Hi ml, your blog just appeared when i was scrolling through the ace x reader tag in search of new fics. Your layout is so prettyyyyyyy. Anyways i was ELATED to see that your requests are currently open and I would be honoured if you could write an Ace x reader fic!!!!! I’ll leave the plot up to you bcs idk if you’re fine w ultra specific requests but all in all ANYTHING ace related makes me jump for joy, love that little fella 🫶🏾🫶🏾
Hello ml! Thank you for the compliment about my layout. Means a lot to me 🥺! And oh my- 'honoured' don't make me blush ☺!
Anyways you can be specific I don't mind! But since you gave me the option. I thought of some angst, hope that's okay! (Wanted to be sad)
Pretty long (I GENUINELY locked in on this tbh 😭)
Portgas D. Ace x marine! Reader ! (Angst)
Warnings: Spoilers for Marineford! Character death!
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You never expected to see Ace here of all places. Maybe on an random island. Or possibly even a marine base you were currently being stationed at making trouble. On sea fighting one another. Hell, one of the most random places was at a small bar in a town where both your crews had decided to lay back and relax. That sure was an interesting realization.
But not here at Marineford-
Not at Marineford with him sitting on top of that wooden platform waiting to be executed.
With You, standing at the bottom with the rest of your brother's and sisters in arm. Watching. Thats all you really could do in this situation. Because at the end of the day. He was a pirate and you a marine that was only following orders. Heart breaking find new cuts and bruises on his once clean and strong body.
You knew from the very beginning it would never work. That what ever you both had or held for one another in secret would never have a happy ending.
But never in a million years you would have thought it would go like this.
You remembered the first time you both met. Being stationed on an island as a captain. Shouting out orders to your crew mates to find and capture the second commander of whitebeards crew that was spotted somewhere on the island.
Running towards the scream civilians and choas filling the streets. You saw him. Fire fist Ace. Only just as you began to shout at him to halt, you stopped in your tracks.
Was he... Was he helping the civilians?
Sure enough there he was. Though the somewhat thick fire now expanding larger. He was actually helping them escape to somewhere more safe. Kids and mothers. "Ack, this is getting way to much out of hand than I thought" he muttered to himself. Now seeing how much the flames were really picking up.
You stayed staring at him. Not in hatred. But curiosity. A pirates like him with such large bountys and reputation? Actually helping others?
Shaking your head you activited your haki and drew your sword. No matter what happened. You still had a duty and orders to follow.
When you both fought it wasn't serious at first. It was clear you both were trying to test the other. With him throwing some teasing jabs and remarks.
"Wow as a marine Captain you kind of suck at actually landing a hit! Guess they really are lowering their standards! Or maybe- you don't really want to hurt little ol me." he laughed dodging yet another one of your attacks with a wink.
"As if your any better!" You growled as you dodge his attack as well. "All talk for someone who hasn't landed a blow yourself!"
"Hmm true, but maybe unlike you I don't wanna hurt a pretty thing like ya. Not every day the Marines send me something to actually look at " he chuckled from the look on your face. Your face warming up and you screamed raising your sword and thrusting it down. With his eyes buldging out and just barley dodging the attack with a bit of his arm being cut.
"Woah! Hey there! You could really hurt someone with a weapon like that!" He shouted.
Shouting and stomping sounds from a distance could be heard. It must have been your back up. Turning to him with a grin on your face, you stood tall and pointed your sword towards him.
"Portgas D. Ace you are hear by under arrest by order of the government! " You huffed, "Stand. Down. Now. And this won't get uglier than it has too. "
"Ooh and bossy too. Come on do I at least to get your name Captain? Wanna know the cute officer who actually thinks she managed to get me. " with an irk you shouted telling him he'd get no such thing.
"Captain! Captain (y/n)!! "
Your grit your teeth in frustration hearing your crew call out to you. Your face heating more in anger when seeing that stupid smirk form on his face. "Captain (y/n) huh? Well, shame it has to end like this. Was just beginning to like ya! Till next time Captain!" He chuckled giving you a flirtatious wink.
Your eyes widened and you rushed forward when a large flame burst in your way swooping you of your feet making you land on the hard floor with a grunt. When the flames disappeared so did he.
