Sparks Between The Stacks. || Portgas D. Ace x Reader.
Summary: After a grueling twenty-four-hour shift, Ace expected nothing more than another typical community outreach event at the local library. He certainly didn't expect to walk through the doors anticipating a sweet old lady, only to find you instead - and suddenly forget why he'd been dreading it in the first place. Maybe some stories are worth staying awake for.
Tags: modern!au, firefighter!ace x librarian reader, meet-cute, love at first sight, tooth rotting fluff, comedy (tried to be funny guys lol)
Wordcount: 3.6k
A/N: based on this request!! dear anon, i hope you like this, i certainly had so much fun writing it!! the idea was absolutely adorable so i hope i did it justice <33 as always, pls like, reblog and comment! divider credits go to @cursed-carmine <33 (also please read until the very end, i promise y'all won't be disappointed)
The acrid scent of smoke and charred timber still clung to Ace's skin, a stubborn reminder of a twenty-four-hour shift that had felt more like an entire week. His muscles were humming with a deep, bone-weary fatigue, the kind that settled into the marrow and made every movement of his feel as though he were pushing through waist-deep water. The rumble of the firetruck beneath him was a low vibration that almost lulled him into a dangerous drowse.
He shifted his grip on the steering wheel, his knuckles white and bruised from God knows where, while the phone was wedged between his shoulder and his ear.
"I'm telling you, Sabo, it's a scam," Ace grumbled. His voice was raspy from the smoke and from shouting various orders. "Marco didn't even ask me. He just… volunteered me. 'Ace, you're great with people, do the library story hour. A young firefighter is a way better hit for those kids than us old folks, yoi' he says. Like I'm some kind of circus act or something."
On the other end of the line, Sabo's laugh was bright and far too energetic for the hour. "Oh, come on, Ace. It's community outreach. Besides, you love kids. You're amazing with them. You're just grumpy because you haven't had a nap in like two days."
"The kids aren't the problem. I don't mind them," Ace shot back, though a small, tired smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. He thought of Otama, the little girl who had taken an immediate and very obvious liking to him; it was proof of how easily children gravitated towards him. "It's the principle of the thing, okay? And the setting. I can already see it: some sweet, ancient librarian who's probably been doing story hour since before I was born. She'll probably try to feed me hard candies and tell me to keep my voice down while I'm just trying to explain how a hydrant works. It's going to be an endurance test to see how long I can stay polite."
His brother chuckled teasingly. "Just behave yourself. Try not to fall asleep mid-sentence, and for the love of everything, don't accidentally do something inappropriate. Or set any books on fire."
"I think you forget that I'm the one who fights fires, not sets them."
"Mhm, sure. I'll see you later."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever," Ace muttered, hanging up the phone.
He pulled the massive red truck into the library's designated parking zone, the engine letting out one final, heavy sigh as he cut the power. For a moment, he just sat there in the sudden silence, leaning his head back against the seat. Slowly closing his eyes, already imagining the dusty aisles and the scent of mothballs and old parchment. He could almost see the elderly woman in a floral cardigan waiting for him with a stern look and a small, wooden pointer.
He sighed again, rubbed his face with his palms, and finally stepped out into the crisp morning air.
The library was a quaint building, a blend of old stone and modern glass that felt a little out of place in the bustling part of the town. As Ace pushed open the heavy oak doors, he was instantly struck by an almost suffocating quiet. It smelled of vanilla, old paper, and a hint of fresh coffee - a scent that was unexpectedly inviting.
He followed the signs toward the children's wing, his heavy boots thudding softly on the carpeted floor. For a second he felt bad because he hadn't cleaned them properly, but he was already mentally preparing his "polite professional" face, the one he used for city council meetings - blegh! - and awards ceremonies, when he rounded the corner into the reading nook.
And immediately stopped dead in his tracks.
There was no elderly woman in a floral cardigan.
Instead, you were standing in the center of a circle of very eager children, holding up a colorful picture book in your hands. You were young, wearing a soft sweater that looked cozy and a pair of glasses that perched precariously on the bridge of your nose. You were laughing at something one of the children had said, a sound that was light and melodic, cutting through the quiet of the library like a sunbeam.
You see, Ace always prided himself as a man who barely wavered when it came to beautiful women. Sure, he flirted a lot and definitely wasn't a prude by any means, but women were just… women. He had far too little time for them anyway, prioritizing his job and family above all else.
But right now, Ace could practically feel the air leaving his lungs. You were beautiful, that alone was obvious, but it wasn't even just that; it was the warm and genuine kind energy you radiated that felt like a physical pull, and oh was he getting pulled in. Hard. He realized he had stood there for a second too long, completely frozen in the doorway, because the very next second, you looked up and noticed the towering figure in the turnout gear.
Your expression shifted from amusement to surprise, and then to a welcoming smile that made Ace's heart do a clumsy, erratic leap against his ribs.
"You must be the firefighter we've been waiting for!" you exclaimed, your voice clear and friendly. You stepped toward him and extended a hand. "I'm Y/N. I've been looking forward to this all week. The kids are absolutely dying to meet a real hero."
Ace blinked, his usual confidence momentarily deserted. He looked down at your hand, then back up at your face, feeling a sudden, traitorous flush creep up his neck. For a heartbeat his mind scrambled for the right thing to say and came up empty, leaving only an awkward little laugh. But luckily he recovered quickly, sliding back into his natural charm, though he couldn't quite smooth over the flustered edge from his voice.
"Uh, yeah. Ace. I'm Ace… that- that's me?" he managed, shaking your hand. It came out more like a question than a statement, and the way you chuckled at that told him you found that quite amusing, but Ace was already occupied with another thing: your hand. Specifically your small hand in his big one. Your grip was soft and your skin was slightly colder than average, and the brief contact sent a jolt of electricity straight up his arm.
Now that he thought about it, he was incredibly glad he'd gone alone. His brothers would never let him hear the end of it, not when he was currently busy making a complete fool of himself in front of you.
Meanwhile, you beamed at him, seemingly unaware of the internal chaos you had just sparked inside of him. "It's great to meet you, Ace. We're all set. If you're ready, your "audience" is getting a little restless."
