Chapter Text
Ever since Ace told the crew that was going on with him, Marco noticed him acting strange. To put it shortly, Ace is avoiding him. He stopped coming to him for help and went to the others or he didn't go to anyone. He doesn’t remember doing anything wrong for Ace to avoid him. It confused him but at the same time hurt him a little. He kinda felt lonely.
Marco sighed as he leaned back in his chair. He couldn’t focus on his paperwork, his thoughts distracted. He heard a knock on the door. Marco sighed again as he got up and answered the door. “Deuce?” Marco looked down at the blue haired man.
“Commander Marco, Sorry to bug you while you're doing paperwork,” Deuce told him apologetically.
“It’s fine. What’s up yoi?” Marco asked.
“Can I talk to you about Ace?” Deuce asked him. Marco blinked in confusion and shock.
“Sure, but why with me?” he asked the younger male.
“Cause he trusted you first to tell what was going on with him,” Deuce told him. Was something going on with Ace?
“Does it have something to do with that?” He asked. He hoped it didn’t.
“Kinda,” He said nervously.
“Come in,” Marco told him. Maybe he might know why Ace was avoiding him. Deuce nodded. Marco stepped to the side and let him in. Marco closed the door and sat down in his chair. Deuce just stood in the middle of the room, not knowing what to do. “You can sit down,” he told him, gesturing to his bed. Deuce nodded and sat down hesitantly. This was the first time Deuce was ever in his room like this. He usually only came in to drop off paperwork from the med bay or to get him for something. “So what’s up?”
“You probably noticed Ace has been acting weird,” Deuce started. Marco nodded. “For the last week or so, Ace has come to me, Commander Thatch, Commander Izo, and the captain.” Marco was happy Ace was going to someone but he heard the ‘but’ coming. “But when he does come to me he doesn’t say much about anything. I don’t know how much he’s told the others but there's something going on with him and I think it deals with why he’s avoiding you,” he told him.
“You think it deals with me?” Marco questioned, hesitantly. Deuce nodded. “I don’t remember doing anything to him,” he said.
“Because I don’t think you did. It’s probably something that he’s trying to deal with by himself that deals with you, not anything you did to him,” Deuce told him. “Maybe you should talk to him or at least talk to the others he talks to to see if he’s told them anything.”
“I could try. Trying to get anything out of Izo and Pops is a pain, Thatch, it just depends. But if he didn’t tell you anything I doubt he would tell Thatch. He must likely told Izo or Pops,” Marco told him. Deuce nodded. Thatch is horrible at keeping secrets and Izo and Pops are good at keeping secrets and don’t break that easily.
“I can try and see what I can find out what’s going on with him. Maybe he’ll trust me enough to tell me,” Deuce told him. Marco could feel other feelings behind what he said.
“You seem to be having your own feelings about Ace,” Marco said.
“I just don’t see how he couldn’t tell me this. He told me about the nightmares and I helped him but how could he not trust me enough to tell me about the self-harm but he easily went to you about it,” Deuce told him. Marco sighed, but he understood why he felt that way. Deuce was Ace’s first mate when they were the Spade pirates. They were, well, are best friends.
“It’s normal to feel that way, Deuce but that isn’t something people wouldn’t even tell their best of friends. He didn’t even want to tell his own family about it till he failed to kill himself. The only reason he went to me was because I found out and comforted him about it but I’m not initially sure why he trusted me to tell me what he did yoi,” Marco told him. Deuce looked at the ground, pushing his lips in a thin line. “Have you ever told him how you felt?” He asked. Deuce shook his head. “Maybe start with that and he might open up to you more,” he told him. Deuce nodded.
“I’ll try that. You get what you can from the others and I’ll talk to Ace more,” Deuce told him. Marco nodded. “I’ll leave you to that then,” he said as he stood up. “If I get anything out of Ace I’ll tell you,” he told him.
“Thanks and good luck,” Marco told him. Deuce nodded. They both know how stubborn Ace can be. Deuce left Macro to his thoughts. Marco sighed as he hung his head between his shoulders, his arms resting on his legs. He pinched the bridge of his nose. He’ll talk to Izo and Pops later. He needed to gather his thoughts first.
