Unseekers (Portgas D. Ace X OC)

Chapter 6| Days of Looking

1075 Days ago:

''Scared of losing to a girl?" Isabelle sniggered, flexing her fingers. The Pirates surrounded the table, drinking and laughing. The Mesh Hall was as rowdy as ever. Even White Beard had taken his seat on his humongous seat, drinking a cup of sake from a large cup.

Haruta rolled his eyes, seating across Isabelle.

"Make it hurt, Iz," Oliva laughed.

"Show her who's the man, Haruta," Vista nodded twisting his mustache between two fingers.

Isabelle placed her elbow on the table and so did the brunette.

"Don't whine when you lose, Isabelle," Haruta smirked, grabbing her hand.

"Freehand behind your backs," Oliva touched their hands. "On 3,2,1, go!"

Their hands tensed immediately, each trying to press the others on the table. Isabelle smirked at the boy's tense expression but doubted hers was any better.

"You can do better than that," Thatch teased.

Isabelle released a deep breath and forced Haruta's arm across the table. The Pirates burst out into a wild cheer. Isabelle laughed, throwing her head back. "Anyone else?"

"I just went easy on you," Haruta said. "You know, not to hurt the baby's pride,"

"I won, Haruta," Isabelle tipped a cup of sake into her mouth and made a face. "This is disgusting,"

"Or you're just a baby,"

"I won,"

"Just have a go at it, Rookie," Someone nudged Ace forward.

Ace took a seat across Isabelle with a half amused, half exasperated grin.

"Might be the only time you get to touch her hand," Oliva smirked, twirling the straw of her drink.

"I just don't want to hurt your feelings, Izzy," Ace challenged

"Oh? I wouldn't stress about that," Isabelle quirked an eyebrow, placing her elbow on the table after him. His hand was calloused and big enough to wrap around her petite one. "And who says you get to call me that?"

"I don't know, Izzy,"

Ace's Onyx eyes were dancing. Isabelle's smirk widened as she tightened her hold.

"Sorry to interrupt but..." Oliva drawled. "On 3,2,1, go,"

Isabelle immediately felt the wave of strength against her arm. She struggled just to keep from tipping. She caught Ace's eyes. He had a reckless smile.

"Come on, Isabelle!"

"Whohoo! Ace-boy!"

"You know...what's creepy about Humpty Dumpty?" Isabelle asked in a hushed voice.

"What?" Ace replied.

"They never said it was an egg,"

Ace snorted and his eyes widened like he didn't mean to let out that sound and she felt his grip loosen. Isabelle took the chance to slam his arm on the table. His stunned face would make her laugh whenever she got bored.

"A man's Pride? What kind of creature is that?" Isabelle teased.

"That was too random!" Ace retaliated with wide eyes. "Rematch,"

"Nope," Isabelle took a sip of her drink and cringed. "My delicate hand is already tired,"

1073 Days ago:

There was something about Isabelle that was starting to drive Ace insane. She wasn't pretty, not like Oliva was, with her tanned creamy skin and dipping curves. Isabelle was just...Just.

There was a smudge of paint on her elbow and some flecks of blue on her halo of red hair.

Isabelle jumped down from the Moby Dick, landing softly right at the center of a group of armed pirates. He watched her hurtle through, a pale and red hurricane like she knew she was indestructible. Indestructible.

Oh. That was it.

Ace remembered thinking she was beautiful like how a flying bullet was beautiful.

1070 Days ago:

There were many things that were draw-able. Like the sky on a clear day, specked with sea-gulls or the steaming blue-green sea on a hot day or White Beard's furious face, the pulsing vein on his neck.

The Akbad pirates were on the deck, their Captian facing White Beard on his dais.

"Here it comes," Isabelle grinned, drinking up the brewing conflict like water. The White Beard Pirates were on the deck too, engaged in their own merry conversations, least bothered by the intruding crew who was about to face the wrath of the old man.

But only a fool would think they weren't paying attention to the words being passed. Isabelle would bet Marco already counted which members of the Akbad were armed.

"You could try to pretend like you're not enjoying this," Ace commented, the boy who was leaning against the railings with his arms hanging out.

"But I am very interested," Isabelle said, again not taking her eyes off the intruding crew.

"Who do you think you are, offering me such a worthless offer, boy?" White Beard barked a laugh at the young Captain.

"Cause you'll need it," Shrugged the Akbad's blond Captian, whose eyes had now slid over to rest on Isabelle and stayed there.

"He looks sorta interested too," Ace muttered, following the man's gaze over to Isabelle.

Isabelle froze. The Captain's eyes held something along the lines of recognition, not interest.

"Well, well. Would you look at that? You've got Juri's kid in your Crew, White Beard?" The Captain let out a sound of amusement. White Beard's brow rose but he didn't comment. "I don't know why I'm surprised. You've got one of every kind here, don't you? The old King's been searching for that--"

There were few things that prevented Isabelle from spiking the man and flinging his cold corpse into the sea. Those few things being, Oliva clamping her hands on her shoulders and Marco kicking away the wave of Beryl crystals grappling towards the blond Captain.

The friendly chatter had died down, now all attention fixed on the commotion.

"...If it was enough to make our Iz angry then maybe we should spike him, eh?" Thatch broke the silence.

The others let out nervous laughs. Isabelle released a breath she didn't know she was holding.

"Her story is hers to tell, Brat," White Beard fixed his eyes on the blond. The Akbad Pirates shifted uncomfortably in their shoes. "Now get off this ship and don't come back,"

The Akbad Captain's nostrils flared, face flushed as he marched off the deck, his crew following silently behind.

"That arrogance will cost you, old man," Isabelle looked up sheepishly at her Captain.

"Now you're threatening me, Pipsqueak?"

"Hey!"

Your story is yours to tell. No one else's.

And Isabelle's story had begun the day her end was certain.