Hello everyone, here is another chapter
This is posted a bit early since I wanted to introduce the next part of the story, as I believe it would fit well here. It's a bit short and fast paced, as I don't mention everything that's happened in the previous chapter and didn't want to try and add a filler chapter. So things are really calm in this chapter.
Also, a trigger warning for suicide is needed
Hope you enjoy
Read and relax
Once Ace had eaten the sushi, he started a calm conversation with Trevor, acting normal. Whitebeard was glad for that, but also not. He didn't like that Ace just wanted them to ignore this. One didn't normally drink and stay drunk for 2 days. But, he was glad Ace was fine. Right now, that was all that mattered. He would see if he could bring it up at some point with Ace, but didn't know how. He would speak with Trevor later, and maybe Bay too, and go from there Maybe Ace wouldn't drink for a small while.
Since Ace was acting normal, only a little more serious than usual, others soon joined in on the conversation, glad to see Ace back to his old self. It felt as though something was missing without him, they had all grown accustomed to Ace and the two other assassins. Especially Ace's division. Marco and Jozu did an amazing job running the second division, but they had their own and it was best to have one commander per division. They all liked Ace and noticed when something was off.
The captain was sure things would go back to normal now. He would try to stay in calm areas for a small bit, for everyone's sake. They all needed to relax for a while.
-x-
After Ace had been in the galley for a bit, he saw Trevor standing up and moving away. Ace sent him a look which Trevor nodded to, silently agreeing to update him on the last two to three days. He didn't remember much of anything.
He gave a quick goodbye to the ones at the table before he went after Trevor, heading to the man's room. Ace placed himself on the desk, whilst Trevor chose the chair, the man starting to tell him what had happened.
He didn't tell him anything new, just that he had been drunk, done a few stupid things now and then - throwing his bottle when someone half-startled him, almost killing a few people, but mostly just stumbling around, even falling down from a ramp once, which the man found hilarious. It was nothing he didn't expect, and he was glad for that. When Trevor had explained what he had done, Ace looked at the other. "How did the others take it?" Trevor gave a small snort. "As you would expect. Confused at first and worried about you poisoning yourself and all that. After that, they were just worried about you hurting someone, or even yourself. They mostly let you be by yourself." Ace gave a nod, glad about that. Before he could speak, Trevor continued.
"But, the First Commander, Marco, never ventured far away. He seemed to even expect this. He was almost always by your side, caring for you."
He nodded. He might not remember much, but he does remember seeing Marco a lot. The man really cared, more so than he had thought. But again, Marco had seen him drunk many times before and knew how to act. The man was probably worried Ace would hurt himself. He would have to thank him. He didn't expect him to stay by his side the whole time. "Did anything special happen?" Trevor shook his head. "Not really. Daisuke dropped by. But, you were too out of it to remember him, I guess." Ace gave a chuckle. "I thought I heard him on the train." Trevor gave a chuckle too, saying how things would be calm. A few things they would do in groups now, as they don't need to hide as much as before. Right now, they weren't just assassins, but a mix of warriors and assassins. That didn't mean much, at least not yet, but they would work more together and out of the shadows at times. Daisuke having updated everyone and they agreed.
Ace spend a bit of time with Trevor, just speaking about small things, before he left, as it starting to close in on dinner time. Time moved fast at times. As he walked back to his room to relax a bit, he changed his mind as he walked into the commanders' hallway, heading to the door next to his, feeling the man was inside. When he got to the door, he walked in and made sure to close it behind him, before he moved towards Marco, who stood up in small shock at someone coming through his door, Ace moving and pushing him down to the bed and straddling him, seeing the man shocked. "Hi." He said with a smile, Marco giving a "Hi" back.
Ace leaned down over Marco, barely an inch between them as Marco was lying down. "I've missed you too." He remembers what Marco said before he went on his drunk days, and he felt the same. He saw Marco smile at that, leaning his head a bit up and connecting their lips.
It felt good to be back. Ace had really missed this.
-x-
Whitebeard gave a small sigh, glad things had been calm the last few weeks, nothing special happening.
Everyone was enjoying themselves and having fun, everyone was glad that Ace was back to his old self. Things had been really great the last 3 weeks. Though he kept an eye on Ace, just in case, as Trevor had mentioned that Ace would be a bit vulnerable for a little while after everything that had happened. They most likely wouldn't notice it, but Ace might not hold back at times, or remove himself from situations if it touched on topics Ace couldn't handle at the moment. As Trevor had said, they hadn't noticed anything, nothing special happening.