~
Marco walked to Pop's room for his night check up and medicine. He’ll also see if he can get anything out of him about Ace. He wants to know why Ace is avoiding him. He already talked to Izo and Thatch and they didn’t know so it had to be pops. They did tell him some things that Ace had told them to see if it would help him any but it didn’t.
Once he reached Pops room he knocked before going in. Pops smiled at him from his bed. Marco smiled back at him, his smile a little forced as he went over to the desk beside the bed. “Is something wrong my son?” Pops asked him.
Marco sighed but nodded. “Do you know why Ace is avoiding me?” He asked. Pops chuckled softly.
“He’s just dealing with some feelings he’s not used to. I’m sure he’ll come back around in due time,” he told him. Marco frowned. What feelings could Ace have that would keep him away from him? Is he regretting telling him what he did? “Don’t worry. I’m sure it’s nothing of what you're thinking,” he said. Marco looked at him.
“So you know what’s going on with him yoi?” Marco asked. Pops nodded. “And you're not going to tell me?” Pops shook his head. Marco groaned.
“Can I ask you a question?” Pops asked him. Marco raised an eyebrow confused.
“Sure,” he said, a little unsure.
“What are your feelings towards Ace?” He asked. Marco blinked.
“I thought I told you that already,” Marco told him. Pops raised and eyebrow. Marco sighed. “If you're wondering if I like him, I do. I swore I talked to you about this already.”
“Just checking if they’ve changed,” pops told
him with a chuckle. Marco rolled his eyes. “Are you ever going to tell him your feelings?” He asked.
“No, I’m too old for him,” Marco told him.
“You may feel that way but maybe he doesn’t. Age doesn’t define who you love, Marco,” pops told him. Marco sighed.
“It’s not just that,” he told him. Pops raised an eyebrow, singling him to go on. “He said he doesn’t deserve love. How can I convince him he does when he strongly disagrees yoi!” He asked. Pops hummed in thought.
“Then you show him that he does deserve love. No matter someone’s age, sex, or Heritage, everyone deserves love,” pops told him with a smile. Marco looked at his lap. He’s pretty sure there are some people that don’t but not getting love or it being taken from them is probably what made someone the way they are. He doesn’t have much knowledge in the love industry when it comes to partners. He never really cared.
Marco finished up with Pop, getting him hooked up and giving him his medicine. He said good night before heading to his own room. He’d talk to Deuce tomorrow and see what he found out but as of now, he was tired and trying to think on what Pops had told him.
~
The next morning, Marco woke up early for a morning flight. He wanted to stretch his wings and clear his mind. Flying has always helped him when he wants to clear his mind and get away from everyone. He loves his family but it can get too much.
After his morning flight, he headed back to his room to get some morning paperwork done. As he was doing his work he heard a noise coming from Ace's room. It sounded like a curse. “Is he ok?” He asked. He’s not sure what Ace was doing or what happened but he had the feeling he needed to go check on him. He stood up, not caring to take off his glasses. He left his room and went over to Aces. He knocked on the door.
“Go away!” Ace yelled. He’s not sure if he knows it was him or he just didn’t want to be bothered.
“What happened?!” Marco asked him loud enough for him to hear.
“Nothing happened! Just go away!” Ace yelled at him. Marco frowned. He felt a present walk up to him. He looked beside him and saw Deuce.
“Is something wrong Commander?” He asked. Marco sighed as he turned to the blue haired doctor.
“Don’t know. He won’t tell me anything yoi,” he told him. Deuce hummed.
“Let me try talking to him,” He said. Marco nodded. “Hey Ace, it’s Deuce! You ok?!” He asked.
“I’m fine! Fuck off!” Ace yelled. Deuce looked at Marco.
“I guess we let him be. He doesn’t seem to want to talk,” Deuce said. Marco nodded. They then went their own way. Marco went back to his room and sat at his desk, not knowing what to think. He wants to know what’s going on with Ace but he’s not getting anything and it seems Deuce hasn't talked to him yet.
“Why won’t he talk to me?” He questioned softly. “I don’t remember doing anything wrong for him to avoid me like this. All I did was help. I know Pops said it wasn’t something I did but why would he avoid me?” Marco ground as ran a hand through his hair. “Why can’t I figure this out?”