Ace looked over at the children, the original reason he was even here to begin with. They were staring right at him with wide, dinner-plate eyes, specifically gazing at his gear and his helmet. He felt a sudden shift in his mood. He was still tired, painfully so, but the sight of their curiosity sparked something in him.
For the next hour, Ace forgot his own exhaustion. He forgot about his earlier annoyance at Marco and his grumbling about the commute. He sat on the floor with the children, his tall frame dwarfed by the colorful beanbags and oversized picture books.
And God was he a natural. Instead of talking down to them, he treated their questions fairly and always gave them a genuine answer. When a small girl asked him if women could be firefighters too, the boys behind her snickered. Ace didn't laugh. He crouched down to her level, his expression dead serious.
"Absolutely," he said quietly. "Some of the best firefighters are women. You just have to be brave, work hard, and never let anyone tell you you can't do it."
The girl's eyes went wide. "Really?"
"Really." He held up his hand for a high-five. "And if anyone says otherwise, you send them my way."
The girls all gasped, leaning closer with excited grins.
He then spent the next thirty minutes showing off his gear. He let them touch the heavy fabric of his jacket, explaining how it protected him from the heat. A little girl got to try on his helmet, which was so large it completely swallowed her head, sliding down to cover her eyes. The room erupted in giggles, and Ace laughed with them, a sound that made you, who was quietly watching from the sidelines, immediately join in.
You were leaning against a bookshelf with your chin resting in your hand, just observing him. To be honest, you had expected a professional, perhaps a bit stiff, but Ace was different. Not only was he incredibly patient and playful, he also had this way of making every single child feel like they were the most important person in the room. You watched the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled and the way he handled the children like he had known them since forever.
And yes, it also didn't help that he was handsome. In fact, that was probably an understatement. He had tan, freckled skin and a grin that seemed permanently etched onto his face. Black hair, messy and untamed, fell across his forehead, and his eyes held a spark of mischief that made him look like he was always one step away from causing trouble. He wore his firefighter gear like it was second nature, the suspenders loose over a fitted white tee, sleeves rolled up to reveal arms lined with lean muscle and a tattoo.
You cleared your throat, pulling yourself back down to earth at just the right moment. Ace was currently demonstrating his breathing mask.
"Now, listen up," Ace said in a commanding yet kind tone. "Sometimes, when we come into a building, we wear these masks. They make us sound a bit like Darth Vader, and they cover our entire faces. But I want you to know that under that mask, there's just a person who wants to help you, okay? So if you ever see someone in a mask, don't be scared. Just remember it's us and that we are here to keep you safe."
He put the mask on, making a few exaggerated Darth Vader noises that had the kids shrieking with laughter, before pulling it back off with a wink.
You found yourself smiling, your heart fluttering in a way that had nothing to do with the children. There was something incredibly endearing about the contrast between his slightly rugged exterior and the soft way he interacted with the kids.
However, Ace wouldn't be Ace if there wasn't at least one thing going wrong.
A small girl with pigtails raised her hand, asking him in a tiny and curious voice: "Mr. Ace? Do firefighters really slide down the poles like in the movies?"
Ace leaned back, his expression thoughtful. "That's a great question. Actually, we usually do-"
And then, it happened.
Mid-sentence, Ace's head tilted. His eyes fluttered shut and his chin sank toward his chest. Silence fell over the nook.
The children stopped laughing. They stared at him, frozen, unsure of what to do. The little girl with pigtails leaned forward with wide eyes.
"Is he… is he dead?" she whispered.
The other children quickly began to panic. A few of them started to whimper, thinking their beloved "hero" had suddenly succumbed to some invisible force.
You reacted instantly. Stepping forward with a small smile on your lips to reassure the kids everything was fine, you knelt beside him, reaching out to gently shake his shoulder.
"Ace," you whispered, your voice a soft tease. "Wake up, sleepyhead. You haven't answered the question yet."
Ace jolted awake with a loud snort. His eyes snapped open and he looked around wildly for a second, completely disoriented, before realizing where he was. He saw the terrified faces of the children and the shimmering amusement in your eyes.
A deep, crimson flush erupted across his cheeks. He blinked and cleared his throat, trying to regain his dignity. Damned be his narcolepsy.
"Uh, right. T-the pole," he mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yes, we do use it. But not nearly as much as in the movies."
The children let out a few disappointed sighs at that answer, but it was also obvious they were relieved and amused that he was back from the dead. And as the session wound down, Ace found himself in another predicament.
The library had provided a tray of cookies for the children. As Ace talked, the kids began to offer him their treats.
"Here, Mr. Ace! Have my chocolate chip!"
"I have a sugar cookie! You need it more because you're so tired."
Ace, being too polite to refuse a child's offering - and let's be honest, he would also never say no to free food - began to eat. One cookie. Then two. Then five. By the time the parents started arriving to pick up their children, Ace had unknowingly consumed nearly a dozen cookies. He sat there, leaning against a beanbag, feeling a sudden and massive sugar crash hitting him. He was so full of sweets, his mind beginning to float in a sugary haze.
As the last child waved goodbye, the room returned to its natural, quiet state, typical for a library. Only the two of you were now left in the reading nook.
"Well," you said, stepping toward him. "I think that went over wonderfully. You were a total hit, Ace."
He stood up, stretching his arms over his head with a loud groan. His expression was softer now as he looked at you now that the audience was wrong. "Thanks. They're good kids. A bit loud, but good."
"I can tell you enjoyed it," you teased, gesturing toward the empty cookie try. "Even if you did try to eat the entire supply of treats."
Ace looked at the tray and then back at you, a sheepish grin crossing his handsome face. "They kept giving them to me! I couldn't just say no to a four-year-old. That's against firefighter code."
You laughed, the sound so light, so genuine that he felt his heart skip a beat. "I'm sure it is."
For the next twenty minutes, the two of you worked together to tidy up. You put away the colorful mats, and he helped you stack the chairs, his large hands making the task effortless. You two talked endlessly, the conversation flowing so easily and naturally it felt as if you had known each other for ages. You talked about your jobs, and you explained your love for literature and the piece of the library, and he told you about the adrenaline of the sirens and the satisfaction of a successful rescue.
"Why did you choose it?" you asked, leaning against a table as you sorted through a pile of glittery craft paper. "The firefighting I mean. It seems… dangerous."
