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He stormed off in a hurry, his mind scattered in a million pieces unable to solve itself.
"Im gonna find him." He was strongly determined to find the man who claimed to be the strongest and beat him, claiming his spot.
"Enough already, join me, become my son." the tall male offered him his hand, which he looked at in digust.
Who do you think i am to accept something like this. Your son? me? dont be stupid old man, i could kill you.
"Let me raise you to be the strongest." His spear drummed on the ground his solemn expression waiting for the raven haired boy.
No way in hell-
Was the last tought he was capable of thinking before his eyes lost sight of the world, hands trembling to uphold his weight.
"Is he gonna be alright pops?" You asked standing next to your capitan. Much like the boy before you Whitebeard was a man with a simple dream, to have a big family, he added on to it generously no matter who called him a devil, a monster a soul-less pirate.
"Yeah, i went easy on him, kids got spunk. Take him in boys." A couple of men accompanied the teen raising him over their shoulders as they dragged him onto the ship, his crew left stranded without a capitan, he let them off easy.
He was plagued with a nightmare, like a sadistic never ending dream, a figure resembling his own telling him he's not worth a good fight, he should have died before even reaching this place. He cant even stand up for himself. Hes a failure, who could love him, have him as a son.
He winced in his sleep clutching his yellow shirt tighter. A bead of sweat rolling down his forehead. His hat drowning out the noise of his sniffles.
You hated to pity a man so broken knowing fully well what it would do to him if he saw the way you looked at him, like an abandoned dog, starved for a home , a place to belong, it sickened you just thinking what could leave a boy his age so fragile.
"He's got a good heart.." you smiled, a pair of men quirking their brows at the way you looked at the captive. The stew you were stirring bubbled, spices and cooked roots lingering in the air.
"Please.." he held onto himself like he was the only one able to help it.
You layed by his side, his scrunched up form twitching each time he had a flash of self doubt.
"Shh.. Its okay.. shhh." you hummed to him placing his hat onto your lap, the two upturned smiley pins staring at you.
"Must be tough huh.." you stroked the metal pins scraping off any built up mud on them. He stayed still for the longest time, it was nice seeing him not be afraid of himself even if it was just a nightmare you guided him through.
He felt a light scent like flowers but a bit stronger, the mirror image of himself looked forward in the horizon of this odd warmth, it had been a long time since he felt a gentle touch.
Your hands raked through his dark unruly hair, your hand often times going to cup his cheek for a while before you resumed combing his hair, he felt like babe, so fussy yet so easy to calm. His knees slowly fell into your lap you hummed a song. The melody was warm and blissful resting the boys fears for a bit, he couldnt even begin to stop you from your song, that is until he smelled the stew boiling.
"Something smells amazing~!" his eyes shot up startling you as he booked for the pot, puring the hot contains into his mouth without thinking.
"AAAgh, its like molten lava." he huffed and puffed, the damage was already done, his tongue burnt his throat sore you chuckled at his antics.
You came behind him taking him by his waist you plopped him by the table.
"Of course its hot, it was boiling a second ago." You lectured him nodding your head on the obvious conclusion.
"I want more." he seemed unfazed eyes sparkling as he stared down the pot infront of him.
A huff of breath escaping your nose you poured the boy a bowl.
"Eat carefully please." you told him clipping his hair back from his face.
An odd fuzzy feeling overtook his stomach he tought it was the food paying no mind, it was good thats forsure.
"Seconds phlease!" he slammed the bowl down in a hurry still chewing on the potatoes and meat.
"Youre still eating!!" You yelled telling him to not talk with his mouth open, he snarked a bit chewing his food in a gulp.
"Seconds please.." he was a bit droopy, however, the second the bowl got refilled his eyes light up in a new light full of energy.
"This is really good-" he praised your cooking his head nearly slamming into the bowl you caught him in your palm.
"He fell asleep..!" you had a ghastly expression on your face, his cheeks stuffed with your cooking the boy was dead asleep, still holding the spoon strongly in his arms like a kid refusing to let go of his favourite toy.
