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Ace was bored out of his fucking mind, he wanted to do something, but he was exhausted so he didn’t want to move. He'd been traveling for two weeks straight, and many of those days he'd been sailing his striker with no rest because storm after storm kept coming right as he was laying down to sleep. But now he was on land in his own hotel room, and even if it started storming outside, he could sleep the whole fucking day and night away.
Buut it was mid morning and these shades did nothing to block out the sun, and the kids in the next room were running up and down the hallway. So all combined with his tired aching limbs, he actually couldn't sleep. For a man with Narcolepsy, he would have hoped his body would do him a solid and pass the fuck out, but alas luck was not on his side.
Ace laid back on his bed and contemplated what to do. Absentmindedly scratching his nuts through his underwear.
Count sheep?
Naw
Count from 100 down to 0
Naw he always messed up around the 70s and lost his place, usually aggravating himself even more.
Relaxing his musc-
Wait, he knew exactly what he could do to get some sort of entertainment, even if it wasn't sleeping.
He closed his eyes and slowly released a mental lock.
Slowly, very slowly a trickle of voices entered his mind and a familiar hum of voices started up.
'These's fucking kids get on my last damn nerve, why I thought three was a good idea, I'll never know'
'It's nine forty, alright time to get ready for work.. oh fuck.. yea never mind its my day off zzz-'
'If I move my queen here, next turn if he moves his bishop I may be able to turn this around'
'Scrub scrub scrubbing my pits scrub scrub scrubbing my dicks. Ah wait I just have one'
Ace focused a bit more, broadening his range from just the hotel to further in the island, while catching fewer words, looking out for anything that would entertain him for a little bit.
'Bananas, peaches, apples'
'The opera next week'
'I should call mum'
'Arf to you too pupper'
'Clean the deck'
'Swear if Tashigi'
'beach smells foul'
Wait.
Ace blinked and went back to a voice he heard say a name he recognized.
'One more god damn time, I'm going to have to check her fucking shoes. How does a woman trip this fucking much?'
Ace snorted recognizing Smoker's internal thoughts. The voice he heard was similar to Smoker's actual voice but with less gravel since he couldn't smoke inside his head. Ace put his hands behind his back and relaxed, listening into the marine's thoughts.
'I'm tempted to ask Vegapunk himself to make this woman a damned tail, maybe some fucking counter balance would work in her favor. Unless it's her glasses, they might be too small. Or too old.'
“Thank you sir, I'll be more careful”
'She says that every day. Never mind, I'm not going to waste any more time thinking about this, I've got other things to focus on, like getting these damn men to behave! How many times do I have to fucking repeat myself? They're like a bunch of children!'
“Hey boss! Do we have your permission to go on land pretty pretty please?!”
“Yea boss, I heard they have a legal brothel here!”
“wanna join us?”
'You'd think after the fourteenth no, they'd understand'
“Thanks boss! We won't cause too much trouble!”
'Well that's a lie. How long will it take them to get in trouble? It's 0945, I'll give them an hour. In the meantime I have to..
'Check provisions with the cook
Restock on rope and see if this town has some extra material for the sails.
Ask Tashigi to check the keel for damages, those storms were rough.
I'm fucking starving, so I need food.
Contact the marine base here
Give men time off on land for a bit that's done'
Check on those giant kids
Make sure the giant infants are fed.’
Ace blinked this fucker could visualize what he needed in a near perfect list, he could even strike things through what the fuck? And what was that stuff about giant kids? He'd have to keep an eye out on his pop up memories.
"Sir we have a question"
"Sir there’s a call for you"
"Can you check these papers for us?"
"Sir, Pike said I look fat in the uniform"
"I did not! Don't lie to the boss"
"Yes you did, you were drunk!"
"Then that don’t fuckin count!"
