Like the piece of shit I was, I avoided Ace over the following days.

It was hazy, but I remembered what had happened in his room, and if I hadn't woken up, tangled in his sheets with a splitting migraine, I would have brushed it off as some kind of dream.

But alas, I knew it had happened, and despite my feelings becoming clearer, somehow it made things harder. Even though I had decided upon leaving Doflamingo in my past, a poisoned part of me still felt like I was a traitor.

Even when we docked at the next island, I made sure to stick as close to Thatch as possible so I wouldn't be left with any chance of being partnered with the poor guy. I felt awful, but I wasn't ready.

"Okay, you've been my personal limpet all day, what's going on?" Thatch quirked a brow as I followed close behind him, returning from the nearby town carrying one of the many bags of ingredients we had purchased.
"Hmm? Oh, nothing's going on. Just trying to ass-kiss my way back into that sexy little kitchen of yours."

Even though I couldn't see it from where I was, I could tell Thatch rolled his eyes.
"Not happening, even if you're my favourite little pipsqueak. Come on, spill it. It's about Ace, right?"

I should be surprised, but it's pretty obvious.

Jogging to move to his side, I held the bag of food I was carrying close to my chest, looking up towards the sky as it began to rumble.
"I just...I'm not good at making decisions like this. My whole life I've been told what to do, and what's expected of me. I'm still not used to this whole free-will thing, and he makes it harder..."

Nodding along, Thatch took in everything I said. He was an incredible listener, and I was sure he had many secrets stored in that magnificent pompadour of his.
"I can't say that I understand your situation, because I haven't lived your life, but let me offer you some advice. If it feels right, and doesn't cause harm, then do it. But when I say that, I don't mean break into my kitchen and mangle my vegetables. That would cause me great harm."

I couldn't help but chuckle at that last part, but whilst his point was understood, my mind wandered to one person that would get hurt by my decision. I knew I shouldn't have cared how Doflamingo would feel, but it was ingrained into me, both mentally and physically thanks to his jolly roger, permanently branded to the nape of my neck.

"Okay, hear me out...what if I just slightly maimed your fruit instead? Just a little?" I teased, and Thatch turned to narrow his eyes in warning.
"Listen, maybe one day if I decide to make jam, but-" He paused, and I flinched when he suddenly snapped his fingers. "Crap! I forgot to get plums to make Pops' favourite preserve! Do me a favour and dash back to get them for me?"

It wasn't like Thatch to forget a single item on his shopping list, but I didn't think anything of it, nodding as he took the bag from my hands.
"Sure, I'll meet you back at the Moby." I gave him a quick salute before I raced back the way we had came from, making sure I had enough berries in my coin purse.

It'll be fine as long as I can get back before this storm hits!

Back in the store, I collected a large bag of plums, almost starting an argument with the store owner when he tried to give me a discount. I was too used to being given special treatment back in Dressrosa, and I wasn't about to start a fresh streak now.

Once I began heading back, I knew it was a race against time. The sky had fallen into a tragic state of depression, having passed the first stage of grief already, now beginning the second - anger.

Back in my childhood, Corazon had told me that storms were akin to those five stages of grief. His explanation didn't make much sense to me back then, nor did it now, but I always thought about it. It had probably just been a way to distract me from my fears.

As I approached the coast, my footsteps slowed, and my brows dropped heavy atop my eyes as I took in the sight. The Moby Dick was no longer anchored where I had left it. On top of that, there was one other person standing further ahead, looking just as confused as I did as the heavens began to spit.

"You have got to be kidding me!" Ace turned when I shouted to no-one in particular, an uneasy grimace causing his teeth to show. It was the very last thing I needed. To be stuck on a strange island with the one person I didn't want to have to deal with.

"They, uh...they left my Striker, at least..?" Ace piped up, motioning to his vessel, which had been dragged to shore and tied to a tree. "But it's starting to rain, so my flames might not be able to give us the go we need..."

