One Piece x Reader Oneshots (NO REQUESTS)

The Moment (Ace x Reader)

Prequel to "Summer's End"

Summer heat had just begun to settle on our little island when white sails appeared on the horizon. Normally, this wouldn't have been any cause for concern. But we all saw the black flag flying atop the mast in the distance. A black flag bearing the visage of death himself.

"Magnus!" I called to the tavern owner upon seeing the sails. "Better unlock the wine cellars. We'll be having company."

Whether the ships carried friend or foe, we could never be sure. All we knew was that a drunk pirate was a happy pirate. And a happy pirate meant our little island would stay on the map just a little longer.

They ran ashore after midday. I was stocking the bar in the tavern when the first of them walked in. Two men; one with an odd crop of blonde hair, the other donning an orange Stetson. The latter grinned at me from beneath the brim of his hat and stepped forward to take a seat at the bar. After a moment of hesitation, the other followed.

"Can I help you two?" I asked warily.

"A drink, please. Ale, if you have it," said the one in the hat. Up close I could see the smattering of freckles across his cheeks. He was cute.

I nodded, trying not to blush under his gaze and looked to his friend.

"Same for me," said the blonde pirate.

I studied them for a short moment, before fetching their drinks. They thanked me and said no more, so I went about my usual post-lunch rush duties. I took the opportunity to study them more closely from afar.

They were both bare-chested, as pirates frequently were. The first wore his shirt open and I could see the insignia tattooed on his chest. I recognised it as the same Jolly Rodger their ship flew, though I couldn't guess the crew. There were so many rookie pirates these days, it was difficult to keep up.

The second pirate had decided to forgo a shirt completely. I belatedly realised I was staring when he suddenly looked up and flashed me a knowing grin. The blonde pirate also noticed me watching and beckoned me over. The freckled pirate watched me from over the rim of his tankard as he took a deep drought, laughter in his eyes.

"Would you happen to know how long it takes a log pose to set here?" asked the blonde pirate.

"Oh, three months or so..."

The freckled pirate spluttered, almost spraying his drink all over the bar top. "Three months!? We can't stay here for three months!"

I turned to him and shrugged. "Well it's that or risk going on ahead completely blind. I just hope our booze stocks will hold up that long."

He was left speechless. 

"Best make yourselves comfortable," I said, taking the empty glass from his hand. "It'll be a long summer. For all of us."

That night the tavern was rowdier than it had ever been. The pirates – the Whitebeard Pirates as we had come to know them – had managed to rope a number of the locals into a game of dice, and from the sound of it, the pirates were losing. Spectacularly.

My view of the gambling table was blocked as a body slipped into a counter seat in front of me. It was the pirate from before, with the cute freckles and the tendency to never wear a shirt. How I was going to get through three months of work with him as a constant distraction, I had no idea.

"How 'bout another ale?"

I poured it for him and slid it over the counter, unsmiling. He took it, watching me curiously, and sipped at it slowly. His eyes never left mine and I could feel my cheeks beginning to heat up. In the low light of the tavern, I hoped it wasn't noticeable.