Congratulations to all artists and authors who took part in this yearâs reversebang, and a very big thank you as well. We have lots of amazing stories and gorgeous artworks listed below for you in this yearâs masterpost. Please also check out our 2022 AO3 Collection.
Remember to show the artist/author some love and appreciation for their hard work by sharing and commenting on their work.
Sorted by gen/ship, then alphabetically by title! Will be updated as more projects are posted.
Gen
Title: at the point of a sword  Â
Name: @kuneruru and freckledshoulderblades
Pairing/Character focus: Roronoa Zoro, Dracule Mihawk, Kuina (One Piece), Koushirou, Monkey D. Luffy
Rating: T
Warnings: N/A
Word Count: 13,317
Three months out from the Regional Championships, Koushirou introduces Zoro to the man he's destined to surpass one day. Mihawk, determined to foster greatness, agrees to the challenge of training Zoro.Zoro does his best to tread water, but the weight of their expectations is more significant than he anticipated.(A modern kendo AU where Zoro hones his skill and learns to breathe.)
Artwork | Story
Title: Blood Tied Heart Strings
Name: hgatoart and SnailorBee
Pairing/Character focus: Donquixote "Corazon" Rosinante, Donquixote Doflamingo, Donquixote Pirates (One Piece), Trafalgar D. Water Law, Pica (One Piece), Baby 5 (One Piece), Buffalo (One Piece), Trebol (One Piece), Diamante (One Piece), GiollaLao G (One Piece), Senor Pink (One Piece), Gladius (One Piece)Â
Rating: M
Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence
Word Count: 4,770
Summary: Corazon hears familiar laughter echoing around him, but Doffy's nowhere to be seen. His voice starts singing, dripping in contempt and malice. Â Â I had strings but now I'm free... There are no strings on me...The hairs on the back of Corazon's neck stand up.
Artwork | Story
Title: Chasing Legends  Â
Name: deateath and Cyborg_Franky
Pairing/Character focus: Fushichou Marco | Phoenix Marco & Portgas D. Ace      Â
Rating: T
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Word Count: 5,083
Summary: - Surviving is out here is all well and good but Ace wants to live and experience true freedom. Marco is hunted like an animal and desires a place where he can finally be free and to stop running from the powers that control the wastes-
Artwork | Story
Title: Confluence  Â
Name: deateath and altokiwi
Pairing/Character focus:  Mugiwara Kaizoku | Strawhat Pirates & Vinsmoke Sanji, Roronoa Zoro & Vinsmoke Sanji, Vinsmoke Sanji, Roronoa Zoro, Vinsmoke Family (One Piece), Mugiwara Kaizoku | Strawhat Pirates      Â
Rating: M
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Word Count: 6,191
Summary: Perhaps Sanji's past is not as behind him as he'd hoped.OR Sanji has a nightmare.
Artwork | Story
Title: Chrysalis    Â
Name: deateath and Lily_Amazon
Pairing/Character focus: Mugiwara Kaizoku | Strawhat Pirates & Nico Robin, Nico Robin & Thousand Sunny           Â
Rating: T
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Word Count: 8,961
Summary:  Robin sighed. Unsteady as she felt, the urge to stay awake remained. She wanted to look at the sea, enjoy the soothing sight as long as she could. No point fighting it then. Better let the thoughts swirl unfiltered, loud and unpleasant and just⊠bite the proverbial bullet until a new distraction arose or exhaustion finally kicked in. That first night on the Thousand Sunny, Water 7 now far behind them, Robin can't sleep.
Too much has happened in the last few days.
Artwork | Story
Title: Doctor Death (Doula) Â Â Â
Name: alegnace and Harmonica_Smile (Rescue_Remedy)
Pairing/Character focus:Â Kokoro (One Piece) & Trafalgar D. Water Law, Chimney & Kokoro (One Piece), Kokoro (One Piece)/Tom (One Piece)Â Â
Rating: T
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Word Count: 5,444
Summary: Cora had died alone. Law's family too. In fear and shock and pain. If Law could be there for someone as they passed over, he would be. Midwife to another transition, his fingers teased the line separating the living and not, shaded the regions between."Was it a job requisite? Inking your fingers like that?" Kokoro asked."A death midwife, or death doula, is a person who assists in the dying process, much like a midwife or doula does with the birthing process. It is often a community based role, aiming to help families cope with death through recognizing it as a natural and important part of life." (Wikipedia)
Artwork | Story
Summary: Zoro is a simple man. When there is a moment of peace and a place to himself, he sleeps. 5 times Zoro sleeps in weird (and sometimes dangerous) places. An OP reverse bang production! (art included)
Artwork | Story
Shipping
Ace/Sabo
Title: Konbunni Special  Â
Name: SnailRoyal and ginawo
Pairing/Character focus: Portgas D. Ace/Sabo           Â
Rating: Gen
Warnings: N/A
Word Count: 4,914
Summary: Sabo runs around holding a photo of Ace in bunny ears while Ace himself chasing him down~! Who would not want to keep such an adorable photo in their pocket? :P
Artwork | Story
Title: when you're done, come find me   Â
Name: GabiFalcaoArt and JessenoSabaku
Pairing/Character focus: Portgas D. Ace/Sabo          Â
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: N/A
Word Count: 11,009
Summary: One corner of the manâs mouth turned up in a smile that barely reached his eyes. As he set the hat down on the table, he said, âNever mind that. Instead, tell me: to what do I owe the pleasure of this meeting, Firefist Ace?â Even after over a decade of growth, he was still the same. Ace knew that fucking hat and those goggles looked familiar. They were the same that Sabo used to wear when they were children. The memory of smoke clutched at his throatâjust a wisp, rising high in the skyline, over the skiff that his brother sank in off the coast of the Goa Kingdom. Ace tightened his hands into fists to stop them from shaking while a ghost watched him from across the table with a wan, expectant smile.
