The party had been a blast for everyone. Drinking, singing, dancing and eating to their hearts contents, most of the Whitebeards and Spades were out of commission, having called a night and were laying sprawled on the deck of Moby and Spadille.
Sleep didn't come to Ace easily due to his Narcolepsy. He was tired, he had drank and eaten as much he wanted, but he couldn't go to sleep. So, he was sitting on the railing of Moby Dick, his legs dangling, and lips humming a pirate shanty. The tranquil night would have almost played with him, if not for the lingering feeling of something which was itching on his mind. There was a feeling which was making him check on the vivre cards of his dear family. A feeling that told him tonight's darkness would bring sorrow, despair and grief.
Ace won't say his intuitions are as good as Luffy who could practically hear the world. Ace wouldn't say that he can read people as good as Luffy, but the time with little menace of his brother had taught him things which no one ever could.
"I didn't know you were a singer." An all familiar voice spoke to him, making Ace give a soft smile to the pompadour haired man.
"I used to sing for Luffy, whenever he would have a nightmare." Ace responded back before continuing to sing in a low tune. Nightmares were a common thing which children go through, but nightmares which were worst memories was something Luffy was afflicted with. Ace and Sabo were always there for their baby brother, trying to console him, willing to do anything to see him smile than hear his heart wrenching sobs which literally shatters their hearts.
Thatch and Ace stood there for who knows how long, staring at the stars and moon which were twinkling brightly in the cover of darkness. The air was comforting, the silence wasn't uncomfortable and yet the feeling which Ace was feeling was back. He had thought humming would calm down his mind, but no, his heart was shivering with cold which he had not felt since he had eaten his fruit.
Ace spread his Haki all over the ship when he felt his heart not willing to be consoled. He did this many times, feeling the soft flickers of his crew's Haki, feeling the Whitebeard Pirate's presence. Closing in on his Observation Haki he felt someone, who by all right should be sleeping. But he was not. The person shouldn't even stand where he was. His Haki was screaming the same intent which he had felt when Thatch announced his devil fruit in the galley.
"Aren't you cold, Thatch?" Ace asked, wanting the person who was hiding to hear it. He doesn't know, who the person seeks for. But one thing was clear, that guy was after either him or Thatch.
"I am." Thatch responded. "But nights like this comes once in a while."
Ace nodded, getting the meaning. Thatch was one of the biggest prankster in the Moby Dick. Leading chaos in his wake, when he wanted to prank. The calmness was good for health once in a while.
Ace fake yawned, even if not a single drop of sleep wanted to touch him.
"You look sleepy, sleepyhead." Thatch chuckled as he uttered the words, making Ace give a smile to the commander, hiding his initial intent.
"Guess I should retreat then." Ace replied, jumping back on the deck and avoiding a look at the shadows where another man was waiting for who knows whom.
"Good night, Ace-y!" Thatch waved Ace teasingly.
"Yeah, night Thatchy!" Ace responded as he took calm steps towards his ship. A calm facade which he had learnt in the Revolutionary Army- his family. His Haki on the man who he wanted to follow him. But Ace's steps halted as he felt the man come out of his cover and walk towards Thatch.
Ace quickly turned back towards where he left Thatch, the person, Teach, his Haki spilling all the killing intent for Ace to feel.
"-devil fruit?" Ace heard the snippets from Teach as he was inching closer and closer to Thatch, who had his back towards Teach looking at the calm ocean.
"I don't know." Thatch replied and Ace had stopped walking. He didn't need to feel the killing intent of Teach anymore. He didn't need to see the shining knife which Teach took out of his back, aimed at Thatch who was still looking at the ocean, unaware of the knife which would take his life.
"THATCH!!!!" Ace yelled, wanting to make the commander aware of the situation. "YOU BASTARD, GET AWAY FROM THATCH!" Ace shrieked as he used Soru to materialize between Thatch and Teach.
