Work Text:
Just in case I missed something, and did not credit this enough properly
This is my fanfiction of Vagabond_Trash's "Little Flame"
I am not trying to take over their work
Yes, I KNOW that I did in fact NOT ask for permission first
That is why I will put this down if they ask
I have also another fic inspired by the same fic but that is a different matter.
If ya'll have questions, feel free to comment, thank you.
This is my first work that I will post so if I missed something, ANYTHING, regarding crediting the original Author, lemme know.
Enjoy~
______________________________
The next day on the Moby should’ve felt the same to Ace. But after brushing his teeth and doing his business, he reached out to put on his usual scent patches and is reminded of everything that happened this past week.
Oh god nonononono where is it? Then Ace remembered waking up on deck, in his Pop’s lap, sucking a pacifier. The scent in the room changed. The smell of Scared Baby filling the air. This should not have happened. They never should’ve found out. Marco’s words then hit him like a truck, a headache slowly forming as the anxiety sets in. The air thickens, at least to Ace it did. Now remembering how he woke up in the infirmary yesterday. He remembers Marco. How he burned a corner of the clinic and the sheets he slept on. How some of the nurses tried to calm him down. Biting Thatch in the arm. He also remembers passing out before that. How his own flames burned him. He also vaguely remembers the flame erupting from his body when he managed to unlock the door.
That snapped him out of it. His mind is still in a frenzy but at least now he can breathe. He can breathe? He hasn’t even noticed that he stopped breathing. Shit he probably didn’t notice a lot of things then. But right now, a few of those things stand. He won’t be demoted. He won’t be stripped of his position. He’s still a commander. He can still do his job and work. Everything he worked for and earned. But not like this. Not while his scent is all over the place.
Ace reaches for the bag again and realizes they’re gone. The empty pill bottle and box are gone. He even emptied it out to make sure. Now that he thinks about it, someone probably searched his room after what happened on deck. Ace supposes that’s fair. He’s angry that they went through his stuff but he technically did the same to Izou and Haruta. And they weren’t even mad at him for it too.
That doesn’t stop him from panicking though. Rather it just edges him on more since now they know.
Fuck
They know
They know
They know
And isn’t that a shitshow on its own. For all that they make fun of him for it, Ace isn’t dumb. He’s managed a commander position after all. He looks after the 2nd Division of the Whitebeard Pirates. Which means that he has an idea on what happened after he went out. The headache still hasn’t gone away.
And the room is starting to fill with his scent. The smell of his own anxiety hitting him in the face. If he doesn’t air it out soon, he’ll lose his mind. He goes to the window and opens it, sticking his head out and breathing in the salty air.
But he can’t just hole up in his room. He’s been out cold for half a week. He’s got shit to do. Who knows if they’ve passed an island when he was out? And god forbid if the map room was still in order. That room was a mess before he was assigned commander. He still pities Marco every time he thinks about it. Remembering being told that the First commander managed both the 1st and 2nd divisions before he came along.
Hold up that thought.
The memory of Marco stopping him from pulling out the pacifier comes to mind.
Yeah no Marco deserved the headache.
A sound from his stomach pulls him out of his mind. Ace brings his arms up to embrace his middle. When was the last time he ate? He didn’t eat yesterday either now that he thinks about it. After letting go of Thatch, not my fault he was annoying, he locked himself in his room. The energy he spent messing with Thatch surprisingly knocked him out cold for the rest of the day.
At least that explains why he thought today was a normal day. That was the best sleep he had in weeks. But that still doesn’t solve the problem. He needs to eat. And that means walking out of his room without a scent patch. His mind is clear of any fog today so he isn’t too worried about needing a pill. He just needs to jump ship the moment they dock, they can’t stop him from getting suppressants if he has anything to do about it.
What a fucking nightmare.
______________________________
The smell of eggs and bread wafts through the air of the galley. People waking up from their sleep seeping into the hall. The Fourth Division is busy and alive, getting food to their family.