"Captain! Captain are you okay!? " your crew shouted rushing towards closer. Screaming you punched the ground in frustration. Next time.
Next time you'll get him for sure!
You smiled in remembrance even if your heart aches from it as well. Having so many fond and loving memory that grew ever sence that first encounter. From you both being at one anothers throats (more so on you than him). To becoming a cat an mouse chase. To very few life risking alliances to keep both your crew and his safe. Which than became some sort of familiarity. Which then began to turn into something you both couldn't, shouldn't , act upon. But still, you couldn't help but keep hold of the small glances on battlefield, the back and fourth banter that held some sort of secrets between them that only you both knew.
Ace never touched you. Not really. Never held your hand. Never held you close. Never a small or quick kiss. Not even resting your foreheads against one another. You both knew you couldn't cross that line. Because then it would become real. Then you'd both would have to face reality, how serious this all actually was.
Couldn't say the things you really wanted to say. Those four words you both yearned to hear come out of the others mouth.
But that didn't seem to stop either of you from other things. The soft almost ghost of a touch of skin to skin. Not touching but enough to feel the others body heat. The quite whispers and quite flirtatious remarks you'd make to one another on the field. Laughter and empty promises hidden from the explosions around you. The longing looks you'd send one another when no one was watching.
It was a total shock when Whitebeard and his whole crew had shown up. Even more so when later Ace's younger brother, pirate Monkey D. Luffy made his big show entrance. But all while it gave you a little bit of hope. Hope that his friends, his family would be able to give him more time. To save him.
But even then. You still had your orders to follow. More so now with all the blood that was being shed. So you fought, though it wasn't how many would have thought. You fought to just disarm. You would protect your fellow Marines all while not really doing much harm to the Ace's pirates crew. No matter how much you were yelled and screamed at.
All while you felt Ace's gaze on your fighting form. You both locking eyes during fights holding your own pleas. His eyes pleading for you to stop, to look away from the inevitable. All while yours plead for him to hold on, even just for a bit longer. Both your hearts begging for the other to be spared from the pain the other was enduring.
When things began to finally look up. You couldn't help but feel over joyed seeing Ace finally being freed from the chain holding him down. Seeing that familiar smile on his face. To hear his laughter as he fought side by side by his brother.
You couldn't help but run towards him. Your sword being held in a tight grip. And once close enough swinging an attack not fast enough to catch him off guard. But enough for him to block it himself.
"Man! Even after all this time together. You still can't land a single attack! "
Leaning in close enough to your face both your nose barley grazed one another, he smiled. "Happy to see little ol me oh captain, my captain? " he whispered. Your heart beating so heavily in your chest you think it's about to burst .
"More than you'll ever know" you said quietly with a smirk. Both holding eye contact at what felt like forever. His eyes falling to your lips, those four words on the tip of both your tongues.
"ACEEE! " His brother shouted rushing towards the two of your with determination to protect his older brother. Ace chuckled as you both pushed off one another you falling to the floor accidently yet again.
"Oh! Falling yet again for me Captain? " he laughed.
"You wish! " you shouted rolling your eyes in sarcasm but the look in your eyes holding something different.
"Hate to disappoint your Marines again. But my brother and I will be taking our leave. Maybe next time yeah? " And just like that very day with a gust of fire. He was gone.
You stood and smiled. "Next time" you spoke as you finally caught sight of him and his brother running off in the distance. "I love you-" you whispered as you saw he soon began to fade from eye sight. Grabbing your sword and rushed back into action.
The war was still insane. The many screams coming around you. The body's falling to the floor around you. Why hadn't it stopped? Why hadn't the whitebeard and his crew left already? Ace was free, they got what they came for!
Running around and fighting and dodging attacks left an right. Your eyes searched the battle field. Once they finally found the one figure you were searching for. Your heart dropped to your stomach and body froze to the ground.
Their. Not to fair in the distance. Was Fire fist Ace. Your Ace.
Facing his younger brother who had fell to the floor. His back facing towards Marine Admiral Akainu Eyes locking in on where fire met magma. In that moment everything froze in time.
