Giving A Damn
Title: Giving A Damn
Series: One Piece
Pairing: Smoker x Ace
Rating: PG13
Date: Written 2006?
Status: oneshot
And So... Smoker and Ace, a tease and a chase, gunpowder kisses--or a lackthereof.
Notes: Part of a lyric challenge to 'Everlong' by The Foo Figters.
“I’ve been waiting for you. And I don’t mean here on this ship--I mean for you to take the first step. But I’m sick of waiting.”
That had been what the pirate had said, hadn’t it? When his flame form flickered through the open porthole--and Smoker supposed that always leaving it open really was asking for trouble anyway--and Portgas D. Ace solidified across the room. It would have been easy to reach a smoky arm out and grab the jitte propped up against his desk, to leap up from the chair and strangle the brat. But there was something more devilish in Ace’s eyes this time around, like he was looking for that fight, hoping to get hurt.
But then he spoke those words so calmly, no ‘Hello, tiasa, how’s life treating you these days?’ or ‘Where’s that cute sergeant of yours; at least she can carry on a decent conversation’, just that cocky smile. And maybe that was what had kept Smoker glued to his seat as Ace calmly walked towards him.
One hand touched the edge of his desk, brushing some papers aside. Then a knee joined it, soon followed by the other knee as Ace’s palms stalked across the desk, closer and closer. It was so… unexpected--yes, that was the reason--that Smoker just stared at the freckled face coming towards him, an orange hat resting on Ace’s back for once. The young man pawed his way across the oak surface, papers in his path fluttering to the ground. Slender fingers curved around the edge of the desk, and Smoker realized that he had he had misjudged the boy’s smile to be cocky when really it was nothing but lust.
“You’re too slow, old man,” Ace murmured, never breaking eye contact. “I’m tired of waiting for you.”
For him to what?
The pirate’s hands found their way to the armrests, nudging Smoker’s wrists aside so they could make purchase. The marine growled a warning shot, but nothing more as the knees slipped off the desk to trap his thighs on either side of the chair. And it really was a dangerous thing, his brain told him, to let a pirate get this close, to let him settle on his lap and to let him run his hands up his arms and to let his fingers trace his hair and let his lips briefly touch his throat and let his eyes stare into his own and--
Ace chuckled at how naïve he had been from the start. “I’ve been waiting for you to seduce me, taisa.”
A set of gloved hands fisted tightly in anger--because it wasn’t shock or confusion, it just wasn’t--as soon as the pink lips spoke those taboo words. And they didn’t shut up, either. “It seems kinda dumb, doesn’t it, like I should have been the one anyway? After all, your idea of seduction would probably be to throw me on your bed with a pair of shackles and just have your way.” Ace sighed pleasantly, tracing a gaping bottom lip with his hot thumb. “I guess I just figured you’d do it because you don’t care to follow all the rules those superiors of yours set.” The thumb stopped as Ace met Smoker’s eyes once more. “‘Corrupted bastards’, that’s what you called them.”
The room became dangerously still as the pirate leaned forward, unnatural heat radiating between bare chests as his lips found Smoker’s ear. “Then again,” he whispered, “wanting to fuck the enemy makes you just a little bit corrupt too, doesn’t it?”
This time Smoker really did transform, Ace only a beat behind him when he knew he had hit that nerve that always sent everything to hell and back. The older man had the jitte as soon as the pirate flickered through the porthole outside, laughing all the way. It felt as if he was always a step behind the fire-user, and as Smoker filtered through the same porthole he wondered when the rain had started to fall.
The fire in the sky was dancing on its merry way from the marine ship, up, up and around the beach. Smoke trailed quickly after, rumbling along the way like thunder cloud; or maybe that really had been thunder. It didn’t matter at that point, now that the chase had begun. It was only smoke and fire in that world , crashing over treetops and away from the harbor. Even though the rain fell steadily, Smoker could detect no weakening of Ace’s flame. The drops that hit him just turned to steam.
He put up with a lot just for this one moment. He put up with stacks of needless paperwork, corrupted colleagues, and the everlasting bullshit that was the Marine Headquarters. There were times when the captain wondered why he did it, why he bothered to deal with it all. Then he would remember his promise to a man that smiled when he died. Smoker would remember the true power a pirate could have. And it was only like this, tangled up in fire and smoke and sparks, that he would remember that potential power to steal the world away. He supposed he had to thank the brat for reminding him why he was a marine.
And when it all ended, when fire disappeared and smoke was forced back, he had to wonder what life would be like if everything could feel that real forever.
