Hello everyone, here is the next chapter!
I know this is late and I am so sorry! I will try and keep this updated now, and hopefully not almost a year late again
In this Ace gets a new tattoo and we see one of his past ones being made
Hope you enjoy
Read and relax
Ace woke up feeling tired and opened his eyes only to see he wasn't in his room. It had him confused as he sat up, before he remembered yesterday. He had been feeling down and dragged on a cuticle and headed to Izou, who made him feel better. He looked around and saw Izou sitting by his desk, a pen in hand and looking like he was concentrating. Ace gave a small yawn and shook his head a bit, trying to wake up some more, before he spoke. "Izou?" Izou turned to him and smiled. "Hey! You're up. How do you feel?" Ace couldn't help giving another yawn. "I'm feeling… fine. Thanks… for yesterday…" Izou smiled. "No issue. I am still very glad you came here." Ace smiled. "Yeah, me too. I should leave." Izou gave a small nod. "You can, but you can also stay a bit more. I have a new pattern for a sweater I would like to try, and it would fit you, if you're up to it."
Ace blinked, before he smiled and said he could, so then Izou took some measurements while they chatted, before he said that he had all he needed. Ace, after all this still standing, helped him pick some fabrics and was on his way to go get something to eat for himself afterwards. But before he left, Izou asked to look at his finger, and Ace let him. As they took the large band aid off, it looked much better than yesterday, but still it looked like a wound. Izou hummed, before he spoke. "Okay, if anyone asks, you were here with me, when one of my fabric knives cut you, and you felt so bad since some blood landed on a fabric I had, making it an emotional wound, that won't just heal. Okay?" Ace blinked. "W- you- I mean, that's a lie?" Izou hummed. "It is, but I am worried someone could ask and you would feel worse." Ace blinked, before he smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Izou." Izou smiled. "No issue, now go have fun. I might be a bit late for breakfast, need to finish something." Ace nodded. "Okay. And again, thank you." Izou smiled. "It is nothing." Ace smiled, before he left and headed to the galley where breakfast was soon.
As he sat down, he started a conversation with Jozu, who was by the table and they just chatted, before breakfast began and when Thatch sat down, he did wonder out loud where Izou was, and Ace said he would be a bit late, as he was finishing something. Thatch chuckled. "He is always doing a project. Wonder what is next." Ace hummed. "Looked like something amazing, I dropped by him." Thatch looked excited with that. Thatch always supported Izou in what he wanted to do, which was so amazing. Everyone here was so supportive.
The day then went on fine, before it was closing in on dinner which would be in about an hour and half, and Ace was bored, so he went to the kitchen to hang with Thatch, who was making dinner as it wasn't much to prepare, just small things he could do, and there was a few others as well there. Luckily Thatch was not so busy so Ace was chatting with him while he helped a bit when needed, but he also took some small… samples, which if Thatch saw it he would get hit his hand away, so each time Ace waited for Thatch to turn his back, before he took a small taste.
When there was just an hour left, Thatch looked at him. "Question, I have a dough I need to knead, and having warm hands would help, so could you maybe help?" Ace blinked, before he felt a bit unsure. He knew kneading meant he had to lift his sleeves, and there were 3 other people here. Thatch seemed to get it and clapped his hands. "Peter, Hans, Trixie, you've done great. Could you go and start placing plates?" All three nodded and left. Thatch then looked at him. "You can still say no, but what do you say?" Ace smiled. "I can help." Thatch clapped his hands. "Yes! Okay. Wash your hands and I will make sure it is ready to be kneaded." Ace nodded and did.
When his hands were clean, he walked over to the large bowl Thatch was with, as in really huge, and Thatch said to roll his sleeves up, which Ace did, Thatch mirroring the motion. Then Thatch started to knead the dough and told him to do the same, and Ace did his best. Thatch did say he was doing great, and that the heat from his hands really helped. That made Ace glad. As they were kneading, Thatch seemed to notice something and spoke up before Ace could ask. "Hey, is that a new tattoo? A butterfly?" Ace blinked, before he looked down at his arms and saw the butterfly Izou had made, so Ace nodded. "Yeah. Izou made it. He wanted to give me one." Thatch whistled. "That one is so Izou and so pretty." Ace smiled. "Yeah, it is. I like it." Thatch seemed glad about that, his smile widening a bit.
