I was kidding. Relax Portgas. You don't have to try so hard. Especially not around me. [Eyeroll, and reaches for his cigars, holding them to Ace to light them up.] It'll just make things unnecessarily annoying.
And I don't need to sleep on anything.
I already know what I want.
[Rolls over onto his chest and drapes an arm over Ace's shoulders.] I've got it right here.
[be himself? Well he is but the question of whether or not Smoker appreciates it seems to depend. He rolls his eyes at the cigar thing and ignores the want thing]
What am I your moll? [he lights the cigars up anyway with a finger then gets out of Smoker's arm and gets up.]
[jsfydjiyk trips on his way in but pretends its a boot and tucks in the shower. And then turns on the water really hot not that he can feel it. And then just stands there.
[Tugs him in for a hard deep kiss, waste of good cigars, but fuck it, worth it. And he presses against Ace all over again.] I told you before. I'll do what I want. Don't try to protect me from yourself, I'll just get insulted.
It is. [pulls away] Friends and enemies and handys.
[because he frankly doesn't trust Smoker if he goes too far. It's like a cliff in the fog. It looks like it goes on forever but if you're not careful you'll fall and break yourself.
And Smoker is the fog that hides it. Ace knows it even if Smoker doesn't]
[Smoker watches Ace for a bit. The words just turning over in his mind.]
[No, that wasn't all it was, not by a long shot.]
[And it hadn't been since Smoker broke enough to kiss Ace in the first place.]
[Even knowing how Adela felt about him.]
[Stupid teenage pirate.]
[There's another blink and Smoker quells the sense of rage.]
[It's foolish. Portgas thinking he could set lines now, thinking he himself would abide by them, be satisfied with them.]
[Smoker steps back, and then out of the shower grabbing a cross-legged seat.]
No.
You figure out what you're comfortable with, but I've got more respect for myself and you than to lie like that. I told you before, you want lies? Go to your nakama.
I'm not one of your crew, and if I was just a casual one night stand, you wouldn't keep coming after me. Figure out what you want little Tomcat, but I'm not going to play by your rules, I'm playing by my own.
[he frowns. He doesn't like the distance while on the other hand it's a good thing]
Don't be an idiot. [what is he even saying. Ace can't figure it out. He doesn't want to figure it out]
I didn't say one night. Just-- whenever. [but that was it right there. He didn't know Smoker's rules. He didn't trust Smoker's rules. He didn't like him having all the control over everything. Yes or no. Ace had to be stronger than him and harder hearted-- so that when the cliff ended he'd know how to skirt down
He turns his back to Smoker and starts to wash himself under the spray]
That's fine. You play by your rules I'll play by mine.
It's like licking Pop's face. [seriously it is. Why does Smoker think he has it? Just for looks? Not that he cares if Smoker wants to be that friendly to Pops though Pops might care.
But he'll go back to scrubbing at the soap in Smoker's hair if he can with both hands, reaching above him and backwards, looking up and biting his chin]
[Hesitantly comes back and tries to tackle him back to the bed, the way he'd wanted to rest on him earlier, chest down, arm stretched over Portgas' shoulders.]
Stop pushing me away when you don't want to. I'm not smart enough to figure it all out sometimes.
Just only do what you have full conviction behind, all right? Quit half-assing it. [Tugs Ace's earlobe in his teeth. To see how much that gets him fucked or not.]
I do what I want. Like I said I"m not going to play by your rules. What makes you think I'll let you call all the shots?
I didn't half ass what we did. [though that weridly feels like forever ago] But I don't know where to go from here except you think you can decide where that is. Or maybe won't let me because it's a lie and not what you want to hear.
[somehow, Ace gets the feeling that he really is. Who is this new Smoker. Or is it new? It's strange. He reaches up to touch the scar, tracing it over Smoker's brow and to his ear, down against his jaw. The air smells of smoke and char and sex and it's great.
Why can't it just be that?
He'd already said what he'd thought to say and wasn't sure if he had a question but... he had one now. He cupped Smoker's jaw and traced his lower lip with his thumb, mesmerized by the feel of it, pulling it back a little to see his teeth.]
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Don't you want to sleep on it first?
[it's just weird.
Also he stays right where he is]
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[Weirdo.]
[Smoker pokes a freckled cheek.]
I was kidding. Relax Portgas. You don't have to try so hard. Especially not around me. [Eyeroll, and reaches for his cigars, holding them to Ace to light them up.] It'll just make things unnecessarily annoying.
And I don't need to sleep on anything.
I already know what I want.
[Rolls over onto his chest and drapes an arm over Ace's shoulders.] I've got it right here.
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What am I your moll? [he lights the cigars up anyway with a finger then gets out of Smoker's arm and gets up.]
I'm going to shower.
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[And watches him go.]
[:3]
Sexy.
[Aw hell, did he say that out loud?]
[Hopefully Portgas didn't notice.]
[He'll join in a bit. He's still tired.]
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What is happening? He doesn't know.
