open space. The place was crowded with civilians and marines, as she followed the gaze of the crowd her eyes fell on the execution platform. Must be there that Gold Roger was executed, she thought. Seeing two figures on the top of the platform she narrowed her eyes.
"Zoro ! Sanji ! Usopp ! Nami ! Eli ! Ace !"
Eli froze at the sound of the familiar voice. Luffy was tied on the platform and a man beside him was holding a sword above his head.
"No..." she muttered.
Luffy laughed. "Sorry, but I don't think I'll survive this time."
Eli's heart was pounding so fast that all she could hear was the hammering sound of her blood echoing within her ears. She ran through the crowd and up the platform as fast as she could.
I'm coming Luffy !
She had almost reached the top when a bright light blinded her, she was rooted on the spot feeling pins and needles piercing throughout her whole body. A second later she was blown away in the air. The last thing she saw before hitting the ground was the execution platform burning.
When Eli woke up she was in her bed on the Merry, and her body was heavy and sore. She tried to remember what has happened but her memories were a bit fuzzy. She rolled her head wearily to the side. Ace and Luffy were asleep, theirs heads resting on her bed.
Not the best choice to watch over a sick person, she thought slightly amused.
Looking at Luffy she remembered... The crowd, the boy's execution, and the thunder striking the platform.
What star were you born under Luffy... Eli smiled heartily patting the boy's hair.
The girl inhaled deeply, and sat up using her arms for support.
"Would you stop drooling on my bed !" She hit them weakly on the head.
As the two brothers threw their heads up instantly she chuckled seeing their sleepy faces.
"Eli you're awake !" Luffy exclaimed a wide grin plastered on his beaming face. Eli's eyes followed the boy questioningly as he ran up the stairs. "I'll tell Sanji to prepare the meal !"
The girl's stomach emit a loud growl to the mention of food, she covered it with her hands to muffle the sound fruitlessly. A deep sigh escaped her mouth as she fell back on her bed lazily.
"How are you feeling ?" Ace asked sitting on her bed.
Eli raised herself on her elbows. "What are you doing on my bed ? It's my bed !"
He looked at her over his shoulder and cocked an eyebrow. "Pretty possessive of your bed I see."
Eli rolled on her stomach and grabbed tightly the four corners of the mattress with her hands and feet. "Of course ! It's MINE... My precious..." she pouted.
He laughed standing up. "Ok ok."
Eli followed him to the kitchen where the rest of the crew waited for them. Her green eyes sparkled like emeralds seeing that Sanji had prepared most of her favorite dishes, she licked her lips with delight sitting down.
During the meal the crew confirmed her that lightning had struck the platform just in time to save Luffy's life. Was it 'luck' like the boy seemed to think, or something else ? Anyway he was alive, and that was what mattered.
From the corner of her eye Eli noticed that Ace's head was dangerously falling down, she caught his hair right before his nose touched his plate.
"Wow nice reflexes !" Usopp praised.
"I'm kinda used to it." Eli pushed the plate away and gently laid Ace's head on the table.
She wondered how many meals she had saved for him in a similar fashion until now, and smiled looking at his sleepy freckled face.
to be continued
I wrote the sad parts listening to Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood 5th opening non stop (you should try it while reading the flashback + hysterical fit !).
It might have influenced me a bit...
Anyway I hope you liked it, hopefully next chapter should be less depressing.
Oh and if you want to see Etowaru, and his 'warm smile', go to my profile.
Come on Shibo26, you should be nicer with our poor Eli... Let's say 94.5% :)
You were right ThexWhitexPhoenix, but like i told you the execution wasn't the main event.
Thank you Emma0707, Eli wasn't so funny in this chapter, but that won't last !
I actually never thought of Ace telling Eli about his origins... Damn you Art-sama ! Now I have to find a good occasion for it !