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"Who did this to you?"
Isuka's head snapped up. "Ace?"
Ace knelt down in front of her, his usual easy smile absent. "I’ve been here a while. No need to pretend, okay? You’ve been crying. Who did the bad thing?"
"You don’t know if it was a bad thing."
"I know you’re crying."
"I’m not…not crying, dumbass."
Ace caught her hand. "Hey. Shhh. Just look at me. It’s okay. Nobody expects you to-"
"I’m not some weakling."
"Oh…" Ace shook his head. "I don’t think a person cries when they are weak, but…when they’ve been strong for far too long. You don’t need to be alone."
"Yes, I do, because the justice system I work for is all over the place, and the World Government is screwed up, you pirates are absolutely ruining what’s left of the good in this world, and-"
"Come with me."
"We’ve been through this." She blinked away the last of her tears. "I can’t. I’m a Marine. I’m bound to capture you, the longer I spend with you."
"I don’t mean join my crew— I mean, I wouldn’t be opposed if you wanted to, but that’s not what I mean. I know your path is already set in stone here— I just mean sail with us for a while. Until you get yourself in order. Just so you’re not alone while you process."
Isuka hesitated a long time, studying him. "But…"
"I trust you."
"What if I said I don’t trust you though?" She challenged.
Ace gently pulled her to her feet, smirking. "We both know you’d be lying to yourself."
"Well I never! You’re a pirate!"
Ace shrugged, turning his back. "It’s up to you. I’m just saying, we can carry you until you’re ready to go home. I’ll have to leave that decision in your hands, but we won’t wait forever." With that, he turned and headed down the pier.
____________
"She'll come, Deuce."
The masked man propped his chin up on his palm on the table. "It’s Isuka. Isuka the stubborn?"
"Yeah yeah, whatever." Ace waved it off.
"Who insists she can’t trust a pirate?"
"I’m different."
"How?"
Ace grinned, cheeky. "I’m special."
"She’s not going to-"
"Wait for it…"
Ace raised an eyebrow. Three long second passed before outside the ship…
"Fire-Fist!"
Ace leaned back in his chair with a smug smirk. "Bingo. There she is."
"Yeah, to arrest you! Are you crazy? You go out there and she'll start screaming about having a warrant for your arrest."
"Masked Deuce, my poor worrywart of a friend, I’m Ace! I think I can handle it." Ace winked. Then he stood up and headed outside. "You called?" He leaned on the ship's rail and waved to one of the men to lower the gangplank. "Lower the walkway, let her up. C'mon up, Marine. Let’s talk."
"Ace, you sure this is a good idea?" Asked one of the men.
Ace didn’t even turn to face him. "I'm the captain and I gave an order."
Isuka climbed up to meet him, her hands on her hips. "Fire-Fist, earlier when we talked, I said that I didn't-"
"No, it’s fine. Forget that. The question is, do you want to sail with us for a while?"
Isuka bit her lip so hard she nearly drew blood. "Dammit there’s no right answer, but I can’t go back, not yet. I'm not in the right mentality to be working, so I'm of no use to them."
"Arresting the big bad me can be saved for another day, huh? Let’s have some tea."
Isuka followed him belowdecks. "You really have no reservations, do you?" She sighed in resignation though, shaking her head. Damn pirate…
_________
"It’s so…cramped."
Isuka didn’t think she had seen a single other woman on the ship either, and living in the women's barracks at the Marine base, she was not used to rooming with a bunch of sweaty, snoring men. Yet everyone seemed content, even amidst all the noise and chaos. Even Ace was standing there, leaning against the wall and just laughing along, like he wasn’t a highly wanted man, like he simply didn’t have a care in the world.
"What, does it bother you? Sorry, our ship is kinda lacking in the space department."
"No, it’s fine, sorry. I shouldn’t complain." Even if it wasn’t what she was used to, they were offering her the time she needed away from her work, and the people she’d have to routinely face there. "I think I'm just…going to try and settle for the night," she decided.
"Need an extra blanket or anything?" Ace asked.
"I’m fine." The response was curt and brisk. Accompanied by a flicker of guilt for her tone, ever so fleeting.
"Okay, well if you need anything, you can always ask me."
"Yeah."
Ace departed, heading up to the main deck again, and as the room gradually started to quiet down, slowly but surely as it was, Isuka settled into the hammock that had been provided for her, and closed her eyes to rest. No luck though, even once the others had finally quieted down and slept themselves. Maybe because of it. She realized with a start that amidst the chaos and hubbub, she’d already tuned herself to become accustomed to the sounds of the laughter and chaos and all the background chatter.
Isuka slowly opened her eyes after a while. Failed attempt after failed attempt at getting just a little shut-eye. Finally she dragged herself out to the main deck, wrapped in her blanket, and settled next to Ace, who was laying on his back on the deck, gazing up at the sparkling silver stars overhead. Ace's gaze shifted briefly towards her as she approached, looking what he could only describe as a bit wary, maybe embarrassed.
"Isuka? I thought you’d gone to sleep."
"So did I. I tried, but it wouldn’t happen."
"First-night insomnia is pretty normal. It’ll come. Until you’re tired enough to get some shut-eye, why don’t you come join me? I’m listening to the stars' story."
"Listening to their story?"
"Everything happens for a reason, I think. The stars are so far away, so cold and quiet, but I bet they have the longest and most beautiful stories to tell, if only one stopped and paid attention long enough to understand."
Isuka settled next to him, laying down on her back and fixing her eyes on what might’ve been a planet. "Never took you as the type for something like stargazing."
"I like to appreciate the natural beauty of the world sometimes, when I can find the time."
"I guess, but-"
"People will surprise you, right? You learn new things every day."
Isuka slowly breathed out. "What story do you think these stars have? What’s their significance?"
"I think each star is the spirit of a fallen hero, in whatever form a hero may take, pirate, Marine, civilian who went from zero to hero, what have you. Each up there to tell their story forever, and remind us when we look up that there’s always little glimmers of light, reach for the stars, they say. Those stars are heroes to aspire to ourselves one day."
"You’ve got quite the imagination."
"It’s all up to interpretation, right? That’s just what I believe."
"I guess…that’s a nice way of looking at things."
"I can’t convince you, I won’t try to. I’m just sharing my thoughts." Ace slowly breathed out. "Believe what you wish, or don’t, it doesn’t matter to me if you share my philosophies."
"You’re something else, aren’t you? A pirate who isn’t a total pushover."
"Well I like to think I’m more the adventurer type of pirate than the pillaging and plundering type who rely on greed and selfishness to feed their egos."
"I can definitely see that."
"You know you can stay as long as you need to get back on your feet, right? When you’re ready to go home, we'll drop you at a nearby port, make sure you have a way back home."
"Why?"
"Because whether you like it or not, maybe I consider you a friend in a way. Is it really so hard to believe?" The look on her face said yes, and Ace chuckled. "Just…try to get your head around that, okay? Breathe."
"Yeah. I…uh…I think I just need some time to think."
"I’ll leave you be, then." Ace stood up, only for Isuka to grab his wrist.
"Wait. Stay with me."
Ace glanced down at Isuka, but didn’t question it. "Alright, I’ll stay, and I’ll just be here with you in silence. Tell me if you need anything."
"Okay."