"What an odd guy." you chuckled thinking to yourself you took enough time as needed sitting beside him to let him rest his head on your shoulder, a big snore bubble inflating from his nose every now and then.
Nothing, he woke up dreaming of nothing, thats a first. He awoke with a loud snort follwed up with a big yawn as he scratched his back. "What a nap." He wiped his face on your apron crumbs of food still on his face.
"Here let me help you." You took his face covering your fingers in the cloth, the boy had beautiful freckles on his cheeks slanted dark eyes staring at you as you wiped the crumbs from his mouth.
His heart pounded not able to understand what he was feeling, this warm churning in the pit of his stomach, drove him a little nauseus and scared.
he gulped slowly eyes tracing your features. He took in your gentle smile the way your hands moved across his cheeks, it was an all too odly familiar feeling.
"Thankyou-!" his voice cracked a little embarassing him, a slight blush staining his ears.
You chuckled seeing how goofy he was.
"You're always welcome.." you paused wanting to thank him however you still didn't have his name, the old man didnt fill you in on that.
"Whats your name?" You asked hands on your lap as you looked at him wolfing down the food.
"Ace. Seriously this is some good food." he licked his lips scraping the bowl clean.
"Want another fill?" You grabbed his bowl before he ate it in his food haze, he followed up with a nod, steaming hot fudge filling the bowl for the third time.
"A guy like you sure can eat."
"Ofcourse, i wouldmt be so shtrong if that wasnt the cashe." He patted his stomach, a piece of meat dissapearing within seconds.
When it came to food he wasnt joking around, he continued emptying the entire pot all on his own , leaving you to wonder where can so much food dissapear into.
"By the way Ace, do you mind helping me clean up?"
You took his bowl rinsing off any grease, your body turned against him he inspected you with wary eyes.
"Wheres the old man?" He puffed as much as he'd love to help he still had a thing to do.
You sighed remebering he's still a hotheaded brat thinking idiotic things at a time like this.
The men around the hall circled around Ace towering over him by atleast a foot.
"I'll let you have it." he smirked putting on his cowboy hat, a flicker of flames engulfing his hand, the men were scortched within a second.
"He's on the deck, don't go thinking you can just run up at him though." You scolded him looking at the bodies splayed under your feet.
"Hey," you kicked the shoulders of the men, all of them wincing from your kick, "Those who dont help dont get to eat." All of them got up groaning.
"Ya think the kid will be able to get a punch in?" One of them said causing you to smile.
"Only if hes dumb enough to fly off the ship, dont think he can swim can he?" The lot of you laughed, men helping you out in the kitchen to clean up their own mess'.
You dried your hands on your apron, setting it on a hook before you went to grab a first aid kit.
"Go take a bath all of you, you smell like burnt chicken." you instructed the lot, who looked at eachother a little startled, each of them smelling the air around them.
"Hahaha! So it is." Their hearty loughs echoing out of the room they followed behind you until the stairway to the deck.
Seemed like nothing had taken place, the old man was still slugging his drinks, compleatley unfazed by anything. You gave him an unimpressed look, he shrugged at you eyes pointing at the boy.
His body seemed a liitle beat, a trickle of blood dowsing his lips. You took out some gauge wiping it all away.
He came to, his eyes flaring red. He lunged at you thinking youd be there to attack him.
You let him slug a hit on you, your cheek sore from the punch. Seems he realized you werent the taget since he didn't bother to use any flames.
"Oh shit.. I am so sorry.." He helped you up, Whitebeard sternly looking at the situation at hand from afar.
"Let me help." he offered grabbing anything from from the kit trying to be of use. He felt a bit of shame to him having punched someone who treated him so kindly before.
You took him by his wrists, the cotton, gauge and rubbing alcohol strongly held in his hands.
Idiot, what were you thinking? How is she going to be looking at you now. Look at yourself you ungrateful brat-
"Ace!" You shouted snapping the boy back from his blank expression, the way he stared at you looking regretful afraid and unworth simply broke you.