The knife which had been thrust forward, went through Ace's logia body and penetrated the skin of the Fourth Division Commander in his stomach. But Ace didn't realize that, as he punched the traitor with a Haki coated fist in his gut. He wanted to incinerate the man, but it was not his right, right now.
"T-Teach? W-Why?" Ace heard Thatch utter in a broken voice as his legs gave away.
"Thatch?" Ace asked in a calm and yet angry voice. His eyes never left that of Teach's as the man was laying sprawled on the deck.
"A-Ace? Teach? W-Why?" Thatch asked miserably as he tried to stop his own bleeding.
"Zehahahahaha!" Teach laughed darkly, wiping the blood from his mouth. "I have got what I wanted, commander."
"W-why? W-we are brothers." Thatch asked, as he saw Teach who was holding the devil fruit, which had fallen from the hands of Thatch as the man had attacked him.
Ace stood there. Wanting nothing more than to plum the man to the deck and kill him. But he also needed answers. Why would Teach go after Thatch? Why his best friend?
"I was never your brother!" Teach spat, as he got up on his legs. "I pretended everything. This game of pathetic family life. All of it, so that I could gain this fruit-"
Ace didn't need to hear the heart broken sob which erupted from Thatch. He jumped onto Teach with the intent to kill him for once and all, for betraying his family.
There was a nagging back in his mind that he should check on Thatch first, bring him to a doctor, that he should save him before going after the traitor, but his anger got better of him, as he saw Teach dash through the deck.
But before he could run after the traitor, he heard shouts and pirates waking up on the Moby. He hadn't noticed in his pursue of Teach when he got surrounded by everyone. His own crew was standing at the sidelines watching everything go on in horror.
"ACE! STOP IT, THAT'S ENOUGH!" A familiar voice shouted, giving Teach enough time to leap above the railing and go straight for the dark murky waters which surrounded them.
"BUT THE BASTA-"
"STOP IT, YOI!" Marco, who was always level headed yelled at Ace, making him turn to the Phoenix, who was letting his flames cradle an unconscious Thatch as Haurta was applying pressure on Thatch's wound and others shouting to make a way for the stretcher to arrive to carry Thatch to the infirmary.
"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING, ACE?!" Marco yelled once more. Pure fury in his voice, all directed at Ace. Ace felt ashamed. He knew he should have taken Thatch to infirmary but-
"ATTACKING THATCH AND THEN CHASING TEACH, YOI!" Marco spat in disgust, making Ace's eyes blow wide at the accusation which he was pinned with. He didn't notice how his crew started inching towards him. He didn't notice the concern in their eyes as they swore to protect Ace, their captain, no matter what.
"B-But-"
Ace wasn't even given the chance to explain himself.
"STOP IT, YOI! Don't speak a single word, yoi!" Marco yelled, as he finally let go of Thatch who was led below deck by the nurses and a crying Haruta on tow. The rest of the commanders were looking at Ace with anger evident in their eyes.
"Where you planning this all along?" Another crew member, which Ace noted was from the 4th division, shouted at him. "Trying to get close to our commanders and us, to take the head of Oyaji?!"
Ace stood their speechless, wanting desperately to speak. To tell the truth, and yet he wasn't given the chance. The words were hurting him, as they were targeted to his heart, piercing it with daggers, trying to squash it all at once.
"If commander Thatch died, I-I swear I am going to kill you!" Someone yelled from the crowd.
"Why should we even let him go when he had dared to harm our commander?" Another one agreed.
"You're not supposed to be alive." Jozu spat. The man had much patience than others, but he was losing it all right now, seeing Thatch's blood which was on his hands. "Your very existence is leading Thatch to fight a battle of life and death right now!"
Ace silently stood there on the deck, not caring if Marco caught the collar of his shirt and was lifting him up in the air, when not a single word came from Ace's mouth. All of Ace's resistance was beginning to wane. Deuce who saw the same look which he had thought he would never see on Ace's face- the dark shadow which briefly passed over his features- after his fight with Vice Admiral Dorrow was back and it was terrible this time.
