Wishfull-star: Thank you! Stay safe as well.

just1randomhooman: Thank you! Poor Ace's insecurities after being in an abusive home. But at least Marco understands his feelings. Best secret boyfriend ever.

Big developments in this one! Enjoy~

Ace slowly brushed Chopper with the horse brush he found in the stables. There was an area for the horses to run around in, which was better than at home. Maybe Chopper wouldn't want to come back to the cramped stables. Well, maybe Ace could build him a paddock in the empty field behind his home.

He wondered what the step monsters were doing. Were they finally going shopping themselves? Had they grown up while Ace was gone? He didn't miss them. But he missed the freedom he felt, going on rides and flights. Eating on the roof secretly with Marco. He was lost in the situation. He wished he could think of something to make it better.

After his little melt down three days ago, he started to hate himself. Being so selfish. Acting like he was the only one upset in the situation. He stopped brushing Chopper and just stared at the woodchip-covered floor. Spade was waiting outside, not spooking the horses. He wondered when Spade would decide Ace wasn't worth it. Worth shackling himself to a human.

He looked down at the gloves, hiding his deadly fingers. He wanted to pet Chopper, but didn't want to risk at all making him sick or even just uncomfortable. The teen didn't resent his dragon, but it was inconvenient.

Thatch kept telling him he could be super strong once he mastered the ice powers. Ace didn't really know when or why he'd use it in offense or defense. He wasn't in the police force, or any military. He wouldn't really fight against anybody. And there hadn't been another sighting of Blackbeard, not in the kingdom, at least, and people were scouring the woods and mountain for him.

Marco was important, of course they'd want to do anything to make sure he was safe. Ace did wish he had a loving family. That his mom and dad were still around. That he had any extended family. Anyone besides the step fuckers. He wanted to go home, but would rather return to an empty home. Rather than have them all still be there.

Maybe then Ace could have the master bedroom and could spend time with Marco indoors instead of always outdoors. Not that it really mattered for him anymore. Even under blankets, it would still be cold with Ace there. Marco used to tell him he was nice and warm. Now he was cold.

Yet he still snuck into Ace's guest bedroom at night and slept with him. It was nice, and Ace did his best to enjoy it. He went back to brushing Chopper until his body got cold again and the horse shuffled a bit. "Sorry, boy," Ace apologized. He wondered if he could ever ride Chopper again without getting cold for him.

Ace put the brush back where it came from and left the stables, Spade getting up to follow him. He suddenly turned into full form and bumped his head into Ace's. He'd gotten better about less forceful head boops. Ace hugged him around the neck. He was warm. Why couldn't Ace be warm anymore? He could tell that it reacted to his emotions. If he was crying, he got colder. Of course he hid that from Marco, not wanting to worry him.

Ace was miserable. The more he saw the palace, how it ran, how important Marco would be, all the meetings he went to, the time he had to spend with princess Vivi, made him feel like a side project. There when Marco needed or wanted him. He never asked Marco to come to him, not wanting to be a bother.

He still loved him and wanted to spend his life with him, but that just didn't look practical. It just seemed like something that would never come true. No matter if both of them wanted it.

The teen and dragon headed to the roof of the palace, Ace holding onto Spade's neck with his legs clamped around his middle, and they landed with a thud. The roof was more than strong enough for Spade's weight, there just wasn't much room for him in his full form.

Ace sighed and clenched his fists when he heard someone shouting at him to come down. One of the guards had seen him. Well, Ace refused. He wanted alone time and whoever this was would leave him alone. Ace didn't even look over the side to see who it was. They got angrier the longer Ace ignored him, finally making pebbles of ice that he stuck in his ears like earplugs.

It wasn't comfortable because it made his ears cold, but it let him ignore everyone. If he really had to come down, Marco would come get him. Though he might not come down even then. He laid on his back and looked at the clouds passing overhead. Laying on the picnic blanket on the grass of the meadow was much nicer for cloud watching than on the hard stone roof.

Ace? You okay, baby?

I just wanted some alone time to relax. Please don't make me come down.