They then finished kneading the dough, and when they were, they cleaned their hands again as Thatch left the dough to rise a bit more. As they had, and Ace on his way to lower his sleeves, Thatch spoke. "Question, and feel free to say no, but can I make a butterfly?" Ace blinked, Thatch wanted to make one? Ace used a few seconds to think, before he nodded and gave a smile. "Sure." Thatch looked at him. "Don't feel pressured to say yes." Ace shook his head. "I don't. You're allowed to make one." Thatch smiled and clapped his hands. "Yes! Wait here!" Thatch then ran out, coming back a few minutes later with a tattoo machine and some color for it. They then found a spot to sit, and Thatch started to make the tattoo, a bit away from the one Izou had made.
As Thatch did, he seemed to concentrate, before he hummed as he changed color and used his hand to trace something. "Also this butterfly, it looks… jagged? The others doesn't." Ace blinked, and looked down at the one he meant, and Ace smiled. He remembers that one very well.
-x-Flashback-x-
Ace sat in his room at Dadan's, just relaxing, or trying to was a better word. He had this urge to scratch at his arm. He had a few tattoos now from Sabo, Luffy, and Dadan, and he loved them, but they were itchy. But then again, the small pain had made so he didn't have the full urge to harm himself, even though he knew if he scratched, he would do it until he bled, and that would not only make Sabo mad but Luffy very sad. As he was relaxing, he heard a ruckus from downstairs, with some yelling, but he couldn't hear entirely who was yelling or what was being said, before he heard someone marching up the stairs. Only seconds later his door was banged open and Ace was shocked to see Garp there. He could also see Sabo behind him, a half determined look on his face, and Ace got it. Garp knew.
Garp then closed the door, before he went over to him, stopping just a few feet from him. "Is it true? Are you being stupid and harming yourself?" Ace looked down, not answering. He was ashamed, and it seemed it was enough of an answer to Garp, who just gave a breath, which itself sounded upset. "Why? You're safe, you got food, you're good. Why would you do that!" Ace didn't answer, to which Garp grabbed his left arm. Ace tried to fight it, but Garp ended up winning and dragged his sleeves up and Ace hung his head, feeling worse by the second. He did feel Garp staring for a bit, before a finger traced the tattoos he had, then Garp spoke. "Why?" Ace felt like he wanted to cry, and Garp asked again, and Ace felt so upset now, so he spoke. "Why wouldn't I! I killed my mother! My father is hated by everyone! I am hated by everyone!" Ace felt like he barely managed to hold his tears back, his eyes burning.
Garp then let go of his arm, and Ace quickly hid it by pressing it close to his chest, before Garp spoke. "Where is the tattoo gun?" Ace looked shocked at Garp, before he pointed to Sabo's desk, sure if he didn't, Garp would turn the entire room upside down. Garp then went and got it, before he grabbed his arm again, and Ace just let it happen. He then heard the tattoo machine start, before he felt the sensation of the needles going into his skin, which was a welcomed pain right now. He was sure Garp was crossing out the tattoos he had or writing something awful.
After a bit, the machine turned off, before Garp spoke. "There, shi- Ace." Ace blinked. Garp didn't say 'shitty grandson', which had him look at Garp, who had a concerned and compassionate look. Garp spoke again as Ace looked at him. "Your father… he would have loved you, and never doubt that while people say horrible stuff, he wasn't evil. He was a good man. And your mother did all she could to make sure you lived. And I assure you, both are looking down, rooting for you." Garp gave a breath. "I know I am not around a lot, but you can win this. Now, go prove to all those who say they hate you that you are the amazing kid you are and that you will be a perfect marine one day!" Ace blinked, before he got his mind with him. "I won't be a marine! I've told you this! I will be a pirate!" Garp looked at him, and he was sure Garp would hit him, when Garp was suddenly hugging him. "No matter what you do, you will be amazing."