"Don't listen to him, Ace!" Deuce shouted instantly, as he made his way to the first mate of the Whitebeard Pirate who looked ready to kill Ace.
"If it weren't for you, Thatch wouldn't be suffering, yoi! Teach wouldn't have to jump overboard, yoi!" Marco yelled at Ace, slamming him to the railings of Moby, wanting to throw him overboard.
"I am so glad that you didn't accept the position Oyaji was giving you!" Izou spat the next, his fan obscuring his eyes which were filled with tears.
Ace had given up on struggling. His very life was hanging on the brink at the moment, as he dangled in the hands of Marco, whom he could defeat easily and yet chose not to. The continuous yelling which followed after for him to die, for Marco to tear him apart, to throw him to Davy Jones... or worst torture him, make him bleed as he had made Thatch bleed. Each word was heading straight to Ace's heart, who chose to not protest.
"How dare you act as one of our friend?!" Crueil shouted at him, being held up by Aggie68's muscular body.
"You damn traitor! You damn motherfucker, die!" Hundreds of voice chorused in midst, all aimed for him. His crew ever the loving and supporting one, were keeping the crowd at bay. His crew was trying to free him up, but Ace couldn't hear anything above the voices of his past, which he thought had perished.
"Son of Roger, huh? I say he has to be burnt on the stake!"
"I hope his last words were 'I'm sorry for being born, and for being the trash I am.'"
"It's a misunderstanding!"
"Ace would never!"
"Our captain Ace is innocent!"
Ace could neither hear his crew taking his side, nor could he feel Marco's angry punches on his face with Haki coated fists. He just let them happen. At least he could feel pain above the voices. Above all the shouting-
"Did I even deserve to be born?"
He was back again being the five year old who had picked a fight in the High Town, and was looking over the cliff near the ocean, too tired to move his limbs, too tired to look at his grandfather who was sitting behind him.
"You and your crew are going to suffer for all of it!" Someone shouted, stirring Ace.
"If I were you, I wouldn't make Ace angry right now, Phoenix." Deuce let out with gritted teeth. He had been holding back the punches of the said man. Yes, he was not good at combat, but he couldn't let the first mate of the Whitebeard's to have his way with Ace who was lost.
True to his words, flames encompassed Ace's body as he held the hand which was holding his collar, and performed a back flip, throwing the Phoenix on the deck. The power which had been lost in his eyes were back, burning with protective flames.
Ace tugged his hat low over his eyes, to shield them.
"Don't dare!" Ace growled in a low hissing voice, as his crew slowly made their way to guard him a protective circle. The Whitebeard Pirates stopped mid step as a wave of Haki washed above them, threatening them to take even a step closer and face the wrath of a King. The Haki of the King was slammed full force on the commanders who were laying sprawled on the deck by now.
"What is happening here?" Whitebeard's voice boomed above the crackling of flames which surrounded Ace, above the deafening noise of the waves crashing on the Moby Dick and the sickening thud of his sons and daughters falling on the deck, conscious but on the verge of unconsciousness. "What are you doing, Ace? Why?" Whitebeard looked absolutely confused.
"ASK YOUR DAMN SONS, WHITEBEARD!" Deuce growled, seeing Ace look silently at the deck, encompassing them with his warm, protective Haki, separating them from the Yonko who looked utterly mad right now.
"Release them Ace." Whitebeard commanded, ignoring Deuce and the Spades who were fuming with the treatment their captain got. Whitebeard's own Haki slammed full force on Ace, whose lips were pursed tightly shut, as he stared down at the deck.
A tiny part of Ace's mind had thought that at least Whitebeard would believe him. But he had been so wrong. His throat felt suddenly clogged, his vision blurry, as the deck below him began to swim.
"You are nothing like him. You can't be his son! HE NEVER HURT HIS FRIENDS!" Whitebeard growled, and that was enough for Ace. He wanted to get out of the situation, but a sick part of his mind wanted to stay here, face the full fury of the Yonko- yes, Yonko, 'cause he was nothing more than that.