I won't, I just want to make sure you're okay. Ace said he was fine. The ice plugs blocked out most sounds, even with his advanced senses. The shouting seemed to have stopped, so Ace assumed Marco took care of the problem. Ace wanted to fly. He just wanted to sneak off the grounds by himself. But he wasn't stupid and recognized the threat this Blackbeard was. He wished he'd hurry the fuck up and get captured so Ace could leave.

He was thinking a bit about kicking them out of his house, his step family. He just didn't want to go back to them. He didn't know, he just didn't want to go back to how things were. Living alone with Spade would be better than living in the drafty attic, surrounded by abusive shitheads. He turned to Spade, and asked, "Would you ever leave me for good? If I get too annoying, or too clingy, or you just get tired of me?"

Spade blinked at him a few times before he put his head in Ace's lap. Ace felt himself grow cold, and the tears on his face froze. He took a few deep breaths, and whispered a thank you. He got a gruff noise in return. He smiled, feeling the cold fade away. It was going to be winter soon. He'd just make it worse for Marco. He wouldn't be a cool option when it was hot.

Not that Marco did that, made it seem like he was using Ace for his ice power. He had no control, still. He wasn't working on control, either. He should be, but he just didn't have the mental energy for it right now. He felt… sort of like he was melting into a puddle of depression. He wished he could feel better. Marco did his best, and so did his brothers and the king. He should be happy with that, but it only made him feel guilty.

Being the reason their brother and son were hiding something huge from them. Izo knew, but he mostly left Ace alone, probably knowing how upset he'd made Ace when he found out, easily. Marco must have told him, probably gotten mad at him for it.

After a few hours of staring at the sky, Marco flew up and sat next to him. He asked how he was, neither of them seeing the arrow before it shot right through Ace's head in a burst of flames. He froze, but he wasn't in any pain. Someone had tried to kill him, nobody should know about him being a phoenix.

Marco shouted at him to get down, and Ace commanded Spade to get down as well. The three of them peeked their heads over the side, and Ace focused all his senses on anybody who shouldn't be there.

Another arrow whizzed past. He focused his sight from where the arrow had come from and narrowed his eyes. Marco did as well, both of them finding the culprit. Marco said that was Blackbeard. He fit the descriptions, and he was a creepy looking guy. Ace took his gloves off and tried to control his ice.

It was a desperate situation, and the ice listened to him. It gathered in his fingers. Marco asked what he was doing when he sat up and closed one eye, imagining to make his own arrows. He did, and then pulled his arm back, flexing it before he launched it forward with all of the strength he had from being a phoenix.

He heard a scream or fury and pain as Blackbeard's left hand was severed completely. Now he couldn't use any arrows. He was looking at Ace in fury. Suddenly a mass of black came rocketing at him, and he leapt out of the way easily. The black wiped out part of the roof. He turned around and formed another lance.

He put one hand on the roof below him, Marco frantically trying to get home down. He launched the second lance, and Blackbeard dodged, not expecting Ace to freeze the ground rapidly as the frost spread at an alarming pace along the palace walls and the grass, covering all of it in ice.

It reached the edge of the forest across the grounds and crept up Blackbeard's legs and up to his neck. He couldn't move anymore, and shouted angrily. Spade acted, adding more and more layers of ice around the bad guy. He also added spikes surrounding him. Marco had wide eyes. Ace dropped down off of the roof and ran forward.

Marco shot after him, holding him back. Ace was angry and wanted to hurt the man. He caused everyone so much stress, killed Spade's kind, killed Ace and Marco's kind. "No! Don't go near him," Marco said, calling for guards, who came immediately and ran to the criminal, all with their swords out. "You don't need to go anything else. You've done enough."

Then Ace saw his hands leaving cold burn marks on Marco's forearms that he was gripping. He yanked himself away, keeping his hands away. Spade flew back to the roof and came back with the gloves in his hands. He shoved them back on, the world once again safe from his fingers. Marco took his gloved hands, and said, "That was amazing. You protected all three of us." Ace took his hand out of Marco's and touched his forehead. Someone had tried to kill him. Shot an arrow through his head, through his brain. He would have died instantly if he was not a phoenix. He fell to his knees, breathing quickly, hyperventilating.

