"Now that I'm staring down at the darkest abyss, I'm not sure what I want, but I don't think It's this."
He never liked the topic of death. He tried to avoid killing whenever he could and he got a sick feeling whenever he couldn't. He couldn't tell you when this fear set in, but he would tell you that it wasn't a weakness. After all, if he liked killing, then he'd kill more; and if he killed more, then people would end up alone. He didn't like being alone, so why should he make anyone else be alone?
"As my comrades call to stand fast and forge on, I make sail for the dawn til the darkness has gone."
There was a war. He didn't mean to start it, honest! But the one time he was entrusted with firing a canon- it just had to go off mark! Everyone told him it wasn't his fault, but he couldn't help but think otherwise.
"As the souls of the dead live for'ere in my mind, and I live all the years that they left me behind, I'll lay on the shore but still gaze at the sea."
He didn't see all of their deaths, but he could feel whenever one of them died. It was like a piece of him had been ripped out and crushed! When his very last crewmate died, though, his mind broke.
"I remember the fallen and they think of me, when our souls in the ocean together will be."
He and the survivors from this one way massacure found what seemed to be an impossible solution. They had been cornered and had all but accepted that they were going to die, but a single object changed all of that.
"I remember the fallen and they think of me,"
They'd get to see all of their friends and family again! Everyone who had died would all be there again! This time, the group of seven vowed, they would prevent the war from starting. And if it did, then they'd make sure they won.
"when our souls in the ocean together will be."
"Forget it!" were the first words he heard upon waking, "Get my sword!"
-----
Discontinued here on WP. I am, however, rewriting it and posting on Ao3
"After you're done with your business on this island. Would you like to maybe- join our crew? For real this time," he gently smiles.
"I don't think I will be done before you leave-" you look away, not bearing to look into his piercing eyes anymore.
"I can wait!" he interrupts, letting go of your hand as quickly as he took it. "I mean uhh... me and the crew... we can wait for you," he stutters out. "This island seems pretty cool. I wouldn't mind staying here for a few more days."
You softly chuckle. "We'll see," you give him a faint smile, your eyes blank. "I mean, who else is supposed to save you when you're halfway beaten to death?"
Hearing his halfhearted laugh sent a striking pain through your chest. You swallow hard to keep a sob from escaping your throat as you realize this might be the last time you ever hear it. Tears roll down your cheeks, blurring your vision as you lock eyes with the deep dark eyes you've been dreaming about for the past months.
His hand gently cups your face and the familiar warmth tingles your skin as his thumb carefully wipes the tears on your cheek. Without breaking your gaze he leans in closer to whisper. "I don't want to be saved by anybody else, y/n."
Ace x fem reader
Started September 10th 2024
disclaimers!
I do not own the cover art. Couldn't find the artist, if anybody knows who it is please let me know.
This ace x reader story is set in the world of One piece. Most characters in this story belongs to Oda. Y/n's home island might be inspired by a certain seafaring game...
cross posted on my ao3 account: Holafolks
Achievements!🎖️
#1 in onepiecexreader (it was for like 5 mins but I'm gonna milk this forever)
#6 in workinprogress
#1 in attemptatangst
#1 in firefist