Ace's Haki fought against Whitebeard and his crew at the same time. He doesn't know how he was still on his foot, after taking the full blunt on himself, but he was glad that his crew was starting to man Spadille with the ever present Mihal who always shut himself in the library of the ship and Skull who was an excellent deckhand.
"I am questioning you here, Ace! And you are choosing to retreat! What have you done to Thatch and where is Teach?" Whitebeard inquired, scrutinizing Ace. He had been shortly told about what had happened by one of his sons and when he was rushing towards the scene Ace's Haki had flattened his sons and daughters, leaving them to his mercy.
"ACE! WE ARE DONE!" Skull announced from the other side. That was enough for Ace to break out from glaring down at the deck and wanting to just vanish. He had a crew to take care. Excuses didn't matter now. He could go one on one with Whitebeard, but he didn't want to anymore. Ace was the ship's captain and it was his duty to keep protecting his crew and not let them perish like his mother, who died protecting him.
"SET SAIL!" Ace shouted as he created a wall of protective fire between the Yonko and his crew, his flames not touching anything on the ship. He could see Whitebeard wanting to use his devil fruit but he was wise enough to not use it in the ocean, where his own ship could sink easily.
"You will pay!" Whitebeard shouted, keeping his glare at Ace, who chose to retreat hearing the hurtful words from someone who he considered like his Gramps.
A shiver ran down Ace as they were finally away from the Moby Dick. His hat still shadowed over his eyes, his right hand holding the pendant which belonged to his Mom begging for strength to face his crew, who were surrounding him. He could even see Mihal standing before him, the guy who didn't like coming out from his cabin much. He could feel Kotatsu rubbing against his legs. He could feel his crew waiting for him to speak.
"Ace, what they said was not true." Deuce started, having known Ace far more than the others. He knew Ace's hatred as he had witnessed them first hand in Sabaody when he faced Dorrow, when his words were pure venom targeted at Ace, who is all kind and sunshine.
"I am fine." Ace lifted his head to look at each one of them, forcing a smile on his face, which seemed to froze at the way everyone looked at him.
"Ace, we are not fools." Mihal, the ever present wise man spoke, his hands on his hips, as he looked Ace in his eyes.
"What happened there, Captain?" Skull asked. It wasn't sitting well with him, the way Ace had gone silent against Marco's assault.
"Teach tried to kill Thatch." Ace spoke, allowing the smile from his face to slip away. "All for the devil fruit which he got hold of." Ace's anger which was never on his face, even while fighting enemies was visible to them now. Deuce placed a hand on Ace's shoulder, giving him silent comfort.
"What's your order now, Captain?" Wallace asked, in a serious tone. The Spades were all ready to do anything for Ace. Whether it be going after Whitebeard Pirates for accusing Ace or after Teach, the bastard who tried to kill Thatch.
"We chase Teach!" Ace spoke, cracking his knuckles with a feral grin on his face. He wanted to trash something, wanted to destroy something, wanted to let his fire raise hell. And the point of his fury was Teach, who would take the blunt.
The Spades thought so. Ace was too kind to go after the Whitebeards for accusing him. He was too kind to let Teach slip away after attempting what he did to his partner in pranks.
"We are with you!" The Spades chorused, making Ace nod at them.
"If you want to speak, you can always find me in the library." Mihal, the eldest of the crew told Ace with a soft pat on his back. He was not a fool to fall for Ace's smile which hid his moods.
Ace bit his lips, which wouldn't have been seen by anyone as Ace's face changed to a smiling one the next second, as he assured Mihal that he was alright.
"Ace, stay still." Deuce hissed at Ace, who was moving too much for him to apply the gauze on his cheek.
"I am fine, Deuce!" Ace spoke with annoyance, but Deuce wasn't someone who would give up, which made Ace sigh and finally give in under the glare and concern he saw in Deuce's eyes.
"Shall I make a snack for you, Captain?" Banshee asked Ace after he was all patched up and leaning against the railing, his eyes watching the dark murky waters.