It was to be one of their shorter fights--that’s just how it was destined to be. On the abandoned side of the island they fought dangerously close to the ransacked docks and the ocean that churned beneath. There were no punches to be pulled, no kicks to be dodged; just smoke and fire, raw and unyielding. And it just so happened that it was destined for one of the old crates on the dock to be filled with gunpowder and explosives, ignited by Ace’s flame. They blew up.
Ace quickly called the fire back into himself, not wanting to fuel the explosion. It was a polite mistake on his part--a mistake, nothing else--that allowed Smoker to grab solid flesh and slam him to the ground. Gloved solid hands trapped one of the pirate’s wrists to the ground above his black hair, Smoker’s other reaching for his jitte on his back. The marine paused just a moment when his hand touched the handle, and it was just due to the surprise, he told himself, not that he wanted the fight to last any longer.
Ace wasn’t trying to escape. Smoker knew better than anybody that the pirate could easily enough. But he didn’t. The black-haired man just lie there with lazy eyes, unblinking as Smoker’s own face and shoulders shielded him from the steady rain.
Ace smirked at what must have been a pretty interesting look on Smoker’s face. “Oi, taisa. I know what you’re thinking,” the boy said matter-of-factly. “’This is a bad idea’, right?” Ace continued despite Smoker’s rough snort. “Never let a pirate get close, na? Even though you want it--and I know you do, so shut up--and it’s so easy for you to take.” Ace frowned a bit as he said the next part. “And it’s right here for you. So what’s holding you back?”
There was a long stretch of neither of them speaking, one that lasted so long Smoker was certain he could have counted the freckles on Ace’s face. The brat was such a pain in the ass--how could he make everything sound so damn easy? It must be nice to have that nature, to be able to slowly reach his free hand up to Smoker’s face and pluck away the cigars from his teeth. They fizzled out when Ace draped that hand across his stomach in the rain, their fiery resolve fading in an unrelenting storm.
Ace’s face was devoid of any sly smiles or cocky grins. It was strange to see him with nothing but a blank expression, without its usual fire. “Oi, taisa. Why haven’t you kissed me yet?” The cigars were then abandoned, a pirate’s hand resting on his cheek, tempting him. “Come down and waste away with me.” A murmured breath tempting him.
Smoker wondered why for once in his life he forced himself to give a damn when he really shouldn’t. He would really like to know.
The storm continued on.
Series: One Piece
Pairing: Smoker x Ace
Rating: PG13
Date: Written 2006?
Status: oneshot
And So... Smoker and Ace, a tease and a chase, gunpowder kisses--or a lackthereof.
Notes: Part of a lyric challenge to 'Everlong' by The Foo Figters.
“I’ve been waiting for you. And I don’t mean here on this ship--I mean for you to take the first step. But I’m sick of waiting.”
That had been what the pirate had said, hadn’t it? When his flame form flickered through the open porthole--and Smoker supposed that always leaving it open really was asking for trouble anyway--and Portgas D. Ace solidified across the room. It would have been easy to reach a smoky arm out and grab the jitte propped up against his desk, to leap up from the chair and strangle the brat. But there was something more devilish in Ace’s eyes this time around, like he was looking for that fight, hoping to get hurt.
But then he spoke those words so calmly, no ‘Hello, tiasa, how’s life treating you these days?’ or ‘Where’s that cute sergeant of yours; at least she can carry on a decent conversation’, just that cocky smile. And maybe that was what had kept Smoker glued to his seat as Ace calmly walked towards him.
One hand touched the edge of his desk, brushing some papers aside. Then a knee joined it, soon followed by the other knee as Ace’s palms stalked across the desk, closer and closer. It was so… unexpected--yes, that was the reason--that Smoker just stared at the freckled face coming towards him, an orange hat resting on Ace’s back for once. The young man pawed his way across the oak surface, papers in his path fluttering to the ground. Slender fingers curved around the edge of the desk, and Smoker realized that he had he had misjudged the boy’s smile to be cocky when really it was nothing but lust.
“You’re too slow, old man,” Ace murmured, never breaking eye contact. “I’m tired of waiting for you.”
For him to what?
The pirate’s hands found their way to the armrests, nudging Smoker’s wrists aside so they could make purchase. The marine growled a warning shot, but nothing more as the knees slipped off the desk to trap his thighs on either side of the chair. And it really was a dangerous thing, his brain told him, to let a pirate get this close, to let him settle on his lap and to let him run his hands up his arms and to let his fingers trace his hair and let his lips briefly touch his throat and let his eyes stare into his own and--
Ace chuckled at how naïve he had been from the start. “I’ve been waiting for you to seduce me, taisa.”
