Work Text:
“Hey, Luffy?”
“Yeah?”
Ace stretched out on the couch that he was too long for, but it was fairly comfortable even with his feet dangling. They were the only ones left in the men’s bunk that morning, the others already about their chores. “Sanji.”
“What about him?”
“He’s the only omega so far on your crew.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Was just wondering…” Ace was trying to be subtle, considerate, respectable. Because he wanted, desperately, but if Luffy or any other crew member wanted, had a partial claim he wouldn’t step there. There was no mark on Sanji’s neck, no courtship bracelet on his wrist. But perhaps Luffy’s crew didn’t go in for traditional methods.
“I wonder too,” Luffy agreed. “I know he worked in a restaurant and the old geezer taught him, but it is more than that - he has to be magic with how good he cooks.”
“No, I’m asking if you have a claim on him.” Ace grunted as Luffy landed on him and gave a credible alpha growl that would scare Ace if it wasn’t his little brother. He licked a finger and jammed it in Luffy’s ear.
“Ace! That’s gross! Ew, I’m telling.”
“Don’t you dare,” Ace was a grown man, a pirate of renown, important to the Whitebeard pirates and he automatically checked to see if Makino was there to give him disappointed face for torturing his little brother. “Oh it is on.” Luffy’s skin was rubber but that didn’t mean it wasn’t ticklish in a couple spots and he dove for them. They were rolling on the ground, and even though it had been years, of course they remembered each other’s weak spots and damn Luffy had gotten a lot better at purple nurples. “Just say he is your mate and we can stop this.” He had Luffy in a headlock.
Which only worked a bit because he stretched his neck and began to lick Ace wherever he could reach just getting drool everywhere which he knew Ace hated. “He’s my crew you can’t have him. I’ll kick your ass if you try to take my good food away from me.”
“I’m not asking him to cook for me, though I am getting hungry, I’m asking if you are fucking him!” He let go because the drool got in between his fingers and ugh. He pulled Luffy’s shirt over his head blinding him and used the bottom to dry off. He easily dodged the blind swings Luffy was taking.
The door slammed open, “what did a heard of elephants end up on the ship, the racket might kill my soufflé and then I kill you!” Sanji was there scowling at them both. “I knew it was a risk to try to make a soufflé on this ship, but Vivi is sad, and it will make her feel better. So cut this bullshit out! Hooligans, and wastrels.”
Ace couldn’t help but grin at him. Sanji was so fucking adorable. He stood and bowed. “My apologies, I needed an answer from Luffy that was very important to me and he was not forthcoming.”
“Why do you even want to know if I am fucking Sanji?” Luffy jumped up. He looked confused. “Am I supposed to? I don’t wanna.”
“Thank the all blue for that. I’ve heard you and Zoro and that is not my idea of a good time. Be quiet, or I’ll dunk you both into the sea, heads just above water enough so that you don’t drown, but are weak and pathetic and too pliant to make my soufflé fall - and you aren’t getting any!”
“Sanji,” Luffy gasped, “that is so mean. I’m sorry.” Ace watched his brother hurry over and contritely nuzzle at the omega, supplicant, apologetic.
Ace smiled as Sanji scratched Luffy’s head and agreed he wouldn’t actually do that so long as they stayed quiet. He left seeming to be so focused on his cooking he didn’t wonder why Ace had been asking about Luffy’s relationship to Sanji. Which. Wait. “You’re fucking Zoro?”
“Oh! Yup!” Luffy grinned at him and flopped on the couch. “Zoro is my mate! Well, can’t bite him, won’t stick, we’re trying to figure out what to do there, so everyone knows he is mine and no touching. But mostly when people try to flirt with him, he shouts I belong to the pirate king and that works!”
“Another alpha, interesting.”
Luffy was picking lint out of his belly button. “It is?” He was frowning. “Why?”
Ace smiled a bit. Of course his brother wouldn’t know or wouldn’t care what some jackasses thought about alphas mating with other alphas. “He make you happy?”
“He’s Zoro. He makes me everything.”
“I like that,” Ace went over and gave his brother a gentle head butt. “I was asking about Sanji, because was hoping to flirt with him a bit, and didn’t want to step on any toes. Cause any fights.”
“Oh!” Luffy giggled. “My bad. Vivi and Nami flirt and Usopp is all sweet on a girl back home, and Chopper is a reindeer and too young for those feelings. I think? I probably should ask how old my doctor is? Do I have to teach him sex ed?”
That was a visual that would haunt his nightmares. “No, Luffy, he’s a doctor, he probably already knows how sex works.”
“Phew,” Luffy flopped. “So if Sanji wants to be flirted with, flirt away. I just don’t know if it will do much, because he always makes stupid faces about girls, not boys. But I have seen him stare at a couple alphas, I dunno.”
“Well, guess I’ll find out.”
“Ace, if you hurt him, if you two fight, I’ll have to pick a side.”
“I know it would hurt you to side against a crew mate -“ Ace began, but then Luffy was there laughing in his face. “He cooks you meat, of course you would pick him.” That was fair. “I’ll be good.”
“I know, you are the best! Okay, I’m going to go see if Chopper wants to play tag. Bye!”
