Chapter Text
Ace knew that he wasn’t exactly the brightest bulb in the box, but even he knew that it was a bit too early in the year for the sight before him. “So, uh, is he like this every November?” The freckled young man asked from his position cuddled against the older blond.
Marco groaned into his hand, his other wrapped around the other’s shoulder, rubbing small circles into it. Ace basically purred, leaning into the touch more and almost forgetting about Thatch for a moment, until the red dressed man walked back, happily humming. With a groan of exasperation, the dark haired male sat back up. “Oh, for the love of the sea, Thatch, why are you dressed like Santa?”
The preppy brunette paused, grin stretched goofily across his face. “Because it’s Christmas, stupid.” His voice was light and teasing, even as his brother and Ace sent him flat looks.
“It’s not even Thanksgiving yet, yoi.” Marco deadpanned as Ace grinned at the brunette as he stuck his tongue out at the duo.
“You’re just both being grumps,” Thatch huffed as he stalked the rest of the walk by. Ace huffed out a laugh as Marco rolled his eyes skyward, muttering under his breath about idiotic siblings. “By the way! Have you seen Haruta and Jiro?” Marco groaned loudly as Ace shot him a look of confusion. “Haruta, Jiro! Get over here!”
“No, don’t call them!” ordered his older brother as Ace raised an eyebrow at the almost desperate look on the other’s face.
Two brunettes came dashing into the room, one dressed as an elf and the other a reindeer with a false big nose. Marco groaned as Ace choked, a small giggle slipping free at the sight of Haruta and Jiro.
Jiru was trying to cover his face, but the plastic red nose on his face prevented him from fully hiding his shame, while Haruta on the other hand stood proudly, hands placed on his hips in pride.
“Merry Christmas, losers…and Ace!” Haruta chortled, while his three older brothers sent him the most scandalized looks. “Later!”
“No, no later!” screeched Thatch, throwing his bright red and white hat down to the floor. “Why am I a loser with mama hen Marco and Ace isn’t?!”
“You dressed me like a loser, loser!” Jiro crowed in return, following after the other.
“I’m not a loser, yoi!” Marco’s head thumped on top of Ace’s gently as his boyfriend laughed at the way the siblings behaved. It often reminded him of his own siblings and it filled him with warmth.
“Oh, you look ridiculous, Thatch.” Izou’s voice broke through the air calmly and the head chef turned, a disgruntled look on his face.
“Please, Izou, I look amazing.” Thatch struck a pose that sent Ace into stitches as Marco and Izou both made faces. “See, Ace agrees.”
“No, he’s laughing at your idiocy.” snipped Marco snidely, eyes alight in fond exasperation.
“Ugh, the audacity,” The brunette sent a pout towards his older brother, before a timer went off, alerting him of the time. “Oh, Ace’s snack time.” With that, he winked at the trio and strutted off, Izou behind him looking absolutely appalled.
“No, Thatch, get back here!” Izou was calling as he followed behind him briskly. “You’re going to change out of that fashion disaster, you monkey!”
After they were left alone, Ace finally calmed down from his bout of laughter, looking back at Marco with bright carmine eyes. “So, I have a question,” He started as Marco leaned back against the couch and Marco wrapped his arms around him comfortably, the duo laying across the entire couch.
“What’s up?”
“What does Santa have to do with Christmas?” Marco blinked, turning to look down at his lover curled up comfortably against his chest, sweater paws pillowing his head gently.
“You’re not serious, right, yoi?” When Ace just stared at him, wide carmine eyes curious. “Well, Santa is the guy who delivers presents to all the good children in the world on Christmas Eve, just in time for Christmas morning.”
Ace’s eyes sparkled for a moment, before a look of confusion took over. “Then…why didn’t he ever come to visit me and my brothers?” At those words, Marco felt his heart clench.
He knew that Ace’s grandfather wasn’t the most there kind of caregiver, but he didn’t think he’d deprive his grandchildren of the childhood wonders like Santa. He knew that their adoptive brother, Sabo, knew about Santa, yet never believed in him due to his house before the adoption. Ace and Luffy on the other hand didn’t even have the luxury of knowing about the connection between the big man in red and the wonderful day of Christmas.
He leaned down and pressed their lips together sweetly, earning a pleased hum, before he pulled back, hands cupping Ace’s adorably freckled cheeks. “After Thanksgiving, we’ll binge watch a bunch of Christmas movies.”
Ace hummed in agreement as they leaned in and pressed their lips together once more, before a red blur dashed by Izou screaming bloody murder about his outfit as they raced up the stairs of the large home.
It may not have even been Thanksgiving yet, but Marco already had plans for all the wonderful things he was going to show Ace about Christmas and maybe even any other holiday he didn’t fully understand or learn about.