Ace paused, his gaze drifting toward the window. "I just like helping people. I've always liked the idea of being the one who runs in when everyone else is running out. Plus," he added with a small, dry chuckle, "I've always been a bit of a pyro. My brothers used to tell me I was a disaster waiting to happen, so I figured it was better to use that trait for something useful."
You smiled, finding his honesty refreshing. "You did the right thing. It suits you. You have a very… grounding presence, Ace."
He looked at you then, his dark eyes searching yours. The air between you thickened, and the silence became heavy with an unspoken tension neither of you could deny anymore. The flirtation had been subtle, a dance of lingering glances and accidental brushes of the skin, but it was there.
"You know," you said, tilting your head. "I have to say, you do look very good in my library, but you don't seem like much of a reader."
Ace scoffed, though there was no heat in it. "Hey, I read! I read… manuals. And the occasional comic."
You let out a soft giggle. "A comic is good, don't get me wrong, but it's not a real book, so it doesn't count-"
"Who decided that?"
"I did," you smirked, then continued, "you need something with a bit more… soul." You reached over to a nearby display and pulled out a slim volume with a weathered cover. "Try this. It's a collection of short stories about travel and self-discovery. I think you'd like it. It's about finding home in unexpected giggles."
Ace took the brush, and the movement made his fingers graze against yours. The contact was brief, but it sent a familiar jolt through him. He looked at the cover, then back at you.
"I'll read it," he promised, his voice dropping to a low rumble that sounded a little bit too intimate. "I swear. I'll actually read the whole thing."
"I'll hold you to that," you replied, your gaze lingering on his lips.
The moment had reached its peak. Ace knew that if he walked out the door now, he might not find the courage to come back. He turned toward the door, took two steps, and then stopped. He stood there for just a heartbeat before he spun around, feeling a sudden, sharp surge of determination, the same kind he felt when he faced a blaze, and walked right back to you, stopping just a few inches away. He didn't want this to end with a book recommendation.
Since he was so tall, you had to tilt your head back to see him. The proximity was dizzying for the both of you. He could smell the vanilla of your perfume and the faint scent of old books clinging to you, just like the smell of smoke clang to him.
"Y/N," he started, his voice slightly awkward and clearly lacking its usual polish. He rubbed the back of his neck, a nervous habit that you found incredibly cute. "I… I don't really do this. The whole… asking people out thing. Usually they just… like me and then never leave me alone."
You blinked, your heart starting to race. "Oh?"
"Yeah," he murmured. "But I really like talking to you. And I'd really like to do it somewhere that doesn't involve children screaming or a tray of cookies I can't refuse."
He paused, his expression hopeful as he gathered all his remaining courage. "Would you like to get dinner with me sometime? Maybe at a small, quiet place?"
A slow, radiant smile spread across your face. "I would love to, Ace."
Ace let out a breath he seemed to have been holding for a life time. A massive, triumphant grin broke across his face. He looked like he had just won the lottery.
"Great. Perfect. Awesome," he stammered, his confidence returning in a rush. He stepped back toward the door, pointing a finger at you with a painful glint in his eyes. "But fair warning: I'm holding you to the dinner, and you're holding me to the book. I'll have it finished before our date."
"I'm counting on it," you called out as he exited.
As the heavy oak doors closed behind him, you leaned back against the table, your heart still hammering wildly against your ribs with no intention of stopping.
And as Ace climbed into the driver's seat and started the engine, he glanced at the book resting on the passenger seat. He would've never touched a book under different circumstances, but as he drove away, he decided that he was very, very eager to start reading.
Group: Emergency Meeting
Thatch: SOS
Thatch: CODE RED
Thatch: ACE IS READING A BOOK!!!!!!
Marco: What
Thatch: I WALKED INTO THE COMMON ROOM AND HE'S JUST SITTING THERE READING!!!! WITH THIS STUPID GRIN ON HIS FACE!!! I'M SCARED
Jozu: A book? Ace?
Thatch: I THINK THE LIBRARIAN RECOMMENDED IT TO HIM, APPARENTLY SHE WASN'T SOME OLD LADY BUT A PRETTY GIRL HIS AGE??? LOL
Vista: This I have to see. Is he still in the common room?
Thatch: YEAH HE HASN'T MOVED IN LIKE AN HOUR, I THINK HE'S BROKEN
Marco: What even is the book about?
Thatch: … no idea
Jozu: You didn't even look at the cover?
Thatch: DUDE I WAS FLABBERGASTED, EXCUSE ME FOR HAVING PRIORITIES
Vista: So we're sure it's from the librarian from the story hour thing?
Marco: The very same. Spent the whole morning grumbling about it. Now apparently she's got him reading poetry or whatever.
Thatch: OMG IT MIGHT BE POETRY
Thatch: WTF
Thatch: WHAT IF HE STARTS WRITING POETRY?? I CAN'T HANDLE ACE WRITING SONNETS
Jozu: Ace is not going to write sonnets.
Thatch: YOU DON'T KNOW THAT!! LOVE MAKES PEOPLE DO CRAZY THINGS
Whitebeard: Why is my phone making so many noises? Marco, son, can you help me? - Pops
Marco: Pops, I showed you countless times how you can mute your notifications.
Thatch: POPS!!! OUR ACE HAS A CRUSH
Whitebeard: A crush? My son? That is wonderful news. Is she a nice girl? - Pops
Marco: Pops, you don't have to sign your messages. We know it's you.
Whitebeard: Okay. - Pops
Thatch: anyways back to the topic!!! he is still reading!!!!
Thatch: I THINK I HEARD HIM MUMBLE SOMETHING ABOUT A DATE
Jozu: And do we know when that date is?
Thatch: NO BUT HE LOOKS SO SERIOUS
Thatch: IM ALREADY PLANNING THE WEDDING!!! I AM DEFINITELY GONNA BE THE GROOMSMAN
Marco: No you're not. I'm the first mate.
Jozu: What about me?
Thatch: no
Marco: No.
Vista: I should be the groomsman! I give the best speeches.
Whitebeard: No fighting, sons. I will be the groomsman. - Pops
Marco: Pops, you can't be the groomsman.
