Disclaimer: I sadly do not own One Piece or its amazingness ( if that is even a word...?)

Thank you everyone for your support in reading my work. All comments are appreciated- even ones for improvement- so dont be shy! :D Also, I have a question... how do you chose a beta reader? Is it like someone I chose or what? I was looking at them and there are SO many. Its a little over whelming so if any of you readers are registered betas and would like to be my beta then a thousand and one thank yous! I would really appreciate it! You can just leave your answer in the comments if your answer is yes! X3

Hellfire

Chapter 7

The door to the resturant closed loudly, so Sanji and Ace stopped their conversation as the captain rounded the corner, shutting off his phone. As he slipped it into the pocket of his dark gray jeans and shrugged off his huge coat, Ace couldn't help but think of a mostly naked Smoker in his living room. His heart sped up traitorously as the older man sat down.

"If we're gonna eat, then it's gotta be now. Tashigi called and wants me back at the station." Ace could hear a slightly guarded and cold tone to Smokers words as he eyed Sanji. Was Smoker...jealous? Ace smirked internally at the idea.

"Sure!" Sanji said, cutting off Ace's thoughts. "What do you guys want to eat?"

Smoker eyed the menu. "Something..." his grey eyes flicked to Ace's, then back to the menue, "...hot."

Heat flamed across Ace's cheeks as he hid behind his own menu. "Soup,then?" Sanji asked Smoker, completely oblivious. "Yeah. The special of the day should do," he replied. "Ace," Sanji said, "I'll just get you the usual. I know even after all these years your appetite hasn't changed."

Ace just nodded in agreement as he subtly watched Smoker pull up the arms of his long sleeve shirt up to his elbows. There was something different about Smoker now then earlier. He must have gotten some good news from Tashigi.

The food was done quickly, but perfectly as always, and set down on the table before them. Smoker looked up from his soup to Sanji "Can I have a tray for this?" The older man asked, gesturing to the cigar in his mouth and toke one last drag. He blew it out slowly as Sanji placed an ash try in front of him, and Ace couldn't help but stare. After the captain rubbed the death stick out and began to eat his food, he realized that he had never seen Smoker eat before. In fact, Ace didn't even know what kind of foods Smoker liked.

He felt a little bad-okay, a lot- that he had been avoiding Smoker. He had spent most of his time with Tashigi, but it wasn't the same. She was a nice woman,sure, but he couldn't banter her without her wigging out, nor do things that could strain his injuries. Smoker might be a bastard, but he didn't try to tell Ace how to his job or how to live his life, acting like a mother hen.

But Ace refused to be a slut, especially when it seemed to bring Lucci perverse pleasure. He hated himself for acting like a dick, but it was like some line had been crossed. That much was clear when Smoker had kissed Ace earlier. Okay, okay, it had 'rescue breathing', but the raven was pretty sure that rescue breathing wasn't supposed to feel like that. his feelings were starting to get mixed up in this mission, and Ace could not allow that to happen. Last time he had let his heart rule over his head, everything had ended in disaster.

He could tell Smoker was confused over Ace's actions since the other night, but the man hadn't done anything to push Ace to explain or try to coax him to spill the beans. It was like he didn't care or was giving the raven space. If it was the latter, then it was kind of say what he wanted on his time was an option that Ace hadn't had in a long time, but it was the former...he didn't like the feeling in his chest when he thought about it.

"Are you going to stare off into space or eat your damn food?" Smokers rough voice snapped Ace out of his dream world. He immediately started to eat the delicious food Sanji had made him.

"Thanks, Sanji," he mumbled around the food in his mouth. "You're the best!"

The blond chef just smiled and walked back to the kitchen. A "let me know if you need anything else," came over his shoulder as the door to the kitchen closed.

"So," Ace looked discretely at Smoker, who was dunking some hot bread into his soup. "What did Tashigi find?" He asked, deciding on a neutral subject.

"That she found something interesting from the fire records." was all he said.

Ace nodded hesitantly. That was vague. "Are you thinking that are fires are all connected somehow? Even the one from today?"