Ace stayed alone in the cabin for a few minutes and reached into his bag. He always had random things in there, there had to be something good to give to Sanji. Flint, a beat up romance novel, jerky, a knife, an apple corer, twine, and when the fuck had he picked up an apple corer? But that would work well. He went to the bathroom cleaned all the bag fuzz and crumbs off it, checked that it was reasonable sharp.
He went to the kitchen and stepped softly when he saw Sanji lifting a soufflé from the oven. “If you breathe, I will kill you.”
Ace didn’t move, kept his breath low and steady as Sanji set it on the counter. It stayed up. Ace wanted to growl at the happy scent pouring off of Sanji in that moment but he was lifting a second one out of the oven and he stayed steady. The oven was closed and Sanji was beaming.
“Perfect.” Sanji set a spoon on the plate that held the first soufflé, added a bit of garnish. “I need to take this to the wondrous Vivi, get that other one to Luffy.” Sanji almost was dancing out of the kitchen.
Ace looked at the soufflé and it looked damned good - and Luffy wouldn’t appreciate it. He’d just gobble it down not caring about the work that went into something like that. Ace dipped the spoon in and by the flame it was the best thing he had ever eaten. He took another spoonful and really wanted to keep it for himself.
But then thought maybe Sanji would be upset. He picked up the soufflé and ate a few more bites as he walked out the kitchen. “Oi, Luffy, Sanji said this is for you.”
He tossed the ramekin and Luffy caught it and started cursing about how hot it was, which right, hot things were hot to most people. He forgot that sometimes. But he noticed that didn’t stop Luffy from eating it he just sort of tossed it from hand to hand. Sanji returned and groaned. “Really? There was a plate right there.”
Ace smiled. “I forgot he feels heat.” He watched Sanji pull out a cigarette and he flicked his finger, lighting it for him. He saw the flash in Sanji’s eye, breathed in the change in scent. He might make heart eyes at women, but Ace could recognize lust well enough. He moved closer. “I had to take a bite of you,” he said in a low voice that those on the main deck wouldn’t here. Sanji choked on the smoke of his cigarette at that. “Your cooking, I mean.” He reached out, took the cigarette away, so that he could press his finger against Sanji’s lip. Sanji’s tongue gave it the smallest lick. “You are ridiculously tasty.” There was a small moan, which confirmed the look that Sanji was giving him. This definitely wasn’t unwelcome. “Can I have a taste?”
He saw Sanji’s eyes drift to the crew on the deck and there was a flush on Sanji’s neck. “Later?” That got him a small nod. “I’ll look forward to it. Now how about I catch some fish for you, nice and fresh to cook for dinner?” He wanted to provide for this gorgeous omega. And he remembered what he had in his hand. “This is for you, pretty boy,” he said and held out the apple corer. “Know it isn’t jewelry, but thought you’d appreciate it more.” Also he didn’t have so much as an earring in the bag.
Seemed it didn’t matter because Sanji practically collapsed against him when he took the corer, and he scent was so high that Ace just wanted to pick him up, push him against the wall and mount him.
“Thanks,” Sanji said his voice cracking on the word. “That’s, thanks.”
“What you got there, Sanji?” Usopp had come up to them and seemed completely oblivious that a moment was happening, there was tension in the air. “Ace give you something neat?” He looked at them innocently, curious, and Ace was at a bit of a loss because he figured even if you couldn’t read the emotions on their faces, their scents in that moment would generally have people leaving them alone.
Ace wasn’t sure what to do because Sanji was turning bright red, and looked ready to bolt. He had a feeling if Sanji ran, his hopes for that night would be shot. He moved closer and put a hand on Sanji’s neck, thumb, resting where a claim bite would go. Ace began to stroke the skin, tiny movements, barely noticeable unless you were the one feeling it. He felt Sanji shiver. “Just somewhere along the way, picked up an apple corer - useless to me, but thought Sanji might enjoy it.”
“Oh, yeah, he loves kitchen gadgets. Once joked that if someone were to ever court him, forget jewelry, get him whisks!” Usopp laughed.
“Did he know?” Perhaps it was fate that that had been in his bag. “That is interesting to learn.” He kept his thumb moving on Sanji’s neck. “I like traditions, after how Luffy and I were raised, I’m a bit of a sucker for doing things the way they are supposed to be done. On some things.” He was a pirate after all. “But adapting traditions to suit who a person is? That’s a lovely thing.”
“I sent back to Syrup Village a medical book that Chopper was done with. For Kaya, she’s my, well one day I am hoping she’ll be, I mean, just she’s, she sent back a letter. She really liked that I sent her that book.” Usopp scratched his neck. Finally seemed to clue in that something was going on. “Right well…”
“Usopp! They are projecting a lot of pheromones, you should leave them alone for their mating rituals.” Chopper was heading over. “It is super important for humans to do that.” He was tugging at Usopp. “Sorry, he is a true neutral beta, can’t really smell that stuff. Which can be handy, but also awkward. You two should continue your sexual ritual.”
Usopp groaned. “Chopper don’t say sexual ritual.”
“Why not? It is medically important for alphas and omegas to be able to -“
Ace felt Sanji tense up beneath his hand. He was going to say something but Usopp picked up the little reindeer. “Zoro, catch!”
