Breaking up with Ace left you a mess. How can someone who said to love you with his whole being, cheat on you?

The scene replayed in your mind every night since then. Ace, with a girl you didn’t even recognize on his lap, kissing her, holding her with the same neediness he used to hold you with. Ace then staring directly at you while tears were making it hard to see, and you fleeing the place in a beat.

You didn’t know if you were angrier or sadder, but you knew something. You didn’t need any type of explanation. You left without even looking back.

Of course, Ace didn’t even try to contact you after that. He knew how you felt about cheating and that you would never forgive him. And you were kinda grateful for that. It made it easier to hate him and not feel hopeless, since in the end, it was his decision to cheat.

After 6 months, you felt like you could finally breathe without any type of hatred clouding your mind, but you somehow still missed him.

You missed the chemistry, the way he made you feel all the time, the way you somehow clicked, but only when it came to the physical part of the relationship. Apart from that, you could’ve easily gone through life without ever thinking about him.

But even if your body was the one missing him, it didn’t mean it was any easier. Every time you closed your eyes, you could see him. Every single time you were together in bed, you could still feel the way his hand would touch, roam, and caress you. You could still hear him whispering the dirtiest things to your ear, and the way his breathing became erratic when he was close. The way he held you and looked at you was imprinted in the back of your head. And god, you hated it.

It was so unfair the fact that your whole body and part of your mind couldn’t get over him. You’ve lost count of the number of nights you’ve replayed several memories with Ace.

And you were glad to see that Ace was also feeling the same way. To be honest, he couldn’t be more dramatic, but it kinda fit him. The fact that it was the middle of the night and he was only in gray sweatpants, a red zip-up hoodie, and a white tank top, breathing all hectic after banging and knocking on your door like his life depended on it

“Ace, what do you even want?” You tried your best to look annoyed, but it was as if your body only knew one way to react when it was close to him, and that way was making you all hot and bothered. 

Ace finally took a look at your clothes, shorts, and a sweatshirt, simple, but that was enough for him to lose his mind. He didn’t even say a word, he just passed through your door, pushing you inside and cornering you against the closest wall. 

“I need you.” You closed your eyes and felt him start kissing your head. “Please say something.” How dare he? He just arrived in the middle of the night, asking for sex, and unfortunately, your body was ready for him.

“What makes you think I need you too?” You took a deep breath and sighed. His scent was making you dizzy. It appeared that he had just showered since you could still smell the body wash he usually uses.

“Maybe it’s the way both of your hands have been grabbing my shirt since the very first moment I put you against the wall, and you haven’t let go of me, or maybe it’s the fact that you’re rubbing yourself against my cock. I don't know, baby, you tell me.” You groaned. You couldn’t believe you gave in that easily, but for 6 months, you’ve been needing this, and to be honest, you weren’t the best when it came to thinking about the consequences of your actions.

“I still hate you, Ace.” You didn’t even let him answer, and kissed him. God, you missed this. The way he would embrace you, the way his lips were clashing against yours, the way he held you, trying to get your whole body as close as possible, feeling all of you. 

You slowly made your way to your couch, getting rid of his hoodie and tank top, leaving him shirtless by the time you two were finally on the couch, with you on his lap.

You pulled away from him, your breathing was the only thing that could be heard. He cupped your right cheek with his hand, and he touched your lips with his thumb. 

“God, I missed these lips.” It looked like he was in a trance. You stared at him, and something in your chest hurt.

“Are you here to talk or to fuck me, Ace?” You quickly stopped his actions. You don’t want to fall again for his schemes. You were together for a year, so he knows how to get under your skin, he knows how to make you give in.

By the look on his face, it appears that he was hurt by the harsh words, but he really couldn’t blame you.

He took your sweatshirt off you and smiled.

“No bra?”

“Why do you look surprised? It’s not like I didn’t sleep like this when we were together.” Ace quickly moved and started to suck on your nipples, making you choke from the sudden action. You started to rub yourself against his bulge, seeking some kind of relief.

Ace moved his head to your other nipple, rolling between his fingers the nipple he was previously sucking on. He repeated the actions for quite a few minutes before he came to a stop and looked at your fucked up expression.

