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shirohige-pirates · 3 months

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Just Like Fire

CisFem Reader x Portgas D. Ace

CW: angst, language, erotic, violence, serial killer, stalking, poisoning, over-bearing controlling parents, attempted forced marriage, possible dub-con, Munchausen by proxy (aka Factitious Disorder), wildly cute and fluffy despite the warnings. 18+ only

Summary: You're Sabo's biological sister in this AU. After college you moved in with your dear brother and his two sworn brothers in order to avoid going back home. You and Sabo despise your family equally.

Tags: @fiestynatureweeb @nalleanna @airwolf92 @art3misa635 @sleepisfortheweakpooh

Chapter 21: The Rule

Wings spread wide, the flames had dissipated and faded away. You were massive. Larger than you even thought you could’ve been. Big enough to carry several people on your back. Ace was small on the ground, but not so small that you didn’t know it was him.

His fire. His sun.

Your gaze shifts at the thought and you see the sun rising into the sky. Some part of your body twitches, as though at this size you could make the flight. You hear Ace yell your name, and feel his hands grab the soft feathers he could reach.

“Change back!” He’s seems almost ready to climb you, if he has to, to be heard. “CHANGE BACK!”

You lean down and step back, gently bonking him with your cheek. Gentle as you are with the action he grunts, arms grabbing onto your face to keep himself upright.

“Don’t fly away.” The words are softer, but desperate. There’s a fear in them, in his fingers, that you’d never felt before. You weren’t sure if it was because you’d flown into his fire, or because he could sense your desire to fly into the very sun.

You’re afraid to talk in this form, worried that a whisper would leave your mouth like some rumbling mountain. You’re certain you’re not quite that big, but everything is sharper, closer, farther away, muted, brighter. It’s hard to know what part of it all that you’re actually interacting with.

You remember Marco’s words, and focus on the parts of yourself that you know well. Hands, fingers, the curve of your elbow into your forearm. All the small details that few others would know or pay attention to, and slowly you shrink, and shift.

Ace’s arms around your face turn into arms around your body. He’s not holding onto you tightly, but he makes no move to step back as you change, as though you would slip away into pieces of ash if he let go entirely.

“Sorry,” you say quietly, and Ace’s arms tighten around you.

“You’re okay.” He says softly, words disappearing into your hair. “It’s okay.” You can feel his heart thundering in his chest, his fingers trembling against you, and his warm breath sinking into your hair.

“I scared you.”

“You terrified me.” He corrects, his grip loosening a little as a nervous sound escapes him. “I thought I…” His body trembles, and you remember Sabo’s words. About Ace having his own demons. Between his curse and his father, it wasn’t hard to know what he was thinking.

Especially since you’d just got done literally flying into his flames.

“… You’re not cursed to hurt everyone you love.” You say quietly, arms returning the trembling embrace. “And you apparently can’t hurt me at all.”

You lean back a little to give him a smile, and he tries to return it.

“What happened?”

You open your mouth, close it, and then shake your head. “I don’t know. It was like staring into the sun, and some part of me just took over.”

“… Some part of you took over… and flew you into my fire?”

“Sun.” You correct. “I… we?… Thought it was a sun.” You look at your hands for a moment before you leaned into him, setting your head against his chest. “All I could think was that the sun was full of peace, and life, and safety. That I needed to be in it.”

“… We?” He questions, stepping back and looking into your eyes.

You nod. “It’s… it’s not over-bearing, or it wasn’t, but there’s something else.” Your brows furrow and your face scrunches up in thought. “Like an instinct. A driving force you have to be very conscious of to override. When people run upstairs in fear because up in a tree is safe, so up in a building is too, but if you stop and think about it, it’s a bad idea for certain situations.”

Ace grins. “Like being chased by a murderer.”

You laugh. “Yeah! Not a situation where many people stop and think before panic-dashing upstairs.”

“Or into a ball of fire.”

You flinch a bit and lean into him again, giving him a hug. “I am really sorry-.”

“It’s alright.” He interrupts, fingers in your hair and against the small of your back. “Now that we know we can be careful about it.”

“Should probably tell Marco.” You mutter, letting your cheek smush against him and enjoying the warmth.

“I can let him know Monday,” Ace offers, hands moving against you soothingly. “Let’s get the rest of the stuff in the truck and head back.” He kisses the top of your head. “You can rest on the way back as long as you keep me company for naps when we get home.”

“Rest? Why would I-?” Your sentence breaks as exhaustion buckles you. If not for Ace you would’ve just folded into the grass. “What?”

“Breakthroughs with curses are always exhausting.” Ace says with a soft chuckle, lifting you up easily and getting you situated in the passenger seat of the truck. “You might have been energized by my fire, but you turned into a massive bird, palomita, and that takes a lot of energy.”