The prince got down next to him, and rubbed his back, couching him to breathe slowly. It wasn't working for him, and he passed out from a sleep attack, bringing his breathing back to normal. He didn't know Marco picked him up to take inside, murmuring assurances that he was alive and well.

-x-

Marco put Ace in a warm bath, staying in there with him so he didn't fall under the water and drown. He was rubbing circles in his hair. He had taken Ace straight to the bath to warm him up, as his body was getting colder and colder. There was a knock on the door, and he could smell Pops. He quietly told the king he could come inside.

Marco had closed the curtains around the bath the moment before he let the man in. "What happened?" Pops asked in worry. Marco wasn't going to tell him the full truth. It wasn't his secret to tell.

"Blackbeard attempted to shoot an arrow through Ace's head but barely missed. He made a lance out of ice and threw it back, severing his hand and then trapping him in ice. Spade helped out, too." He looked down, face looking like shame. "I couldn't do anything to help."

Whitebeard hummed, and Marco had a feeling he sensed the lie. But he didn't ask, didn't say anything about his suspicions. It made Marco wonder if he already knew everything but had just not said anything. "Well, now that Blackbeard is out, Ace can return home if he wishes."

Marco heard the sounds of cracking come from the bathroom as the water in the tub turned to ice. "We can decide later, once he feels better," Marco said, wanting Pops out of the room. "He's unconscious, so I'll help him out once he's warmed up." The king, thankfully, left and shut the door behind him.

Ace was in his underwear, Marco hadn't fully undressed him. He opened the curtains and saw the entire tub was a block of ice. It had frozen over when Pops had said he could leave. Effectively making it seem like Ace was no longer welcome. Marco was able to dig his hands into the ice and break it apart to have Ace come out. He didn't come out, though. He stayed curled up, shivering violently.

"Baby, c'mon, let's get you warmed up," Marco said gently, pulling Ace out of the remains of the bathwater and dried him off with a fluffy towel. He put his gloves on and got dressed. He wasn't bothered that Marco had put him in the bath.

"I'm sure Pops didn't mean it to sound so cold," Marco said softly, hugging him.

Ace replied, "It's fine. I don't belong here anyways," in a broken voice. Marco winced, his face falling. Ace probably felt he didn't belong anywhere. Not at his house that wasn't a home. Not in a palace where he couldn't be himself. He got up to walk out of the door. Marco didn't know what to say back to him. But he went after him and grabbed his wrist. "You don't have to say anything, Marco."

The prince looked down, feeling hopeless. He tried to stop Ace in his room as he packed his things. "Wait, at least stay the night."

"I just want to go," Ace said in a flat voice. Marco smelled Izo outside of the room, listening. Ace didn't notice. Marco said he didn't want him to leave. "I do. I want things to go back to how they were. I don't belong here. I'm fine with being on the side. I'll get used to it again."

Marco felt tears of hopelessness form in his eyes, but didn't let them fall and hurt Ace more. "Okay, then I'll take you back," Marco said quietly. He didn't know what to say. Didn't know how to help. He was useless. The silence was painful. It felt like his heart was breaking as Marco rode Chopper in the silence, Ace and Spade flying above the path. Ace was too cold to ride Chopper safely now.

When they got back to the house, Ace looked at it with hate. But then the look faded away, and Marco pretended not to notice it. Ace opened the unlocked front door. "I'm back," he said loudly. Loud enough for those in the living room and study to hear. Stelly came out.

"You should have just stayed away. It was better without you," he snapped. Ace didn't reply and just walked up the stairs. When he was out of sight, Marco grew furious.

"You will shut the fuck up. I know about you three physically harming him. I could throw you all in jail. You're walking on fucking thin ice. Do you understand me? If I ever hear that any of you attempted to harm Ace again, you will get jail time, requested by me personally. And I am dead serious," Marco said angrily. The three were looking shocked, their faces white. Marco could get them imprisoned easily. His brothers and father would agree with that, too.

There would be nobody to defend their freedom. Marco stormed up the stairs, finding Ace standing at the top of the stairs, just looking at the desolate attic. Some home this was. Some bedroom. But Ace set his sack down and sat on the crappy, collapsed bed. Marco sat next to his Ace, kissing his cheek. He wanted things to go back to normal, how they were. When Ace was happy.