“Here, or your room?” Ace was starting to carry you up, knowing you usually liked it better on a bed, but you quickly pushed him back to the sofa.

“Here, you lost room privilege the moment you decided to cheat on me.” Ace was surprised at your words, not because of the context itself, but because you said it in a playful manner.

“I’m-”

“Shut up, Ace. I need you.” You stood up so he could take off his sweatpants, and took this opportunity to take off your shorts and panties, not wanting to lose time. 

You grabbed one of his shoulders to balance yourself, while your other hand was guiding his cock to your entrance. You didn’t need any preparation. The moment you saw Ace at your door, and the countless restless nights for the past months were enough for you to just want to fuck him without any type of foreplay. You slowly took him in, adjusting yourself to his size.

It’s been months since you had sex with someone, so it did sting a bit. 

“So… tight,” he managed to say.

“Shut… up.” You started to move your waist, not enough movement for him to get proper relief, but enough for you to get used to his size again.

Ace was able to see that you didn’t open your eyes. Maybe because you were trying to concentrate. But he knew better, and he knew it was because you didn’t actually want to look at him. His chest hurt. When you were together, you used to love looking at him. Something about the way he would look at you, with such neediness and love, was something that would always help you cum faster. So this was new. But he also knew he fucked up pretty bad, and this was the only way to have you this close.

“More,” Ace didn’t even ask you to stop when he grabbed your ass, stopping you from moving back and forth, and started to move his hips up and down. Due to the sudden change of movement, your upper body crashed against his chest. And you hissed.

“Ace,” you wanted to shout at him, be mad at him, but instead of sounding angry, his name came out as a moan. He was abusing your hole, going as fast as he could, hitting that spot that would make you forget everything except for the man that was making you feel such an intense pleasure.

“That’s right, baby, I’m the only one that can make you feel this way.” You clenched at his words, defeated. “Even if you wanted to take control tonight, you know this is the only way for you to come around my cock.” You wanted to punch him in the face so bad.

“Fuck you.” You felt tears starting to roll down your face. You didn’t know if it was because of the overwhelming sensation or because you were having sex with the person who cheated on you, but you didn’t care. It made the pleasure a hundred times better.

Ace felt his chest getting wetter, but he knew better than to ask if you were ok. 

“God, sweetheart, I missed you so much.” Ace stopped for a moment to grab your chin up and kiss you properly. You could feel his neediness and his regret.

“Move, please.” Ace chuckled and continued to move. You started to leave small wet kisses on his neck and collarbones.

“Keep doing that…” You hid your smile and started to suck his neck, wanting to mark him up. Ace could feel your pussy clench harder, meaning that you were close. With one arm, he grabbed you by the waist, and with his other hand, he started to play with your clit, wanting you to come before he did.

“Fuck fuck fuck” you whispered in Ace’s ear.

“That’s right, cum baby, please. Let me feel you.” 

You hated the way you gave into him so easily. You hated the fact that, finally, after months and months of being sexually frustrated, you were finally going to be able to cum thanks to him.

You weren’t ready for the feeling. A rush of electricity traveled from your core to the rest of your body. Your whole body went limp as your sight became blurry. You couldn’t think properly. It was as if your brain had become a puddle of incoherent thoughts. You let out a loud whine as Ace continued to fuck you, trying to reach his own climax. 

“Where do you want it?” You didn’t need more explanation. You knew he was referring to his load.

“Inside me, A-ace.” You whimpered, trying your best to not push him away from you. The overstimulation was not something you were used to.

It was all Ace needed to come undone. He always loved it when you were so vocal about your needs and wants. As you felt the warm shot of cum paint the inside of your walls, you finally relaxed completely against his body. 

You hated to admit it, but you missed this. You miss him.

You didn’t want to be the first one to break the silence that filled your living room, too scared of speaking and him being able to tell you were about to cry.

“I’m sorry. I know I fucked up, really bad,” he was slowly moving his fingers through your hair, smoothing it out. 

“Don’t. Pease,” you could barely say, voice breaking in the process.

“Just give me one more chance. Let me win your heart and trust back.” 

“Don’t you think you are 6 months late, Ace?” You were right. He didn’t call, text, or try to find you.

