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He knew it wasn’t something as normal as a normal relationship, but that didn’t matter when he heard someone tell another that he was just greedy in taking up the company of both Thatch and Marco.
“Like a little slut, walking around half-naked all the time. It’s a wonder that none of the other Commanders are in bed with him, or they did and he ditched them,” The voice comes from one of the new recruits. Someone who only joined a couple of weeks ago and who seemed to have it out for Ace for one reason or another.
Frowning, Ace stops and turns to confront the man. He can take a lot about him, but he won’t let anyone talk shit about his family or his lovers.
Coming to a stop behind the man, he hums, “You were saying?”
The way they froze, hackles raised and turning before plastering on a fake smile had Ace rolling his eyes. John was new, he’d joined on one of the last islands and reports showed he wasn’t settling in well at all. He questioned everything, especially if Ace was the one stating it. Had been in fights more times than any of them could count over the most stupid ship and apparently he was shit-talking all the while as well.
Tray, the guy who John had been talking about paled before babbling something about chores and hightailing it out of there. Leaving Ace alone with John, and whatever that would entail.
Huffing, Ace crosses his arms, “Well?”
He can see the doubt in John’s face at that. Never expecting that he would need to tell that to his face after telling Tray. In a way it might even be frustration about things not going the way he wanted them to. But that was never an excuse to talk bad about your peers, especially not about your commanding officers.
John knows he’s caught, it’s clear in the way his eyes shift and he tries to find a way out of there. He won’t manage though, Ace won’t let him. Apparently, he isn’t the only one to find their way on his hips before both Thatch and Marco are standing on either side of him. Gazing down at John with a tilted eyebrow and that little smirk that meant they knew whatever happened now they would win.
When John doesn’t speak, Marco sighs, “We’ve been over this -yoi. Keeping an open mind will get you a lot further on this ship and if you keep that close-minded attitude I’ll boot you off myself on the next island.”
Glancing at Ace and Thatch, he adds, “Not that it’s any of your business, but we’re a triad instead of a couple. So calling Ace a slut, and easy, means you’re doing the same thing about us -yoi.” The blond turns back to John and leans closer, “Let me tell you I don’t appreciate that. Last chance, John, or you’re getting off of the Moby next stop and not getting back on.”
Nothing more was said, as John nodded before turning and almost running away. Leaving Ace to turn to his lovers and whine that he had it handled. They both assured him they knew that, but neither of them wanted some idiot to call him a slut because he didn’t understand.
Sighing, Ace shook his head before leaning up to kiss them both, one after the other, “You’re lucky I love you both.”