Ace survives the battle at Marineford. But months before that, he meets a stranger who is entirely too familiar.
Artwork | Story
Iceberg/Crocodile
Title: The truth, and only the truth Â
Name: okzoomies and Mossbeast
Pairing/Character focus: Iceberg/Crocodile        Â
Rating: T
Warnings: N/A
Word Count: 6,001
Summary: When Sir Crocodile, disgraced Shichibukai and former chokehold on Alabasta, lands on Water 7 to get a new ship, Iceburg gains something unexpected out of it.
Artwork | Story
Iceberg/Lucci
Title: Tempting Fate   Â
Name:Â okzoomies and lunarshores
Pairing/Character focus: Iceberg/Rob Lucci        Â
Rating: Mature
Warnings: N/A
Word Count: 4,120
Summary: Lucci's mission was going perfectly
Artwork | Story
Kuzan/Smoker
Title: Endless Horizon
Name: CrowSizna and hamstercheese7
Pairing/Character focus: Aokiji | Kuzan/Smoker            Â
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: N/A
Word Count: 4,951
Summary: âGo put those in water somewhere, Tashigi,â he muttered. âIâll find him and call you later.â Tashigi nodded slowly, the concern still evident in her eyes. Smoker watched her leave back towards the port where their ship was moored. The evening air was dust coated, new construction on old Marineford ongoing. In the distance, the sound of jackhammers and foremen, cranes and the cracking and settling of concrete and cobblestone. He pulled a cigar off his jacket and tucked it into the corner of his mouth. Now, to find Kuzan.
Artwork | Story
Marco/Ace
Title: Unbreakable Bonds  Â
Name: MajoraNoKamen and Akemichan
Pairing/Character focus: Fushichou Marco | Phoenix Marco/Portgas D. Ace, Portgas D. Ace & Sabo      Â
Rating: Gen
Warnings: N/A
Word Count: 13,659
Summary: Ace, on the other hand, couldn't help but smile. Or rather, broaden that smile that had never gone away. At the first opportunity, he joined Sabo and continued to observe him, to check all the changes. His eyes traced all the edges of Saboâs scar, questions crowding in his mind.
"So... Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army," he finally commented.
Sabo looked at him curiously. "Yes, Commander of the Whitebeard Pirate Second Fleet?"
Ace laughed: hardly anyone used that title and hearing Sabo saying it was weird. "Not exactly what we imagined back then, but it's not bad, isn't it?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I didn't think I'd find myself a captain other than myself. And you... You know, don't you?"
Sabo froze for a moment and stared at him with wide eyes. "No," he said coldly. "I do not know."
Artwork | Story
Shanks/Mihawk/Zoro
Title: Sinful Delusions
Name: rottnkune and LMAO_Its_Jazzy
Pairing/Character focus: Akagami no Shanks | Red-Haired Shanks/Dracule Mihawk, Dracule Mihawk/Roronoa Zoro, Akagami no Shanks | Red-Haired Shanks/Dracule Mihawk/Roronoa Zoro      Â
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: N/A
Word Count: 4,288
Summary: Dracule Mihawk is bored inside his castle walls. He finds other activities to entertain himself that night. The warlord has been keeping immoral sexual desires to one of the Emperors, Akagami no Shanks, and his student, Roronoa Zoro. He wants to relieve himself through these lecherous fantasies he has with them in his quarters.
Artwork | Story
Smoker/Law
Title: Heartleaves Â
Name: @baxwitzkaâ and JacknessofHearts
Pairing/Character focus: Smoker/Trafalgar D. Water Law           Â
Rating: T
Warnings: N/A
Word Count: 18,308
Summary: "Witchcraft is a trade, Hunter. So, what are you willing to give for my help?" Law can't help but enjoy the suspiciousness in the Hunter's eyes. It's always better when they're aware of the danger they're about to step into. Law's always liked people with a sense of self-preservation.
"Let me in and we can talk," the Hunter says.
Law's always liked people with a sense of self-preservation. People who don't like to make contracts with faceless walls of magic huts. He can respect that.
"The door is open," he says.*When Hunter Smoker asks Witch Law for help, the deal he gets is more complicated than either of them bargained for.
Artwork | Story
Zoro/Luffy
Title: A Gamble on Love
Name: condeand31 and SnailorBee
Pairing/Character focus: Monkey D. Luffy/Roronoa Zoro
Rating: Gen
Warnings: N/A
Word Count: 4,215
Summary: Pre-Time Skip! "We have a bet amongst the crew, minus Chopper. You want in?" "A bet?" Brook repeated, mystified. "About what?" "If those two idiots are dating or not." Nami jerked her chin in the direction of the nap pile behind him.Strawhats and their bets about Luffy and Zoro.
Artwork | Story
Title: ephemerality
Name: TuesdayinThedas and greatduwangs
Pairing/Character focus: Monkey D. Luffy/Roronoa Zoro
Rating: T
Warnings: Graphic depictions of violence
Word Count: 6,688
Summary: Roronoa is a demon. Â Luffy is a demon hunter.Naturally, they become partners.