“You bastard!” Chopper shouted as he flew through the air. Zoro caught him easily. “You two better not throw me about like that again.” Ace noticed though that Chopper was holding his arms up, clearly wanting it. He laughed when Zoro tossed the doctor to Luffy and they all started to have fun together.
“And that was worse than the dinner where Chopper earnestly suggested that Zoro should be the one topping Luffy because the stretchy skin would adapt to a knot better but if they kept insisting on Luffy topping they needed to actually spend money on quality slick.” Sanji looked at him. “I had cooked this amazing crispy chicken dish, and had to listen to Chopper count down the best slicks for alphas to fuck other alphas with. It was very detailed.”
“Why didn’t you leave?”
“It was dinner time,” Sanji was looking at him like he was clueless, “unless you are sick or injured, nakama eat together.”
He was utterly charmed by the crew that Luffy was putting together. “You all are perfect for Luffy.” And he didn’t want his flirting with Sanji, maybe having a good time with the man before he moved on to impact any of those dynamics. He moved his hand away from Sanji, even as his fingers spasmed, loathe to let go. “Perhaps, this is a bad idea.”
There was a snarl from Sanji. “I am on a ship with people who have found the person they want to belong to. I get to fuck myself on toys and breathe in all their stupid happy scents, breathe in all the we’ve had sex and it was great that pours off Nami and Vivi, Luffy and Zoro. Hot alpha who is nice, comes along and gives me an apple corer? I get to have that.” A finger jammed into his chest. “Now go catch some fish and if you stop flirting with me, I’ll kick you into the sea and not let anyone rescue you for at least thirty seconds.” Sanji’s scent was high, righteous.
He was everything Ace had ever wanted.
Ace leaned in, buried his nose against Sanji’s neck. “Yes, sir,” he said and enjoyed the way that made Sanji jolt. “Pretty boy, I won’t let you down.”
“Stop that, go fish,” he ordered and disappeared into his kitchen.
Ace smiled a bit. He went to fish and while he sat there made some plans.
*
It had been easy to convince everyone except Zoro to let he and Sanji have the cabin to themselves that night and he thought at first it was because of the way that Sanji and Zoro fought, that he was just being an asshole but then he paused. “I’m not going to hurt him,” he said. “I won’t do anything he doesn’t want, and I won’t pretend that this is forever, not with the lives we lead.” He bowed to Zoro. “Does he even know you are his alpha protector?”
“Fuck off, I’m not,” Zoro grumbled but eased a bit. “Luffy doesn’t get that sometimes you gotta look out for people for those sorts of reasons. So maybe I keep an eye on the crew.”
“They are lucky to have you.” Ace tilted his neck in respect and deference to the fellow alpha. “I promise to treat Sanji right, how he wants to be treated, and I will not make him any promises that I cannot keep.”
“Whatever,” Zoro snorted, but everything about the alpha relaxed. “Like sleeping out on the deck anyways.” He scratched his neck a bit. “About me and Luffy. You got any problems there?”
“Nope,” Ace said and the other alpha relaxed even more. “Just want Luffy happy is all.”
“Me too,” Zoro shrugged. “Pretty easy guy to keep happy.”
Ace could be nice and not torture his brother. But then what sort of brother would he be? “Wanna know what he was like as a kid?”
“Yes. Yes, I do.” Zoro sat next to him and offered the bottle he was drinking from. Ace took a healthy gulp from it. “Bet he was a pain in the ass.”
“You have no idea.” He fished and told stories to Zoro who laughed at the tales of young Luffy. It was nice to have people to share it with. He had a bucket full of fish, more than average crew this size would need but he knew Luffy. He thanked Zoro for the company and took the catch to Sanji. He knew his scent was high, presenting food to the omega, being a good provider, and he grinned. “For you, pretty boy,” he said in a low but happy tone. “I hope that I provided well.”
Sanji was inspecting the fish and grunted. Ace paused, not quite sure what that sound meant. Then one of the fish was grabbed, and Ace watched as it was cleaned, taken perfectly apart, fast, and perfect. He growled a bit, staring at those hands move, picturing them on his skin. “Fuck, look at you work, that is the sexiest thing ever.” The concentration, the movement. Fish after fish was cleaned and it shouldn’t be as hot as it was watching animal be rendered into meat, but well he had always had a thing for hands and what they could do. Some of the meat was put in the freezer and the rest was being prepped for dinner. “Mind if I watch you cook?”
“Nah. Sit there,” the knife gestured to a spot at the table. “Best view.”
Ace sat but it wasn’t the best view. He was confused because he could barely see Sanji’s hands but then Sanji bent to get a fry pan and Ace realized that Sanji had given him the spot that would let him focus on Sanji’s ass. It was decent, but not what he cared about in that moment. “I want to watch you work, pretty boy. I’ll care about your ass later. Want to see your hands.”
“Oh.” Sanji’s shoulders hunched a bit and then dropped. “There then.” Another gesture and Ace moved and had a delightful angle to watch Sanji work. “Most alphas tend to prefer other views. And do not fucking say you aren’t like most alphas.”
Ace laughed. He let flames flicker over his knuckles. “I am pretty singular.”
“That’s the devil fruit, not your dick. A knot is a knot.”