Marco skipped breakfast and lunch, too stressed to eat. Anytime he left his room, he never saw Ace. His heart ached every time he remembered the young male was avoiding him. It’s not even that Ace just happens not to be out when he is but that he’s actually avoiding him. It’s been weeks since he started avoiding him. Ace used to always be bugging him or playing pranks on him with Thatch and Haruta.
Besides Ace avoiding him, no one has come and checked on him. He’s stuffed himself in his room. Thatch didn’t even come to see if he wanted to eat. It was getting close to dinner now and someone should have caught on about his depressing mood. All of this made him feel even lonelier. He knows he can be shut off sometimes, everyone can, but hates the feeling of being alone. It reminds him of his childhood.
He never told anyone about his childhood, besides Pops. He won’t say he's that worst or compare he’s to anyone else’s. Like some, he’s an orphan that came from the poor side of town at his home village. He didn’t have any friends and most kids and adults thought he was a monster because of his fruit.
He didn’t lie to Ace. He never did self harm or tried to kill himself, mainly because he couldn’t. His powers didn’t allow him to. Any min or injury is held instantly unless seastone or haki. And ever since joining Pops he’s never felt the need to have thoughts like those and he wasn’t by himself no more. He had a family now. One he’s proud to be part of and carry his fathers mark. So when Ace told him his story he felt like he didn’t to make sure he wasn’t alone like he was when he was younger. Sure he liked him but he’s a brother first since he knows his feelings are one sided.
A knock on the door snapped him out of his thoughts. He sighed as he stood up wondering who it could be. When opening the door he saw Ace. Marco blinked in surprise. “Ace?” He questioned. He studied Ace. He was tense and nervous. “Is something wrong?” He asked him.
“I should be asking you that!” Ace told him, looking up at him. Marco jolted back some at the yell.
“What..?” Marco was very confused. Ace has been avoiding him for weeks, finally decides to come talk to him but only seems to be in distress but not from his own thoughts.
“Why didn’t you tell me!?” Ace yelled at him as he pushed his shoulders. Ace seemed about to cry.
“What are you talking about?” He asked.
“About your past!” Marco froze. How would Ace know about his past? Did Pops tell him? “Pops told me everything! I told you everything! You told me you never did self harm but why didn’t you tell me why!?” Ace yelled at him as he pushed him again.
Why did Pops tell Ace his childhood? He told him not to tell anyone. He didn’t want people to feel bad for him when it wasn’t even that bad.
“Why didn’t you tell me you hated to be alone?! I was avoiding you yet you suffered in silence! Why didn’t you tell me!?” Ace yelled at him, tears rolling down his face because of anger.
Marco looked at him. He could tell Ace was angry at him and himself. “Ace, calm down,” Marco told him, his hands up. Everyone knows Ace was horrible with his emotions and horrible at controlling his anger.
“No, why didn’t you fucking tell me!?” Ace yelled at him.
“How could I tell you about my childhood when you were in pain!?” Marco yelled at him. Ace's mouth snapped shut as he looked at Marco with wide eyes. “How could I tell you how my parents died or how people in my hometown mistreated me because of my powers!? How could I tell you why I never did such acts!? How could I tell you any of that when you were in so much pain!?” He asked him. Marco calmed himself down some, taking a deep breath. “You needed reassurance and comfort, not my childhood story.” His volume soft.
Ace bit his bottom lip as he looked at the ground. Marco sighed as he cupped Ace's face, making him look at him. “Why didn’t you comfort me? You forced yourself on me before, why didn’t you this time?” Ace asked him, looking him in the eyes. “Why didn’t you come and tell me that me avoiding you was hurting you?”
“How could I have told you that Ace?” He asked. Ace cupped his face.
“Marco, you're not the first person I know that has this problem. Luffy has the same problem. He said that being alone hurts more than getting hurt. When he told me that, my heart ached. I thought he was some annoying brat cause he never gave up on trying to be my friend and I only hurt him. He didn’t even rat me and Sabo out when a pirate beat the shit out of him, even almost killed him, because he didn’t want me or Sabo to leave him if he did,” Ace told him, having to stop to catch his breath. Marco was honestly kinda shocked. “If you only told me that you didn’t like to be alone I would have understood. That’s why I’m upset that you never told me or came to me.”