Whitebeard: Then I will be the flower girl. I've always wanted to throw petals. - Pops
Thatch: I'M SCREENSHOTTING THIS
Whitebeard: Son, what is a screenshot? - Pops
Marco: I'm leaving this group.
hey hey, y'all probably didn't expect to see me yapping at the end of the fic again, but i promise i have a good reason. so, my bestie read this for me, and we both couldn't stop picturing whitebeard as a flower girl and since she's an artist she cooked something up for me!!
best thing i've seen all week. please all check out her wonderful art on @hufflenuss <33 ily leo, this picture is absolute gold
Ace please put your clothes back on, you're on campus
the seniors were taunting him for being a second year only which made him flip out 😂 he's become a "commander" now at moby dick high finally.
btw Teach and ASL are still on sour terms but they're not trying to attack each other anymore. so that's the end of the arc i guess.
the chapter ends with asl remarking how it's a bit difficult being on independent paths at school. but it's also fun for they'll always be brothers and get to hang out with their friends at break. (luffy invited yamato and koby to the family cook out too).
You hugged him and called him baby, told him you’ve mistaken him for someone else. A playful prank led to something unexpectedly beautiful.
❤︎ cross-posted on ao3
❤︎ 1.5k words
❤︎ note: bcoz i miss my baby
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“Whitebeard pirates are here! Hurry! Run!”
The loud screams of people scurrying away from the shore caught your attention. Another pirate ship decided to dock at your island again, causing panic to the people. You stood up from your seat, stretched your arms, then walked out of the bar towards the shore. It’s time.
Being a pirate wasn’t your dream, but the idea of being able to sail across the ocean and explore different places—it has always been your dream. So, every time a pirate group docked at your island, you would try and see which group would be worth joining in.
And today, the Whitebeard Pirates decided to show up.
You stood by the shore—the shadow of the Moby Dick towering over you—your hands fell to your hips while you thought of a way to join the crew. Then, you heard a boisterous laughter coming from a shirtless man standing not so far from where you were. Fire fist Ace, the second division commander.
With a big smirk, you charged forward, arms instantly snaking around the man’s warm torso. “Hey, baby! I’ve been looking for you!”
Ace almost stumbled down from the sudden impact, his small eyes widened at the horrifying sight before him. The silence that followed was louder than the abnormal beating of your heart from the embarrassment. You loosened your arms around him, ready to pull away and face the rage of the fire man—but Ace’s laughter echoed through your ears.
“There you are, baby.” His voice dripped with smugness, as if telling you chose to play with the wrong person.
The look on his face terrified you, indeed you chose the wrong man. You hurriedly removed your arms around him and apologized before scurrying off. “I’m sorry, wrong man!”
You loved pranking people and no one, as in no one, has ever played along with your pranks. People would always be mad or dodged or avoid your pranks, but him? Well, you think he’s a different breed. You kicked the sand, frustrated, you never imagined you’d back down that easily in front of a man.
The walk back to the town wasn’t as peaceful as you thought it would be, because you could feel him following behind you. You knew it was him, of course, it would be him.
“Baby,” Ace chuckled from behind, “why did you leave?”
Groaning, you spinned on your heel and face him. “I told you, wrong man! Now, stop following me!
He only laughed even louder and in a swift move, he was already in front of you. His face contorted with a big, annoying, grin.
“I’m Ace!”
You looked at him, still infuriated. “Y/N”
He smiled, this time it was softer. “So, baby…Who’s the right man?”
You rolled your eyes and proceeded to tell him the truth. “It was a prank. I didn’t know you’d play along.”
Ace laughed again, it was a proud one. “Well, I am Portgas D. Ace, master of pranks!”
You shook your head, then walked past him. Perhaps, the Whitebeard pirates weren't the right crew to join. Or it wasn’t your time yet. Maybe, you still have something you need to do on this island. You tried so hard to brush the thought off, you wanted to leave so badly, to travel, to sail in the ocean—yet you don’t know when you’ll set sail or if you’re really meant for it.
Ace spoke, interrupting your train of thought. “Eh, what’s with the long face?”
You thought he already left, but he was still following you around. An idea then came to your mind; if you weren’t meant for the sea, then maybe you can just ask Ace about it.
“Ace, can you…” You hesitated. Ace only smiled at you, waiting for you to continue. “Can you tell me about the ocean and your adventures? Which was the prettiest island you’ve visited? Have you seen monsters?”
Your consecutive questions earned a laugh from Ace and it says everything—he was amused.
He leaned in, his eyes glowing with joy from all the memories of his adventures. And it made him giddy that someone wanted to hear about it.
“Hmm, the ocean…it’s vast, wild, and beautiful, especially during sunset. I would say every island is prettier in their own way, but maybe Alabasta? And monsters…there are a lot—some are scary, but some are also strange, it would make you laugh.”
Your hand was clasped tightly together and you were jumping from what you heard, you were practically vibrating from happiness. You might not experience it first hand, but at least, you could now paint it in your head.
Ace noticed how your eyes light up from hearing his story. To him, you looked like an excited puppy ready to explore the world. Something in him stirred and he felt his heart warm. But then, a question popped into his mind.
“How about you? Any adventures?”
Ace saw how fast your expression dropped, your big smile turned into a frown, and the sparkle in your eyes suddenly disappeared.
“I haven’t been able to leave this island yet.”
His arms held your shoulders, eyes wide open from shock. “Eh? Why? You should! You will have fun!”
You pursed your lips in a thin line, “I haven’t found the right people yet. I believe it’s important to have adventures with the right people.”
He paused, his smile softened. He tilted his head a little, he was staring at your face—maybe, reminiscing about his adventures and the people he was with.
“You’re right,” he finally said. “You can go to the most boring place and still enjoy it, because you’re with the right people.”
It was silent for a few seconds, Ace had his head tilted to the side as if he was thinking deeply. You jolted when he suddenly screamed, his grin wider than before, and he was almost bouncing from excitement.
“You should join us!”
A lot of pirate crew had asked you to join them before, and every time it didn’t feel right, like you were not meant to be with them. But right now, it feels different. The question left a warm feeling inside you, it wasn’t a scary feeling nor hesitation—it was belongingness, it was right, like this time it’s meant for you.
Ace held out his hand in front of you, he was grinning and patiently waiting for you to take it. With a happy heart, you placed your hand on his, your chest feeling light.