Well it just won't happen again...right.
...right.
....right?]
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[And sad freckles are going to worry the fuck out of him.]
[Although he wonders if Ace needs space.]
[But that doesn't even make sense.]
[But then Ace never makes sense.]
[WELL WHATEVER. HEAD'S UP.]
God damn it. I never thought I'd appreciate pirate tattoos.
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He grabs a wash rag]
Well Pops is the best.
[though he's not sure where Smoker is going with this]
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[Stupid cute brat.]
I wouldn't know. [He's kind of sad about that. In a weirdly distant way.]
[But if Ace isn't going to be in the line of water, Smoker will just take that stream.]
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[Finally closing his eyes.]
A certain freckled idiot makes them look really sexy.
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[gives Smoker a little push and then scrubs at the back of Smoker's hair, getting his fingers soapy]
Don't compliment a pirate what's wrong with you?
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Portgas....
[Tugs him in for a hard deep kiss, waste of good cigars, but fuck it, worth it. And he presses against Ace all over again.] I told you before. I'll do what I want. Don't try to protect me from yourself, I'll just get insulted.
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It's just fooling around... [lathers up his hands with soap and spreads them over Smoker's chest to give himself something to do]
That's it. Nothing weird or sappy.
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If that's how you want it.
[But something in Smoker's own suggests he doesn't believe that.]
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[because he frankly doesn't trust Smoker if he goes too far. It's like a cliff in the fog. It looks like it goes on forever but if you're not careful you'll fall and break yourself.
And Smoker is the fog that hides it. Ace knows it even if Smoker doesn't]
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[No, that wasn't all it was, not by a long shot.]
[And it hadn't been since Smoker broke enough to kiss Ace in the first place.]
[Even knowing how Adela felt about him.]
[Stupid teenage pirate.]
[There's another blink and Smoker quells the sense of rage.]
[It's foolish. Portgas thinking he could set lines now, thinking he himself would abide by them, be satisfied with them.]
[Smoker steps back, and then out of the shower grabbing a cross-legged seat.]
No.
You figure out what you're comfortable with, but I've got more respect for myself and you than to lie like that. I told you before, you want lies? Go to your nakama.
I'm not one of your crew, and if I was just a casual one night stand, you wouldn't keep coming after me. Figure out what you want little Tomcat, but I'm not going to play by your rules, I'm playing by my own.
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Don't be an idiot. [what is he even saying. Ace can't figure it out. He doesn't want to figure it out]
I didn't say one night. Just-- whenever. [but that was it right there. He didn't know Smoker's rules. He didn't trust Smoker's rules. He didn't like him having all the control over everything. Yes or no. Ace had to be stronger than him and harder hearted-- so that when the cliff ended he'd know how to skirt down
He turns his back to Smoker and starts to wash himself under the spray]
That's fine. You play by your rules I'll play by mine.
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[He needs his cigars back. But then if things changed again, he'd be switching again.]
[SIGH.]
[He's still kind of mad at Ace, but he sneaks up behind him, and bites into his shoulder and kisses down the back anyway.]
Fine. And if I want to compliment a pirate's tattoos? I will. [Licks it some.]
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But he'll go back to scrubbing at the soap in Smoker's hair if he can with both hands, reaching above him and backwards, looking up and biting his chin]
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[Welp. That was a total mood killer.]
[AND HE WAS LICKING THE CROSSBONES PART JEEZ.]
[But he's done now, just finishes up, gets out, towels off, gets dressed. He's going home. No sense spending the night here at this point.]
Try to get some breakfast. The room is paid through to twelve tomorrow.
[See ya stupid cowboy.]
[Unless you have anything else to add.]
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[just like Smoker to completely kill a mood. Geeze.]
Ah but don't worry abut it.
[he'll do something to make up for Smoker basically wasting his money here. Maybe give Adela more or something since Smoker wasn't going to take it]
Have a good night.
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[Small sigh.]
[Hesitantly comes back and tries to tackle him back to the bed, the way he'd wanted to rest on him earlier, chest down, arm stretched over Portgas' shoulders.]
Stop pushing me away when you don't want to. I'm not smart enough to figure it all out sometimes.
Just only do what you have full conviction behind, all right? Quit half-assing it. [Tugs Ace's earlobe in his teeth. To see how much that gets him fucked or not.]
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I do what I want. Like I said I"m not going to play by your rules. What makes you think I'll let you call all the shots?
I didn't half ass what we did. [though that weridly feels like forever ago] But I don't know where to go from here except you think you can decide where that is. Or maybe won't let me because it's a lie and not what you want to hear.
You never listen to what I'm telling you.
[this was a familiar dance. He sighs.]
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Was that what you meant to ask earlier? And I just didn't get it?
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Why can't it just be that?
He'd already said what he'd thought to say and wasn't sure if he had a question but... he had one now. He cupped Smoker's jaw and traced his lower lip with his thumb, mesmerized by the feel of it, pulling it back a little to see his teeth.]
Why did you want to cuddle?
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