Talk This Way

Ace hid himself when Sakazuki came out of Marco's office. He wasn't sure if he wanted to punch him in the nose to wipe that smirk off his face, or to go to see how Marco was.

He decided on doing the latter, as he could always do the former later, which he probably would. There was no need to get himself into trouble now, not before he had talked to Marco.

Carefully, he opened the door of Marco's office. Marco was still standing in the middle of the room, his shoulders slumped. When he noticed Ace, he seemed surprised.

"I'm so sorry," Ace said softly. "I didn't mean for this to happen."

"Were you listening?" When Ace nodded, Marco sighed. "I know you didn't intend this to happen. It's not your fault."

"How can you say that?!" Ace burst out. "I'm the one that demanded that you kissed me!"

"If you'd told me to jump in a ditch, I wouldn't have done it either unless I wanted to." Marco looked him straight in the eye. "I wanted to kiss you. I just… should have timed it better."

"I can fix this! I'll… I'll just seduce him and you can take a picture when I'm sitting in his lap or something!" Ace exclaimed. "You can take over his job. It'll work out great."

Marco sighed again. "Don't be ridiculous. This was long time coming. He just doesn't like me. If he hadn't forced me to resign over this, it would have been something else. But he may be a dick, he is a good dean."

Ace's shoulders slumped. "But it's not fair! You're not even my teacher or anything."

"No, but here there is a certain hierarchy. I'm a counsellor, I can't make out with students," Marco explained.

Ace crossed his arms before his chest. "Students? Something I should know about?"

"That wasn't what I meant. Just that I, as a counsellor, can't be seen kissing with you, a student." Marco leaned on his desk.

"Well then," Ace said softly. "So if I'm not a student, there isn't a problem anymore?"

"Don't you dare!"

Ace was taken aback by the sudden fierceness of Marco's voice. He actually sounded angry.

"This is your education we're talking about. Don't you dare quit for my sake!"

Ace nodded, wide-eyed.

Marco's face softened. "I was considering finding another job anyway. I'm a big boy, Ace, I'll land on my feet. I'm sure my father can help me out with a new job."

Ace still wasn't convinced.

Marco tried to smile reassuring, failing miserably, and ruffled his hair. "Really Ace, you have nothing to feel guilty about. Why don't you on ahead while I pack my things. We can talk at home, okay?"

"But," Ace started, but Marco caressed his cheek.

"It's really okay."

Reluctantly, Ace nodded and turned to leave, when he thought of something. He turned back to Marco, a mischievous grin on his face. Marco looked surprised at his sudden change of mood, and even more so when Ace kissed him again, pushing him back until he was half lying on his desk with Ace on top of him.

After recovering from his shock, Marco kissed him back with equal enthusiasm, grabbing at his upper legs and cupping his ass.

Finally, Ace moved off him, sending him a smirk. "Don't take too long, okay?"

Marco nodded numbly, fixing his glasses.

However, when Ace made for the door, Marco called him back.

"Ace, promise me you won't do anything stupid." Ace huffed, but Marco continued, "I'm serious. Promise me."

Ace sighed. "Alright, I promise."

When Marco nodded in satisfaction, he left the room, but as soon as he was alone, his confidence disappeared and he started to feel guilty again. It was tempting to go to Sakazuki's office and give him that well-deserved punch, but Marco would be mad if he got kicked out of university, especially after promising not to do anything stupid. Ace didn't think punching the dean was stupid, but Marco would undoubtedly put it in the same category.

Eventually, he decided to do nothing, for now. First, he and Marco needed to talk, because even if Marco didn't blame Ace for his forced resignation, they still needed to discuss what they would do, and more importantly, if they were dating or not.

Things had gone so fast since Ace had realised Marco wasn't a stalker, but he definitely liked him now. And Marco liked him back, that much had been clear from their make-out sessions. But it would be good to talk about their relationship.

The afternoon Ace was waiting for Marco to return had to be the longest of his life. He had no idea how long it would take for Marco to pack his things, but he didn't feel like going home either, because his brothers would no doubt sense his mood, and he didn't want to talk about it until he had straightened things out with Marco.

Finally, Marco came home, carrying a box. He smiled and shook his head when he saw Ace sitting next to his door. "I would have let you know when I got here, you know."

"I know, but I didn't want my brothers to pry before I saw you. We have a lot to talk about."

"I agree," Marco said. "Could you hold this for a moment?" He handed Ace the box he had been carrying and opened the door.