He lowered his head items dropping beside you.
"Its alright, you should have seen the amount of fights i have been in, i come out with more than a hook to the face." You chuckled hand to your face covering your mouth, his arm dropped to his lap slowly the second you let go.
He still felt guilty. "Hey Fire-first, anyone home." He pouted at the nickname your hands calmly combing through the tools he dropped, you cleaned up his hands, which looked fairly enough rough. He had scabs on his knuckles, cracking ones at that.
"Youre a hard worker huh?" You applied some ointment on them bandaging them carefully.
He didnt get it. Anyone in their right minds would have hit him back threw him out what were you doing calling him nicknames taking care of bruises he had before he even was here.
"Ace, were a family here."
"Like hell we are-" he sucked in his breath his eyes growing a bit cold.
"Its true you know, we take care of our own." You pointed to his hands neatly wrapped in bandages.
"Eugh, i smell like an old lady with this." he gagged avoiding the obvious.
Anyone withing ear range laughed Whitebeard's face softening by your interraction.
"I know, usually sucks to walk around in it, give it a few days youll be good as new though." You smiled, the apples of your cheeks making your eyes squint.
His heart had a beat deeper than usual, he didnt respect the old man but settled on trusting you for guidance, atleast till next time.
It was a subconcious decision he had made trusting a pirate he knew nothing about so freely but the hold he had on his mind lessened by a bit the more he took shelter within you.
You left him be for a bit, he seemed to have alot on his mind the way he politley excused himself.
You stormed to the old man snarking and biting words at him. "What were you thinking throwing him across the ship like that!?"
Whitebeard listened the scrunch in his brows growing.
"Dont give me that face, the brat ran at me with a mace, what did you expect would happen?" He rested his hand on his leg leaning toawrds you.
"Youre a pain in the ass, you know!" you whisper yelled at him causing him to laugh.
"Thats a first from you." he adored the look of care in your eyes, however he couldnt contain the urge to want to show Ace the world either.
"Wont be the last either, dont fling him off like he's trash." You barked the heel of your sole hitting the deck in thuds.
"Stop worrying, he'll learn soon enough-" his expression grew sour you heeled his boot aswell.
Ace watched you from a distance hands on the rails he looked at the outburst unable to hear what you were talking about.
He sighed taking in the view of the sea the many people abroad, he faced backwards staring at the sun instead, the washed up waves sparkling in the daylight seagulls cawing midflight.
"Maybe its better here? Ah who knows what i'll do here even." He still held doubts.
He glanced back seeing you midair held by the gigant mad who humiliated him before.
His mind grew blank for a bit, legs sprinting for you before he even knew it.
A fire dousing your frame from behind whitebeard hit the air cracking it.
The attack was avoided however he was fee feet behind.
"Let her down!" he shouted amusing the man.
"Shes not hostage here, calm down." your head drooped like you were hanged on a coat rack to dry.
Whitebeard complied having no need to cause a ruckus, however it left a bittersweet feeling in his heart.
"Whatever my son wishes." he slowly put you down however dropping you nearly on the teens head.
"Woah-, wait!!" he circled around you swooping you in his arms to break the fall.
A sense of pride welled up in him knowing he did some good by you.
"Thank you, Ace."
Whitebeard respected his devoition of saving you instead of breaking a fight ,seems he hit the nail on the head here.
"Don't mention it." He said his freckled face covered red.
You slinged an arm around his shoulder making him stiffen up.
You laughed watching the faces he made.
"You can set me down if its too much."
"Huh, no not at all.." He still held you subconciously not even registering the fact you told him to be put down, he glared daggers at the old man for the stunt.
"This kid sure is something, Gurarara~!" Whitebeard laughed the picture of Ace tomato red whilst glaring at him with deadly intent was pure gold to him.
He looked like a stray cat who got mad that he has been given attention to.
You tapped his back your face coming to his periferals his eyes adverted Whitebeard focusing on you.