The captain and commanders are already awake as well. Namur goes up to Marco. Said birdman was reading the paper while drinking coffee. “Morning Marco, Pops”
“Morning yoi” Marco sets the mug down as Whitebeards responds with a grunt. “You think Ace will join us today? Heard he woke up”
The noise in the room notably becomes quieter at the question. Eyes shifting to and fro the commanders table. They’re not even being discreet about it Marco thinks. With a sigh, he answers, “Well he has to yoi, he didn’t eat yesterday and he’s gone without food for 5 days at this point.”
“And if he doesn’t stop holing up in his room, I will personally drag him up here” Buts in Thatch as he walks over.
“Yeah, as if that ended well” Jozu speaks up from across Namur. Thatch quick with a retort.
“HEY! NOT MY FAULT THE BRAT GOT TEETH!” That got the whole crew laughing. A smirk twitching up on Marco’s face as he watches his family joke around.
That smile on Jozu’s face can’t be anything but amused.
At this point, the whole galley was back to its usual volume so there wasn’t a problem with talking about it here. Everyone also already knows what happened to Ace and trusts their commanders to take care of it. Marco would’ve been flattered if it weren’t for the fact that he can smell something off. The scent in the air is faint, but there.
“I still got the bite marks from it. I swear if I wasn’t the one feeding him, I would’ve thought his diet was pure meat.” The hall erupts into snickers after that. The whole ship already knew what the breadhead went through.
“Well you got what you deserved yoi. Ace was still on edge and you didn’t listen.” Marco replies with a smirk but something was bugging him.
The idiot just couldn’t keep his mouth shut “What better way to make him relax other than hugging him? Our little brother’s been through a lot and he needs his Thatch-onii-san to help him!”
That scent is getting stronger. Where is it coming from?
“ ‘Been through alot’ is a light way of putting it, brother.” Namur says with a wince.
“I agree, whatever caused Ace to get to that point can’t be anything but traumatic. Our little brother uses suppression pills for fucks sake.” Jackson, a member of the 8th division, calls out from the table across them. One of the many friends that was close to Ace when he officially joined. Marco remembers him as a regular poker player whenever they decide to party.
“Yeah! Whoever made Ace like that will pay! Ain’t I right boys?!” A mug was raised as another member stood up. A chorus of “yeah” and “of course” echoed the surrounding tables. And Whitebeard can’t be anything but proud of that. Marco is too…
But that scent is still there.
As the crowd settles down, a few start to notice the scent as well and they start directing concerned glances to the commanders table.
“Maybe you guys could plan your next prank, that otta let him cool down. Doubt he’ll regress anytime soon too.” Jiru grumbles up beside Jozu, crumbs falling from his mouth. His mouth full.
Izou’s face twists in disgust. “Jiru that is disgusting”
“Sorry” Jiru says as he swallows
“Hey, good idea! Count me in! I got some glitter from Little’s Island that we could use” Vista buts in, all smiles under his stache.
Most members have already started eating and sat down. The buffet table now sparse as the last person grabs some toast and goes to sit with his family.
At the mention of the island, Marco was once again curious. He totally forgot to ask during the meeting, his thoughts were focused on Ace back then. “Oh that reminds me yoi. Izou and Haruta mentioned that Ace stormed off and came back upset. Any idea what set him off yoi?”
A figure enters through the doors. The hinges silent as it snaps back into place.
Haruta shrugged but face was still pinched in concern. “I don’t know but whatever it was, it was serious. Ace was off the whole time after that.”
Light steps walked to the buffet table. Grabbing a plate and trying to get as much food on it as possible. But flinched when he overheard the conversation.
“Well he was off before the island too but we thought we were overthinking it. But after what happened last week, it doesn’t feel good to know we were right” Adds Izou as the marksman wipes his lips with a napkin.
That makes sense. Haruta was in-charge of the Intelligence Division, that keen sense is what helps lead that particular group of crazies after all. And Izou was a gossip all on his own. It happened rarely but it wouldn’t be the first time they were wrong.
