The Whitebeard's Pirates ' second-in-command liked to think of himself as a friendly guy. Despite appearances, he was approachable, polite, and nice when he wasn't acting like an explosive, violent maniac. Ok, maybe he was pushing it, but overall, he wasn't that bad at all.

"Oi, hot stuff!" A man yelled while his crewmates laughed at their leader's foolish attempt at flirting with Rue, completely ignoring him. "Let's go out, just you and me."

Ace watched Rue's lips curve into a polite smile. "No, thank you."

Though they continued to walk away, the male clamped his hands on her wrist, pulling her towards him. He grinned, "I wasn't asking-HHMPH!"

He never finished, as he received a well-deserved knuckle sandwich courtesy from Ace and Hanabi.

Ace gritted his teeth; this was the fifth one today. When they got off the boat and arrived in town, these men didn't hesitate to attempt to sway or have their way with Rue, no matter how nicely she declined their request. Seriously, when were these idiots going to get the message?

Of course, no one recognized the disguised Fire Fist Ace because if they did, they would be eating his flames by now. He didn't want to waste Rue's efforts in keeping his identity on the down low, but that didn't seem to matter. These men still tried, ignoring that he -another man- was beside her.

They never knew when to quit while they were ahead.

With their fiery glares, the pirates' subordinates scurried off like rats. Ace turned to Rue with a fixed expression. He crossed his arms,"You're seriously fine with this?"

Rue responded with a closed-eyed smile, unfazed, "I'm used to it."

Ace didn't know why this annoyed him more than the guy they had just decked.

This whole disguise allowed him to roam more freely around the island. Since he arrived, rival pirate crews have been attacking him─HIM, out of all people. He considered himself well-established in the pirate world, feared even. For them to have the nerve to attack him, Fire Fist Ace, the second-in-command of the Whitebeard Pirates, was asking for a death wish. This wasn't the first time this had happened on other islands.

It confused him initially, but after getting some answers (more like beating it out of a poor pirate), he discovered the motive behind it all. A rumour spread like wildfire that Whitebeard only obtained his reputation by using a special drug and metal said to be found on this island. Of course, it was a lie. What fool would think that someone as great as Pops would gain his rep over some piece of metal and magic elixir? It was just insulting to his name.

Seriously, it was utter bullshit.

"We're here." Rue's voice pulled him out of his thoughts. His gaze lifted toward a restaurant, and right on cue, his stomach growled like a famished lion.

Food first and think later.

...

Hanabi gawked as she witnessed the male shovel food down his throat, vacuuming it straight into his mouth without regard for his surroundings. His side of the table was filled with various dishes; his cheeks puffed like round dumplings. He kept going at it without a care in the world.

Rue was stunned for a moment. She blinked, watching the scene unfold. It wasn't that Ace had no regard for his surroundings nor that he acted like a hungry pig; she would have never imagined there existed someone who had a bigger appetite than her daughter.

Both woman jumped as his head slammed in his plate. Soon, low snores emitted from him. Hanabi and Rue stood dumbfounded.

"H-He fell asleep..." Hanabi uttered, her jaw dropped.

Once again, they jumped in their seat as Ace lifted his head, eyes droopy as if he had taken a long nap. Food dripped down his face, smudged with sauce in fragrant oils . He took the nearest napkin, wiped himself then went back to devouring his meal.

"Oi!" Hanabi yelled out, shaken by his mannerism. "Slow down!"

Rue blinked, who would have thought someone could compete with Aisha's stomach. The thought of Aisha reminded her of her older brother, Kaien. She pursed her lips, her napkin ruffled from her tight grip. Rue found herself drifting into cherished memories of her two older brothers.

"Seriously, Kai?" Eli uttered, his brows furrowed in disgust, watching his brother engulf his meal. Kaien's face was tainted with sauce from the meat.