“I know. But please, just let me try to win you back. I haven’t been able to properly rest, and I haven’t been able to function at all. I can’t live without you.” And you knew he was telling the truth. As you stared deeply into his eyes, you sighed.

“I don’t know Ace. I just kept picturing her lips on you.” A small tear rolled down your cheek, but Ace quickly moved his hand to clean it up.

“Let me make it up to you. I will do anything to fix this mess I made.”

“You know, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.” You admit. Ace cupped your face with both of his hands, wanting to look into your eyes.

“I messed up, but if you agree and if you let me, I will show you that you are the only person I ever want to be with for the rest of my life.” You weren’t so sure if you wanted to forgive him that easily, but you knew something, and it was the fact that even if it was hard to see him, you needed his company more than anything.

You could only nod, wanting to give it a try one more time.

“I promise you won’t regret it, baby.” Ace embraced you in a tight hug, and for the first time in months, you could finally rest peacefully.

n a v i g a t i o n

——

The island was supposed to be quiet—just another checkpoint. You were out past curfew, your boots light on the sand, the stars above your only company.

Until he spoke.

“You shouldn’t be walking around here in that uniform, you know. Might give someone ideas.”

You froze, hand hovering over your sword. But the voice wasn’t threatening—just amused.

From the shadows, a man stepped forward. Black tattoo on his back. Orange hat. The moment your eyes met his golden ones, something in your chest shifted.

“Portgas D. Ace,” you said carefully.

He tilted his head. “And you are… a Vice Admiral’s brat?”

You stiffened. “Admiral. I’m his daughter.”

He let out a low whistle. “Didn’t expect Sakazuki to have a kid. You don’t have his scowl.”

Your lips twitched, despite yourself. “I get that a lot.”

He smiled then, soft and crooked. “So what’s a good little Marine doing walking alone?”

“I could ask you the same. You’re a wanted man.”

“And yet,” he said, stepping closer, “you haven’t drawn your blade.”

You didn’t. You couldn’t. For some reason, looking at him didn’t feel like facing an enemy.

“I’m not here to fight.”

He looked up at the stars. “Good. Neither am I.”

That night stretched longer than you expected—two hours of talking by the water’s edge. About justice. About pirates. About fathers.

“You trying to make yours proud?” he asked, picking up a shell and tossing it into the waves.

“…Yes.”

He turned to you, serious now. “You know that’s not living, right?”

Your voice faltered. “Then what is?”

He chuckled softly, plucking up another shell. “Living is… waking up and knowing the choices you’re making are your own. Not someone else’s. Not your father’s.”

You stared down at the water. “It’s not that simple. I was raised to believe in justice. That pirates were evil. That anything less than total obedience is weakness.”

Ace didn’t laugh this time. He just nodded. “Sounds lonely.”

You blinked at him. “It is.”

“Then why keep doing it?”

You sighed, fingers curling into fists at your sides. “Because it’s all I’ve ever known. Because I thought if I could just be strong enough, obedient enough, perfect enough—maybe he’d actually look at me like I mattered. Like I wasn’t just another soldier in his fleet.”

Ace was quiet for a long moment. Then he said, “You matter without any of that. You shouldn’t have to bleed yourself dry just to earn scraps of love.”

The words hit too hard, too fast. “That’s easy for you to say. You’re free. You get to be who you are. You’re not being crushed under your last name.”

He tilted his head. “You think freedom means not being weighed down? I’ve spent most of my life wondering if I even deserve to exist. Carrying my father’s name like a curse I never asked for.”

You looked at him, startled. “Your father?”

Ace looked away, a shadow in his gaze. “Gol D. Roger. The Pirate King.”

You swallowed. “But that means—”

“Yeah,” he said. “Everyone thinks I should be something—good or evil, depends who you ask. But none of them care what I want. They only see what I was born from.”

You stared at him, quiet now.

Ace sat down in the sand, arms resting on his knees. “So yeah. I know a little about trying to run from your blood. Or trying to live up to something impossible. But trust me… it never works. Either way, you lose yourself.”

You sat beside him slowly, the sea breeze brushing your face. “Then what do I do?”

He turned to you gently. “Start small. What do you want? Not as a Marine. Not as Sakazuki’s daughter. Just… you.”

You hesitated, breath catching in your throat. “I don’t know.”

