Last Chapter is Ace's POV. Why? Because i can.
"He proposed to you?!"
On the screen, Law sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and the side of his pointer. Ace was still too busy gawking at the shiny new ring - with the most gaudy looking fake diamond attached to it - perched on the man's ring finger in the very same hand, "No," he said slowly, as if talking to a child, "At least, i don't think he did. I can't remember. All i remember was that stupid chapel next to the stupid casino and this,"
The way he pointed to the ring will make you believe that it was indeed the most disgusting thing that ever existed, but even as he scowled and hissed at it, Ace noticed he never once tried to take it off, "This is all fucking Doflamingo's fault. If he hadn't gotten married, none of this wouldn't have happened," Of course, usually when Law blamed something on his adopted father, it would either be proven true or it was just a knee-jerk reaction to blame literally everything wrong in his life to the creepy blonde man. As he continues to rant, Ace was pretty sure that this time, it was the latter.
The wedding of Donquixote Doflamingo and Sir Crocodile was plastered amongst the society page for the last few months, because the union of two economy powerhouses from cities as big as Dressrosa and Alabasta - both who coincidentally were also suspected of having connections in the mafia - deserved nothing but the biggest exposure. From the pictures that Kid sent discreetly of the reception hall, it looks more like a king's ball than an actual wedding reception. Throughout this entire ordeal, Law had been fuming, texting repeatedly about how 'he wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Cora-san' and how much of a sham this entire event was, how Doflamingo was unbearable and what the hell was Crocodile thinking for even marrying the guy, he's horrible.
That had only been during the rehearsal dinner. It was double that effort during the wedding itself, and suddenly, it just stopped. Ace, who had stayed up late just to entertain his cousin's ranting, took this as a blessing and quickly fell asleep, thinking that nothing was amiss and that Law had just gone tired of complaining.
Well, turns out what happened was a lot more fun than that.
"So let me get this straight," the pot on the stove gurgled behind him, the colour not quite the way Sanji had described it would look like at this stage, but he figured it would just take some more time to get it right. Ace looked away from it to his laptop, where Law was now wearily staring to him, tired and winded from the recounting the events last night. Well, what he remembered from it anyway, "You got drunk during the reception. Like no holds barred, complete black out drunk,"
The tanned skinned man groaned, an affirmative, "I thought that it'll be easier to deal with Doflamingo if i don't remember dealing with him,"
"Then you woke up this morning, hung over and probably sore— Yes, I saw that hickey, and as much as i hated it, i've seen Kid. I'm not stupid," Law grumbled, but did nothing to interrupt him, "So you thought you're just trashed, but then you saw the toy ring on your finger and an honest to god marriage license under the bed," Ace took a deep breath, shaking his head, "And you're in Dressrosa of all places, which is like the den of loose changes, drunk weddings, and other bad decisions,"
Law dropped his face on to the bed, groaning again. Ace had to stifle his laugh at how despondent he sounded, "Well, what happened in Dressrosa, stayed in Dressrosa? I mean, come on, you know the things that happened in that place doesn't really count in the real world or something along that line, right? For all you know, it's not a valid license,"
"I think so too, but i gotta make sure. I told Eustass to ask about it. I would've done it myself, but as you've pointed out before, i'm plenty sore just talking to you, never mind walking,"
Ace paused his stirring, finally noticing the lack of Kid in the background, "Who did he ask?"
Law lifted his head again, replying lazily, "Cora-san,"
"You had him ask your dad about it?! Are you insane?! Corazon's going to flay him alive!"
The tattooed male snorted, quirking a brow as he looked at Ace, "Who do you take my dad for, your dad?" he said with a lopsided smirk, as Ace pouted a little, "Besides, i think Cora-san already knows. The signature on the witness section was by a 'Donquixote Rocinante',"
The pot gurgled again, the colour still quite off and the smell wasn't as appetising as Sanji's when he first demonstrated it. Oh great, he must've done something wrong again. Ace groaned, stirring the content with a ladle and grimacing when an oddly cut vegetable poked out from the broth, "Yeah, Corazon works in the government, doesn't he? If it turns out that your license is legit, he must know how to make it null, right?" Even the taste is all wrong. What could he had done wrong? He put everything in already, he followed exactly how Sanji told hi— Oh, oops. He forgot put the meat to marinade first.
He was in the process of mixing the marinade in the broth - it's not like it'll make any difference, right? - when Law spoke again, baffled, "Why would i want to make it null?"
Ace's hand slipped and the bowl fell into the pot. He turned to his laptop, blinking owlishly at his cousin, "Huh? But… i thought…," He thought Law was panicking over finding out that he was suddenly hitched in the middle of the night.