"Sure," Ace replied, knowing completely that Banshee was trying her best to lift Ace's mood. Even if Ace wasn't sure whether he could eat up, he didn't want their concern to touch the skies by not eating.
"There is an island at 10 o'clock!" Ganryu uttered seeing the island appear.
Ace's lips curved into a smile. The island was what he just needed. He needed to be alone right now. To be away for at least a moment from his crew. He didn't want to worry them with his breakdown.
"Head that way!" Ace announced. Finding Teach could wait for a moment, at least until he had drowned himself away from the voices. He truly wished to find some pirates, or marines there. Heck even bandits would work!
"But Ace! Whitebeards would be obviously coming after us!" Finnamore stated with a little panic in his voice.
Ace was almost about to say that he doesn't care, when he caught himself. He can't risk his crew.
"The Whitebeards won't be coming anytime soon. At least with the concussion half of them would be suffering and with Thatch still in a critical condition, I don't think they have enough will to chase us, right now." Deuce offered. Even they were not feeling quite well, with the amount of alcohol they had drowned themself into.
"Then we head there!" Ace announced as he went towards the side from where the island was visible. It was approaching fast.
Just a little while, Ace seemed to assure himself.
.
The Island which they landed was a lawless Island full of pirates to Ace's luck. With a grin, Ace slipped past his crew to the bars of the town, in some shady alleys.
"What do you want?" A bartender asked as Ace sat on a stool.
"The strongest," Ace replied, his hood from his half buttoned t-shirt covering his face. He had left his hat back in the ship. He didn't want to be recognized by anyone, not right now.
The bartender nodded, and began mixing some drinks.
Ace's hand played with the sea stone ring which he had carefully slipped in his finger. It didn't affect him, it didn't sap his energy like it would have done to other devil fruit eaters. But it did took away his fire powers and Ace was too happy for that. He wanted to be drunk. To let out everything right now.
"Whatcha doing, young man?" A dark, gruff, and grimy voice spoke, inching closer to him. Ace didn't pay any attention to the man as he chugged the drink in a go, before slamming the glass on the table.
"Another," Ace demanded, looking at the bartender, who nodded.
"His drinks are on me," The same grimy man offered. It wasn't like hedidn't appreciate fee stuff, so Ace just shrugged it off.
Drinking the strong whiskey was letting his thoughts run wild. The voices were yelling and it was getting too much. Too much yelling. Too many familiar voices asking him to die.
Ace's hand snatched the whiskey bottle from the bartender as he started chugging the drink, much to the chagrin of everyone present there.
He didn't miss the malice and the twinkle in the eyes on the men who were starting to surround him.
"'ld man! 'ore!" Ace slurred, his head plopped on the table. He hissed as he felt the throb on his cheeks, where Marco had hit him. The blood which he tasted with the whiskey from his lips were assaulting him, and yet Ace couldn't think of anything but to drown in alcohol, to forget the world for tonight, but the voices were too loud. He wanted them to quiet down. He can't be a grumpy, mopey, sad, and useless captain. But who was he kidding, the voices were just starting to haunt him again.
"Would ya mind to spend the night with me?" The same man who had sat beside him asked, his hands inching towards him.
"No way in hell!" Ace answered getting away from the grimy man. He wasn't so depressed that he would let someone look at him like a piece of meat.
"It's just one night, babe!" Ace was done. He was done finally when the man's hand tried to grab him once more. He got up with his body which felt utterly uncoordinated. Still, Ace was successful in landing a strong punch on the man's face, making him grin smugly.
"How dare you!" The man shouted back, wiping the blood from his lips. "I was giving you a good offer, but now all I want is to beat you up for disobeying me!"
"Like hell you will!" Ace shouted, but unknown to him, his voice was too slurred for others to even understand. His vision was already dancing with the bottles of alcohol which were swimming in his stomach. His legs felt like jelly as he tried to take his own stand without holding the counter for support.
