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“Idiot, idiot, idiot!”
Portgas D. Ace muttered angrily as he marched through the corridors, eyes on the lookout for a certain redhead. Everything was going well, he was even starting to enjoy himself when his sweet little brother appeared out of nowhere and did something that resulted to his present predicament.
Where would she go? He massaged his temples, contemplating if he should check the Ravenclaw common room just in case. Luffy had been tactless as always but no matter how you look at the entire situation, it was all his fault.
Everything started when Professor Franky, their Transfiguration teacher and house head, informed them about the Yule Ball. Ace would’ve gladly skipped the whole thing as he hated formal dancing but to his horror, he and the other champions are to lead the dance as per Triwizard Tournament tradition.
After facing that giant white dragon with nothing more than a few scrapes and burns, he earned plenty of admirers that it would’ve been easy to ask any of them to be his dance partner. But alas, days, weeks have passed and he neither solved the puzzle behind the dragon egg (he was tempted to toss it out of the Gryffindor tower just to see what happens) nor was he able to find a someone (he politely turned down every girl who asked him considering he never spoke to any of them before).
Sabo reminded him every day to be done with it (easy for him to say that when he has a badass girlfriend!). Deuce offered to find him one since he’s “too chicken to do it himself” (he gave him a look that promised pain when Ace threatened to burn his diary). Even Zoro, the guy who spends his free time trying to duel with Professor Mihawk, gave him a “why are you making a big deal outta this?” talk then proceeded to ask Tashigi in front of everyone (hell knows why she said yes when they often argue like there’s no tomorrow).
It came to a turning point when one day, while waiting for the class to start, his friends dared him to ask the first person that enters the room. Ace, fed up with all the nagging and teasing plus not wanting to turn down any challenge, had immediately agreed. His eyes almost popped out of their sockets when the door swung open and he saw the last person he would’ve asked to the stupid ball.
Ace groaned in relief as he loosened the tie Sabo meticulously fixed for him. He didn’t expect the girl to actually say yes. After all, Isuka is a role model student, the kind who wears their uniform properly, turns in their essays on time, and excels in the most advanced Defense against the Dark Arts classes. A lot of people are intimidated by her, even Skull after she apprehended the “Spades Gang” several times for staying past the curfew or hexing each other in corridors. Still, nothing prepared Ace when he fetched her from their common room earlier that evening.
Her dress was a vivid blue, high necked, and the floaty material shimmered whenever she moved. Her bright hair was up and decorated with small blue flowers. She wasn’t wearing any jewelry. Ace was speechless. Isuka was fierce, sure, but she wasn’t exactly bad on the eyes. In fact, Ace suddenly felt plain with his black ensemble and started stammering like an idiot when she smiled and took his arm.
There were whispers and whistles during the feast, even more so when they made their entrance to the dance floor. He heard their house head bawling his head off somewhere when he and the other champions started dancing, with Isuka following his lead with confident grace as if it wasn’t their first time dancing together. He couldn’t help swelling with pride at that moment. Those crash courses of “proper dancing” with Sabo were worth it after all.
It wasn’t as bad as he thought it would be since they weren’t the center of attention for too long. Zoro and Tashigi were nearby- he expected them to burst into another argument when Tashigi tripped on her dress and yanked Zoro down with her. Ace could’ve sworn a miracle when it did not happen as Zoro easily maneuvered them back into place and held the girl closer. Luffy was with Professor Brook (who was dragged from the playing band). They looked like a parent and a small child with the bare-footed Luffy on top of the old professor’s shoes, happily waltzing to the music and not at all paying attention to the weird looks people were giving them.
Professor Franky, who was dancing with Professor Robin, tapped his shoulder and complimented his dress shirt, to which Ace praised his outfit which could double as a disco ball. He immediately struck a pose and thanked him while Professor Robin merely smiled and she shook her head. The biggest surprise was Sabo, his otherwise more reserved brother, who was dancing with Koala with so much enthusiasm that people around them were backing away in fear of getting hurt.
Ace checked his watch. It was already half past nine. It stopped snowing but it was freezing outside the castle. He sighed as he took a turn towards the Ravenclaw tower.
