Thanks Vergina-spva and MyLadyDay for beta'ing
Everyone was silent, and they were all staring at Marco. At first, he sat frozen, merely raising one eyebrow as he looked at Ace's eager face. He was so sure he was right.
Finally, Marco moved, placing his fork next to his plate and dabbed his mouth with his napkin. He then rose and walked around the table towards Ace.
Ace watched him approach with wide eyes.
Right in front of Ace, Marco stopped. White, dove-like wings sprouted from his back. Ace's eyes widened even further when Marco said, "Well done," and tilted Ace's chin upward before he kissed him.
For a moment, Ace melted against him, when he suddenly seemed to realise everyone was watching. He pushed Marco away. "Not in front of my mom!"
"What's this about Benn's book, then?" Marco asked, picking up the manuscript Ace had dropped when Marco kissed him. "Have you used me as a reference?" he asked, amused.
Now everyone looked at Shanks.
"What? How many angels do you think I know? Benn asked for inspiration, so I described Marco. Sue me."
"So you don't mind the sex scene between you two?" Ace asked.
Shanks blinked a few times, before he said, "Beg your pardon?"
"The sex scene," Ace repeated. "The one between the character that looks an awfully like you and the one that looks like Marco?"
"That bloody pervert!" Shanks jumped up and ran around the table, ripping the manuscript from Marco's hands.
"You didn't know then? Didn't you read the book?"
"I didn't get that far yet. If I'd have known he'd put in a sex scene, I wouldn't have described Marco, now would I?" Shanks snapped. "Who in his right mind would want to have sex with Marco?"
"I can think of someone," Marco said, smirking.
Ace elbowed him in the ribs. "Not in front of my mom!" he hissed.
Marco shrugged. "Never said it was you." He laughed when Ace elbowed him again.
Meanwhile, Shanks was furiously reading through the book. "Unbelievable! 'He put his what in his what'?!"
"Well, now at least we've learned Shanks's dating a pervert," Marco said.
Shanks looked up from the book and narrowed his eyes. "So's Ace."
"Still, an angel. That'll get you instant in-law approval, right?" Sabo said, looking at Rouge.
She huffed. "If I'd believe every story I heard, I wouldn't have let Shanks babysit you. So I'll be keeping my reservations if you don't mind. Nothing personal, Marco."
"Finally, some justice," Shanks sighed. "Usually, it's 'Oh, look an angel, let's worship him!' 'Let's start a new religion!' So annoying."
"I just mentioned she was pregnant, it was obvious!" Marco protested. "That it would be a boy was a fifty-fifty chance. The story got way out of hand."
"See, he gets that," Shanks said plaintively. "You tell one woman she needs to eat an apple, because she has obviously scurvy, and suddenly, you're the reason mankind went to hell! Figuratively speaking, of course."
Ace, Sabo and Luffy stared blankly at them.
Shanks looked back at them, but then continued flipping through the book. "'Most beautiful creature he'd ever seen'?! Ha! Don't make me laugh! Like hell I'd ever described him that way!"
"It's okay if you have a crush on me," Marco said, winking.
"You wish!"
"Boys!" Rouge interrupted them. "Finish your plates. Oh, never mind," she added when she caught Luffy licking Shanks' plate clean. "Still, behave."
Shanks pouted, but when Marco moved to sit down, Ace grabbed his hand and pulled him into the kitchen.
As soon as the door had fallen shut behind them, Ace combed with a hand through his hair and looked a little embarrassed. "Look, I'm sorry I outed you like that. And, you know," he coughed, "that we were interrupted before."
"That's okay," Marco said. "Shanks already knew about me, and I don't doubt the rest would have found out soon enough."
"Still, I can't believe I was right," Ace said with a grin. "Or rather, I can't believe I'm dating an angel! Can you show me again?" he asked excitedly.
Marco smiled and spread his wings out again.
"Ace, come help clear the table!" Rouge shouted from the living room.
Ace pouted and quickly pressed a kiss on Marco's lips before he hurried back. Marco followed him.
"Shouldn't you be helping?" Ace said to Shanks.
"Would you look at the time! I still have some ass-kicking to do. Bye, Rouge, it was lovely seeing you again. Keep those boys of you on the straight and narrow."
"Will do." She kissed his cheek. "And bring your beau by soon. I want to meet him."
"Of course! I can't live without your approval." There was not a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "Later, boys. Ace, see you at work." With a whirl of his cape, he left, and the rest continued to clear the table. Rouge picked up the dish and moved to the kitchen.
Seconds after the front door was slammed shut, the one from the living room opened again and Koala entered.
"Hi, that… eh, guy let me in," she greeted them.
Sabo had just collected the plates, which slammed back on the table as they slipped from his hands. "I… I wish you'd called," he stammered.
She frowned, huffing. "What, why? Do you have your mistress over?" she joked.
Just then, Rouge emerged from the kitchen, and Koala paled as realisation hit her.
"Please tell me that's your mistress," she whispered.
Sabo shot her an apologetic look, as Rouge said, "Well, hello."
Sabo cleared his throat, leaving the dirty plates on the table as he walked over to Koala. "Koala, meet Rouge. Rouge, this is Koala."
Koala was still frozen in place, her eyes wide as a deer caught in headlights. "Hello, Ms Portgas," she finally stammered. "It's nice to meet you. Sabo's told me so much about you."
"Likewise," Rouge said coolly. "Though Sabo has told me nothing about you." The latter sounded accusing and was aimed at Sabo, who smiled sheepishly.
Koala looked at him reproachfully as well, when her eye caught Marco, and she visibly relaxed. She probably thought a problem shared is a problem halved. She was probably right.
"Boys, why don't you go do the dishes while Koala and I get ice cream for dessert," Rouge said. "Marco, you too."
Marco and Koala exchanged a look, and Koala gulped. She then turned to Sabo, who was skilfully evading her glance.
"Sabo, what kind of flavour do you want?" Koala asked, forcing him to look at her.
"What, you don't even know his favourite ice cream flavour?" Rouge asked. Marco studied her to see whether or not she was joking. The way she was currently looking, horns wouldn't have looked misplaced, and Marco wondered if she was related to Shanks after all.
"I eh," Koala stammered, and Marco looked at Ace desperately as he tried to mouth something.
"Don't worry, I know what my boys like." Rouge pointed at Sabo. "Chocolate chip and anything caramel." Her finger moved to Ace. "Anything chocolate." Next up was Luffy. "Well, just anything."
Rouge checked her watch. "We should go, before the parlour closes. Come along now." She moved into the hallway. Marco followed her, taking his coat from the coat rack, starting when Koala was suddenly next to him.
"Do you think she's going to kill us?" she whispered.
Marco looked at Rouge, who was standing in the doorway. The devilish look from before had disappeared, and with the setting sun shining through her almost pinkish hair, it almost looked like she had a halo. "No," he finally said slowly. "Not right away, anyway."
She did not look put at ease, but did follow Rouge outside. "Do not leave me alone with her," she hissed.
"Ditto," Marco muttered.
"Well then, Koala," Rouge started as they headed for the ice cream parlour. "I wasn't kidding when I said Sabo had told me nothing about you. Now don't blame him," she continued when Koala opened her mouth to say something. "It wasn't easy for us to communicate. I only found out the day before yesterday Ace tried to call me a few months ago. So tell me about yourself. How did you meet?"
"We met in karate class," Koala replied.
"You're doing karate? Which level?"
"Brown belt."
"Oh good, that means you can kick Sabo's butt. He needs that sometimes," Rouge said thoughtfully.
Koala beamed.
"What else do you do in daily life?" Rouge asked.
"Ehm, I'm studying archaeology…"
"That's nice. Marco, you?"
Marco was a little caught off guard when he was suddenly pulled into the conversation. He had hoped the drilling of Koala would go on a little longer. "I teach zoology."
Rouge seemed to consider his reply. "That's nice too," she finally said. "I mean, it's not saving life like my job, but I guess we can't all do that."
Koala and Marco exchanged a look.
"I'm just kidding." They had just arrived at the ice cream parlour, and Rouge sighed and turned to them. "Look, I know you're desperate for my approval, and in all honesty, I kind of like that. It's good to be feared. But those boys were raised well. I should know, I personally took care of that." She smiled fondly. "I trust their judgement, and they seem to like you a lot. All of them. So all I want is to get to know you. I mean, don't get me wrong," she continued. "If you hurt a hair on their heads, I will hunt you down to the end of the earth. But until then," she smiled innocently, "you have nothing to worry about. Except that I will be judging you based on your choices of ice cream flavours. Come along now."
They exited the parlour again with enough ice cream to feed Marco's family, Marco thought, but he had seen Ace, Sabo and Luffy eat, so it wouldn't be a problem.
As soon as they entered the living room again, Ace and Sabo jumped up from the couch, but Luffy was too engrossed in whatever videogame he was playing to even notice.
