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Chapter Text

 Everything was a blur, those few steps Ace took to luffy so he could protect him, the blinding pain in his chest, his brother's terrified face, everything. 

Ever since Ace ate a devil fruit, he no longer felt the cold, being made of fire also had advantages. But now, he could feel it again, the cold slowly taking over his body, he could feel his life leaving his body, he had never been afraid of death, but now that it was happening, he couldn't help but feel scared knowing that he would leave  luffy alone, that he was going to break his promise.

An image of a little Ace standing next to a crying little Luffy flashed into his mind.

,,i'm not going to die luffy" he said.

He really was a liar wasn't he? 

I'm sorry luffy, he wanted to say, but he couldn't, that was the last thing on his mind before the darkness engulfed him.

Chapter Text

It wasn't that hard for Ace to understand the situation he was in, but accepting it was a different story altogether. At first, after he closed his eyes, being stolen by the cold hands of death, he expected to end up in hell, the afterlife in his mind being considered something horrible, but he had by no means expected anything such as this. 

When he finally opened his eyes, Ace found himself in the arms of an unknown person, in an unknown world. He was trying to figure out if he was in his world or if Sabo's weird stories from when they were kids were real and he was in another world. 

The first thing Ace heard made his blood freeze, his name, Gol D Ace, he couldn't, he went back to the past, was he going to suffer again? A lot of thoughts went through his mind at the moment, but he soon learned that this was not the case, from what he had heard from their conversation, his parents' names were not Roger or Rouge, but Akiko and Rengo, which had given him to understand that he was not the same person until the end.

Ace observed his circumstances for a few weeks until he finally came to the conclusion that this world is in the mean, one different from the one he came from. In this world there were no pirates or devil fruit, instead you could find heroes and quirks, something that 80% of the planet's population has, they were very similar to devil fruit, but full of drawnbacks, while devil fruit had no such thing excluding of sea stone, which was not easy to handle anyway. Another thing that Ace noticed is that this world is much more developed, the way humans communicate is more useful and easy compared to sneils.

Once Ace turned four he got his devil fruit powers back, although his parents told him it was a quirk, he knows better, he knows his own body, and only a test can tell him he could control his powers just as good as before, no drawnbacks either, his parents called him a genius, even though it wasn't true, he didn't contradict them.

Chapter Text

Ace never understood people's obsession with heroes, they were treated like museum pieces, popular, well paid, every kid wanted to be one. Ace would never want to be a hero, but he couldn't really say anything now could he?, in this world people were stupid enough to make something you were born with illegal to use without a special permit. It was stupid, but Ace couldn't afford to be on the wrong side of the law again, although it wasn't as bad this time, Ace still had nightmares about the day he died, not that he would admit it, it was a weakness , and he hated being weak. 

In the end his parents had talked him into taking those idiotic entrance exams at UA, the only reason he accepted was the freedom to use your powers without anyone trying to arrest you. 

Presently Ace was walking down the sidewalk heading for the UA gates which were big enough to make pops look small. He went inside ignoring the blond who for some reason started screaming at the top of his lungs. These people really were weird.

Stepping inside the hall, Ace took a seat in the back, preparing for the written exam that he was sure he would fail, even though he passed the school this time, he wasn't good at it at all. 

The written exam was really a pain, Ace didn't understand anything, but he still hoped that the practical exam would be easier. 

Once done Ace went elsewhere to listen to the rules of the practical exam. 

The exam seemed easy in Ace's opinion, maybe too easy, a smile appeared on his face, he was going to like this. 

At one point of  the explanation Ace's narcolepsy kicked in, making him fall asleep. It wasn't long before he was awakened by someone's angry screams.

,,...how can you sleep on such an important thing, you have no respect for the prestigious UA school, shame on you, you should be more careful in such situations" 

Apparently a blue haired boy was yelling uncontrollably at him as the others stared in confusion, but the only thing Ace could muster was 'what the hell does he want from me?, can't he see I'm sleeping?' 

Ace could hear the teacher tell him to sit down, making the kid sit back, leaving Ace alone. It looked like he was going to fall back asleep but a swarm of screams expressing "plus ultra" jolted him awake. Realizing that it was time to go to the practical exam, Ace stood up from his seat, heading towards gate E. 

As soon as the gate opened Ace rushed forward, looking around he couldn't help but think of one thing 'how rich is this school?' they had built an entire city for a test, they had brought giant robots, which they had to destroy, DESTROY! 

Ignoring the obvious wealth held by the school, Ace jumped up, propelling himself with the fire from his legs, and sent a barrage of flames at three robots at once, destroying them. He continues to fire at various robots, losing count of how many he has destroyed. 

Suddenly, an earthquake had engulfed the earth, shaking the buildings, turning to the source of the commotion, Ace saw a giant robot, bigger than the buildings, heading towards him. A smile forming on his face, Ace soared creating a giant ball of fire, which he propelled towards the robot. The heat of the fire being exceptional, the metal of the robot melted, destroying it and causing it to collapse. 

Seeing that it was all over, Ace turned, heading for the exit.

 In the teachers' louge, the teachers were speechless. A kid just created a SUN, with which he MELTED THE 0 POINTER! 

Nezu's eyes were shining, with an evil smile he turned to the teachers. 

,,Aizawa, how about you take this one?" even though it seemed like an innocent question it was obviously an order, Nezu had noticed something. 

The sleep deprived professor, with some bangs under his eyes as if he hadn't slept in months, just exhaled and went back to his coffee, mettering a single 'fine'.

Vlad King, the class B teacher, on the other hand, didn't seem too happy that his class was lagging behind. Aizawa's class was getting much stronger, but he knew better than to argue with that rat satan.

A few days later a letter with the UA emblem came. Ace's mother, a short woman with black eyes and dirty blond hair put in a messy bun, walks into the house with the letter in hand. 

"Ace, your letter from UA is here!" she yelled, making sure Ace heard it, he was always falling asleep everywhere.

At first, the first time Ace had a narcolepsy episode, she and her husband were incredulous scared, later finding out from the doctor what it was.Even now she didn't understand why her husband wanted Ace to be a hero with such conditions, what if he would fall asleep during a fight, she still didn't know why she let herself be convinced. 

Ace walks down the stairs wearing nothing but pants...what was with this kid and shirts? 