Artwork | Story
Title: Lay Me Down
Name: TuesdayinThedas and tinyforestshark
Pairing/Character focus: Monkey D. Luffy/Roronoa ZoroÂ
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: N/A
Word Count: 10,471
Summary: Zoro was about to bring this point up to Luffy, during a gap in the cameras, when a drone rounded the corner onto their road about a block down. In a panic to keep their identities safe, Zoro grabbed Luffy's arm and tugged him back, twisted him and pressed him back against the nearest building. His feet bordered Luffy's and his hands rested on the wall on either side of Luffy's head. Zoro opened his mouth to explain but Luffy let out another one of those chuckles that short circuited Zoro's brain. It was so soft and so very affectionate. Zoro was stuck in the loop of it, staring at Luffyâs lips.
Artwork | Story
Zoro/Sanji
Title: missed connections  Â
Name: MartaPorta91 and burnwaywardbird
Pairing/Character focus: Roronoa Zoro/Vinsmoke Sanji      Â
Rating: T
Warnings: N/A
Word Count: 7,276
Summary: There were a lot of things you could fault Totto for â the overpriced paninis and the shitty hourly wage to name a fewâbut one thing was for certain: the place had an uncanny ability to bring Soulmates together. When Sanji, a barista at Totto, meets his Soulmate without realizing it, he distracts himself from the missed connection by antagonizing the new neighbor across the street. A new connection grows in the empty space his missing Soulmate has left. Written for the OP Reverse Bang 2022 with art by Blue Riza.
Artwork | Story
Title: Share the World   Â
Name: deateath and alexandermylove
Pairing/Character focus: Roronoa Zoro/Vinsmoke Sanji      Â
Rating: TÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Word Count: 4,108
Summary: Luffy trying to eat anything that looks remotely edible? Check. Being randomly attacked by enemy pirates? Check. Robin being morbid, Usopp screaming, and Zoro and Sanji getting injured? Check. Just a regular day in the life of the Straw Hat Pirates.
Artwork | Stor
will the event run again this year?? i would really like to participate!
Hi! Thank you for the interest. The event already happened in 2022 and ended in August so right now, there are no definite plans for the next run. As soon as something is decided and any info is available, we'll post here! Feel free to turn on notifs for this blog since we'll only start posting again if an event is on the way.
The master post from the previous run of the event was sadly never finished (due to real life, various obligations, and a subsequent change in mod team) and we're sincerely sorry about that.
A new and finished master post will be posted as soon as possible with all entries from our 2022 OPRB collection on Ao3, and a new queue will be made to reblog all entries again!
A note about future runs of the event: while a new run isn't planned at the moment (since a revamped BB is coming in first), but there will definitely be another OPRB in the future with some new stuff!
In the meantime, we'll do what we can to update our social media with some new branding and we'll be back with updates when we have them!
At the moment, we're not planning the next event out yet as we're working on another OPBB for 2023. Depending on how that goes, we may do a RB after that.
At the moment, we're not planning the next event out yet as we're working on another OPBB for 2023. Depending on how that goes, we may do a RB after that.
My part of an amazing collab between me and Wordlet, for @opreversebang !
I had an absolute blast with this, hope you all enjoy!
Check out Wordlets fic, which I love to pieces!
Just a regular day in the life of the Straw Hat Pirates.
Hello hello! Here I am again with another One Piece fic! This time for the @opreversebangÂ
I had the pleasure of working with Hannah @deateath âwho created not one but TWO comics based on this fic! (As she says in her post we had a lil reverse reverse bang action going on lol)Â
âIâve decided.â Luffyâs gaze flickered from Roronoaâs eyes to his mouth. âIâve decided that weâre gonna be partners.â
My second piece for the @opreversebang this time a Demon!Zoro and Demon hunter!Luffy au. The companion fic ephemerality is amazing please give it a read!
This piece started with a sketch of the very last panel. And I added alllll the other stuff based on Xannyâs fanfiction! So in a way it was a bit of a reverse reverse bang lol.
I have never done a comic of this length before, so this was another real challenge for me. If there are some consistency issues itâs bc I did the first four pages a month ago and I did the last five pages this week lol. I am a different person day to day ÂŻ\_(ă)_/ÂŻ
Show some love to the fabulous Xanny @captainxan on tumblr and over at their Archive page! This fic is EVERYTHING I ever look for in zosan fics, which is teasing, pining, angst with subsequent Sanji going into Care So Hard Modeâą, and absolute headassery đđđ
Annnnnd check out the rest of the pieces from this project at @opreversebang !
â€"Witchcraft is a trade, Hunter. So, what are you willing to give for my help?ââ€
My first contribution for the One Piece Reverse Bang 2022 @opreversebang. I was really lucky to have the amazing @mondfahrt as my partner for this collaboration!
She wrote the absolutely wonderful (and magical đ) companion fic âHeartleavesâ which you can find on her AO3.
Seeing the project evolve into what it eventually became was really amazing!
Congratulations to all artists and authors who took part in this yearâs reversebang, and a very big thank you as well. We have lots of amazing stories and gorgeous artworks listed below for you in this yearâs masterpost. Please also check out our 2022 AO3 Collection.
Remember to show the artist/author some love and appreciation for their hard work by sharing and commenting on their work.
Sorted by gen/ship, then alphabetically by title! Will be updated as more projects are posted.
đ«âïžđŽââ ïž 2nd piece for One Piece Reverse Bang â22! đ«âïžđŽââ ïž
âąâąâą for the love of all things holy please click for better quality âąâąâą
Sheâd been barely conscious back then, bleeding out on the mausoleumâs stone. Here lies Nico Robin, buried under the stones of her own disillusion. What an epitaph it would have been. If it werenât for the antidote she offered to the unconscious victor. If it werenât for Luffy taking her out of that crumbling place by force, not listening to any of her protests. Just because he could and wanted to.