"Don't listen to them, they're just assholes," he said. Ace said he knew that, and wasn't surprised. He was expecting something like that. Marco had been, too. But he also fully stood by his threat. Ace didn't mention it, and neither did he. They sat for a bit, before Ace said that Marco should get back to the palace. They still had to deal with Blackbeard, who had intense frostbite, but was alive.

"I'm really okay," Ace said. He clearly wasn't. Marco wasn't sure if he should leave him alone or not. He didn't want to push Ace when he wanted to be left alone, but he also didn't want to leave him alone. "Please go. I want to be alone." His voice was choked up, and Marco hugged him tightly.

"I'll bring you food tomorrow morning, okay?" Marco said softly. Ace nodded, thanking him. He told him good luck with dealing with Blackbeard. "We could have died if it weren't for you. You saved us. Nobody will forget that, okay?" Ace nodded. Marco stood and dropped out of the window and flew away, tears in his eyes.

I don't belong here. I'm fine with being on the side. I'll get used to it again.

Marco couldn't let that claim rest. He couldt let Ace feel that way. Seeing him miserable had been harder than anything he remembered ever happening to him. Hearing him talk like he was absolutely nothing hurt him worse than any wound could. He couldn't do it anymore. He couldn't hide it and keep Ace feeling like he was just a side project.

He had thought that Ace knew Marco loved him unconditionally. But deep rooted feelings had come to the surface. They were eating Ace alive, and Marco couldn't let that stand. If Pops doesn't approve, Marco would forfeit his position as prince. He would go to live with Ace somewhere, but would still visit his family.

Ace was his soul mate. The only other phoenix he'd met, the only person Marco loved like that. Seven weeks ago, he didn't think he'd feel this way, but he did. Ace was part of his life now, and he couldn't let him still feel how he did.

Marco flew home faster, and followed Vivi's scent, and found her in the library with Nami. She was brushing Vivi's long hair, the princess looking content. Marco was going to ruin that, but he had to come clean. "Marco, how is Ace? It must have been scary with him almost being killed. What's wrong?"

"I have to tell Pops. I can't let Ace feel worthless anymore. I can't let him feel like a side project any longer. I don't know what I'll say about you two, though. It's not my secret to tell, and I don't want to ruin both of your lives." Nami looked sympathetic and sad, no doubt understanding how Ace felt.

Vivi sat up and looked very seriously at Marco. He hoped she wasn't angry. She then sighed, touching Nami's hand that was on her shoulder. "What do you want to do?" Marco asked.

The princess said, "I don't want you to take the blame for this. We'll tell the truth as well. If Nami were in Ace's position, I'd do what you wish to do. If things go wrong, then we're leaving, together. What will you do if things go wrong?" He knew by "wrong" she meant no acceptance, telling them they had to marry.

"I'll refuse and then relinquish my position as future king. I have two other brothers who can be king. I won't abandon Ace, no matter what," Marco said in a firm voice. Vivi asked if he was sincere, as they'd only known each other for seven weeks. "Not all true love has to develop after years."

Vivi smiled and nodded, saying her question was stupid and insensitive. Marco said that he wanted to talk to the king by himself. That there was more to tell that he didn't want anyone but Pops to know. She nodded, and said that she'd be waiting with Nami in the bedroom. "Please tell me what happens as soon as possible." He said he would.

His heart was pounding as he followed the king's scent and entered his large office. He was sitting at his desk. "I got a letter back from Goa. There are others like Ace- what's wrong?" Whitebeard asked in worry, seeing Marco's troubled demeanor and nervous look. The nervous sweat.

"I have something important to tell you, and I want you to not interrupt, okay?" The father was worried, and nodded. He gestured to the couch for Marco to sit on. He did, hunched over with his forearms resting on his knees, hands clasped together. He had to do it. Say it quickly, like ripping off a bandage. Even if ripping off that bandage just made the wound worse.