Ace was so shocked he didn't say anything, and then Garp let go and spoke. "Drawing isn't my strong suit, but don't you dare kill it. I will know." Ace blinked and looked down at the tattoo and saw a butterfly. The lines were jagged and not as smooth or pretty as the ones he had gotten done by the others, but it made it stand out, it was Garp, who stood out as well. Ace smiled a bit. "I… like it." Garp spoke quickly "I know it suck- wait, you do?" Ace nodded. "It is… you. Thank you… Gramps." Garp smiled, before he looked at him. "You will do just great. Now, I need to go. Go win the world, Shitty Grandson." Ace nodded. "I will, Shitty Gramps." Garp laughed a bit, before he left. Ace then looked down at the butterfly again. It was pretty, in its own way. Maybe there was hope for him.
-x-Present time-x-
Ace smiled. "It is from someone who sucks at drawing. Couldn't do it to save his life." Thatch chuckled. "Sounds nice. And there! Done!" Ace blinked and Thatch moved his hands so he could see the finished piece. It was a nice butterfly. And the butterfly's body was a sword, the sword having butterfly wings, and it was blue. It made sense seeing that Thatch was a swordsman.
Ace smiled. "It is amazing, Thatch. Thank you." Thatch waved his hand. "Now you're making me blush! But it is a nice one." Ace nodded, it was. Ace then dragged his sleeve down, before he smiled at Thatch, "Thank you, for making one. and for… you know… not judging me." Ace was very thankful that Thatch didn't look at him with any judging looks.
Thatch moved in and hugged him. "Don't worry, little bro! That is what brothers are for! I will always be by your side!" Ace smiled, and he felt like he half wanted to cry, but kept it back as he hugged back. "Still, thank you." Thatch chuckled. "No issue. Now, want to help me finish this up?" Ace nodded and they finished what was needed, before he helped form the dough into buns, and then put them in the oven. He was having fun helping, and he got a bun to eat as a thank you as well. When it was done, the others came back as Thatch got them, and they finished it all, then dinner was on.
When dinner was over, Ace was out by the railing, looking at the ocean. He always loved the ocean, even though it could kill him, it was also a sign of freedom. As he was just enjoying the view, he looked to his left when someone came and also leaned against the railing to see Marco there, who hummed. "You okay today, yoi?" Ace nodded. "Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?" Marco hummed. "I see you have a small wound on your finger, yoi. I am just a bit worried for you." Ace looked at his finger, before he spoke. "Yeah, I was with Izou, helping with something, when I got too close to a fabric knife and it cut me, making some blood fall on his piece. I feel so bad I ruined it." Marco nodded. "Makes sense in why it didn't heal then, yoi. Then I will not be as worried." Ace blinked. "Not 'as' worried?" Marco hummed. "I am your brother, I will always be a bit worried for you, as I am for everyone."
Ace chuckled and looked at Marco. "You got a lot to worry about then. There are like hundreds of us. Is the 'yoi' maybe a tick you have? If I say it, will you not, yoi?" Marco hummed. "I've always done it, it isn't a tick, yo-" Ace laughed. "You almost said it! It is so a tick you have." Marco hummed. "Don't you like it, yoi?" Ace hummed, before he smiled at Marco. "I do, it is… you." Marco smiled at him. "That's good, yoi. I like it as well." Ace smiled, before he looked back at the sea, once more taking in the view. "You know, never would I have believed I would be here, having so many around me, who… accept me." Marco moved an arm around his shoulder, bringing him in for a half hug. "We do accept you, yoi. Because you are amazing." Ace smiled. He didn't feel like that at times, often actually. But he liked it here and hoped he could stay here forever.
And that's the chapter! Hope you enjoyed!
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