"Get him men!" The grimy man shouted, as the men sitting in the bar all at once attacked Ace.
A punch landed on his face throwing him on a table. The pain made the voices go quiet for a moment. He felt the voices dimming as he was dragged by the collar of his t-shirt to the ground, where a good kick landed on his stomach. The emptiness, the heaviness, the guilt which were consuming him was seeming to fade away with every assault.
So, Ace let them drag him to the alley, corner him, as the men started beating him up. Series of punches, kicks and stomping. Ace didn't know how long he was there, not giving his attackers a single chance to relish in the pleasure of his screams. No, Ace laid their wide awake taking everything like sponge, without a single sound.
He felt that he deserved it after ignoring Thatch's agony and pain. He deserved the kick to his chest as he remembered that he failed Dragon by not paying attention to his comrade.
The blood which started dripping from his forehead was totally acceptable to him as he remembered that he had let Teach escape. He was glad that the tears which were refusing to come when he had started drinking was slowly crawling back in his eyes with a sheen of glassy sheet. He didn't let the tears flow freely though.
The emptiness which had encompassed him, making him feel like he would never amount to anything, was fading slowly. The darkness, which he swore just after a few drinks would follow him to hell, was giving way to pain, which seemed a better option than the former thought.
The beatings felt totally worth it, because he had unleashed his Haki on his friends. He had harmed them-
"He is Fire Fist, the super rookie!" Someone yelled, having gone to grab his hair. His beaten face showed who he was easily to everyone.
The beatings stopped, making Ace look at them with hazy eyes. It was going good so why did they stop? Ace wondered.
"He has a bounty of 600 million!"
"Isn't he the one who hangs with Whitebeard? The Yonko?!"
That was enough to make the men run away with the fear of their lives.
Ace laid there with his eyes shut tight in pain. He didn't want to move, not even to stand up. He was just feeling so tired, even if the beating which he got didn't even amount to the hell he had experienced before. He was just so done with everything. A lone tear escaped Ace's closed eyes, traveling down his cheek, mixing with the blood which was flowing through his bruised cheek.
He just wanted to cuddle up against himself, to stop the time here, until he recovers, which he felt like he won't ever-
Purupurupuru
Ace's one hand went towards his mouth, to stop the ugly sob which would surely come as he slowly sat up, leaning against the moldy wall which supported his bleeding body. He can tell that his ribs were broken, a horrible bruise already forming on his stomach. All over his body, scars were littered. He wonders how the snail escaped the beating, but he was glad that it was save. That it was not shunned by his luck which harmed people near him.
Purupurupuru
He didn't want to pick up the call, but at the same time, Sabo never called at this hour of the day. That made him pick the ringing snail, thinking that it must be an emergency.
Click
"Ace-"
Ace hanged off the call. It was Marco who had called. He didn't want to hear from them. How did he forget that they had his number? The snail kept on ringing, making Ace force it back in his pocket and swear to not pick it up. He didn't want to hear anymore from them. He just couldn't. That was all he could think right now.
Taking out the sea stone ring from his fingers, stuffing them in his pocket, and feeling his flames cradle him, removing the alcohol from his system, Ace felt light headed. He felt like a concussion was coming in. He vaguely remembered what Iva told them about concussions. They can make people forget their past or some parts of it. He really wanted to forget tonight, but at the same time he wouldn't forgive and forget Teach, the bastard.
Standing up on his shaking feet, one hand holding his stomach, and another supporting himself with the wall he took a breath. He felt his lungs protesting at it, and stomach already wishing to throw up anything he had ate.
Truth be told, then Ace didn't want to move from where he was standing. He just wanted to stay in that alley, crying like a little kid who had been hurt. He wanted to just give up for tonight and wake up strong tomorrow for everyone. But he didn't want to risk himself being found by his crew.
With a steady step, Ace started walking, pretending as if the blood, the black and blue bruises never existed in the first place. He entered the bar, the people- a handful of them who were still there- froze at his bloody sight. Ace kept a poker face as he snatched a bottle of whisky and threw a coin to the bartender, before taking his bag and walking out of the silent bar.