He gives you a crooked, understanding smile as your eyes droop against your will. “We need to build up your stamina.”

“Yeah… I…” You mutter, trying to voice your agreement, before everything goes dark and exhaustion pulls you into a deep sleep.

A deep enough sleep you don’t wake as Ace gets the last few heavy items loaded into the truck, and you don’t wake as his fingers slip through yours, but the warmth soothes your dreams.

Dreams of flying. White feather glimmering with rainbows at their edges from the sun that warmed you. A song that rang clear and multi-layered in the open air. A sound that banished… something. Something that befouled the edges of your dream, but the sound pushed it back.

No.

Pulled it in.

The taint was discomforting in its color, in its sensation. Thick and heavy in your lungs, full of needles and searing pain in your muscles. It soaked into you as the world became healthier.

Despite how it felt like sludge against your tongue, you weren’t afraid of it. It was your nature to take in all the ichor and illness into yourself. You could survive it. You survived decades of it. This was nothing. This was temporary.

As so you flew up, and up, and ever upward in your dream until you and all the cruelties that were bound to your bones were consumed by the sun. Fire burned away everything that clung to you, but it was little more than soap and water against your skin, leaving you refreshed.

Refreshed enough you managed to open your eyes.

You were warm, and comfortable. Really warm. There was a steady rhythm that was already working with the warmth to lull you back to sleep, but you managed to open your eyes enough to take in your surroundings.

The blanket was pulled up to your shoulders, and you could see Sabo in a chair across from you. He was reading a book quietly, and looked up to see you looking at him. He put one gloved finger to his lips, smiling in a way that made you wonder why he looked so cat-like.

The soft sound of snoring caught your attention as you rose ever so slightly up and back down.

Realization sank in before you even looked to be sure, but you were curled up in Ace’s lap while he was laid out on the recliner. His hands were very carefully placed so he could keep you comfortable without being untoward.

“He wouldn’t go into your room or his,” Sabo begins, voice barely above a whisper. “Didn’t want to wake you or worry you, but wanted to nap with you.” He closes his book and smiles brightly. “This was the compromise.”

Your brother’s explanation, and his very existence honestly, were just making you more and more embarrassed, but you were also entirely too comfortable to want to move. Instead you reached up and lifted Ace’s hat, which was barely on his head as it was, and set it over your own face.

You could hear Sabo chuckle quietly as he got up. The soft click of shoes against the floor was the only indication he was drawing nearer. His voice was even softer than before, but you heard him loud and clear.

“There’s a rule about hats, little sister.” He says in a teasing tone before leaving the room entirely.

You pull the hat down a little harder, and can tell that Ace is awake.

“I can feel you smiling.” You grumble in your current flustered state.

“Lots ta’ smile about.” He replies quietly, moving just enough to hug you close for a moment.

“… What’s the hat rule?”

“Mm, who knows?” He muses, the delight apparent in his voice. “Wanna nap a little longer? It’s barely evening.”

“Is there… is there a time element to the hat rule?” You mutter and feel Ace trying desperately to suppress a laugh.

“There isn’t, mi luz.” He grins as you look up at him and kisses your forehead. “The rule’s effect is instantaneous.”

You relax, letting yourself get comfortable again before you say, very slowly, and as threateningly as you can. “So you do know what the hat rule is.”

The nervous chuckle that escapes Ace feels like a tiny victory as the two of you doze back into another nap. It’s not just his body heat that makes it easy to fall asleep around him, but it’s also how comfortable he makes you feel.

After all, even you have heard of the hat rule.

#just like fire #portgas d ace #x reader #portgas d ace x reader #reader insert

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shirohige-pirates · 24 days

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Just Like Fire

CisFem Reader x Portgas D. Ace

Tags: @fiestynatureweeb @nalleanna @airwolf92 @art3misa635 @sleepisfortheweakpooh @ghostfacefricker6969 @harahettania @mfreedomstuff

Chapter 22: 3 to 1

When you and Ace arrived at the All Blue it was still busy. You were there about ten minutes before closing and while no new customers were coming in, at least half the tables were still occupied. A severe-looking man with cropped green hair had been standing guard at the front doors, but he’d let you and Ace through.

“Zoro turns away customers for Sanji when the place gets busy to this point. Business is good, but getting your staff home at a decent hour is more important, at least to Lyn and Sanji.” Ace says as the two of you work your way through the restaurant to the bar.

The bartender that Ace had pointed out the last time gives you both a smile. “Ace, are you here to help close?” She asks and he nods.

“Sabo’s sister needed to talk to Sanji about something, so we volunteered to help free up some time for him, what can we do to help?”