"Set me down." you smiled gently at him thankful for him catching you.
"Hmm oh sure." He plopped you down nonchalantly. Though he hated the idea of it eventually.
Few days past since him joining and yet everyday he came knocking by your door, bruised and bloody.
He explained himself each time you sat him down on the chair besides your desk.
"You gotta stop going after him, I can see how much you'd love to take him down, but he's not even fighting you, don't take a beating for nothing." You cupped his face dabbing on the alcohol on his cut up brow.
"Im not doing it for him." He spoke up wincing at the pain.
"Then who for?" you quirked a brow at the remark setting aside the bloodied gauze.
"Don't know." How was he supposed to start explaining that everytime he'd catch himself in a fight he'd always go look for you first thing. Feeling proud to see you doing well and happy while taking care of his dumbass.
You set off his hat dropping it so the string around his neck would keep it in place.
You raked your hand through his hair checking if he perhaps got any beatings to the head.
Your hands rummaged his hair as he sat patiently, enjoying the tickling sensation.
"Ace, i don't want to be rude, but when was the last time you showered, your hair is all greasy, not to mention uncombed." You stuggled to free your hand from a couple of his locks. The teen blushed compleatley embarrased by this confrontation.
"Fewdaysago?" he answered quickly getting the issue out of the way.
You hummed for a long time before taking to your closet to bring out a few towels.
"Lets go grab ourselves a bath." You threw him a towel which he haphazerdly caught comepleatly stuck by what you said.
"Come on lets go." you pulled him up leading him to the showers to change.
You stripped covering yourself with a towel you entered the tiled baths running some hot water in big bowls.
Ace in the meantime sat there compleatly frozen in his changing room dreading to go in. He pulled himself together stripping, he set his hat over his clothes.
"Took you a while." you laughed rubbing the sponge over your arm, towel covering your body.
He didnt say much his heart hammering in his throat as you washed away the soap with some hot water.
You stood up grabbing a smaller cup of water, you gently poured it over his head.
He leaned his head down letting the water drip to the floor from the ends of his black hair. He wasnt sure why he allowed this, but it felt nice being taken care of.
You grabbed the soap lathering it on his head your fingers massaging his scalp.
He had a drowsy smile on his face, his elbows on his knees he slouched forward, the bad thoughts leaving his head one by one.
"Face up please." you instructed his head raising back his hair caught in a mush of bubbles you chuckled.
He opened one eye stifling his smile as he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror aside him.
The longer he looked the funnier the feeling in his chest grew, he laughed whole heartedly seeing how you had given him a hairstyle that matched the ships doctor.
The two of you stood there as Ace approaced the mirror giving himself a big bubbled mustache.
"Damn brats." he mimmicked the Capitans tone making you errupt in laugher. He felt giddy seeing you laugh your heart out, just a few days ago he was thinking how thankful he was for you now he could feel the feeling growing even more so.
You quickly wiped his fake moustache saying how little it fits him, instead you gave him a long beak and puffy bubbly feathers on his head telling him to squint, he didnt get it yet but the moment your face light up in laugher he bursted out laughing aswell.
He wrapped his elbow around you cooing like an obnoxious chicken, you could barely hold up straight from how much your stomach was hurting from all of the laughing.
"Please no more-Ppffttt." he kept adding onto the act until you were doubled over from joy.
Your face doused pink from all the laughing you instructed him to finnally lean his head back as you still held a smile to your face. You ran the warm water through his hair watching the bubbles fall down his back. He slicked his hair back with his hand, a gentle blush covering your cheeks as you examined his face.
It was so much different than the first day you saw him, he'd gotten a bit more tan, the freckles on his face a bit more prominent. But most importantly he looked a lot more on ease than ever.
You cherished the memory putting a hand around his brows to pour some more water so it wouldnt get in his eyes.
He sat there closing his eyes enjoying the warmth of your presence around him.
"Turn around please." he did as you said turning his back to you, he nudged away from the touch at first.
Your brow peaked.
