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Please. I'm not even nice to him. He rescued my sorry ass from Doflamingo and I called him a traitor. Just don't kill him.

Yeah. When they're not brats like a certain someone.

Park. Genessia. What city are you in? I can go someplace easier.

Good, I can do that. I'm working hard for that whole good boy promise I made you, but dammit I've got limits. You've got someone else there too, right?

[There's a little half-hearted huff at the brat comment, but he really can't even effectively fake offense.] I'll be there, I'm just a little messed up still.

[Chuckles.] Yeah. Rosinante. He's a marine from way before your time. Tall as Kuzan too. Gotta tell you it's weird not being the tall one again. Although I guess you're used to always being a shrimp around the Whitebeards.

That's what I'm worried about, Portgas. [Arches eyebrow.] I've got the bike. It's easier for me to go distances.

[He sighs, that's way too many Marines for his tastes.] So do I have to worry about either of them? I mean, my experiences with the Marines haven't been great so far. [He has no clue about this Rosinante, and he doesn't care as long as he and Kuzan stay away.]

Nah, I'm staying in the shitty apartment they handed over right now. I can get there easy.

Nah. Kuzan isn't from after fighting Akainu himself, but he knew I had a thing for you before I was willing to acknowledge it. And he knows he doesn't have any authority here, so it would be criminal of him to start anything. He's less fussy about pirates than I am. And Rosinante... When you died, another pirate crew rescued your brother from the war. The Heart Pirates. They became allies of Straw Hat. Their captain Trafalgar Law is another pirate who's saved my life, and that of my base. And it's complicated, but I think it's because Law was protected by Rosinante. Long story short, he doesn't automatically hate pirates either. And... [Drums fingers on the bike handles for a bit.] He would agree with your father, Whitebeard, and me, that blood shouldn't be criminalized.

I thought you were going to stay with your crewmates?

[He's still on his way, trying to get to the park quickly while being just a little unsteady on his feet. But he's definitely taking in what Smoker said. Everything is complicated, and he feels a little sick and dizzy every time someone brings up that he died, the surreal feeling is not going to go away anytime soon. But there's also relief at the idea that he won't be battling the Marines that have arrived here.]

I was, and still do sometimes. But it's not my space, you know? I know I'm welcome there, but I also feel out of place. Does that make sense? They've got lovers and lives that didn't exist when I was-[Fuck, now he has to say it again.] When I was alive the first time.

Portgas...

[It's kind of funny, because Smoker had a life and lover outside of Ace too, but that hardly stops him. Then again, both of those things were left heavily dented by Portgas, even before here.]

That doesn't mean they didn't miss you.

[Rubs the back of his neck.] Ask me about G5. When you get here.

[There's a little pause this time between responses, someone stopped him to talk.] Yeah, I know. I know they missed me, but I got left in the dust. I still feel like I'm intruding somehow, even though I got welcomed with open arms. I mean, everyone's been nice to me. I'm not lonely. But I still feel like I'm a step behind and I can't catch up.

[G5, G5, he commits that to his memory as much as possible.] Yeah, I will.

[Most adorable brat. Sorry Whitebeards, Smoker's stealing him back. Somehow. If he can. But he can, because he's the White Hunter, and he does what he wants.]

[Smoker is working out at the park, between chucking balls for the dogs, doing jitte katas. Can't get rusty.]

Then claim your place back. You're not a rookie or just some new brat anymore. You earned your position as a division commander, and even if you think that doesn't count here, then it just means fighting your way here to prove you've still got your head together.

[Holds a hand up.] I get it. Easier said than done. No matter who I fought, or how many scars I earned, I always still feel like I'm scrambling behind Issho and Kuzan. Like I said, you're the only one I've ever considered my equal, and that's not just because we have matching logia.

But you've never gone easy on us before. When you want something, you punch your way into it -- not unlike Garp and walls. They'll give you space if they think you need it. But if it's not really what you want, don't run away for their sake.

And...

[Soft glance to the comm.] Like I said. I'm back to leaving that window open since you're making so much effort.

It's not really like that. My place doesn't exist anymore. So I gotta find a new place, with everyone. But figuring out how that works out is easier said than done. I just need to live, and see where that puts me. [There's nothing bitter about it, and he's not angry in his voice or in his heart. It's just a fact, the world changed so much and so fast between his death and this place.] You really mean that? You consider me your equal? Damn... [He's quiet and unsure of what to say, especially when that glance happens and the reminder of the open window policy is stated.] Almost there, just give me a minute.

