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You left your home to make your way to the bar, you were working at as a barkeeper. The usual calm town had been busy during the last few days as way more pirates than usual had shown up, but this once seemed to be quite calm. The impression vanished the moment you stepped around the last corner. A huge bunch of people were standing in front of your workplace, and they all were plappering wildly while pushing each other aside to have a better view on whatever was happening there.
"What's going on here?" for a fight between pirates it was too silent. No crashes, no shouts. "A man died in the bar" someone eventually told you and an older woman added with excitement glistening in her eyes "Yes, right at the counter. He was in the middle of eating" The tension you had been feeling instantly dropped and you sighed. He didn't change at all. Pushing through the crowd, you fought your way inside the bar, that was stuffed just as well. Only a small space just before the counter was free. A single man was sitting there on a stool, slouched over and his face smashed in a plate full of food. He wasn't wearing a shirt, only an orange hat was hanging from his neck and his trained back was displaying the Jolly Roger of the infamous Whitebeard pirates.
After taking yourself a few moments to marvel at all those muscles, you pulled yourself back together and hit him over the head. "Stop sleeping in your food!". Gasps went through the room when he all of sudden shot up, his gaze tiredly scanning the room until it stopped at you. "______? Is that you?" "No, it's Boa Handock", though you tried to sound annoyed, a smile was tugging at your lips. He just was looking too cute all sleepy and you actually were quite happy to see him. Stepping behind the bar, you picked up a towel, throwing it in his face "And now clean yourself up". Ace took the towel and did what he was told, while you looked at all the people crowded in the bar "And everyone who's just here for gawking can get lost now. As you can see, he's not dead. Thanks for your help" Sarcasm was dripping from your last words and quickly most of the spectators left with a red face.
Ace placed the towel beside him on the counter and flashed his infamous smirked at you "Ah, _____. What a blessing for my eyes" "So charming today" you replied just as sarcastically as before but still couldn't stop a blush from darkening your cheeks. That was just the effect he had on you. To distract yourself, you grabbed a glass, filled it with fresh beer and placed it in front of him "So, what brings you to this town?". He happily took the glass and downed about half of it, before answering "Luffy. He's throwing a big party on his ship". At the slight disappointment that ghosted over your face, he smiled across his drink "And of course, you". He smirked when he clearly saw you blush, despite you trying to hide it by turning around and rummaging through some drawers. Why was it that he so easily was able to throw you off? "Any special reason? I mean for the party" "Reunion", he emptied the rest of his beer, then stretched and you instantly got lost in the play of his muscles under his skin "He wanted to once again bring together all of his friends and comrades" "That's a nice thought" you mumbled distracted but snapped out of it when he grabbed his fork again and picked up eating "Do you really want to eat that?" with a doubting expression, you gestured towards the smashed food but he just shrugged "It's still good"