Smoker sipped his water before answering, "Yeah."

The younger man sighed, irritated. "Are you going to elaborate?"

Smoker turned his his head and looked Ace dead in the eye. "Are you going tell me why your sneaking confidential information out behind my back?"

Ace's fork froze in the air halfway to his mouth. "W-what? what are you talking about?" Oh shit, he thought, did he know about Lucci?

"If you think that i don't know about Teach, I am already on top of it. I'm not stupid, Ace, and if this partnership is going to work between us then there has to be trust. If you gotta gather info the hard way then I'm not going to stop you. You have your own informants and this city is familiar to you, but if i catch you going behind my back or doing something illegal, even in the name of justice, it will be last thing you will ever do."

Ace's pounding heart slowed down, relief almost making him sigh. "Am I clear, brat?" Smoker asked him. The raven nodded dumbly. Smoker didn't talk to him the rest of the meal, but the silence was neither comfortable or uncomfortable. It just was there.

Ace sat and quietly ate his food, cursing that Smoker probably knew about his connection to the Straw Hat crew, but hopefully not about Luffy, until Smoker cleared his throat and stood up. They both paid for their meals-even when Sanji insisted that the meal was free- and then headed back to the there, Smoker and listened to Tashigi's hypothesis, and Smoker added his own piece of information from the earlier event with Ussop.

"I suspected that Dolflamingo was working with Crocodile, but I doubt that the union will hold when things go south at the drop," the captain said as he studied some papers on his desk that his assistant had placed there.

The said woman nodded, "But if its true, and the fire are all connected, then the Grand Line running through Chicago will be put in jeopardy. Everybody and their brother is going to start scrambling to buy and sell the goods that are left, making Crocodile and Dolflamingo the main suppliers!"

Ace thought about Tashigi's words. The Grand Line was the source of import and export transportation for all legal and illegal transactions. It stretched across the entire globe, even to the most remote and secluded islands. If you could own even part of the Grand Line, then you own part of the world. The seven warlords were the men who owned the most of the Gran Line, and Government owned the warlords.

The stops on the Grand Line were numerous and difficult to navigate without the proper equipment. Log poses- devices that latch on to to magnetic fields of the next stop- were the only way to make your way through the labyrinth of stops. Different shipments took different routes to make it difficult to track or ambush the cargo ships at their stops, only the warlords and the government having a list of all the stops. These stops were dotted all over the world, too numerous to count, to traveling the same route twice in a row was almost impossible. If too many stops in the Grand Line were shut down, then the operation would be ruined, the poses having nothing to latch onto.

The only gang to ever conquer the Grand Line and live to tell about it was Gol D. Rodger's gang. But that was over 20 years ago, and after he died, the Grand Line was divided among the seven warlords to avoid fighting and battles for power. If what Tashigi said was true, if Dolflamingo and Crocodile were working together to throw off the the Grand Line production and monopolize it, then Chicago was heading toward some bad shit unless it was stopped.

Ace's pondering was interrupted as he was brought back to the present when the captain wanted to speak again. "This is a lot bigger then I was expecting," He pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and index finger.

Ace leaned against the desk, propping up his unbandaged hand to cup his cheek. "Will all your stuff be safe here? Knowing Crocodile and his involvement with Baroque Works, its safe to say he knows we are onto him. "

Smoker looked at him with surprise, probably shocked that Ace has thought of something so logical. The raven snorted internally. What a jackass.

Tashigi spoke again, "I'll take them, Captain,"

"No," Smoker interrupted.

"But, Sir-" "I said no, Tashigi! That's final!" The harshness of his tone surprised Ace. From what he could tell, even in the short time he had worked the precinct, Captain Smoker doted on his over eager assistant. His tone implied to Ace there was a reason behind it...

"I'll take it, Smokie," Ace said.

The captain looked at him through half lidded eyes, the man looking like he was going to fall asleep at any minute. Finally he asked, "Why would it be safer with you then with Tashigi?"