Ace grabbed his head and toned down how much of the outside world he could hear from Smoker's mind. His crew pestered him so much. They all talked over each other and asked for so much stuff. He felt Smoker's annoyance bubble up before he started yelling at all of them, telling them what to do, and to think before asking him, to solve their own problems first, and to tell the person on the line to fuck off until tomorrow. Ace was chuckling to himself as Smoker steamed in his mind, curse word after curse word flowing through his mind. It was a bit taxing on the mind but it got a few laughs out of Ace. Finally to both of their relief Smoker walked back into his room and sat down on the desk.
'Fuck I knew I should have finished these in the god damn morning.'
Ace checked the time, it was only 9:55 it was still morning for another few hours.
'And Tashigi brought me more. Great. Oh, well actually she did most of it I just have to skim over it. She usually does a good job at this so I shouldn't have to worry. But those men annoy her sometimes so I'll double check it. Plus those kids have been taking up most of her time.'
Ace was about to tune out the boring marine babble when Smoker did something that was mildly impressive.
'They're trying to change regulations, glad she disagreed, these new rules are ridiculous. Not only does it ruin the livelihoods of many farmers, but they plan on making this grand line wide?'
'I forgot to check the provisions, but I hope that the cook sent me a paper of what he's missing. We should have the funds for it, but with G-5 they really cut down on the amount of money allowed per ship and per man.'
He had two thoughts running at the same time!
Ace blinked surprised as he heard the man concentrate on two completely different things at the same time. How the hell could he do that?
Ace tried to carefully probe his mind to see how that was happening when he felt all thoughts freeze. He felt the sudden deep inhale wash through his mind like an ocean wave and when he exhaled everything Ace had access to was buried deep in his mind.
'Are you actually probing through my head again or am I being paranoid?'
Ace blinked in surprise and kept still. Smoker couldn't have been talking to him could he?
'Ace stop fucking with me.'
Ace kept quiet wanting to see what would happen. He sat up, curiously excited. This was the first time he'd had someone realize he was in their head without him pointing it out.
'Ace? Either you're staying quiet to fuck with me or I'm fucking loosing my mind.'
Ace bit his lip.
'... How can I- Did I tell you I met up with your brother last week?'
'?!Did you'
'I knew you were rattling in there'
Fuck. Caught red handed. Ace flopped back with his hands behind his head again.
'How'd you know I was here? I haven't said anything'
'I can feel the stupidity coming off of you in waves'
Ace laughed, it was his mind so he couldn't double think his wording before letting it all come out, but Ace didn't mind, made for funny moments.
'~Yea I'm sure that's why, not because you were thinking about me or anything '
'Fuck no. Not today at least, not yet, probably later during lunch, stupid vacuum of a stomach… I hate you and this mind probing shit you pull'
Ace couldn't help the giant grin.
'So you do think about me. How cute'
'Daily- FUCK'
'Pfft! It's alright, I think about you too'
'Fat chance, I'm the only dumb ass here that would obsess so much about your stupid ass'
An image flashed in Smoker's mind of Ace crawling out of the window, ass right on display, Smoker's vision focused on said ass. Smoker internally groaned
'Just get out of my head and bother someone else'
'No can do love'
'Love it when he calls me that'
Smoker breathed and all his thoughts emptied out again.
'What are you doing around here? This mind reading thing has range doesn't it?'
Ace wanted to tease him more, but instead he turned on his side and mentally shrugged.
Eh, I have it island wide right now, but I can't keep it up for much longer, I'll give myself a headache if I do that for too long'
'~So I'll just change to focusing on your brain waves. Very nice brainwaves by the way, they match my own
'Can’t tell if that’s an insult or not. I can’t be that stup-. So there's no escaping your nosy self today. Again, what are you doing here?'
'!Pfft, Today is all about that R and R, Rest and Pestering’
‘You know Pestering is spelt with a P and not an R’
‘Of course, but if you take out the little bottom stick in the R its basically a P’
‘That’s not how Engl- He’s fucking with me.’
‘.YUP! But honestly I’m just trying to catch up on some sleep. Trying to recuperate after those storms last week'
'You're telling me, our sails nearly ripped mid way through.'
'I have to ask for better funding for the damn ship and these damn fools, they don't deserve to live like this even if they act like it'
Again with the dual thoughts. Over thinking bastard.
