Hey guys! So this is my newest story for One Piece, a modern superhero universe that I've had such a fun time writing! Okay so it's a small story with quite a few mixes of small chapters and the only reason I was happy putting up such a small story was because there are more stories planned for this universe, at least two more if I have my way :D I'm looking forward to writing them all up and showing you all :D

Most of the couples have been decided. There is MarcoxAce, ThatchxIzo and NamixVivi shown or hinted at is this story but in the future there will be some ZoroxSanji, FrankyxRobin and LawxLuffy and I can't wait to write them up :D It will be my first time writing Law and Luffy together even if it's just in small parts so I'm looking forward to trying it out, usually I hint at Luffy and Nami's relationship but this time they are friends :)

So it is set in a modern world and most of the characters are currently in school. School is set up in the Scottish way because I wasn't too sure how other countries did it so I'm sticking to what I know best in this case. I know it different for a lot of people so I'm going to try and explain as the story goes on and hopefully make it a bit easier to understand :)

The only warnings I can think of in this story is violence, kidnapping, stress and mental health. I'm not too sure how well I'm doing with the stress and mental health side of things so anything you think seems off would be great to know in the comments! Anything at all in the reviews would be great, I love improving on my work and you guys telling me how it's going helps a lot!

Anyway let's get on with the story, hope you enjoy :D

Chapter 1

Portgas D. Ace lived in a world where there were people that had these amazing powers. Some had super strength, some super speed, some the ability to summon creatures or even become said creatures. There was so many different abilities out there and they were amazing to see.

When they were used for good.

Unfortunately there were horrible people out there who wanted to make others suffer for their own gains or amusement. They would steal and murder and destroy lives and homes but thankfully there were superheroes there to stop them.

Ace was one of those heroes. Sort of. Ace kept the hero 'Phoenix' in check by working behind the scenes on his laptop. They had been working together for over a year, when Ace had felt brave, or stupid, enough to hack into Phoenix's very crappy system and help him save a bunch of school kids who had been kidnapped.

It had been Brook's music class that had been on a school trip before going missing.

Ever since they had been working together. Him and Phoenix. The talking, flaming blue bird that kept Raftel protected from evil.

Ace loved his 'job'. For some reason working with computers just came naturally to him, even though he wasn't usually an impatient person. Technology just helped him relax, and helping Phoenix made him feel like more of a better person.

Because in truth he was a monster. He was the son of Gold Roger. The world's most dangerous criminal who had been executed before Ace was born.

Ace needed to find out if his existence was a good thing.

Though to be honest it was rather difficult sometimes balancing out the hero life along with his school work and Luffy's but he managed it somehow. After all a certain twelve year old ran a gang of his own so Ace at fifteen could definitely handle being 'Spade'.

Yeah, that was his hero persona. He was known as Phoenix's Spade. Which never ceased to make him flush bright red and his heart race.

At school though he was simply known as 'Ace'.

"Hey Ace!" Thatch Newgate called out, Ace pausing at the arm slipping around his shoulders from behind. "What's my favourite firecracker up to today?"

"Uh, going to class?" Ace questioned.

It was a question. Thatch sometimes dragged him off to do something completely different instead so now Ace wasn't too sure what he was doing.

Thatch huffed. "No afterwards! Marco isn't going out with us tonight but me and some of the guys are gonna go partying. Fossa's running the bar tonight so we're gonna get some drinks under his supervision. So how about you come along with us too? We're gonna drink and dance and karaoke all night long!"

Ace grimaced. "Sorry Thatch. I'm pretty busy tonight, Luffy's got a test on Monday so I want to make sure he studies for it and gets a good grade."

He hated lying to Thatch but it needed to be done. It was a Friday night, and guess who usually appeared on Friday nights?

Bad guys.

So Spade needed to keeping watch and help Phoenix kick some butt and take some names!

"Ouch." Thatch winced, ruffling his hair. "Well good luck with that. You're gonna need it bad. Seriously though I'm gonna get you and Marco out with us during the weekend one day. I'll tie you up and drag you both if I have to."

"I'll hopefully be out with you guys soon." Ace tried to sooth but paused at the very familiar voice speaking up behind him.

"Never getting me out yoi." Marco teased as he approached, smirking at Thatch's groan. "I live and breath paperwork."

"Hey Marco." Ace greeted, a bit confused. "You not supposed to be at a meeting right now?"

Marco was the representative of their year group and usually had Friday meetings with the other year reps. Along with the prefects and Head boy and Head girl to talk about improvements for the school. They would usually present their thoughts to the teachers later on and get some feedback and advice.

So really Marco had his head in books all the time, taking notes and reading information to build up an 'improvement case' as Marco called it.

"We had one earlier today yoi. Tashigi, one of the prefects, is getting picked up by her Uncle Mihawk straight after school so we accommodated for her." Marco explained with a shrug. "So why are you not going with Thatch tonight?"

"Luffy's got a test on Monday so I wanted to make sure he studies for it properly." Ace offered. "I can also help him if he gets stuck on the work."

Marco raised an eyebrow. "Haruta never mentioned a test."