Ace took the letter, opened it and put it on the table (rather it had dropped) once All might appeared. 

All might had a speech about heroism while announcing that he was going to be a teacher (not that he cared, Ace never understood people's obsession with All might) and then congratulated him on his qualification, entering UA with 36 hero points and 40 rescue points, placing 2nd. He didn't remember saving anyone but didn't comment. 

His father looked delighted while his mother had a proud expression,.. how much Ace wished Luffy and the others were with him now. he sighs, getting up, and going to his room. 

Chapter Text

Ace really didn't want to go to school, if the hero thing was bad, then going to a school with them was even more horrible. 

Ace had never been to school in his previous life. Of course, he had Makino who tried her best to teach him and his siblings the basics, but she wasn't a teacher and teaching three incredibly jumpy kids wasn't the easiest thing.

How much Ace misses them, to hear their voices, to be with them. He missed Luffy, Makino, pops.....Marco.., how he missed that bird brain, with his tic and all. 

But even if he knew the basics, school is a hell more horrible than hell itself. The world was full of too many languages, too many complicated sentences like 'noun' or 'verb' and as if that's not enough, there are equations, numbers, calculations, the square root doesn't make sense. 

Sighing, Ace took a small plastic bottle from the bedside table, glaring at it, Ace opened it and took a pill , swallowing it. Ace hated pills and meds and all, they were horrible things, if he managed to survive nine years with narcolepsy then he was sure he could handle it now. But he couldn't really argue with his 'parents'. 

Ace felt weird naming them his parents, he didn't have any other parents besides his pops, and he wasn't going consider them. 

Putting on his uniform, (which Ace hated, I mean, this thing was hideous, the colors made it even uglier) he grabbed his bag, and left walking out the door.

Of course, he stopped on the way to school at a donut shop, he didn't have enough food before.

 The school was pretty big, though not as big as Moby dick surprisingly. It didn't take long for Ace to get in front of Class 1-A. 

Looking at her, Ace couldn't help but mutter under his breath,, Holy shit, you could fit fucking Donflamingo through this damn huge door.."

Stepping inside, Ace took a seat next to a child with half red, half white hair who was staring at him motionless.

Ace remained silent until the professor showed up, making Ace wonder if he would trade his insomnia for his narcolepsy. The guy had bags under his eyes as black as the night.

Taking some uniforms out of (cocoon, sleeping bag?) that yellow thing he handed us some uniforms and told us to meet him at Ground Beta.

Ace didn't pay too much attention, but from what he understood, they were going to do a quirk assessment test, to test their potential. 

As a demonstration, the first one was some kid with spiky blond hair. Shouting 'Die' he threw the ball 705m.

Around him he could hear comments like 'cool' or 'looks like fun' which seem to have angered the teacher as they have just been threatened with expulsion. 

Ace was not afraid of exmaticulation, he trusted his own strength enough.

In the following tests, Ace scored pretty well, he was extremely flexible, and even though he didn't have the same body as before, the muscle memory was still working, and the devil fruit was helping too. 

In the endurance race Ace had no problem launching himself with the aid of fire, not that he lacked stamina, the times when he was a kid running from giant bugs with Luffy and Sabo are still recognizable. But it was easier that way.

And with jumps or whatever, those were extremely easy, doing them without tiring himself.

In the grip test Ace gripped the machine as much as he could taking a score of 115 kg, 'not bad' he thought. 

And the ball throw was the easiest, taking a score of 400m. 

After Ace finished all the tests he spaced out, that is until he saw his teacher. 'Holly shit his hair floats' Until then, Ace had never met a person whose quirk affected their hair too much, the only exception being the color. It was quite fascinating. 

Once the scores were in, Ace found himself in 1st place, making it clear that he wasn't going anywhere. 

Turning, Ace started to leave but was interrupted by a guy with spiky red hair: 

,,Hei, Gol D. correct? I'm Kirishima, nice to meet you!" he said with a smile on his face, "if you don't mind me asking what does D. stand for?" 

Ace freezes in place, 'Gol D', he wanted to scoff, fate really hated him, didn't it? to be named after him even in this life. 

,, Ace, just Ace, and I don't know what the D is for, but nice to meet you" he said, offering him a friendly smile. 

,,Sure Ace, you can call me Eijiro" he smiled back

It seemed cool, Ace wouldn't mind making friends with someone, preschoolers were horrible, resulting in a lack of friends.

"Sure, Eijiro" the kid's smile widened 

,,Let's go to class Ace" 

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. 

Chapter Text

English was boring.

Ace would never have imagined that the  Marine codes that Garp forced him to learn would turn out to be a language spoken by an entire nation here. 

He never wanted to learn them, seeing them as Garp's way of forcing him into the navy, but once the grumpy old man started speaking only in code (apparently English), Ace had no choice but to learn them if he wanted to understand what the gezzer wanted from him. 

He wouldn't have cared, but every time he didn't understand something, Garp used the opportunity to beat him, saying that he had accepted it when he gave him the wrong answer.

Forced by necessity he learned the damn code by heart. Who would have thought it would help him so much, here, but even then, being able to understand the navy's plans was a major advantage. 

The next class was math, something Ace hated incredibly. It took him the whole hour to understand only a quarter of what he said, without understanding the equations themselves.  

Later in the afternoon, it was time for Heroics, the long-awaited hour, his colleagues seemed delighted by its arrival, something more fun. 

The footsteps in the hallway intensified, and the door slammed against the wall, revealing an All might with a smile of millions. 

,,I'M HERE, I'M COMING THROUGH THE DOOR LIKE A NORMAL PERSON" 

His colleagues started whispering happily, but all Ace could do was look at the #1 hero like a freak, 'I walk through the door like a normal person' what nonsense is this? the guy is off the hook. 

Ace didn't put much effort into the costume, instead choosing the clothing he wore when he was a pirate. 

He wore a pair of fireproof shorts, and managed to get hold of an identical copy of his old hat. 

Although it might seem strange to some, Ace on the other hand, finally felt at home. The old days when he was a feared pirate flashed into his mind, forming a mood of nostalgia. 

,,Bro are you ok? You were spacing out" Eijiro's voice brought him back to reality.

,,Yes I'm good" 

Ace looked around a bit, noticing the costumes of the others, that was until he caught sight of Midoriya's costume, it took every fiber of his being not to burst out laughing, what was that, it looked hilarious.