Ace followed him inside, where they were greeted by Stefan, and placed the box on the coffee table while Marco hung up his jacket and then went to the kitchen to make tea. With two steaming mugs, he sat down next to Ace on the couch.

They were silent for a while, sipping their tea and petting Stefan. Ace knew they had to talk, but he wasn't sure where to start. Finally, he said, "So, you like me."

"I do." Marco smiled.

"And I like you, so that's a good start, I'd say," Ace continued.

"When did that happen, though, if you don't mind me asking?" Marco asked. "I remember a time you were worried I was looking through your window with night vision goggles…"

Ace elbowed him in the ribs, but he could laugh about it. "Yeah, yeah. I don't know, I think I started to realise I did when you came over and we played twister. And yesterday, I decided it was a good idea to try to seduce you. At which I failed miserably, since you were sitting there all stone-faced."

"You said you had trouble with the choreography," Marco protested. "How was I supposed to know you tried to seduce me?"

"I was giving you a freaking lap dance!" Ace started to laugh, but then his face got serious again. "Okay, what are we gonna do about your job now that I got you fired?"

"I got me fired," Marco corrected him sharply, "and technically, I resigned. I need to find a new job, that's all."

"With this economy? You shouldn't talk like you can just waltz into a company and demand a job," Ace huffed.

Marco laughed. "I know, but really, I'll be fine. I promise."

Ace wasn't completely convinced, but when Marco leaned in to kiss him, he slowly melted against him. His hands roamed Marco's body, and he moaned pleased. "I'd forgotten how hot your body is."

He wanted to continue kissing Marco, but Marco pulled back slightly. "Since when? A few hours ago?"

Ace froze. He had never told Marco he had seen him naked, at the same time as he discovered his tattoo. "Er…" he said.

Marco looked at him curiously, and Ace gave in, sighing. "Okay. Have you ever wondered how I knew you had a tattoo?"

"I figured it shone through my shirt once or something. Why, is that not it?" Marco inquired.

Ace shook his head, a guilty look on his face, but it was time to come clean. "So, do you remember you loaned Sabo eggs once because the ones I bought were broken when I ran from you?" When Marco nodded, he continued, "Well, I was ordered by Sabo to bring you new ones, but when I placed them in front of your door, I noticed the door was ajar. It was still in the time I thought you might be a stalker, mind you, and I figured I should get confirmation."

Marco raised an eyebrow, perhaps already guessing where the story was going.

Ace sighed. "I thought you'd be at work, so I went inside to snoop around. But before I could check more than the living room, you suddenly came out of the bathroom."

Marco opened his mouth to say something, but remained silent.

"Someone called you, so I dove behind the couch, while you walked around your home… naked." Ace looked guiltily to the floor.

Marco remained silent for a moment, before he burst out laughing.

Ace hadn't expected that reaction, and he could only stare, not knowing how to react.

"So, you were stalking the person you thought was stalking you!" Marco hiccupped. "And ended up checking him out."

"Oi, it's not my fault you're parading around naked!" Ace countered, his cheeks flushed.

Marco nodded, still wheezing as he pulled Ace close again.

Ace was pouting, but he could see the joke of it as well. Smiling, he leaned against Marco's chest.

Marco finally calmed down and kissed Ace's hair.

"I take it you're not mad, then?" Ace asked.

Marco snorted. "Nah, it's funny."

"You don't say," Ace muttered, and then sighed. "I can't believe you put up with all my crap and still want to be with me."

"Perhaps because there's not much to put up with." Marco sat up a little straighter. "Don't get me wrong, I'd have preferred the whole stalker incident hadn't happened, but you did have reason to believe so, seeing you had another stalker. What happened to him, anyway?"

"He was transferred after he whipped out his gun in the strip club. I haven't seen him since." Ace sighed.

Marco hummed and pulled Ace close again.

"So, are we dating now then?" Ace asked softly.

"I'd like that," Marco said, before adding, "as long as it's not out of some weird sense of guilt."

"It's not," Ace assured him.

Marco smiled. "Good." He pulled Ace into a kiss.

Ace hummed pleased when their lips met again, the sound soon becoming a moan when Marco deepened the kiss. He was lying draped over Marco, whose hands caressed his back and legs.

Suddenly, Ace felt something else than Marco's hands push against his ass, and when he looked over his shoulder, he saw Stefan standing, looking expectantly, his leash in his mouth and wagging his tail.

Marco chuckled. "It seems like someone needs a walk. Would you like to join us?"