If I run (One Piece, Fire Fist Ace Fan Fiction)

Chapter 9- Not All Wounds Leave Scars

"And with that I think you'll be just fine," Raven said as she patched up the last of the spade pirates, he nodded his thanks before leaving walking right passed Ace. Ace stood there watched her as she started to pack up the first aid kit. She heard him and turned.

"Well isn't this a surprise," Raven said with a smile. He saw the cut on her head was bandaged, but that only made him feel worse. Ace took off his hat before closing the door behind him as he walking into the room. 

"Here sit down so I can patch you up to," Raven said, he ignored the chair she pointed at and sat on the floor taking off his shirt so she could work. Raven smirked and slid to the ground next him with the first aid kit. She started cleaning the cut on his arm, trying not to think about how warm his skin was compared to her hands. She touched his arm as softly as possible not sure why she was nervous. Trying not to think about it as she started talking.
"So I been wondering I get the whole ACE tattoo on your arm, but what's the S with the X through it about?" Raven asked, he looked down at the tattoo. "It's to honor the memory of my brother," Ace shrugged, "You have a brother?" Raven asked in surprise, "I have two," Ace corrected, "Two?" Raven mused.
"Well I guess it's more like one now," he said looking down, Raven not wanting to press the matter decided to change the subject.
"Well I was going to say that if you didn't already have this tattoo here. It be a great spot for the White-beard symbol. Though I guess you could get one like White-beard, a giant one on your back." Raven said with a smile, "What makes you think I'm going to get the old man's flag as my next tattoo?" Ace asked, almost sounding offended.
"Well you are apart of his crew right? After all you did just do a mission for him." Raven said, "No! I already told you I only did the mission so he'd fight me." He said sitting straighter, she felt her face turn slightly red.
"Are you sure that's what you want?" She asked softly, "Of course, I can't be king of the pirates if I can't even beat him!" Ace half shouted, accidentally pulling his arm from her grip as he looked at her. To his surprise he found her smiling softly.
"Pirate king, quite the ambition you have there." Raven said softly, "Why did you come to the grand line then? Just for that doctor White-Beard has everyone looking for?" Ace asked sitting back down so she could keep working. Raven put the towel back in the bowl of water and grabbed the bandages.
"Yes, and I guess you could say I was getting a bit home sick." Raven said slowly, "You were born in the grand line?" Ace asked surprised, "Yes, but I left when I was still very young." Raven sighed, "Why?" Ace asked, "That's a long story," Raven shrugged, "I like stories," he said and she looked up at him to find him watching her.
"I think that's a story for another day, though I'm sorry Ace but I can't let you or even White-Beard become the King of the pirates," Raven paused before adding with a huge smile. "Because I'm going to be King." She smiled and Ace couldn't help but laugh.
"Well I guess that means we're enemies then," He said half pulling away from her, she gave him a look and he gave her his arm again.
"Only as much as you and White-Beard seem to be," Raven joked, "I'm not apart of his crew," Ace said defiantly as he looked away, "If you say so," she said and reached for the towel to clean the next wound, only to wince when the wound on her arm hurt. He saw her wince and looked down.

 After a few minuets he finally said, "I'm sorry."
She didn't look up as she asked, "For what?"
His eyes shifted from the floor to the cut on her arm and back again. "Because of me you got hurt,"
"It wasn't your fault," She said, "It was if I had been paying more attention you wouldn't have had to be apart of the fight and-"She touched his cheek making him pause, she made him turn to look at her she spoke. "Listen to me, you don't have to apologize." Raven said her tone a bit sharper than she expected.
"But I do I never want anyone to get hurt because of me ever, I'm just not strong enoug-" Ace started, "Stop! Listen to me, Ace." Raven half shouted putting her hands on his shoulders, "You can't save everyone-" "But I can try!" He half shouted, she sighed her hands falling.
"I had a feeling you'd say something like that." Raven sighed, "I can," Ace said sternly, "Not without help," she said shaking her head and looking him in the eye, "But-" "Trust me on this, no one can do everything alone." Raven said looking down as if she knew from experience.
"You seem to have been doing just fine against that pirate earlier," Ace reminded her, "True, but I wasn't alone. I had you didn't I?" Raven said softly with a smirk, Ace sighed looking at her confused as if trying to figure her out. She didn't look up at him though, just kept tending to his wounds.
"You know you should be more careful, I can't keep patching everyone up forever." Raven said, "You seem to have many talents," Ace pointed out, "Well when you're apart of such a small crew as I am you tend to pick up a more skills when the need arises. We're not like you and the White-Beards, we don't have people clambering to join us." Raven said almost sourly, "I remember hearing something about them, only two others right. What are you just picky or did something happened?" Ace asked, "We had more but there was an, incident right before we came." Raven said slowly, finishing with the last bandage and starting to cleaning the room.
"What happened?" Ace asked after a few seconds of silence, "Marines," Raven said plainly, "They caught them?" He asked, she sighed and said, "No." Raven said shaking her head "What ha-?" "Nothing," Raven interupted crossing her arms across her chest and clutching her(his) shirt.
"But-" "I said it was, Nothing!" Raven snapped, before going to the door and opened it. She was only half surprised to find half his crew trying to listen at the door not even trying to hide. She looked at them and stood straighter.

"So who's hungry?" Raven asked too calmly and walking passed the crew all of whom were watching her dumbfounded. "Well we are hungry," Ace said putting his hat on as he stood. Without even a glance at his crew he walked out onto the deck. He glanced at her as she made her way to the kitchen, but headed the other way.