(Cafe AU)

Ace was surprised to see Marco and Thatch approaching the counter this time during lunch. Marco didn't usually come over during lunch and usually he would say if he was. It gave Ace time to try mentally prepare himself so he didn't babble about like a moron.

"Hey Ace!" Thatch beamed. "We're going to sit in today okay?"

Sit in? They were sitting in?! Marco rarely sat in!

At least not without a laptop!

"Going to do some paperwork away from the office?" Ace asked with a smile as he began to ready their order, Thatch listing off a few cakes to add with it.

"Oh no. We're here to chat. No laptops this time." Thatch grinned as he pulled Marco closer. "He needs to get out more after all and not work all the time."

"Hi Ace. It's nice to see you again yoi." Marco greeted him, and damn his voice-

No. Customer. That's a customer.

"Hey Marco." Ace smiled back shyly.

"So what are you two doing here?" Nami was suddenly at his side, glowering at Thatch who held up his hands defensively.

"No reason at all!"

"So Izo didn't say anything did he?" Nami asked, her smile growing which made Ace weary and try to cower away.

It was like a dangerous predator was approaching. One not after food, or your soul, but all your life's savings.

"Izo?" Thatch laughed nervously. "Not at all! We're just here to sit back and relax and enjoy the company! Man it seems pretty quiet in here today huh?"

"The rain is putting everyone off from coming down I think." Ace admitted before backtracking, remember that Marco had said he liked this weather. "Though that's not to say it isn't a nice day? It is a nice day right?"

Marco nodded, a choking noise escaping him. "Y-Yeah it definitely is."

"You two are hopeless." Nami muttered at his side. "Fine. Pay up then go sit down. Ace will bring your stuff to you."

"Love you Nami!" Thatch called out as he handed Ace the cash.

"I'll bring your coffees to you in a moment and your toastie." Ace offered, glancing at Marco who smiled back with those lovely lips-

DAMMIT! MIND OUT OF THE GUTTER!

.::.

Marco sat down, glancing over at where Ace whose back was turned to them. Marco felt his eyes go downwards before he forced them back up, flushing instantly while Thatch sniggered across from him.

"You two are terrible. Seriously you need to ask him out on a date and get this sorted out. You two act like teenagers." Thatch pointed out.

"I'm a lot older than him yoi." Marco frowned. "He's only twenty."

"A twelve year gap. Big deal." Thatch snorted. "Ace's parents had an even bigger one from what he knows of them."

"Which isn't much." Marco murmured but smiled again as Ace began to approach with a tray in hand and cups balanced on it.

"Here we go." Ace grinned, handing him the black coffee and Thatch his latte. "You two alright for now or do you want something else?"

"You should join us if you haven't had your lunch break yet." Thatch said.

"I'm actually due to finish in about ten minutes so I'll just be grabbing lunch on the way back home." Ace admitted.

Marco cursed inwardly, he had forgotten that Ace finished early today. Well, guess that meant he didn't have to ask his crush out today right? Thatch and Izo couldn't blame him if Ace had to go home!

"Well how about you join us for lunch instead?" Thatch offered-

WAS THATCH TRYING TO GIVE HIM A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN?!

Ace sitting beside him, having lunch?! It's a small space, their legs could touch and Ace's legs looked fine indeed-

Marco had the sudden urge to slam his head on the table but instead his eye caught Ace wobble a bit before collapsing. Marco reacted quickly, grabbing Ace before he could hit his head off the table while the tray, thankfully unloaded, hit the ground and rolled away.

"Ah crap, he's down." Thatch frowned while Marco checked that Ace could breath easily and was mostly comfortable.

"Ace alright?" Nami called out as she ran over, looking alarmed. "He didn't hit his head right?"

"No Marco caught him in time." Thatch said, relieved. "Ace went out like a light there. I didn't even notice until he wobbled and went down hard."

Nami smirked. "Well Marco since you caught him I guess you can take care of him for now."

"What do you mean yoi?" Marco frowned but tensed as Nami shifted Ace so that he wasn't being held up by Marco anymore.

Marco instead had to shift further back into the small booth before being passed Ace who slept on peacefully, now leaning against his side. Marco stiffened, horrified while Thatch laughed again.

"Wa-Wait! I-I Ace he-" Marco stammered, blushing hard when he felt Ace's warm breath against his neck.

