(Vampire AU)
Ace took a sip of his drink, staring out across the dance floor, seeing teens about his age, getting drunk and partying and having fun. He missed out on all of that but it was fine. Ace had a lot of training to do so he could be a proper hunter. It was frustrating at times but it was good work in the end.
Gramps told him he would help keep people safe. He had shown Ace that Vampires were monsters that tortured and murdered people for fun and pleasure.
Vampires were evil.
He felt a presence at his side all of a sudden which made him glance over, seeing a vaguely familiar blonde. Ace knew who it was the moment he properly registered him, Marco, one of the Whitebeard clan. The First head of it.
"Hello Ace." Marco greeted, a glass of what looked like whiskey in hand.
It was being called by his name which startled him.
"How-" Ace began, shocked.
"You're the young hunter after my father and my siblings and I yoi." Marco smiled, looking so amused. "Relax. Don't tense up. We don't want to cause a scene now do we?"
Ace slipped one of his hands into his back pocket where his small, silver knife was hidden but Marco shook his head.
"Relax Ace. I'm not here to harm you, only to talk." Marco urged, still smiling, looking so relaxed. "Now, I take it you know who I am? Probably had a whole briefing yoi."
"A file." Ace offered, unsure why he was being so honest.
His head felt a bit fuzzy actually...
Ace shook his head, trying to clear his head as he figured out what was going on. "Don't use a enchantment trick on me."
Marco chuckled at that. "Couldn't help but test it out little one. You're so young. I wasn't entirely sure if you knew all the Vampire tricks yoi."
Vampires could 'enchant' people. Marco must have been trying to enchant him into honesty and drowsiness. Ace needed to remain focus, he couldn't afford to drop his guard otherwise the Vampire would probably try drain his blood.
Though he did add some poison into his bloodstream that would paralyse Vampires if they drank from him.
The drowsiness immediately faded and Ace frowned as he leaned against the bar. "I'm not here to talk to you Vampire. You know what I'm here for."
Marco chuckled. "Yes, you're here to slay the 'big bad' Vampires of the Whitebeard clan. I'm surprised they didn't send you out after Kaido's clan. He's dangerous after all. Perhaps the Gorosei think we'd be softer on you because you're a child."
Ace glowered at that, peeved. "I'm not a child."
"You're only seventeen yoi." Marco pointed out. "I'm surprised the bouncers even let you in here."
"Fake I.D."
"Tut, tut. A rebellious Vampire Hunter." The blonde teased, his eyes bright with amusement.
Ace growled. "Don't mock me. So what are you going to do now then huh Vampire? Tell your clan I'm hunting you guys?"
"We already know little one. Pops asked me to come here to extend you an invitation to join our clan yoi."
"Huh?" Was all Ace could say, stunned into silence.
The blonde laughed. "He wants you to join our family little one. Become one of his sons."
"Like Hell!" Ace snapped. "My aim is to stab you all with stakes!"
"Well that's rude." Marco snorted. "And also rude rejecting such a good offer. I guess we should head outside and fight it out then?"
Ace stared at the Vampire, beyond confused. "What is even going on?"
Marco chuckled. "This must be a very confusing first hunt for you huh little one? I bet you were expecting to find me sucking a drunken woman dry and you'd stop me from harming her any further then rescue the poor damsel in distress after stabbing me with a stake or something."
"Stop calling me that! I'm not a child! And how did you know this was my first hunt?" Ace hissed, alarmed.
"You are just a little one though Ace." Marco stated, much to Ace's annoyance. "You've barely had a chance to live out your life yet here you are, being ordered to throw your life away."
"You think I'll go down that easily?" Ace scowled.
Marco nodded, looking serious. "Of course yoi. If I wanted to I could put you to sleep right now with a enchantment. You wouldn't be able to fight back. You'd just sleep and then I could do whatever I wanted with you without you putting up a fuss."
"Fuck you." Ace hissed, pulling away from the bar so he could leave. "You don't know a thing about me."
"Hush." Marco urged and Ace suddenly felt very drowsy again, nearly overwhelmingly so.
He nearly stumbled but an arm wrapped around his waist, holding him steady. He tried to pull away, seeing it was Marco holding him up but another wave of drowsiness tried to claim him as his vision blurred.
