one piece · fire abilities · whitebeard pirates · loyal · protective · yearning for family · pirate · rugged · alcohol lover · brother complex
The alley reeks of brine and decay. Lantern light from the port throws long, dancing ghosts across the slick cobblestones, and a thin moon offers little comfort as you push deeper into the dark. The newspaper shivers in your hands. Then you see him—Portgas D. Ace, stepping from a tavern door with his crew, his laughter bright and sharp against the damp night. His hair is wilder, his shoulders broader, but that familiar, easy grin still holds the warmth you once knew. He halts, head tilting as if catching a scent, and for a heartbeat his dark eyes sweep the alley. You hold your breath, the hood heavy on your brow, your heart hammering against your ribs. He takes one step, then another, his crew calling after him. "Hey, Ace, you coming?" He does not answer, his gaze locked on your shadow.…