This will be in two parts, the next of which will be posted next week. Written for marcoace week on tumblr's day 1: Fire. Thank you so much to imperialmint for betaing and Canada for having free wifi in their airports, which is allowing me to post this as I am currently still stuck in Montreal.
Warnings: Depression, Grief/Loss, Mentions of Death, and in the next part Mild Violence and Implied Minor Character Death.
Marco landed softly in front of the graves, letting his flames vanish, sadness crashing over him when the wind picked up, moving the ridiculous orange hat hanging from the grave and catching his eye. He glared up at the ridiculously blue sky and the scattering of pure white, fluffy clouds.
The day was perfect, far too cheerful for a grave visit, but Marco's ire melted when he turned back to the graves, remembering how Ace would grin if he were here and probably make him have a picnic in the sunlit meadow or something. Marco would have protested because they'd probably be scouting or on a mission, but he'd give in eventually (how could he not when Ace would grin like that?).
A bitter smile crept up on his lips, and he walked up to Pops's grave, placing a bottle of his favorite sake in front of it and settling down beside it. "Hello, Pops." Marco leaned back onto the gravestone and closed his eyes, picturing the numerous times he'd perched on the arm of his Pops's massive chair on deck, booming laughter surrounding him. "I'm doing my best to protect your treasure, but it's not enough."
Marco's hands balled themselves into fists, and he reminded himself to relax as blue flames flicked where his nails had dug into his skin. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "That bastard has taken over our territory, and there was nothing I could, Pops. Nothing at all."
He inhaled shakily, running a hand through his hair, letting out a bitter laugh. "I'm not you. They all expect me to fill your shoes, but your feet are just too massive, old man. I'm getting better, and they're healing, but we miss you, Pops."
"I miss you." Marco smiled. "But that's selfish of me. You died protecting your dream, your family, and you'd not have wanted anything less."
He cracked open the bottle and poured some on the grave before taking a swig himself. "There's still a hole in the crew, but they're doing well. You'd be proud. You raised a strong family."
"They're doing better than me, honestly." Marco rested his face against the stone, eyes closed. "I miss him so much, Pops. I wasn't ready to lose him yet. If they hadn't needed me, I don't know that I wouldn't be joining you and him wherever you ended up."
He let out a ragged breath and took another swig of the sake. "Part of me still feels missing. Every day I wake up alone, and every time it is like my heart's ripped out all over again. "
"You remember back before we'd gotten together, and you kept teasing me about him?" Marco laughed. "To think that I felt the need to hesitate. You were right, Pops. I can never thank you enough for kicking me when I was being an idiot."
Marco poured the rest of the bottle on the ground. "If you were here, you'd be making fun of me for greeting you first when it's him I needed to see, to grieve for. I don't really know. Izo sent me here you know. He worries too much. It's been two years, but I don't think any of us are all the way okay. Maybe I'm worse, maybe not."
"Izo is doing well, but I still see the shadows in his eyes. He's quieter than before. We had a huge party a few weeks ago though, and it was almost like old times, you'd have been proud. We got utterly smashed." Marco grinned and pulled out the worn news clipping, sitting up and shifting so he was crosslegged and facing the gravestone. "You remember Ace's little brother?" He held up Luffy's grinning picture and the announcement of his new bounty.
"The brat made it after all. When we heard, we had to party. Hopefully, we'll meet up with him at some point. I'd like that. I heard they caused some trouble down at Fisherman Island to help out Jinbe." Marco smiled softly. "We couldn't protect it, but I'm glad it was him. I hate leaving it to Big Mam, you know she's not doing it for free, Pops. They deserve better."
"Everyone is still celebrating, and I think we might see about an alliance with them. It would really raise morale for one thing. After all, we can't defeat Teach on our own, and who better than Ace's brother?" Marco felt his smile falter.
"And someone needs to look out after him. He's bound to get up to some crazy things in the New World." Marco's voice roughened. "I'm not letting Ace's death be in vain. That kid'll make a good pirate king, don't you think Pops?"
The wind picked up again, and Marco grinned. "I know, I know. I'm going, Pops." Marco got to his feet and crossed the short distance to Ace's grave, fingers reaching out to gently caress the hat before he sat down. He blinked at the new clipping of Luffy already sitting next to three sake cups and smiled. Someone had already been by to tell Ace the good news then. He wondered idly who it was before swallowing.