Thatch sniffs the air, a concerned expression now on his face. “Izou, Haruta, you guys alright?”
They seem to know that too, but they’re the only Littles before we found out about Ace so their judgment on that end was definitely on point.
“What? I’m fine why?” Izou answers, Haruta giving a similar response.
Marco’s instincts are screaming now. That was it, the scent was of a scared baby. His focus is now on the two commanders. And so is everyone else. Completely oblivious to the fact that the person at the buffet table is now frozen stiff.
“Are you guys sure? Y'all's scents all over the place. You know you can tell us if something’s wrong right?” Jozu continues Thatch’s concern. A scared baby scent was all over the place now, and with how concentrated it is, either Izou or Haruta is terrified right now. Marco’s brows furrow, that can’t be healthy.
“What scent– oh…” Izou goes to retort but stops in his tracks. Eyes now sharp as he scans the crowd. “Haruta this is–” “I know…” The two commanders finally noticed what set the others off.
As the two Littles look around, the concern for them increases. Some people already stood up to help if needed. The two are scanning the crowd, the crew knows what they’re doing. They’re on edge, their eyes zeroing on one person by the doors.
“Guys…” Haruta starts, voice tight. “This isn’t us…”
It’s at this point that Marco gets it.
“What do you mean? Wah! Izou!” Izou stand up and starts walking to the doors, shoving his caregiver aside as Haruta also shuts Thatch up.
As Izou steps closer to the door, eyes follow him. Trying to make sure he’s okay. But just as he’s a few steps to the door, he stops. Hands held up in a non threatening gesture. His gaze goes soft as he opens his mouth to speak.
Marco follows his line of sight, finding that he was walking to the buffet table. He wasn’t walking to the door.
No
He was walking to their younger brother…
Oh.
Spotting red beads and an orange hat
Shit it’s Ace.
“Ace?...”
And he’s terrified
The scent grows thicker. As Marco curses to himself.
______________________________
Ah dammit. What am I even doing right now?
I’m outside the galley doors. I’m standing outside the gallery doors. I’m standing outside the galley doors but I can’t move.
Fuck why can’t I move?!?!
No one's in the hallway anymore. At least that was a plus. It doesn’t help though. Because I’m hungry and everyone's in the galley.
A grumble was heard as Ace hugs himself tighter. It hurts…
“ –still got the bite marks from it. I swear if I wasn’t the one feeding him, I would’ve thought his diet was pure meat.”
That was Thatch’s voice.
He can hear the whole galley laughing. It calms him a bit….
Maybe it won’t be so bad…
As his hands move forward to open the doors–
“Well you got what you deserved. Ace was still on edge and you didn’t listen.”
His breath hitched. And he stops.
Fuck
Right
I didn’t tell them
It’s one thing that they still accept him to be a commander but it's another not knowing how they’ll react.
“What better way to make him relax other than hugging him? Our little brother’s been through a lot and he needs his Thatch-onii-san to help him!”
no
No
I don’t need help
I don’t– “ ‘Been through alot’ is a light way of putting it, brother.”
He sucks in a breath. This is strange… Why can he only hear the commanders table?...
No
Everything's loud… I can hear them… I can hear everyone… I just hear that table more…
It’s too much
“I agree, whatever caused Ace to get to that point can’t be anything but traumatic. Our little brother suppression uses pills for fucks sake.” That… That was Jackson…
“Not to mention scent patches”
Huh? It’s that guy from the 3rd Division…
“What was he thinking?”
Groshu from the 11th Division… I think… no…
That’s definitely Groshu… his division usually sits in the middle of the galley….
“Yeah! Whoever made Ace like that will pay! Ain’t I right boys?!”
Ack! That voice was loud! What in Davy Jones' name is happening???
“Yeah!”
The right corner table…
“That’s right!”
The table near the kitchens…
“Of course!”
Somewhere near the center…
“He’s our little brother after all!”