Pouring the whiskey on his wounds, he relished on the sting as he made his way to the forest- away from the fucking world. He didn't dare go to his ship for the night, he didn't wish to worry his crew with his bloody ghostly self.
A chuckle erupted from Ace's throat as soon as he entered the perimeters of the forest. His hand smacked on his eyes, unbothered of the swelling and throbbing pain which followed soon enough. A horrible broken chuckle tore through his throat as his inner demons revealed themselves. The scarce live which he had sensed upon entering the forest, were already running far far away from his path.
Throwing himself on the side of the little lake, he couldn't help but start giggling. The taunts, accusations, the wish that he was dead, the haunting reminder that he had been shunned by the Whitebeards who were like a second family to him, was crushing him. But all he could do was giggle and chuckle. How much of a moron was he to believe that the voices would fade away from the pain he was suffering?
He wanted to drown in his broken chuckle, wanting to ignore the ringing of the snail which kept announcing its presence to him, reminding him of the Whitebeards. He curled up on himself, as streams of tears slowly made their way, his chuckles and giggles vanishing at the same time.
The crushing loneliness, the darkness, the hatred, everything was reaching to him. This is why- This is why, he had never wanted friends. This is why he had kept his heart protected with the tall walls which he had built, from the cruel, shitbag of a world. This was why he had refused to show his true innocent self to others-
"Meoww?" Ace heard the beast before it slowly made its way to Ace's side, cradling him like a mother would do to her cub.
Ace knew the lynx, Kotatsu, as he was gently pulled towards the fury animal. Ace didn't speak as more and more tears poured through his eyes, and his voice tore through his throat, showing the pain which he was in. His hold on the lynx grew tighter as his body shivered from the haunting feelings. Kotatsu was licking his face, trying to give him comfort, making Ace's lonely thoughts go away.
"Meoww?" Kotastu purred, concern clearly visible in his voice. Ace didn't dare lift his face from where he hid it in the lynx's warm chest. His body racked with sobs, and tears and snot littered the animal's fur, which the beast didn't seem to mind at all. In opposite, Kotatsu was trying to console him.
Ace didn't even know when he fell asleep with the soft lulls of the water lapping on the shore and Kotatsu softly licking his tears and blood.
The Spades Pirates watched as their captain slowly feel asleep, almost quiet and dead to the world. They were all crying, having heard the heart wrenching sobs which had came out of their captain's mouth. They had known that Ace wanted some time alone after tonight's ordeal, but they didn't know that he would be this heartbroken after everything.
Deuce held the orange crystal necklace, which he had found in an alley, softly in his hand, thanking the Gods for leading them to Ace, who was in a worst state than any of them could ever think of.
"Remind me to lecture him later about self preservation," Mihal whispered Deuce in a suspiciously teary voice. Deuce nodded, as he gulped down his own tears and asked Ducky Bree to bring his medical supplies here. He wanted to take Ace back to the infirmary, but he didn't want to after he feel asleep.
The rest of the crew, who had got sober the moment Ace's absence was declared by a panicking Skull who had told them of how Deuce had found the necklace which Ace never parted with in an alley, were dabbing their eyes or clearing their throat. But none of them dared to make enough noises to wake up their captain.
By the time Ducky Bree arrived with Deuce's medical supplies, the crew had set up a campfire, and had huddled closer to Ace. Not wanting to lose sight of him, lest the young man did something more reckless.
Deuce slowly cleaned all the visible cuts and scratches, applying creams on the bruising wounds before trying to fix Ace's ribs which looked broken. He really wanted to lecture Ace right now, but he didn't have the energy to do so. He couldn't do it, after seeing Ace's breakdown first hand. They were nakama and yet Ace chose to hide away himself. That was hurting Deuce, but yet he was careful on applying the medicines on his captain, the friend who had named him.
