Ace smiled slightly as he approached the first division commander, several excuses as to why he needed to talk to the man flashing through his mind. As it stood his best option was probably to ask for help or advice and Marco, being the kind soul he was, would hopefully feel obligated to help him.

Putting on a false nervous expression Ace tapped Marco on the shoulder enjoying the warm smile he got in return "What's up brat?" Ace bit his lip slightly in feigned reluctance "If you're not too busy I was hoping for a spar? I've not had a chance to practise my haki while I've been here, so I could really use the workout."

Marco stared at him for a moment as if trying to determine how serious Ace was before giving a nod and a smug grin "As long as you're prepared for your inevitable loss it's fine. Just let me go grab something from my room real quick."

Ace grabbed onto Marco's arm, he was not losing his choice of dessert for five days just because Marco wanted to grab something "Stop stalling! Sparring won't take long! You can get it after!" Marco stared at Ace a hint of suspicion entering his eyes "Why shouldn't I go now?" Ace gulped "It's almost like you're trying to distract me from something?"

Seeing an exit plan, Ace smirked and leaned up tiptoes to put his lips on Marco's ear "Trust me, if I was trying to distract you I would be going about it very differently. Pulling back Ace was satisfied the see the dark lust in Marco's eyes, widening his own eyes in innocence, Ace smiled sweetly "So, sparring then?"

Marco glared at him but there was equal amounts of amusement in his glare as he purred "Are you sure there's not something else you'd rather be doing?" Ace swallowed, that sounded tempting very tempting. No, bad Ace. Think of the dessert. The bounty hunter gave a sultry smile "Maybe after the spar."

Marco raised an eyebrow in both curiosity and amusement "Ok, let's move this to the sparring area on deck." Ace grinned he hadn't been lying when he said he needed a workout, he hadn't had a chance to fight the past week and he definitely didn't want to get rusty.

Moving up to the top deck Marco stopped when he reached the large ring dedicated for sparring and turned to face the teen "Whenever you're ready brat, I've set a timer for ten minutes so if you last until then we'll call it a draw."

Rather than rushing straight in, Ace smirked and paused for a minute to activate his observation haki. As he was still relatively new to the haki, activating it still required conscious thought. Ignoring Marco's appraising gaze Ace moved.

Lunging at the man Ace drew back a fist raising it at the man's head, only to be blocked by an arm. Twisting around Marco, Ace tried to sweep the man's leg from out under him, only to be thwarted by a high jump aided by the wings that had suddenly replaced the other man's arms.

Ace pouted up at the man "Cheater." Marco smirked "Gotta use every advantage you have in a fight." Ace merely echoed that smirk enjoying the wariness that appeared on the older man's face "You're completely correct dear Marco."

Before Marco had a chance to react Ace released a small burst of conquerors haki. Seeing the man momentarily stumble Ace rushed at him aiming a high kick to the face only to be blocked once more by a...talon?

There was a certain bloodlust in Marco's eyes, "You've done it now brat." Suddenly the attacks grew fiercer and Ace was put on the defence, using every bit of his considerably limited observation haki to stop Marco from utterly wiping the floor with him.

Punches came faster and harder, and Ace could tell that if they continued to fight he would lose. He may be insanely strong for someone his age, but that didn't mean he would last too long against the first division commander of the Whitebeard pirates. If he played fair that was, after all he wasn't here to win, he was here to stall. And he only needed to last a few more minutes before the timer ran out.

Allowing himself to be pinned by Marco, Ace went limp in the man's arms before using his weight to pull Marco down to the deck. Where he promptly fisted his hands in the other man's hair before forcing his lips down to him. Not that Marco complained.

Enjoying the feeling of the older man's lips on his Ace let out a small moan as Marco's hands moved to grip his waist. The older man immediately took advantage of Ace's parted lips and pressed his tongue into Ace's mouth.

Ignoring the thought of the smirk that Marco would surely be sporting after they parted Ace focussed on enjoying the feeling of Marco's tongue mapping out the inside of his mouth. The freckled teen desperately tryed to hold back another moan, knowing how insufferably smug the other man would be about it later.