On the deck of the Moby Dick, the crew was scattered around, their loud laughter echoing through the air. It has already been a day since Ace asked you to join their crew, he also accompanied you to get your things and say goodbye to the people in the island, because the crew is already leaving. The whole time, you were feeling ecstatic. Why? Because finally, your dream is only a few inches away from you.
Heads turned around when you boarded the ship with Ace, the crew erupted in whispers from curiosity and amusement. Whitebeard, who was sitting in a big chair in the middle of the deck, only smirked at his son.
“Pops, this is Y/N, my baby.”
Silence.
Oh.
OOOOOHHHHHHHHH.
You smacked him on the head, mortified, but your face betrayed your movement. You felt the heat rising from your cheeks, was it because of the embarrassment or from the weird feeling in your chest?
The crew burst into laughter, clearly enjoying the sight unfolding before them. It suddenly felt like you were at the center of the world, and Ace, who was smiling widely, seemed cool with it.
He glanced at you, “She’s joining us.” Then he turned to everyone, “you better be kind to my baby.”
This time you kicked his shin, feeling done with his antics. His grin didn’t falter, instead it grew wider and his laughter echoed across the deck. The crew was curious, yet continued to tease, laugh, and welcome you wholeheartedly. Whitebeard nodded his head at you in approval, his smirk not leaving his face, somehow proud of his son’s boldness.
You felt Ace tugged at your hand, then in a second, you were already away from everyone. He brought you somewhere quiet, somewhere far from the eyes and whispers of the crew.
You spread your arms wide, eyes closed, feeling the cold breeze of the sea. Then you felt him behind you, arms spread out too while holding your hands gently, his cheeks resting against yours.
“I’ll make sure you’ll have the best adventures in the world, baby.” His voice was soft and sincere.
The way he called you baby did something in your chest, it was warm in the heart, and it didn’t feel wrong; if anything, it felt right.
For the first time in a while, you felt like you belonged—to the sea, to the crew, and to Ace. It might be the first time you met him, but you knew he’d eventually be someone so important to you.
You leaned comfortably against him, “Thanks, baby.”
What are your favourite Ace and Sabo Head-cannons?? 😋
Ahhhhh this is a great question. Making me think real deep here. You'll probably see these things in any fic I write so you're basically making me dissect how I'd write acesabo bahaha.
ACE
OFF RIP!! Ace is NOT suicidal... per se, but he's got more of a lackadasical attitude towards potentially dying. Kinda like he has a "guess I'll die" mindset if he's in a precarious situation. And that means that he's a bit more of a daredevil when he does things. So...It's more like, he's grown up thinking he never deserved to live and realizing that he DOES deserve to live reignites his desire to do so. If anything, once he's finally accepted he's really truly loved, he wants to live as badly as Robin in Enies Lobby.
He's STUBBORN, holds grudges like crazy and won't forget or necessarily forgive without a reason.
He's THE strike first ask questions later of the ASL trio, and I think he's actually pretty cold blooded about it too. Like, he didn't even hesitate trying to kill Whitebeard. That's not from mission training (like I believe Sabo's coldness comes from) either. That's straight ruthlessness.
Basically, I think Ace is actually the most ruthless/least kind of the three brothers. He's definitely the one that holds grudges, and he's the one who refuses to let those grudges go without reason. I think the fandom sees him as the chill party dude but ignores that he's been portrayed the most as the person ready to throw hands just because.
Ace is the most loyal brother, imo. Which isn't saying the other two lack loyalty but more like loyalty is Ace's whole thing.
He has an average ability to judge a person's character OR he just doesn't care if that person seems like a good dude if he's got a goal.
Compare and contrasing Ace and Sabo a bit: Ace feels like the type of person who is good at being polite but is actually rude af on the inside whereas Sabo is the one who has made himself become disrespectful but is naturally more polite. I actually quite like that Sabo was taught how to be polite and is naturally kinder (imo) but he became an adult that refuses to be polite to others (unless in mission mode) whereas Ace was someone who was taught by society that being nice has no place in survival and then ended up learning how to be polite to others. Additionally, I think Ace is the type of person who does shit things and then uses his good manners like that will make it okay (like joining Buggy's ship for food and wiping his face on some girl's skirt)
Ace definitely is the party boy. Loves to eat and drink. I think, like Luffy, Ace is easily won over through his stomach.
Ace isn't stupid, he just doesn't think before he acts or is so stubborn that logic doesn't have a place in his decision. Like when he chooses never to run away. It's clear that this is more because someone he really cares about is "behind" him (physically and metaphorically Luffy mostly. and Sabo once in the cases we've seen) but rationally he should take Luffy and run not stay behind and fight.
He would have been strong AF if he'd been allowed to make it that long and had, yknow, actually invested time into his Haki. Like, talking as strong as if not stronger than Luffy. Guess that's why Oda had to get rid of him, his MC aura was too strong (not that he had any desire to be the pirate king lol)
He has a natural charisma that makes him hard to dislike.
I like that he learned to navigate on his own and fully think it's a kind of "sabo was gonna be my navigator, no one else is taking that" thing.
He's an average cook but he only cooks meat.
He snores hella loud.
He probably bathes every few days and gets away with it because he can burn the dirt and grime away anyway.
He grows facial hair like crazy and hates it.
He has perfect vision.
I think he's bisexual and that he was pretty active once he got on the Grand Line.
Also Ace is definitely SUPER BUFF. Like Zoro BUFF. But, like, I think he's naturally REALLY EFFING strong. He doesn't need to work out all hours of the day for it like Zoro did, he just is strong. He kicked down trees as a kid, that ain't normal. And I think he's definitely stronger than Sabo physically.
I think he'd have stronger armament haki than Sabo if he'd developed it properly. If Sabo does have conqueror's haki, Ace's would have been far stronger if he'd trained it.
Shipping: He's loyalty/love coded, so he'd be a doting sweetheart. But... I think possessiveness is very much in his nature. I can see him taking away someone's freedom if he wants to. But he'd always be playing it as if he's the good guy, or very aware he's doing something wrong.
Top Ace supremacy, but I'm not for those strict rules, like "he doesn't suck dick" or he "doesn't like getting fingered". Nah, he's definitely strict top but he'd be willing to experiment plenty with someone he loves, and he'd enjoy it.