But evidently, that's not the case, because Law huffed, gazing at the toy ring. He didn't hold the same amount of vitriol in his eyes anymore, but he looks properly exasperated, "This thing is hideous, i can't even remember my own wedding while i have to remember at least half of Doflamingo's, my signature was weird on the license and i got married in a wine soaked suit and probably my tie around my forehead. It's the worst, but that doesn't mean i'm going to take it back. Eustass agrees with me,"
"But… that means you're going to stay married,"
Law looked at him as if he was a particularly small child with a particularly stupid question, one that makes him swore off helping the paediatrician department, "Yeah. So?"
Ace didn't reply.
His silence was probably taken as an acceptance, because Law continued, "Well, first order of business back in Raftel, we're buying something better than this," he wiggled the finger adorned with the ring, yet still doesn't take it off, "Then apply for tax benefits, change our status in both our work places, change my emergency contact and his… Or did i have him as my emergency already?"
"How are you not freaking out over this?"
Law quirked his brow, "Yes?"
Cooking long forgotten, Ace was now fully facing Law - well, the camera - biting his lower lips, "Law, you're married! That's like, a permanent thing!"
"A lot of divorced people would disagree with you about that," he paused, humming thoughtfully, "Not that i would be joining their ranks. At least, i hope i won't have to,"
"Yeah, but now you're going to live with him, see him everyday, be with him everyday, share your every day life with him, till death do us apart and all that shit, doesn't that freak you out?!"
"Kind of? At least, at first i was. But i figured that after knowing each other for so long," there's a flush raising on his cheeks, which at any other time, Ace would tease him for if it wasn't for the fact that he's concerned about something else entirely, "Well, truthfully, i don't think i'll be looking for someone else. So why not, right? It's just going to save us time and extra effort later on. And we've already done all the things you mentioned anyway,"
"But what if—"
"Like what you and Marco have been doing for longer than Eustass and i have,"
Ace snapped his mouth close so fast, he could hear his jaw click.
"I knew it, that's what all these questions are all about, isn't it?" On screen, Law squirmed a little, propping his chin with both hands as he narrowed his eyes and curled his lips into a knowing smile, "Isn't it your anniversary soon? Make any plans then? Maybe to some secluded place, have dinner - one that i hope you don't make because i don't care if Marco likes it, you can't cook worth shit - walk along the park or some other sappy romantic idea?"
When Ace didn't answer, Law cocked his head to the side, decidedly confused by the silence but continued on, "Or maybe he kept it a secret from you again, like your 6th month anniversary you won't stop bragging about, and as it turns out he'll take you to all of your favorite places, celebrate till late and when you least expected it, suddenly he…," the raven haired male fell quiet, supposedly for the dramatic effect, yet it continues on when Ace lifted his head enough to be able to see Law, and enough for Law to see the conflicted expression that he wore. "…Ace? Is something the matter?"
Glancing to the corner of the kitchen, where Striker had dozed off and Phoenix was eating her lunch, Ace spoke, "Can i," the younger of the two ravens started softly, worrying his lower lips as he spoke, "Can i confess something to you?"
There's some rustling again from the laptop, where Law had twisted his lying down position to a sitting one, brows furrowed in seriousness. When the pot gurgled - still with the bowl half sunken into the still off coloured broth - Ace turned the stove off, taking deep breath as he stall for time. He bit his lower lips even harder, pulling on a flaky skin, "I think, i think he's going to. You know, during our anniversary,"
Kind of hard not to notice. Not with how often Marco glanced at his bedside table, where he kept the damn thing, fiddling with it when he thought Ace was not paying attention and sometimes even opening them in the middle of the night, when he thought Ace was asleep. He heard the snapping of the box sometimes, waking him up, and he could recognize the contemplative look on Marco's face even in the dark.
He knew than what was going to happen.
And instead of the happiness and giddiness that flutters in his chest the first time he found out about the ring months ago, this time there was only the sense of trepidation that he wasn't ready for bombarding him.
He left the sentence hang in between them, and the way Law kept looking at him told Ace that he understood what he meant, and waited for him to continue.
The bit of skin was finally peeled off from his lips, leaving reddened patch behind, "Law," Ace was all too aware of the little whimper in his voice, but right now, he didn't really care if he sounded scared because he is, "I don't think i can marry Marco,"
As much as Ace used to blame his father's over-protectiveness for meddling in his life, when it comes to dating, not all of the blame solely fell on Roger.
He dated massive dicks, figuratively and sometimes literally, but he had been a hormonal teenager turned hormonal young adult and he had to admit that if he's willing to entertain anyone who gave him a time of the day and had the type of look that he liked, then his criteria had been exceedingly low. Sabo once pointed out that he might also had a complex, considering that the 'type that he liked' includes men much older than him, at least 5 years above, but that's just a coincidence.
Kind of.
The last piece of shit he had been with, as in really dated and actually might have cared about for more than their physical attribute, had been another older man, a police officer that he may or may not have known due to some previous minor altercation with the law. He had been gruff, really made sure that Ace was above legal age - he had for quite a while then - but a touch here and a smoulder there and the man was putty in his hand.