“That’s okay,” he said quietly. “Knowing you don’t know—that’s a hell of a start.”

You looked at him then, really looked. At the man who was supposed to be your enemy. Who was offering you more kindness in an hour than your father had in years.

“Why are you telling me all this?” you asked.

He gave a crooked smile. “Because you looked like someone who needed to hear it. And maybe… because I wish someone had said it to me when I was younger.”

You didn’t respond. You just sat there with him, watching the waves roll in.

The wind stirred your hair, the ocean licking at your boots.

“I want to see you again,” you whispered, surprising even yourself.

Ace blinked—then nodded. “Then we will. One day.”

That night, there was a pull between the two of you—something magnetic, impossible to ignore. Without a word, Ace closed the space between you, his hand finding yours, warm and calloused, his fingers intertwining with yours.

You didn’t pull away.

He kissed you then, a soft press of lips that deepened slowly as the tension between you both flared into something more. There was no rush—only the pressing need to feel alive, to be seen, to be wanted. You kissed him back, hands gently threading into his dark hair, your heart racing in a way that felt both terrifying and freeing.

When you finally broke apart, both of you were breathless, the stars above you like silent witnesses to something new and raw. Ace’s eyes were dark, but his smile was soft.

“You’re not alone,” he murmured, his thumb brushing against your cheek, a promise in the quiet of the night.

You didn’t say anything, just nodded, letting his words sink in.

There, under the stars, wrapped in each other’s arms, you found something unexpected. You weren’t sure where it would lead, or if it would survive the world that lay ahead. But for that moment, it was enough.

“I’ll see you again,” you whispered, a promise between the two of you.

He nodded, the faintest glimmer of hope in his eyes. “One day.”

——

Marineford roared like a monster of steel and flame. Cannons fired. Blood painted the sea red. Above it all stood your father, barking orders with magma on his fists.

You stood with the other officers, heart numb, until your eyes found him—Ace, shackled on the execution platform, chest heaving.

You couldn’t breathe.

You hadn’t meant to fall for him. But those nights thinking about his laugh, the way he listened—like you were more than your name…

He found you too. His gaze locked with yours, even from the distance. You couldn’t tell what emotion flickered behind his eyes. Recognition? Regret?

Was this the future he’d imagined for your reunion?

——

“You seem distracted.”

Your father’s voice cut through the storm like a knife.

You stiffened. “Just focused.”

His eyes narrowed. “Don’t lose yourself. This war is for justice. For order.”

You nodded, throat tight. He’d never ask if you were afraid. He’d only care that you stood tall.

But inside, you were already breaking.

“Father…” you tried, voice trembling. “What if there’s more to this than justice? What if—”

“SILENCE.”

His voice boomed like thunder. “There is no ‘what if.’ There is justice. There is crime. And there is fire to purge it.”

You turned away before he could see the doubt in your eyes.

——

When Luffy burst through the chaos, a part of you hoped he’d fail. Another part—the part that remembered moonlight and laughter—begged him to win.

And he did.

The chains broke. Ace stood free.

You ran before you could think.

He was there, coughing, dazed. You called his name. He turned.

“…You came.”

You nodded, swallowing the lump in your throat. “I couldn’t let you die.”

He smiled, pain flickering across his face. “You always were too good for them.”

You touched his arm. “We have to go.”

But fate doesn’t care about love.

——

Admiral Aikanu stepped into your path —raw, unrelenting, and burning with hate. His coat billowed like smoke in the wind, and steam hissed off his molten fists. You saw the rage in his eyes before he even spoke. It was the same rage you’d grown up under, now aimed straight at the man you loved.

“Portgas D. Ace,” your father snarled. “You dare escape judgment?”

Ace instinctively pushed you behind him. “Stay back,” he said, voice low and urgent. “Don’t let him touch you.”

But you stepped forward, shoulder brushing his. “I’m not hiding, Ace. Not from him. Not anymore.”

Akainu’s eyes burned into yours. “So. You’ve chosen your side.”

His voice cracked like fire through stone.

“I chose it long before today,” you said, lifting your chin. “You just never wanted to see it.”

“You would throw away justice for him?” His voice seethed, disgust curling in his lip.

