Hey guys :)
Something new for you, as always, please review^^
Also trying longer chapters now ;)
It was the first nicely warm day, sun shining, first flowers breaking through the melting snow. Spring came late this year, Ace figured, as he hurried to get home. He lifted his full grocery bags a bit higher and made his way up the stairs, taking two at a time. Too lazy to put them down in front of his doorstep, he tried to fumble his keys out of the pocket of his grey jeans. He sighed as his cellphone began to ring now too, finally getting his keys and unlocking the door.
He put his bags down, searching for his phone in his watermelon-backpack, kicking his shoes off his feet. He was late, expecting a visitor, someone he hadn´t seen in years. Someone rather important to him. He found his phone the exact moment the ringing stopped. With a curse, he tried to recall the caller, only to receive that annoying occupied tone.
Again sighing, the raven took his bags and made his way to the tiny kitchen area, starting to place the groceries in his cupboards, throwing his black jacket in a corner.
It was a small apartment, but he was really relieved that he had a separated bedroom, although the bathroom kind of emerged into that one. He only had a room divider to separate that, but it was better than nothing. Kitchen and living room also were one room. He couldn´t afford a more expensive, bigger apartment, but then again, he was alone and he kind of liked it. Or at least got used to it.
Ace left his hometown, to work in another country when he was 17. That was six years ago, and he managed to be well on his own. He missed Luffy although, but certainly not living together with him and Gramps. He had enough scars to prove that.
He was happy, living on his own, but sometimes he felt really homesick. The raven left to be a stuntman; he needed that adrenaline kick and didn´t mind throwing himself off stairs. So he needed to move in a country where you actually got paid for that. It was hard at first, he only got small projects and worked as a bartender overnight too, but meanwhile, at least most of the time, it was enough to live from.
And he also got a family here, he felt kind of adopted - thanks to his pops and his brothers. He struggled at first, not being used to that weird sort of friendliness and he pushed everyone away, like the angry teen he was. They welcomed him as brother and son anyway, when he was ready.
The members of his family were spread all over the world, but every year they managed to come together at least once.
Well, most of them.
After Ace was done storing his stuff, he tried to get rid of the mess that lay around everywhere. He was a single man, living alone and it looked exactly like that. Empty bottles, pizza boxes and so on. He was just grabbing the last few items, as the doorbell rang. His heart skipped a beat, he quickly placed the stuff in his hands under the red couch. Out of sight, out of mind.
He straightened and went to answer the door, taking a breath.
As he opened the door, he tried to stay as calm as possible. What had gotten into him? It´s like he was... nervous? For God´s sake, he was able to get hit by a car for a living, and now he was nervous?
There was only one person who was able to do that to him. And that person was standing in the doorframe, a bored expression on his face, like usual. A smile appeared although as he opened the door full.
He was wearing simple dark grey pants and a light blue long-sleeved shirt that showed his muscular chest very well. Ace couldn´t see the tiniest part of the tattoo the other used to wear, a dark grey scarf covering his neck and part of his chest. Too bad, he really liked that tattoo.
Ace replied that smile with an even bigger one, a nervous laugh coming out his mouth.
"Marco!" He hugged the other, more like jumped him, he couldn´t resist. And the other one smelled so good.
"Yoi, Ace." the blonde said in an amused tone, a smirk on his face.
"Come on in!"
"And then I actually smashed myself through the wrong window. Not the one with all the nice sugar glass, no, the real one with real glass in it. That´s where I got that one." He pointed at another scar on his arm, grinning.
It was weird at first, having Marco here. They started to chat about the usual, like jobs and hobbies. But after a while – and two beers – they managed to talk just fine. After all the feelings Ace had for the older, he was now more confused than he was when he was young. He was in love with him, shortly after they have met, it was Marco who reached out for him and helped him fit in the family. And then, when Ace was about to tell him, he left the country for work. Ace was only 17 by then, so it would have been weird to tell him anyway, but still, he was wondering what would have happened if he did.
"Hmm... You really grew up, yoi." Marco suddenly stated. Ace blushed.
"Well... It has been nearly six years, right?" he smiled at the older. "Funny thing is, you didn´t look like you have aged at all." The blonde rolled his eyes, smirking.
"I do have a great skincare, yoi."
"You really have?"
"No. I am just messing with you, yoi." Ace pouted, causing Marco to actually laugh.
"Do you want another one?" the raven asked, pointing at Marcos empty bottle.
"No, thanks though, yoi. I should get going."