“Ah, if you can get the tables and booths cleaned up that are empty, that’d help. Zoro can’t help until we can lock up, and we’re going to be a bit with the last few tables tonight.” She says, and looks toward you. “I’m Lyn.” She reaches out a hand, shaking yours.

“Quill,” you say. “Sabo’s mysterious sister.”

“Ever worked in a restaurant?” Lyn prompts, and you can tell from her grin she’s expecting you to say no before you even say it.

“Ah, no.”

Her grin breaks into a full smile. “It’s okay, there’s plenty of easy stuff to do. Our dishwasher could probably use an extra set of hands, how’re your shoes?”

“My shoes?” You question looking down. “I’ve got the sneakers I wore camping earlier on.”

“That’s good, better’n being in heels. I’ll introduce you, don’t worry, Duval’s bad at winking, but if you can help him stack trays he can get the dishes washed faster.” Lyn nods for you to follow her, lifting a section of the bar and having you come back.

The kitchen is brighter than the front of the house, and there’s almost eight other people back there. One of them is a tall man who would probably tower over Ace, with blond hair and a smile that seems a bit strained. Lyn introduced the two of you and had Duval show you how to stack trays so you could help him out.

It wasn’t difficult work, but it was more physical than you were used to. Grateful for your nap earlier and the fact that you weren’t fighting against your mother’s “medicine” anymore, you managed to be more of a help than hindrance; Duval only had to fix a couple of your trays.

Once the last of the customers are gone and the place is nearly closed up and cleaned, you, Ace, Lyn, and Sanji are sitting in a back booth while the last couple of employees finish up and leave.

“Luffy said something about you needing to ask about my brothers,” Sanji says, an apologetic look on his face. “He’s never been one for details, so I don’t know why you wanted to talk about them, but if there’s anything I can do to help you, it would be my pleasure.”

You smile, and then bite your lip a little. You make a few more gestures before Ace takes your hand in his and gives you a reassuring squeeze.

“I’m… technically, betrothed to Ichiji.” You finally manage to say and watch as both Lyn and Sanji’s eyes go wide and their jaws go slack. “Aside from the obvious fact that I don’t want to marry him, I’ve also recently learned that I am, in fact, cursed.”

Lyn’s mouth closes, but Sanji’s goes almost wider, he murmurs a swear under his breath in a foreign language and you nearly snort.

“My parents don’t know yet, and I don’t know what curse I have either,” you continue. “At least not yet, but my parents are my problem, and the details of my curse aren’t something I can control. What I need to know, what I was hoping you could tell me, was that if I tell Ichiji I’m cursed, what’s he possibly going to do?”

Sanji stares blankly for a moment, and then opens and closes his mouth a couple times before closing it and furrowing his brows. He’s quiet as he takes out a cigarette and lights it, barely inhaling before billowing smoker into the ceiling.

“Ichiji won’t marry someone who’s cursed.” He says flatly, but despite his words it doesn’t look like he’s thrilled about whatever else is on his mind. “What he’ll do in reaction is hard to say. He could lose his cool the moment you tell him, or he could decide he simply doesn’t care. The real problem would be the old man.

“Judge could make the whole thing a spectacle.” Sanji continues. “I don’t think he’d get the Celestials involved, but he could ask for heavy restitution from your family.” He pauses, shock crossing his face for a second before he takes another drag. “Er, if I can ask, how’d you learn you were cursed so late in life?”

“Oh, well… um. It seems my mother has been poisoning me most of my life,” you admit quietly. “And I think my curse saved me, but I was so weak I couldn’t do anything else with it.”

“Your mother did what?” Lyn questions before putting her hands over her mouth. “I’m sorry, I just, that’s horrible.”

“Haaa… yeah, and it’s okay. I mean, it’s not okay what she did, but I mean, you don’t have to apologize.” You clarify.

“Well, if that’s the case I can’t imagine you’ll be upset if Judge goes for your family then.” He says with a shrug. “I could be there when you meet with Ichiji, if you want? I might be disowned, but I’m not disavowed, he can’t lash out at me without any repercussions.”

You shake your head. “I appreciate the offer, but I don’t think he’s been particularly invested in any of this himself. He’s had a sense about Ace and I before I did, but even that didn’t bother him. He might be relieved, honestly.”

Sanji shakes his head. “No, relief isn’t really something he can feel. But you’re right, he might just not care.”

“The only thing that leaves then, is telling my parents.” You say, letting out a long slow breath and leaning your head on Ace’s shoulder.

“When are you meeting with Ichiji?” Sanji prompts and you look at your phone.

“Six hours? We’re supposed to meet for a brunch.” You answer.

“Ask him how far he had to travel,” Sanji says. “If he’s not in town for business and has been traveling just to meet with you, pay for that brunch yourself.” He asserts. “Even if he has been in town for business, you should still probably do that.”