“I’m not throwing anything away,” you said. “I’m claiming what’s mine. My life. My choice.”

Akainu’s fists ignited with fury. Lava spilled from his knuckles, hissing as it hit the ground. “Then you’re no daughter of mine.”

Something broke in your chest—but it wasn’t grief. It was the last thread of fear.

Ace’s voice cut through the tension. “She was never yours to shape into a weapon.”

Akainu turned his wrath back toward him. “You speak of freedom while hiding behind her skirts?”

And then he moved.

His magma-coated fist blazed through the air toward Ace. Time slowed.

And without thinking, without hesitation—

You stepped in front of him.

——

The pain was instant. A white-hot agony tore through your side as the lava smashed into you. You felt yourself being thrown back into Ace’s arms, the world tilting, fire blooming across your vision like a dying sun.

You were weightless and heavy at once.

“No!” Ace caught you, stumbling as he dropped to his knees. His hands trembled, cradling you like you were glass already cracking. “Y/N—no. No, no, no…”

Your blood was everywhere. On his arms, on your uniform, soaking into the dirt.

Your breathing came in ragged gasps, and yet—you smiled.

“Why…?” he choked out, eyes wild and wet. “Why would you do that?”

You reached up with shaking fingers to brush his cheek. “Because I love you.”

He held you tighter, pressing his forehead to yours. “You weren’t supposed to die for me. You were supposed to live. With me. You were supposed to live.”

Your voice was barely a whisper. “I know… I wanted that too.”

“Then why—why—”

“Because this was my choice,” you said, voice thin but steady. “Not my father’s. Not the Marines’. Mine.”

He shook his head violently, tears spilling freely. “You idiot… you beautiful, stubborn idiot…”

You tried to smile again, even as the cold crept in. “This… this is freedom. I finally got to decide what I’d give my life for.”

Ace was sobbing now, arms wrapped around you like he could hold your soul in. “No. No, don’t go—please, Y/N…”

You leaned closer, eyes fluttering shut. “Live, Ace. Please. Not for him. Not for Whitebeard. For you.”

Your fingers slipped from his, and the last thing you saw was the sky—vast, open, free.

And Ace—broken, holding you like the world had ended.

Behind him, your father stood still. Staring. Silent. Like even fire had forgotten how to burn.

——

They say Ace fought like hell that day.

They say he screamed your name like a prayer turned curse, tearing through enemy lines with fire that scorched even the sea-slick stone beneath his feet. Magma met flame, and still, he stood. Burning. Bleeding. Unstoppable.

They say it took Luffy, broken and battered, to drag him back—his brother’s arms locked around his chest as he screamed and kicked and sobbed. They say Ace didn’t want to run. That he wanted to die there, next to you.

But Luffy wouldn’t let him.

Not after you had already made that choice.

After the war, Ace disappeared from the public eye. But everyone in Whitebeard’s crew knew where he went.

The first place he returned to was your grave.

Buried quietly, anonymously, far from Marine monuments or war heroes. Your marine pin sat at the headstone, cleaned and polished. And on it was carved only what Ace asked for:

“She died free.”

He stayed there for hours the first time. Maybe days. No one knows what he said. But when he came back, something in him had changed.

He still laughed. Still drank. Still threw his arm around Thatch and teased Marco and got into brawls with the crew. But the light in his eyes had shifted.

He lived like a man with a fire he couldn’t put out.

Every time the Moby Dick passed through a new island, he asked for any news of the Marine girl with the burning eyes and the fireproof heart. Every time he met someone who believed they were born into chains, he told your story.

Not to make them mourn you.

But to remind them what choice could look like.

“Don’t live trying to prove yourself to people who will never see you,” he’d say. “She taught me that.”

He never said your name out loud. Not often. It hurt too much. But your memory followed him like a shadow—like the steady heat of a fire that never died.

Sometimes, when he thought no one was watching, he’d take the small locket he wore under his shirt—a single photo of you, tucked behind a scrap of your old Marine uniform—and whisper,

“I’m still burning for you.”

And he was.

Not for Whitebeard. Not for revenge.

For you.

Because if someone like you—born into war, raised under fire—could choose love in the end…

Then he could choose life.

Just as he was.

And he would live every day the way you wanted him to: