(Vampire AU)
"Ace! Let's hang out!" Haruta chirped out, gripping his arm and speeding off, taking Ace with him who yelped as they reappeared in Haruta's room.
Video games lined the walls, and the TV was already set up, a game he vaguely recognised as 'Mario Kart'. Luffy enjoyed playing it with his friends. Usopp or Franky usually ended up winning, Sanji always let the girls get ahead of him, and Zoro just kept getting lost on the tracks.
It was chaos and Ace loved watching them play it. He never joined in, hunters didn't have time to play such things, not when they had to study how to kill the supernatural.
"What's up with you people and kidnapping me?!" Ace cried out.
"We learnt from our big brother," Haruta grinned as he sat down on one of the cushions. "C'mon, grab a wheel!"
Ace shook his head as he sighed and sat down. "Haruta, hunters don't play video games."
"Well that's boring. Video games are fun!" Haruta grinned. "Especially when you get comfy and get lots of snacks and sit back and relax with some friends. It's even better then."
"Yeah well hunters don't do that. We study, train and hunt." Ace pointed out, holding the wheel awkwardly as Haruta shoved it into his hands. "How?"
"You hunters are so boring," Haruta shook his head, grimacing. "All you have to do is steer. The aim of the game is to get first place in the race, avoiding all the other racers who will attack you during the race and all the obstacles on the road."
Ace frowned. "Games don't really sound like my thing."
"Just give it a try!"
.::.
Marco peeked into Haruta's room an hour later. Haruta had mentioned borrowing Ace, wanting to try get him to relax and play a few games and Marco shrugged, saying it couldn't hurt. Ace looked absolutely baffled with the plastic steeling wheel though, even after playing several rounds as the tiny masked guy.
"He just zoomed right past me!"
"You have to time the button exactly then you can get that speedy start," Haruta instructed.
"And why aren't the characters freezing to death? They aren't wearing any winter gear," Ace complained.
Marco leaned against the doorway and smiled. The little one was actually relaxing, he was more focused on the game than being weary of Haruta. That was good news.
"It's a game, Ace. Not real life."
"But it doesn't make any sense."
"It's not supposed to. It's just for fun."
"I mean I guess it's good to improve your reaction time but it doesn't do much else," Ace complained.
"Because it's not training," Haruta sighed. "It's fun."
"Fun sounds daft."
"Fun is good. Like snacks."
"Snacks are only good for fattening you up and making you slow. Thatch keeps trying to get me to eat his cakes and I'm not falling for it. I only ate Vista's cakes because he'd been eating them already."
Haruta snorted. "Thatch wants to spoil you rotten. That's why he keeps making you cakes."
"I'm not going to eat it."
"At least try some of my popcorn. It tastes good." Haruta waved the bag at Ace who eyed it wearily. "It's sweet."
"I don't think I'm allowed to."
"Well you're our brother and we say you can."
"I'm your prisoner."
"Then our prisoners can eat popcorn."
Marco watched as Haruta looked away, back to the TV screen. That was when Ace hesitantly reached in to grab a couple of pieces of popcorn. The little one sniffed at it and tilted his head, looking weary before taking a small bite. Ace swallowed the snack and eyed the bag again before sighing and reaching in for more.
Marco smiled warmly at the sight and pulled away, leaving without a word. Ace was fine. Curled up on the bean bags in Haruta's room and actually relaxing and enjoying life. Haruta could keep Ace distracted for a few more hours and get him to unwind a little more.
He was still way too stressed out after all.
.::.
Marco wandered back in once it had gotten late. He had forgotten that human's shouldn't be playing games for several hours at a time, not at least without breaks. Ace healed better that most but the little one still shouldn't be over doing it, his eye sight could get damaged after all.
He was surprised to see a soup bowl sitting empty on a tray with a few empty glasses and Ace curled up, fast asleep on the bean bag. Haruta was still playing away, looking pleased with himself. Haruta looked up the moment Marco wandered in and grinned.
"He's asleep!"
"Then don't shout yoi," Marco hushed, kneeling down by Ace's side. "Let him rest."
Haruta sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "Oops."
Marco smirked. "Yeah, 'oops'."
He glanced over the sleeping form and instantly the smirk softened into a smile. He couldn't help but brush his hand over the little one's hair, gently untangling the knots in the dark strands. Ace didn't once stir, probably exhausted. He still wasn't sleeping well and Thatch had only gotten him into a healthy eating routine again.
Marco was glad Ace was starting to calm down and relax though. Hopefully he would accept that he was part of the family soon and be free of the hunters.
Marco gently gathered Ace into his arms, shifting him so he rested comfortably against him. Haruta glanced up at him and frowned. "Moving him?"
"Taking him back to his room yoi. He'll hurt his back if he sleeps curled up like that," Marco replied and without saying another word sped into Ace's room.
He went straight to Ace's bed and laid the little one on it, slipping off his shoes and placing them at the side of the bed where he knew Ace liked to keep them. Once done he slipped Ace's legs under the blanket and tucked him in.
He gently stroked Ace's cheek and smiled. "Sleep well Ace."