Ace nearly choked at that. Of course! Haruta and Luffy shared classes! But Ace couldn't exactly say he was lying because he was helping out the superhero Phoenix tonight because he was Spade.

Ace laughed nervously. "Well Haruta doesn't back chat his teachers and fail most of his tests."

Thatch snorted. "Kid is a troublemaker alright."

"You have no idea." Ace groaned in despair.

After all Luffy was 'Straw Hat', one of Raftel's most wanted criminals. Luffy was the leader of the Straw Hat Gang, or Pirates, there was still apparently a debate on that one, but each of them was trouble!

But Ace adored them. The Straw Hats cared about him and Luffy and made sure Luffy stayed safe and happy. Well, as safe as Luffy got at any case. To be honest Ace should report them. He was a hero's partner for crying out loud but he could never do that to his little brother. Especially not after losing Sabo.

He refused to lose another brother.

.::.

Marco slipped out of his room back at his home and into the night sky, chuckling as he connected to his radio. He was a tad late with reporting into his partner and already knew Spade would be irritated by that.

"He's not here on time as usual. Stupid birdy. He always complains whenever I'm late but he can be late and get away with it. Or more like he'll try sneak in when I'm distracted with a rant and say he had been here the whole time." Spade grumbled with his distorted voice while Marco sniggered softly.

"Sorry my dear Spade." Marco apologised playfully.

"Don't you 'dear me'. It's a Friday night and we're going to have plenty of work to do."

Marco chuckled fondly, glancing up into a security camera where he knew Spade would be watching him, probably glaring right now. His partner used surveillance cameras to keep an eye on Raftel and to look out for Marco which was cool. He usually always glanced up into a camera nearby whenever he and Spade spoke, making it feel a bit more personal.

"Alright, alright. I am sorry Spade. I was a bit busy today."

"Everything okay?" Spade asked, a hint of concern in his tone.

That made him smile. Spade actually cared about him, which was always nice. He wasn't there just to make sure Phoenix got the job done. Spade actually liked to make sure he was alright and didn't just log off straight away. They chatted, Spade recommending the best places to eat if Marco was hungry then he could go sit up on a rooftop and eat while chatting with his partner about just plain, random things.

Last time it was about a new game Marco knew Haruta played. Spade was very enthusiastic when he talked about it. Just like Ace and Haruta were when they fanboyed over it.

Spade didn't just see Phoenix as 'indestructible' despite his regeneration abilities. Spade knew that there was a human behind the mask he wore, even if he didn't know who it was.

"I'm perfectly fine Spade but it's always nice to know you care." Marco reassured warmly.

It's just that he was a school kid with a very busy schedule. Marco was the representative of their entire year, which included six classes with about thirty children in each of them. Marco was also the most responsible of all Pops' children. All the older children of Edward Newgate were away working now so really the only school lot were himself, Thatch, Namur, Izo, Jiru, Bay, Teach and Haruta and Marco had to keep his siblings in line.

Oh and then there was his crush.

He had to fight the urge to freak out whenever Portgas D. Ace, one of the most popular kids at school, was ever around. Ace was just perfect. He was so nice and friendly and could make friends with anyone in any group. He was always so kind towards everyone unless they treated others terribly then the firecracker would step in and beat the crap out of the offender.

Marco had met Ace the very first day of secondary school. There classes had been put together as Marco's teacher had been off sick. He had fallen hard for Ace when they partnered up on a computer studies project. (Which Marco was absolutely terrible at, technology was not his thing at all.) Ace meanwhile was gifted with computers.

But Spade was even better.

"There's a bank robbery on Garyhorn Street." Spade told him. "Five unknowns. I'll hack into the cameras in the bank and try look at them from another angle but so far I don't recognise any of them from behind."

Marco leapt off the building he had been perched on and took to the skies after his body changed into his bird form. He would head over there while his partner got visual confirmation and perhaps some information to go along with it.

Marco was startled though when he heard a sharp, shaky inhale escaped from Spade.

"Bluejam." Spade whispered, sounding scared.

That alarmed him. He had never once heard that tone from Spade.

"Spade? What's wrong? Who is Bluejam?" Marco asked urgently.

Spade's voice was full of panic. "You need to catch him Phoenix! Don't let him get away!"

"Spade what-"

"He-He'll murder someone else."

"Murder?" He felt his brow furrow, not understanding who Bluejam was or why he was terrifying Spade so much.

"I-I have to go." Spade suddenly blurted out.

Marco's eyes widened at that, alarmed. Spade had never done this before! Not once! He never leaves during a patrol!

"Wait Spade what's-"

He froze when the communicator in his ear cut out. He was left with complete silence. The silence that was usually only there if Spade had logged on late.

Marco was alone. For the first time in a year he was alone.

.::.

Ace placed his laptop down on the bed, staring at his hands in terror as flames engulfed his fingertips.

He had a power too. Ace could control fire.

But his powers killed Sabo. Fire killed people. Fire killed his precious little brother, taking his life away and any hope he had left for a future.

Ace curled up and whimpered softly. He closed his hands, forcing the flames to instantly die off.

Ace was disgusting. A monster. Just like his father.