It had been one of the few instances when Roger doesn't seem to make as big as a deal as usual, probably because the man had been a police officer. No, instead, it had been Rouge who first pulled Ace aside, frowning and telling him that while she usually stayed out of his business, this time, she felt compelled to tell him that she didn't like this man.
Back then, he didn't really understand why his mother, who usually liked everyone, even some of the dicks he dated before would say that. He thought maybe she didn't like the way his boyfriend looked, because Ace could agree that he was a stern and aloof man, but he didn't let that bother him.
Not a week after that, Ace came by to the officer's house as a surprise, to find him in bed with another person. Another familiar person.
Reuniting with your distant cousin, who was also your childhood friend should never be this dramatic, and yet that was how he found out where Trafalgar Law had been all these years after his parents, Ace's mother's cousin, died and he was put in the system. It was also how he lost his boyfriend and swore off dating for a while.
(When he told Marco of this story once, while they were both tipsy, touchy and a little emotional, Marco asked if this had been the reason for their occasional snide towards each other. Ace asked him what he was talking about, and the subject was dropped)
If one was to ask if he ever held any resentment to Law for that, Ace would tell them truthfully that he didn't. Law didn't know about him and Ace didn't know about Law, that was fair.
What wasn't fair, however, was after they both swore off dating together - Law himself also had a long and painful dating history before this - his cousin goes and find himself a one night stand that never left, only days after that entire incident. Ace could never condemn Law and Kid for finding each other and eventually falling for each other, but it wasn't fair for him, who had to watch that happen.
Also, Roger found out, which just made things worst. He lectured Ace - from the phone, because of course he can't be bothered to leave his office - about the dangers of dating in general, causing them to fight and their already fragile relationship to get worse. Rouge at least, had been supportive and gave him the comfort that he needed, but even she was wary of letting him meet anyone else again. By then, he had lived away from them, staying in a house Dragon and Roger bought for him and Sabo after they started college, where Law quickly moved in to.
Ace would never admit this to his father or anyone else (though unbeknownst to him then, he did admit it to Marco months later, and then to Roger years later) but some of Roger's lecture did stick with him. He focused on his studies, spent more time around Sabo, Koala, Luffy and his plethora of friends, Law and even Kid, got himself a job at the local fire station, and while it was a lonely year, he gets by and slowly healed.
And then, comes that fateful cruise trip, the one that his father threw away because he had work. Rouge accepted it - cementing Ace's long held belief that she's an angel of a woman his father didn't deserve - and instead asked if he could come with her instead. He hadn't spent time with her in a while, and to even further spite his father, of course he'll go with his mother. He made sure to emphasis that every time his father called prior to them leaving, and if he could hear the guilt in his father's voice, then Ace felt it was justified.
They hadn't even stepped on the cruise ship yet when his mother was surrounded by eager men, and while Ace briefly considered taking a picture of this to prove to his father what an idiot he was, he decided against it - because even he wasn't that petty - and acted like a sour faced guard dog near her. He lost sight of her after they board the ship for a while, since Rouge was all too happy exploring the ship and he wanted to catch up some sleep. She came back that evening telling him about a wonderful helpful man who she invited to go on a dinner with them, and despite his scowling and protest, his mother insisted with a degree that seems extreme even for her.
"You have to meet him, Ace!" Rouge had demanded, pushing him to the bathroom and ruffling through his suitcase to pull out some of the more decent clothing he had brought with him at her request, "Trust me, you have to,"
"Trust you about what?"
"Trust my instinct as your mother. Now hurry and clean yourself up!"
He didn't quite understood what she meant and purposefully took longer than needed to dress himself. Rouge left first out of impatience, and made him promise to come along under the threat of severe punishment. He didn't expect much while he drag himself to the cruise's dining room, but the moment he does, he swore he would never doubt his mother ever again.
This man, with his hooded eyes, easy and relaxed smile and mild manner - and juuust the right age demographic - made Ace a little hot beneath the collar, and he hadn't felt anything like that since that disaster of a relationship more than a year ago. He had been holding back a little due to how nice and chatty this man was to his mother, believing him to be yet another opportunist, but as the night drew closer, Ace lost all apprehension when he saw that the man was all too often taking a peek at his low collar than what's under his mother's dress.
He pulled his best tricks the next day, enjoying every heated gaze and every light blushes he could pull out of this man with his micro-bikini and purposeful touches, and even if his mother had but a little hindrance in that effort, he managed to get it back, and was heavily rewarded that night.
They had fun during the entire cruise - with his mother's full approval, if those winks she gave him every time he left was to be believed - but to be honest, he wasn't expecting much from these little rendezvous. He got what he wanted, the man got what Ace thought he wanted, and maybe they'll split ways after this. It had been a nice week and the man was nice, much nicer than anyone else he had ever been with before, which is such a great shame.