"Are the dishes done?" Rouge asked.
"Yes, mom. Are you okay?" Ace asked Marco, a worried frown on his face.
Rouge rolled her eyes. "Please, honey. If I was going to harm him, you would have never found the body."
Ace opened his mouth to reply, when Luffy suddenly exclaimed, "Ice cream!" and dove toward the bag Rouge was holding.
Rouge slapped his hand away and started to hand out the cups to the rightful owners as they gathered around the table.
Once she had finished her portion, Rouge moved her chair back. "Alright boys, I'm still a bit jetlagged, so I'm off to bed." She rose as they all wished her goodnight. Before she left, though, she stopped and bent down, picking up Benn's manuscript. "Can I read this? Apparently, I'm a little behind on times."
Ace shrugged. "I don't think Benn will mind."
"'Demons and Angels'," Rouge read out loud. "What it about?"
"Well, demons. And angels."
She raised an eyebrow. "That's not very imaginative. I liked the other title better. Koala, do you know that book? What was it again?"
"'The demon wears Armani'."
"Oh my God, what?! I love that book!" Koala exclaimed. "Is that the sequel? How?"
"Shanks – the guy who let you in – is dating the author," Ace explained, taken aback when Koala looked like she was about to squeal.
"And you can read the manuscript of his new book?" Koala said after a few steadying breaths. "What's it like?"
"I haven't finished it yet, but it's pretty good. Shanks isn't too happy about it, though," Ace said.
"Why not?"
"'Cause there's a homoerotic sex scene between a character that looks like him and one that looks like Marco," Sabo said, biting back his laughter.
"Yeah, now that I know that, I kind of like it less," Ace muttered. "But it's pretty homoerotic in general. So you gotta like that."
"Please, with all the homoerotic fanfiction she writes, she'll be fine," Sabo said. "Ouch!"
Koala gave him a warning look.
"What? It's good! I mean, there are a bit too many penises for my taste, but the prose is good."
"How many penises?" Ace asked innocently.
Koala groaned and hid her face.
"Alright," Rouge said, looking fondly at her silly kids, "I'm off then. Goodnight, boys. Koala. Marco."
"Wait, mom!"
She turned around.
"How long will you stay?" Ace asked.
"At least until the next full moon." With a wink, she left.
"So you're not one of the boys yet," Sabo said to Marco triumphantly once she was out of earshot. "That's bad news."
"Neither is Koala," Ace shot back.
"She's not a boy!"
"Neither is Marco!"
"Don't get conceited because you're dating-" Sabo stopped midsentence and glanced at Koala. "An older man."
Koala raised an eyebrow as she looked from one to the other. "So, what's your mom's stay got to do with the full moon?"
Ace exchanged a look with Marco. "Ehm, she's very superstitious. Anyone up for cards?" he quickly changed the subject.
As he scurried off to find a deck, Koala leaned with her hand on the table. "She is pretty amazing, though. I mean, I know she was joking about our occupations, Marco, but she's actually saving lives."
Ace returned to the table with a deck of cards. "Yeah, she's a true angel." He stopped, looking at Marco, who almost choked on his spit. He then looked at Sabo, who wasn't in a much better state.
Koala raised her eyebrow again. "What's so funny about that?"
"Nothing," Ace said, choked, and coughed a few times. "Nothing," he repeated. "Texas Hold 'em, anyone?"
"So, about that fanfiction," Ace continued as he was dealing the card.
"Leave it, you're not reading it." Koala turned up her nose as she looked at the hand she had been dealt. "And the answer is three."
A grin appeared on Ace's face. "Nice!" He held up his hand for a high five, but lowered it again when Marco raised an eyebrow.
"Don't even think about it."
Ace pouted and slowly raised his hand again towards Koala, who did high-five him. And then Luffy did too, but mostly because he just liked high-fiving, Marco suspected.
They played cards for a while, until Koala announced she was going home.
"You're not staying?" Sabo asked, taking her hand.
She snorted. "With your mom here? No thanks. I bet Marco isn't staying either, are you?"
"I've been almost being caught with my pants around my ankles once too many already," Marco muttered, but declined to repeat it when prompted.
"But it's dark out and you missed the last bus," Sabo protested.
Marco rose from his chair. "You live at the university campus, right? I can give you a lift, if you want."
"Really?"
He shrugged. "I have to pick up something at my office, anyway. I was planning on going tomorrow, but now's fine too. If Sabo is willing to let you go, that is."
Sabo looked from one to the other.