Marco didn’t know what to say but he wondered why Ace cared so much about this. It’s not really like Ace to care this much. “I don’t want to sound like an ass, but why do you care so much that I didn’t tell you?” He asked. Ace stayed quiet as he pulled away from Marco.
“Why did you care so much about me?” Ace asked back after a while. Marco stayed quiet as his hands rested by his side.
Why did he care so much for Ace? That’s easy. He likes, no, he loves him. Seeing the person loves and cares so much for hurting themselves made his heartache. He doesn’t like seeing Ace in pain or sad. He’d rather see him have a goofy smile on his face as he talked to the crew. But he can’t tell Ace this. Ace wouldn’t have the same feelings as him. He doesn’t even know if Ace likes guys or supports it.
“Cause you're my brother,” Marco told him. He couldn’t tell him the truth.
Marco was expecting Ace’s face to look pained at his words. “So I’m just a brother to you?” Ace asked, his voice of disappointment and sorrow. Marco only nodded. Ace bit his bottom looking like he was about to cry.
“Ace..” Marco called out softly.
“I-I see. I got what I needed. I leave you alone,” Ace told him as he went to jog off. Marco saw the tears that fell as Ace turned to leave. Marco’s eyes widened when he finally put everything together. He grabbed Ace’s wrist. Ace stopped, looking back at him.
“I-” Marco said but cut himself off. Ace looked at him beggingly to let him go. Marco wanted to hit himself. Pops gave him all the hints he needed. He did have something to do with Ace avoiding him. Pops told him he was having feelings he needed to sort out but he was avoiding him but no one else. Pops asked him if he liked Ace when he's told before that he did. Ace talked to others but stopped talking to him. Ace was disappointed with the fact that he said he saw him as a brother and that was all.
Ace liked him.
Sure they weren’t the normal signs of someone liking you but it also fits. He’s not sure if he’s right but there's only one way to find out. “I like you,” Marco told him kinda breathlessly. “I lied. I don’t see you as a brother. I’ve always liked you Ace.” Ace looked at him with wide eyes. Marco only hoped he believed him.
“You like me?” Ace asked. Marco nodded hesitantly. “You're not lying?” he asked. Marco shook his head. Ace’s face flushed bright red. “I-I..,” Ace stumbled over his words. Marco didn’t give him a change to finish his sentence and kissed him. Ace seemed to freeze before he slowly kissed back as he grabbed onto Marco’s shirt. When they parted Ace panted lightly, his cheeks flushed and eyes dazed. He put his fingers to his lips as he looked down.
“Sorry, I shouldn’t have done that,” Marco told him apologetically. He pushed himself on Ace, something he told himself not to do.
“I-It’s ok. I liked it,” Ace told him as he looked back up at him. Marco cheeks flushed some. “I-I like you too,” Ace told him, cheeks flushing more.
Marco wanted to kiss him again. He wanted to touch him. He wanted to touch him so bad.
~
Ace watched as Marco’s eyes darken. “Marco?” He asked. Marco then pulled him inside his room, closing the door before slamming his back into it. Ace groaned in pain. Before he could say anything else Marco’s lips were back on his, a hand on the door and the other on his side. Ace hummed in surprise as his eyes widened. Marco’s body pressed into his, a leg in between his legs. Ace put his hands on Marco’s shoulders.
He didn’t know if he wanted Marco to stop or continue. Everything in him made him give in. He wants Marco’s touch and he wants to touch him. He’s had enough wet dreams to know what he wants.
Marco licked his bottom lip and Ace opened his mouth letting him explore his mouth. Ace locked the door before pushing himself off the door as he wrapped his arms around Marco’s neck, not allowing him to pull away. Marco seemed to get what he was doing. He moved his hands to his thighs and picked him up, taking them to the bed. Ace’s back hit the bed as Marco hovered over him, finally pulling away from the kiss breathing heavily.
“Are you ok?” Marco asked him. Ace nodded.
“I’m fine Marco,” he told him as he cupped his cheeks. Besides Marco being the one to start it, he seemed more hesitant now. “If I want you to stop I'll tell you. You just have to promise you will stop.”
