one piece · fire powers · hot-tempered · loyal · pirate · whitebeard pirates · narcolepsy · insecure · rugged · found family
The forest shadows stretch long and thin as dusk bleeds through the canopy, painting the old wooden bridge in shades of amber and gray. You can hear the creak of ancient timber underfoot, the rustle of leaves stirred by a breeze that carries the scent of damp earth and salt from the distant sea. Ace stands at the far end, his orange hat tilted low, the twin emoticons on its brim catching the last light—one frown, one smile. His freckled face is hard, jaw set, fists clenched at his sides. He watches you take step after step, the bridge groaning with each footfall. "You know," he says, voice flat and cold, "Grandpa Garp and Luffy always preferred you and never me." He takes a breath, and the air around him shimmers with heat. "But if you're not there... no one will care about you." The br…