Portgas D. Ace X Reader - The boy from the church

16

Not even a full day passed, and already, your coworkers and old friends you lost contact with years ago have written you 'get well' messages after the media found out about Shanks' accident. You found that kind of hilarious since you didn't need them, because, obviously, Shanks wasn't your significant other, but they sensitized you in a way that made you think that Ace was, indeed, the right person for you. Also, fortunately, Marco had finally left you alone ever since, and the only text he sent you was an 'Are you alright?', to which you responded that you want to be left alone. You feared the day you had to see Marco again. You knew that day will eventually come, and you knew that if you went back home, he had to be the next person he would visit you. But still, you had to go back to work and you couldn't live forever in Luffy's house. Ace became very sticky and clingy since you've both confessed your feelings, and you thought that this next step in your relationship with him was the right idea. 

The day you had to go to work again, you told Ace that you will also visit Shanks in the hospital before heading to work, and surprisingly, he even wanted to join you over there. You guessed it was because, deep down, Ace actually cares about him, and his attempt of showing you that he had a heart of steel and that he's sure that Shanks would be fine, was just a facade, and that was a really pleasant thing. However, with all the commotion on the rise regarding his case, Ace couldn't go out in public without a disguise, so you had to go there alone.

To your surprise, Shanks was up when you arrived, and the nurses have said that he only woke up a few hours ago, so you timed that visit perfectly. He was still hooked up to other beeping machines, but at least he had his own room where he was under medical watch at any given time. Shanks was thrilled to see you, but he couldn't move much yet. You were so relieved to know that he was doing better and that he had privacy in there. Probably even more than if he would've stayed home. What Marco did to you back then was a wake up call to be more cautious around that man, because he's actually capable of finding out the truth if he really wanted to.

~~~

Mihawk had kept Tashigi some company until the next bus came to take her home. She didn't expect to be treated so well this time, especially since she was rude to him just a few days ago. She had to apologize and said that she can talk to the other police officers to leave Mihawk alone if that's what he wanted to, but he had to explain to her that nothing in this world will make Akainu change his mind about anything. Sakazuki wanted Ace dead as much as Teach wanted that, and if Mihawk wanted to kill Blackbeard, he had to get rid of Akainu first.

"So... You're aware that Teach killed Whitebeard and that he's paying Akainu to keep his mouth shut, right?" Mihawk said, out of the blue, while Tashigi was scrolling on her phone, killing some time.

"That's not true, come on." she glanced over at him. "He gave hundreds of interviews, he's walking out in broad light advocating for his father's death... how could he kill his own father?"

Mihawk face palmed. "I'm gonna give you that, he's a really good actor."

"But you can't know that for sure. Unless you're a cop, perhaps?"

He didn't want to answer, so he sent her out to the bus station, walking her up to the same spot he picked her up from. He said he couldn't go past that point, which made Tashigi a little bit suspicious of him, but she didn't doubt that he was gonna trick her. She texted Smoker while she was in the bus on the way home, and told him everything that happened that day.

By the time she arrived in town, Smoker was waiting for her at the bus station, and was ready to drive her home.

"I'm so tired..." she sighed, then massaged her head after she got in Smoker's car.

Her boss just handed her a bag of her favorite takeout food, along with a coffee. "I noticed you didn't finish your coffee this morning, so I got your favorite: iced with sugar."