He liked Sanji more and more. “Is there anything I can help with?”
“No, just sit there and enjoy your view.” Ace did enjoy the view as Sanji cut up vegetables, set things to do whatever it was they were supposed to do. “I’m not a virgin.”
“Neither am I,” Ace said.
“Baratie, lots of people coming through. Women, men, had them both, they had me. Didn’t care about designation, just that they were pretty, smelled nice, had good manners to the staff. Nothing turns me off faster than rude entitled fuckers.”
“Guess it is a good thing I had all those manner lessons years ago. That why you aren’t interested in the ship alphas?” He adored his brother more than anything, but Luffy was not well mannered.
“Sure, and also, Luffy and Zoro are bonded, not going to step into that.” It was starting to smell heavenly in the kitchen. The food, and he could scent Sanji under it, a bit nervous but also content because he was cooking. “Point is, I’ve fucked a fair bit.”
“And you think perhaps I’ll care?” That got a shrug. “I only care if you’ve been unsatisfied or hurt.”
“Why, you’ll be a big tough alpha and go hunt them down?” There was a bit of a sneer at that.
“No, you took care of them I am sure if they were bad.” Ace had no doubt that Sanji was a strong fighter, it radiated off him. “Just don’t want to do anything you might not want or like.” Ace tapped his fingers against the table. “I just want to make you feel good, pretty boy, if I may.” That got a nod and Sanji didn’t respond just focused on cooking. But Ace noticed the gestures got just a bit more exaggerated, pans flipping food in the air more - Sanji was showing off for the alpha. Ace let a low pleased rumble escape his throat, saw Sanji tilt his head a bit, expose his neck. Another rumble and there was a whimper.
“Don’t fucking distract me, I will not serve burned food to the ship’s goddesses.”
Ace restrained himself a bit, contented himself watching Sanji cook. It was clearly nearing done when Luffy burst in. “Sanji, I’m starving!”
“Less than ten minutes, Luffy, chill out.”
“What’s the funny smell?” Luffy was sniffing the air. “Why is it smelling sweet. Did you cook a dinner Zoro can’t eat?”
“No, I wouldn’t do that to Mosshead and you know it, Luffy.” There was a snarl from Sanji, and Luffy immediately humbled himself. “That smell is me, dumbass.”
“Why?” Luffy came in and was pressed against Sanji, breathing him in. Other alphas would perhaps be territorial in a moment like that, but Ace wasn’t, he knew it was just Luffy being Luffy and he believed them all when they said there wasn’t a thing there. “You smell nice, Sanji! Like that spicy chocolate thing you made.”
“Fuck sake’s Luffy, you don’t actually comment on that,” Sanji grumbled.
“Yeah, but why? Why’s Sanji smelling like his omega self?” Luffy paused. “Oh Ace told you he wants to fuck you! And you like it! Okay! When’s food?”
“Go get everyone,” Sanji said, “I’m just plating it.”
“Yes! Awesome!” Luffy’s idea of getting everyone was sticking his head out the door and shouting that food was ready.
Ace sat there as everyone poured in and like last night it was a tight fit at their small table. “I can eat standing up,” he offered.
“No,” Sanji said, “You sit, I can lean against the counter.”
“It’s fine. Look!” Luffy had moved and was sitting on Zoro’s lap. “Zoro is a good chair.”
Ace was curious how the other alpha would respond to that, but other than an eye roll, Zoro didn’t respond easily ate around Luffy, this wasn’t the first time they had sat like this. He tucked into the food and sighed in pleasure. “Sanji, you are truly an incredible cook. It is incredible.”
“Thanks,” Sanji was focused on his plate, that flush on his neck as Ace gave a few more compliments. His scent was also rising and the women giggled as they exchanged looks.
“Sanji smells more now.” Luffy was looking up. “Ace’s words make you happy.”
“Yeah, a hot alpha paying me compliments makes me slick, sue me.” That got more giggles. Ace felt powerful. “Now just focus on your food. Your food, not Zoro’s that I see you stealing. Just because he’s your bitch, doesn’t mean I am. Give it back.”
Ace noticed that Zoro didn’t particularly have a problem with that pejorative and he laughed that Luffy actually put some of the food back. And laughed more that when Sanji wasn’t looking Zoro hand fed Luffy a couple pieces of his fish. After dinner, he offered to do the dishes but Ace said it was Usopp’s turn and the routine had to be followed. They went out onto the deck and it was a nice evening. They would anchor in a cove and make their landing point tomorrow. Then it would be time to trek through the dessert. He had a feeling that would be interesting with this group.
“It was a lovely meal,” he told Sanji. He raised his hand to Sanji’s neck, began to stroke like he had before. They didn’t say anything, and when Sanji was reaching for a cigarette, Ace grasped his hand. He began to massage the fingers that had worked so hard to provide sustenance for the crew. He stretched joints, moved the wrist back and forth, dug into the thumb pad a bit. “Your hands are incredible.” He took up the other hand and did the same thing. In the kitchen it seemed that Sanji was mostly ambidextrous, and both had worked hard. He brought the hand to his mouth, kissed the palm and then the index finger, which he slowly drew into his mouth, began to suck. Sanji collapsed against him, his scent heady and Ace could feel his erection against Ace’s leg. He let Sanji’s hand go. “Thank you for your work, Sanji.”