When Ace woke up, he felt fresh. Maybe it was from how he felt encompassed in a pure loving warmth in his dream. Opening his eyes, he froze. The first thing, he met was with a very familiar furry animal, on whose chest his hands where neatly tucked in. That wasn't the only embarrassing thing, he felt legs and arms on his body. He panicked for a moment, before his Haki registered familiar presences- his crew. They were bundled together, each one of them, having at least a slight contact with him.
His heart flooded with warmth and love which his crew showered him, but at the same time, his face reddened. If his crew was here, and the smell of the medicines was coming from his body then he knew that he had been caught. He should have known when Kotatsu appeared out of no where. He was in for a real scolding! Damn it! With a sigh, he realized that he can escape now or never... But the warmth was making him want to go back to sleep-
"Good morning Ace."
Ace didn't flinch, nope, he didn't.
"I know you are awake."
Mihal's strict teacher like voice came up above his head. Ace was in for it, wasn't he? Still, he wasn't going to listen to the man's 4 hour lecture, so he did what he felt was the best. He started snoring loudly, pretending to be fast asleep.
"Ace, get up right now and you won't get a lecture from me." Mihal's voice spoke, making Ace almost stop snoring loudly and answer to the man.
"Re-?"
"I knew it, you were awake!" Mihal spoke in a strict voice, and yet Ace could completely hear the well hidden worry behind it. "Now get up."
Ace pouted, before shuffling through his crew's legs and arms and sitting up sheepishly with a strawberry face.
"I'm sorry?" Ace asked before his ears would start bleeding from the man's scolding.
"Damn it, Ace." Mihal groaned, rubbing his temples. "Tell me, what does nakama mean to you?"
"Nakama are family." Ace replied, not realizing which trap he was set to fall in. This is what Mihal was good at, lecturing people by making them come to a realization of what they had done.
"Do you consider us your nakama?" Mihal asked next, keeping a straight face all the while.
"Obviously!" Ace uttered without missing a beat.
"Then why? Why Ace?" Mihal asked eyeing his bandaged body. "Why didn't you speak to us? I told you to come to me if you needed to talk, didn't I? Hell, if you didn't want to talk to me, there was Deuce, there was Skull and the others, why didn't you talk to them?"
Ace was looking down at the ground. He knew Mihal was right, but he didn't want to burden them. Hell, a part of his mind wanted to snap on Mihal and tell that it was none of his business, but he couldn't. Mihal was his friend, his nakama, his family. A part of his mind reminded him of Dragon, his Dad, when he would ask Ace what was wrong when he was struggling with the thoughts of liking or disliking his father- Roger.
"I didn't want to worry you guys." Ace almost whispered, still looking at the ground. Before he could say anymore, he was tackled in a group hug by the other Spade Pirates who were listening in.
"Baka, you are ours to worry!" Deuce spoke gently nudging him on his head.
"Stupid Captain, always getting into trouble!" Skull whispered.
"Meowww!" Kotatsu purred.
Soon, one by one everyone started telling Ace how much they respect, adore and love him. How much they care about him and how they would feel if Ace would shut himself up.
Ace sat through all of this stunned. His eyes were getting glassy, as his heart started swelling up and the darkness which he had felt returning, starting to fade away. Ace's lips wobbled, as he was held by his crew, tears silently making their way down, which expertly vanished in form of steam. His crew didn't broke from the cuddle puddle as they held him, feeling that they would lose him forever if they let go of him.
"Everything will be alright," Banshee whispered softly, making Ace nod with a jerk.
"We are always with you, cap'." Wallace spoke comfortingly, trying to ruffle his hair. Ace's breath hitched a bit before getting back in rhythm.
"Thank you." Ace whispered softly. "Thank you for loving me." It would have almost gone unheard if not for how close every one was with Ace.
"Always!" The crew chorused, still holding in the awkward position until a loud grumble tore through, making everyone laugh and Ace smile sheepishly.
"I'm hungry!" Ace whined, making his crew chuckle happily, seeing their captain coming back to them.