In Another Life [Ace X Reader ]

part seven

A week had passed since i saw the straw hat pirates.

I continued to steal years off of people's lives in trade for things such as information.

The doorbell jingled as another person entered. He slowly took his seat in front of me as I dealt the cards.

Two men stood beside him on either side. I hadn't seen any of them, leading me to the conclusion they were pirates.

"Gamble." I whispered, looking above his head with bright blue eyes.

74 years 92 days 6 hours and 5 minutes

"You know my game, are you willing to play?" I said smugly, placing down the first 3 cards.

We both had 5 months on the table.

I had a king pair he had a 10 pair.

"Of course. But I'm here with a different kind of offer." He stated calmly.

He placed another 5 months on the table.

"A crew member of mine needs a few years of life. I'm willing to give him mine, but I need you to help me." His voice was flat and monotone.

"And what do I get out of this?" I questioned rather intrigued.

"You get the good end of this deal. I know your secrets, miss (Y/N)." He stated confidence seeping from his mouth.

"But first, you help my crew. And then I help you." A polar bear walked into the room nervously.

4 years 18 days 16 hours 4 minute 50 seconds

"I-i'm Bepo!" He announced nervously.

"He seems to have enough to say his goodbyes. " I joked, looking at the pirate in front of me.

"But not enough to keep sailing the seas, am I correct in this assessment?" He questioned, picking up his new hand of cards.

"You may be correct. Why don't you go ahead and place 15 years down. I am curious what it is you have to trade me.

He placed down 14 years

"I'm not betting anymore than that." He stated sternly. I placed down my 14, I planned on taking back for myself. I didn't have that much to give away.

"Check."

"Check."

We flipped our cards, and he won.

"Take." I said, absorbing all 28 years with a snap.

"Give." I said, pointing a finger at the polar bear. I gave him 10 of the 14.

I have to live too, you know? I only had about 10 months in total.

14 years 18 days 15 hours 33 minutes 21 seconds

"My turn." I said, standing up from my chair.

"For that, you need to follow us to my ship. It's not something I can do here." There wasn't any reason to believe he was lying.

"Fine then." I huffed following the group. I never minded putting my life in danger. It's not like I wasn't going to die already.

The bright yellow sub floated on the water. How odd. I followed behind, earning weird looks from the crew.

He brought me to a hospital like room.

"Scan." He pulled his sword out it had an odd blue aura around it.

"Lung cancer, stage II, removal will not treat it but will slow it down. Recommend removal." He mumbled to himself.

"Now comes the fun part." He smiled, preparing everything for surgery.

It was three days later when I awoke. It was more painful than before as I touched the new stitching.

"Ah. You're awake." The voice from before stated as he stood from the chair beside the bed.  "I'll have shachi bring you something to eat." He checked my vitals before leaving.

I ended up staying on the ship until I made a decent recovery. Unfortunately, the rate of my health decline continued. but at least it was more comfortable to live with. When I was capable, I left their ship and boarded a different one. Granted, it was more of a stowaway situation...

This ship seemed to be going to a completely different place. One I didn't recognize.

I stayed tucked away in a barrel on the ship. I figured I was downstairs close to the storage room, but it was disproven when I heard voices and laughing.

'Well, get nice and drunk tonight!" One of the crew said as they walked by my barrel.

"I bet pops won't mind if we have a little to drink!" Another pirate said back.

"Oi, you two better get back to work or else." It was a completely different man.

"Now, now, don't threaten the newbies!" I know that voice. I swear I do.

"Be quiet, Ace." The man huffed like he was speaking to a child.

"Okay, Dad." He responded playfully.

The chit chat didn't stop as the boat sailed off. Day after day, pirates talked and joked, and I was getting hungry and thirsty. I didn't know how long I had been in the barrel. If I had to guess, maybe 3 days?

"Tonight we can celebrate! Ace is home from his mission," one of the voices from before sang.

"Marco, you don't have to do all that just for me!" Ace joked, leaning against my barrel.

And to my dismay, it tipped over. "Ow..." I unintentionally mumbled.

Everything outside went silent until the barrel smashed open by a fire fist.

"We have a stowaway!" Ace called, earning the attention of the captain.

With haste, the crew tied me to the mast of the ship. You would think I ate the bad luck fruit with how everything was going.

"Who are you?" Ace questioned almost face to face with me. Of course, I wouldn't expect him to recognize me. My pink hat was no longer on my head and the black outfit. The sides of my dress ended just above my hip bones and split into two flaps of fabric that almost touched the ground. The top was long sleeve with the collar up. It was zipped down low enough to show some cleavage. The hood lay on my fourhead, covering my mid neck length hair.

What? I can wear what I like if I'm dying in my own story.

I smirked. "I can't show you unless you untie me." But it just seemed to piss Ace off.

"Then i guess I have to kill you." He drew his fist back, ready to punch when an old man called his name.

"Ace, why don't you let the girl show us?" Whitbeard stated. It sounded like he was longing some kind of entertainment.

And with a sizzling sound, the rope fell off of me. Odd for Ace to not fight back. He never took orders before.

My boots clicked against the wood as I approached Ace. My boots almost touched his.

I looked up at him before removing the piece of fabric covering my hair. His eyes went wide as his face turned pink.

I unclasped the mask, covering my mouth and letting it fall beside me. His face turned a darker shade of red, almost matching my hair.

"It's been quiet a while, hasn't it, Ace." I grinned. "Or should I call you fire fist now?" I winked.

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Sleep well! Don't forget your medications! Make sure you've had a glass of water and eaten!