A/N: So, I finally decided to write a scene from a MarcoAce circus!au I planned a long time ago, but ended up never writing (not sure if I ever will). This scene would fit closer to the beginning of the story. Betaread by lunarshores. Hope you enjoy it!

PS: Can you guess what groups Sabo and Luffy would be part of? ;D

Summary: Being accepted by the Whitebeard Troupe had been a lucky shot, and Ace was going to make sure to enjoy it to the fullest. It also helped that his instructor was one of the most handsome and skillful men he ever met.

Ace was excited. Between mouthfuls of food, he couldn't stop grinning, and although he was sure the other people at his table were already weirded out by his eating habits, he didn't find it in himself to care. Today was going to be a great day, he could feel it.

He was almost finishing his breakfast when a dull thud came from the table close to him, heavy enough to make it slightly tremble, startling him. His head snapped to the side, only to see Marco standing beside the bench with a smile, one hand above a closed box resting on top of the table. From the collective lack of reaction, Ace figure it wasn't an uncommon sight, but he couldn't help but stare back in confusion.

"What's that?" He finished what was left on his plate in an instant and turned his whole attention to Marco.

"Good morning to you too. Hope you slept well." Marco rolled his eyes.

Ace rubbed his neck, Makino's manner lessons from so long ago flashing on his mind. "Right, sorry. Good morning. Now, what is that?"

"This is yours from now on. It's your material and clothes for training, so take good care of them." Marco patted the box for emphasis. "If anything breaks, rips or doesn't fit, just tell me, and we'll get it replaced."

Ace snorted. "I doubt there'll be anything that doesn't fit me with how long Izo spent measuring me."

"True. He is very meticulous with his job," Marco chuckled. He put a hand on Ace's shoulder and squeezed it lightly. "Shall we go then? I still have to show you the rest of the grounds before we start warming up for training."

"Sure!" Ace grinned again, and he was sure his glee was clear in his voice too if the laughs and comments of "we've got an excited newbie! Wait until night, it'll have passed for sure" and "good luck! Marco is going to work you into the ground!" were any indication.

"Don't you have work to do?" Marco huffed, before directing Ace with his new box outside the tent after a stop to leave his plates to the kitchen area. "Don't listen to them. They're just a lazy bunch. I'm sure you'll do fine."

Ace hummed. "It's okay. I've already decided to do my best, and I won't let some comments get me down."

Marco stared at him in silence for a few seconds before nodding, a soft smile growing on his face. "It's definitely going to be interesting." His voice was barely loud enough for Ace to hear, and he wasn't sure if he was supposed to or not.

He didn't have time to voice his doubt since Marco put a hand on his shoulder again and started leading him around. They passed by familiar places and others Ace knew he'd probably get lost through in the next few days, all the while meeting more people to the point Ace wasn't sure he'd ever remember everyone's name.

Besides the one time Ace saw Luffy talking with Haruta near one of the training grounds, and when he spotted Sabo in the distance following who he thought was Vista, he didn't see his brothers during his tour. It was weird thinking about training without one of them after so many years, but he couldn't afford to waste this golden opportunity.

They finally stopped in a part of the terrain demarcated by boxes and other objects. "Welcome to the training ground number one. I'm the one responsible for it, and it's where all those part of the fire group of the troupe train."

Ace nodded as memories of last night flashed on his mind, of his late visit to this training ground with his brothers. They had only intended to find a place to train by themselves one more time, not knowing when they'd have time to do so again, but instead found the place already occupied by the fire group.

The sight had been amazing.

The wisps of orange and red making trails in the air through the whole arena, the familiar smell of fire, and the sheer heat dispersing that seemed to bother no one captured Ace's attention in a second. He couldn't help but stop and watch amazed the show of abilities in front of him, how everyone seemed to be doing something different, from swinging poi to juggling and breathing fire, but no matter to whom he looked, it was all amazingly synchronized and fluid.

It was only at Luffy's remark of "Hey, isn't that the pineapple guy?" that Ace moved his attention to the side of the arena, where the other people stayed a bit farther away.

It was soon clear why, for in a flash fire was lighted and the poi Marco had been holding started being swung slowly, picking up its pace in seconds until only a trail of flashing orange, yellow and red could be seen circling him. It was the first time Ace had seen Marco using his abilities, and even if he had heard the rumours of the famous performer Phoenix from the Whitebeard Troupe, seeing the real thing was incomparable.

Marco's movements were smooth and certain in where to go, like a dazzling dance to no music. In the low lighting of the arena, the fire surrounding Marco was captivating as it moved as if in high synthony with him and highlighted his concentrated blue eyes and rippling muscles, a sight distracting enough for Ace to forget what he had been doing.

He had been left speechless, and only after a good round of teasing from his brothers did he snap out of it.

It was with a sigh that Ace stared at the now empty place. He had his chance to get better, and he'd use it as best as he could. As long as he didn't forget his and his brothers' true objective, he didn't think there'd be any problem.

"Let's start?" Marco asked, stopping in front of him. He had already taken off his shirt and put it on the ground to the side, and Ace discreetly eyed him with glee.

He grinned. "Yep!"

And, well, if he also enjoyed his time with his attractive trainer, nobody would blame him, right?