"He's ticklish isnt he?" you thought rubbing his back with the soapy sponge, his slim figure really made you question where did all the meals you fed him go.
"Where does all the food go seriously? Youre skinny as ever." you spoke washing his lower back.
"Goes to the heart and soul." he smiled proudly as you staggered a bit. To the soul huh, you puffed happily.
"Im glad to hear that you like it so much, i made something sweet for later do you want some?"
"Will i get heartburn?" You tickled his sides from the remark causing him to shriek in surprise.
"Maybe from that you will". You pouted stretching his hands as you washed them.
"I'm kiddiing, i know you make some killer foods." he chose the worst time to flap his head around the water splashing everywhere.
Warm water running down his back and arms he felt squeeky clean even going as far to drag his hand across his arm only for it to squeak along.
"Fresh n clean now huh?" he showed his smile bright theeth glisening in the light.
"Sure are."
He felt a little shy to ask but it would only be common courtesy since you offered to take care of him.
"Can i wash your back aswell?" he waited before going on in a tangent.
"Sure you can, just make sure youre careful around the mark, it's still healing."
A mark huh, he was interested.
He nodded exchanging place with you he looked away while you switched up your towel covering your front.
A large tattoo on your back with the all too familiar moustache, to say he saw surprised would be something.
"Woohoaa, Thats huge, does it hurt?" he eyed it throughrouly the ends of his fingers gently glossing over it, tickling your skin.
You found his amusement sweet explaining to him "Not now no, but when i had it done it was a bitch." You chuckled allowing Ace to scrub your back, he was a tad bit quieter than usual mostly hiding the fact he's nervous in the first place but common courtesy goes he can't be backing away from it.
He poured some warm water over your back it trickled gently down your curves, Ace's mind wandering back to when him and Luffy were thrown to bathe.
He offered to wash your hair aswell, you let it fall down to your back. He seemed to know how to take care of longer hair, he made sure not to tangle it too much , massaging your roots first then messing around with the rest.
He did however swipe his bubbly fingers across your face giving you whiskers.
You chuckled looking in the mirror as he washed your hair out.
"Ace look."
His head turned to the mirror to see you giving him a cat impression.
His eyes widened water trickling from the cup in his hand. His cheeks flared for a second only to press the back of your head against his chest.
"You're now a kitten huh?" he smirked sploching a bubble on your nose. Your head slightly shaking against his laugh.
You rested your head against his chest, the fuzzy feeling in his heart rising as he wiped away the stray bubbles.
He was glad to have you chat him up everyday, show him around, take care of him, make him hot meals and offer baths. What did he do to deserve you.
His solemn expression radiated through the room as he watched you, unable to be thankful enough for your care.
"All done!" he smiled proudly as you thanked him the both of you finishing to wash yourselves up.
You changed back drying your hair as you waited for Ace back in your room. He didn't arrive until way later , blasting through your door with a flower he stole from the greenery below deck.
He hid the flower behind his back his damp hair rested behind his ears.
He huffed and puffed starting a little speech. "I know how much you've done for me, so, i got something for you aswell." he held out the flower his chest rising from the running he must have done to not get caught.
You tilted your head to the side accepting the flower and giving him a warm hug.
"Thank you." You held him by his waist careful no not scrunch up the flower he got you.
He chuckled slowly resting his face in the crook of your neck, his arms lazily wrapping around you.
He stayed that way for a while enticing you in a tight embrace. You could feel his hands heat up however the hottest part of his body was his chest right shere his heart was.
You rusled through his hair his body shivering slightly from the affection you gave him. Your head rested on his as you took in the moment.
It was silent, pleasant, sincere. He felt like he was in a dream , he wasnt questioning himself for what he had done, he only knew that he did the right thing when he chose to thank you for everything.
He sniffled against the crook of your neck, your face growing worried.
"Are you okay?" You brushed his back comfortingly he pulled away with a big smile along his teary face.
"Never been better.." He wiped the tears with his hands letting you go.