She chuckled and kissed Sabo's hair. "Thanks, Marco." She tried to pull herself loose, but instead of letting go of her, Sabo wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face in her shirt.
"Seems like it's past someone's bedtime," Ace said teasing.
Sabo turned his head to glare at him, but still held on.
"Alright, big guy. I have class tomorrow, you know. And Marco's waiting."
Reluctantly, Sabo let go and allowed himself to be kissed.
"Okay, bye!" Koala called quietly after Marco had said goodbye to Ace.
Outside, Marco pointed her to his car. Once they were inside, Koala heaved a sigh of relief as she fastened her seatbelt. "Seems we survived."
"You mean Rouge?" Marco said, amused.
Koala huffed. "Yeah. I'd liked to have some preparation time before I met what's basically my mother-in-law. Didn't she catch you off guard?"
"Considering Ace didn't even know she was coming, yeah, she did."
"Why did she come back now, though?" Koala wondered out loud. "Sabo said she hasn't been back for a long time."
Marco shrugged. "I guess she just missed her boys."
"Probably." Koala smiled. "She's one hell of a lady, right? I mean, working with Doctors Without Borders is already amazing, but also being a single mom and raise two kids that aren't even your own? If I'm half that awesome by the time I'm her age, I'm considering myself a winner."
Marco smiled and braked before a traffic light that just turned red.
A tap on the window startled them both, and Marco grabbed at his heart until he saw a familiar face in the window. Koala pushed the button to roll down the window, and Robin popped her head in.
"Hi Robin, what are you doing here?" Koala asked.
"Just taking an evening stroll. I saw you sitting in the car and just wanted to make sure you weren't being kidnapped." She smiled. "Hello, Marco."
"Oh, you know each other?" Koala asked.
"Through a friend of a friend," Marco said, his eyes flicking up to Robin.
"Of a friend," Robin added.
"Okay." Koala turned to Robin. "Marco's taking me to campus. Do you need a ride somewhere?"
A smile played around her lips. "Campus will be fine. If Marco is willing to take another passenger."
Marco shrugged and kept his face stoic as usual. "The more, the merrier." However, as Robin stepped into the backseat, Marco couldn't help but wonder if she had anything up her sleeve. She probably knew Koala from archaeology, which Koala studied, and Robin was working on her PhD in the same field. They seemed to be on a more friendly basis than the usual student-teacher relationship, though. It made Marco wonder if Koala knew about Robin's true nature.
Their conversation revealed nothing particularly interesting. They immediately dove into the topic of archaeology, and Marco tuned them out. What was the fun in archaeology if you'd already seen the actual civilisations in real life?
At the university, Marco parked closer to the dorm, rather than his usual spot near his office. Together, they stepped out of the car and strolled towards the building.
"Are they doing renovations?" Marco asked, looking up at the scaffolding surrounding the building.
Koala nodded, an exasperated look on her face. "They have been at it for months, and they always start super early in the morning."
"So that's why my students are always falling asleep in class," Marco mused.
Koala exchanged a look with Robin. "I'm sure that's it."
In front of the door, they stopped.
"Well, thank you for taking me home." She turned to Robin. "See you in class tomorrow."
A bunch of drunk students walked past, swaying back and forth. One of them bumped into the scaffolding, laughing loudly as he moved on.
Koala rolled her eyes. "And that's what's keeping me up at night. And now I can't even sleep over at Sabo to catch some shut-eye." She sighed and let herself fall against the scaffolding.
Something moved, and Marco barely saw the thing falling in time. "Watch out!" He pushed her out of the way, tripping over his own feet. Something heavy fell on his leg, and he bit his tongue not to scream.
"Oh my God, your leg!" Koala exclaimed.
Marco looked down. The thing that had fallen on his leg turned out to be a steel beam. "It's just a scratch," he said through gritted teeth.
"Your leg not supposed to bend that way! I'm calling an ambulance."
"Please, Koala, that isn't necessary." Marco looked pleading at Robin.
"If your guardian angel says he is fine, I would believe him," Robin said, a smile playing on her lips.
He was sure she wasn't randomly picking those words, and he narrowed his eyes at her as he pushed the steel beam off. Examining the damage, he realised that Koala was right. That was not how his leg was supposed to look. It was very nasty.
"You just saved my life! Let me help you!" Koala pulled out her phone.
"Koala, please! It's not necessary!" Marco tried to fight it, but his survival instincts were too strong. His healing powers kicked in, blue flames dancing across his leg, and Koala shrieked.