Starting to divide us into groups, All might noticed that we were uneven, asking someone to sit on the bench. 

,,Me!" a voice called out, volunteering, it was some short guy with balls on his head. 

Once assigned, I was put with a black haired woman called Yaoyorozu momo, which made the ball head displeased, screaming like crazy that it wasn't right. 

Ignoring him, we positioned ourselves, waiting for our turn to battle. 

Chapter Text

Being the villains, Ace and Momo?, yeah, something like that, they entered the building, and headed towards the bomb.

The building was rickety, with mold in the corners. As he walked Ace could hear his boots hitting the floor, making quite loud noises. 

Ace stopped 

Momo, noticing that he stopped, turned to him

"Has something happened, Ace-san?"

"No, no, nothing happened" He said and started to walk again

She didn't seem convinced but didn't comment, opting to be silent, she followed him

Once in the bomb room he signaled her to stop  

"We need a plan" she said confidently 

"Your power is to create things from your own body, right?" Ace asked 

"Body fat, yes" 

"Hmm...do you know sign language?" 

Ace had learned sign language from his aunt, apparently the sign language in his world and here are different. She had a mute husband, and not being able to speak, it was harder to communicate, so she taught him so he could communicate with his uncle.

"Yes?.."

'The person we're going to fight, the girl, her quirk let her listen to distant frequencies and sounds, there is a possibility that she is listening to us, to find out our plan' Ace signed 

Momo looked surprised but nodded anyway 

'What are we gonna do?' she asked 

'Create another bomb, we'll put it in a different room, as for that, cover it with a false wall' 

She nodded, creating a fake wall covering the bomb, then moving into another room and creating another bomb 

A bell rang, signaling that their time was up, and the opposing team was on 

'Stay here and protect the bomb, I'll take care of them' Ace signed

Then he walked down the halls.

It didn't take him long to find his opponent, kaminaru-...something, he had blond hair with a black streak, from what he heard he had electrical powers. He was alone, which meant the girl had left for Momo, let's hope she knew what she was doing 

"Sorry man, gotta take you down, no bad feelings, okay?" the blond said 

Ace just smiled, "Sure" 

"10 000 Volts!" The blond had yelled, sending a wave of electricity towards Ace 

Ace turned into fire, avoiding the electricity.

Taking advantage of the moment the blond was staring in shock, he materialized in front of him, punching him in the face 

The blond had gone flying into the wall, and Ace swore he heard a 'crack'...he hoped he hadn't broken the kid's head, he'd kept his strength in check, but you never know 

Just then a voice announced loudly:

"DENKI KAMINARI AND KYOKA JIRO  HAVE BEEN DEFEATED, TEAM VILLAINS WIN!" 

Ace had smiled to himself 'too easily' 

Chapter Text

The next day, Ace didn't even notice when he got from home to school. He had woken up with a nostalgic morning feeling, just getting out of bed gave him difficulties. 

The house was empty, the parents at work, and Ace had seriously considered staying home, but decided against it, it did him no good to sit at home and cry for pity, for a reason unknown even to him, so he went to school.

What was worse was the horde of reporters blocking his way, blocking the school gate... Ace hated reporters, in his past life it had done him no good to get close to them.

With a pained sigh, Ace ducked a little and jumped, using the fire to propel himself so he wouldn't accidentally land on any reporters, landing right next to the hobo professor instead. 

The professor raised an eyebrow but said nothing, so Ace walked towards the building. 

In class the others kept their distance, probably sensing his mood, Marco had once said that Ace gave off some kind of sinister aura whenever he was angry, so the crew stayed away from him at those times.

The lesson itself was boring, they had to pick a class representative and Ace wasn't going to pick any of them, in his opinion they looked stupid 

He ignored them all, pretending they weren't around him until lunch. 

Lunch..

Ace loved lunch, it really lifted his mood, the food was amazing, free, and as much as you wanted! 

The people around him looked at him strangely as he filled his meal, but he completely ignored them, happy to finally eat 

"Wow, bro, are you sure you can eat that much in such a short time?" a voice had been heard behind him. 

"Oh, Eijiro! hi, and why do you ask?"

"It seems a bit much, that's all" 

"I don't think so, in my opinion it's too little" Ace answered 

"WOW, SO MAINLY!!"

Ace laughed at his reaction 

Ace and Eijiro had started a conversation but were interrupted by a deafening alarm. 

"WHAT IS THAT?!" Ace had asked trying to cover his ears 

"I DON'T KNOW!" Eijiro replied just as confused 

The next few minutes were some of the most confusing times, a strange alarm, kids panicking, and the robot guy floating around with a megaphone trying to fix the situation 

All in all, it was a strange day 

Chapter Text

He was moving. Or rather he was in motion, he could hear various voices around him, including Aizawa's hoarse voice.

His eyes flew open, his hand intercepting an unknown object that had approached his shoulder. Making contact with a pair of startled black eyes, he recognized his teacher's face. 

Looking around, he came across the inside of a bus, recaling the events from earlier, he remembered that they had boarded a bus to go to some kind of training place made using the UA's huge budget.

Turning back to Aizawa, he realized he was still holding his wrist in place, so smiling meekly he made up an excuse as he bowed his head and quickly walked past him to join his classmates.

Judging by the strained expression he received, Sensei wasn't too pleased. 

And he had tried, really tried to listen to thirteen's speech, but it was so boring. Ace already knew most of the things he was saying. I mean, he was made entirely of fire and had taken out countless people in his life (former life?), he didn't need a hero to teach him that his power was dangerous, and also pirates had much more attractive speeches. When pops or someone else in the crew gave a speech, you couldn't help but listen, you weren't forced, but the body listened by itself, here, Ace could only compare them.

Suddenly, the hair on his hand stood up, as if signaling that something was wrong. Turning to the center of the…place, whatever they call it, he saw Aizawa doing the same, both of them staring at the place in the air that was warping, instead housing a purple mist, from which appeared various people that reminded him of the rats that always roamed the deck of the ship, disgusting and unwanted creatures.

"Thirteen, protect the children" Aizawa's voice had sounded, making Ace pout. If he couldn't even fight, why was he still out here, apparently the others seemed distressed at the revelation that they were villains, which seemed stupid, they are heroes in training, they shouldn't be afraid of them. 