Unfortunately, before the two could get any further, they were interrupted by a loud beeping sound that resonated across the deck from the timer Marco had set up. "Guess it's a draw then?"

Marco looked at the mischievous grin on Ace's face and put two and two together "That almost makes it sound like you were distracting me?" The raised eyebrow showed that he already knew the answer to that question, Ace didn't bother to deny it, merely echoing the older man's raised eyebrow.

"Correct, but I would've done it anyway. And you didn't seem to be complaining." Marco grinned "Believe me I'm not, just don't bight off more than you can chew brat." Before Ace had a chance to retort, Marco had lowered his lips onto Ace's neck nipping lightly at the sensitive flesh.

Letting out a small moan Ace lightly gripped at Marco's sides as the older man proceeded to suck on the spot he'd just bitten "Marco..more..please?" Marco smirked up at the teen and tilted up Ace's chin before covering his lips with his own.

The moment was unfortunately ruined by the sounds of approaching footsteps and screams. Standing up off the deck Marco offered Ace a hand, who gladly took it before glaring at the doorway listening as the noise drew ever closer "Bet you a thousand beli it's Thatch."

Marco gave a low chuckle "I'll place a thousand on Haruta." Ace grinned and gave his hand a shake "Deal." Several seconds later and both Haruta and Thatch ran through the door, Thatch looking murderous and Haruta torn between amusement and fear. "So, I guess no one gets the money."

Marco snorted in amusement but was still staring at the duo, what really stood out between the two though was the fact that Thatch's pompadour had a chunk cut out of it, a chunk that currently appeared to be glued to his hand. Marco burst out into laughter at the exact same moment Thatch yelled at Haruta "Why would you do that?! There were solvents I could have used! Solvents!"

By this point Ace had joined Marco in laughing "It's your own fault for trying to touch up your hair after finishing the prank!" Marco stopped laughing now and looked at the two with suspicion, not that Thatch noticed.

"But my beautiful flowing mane! What will I tell Izou?!" Ace snorted "I wouldn't worry about it he'll probably just join the rest of us in laughing." Thatch let out a whine "How could my baby brother be so cruel?!"

Ace narrowed his eyes "I'm not joining the crew?!" Thatch nodded and gave him a conciliatory pat on the back while Ace glared at him "Sure you're not." Ace was about to respond when Marco let out a small cough, a dangerous glint in his eyes "What was that about a prank?"

Thatch went white and glared at Haruta, who looked suitably sheepish before diving into the nearest air vent "Marco I love you and it's all Thatch's fault!" Thatch glared at the air vent "Traitor!"

Marco grabbed Thatch's wrist to prevent a pre-emptive escape "Seeing as there's not been a prank on me directly I'm assuming you've done something to my room yoi?" Thatch didn't respond but merely attempted to run down to the lower deck where Whitebeard was "You'll never take me alive!"

He made it all of two steps before Marco grabbed him again "My room it is. And remember dear Thatch I may not be allowed to do anything medically damaging but I'm more then willing to humiliate you. We remember the rigging incident I assume?"

Ace had to admit that he found the dark look in Marco's eyes a little bit of a turn on. Thatch on the other hand looked torn between fear and regret and started mumbling under his breath "It was so cold up there, how the hell did you tie me up naked in the rigging without anyone noticing?!"

Predictably Marco ignored him and turned to face Ace "Although I'm now a little curious as to why you stopped me going to my room earlier yoi?"

Oh shit. Pouting at full force Ace looked up at Marco through lowered lashes "I have no clue what you're talking about I just wanted a spar." Marco gave smirk of disbelief and a quick nod but before he could say anymore they arrived at his room.

Giving an exasperated sigh Marco opened his door to see all his furniture glued to the ceiling. Ace burst into laughter at the vein that had started to throb on Marco's temple "Be afraid Thatch, be very afraid."

Authors note

Hi guys so I managed to finish this chapter early (while desperately procrastinating on revision for a test today...oops) so hope you enjoy and please leave a comment, so I know how you feel! And thank you so much for all the recent reviews!