As you ran in the Marines' direction, you found Ace attacking Smoker while Luffy and his crew ran back to their ship. Hmm, why not add some spice to it??
You tackled Smoker from behind with a sheepish grin. "Come on, Smoker. You shouldn't attack my little fireball like that. Why not just let him off the hook this time??"
Smoker let a growl with his face flushed while Ace blushed from your nickname. You laughed with your arms still wrapped around him as you grinned widely.
"What are you waiting for, Fireball?? Go meet up with Luffy. I'll catch up with you later"
Ace snapped out of it and ran off, leaving you and Smoker behind.
"Why are you helping them, (First Name)??" Smoker questioned.
"Because I know them and they can't be arrested just yet. Luffy still got a bone to pick with Crocodile because of the princess's issues here" you answered as you let go of your hold.
"I knew that Crocodile would do something like this when I intercepted the call. I mainly came here to capture Straw Hat but I guess Crocodile would do too"
"You go ahead and do what you do. I won't interfere with the kingdom's affairs. Plus . . ." you grinned close-eyed. "I felt Luffy would surely beat his ass without my help!!"
Smoker snorted. "Do you place this much faith in a rookie pirate like him??"
"Not without knowing them hard enough. I normally don't and just rely on myself but I know that idiot will somehow get the job done" You shrugged. "Now if you excuse me, I have to catch up with the little idiots" After that, you left to find the two dumbasses. Well, your cute dumbasses.
You used Observation Haki to find them when you found 2 familiar auras in an alleyway. You walked after them when you found them to be arm wrestling against each other. You smiled that some things haven't changed. You lean against the wall as you watch them compete.
"My, my~ It seems that some things haven't changed"
They stopped and then turned to you as they smiled brightly at you. "(First Name)!!"
"Come here, you idiots" you chuckled as you opened your arms to let them hug you.
"What are guys doing out here?? Aren't you supposed to be at the Going Merry with Luffy's crew??" you asked.
"That's-"
"Well, look who we have here, boys, and look at that eye candy over there"
The three of you turned around to find a few big-time pirates cornering the three of them. One of them is eyeing you up and down in a perverted way. You raised a brow with half-lidded eyes and a bored expression. The 3 pirates felt a murderous aura and shivered in their spines as a flaming fist and rubber punch made contact with one of their buddies. They looked down at their knocked-out buddy to the eyes of a freckled demon and an angry ball of sunshine. They do not like their perverted eyes on you.
Meanwhile, you're watching the scene unfold as they beat up the pirates. You're glad that you don't have to do anything but feel pity for them to meet the boys' wrath when they shouldn't have eyed you in a perverted way. But you couldn't care less about them.
______________________________________________________
Ace told Luffy to leave the small fry to him while he went on ahead back to his crew on the Going Merry and you stayed behind to keep Ace out of trouble. Once down and satisfied with the beating, you motion Ace to get to the Going Merry.
When the both of you saw the ship, you jumped onto the railing of the deck when Luffy was just talking about Ace.
"But now, I can beat him"
"Sure, you can"
"And who can you beat?"
Ace kicked Luffy off the railing he was sitting on while you stood up right next to him.
"The last time I saw you two fight, even with your devil fruit powers, you still can't beat him, Goma" you added.
"Ace!! (First Name)!!" Luffy shouted.
"Greetings, all. Thanks for looking after my little brother" Ace bowed his head down.
"Don't mention it" The crew bowed and replied in sync.
"What are you doing in Alabasta, Ace?" Luffy asked.
"Huh? Didn't you get my message on Drum Island?"
"Message?" Luffy tilted his head in confusion.
"Nevermind. It's no big deal anyway. But I'm glad I got to see you. I'm here resolving a minor matter of business and I wanted to see you"
"How polite . . ." Sanji murmured while everyone else nodded in agreement. "It's almost unreal that they're brothers, they don't act like each other at all" Nami spoke while her eyes were still wide in disbelief.
"That's because he took lessons from Makino-san" you exposed as you sat down on the railing.
Ace's face exploded in red at your words with his shoulders spiked up in flames. "(First Name)!!" He whined out in embarrassment causing Luffy to laugh at him.
You smirked as you turned to face Ace. "Hey now. It's a good thing you took those lessons while I was gone. You used to be so violent and wild back when you guys were kids" you cooed while teasing Ace's embarrassment.
The fires on his shoulders have been extinguished but his face is still vibrant red. "Stop telling them these things . . .its embarrassing" Ace murmured.
You chuckled as you lifted his chin with your thumb and index fingers to look at you. Your gaze is soft yet it feels like you're staring right down into his soul and that is what he felt which sends shivers down his spine.