“Uh huh,” Sanji managed to say. He pressed his face against Ace’s neck and his breath was warm against the skin. An arm slid around him. “Everyone is usually asleep by end of first watch shift. We could sneak -“
“Shh, I have it all taken care of,” Ace promised. “Don’t worry about a thing pretty boy. Just go to the cabin, whenever you are ready.” He kissed Sanji’s temple, breathed him in a bit and walked away, needing a moment - he hadn’t responded this strongly to an omega since - he didn’t want to admit to himself he had never responded this strongly to an omega before.
In a different world he would be thinking more long term thoughts, but they lived in this one and they’d maybe have a couple weeks together at most. But a lot could be done in that time.
Ace went and had a quick shower, made sure he was fairly clean and then he filled a bowl with water, grabbed a wash cloth and took it to the men’s cabin. It was good, but maybe could be more. He went to the girl’s room. “Do either of you have anything to scent water a bit. Oil or such?”
He endured the giggles. “Tell you what, fifty berries, and you can go grab one of my oranges put the peel in the water.” Nami held out her hand.
“Here you go,” he said and pulled out one of her secret stashes of money. He enjoyed her gasp of outrage. “Pirate,” he reminded her. “I don’t rob you, if you don’t rob me.”
“So much for those manners,” she muttered but she was smiling. “Nice to meet someone with fingers light enough to steal from me, doesn’t happen too often. Go ahead,” she agreed. Ace tossed her, her own money and went to grab one of those oranges. He added peel to the water, and warmed it with his devil fruit. It smelled great. He ate the orange slices and set up the couch for their needs.
The cabin very much smelled like a group of guys sleeping on top of each other and there was a pile of socks in the corner that terrified him a bit, but it wasn’t a bad space all in all - not for a crew still starting out. His brother was happy, and Ace hoped to be happy very shortly.
He let fire flicker and roll over his knuckles as he sat on the couch. Ace didn’t worry that it was taking Sanji a long time - however long it took he would wait. He smiled when there was a quiet knock on the door. “Not my quarters, you don’t need permission,” he called out.
Sanji ducked into the room, locking the door after he closed it. “Hi.” He smelled nervous but hopeful. “The guys are all camping out together it seems.”
“Nice night for it,” Ace replied. Sanji wasn’t coming any closer. “Sanji, do you want this?” If he had changed his mind, that was fine.
“If I move away from this door, I will jump onto you, and ride your dick until we both pass out. I am so fucking horny because of your stupid scent, and smile, fucking absurd hat. You gave me an apple corer - I want to choke on your dick. I have had to change my underwear twice because of how much I want to eat you fucking alive piece by goddamn piece. If I take even one step forward, I am going to destroy you, and I think you wanted to lead this dance, so just give me a goddamn minute. And you smelling so pleased and fuckable is not helping - control that shit!”
“How the fuck do you expect me to smell after you say something like that?” Ace countered. He stood up and quickly shed everything he was wearing - luckily he wore so little he was naked in about five seconds. He stood there, supremely confident in his body and grinned at Sanji. “Don’t you want to let go of that door? I can make you feel really good.”
“Listen asshole,” Sanji clearly had a death grip on the doorknob. “Do you know why I smoke so much?”
“You look really sexy doing it?”
“Argh! STOP BEING SO MUCH!” Sanji was glaring. “I smell everything, I have a sensitive nose and if I want to actually smell what I am cooking the crew, I need that stuff blocked out a bit. But I haven’t smoked in a couple hours because I wanted to really breath you in, and now my head is full of you and usually it is full of seasoning recipes and tits and there is probably other stuff in there.”
“Hopefully dicks? Along with the tits?”
“Yeah, that’s in there too, and you look like you have a great one.”
“Why thank you, Sanji. I hope to put it to good use making you feel really fantastic. Would you -“
“I swear to every deity ever imagined, if you tell me to greet your cock and you have in fact named it, I am walking out of here, no matter how slick I am for you. No matter how great you smell. That is a fucking deal breaker, if your dick has a name.”
Ace made a face and then thought about it for a second. Sighed and pinched his nose. “Luffy’s named his, hasn’t he?”
“Vice Captain Stretchy Stretcherson.”
“Wonder how Zoro feels being out ranked by six or so inches.” Ace was going to have to find time to talk to his little brother maybe explain a couple things.
“Yeah, right, well great time talking about Luffy’s dick. Really swell. I’m just going to go now.”
“I haven’t named my dick,” Ace swore, “Not once.” Not the most seductive line he could have said. It seemed being on this ship made a person crazy. But you’d have to be a little bit to sail with his brother as your captain. He moved closer to Sanji, smiled. “Enough about anyone else, I think. Just you and me here, all night. If you want.”
“I want, that’s the fucking problem.”
“Could be the fucking solution too,” Ace tugged and Sanji finally let go of the door. “Thought you wanted to jump me.”
There was a shrug. “I do, but also was maybe talking a bit, didn’t want you to think, I dunno.” The shoulders stayed hunched up. “Let’s fuck.”