The dark-haired male took another leg of meat, biting into it, ripping the flesh; he munched  on it cheerfully. Moments later, he extended a piece of meat towards her, dripping sauce. "Here, you should try this! It's so-"

Kaien almost choked as he was smacked behind the head by a furious blond. A vein popped on Eli's neck, "Mind your manners!"

A little Rue laughed at her brother's antics; there was no other place she would rather be at the moment.

The moment brought a sense of comfort. Her eyes suddenly glossed over at the predicament. Kaien was gone, and her relationship with Eli became estranged.

Of course, she wasn't mad at Eli for not wanting to be by her side.

After all, she was to blame for Kaien's death.

"Are you ok?"

Rue jumped at the sound of Ace's voice. Her gaze lifted to meet a pair of worried eyes. She noticed the darkness within them, not the sinister kind. They held a gentleness like the waves of the seas. Somehow, those deep eyes reminded her of Kaien, yet they carried a warmth as comforting as the sun. Her gaze lingered for a moment before looking away. Her voice in a whisper, "I'm fine."

Hanabi and Ace stared at her for a moment. Ace had noticed the subtle smile she wore. It was bright, much different from the usual ones she displayed. The air felt warmer around her, yet it seemed a bit sad—melancholy even.

He liked her smile more, her genuine smile.

"I didn't help you out of goodwill." Just like that, her expression shifted. Her lips lifted into a smile, yet there was an undertone of coldness beneath it. He wondered how she could easily switch her demeanour.

Not minding it, Ace faced her, curiosity getting the best of him. "Fair enough." Of course, certain things don't come for free, that he understood. "What do you need from a pirate like me?"

He glanced at her plate. The steam had long since faded from Rue's food, and she hadn't taken a single bite.

"Aren't you going to eat?" He asked as Hanabi glanced at Rue, watching from the sidelines.

She stared at him momentarily before pushing her plate forward towards him. "I had my fill already."

And she wasn't wrong. After meeting Shanks on that island, the thought of eating made her a little sick. In addition, after what Hongo told her, the poison might become a problem if she doesn't solve it soon.

Maybe she'd eat later. Maybe not. Who knew?Thankfully, she had her tea, which aided in simmering her hunger.

Either way, she didn't need to worry about it.

Rue rested her head on her palm."Shall we form a temporary alliance?" Hanabi raised a brow while Ace listened intently. "An exchange for each other's services."

Ace leaned back in his seat, staring at her for a moment. He knew one thing: Rue was more than meets the eye. Though as delicate as a flower, Ace couldn't underestimate his opponents. "I'm not sure how your services would be useful to me."

To anyone else, it might have sounded rude, but there wasn't no better way to put it. Despite her admittedly beautiful face, one thing was certain—she knew how to talk her way out of things. Besides, he wanted to see this through.

Rue responded with a smile, a hint of mischief behind it. "How about valuable information along with a Devil Fruit in the mix." She witnessed his brow raised in question, yet with curiosity.

Ace's brow shot up, "A Devil Fruit? Just like that?"

She fixed her eyes on him, her gaze unwavering. "From what I gathered and from what I was told. Pirates, Marines or even island residents go missing. A drug and a special metal is being sold around. Yet, no one has heard or seen it. Lastly, the rumour of Whitebeard using such a thing to become the pirate he is today."

Ace frowned at her words, crossing his arms. "That's not true. Pops is who he is because he's that strong. He earned his position."

Rue played with her fork, poking at her chilled meal. "I met no offense ." She lifted her gaze back to him, "What I mean is all this is connected to each other."

Remaining silent for a moment as they all pondered, Hanabi, who watched the interaction, sought her eyes on her mistress. A lightbulb in her mind, "Sister, you don't think these rumours are all on purpose."

Ace couldn't fully grasp where she was going with this, but he waited for an explanation.

Rue arranged the items on her plate, her salad on one side, her rice on the other and her meat in the middle. She pointed to her vegetables, "one controls the drugs and metal." Then to the rice, "the other the missing people." Finally, the meat, "You can guess what the meat represents."