I think Ace is very rough in bed. He tries to hold back all the time but with the go-ahead he's leaving bruises, bites, and scratches everywhere, and making ppl bend in ways they never imagined.
He's hung 😏
WISHFUL THINKING: He would have grown taller. Ain't no way he has Roger as a dad and isn't growing at least another 5 inches.
SABO
Sabo reads more as calculating and logical to me, like he plans in advance and is always thinking things through.
He's the least likely to strike first think later between the ASL brothers. At heart, he wants to jump in and act before thinking but his mind is racing a mile a minute and he's always thinking about whatifs. He can't Help it.
Sabo is very fun and free spirited, just like his brothers. He likes to have fun and to smile and enjoy himself and mess around. He probably gets people's names wrong on purpose (though I like the thought of it being because of his head injury.)
I don't think Sabo holds grudges. Even with his own family, now that he's free he doesn't really seem to be holding any sort of grudge towards them. Feels like he's let them go and that's good enough for him. He has things he hates and things he wants to change, but he doesn't seem to take it to the individual as much as the societal construct the revs are working to destroy. I pull a lot from OP Gakuen but like, Sabo was literally shot by Blackbeard's crew and he was so unbothered going up against Blackbeard later.
He's THE KINDEST of the ASL brothers. No one will convince me otherwise. Luffy mentioned it when they were kids, and it's shown pretty extensively in OP Gakuen (Additionally! I think that Luffy is of course extremely kind and loves easily but I think he actually has a tendency towards this kinda blunt coldness that can be quite shocking sometimes). I think it's also notable in how he was raised as a rich noble kid and willingly chose to throw it all away because it disgusted him how they treated those who were "lesser." It's also expressed through him simply being in the Revs, who act for the betterment and equality of the world. Being kind doesn't mean that someone can't be ruthless when needed.
On that note, I don't think either Sabo or any of the Revs are cold blooded killers. Not that I DON'T think they kill, but more like, if it's avoidable, they won't. Likeee can anyone actually imagine Koala or any of the Revs being so sweet on Sabo if he was some cold mean asshole who kills ruthlessly??? There's no way Sabo's some cold, evil person hiding his evil behind a smile.
Continuing!!! I do think Sabo has some sort of mental thing from being blasted in the head, but I don't think it's made him ruthless, more like it's made him lack any sort of grey scale for people who are "bad" in his eyes or maybe makes him able to do those things that are more grotesque without being as bothered by it? Idk, I'm not really on the "sabo is insane" bandwagon but I'm not against him having some sort of insanity. Actually I think his head injury and him losing Ace have made him insanely protective to an unhealthy degree over Luffy, but I find that endearing.
I fully believe he would ditch the revs for Luffy if he ever is in danger and Sabo knows. Which means I fully believe he'd do so for Ace if he had a chance to. I think Dragon would be in the background being like, "just ask??? I'm not?? gonna say no?????"
He was a very good judge of character as a kid and may have lost some of that to his head injury.
He's intentionally impolite with his words and his attitude as a way to distance himself from his polite upbringing and it is no longer something he has to think about doing. (I find him funny af when he hangs up on ppl. BRO, CHILL.) But I think his "polite" mannerisms come out without him thinking about it too, and that he is the most naturally polite of the brothers. (Once again thinking of OP Gakuen where Sabo's going around thanking and paying ppl after Luffy's run through and eaten their stuff)
Sabo is probably the best chef of ASL. Not a master, but good enough to cook a decent repertoire.
Sabo feels like he'd be the type of person to prefer a quiet evening inside with a nice drink rather than join some loud party, but he'd handle parties fine too.
He's very intelligent, but I like to think he refuses to actively use his intelligence more than necessary because of how much he was forced to learn as a kid by his parents. You won't see him studying if he doesn't have to lmfao.
I think Sabo might have conqueror's haki.
He snores, but like a lighter snore.
As much as he tries to be a rude mofo and acts like he has no manners, he def bathes all the time.
He can't grow facial hair.
He would have had perfect vision if he didn't get 'sploded as a kid. He's at least half blind in his damaged eye.
I like the thought of Sabo teaching Ace the alphabet (thank you for that one :D)
Sabo is speed-built not strength-built imo. Haki lets him tap into greater strength but physically I think he's not the strongest and he's got a more lanky body.
He's either bisexual (woman leaning) or demisexual.
Not really Sabo, but more towards some Sabo fans. The people who saw Sabo crush Bastille's mask and be cold about it and took that as his entire personality and proof that he's some cold jerk bore me. He's shown being upset over toys being abused in the underground and also going around helping with evacuations. He's show crying over Ace multiple times. So if your takeaway of Sabo off one scene is him being some cold asshole...
Extremely biased: Sabo's new voice is VERY fitting for him and very cutieful (and also very bottom energy shhh) whoever cast him knows ball. Merch team also knows ball.
I prefer Sabo's scars to not be excessive, but to at least occupy his shoulder too.
Shipping: I prefer bottom Sabo. I think Sabo likes relinquishing his control to someone he trusts and enjoying himself.
He's super freedom-coded so the idea of him ever trying to take someone's freedom away doesn't sit well with me. It also means I looove taking freedom from him hehe.
I like when Sabo has a larger sex drive than Ace after he's gotten a taste of it, but I actually think he's got a lower sex drive and is more chill with sex rather than super active.
I prefer an inexperienced Sabo with an experienced Ace.
This is so effing long. I just can't not rant and ramble I guess!! Ty for the fun, thought provoking ask!
now with you and 𝐋𝐔𝐅𝐅𝐘, sharing little kisses would be normal between the two of you. platonic, romantic, however you wanted to see it.
you two were at the table, glued to each others sides as luffy practically inhaled his lunch.
"[❦] you’re not gonna eat all of that anyway just share!" he exclaimed, already poking at your spaghetti with his fork.
you were slurping the delicious noodles, savoring it right in front of his face. "mm. dunno, lu’! sanji really did his thing with lunch today tonight."
luffy visibly frowned, eyes batting at you. your tomato-sauce covered lips mirrored his frown, already giving in. you didn’t even have to say it, his fork was already twisted into the noodles, slurping the spaghetti right with you.
it didn’t take long before it turned into some kind of competition on who could eat the most of it, the most off of YOUR plate.
you two were both on the last remnants of the spaghetti, slurping up the same noodle and ended up lips to lips.