“Sure,” Ace agreed. He pulled Sanji close and kissed the tip of his nose. A gentle hand on Sanji’s neck at the right spot and he began to circle his finger over the scent gland, watched as all the tension fell out of Sanji. “You wanted to be strong, let me know you weren’t a push over, right?”
“Yeah.”
“I know that, I see how strong you are. But bet it would be nice to be taken care of a bit. You are a gentleman, wouldn’t you like a bit of gentle?” That got a small noise out of Sanji and his scent was rose, not the aggressive sexuality at the door, the bravado but closer to what Ace could tell was his true scent.
He liked both.
Ace smiled, “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” Sanji agreed and took off the suit jacket. Ace’s fingers started for the buttons but were warm enough one burnt just a little. “Whoops, someone is just a bit too hot.” Ace had to smirk a bit at that and Sanji kicked his shin but gently, softly for a man who could kick hard enough to break necks. “You know your gorgeous.”
“Not compared to some.” Oh and didn’t that get an interesting reaction? Sanji’s scent flared and his neck went well and in the next moment it felt like he was trying to burrow into Ace. “Hey, beautiful, what’s this?”
“Nothing,” was snarled and he could feel Sanji working on the buttons between them, and the shirt was pushed off. He was pushed onto the couch and Sanji was on top of him. Kissing him, devouring him like a last meal. Ace ran a hand up and down Sanji’s spine, soothed the mercurial man. And he did calm. Eventually, Sanji’s kiss softened and then moved so he was curled against Ace. “You just make me feel everything at once. I was told, my mama told me, if someone makes you feel like that…”
Ace kissed the top of Sanji’s head, understanding what Sanji didn’t say. “I won’t ask you to come with me,” he swore. He could never pull apart his little brother’s family that he built.
“I won’t ask you to stay,” Sanji countered.
Ace met his gaze. “But one day,” he whispered.
“One day, we’ll meet again at the All Blue,” Sanji smiled and it was sweet, so gorgeous sweet and he smelled perfect. “I’ll cook for you and if my grill goes out, well guess you just have to light me up.”
“One day,” Ace agreed. He ran a hand over Sanji’s chest, ran his thumb over a nipple and enjoyed the shiver in response. “But that’s one day, and today all that matters is that whole you riding my dick speech you did.”
Sanji laughed and Ace was completely sunk. “Honestly read that in a dirty mag once. Or at least variation on it.”
“Thought it was pretty great, but need you out of those trousers beautiful.”
Sanji stood up and took off the rest of his clothes and Ace watched. He was long and lanky, all limb that made you think he was a lot taller than he was. But he wasn’t that tall, not really, it was just so much leg that he wanted wrapped around his hips. He ran his hand along Sanji’s thighs, and then yanked so that Sanji tumbled onto his lap and those legs were on either side of him. Perfect.
“Another time want to fuck you against a wall so you are all wrapped around me,” Ace said. “Oooh or eat you out while your thighs squeeze my head.”
Sanji squirmed on his lap and moaned. It too a moment to realize how Sanji was riding his thigh, leaving a bit of slick on his skin. Ace growled, low, pleased and he had to smile when Sanji met his gaze head straight, determined for a moment before he tilted his neck.
Ace had to nuzzle against him. He licked at Sanji’s neck. “You are wonderful.”
“Stop that flattery crap.”
“No,” Ace nipped. “You deserve pretty words to match how pretty you are.”
“Fine, don’t stop the flattery crap, just do more touching.”
“That I can do,” Ace promised and his hands roamed all over Sanji as they kisses and he was a bit of a bastard and touched everywhere but where Sanji clearly wanted. “Something you want?” he teased when Sanji lightly head butted him and whined. He ran a finger down the cleft of Sanji’s ass, squeezed him close. “That better?”
“More,” Sanji begged. His squirming was turning into one hell of a lap dance. “Will you touch my dick already? Or you are a jerk who only cares, about, oh fuck fuck, hot hands fucking hot hands fuck, I will not pop off like I am sixteen and being touched for the first time,” Sanji snarled and his fingers were digging hard into Ace’s shoulders.
“By all means, please do, want you to feel good Sanji.” Ace kissed him. He move his hand up and down, stroking Sanji. “Cum for me whenever you want, Sanji. You deserve to feel good. I want to make you feel good.” That got a shudder from Sanji and the man started biting at his neck, as if the omega was trying to claim the alpha. Ace’s dick ached, he wanted to be inside Sanji so badly. “Want to be in you.”
“Then fucking get in me,” Sanji replied panting, short of air after having his mouth latched so tightly to Ace’s skin. Ace kinda liked that Sanji wanted him so badly he forgot to breathe through his nose. Sanji reached and it was Ace’s turn to almost lose it. Sanji’s fingers were rough, a million little scars and callouses from the work he did with his hands. “You know cooks, we burn our fingers so much, barely feel it. I can stand your heat.”
“Knew you could.” Ace cupped his face. “Aren’t you just perfect?”
“Fuck off.”
Ace grinned, “Okay, I understand,” and started to get up. He laughed as Sanji tackled him and his mouth was latched on again. “Oh baby, don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere, not yet, not until I’ve had you. Want you.” Need you, but he didn’t say that aloud. He sat up from the tackle and adjusted their bodies. “Fingers?”