"Because two reasons, "Ace replied, "1. Crocodile most likely has her place under constant surveillance. He'll know the second she is out of the house or alone and not miss the opportunity to dispose of her or any evidence she may have, and 2. because I happen to know some pretty influential people myself and can get my place to be monitored. That stuff couldn't have have a better place to be stored."

The ravens throat was a little dry as he swallowed. The points were true, more or less, but it would give him another opportunity to move forward with the mission. he had wasted enough time pussy footing around. It would give Smoker an excuse to come over to his place, and keep Lucci off of his back and out of his life for a little while. Not that Ace was afraid of Lucci or anything like that.

Smoker didn't seemed convinced. "Even so, I think that it would probably be safer to make copies. If the bastards don't know how there are any copies, then they wouldn't know what to do for a little while at least."

"You're the boss," Ace said absently, his thought reeling about his own problems again.

After a few moments Smoker nodded as if making a decision. "Alright. we'll make the copies and move the papers tomorrow to my house and Ace's apartment. Tashigi, I want you to make two copies and take them to my house. I'll meet you there." The raven watched as Smoker stood up. "I'm- ah-going to go back to the plant to do a final area sweep. Now that we-ah- know what we're looking for, it should be easier." His words were broken by two yawns as he stretched his injured shoulder carefully, then headed back out to the fire site from the morning.

Ace got up as well and put on his coat and knitted hat to go as well, but not with Smoker. He had some investigating of his own to do. His breath came out in heavy steam clouds as he walked toward the site of the fire at the apartment building. While he walked, he thought about Smokers words to him in the restaurant, panic starting to set in. What if Smoker knew of his connection to Luffy? To CP9? The captain was a man with many faces; he could be annoying as hell, frustrating, too, like he was to Ace most of the time, but then be compassionate and understanding like he was to Tashigi. Either way, the man was smart and sneaky.

He thought back to Ussop when Smoker had trusted his judgment about the long nosed man with out batting an eyelash. Ace was unsure what to think about that, but he suspected that Smoker knew that the raven was somehow previously acquainted with the long nosed man. Damn it! It didn't matter if Ussop had been the one to start the fire, Ace would've still bailed him out. Then his mind skirted to Sanji. Smoker obviously knew more then he was letting on. he didn't even ask how he knew Sanji, let alone how much he had eavesdropped on their conversation.

Smoker was the enemy, he was a prick, and he was ... well, Ace had to admit if Smoker wasn't a cop, then the raven would have either killed the man or bedded him by now. He sighed at perverted, bipolar mind. He was pretty sure when he had woken up from his narcoleptic episode and had stopped Smoker from walking away he was going to jump the man right then and there, but thank God that Tashigi had busted in through the door. GAH! He couldn't afford to get attracted to Smoker. Why would he even be attracted to a man like Smoker? Sure, he had the body of a god, and his smile and laugh were things that made Ace's heart speed up, but he was a sarcastic, moody bastard that pissed Ace off beyond belief.

Was it because Ace was finally starting to crack under all the pressure? The memories of what happened to his nakama happening to Luffy and his friends haunted his mind and strengthed his resolve. He needed to get close to Smoker and get the fucking information so he could move on with his life. This was his last job and then he was out for good. He was going to retire to the Bahamas and be lazy, never going to have worry about this shit again. The contract expired at the beginning of next summer and then he was a free man. Fuck Lucci and fuck the World Government and their dogs.

Glad his mind was made up, he made his way around the corner and to the building. Blinking away the snow that was softly starting to fall from the gray sky, his boots crunched loudly over the glass and charred dabrie from the skeletal building. It made him think of Brook and he allowed himself a small smile.

The building was black and surrounded by yellow caution tape, the smell of smoke still hanging in the air. Ace ducked under the tape and carefully walked over to the entrance of the building, flashing his badge at people that asked him who he was. He made his way up the temporary stairs that had been put in place for repair work and eventually made his way back to the floor and room he found the boy. The room was black, but generally in tact- except for the window of course. Ace made his way-quite acrobatically he might add- around the huge hole in the floor. He glared briefly at the pipe dangling from the wall, wishing it would disappear, then walked to the closet where he had found the boy.