"I love Ace. We've been in a relationship for seven weeks. I visit him at his house. Vivi agreed to this. She's in a relationship with her handmaiden, Nami. We've been lying and pretending to want to be married. But I want Ace, and she wants Nami," he said. His brows were furrowed as he tried to read the king's expression. He did seem upset.

He asked, "Why did you keep it a secret?"

"You told me I needed to marry a princess, despite me telling you that I'm not interested in women. I wanted to be with Ace, even if it meant deceiving everyone and the kingdom. I wasn't going to tell you. Izo knows, too, but kept the secret for us. I'm only telling you because I can't let Ace feel like a side project anymore. I can't make him feel unwanted and unwelcome.

"No matter what you say, I'm not going to break up with him. Even if it means I relinquish my position of future king," he said in a strong voice. Whitebeard did look surprised by this. The serious look on Marco's face. Challenging him to say Marco couldn't be with Ace. "Thatch or Izo can be king."

His father looked troubled. Marco decided to tell him, then. "Ace is a phoenix, too. We're meant for each other. I won't lose him, Pops. No matter what you say." The king was shocked to hear Ace was also a phoenix. He was silent for a long time, Marco growing increasingly worried, and also his expression hardening until he was glaring.

"I'm sorry for forcing you into this. I'm not happy with you lying to me. You should have talked to me about it long ago." Marco was shocked. "I want my son to be happy. If Vivi can accept this, if it works and both of you are happy, then I understand. You can't force love, and I apologize for making you try." Then he laughed, a short chuckle. "Roger would think this was hilarious. You will need to be convincing to the public, but there's no reason to lie at home."

Marco blinked a couple of times. "Then… you're fine with it?" he asked slowly, not wanting to get his hopes up.

"I'm unhappy that you lied, but I accept and welcome Ace. If he makes you happy, then I welcome him. Plus, I'd like to do something for Roger's child, even if it is just getting him out of an abusive home." Marco ran over and hugged the king before he said he was going to go tell Ace, and zoomed out of the window.

He was laughing, though it sounded weird in his bird voice. Marco put Ace through so much stress when he could have avoided it all from the beginning, if he'd just been honest with Pops. But now, Ace was welcome and didn't need to hide his love for Marco, and he didn't need to hide either. A huge weight was lifted off of his chest.

He reached Ace's house quickly, and then froze. The spire where Ace's "bedroom" was, was crumbled and collapsed. He was confused and landed in it to find the floor was cracked, covered in ice. The entire room had been coated in thick ice, the weight of the roof collapsing the frozen solid walls.

Ace must have been in such emotional agony and turmoil for it to get this bad. The sack was gone. Had he gone somewhere else? But where? Where had he gone in the last two hours? Did he run away? Did he leave Marco without saying a thing? Had he been just a little too late?

Ace? Baby, where are you? What happened? There was no response, so Marco hurried down stairs and found Stelly whimpering on the floor of the living room, holding a hand that was covered in ice so cold it was letting off mist. Marco hurried over and asked what the hell had happened.

The sister, Mikita or something, said that the attic had frozen over, and when Stelly touched the doorknob, ice attacked him. Marco ran to the kitchen and boiled water before walking over and pouring the hot water over the hand. He screamed but the ice melted to reveal horrible frostbite. His hand might not come out unscathed.

"Get into town and to a doctor immediately," he said, his voice void of compassion or concern. "And don't go into Ace's room." He left and flew off, not giving a shit about Stelly's injury. Who cares if he lost those fingers? He used them to harm Ace.

Baby, where are you? Please, answer.

Silence. Marco started to panic, not knowing where to go to find him. Had he really disappeared? But then there was a response.

My ice went out of control. I shouldn't be around people anymore. You should just forget about me. I don't want to cause anymore trouble. So, he went somewhere without people, but Spade had clearly gone with him. The only place he could think of was the volcano they found the dragon in the first time.

I need to speak to you in person. I'll be there soon. I won't give you up. We'll learn how to control the ice, I swear. There was no response.

He flew as fast as he could to where he smelled Ace in the air, having been there not long ago. He shouldn't be at the volcano yet, it took too long. He might catch up to him and Spade halfway there. He was as fast as he could.

