Okay, I thought this would be a two parter, but it might be three or four, depending how everything goes o.o Why do I always make things too long when this was meant to be a short fic? xD
(Part 2)
It was all over the news. Everyone was celebrating the capture of the bird masked serial killer, whose name was Bluejam, the leader of Bluejam gang. Ace's bar 'Piece of Spadille', was being featured on TV too, showing where Bluejam had been arrested. The news reporters were going crazy, saying how Bluejam had savagely attacked and brutally beaten down all the staff and the customers, how he was about to kill them all before the police had raced in to save the day.
The police had taken Bluejam down, according to the news, which made Ace huff. It had been Marco who had taken Bluejam down. He was the real hero, but Marco had refused to take any credit, he was a nice guy that way.
If it had been Luffy, his little brother would have been on TV, ranting about how much Bluejam had pissed him off, or something like that.
That would have been a funny sight, even if the idea of his baby brother attacking a serial killer horrified him.
"Ace, made you some tea," Sabo called, distracting him from the TV, which of course, was showing the news reports of the capture of Bluejam.
"Thanks," Ace said, smiling, yawning into his palm. "Sorry I'm not staying up with you and Lu', I'm still pretty tired."
"That's understandable, you got attacked at the back of your own pub just two days ago," Sabo pointed out. "Law did say you'd feel exhausted, remember?"
Ace nodded. "Yeah, yeah... I figured I'd feel better about this though... I mean that Bluejam guy didn't even manage to stab me-"
"He got a lot of good blows in though," Sabo frowned. "Anyway, you should go get ready for bed."
Ace rolled his eyes playfully. "Yes, Mum."
Sabo grinned. "Yes sweetheart, you go brush your teeth and I'll be up to read you a bedtime story- Ow!"
Ace slammed his arm, grinning and retreated for the stairs, calling down one last 'goodnight' to his brothers. Luffy gave a sad aw, but Sabo hushed him, saying Ace needed to rest. Ace would have rather stayed downstairs and hung out with his brothers but he felt sleepy and Law had been insistent on resting as much as possible and not overdoing it. Usually he would has been content to ignore the rules but Sabo was sticking firmly to them this time. Every time Ace grew tired he was told to go lie down. It was embarrassing but kind of sweet knowing his brother cared.
He sat his tea down on shelf outside the bathroom, and frowned. The window was open. Not by much but still, at this time of night an open window with a light on just attracted the insect life.
Ace sighed. "Luffy really needs to stop leaving the bathroom window open at night. It keeps letting all the bugs in and then Sabo freaks out..."
He pulled the window shut, yawning tiredly into his palm before getting ready for bed. He brushed his teeth, cleaned his face and brushed his hair. Once done he went back for his tea and went into his room. He turned off the light and went straight to bed, confident he wouldn't trip since Ace knew his room like the back of his hand. All the gaming consoles were tucked up on the desk, all his comic books stacked on the shelf. He usually tried to keep his room clean, unlike Luffy, so there was hardly anything on the floor, except the squeaky floorboards.
Ace climbed into bed and sipped his tea, getting himself as comfy as possible before he fell asleep.
.::.
It took hours for the house to finally grow quiet. His sweetheart had gone to bed first, still tired from his attack a couple of days ago, the other two brothers were in the living room, watching a movie, but he paid them no mind.
They weren't important.
He slipped into Ace's room, avoiding the furniture in the bedroom he knew like the back of his hand and the creaky floorboards. He had been inside it so many times, Ace worked a lot of hours to make his business run, and it was only fair he got to know his lover. Ace called to him after all, his eyes, his hair, his freckles, his entire personality, they all called to him and he answered that call by studying the beauty before him.
Ace was lying in bed, curled up on his side, fast asleep. He smiled at that, at the little snores Ace always developed when he entered a deep sleep. The cup of tea Ace liked to take to bed was empty, as it usually was, and he was satisfied Ace would remain completely asleep, no matter how much noise anybody made.
He had slipped some sleeping pills into it earlier when Ace had been using the bathroom, since Ace wasn't allowed to use his Narcolepsy ones, from what Trafalgar Law had advised.
He had wanted to check up on Ace, and to make sure his lover rested well. He needed to relax as much as possible to recover from his ordeal. Ace's attack had infuriated him, the idea that somebody had laid their hands on his lover drove him crazy, but it would be alright.
He would get revenge on Ace's behalf.
.::.
Ace stirred, something was gently brushing through his hair, he tried to lift his head, to turn around but his body was so heavy. It was difficult enough trying to coax his eyes open, never mind move. He could barely see, everything was blurry, but he did manage to lay his eyes on the mirror across from him, and could see a fuzzy figure sitting behind him, on the edge of his bed.
He tried to speak, to tell Sabo to go away. That Sabo was acting creepy, sitting in the dark, petting his head, but he could hardly move his tongue, his words slurred.