The door was still off his hinges, but Ace was interested what was inside the closet. He looked at the corner of the molding and squinted, trying to see if the nagging feeling from his night mares were just fucking with his memories from that day and were screwing with him, or if they were right. He took a small intake of breath. Yes, the was charred black, but Ace's expert eyes could see the faint mark underneath the soot. It was the mark of a Grand Line drop off spot all right. Ace groaned internally. So, it was true then. Crocodile and Dolflamingo were flushing out the Grand Line. He found himself opening his phone and listening to the dial tone before he realized it.

"Hello?" Tashigi's voice crackled over the phone line.

"Hey, where's Smokie?" he asked without ceremony.

"It's Captain Smoker to you, Mr. Portgas. Something came up, and he left his cell behind again. What's up?"

Ace hesitated before, "Oh nothing, really, but I just found something that he will probably interesting."

"Oh," she replied, no suspicion in her voice, but another kind of tone Ace didn't want to figure out, "Well, I'll tell him you called."

"Okay, thanks. Well, I'm heading home, so tell him I called or don't. I don't care. See ya tomorrow," Ace said quickly, then hung up. God, I'm so pathetic, he whined to himself and shut his phone off. He was like a damn child, eager to please his parents with a fucking good report card or something. He needed a drink.

It was getting dark so he decided to pay a visit to Shakey's Rip Off Bar, knowing that even for her over priced drinks, she had some pretty strong shit. He hopped on a buss a rode it to the red light district, then got off and walked till he reached his destination When he got there, he pulled up a bar stool and rapped his knuckles on the counter of the bar. "Hey, Shakey!" He greeted to the dark haired woman behing the counter. She smiled and asked what he would like., "Three shots of your strongest whiskey, please." Ace practically ripped off his coat and threw it across the stool next next to him. A moment later Shakey placed his three glasses in front of him. Ace gave a lopsided smile to the woman, and raised the first glass in salute. "Bottoms up!"

The raven wobbled up to the front door of his apartment and turned to wave to the retreating car that brought him home. "Bye, Johny!" he called drunkenly, "Thanks again, man!" The said man honked the horn in response and turned the corner.

Ace laughed and had try a few times to stick his key into the lock, too drunk to notice that it was already unlocked. He stumbled into the apartment as the door gave, making Ace giggle helplessly. His eyes squinted as light flooded into the room, being turned on by someone one other then him. The giddiness left him, but his unsteadiness didn't, the room was spinning and seeing double figures of everything made him have a episode of vertigo.

Finally his vision straightened, he saw on his couch, with Sinbad on his lap, Smoker. "What the hell are you doing in here?" Ace slurred angrily.

The captain ignored him and stood. Ace could see his face was flushed with anger, either that or the older man was drunk himself.

" Where the fuck have you been, Portgas? Its almost 2:30 in the morning!" the man demanded, avoiding Ace's question with one of his own. "I've been calling for hours and you din't pick up once! I-" Smokers rough voice broke as he clutched a piece of paper in his hand. He took a deep breath to calm himself down, running a hand through this hair.

Ace's gaze was traitorously traveling up and down the captains body. His coat was thrown over the back of the couch, and was still wearing the same tight shirt he was wearing earlier. When the man lifted his arms, the material of his shirt bunched up and showed a peak of the washboard abs Ace knew were under there. His eyes jerked up to Smokers face as the man spoke.

"I was worried," He was saying, "Crocodile sent me a note that I found at my house,and then Tashigi said you had called when I was out, and after hours of not answering you phone, you dumb ass, thought that- I just can't let another partner get hurt because of me-"

Whatever else the captain had planned on rambling was cut off by Ace's mouth slamming over his.

Okay guys! How was that? I'm sooo sorry for not updating! Life is just so crazy with my college finals and all that coming and going. Please remember to comment, you beautiful people! (^.^)