The crowd lessened and the music changed into something slower. He made Isuka twirl several times which resulted to a burst of giggles and her holding onto him tighter for balance. He had frozen on spot but luckily, she assumed he was just tired… and not internally screaming as he struggled to keep his composure. That was when Luffy suddenly approached them, the top buttons of his shirt undone and a turkey leg in one hand. He smiled at Isuka then asked him if it was true that he was only able to find a partner because of a dare. It was an awkward, pin drop moment. Ace was about to say something but Isuka had already eased herself out of his grasps and disappeared into the crowd.
“Oh.”
He stopped walking and cursed at himself for not checking the most obvious place he might find her in. In the courtyard not far from the Ravenclaw tower, there’s a gazebo that is almost hidden by ivies and other climbing plants. He often saw her there on his way to the greenhouses. In daylight, the place looked like an overgrown garden powdered with snow but at night, it looked lonely even with lights on. Even lonelier with Isuka sitting alone inside, chin resting on her knees and arms curled around her legs. Ace could make out a small flame on the tip of her wand, probably to keep herself warm as she had no coat and her sleeves were only up to her elbows. Another pang of guilt hit him so he braced himself and hoped she would be willing to listen.
“Hey.”
Isuka turned to him and nodded.
“Hey.”
“So…” Ace scratched his neck awkwardly as he tried to find words that wouldn’t end up as his last. “I want to tell you that…uh… Isuka, I…”
“It’s fine,” she replied, voice devoid of any emotion. “Go back inside. I’m sure everyone is looking for you by now.”
“Huh? But what about-”
In seconds, Ace found himself staring at the tip of her wand.
“Leave me alone, Portgas.”
She probably knows twice the amount of spells than he does but he wasn’t going to let her do her way this time whether she likes it or not.
“Expelliarmus!”
Isuka gasped as he deftly caught her wand.
“Give me back my wand!”
Ace dropped both wands on the ground and bowed.
“Hear me out, Isuka. Please?”
There was a long pause before he heard her sigh.
“Fine.”
“Thanks.”
He expected worse although the heavy silence that followed wasn’t any better either. He sat beside her.
“I don’t…” He started nervously. “I hate balls. It’s a pain to attend them. The parties back home are so much better. I can eat a lot and dance however I want. But this…” He waved his hand at the castle where they could hear the event in full swing. “I wouldn’t have asked anyone if I wasn’t the school champion.”
“So… was your brother telling the truth?”
“Yes. Luffy is a terrible liar.”
“Oh. And why me?”
“You were the first person who entered the room when I agreed to the dare.”
She snorted.
“Wow. I don’t know if that should make me feel better or not.”
“I’m sorry. It was a stupid dare.”
"What if it was someone else? Would you ask any girl to accompany you?"
Ace wanted to kick himself when he heard a crack in her voice. Damn. I really messed up.
"Uhh... Well…”
"You're a fool." She shook her head. "But I'm a bigger fool for saying yes and thinking- forget it. What’s done is done anyway."
“E-Even if it was a dare, I’m glad youacceptedtobemypartner!”
She looked at him in surprise.
“What?”
He took a deep breath and dragged a hand down his face.
“I said, I-I’m glad to have you as my partner even if it was a dare.”
“Oh.” She paused. “I-I’m glad as well. I got to talk to you better. You’re surprisingly a good guy even if you and your little group march along the corridors as if you own the place.”
Ace couldn’t help but grin, the tension slipping away from his shoulders.
“I’ve been told. And I’m touched you’re keeping an eye on us.”
She rolled her eyes.
“I keep an eye on everyone, Portgas. I’m a prefect.”
“Sure, sure.”
“Congratulations with the dragon by the way.” Isuka commented after another moment of silence. “I didn’t expect you’d last long with a dragon that huge.”
“Like I would lose to that thing with the funny whiskers. Professor Shanks is my mentor.”
“And that’s why we thought you wouldn’t survive the first task. No offense but Professor Shanks blew up his office once while brewing moonshine. ”
“He’s… weird, sure, but he’s been great to me. Even more so since the tournament started.”