[Ace takes the rest of the short trip to try to get his brain together and out of whatever mushy status effect has been hitting him. It's only mildly successful.] Hey!

So long as you don't give up.

Yeah... didn't I say that? [Head tilt.]

[And then Portgas is there, annnnd...]

[HE HAS NO IDEA HOW TO REACT? OBVIOUSLY HE NEEDS TO ACKNOWLEDGE ACE... so...]

[PUNCHING HIM IS PROBABLY NOT THE RIGHT WAY.]

[Okay. Fighting instincts. FIGHTING INSTINCTS.]

Yo.

[Nods. Acknowledgement.]

[He's getting twitchy. Portgas is RIGHT THERE!!! He HAS to do SOMETHING!]

[So he grabs him by the beaded necklace to drag him forward and push him down.]

[And snorts, before sitting next to him and throwing his coat on Ace's head.] Fuck, you really are drunk. [Snort.]

Edited (icon) 2019-04-14 23:39 (UTC)

Not that drunk. [He peers out from the coat, and settles on wearing it. He's not gonna get it back that quickly, sorry, it's cozy and it smells like Smoker. Which honestly, wouldn't be most people's cup of tea, but to Ace it's pleasant somehow.]

[Mentally Smoker is already dead of cute. He won't ask for it back, just shake Ace out of it when he's demanding.]

[Smoker gets up and goes back to jitte katas, though as the dogs return the balls, he gives some to Ace to throw for awhile.]

Drunk enough, Portgas. But it's fine. I've seen you worse. [Flicks his eyes up in thought.] Pretty sure you've seen me worse. This you, I mean, even. [Snorts, still going through jitte forms.] Not just things you won't remember.

[Ace happily accepts the balls, and tosses for the dogs, absolutely enjoying how relaxed he feels and how safe he feels too. This is so normal, domestic nearly, something gentle and tame and worlds away from Marines and piracy and death. This world is surreal to him, something that makes his mind hurt sometimes. And he's not sure if this is really real at this point.

But he kind of likes it. Maybe more than kind of likes it.] Yeah, we're both talented at getting shitfaced. But this? This is just a nice kind of drunk. It feels good and takes the edge off.

[Laughs.]

Good.

I have other talents besides getting drunk, I hope you realize. I'd hate that to be the reason you think you would ever spend time with me.

[But he's joking, since he's not the drunk one right now, and Ace is still choosing to spend time with him, and also at the festival, even if he emphasized the drinks, Smoker suspects that's more to try to sell Smoker and let him hide behind manly bonding. Or any kind of social thing usually requires Smoker to drink, tbfh.]

Yeah, do tell? [Ace tilts his head while he tosses another ball, wincing for a moment when one of the dogs nearly runs into a tree to get it. But they right themselves, crisis averted, and he laughs as another nearly rolls to get the next. They really take this ball throwing business seriously.] I don't need to be drunk to be with you. Or have you drunk. I just needed it to ask you out. [Don't mind him shrugging, he's got limited shame after more than one bottle of rum. Or in general.]

[Ears red.]

[EARS RED.]

[Grrrrrrr.]

[7 months ago, Smoker would have just said fuck it and bluntly said exactly what he meant.]

[5 months ago he DID do that, and showed someone since words weren't enough.]

[He wants a drink, but that would definitely make this worse given how it loosened his tensions enough to call Augustine in the past.]

[Fuck, he hates himself.]

[Aaaaargh.]

[All right, a joke. Deflect. Make it easy.]

I'm good at bikes. [DRYLY. Because if Ace didn't know by now that Smoker worked on motorcycles whenever he wasn't talking justice, reading, or doing shit with the dogs...]

[But then Smoker snorts... and laughs a short bark again.]

Not that you ever gave a fuck about that. My last girlfriend, that's how I met her.

[Huff.]

[Beating the shit out of things.]

[Certain things that shouldn't be said in public.]

[A LOT OF THINGS THAT SHOULDN'T BE SAID IN PUBLIC!!!]

[Such red ears.]

I didn't expect Rip to -- [Scratches an ear like a dog!] I just meant -- she spends downtime with me too. She said once she understood finally what Augustine saw in me.

Did she tell you anything about him?

[Catches one of the balls Ace throws before the dog can, and with a smirk, brings it over to Portgas with an expectant "THROW IT AGAIN!!!!" face. Literally one of them.]

She just mentioned him. Why? [Oh god, Smoker, you're another dog in the pack, and Ace is grinning widely at this. He tosses the ball, with a snort of a laugh, and watches.] You gonna fetch it this time? I thought I was the one that had to be the good boy.