Last day of the cruise arrived and the man gave him his number, address and a request for a date.
Everything else, as they say, was history.
"Is something wrong, Ace? You barely ate anything,"
Ace looked up from the unappetising dish in front of him to the source of the voice across the table. Quickly the raven haired male shook his head and puts on his best smile. On his lap, Striker purred low, and Ace stroked her back to calm himself down, "Nothing. It's… uh, i ate too much snack earlier waiting for you," He hadn't eaten anything after talking to Law, and while it might have been a couple of hours earlier, it might as well be a forever for his stomach. It made a gurgling sound, one that startle Striker out of his lap with a hiss and certainly caught Marco's attention.
Marco raised a brow, and Ace smiled sheepishly, "N-never mind. Dinner's... kind of bad, anyway. I got distracted while talking to Law earlier so i must've messed up more than usual today,"
"Is it? Taste okay to me," That's probably because Ace had long suspected that Marco lost his taste bud, or simply never had them in the first place. Even he had to admit that most of the time his cooking was only bordering on 'edible' at best and 'not poisonous' at worst, and the only reason he kept trying was because Marco always said he enjoys them, "How's Law, by the way? Is he and Kid coming back to Raftel soon?"
A nudge on his calf made Ace looks down, to see Striker attempting to clamber up his thigh. He picked her up by her middle, enjoying soft fur tickling his hand and the low purring against his skin, "He is. He didn't want to waste any more day in Dressrosa," The little affectionate kitten in his hands nuzzled against his chest, only stopping after Ace softly scratched the underside of her chin, "They also needs to go back and take care of things… seeing that they're married now,"
Marco choked abruptly in the middle of drinking water, nearly spraying poor Phoenix with water should the little parakeet be slower in flying away, "What?! I thought they're there because Law's adopted father was the one who—" he then paused, tilting his head upwards in dawning realization, "Dressrosan wedding?"
Ace nodded solemnly, "Dressrosan wedding,"
The conversation started revolving around recounting Law's little misadventure, with Ace giving Marco more anecdotes about Law's complaints and less about the outcome he had learned about earlier today. As Marco goes to wash the dishes - his plate licked clean while Ace's own was barely touched - back at the dining table, Ace sighed, staring at his back.
Everything that Law said during their video call earlier came crashing back to him. Living together, knowing each other, knowing each other's friends and families, those are the kind of territories that comes with a serious relationship. They've done all of that and more, they've seen the worst and the best out of each other, and since none leave, it's probably safe to assume that you both decided it was worth it.
And besides, Ace remembered told to him, as he watched Marco playfully whistled to Phoenix and received melodious chirping as a reply, don't you love him? Don't you look at him and decided that that's what you want to see for the rest of your life?
Once all of the plates were placed away to the drier, Marco leaned against the sink, still in the middle of the whistling duet with the blue and yellow parakeet. Striker, now interested, decided to leave the safety of Ace's lap and walked over, joining in the tune with her own little squeaks, not quite being able to meow properly just yet.
Marco laughed, a full on amused belly laughter as Phoenix decided to grace Striker with her presence, jumping and tweeting around the confused little midnight coloured kitten. He looked up and smiled at Ace, and it's ridiculous how after one year of knowing each other, the sight of that smile, so loose and free still made his insides churn with happiness. He wondered how long that smile will have that kind of effect on him, and Ace was eager to find out.
Yes, i do, i truly do.
Then what's stopping you?
"Ace? Are you okay?"
In front of the sink, Marco was no longer smiling. Instead, he held a concerned frown and made his way over to the dining table. Ace shook his head, smiling slightly, "It's nothing," he muttered, "Just thinking about stuff,"
The older snorted, taking a seat next to him, "Must be some serious stuff. You look like you're trying to burn holes on the floor," his tone was playful, but there's a hanging question in his statement. One that Ace wasn't sure he's quite ready to answer yet.
So instead, he deflected, whistling to catch Striker and Phoenix's attention. Phoenix immediately flew over to Marco's shoulder, her favorite perch in the whole house as Striker trotted over in a slower pace before begging to be placed at Ace's lap by climbing up his thigh, "No, i'm just thinking," he said as he ducked down to pick the kitten up, raising her high enough to cover half of his face as he turned to the older male, "that Daddy's having more fun playing with the kids than playing with me, aren't you Daddy?"
Like usual, Marco groaned, running one hand across his face, "Stop it, Ace,"
"Hmm? What is it, Daddy?" he continued on, wiggling one of Striker's stubby appendage as she mewled in confusion, "Stop what?"
"Ace, come on, i work with Roger and i have to see him every day. I can't have this on my conscience,"
"But Striker's the one calling you Daddy!"
