You've always played the hand you were dealt: fighting to survive Enies Lobby, breaking free from Impel Down, and holding tight to a dream that died with the Former Captain of the Spade Pirates.
Ace was more than fire and freedom. He was your wild card, your unexpected chance at something real. And when the sea took him, it felt like the game ended.
But fate isn't done shuffling.
You find yourself aboard a new ship, under the quiet command of Trafalgar Law, the enigmatic Captain of the Heart Pirates. He's calculated where Ace was reckless, guarded where Ace was open, but somehow, you see yourself reflected in him... another player holding too much pain behind a careful face.
What begins as survival turns into something riskier: trust, healing, and the slow, staggering possibility of love.
Now, the cards are on the table.
You've already lost your ace.
But maybe - just maybe - you're holding a heart worth playing for.
#1 in PORTGAS ACE X READER
#1 in CIPHER POL
[Spoiler Warnings will be included before each Chapter (if applicable). This story will take place after the Marineford Arc, linger in the two-year timeskip, and eventually explore later Arcs. Any chapters that include content from future One Piece Arcs will be stated prior.]