Just Like Fire (Ace x Reader)

Chapter 4: One of a

Stepping out of the taxi you glance around. The café isn't too far from Sabo's firm, or your job - not that you needed to go into work today. Paying the cabbie you step inside and find a man fitting the description your mother had provided already seated.

Something about it made you uncomfortable. You'd arrived a little earlier than etiquette demanded, in order to arrive before him, but from the looks of things he had been here for some time. He sat comfortably enough. He was dressed well, a white suit with red accents, and a pair of red shades. His hair was a ruby red, matching the accents of his suit, and he had a curl to his eyebrow that you had seen the night before.

Except, Sanji's curled in the other direction. You don't remember anyone telling you that Sanji was from a royal family, but maybe he had been able to get free. You wanted to be able to ask him, but at the same time, you didn't want to pry into the man's life – you barely knew him directly.

The man stood as you approached the table and pulled the chair out for you.

"Thank you, my apologies, it seems I'm late." You offer almost apologetically.

"Not at all." He says evenly, almost flatly, pushing you and your chair in a little. "I had other obligations around the area, and simply had the chance to arrive earlier than expected."

"Very well then, it is a pleasure to have your time then, Vinsmoke Ichiji." You offer a small nod.

"It is a... pleasure to give it, Miss (Y/N)." You see a brief flicker of emotion cross his face before he asks you. "Does your family not have a surname?"

"We did at one time." You say evenly, opening up the small menu that was at the table. "It was offered as tribute to the Celestials back at the founding, as the story goes."

"Ah, you're from one of the older bloodlines then." He seems pleased, and you're trying to keep your expression neutral.

"Yes, it was a brief tradition, and subsequent peerages have included surnames." You admit. "It is a little awkward to refer to me by my given name though, isn't it?"

"I will adjust easily enough." He assures you.

A waitress comes over and takes your small order. Having exchanged a few words with him, you're at least relieved that he's not overly loquacious. There is little else worse than trying to survive a date when the other person will not stop talking.

There is something about him that gnaws at you. Noble etiquette is dry, and keeping ones emotions in check is highly valued, but most people are more... emotional than this man is.

"It's an improvement of my kingdom." He says without prompting and you tilt your head a little. "The lack of emotion. I'm quite sure you've noticed, most people do."

"Oh, yes. I will do better going forward." You reply automatically, meaning only that you will do your best to not be so easy to read in the future.

"It's quite alright. It was more assumptive on my part than deductive." He admits. "Tell me, why are you here today Miss (Y/N)?"

"I am fulfilling my duty to my family." You answer evenly. "Am I being rude in some way, Mr. Vinsmoke?"

"Prince." He corrects.

"Am I being rude, Prince Ichiji?"

"Not at all."

Silence falls over the two of you for a moment before the waitress returns with your order. You offer your thanks and begin to eat, taking the small and proper bites that have been trained into you for years.