Now that voice makes sense, it’s near the doors…
Wait, no– this doesn’t make sense…
I was only supposed to get food dammit. It shouldn’t have been like this.
Ace lifts his head up through the round galley door windows and sees the buffet table with almost no people
Now’s my chance!
He steps in through the door. Stilling for a moment as the noise gets quieter. He snaps his neck to his crewmates only to see them focused on the commanders table…
Thank Thatch that the buffet table is near the door. He says “it only makes sense “but I don’t care right now.
The nearer it is the better.
“ –Ace was off the whole time after that.”
His steps grow faster at that…
His breathing is growing heavy…
Steps still silent…
Don’t make a sound….
Lift your legs…
Don’t drag your feet…
Don’t waste your movement…
Expand your toes…
Cover more ground…
Don’t make a sound…
Just like when you’re hiding from Gramps…
He picks up the biggest plate… The one usually used by the bigger members of the crew…
He picks up the tongs… Don't scratch the surface…
And fills his plate as quickly and quietly as he can.
Don’t make a sound…
“Well he was off before the island too–”
He flinched
“-- but we thought we were overthinking it. But after what happened last week, it doesn’t feel good to know we were right”
The tongs scrape the sides of the metal pasta bowl
He panics
He hears someone sniff the air… Fuck!
I can’t breathe!
“Izou, Haruta, you guys alright?” No no no no no no no–
“What? I’m fine why?” I need to hurry
“Yeah, me too…” Ace can hear the confusion in Haruta’s voice but he doesn’t have the time for that.
I can’t move. Ace realizes drastically.
“Are you guys sure? Y'all's scents all over the place. You know you can tell us if something’s wrong right?”
Why. Can’t. I. Move??!!
EYES
Ace spins around, finding Izou a few feet in front of him.
Izou isn’t supposed to notice me. No one is. The plan was to only get food and bolt. Run back to my room where it's safe. Run back and away from all their eyes. Run back under the covers and hide. I’m supposed to be slamming my door right now. It should’ve been locked by now.
I can’t breathe…
Their eyes… Why are they looking at me…
Tears prickle his eyes…
“Ace?...”
iTs NoT sAFe!!!
______________________________
The giant plate crashes to the ground as Ace curls in on himself. The galley explodes with noise. The scent of a terrified baby hits them hard. Some cover their noses while some stand and knock their chairs over.
“Ace!!!”
Everyone yells. Izou brings up a hand to his head because of it. Shit.
It’s too loud. He can see Ace flinch from the noise.
This isn’t good, his scent isn’t healthy.
Izou locks eyes with Marco and Haruta from the other side of the galley.
With almost everyone standing and panicking, Marco almost missed him but they managed.
And by his facial expression, he understood. Good.
He locks eyes with Haruta next. Get Bay!!
The Brunette nods and runs off. All of it happens within seconds. Izou then spins around and tells everyone to back off. Shielding Ace from the many siblings who ran to comfort him.
Marco finally arrives at the buffet table, he kneels next to Ace and tries to get his attention. It doesn’t work.
This is bad
Izou locks eyes with Pops next, and just as he was about to yell, a bang interrupted him.
“ALL OF YOU SHUT IT!!” The Galley once again quiet at that. The Head Nurse practically silences them on that alone. The silence stretched for a bit before Bay continued, “If any of you fuckers scare him off like that again, I will personally be throwing you all overboard. The kids terrified for fucks sake!”
Everyone feels down at that fact. It’s one thing to know if normal people are terrified of you but it's another if it was family. But they can’t deny it either now can they?
They are the reason he’s like this after all.
“Not only that! He’s frozen in fear, you assholes! So now all of you, BACK OFF!! LET HIM BREATHE!!!” And everyone complies. All those within the vicinity who were trying to reach their youngest steps away and let Bay through. Now that they all look at Ace properly, his eyes are closed shut as he covers his ears. Leaning into Marco as if to let a headache subside.