Your remembered the last time you saw Ace before Marineford. Your crew was planning on staying at an island for the night. All drinking and drunk bickering with each other including Ace who had just narrowly saved your asses from would have been a life or death situation. You decided you wouldn't pursue him that night. To have a short truce.
You sat at the edge where the sand met the sea. The cold wind breezing against your face. Shivering your pulled your coat closer to your cold form. When an warmth formed next to you. Looking over your face softened when catching the face that always seemed to brighten your days even without his flames.
"And what is the pretty lady doing here all by herself hm? " he teased. You huffed as he sat next to you. "Come on now, I didn't come all this way to get you a drink just to be treated so harshly! " he laughed as he waved a small bottle of liquor. Sighing you swipped it out his hands and took a large sip.
It soon got quite with the two of you. You looking across the sea enjoying the sound of the gentle waves coming ashore. Your shiver again by the breeze. Hearing a chuckle you gave him a side glance.
"Cold? " you nodded your heard. "Just a bit, but I'll managed. Been through worse. " your replied.
Shuffling was heard as your left side was then pushed against something. Warmth spread to your left side. Turning to look at him, you saw his body glowing softly as his heat radiated off him. Leaning in closer you both locked eyes and froze.
"Better? " he whispered. You could only nod your head to afraid to say anything. You both stayed like that. So close you could feel the other breath against your faces. Your heart beating rapidly. And once your eyes drifted to his lips. He closed the distance. Your whole body filled with warmth with just his kiss alone. It wasn't rushed, it was gentle. The kind you'd give to your lover.
You shouldn't be doing this, you thought. You should pull away. Your promised not to cross that line. You know what this could do to both you AND him.
But still- you couldn't help yourself but to lean deeper into the kiss. Enjoying his warm as much as you could before the inevitable. Before you had to pull away. Before you had to drag both yourselves into the roles you chose.
When you both had finally chose to pull away. You rested your foreheads against one another, breaths heavy.
"I've wanted to do that for a while you know" he muttered quietly. You looked deeply into his eyes. He whispered your name, "That's not all I wanted to do. I- I wanted to say. " your eyes widened. Was this it? Was this really happening? You froze waiting. Waiting to hear the words you so desperately wanted to hear for what felt like so long now.
"I-" he paused as if he was searching for something in your eyes. He sighed pulling away. "I need to go-. " you blinked in confusion.
"Yeah... I have a mission I gave myself that I promised my crew that I'd finish. I just... I wanted to tell you- that if something happens to me. If I don't come back" your heart raced at his words.
"I- I Lo... " he stopped himself. Sighing once more. Standing up he put his hat on his head turning his back towards you. "I'm glad I got the chance to meet you. "
"Hey-" you began. "Dont say it like that. " you'll see him again. This won't be the last time. You won't allow it. "We'll see each other again. Besides, I guess I owe you a drink now.. Yeah? " you spoke softly raising the bottle in your hand. He chuckled.
"Heh, yeah" turning around made a small bow.
"Till next time my Captain"
Your scream is lost in the chaos. Marine coat falling off your shoulders as your rushed forward. Towards his already somewhat limp body as he fell into his younger brothers arms. Tears welling up in your eyes.
No- NO! This... This can't be HAPPENING!
You were then grabbed and held back by strong arms. You thrashed in their hold. Screaming. Demanding to be let go. You were a Captain! LISTEN TO ME-
"Stop! Stop it! Can't you see? If you get involved you'll be killed too! Ace wouldn't want that! " you looked up and your eyes widened.
"Vice- Vice Admiral Garp sir! What-"
"You might have fooled everyone on base so far and your crew. Hell, maybe even they knew and kept quiet because they seem to love you so much. But you can't fool and old man like me! " he gave a rough laugh. Your gaze lowered in Shame.
"I could tell the moment I was on that platform sitting with him. His eyes barley ever left your form. I may have failed into saving his life in becoming a marine." He saighed as his grip on you tightened. "But I won't fail him by having someone he cared for die because of him either!"
Gritting your teeth you looked back to Ace's body. Heart breaking at the sight of him. He was clearly saying something you couldn't read to his brother. But in his last moments. He lifted his head an caught your eye. He smiled, as his lips moved for you to read them. Your lips quivered.
'I'm sorry, Till next time Captain... I love you'
And just like his flames burned out.