'At least you had a whole ass ship. Striker went flying into tornadoes a few times'
He didn't mentally respond but showed his annoyance through a memory of his men chaining off the ship like monkeys in a barrel, the farthest one with tears in his eyes as he nearly got sucked up by the tornado.
'Well at least you know they have each other's back'
'They left their post and nearly got all of us sucked in.'
'Heh then they're lucky they have you'
Ace prompted out a memory Smoker was trying to keep from bubbling to the surface. It was of Smoker's smoke flying in between them all scooping them back into the ship and holding them down when a particularly strong gust of wind tried to take them again. The continuation of that was all of them crawling over Smoker, crying their gratitude out and rubbing their snotty thanks on his jacket.
'Any captain that had a chance to save his crew would'
This time it was Ace's mind that couldn't help but bring up the memory of Draw. The conversation and fight with Draw many years back, when he confessed to burning innocent people and his own crew down for the sake of justice.
'Not all Captains'
They both stayed quiet for a moment before Smoker seemed to relax a bit, his mind not a chaotic and over thinking mess it usually was. The chittering thoughts running in the background not as loud as they could be.
'How long are you going to bother me?'
'.A bit? All day? Until I get my fill and fall asleep'
'Why do you have to torture me specifically?'
'Why not love? It's been a while since we talked'
'It's only been six months. You ignored me for two years before.'
'I'm older now, smarter, wiser and I'm needier now. I'm also tired and you're helping me relax'
'Emphasis on needy'
Ace beamed and gave him a memory of Ace on his knees, tongue licking up Smoker's balls and up his dick, eyes focused on the man just past his dick. It didn't seem like Smoker had much control of suddenly remembering the inverse, his side of the memory. How Ace looked so damn needy and let his mouth open for Smoker to cum inside it.
'Not now brat'
He tried to wipe his memory clean of their naughty moments, but Ace just kept making his favorite ones pop up. The time when he came on Smoker's face, or the first time Smoker hit his prostate for the first time all those years back, Smoker eating him out, Ace waking up to Smoker's dick in his mouth.
'This fucking asshole is going to give me a damn erection in the middle of the galley.'
'It doesn't have to be in the middle of the galley'
Ace blinked and showed his current room, the bed wide open with enough space for the other man.
'Not happening. Not now.'
'Tonight'
'No, I need to take care of the men'
'But I need a fucking break'
'Don't be stupid, I've got the work to do'
'A quick nap on his thighs'
Ace heard him mentally war with himself. Ace cheering for the side of his argument that would want to join him.
'Doesn't have to be now~ I have this room for another few days’
'I shouldn't.'
'I need a good night's rest'
'Damn temptation'
Ace laid back on his back and folded his legs up, looking down at it and rubbing his thighs, he was only in his underwear so Ace made sure to pull those farther up his thighs to catch as much skin as possible. He hummed and sent that image to Smoker, then slipped his underwear down past his dick and teasingly covered it with his hand, sending that to him as well.
'You are insufferable - ly sexy'
'~And your insufferably cute inside your head. So honest'
'Fuck off'
'Fuck me instead'
'Gladly. FUCK STOP!'
Ace could help let out a laugh. He was too cute. Still he teased the man enough, if he was going to get the man to join him today, then he couldn’t blow his load so early. So he put his underwear back on and went back to relaxing.
.Alright alright. Then instead of giving you more ideas, why don't you tell me what you are doing'
'?Wait no, tell me about Luffy, when did you see my brother
Luffy engorging himself on a huge bowl of soup was Smoker's first thought, they were in a snowy area, and both their ships were parked next to each other. Ace studied the memory, Smoker's men trying to separate the marine's from the pirates, while there were literal giant children running around in the back.
'You'd be annoyingly proud, this was before he beat up Doflamingo, he teamed up with Trafalgar to take out Caesar, Feather brain's moronic scientist'
'?Oh do you have a memory of how he left the guy'
Smoker showed him unconscious, battered and bruised while Law was holding his heart, and Chopper was setting his nose back with an angry scowl.