With a gentle smile you tucked the flower in a vase, ushering him to sit by your desk.
"Remember the dessert i told you about? I wanted you to be the first one to taste it." You revealed a beautifully crafted dish, it was coated with hard caramel on top a squishy cream filling and an orange puré aside.
"Im surprised youre not a top chef over here. Holy shit." He eyed the dessert taking a bite, his whole face lit up in a pudgy smile as he scooped more of the dessert in his mouth. You knew he wasn't one to take his sweet time with food, so seeing him eat it as fast as he did was a pleasure non the less.
"I wish i could ask for seconds. That was something out of this world seriously." He licked the plate setting it down. Still sucking the spoon he ate it with.
"I'll share mine with you?" you asked him, his eyes glimmered at the thought alone.
"Sure!" The two of you shared the dessert however you had to spoon battle with Ace to protect your side.
Taking the last scoop in your spoon Ace looked at you with pouty eyes. You leaned the spoon to your lips turning it to his instead.
"Here here." You smiled seeing him wolf down the piece.
The second he was done he thanked you for the meal quickly exiting your room with dishes at hand.
He dissapeared for a few minutes again, you thought he may have fell asleep on the way.
Minutes later a knock was at your door, you opened it again.
"Im back!" he allowed himself in plopping down on the bed since he didnt have a room yet.
He stared at the celing for a bit before looking at you.
"Can i stay over, just for tonight? I'll be out before you know." He claimed sitting up straight in your bed.
You thought about it for a while seeing the waves crashing outside, that wouldn't make good space to sleep.
"Stay as long as you'd like." You smiled seeing him waltz over to the couch in your room. He puffed up a stiff pillow laying down.
"You have no idea how annoying it is to sleep with everyone else, they snore on opposite breaths. So imagine the entire night all you hear is constant snoring." He yawned rubbing the sleep off his eyes.
"Ace.." you wispered hoping to god this rascal wasn't intending to sleep on the couch of all places.
He hummed back lazily watching you.
"There's no way you intend sleeping on that, right?"
"I do, where else would i sleep?" he asked you.
You giggled at his antics pointing to the comfortable bed he prevoiusly lazed upon.
His jaw hit the floor for a second before he snapped back. "Youre joking." You sat back in your bed.
"No I'm serious, come on, sleep comfortably atleast." You patted the place beside you as the male moved to sit on his side.
"Are you sure?" He asked not wanting to overstep any boundaries.
"Im sure, just relax and make yourself at home." He took off his boots with a slight flame he raked through his hair to dry it not willing to sleep on a damp pillow, he laid under the covers his arms behind his head.
You were in a slight daze at how quickly he did everything it left you amused. "Could you do that with my hair aswell?" You asked watching him prop up. "Sure, hop on." You sat before him, his arms heated up as he brushed his hands through your hair, steam rising from it, minutes later he finished messing with your hair letting it fall freely.
"Thats one handy trick right there." you admired his skill.
"I know right, youd be surprised to know how much i can do." he smiled proudly at his quirks, he discovered his abilites through various situations watching you listen to him rambling about his journeys made him feel right at home.
It was dead past midnight before he realised you were sleeping quietly beside him having fallen asleep by his tremendous stories.
"Like a kid." He snickered shoving a cover over your shoulders for warmth he doze off few minutes later himself.
For the first time in a while he slept soundly thoughout the night, he had a few dreams that were worse off however once he reached around the bed wrapping his arm around you they seemed to fade away quicker than before
You woke up that morning feeling a warm hand around you, you turned to face him, he was dead asleep, snoring lightly and peacefully without a care in the world.
The longer he stayed on the ship, fighting less with the old man and getting to know everyone a bit better, his sense of self seemed to develop a bit more.
He still had him bad dreams at times but having everyone near him meant the world to him, esspecially you, even tho he was slow with the upkeep of his problems with you, each time he came confessing his mind you shared a deep conversation with him, offering him a meal, a warm bed anything to make him feel like he wasn't alone in this world.