Chapter Text
Meeting his younger brother, Monkey D. Luffy, after two years of separation filled Portgas D. Ace's heart with happiness, affection and love. His usually sharp eyes unconsciously softened. Just thinking about Luffy brought his previous mood back.
Which became one of the tactics of the Shirohige crew to calm him down whenever he was about to be fully consumed by emotion or explode with anger.
The smile did not fade, especially when seeing the Vivre Card in his hand, causing the man to chuckle even more.
Anchored on the next island after Alabasta, more precisely Mock Town on Jaya Island, the starving Ace opened the door of the nearest bar and ordered a lot of food as usual. Not forgetting the complement, a mug of beer on his left side.
He filled himself up for almost an hour, ignoring the shocked stares of other customers at the sight of his portion of food. Ace's eyes then accidentally caught a group of men crowding around a table not far from him.
"-Beautiful~ Why are you here all alone-?"
"-play with us-"
"-Whoah, she's so pretty-!"
"-you see that? That's an Adam's apple, isn't it-?"
"-guy-?"
His eyebrows twitched, while the hero-complex in him roared to help the person being disturbed. Ace snorted, his mood for this meal was ruined just like that. Can't he eat in peace and quiet without the slightest crime, whatever it is, ruining his day?
There isn't even a picture of Luffy to placate his anger!
"-let's take him away-"
"-as a slave-"
"-we'll be rich-"
Ace stopped the perverted man's hand before it reached the figure sleeping on the table. The corner of his lips twitched, holding back annoyance and disbelief. This red-haired man... How could he be so open and vulnerable?!
Who would dare to fall asleep in a bar full of pirates?!
Does this man not have an ounce of self-preservation?!
"Hey! What the hell are you doing! Let go-!" Without hesitation, Ace summoned fire out of his hand that was still holding the other man, making the damn pervert scream in terror, reflexively letting go while jumping up and down ridiculously.
"H-he's the F-F-Fist-!"
"His b-bounty-!" Black eyes sharpened, daring the other man to continue, which was met with a terrified shriek and a quick escape.
Snorting, Ace's eyes now turned to the other figure who was still sleeping soundly.
Even the earlier commotion didn't disturb his sleep? Wow, that's a better record than the time he fell asleep in the middle of a battle due to his narcolepsy.
"Oi, red head bastard. Wake up," Ace commanded, already kindly waking up the other so they wouldn't be disturbed again for falling asleep.
The long-haired redhead woke up slowly. One of his soft-looking hands had moved to rub his eyes. There was a strange little murmur, before the redhead stretched his arms up.
It was as if he had just woken up in the morning on his soft bed, wtf.
"Hey, don't you have-" Instantly, Ace's tongue stopped his words when the redhead's face turned towards him.
Although his eyes still looked droopy from sleepiness, it didn't cover the jewel-like sheen that was reddish-brown in color. Which seemed to glow in the pool of tears. His skin was alabaster pale, contrasting with the bright red hair, matching his eyebrows as well as his delicate eyelashes. A small nose and thin lips with a light pout.
... beautiful?
Shit.
Shit.
SHIT.
SHIT!
As if not hearing Ace's heartbeat that suddenly sounded so fast and loud, the red-haired youth smiled a polite, sleepy little smile. While tilting his head cutely, a few gaping observers took a deep breath.
"Thank you for helping me earlier, Pirate-san." His voice...
...
.... could ekismo's masculine sound so soft and sound as if it was laced with chocolate?
(/PLAK.)
Ace slapped himself mentally.
Waking up from his strange reverie, Ace, who didn't realize how red his cheeks were now could only clear his throat. Re-finding his voice that had momentarily disappeared somewhere.
He averted his eyes. Feeling unable to stare at this strange beauty in front of him.
"Y-your welcome. I-it's also your fault! Why are you sleeping in a pirate bar, man?! If you want to sleep well, f-find a hote-!"
OI.
Did he just speak at length and stutter?
The redhead seemed to consider Ace's words before humming.
"I don't have any money." The spontaneous answer made the D. descendant's eyebrows twitch.
"But-" a pale, frail hand moved towards his pocket, pulling out a round object half the size of a palm that glittered with a familiar yellow light...
"-I have this? However, everyone only accepts Berry..." The redhead gave a small smile. Dare Ace say, mischief shone indulgently in his eyes like a jewel.
"What about this? I am poor?"
... with gold on your hand?
YOU'RE POOR?
exCuSe mE WhAt tHe fUcK-?
Stunned, he heard the red-haired man chuckle. His heart skipped a beat while his eyebrows twitched in annoyance.
"...You can change it to Berry, you know?" The black-haired man explained. Successfully making his voice sound skeptical and empty.
The redhead hummed for a moment, before shrugging his shoulders unconcernedly.
"I'm too lazy."
Twitch.
That beautiful, yet somewhat felt like a scam, face looked up. Staring at Ace as if asking for his sympathy with a sad frown on his face.
"Can you do me a favor, Pirate-san?"
Twitch.
Reluctant and wanting to get things over with quickly so he could sleep, Ace nodded.
The redhead smiled widely, so sweet and bright. Yet at the same time, it evoked a sense of alarm and a sudden beat in his heart that betrayed that feeling.
Shit.
What was going on with him?
"Thank you umm?"
"-Ace." For some reason, the smile became even sweeter.
Twitch.
"Thank you, Ace-san." The man with reddish-brown eyes then got up from his seat. The crew member of Shirohige blinked, realizing that the man in front of him only reached his nose. Requiring that face to look up in order to look directly into Ace's eyes.
Huh... cute-
A gentle and smooth hand with no visible marks or scars, as if he had never worked in his life, stretched out.
The smile is still on his face, but now it looks more radiant.
(-which he unconsciously misses-)
"My name is Cale."
He accepted the hand.
Little did Ace know, this man would be the cause of his rapid aging due to stress.
(-and the feeling of happiness in his heart-NO. D-damnit....)
.
.
.
[A few weeks later...]
And this time, he found that slacker bastard up a tree!
Looking very comfortable lying face down on the cold branches, and even snoring lightly!
He.Doesn't.Want.to.Worry!
Okay?
Even though he was on his way to catch Teach! He shouldn’t be distracted by anything and focus on his mission. Even the calls of Marco and the rest of the Shirohige crew were ignored.
But still, that damn redhead wouldn't stop worrying him!
Time and time again Ace tried to ignore it. And they always meet at weird times! Like... like... like when this redhead was particularly troublesome and problematic!
By his laziness!
Damn it! How did he survive with such a lazy nature all this time anyway?!
Seemingly aware of his presence, one of those jeweled reddish-brown eyes blinked at him. He began to tilt his head on the arm cushion, making his reddish bangs fall down to frame the pretty-handsome face of the young man in front of him.
....
AND!
That face was a mistake! Why did he have to look so pretty while grinning sleepily at him-?!
"Ace..."
"SHUT THE FUCK UP! YOU'RE NOT PRETTY, DAMN IT!"
Silence engulfed them.
Realizing what had been said, Ace trembled where he stood. Hoping the ground would drown him now. Rather than suffer the blatant teasing of his Shirohige family if they found out!
"...I asked for food, not compliments. But, thank you. You're handsome too."
His face turned bright red.
SHIT!
Portgas D. Ace didn't sign up to fall in love.
And his worst case is with a slacker human named Cale Henituse!
Ace's frustrated screams went hand in hand with Cale's snickers.
