Hello everyone! Here is the next chapter!
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Whitebeard sat out on deck, waiting for news about Trevor. Ace hasn't shown yet either. But after another half an hour, Ace came around the corner and looked at Sabo, who instantly stood up. "Is he okay?!" Ace gave a breath. "We have done all we can. Now it is up to Trevor. But you know him, he is a fighter." Sabo nodded, before he looked at Ace with sadness in his eyes. "This is my fault. I told him to not be on the alert. That nothing would happen here. That he w-" Sabo didn't get to finish as Ace hugged him. "No no. This isn't your fault. It wouldn't have mattered if he stood where he did or a few more feet to the left or right or been on the alert or not. . Don't blame yourself." Sabo nodded and hugged back, looking really upset.
After hugging for a minute, Ace leaned back and moved a hand to Sabo's cheek. "I need to go check if I can find the one who did this, you stay here. You need to be safe." Sabo nodded. "Okay." Ace nodded as well and gave one more hug to Sabo. "And this is not your fault. Don't worry too much, Trevor is a fighter." Sabo nodded. When Ace let go, he went over to Luffy and gave him a hug as well, before he was gone in black smoke. Sabo then went over to Luffy as well and held his hand, and Whitebeard hoped Trevor would pull through.
It was a bit later that Ace came back to the ship and said he had found something that could maybe help find the one who did this, which was good. There was no update on Trevor yet, he was still in surgery most likely. When Sabo asked if Ace figured out who did it, Ace said he didn't yet, but needed to try something out, and looked at Izou. "May I borrow a gun? A sniper preferably." Izou blinked. "I don't have one unfortunately." Ace nodded. "It is okay, then I will go get one. I need to do a trial on something." Izou took a step forward. "I want to help." Marco, Jozu, Haruta, and Thatch each took a step forward as well. "So do we." Whitebeard stood up tool and said he would as well. They all wanted to make the one responsible pay.
Ace gave a breath. "I would have said no, but maybe having more hands can help. Meet me at the tall building on 6th street, 8th floor. North side." They all nodded and Ace was once more gone in black smoke. They then went to the building and up, and it was a large building, so Whitebeard didn't have much issues. He had to lower his head a bit in doorways, but that was it. As they got there, Ace soon appeared in sight, a sniper on his back. He then went over to a window, and Thatch spoke. "Why are we here?" Ace hummed. "He was most likely here. Just need to figure out which window." Ace then took the sniper off his back and aimed out the window, before he moved to the next one as he said. "Not here, shine from the other building is too much." After trying the next window, Ace said here would work and aimed at where Trevor had been, before he just related without shooting, and then watched the bullet fall to the floor, before it rolled a bit to the left, before Ace did it again, and this bullet also rolled to the left, before he did it one more time, and this bullet rolled to the right as Ace had changed angels a bit, and rolled under an oven on the wall.
Ace moved the sniper down, before he moved to the oven as Thatch spoke. "What are you doing?" Ace hummed. "Seeing if the perpetrator was smart." Then Ace was by the oven, crouched down and reached under it. Izou spoke. "He would pick up his bullet casings, if not he is a moron." Ace hummed. "Yes, but if one rolled here, he wouldn't have time to search before someone would come as a sniper makes a lot of noise." Whitebeard blinked, on his way to speak, when Ace moved his hand back and now he had one bullet and one bullet casing, and showed it to Izou. "See." Ace then looked at the bullet casing. "Hand made, special caliber, based on the marks, shot from an old sniper, most likely hand made as well, able to hold large calibers. Markings that say H. A. Might be initials. Sand particles that are red, so from south end of town. That helps narrow it down. So we should head to the south side of town."
Whitebeard blinked, as that was amazing. Ace was able to do a try and find out all this from just reloading a sniper and then finding a bullet casing that had hints on it. Ace was amazing, and this showed how he came to be as amazing. Izou then asked how Ace could find out all that from just one bullet casing, and Ace said he could explain while they walked. And Ace did, showing the initials, the sand, and the markings and how he knew it was handmade. Izou seemed amazed and glad to be able to learn more.
As they got to the south side of town, they walked around a bit, before Ace stopped and pointed to a building. When they looked, Whitebeard saw a door which had the name "Hall of Ammunition, and Izou spoke. "The H and A is the same style as the initials." Ace nodded. "Yes, which makes sense. Handmade gun from a gallery or museum, and all the bullets are handmade with the initials." They then walked in and a woman smiled at them. "Welcome to the Hall of Ammunition. Are there any special things you want to look at?" Ace hummed and showed his sniper. "My sniper feels a bit… off. Do you have someone who knows how to help me?" The woman nodded. "Yes. Head through that door," She said as she pointed to a door. "Our main sniper guy is there, only one here who knows how to use them." Ace nodded. "Has he been here all day? Or maybe done a test run on a sniper that's homemade?" The woman blinked. "He did take one out to test it, although that one is just a piece to look at, he built it." Ace nodded. "Do me a favor, leave the building." The woman blinked and looked at them. "Why- the shooting? Is Landen responsible?" Ace hummed. "Maybe. But either way I don't want you to get injured." The woman nodded. "I will leave, I had nothing to do with this I promise. I love your protection." She added while looking at the captain, and Whitebeard smiled. "It wasn't you. Please be safe and leave." The woman nodded and left.
As she was gone, they made their way to the door while Ace told them to get ready and they did. Then Ace opened it slowly and a man spoke. "Roja! I am busy!" As the door was opened, it gave sight to a large room with a man standing and working at the other side, looking at a sniper. Ace spoke in a serious, but also almost mocking voice. "Not her. Nice sniper. Missing a bullet casing?" The man, most likely Landen, looked up visibly shocked, before he quickly got out a normal handgun and pointed it at them. "I didn't shoot one of you. I shot a bastard assassin. I did nothing wrong." Ace looked at him seriously. "You shot a man, who did nothing to you. Who was with the ones protecting your island." Landen shook his head. "I didn't shoot at them! Assassins are monsters! Money hungry bastards!" Ace looked mad and started to move towards him, and they did as well. Ace probably knew he wouldn't shoot.
The guy aimed his gun at Ace. "Move any closer, and I will shoot!" They all stopped, as it now sounded seriously, and he had shot Trevor. He seemed desperate and might try and shoot them as well. He probably knew he was screwed. But while they all stopped, Ace didn't, and continuously moved closer towards him, who still pointed his gun at Ace. "Stop! I will do it!" Ace didn't slow down as he marched up towards the man. And the guy pulled the trigger and a shot could be heard, the bullet hitting Ace in the right side of his chest. The force made it move a bit backwards. But it did nothing to slow Ace down, who didn't even seem to flinch or make one sound as he continued to walk closer to the guy, who looked terrified. Which the captain got. He just shot Ace, and there was absolutely no reaction, for those who knew him just proving how mad and determined Ace was.
When Ace was close enough, he moved his right hand up and punched the guy hard in the face, sending him to the floor unconscious. Ace then kicked the gun out of his hand, before he lifted him over his left shoulder and started to walk out. Watching this, Thatch then moved towards Ace. "I can carry him." Ace hummed. "I am." Thatch blinked. "But he shot you!" Ace shrugged. "Only a small bullet wound." Thatch blinked, before he moved to speak while he was about to grab Landen, when Ace spoke with a murderous glare at Thatch. "He is mine." That had Thatch back off, as this was Ace, the Ace of Spades and he knew everyone was scared of him still, which he got. Ace was strong and terrifying.
When they got out of the building, Ace spoke. "I will put this one in a safe place, and then I will be back. And I will have someone look at the graze of a wound." Before any of them could speak, Ace was gone in black smoke. They then went back to the boat and shared that they had managed to find the one who did this, which had everyone glad, especially Luffy and Sabo. When Sabo asked where the guy and Ace were, he said Ace was taking him to a place to keep him. Whitebeard didn't mention the bullet wound.
It was an hour later that Ace came back after getting Landon somewhere propably so Ace could deal with him later. Ace had on a new shirt, a light purple one, and no signs of blood on his shirt, which was good. Ace was with his brothers as they still waited for news about Trevor. It was an hour later when Bay came out and looked at them. "Trevor will pull through. While it was a bit touch and go, we managed to stop the bleeding and sew him back together. He will wake up soon. It didn't hit anything too bad." That was good and had everyone breathe out relieved, and Ace moved a hand to Sabo's shoulder. "See, he made it. He will wake soon."
That was good news and had everyone relieved. A couple minutes later, when the woman, Roja, came to theboat with the major. He wanted to know what had happened, and Whitebeard explained it to him. That the guy, Landon, had tried to shoot someone that was with them, that they were close with, and that Landon was now in a place to be dealt with later. The major did ask if Trevor was okay, and Whitebeard said he most likely would be, which had the major glad, who then made sure to make it clear that the island would not support anyone who shot someone who was obviously with them, and to do as they please. The major also added that should Landen show his face again, they would deal with him, which was good to know. This island valued their protection a lot. Then the major left as everything was okay for now.
Then they waited, and it was two hours later, just after dinner, that Trevor came out on deck, and Luffy quickly shot over to hug him, which had Trevor flinch a bit while he hissed. It made Luffy move backwards. "Did I hurt you? I'm sorry!" Trevor shook his head as he smiled. "No, just a bit sore and tender. I'm fine." Luffy nodded and hugged again, and Sabo soon joined in on the hug, seeming just as relieved. Trevor then spoke. "I will not die yet, not done bothering your brother." That seemed to lighten Luffy and Sabo's mood.
Ace looked at Trevor. "Had you died, I would have marched right down to Hell, dragged you by the hair up here so you could tell Sabo he was not to blame for this, then tossed you back in Hell for making Sabo feel like this was his fault." Trevor blinked. "Why would this be Sabo's fault?" Ace gave a breath. "He felt it was since he asked you to relax more and not be on the alert." Trevor blinked, before he looked at Sabo. "I was still somewhat on the alert, just not visible. The sniper was so far away. Even if I stood somewhere else, he would have shot me." Sabo nodded, looking to feel better.
Trevor then looked at Ace. "Also, why am I going to Hell? Why are you so sure of that?" Ace hummed. "I am going to Hell, and I am not staying there alone, so you're also going to Hell." Trevor blinked, before he nodded. "I see. But, we will be laughing our way down." Ace nodded. "Yup." Then Ace went and gave a hug to Trevor as well. "Glad you're up. Got Landon with Daisuke, he shot you. He hates assassins apparently." Trevor nodded. "Good to know he isn't waiting to shoot me. How mad were you at him?" Ace shrugged. "A bit." Trevor chuckled. "Almost feel bad for him. Mad you is terrifying." Ace looked at Trevor. "I am not that terrifying." Trevor lifted an eyebrow, and Ace gave a breath while he chuckled a little. "Maybe I am." Trevor chuckled. "Not maybe, you are. You staying long?" Ace hummed. "Maybe a week, depends on you." Trevor hummed. "Bay said to take it easy for a month. So I was going to ask if maybe I could stay here." Ace nodded. "I approve. But the captain has the final word."
Trevor then looked at him, and Whitebeard nodded. "It is fine by me." Trevor smiled. "Thank you." Whitebeard smiled back. "No issue. You are more than welcome here." Trevor smiled and gave a nod. He got Trevor wanted to stay here, and was glad he feels safe enough to do so too. And Ace could stay a bit as well. They would set sail tonight, and would dock again in a few days on a close island to see how it was. It wasn't one they controlled, but they knew many on it. Setting sail and sailing there was uneventful. When they docked, there were some waiting for them to say hi, which included a girl, Ellie, who knew Curiel. She was 13 and Curiel had helped deliver her years ago and now kept in touch with her family and visited when they could. She really looked up to him and wanted to be a pirate, it was very cute. On this island none of their Devil Fruits worked as it was a phenomenon around this island, but it was a calm island and he hoped nothing big would happen.
Curiel then introduced her to Luffy, Sabo, Ace, and Trevor, and she seemed to like Luffy, the two then went off to play. Then they went around and looked a bit at the island, both to just look around and to buy some things. As they did, they at first heard and then found Luffy playing close to a building that was under construction. Ace was quick in saying to not play here as it was dangerous. Luffy said fine and told that they were playing hide and seek and Ellie was hiding somewhere inside the building. Ace nodded to that, telling Luffy to go back to the boat while they would go and get Ellie out, as it could be dangerous. Luffy nodded and did. They, meaning the captain, Trevor, Curiel, Jozu, and Thatch went inside.
They then searched a bit and shouted that they were no longer playing and that Ellie should come out. It was a large building with 5 floors so they decided it would be better to split up while searching. After a bit, he heard Ace yell "Found her! On our way down from 3rd floor!" That was good. But after a few seconds, the ground started to shake. Curiel quickly got in charge, saying that this was probably an earthquake and where to go to safety as they were in a dangerous place. Some parts of the building did fall, especially from the roof and such, but they made it. When it stopped a few minutes later, they made sure everyone was fine, before they went to find Ace and Ellie, but the third floor was under heavy construction and had a lot of damage and rubble that had fallen. When they looked around, they soon noticed Dust by a large pile of rubble that had fallen from the ceiling , cawing at them, and Trevor said it was a sign Ace was there.
They quickly started to move the rubble and it was heavy, even he felt so, which made him think that if Ace was under here, he would be not okay at all. Curiel was looking around in the close rooms and calling out for Ellie, but got no answer. The other rooms were empty. Trevor groaned as he moved a piece from the rubble pile. "Curiel, if anyone knows where she is, it's Ace. He found her. Help us here." Curiel nodded and hurriedly started to help them, before they moved a large piece and saw black hair, which had Trevor move his hand to it. "Bunny!" Whitebeard didn't know what he expected, but the head moved upwards and it seemed like Ace was covering something as he moved his hand away. "Get her." Whitebeard was confused about who to get, when Ace's hand moved and he saw blond hair, before he realized it was Ellie.
They got her out first, before Ace got out and the rest of the rubble he was keeping up fell. Curiel looked at Ellie as he crouched down. "Are you okay?" Ellie nodded, and while she had a few scrapes, she looked fine. Ellie nodded. "Y-yeah. Just… shaken." She then looked at Ace. "Are you okay?" Ace nodded. "Yes. I think you still need to be checked by a doctor. Just in case." Ellie nodded. "Okay. What about you?" Ace hummed. "I'm fine. You go on ahead, okay?" Whitebeard blinked. Why didn't they head together? Ellie blinked and seemed to be on her way to ask that, when Trevor moved a hand to her back and lead her out of the room.
As soon as she was out, Trevor hummed, before he started counting backwards. "3. 2-" Trevor was about to say one, when Ace started to cough a bit, and Trevor chuckled. "I can never make it to zero. I guess 3." Ace cleared his throat a bit. "I think it's more like 5." Whitebeard felt confused. "5 what?" Trevor hummed. "Broken ribs." Curiel blinked. "Then we need to get you to Bay. Don't move too harshly. Don't breathe too fast. Don't laugh." Trevor hummed. "Hey, Bunny." Ace looked at Trevor. "Don't you dare." Trevor grinned. "Potato." Ace gave a small laugh and seemed to try and not to laugh, when he gave in and laughed, which had him move a hand to his right side as he also looked to be in a bit of pain, which he had a feeling meant it was bad.
Ace then suddenly cut off mid laugh and moved a hand to be sort of on his mouth, and Trevor hummed. "3. ….2…." They blinked as Trevor was counting really slow this time. Ace then spoke strained, like he wasn't breathing for some reason. "Get to zero!" Trevor grinned. "One and a half. One and three quarters." Ace then gave a cough, but this time, blood came out of his mouth and started dripping down the corner of his lips. It had them all worried and Curiel moved closer to Ace. "A rib must have punctured your lung. Try to breathe carefully." Trevor chuckled. "Onion." That had Ace laugh again, before more blood came a bit later as he coughed.