A set of gloved hands fisted tightly in anger--because it wasn’t shock or confusion, it just wasn’t--as soon as the pink lips spoke those taboo words. And they didn’t shut up, either. “It seems kinda dumb, doesn’t it, like I should have been the one anyway? After all, your idea of seduction would probably be to throw me on your bed with a pair of shackles and just have your way.” Ace sighed pleasantly, tracing a gaping bottom lip with his hot thumb. “I guess I just figured you’d do it because you don’t care to follow all the rules those superiors of yours set.” The thumb stopped as Ace met Smoker’s eyes once more. “‘Corrupted bastards’, that’s what you called them.”
The room became dangerously still as the pirate leaned forward, unnatural heat radiating between bare chests as his lips found Smoker’s ear. “Then again,” he whispered, “wanting to fuck the enemy makes you just a little bit corrupt too, doesn’t it?”
This time Smoker really did transform, Ace only a beat behind him when he knew he had hit that nerve that always sent everything to hell and back. The older man had the jitte as soon as the pirate flickered through the porthole outside, laughing all the way. It felt as if he was always a step behind the fire-user, and as Smoker filtered through the same porthole he wondered when the rain had started to fall.
The fire in the sky was dancing on its merry way from the marine ship, up, up and around the beach. Smoke trailed quickly after, rumbling along the way like thunder cloud; or maybe that really had been thunder. It didn’t matter at that point, now that the chase had begun. It was only smoke and fire in that world , crashing over treetops and away from the harbor. Even though the rain fell steadily, Smoker could detect no weakening of Ace’s flame. The drops that hit him just turned to steam.
He put up with a lot just for this one moment. He put up with stacks of needless paperwork, corrupted colleagues, and the everlasting bullshit that was the Marine Headquarters. There were times when the captain wondered why he did it, why he bothered to deal with it all. Then he would remember his promise to a man that smiled when he died. Smoker would remember the true power a pirate could have. And it was only like this, tangled up in fire and smoke and sparks, that he would remember that potential power to steal the world away. He supposed he had to thank the brat for reminding him why he was a marine.
And when it all ended, when fire disappeared and smoke was forced back, he had to wonder what life would be like if everything could feel that real forever.
It was to be one of their shorter fights--that’s just how it was destined to be. On the abandoned side of the island they fought dangerously close to the ransacked docks and the ocean that churned beneath. There were no punches to be pulled, no kicks to be dodged; just smoke and fire, raw and unyielding. And it just so happened that it was destined for one of the old crates on the dock to be filled with gunpowder and explosives, ignited by Ace’s flame. They blew up.
Ace quickly called the fire back into himself, not wanting to fuel the explosion. It was a polite mistake on his part--a mistake, nothing else--that allowed Smoker to grab solid flesh and slam him to the ground. Gloved solid hands trapped one of the pirate’s wrists to the ground above his black hair, Smoker’s other reaching for his jitte on his back. The marine paused just a moment when his hand touched the handle, and it was just due to the surprise, he told himself, not that he wanted the fight to last any longer.
Ace wasn’t trying to escape. Smoker knew better than anybody that the pirate could easily enough. But he didn’t. The black-haired man just lie there with lazy eyes, unblinking as Smoker’s own face and shoulders shielded him from the steady rain.
Ace smirked at what must have been a pretty interesting look on Smoker’s face. “Oi, taisa. I know what you’re thinking,” the boy said matter-of-factly. “’This is a bad idea’, right?” Ace continued despite Smoker’s rough snort. “Never let a pirate get close, na? Even though you want it--and I know you do, so shut up--and it’s so easy for you to take.” Ace frowned a bit as he said the next part. “And it’s right here for you. So what’s holding you back?”
There was a long stretch of neither of them speaking, one that lasted so long Smoker was certain he could have counted the freckles on Ace’s face. The brat was such a pain in the ass--how could he make everything sound so damn easy? It must be nice to have that nature, to be able to slowly reach his free hand up to Smoker’s face and pluck away the cigars from his teeth. They fizzled out when Ace draped that hand across his stomach in the rain, their fiery resolve fading in an unrelenting storm.
Ace’s face was devoid of any sly smiles or cocky grins. It was strange to see him with nothing but a blank expression, without its usual fire. “Oi, taisa. Why haven’t you kissed me yet?” The cigars were then abandoned, a pirate’s hand resting on his cheek, tempting him. “Come down and waste away with me.” A murmured breath tempting him.
Smoker wondered why for once in his life he forced himself to give a damn when he really shouldn’t. He would really like to know.
The storm continued on.