Just a small piece about Ace trying to convince Whitebeard to let him go to Wano through sheer stubbornness. But, well Whitebeard is just as stubborn as Ace. It's a small one, but that's a usual thing for the Kitty AU series :)

(Kitty AU)

"Pops, can I go to Wano now?" Ace asked.

"No."

"How about now?"

Pops sighed. "No."

Ace smirked. He was getting closer, sooner or later Pops would give in and submit to his annoyance. It was a technique he had learned from Thatch, and it was glorious.

"Now then?" Ace grinned sweetly.

"Ace, you little brat, if Thatch can't get me to surrender to his pestering, you have no chance," Pops chuckled. "Now how about you take a nap with me in the sun?"

"I'm more stubborn than Thatch," Ace reminded, crossing his arms.

Pops grimaced. "Don't I know it."

"Now?"

"No."

"Now?"

"No."

"Now?"

"No."

.::.

Marco wandered back over an hour later, seeing that Ace was still going. Pops hadn't given up either, the pair were glaring determinedly at one another. Thatch looked so proud of himself as he watched.

"Y'know, Pops is going to make you pay for giving Ace that idea, right yoi?" Marco mused.

Thatch winced. "I'll bring him alcohol as an apology?"

"Like hell you will. Thatch, if you sneak him even one sip of alcohol more than his allowance, then it won't be him you're dealing with yoi," Marco scowled. "It will be me."

"HA! You've already stripped me naked and put me up on the mast," Thatch smirked. "You've done your worst already. Now I'm prepared for whatever else you bring. So yes, it's a shame dear brother of mine, but I'm already immune to all your tricks."

Marco chuckled, and delighted in how innocent his dear sweet brother was. Thatch went pale at his chuckle, almost shying away from him.

"Th-That was your worst... R-Right?" Thatch asked nervously, smiling uneasily at him.

"No, dear brother. That was rather tame in comparison to what I am truly capable of yoi," Marco grinned, patting Thatch's head.

Thatch was white was this point, and it made Marco gleeful. Oh yes, he could do so much worse, and he had so many ideas.

"I have plenty of ideas to work on," Marco cooed sweetly. "So I am always looking for more test subjects."

"POPS!" Thatch screeched, running.

Marco chuckled. It was nice having siblings to terrorise. "I'm busy, Thatch!" Pops argued.

"I'm scared though!"

"Go be scared elsewhere. You made this brat my problem," Pops scolded, jabbing a finger Ace's way.

"You kidnapped me first," Ace smiled sweetly. "So, how about now?"

"You're just as horrible as your mother," Pops groaned.

Ace beamed, and Marco paused. Because he swore he saw a tail swish proudly in the air for a moment, but it must have been his imagination, since Ace wasn't in his cat form at the moment.