You moved your face closer to Ace's with both your mouths a few inches away from each other, causing him to flinch back a little from the closeness.
"And why should I stop when you make such cute expressions?? You're not the only one who does the teasing" you drawled with half-lidded eyes.
Ace's face has turned 50 shades of red, and Luffy yelled out in frustration, pulled Ace away from you, and latched himself around your waist.
"(First Name)!! Why do you do that to everyone? I only want you to do that to me!!" Luffy pouted childishly.
"Oi oi. You may be our captain but we won't allow that!!" Sanji said with an ignited fire in his visible eye while the others nodded alongside him. You quirked an eyebrow and chuckled. You ran your fingers through his hair as he melted from your touch.
You turned to the crew with your free hand rubbing the back of your neck. "I'm sorry. Did I make you guys uncomfortable? It's just that I always like to make people embarrassed and squirm so if you're not okay with it, then I'll stop"
They all looked at you with sparkling eyes revealing how considerate you are. Then your eyes meet Vivi's. She tried to avert her gaze but you staring at her with a blank face made her shake in fear and fidget with her fingers.
You sighed as you got Luffy out of his hold which he stuck to you like glue but Ace helped you yank him out and walked towards Vivi. Now you're in front of her, not saying any words making the atmosphere tense. The crew is looking between the two of you, thinking about whether to interfere.
"Vivi"
She flinched when you called her name and looked up. "Although I don't entirely forgive you for snapping at me . . ." you said close-eyed. She looked down. Of course, why would she forgive me for what I said to her?? I even triggered her memories by accident . . .
" . . .But that doesn't mean I can hold a grudge against you for too long. I know that you didn't mean to. Just don't let stress and anger get to you. As a princess, you shouldn't let your emotions get the best of you" you advised with a small smile.
Vivi perked up in shock, surprised that you still gave her a small even with all the things she said to you. She couldn't help but nod. The crew sighed in relief, glad that this little misunderstanding was resolved quickly.
"Hey . . .I recognize that name and tattoo on your back . . .Fire Fist Ace, the second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates" Zoro stated with a knowing look. Ace smiled and nodded at him, telling him that he was correct.
"SUCH A BIG SHOT!!" Nami and Usopp screamed.
Vivi gasped in surprise which stopped everyone in their tracks. You turned in her direction and grimaced in irritation at the sight. These Baroque Works agents are starting to get on your nerves. Ace looked over at you and almost laughed at the sour look on your face.
"Don't worry. I'll take care of them" Ace stated in a boastful tone underlapped in his words.
The crew watched as he jumped over the railing and into his small ship as he sailed through the waters with his devil fruit. He charged at them at full speed and when he was close enough, he jumped over the ships with his ship underwater and rose back to the surface on the other side. When he landed, you could faintly hear 'Fire Fist' from him as he sent a flaming fist at them as the ships went into flames.
Everyone except you gawks at the scene in front of them while you whistled and then scoffed.
Showoff. . .
"Did you see that, (First Name)? Of how strong I've become?" Ace asked as he landed back in front of you.
You chuckled as you bent down to his height and let your fingers run through his hair in a soothing pet, gently scratching his scalp. Ace shivered at the feeling and melted into a pile of happy goo at the attention and affection he was getting from his crush. He was practically vibrating in joy with his tail wagging behind him at a rapid speed. You giggled at Ace's reaction to your pets.
Everyone settled down with drinks with Usopp, Luffy, and the talking reindeer now known as Chopper yelling out "Kamapi!!" each time they got ready to drink. Both your and Ace's eyebrows furrowed in agitation at the sight of the three celebrating your apparent agreement to join the crew.
"Oi Luffy. I told you already that I'm not joining your crew. I'm loyal to Whitebeard" Ace nearly growled.
"And I already told you that I'm a solo pirate so I'm not joining any crew anytime soon" you clarified to make sure that it gets into their heads but sadly, they don't seem to hear you.
"Don't worry about it too much, you two. Those three will find an excuse to celebrate anything" Nami stated as she sat next to you on the chairs they brought out from the kitchen.
"So why are you here in Alabasta and not with your crew??" Vivi asked out with her curious gaze trained on Ace's now slumped figure. You shifted your attention to him as you were also wondering what he was doing here.
"I'm chasing a man. . ." he said, his tone now angry with undertones of sorrow laced in. Luffy picked up on the change of mood and moved closer to Ace to hear him more clearly.
"He committed the worst crime. . . almost killed his crewmate!!" Ace hissed between his teeth.