"But it's your voice— Ace, come on, i've just been able to look at your dad in the eyes again, please don't do this to me,"
Ace cackled at the pain in Marco's voice, placing Striker back down on his lap, "It's not my fault that it turns out you have an unexplored kink—"
"Ace, please, for the love of god, i work with your father. Please don't call me something you call him for bedroom purposes,"
"Technically i call him 'Dad' not 'Dadd—"
"Ace!"
And just like that, another crisis was averted. Ace allowed himself to relax until they moved to the bedroom and he caught Marco opening the drawer as he exited the bathroom. He couldn't see what the older was doing, since Marco quickly closed the drawer as soon as he heard the door opening, but the guilty look he had been sporting was enough.
Like usual, he acted like he didn't know any better, but this won't last long.
There's only 3 more days to their anniversary.
And as the day of their anniversary is encroaching closer, Ace knew he should at least say something. Lack of communication nearly ruined their relationship once, and Ace will be damned if his uncertainty and hesitation will be the cause of it again.
"Hey, Marco,"
The blonde turning slightly, "Yes, Ace?"
He bit his lower lips, glad that he was facing away from Marco to hide whatever uncertainty and guilt that he knows was clearly showing from his face, "About our anniversary," and about that ring i know you've been looking at, pondering in your mind, can we please talk about it?
There's a sigh behind him, and a hand rubbing up and down his bicep, "I'm sorry we can't do anything as extravagant as the our 6th month anniversary. The deadline for the company's project was due on the same day and i can't take a day off after all," Marco murmured to his ear, the regret still deep in his voice even after telling this to Ace numerous times and being told that Ace didn't mind as long as they're together, "Do you have something in mind for it?"
But no words came.
What's stopping you?
It's kind of stupid. Well, if i say it out loud it sounded stupid, but it's a legit thing i'm worried about.
Then you better find a way to make it sound not stupid and tell him. Preferably soon.
What if i hurt him?
He'll hurt more if you say no when he proposed now, won't he?
"Um… about our anniversary,"
What is it that you're worried about anyway? I thought you'd be jumping for the chance to seal the deal.
…Promise me this'll just be between us.
Sure, whatever. Us, and Marco, right?
…Yeah. And Marco.
"Yeah?"
"Uh, so after dinner, do you think we could go… stargazing? Law said that on season like this, the sky around that restaurant we're going to will be really clear," as soon as the words left him, Ace winced. That's not what he was supposed to say. That's not what he was supposed to say at all.
But how can he say what he actually wanted to say?
Behind him, Marco chuckled, and there's a warm kiss pressed to his nape, "Whatever you wanted Ace, anything at all that you wanted," with a sigh, he pressed closer to Ace's back, "Good night Ace,"
"Good night, Marco,"
That's what's bothering you?
Yes! And don't look at me like that, i'm actually worried about this!
…Hm, fine. My advice stays the same. Tell him before he could propose so you won't waste his time.
I know. You're right. I just… i just had to suck it up and say it.
Ace?
Hmm?
Not gonna judge you or anything, i promise. I'm actually impressed that you're thinking about something like that.
I love him, Law. A lot. Of course i wanted what's best for him.
But in my personal opinion? I think he loves you too much to care.
…Yeah, i know. That's what i'm worried about the most.
He tried to approach the subject again with Marco the next night after dinner, this time bracing and giving himself the appropriate peptalk.
This peptalk may include calling Law, who apparently was not having a good day after failing to escape his adopted father's clutches and only screamed 'Just talk to him for fuck's sake!' on the phone before disconnecting the call. Whatever, it worked. He's ready.
Only, that's not what happened. Marco came home late that night without any text or call, and hours later, Uncle Rayleigh appeared on his doorstep with a drunk Marco in one arm and his drunk father on the other. Once he managed to settle Marco on the sofa, Ace was accosted by his father, who slurred something about how 'he gets to keep his boy for a little longer' and that 'you're all stupid kids, but you're all my stupid kids'. Rayleigh only gave him a mysterious smile when he asked what this is all about, patting his head like he was 5 again.
"Oh, you've grown so fast," his godfather commented cryptically before he left, glancing at the passed out man on the sofa, "Got yourself a good man there. A little confused at times, but i know it's because he cared so much about you,"
After they left, Ace resigned himself for another day wasted, and drags Marco to bed. He didn't spare the drawer a single look that night, but considering how drunk and out of it he had been, Ace thought it was understandable.
The next day, in bright weekend morning - because if his dad and boyfriend had to share a similarity, of course it's the common sense not to get drunk on work days - while he took care of his poor hungover darling, Ace braced himself to approaching the subject later on, once Marco gained enough coherence back. He even tried to soften the impact by trying to be extra caring and affectionate, holding back his disgust as the older emptied his stomach and running his hand through golden tresses while letting him sleep on his thigh despite the trauma of letting a drunk Marco anywhere near him.
