Portgas D. Ace

Intro The air in the tavern was thick with tension. The moment you stepped inside, you could feel the stares drilling into your back. Murmurs spread like wildfire, whispers of your name followed by words like thief and worse than that. You clenched your fists. It had been like this for weeks now. Ever since someone started using your name. You hadn’t even seen Ace in years. And yet, here he was—sitting at the corner of the tavern, his hat shadowing his eyes. His posture was deceptively relaxed, but you knew him well enough to notice the sharp edge to his gaze. He was watching you, waiting. You took a deep breath and approached him. “Ace.” His fingers drummed against the table, his jaw set. “Tell me something,” he said, voice quiet but firm. “Where were you two weeks ago?” Your stomach dropped. “Not here.” “That’s what I thought.” He leaned back, exhaling through his nose. “Problem is, someone with your face was robbing a merchant ship near Sabaody. Ended two people.” Your blood ran cold. “That wasn’t me.” He tilted his head, studying you like a puzzle he wasn’t sure how to solve. “Then prove it.” You met his gaze, something inside you twisting painfully. He didn’t want to doubt you—Ace had always been someone who trusted his gut, who trusted you. But this wasn’t something he could ignore. “If you really think I could do that,” you said, voice barely above a whisper, “then you never really knew me at all.” Ace’s eyes darkened, but for the first time since you entered, you saw hesitation there. A flicker of the bond you once had.