Bay gives one last look at everyone, “I don’t want a sound, clear?” and everyone nods.
______________________________
Bay looks over their newest Little. Oh no
She drops down next to him, not touching him just yet.
He’s shaking and hyperventilating. His eyes finally open but it's clouded over. His face twisted with pain.
His arms drop off his ears and curl over his stomach. She hears a rumble.
Oh
He’s starving
Horror washes over her as she realizes that. He's not just hungry, he's downright starving.
A shadow casts over them and she looks up to find Pops kneeling near them. Her father’s eyes anxious to hear about their youngest.
Bay then looks over at Marco, he shakes his head in response.
He can’t hear us either, that’s just great.
He’s starving, with a headache. He can’t breathe and he’s terrified.
“He’s unresponsive and–”
Huh– Wha–??
Bay observes as Ace takes a breath. Closing his eyes again and holding it. Oh.
So he knows what to do. While I’m glad he does, it just means that this isn’t the first time he had to calm himself down. That never means anything good.
She speaks up, her voice reaching the end of the galley. Never once taking her eyes off of Ace.
“He’s terrified, Pops, and weak. He also has a headache from the noise and was hyperventilating from the anxiety. He’s doing breathing exercises right now all on his own. The fact that he’s going into those exercises unprompted means he’s done this before.”
Everyone’s faces go sullen at that. Each crewmember is filled with guilt. But they notice the scent of a scared baby lightening up. No longer as terrified as before but still scared.
And that hurts..
They scared a crewmate.
They scared their youngest.
No
Scared is putting it lightly
They terrified their little brother.
The commanders are ushering them out. That’s good. The breakfast rush is done anyway, I don’t need to worry about them. They’re all grown men, they can miss a meal or two.
But she’s not done.
“He’s starving, Pops. He hasn’t eaten a proper meal in 5 days. And he won’t be able to eat properly unless he calms down first. On top of all that, he’s a D and a Little, the lack of food and formula is taking a toll on his body. He might pass out soon again and we can’t do anything but put him back on the supplements from the clinic if that happens. And that won’t do enough good.”
Bay glances at the time, it’s 10:16 AM. Good. And Ace is still doing the exercises.
“It’s 10:16 right now. If we calm him down and get him to eat something, he’ll be fine. After that, I’ll take him back to the infirmary and put him on supplements until lunch comes around.”
She scans for Thatch in the crowd and finds him. “Thatch, I need you to prepare something for Ace. Not his usual amount of food, he hasn’t eaten in a while and he might end up throwing it back out. That won’t do. Just something light but filling. Prepare a mug of formula as well, NOT in a bottle.” She gives him a pointed stare at that.
“We still don’t know if Ace is comfortable with that yet and with the amount that he needs to consume, a mug is faster than sucking a bottle right now. We can figure out about his preferences later, right now, we just need him to eat something.”
She turns her gaze back at Ace, seeing him still working on his breathing. Good. He’s doing great, now what’s next?
She scans her eyes over the galley, now noticing it much emptier than earlier. The only ones left are those finishing off their food and heading out.
She sighs, dammit Ace. And looks back to him, now seeing both Izou and Marco talking him through his panic attack.
“Alright, next one yoi. You ready?” She sees Ace nod. “Give me five things you can smell yoi.”
What ever happened to you, Ace?
Why didn’t you tell us?
Shrugging her own thoughts off. She reorients herself, but that doesn’t matter right now.
She sees some of the commanders stay behind. Mainly Haruta, Jozu, Jiru, and Vista. She can also see Pops at the corner of her eye right next to the huddle around Ace.
I’ll take care of you little brother…
She can see Thatch finally come out of the kitchen. Some of his chefs behind him carrying bowls of soup, easy to swallow, good, some loaves of bread, some carbs and protein to go along with the soup, and mugs of the formula that she hoped he followed from her instructions. Good, that’s all good. She sees that all of them have faces concentrated and eyes filled with determination.
We all will.