Afternoon came, and as coherence began to return to the blonde, the first thing he did once he opened his eyes was to wrap an arm around Ace's waist and lovingly, if a little sleepily murmured, "You're the best thing that has ever happened to me, you know? I promise i'll take care of you, promised your dad i'll take care of you," he yawned, nuzzling closer before falling back to sleep, "for the rest of my life,"
It dawned on Ace then what Roger's drunken mutters was all about, what Rayleigh meant with his cryptic words. Marco said it himself a long time ago, he's an old-school man who goes along with tradition. There's no doubt in the raven haired male's mind that yesterday's sudden 'celebration' was Marco asking for his father's blessing, and the dread for what is to come during their anniversary doubles, making his stomach churn at the thought.
He wanted to say something, he knew he had to say something but he can't. How could he now that he knew his father is involved?
As Marco continue to sleep on, a peaceful smile on his face, Ace could only press his forehead against Marco's, whispering as he let a single frustrated tear out, "Why do you have to make things so difficult?"
"Their foods are on the lower cupboard, feed Striker the wet ones only if she doesn't want the dry ones first and please don't overfeed Phoenix no matter how much she begs. She'll keep asking you but it's not healthy for her to eat that much,"
One could mistake Rouge for not paying attention if it wasn't for her occasional nodding, but she was having too much fun tickling Striker's belly and letting the little kitten bat on her long strand of hair. Next to her, Roger held a sour expression as he looked around the house. The last time he had been around was when they were newly moved in, with new furnitures and yet unopened boxes. This time around, there were photographs of Ace and Marco around the walls, a comforter across the sofa that was obviously used quite often, and other personal touches that told of two people around the house.
Once Marco finished explaining, the moustached man glanced towards the comforter next to him and warily look back up to his son and son's boyfriend, "Has this thing been washed yet, or am i going to have to steer clear away from it?"
As Marco stammered, Rouge gave him a slap on his forearm, "Oh, Roger, stop trying to embarrass them,"
"I'm really not trying to do anything but taking care of my health, dear,"
From the doorway, Ace overlooked the entire scene with trepidation. His parents had agreed to house-sit while they were away - or in her mother's words, babysit her 'grand-kitty and grand-birdy while her babies go out and have fun' - and so far, since they had arrived, his mother had been awfully cheerful while his father was part reluctant and part relaxed. While this was nothing new, Ace couldn't stop thinking if they both knew what Marco has planned for tonight.
Since morning, he had tried to reason to himself that maybe, he was just being stupid. Maybe he misunderstood Marco's intentions and the often glances he threw to his bedside table. Just because Marco's been staring doesn't mean he's thinking about that. Maybe he just hid his present there, maybe he wasn't even thinking about anything to do with anniversaries or Ace, and maybe he was just thinking about replacing the drawer, since it no longer matched the bed frame.
But as Marco turned, smiling at him and subtly fiddling with his pocket, Ace knew there was no way he can fool himself that this is anything else but what he thought it would be. He'd seen Marco earlier, taking something out of that particular drawer, he'd seen it, and as Marco approached him closer, he could even see the outline of a small box protruding from his pocket.
Ace felt physically sick.
"Ace?"The blonde frowned, walking closer and leaning against the wall right next to the spot that Ace occupied, probably to hide him from the view of his parents, "Ace? What's wrong?"
He shook his head, "Nothing's wrong,"
"Are you not feeling well? We can just cancel for tonight if you are, do it some other day,"
That might not be a bad idea. Canceling tonight means cancelling whatever plans Marco had, including the impending proposal. Then he'd have another day, few more days if he's lucky to say something.
But he had been stalling for weeks now, nearly months. Not once then he could even say anything, and the only person he could confess it too had been to someone else. For all Ace knew prolonging this would just means prolonging his anxiety over this entire matter.
"Hey," a hand brushed his cheek, cupping the side of his head. Ace looked up to see Marco smiling softly down to him, not a trace of disappointment or annoyance in his visage, "It's really okay if you don't feel like going. We can just hang back here, do something else,"
"But you've been planning for today for a long time," was what Ace could say, in lieu of anything else.
The hand curled in to frame the side of his face, Marco's thumb lightly brushing his freckled cheek, "Doesn't mean we have to do it. I told you, i just wanted to spend time with you," his smile was reassuring, but Ace couldn't even look at him when he caught the older's hand sneaking into his pocket and staying in, fiddling with the content. Ace widened his eyes when Marco pulled his hand out, and with it, a sliver of velvety red, "Well, that and i really wanted to give you your prese—"
"No!"
A startled squeak and the rushed footsteps from the living room should've alerted Ace that they will be getting some onlooker soon, and it may be a less than ideal setting to say what he had been holding back for too long. But Ace could care less for his parent's wildly poking their heads out from the living room, or even the surprised look Marco gave him, as he blurted out, "Marco, i can't! I can't marry you!"
