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Chapter 2

Phoenix swooped in, kicking one of the robbers with a gun down, tearing the gun apart with his talons before turning them back into feet and glancing over the rest of the men.

"So, what are you guys doing here? It's a lovely night yet you guys all seem to be hiding in here." Marco smirked.

"Phoenix." The tallest one with long, dark hair scowled. "Get rid of him."

"Will do boss!" One of them declared.

"Come here birdy!" Another calls out.

That idiot tries to swipe a knife at him while charging but Marco easily dodges the clumsy hand and twists round the man instead. Marco however left his upper arm out, letting it collided against the attacker's neck, choking the man and throwing him to the floor.

The other two get a better idea and both shoot at him but Marco's flames instantly heals the wounds. So he simply rushes them, turning his arms to wings to gain more speed and boots them both in their heads, bashing their heads off the wall and knocking them both straight out.

He paused at the sound of sirens and glanced over smugly at their leader.

Only to find that he was gone.

Dammit.

.::.

Phoenix leaned against the wall at G5's police station. He was in Smoker's office who was looking through the database now that the four robbers in custody were all safely locked up. Probably being harassed by the G-5 men.

"I ain't used to having to find information for you Phoenix. Where's Spade?" Smoker asked gruffly.

Marco didn't know either.

"He's unavailable right now." Marco simply replied with.

"Alright well here is it." Smoker grunted, gesturing to his screen. "Bluejam's record."

Marco approached, weary of the seastone jutte he knew the Captain carried with him. Seastone weakened people with superpowers, keeping anyone hit with it tired and drowsy and quite a few people drained of their powers.

Marco just felt tired whenever he was hit with seastone but it was better to be safe than sorry and avoid it altogether if he could. The blonde was drawn out of his contemplating when he read a very familiar name on the database. It was a completely unexpected name considering he knew the teen on the database after all.

Portgas D. Ace.

Smoker frowned. "Yeah the bastard kidnapped a Monkey D. Luffy, the youngest of the three kids in the report, and tortured him. Bluejam forced the oldest, Portgas D. Ace into his gang to keep the Monkey boy safe after the bastard had kidnapped all three kids."

"What did he want Ace for?" Marco couldn't help but ask before mentally berating himself for sounding so concerned.

"His computer skills. The kid told us during the investigation that he can hack into most places, including government databases. Portgas has apparently even now developed some of their security last I heard." Smoker snorted, clearly amused.

"And what age was he?"

It had to have been a while ago. Ace had hardly been off of school since first year after all.

"Kid was ten when Bluejam kidnapped him. Should be about fifteen right now I believe?"

Marco knew that Ace was amazing when it came to computers, heck, he was good at using most technology but Marco had no idea that Ace had been kidnapped for his skills. Fuck and Luffy, Luffy was the same age as Haruta.

Just imaging Haruta being tortured terrified him. To think Ace had went through that, his little brother that he loves so much-

Marco swiftly cut off the thought and returned his attention to the case.

"The third kid was Sabo Outlook. He was kidnapped with the boys as well but went missing during the kidnapping. The last statement we got of the poor kid was that he died in a fire set by Bluejam."

"And now Bluejam's back." Marco mused.

Smoker scowled. "Yeah, after the bastard hid away for all these years."

"What happened? How did the boys, Ace and Luffy get away?"

"Ace told us during our investigation that Bluejam offered him a deal. He'd set Monkey D. Luffy free if Portgas didn't cause a fuss and obeyed him. The kid did but one day he managed to somehow set their base on fire and escaped in the chaos." Smoker explained. "We found the kid with a shackle around his ankle with a broken chained hanging by the end of it and the boy traumatised and shattered."

"Is Ace okay now?" Marco asked.

Because he hadn't known. Ace always looked so happy and cheerful yet it could be that his friend was suffering inside. That he needed help and none of them knew and they were meant to be his friends-

"He's alright. His psychiatrist, Nico Robin, helped him out and he's been completely cleared for the past few years now." Smoker reassured.

"So Bluejam was never found?"

"After the fire? No. Not even once. We found bodies with bullets in their heads, all burnt in the fire but no Bluejam. Ace told us that Bluejam probably shot all his men and left them to burn to get rid of 'lose ends'."

Marco nodded. "No powers?"

"No powers." Smoker confirmed. "Get Spade back on track will you? I don't want to have to do this everytime you need something."

"Sure, will do Officer." Marco chuckled. "Thanks for the info."

He slipped outside, using the window and flew off, trying to check to see if Spade was on but there was no connection still. He sighed at that and decided to try things out for himself.