3 weeks after they had returned to the ship, they started getting assignments again. It was only Ace who was called, but Trevor left the next day on a different assignment, both went fine and were quite short. When he had asked Ace about it, the kid had said it would be calm now, due to what they had done a few months ago, most likely shocking and scaring everyone. The captain was glad about it, especially as he was sure the assassins needed a break. When he told that to Ace and Trevor, both had snorted and said Daisuke and Moira did most of the work now which they were able to complete at the Red Cloud's base. The majority of it was paperwork, they got a portion of it but not nearly as much as those two did, though it was nothing they couldn't manage.
They were at least relaxing, and that was good. Things were calm, and he didn't want it any other way right now.
-x-
Marco heard Ace give a hum. He was looking a parchment over, most likely an assignment, whilst Dust sat next to him.
Overall, they hadn't gotten much work the last 5 weeks, leaving only once every couple of days, but never being gone for too long, a 3-day assignment only occurring once. Things were calm still, a few fights occurred now and then, with only a few injuries sustained, but nothing serious.
Before Marco could ask if Ace would need leave, Ace looked at Trevor. "It's Shou." Trevor blinked. "Tucker?"
Ace nodded. "Yeah. Isn't he close to figuring out genetic chimerism?" Trevor nodded. "I think so. But, only with plants, nothing more. What does he want?" Ace shook his head. "He doesn't say, but he does mention it's multiple things, so it might take a few hours. I'm thinking 5 max." Trevor agreed. "Sounds right, especially if it's you who do it. Say hi to Nina for me." Ace gave a small chuckle. "I will." And as Ace said that, he was gone in a cloud of smoke, making Marco blink and look at Trevor. "What was that, yoi? Who is Shou?" The man gave a small chuckle.
"It's Tucker Shou. He's a scientist. He's trying to fuse together two or more beings, but has only succeeded in making it with plants. I think he is close with bugs, but not quite there yet. Have you heard about the research into creating the first chimera, he is a part of it." Marco gave a small frown. "Isn't that a mix of living beings, yoi? Wouldn't that require torturing others by sewing or operating them together?" He could faintly remember having heard about it, and the rumors were horrendous. Trevor gave a nod. "Yeah. But, Tucker does it in a humane way, without killing or torturing the subjects. He also has a devil fruit ability- I don't know which as he won't tell me- but it helps him. I assure you, he doesn't torture his subjects."
The man gave a light hum. "And he has the sweetest child called Nina, and a dog called Alexander, who both adore Ace. They're a nice family. We have worked with them for years."
Marco gave a nod. He guessed there wasn't a mother there, seeing as Trevor didn't mention it. But, it sounded like a sweet and nice family. A calm and relaxing assignment would be good for Ace. Not that much had happened the last 2 months, but calm work was always the best kind.
The next few hours were calm until the commanders meeting was scheduled to take place. They delayed it until Ace's estimated arrival time which was at 6pm, as they hoped that Ace would be able to join. But, when the clock passed 6 and Ace was still not around, they delayed it again, hoping Ace wouldn't be too much longer. As Trevor didn't even seem a bit worried, he tried to stay calm too. The man saying Ace was most likely enjoying himself with the child, Nina, as they haven't seen her in a long time. It did make sense, so they just needed to wait.
When the clock was closing in on 11 pm, they needed to start the meeting, before it got too late, as Bay needed to join since she had a few updates to make, as they had had a few training related injuries. If Ace showed up whilst the meeting was taking place, Marco was sure the other would join. And, even if he didn't, it wasn't that important. Marco could just update Ace later.
He was sure Ace would come back soon. He was probably caught up playing with the child as Trevor had said.
-x-
Ace tried to ignore the look Dust gave him, same with what the bird was saying to him. Ace shot a quick 'shut up' to Dust, not wanting to deal with him right now. It was his decision, no matter what the others would say. He knew Trevor would be mad. He didn't need to tell the man, and would try not to. He didn't want to deal with his looks of disappointment.
"Ah," Started a voice to his left, making him turn around. "Ace, long time no see." Ace was glad that they always seemed to know when he needed them. "Virus, Trip, how are you?" Virus gave his usual sly smile, mixed hairstyle of straight in front and upwards and pointy in the back, as well as the glasses and the dark suit, his tie a mix of squares. The squares matching Trip's vest as it was full of squares, a white shirt and dark tie on, looking the same as Virus, minus the glasses. He hadn't seen them in a couple years, but they still looked the same. The way to blue eyes one normally could have, knowing the twins got it from testing out stuff early, looking at him in amusement. He really hated those eyes. "My my, Ace. No reason to be so courteous. What would you like this fine day today?"
