(Vampire AU)
It had been three months since Ace had been kidnapped, and it was now the middle of Summer. The season Vampires hated the most. Ace was happily enjoying the pool, delighted by his kidnappers' misery. Izo was sunbathing, lying on a lounging chair while snacking on a bowl of fruit sitting on the table beside him, while most of the vampires hid inside and didn't annoy Ace at all.
The only down side was that Marco didn't seem at all bothered by the roasting hot weather, or the sun beaming down on them, he was sitting at the edge of the pool, reading a book. It was odd seeing Marco with glasses on, they made him look really smart, and they actually really suited him.
But he was a Vampire, so Vampires weren't smart or nice looking. Nope. Vampires sucked.
"Ace, come back inside!" Thatch cried mournfully. "I have treats."
He was sitting on the shaded patio, looking glum and Ace grinned in response and ducked back beneath the water. He swore he could feel Thatch's misery from here and it was wonderful. After all those times the bastard had dragged him about the manor, this was perfect revenge.
Thatch refused to come outside to grab him, every time he tried he would hiss at the overwhelming sunlight and retreat.
Ace had done quite a few laps around the pool so far, considering it was only him and Namur, a fishman Vampire, who were using it. They had been competing against each other earlier, to see who could do the most laps, but Namur was a fishman and well, he was a lot faster than Ace was.
Still, good exercise.
Namur was heading back towards the pool now, but this time he had a letter in hand. He stopped at the edge, and Ace swam over.
"Namur?" he asked.
"You've got a letter. Would you like me to sit it by your chair?" Namur offered.
"A letter?" Ace frowned. "From whom?"
"It says 'Luffy'," Namur said, as Ace hurried out the pool, drying himself off.
"How the heck does he even know I've been kidnapped by you guys?"
He thanked Namur when he handed over the letter and opened it, reading it's content quickly. It didn't take long to figure out the chicken scratches that was Luffy's hand writing, and Ace scowled the moment he had finished reading the damn letter.
"Shanks was the one who told you about me," Ace growled. "That bastard. I'm going to kill him, and then I'm going to kill Luffy for supporting this."
Because Luffy said written how happy he was that Ace wasn't allowed to go back to the hunter's guild, and that Shank's plan had worked. Luffy told him to have fun and meet new people, and Ace was livid. Apparently the Whitebeard clan had Luffy's support because Shanks said they were nice.
"What age is your brother?" Marco asked.
"He was fourteen," Ace smirked darkly. "So tragic, having to lose your life at fourteen."
Marco snorted. Ace huffed and sat down by his side, peaking over his shoulder.
"What are you reading anyway?" Ace asked.
"It's an adventure book, about someone travelling through space and time. Would you like to join me? I've only just started," Marco smiled.
Ace debated for a moment. He should probably stay back, because Vampire, but the book sounded kinda cool. It took a moment, but Ace nodded, and together, they started from chapter one.
.::.
It took about an hour, but Ace fell asleep against him, and Marco smiled happily. Ace trusted him enough to sleep at his side now, and that was such a relief. Carefully, he wrapped and arm around Ace's waist, brushing the tender skin, and secured Ace in place. He didn't want Ace to slip and fall into the pool. That would be a hell of a way to wake up.
Ace's skin was soft beneath his hand, and Marco couldn't help but trace slow circles across it. Ace breathed softly against his chest, while Marco slipped the bookmark into the page and relaxed. The sun was soothing and the breeze was calm and gentle.
It was such a nice day and he was glad he could share it with Ace.
