Author's Note: Welcome back dedicated readers! Glad you all stuck around this long, really helps me keep this story going. Gah, took me a while to update didn't it? Do we have any new comments? No? Ah well, onto the story!

Chapter 7: A Fragile Alliance Part 1

"Zeva!"

"Yes what is it?"

"You know how you said your binoculars moved just before you saw Ace?"

"Yes why?! Did you see him?!"

"No but one of our guys came back from patrol and was taking about weird shit by the docks, things moving on their own when he wasn't looking and shit."

"Round up as many God Eaters as you can! We're heading to the docks!"

Before the God Eater could say another word, Zeva had run off to get dressed.

Sousa found himself in front of an abandoned warehouse at the docks. He had called the number Ace had given him the day after the incident and was instructed by Ace to meet him here.

Sousa took a deep breath and entered the warehouse, he looked around and spotted Ace hitting a training dummy with a series of punches and kicks. The thing that caught Sousa by surprise is that Ace was shirtless and wasn't wearing his mask, though from behind he couldn't see his face, only his spiky black hair.

Well it wasn't really that, it was the multitude of scars Ace had covering his skin. Scars of cuts and gashes and burns of varying size and shape took up a majority of his back and arms.

Sousa stood there for a moment before deciding to make himself known.

"Um... hey."

"Ah!" Ace jumped and stood up straight, not turning to face Sousa, "It's you! Would you mind doing a quick 360?"

Sousa did as he was told and when his eyes landed on Ace again, he was in his usual outfit, mask and all.

"H-how did you-"

"I don't know, now then, training!"

"Wha-"

Before he could finish his sentence, Ace pulled Sousa in front of the training dummy. Sousa looked around the room a moment, seeing various training items scattered everywhere.

"Is this where you train?"

"No it is not, but I thought this would be as good place as any to train you, now show me what you've got!"

Sousa threw a series of kicks and punches at the dummy before Ace stopped him and gave him advice on his form. This went on for a couple hours before Ace decided they should take a break. Sweating and exhausted, Sousa agreed.

"Ace, about your... scars... how did you get so many?"

Ace sighed, "Well I might as well give you a little bit of information since you've been working so hard. You see my dear boy, fa... hold that thought."

Ace walked to the window and peaked out. Down below where he stood in the second floor window he saw men and women walking around outside. Usually that wouldn't be suspicious, but these people weren't the kind of people one would see hanging out around here.

He scanned the roof tops to see if there was anyone up there and caught a sight of an armored-bikini-clad Greek woman. Zeva saw him too.

"Hey kid... we've got unwelcome company."

"What do you mean unwelcome company?"

"I may or may not have pissed off some people not to long ago, not important. What is important is you get ready for a fight."

Ace reaches into his jacket and pulled out a 9mm pistol, presenting it to Sousa.

"No, Ace I can't-"

"Put those pesky morals aside for once kid, they're here to kill me, and by extension you. If it bugs you that much then find a pipe to warp and use the gun as a worst case scenario."

Sousa hesitantly took the gun. Ace examined his own revolver, making sure it was loaded, before taking up a position behind a pillar near the entrance.

Sousa took up a position of his own a little farther back, peaking around the corner to look at the door of the warehouse.

Suddenly there was an explosion and four people rushed in. A fith joined them, a bulk man with a naval cannon seemingly attached to his shoulder, probably the guy who blew open the door.

Ace dove out of cover and let off three quick shots, one missed but the other two slammed into the cannon-quirked man's chest.

The other God Eaters advanced as Ace shot back at them. Sousa hung back, unsure of what to do in this situation.

"Get out of here kid!" Ace yelled at Sousa.

Sousa nodded and ran towards the back exit, only to be cut off by a man holding multiple throwing knives. Sousa dove back just in time for the blades to narrowly miss his head. He crawled back, the knife wielding man closing in before he was met with a bullet to the skull.

"Thanks Ace!"

"Don't mention it, just RUN!"

Sousa did just that, running out the back and into the street and... into a police blockade. You see the thing with a fight started off with a cannon shot, it draws a lot of attention. Of course, when that happens the cops are called.

The officers shouted at Sousa to get on the ground, and having no other options, he complied.

"I hope Ace is faring better in there..." he muttered as he was escorted to a police vehicle, which already had a couple God Eaters sitting in the back.

"Great."

Inside, Ace waltzed across the floor of the warehouse, looking at the dead. He knew Sousa was probably captured already, but at least with the police he'll be arrested and not killed. This also means he can break him out, all he needs is...

As if on cue, Zeva landed a few feet behind him, rushing forward in an attempted sneak attack. As she slashed Ace turned around and swung his own cane, narrowly deflecting her blow. The barrage of attacks continued, Ace barely keeping up.

Zeva feinted a top strike and swung low, grazing Ace across the chest. The magician stumbled back and looked at Zeva. "How dare you!" Ace exclamed.

Zeva went in to strike again, only to be blown back, falling slowly.

'Not this again.' she thought.

As quickly as it started, it stopped, and Zeva fell to the ground at a normal pace.

"Now then," Ace started, "we don't have much time and we can't waste it with your Tom foolery!"

"You're one to talk about Tom foolery aren't you?"

"I don't think I get what you imply."

"You're a trickster, a con, I HATE people like you."

Ace chuckled, "But my dear lady friend, I have a business proposition!"

"Not interested."

"Then I suppose you'll be fine with your other God Eater friends rotting in a cell for the rest of their days. Sentences against quirked are rather harsh nowadays after all. I'm sure you'd love that happening to the closest thing you've had to family." Ace smirked at Zeva's reaction.

"How did yo-"

"I am a man of many... tricks."

Zeva could feel Ace's smirk from under his mask. She sighed and looked the madman in the eyes with a hateful glare.

"What do you propose?"

"Well my dear girl, have you ever been to prison?"

"No... what does that have to do with this?"

"Well I hope your ready for a new experience."

Ace waved his hand and a card appeared in it. He tossed it and the card flew to where Zeva was. She jumped back into a fighting stance, eying the card cautiously.

"What was that f..."

Zeva looked back up towards Ace, only to find he wasn't there anymore.

"...or. Of fucking course, I'm going to kill that bastard."

Zeva reaches down and picked up the card. On it was a phone number and a small written message that read:

As much as I'd love to stay and chat, I really had to go. My apologies. Give me a call when you're ready to do business.

-Ace ;)

P.S. Those cops will be breaching any minute now, best be getting a move on!

As soon as she finished reading the letter she could hear footsteps outside.

"Shit," she exclaimed, "got to go!"

And with that, Zeva took off, out of the warehouse and off into the city.

On the transport vehicle, Sousa sat cautiously eying the three God Eaters across from him, who were currently staring at him with malicious intent. He knew there were others on other transports too. Then he felt something in his pocket that wasn't there before.

He pulled out a card, the ace of spades, with a small letter:

Kick back and relax! You'll be out soon enough.

-Ace

And there you have it! It is written! Hope you all enjoyed.

Yes it did take a while to come out, but I'm getting more and more busy so I can't update regularly, but I will do my best!

A side note: Sometimes parts of my stories don't make sense, random scene changes etc. Those aren't writing mistakes is all I will say.

Anyways, hope you enjoyed! Cya in the next chapter!