"Ace, let's go" Eijiro pulled his hand, joining the others.

In front of them appeared what appeared to be the person who had transported them, being entirely made of smoke. He had introduced his 'League' and expanded his smoke, trying to cover them. From Bakugo's try to attack, he had realized that he was like a logia, he didn't have a prominent body.

Frowning, ace took a big leap back, reaching forward, he sent flames at the smoke trying to follow him, curiously observing how they canceled each other out.  

Grinning, he turned up the heat of the flames, extending them towards the smoke guy, trying to stop him from touching the children. Unfortunately, his attempts were futile, being too far and him too close, he had a disadvantage. The guy with the smoke had tried to touch him as well, but gathering all his scattered fire, he intensified it, sending it all towards the guy, noting how he seemed to have a solid body in the middle, which the moment he had been touched by Ace's fire, it had caused him to let out a pained cry, transporting himself away to escape the fire.

Turning to face the...arena?...anyway, he turned to face the inside. He had started training his Haki after he was sure it was here with him, and while it wasn't too prominent at the moment, he had relearned enough to be able to sense the vitals of his clasmmates, knowing they were out here somewhere alive. 

Leaping down the stairs, he entered the fray, helping Aizawa. He didn't need to use his Devil Fruit power, not really. All he needed to do was jump and hit. Villains were weak, and didn't get back up once they were hit.

"What are you doing here, where is thirteen?!" 

Aizawa had joined him, standing shoulder to shoulder as they hit different people simultaneously.

"Thirteen and the others were warped all over the center territory (was that it?), they should be fine. I managed to hit him and he teleported away, so I came to give you a hand." 

Aizawa was frowning so hard it was visible with the glasses on his whole face, but he hadn't said anything, punching a guy with more force than necessary in return.

Shaking his head, ace continued to beat the shit out of villains, trying to take down as many as possible, but a familiar pained cry caught his attention. 

He caught sight of a huge disfigured creature pinning Aizawa to the ground. A guy with blue hair and many hands on him explained his existence, calling him 'Nomu' (stupid name).

Sprinting, he jumps into the air and kicks the 'Nomu' hard, sending him flying, causing the blue haired guy to yell "Nomu, kill him!"

Nomu seemed quite loyal, as he attacked the moment he received his order. He was fast, and the blow he had received did not seem to affect him.  

He had sent a jet of fire at Nomu, incinerating his arm, only for it to regenerate within seconds. Out of surprise, he hadn't even realized the creature had gotten close enough to hit him, but luckily he couldn't be hit without Haki, so he'd gone right through him, leaving some flames behind.

Dodging the next blow, Ace piled up a lot of fire in his arms, raising the temperature to impossible degrees, he had directed a tsunami of flames as hot as the sun towards Nomu, covering him completely.

Realizing what he was about to do, the blue guy tried to attack him, but was knocked down by an Aizawa who was barely standing. 

Ace focused on Nomu, incinerating him until there was nothing left to regenerate.

He then charged towards Aizawa, punching the blue haired guy who was trying to kill him. He bent down to check on Aizawa's condition, and for a moment thought he would need to kill someone in this life as well, but was interrupted by All Might's shout announcing that he was there.

'About damn time'

Chapter Text

Smoke hung thick in the air, the pungent scent of scorched earth mingling with the acrid smell of burnt debris. The battle was over, but the damage was undeniable. Ace stood still for a moment, surveying the destruction. A few embers flickered in the distance, but his fire had done its job—Nomu was gone, incinerated to nothing.

All Might, his cape billowing behind him, had arrived just in time to see the last remnants of the villains disappear through Kurogiri’s portal, the dark mist vanishing as swiftly as it had appeared.

"Ace! You're okay, right?" Eijiro shouted as he rushed towards him, worry written across his face. Behind him, the remaining students stumbled towards safety, still processing the chaos that had erupted moments before.

"I'm fine," Ace replied, offering a reassuring grin despite the exhaustion weighing on him. His flames flickered out, leaving only the intense heat in the air to mark where he'd fought.

All Might approached, his usual boisterous presence subdued by the grimness of the situation. His blue eyes flickered between Ace, Aizawa, and the remnants of their enemies.

"You did well, Ace," All Might said, his voice deep with approval. "Thanks to you, and to Aizawa, the villains couldn't harm any of the students."

Ace nodded, but his attention was immediately drawn to the loud sound of sirens blaring outside the USJ. Police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks pulled up at the gates, lights flashing as officers and paramedics rushed inside.

The sound of the doors slamming open echoed through the dome-like building, and Ace watched as the first responders flooded in. Medics sprinted to the injured, led by Recovery Girl, who had arrived with the emergency crews.

Aizawa, who had been slumped over in Ace’s arms, was immediately surrounded by paramedics. His face was bloodied, his bandages unraveling from his arms, and his eyes, usually sharp, were now dull from overuse of his Quirk. He didn't protest as the paramedics gently laid him on a stretcher, preparing him for transport.

"I'll be fine," Aizawa muttered, though his words were barely audible.

Ace hovered near him for a moment before stepping back, allowing the professionals to do their work. His gaze lingered on his teacher’s battered form, guilt weighing on him. He hadn't been fast enough to save Aizawa from Nomu’s grip.

As the paramedics loaded Aizawa into the ambulance, Ace heard a voice call out.

"Ace! You okay?" It was Momo, her face streaked with dirt but otherwise uninjured. She ran over, her worry evident.

"I'm good, Momo," Ace reassured her, though the exhaustion in his voice betrayed his true state. "Just a little singed."

Momo glanced at the lingering flames around the area and raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by his attempt at humor.

The police, led by a stern-faced officer with a clipboard, started taking statements from the students. Ace watched as Bakugo angrily spat out his version of events, while Midoriya nervously stammered through his. Ace’s own turn was inevitable, but he didn’t mind. After all, they had won, hadn’t they?

As the police gathered information, paramedics continued treating the students, some who had minor injuries and others who were shaken from the experience. Eijiro sat down on a piece of rubble nearby, wiping the sweat from his brow, his hardened skin returning to its normal state.

"Man, that was rough," Eijiro admitted, his normally bright demeanor dampened by the fight.

Ace nodded in agreement, watching as Recovery Girl moved from student to student, her quirk healing their injuries swiftly. His muscles ached, and his body was sore from the constant fighting, but nothing severe enough to require healing.