Letting out another deep breath, Robin faced the deck, giving the vast space a once-overâŠHer fingers still running over the wooden railing, she whispered. âLetâs take care of each other, Sunny.â
Once again going back to the idea that participating in this event has made me a better artist, because it has! I am really happy with how this turned out, I think my inspo was still flowing from my previous project. The line art on this is something new for me too, and I think it went quite well!
The companion fic for this piece was done by the beautiful, amazing Lily @afterdeck-ace!!! Robin instrospection is always so good, and Lily does a BEAUTIFUL job with it omgđ€đ»đ Go check out her blog, all her writing and other info is linked there too!
And as always, go show some love to the other participants in this event, their work is being chronicled at @opreversebang !!!
Rating: General Audiences (No Archive Warnings Apply)
Word count: 8961 words
â Robin sighed. Unsteady as she felt, the urge to stay awake remained. She wanted to look at the sea, enjoy the soothing sight as long as she could. No point fighting it then. Better let the thoughts swirl unfiltered, loud and unpleasant and just⊠bite the proverbial bullet until a new distraction arose or exhaustion finally kicked in.
That first night on the Thousand Sunny, Water 7 now far behind them, Robin canât sleep. Too much has happened in the last few days.
written for @opreversebangâ and @deateathâ
Tags: Canon Compliant, Character Study, Insomnia, angsty, Introspection, The Ohara Incident, and ensuing trauma, Panic Attacks, slight PTSD, Attempt At Dark Humor, misspelling Spandam out of spite, not all librarians, Nakamaship, mostly quiet and wistful
đ«âïžđŽââ ïž 2nd piece for One Piece Reverse Bang '22! đ«âïžđŽââ ïž
âąâąâą for the love of all things holy please click for better quality âąâąâą
Sheâd been barely conscious back then, bleeding out on the mausoleumâs stone. Here lies Nico Robin, buried under the stones of her own disillusion. What an epitaph it would have been. If it werenât for the antidote she offered to the unconscious victor. If it werenât for Luffy taking her out of that crumbling place by force, not listening to any of her protests. Just because he could and wanted to.
Letting out another deep breath, Robin faced the deck, giving the vast space a once-overâŠHer fingers still running over the wooden railing, she whispered. âLetâs take care of each other, Sunny.â
Once again going back to the idea that participating in this event has made me a better artist, because it has! I am really happy with how this turned out, I think my inspo was still flowing from my previous project. The line art on this is something new for me too, and I think it went quite well!
The companion fic for this piece was done by the beautiful, amazing Lily @afterdeck-ace!!! Robin instrospection is always so good, and Lily does a BEAUTIFUL job with it omgđ€đ»đ Go check out her blog, all her writing and other info is linked there too!
And as always, go show some love to the other participants in this event, their work is being chronicled at @opreversebang !!!
This is me and my wonderful partner @donivanessdoodles collab for the @opreversebang .
We had a very clear idea what we wanted before we started and I was so happy and excited about this project and I am in love and adore with my soul what Doni drew for this and I was reminded why I love writing so much.
Thank you for doing the thing for me <3
Chasing Legends
SFW
Action/violence - mild description of injury
PG 13
Mad Max inspired AU
Word count: 5,086
implied/could be read as Marco x Ace
I suck at tittles btw
The sun beat down, punishing all living things below that dared to venture out into its intensity. The heat made the air hot, dry, heavy, oppressive. In this new world caused by the sins of the past, the pollution and selfishness of those whoâd come before had caused the world to be a wasteland.
The ground was hot to the touch, sand and rocks that burned uncovered flesh. Even in the shade, the suffocating atmosphere gripped at a person. Dust and sand cling to everything, drawn to the perspiration on a personâs body.
Further pulling them into the world of rust and decay.
Being punished for the crimes of the past wasnât anything that Ace was a stranger to feeling. Travelling through the middle grounds, a place between the fractions, no lawâs dictated where and who he could or couldnât be, not out here.
Sand and rocks didnât care about the blood that ran through him, nor the name heâd been born from. The dust ate away at every man all the same.
He saw a palm tree in the distance, the green leaves are long gone, just faded brown, making a pitiful rustling sound in the slightest of breezes. Still, it didnât matter to him if the tree was dead or alive, he just needed somewhere to sit for a moment, take a break.
The gravel crunched under his heavy boots as he made his way towards the palm. He sighed and allowed himself to slide down the tree, landing on his ass in the dirt. Unphased by the heat rising through the earth, his body temperature handled the heat.
Having an ability like his had been a Godsend in this nightmare world. Fire to keep himself warm at night, the power to keep himself cool in the day. Heâd been owed some good karma considering the legacy he was dogged with.
Ace pulled out his flask, unscrewing the cap, taking a swig of water. Another blessing to his gift, whenever he found water, he was able to sterilise it, one of the few people heâd come across that hadnât had their insides tainted by the poisoned water.
He adjusted his hat, enjoying the shade it provided his freckled face, keeping the sun out of his eyes. Leaning back against the palm he covered his face with his hat, arms behind his head as he got comfortable. The journey between territories had been longer than anticipated, a quick nap would fix him up.
That was until his shoulders tensed, the distinct feeling of eyes piercing into him caused him to stir. There was something in the air, a presence. Sighing to himself he stood, brushing the dust off himself.
âSo much for a nice nap.â Ace grumbled to himself.
A sharp crack interrupted the sounds of the desert around him. Gunfire, not just any gunfire, heâd attracted the attention of a sniper somewhere in the area. The clever little fuck had managed to hide their presence until now. He clicked his tongue; he wasnât in the mood for a fight but it seemed to be in the mood to have him.
He glanced at the smoking hole in the front of him, the bullet had whizzed right through his body, and he was curious if the sniper would try again.