First he was going to pay Ace a visit.

.::.

Ace grimaced as he glanced over the arrest reports on Smoker's files. It seemed that Bluejam was still free. The bastard probably ditched his men and bailed at the first sign of trouble from Phoenix.

Ace glanced up when his door was knocked on, surprised. Brook's head poked in though, making him relax after Ace called him in.

"Ah, Ace-san we were wondering if you were hungry at all?" Brook asked, smiling warmly. "Sanji-san is cooking."

"Don't bother asking him Brook! Just tell him to get his shitty ass down here for some grub!" Sanji shouted from downstairs.

Ace smiled weakly. "Thanks Brook. Could you tell Sanji I'll be down soon please?"

"Of course." The skeleton nodded before pausing. "I hope you forgive my prying but are you alright? You don't seem to be your usual fiery self."

Ace nearly lied but found he was unable to and so sighed instead. "I'm not sure Brook. Please give me some time to figure things out then I can let you know?"

"Of course. Take your time Ace-san. There is no need to rush." Brook reassured, his warm smile still there making Ace relax a bit more.

"Thanks Brook." Ace said gratefully as Brook returned to go back downstairs to join his fellow Straw Hats.

It wasn't even five minutes when Ace was disturbed again. Instead of a knock on the door though it was a knock on the window, startling him. Ace choked at the sight of Phoenix at his window before slamming his laptop shut that currently had the reports up and dumping it to the side. He cautiously opened up the window once he was satisfied Phoenix wouldn't spot anything amiss in his room.

Why was Phoenix here though?

"Um, hello?" Ace greeted hesitantly.

"Sorry for disturbing you Ace but can I come in?" Phoenix asked, with his distorted voice there, covering up his usual voice.

It was strange to hear it considering how Phoenix rarely used it.

Ace slid his open completely and allowed the hero to climb inside, hiding in his glee at how Phoenix was actually in his room!

Oh crap his room was a mess!

"Thank you." Phoenix smiled warmly at him and he felt his cheeks darken.

"No problem?"

Why was Phoenix here though? Did he discover who Spade truly was and came to get answers or did he find out about Ace's involvement in Bluejam's gang and decided he should be locked away to pay for his crimes?

Oh god maybe he found out Luffy and his gang were having a meeting downstairs and wanted Ace to leave so he could arrest them!

Thankfully Phoenix interrupted his internal panicking.

"Please don't be alarmed but I need to speak with you. I was trying to stop a bank robbery today but the leader got away and I was given access to his files." Phoenix's voice softened. "The ringleader's name is Bluejam. You know him right?"

Ace glanced away from the blue mask with the golden eyes staring at him curiously. Ace gripped his elbows instead, trying to keep himself from panicking as he frowned at the floor.

"Unfortunately I do." He replied, tense. "I assume you read the police files?"

"Yes the investigation. You and your brothers were kidnapped. Monkey D. Luffy safety was used to ensure your cooperation while Sabo Outlook..." Phoenix trailed off, looking momentarily uncomfortable.

"Bluejam murdered him." Ace spat. "He kidnapped us and tortured Luffy and-"

"Ace?" The door opened up, revealing Luffy who was thankfully not wearing his villain costume. "Hey! Why are you breaking in here you blue chicken?!"

Luffy instantly looked ready to fight much to Ace's alarm. His baby brother even bringing up his fists and his eyes on Phoenix.

"I'll kick your ass!"

"How charming." Phoenix chuckled. "He reminds me of someone strangely enough."

Straw Hat. It was Straw Hat that he was thinking of. The exact same person in front of Phoenix right now.

"It's alright Lu'." Ace hushed. "Phoenix is in the middle of trying to catch someone. I... Um... Bluejam... Bluejam is back and he's trying to cause trouble again..."

Luffy's eyes sharpened at that.

"Give me a minute and I'll be back." Luffy said firmly, no room for argument in his tone.

Luffy slipped back in and after a minute was back, sitting down on the bed beside Ace, leaning their arms together while Phoenix sat down at the end of his bed, smiling encouragingly.

"Could you tell me how Bluejam knew of you three? I assumed he knew all of you equally?"

"Sabo, Luffy and I are adopted brothers. We shared a cup of sake that I stole from my adopted mother and toasted to our bonds when we were kids. Luffy and I were orphans but Sabo was a runaway child. He was a nobleman's child who never treated him like their son, more like a pawn which was messed up as hell. The bastards saw him as a way to further their status in society."