Nah. I just caught the last one. I saw an opportunity and took it.

[SMIRKY SMIRK SMIRK though.]

[He's glad. He got a real grin out of Ace, and he got to be playful and god... it has been A VERY long time since Smoker was playful.]

[With Faye. Obviously.]

That's how it was with Augustine.

[Snorts.]

[He's not doing that now though. If he was....]

[Why IS he holding back?]

[Who IS he?]

[Not the same Smoker. For sure. Understandably, but still.]

Okay, that's a lie. I mean not completely, but a little. He must have tried for a year to get me to unwind better. I'm not too good at that usually.

[Eyeroll.]

[YEAH YEAH, get the comments in now.]

Too bad. [Ace is full of warmth and mischief right now, enjoying the hell out of himself and teasing Smoker is one of his favorite pastimes. As of lately anyway. He snuggles into the coat a little more, and cocks his head towards Smoker so he can try to pay attention to him and the actual dogs at the same time.] Yeah? Well, I bet I could get you to unwind in way less than a year. Or maybe just wind you up more. [Ace squeaks as one of the dogs brings a ball back a little too fast, and he nearly gets a lap full of very large canine.] Okay, okay! [Pettings again, and he tosses once more.]

Yeah, but that's just cheating. You already did once. Fuck if it wasn't for you, I don't think I would have slept with Augustine at all. [Carefully gauges Ace's reaction.] It's different here. For me. As a marine, commitment's all but impossible. My brother, Daddy, eventually chose his daughter over the marines, because that's how it goes. All but impossible to have both. Until Adela I wasn't sure, no, I would have said, I could only ever choose the marines.

But that's former Portgas stuff. I wanted to give you something easier. Just you.

[Rubs the back of his neck.] Although, it's kind of fucked up, now that I think of it, so just go easy on me and remember the intent, all right?

Before you died, the reason you turned back to fight Akainu, was to tell the whole world that Whitebeard was the best, because he took in useless punks and the rejects of the world with no place else to go.

That's why I joined the marines. Not to murder without trial, and not even solely for justice. It gave me a chance to be something other than a useless worthless punk, that no one gave a damn about but a dog -- first dog I ever had, actually. A white little tiny one named Chaser when I was a kid. Useless assholes used to think it was funny to best up until I beat them up too. Hm... never told any other version of you that either. [Shrug. And catches one of the balls again to show off devil fruit control, quietly returning it to Portgas' lap.] Point is...

Your death never sat right with me. None of it.

I didn't do it as a tribute to you... I kind of tried to do it to spite you, in all honesty. It's hard to best a dead man, right?

[Snorts... because, well.... Roger.]

So I specifically asked for G5. Not just to be closest to picking up Straw Hat, but so I could do what Whitebeard did for you.

[Rubs the back of his neck again.]

Anyway.

That's... you all over. No matter what version, or what you remember or not. It wasn't your death that changed the era. It was your life. And not in a bad way.

I still wish I hated you more. But that's just me being weak.

Even though you're like half my age now... you taught me more about living than anyone else ever did....

[Another snort and shakes his head.] Completely unforgivable. When I figure out what to do about it to you, you should get terrified. Payback.

Edited (typoes and icons ayyyy) 2019-04-15 03:07 (UTC)

[Ace wasn't going to ask about anything just yet, he was having too much fun with the dogs, but the moment that Smoker was serious about something his attention was pulled right to him. And Smoker all but owns his attention, word by word.] You're something else, you know that? You always make me think. [And he noticed that, the show of control, and he just holds the ball for a moment, rotating it in his hands before tossing it again.] I wanted my life to be free. I wanted to be free. And Pops? He made it feel like it was okay for me to have been born, even for a little bit. We were all his sons, children of the sea, and back there under his flag I didn't feel like I wasn't supposed to exist. And maybe, it's okay that I died, if I made people think too. If I shook shit up enough that change might actually happen someday.

[Then there's a cocky smile to make up for how shaken up he is.] Payback? Is that a promise? [Then he blinks.] How old are you now?

Sorry.

[Ears flick.] 42.

[Winds up grabbing a seat next to Portgas again and nudges shoulders against each other.]

[Holds up fingers.] Two years on the Grand Line, 4 years here.

[Sorry, Smoker, you got close enough to snuggle. And Ace is drunk and shameless.] It's not a big deal. At least I'm not jailbait to go with it. [He's pretty sure that his genetic father and his mother had a substantial age difference too.]

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