As his mother gasped in shock from her hiding place, Ace's entire focus was only on Marco, who blinked owlishly at his direction, "I'm sorry," he breathed out, "I know i should've said something, but i— I can't. I'm sorry, Marco,"
Marco was silent, opening and closing his mouth, and when he spoke, it was in a small unsure whisper that left a painful pang in Ace's chest, "You… can't marry me?" he looked confused and hurt, and Ace wanted to pull back everything he said and just say yes, even if it means he had to deal with the consequences in the future, "Did— Did i do something wrong?"
"No. No, Marco, it's…," he took in a deep breath and exhaled, composing himself. Make it sound not stupid, Law said, easier said than done, "As cliched as this will sound, it's not you. It's me,"
(Somewhere on the background, Rouge began screeching, something about 'Ace, what did you do to the poor man?!' and a just a few level of volumes beneath her was Roger trying to tell her to calm down.)
"What do you mean?"
"I wasn't lying back then, when i told you i don't mind knowing that you have a ring with you. I… I actually liked that, still like that," he gave Marco's pocket a quick glance, not noticing the frown on Marco's face when he did, "But i can't marry you now. I can't have you propose to me now when i'm still… well, me," Ace bit his lower lips, squeezing his eyes shut, "When i'm still this immature person who made us broke up last time and hurt you,"
There was silence.
(Even from the peanut gallery on the back.)
As he continued, Ace kept his head bowed low, staring down to the floor and his feet because he can't look up. If he does, he'll see Marco, and he's afraid to see what kind of expression the man has on his face, "I tried. I swear, like i told you last time, that i'm going to be better, that i'll change, and i know that i'll reach it one day, but i'm not there yet. I'm still immature, i know i'm still stubborn, and i can't have you propose to someone like that. I'm not ready,"
The last time he told this was to Law, who maintained a long silence with a look of utter surprise and speechlessness. He dreaded what Marco would have to say or think about him now, until he felt hands framing his face, warm breath on his skin and laughter close to his ear, "Ace," Marco called out in little, breathless laughter, "Oh god, i was so worried,"
The hand moved down, wrapping themselves around his waist as Marco pressed their foreheads together. Ace returned the touch a little apprehensively, quietly surprised that the reaction hadn't been what he thought he was going to get, "I'm sorry,"
Marco shook his head, laughing again with relief, Ace noted. He kept laughing, and pulling Ace closer into his embrace, the reaction confusing Ace to no end. From over his shoulder, just right behind the door leading to the living room, he caught his father doing the same, albeit trying to hide his while deflecting his mother's demand to know what's so funny.
To be honest, Ace was kind of curious too.
Once his boyfriend finally gathered his bearing, Ace wouldn't deny that maybe he pouted a little. After all, he was just pouring out a confession he had been struggling to say for so long, only to be laughed at for something he doesn't quite understand. Marco pinched his side, "Ah, don't look at me like that, i promise i wasn't laughing at you,"
He reached down to his pocket, pulling out a small velvet box, the same one that Ace caught inside of his drawer months ago, "Open it,"
"What? Marco, i just told you, i can't—"
"Okay, i'll open it for you," the older cuts, and before Ace could stop him, he opened the box.
Revealing a polished and high quality necklace, the chain hidden underneath the red pillow and the only part of it seen was the pendant, shaped in a familiar symbol.
"The jacket you often wore was made well over 15 years ago, when i was only in college. Since then we grew, and some of us can't even wear them anymore because it's either too old, too worn or we just can't fit anymore," gingerly, Marco plucked the necklace away from the box, revealing the accessory in its entirety, "They remembered about it again after they saw you wear that jacket, so we decided to make something that can both fit everyone and is timeless. Wear it at any given time and give it to our children and our children to theirs, that sort of thing,"
Up close, Ace could see all of the details, the little gems of multiple colour doting around the outline of the Whitebeard symbol made out of white gold. With a finger, Marco flicked the chain, and the pendant turned around, revealing an engraving etched on the back. Ace held back a sob when he read it, "Ace? They also made one for me?"
"Well, Pops' family doesn't stop at his adopted children. Everyone the children also wanted into the family counts," Marco's smile was positively blinding with how happy he was, "And trust me, they all wanted to count you in,"
Touched by the gesture, Ace nearly forgot about his earlier dilemma, and was only reminded of it again at the sight of the now empty box in Marco's other hand, "Marco, i still can't—"
"I know this present was from my family to you instead of something personally from me," Marco cuts, fiddling briefly with the strap on the back of the necklace to pry it open. Once he succeeded, he placed it in his hand, fiddling with the chain, "Because i'm not going to lie, Ace, you were right. I was going to propose to you today. The day we got drunk, i asked your father for his blessing,"
Ace stared wide eyed.