"Hey, Ace." His voice was rough with emotion, but no matter how he cleared his throat, he couldn't seem to dislodge whatever was choking him. "I don't know why I'm here exactly, but you know how Izo gets."
He could easily picture how Ace would grimace at that, before they'd both laugh, but Marco couldn't bring a smile to his face, not even for Ace. A tear escaped and fell to the ground.
"What do I even say? 'I miss you' is so inadequate that it would be more of a mockery than anything else." Marco laughed at himself, shaking his head.
"If you were here, you'd probably tell me I'm being stupid, I'd guess." Marco closed his eyes as memories flowed over him, Ace smiling, Ace laughing, Ace yelling at him, Ace dragging him away from work. "Damn, you've no idea how much I wish you were."
A tear escaped and fell to the ground, and Marco wiped his eyes. "I'm sorry. I should be happier. I came to tell you I promise to make sure Luffy makes it. I'll watch him achieve his dream for you. It's nothing much, but that's all I can do. It's what the rest of the crew wants too. I-" Marco paused at the sizzling sound and looked down to see the tear evaporate into steam, the ground under him heating up to the point where he felt his own flames flare up to protect him. Marco scrambled back, eyes wide as the ground started trembling, and suddenly the whole area was consumed by crimson flames. Marco leapt to his feet when a shadow appeared in the flames, settling into a defensive stance.
Whoever dared disturb this place would pay.
His own flames flickered over his skin, protecting him from the intense heat, and he swung into a kick, aiming for the dark center of the flames, when suddenly they vanished. Marco swore and tried to stop his kick from landing, tangling himself up in his feet and sending him sprawling towards the figure, knocking them both over in a tangled heap. Marco untangled himself hurriedly, looking with wide eyes at the bird blinking up at him.
Apart from the crimson feathers and lack of the Whitebeard crest on its chest, the bird could be his mirror image, were he in phoenix form. Marco's eyes darted over the bird as it shook itself and got back up. It studied him in turn, making small content noises in its throat before shuffling forward. It stumbled a bit, glaring at its feet accusingly before huffing and sidling closer to Marco, demanding trills breaking through his stupor.
He held perfectly still as it leaned forward to run its beak through his hair, flames tickling at his face and scalp.
"What the hell?" Marco said softly, not wanting to freak out the phoenix in front of him. It leaned forward, and Marco caught a glimpse of purple on its back, and his heart leapt to his throat.
It couldn't be. Ace was dead, this couldn't be him, but there was no mistaking the mark on the bird's- no, Ace's back.
"Ace?" Marco whispered, taken aback by the raw sound of his own voice. The bird- no, Ace, it had to be Ace, and this was just another cruel dream, another time he'd wake up to an empty bed having to face the harsh reality all over again- cried out softly, and Marco crumpled to the ground. He couldn't even muster up surprise when feathers and flames melted away, and Ace pulled him into his arms, feeling so warm and cruelly real as he sobbed into his shoulder.
He dug his nails into Ace's back, holding him a tightly as possible. It was a minute or more before he even noticed Ace's frantic whispering into his hair.
"Shhh... Marco... What's the matter? This isn't like you. There, there? Fuck, I have no idea what to do. Help me out here. I'm pretty sure yelling at you to shut up like I did with Luffy was wrong, but..." Ace made an aggravated sound into his hair and ran a hand down his back, and Marco couldn't help but snicker at him, though he wasn't sure Ace could tell it from the sobbing. He took a couple of deep breaths, Ace's scent washing over him, and he shivered at how real it all felt.
"Who did this to you? I'll kill them." Marco smiled into Ace's shoulder and, finally having control over his breathing, pulled back enough to look Ace in the eyes.
"You did."
"So, you're telling me I've been dead for two years?" Ace frowned, seemingly deep in thought. "I kind of remember dying, but if I was dead, why I am here?" It was growing dark now, and Marco had half heartedly gathered some wood for a fire. It seemed like they'd be up a while talking providing he didn't wake up from his dream soon, and he wanted to be able to see Ace for as long as possible.