"Relax. Enjoy yourself." Nami said, a wicked gleam in her eyes. "Ace needs to lie down and relax until his fit ends and he wakes up and what better place than next to you? He does trust you a lot after all."

"B-But-"

"It shouldn't be too long. He usually wakes up under the half an hour mark." Nami offered, still smirking wickedly at him while Thatch slipped out from the booth, coffee in hand.

"Wa-Wait don't leave-"

"Just going to inform Pops you might be delayed back to work. Relax Marco." Thatch sniggered at him, already dialling on his phone as he walked off to the back of the shop, Nami following him.

Marco shifted Ace, managing to get his arm unpinned and over Ace's shoulder who was now sleeping against his chest. Marco couldn't help it, he studied Ace's face, seeing the freckles up closer and how soft his skin actually looked.

Marco reached up and trailed his thumb over Ace's cheek, confirming how soft his skin was for himself before pulling away, telling himself off.

He shouldn't be doing this. Not at all. Thatch shouldn't have just left him with Ace in a narcolepsy fit. They should have laid him down in the booth properly or in the back where he knew a bed was for Ace whenever this had happened.

Marco remember the heart attack he got when he saw Ace have a fit for the first time. Sanji had thankfully been in and had caught Ace instantly while Marco panicked, ready to call for an ambulance before Nami, who had come running out from the back, calmed him and the other customers who hadn't known, down.

Nami explained that Ace was narcoleptic but the staff had been trained on how to manage it by Ace's brother Sabo who would also pop in to check on Ace often. Ace wasn't meant to work long hours because of it or if he did he had to go round the back and take a nap every so often which was why Marco knew that there was a bed at the back.

Marco paused when he heard Ace stir about twenty minutes later. Ace was very drowsy when he woke up and Marco couldn't help but smooth his hair away from his face when Ace groaned out.

Nami approached as well, frowning as she watched Ace blink sleepily at them both. That was a rare occurrence. Usually Ace was pretty much wide awake after one of his narcoleptic fits but this time he was still very drowsy.

"I'm gonna call Sabo to pick you up. You can't get home like this by yourself."

"Nooo Nami..." Ace slurred. "He's working..."

"That's the rules remember? I call Sabo after a narcoleptic fit that leaves you too drowsy to even speak properly." Nami said firmly as she pulled away. "Your shifts done anyway. Go home and relax a bit okay?"

Ace grumbled softly but relaxed against Marco only to blink up at him.

"Hey Ace. Feeling alright yoi?" Marco asked softly.

Ace nodded. "Sorry I fell asleep on you..."

"It's alright. I'm just glad you didn't hit your head." Marco soothed before frowning. "Hey Ace... I wanted to ask you something... I tried this morning but I got flustered..."

"You? Flustered?" Ace laughed softly, leaning more heavier against him as Marco played with his hair.

He had to move his hand. Ace probably hadn't realised yet, still too half asleep, that Marco was playing with his hair but Ace's hair was so soft and smooth!

Dammit. Why did Ace have to be so cute and attractive?!

"I was. I still am." Marco admitted. "I want to ask you out on a date."

Ace just blinked up at him, seemingly awake now. "Huh?"

Marco flushed. "I-I want to ask you out on a date. I can understand if you don't want to but-"

"I would love to!" Ace grinned, though it was still smaller than his usual, his narcolepsy probably still leaving him feeling drowsy. "Um, as long as that was not too enthusiastic? I-I um..."

Marco smiled and kissed his forehead, earning a blush. "Are you free tomorrow night?"

"Y-Yep! Definitely free!"

"NO! YOU DIDN'T ASK HIM OUT DID YOU?!" Nami suddenly screeched from the counter, looking horrified while Thatch cheered, startling the pair of them. "HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME YOU DAMN PINEAPPLE!"

"Pineapple?!" Marco gaped.

Oh yeah, that bet. Marco had forgotten about that.

Marco grinned. "Well yoi, I've got a date tomorrow so it looks like Izo won after all."

Ace sniggered softly, relaxing against him again, seemingly content. Marco smiled at that, unable to believe this was happening and had the sudden urge to pinch himself.

He should probably pinch himself the first chance he gets without letting Ace think he was crazy.

(Hey guys! Just posted up what was originally the Tangled AU on here as an actual story! I'm excited to share it all with you and can't wait to see your reactions :3 It's called Born Of Flames, so hope to see you over there :D)