"All students, please line up outside for a headcount!" a police officer shouted, gesturing towards the exit. "We need to ensure everyone is accounted for."

Ace joined the others as they shuffled outside, the cool breeze a welcome contrast to the stifling heat inside. The courtyard of the USJ was now filled with rescue vehicles, their flashing lights casting an eerie glow over the chaos. The sound of helicopters in the distance indicated the media was quickly descending on the scene.

"These reporters are like vultures," Ace muttered under his breath, remembering his past life where media attention was far from his favorite thing.

The students gathered in a loose line, murmuring amongst themselves as the teachers and police did a headcount. The tension slowly started to ease, and a few of them even started to crack jokes to relieve the stress.

"You really took on that smoke guy, huh?" Eijiro asked, giving Ace a friendly slap on the back. "You're a beast!"

Ace chuckled, the adrenaline still coursing through his veins. "It wasn't too bad. The real problem was that Nomu thing."

At the mention of Nomu, the students fell silent, the reality of just how close they had been to something truly dangerous sinking in.

"Yeah...that thing was tough," Eijiro agreed, his tone more serious now. "But you handled it."

Ace's eyes drifted to the ambulances once more, where Aizawa was being prepped for transport to the hospital. He knew the battle had taken its toll on their teacher.

"We’ll all have to get stronger," Ace muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

Just then, All Might approached the group, his presence larger than life as always. "You're all safe now," he announced, his voice full of pride. "And that’s what matters. You fought well, all of you. The police and the ambulances will take care of the rest."

The students nodded, still processing everything. For some, this had been their first real encounter with villains, and the fear and adrenaline were still fresh in their minds. For Ace, though, it was just another day—another fight he survived.

As the group began to disperse, heading towards the waiting ambulances for check-ups or to give their statements to the police, Ace lingered for a moment, watching as the smoke from his fire slowly faded into the sky.

He knew this wouldn't be the last time they’d face danger, and as much as he hated to admit it, he felt the fire inside him flicker with excitement at the thought of the next battle.

Chapter Text

The UA staff were gathered in the conference room, all seated around the table with Principal Nezu perched on his chair at the head. The air was thick with tension as Nezu explained the importance of strengthening the school’s security. The Sports Festival was just around the corner, and no one wanted a repeat of past incidents.

Ectoplasm had just finished giving a suggestion when Nezu’s tiny phone let out a distinct ping.

The sound drew everyone’s attention.

It was rare for Nezu to even use that phone, let alone receive a message on it. That detail alone made the staff exchange uncertain glances.

As Nezu checked the message, a devilish grin spread across his face, his sharp teeth glinting ominously.

The entire room collectively shivered.

Present Mic, ever the bold one with Aizawa absent, leaned forward. "What's with the creepy grin Principal? Did someone send you a joke?"

Nezu’s smile only grew more unsettling as he turned to Yamada. “Oh, it’s much better than a joke, Yamada-san. It’s excellent news.”

That certainly piqued everyone’s curiosity. Midnight arched a brow and leaned in. "Well, don't keep us in suspense. What's the big news, Nezu?"

Nezu clasped his paws together and announced with gleeful menace, “I have managed to secure one of the best medics in existence to assist us during the Sports Festival!”

The room fell into silence, the weight of his words slowly sinking in.

Finally, Snipe spoke up, scratching the back of his neck. “With all due respect, Nezu, we’ve already got Recovery Girl. Who else could we possibly need?”

Nezu’s eyes glinted mischievously, and his grin returned full force. “Oh, but this isn’t just any medic. It’s the Phoenix Hero.”

At those words, Midnight and Present Mic went wide-eyed, their jaws nearly hitting the table. Meanwhile, Ectoplasm and Snipe exchanged puzzled looks.

“Uh… Phoenix Hero?” Snipe questioned, clearly out of the loop.

Nezu, ever patient, launched into an explanation. “The Phoenix Hero is part of the younger generation of pro heroes. Despite his youth, his expertise is renowned. His Quirk allows him to transform into a phoenix—a rare and incredible ability that grants him immense power in combat.” Nezu paused for dramatic effect, letting the words hang before continuing, “But it’s his flames that make him exceptional. They burn with a distinctive blue hue and possess unmatched healing properties. Combined with his advanced medical knowledge, he’s considered a miracle worker. He is, perhaps, the greatest medic of his generation.”

Midnight and Yamada nodded vigorously. They had both heard the rumors and hype surrounding the Phoenix Hero, though they never imagined Nezu would be able to convince someone of that caliber to come to UA.

“Still seems like overkill to me, why would we need him?” Snipe muttered.

Before Nezu could respond, the door creaked open.

Everyone turned to see Aizawa, covered in bandages and looking like he had escaped the hospital, leaning against the doorframe.

His exhausted glare swept across the room. “What are you all looking at?” he muttered, his voice gravelly but no less intimidating.

Nezu didn’t answer him immediately. Instead, he raised a paw and gestured toward Aizawa. “There’s your answer,” he said to Snipe, as calm and composed as ever.

The room erupted in exclamations of shock and concern as Midnight and Present Mic rushed to help Aizawa stay upright.

“I told you to rest!” Yamada barked.

Aizawa grunted, brushing him off. “There’s too much work to be done for me to rest.”

Nezu simply smiled and reiterated, “The Phoenix Hero’s presence will not only ensure safety during the Sports Festival but also allow Recovery Girl some well-earned support. And, perhaps most importantly, prevent certain individuals from pushing themselves beyond their limits.”

Aizawa shot Nezu a pointed look, but the principal’s unwavering grin left little room for argument.

Ace sat slouched in his seat, idly doodling on the edge of his notebook. The classroom buzzed with chatter as his classmates speculated about who their substitute teacher would be while Aizawa-sensei remained hospitalized. Ace barely paid attention, tuning out the noise around him as his pencil scratched lazily against the paper.

The sudden creak of the door silenced the room. Everyone scrambled to their seats, backs straight as the door swung open to reveal none other than Aizawa himself.

The class erupted in exclamations of shock.

“Aizawa-sensei, are you okay?”

“Why are you back so soon?”

“Shouldn’t you still be in the hospital?”