"It's probably just a dream of mine. It wouldn't be the first time." Ace must have picked up on the weariness in Marco's voice, despite Marco trying to sound casual, because he tugged him down in his lap, starting the fire with a wave of his hand, the flames a deep red instead of his usual orange.
Marco filed the color difference away for when he was awake and let himself be held close, Ace's scent so clear and warm he could almost believe it was all real. He slid an only slightly trembling hand through Ace's hair, smoothing it down, and Ace leaned into the touch. The contented sigh Ace made fizzled comfortingly in Marco's veins.
"I don't know what's going on, but thank you." Marco looked up at Ace, confused, and his heart felt like it finally started beating again when Ace grinned at him. "For missing me, I mean. You shouldn't, you know, but it makes me happy that you did." Ace sighed and pulled Marco closer, staring up at the sky, which looked like it was on fire, painted vividly in reds and oranges, fading into a soft blue. "Still, whether I'm dead or not, I'm not worth this. Be happy, Marco. That's all I want for you."
Marco snorted. "How can I be happy if I don't have you to remind me to be?" Ace scoffed, but his fingers tightened on Marco's back, and Marco knew he was happy at the answer. "I've been a bit adrift without you."
Ace looked back at the headstones, which they'd been tacitly ignoring. "Pops, he was there, where I last remember... is he...?"
The sky was sinking into purples and blues, only the barest shade of crimson on the horizon, when Marco nodded. Ace crumpled, resting his forehead on Marco's shoulder, as he slowly exhaled.
Marco lifted Ace's face, cupping his cheek and stroked his thumb lightly along his cheekbone, marveling at how his skin was, as always, sinfully warm in the crisp night air. "It's how he would have wanted to go. Protecting you, protecting his family. He shook the world right up until the very end." His lips turned up in a fond smile. "It was the end of his time, Ace, you know that."
It was Marco's turn to hold Ace as he cried, and when he'd calmed, Marco gently wiped his face with his shirt sleeve. It was dark by now, the stars and moon outshining their tiny fire, and Marco tugged Ace to the ground, the meadow grasses under them soft and fragrant with wildflowers. The clung together, limbs entangled until they couldn't tell who was who even if they'd wanted to.
Ace's breath evened out quickly, and Marco smiled, lips moving against Ace's skin, when he began snoring softly.
"Please, Ace, please don't leave me again." His whispered plea was swallowed by the sounds of night, but Ace's grip didn't let up as Marco stood vigil, waiting for his dreams to shatter as they'd done so many times before.
Marco came to awareness all at once, heart pounding as his eyes flew open to confirm that it was really Ace clinging to him, Ace's heat embracing him as the gray predawn sky lightened and the birds welcomed the new day. A sleepy unintelligible protest greeted him when Marco's grip tightened as it finally sank in, and the world around them stopped.
HIs lips crashed into Ace's, every sense singing that Ace was here and real and all his. Ace hummed deep in his throat, the contented noise so familiar even after two long years it made Marco's heart ache. Ace's eyes fluttered open, and the same smug mischief gleamed in them as he roll them so he was on top of Marco, resting his weight on one hand while the other leisurely mapped out every inch of Marco, lingering and teasing at every place he knew would make Marco shudder.
He shoved Marco's shirt down to his shoulders, and Marco had enough presence of mind to rise up enough so he could slide it all the way off. Ace hummed, eyes gleaming as he traced random patterns on Marco's skin, scraping his nails lightly. Marco was breathing heavily now, squirming as Ace's fingers passed just too far away from anywhere he needed to be touched.
A moan escaped him, and Ace looked at him, surprise and delight passing over his features, his grin lingering. "Eager, are you?"
"God, yes." Marco gasped as Ace began toying with the sash around his waist, sending him spiraling like a leaf on the wind. "Please Ace. I need to feel you."
Their lips met again, a point to ground themselves as the world spun around them, and Ace hurriedly stripped Marco's pants off, eyes glazing a bit when he saw just how much Marco needed him. "I don't suppose you brought lube." Ace sat up a bit, hands gliding ever so lightly across Marco's thighs, up to his hip bones, circling. Marco's cock twitched, and he glared up into Ace's smug eyes.
