Appointment Post / Voicemail / All That Jazz

[justicereigns]

Smoker can't come to the journal right now because he's out not!arresting pirates so leave a message.

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[justicereigns]

I CAN'T!

[Puts his face in his hands, and sits back down cross-legged in the sand.]

I don't want Adela hurt either. And you mean a lot to her. You keep thinking you can get us to hate you, because what? A little hurt now is better than bigger hurt later?? But you don't have your full conviction in it, so you can't. It's not really what you want. Why can't you just admit that?

[orangeoutlaw]

[he hates to see Smoker like that too. It's enough to make Ace wish he hadn't started anything to begin with. But he hadn't expected it to come this far. Maybe that was inevitable though]

It's what I want and not what I want.

[shrug]

But it feels right.

[justicereigns]

That's not justice.

[Glares and pounces, rolling Ace over onto his back and holding his arms.]

Not even close.

That's a weakling's way.

That's the path of someone who thinks they can't do what's right, so they just try to pick the path that is the least bad. But it's still bad!

You're better than that, damn it!

And until you realize it, you'll never be strong enough to get what you want.

[orangeoutlaw]

[just stares at him. What does he care about justice? He doesn't even know what he wants anymore. Or maybe because he already got what he wanted with Pops' legacy, aside from Luffy becoming Pirate King but there was nothing he could do about that. He was dead. There were no more paths open.

But saying all this to Smoker is pointless because it's not what he wants to hear or he'll misunderstand it or Ace will just be lectured at and insulted for another twenty minutes so he shrugs.]

[justicereigns]

[Closes his eyes and kisses him gently before pulling back and going to fetch his socks and boots to put them on.]

What do you want besides minimizing damage, Portgas?

[orangeoutlaw]

[He doesn't have an answer so says nothing and turns away]

[justicereigns]

[Sits next to him.]

[orangeoutlaw]

[stubborn ass. after a while he says]

Go home.

[justicereigns]

[:<]

[Meanie.]

[Stop giving him orders.]

[Smoker just barely refrains from whining.]

[He hates how Ace makes him feel like a little kid a lot of the time, or else just a far-too-experienced marine that was taking advantage of the dumb kid. There needs to be more in between.]

I don't want to.

You know my first friend was a dog. I was always fighting gangs and pirates, because I grew up in Loguetown, and he kept trying to protect me. He'd run right into danger and scared the hell out of me.

Tashigi's like that too. People in Loguetown would call me a monster, and I never gave a flying fuck, but it'd tick her off something fierce. And she tries to take on shichibukai single-handed.

I don't...

I'm not saying I'm like that. I'm not.

But I couldn't get rid of their loyalty, and I wouldn't be able to make them stop. Only thing I could do was get strong enough to protect them even if all else fails. That's how I took the scar to my face. And I still get headaches for it.

You said I remind you of your worst parts of yourself but... I wish you could see you the way I do.

[Puffs a cheek out and snorts quietly.] It'd probably overwhelm you.

You're really...

[He trails off and he's quiet.]

[Despite being right next to the man, he feels like they're five oceans away.]

I don't want to go.

[orangeoutlaw]

[ahh damnit. Big dumb puppy dog. Ace hates him. He could say it more but it is like kicking a puppy. Or continually punting a dumb rubber brat down a cliffside. He's just tired. Also it's really damn cute. He likes hearing about Smoker's life. Though he doesn't understand what Smoker can see in him...

Fucking hell.

How is he supposed to do this...

He's so tired.

With a sigh he gets up and gets the key, coming to stand over Smoker and tapping it against his nose]

Fine then will you let me go if I promise to come back?

[he needs space to breathe and think]

[justicereigns]

[Nods slowly and perks up a little, finally coming to terms he can deal with.]

Will you punch me in the face if I kiss you to piss you off?

[But it's mostly just a joke. He was only doing it because well... overwhelming impulsiveness. But if he can pause long enough to ask then it's not so overwhelming after all.]

[orangeoutlaw]

Would it stop you?

[the answer is no of course but Ace takes Smoker's face in one hand, pushing his cheeks together and presses a kiss to his mouth]

Asshole.

1/2

[justicereigns]

[akjdlkasjdlkasj]

[HEY YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO KISS HIM. HE WAS THREATENING TO KISS YOU.]

[STUPID.]

[NOW HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.]

[AND ALSO IT IS COMPLICATED AND DUMB.]

[AND HE HATES THAT IT KIND OF MAKES HIM HAPPY.]

[IT IS SUPPOSED TO CONFUSE YOU NOT HIM.]

[AND MAYBE FLUSTER YOU FOR MAKING YOU HAPPY. NOT HIM.]

[FUCKING HELL.]

2/2

[justicereigns]

[He's not flustered, you are.]

[Totes.]

I'm going to bed. After I find my jacket and clothes.

Anything else I should be on the lookout for?

[orangeoutlaw]

[completely flustered]

Clothes are on the roof, jacket's in a crate across the street. That's about it I think, Taisa.

[walks away waving over his shoulder]

Later.

[justicereigns]

[Just grunts.]

[And goes.]

[I-It's not like he cares or could ever possibly miss you stupid. That would be like missing a fly.]

[Although Smoker probably WOULD miss a fly that made it a habit of bugging him as much as Ace.]

[His life is fucked up.]