Ace lifted his head, studying Aizawa with a faint flicker of interest. As the others swarmed their teacher with concern, Ace couldn't help but think how much the man reminded him of himself. He never stayed put when injured, especially in the med bay. Marco used to go so far as to chain him to the bed to stop him from wandering off.

Aizawa, still covered in bandages, waved off their concerns with a gruff sigh. “Calm down. I’m fine. There’s something more important to discuss.”

The students quieted, tension creeping back into the room.

Aizawa continued, his voice steady but firm. “Your fight isn’t over yet.”

The declaration caused everyone to stiffen. Everyone except Ace, who merely raised an eyebrow.

“What I mean,” Aizawa clarified, “is that the UA Sports Festival is coming up.”

The tension in the room deflated immediately, replaced by a collective sigh of relief. Most of the students began chatting excitedly about the festival.

Ace, however, frowned and leaned back in his seat. “Is this really a good idea after what just happened at USJ?”

Aizawa gave him a pointed look. “UA isn’t backing down. The Sports Festival is an important tradition, and it’s also a chance to show that we won’t be intimidated.”

Ace let out a small huff but didn’t argue further, quickly losing interest in the discussion. His mind wandered as Aizawa explained that the students would have free access to UA’s equipment over the next few weeks to train.

That caught Ace’s attention. A wicked grin spread across his face. Time to turn up the heat, he thought, already planning how he’d use the equipment (and probably burn it to a crisp).

When the bell rang, Ace was the first to pack up and head for the door. He was eager to escape the classroom, but as he stepped into the hallway, he was immediately met with a group of students from another class blocking the way.

The float girl (Ace had no idea what was her name, he really needed to pay more attencion) stepped forward. “Hey, why are you guys blocking the hallway?”

Bakugo, never one to shy away from confrontation, growled, “Tch, it’s those extras checking out the competition.”

One of the students—a blond guy with an arrogant smirk—stepped forward. “Competition? Please. You’re all a bunch of weaklings. We’re just here to see what we’re up against.”

Ace clenched his jaw, his patience wearing thin. He tried to sidestep the group, but they didn’t budge. Their taunting voices grated on his nerves.

Finally, he’d had enough.

The air around him grew heavy with heat as flames flickered to life, crawling across his skin and igniting with a brilliant glow. The hallway went silent as the students stepped back, eyes wide with fear and awe.

Ace’s black eyes burned with fury as he glared at the group. His voice was low and menacing, each word cutting through the tension like a blade. “Get. The fuck. Out of the way.”

The group scrambled to clear a path, their bravado extinguished as quickly as it had come.

Ace stalked past them without sparing another glance, his flames flickering out as he turned the corner. Behind him, he heard one of his classmates murmur, “I didn’t know he had such a temper.”

Ace ignored the comment, shoving his hands into his pockets and heading toward the training grounds. He doesn't have a temper, damn it! Makino got it out of him.

Chapter Text

Ace lay sprawled across the floor of the UA training grounds, his chest rising and falling with each heavy breath. Sweat clung to his skin, and his muscles ached, not from exertion, but from restraint. Half the room was scorched black, the air thick with the lingering scent of burnt metal and concrete.

I wouldn’t normally be this tired, Ace thought, running a hand through his damp hair. But holding back is exhausting.

Fire was meant to consume, to spread freely, to burn everything in its path. Containing it, controlling it, it went against his instincts, against everything his flames were supposed to be. But if he wanted to avoid accidentally killing someone during the Sports Festival and being labeled a villain in front of the entire nation, he had no choice.

Going all out here would be like fighting a civilian who barely ate a weak-ass Devil Fruit and could barely throw a punch. It wouldn’t be a real fight, it’d be a massacre.

With a deep sigh, he pushed himself up, rolling his shoulders. Just as he stretched, the door creaked open.

Ace turned his head and met the wide-eyed stare of an older student, someone he didn’t recognize. The guy stood frozen in the doorway, his gaze darting between Ace and the scorched training room like he’d just walked into a warzone.

Ace barely spared him a glance. He grabbed his jacket and walked past the stunned student without a word, heading straight for the showers.

The hot water washed away the grime and sweat, but it did little to ease the tension in his body. He scrubbed at his skin, letting his mind drift. He thought of Marco, of pops, of his past life. Would they have cared if he had to hold back? Would they have understood how much effort it took to not be destructive?

He sighed, shutting off the water.

After changing into fresh clothes, Ace left the shower facility, ready to call it a day. As he walked through the halls, he heard voices up ahead, worried, hushed tones that caught his attention.

He turned a corner and nearly bumped into a group of teachers.

They didn’t seem to notice him at first, their expressions tight with concern.

“Where do you think he is?” Snape asked, his dark eyes scanning the halls.

Midnight let out an exasperated sigh. “No idea. He was just here a minute ago, and now he’s gone. Nezu’s going to kill us.”

She wasn’t just worried, she looked panicked.

“I knew this was a bad idea from the start,” Yamada grumbled, crossing his arms.

Ace blinked, tilting his head. He knew it wasn’t his business, but before he could stop himself, the words slipped out.

“Did something happen?”

The teachers jolted, whirling around to face him, their faces pale.

When they realized it was just him, they visibly relaxed, letting out a collective sigh.

“It’s nothing,” Nemuri-sensei said quickly, shaking her head.

Ace frowned. She’s lying.

But whatever it was, they clearly weren’t going to tell him. And honestly? He had enough on his plate.

So he shrugged it off and continued on his way.

The next day, Ace walked into the school only to find himself caught in the middle of a massive crowd of students, all moving in the same direction.

“Ace!”

He turned at the familiar voice, spotting Eijiro jogging up to him.

“You’re late, man. What happened?”

Ace just shrugged. “Overslept.”

Eijiro laughed, shaking his head. “Figures. Anyway, there’s some new guy here to help Recovery Girl during the Sports Festival. Apparently, he’s a pro hero, and the principal wants everyone to meet him since we’ll be seeing him around a lot.”

Ace hummed in acknowledgment, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he followed Eijiro toward the training fields next to the main building. By the time they arrived, a huge crowd had already gathered.

Some students were whispering excitedly, others looked bored, and Ace? Ace immediately noticed the teachers.

They stood on a large stage beside Nezu, their expressions pale, their body language stiff. They kept sneaking nervous glances at Nezu, like kids bracing for a scolding.