Perfect. Absolutely perfect. I should have told Thatch tough luck!

The spitting turned to a light shower as I stood there, racking my brain for some kind of bright idea, but I was coming up blank.
"Wh..whatever...We need to find shelter before this really hits." Turning on my heel, I kept my shoulders hunched and started back towards the town for the third time.

The dulled sound of Ace's shoes against the moistening earth told me he was close behind me, but was keeping his distance. I knew that, whatever happened, I'd be stuck dealing with him, at least until morning, but I wasn't sure how I'd cope.

I'd kissed him. It hadn't just been an innocent kiss, either, and I was mortified. Still, deep down, I was glad I wasn't alone. He was still a comfort to me, if only for reassurance that I'd stay safe.

By the time we reached town again, the rain had amped up to a torrential downpour, but it was getting late, and everywhere seemed to be closed. Everywhere except the small grocery store I had gone to with Thatch.

The elderly man was pulling the doors down, ready to shut shop when he noticed us, beckoning us over with his free hand, the other holding his umbrella.
"Plum girl, you really seem to like visiting, huh?!" He chuckled, having to raise his voice to be heard over the clashing of rain.

"We were ditched by our ship!" I explained, knowing that I likely looked like a drowned vermin by now. Ace did, too. Burrowing in his apron pocket, the old man pulled out a key, handing it to me with a smile on his wrinkled face.
"Around the back is a staircase! There's a living space above my shop you can use for the night! Just drop the key back in the morning!"

He didn't even give me a chance to refuse his kind offer, shuffling off with more speed than expected, leaving me with a key and a drenched Ace. Giving up, I motioned for my companion to follow, rounding the building and climbing the stairs, nearly slipping due to the wet.

After a few fumbles with the lock, we finally managed to get inside, and I collapsed to my knees on the floor, a puddle already forming around myself and my bag of plums.
"That old guy was nice. At least we have a place to stay now." Ace sighed, taking off his hat and shaking it out, hanging it on the back of the door before he began to look around.

"Yeah, but what the hell? Why would they ditch us like that?" I was beyond unimpressed. Had something happened? Marines, perhaps? No, they wouldn't have had time to leave the Stiker behind.

Shrugging, Ace poked at a hanging pot plant, dodging it when it swung back towards him, then looked over to me.
"No idea." Yep, things were going to be awkward, no doubt about it. He wasn't looking me in the eyes, nor did he have that usual pep in his step.

A loud crash of thunder made me flinch, and as the room lit up with a flash of lightning, I realised how utterly freezing I was. Soaked through to the bone, I groaned, pinching at the material of my shirt and watching the water trickle over my fingertips.
"H..hey, see if there's any spare clothes or blankets, would you? I need to get out of these before I catch my death."

I caught a glimpse of Ace spinning away from me at breakneck speed when I started to pull my shirt up and over my head, but didn't hesitate. My health was worth more than modesty.
"R..right!" He spluttered, beginning his hunt whilst I undressed.

Great, I rarely wear bras so now I'm stuck in nothing but my briefs...

It wasn't like it was a huge issue. As I had been taught, skin was just skin, but something made me feel self conscious all of a sudden. Perhaps it was because Ace had always made a point of poking fun at my small chest, or maybe it was just Ace in general now.

"P..please tell me you have underwear on under those shorts of yours, cuz you need to get out of them too...I'm not looking after you if you get sick..." That was a lie. I knew I would have, but it was less likely he'd end up with a cold or pneumonia. He was basically a walking furnace.

Returning, and keeping his eyes locked to the far wall, he tossed me a thin throw blanket, only just enough to go over my shoulders and cover my chest if I held it closed.
"Yeah...no...I don't..." He confessed, and again I heaved a sigh, preparing myself for a long night.

"Well, eyes to ourselves then, I guess..."

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***Beyond stressed but have some Ace stuff.

Wonder why they were abandoned? 🤔

Next Time: Leg so hot. Hot hot leg. Leg so hot you fry an egg***