"I was visiting your grave. Why would I bring lube?"
"Hey, you never know when you're going to meet someone." A shadow passed over Ace's face, and Marco reached up to cup his cheek, leaning in until his lips brushed the shell of Ace's ear.
"There was never anyone but you, you know."
"But-"
Marco cut him off with a breathless kiss, humming deep in his throat when Ace sank into him, tension and reluctance melting away like snow. When they had to part for air, their lips brushing so that Marco could feel Ace's smile grow, and he whispered, no more than a breath of sound, "Never."
Ace was clearly caught between relief and scolding him, so Marco unbuckled his ridiculous belt to distract him, sliding a hand into his loose shorts to palm his cock. Ace shuddered, a soft motion pulled from him involuntarily, and Marco smiled, easing down the shorts that were the last barrier between them.
He kissed down Ace's neck, tightening his fingers on Ace's cock, spreading the precome. "I want you inside me, want to feel every inch of you as you shudder and call my name," Marco said, and Ace's eyes widened before he smiled, running his fingers through Marco's sweat dampened hair.
"I promise I'm real, Marco." Marco just nodded dumbly, but Ace was too focused to notice, too busy shifting to take Marco's dick in his mouth, tongue swirling around the head before he sucked hard, not bothering to ease Marco into it. Marco gasped, pleasure flooding him, drowning out everything but Ace and the fast rhythm he started, sucking at his cock, while fingers teased at his entrance.
He was swept away on a current of pleasure, Ace driving him quickly to the edge. He heard a muffled keening noise distantly and realized with a start that it was him. He bit on a knuckle, the effort of keeping his hips still almost too much when Ace hummed around him, the vibrations sparking through him more brilliant that the blue flames that rose up from where he bit his hand.
A finger dipped into him slowly, and Marco tilted his hips up, eager for more. Ace seemed to the get the message- Marco felt him smile around his dick- but he withdrew his hand, and Marco bit back a whine. Marco looked down to meet his eyes, and was blown away at the sheer amount of love in them. All for him.
He came with a quiet gasp, hands tangled in Ace's hair, trembling. Ace pulled off with a noise that should be illegal, drool and come dripping down his chin, as he spat the come into his hand and grinned. "Looks like I found some lube, after all."
Marco kept himself from rolling his eyes. Barely. "You know that's not necessary, Ace. It's not like I won't heal."
Ace puffed out his cheeks, the contrast between the innocent expression and his come-streaked face making Marco snicker. "It's better this way." His expression darkened. "I hurt you too much already it seems."
"Ace..." Ace shook off the expression, but Marco could see it still troubled him. Before he could scavenge up words, two slick fingers entered him and twisted, spilling any thought of words clear out of his head. He was already hardening under Ace's wicked fingers, and Marco swiped some of his own come, spreading over Ace's cock.
Three fingers spread him open now, but Marco still felt empty, and he tightened his grip on Ace's cock, jerking him. "That's plenty Ace. Please."
Ace nodded, breathless, and he was already close, from the look of him, precome leaking freely to mix with Marco's now cool come. He withdrew his fingers and brought their lips together, as Ace edged into him slowly. Marco huffed and canted his hips, too impatient to wait. Their kiss broke as they both adjusted, their breath mingling in the scant space between their lips.
Marco closed his eyes, clinging to the sensation of Ace inside him, surrounding him, with him, here and whole by some mystery that they'd probably have to sort out. That didn't matter though, nothing mattered but that he was here now, alive, and happy. Marco felt himself fully breath for the first time since the war. The shackles that had bound him loosened and fell away, and he soared freely again as their lips met and they started moving, his heart light.
He trailed his lips down to Ace's shoulder, sucking harshly to keep from crying out when Ace began pumping his dick in time with his thrusts. They neared the edge wrapped around each other, lips and hands frantically trying to claim every inch of skin, wring every last gasp from the other.
Marco whispered Ace's name in between kisses, all of his senses reeling, overwhelmed with Ace's presence, warm and entwined with him. Ace came first, yelling Marco's name, nails digging in hard enough to draw blood. Warmth spiraled in a dizzying rush, tumbling and turning, through Marco, and he followed soon after, reveling in Ace's familiar weight when he collapsed on top of him.