There was a snort, “with how slick I am?”
“Maybe you just like them,” Ace countered. “Want you to have whatever you want.” Sanji melted against him. “Fuck, Sanji, you deserve good things.” He put a little alpha command in his voice, “You listen to me Sanji, you never settle for less. You deserve everything. You will make sure that whomever you choose in this life are actually worthy of you. You understand?”
Sanji nodded against him, shocked, and his lip quivered a bit. “I understand,” he promised and he fully tilted his neck, submitted to Ace. Ace couldn’t, he couldn’t, but he at least dug his fingers into the scent gland to anchor Sanji. “One day,” Sanji repeated and then moved was clearly trying to get Ace’s cock in him and well, it was an alpha’s responsibility to take care of an omega.
Ace lifted Sanji up a bit, adjusted them and watched as Sanji slowly sank down on his cock. Sanji would have gone quickly, and he was strong but not stronger than Ace, and Ace made sure it was slow, that Sanji wasn’t hurt as Ace pushed into him. It was smooth, Sanji’s scent was high, and he was leaking slick. When Sanji was resting on his lap, they both were very still. “Sanji?”
“Yeah?” it was whispered back softly.
Ace’s fingers were warm, of course they were as they pushed Sanji’s hair away. The man tried to duck away but for just a moment Ace wouldn’t let him, wanted to look in his eyes. Fuck, Ace wanted to make so many promises he couldn’t keep. He smiled slowly. “My dick’s name is -“
Sanji laughed and lightly pummeled his head with fake blows. “You bastard, don’t even joke about that.” The fists relaxed and Sanji’s arms were around his neck. “You going to do anything interesting?”
“You want me to juggle? Sing a song?” Ace put his hands on Sanji’s hips and lifted him up and then back down. “Or do you want this?”
“That,” Sanji agreed. He braced his forearms on Ace’s shoulders and worked with how Ace moved him.
“You are so beautiful, baby,” Ace said. “Just the prettiest.” He loved how Sanji reacted to the praise, embarrassed but also incredibly pleased and the pleased overshadowed the other feelings the more they rocked together. “Look at you move,” Ace crooned. “You want to touch yourself, or want me to do it?”
“You?” Sanji asked and he had the cutest little pout. “Why would I get myself off when I have a gorgeous alpha to take care of me? Said you would.”
“I did,” Ace agreed. He reached between them and drew a finger along Sanji’s pretty cock. Sanji whined and the pout grew. “What?”
“No teasing, you bastard,” Sanji ground down, and tightened around him. Ace growled a bit in lust, in reminding Sanji to behave, and Sanji growled right back a sound an omega could copy not pull deep from within, but he still did a damned good job. “Take care of me.”
“I will,” Ace’s voice was deep into its alpha strength. “You just ride away to your heart’s content, and I will take care of you. Ride me, Omega Sanji.” It was an order and Sanji began to rock quicker on his cock, using those strong thighs to their best advantage.
Ace wrapped his hand around Sanji and began to jerk him off, matching his strokes to the way Sanji moved. The noises that Sanji was making went straight to his head. They were making his knot start to swell and Sanji moaned as it began to press.
“In in in in,” Sanji begged. “All, please Alpha.”
“Of course,” Ace swore and he trust his hips up, pressed the growing knot into Sanji, and ran his thumb of the tip of Sanji’s cock, which was enough and his hand and chest were soon covered. Ace snarled when his hand was snatched away, he didn’t want to let go, but he went a bit dizzy at how tight Sanji was around his knot and the sight of Sanji furiously lapping at his hand, licking it clean, stuffing Ace’s fingers into his mouth.
Sanji sucked and Ace let out near a war cry, as the orgasm slammed into him. He couldn’t control his temperature but at least avoided flames. Sanji moaned, and Ace hated that he had hurt the omega, only a moment later he realized, Sanji was not making noise of pain, but pleasure and was sucking at his skin again. Ace was curious and touched Sanji’s cock, which was already hardening again. It should be possible outside heat to recover that quickly even for Sanji’s age. It would only do that if their body’s were that compatible together, if they would be a strong bond.
Ace shunted that thought to the side and instead focused on Sanji, “hey, hey beautiful,” he said and reached to the table behind Sanji. He warmed the water again, and dipped the cloth into it. He picked up Sanji’s hand and cleaned it, worked his way up Sanji’s arm, across shoulders and down to the other hand. He slowly and carefully washed Sanji while he was knotted in the man, performed service that omegas usually provided to alphas. “I will take care of you,” Ace promised. He was unbearably gentle as he wiped Sanji’s half hard cock.
“Please?” Sanji asked, no fight or demand in the word, just sweetness. “Sorry I was angry before.”
It seemed being knotted turned him into a kitten. “I liked the angry,” Ace replied, “I liked the everything.”
“That’s what Luffy says about Zoro,” Sanji yawned and his head was on Ace’s shoulder. “He get that phrasing from you?”
“No, from someone we knew who liked fantastical stories about soulmates and true love found in grand adventures.”
“That sounds nice.”