"Oh." Ace felt a bit disappointed. He liked the man, and it was just so great to finally see him again, watching how he moved, even smelling him. Needless to say he was easy on the eye, right?
"Ahm... Well then, I walk you out."
As Marco got his shoes on, Ace stepped uncomfortable from one feet to another. He wasn´t ready to let the other leave just yet. It has been so long!
"Marco?" he asked quietly. Said one looked up with a questioning look on his face.
"Can I see you again? Soon?" Ace looked at him with big puppy eyes. "It would be bad if it´s going to be another six years."
"It won´t, yoi." Marco wanted to palm Ace´s cheeks and the freckles on them, he raised his hand, but then noticed what he was about to do, so he let it sink again, making the whole situation even more awkward.
"So...?"
"Alright. Call me, yoi"
The next day Ace tried to calm himself down and wait for a few days, without calling the blonde, but naturally couldn´t resist. He was nervous again, running up and down his little living room, while listening to the dial tone, he waited for Marco to answer the call.
"Yoi." Marco. He was answering it! He took a deep breath, and with that he hung up.
Shit.
Ace stared at the cell phone in his hand, thinking about what the hell he just did. Was he that nervous? He really was freaking out. This was not him, damn it! He was the one picking up guys, then dumping them after sex. What had gotten into him? How could the blonde have such an impact on him?
His phone rang, Marco calling him back. He took a deep breath and answered.
"Yes...?"
"Ace, you do realize I have your number on my record?"
"I- uhmm, yeah..." He could hear a soft chuckle.
"Don´t worry. The signal is pretty bad here." He was a lucky bastard. Ace started breathing again.
"Yeah..." Was that all he could say? Fuck.
"So, what´s up, yoi?"
"I, uhm, was calling you to ask for... I mean, when do you-"
"Yes, about that. Do you want to grab dinner later, yoi? I haven´t eaten the whole day so I´m pretty much starving. Do you know a good place, yoi?"
"I do. Do you know the Baratie? A friend of mine works there, so..."
"Sounds good, yoi."
Ace was running up and down his apartment, shaking from excitement. He had just called Sanji, reserved a table for his date. His date - he was so happy. They were meeting at seven, so he took the time to shower, hyperventilate a little and eat something. With his eating...abilities it was better to eat something before the restaurant went out of food. And before he grossed out Marco.
After Ace got dressed he went out, it was not that far away, and a walk would maybe compensate his nervousness and energy. He wore red slacks and a black dress shirt that showed his nicely muscular chest really well. He rolled up his sleeves to the elbow, so he could move better. He knew he looked hot. He was confident and if Marco didn´t want to see him again, he wouldn´t have accepted their date. All he had to do was to be at his best behavior, so the older would fall in love with him instantly. He had an older lover once, and his looks and charisma certainly worked on the younger ones as well. He was well aware of that. But Marco was special, so he needed to reach out a little more, try a little more. Ace was willing to put that effort in, especially after his dream-full night. He woke up a few times, every time hard as hell, his mind showing him nice suggestions of what Marco would do with him, or the other way around. He wanted the other, so, how hard could it be?
As he reached the restaurant, Marco was already waiting for him, leaning against his car and smoking a cigarette. He looked incredibly hot, wearing black pants, a nice marine-blue v-neck shirt and a black sports jacket. Ace held his breath as he walked closer. He looked so damn cool, there was just no other word for it.
"You are not waiting too long, are you?" he greeted the older, a broad smile on his face, that Marco returned.
"Just got here, yoi. Figured it would be a non-smoking place, so I took care of that." he added with a smirk. "Although it looks really fancy, yoi" He took a last tug.
"Yeah, but the food is the best in town." Ace answered as the blonde threw away his cigarette, smiling at the raven and they headed to the entry.
Ace gave his last name, and the hostess brought them to their table. It was nice, romantic decorated, with candles and flowers. He noticed Marco raising an eyebrow as he saw the table, but he didn´t say anything. They got seated, the waiter showed up and took their drinks order.
Until then they sat in awkward silence, Ace way too busy staring at Marco.
They got their drinks, and were handed the menu.
"Before I forget, order anything you want, yoi. It´s on me." the blonde said, not raising his gaze from the menu.
"Ahm, thank you... But, you know how much I can eat - you really sure you want to risk that?"
"That´s a risk I can take. I didn´t need to feed you when you were little, so I can easily afford that, yoi." A smirk showed his face as Ace protested.
"I was never little!" he pouted, causing Marco´s smirk to grow a little wider.