Curiel looked at Trevor. "Stop making him laugh! This is serious!" Trevor chucked. "Oh come on. It is just a rib in his lung. Or maybe two. Not going to kill him that fast." Curiel blinked. "This is serious! I need you to take this seriously!" Trevor hummed. "Bell pepper." And once again, Ace laughed, before he coughed up more blood. Trevor chuckled, before he hummed. "Want me to fix it?" Curiel looked like he was about to freak. "Fix it?! You can't fix it here! Bay needs to fix it!" Ace looked at Trevor and pointed to his left side. "Here, 3rd rib is off." Trevor nodded and moved to Ace, before he moved a hand and hit Ace in the back, hard, which had Curiel jump towards them as he yelled "Stop!" But he wasn't fast enough, and Trevor didn't stop and hit Ace again, before Ace nodded. "Feel better." Trevor hummed. "Eggplant." Ace laughed. "No! Not eggplant!" He said laughing, before he calmed down and added. "Just a bit of pain now."
Curiel didn't look happy while he moved a hand to his pocket and took out a syringe. "I got a small dose of morphine, you sh-" Ace shook his head. "No. I will not take any morphine." Trevor hummed. "Watermelon." Ace laughed again, but this time, he moved a hand to his side, before he said. "Just pain, nothing more." Curiel didn't look too happy. "Take the morphine!" Ace shook his head. "No, I will not." Trevor hummed. "He can do a quick trip to the infirmary, will that help?" Curiel nodded and said yes, but Ace gave a look to Trevor. "I don't need that." Trevor looked at Ace. "I will tell Luffy and Sabo you had a rib in your lung if you refuse." Ace glared at Trevor. "You wouldn't dare." Trevor glared back. "Try me." Then they glared a bit, before Ace said. "Fine! Fine, a quick trip." Trevor nodded. "Good. You're also a bit bruised. And clothes ripped." Ace shrugged. "Rubble is heavy." Trevor nodded. "Makes sense. Now, let's go." They all nodded in agreement and left to the boat.
Ace did seem okay as they walked, but had a hand on his side as they walked, probably being in pain, and he had a feeling Ace wouldn't just show that he was. When they got to the infirmary, Bay took one look at them, before she blinked when she saw Ace. "What happened?!" She asked as she walked towards them. Curiel looked at the doctor. "Broken ribs, refused to take anything for the pain. Offered small dose of morphine, but refused." Ace looked at the man. "I am fine." Curiel looked at Bay. "See?" Bay rolled her eyes. "That bed. I'm going to get some morphine." She said as she pointed to a bed before she went to a cabinet. "I'm fine. I don't need morphine." Bay hummed as she was close to the cabinet. "Don't care. You're getting something for the pain. So I can examine you properly." He expected Ace to say no, when Ace gave a look at Trevor, who nodded, before Trevor looked at them. "Let us leave. Bay can handle Ace." They blinked, Marco on his way to speak when Trevor did. "Now." Okay, there was something here. So the captain nodded and started to leave, the others following, a couple more reluctantly than others.
When they were outside, Trevor spoke. "Bay can handle him." Curiel looked at him. "Why did he refuse the pain medicine!" Trevor hummed. "Why take something when you don't need it?" Curiel blinked. "He was in pain!" Trevor hummed. "Not that bad pain." Curiel sighed. "At least Bay won't take no for an answer." That was true, Bay never took no for an answer, at least not without a reason, so Ace would be fine.