'Never seen the tiny guy so angry. It was warranted, Caesar did some fucked up things to these children, and your brother’s doctor has all his right to be angry with him. But fuck if noticing we have similar ideals doesn't make it hard to want to capture your brother's crew now.'
'...Shit'
Smoker's mind suddenly went quiet after that confession. Ace was confused. He tried to probe his mind again, over and over but it felt like there was a film over his thoughts that Ace couldn't penetrate. Ace sat up and tried again.
'Oi, what are you doing? Don't kick me out'
He got nothing, Ace waited a little bit, and watched the time go by from 10:15, to 10:45, 11, 11:30: 12:25, 12:55, 1. Every time he checked the time he checked back on Smoker, that film was still there, by 1:30 it was finally wavering and Ace could mentally grab the film and pull it off.
He watched for the next hour as Smoker dealt with the ginormous children. Making sure they all ate, making sure they were all happy, giving them a chance to go out to the beach and have fun on the sand. He along with Tashigi made sure to quell any fights between them and Smoker's smoke made it much easier to wrap a huge Band-Aid over one of the kid's knees.
It was closer to 3pm than 2pm when Smoker spoke up, he was sitting on the edge of the basket of the infant, making sure he stayed asleep. He also had a giant smoke shade over the kid, making sure he didn't get sunburned.
'Good to know I can kick you out'
'Just for a bit. I've been watching for a while'
'I know, I felt the barrier crumble a while back'
'?How'd you learn how to do that'
'I accidentally found someone else that can do that mind probing thing.'
'?Who'
Cyborg Franky's wanted poster came up in their head.
'?How the hell did you manage to talk to him in your head'
'He decided to sing something for all of us to hear so he broadcasted it in our heads. The kids got a kick out of it.'
So wait, you made a mental barrier after running into him. Did you just learn it because'
'?you didn't want to hear him, or did you actually talk to him
'It may come as a surprise to you brat, but I do have a mouth and the ability to speak.'
'I'm not trying to be an ass, but he's a pirate'
'Yea.. He actually came up to me. I didn't have a shocked enough face and he wanted to know why'
'?So you told him about me'
'No I told him about Kuzan'
'He can do this too?! That two faced fucktard'
Smoker kept quiet as Ace muttered profanities and rude things at the mere mention of the newest member of the Blackbeard pirates until he was huffing and puffing in their mind.
'Done?'
'Fuck his stupid ice, and the smarmy look on his face… now I'm done'
'Fucking finally. It's like you don't want to learn something about your powers'
Ace sat up. He's always had this strange telepathic ability, but never had much information on it. Haruta had it as well, which is how he learned to block everything out, but neither of them know what caused it or why they were one of the few on the crew with the ability.
'Tell me'
'It has to do with where you were born. You're from the South blue right?'
'Yes. That much was said at the war...'
'Well Cyborg Franky and Kuzan were both born in the south blue. They both said it has to do with something in the food. There's a special fish in the south that has this ability to telepathically communicate, and consuming enough of it gives you the same Abilities. Apparently it's a very popular fish not only for its abilities, but for its taste.'
'.But I was too young to eat food when I left the South. I was a baby'
'Good point… Then perhaps your mother had the ability, maybe something that is passed down from mother to child.'
Ace felt a little spark in his chest, he had something else from his actual mother.
'?...You think'
'It could be. She had to eat when you were in her womb, it most likely passed on to you. And if memory serves me correctly she held you for much longer than the required time. So she had to eat a lot to keep you both alive.'
'...'
Ace strained his memories, to think of something while he was a newborn, think of anything she might have told him before she passed. Maybe something while he was inside her. But memories don't work like that. It was something long gone to him. Her voice would never be something he could remember. The thought was disappointing, but nothing life changing, it had been that way since she died.
Smoker had stayed quiet while he thought and strained his memory, Ace unknowingly broadcasting that to him as well. He spoke after Ace finished struggling.
'I wonder if her ability to mentally speak with you allowed her to convince you to stay inside her for the extra amount of time. Figures the only person you’d listen to is your mother.'
