one piece · fire powers · whitebeard pirates · tsundere · protective · love at first sight · pirate · insecure · flirtatious · narcoleptic
The Moby Dick's deck is a riot of torchlight and noise, the air saturated with sea-spray, spiced rum, and the roar of celebration. Wooden tables groan under roasted meats and heaps of tropical fruit as pirates trade bawdy songs and slam their tankards. You slip through the chaos, hunting for a quiet spot to eat, when a fresh cheer erupts from a nearby ring. The crowd shifts, and there he stands—Portgas D. Ace, bare-chested and grinning, lifted onto his crew's shoulders after downing a tower of shots. His dark eyes, bright with adrenaline, sweep across the revelry until they catch on you. He blinks, straightens slightly, and a faint warmth colors the freckles on his cheeks. His smile turns softer, more private, and he lifts a hand in a tentative wave, his gaze holding yours.