(The silence in the background was once again broken by a loud slap and a painful yowl from Roger, half drowned by Rouge's screech of 'You know about this?!'. Roger apologized repeatedly, but no one needs to look to know Rouge didn't grant his wish.)
"But in the end, i couldn't get through with it," Marco confessed, "Because i wasn't ready either,"
He sighed despondently, "At first, i felt really bad. Your parents getting married after only 3 months, your friend's drunk wedding, i thought with everything around us like that, something must be wrong with me if i can't find it as easy as them. At least, that's what i used to think," he then smiled, and peeked over his shoulder, "Someone set me straight on that,"
Ace tilted his head to the side, and he caught his father smiling.
Marco linked his hand with Ace's, pulling his attention back to the older, "Don't get me wrong, i also wanted nothing more than to officially make you mine. In fact, i'm looking forward to it, i want to have you all for myself, and that i can be yours entirely, Ace," Deep blue stared down to grey orbs framed by flushed cheeks. Marco always had that effect on him, and right now, even more so, "But i still have doubts. Doubts in myself," He sighed, "You're not… you're not the only one who still felt guilty about that break up, you know?"
There's bitterness in Marco's voice as he admitted this, and maybe a little shame, as it was the first time that he looked away through this entire conversation, "I always thought that i was doing right by you. But our fight back then, the things that happen before, it reminded me that there's still so many places that i'm lacking in, that there are still some aspects of you that i can't understand that i should've, so many things about you that i still want to learn more. Because you're really important to me,"
The hand holding Ace's squeezed, "Do you think you can wait for me until then? Until i'm ready to give you the real ring?"
Ace couldn't help it. He surged forward, and kissed Marco hard. Ace wanted to say that Marco had done more than enough, that he had no reason to feel guilty but then that'd just make him a hypocrite. He poured his entire happiness and relief into that one kiss, making sure that if there is one thing in this world Marco never had to doubt again, was how much he meant for Ace.
When they separated, eyes glazed over and with a thin string of saliva in between their lips, Ace pressed another sweet kiss on Marco's lower lips, "If you promise to wait for me, then i'd wait my entire life for you if i have to,"
(There's a little 'aww' somewhere in the background. The voice was much too low for it to be Rouge)
They still left for their anniversary that night, an hour late to the reservation, but the host had been kind enough to save their table for them. The folded money Marco slipped him underneath the front table might have helped a little.
Adorning Ace's open collared shirt was his new necklace, courtesy of the Newgate family. It was the first one to be finished, Marco told him later, a little embarrassed. After his talk with Roger and making his decision to postpone his proposal, he realized he was left with no present with only 2 days left to their anniversary and asked Thatch for help. Thatch, of course, let that slip to everyone in the family, half who hurried the poor jeweller they commissioned to make the necklaces and the other half who harassed Marco for being a complete idiot.
Marco told the story while shuddering, dreading the moment he had to go back to the office and face all of his brothers at once.
It wouldn't be too far distant in the future, when both finally get their acts together and the ring was put into good use. By then, Marco's apartment was traded for a small, modest house, fit for two people, two pets and maybe one or two guest, or even another human being smaller than the two of them. One of the hallways of that house would have a small table of pictures, in which on the front and centre was a picture of them smiling during the happiest day of their lives, their respective fathers next to them pretending that they're not obviously crying.
There's even more event following that not-so-distant future, of years and years to come, good and bad. The story of the mishap between Marco and Roger would always be there in every family meeting, in which not once during all those years would Garp ever stop laughing and mocking Roger. The not-proposal was something that no one but those who were present ever know, a memory too sweet to be shared, but the story of the actual proposal was well known, due to how much Law liked to make fun of how much Ace cried that day, despite knowing what was coming.
Ace would swat at him repeatedly while Marco calmly told him from his seat that he's not setting a good example for the children, but let him go despite his words. With every flail, Ace's ring, held far too long in that suffocating drawer, would glint, and even after so many years, it never failed to bring a smile to his face.
But this was all still a distant future, a future too far to truly mean something.
As of right now, they sat on the corner of the restaurant, window overlooking the starry sky and reflecting the dim light of the elegant chandelier. After the waiter left, Marco raised a single glass, filled with still bubbling champagne, "Happy anniversary, Ace,"
Ace raised his own glass, grinning toothily, radiant with happiness. Marco thought this was the most beautiful he had ever seen him, but he knows there will be instances in the future that will prove him wrong.
"Happy anniversary, Marco,"
-END-
And that's the end of this fic! Thank you so much for everyone who read from the beginning to this moment, to those who only read from the beginning and those who will read this in the future, thank you so much!
I didn't think i'd gain so much reader and interest, i'm very humbled and overjoyed by each one of your responses, kudos, everything! Thank you, thank you so much!
I'll be writing more fics after this so i hope to see you again and i hoped you enjoyed this one as much as i love writing it!