Ace frowned, "Which is...?"

Hanabi shot him a deadpan look as Rue tapped her fork against the plate. "The heart of the rumours itself, Whitebeard's name."

Slowly, each of them understood the pieces falling into place. Ace stared at Rue's place deep in thought at the revelation. Hanabi shifted her attention to Rue her brows furrowed in confusion. "Sister, is this Whitebeard that powerful?"

Ace grinned in his mind, reminiscing about his first encounter with his captain. "You bet! My captain is one of the Four Emperors of the Sea and the strongest man in the world."

He paused as he considered it, pondering Rue's words once more. Suddenly, everything began to click.

Ace's attention shifted to Rue, a sharp glint in his eyes. "Whitebeard... He's the bait." His jaw clenched, his fist tightening at his side as the realization sank in. What fool would think his captain earned his reputation over some ridiculous metal? Once he got his hands on the one who started it, he would beat them within an inch of their life.

Rue leaned back straight, momentarily setting her sights on her surroundings, taking quick glances here and there. Then, she looked back at Ace, "And I'm certain they want that power he supposedly obtained."

Slowly, it began to make sense. Power was the main goal. It was to lure as many pirates here as possible; however, for what reason?

Hanabi slightly frowned. "If that's the case, why are islanders and Marines going missing?"

It was silent for a moment. Rue pushed herself up as she stood; her chair slid across the floor as she gazed down on Ace. " I have given you valuable information, but there's more where that came from."

Ace watched her extend a hand to him. Her lips lifted into a polite smile, "Teaming up will save you the trouble, plus you get a Devil Fruit as a bonus. Do I have your cooperation?"

Fire Fist stared at her delicate hands. It was clear to him that she didn't seem like a fighter. However, she proved to be one in other areas. She was smart, beyond smart, clever, if he had to describe her. The way she read the situation down to the conclusion.

Everything about her was endearing yet mysterious. He was certain that she was much more than what she led on. He became curious about the woman before him. Her face was gentle, her silver lashes shielding her ocean eyes, which held a glint within them that seemed to draw him in.

He also noted her refusal to eat. Who would refuse a meal? He understood if she had eaten; however, she had not had breakfast or the current meal.

He didn't take notice until now. Eyes of a lush colour of the seas that held many secrets, yet he witnessed the slight tinge of sadness within them early. The deeper he sank, the more he wanted to unravel the shade that trapped the light.

They were nothing more than strangers, now, allies, yet...yet...

He wanted to reach her.

Taking her hand in his, he felt its softness. They shook hands, both in agreement to the deal. Unbeknownst to either, another addition to the party would complicate their union.

...

Smoker was pissed—royally pissed, the vein throbbed at his neck.

Huffing and puffing, as he stomped down the headquarters halls, his cigar emitted smoke, curling around him. Nearby, his subordinates covered their noses, coughing in silence to not further annoy their captain.

After chasing Fire Fist Ace, he had lost track of him yet again. However, that wasn't all there was to it.

They had cornered the notorious criminal in an alley— he was so close to finally capturing him. Yet, a sudden gust of wind had struck, giving the assailant a chance to slip away.

That was when it hit him—since when could Fire Fist use wind?!

He realized he had been tricked.

And he was sure Rue was responsible.

He rushed back to interrogate them—only to find that they were already gone.

As if nature sensed his fury, dark clouds began to gather above, mirroring the storm brewing within him. He was fuming as the events of last night unfolded. That woman! It must be her! Her story was so convincing, not a loophole in sight, but...yet...

Part of him still somewhat believed her.

Rue seemed vulnerable─ composed at first, but terrified the moment he drew near her. The thought of it brought her discomfort; her tears, her actions —everything was real. So real it unsettled him.

And yet...he'd walked right into her trap.

He hated this sudden gnawing guilt, hated that he couldn't shake it. She would pay for making him feel this way. He just met her. She was nothing more than a stranger. So...

Why?...