'Maybe… I hope'
They remained quiet before Ace spoke up.
'Thanks for letting me know.'
'Yea, you have a right to know'
'?Is there a way you can teach me how to make the barrier'
'I can attempt but, I can't read your mind so I can't push to see if it worked. I can give you tips'
'Don't put that in your mouth! Don't put that in your mouth!'
Ace heard a shrill cry and watched through Smoker's eyes as one of the younger ones put a live crab in his mouth, the angry crustacean snipping at the kid's tongue as the child barreled straight to Smoker.
'Give me a second'
Smoker easily dealt with the crab and tossed it back into the ocean, flying up to pat the giant crying toddler's head.
'It's time for half of these ragamuffins to take a nap, I have to help Tashigi with that so I'll speak with you in a bit.'
'.Okay, I'll be here watching you be a big ol' teddy bear and read a bedtime story to them'
Smoker grumbled in his head, cursing a specific book the kids requested him to read over and over.
The kid's did in fact ask for the same book, and Ace did in fact enjoy hearing Smoker read to the kids, while in his head grumbling about stupid things in the books, life lessons that were perfect for the kids, or how a few of them actually looked happy. Ace also got to hear the small quips in his head of how one child needed more attention than the other, and the bigger ones needed to eat more, all while calling them all by their name.
'.If you weren't such a hard ass marine, you'd make a wonderful child care worker'
'The hell?'
‘I forgot he was in here’
'.You actually care for the kids. It's interesting to see'
'Of course I care for them. Children are our futures, if we want them to grow up and live good happy lives then you start by taking care of them in their youth. These kids have already seen the dark side of humanity, it's about damn time they get a chance to see the good side.'
'You big ol' softy'
'Shut up'
.I would have killed to have someone like you in my youth
.Makino was the best I got, but we could only see her so many times a month'
'Makino? Is it the same woman? Ace was raised on Dawn Island and Foosha Village is right there, could be the same Makino. Is she Shank's girl?'
Ace watched him quickly widdle down who it could be, mildly impressed at how quick he worked.
'?Yea how'd you know'
'Unfortunately hearsay. Some Marines caught wind of Shank's drunken babbles that he had a son with an East blue woman named Makino. And I remember him being a fan of the drinks and company of Foosha Village.'
'?!MAKINO HAS A SON'
'Wow even in my head you can be obnoxiously loud.'
'?Shut it. I didn't know Makino had a baby! How long ago'
'Hell if I know brat, the rumors started up about a year ago? So take that as you will.'
Oh I've got to visit her to congratulate her! I'll see about talking to Marco to get a quick family visit. Go back to see her and the kid, see if Dadan's still around. Oh maybe I can drag Luffy and Sabo with me. I'm sure Luffy's crew wouldn't mind if I stole him for a bit. Maybe when he's done messing with Kaido I can pick him up, or catch a ride with them. I wonder where Sabo is now. I heard some shit went down but I'm sure he's fine. Ah fuck I should actually wait til his name gets cleared so he doesn't bring the marine's wrath on her. I'll talk to Shanks and let him know to keep an eye out for Foosha. Actually, no I think he's busy too. Well damn I might just have to go by myself without telling anyone to keep the village safe
'You know you should be more careful when sharing your thoughts,'
Ace stalled
'...oops I forgot the connection was open and kinda let my mind wander'
'I noticed.'
'Just ignore everything I said'
'Not like I have a choice. Who the hell would believe me when I say that Portgas D Ace likes annoying me telepathically and implied Shanks is going to make a move'
'!Nobody, so hush you'
Ace scowled, mentally scolding himself in a way Smoker couldn't hear him.
'Annoying brat.'
'.Yea yea. Hey changing topics so I don't keep putting my foot in my mouth. Bring me some food'
That got a loud laugh out of Smoker, it reverberated in his head.
'No. Get your lazy ass up and get your own food'
'Oh come on baaabe I'm hungry, and need pampering'
'That's the last thing you need... But if you really want some pam-'
The thoughts were cut off and the barrier was back for an instant. Before dropping again.