"luffy!"
"[❦]!"
"luffy!"
"[❦]!"
the both of you turned to sanji, instantly arguing to him over who at more of the spaghetti and asking for more. the look on the blonds face showed how irritated he was at the fact that luffy got an easy kiss from you without even trying.
sneaking a kiss onto 𝐙𝐎𝐑𝐎 would be relatively simple. plan it for the middle of the day and find him in his usual napping spot, easy!
your feet padded against the wood of the sunny, eyes scanning for the mossheaded man. you were shocked you didn’t spot him instantly with those loud ass snores that could be heard across the ocean.
you slid onto the floor in the quietest manner, moving in to kiss his cheek before you felt his warm palm against your forehead- stopping you.
"you’re supposed to be asleep, zo’."
"you can’t tip toe for shit."
you rolled your eyes, moving his hand and kissed his cheek. you gave him a cheeky smile and sped off of the deck to go find your next victim, leaving him with a warm face as he sunk back against the wall.
to sneak a kiss on 𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐈, just ask her if you can test some lipglosses on her. she’d be skeptical at first, but would eventually say yes if you bribe her!
"nami quit movin’!"
you put on yet another gloss, another glossy kiss to her cheek.
"literally what is the point in this and why didn’t you just ask sanji!"
"because he’d pass out and you’re right here!" another kiss to her upper cheek, now you were starting to run out of space.
"what about usopp? or luffy, or hell even zo-" you cut her off, pressing a glittery pink kiss to her lips.
"that one! this color i like this one! thanks nami!" you got up, picking up all your glosses and skipped right out of the girls cabin.
she unfroze, getting right up behind you. "hey, hey what about my berries? come back!"
𝐔𝐒𝐎𝐏𝐏 was right in his workshop, jumping back with a squeal when you whispered “boo” in his ear from behind.
"usopp it’s just me!" you giggled, looking at whatever contraption he had on his work desk. "you can’t just do that while im working, [❦]! but i wasn’t actually scared or anything i was exercising my throat."
"okay okay sorry. what’re we working on today?"
"we are not working on anything. the last time you helped me it ended up with a shining star glitter bomb. i swear i still have it in my hair." usopp muttered, putting some plant into a ball for his slingshot.
"that was totally an accident." you walked around the room, poking whatever you thought was interesting. "stop touchin’ stuff while im not looking."
you didn’t reply, searching through one of his drawers before you found a box that read in bold, "LUFFY AND [❦] DO NOT TOUCH." on it. of course you opened it. a box full of glitter bombs and makeshift slingshots filled the box up to the rim.
a smirk stretched both ends of your lips, picking up a few of the little bombs and putting them away in your pocket. you grabbed a slingshot and another bomb, shooting it right into usopps temple, covering his face and hair in the sparkly substance. "[❦]!!"
before he could get the chance to complain more, you took your thumb and wiped off the glitter on his lips, cupping his face and placed a kiss on them as an apology.
"sorry usopp! gotta go find sanji!"
𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐈 would be in the kitchen, per usual, flipping through his cook book to find a recipe for the crews dinner tonight. that’s when you slip inside unnoticed and hug him from behind.
“sanji!” he jolted at the feeling of your arms around his waist and the sudden warmth of your voice on his ear.
“[❦]! what’re you doing here, it’s not time for dinner yet, mon coeur.”
you hummed, moving to sit on the counter as he looked up at you. “can’t i visit my favorite cook? but if you truly want to know i wanted to ask for a milkshake.”
before you could even blink, sanji had all the ingredients for your favorite flavored shake in the blender and into your hands. you brought the straw up to your mouth while his patient eyes waited for a response.
after a few sips, you wiped your mouth with a smile. your feet hit the ground you took one more sip. “ten out of ten, sanji. not that i expected anything less.” you could practically see his eyes turn into hearts before you pecked his cheek, swiftly leaving with your drink- (also swiping an extra straw). sanji was love struck and slouched against the kitchen island.
getting to 𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐑 is probably the easiest to get a kiss on out of the crew, probably easier than zoro!
the tiny reindeer was cleaning up the med bay, his face beaming when he saw you walk in. “hi [❦]! can i help you?” you almost melted at the smile on his face, holding up your milk shake.
“yes actually. sanji made me this milkshake and there’s a flavor in it that I can’t put my finger on. wanna try it?” if his face wasn’t beaming before, it was now. chopper nodded his head almost aggressively when you put in that second straw and handed him the milkshake.
“s’good! it taste like he put banana in it!”
“really? i guess I taste it now that you say that.”
while chopper took another sip, you pressed a quick kiss to his forehead, leaving chopper confused but with a free milkshake in his hand so he didn’t question it.
𝐑𝐎𝐁𝐈𝐍 was right where you knew she’d be! right in her library as you carefully tiptoed inside, tips from zoro. she was facing one of the numerous shelves, a book in hand as one of her devil fruit ones grazed the books at the top.
"[❦]?”
you froze in your steps, a frown stretching upon your lips. she hadn’t even turned around and knew you were there! time for plan b.
"m’not [❦]!" you exclaimed confidently in a mock attempt to sound like chopper.
without turning, she chuckled and shut her book. "chopper? my mistake, i wasn’t aware your feet got bigger overnight."
"my feet didn’t get bigger i was just stomping..?" robin turned around finally, striding over to wear you were standing. you rocked back and forth from the tips of your toes to your heels, looking at the floor. "my feet aren’t big."
"no, but you have a very peculiar pattern in the way you walk and it stands out." she poked your nose, making you tilt your head up. "what did you need, [❦]?"
your cheeky smile returned, your hands cupping her face and standing on your tippy toes to give her a kiss right on her cheek. "nothing! that’s it!" and you walked right out.
robin lifted her hand to her cheek, a smile tugging at her lips.
BONUS: 𝐀𝐂𝐄 was sitting right next to you at the dinner table with the rest of the whitebeard pirates, drunkenly holding your hand as he sang along to whatever drinking song the crew was singing.
"[❦]?" he turned to you, cheek slumping into your shoulder. "you’re the coolest girl in all of the seas. dunno how i landed you. so so cool."