“Will that help keep him calm?” You question, lifting your head off Ace’s shoulder.

Sanji nods. “Be extra polite.” He shudders. “Stoke his ego if you can manage it. He and the others are real bastards about rights versus commoners. I maintained my rights even though I didn’t want them because the Government stepped in, but with a curse… tch.”

“He’ll know that the government will bury my ties to my family.” You admit. “Yeah, I was already thinking about that. Not that it’ll make any difference if reparations are demanded.”

“You’re still royalty?” Ace questions, looking at Sanji.

Sanji shakes his head. “I sold my rights to fund this place.” He says. “But even with my rights sold my blood’s still legitimate. Ichiji and the others can’t treat me like a commoner without repercussions. Honestly, it might be the only reason the restaurant’s never been targeted.”

“But, two more months and it won’t matter.”

“Huh?” You and Ace make the same sound at the same time and Lyn and Sanji both smile.

“Germa’s only in town for another two months. With all the other islands and seas, they’ll probably never end up back on this island again.” He explains. “After that it won’t matter what my brothers think, they’ll be too far away to do anything about it.”

Ace sinks back into the booth, relaxing. “You scared me, I thought you two were going to sell the place and go elope or something.”

Lyn laughs. “We promise we’re not going to sell this place any time soon.”

“Noticing a distinct lack of promising to not elope.” You say, raising your brows a little and smiling.

Both of them flush and Sanji clears his throat. “Nami-swan and Robin-chan wouldn’t forgive us.” He insists, and Lyn nods.

“We don’t have plans to elope, but if we have to.” She lets the thought hang and you nod in understanding.

“Oh, uh, are you two busy on the fifteenth?” You question, shifting the conversation. “I figure the least I can do for all your help is invite you to enjoy delicious food with us as the 1st division celebrates my birthday. Though I suppose I could volunteer to help with closing a couple more times.”

“You’re welcome to help out here whenever you want, but it’s certainly not required. We’re both happy to have been able to help.” Lyn assures you.

“I’ll be happy to bring a large order of appetizers,” Sanji says, a bright smile on his face. “It’s been a while since I cooked for them.”

Ace puts his arms up in celebration. “I’ll let Thatch know, and he can work out the details with you.” Ace hugs you, his cheek pressed to yours. “Your first birthday here and we’re all gonna be so blessed.”

You could feel your face go hot at the exuberant display of affection, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. “You sound like Luffy.” You tease.

“Oh, we’re not going to be able to tell him about this. He’ll whine constantly for the next two weeks and then he won’t sleep the night before.” Ace sighs, nuzzling his head into the crook of your neck, not releasing his hug.

“A-Ace.” You stammer, you can feel the familiar sensation from before and you’re worried you’re going to set Sanji’s booth on fire.

Ace looks up and into your eyes and smiles as he lets go. “Oops.” He looks just about ready to lean in and kiss you, and you’re torn between wanting to let him, and not wanting to do so in front of others just yet.

“Look at you, positively smitten.” Lyn says, eyes on Ace. “If I remember correctly, you were in here just a few months ago -.”

“S-saying absolutely nothing interestin’!” Ace exclaims, giving you a little space without leaping fully to the other side of the seat.

“Ah, true. True.” She agrees with a grin. “I’m sure I have you mistaken with someone else who was ready to swear off all manner of love and dating. Dramatically convinced that there wasn’t any one in this whole wide world that was going to be able to-.”

“Lyn, mercy, please.” Ace begs.

You can feel the heat rolling off him as you turn your head, giving Ace a pointed stare while Lyn hums softly in amusement. To Ace’s credit he looked caught somewhere between embarrassed and adorable. He put his arms in front of his face to shield himself from the inquiring look you were giving him, and so you moved just a little bit closer.

“Don’t ignite.” You admonish, poking his side playfully and causing him to yelp.

“You’re in my restaurant,” Sanji starts, trying to cover the pink on his own face. “And I feel like I’m the one intruding.”

“Ah, ha ha, sorry about that.” You lean away from Ace. “With, with that we should probably get going. We’ve kept you both as it is.” You admit, scooting out of the booth.

Lyn hands you a card after she gets up. “The numbers for here, and both our personal cells.” She explains.

“If things go bad with Ichiji, let us know.” Sanji clarifies. “I can’t promise I’ll be able to do much, but I don’t want anyone in that family thinking they can do whatever they want.”

“Appreciated.” You tuck the card away, hoping that things go smoothly. You’re certain that Sabo would break the law without a second thought if Ichiji did anything, and you know Ace would too. There were too many people willing to step up for you, and considering the complications of nobility in relation to the laws, you were more worried for others than yourself.

#just like fire #portgas d ace #x reader #portgas d ace x reader #reader insert

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