Ace shook his head, hand moving to his face, simply tired of everything. "I don't know, or care. Just something to fuck me up." Trip gave a hum. "I think we have the perfect thing. A new drug. It should do exactly that, even for someone like you." Virus gave a hum too. "I agree. It would do the trick, make you forget all your troubles for a day or three." A small bag with the signature cross and heart with wings and the text- the formula for morphine- which they had used for years, was given to him. "Normally," Started Trip. "I would say a quarter of a pill, but you can take a half. But no more. We will never speak again if you do, at least not in this life. This should give you 6 doses. Wait 3 days between each dose."
Ace gave a nod, taking the small pouch, handing a small bag of money over. "Thank you." Virus gave a smile. "It's nothing. Pleasure doing business with you. Be careful on your way back; the wind is bad at the moment." He gave a nod. He had noticed that.
When Ace got out of the building, he walked a bit away from it until he was out of the seastone zone, as they had one of those seastone towers here. Ace wouldn't even be surprised if it was them who had sold the towers to Cesare. The ones here were thankfully weaker. It only took a person's devil fruit ability away, Ace could still faintly communicate to Dust when he was close to the tower.
As Ace disappeared, he hoped the pills would work.
-x-
Trevor gave a hum as Ace appeared in front of his mark. Damn, he was a bit over 6 hours late.
Nina probably kept him back, Ace really liked that cute little girl, and she even viewed Ace as a brother. "How'd it go?" Ace just shook his head a bit, heading for his room. "Not now." Well then, that was a thing. Why was Ace down? Ace usually told how Nina was as she always asked on how all of them were and wanted to give a hi back. Ace never looked down after returning from meeting Nina; the girl always managed to make them smile. The assignment that Shou had given him, must have been a tough one, there were times when his assignments are awful, as he was a scientist. "The commanders are having a meeting, they tried to wait for you but could delay it any longer. They said it wasn't important, so it was fine if you missed it" Maybe Ace had just forgotten about it. He would mention it, just in case. "Not going. I just need some time alone to relax."
Trevor gave a nod, certain that Shou had given Ace something hard to do. He still remembered the day, years ago, when the man had sent them to see if his wife was okay, they found her body, which had been badly experimented on. Someone had tried to crack the method to creating a chimera. They had taken the women as she was the wife of Shou who was also trying to crack the method, though only working on plants and insects. That had put Daisuke down, and that was saying something. "Yeah. Tell me if you need anything, Ace." Ace gave a nod, heading to his room, not looking back at Trevor. He would be sure to inquire about what Shou had asked Ace to do, but would give Ace time to relax first.
Ace was at least back, Dust sitting in his nest on the mast and looking at him, most likely worried for Ace as he was a bit down. He still felt something was wrong, but was sure it was pass.
-x-
Ace gave a sigh as he placed his cape down on a chair, standing behind it, looking at his desk, seeing the two and a half pills there. He had taken half a pill, and it really did work, more so than he had thought it would. He was still able to think clearly; things were just more… okay now, foggy. He moved a hand to his face, giving a breath. He really hated everything right now; he just wanted to get away from it all. Why was he fighting to make a world this fucked up better? Ace gave a breath as he had no answer. He looked over at the desk after a minute.
If half a pill could make him this bad, in a weirdly good way, what could 3 do?
That was a stupid question, he knew what 3 could do. He moved to his desk, placing his bottle there for now, before moving closer to the bed. He snapped his fingers a bit, making Dust appear on his bed, the raven tilting his head in worry before giving a small caw, knowing that something was wrong. Ace shook his head, his hand moving to Dust's head to pet him. "I'm sorry. You don't need to see or feel this." He could both see and feel that Dust did not liking this, knowing what he was going to do.
But, he had already started to put the raven to sleep with his powers. "I'm sorry, I hope you wake up from this, that you can live a normal life without me." Dust gave a weak caw, starting to fall asleep, telling him to not do it. He felt something fall down his cheeks when Dust was asleep. He really hoped the raven would wake up later. "I'm sorry, honey. I don't want to hurt you anymore." He gave a last pet to Dust before he went over to the desk.
He took a last breath as he took the two and half pills and drowned them with the rest of the half-filled bottle of vodka.
And that's the chapter, hope you enjoyed
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