Ace took a shaky breath, hating that he had to remember everything but Luffy's weight against his arm made him smile weakly and draw out some strength to relive that horrible nightmare.

"Sabo's father saw us one day and hired Bluejam to drag him back and get rid of us. So Bluejam kidnapped Luffy and lured us into an ambush. Sabo was dragged back to his father but Bluejam thought I'd make a good goon so made me a deal."

Ace dug his nails into his elbows, remembering that smug bastard's smirk and Luffy's pained whimpers. Bluejam's boot twisting into Luffy's tiny form, earning a pained cry-

He forced himself to go on. "Bluejam would stop hurting Luffy if I worked willingly for him. He would then release Luffy is I proved my obedience, so I did all the grunt work he wanted me to do in return for Luffy's freedom but one day during a store robbery the security systems locked us in so I ended up hacking into the system and getting us out."

Ace grimaced. "After that I was kept locked in a room, my ankle chained to the bed and he would have me hack into stores, banks and people's accounts instead of the 'regular' goon work. Luffy was finally released after a month of that hell. I had to stay though and keep doing his bidding."

Ace gritted his teeth hard, grinding them together before forcing himself to take a deep breath.

"What I hadn't known was that Sabo's parents didn't stick to the deal. Bluejam told me that people should honour their bargains just like I did. He kept me completely in the dark." Ace fought back an angry sob. "He set the Outlook manor alight and Sabo, a ten year old, died inside. Burned alive."

"Ace's powers awakened." Luffy said, much to Ace's frustration.

He hated them. They burned his little brother alive-

"You have powers?" Phoenix asked, so calm and soothing.

"Fire. I found out that my best friend and little brother was dead and so I went aflame due to the stress. The chain keeping me held back finally broke due to the heat and I was finally free. The locked door burned down and so did the building. I ran straight out and kept running until I ran into my foster mother Dadan and some cops. Smoker and Rocinante."

"What age were you when your powers appeared?"

"I was ten."

Phoenix shifted at that. "You know that is a very rare thing to happen right? Most people who have powers don't usually awaken them until they are sixteen or older."

Ace simply shrugged, unsure what he could say to that.

"May I ask why you don't use yours?"

"Ace is scared of fire after what happened to Sabo." Luffy said, grimly holding his arm.

"Luffy!" Ace snapped, irritated at his honesty.

"It's alright." Phoenix soothed with a smile. "Thank you for telling me what happened. I know it must have been difficult for you."

Ace stammered, feeling his cheeks darken. "Um, no it's fine. I'm happy to help you anytime Phoenix."

Phoenix smirked at him. "Oh? Anytime?"

His cheeks darkened even more. That damn smirk! The bloody bird threw that at the security cameras all the time and it always left Ace flushed!

"Y-Yeah! Happy to help!"

Luffy just looked confused.

Phoenix chuckled before sighing. "Well I believe Bluejam is trying to get back on his feet. I take it he's the type to hold on to a grudge?"

"Definitely." Ace nodded.

"Then I'll need you both to be careful. He might decide to come after you again Ace. You should keep your doors and windows locked at all times and try not to be out too often, also staying weary until we've got him behind bars." Phoenix said as he turned around, opening up the window with a warm smile. "I'll get my amazing partner Spade to help keep an eye out on you two just in case."

Amazing?!

"You really think Spade is amazing?" Ace couldn't help but ask.

Phoenix had began to climb out the window but paused at the question. Ace completely flushed at the grin thrown at him.

"Without Spade I wouldn't still be here. He's my partner." Phoenix offered a little wave. "Well, see you later beautiful."

Ace choked at the wink thrown at him though he was completely memorised as the man turned into that beautiful, majestic bird and flew off into the night. Ace let out an excited squeal and threw himself back on to his bed.

"He called me 'amazing' and 'beautiful'!"

"Shishishishi, he's a funny chicken!"

.::.

Marco crooned as he landed on a rooftop not too far from Ace's house. He did it! He had actually flirted with Ace! Now Thatch could stop harassing him about their relationship and-

Ah crap, no. No it was Phoenix who had flirted with Ace. The hero Ace had a massive crush on.

Shit.

He groaned before sighing and tapping his earpiece, frowning when there was still nothing from Spade.

"Still quiet huh partner?" Marco murmured. "Alright then, well goodnight Spade. Have a good sleep."

He desperately hoped that his partner was alright. He'd try again tomorrow, it was getting pretty late now after all so hopefully Spade was relaxing after Bluejam's appearance. It had really shocked his partner after all.