"Shh, relax yoi. Don't fight it just yet." Marco hushed, his voice soothing while Ace clung to his shirt, trying to keep to his feet. "There we go. It's alright. Just hold on to me like a good boy yoi."
Ace tried to pull away again but he was quickly led outside, Marco telling the bouncers that his friend had a bit too much to drink. Ace whined and tried to stand but he felt exhausted and slumped back into Marco's arms who kept him up on his feet, making encouraging noises in his ear and trying to sooth him.
Ace's head felt so fuzzy and heavy though and he barely could understand what Marco was saying. It wasn't until everything grew quieter, the crowd outside the club and the music dying down, that the drowsiness vanished.
Ace immediately pulled away, hissing while the Vampire leaned against the wall in the alley way, looking so relaxed and calm.
"I told you I could put you to sleep instantly yoi. I've just chosen not to." Marco said with a warm smile. "So relax. I'm not going to hurt you."
"I'm not going anywhere with you."
"You don't have much of a choice." Marco chuckled. "Pops wants to see you."
"I'll put a bloody stake in him if he wants me to that badly."
"He'd prefer it if you became his son little one." The blonde repeated.
"Like Hell I will." Ace hissed but yelped when suddenly the Vampire was gone from his spot, the prick flinging Ace over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. "Don't you dare-"
Ace gritted his teeth and closed his eyes the moment the world rushed by, a chuckle reaching his ears. It was hardly even a few minutes later when he was gently sat back down on his feet outside of this huge mansion in the middle of a forest.
"Welcome to our home Ace." The Vampire prick smirked, one hand on his back to steady him. "I'm sure you'll like it here."
"Screw this I'm leaving." Ace hissed, turning and marching straight for the gates.
"You don't even have a clue where you are little one." Marco said, following behind him.
"I'll find my way back."
"That won't work." Marco teased as he stopped at the gate. "It's enchanted by our witch little one. You won't get far."
"Watch me." Ace spat, striding out the gates and into the dark forest before him.
He needed to get away from this insane Vampire and back to safety so he could plan what to do. This was not what he had been expecting. An invitation to join a Grand Vampire's clan? What the heck?!
.::.
Marco leaned against the wall and watched. It wasn't even five minutes later when Ace was back, looking baffled. The kid gaping as he stared back at the mansion before glancing back into the forest.
"You haven't been taught much about witches, have you little one?" Marco mused, chuckling at the glower sent his way. "Our witch Izo, one of your new brothers, charmed the forest. It keeps us safe and guards our home."
It was also apparently useful at keeping stubborn little ones from running off.
Ace just turned away and stormed back into the forest again, looking peeved. Marco laughed and shook his head, patiently waiting until the child wore himself out. It took a few good hours and finally even Izo wandered over as a cat and sat at his feet to watch the little one storming about the place, clearly pissed off.
"Let me out." Ace snarled, finally returning to him.
"No." Marco smiled. "I told you. Pops want to see you yoi."
"I'll bloody stake him-"
"You could try. It might be funny to watch."
Izo hissed and clawed at his ankle for that but Marco ignored it. He was too amused by how confused the child was, and bewildered.
"I would but my weapons all disappeared." Ace said through gritted teeth.
"Ah, that was probably Izo." Marco noted, glancing down at the cat who nodded.
The cat finally transformed, revealing Izo who nodded to the stunned looking little one. Marco held back a chuckle at the sight, a bit curious as to how Ace would react to Izo's look.
"You look pretty." Ace blurted out, instantly flushing.
"He's so sweet!" Izo chimed, pleased. "I'm Izo. You must be Ace. We've heard a lot about you little one."
"Why does everyone call me 'little one'?" Ace grimaced before shaking his head. "Izo? Please let me out? I would like to go."
Izo shook his head. "You were so polite in asking so I'm sorry to say I can't. Pops wants to meet you after all."
"I swear to God if any of you bite me I'll stake you all." Ace grumbled but finally gave in and allowed them in led him towards the mansion.
"Don't need to fret about that." Izo reassured. "I heard your blood is very sweet but no one would bite you without permission. I promise."
Yeah, like he'd believe that. He wasn't going to let his guard down in front of any of these people. Ace needed to keep himself safe.