“Did he teach you how to dance as well? I’ve heard rumors of him being a frequent patron at a certain bar after all.”
Ace chuckled.
“Oh yeah, that would be Partys Bar. He has a friend there. But no, Sabo was the one who taught me, heck, he was the one who chose what I’m wearing right now.”
“A good thing he did. I wouldn’t be surprised if you came topless to be honest.”
“Hey!” He said in mock hurt, clutching his chest dramatically. “I know decorum when needed! How about you?”
“What about me?”
“You look…” He swallowed hard when Isuka looked at him expectantly. “Y-You look nice… pretty… I mean, not that you don’t look pretty before…”
Isuka’s cheeks turned red.
“T-Thank you. Tashigi helped me with my hair.” She turned around. “They’re speedwells. They grow a lot back home in North Blue. My people believe they bring healing and good fortune.”
Ace stared at the flowers in between the braids. He never mentioned it earlier but he did thought they made a good contrast with her hair. It reminded him of a certain woman who liked putting flowers in her hair too… or at least that’s what he saw in her pictures.
“ACHOO!”
He snapped out of his daze and immediately removed his coat. Isuka moved away the moment he tried wrapping it around her shoulders.
“It’s oka-”
“Just take it.” He fastened the coat firmly. “I always feel warm anyway.”
She looked at him doubtfully but nodded.
“So… why did you join the tournament? Or did all the Gryffindors put their names into the goblet?”
“Not all but yeah, lots of us did. Even Luffy and Zoro wanted to but they’re both underaged. You should’ve seen Zoro’s face when they announced about the age line. Luckily, Nami watched them like a hawk in case they do something stupid like… like making an ageing potion! Not that they’d be able to make a potion that complicated.”
They both laughed.
“But to answer your first question, I guess I wanted to… make a name for myself. People always remind me how my old man was this and that… it’s exhausting, you know?” He gave a weak laugh as he ran his fingers through his now messy hair. “I haven’t even met the guy! But I guess his blood runs strong because I often get into trouble, apparently just like him.”
Isuka reached out and touched his arm.
“If you must know, you have admirers in Ravenclaw long before the tournament. You do great in Professor Mihawk’s classes and you’re not bad in Astronomy either. I have to admit you’re a better Quidditch player than I am too. We know you more as Sabo and Luffy’s older brother rather than Gold Roger’s son. Besides, it’s not like we can choose our own parents.”
It took Ace a moment for the words to sink in.
“I have admirers?”
Isuka grunted and rolled her eyes.
“I’m better than you in Quidditch?”
“I can’t believe you’re Sabo’s older brother sometimes!”
Ace laughed.
“Okay, okay! Sorry! I can’t help it, hearing something like that from you is just…” He rubbed his neck as he searched for words. “Thanks, Isuka.”
She smiled, the sight making something inside him flutter. He cleared his throat and stood.
“I-I think we should go now before we get into trouble.”
“Portgas.”
“Huh?”
“Lean down.”
He obeyed and watched as Isuka carefully plucked a flower from her hair and fixed it behind his ear.
“There. That should do it. Maybe it will give you luck for the next task.”
His mouth went dry when he realized her closeness.
“Portgas?”
He reached out to tuck her stray hair into place. Red… just like the hibiscus flowers back home… His fingers strayed for a while as he stared into the confused look in Isuka’s eyes.
“I…”
“Well? I don’t have all night, you know.”
Both teenagers jumped in surprise at the tall figure leaning at the gazebo entrance.
“P-Professor Shanks!”
Said professor grinned and waved his all too familiar metal flask at them.
“Eh, no worries, Ace m’boy! I’m no tattletale.” He did a cross sign on his chest dramatically. “But you and your pretty friend should head back right now or people will assume things. We don’t want that, do we?”
They shook their heads in unison.
“Excuse us, sir! Let’s go, Isuka!”
Ace picked up their wands and started towards the castle, with Isuka at his heels. He stopped walking when they were out of earshot and turned around.
“What is it?”
He reached out his arm towards her and smiled.
“Time to finish our dance. You’re not gonna back out now, are you?”
Isuka took his arm and grinned.
“No, I will not. Bring it on, Portgas.”