“I promise,” he told him. Ace smiled. “But I don’t mean to be pushy,” he apologized.
“Understandable.” He understood. Ace started to like him after everything had happened. It took awhile for him to accept his feelings and know they were not mistaken for something else. But after a while of talking with Pops and Izo about it he realized his feelings started to form way before the whole thing happened, he just never noticed them till now.
When he had laid down with Marco the night after tilling the crew his heart wouldn’t stop pounding. He wanted to kiss the man he’s supposed to see as his brother. And when they had woken up the next morning, Marcos' arms were wrapped around him, his chest to his back. He was completely flustered at the feeling of being in Marcos arms like that. He didn’t wait for Marco to get up, just got out of bed and left the room. He was too embarrassed to talk to the older man after that.
“Oh, and Marco,” Ace said. Marco hummed in reply. “To make this official, will you be my boyfriend?” He asked. Marco smiled at him.
“Of course.” Ace smiled happily as he brought Marco into a passionate kiss as he wrapped his arms around his neck. Ace couldn’t help but moan into the kiss, his body on fire as one of Marcos hands rubbed his side. His lips are soft and plump. Sadly he didn’t get to feel them for long.
Marco pulled away. Ace couldn’t help but frown some. Marco sighed as he sat up looking at the door. “Thatch, go away!” Marco said. Ace blinked. He didn’t hear Thatch knock or even say anything.
“Why’s your door locked?!” That was definitely Thatch. He’d recognize that voice anywhere.
“Because I locked it!” Marco told him. Ace sat up, his hands holding him up from behind. “What do you want?”
“Dinners ready, I also wanted to come check up on you!” Thatch told him. Marco groaned.
“I’m fine!”
“Are you eating!?” Thatch asked.
“Yes, I’m eating dinner!” Marco told him. Ace could hear him do a little cheer.
“Ok! See ya!” Thatch said before ether heard him walk off. Ace looked at Marco, who looked at him back.
“We should go eat. We can finish this later,” Ace told him as he sat all the way up. Marco nodded, but he could see the disappointment in his eyes. Ace pecked him on the lip before he got off the bed and went to the door, unlocking it. Marco followed. They left the room and headed to the mess hall. Luckily neither of them looked a mess so no one would expect anything. They never talked about telling anyone. There wasn’t anyone around so it should be fine to ask. “Hey Marco,” Ace said. Marco hummed. “Are we going to tell anyone?” he asked.
“Do you want others to know yoi?” Marco questioned. He doesn’t know. As of right now, no. They had just got together and he kinda wants to keep it between them.
“I don’t mind them knowing but not right now,” Ace told him honestly.
“Then we’ll wait,” he told him.
“You don’t mind?” Ace asked him surprised.
“If you're not comfortable with knowing them yet, that’s fine. I’m not quite ready to tell them myself,” Marco told him.
“Why?” he asked curiously. Marco’s not scared of anything, and if he is, he hides it very well. He’s good at hiding emotions so it can be hard to tell his real emotion. Cause that happens when you have a bored expression on your face all the time.
Marco sighed. “I’d rather not have to deal with all the questions and prey Pops doesn’t decide to throw a party over something like this. Then again he has so he probably will,” he said, ranting. Ace snorted at the bird's frustration.
“There’s no way he would throw a party over something so simple,” Ace told him, his voice light.
“Seeing as it's me, there’s a high chance he will,” Marco told him.
“What does that mean?” he asked, confused yet curious.
“Because of my whole 30 years aboard the moby, I’ve never got together with anyone,” Marco told him. Ace’s eyes widened as he looked at Marco.
“You never dated anyone!? You're in your thirties!” Ace yelled in shock.
“I’m 41,” Marco told him. Ace's eyes widened even more.
“You do not look your age,” Ace told him.
“You don’t either. You look sixteen,” Marco told him.
“It’s the freckles!” he told him. Marco chuckled. Ace puffed out his cheeks as he knitted his eyebrows together. He’s getting very tempted to ask if Izo would cover his freckles for him.
“Let’s just get us something to eat. We can talk more later,” Marco told him. Ace nodded. He could roll with that. There were still a lot of things he wanted to ask the older man. There’s still so much he doesn’t know about him and he wants to learn it.
One thing he does know is that he loves this man.