He Fell From The Sky [[ Portgas D Ace X Reader ]]

One

It was a crisp November morning, not quite the time of year for snow but certainly cold enough. You had just finished a night of data entry for one of the two insurance companies you worked for. This wasn't how you'd pictured your adult life, though honestly you weren't sure what you were supposed to picture. When people asked you what you wanted to be you shrugged.

Not being very social in school and inheriting your grandmother's home at a young age, you just slipped into a reclusive lifestyle. Hermit life chose you and it suited you just fine. You found a job you were great at, could make your own hours for and best of all didn't have to deal with people. You were just soaking up that sweet hermit life with your adorable but protective blue nose bull terrier, Kuma.

You wanted to name him bear because when you found him near the creek you'd initially thought he was a tiny cub, really, he was a beefy pup. Bear is such a used-up name for a dog, so you researched the word in different languages settling on Japanese.

"We should go to the store today." You mused as Kuma settled next to you on the porch.

A cold breeze stripped the nearby trees, carrying along the scent of chimneys down the lane. You sat quietly for a few minutes watching ripples travel across the pond nestled at the mouth of the forest. It was indeed a nice autumn day. You closed your eyes listening to the wind shift debating over having a nap before going into town. A high-pitched whistle caught your ear. There was some distance to it starting out high and getting lower as whatever it was neared. You assumed it was a charter plane, out here that was pretty common. Photographers were always trying to get a good shot of the forest meeting the bluffs that hung over the bay. But it wasn't the right time of day for that. You opened your eyes as the sound grew louder and alarmingly close. Kuma stood puffing out a low growl shifting his ears back.

Then you caught sight of the source. It wasn't recognizable - just a black ball that seemed to be on fire?

A meteor?

You rose as it plowed into the earth sending a tremor through the house. Kuma jumped off the porch following as you made your way toward the small plume of smoke.

Your breath hitched while you stalked closer, it was a man.

A man...fell from the sky.

How he wasn't splattered across the bank of the pond was beyond you. In fact, he looked quite peaceful. Freckles dotted his lifeless face. You bent over him brushing the soft black waves that had tangled with his lashes. A frown ghosted your lips for the stranger. You'd have to go get your phone to call the police to pick him up.

His blood-soaked chest heaved startling you and sending Kuma into a protective stance. His eyes snapped open wide, pupils dilating in a mixture of fear and pain as a scream tore through his throat. You held up your hand signaling Kuma to sit while the stranger writhed and blindly reached for someone who wasn't there.

Slowly you stepped closer taking his hand, gently brushing your fingers passed the bruises on his wrist. Humming softly, you tried to get him to focus and catch his breath before pulling him into your chest. He continued to huff and mumble to himself as he shivered in your arms.

"I've got to get you out of the cold. Can you walk?" You pulled back.

His head lulled over your forearm.

Great he passed out.

It took almost an hour to wrestle the man into your wheelbarrow and drag it through the house. Kuma followed closely keeping his gray eyes fixed on the sleeping stranger until you dumped him onto the bed. While he slept you cleaned the blood off his bare chest revealing not a cut but freshly scarred flesh.

"What happened to you?" You whispered moving to remove his worn black boots.

Kuma climbed onto the mattress and curled up with the raven.

"Oh, you like him huh?" You asked the dog who merely huffed shutting his eyes.

Figuring he'd sleep for a while you decided to leave him in Kuma's care and head to the store. Your usual anxiety about dealing with public places had faded while you pondered what to do about the stranger. No one would believe that a human fell from the sky seemingly unscathed and was sleeping comfortably in your unused guest room. It seemed more like a plot for a comic than anything remotely possible in real life.

After picking up some essentials and some spare clothes for your guest you parked the old beetle in the gravel drive that lead up to your small house. Kuma met you at the back-door woofing and pacing between you and the hall that lead to the guest room.

"Is he awake?" You asked only getting a more excited response from the dog.

You placed the groceries on the counter keeping the bag of clothes with you and made your way down the hall. The ravenette had curled up facing the window. A large tattoo covered the middle of his muscular back. You couldn't make out what it was exactly because an almost identical scar from his chest marred the inked skin.

"Where am I?" He rasped in a sad husky tone.
"Portland." You replied dropping the shopping bag in the doorway.
"I've never heard of that island." He murmured.
"It isn't an island, it's a city in Maine." You raised a brow, "What's your name?"

He rolled over to face you not bothering to move his wavy locks from his garnet eyes.

"Ace. Portgas D. Ace."

A/N - This was requested by KristinaPerez2