'Get your own damn food'
'Maah, you were cuter when you couldn't put that barrier up'
'Excuse me for wanting to keep my thoughts damn private.'
'You're excused'
'You are such a brat'
'?Your brat, now what are you bringing me to eat'
'Nothing'
They kept that back and forth for a while, arguing and lightly bickering at each other. Ace still in bed, and Smoker still running around the ship and the island, getting things repaired after the storm and making sure they would be more than ready to keep going. It was close to 9 at night, after the kids all had gone to bed and all of Smoker's reports were done, when Ace realized he hadn't gone to sleep yet. He was still tired, keeping up with Smoker, even mentally, was exhausting, and now his body was aching from staying in bed all day, plus a headache started up a few hours ago with the constant link to Smoker. He should probably cut the connection and go to sleep, to save Smoker the potential headache too, but he really didn't get to enjoy Smoker's company as much as he'd like. They were both busy men, and they both had lives on the opposite side of the law. It felt genuinely gratifying to spend time talking to Smoker all day.
Ace was lost in thought, finally feeling his eyes droop when he felt the connection get closer and closer and closer. He sat up and watched smoke filter through the crack in the door, unlock it, then the man in his thoughts opened the door and stepped in.
"You came after all" Ace grinned
"You annoyed me all day, it's time I get my damn reward" Smoker grunted, locking the door behind him. He walked over to the foot of the bed and tossed a bag of food at him. "I didn't hear you mention eating food all day, and you were too damn concentrated on me to have left the room"
Ace grinned and looked in the bag, rice, sea king meat and minimal veggies, just what he liked. He looked up but didn't have to for very long, Smoker crawled on the bed and slumped his head in Ace's lap. Ace's smile turned soft as he rearranged them a bit. He sat back on the headboard while Smoker lay between his legs, head cushioned on his thighs, while his arms were under his legs, hugging them tight. His feet were still in their boots dangling off the side, but it didn't seem like he minded much. Ace ran his fingers through Smoker's hair, feeling the man relax even further, his cheek squishing so cutely on his thigh.
"Thanks love, for the food and for coming over."
He got a muffled mhmm, but that's all he needed. Ace pulled his mental link slowly from Smoker and with some effort locked away his telepathy for the time being. He could feel his head throbbing with the effort, but his stomach was complaining louder so he grabbed his food and put a pillow on Smoker's head, he got a grumble from that but no complaints, so he used the pillow as a table and quickly scarfed down his food.
He barely took more than five minutes, but when he took the pillow off Smoker, the man was already asleep.
Ace let out a huffed out chuckle "Seems like you were more tired than I was" He brushed Smoker's hair and cheek softly, before deciding to check his mind one more time. He carefully unlocked his power and slid into Smoker's mind again.
It was blissfully empty and quiet, no more humming, no more background thoughts, no actual thoughts, no double thoughts either, just blissfully dark.
He felt Smoker's fingers twitch, and a thought sparked up and tried to force him back awake, but Ace stroked his cheek again and gave a quiet hum in his mind that sunk the rising thought back down to sleep. Ace felt his own eyes blinking shut, planning on falling asleep with him, when a spark flew through Smoker's mind. He wasn't moving but spark after spark flew in and out of his mind, they didn't make sense and they didn't have a rhyme or reason, they were just part of his day flashing by, some thoughts of Ace, some thoughts of Loguetown, thoughts of his childhood, all of them flashing in bright colors with no purpose. It was like a firework show in his head.
He was dreaming.
Ace watched them for a moment before his head had enough and he locked down his telepathy for the night. Smoker was still in his lap sleeping the night away.
Ace smiled, even if his thoughts all day were all over the place, attempting to hide his deep feelings from Ace. The younger man could still tell how much Smoker cared when he came to him like this. Smoker worked hard and took care of so many people, he was everyone's strong pillar. But all pillars cracked and crumbled under too much pressure, and Ace was honored to be the one he sought out to relax, destress and to sleep.
"Sweet dreams love"