Well, well, Ace mused. A bunch of pro heroes acting like guilty little kids. Now that’s interesting.

Ace was not the smartest, but he was not dumb either, he didn’t have all the details, but after overhearing their conversation yesterday, it wasn’t hard to put the pieces together. The person they had been looking for, the one who had gone missing, was supposed to be their guest today. And now?

Now he was nowhere to be seen.

Ace barely held back a snort. My teachers are actually dumb, he thought, amused despite himself.

Nezu, completely unaffected by the tension, stepped forward with his usual cheerful smile.

“I’m sure you’re all curious about today’s special announcement,” the principal began, his high-pitched voice cutting through the murmuring crowd. “As you know, the Sports Festival is a rigorous event, one that pushes students to their limits! To ensure everyone’s safety, I took it upon myself to bring in a professional hero with extensive expertise in many fields, including healing.”

Ace arched an eyebrow.

“I am pleased to introduce you all to the Phoenix Hero, who has kindly agreed to assist us during the festival!”

At the name, the teachers winced.

From above the UA building, blue flames ignited, bursting to life in a dazzling display. The fire twisted and expanded, forming into enormous, majestic wings before the figure within them took flight, gliding down toward the stage.

Ace could swear his heart stopped.

His breath hitched.

He stared, frozen, as the flames dissipated to reveal a tall, blond man landing effortlessly on the stage. His shirt was unbuttoned, exposing a tattoo Ace knew all too well.

No. No way.

This wasn’t possible. This had to be a coincidence.

Ace wanted to go there, to get on the stage and punch the guy in the face, to ask him how did he dare to wear his marco's face, how dared he!

Then he spoke.

“Glad to be here, yoi.”

Ace almost broke.

His fingers twitched. His breath came out uneven.

That voice. That way of speaking. That stance. How the man casually stretched, slouching slightly, his weight favoring his right leg, the way he always did when expecting a fight.

It wasn’t just someone who looked like Marco.

It was Marco.

A choked laugh bubbled in Ace’s throat, but he swallowed it down. He clenched his fists, grounding himself, stopping himself from doing something reckless.

Tears threatened to well up in his eyes, but he forced them back.

Then, slowly, Ace smiled.

Chapter Text

Ace didn’t get the chance to speak to Marco before they were all ushered away, the crowd of students herded like sheep back into the school. The moment the teachers waved them off, he had to drag himself to class with heavy steps and a thousand thoughts racing through his head. His hands were twitching, his jaw clenched. He hadn’t even looked Marco in the eye long enough. He hadn’t said anything.

So now, here he was, slouched in his seat, arms crossed, chin resting on the edge of the desk, pouting like a child denied sweets.

He didn’t hear a single word of the lesson. Didn’t care what the topic was.

His fingers drummed against the desk absently, slow and steady at first… then faster… faster.

Why the hell was he here? Sitting in a classroom like some normal kid, pretending to be okay? Marco was here. Marco. His first commander. His lover. His family. The person who even after death he still saw in his dreams, over and over and over. He remembered screaming his name. Remembered the flames and the blood the spilled onto luffy as marco stared.

And now... now he just popped out of the sky like some myth. A blue-fire phoenix with a lazy smirk and his dumb open shirt and that damn tattoo.

Ace clenched his fists. The edges of his nails dug into his palms.

The bell rang.

He was out of his seat before the sound finished echoing through the hall.

“Ace? Hey, where’re you going!?” Eijiro’s voice followed him, confused, but Ace didn’t even glance back.

He was running. Sprinting.

And as he ran, his haki flared, imperfect, but still there. He could feel it more clearly now, a pulse in the air like breathing fire into his own lungs. He’d never mastered Observation Haki perfectly in his past life, but now it came easier, like muscle memory from a body that wasn’t even his anymore.

He felt Marco.

The signature was unmistakable. Strong. Radiant. So stupidly warm it made Ace feel like collapsing on the spot.

It hurt.

He reached the infirmary with his heart in his throat.

Hands shaking, he opened the door.

Inside, the room was quiet. No sound but the faint buzz of ceiling lights. Beds neatly made. Cabinets lined up along the wall. But none of it registered.

Because he was there.

Tall. Blond. Broad shoulders. Blue eyes.

Marco.

Ace stood there, frozen in the doorway, like if he moved too fast, the man in front of him would vanish.

Marco turned, eyes widening as they landed on him. His mouth parted, something fragile flickering in his gaze.

Ace’s voice came out a whisper, trembling and dry. “Marco?”

The man flinched. His hand started to rise like he was reaching out, but he hesitated, fingers curling halfway.

“Ace?”

It wasn’t just a question. It was everything.

That voice.

The same voice that had yelled at him to stop doing dumb things, that had laughed around a bonfire on the deck of the Moby Dick, that had screamed his name as they burned together in that final battle.

Ace nodded, his throat too tight to speak.

And then Marco crossed the space between them.

There was no hesitation this time.

He crushed Ace to him like he was afraid this was all a hallucination, like if he didn’t hold tight enough, the illusion would vanish.

Ace gasped at the force of the hug, but he didn’t complain. Didn’t even breathe for a second.

He could feel Marco’s heartbeat hammering in his chest, his breath shuddering. Ace’s face pressed against Marco’s shoulder, and he clutched at his back like he was drowning.

“Shit–shit,” Marco breathed into his hair. “You’re alive… I thought you were gone.. I saw you die.”

Ace flinched. “Yeah… I did,” he whispered hoarsely. 

Marco pulled back just enough to look at him, his hands on Ace’s arms like he still couldn’t believe he was real.

They both had tears in their eyes.

Ace laughed bitterly. “You look exactly the same. Still ugly.”

Marco rolled his eyes. “Still short.”

“Asshole.”

“Idiot.”

They both burst into laughter, but it cracked in the middle, splintered into something broken and raw. Marco’s forehead pressed against Ace’s as he exhaled.

“You’re really here,” Marco said, voice trembling. “You got reborn too?”

“Yeah,” Ace murmured. “New name, new world. Still me. Still Ace.”

Marco nodded. “Still Marco. I go by Takahashi now, but I couldn’t let go of the old name completely. Still signed up as the Phoenix Hero. Thought… maybe i wasn't alone and someone would see it. Maybe they'd remember.”

