Ace wasn’t exactly the welcoming type.

Coming from Ace's point of view, you’d understand why. He was the Devil's Child and was raised by mountain bandits. Trust didn’t exactly come easy for him. Even before he joined the Whitebeard Pirates, Ace straight up tried killing Whitebeard repeatedly.

He swore that by the end of the day, he would have Whitebeard's head. Such odd language for someone who was now his second division commander.

Now look at him.

He was surprised when the crew still welcomed him with open arms. You’d think an army of toughened men would beat Ace to a pulp at the mention of him laying hands on their captain, but the most he got was a beer and a rough pat on the back.

You joined not too long after Ace. You were still getting used to the constant parties and chaos, trying to wrap your head around just how many beers a man could down in just one night.

Whitebeard was considering letting you become a division commander on the spot — just because of your endless strength and unwavering loyalty. But being a division commander meant having to converse with others, like Ace.

When Ace found out about Whitebeard's decision to make you one, he was over the moon.

You and Ace didn’t really talk all that much, if not drunkenly or discussing battle strategies. If anything, the two of you were just coexisting on the same ship.

"I don’t know, it’s just — hey, don’t laugh!"

But the other division commanders couldn’t help it.

"Dude, they’ve got you smitten," Marco teased, roughly nudging his shoulder.

And Marco was right.

Ace didn’t even try making an effort to talk to you — because he would either stumble over his words or chicken out entirely.

He didn’t want to admit it, and it didn’t register in his head until weeks after you joined, but he was head over heels for you the moment he laid eyes on you. He simply couldn’t muster up the courage to confront you. Your looks, your personality — everything — It drew him in like a moth to flame.

In his opinion, you were way out of his league. Why the hell would he even bother trying to get with someone so attractive and everything he’s ever wanted in a partner?

He thought had no chance.

Until now.

Yet another victory for the Whitebeard pirates! With them, just about every day was a reason to celebrate. Could you blame them? In their path of life, they had more likely of a chance dying than they did staying alive.

You guys had gotten quite a haul off of the group of bounty hunters that tried ganging up on all of you at once. Turns out they had a lot more loot than any of you had anticipated.

Ace couldn’t help but stare as you walked by, his body going completely rigid at the sight of you.

He was already a few beers in, getting way too jubilant for his own good.

As he saw you pass by him yet again, his eyes widened spectacularly, emboldened by the amount of drinks he was able to keep down. He was practically loitering around the bar as you passed, waving you down with a crooked, but clearly drunken smile.

"Hey, you! Come sit down!"

He called out with enthusiasm, beckoning you over with a pat on the seat next to him.

As you sat, you couldn’t help but notice that familiar gleam in his eyes. The one that told you he was up to no good.

"Why do you look so down? It is a night to be celebrated, you know. We got quite the haul off those bounty hunters!"

He exclaimed cheerfully, taking yet another full bottle of alcohol and pouring the both of you a glass.

"Don’t give me that face! I say you come and have a drink with me! And this bottle has your name written all over it!"

Raucous laughter filled your ears as you took in his words, the sound of breaking glass and loud yelling being nothing new for them. By this point, you were pretty much used to it.

"Raise your glass!"

He bellowed out to the bar, the crew instinctively following suit with their own cups and beer bottles.

"To our haul!"

Then, he leaned down, his mouth teasingly close to your ear.

"And to you."

He whispered before plopping back into his seat with that same crooked smile.

"Cheers!"