As the agitated captain returned, Tashigi trailed behind him, deep in thought. Was this all planned? Had they been deceived? Impossible! There must be some explanation for the situation.

That delicate woman couldn't have been behind it. Everything about her, her words,  her fears─ all of it felt genuine.

Tashigi gulped as her captain's anger spread. She began to sweat under the heat of his fury.

She knew Smoker wasn't going to let this slide.

...

The skies darkened, and a light streaked across the horizon. Slowly, the drips and splatters fall to the ground. One became two, ten, one hundred until the skies poured out rain. A clash of light kindled, a storm brewed. Many found shelter, but our trio they weren't so lucky. The bad weather was trapping them inside the restaurant.

"It's coming down out there," Ace said, his brows furrowed as he frowned. He shifted his gaze to Rue, who stood at his side, Hanabi on his left.

As the drops of rain came down, Rue was deep in thought. Things went just as she had thought they would. Although she was a bit surprised he agreed to her suggestions so quickly, it made things much easier for her plans to go smoothly. It doesn't hurt to have extra muscles in the mix.

Not that Hanabi and she couldn't handle things, but her alliance with Ace would allow her to manoeuvre the island without trouble. An island with both marines and pirates would complicate things. With his identity concealed temporarily, he can keep people at bay and her secrets locked. Showing off her abilities might receive too much attention and would do more harm than good.

The less people knew about her business, the better it was for her.

Suddenly, a warm jacket was draped over her shoulders. Lifting her gaze, Rue met Ace's warm pools looking down on hers, his lips curved into a small smile.

"Wouldn't want you to catch a cold." He said with a lighthearted laugh. All he received was a simple stare, which he responded with a curious gleam. "Is something wrong?"

Rue stared. Ace wasn't a bad guy in her book. She didn't think badly of the pirate. In a way like Shanks, he was on the friendlier side and, unlike Zoro, he was a bit more approachable. Although his cooperation was appreciated, like Shanks and Zoro, it was nothing more than a temporary alliance. Creating some distance was necessary.

Rue responded with a close-eyed smile. "You know what this alliance means, don't you?" Ace gazed at her with slight confusion. In a swift motion, she removed the jacket from her shoulders, folding it between her arms.

Though Rue smiled, Ace sensed the chill behind it. "We use each other for our benefit." As she pushed the jacket to his chest, he took a closer inspection, her seemingly warm smile contrasted with the coldness in her eyes. "Once our goals are met, we will go our separate ways; no strings attached."

There it was again. It was the same look he had given her the night before. Just as cold, just as detached, it became clear. Rue didn't expect a friendship or any relationship.

Like she said, nothing more than temporary allies.

The silence became heavy, but before it could choke him, Hanabi sliced it like butter. With a parasol in hand, she came between them. "Sister, I got an umbrella."

With a word of gratitude, she took it, opening it up and left in the rain to cover herself. Hanabi gazed at Ace through the corner of her eye. She caught the longing in his eyes as her mistress walked away. She frowned slightly as her vision went back to Rue's fleeting figure.

"Don't." It was simple, yet Ace heard the underlying warning. She hoped that whatever blight of curiosity would vanquish. "Don't bother."

However, unbeknownst to her, Ace wouldn't listen. Rue reminded him too much of himself growing up.

By locking away his heart together, he prevented the world from hurting him.

However, luckily for him, he had two brothers that pulled out of the darkness and accepted him.

And he would do the same for her.

And besides, he was a pirate; he doesn't take orders from anyone.

Hanabi shook her head as she felt his vibe change. They both made their way in through the showers of rain.

Unfortunately for the trio, they came back to an unexpected problem.

Though the rain fell heavily, she could make out the muffled sounds of shuffling on her boat. Yue came out the cabin, frantic state. Her usual dark braid, left in a mess. The trio could see her face stained with tears. Rue's eyes widened as she dropped the parasol, nature blocking out the thud on the wooden floors.

All noticed the absence of her child, Aisha.