-
âWhat theâŠâ Marco squinted down the sights of his rifle, heâd shot the man through the chest, but he was still standing. He pulled away and rubbed his eyes, he didnât think the sand had been kicked up enough by the breeze to affect his vision.
Reloading the rifle he adjusted his aim, the crosshairs fixed on the stupid hat he was wearing. He never missed a shot and this time he was taking it personally. The other hadnât even moved out of the way, it was as if the stranger was staring right at him.
âI hope you have something on you worth my time yoi. Two bullets, damn.â He chuckled to himself as he pulled the trigger.
The shot fired, whizzing through the air, hitting Ace in the forehead, it should have killed him! He should have hit the floor! He then noticed the other manâs face in the scope, the incredibly smug smirk as he simply tipped his hat in greeting.
âAlright, my turn!â Ace laughed and turned his entire body to face what used to be a transmission tower.
He formed a decent sized ball of fire in the palm of his hand, lining up the fireball he couldnât help the manic expression as he launched it in the direction the bullet had come from. He wouldnât stand for being underestimated.
Marco stared at the fireball coming right towards him, he grumbled and let the gun fall around his neck. He changed into his harpy form, large blue talons to match the blue flaming wings. He jumped back from the tower, catching himself in the air with his powerful wings as the tower was hit with the blazing attack.
The creaking of rusted metal grinding against itself made Ace wince as he gritted his teeth, watching the metal crumple, he didnât have time to feel smug though, seeing the beautiful bird in the sky.
For a second, he didnât even consider the abnormal creature could have been the enemy he was fighting with.
He just couldnât move, the bird was the most gorgeous blue heâd ever seen in his life, the gold flames and tail that shimmered like something out of this world made Ace stare, mouth agape as the phoenix looped around in the sky.
Sharpened talons came hurtling down from the sky, speeding up at an alarming rate. Marco flexed his natural weapons and tucked his wings in to get a faster dive on his prey, what he hadnât expected was his prey to turn into a wall of fire.
Too late to stop his charge now he simply accepted his fate, Wings closed around his body, waiting for the impact of the ground and the burning of flames. He hissed letting out an animalistic shriek as something made a sickening crunch upon landing.
Marcoâs cooling flames at least stopped the red ones from burning him badly or for very long. His wings unfurled and he snapped his attention to the stranger in the stupid hat. He winced at the pain in his leg, looking down at the protruding bone splinter.
âWe both know an injury like that is a death sentence out here. Just give up.â Ace said as his body formed from the flames Marco had crash-landed into.
The bird seemed to regard him for a moment before it transformed into a tall man with messy blond hair, a gas mask covering his face, sniper rifle strapped to him. Aceâs eyes flashed with realisation. A zoan, the sniper on the tower was a zoan.
âNormally youâd be right yoi,â The blond said with a chuckle, distorted from the mask on his face.
His hand flickered with blue flames, brilliant, beautiful, mesmerising flames that Ace tried to not let distract him. Ace prepared for an attack from the hand made of cyan fire, flinching before he noticed Marco was placing it over his leg. Aceâs eyes opened wide; his mouth hung open like an idiot as he watched the leg mend instantly in front of his very eyes.
âYou can heal?â
Marco nodded as the flames dissipated and he stood to his full height, he had a good few inches on Ace much to Aceâs charging. Marco blinked half-lidded blue eyes at the younger man. Marco cocked his head to one side and examined Ace, he seemed to be disarmed, hands open and flat palmed at his sides, he wasnât going to attack him again.
âFire versus fire is a stalemate yoi. Weâd both be wasting precious energy if was carried on with thisâ He sighed and folded his arms over his chest, a thin brow quirking as he waited for the stranger to concede along with him.
--
âYouâre not part of a faction then?â Marco asked while he watched Ace as he casually flicked a spark into the pile of debris between them.
A roaring fire crackled to life in no time, spurred on by the dry as bone offerings that had been scouted for and piled up in the centre. Rocks and stones slotted into place around the ring of fire, keeping the blaze contained.
âNah, I got asked by the idiot in war paint to join his side once and I wasnât buying what he was sellinâ. I just want to be free, find my way ya know?â Ace shrugged and stared at the dancing flames.
The zoan nodded crossing his legs and got comfortable as he recalled the man Ace meant. Heâd learned the factions were best to be avoided from his own misadventures with the wild animals that played pretend with the notion of âcivil society.
âEustass?â
âYeah, him.â Ace confirmed and mimicked Marcoâs posturing, sitting on his legs and looking up at the rusty sky, heâd heard there was stars years and years ago, glimmering jewels in an ocean of black. He couldnât imagine anything but the deep orange that clouded up the world.
âIâve heard heâs a real piece of work yoi. The other delusional idiot with the hook and sly grin was tailing me until a few weeks ago.â Marco ran a hand through his tuft of blond while picturing that wicked grinning face looming over him.
Eustass was insane, like an animal that had spent too long in a cage waiting and bristling for a chance to exercise his brutality. Mr 0 however was just as cruel, maybe more so, his violence was hidden by a nice veneer of âfor the peopleâ; that had the masses seeking him out as a saviour, as a saint.
âHow did people like that come into power?â Ace asked, bringing Marco out of his little trance, the man fixed his eyes on Marco, not sure he would get an answer.
âItâs simple, isnât it? Sure, they arenât the only ones with gifts but in a world thatâs sand and metal is it any surprise they rose to the top yoi? They are almost unbeatable.â Marco leaned back on his palms, feeling the scratchy sand tickling at his skin.
âAlmost?â âYeah.â
âDo you mean the third faction? The one thatâs a myth? The great and powerful Whitebeard? You know nobody has heard anything from him and his âpiratesâ in years, right?â Ace couldnât help the laugh he let out, shaking his head.