Ace did make it to the volcano, he didn't catch the teen on the way. He dove through the mouth of the beast and smelled Ace easily, and Spade. He went where he knew Ace was. He was in a huge puddle, water dripping off of him like a fountain. He was becoming ice as it rapidly melted. An endless loop. Marco hurried to him and knelt in the cool water. He put his hand against the back of Ace's head, holding him close.

He was cold, but it wasn't too bad. "I talked to Pops. To Whitebeard. He accepts our relationship and reached out his hand for you to come live with us," he said, getting straight to the point. "I couldn't let you feel forgotten, unwanted or unimportant. I love you too much to continue to put you through that," he said quieter.

Ace didn't believe him at first until Marco pulled out of the hug and gave him a sincere smile. "We can be together, Ace. The kingdom won't know as of now, but you don't have to hide it at the palace. We can stay in the same room without having to sneak. We can hold hands, kiss, hug."

Tears soon joined the pouring water that slowly halted. "B-But, I hurt someone with my ice. And ruined part of the house," Ace stuttered, looking between both of Marco's eyes frantically.

Marco put his forehead against Ace's. "You won't have that happen again, because I won't allow anybody to ever make you feel alone and unwanted ever again. Never. I'll spend my whole life making you feel loved." Ace started sobbing, and Marco just gave him physical comfort, threading his fingers through Ace's hair. By then, both of them were covered in sweat from the heat.

Spade hadn't interrupted at all, and was watching from a few yards away, posture relaxed. "And Spade is of course welcome as well. And he doesn't have to be confined to the palace grounds. I didn't have time to see about Blackbeard, I went straight to Pops. And guess what? There are others like you in Goa. Bonded to dragons." Ace looked up suddenly. Marco grinned. "Good news all around, right?"

"I'm scared to hurt somebody," Ace confessed. His hands were still gloved. "I was upset and the whole room iced over."

"Well, I guess you just won't get as much money when you sell it," Marco said with a smile. "As long as you never feel that much despair again, it'll be okay. Besides, frostbite doesn't hurt me, remember?" He tucked a strand of sweaty hair out of his face. "Want to stay here a bit more or go back?"

He'd promised he'd tell Vivi the news after getting it, but he had to go to Ace immediately, he couldn't help it. He had to help him. He wouldn't ever let Ace fall down that well again. He'd always be there to help him out before he fell inside. Always. Ace was the love of his life. Seven weeks, seven years, they both felt the same way.

Now that Marco has true permission to be with him, he saw no end in sight. Marco sat next to him and put his arm around his shoulders, kissing his arm. The arm band was still on, still glowing. Marco felt that it might never stop glowing. Ace took a breath and said, "I'm not going to sell the house. In case I ever need to get away to go somewhere.

"But I'm evicting the assholes," he said firmly. Marco smiled and said he found no problem in that. They could go on short vacations to Ace's house, or just go there to be alone. Flying back and forth from the palace wouldn't take long. The younger leaned his head on Marco's shoulder and sighed.

"I'm sorry that I didn't act on this sooner. When you first felt forgettable," Marco apologized. Ace replied that it wouldn't have been fair for him to demand Marco risk everything. He'd only known Ace for seven weeks. "That feels like a lifetime with you." Ace blushed and gave a tiny smile.

After a good two hours, Ace said he thought he wasn't icing anymore, only sweating. They stood up, and Marco pulled Ace over to plant a soft kiss on his lips. Ace smiled shyly. Marco thought he was adorable when he got shy at random times. Not every show of affection brought out a blush, so when he got one, he felt rewarded.

When the two of them changed into phoenix forms, Spade got ready to fly, too, and the three of them flew back to Ace's house. The smallest of the three rested on top of Marco as he flew, the weight of another fire bird being next to nothing. Marco liked flying like this, having missed flying in general after being bound to the palace.

When they reached the house, both turned back to normal, Ace looking thousand times better than he did when Marco left him to go back home and talk to his father about his relationship with Ace, and the future he wanted. When they landed outside the door, Ace walked straight into the house.

Marco waited outside while he talked to his step family, hopefully for one of the last times.

Finally the secret is out! Now what will they do?