"Funny, in my mind you look still like seventeen." Ace opened his mouth in disbelief. He saw him still as a teenager? Then he was seriously screwed. And not in a good way.
"Please tell me you are messing with me again. I look absolutely handsome."
Marco watched him as he leaned back in his chair, expanding his arms, gesturing down his muscular body, raising an eyebrow at the older.
"Yeah... You really do." he said quietly. Realizing what he had just said, he cursed in his mind. He shouldn´t encourage the younger, he was forbidding himself his own feelings, so the worst thing that he could do was to show the slightest sign of interest in the other.
Before they could say anything else, Sanji was at their table, greeting Ace and let the raven introduce the two blondes. They ordered and Sanji left them alone, wishing them a nice date.
A date?!
Marco´s heart skipped a beat. Oh, he was stupid! Really, really stupid. The younger one thought this was a date. He was screwed, mentally punching himself for not seeing the signs. But to be honest, he saw them, he just was ignoring them, like he tried to hold back his own.
He had noticed how the younger looked at him, how he smiled, and how he stared at him when he thought the older was not watching. He really should set things straight.
But as he looked at the younger, said one blushing, he couldn´t. He just couldn´t. Marco was exactly doing the same as the brat in front of him. Noticing how the younger´s body moved, his clothing, hell, even his shoes, for God´s sake! He was falling for the raven, gazing at the shimmer of his hair, those cute freckles he wanted to count. What was wrong with him? He needed to get his older self back, his controlled, cool mind. He was way too old for God´s sake! Ace needed someone younger, warmer, and friendlier. But he needed to sit through this. Maybe he was just imagining things?
He was glad when Ace started talking again, and they made it through dinner, talking like they never did anything else. It was natural. Easy.
After they finished their meal, Marco paying, both said good-bye to Sanji and headed for the car.
"So..." Ace began, "Thank you for dinner. A lot." He smiled gently at the blonde, who needed to focus all of his mental strength to not slam the younger onto his car and kiss the shit out of him.
"You´re welcome, yoi." Marco unlocked the car. "Get in, I´ll drive you home."
"But I can walk on my own. You know, I´m a big boy." Ace responded, grinning sarcastic.
"Just get in brat." the blonde ordered and slid into the driver´s seat. He exhaled. He could do that. Marco just needed to bring Ace home, then he could leave town and get out of this mess. Maybe he would make it seven years this time? Yeah, that was good, in seven years Ace would surely have found someone to settle down with. Then he was not in temptation.
The younger slid in, they remained silent as they drove the short way to Ace´s apartment, parking in the driveway.
"You want to grab a beer?" the raven asked, smiling broadly at him. No. he wouldn´t do that. Leaving, that was a great idea.
"Sure, yoi" he said instead, mentally hitting himself again. How the fuck could he be so stupid?
"Great!" The younger sounded blissfully happy and left the car. Marco had no other choice but to follow him.
As they went for the door, Ace was relieved; he thought that Marco would leave, since he seemed a bit uneasy when he thought Ace was not looking.
As Ace was searching for his keys, he felt a hand on his wrist, only short, then the older let go again. Ace looked up, Marco´s face emotionless.
"Look Ace … I should get going, yoi. I need to leave town tomorrow and-" he started but was cut off.
"You´re leaving? But..."
"I´m sorry. I just can´t stay. It´s better that way, yoi." He wanted to turn around, not to see the hurt face in front of him, just leaving, getting really drunk, and trying forget the whole thing ever happened. He didn´t want to hurt him anymore, so he needed to end this right now. Until he felt himself getting pulled back, hungry lips on his, Ace´s body pressing at his own, his arms around his neck. He was caught off guard, letting the feeling overwhelm him for a second, kissing back without thinking, just feeling the younger´s mouth on his own, the other´s tongue playing with his.
And then his brain awoke, his mind screaming "NO!" with all he had, but his heart wanting so much more. He wasn´t allowed to listen to his heart, he just couldn´t.
With a feeling like his heart ripping, he pushed the younger away from him, a hand covering his mouth. They stared at each other for a moment, both breathing heavily. Ace looking like he got punched, and actually, it felt like that.
"Ace, I am sorry. I can´t, yoi." Marco spoke first, his voice stern, like he was lecturing him. "I need to leave. I cannot be with you." He needed to go on with that, to hurt the younger more, so it would heal faster, as when he would give in. "I just can´t, yoi. Find yourself someone your age."
I just made nearly 3000 words without smut! So weirdly proud of myself! Yay!
(Don´t worry, there will be in the next chapter, it´s still me ;P)