His fatherâs old rival, a relic from the past, someone who could remember when there was grass on the ground and birds in the sky. He glanced at Marco as he had that thought, maybe that wasnât so wild.
Marco said nothing, heâd searched for that âlegendâ for years. Chasing a dream, simply clawing at every hope he could. Ducking and dodging his way through the warring badlands, those in between the big cities and not one person was able to utter the whereabouts of the pirate captain.
âWhy are they hunting you anyway?â Ace asked, picking up a twig, snapping the stick into smaller pieces, idly flicking them into the flames.
âIsnât it obvious? I can heal Iâm as rare as clean water yoiâ He chuckled with an air of disdain; bitterness tinged his otherwise pleasant laugh. Pushing himself to sit Marco hunched over his lap, picking up a stone and flicking it into the fire, joining Ace in the display of disinterested boredom.
âNow Eustass knows that Mr 0 is after me heâs trying to beat him to the punch.â The sadness in Marcoâs voice made Ace furrow his brows, his jaw set firm.
Marco caught the look and shrugged his shoulders, reaching out towards the fire. His own blue flames conjured up in his palm, mingling with the brighter ones, they looked as If they were dancing together in a rhythmic harmony instead of trying to overpower.
âYouâre not the only one who longs to be free yoi.â
Ace was wanted for his power and the reputation heâd had thrust unwantedly on him by his father and Marco was hunted like a wild animal for his abilities. Maybe if there was something left akin to fate it had brought them together.
âThis is why we should stick together,â Ace said with a tone of finality, not even offering it up as a suggestion to Marco.
âThereâs no point in fighting one another. We both want freedom, to be rid of chains and shackles others want to slap on us. Plus, we would make a terrifying force! My flames of destruction, my determination and you with your healing and wings!â Ace flapped his arms in a gesture, playful grin in place.
âWings?â Marco closed his palm abruptly snuffing out his flames.
âCome on..â Ace started with a slight whine to his voice that caused Marco to smirk inside his mask âFlying would cover so much distance!â
âNo one ever sees birds; how subtle do you think a giant blue one would be in the sky yoi? We might both be formidable but those two have entire armies, they control the land both figuratively and literally, weâd be dead where we stand yoiâ Marco saw how Ace deflated and scuffed some sand into the fire, pissy because he knew the sniper was right.
âAlthough,â Marco adjusted how he was sitting, his eyes focused on his companionâs face. The fire spun shadows across his features, he could see a fire in his eyes that burned brighter with ambition than any fire heâd seen.
âWould be nice not to be alone anymore yoiâ
Ace nodded; he couldnât help the growing grin on his face as the fire danced between them. He had a good feeling about this decision, about his newfound friend.
---
âIs this such a good idea birdbrain?â Ace was walking behind Marco, dragging his feet as he went.
âMarco.â
âWhat?â
Marco sighed, stopping in his tracks, and digging in his bag, pulling out paper that looked older than Ace. âMy name is Marco, not âbirdbrainâ yoi.â He explained and looked around for a flat surface, struggling to find one he turned to Ace, grabbing him by the scruff of the neck and making him turn and bend at the middle, using the other back as a table.
âA map? How do you have a map?â
âI found it, been adding things as I travel, how do you find places yoi?â
âI just kinda⊠walk in a direction?â
Ace could FEEL Marco rolling those pretty blue eyes at him. He placed his hands on his knees, doing his best to act as a table for Marco as he studied the paper, tapping roughly on one spot and looking up, surveying the land.
âI need to get higher.â
âAce by the way.â He mumbled, voice deadpan as he was allowed to stand to his full height, watching Marco stash away the map like it was a prized possession.
âAlright, Ace.â Marco began as he turned his arms into wings, letting the cool flames lower the temperature around them, his companion couldnât help himself, wanting to lean in and feel the flicker of the blissful reprieve from the heat inside and outside of himself. He imagined this was what splashing his face with fresh water might feel like.
He resisted the urge to get closer when Marco turned around and shot him a confused look.
âI wonât be long yoi.â With that Marco took off into the sky, trying to find a high vantage point to examine his map, compare it to the land. Ace rolled his eyes again and kicked pebbles along the dusty path, watching them skitter.
Marco found a tall telephone pole and used his sharp dexterous talons to keep himself attached to the narrow perch. Squatted in place and retrieved the map from his bag, holding it up and staring across the wasteland.
The phoenix brought out his rifle, holding the scope up to one eye, closing the other to focus around the area. Marcoâs claws dug into the wood, splinting it in frustration, something that was defiantly not on the map was the dust being kicked up over the desert.
The large rumbling cloud of orange in the horizon, rushing over the sand as if the dunes were little than a mere inconvenience.
âAce!â He called.
âYeah?â Ace walked slowly towards the vantage point, tipping his hat to keep the sun off his face, trying to focus on the zoan.
âYou know when you refused Eustass? Were you ah, polite about it yoi?â
âWhy would I have bee- oh shit, oh fuck.â Ace could feel the low rumble in the ground, approaching vehicles coming from the direction Marco was facing.
The ground vibrated under his feet, and he winced, maybe he could have been nicer about telling Kid ânoâ. An afterthought he guessed, he watched Marcoâs wings appear in a flash, taking flight and coming right for Ace.
âWe have to go!â
âYou arenât dragging me like some sort of roadkill, Birdbrain!â Ace protested when Marco snapped open his talons and hovered in place.
âYou brought this down on me, on us, and there is no way we can beat that many of his men alone yoi.â Marcoâs usually laid-back voice was laced with panic.