“It was,” Ace agreed. Sabo would have liked Sanji so much. “Here,” he said and stroked Sanji off again. He held the man close when he fell asleep right after, until he could slide out of Sanji. He lay Sanji down, a towel under him, cleaned him up. The snoring was hardly romantic but it was adorable. He lay down next to Sanji and it felt so good the way that Sanji curved into him, over top of him and held tight.
Ace held just as tight.
He would take care of Sanji as long as he could, as long as he was there. And then maybe one day.
*Marineford*
Ace saw red, actually saw red that wasn’t fire and flame at the words that bastard said. He turned and started to walk to Akinu. “Whitebeard is the greatest pirate there ever will be - this is his era!” He let flame in case his hands. He would teach this bastard a lesson.
“Ace! We have to go! Even the old man said to run! Ace!” Luffy was screaming, but if Ace didn’t defend his Pops’s honour than what sort of man was he. The marine was smiling and yeah, Ace knew this was a bad idea, but he never turned back from a fight when people talked shit.
“Luffy run, I’ll be right behind you.”
“You think you can take me on? You are just as pathetic as that old man.”
Ace went on the balls of his feet ready to jump. “Ace! Sanji sleeps with the apple corer under his pillow. It broke and he kept the handle! Holds it every night!”
What?
Ace didn’t look back, didn’t dare take his eyes off of Akinu.
“If you die, you don’t ever get to be in Sanji’s butt ever again! I didn’t just rescue you for me because you’re my brother! But because Sanji! Ace! The apple corer!” Luffy had darted forward and was tugging at his hand. “Ace! Dying for someone else’s honour is stupid, when you get to have love and the best legs in the world if you live!”
Ace flicked his glance to Pops who was looking at him and smiling. Proud. His Pops was so proud of him. He saw the man mouth go.
Luffy risked everything to come for him. Everyone gave so much to come for him.
Sanji slept with the handle of a stupid trash apple corer.
Ace cast a wall of flame, the biggest he ever had, and he began to run. Marco was there protecting them, and so was Jinbe.
“Your brother is relentless,” Jinbe shouted.
“You have no idea. A pain in the ass since the day I met him!” Ace replied.
The fight was ugly and Ace took flame to his back strong enough to hurt him immensely - he almost blacked out from the agony. “A piece of ass has you turning tail and running like a coward?” A voice shouted.
Ace laughed, “it is a really fantastic ass.” He could smell skin frying and knew it was his own. But he kept running.
He heard Pops shout about the one piece being real but didn’t look. If he looked he would stop, and he would die with the old man. But Pops had spent years convincing Ace to live and he wouldn’t stop now.
Jinbe took a blow that would have killed Luffy, and Ace found himself carrying them both back in agony, vision fading, but there were others helping them and on the deck of a submarine he stumbled and passed out.
*The All Blue*
Ace walked into the Baratie and was given a small table by a window. He ordered when a waiter stopped by and he ate slowly, the food as incredible as he expected it to be. He asked the waiter if maybe he could give his compliments to the chef and was told it was the rush and the man was busy. “I can wait,” Ace said.
“Not at a table that another customer can use.”
“Out on deck then,” Ace agreed and the man shrugged. There were chairs out there and he stared at the ships. One slot had no ships moored at it, a sign there saying, permanently reserved for the Sunny. He had seen Luffy on his way here, told him his plans, and Luffy had said it sounded perfect.
The Pirate King really liked the people he loved getting happy ever after, just like he had.
It was warm and the restaurant rocked just enough on the water that he drifted off. He wasn’t old, but his body had been through a lot the last few years, and he rested whenever he could.
“I could use a light,” was said from the chair next to him. The voice was richer, deeper than he remembered it being, even when parched by the Alabasta sun.
Ace flicked a finger and lit the cigarette. He glanced over. “I like the long hair.”
“Wouldn’t care if you didn’t. Not like I’m changing how I look just because my alpha might have a preference.”
Ace smiled. “Your alpha?” They hadn’t even seen each other since long ago. He had hoped but had been prepared to accept that it was stupid to hope that a week together meant to Sanji what it had to him.
Sanji just shrugged. “It’s a nice one day, today.”
“It is,” Ace had to agree. “Been thinking of retiring.”
“Because you are so ancient?”
“Feels it some days, the war of the king, well I’m a few parts lighter than I use to be.” Ace didn’t begrudge it, he would have sacrificed more than the half a lung and a foot he did, in his part of taking down Blackbeard and putting Luffy on the throne. “But need a good place to land. Somewhere where fire could be a bit of use, that I might see my brothers every once in a while. Where maybe I am wanted.”
Ace went very still as Sanji moved and was sitting astride his lap. “You work in my kitchen, my word is fucking law and I will kick your ass back to the east blue if you even once burn a dish. I’m captain here.” The fingers holding the cigarette were pointing at him. “You got that?”
“I got it,” Ace swore. “Fuck, look at you. You are so fucking beautiful.”
“And that shit stays in our bedroom, not while I am working.”
“Our bedroom.”
“Said it was one day, didn’t I?” Sanji flicked the cigarette into the water and Ace found himself kissed like it was the end of the world. But it wasn’t. It was the beginning. He pressed his fingers to Sanji’s scent gland the scent that filled his nose was perfection.
It was one kiss, one day, and hopefully they’d have thousands.