(Carrier AU. This is now where Ace has joined the Whitebeards and is in a romantic relationship with Marco.)


Marco pulled away from the kiss and trailed his thumb gently over Ace's bottom lip, smiling fondly at his lover who snuggled into him, looking so content. Marco knew he needed to ask the big question soon, not the 'will you marry me?' one, Ace might just punch him considering they had only been dating for nearly a year. Izo would strangle him for not letting him know and Thatch would sulk for the rest of the week because he wasn't in the know either.

It was if Ace was carrier. They were beginning to delve a bit more into touching one another, Ace was shy about it and he had thankfully admitted that he had never had a relationship before so Marco was making sure to take his time and keep to Ace's pace. He didn't want to overwhelm his boyfriend with all the new sensations after all.

He rubbed Ace's thigh gently, their legs intertwined and smiled at his boyfriend. "Hey Ace, I'm going to need to ask you an important question?"

"Something wrong?" Ace asked, a bit concerned and a bit of panic in his eyes making Marco nearly frown, he restrained the urge though because that would only make Ace fret more.

"Nothing at all yoi. And no, I'm not worrying about your bloodline. Don't think that." Marco said firmly, poking Ace's nose, earning a twitch.

"Then what is it?" Ace huffed, seemingly unimpressed with being poked.

"Well I know you've mentioned about wanting to have sex some time soon." He reminded Ace, earning a blush which made Marco chuckle and stroke his cheek. "There, there, don't be so embarrassed about it yoi. Anyway I wanted to ask if you knew if you were a carrier or not. I know it would be your first time so I'm not sure if you've gotten yourself checked yet. I hope it doesn't bother you that I'm not one?"

Ace tensed a little, making Marco a bit worried.

Did Ace want to start a family with him? Marco liked the idea that maybe one day they could but Marco definitely couldn't get pregnant. That would also be years down the line, he wanted to take his time with Ace and have many adventures with their own family first.

"Yes I'm a carrier..." Ace said, sounding reluctant.

Marco blinked at that. "I have to admit I'm surprised yoi. Your bounty didn't mention anything so I had assumed that either you hadn't been tested or it turned out that you weren't."

Wanted Posters showed if you were a carrier or not, as long as the government and priesthood knew of course. In Ace's case the status was 'unknown'. It was disgusting, if the criminal was a carrier it would be put on a Wanted Poster and they would usually be 'Alive Only' so they could be handed over to the priesthood who would marry them off to a noble or a Celestial Dragon. That wasn't known by most people, otherwise many would be horrified at the priesthood. No the women are worshipped for bringing them the chance at life and show them their future so they couldn't be seen in a bad light.

All that bloody nonsense the priestesses babbled about-

Oh god, Ace had been tested, did they know? But if they did it would be there unless Garp had managed to somehow get it left off and-

"I didn't get tested by a priestess. I told you about Makino remember? Anyway she had a crystal she had gotten off one of the faithful and she had her test done and let me and Luffy try it out. It began to sparkle in my hands so Dadan took it off me and had Makino hold it the moment it did, looking panicked." Ace admitted, looking upset. "Dadan said I would have been locked on to if I held it too long and they would find me and drag me away to the Temple..."

"I'm glad she realised. Those that are taken to the Temple..." Marco grimaced, he didn't want to reveal it, it wasn't common knowledge but-

"They are forced to marry Celestial Dragons and carry their children. I know." Ace said tiredly. "They would have chained me to a bed and forced me to have their children until I gave out one day."

Marco's brow furrowed. "How do you even know about that? That's a rare thing to hear-"

"Once Dadan told my Gramps I was a carrier he rushed over to come see me. To make sure I knew all the dangers." Ace muttered, sitting up and curling his arms around his legs, looking scared. "I'd be pumping out little Saints if the priestess' had their way."

Marco sat up, wanting to be next to his distressed lover. His Phoenix side was screeching in fury, upset that Ace was sad and demanded it to be fixed. Unfortunately that side wanted to bundle Ace up in a nest, curl up around him and sing chirpy bird songs to try coax Ace into feeling safe and warm.

Marco would never let that down if he let his Phoenix go along with that plan. Ace would torment him with that for years. Thatch, Haruta and Izo would then overhear and they'd torment him too.

Then everyone else would overhear it too, including Pops. Pops was evil when it came to teasing him.

"Ace being able to become pregnant isn't a bad thing." Marco said gently, his hand on Ace's shoulder who shuddered. "It's a wonderful thing."

"It doesn't sound like it." Ace muttered softly.

"Those bastards who force people to carry their babies, they are the bad ones but those who want to have children and eagerly carry a child out of love is an amazing thing yoi. Many of our siblings have their own kids now, married to people they love." Marco explained, running his hand over Ace's back. "It wouldn't be a bad thing if you wanted a child and it also wouldn't be a bad thing if you didn't but please don't think it's a terrible thing to go through completely."

Marco grimaced. "That bloody Garp should have told you that couples happily have children all the time, not just bastards that force carriers too."

His Phoenix cooed, satisfied when Ace snuggled back into him, looking a bit better, less frightened even.

"You don't mind that I can...?" Ace trailed off, looking embarrassed again.

"Hm? Give birth to children? Why would I be upset about that yoi?" Marco asked, coaxing Ace into lying back down again. "And no, I wouldn't be upset if you didn't want children either."

"I might? Maybe one day but..." Ace bit his lip. "I never thought someone would love me that way. Like you do... I've got his blood after all-"

"He wasn't a monster Ace. Roger was a good man." He kept Ace in place when Ace made to sit up, looking upset again. "And it wouldn't matter even if he was. You didn't commit any of his crimes. You can commit your own just fine by yourself."

Ace snorted, settling down again thankfully. "I've never committed any crimes!"

"You're a thief and you know it yoi."

"Oh yeah? And what did I steal pretty bird?"

"A lot of food." Marco chuckled, and smirked, knowing Ace's next reaction was going to be a funny. "And my heart yoi."

"Urgh." Ace grimaced. "Go away. I don't know you anymore."

Marco laughed at that and hugged Ace even tighter, earning a squirm from the teen.

"Love you yoi."

Ace's cheeks flushed at that but he smiled up at him. "I love you too."


Okay so I thought you guys could use a happier AU after that last one I left yous before going off on holiday ^^; Sorry about that, I was meant to get another one up but didn't finish it in time xD

I did return baring a gift though ;) During my holiday I've wrote out my superhero story for MarcoxAce and I'm gonna hopefully get it typed up soon and edited then put up chapter at a time :D I'm looking forward to showing you guys the work :3 Also, the Tangled AU for now is on hold. There's been a lot of mini stories I've written down for it so I'm actually thinking about making a proper story out of it instead of the drabbles. So I'm sorry if you were looking forward to more of the Tangled AU but until I decide properly what I am doing with it the Tangled Au won't be updated!