Which caused the hairs on the back of Aceâs neck to stand to attention, his mouth never felt so dry. He didnât expect Kid to be this petty and come after him with such aggression. âIs it too late to say I come with baggage?â
Marcoâs narrowed brows and âtskâ was answer enough. âI assumed that a pretty face would come with a price yoi.â
âAww you thi- HEY!â
Marco could hear the rumbling of heavy machines getting closer to their location and he wasnât in the mood to die because Ace wanted to linger on the fact heâd called him pretty. The zoan now in full avian form approached Ace and carefully grabbed him under his armpits, lifting the struggling man off the ground.
Marco said nothing, irritation furrowed his brows as he flapped his wings, harder than before, the extra wright of Ace throwing him off. They beat desperately, the rumbling getting closer and closer, the building anxiety in his chest was palpable.
He may have gripped Ace a little tighter than needed. The other hit one of his toes with a balled-up fist and a mouthful of complaints. Marco couldnât hear the words, his own heartbeat pounding in his ears.
Marcoâs impressive wingspan kicked up a dust storm around them, their own personal cyclone. Ace lifted the bandanna up from around his neck, coughing up as the dust invaded his breathing space, choking him with the gritty dryness of the dead earth. Marco would say sorry once they were somewhere safe.
A loud screech of tires descended on them as they got some distance from the ground, a shout of aggression split the air. The zoan glanced over his shoulder just in time to see something glimmering in the light. The whizzing sound as metal cable attached to a harpoon tip flew at them, Marco tilted to the side just in time to evade being pierced.
âWhy didnât you just become fire! Youâre shaking me around and I am this close to throwing up, Birdbrain!â Ace huffed, his hands holding onto the rough scaly skin of talons, panic causing him to need something, anything as a comfort.
âSea stone tipped!â Marco quipped and tried to ignore the burning ache where his wings met his body.
He wasnât used to carrying someone. The thought of dropping Ace and using him as a distraction for his own safe getaway flickered through his mind for just a moment. Fleeting as it was it had disgusted Marco. Where had his humanity skittered off to?
Ace was still near enough a stranger to him; one heâd only just met. The dependency already blooming in his chest, the desire to not face the world alone anymore was enough to keep Marcoâs mind grounded and his talons firmly gripping the wriggling form of Ace.
âTheir loading it up again!â Ace shouted, peering down at the mass of vehicles only just behind them.
âFucking, fucks!â Marco shouted when the same gut-wrenching, anxiety building whizz sound filled their ears once more.
He dipped to the other side this time, feeling the razor sharp tip graze his wing. Kid was getting too close; Marco didnât appreciate having shots taken when he was at a disadvantage.
Ace watched as the main truck was directly underneath them, a new harpoon loaded, it was aimed right at them. They were shooting to kill! No, they were shooting to kill him they knew Marco would heal and he was the real prize here. As much as that hurt the manâs ego he didnât plan on anything happening to himself or his new friend.
Kid grinned, a maddening look on his face. Red lips twisted into a sinister snarl, the pleasure of the hunt running through his body. He felt alive, full of electricity and his veins pulsing with adrenaline. The red paint on his face looked like blood-smeared, only making his crazed expression even more terrifying.
Ace clicked his tongue when the clicking of gears signalled the count down.
âShould have fuckinâ agreed to my kind offer Portgas!â Kid yelled loud enough to be heard over the rumbling engine, the clanking of chains and cheers of his men as they got closer to taking them down.
âEat shit.â Ace replied, his smirk growing as he place his two index fingers together to form a cross.
Kid blinked, narrowing his eyes when Aceâs fingers started to glow bright orange. Ace didnât have time to warn Marco as he fired off his blast. Brilliant intense heat, fire and fury pulsed out his simple hand gesture.
Marco winced when he felt the sudden heat on his underside, wafting up and mingling with the cold air his wings provided. He didnât have time to blink when he saw the tower of fire coming from Aceâs hands. Heat and flames spiralled down and hit the truck head-on.
The explosion rang out loudly, deafening the two airborne devil fruit users. The truck caught fire, sparks, and metal debris flew in all directions. Marco was thankful the redhead hadnât the forethought to cover his vehicleâs armour in sea stone, each sharp splinter of shrapnel shot through his body.
Marco didnât have time to gloat in his enemyâs defeat, other trucks were gaining on them, the same malicious intent clear as gunfire crackled and popped. Machine guns with full belts aimed at them again.
âAce! Do that again, this time at the GROUND!â Marco yelled at his dangling companion.
âThe ground?â Ace looked straight up; confusion wrinkled his nose.
âJust trust me yoi!â
Ace had no reason to doubt Marco, the phoenix hadnât dropped him to his immediate death after all. Crossing his fingers once more he aimed at the ground this time, the same intense blast hitting the ground, the dust it created lost in the chaos of the armoured convoyâs man-made sandstorm.
The blast did exactly what Marco had hoped for. It propelled him higher into the air, he held those brilliantly gleaming blue wings out at an angle, letting the rising heat and velocity of Aceâs attack further their ascent into the sky.
Higher and higher he took them. Using the extra momentum to rest his weary wings for a moment. Rising into the air, the problems chasing them along on the ground seemed a distant memory. Marco flapped his wings with renewed vigour.
Above the layer of dust, orange, and decay they rose. The sky above was clearer than anything he had ever seen. The sun! Oh, the sun was bright yellow, whoâd have thought? Marco let out a laugh as he managed to control himself in the air once again.
Marco took in a deep breath, the clean air above the pollution ceiling filled his lungs and resonated within himself. His ancient zoan thrilled with the wounder and memory of this world. When the sky was clear, the air was clean, and water flowed freely on this once green earth.