“I saw you,” Ace whispered. “Didn’t want to believe it. Thought I’d go crazy if I hoped again.”

Marco smiled, and this time it was soft. Gentle.

“You’re not crazy, yoi.”

Ace leaned into the hug again.

“Don’t let go yet,” he mumbled. “Just a bit longer.”

“I won’t.”

And neither of them moved. Not for a long time. Because in that moment, the world didn’t matter. 

...or, well, it kind of did

The door lock clicked, a soft clack that echoed like cannon fire through Ace’s nerves.

His body reacted faster than his brain, an instinct sharpened by years of dodging Marines and wild ambushes on islands he couldn’t even name anymore. He practically leapt away from Marco, pushing him back with more force than he intended. Marco stumbled a little, blinking in confusion, clearly dazed by the sudden shift in energy.

Ace, meanwhile, scrambled to mask his panic. He plastered on the most innocent grin he could manage, the kind of grin that once got him out of a tavern brawl or, more recently, detention. His heart was thundering in his chest, the overwhelming emotions of a reunion still choking him, but he did his best to appear like just another exhausted student dropping by the infirmary.

The door swung open fully with a gentle creak, and Recovery Girl entered with a small clipboard in her hands. She paused when she saw Ace and then tilted her head curiously.

“…Gold D., what are you doing here?” she asked, eyes narrowing behind her spectacles. “You’re not due for a check-up. Did you burn yourself? Are you alright?”

Ace raised both hands in surrender and gave a sheepish chuckle. “No, no, nothing serious! I just....uh, I trained a lot today and thought maybe you’d be nice enough to share some of those amazing energy gummies of yours?” he offered, voice light, teasing, masking the storm beneath.

Recovery Girl sighed, but there was no real bite to it. “You kids and your bottomless stomachs. Fine. Sit tight, I’ll get you three, no more.”

She turned away, shuffling toward a cabinet in the back. The second her back was to them, Ace’s mask dropped.

His fingers moved quickly, snatching a pen from a nearby tray and grabbing Marco’s wrist before the man could fully react. The touch lingered, electric and heavy with everything unspoken. Marco’s eyes widened slightly as Ace scribbled a quick string of numbers across the inside of his arm, right beneath the edge of his rolled-up sleeve.

Then, just as fast, the pen was back where it belonged. Ace straightened and slipped his hands behind his back, just in time for Recovery Girl to turn around again, holding out the gummies.

“Here you go,” she said with a huff, dropping them into his palm. “Don’t think I’m handing these out like candy just because you have a cute smile.”

Ace grinned wider. “Wouldn’t dream of it, ma’am.”

With a quick, courteous bow, almost too formal for someone like him, he turned toward the door. Just before stepping out, he risked one last look over his shoulder.

Their eyes met. For a second, the world slowed.

Marco’s expression was unreadable, equal parts confused, stunned, and achingly familiar. That same quiet steadiness Ace had come to rely on in another life. His lips parted slightly, like he wanted to speak, to call out, to stop him.

But he didn’t.

Ace didn’t give him the chance. He walked out, the door clicking shut behind him with finality.

He didn’t breathe until he was halfway down the hallway, the corridor empty but for the weight pounding in his chest. His fingers trembled around the tiny packet of gummies.

Marco was here.

And he remembered him.

Ace smiled faintly, turning his head to hide the tears threatening to spill. He clenched the gummies tighter in his fist, like they were anchoring him to reality.

And Ace finally... finally, allowed himself to breathe.

Ace barely had time to rub the sting of dried tears from his eyes before a loud, familiar voice rang through the hallway.

“Ace! There you are, man! You almost missed class!”

Eijiro’s tone was playful, but there was a slight edge of worry behind it, the kind that only came from having to cover for your best friend while Aizawa-sensei stared at you with that thousand-yard glare of doom.

Ace blinked, startled, but then grinned as he turned toward his friend. Eijiro stood there with his arms crossed, a crooked smile on his face, one eyebrow raised in mock judgment.

“Oi, relax,” Ace said, lifting his hands in mock surrender. “I just… fell asleep somewhere.”

The words slipped out easily, a sheepish smile curling at his lips. His voice was casual, almost believable.

But Eijiro squinted. “You fell asleep? Where?”

Ace shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck. “Mmm… hallway? Maybe the roof? Time's weird when you're unconscious.”

Eijiro’s confused frown deepened. “You okay, though? That’s not normal, right?”

There was a beat of silence. The hallway buzzed faintly with voices from other classrooms. The muffled footsteps of teachers moving between periods echoed in the distance.

Ace opened his mouth to explain, then stopped himself. No need to dump the whole narcolepsy thing on Eijiro right now, not when he was already reeling from seeing Marco again. Not when he wasn’t sure if his heart could handle another conversation that felt too real.

So instead, he forced a grin and waved it off. “It’s nothing, really. Just tired, y’know? Happens sometimes.”

Eijiro didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t push. That was the thing Ace liked most about him. He cared, yeah, but he knew when to give space. A rare kind of loyalty.

“Alright,” Eijiro said at last, stepping aside so they could walk together. “Just don’t get yourself detention. If Sensei sees you sleepin’ again during his class, he’s gonna bury you under homework for the rest of the year.”

Ace groaned theatrically. “Please, have mercy. I’ve been through war, Eijiro. Don’t make me face paperwork.”

“Dude, it’s literally math.”

“Exactly.”

They slipped into the classroom together just as the bell rang. Aizawa was already by the front, tangled in his capture scarf and surrounded by papers he didn’t even glance at as he gave the class a long, tired stare.

Ace dropped into his seat, letting his head thunk gently onto the desk.

“You know,” he muttered as he slid lower in his chair, eyes half-lidded. “I liked it better when I was dodging Marines.”

“What?” Eijiro blinked from beside him, laughing awkwardly. “You mean gym class, right?”

Ace didn’t answer. Just smiled into his arms.

Sleep pulled at him like the tide. A familiar, weightless sensation spread through his chest as his breath slowed. He knew it could come at any time, this curse, this strange pull toward unconsciousness that followed him across lifetimes.

But he was tired.

So damn tired.

He closed his eyes.

And even though the classroom buzzed with Aizawa's low monotone and the clatter of pens on paper, Ace drifted somewhere else.

Somewhere between two lives.

Somewhere where fire and feathers touched again.