-x-
Bay moved and opened the medicine cabinet and put in the code to get the morphine, when Ace spoke behind her. "No morphine." Bay gave an annoyed breath, on her way to just say she didn't care if he didn't want it, when Ace spoke again. "Give me methadone." Bay blinked, before she turned to look at Ace. "Morphine is stronger. Do you even know what methadone is?" Ace nodded. "Used as the main pain relief for drug addicts, especially previous users." Bay blinked, on her way to speak again when she saw the look in Ace's eyes, and nodded as she grabbed the bottle next to the morphine, put some in a syringe, closed the cabinet, and moved to Ace, starting to administer it.
As she did, she spoke. "How long?" Ace gave a breath. "Almost a year." Bay nodded. "I see. And you didn't want them to know. What did you use?" Ace gave a weak chuckle. "Easier to say what I didn't use." Bay nodded, before she was done and looked at Ace. "Most people your age that are users or precious ones don't refuse morphine, they don't see the harm. They usually get this insight after 50, many often later." Ace nodded. "Not gonna relapse because of a few broken ribs." Bay nodded. "And that means you are very wise for your age." Ace chuckled a bit. "When you wake up after cutting of body parts and been in a place where they worship the color green, and more than one rehab and withdrawal, you don't want that again." Bay nodded. "I'm glad you got that clarity."
Bay then checked the ribs and found some that were broken, but there wasn't much she could do to help with broken ribs. None of them were in a dangerous place. As it was all checked, Bay moved to look at Ace. "Now, I will not tell anyone about your drug use. Should you feel any severe pain, come back." Ace nodded. "I will. Thank you, Bay." Bay shook her head. "No, I am glad you didn't want the morphine. Should you need someone to talk to, you know where I am." Ace gave a smile. "I do. Thank you, Doctor Bay." Bay smiled. "No issue. Now, you can leave." Ace nodded and did, seeming glad to be able to leave.
Bay was really glad Ace stopped her from giving him morphine. To a drug addict, that could be a sure relapse. Ace really was wise, and she got he was a previous user. His line of work was not easy and he was young. She hoped he wouldn't relapse. But only time will tell. When she made the file, she just said she gave methadone, as she knew Pops wouldn't know what it was and wouldn't question it. Pops knew she knew what she was doing.
-x-
Whitebeard sat in his room when evening came and read over the files Bay had given to him, the last week's patient. He liked to look them over as it had happened that there was something relevant he should know about he felt like, like injuries that would have a lasting effect or something like that. When he got to the input about Ace, he blinked. It said he got something called methadone. He had never heard that, and he knew Bay was about to give him morphine that day. Was methadone something stronger? He didn't know. He would try to ask her about it later, maybe.
A bit later, Marco came over for a game of cards, and as they played, Whitebeard looked at Marco. "You know a few things about medication, right, son?" Marco nodded. "I do, yoi. Why?" The captain hummed. "Got a medicine question." Marco sighed as he put down a card. "If Bay put you on something and you're experiencing side effects, you should speak with her, yoi." Whitebeard chuckled. "Nothing like that. Just something I read." Marco nodded. "Okay. I will see if I know the answer, yoi." Whitebeard nodded. "What is methadone? And why would it be used instead of morphine?" Marco hummed. "Methadone is a medication that is often used against pain when the patient is a drug user or a previous user, yoi. It doesn't give the same high and is not as additive. But it is also not as strong and often requires a higher dose than morphine." Whitebeard blinked, before it hit him. Ace was either a drug user or a previous user.
Marco looked at him. "Please don't tell me we have anyone in the family who needs methadone because of an addiction, yoi." Whitebeard shook his head. "No, no one in the family, son." It wasn't a lie. Ace wasn't a part of them. Marco nodded. "Where did you read it, yoi?" Whitebeard hummed. "In a book." He hoped Marco wouldn't catch on that that was a lie, and while Marco looked at him for a moment, in the end he just gave a breath and put down a card. "Books rarely are so specific. But if it has a drug addict in it, it makes sense, yoi." Whitebeard nodded, he would go with that. He didn't want to tell something this sensitive about Ace to anyone, and that included Marco, even though the two were dating. This wasn't his information to share. He hoped Ace was good now, and would be sure to be there for him if Ace ever needed it.
And that's the chapter, hope you enjoyed
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