The phoenix life force sang inside Marco. Fresh air ran across his feathers, his flames dancing in the wind as he glided across the sea of pastel blue. He could feel tears pricking his eyes, so many emotions both his and the spirit that dwelled within.
âAce, take a good long breath, can you feel this yoi?â
Ace was too dazzled to say anything. He laughed and felt himself shedding his own tears of happiness. The bliss he felt in this moment, these joyous seconds heâd never have hoped in his lifetime to feel. Clean air washed over his face, he closed his eyes, feeling baptised by the rays of sunlight on his freckled face.
He did as Marco suggested, taking a deep breath, filling his lungs. He didnât want to exhale. If he died at this moment, he wouldnât even care. He let out the breath, shuddering, emotional. Ace reached up and dried his eyes, still laughing, the feeling of joy overwhelming.
âI wish we could stay up here forever, Marco!â
Marco nodded, a happy trill coming from him. They glided across the sky, Marco purposely flying through the clouds. Water droplets from the vapour causing his blue flames to jump and spark harmlessly. Both men enjoyed the feeling of the rain particles splashing across their faces.
It was at this moment they felt reborn.
He couldnât tell how long theyâd been flying, hoping once theyâd vanished from sight their pursuers would have given up. Even if Kid was a cantankerous piece of shit, if he was alive, even he wouldnât chase a hunch above the clouds.
They started to descend, Marco letting out a pained squawk. Heâd grievously miscalculated how long he could go without landing. The bewitching freedom of the world above had entrapped him. He adjusted himself as Aceâs feet dipped into the dirty air once more.
âYou doing okay?â
âGreat, thank you for asking but we might have to prepare for a bumpy landing yoi.â Marco warned his passenger as his body sagged lower in the sky.
His wings fanned out attempting to grip at whatever depleting air current there was, trying to sink from the sky with any form of grace. Lower and lower before he felt his shoulders twinge in pain. He could heal, sure. There was no stopping the pain in his joints. Wings snapping to his side involuntarily. The fatigue was too great, he cursed himself.
âNice knowing you!â Ace nervously laughed as he saluted the bird.
Marco rolled his eyes as they fell from the sky, like brilliant shooting stars, dazzling and tumbling through the sky in a blaze of glory set to burn out into nothing. Marcoâs energy running dangerously low, heâd slipped back into human form now.
Ace reached out as they free-fell through the air. He brushed his fingertips against the zoanâs. Marco understood what Ace was asking for, to not die alone, to have some sort of connection. The sadness settled in the pit of Marcoâs stomach as he gripped Aceâs hand tightly in his own.
There were worse ways to die, worst places to end up. At least theyâd die free as theyâd always dreamed and not locked down at some assholes beck and call.
The darkness gobbled them up.
âStrange, my eyes arenât closed⊠and I can still thinkâŠ. Am I dead?â Marco thought to himself as he blinked.
Darkness like heâd never seen, pitch black and unmoving. He couldnât see anything. He focused on the warm hand in his grasp, clutching harder to it, to Ace. The dark was causing Aceâs anxiety to spike until he felt the hand squeeze.
Marco was right here with him still. That settled Ace, if just a little.
Just as abruptly as the unrelenting, inhuman darkness swallowed them it just as swiftly spat them out. The light was shocking, blinding in comparison. Marco landed painfully on the dark orange earth heâd walked along for so many years.
Ace landed sprawled across his lap, hitting Marco between the legs with a misplaced elbow. Marco hissed like a vexed goose and pushed Ace from his body and shot him a look. The flame user groaned and rolled off his lap. Getting on all fours he stared at the looming shadow that blocked the stained sun from beating down on him.
âGood work Thatch! Gurhaha!â The booming laugh made Marco flinch.
âI thought they were about to meet our maker!â The man âThatchâ said with a jovial laugh, as if he hadnât mentioned their almost very real untimely death.
âYeah, I kinda thought we had died when it all faded to black.â Ace sighed as he sat back, brushing his dusty palms down the front of his clothes, staring at the large man with the big white moustache.
How various other men stood around the giant. Ace elbowed Marco in the side, tugging at him and nodding to their saviours. âWhitebeard.â The skull and crossbones insignia each of the men gathered wore was unmistakable as well as the legend standing tall and in the flesh.
âWhitebeard?â Marco repeated and jolted up, scrabbling to get to his feet and stare in awe at the man who until moments ago was just a mere legend, a dream heâd been so intent on spending his days chasing.
âJust call me âPopsââ The man smiled brighter than the sun theyâd seen moments ago, the clear and brilliant version.
Whitebeardâs eyes crinkled in fondness, watching as Thatch helped Ace to his feet, slapping him on the back with a chuckle. Another man walked to Marco, his long black hair done up beautifully, red-stained lips quirked into a smile as he handed the phoenix a flask of water.
âYouâre safe now boys, youâre home.â
Marco felt himself smile, the first real smile in longer than he could remember. Hope he thought heâd lost slowly returning, filling his heart to bursting. He blinked when he felt Aceâs searching hand, trembling fingers desperate for comfort. Marco reached out once more, taking Aceâs hand in his own. Intertwining fingers as their new family swarmed around them, chattering and introducing themselves.
Joining @opreversebang with amazing writer that is my beloved friend @chromatic-lamina. Having a chance to work with her is such wish become reality :')
Go read her story on this AU, 'Death Doula.' â€ïž
These illustrations are my part of the collaboration with @akemichan007 for the One Piece Reverse Bang 2022Â @opreversebang.
You can read her beautiful, touching story here:Â âUnbreakable Bondsâ.
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