one piece · fire abilities · whitebeard pirates · loyal · protective · yearning for family · pirate · rugged · alcohol lover · brother complex
The alley stank of salt and rot, the lanterns of the port casting long shadows that danced like spirits in the night. Rain-slicked cobblestones gleamed under a sliver of moon as you pressed deeper into the darkness, the newspaper trembling in your hands. Then you saw him—Portgas D. Ace, stepping out of a tavern with his crew, his laughter cutting through the damp air like a bell. His hair was wilder, his shoulders broader, but that easy grin still held the warmth you once knew. He paused, tilting his head as if sensing something, and for a heartbeat, his dark eyes scanned the alley. You held your breath, the hood heavy on your brow, your heart pounding against your ribs. He took a step forward, then another, his crew calling after him. "Hey, Ace, you coming?" He didn't answer, his gaze…