"you’re drunk, ace."
"doesn’t mean im not telling the truth." he mumbled, squeezing your hand again, lifting his head. he tapped his cheek with his finger, signaling you. "kiss?"
you rolled your eyes, about to protest but just ended up leaning in to kiss his flushed cheek until he grabbed your face and kissed you right on the lips.
you didn’t get to react before his head fell right into your lap, the same way it did in the middle of eating a good meal. "stupid firefist can’t even keep his ass awake.." you said under your breath, thumb stroking his temple jaw.
a/n from princess awesomeness: almost forgot i don’t only have to write for one show ☺️☺️ anyway i had no fucking idea what to do for brook and franky so i hope ace suffices. no proofread, DEEP SIGH.
Not sure, if it’s already been done; but, ever since I first saw this meme, this is all that’s been stuck in my head. And after a few months, I’ve finally gotten it out of my head. Enjoy!
Honestly I have no idea what to put for my first post, but here you go. Portgas D Ace x gn/reader.
Portgas D Ace who started off as your closest friend would search the whole ship for you just to show you a random lizard he found
Portgas D Ace, the man who would fold with the slightest of affection you give him
Portgas D Ace, who, somehow, fell in love with you first, (then you kinda followed)
Portgas D Ace, the man who was too scared to confess to you, however his feelings for you were increasing rapidly
Portgas D Ace, who couldn't believe his luck when you did confess to him
Portgas D Ace, who'd do anything for his lover, anything
Portgas D Ace, who would come to your room everytime to hang out
Portgas D Ace, who suggested (begged) for you two to have a shared room
"it's to give space for the new recruits, babe, trust." "Whatever tickles your fancy." "IM SERIOUS!"
Portgas D Ace, who slams his whole body on top of yours when he's exhausted
Portgas D Ace, who trusts you with his body when he falls narcoleptic
Portgas D Ace, who, gives the best and suffocating hugs. (Have you seen the size of this guy, he's HUGE)
Portgas D Ace, who's patient with his lover
Portgas D Ace, who is okay with a lover who's not into sex
Portgas D Ace, who HATES it when he's vulnerable around you (I have this headecanon he has a problem of slouching intentionally, which makes his bangs cover his face)
Portgas D Ace, who'd cry his eyes out the moment you reassure him
"It's okay, my love, I'm not going anywhere." Ace's breathe hitched. His sniffles became audible and with a blink of an eye, you were lifted off the ground, Ace hugged you. Your shoulder the level of his head as he buried his head. He started sobbing. You sobbed too. You both were sobers. (Lol... Yeah you're right, I'm cringe...)
Portgas D Ace, who is your complete lover boy. He visualizes you as Aphrodite/Ares themselves. His God/Godess
Portgas D Ace, who has no problem in seeing you naked. Till later when he realized that you were naked, he explodes in his room
Portgas D Ace, who almost combusted when you saw him naked, it was at a very unexpected moment
Portgas D Ace, who appreciates your patience with him
Portgas D Ace, who buys accessories or gets a tattoo that remind him of you , just to have a part of you with him forever
okay not me lowkey getting into one piece ever since I watched the live action... UH-OOOHHHH
POINT ME TO THE NEAREST FEMDOM ONE PIECE WRITERS, I NEED TO READDDDDD
portgas d. ace... HELLLOOOO SAILOR🗣‼️🤩😏
thumb in pocket, sassy/cocky stance, bige smirke, muscles, THE idk 1 1/2 BELT???, THE BIG PEARLS NECKLACE???? oooooh everyone is sour sique.. I need to see every fanart of ace this very instant, actually. I'm gna be so honest, I'm only staring at his titties rn. also. freckles.
As someone who has struggled my whole life with suicidal ideation, I truly appreciate Ace as a character. It is so blatantly obvious how self destructive he is and how recklessly he throws himself into danger, and yes other characters do this too, but Ace does this because of his inherent belief that he should not exist, and therefore has no purpose or value. Ace moves through life in a way that seems like he wants to find a reason to die, for example, as a rookie deciding to challenge an Emperor, like, come on. From one of his first appearances in Alabasta, I am recalling that scene where a vendor is offering him the apple to live forever or whatever and he says that just living today is enough, because Ace doesn’t see a future for himself and is unable to accept himself and, by extension, love others have for him. He recklessly chases after Teach, because of his need to be useful for his new family that he is so grateful for, he doesn’t even realize that they love him just as much as he does them. By fighting Teach against Whitebeard’s advice he is essentially finding a cause to justify throwing his life away. When Garp visits him in impel down, he does not ask for pity or sympathy, because he truly thinks he deserves this because of an ingrained belief he has held since childhood. I have complex feelings toward Garp because I feel that if Garp had told Ace as a child that, yes, you did deserve to be born, things could have been much different, but his first fatherly figure failed him so early in life. When I see people say that Garp would’ve saved Ace had he asked, it makes me so upset because, Ace would never ask, it’s completely out of character for him. His realization in Marineford that he wants to live is so tragic, because he has been loved this whole time, yet could not believe it, could not fathom that he was worthy of this love. He lived to protect Luffy growing up and now that Luffy has a crew, he doesn’t need Ace anymore, so it’s so shocking and heartbreaking for him that Luffy would endanger himself to come to Marineford. Ace is such a beautifully written character and the way his depression and suicidal tendencies are expressed is a very real representation in such an eccentric, fantasy world. I relate to him so deeply, as someone who has always struggled internally with where my place is in this world and my purpose here, and also as an older sibling. Yes, I also think he’s super hot lmao, but it’s more than that bc I can not be normal about him ever. But that’s my 4 AM word vomit lol I just love him so much. If some of this doesn’t make sense…… I’m sleep deprived and mentally ill :P
smashes my current interests together. one piece deltarune au
it’s not so much of an au as it is a “telling my own story with the one piece characters in the deltarune setting…” there aren’t really 1:1 character comparisons and no ships carry over for ease of me putting characters in the story :)
luffy takes kris’s role as the protagonist with shanks and buggy taking toriel and asgore’s roles respectively <3 i’ll reveal who takes susie and ralsei’s roles later… hehehe im having fun!!!
yes ace takes december’s role <//3 and sabo is off to college like asriel (remember no shipping carries over they are still brothers!!!)
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