Everything was warm and comfy and he ended up drifting off to sleep again.
He didn't remember any of it happening the next day, so forgot to tell Sabo off for being weird.
.::.
"You don't have to escort me to work y'know," Ace pouted, as Sabo pulled over, parking nearby his bar.
It had been a week before his brother allowed him to return to work, only Sabo was still being a worry wort. It was getting annoying actually, being babied about all the time, but he knew Sabo only meant well.
"I'm just dropping you off before I go to work," Sabo said, smiling.
"Uh huh."
"What?" Sabo threw him a fake offended look. "I am!"
"You're being overprotective."
"Look, just because I said if you felt tired or dizzy you could call me and I'd pick you up-"
"During the middle of your important business meeting," Ace smirked.
"Dragon won't need me that much. It's fine."
"You've been preparing for this meeting for months," Ace laughed.
"Yeah, yeah," Sabo dismissed, sighing. "But seriously, if you feel sick. Call me."
"Sabo, I wasn't hit that hard. Sure, I got a concussion but still."
Sabo rolled his eyes. "'But still', he says. Alright, you can go, but I've already warned Deuce that if he sees you getting tired, dizzy or stressed then you're to go sit down."
"Jeez, you're such a mother-hen," Ace snorted, but then grinned as he climbed out the car. "I'll see you later, okay? Bye, Sabo."
"Bye, Ace. Stay safe," Sabo grinned, waving before he drove off once Ace shut the door.
Ace walked in through the front, and he had to admit he was shocked at how busy the bar was. It was almost full even. Apparently beings on the news after nearly getting stabbed helped business. He approached the bar, waving at Deuce, only for a familiar blonde to stop him.
"Ace? You're back already yoi?" Marco asked, frowning. "You should be resting-"
"Well, hello to you too, Marco," Ace teased. "I was just released from my brother's care today, and Deuce is apparently on orders to relieve me of duty if I look unwell. The traitor."
"Sorry Ace, but your brother has perfected the world's 'creepiest smile'," Deuce said. "I couldn't say 'no' to him when he looked at me like that."
Ace grimaced. He knew exactly what smile Deuce was talking about. It was a smile Sabo never threw at his brothers, oh no, it was towards his worst enemies. Like his parents. They usually fled at the sight of that thing.
He didn't exactly blame them either. Sabo's smile was creepy as all hell.
"Are you sure you're feeling up for this yoi?" Marco asked, his brow furrowed. "It's gotten insanely busy since your attack."
"I'll be fine, Marco. Besides, I can't just hide in my apartment forever, otherwise I'll never get back into the swing of things," Ace said, smiling. "So don't worry, between Sabo's over protectiveness and Deuce's nagging I'll be all good."
Deuce snorted. "As if you ever listening to my 'nagging'."
"Of course I do, when I think it makes sense," Ace laughed, going behind the counter. "So, want to get me started on my first order of the day, Marco?"
"Something with pineapples will do perfectly fine, thank you yoi."
"Ace! You're back!" Bonney cheered.
She was seated at one of the tables closest to the bar, food and glass everything on the table. Killer, Penguin, Shachi, Bepo, Law and Kidd were there too. Much to Ace's horror she threw herself up on to a table, and he could hear it creak dangerously beneath her feet. Kidd laughed at their table while Law groaned, slouching into the couch, hiding his face in his hands.
"CHEERS FOR OUR BAR OWNER!" Bonney yelled.
The crowd erupted into cheers, mostly drunken and slurred, and Ace couldn't help but laugh as he poured Marco's drink. Marco threw him a fond look in return when their eyes met, and Ace grinned.
"You certainly were missed yoi," Marco said, despite how hard it was to hear him from the rowdy crowd.
"It's good to be back," Ace grinned.
The bar had been full of drunken joy for hours, but it had drawn quieter when Law suddenly shouted at everybody to shut up. He was staring at the news with a grimace, and Ace turned on the volume, his hand shaking when he saw it was a photo of Bluejam on the screen.
Something was wrong. The news reporter didn't look relieved anymore, no, instead she looked nervous, but trying to hide it behind a professional face, her tone wavered though.
"It has just been announced that the suspect for the crimes of the bird masked serial killer was found dead in his cell two days ago," the woman's voice trembled. "W-With his heart torn out and with the burn mark of a talon branded on to his chests. Five officers who were on duty were also found dead with the same brands."
A shatter of glass startled Ace, and he jumped. He saw the glass on his floor, the man who had been holding it was pale, just as everyone in the bar was, and Ace's hands were shaking-
A warm pair covered his own, thumbs brushing against the back of his hands. He looked up, meeting Marco's gaze who met his eyes with a gentle look.
"Easy, it's alright. You're fine yoi," Marco soothed. "He can't hurt you again."
"B-But there's... Either Bluejam had a partner or he was a copy-cat or-" Ace choked on a breath. "My bar's all over the news. If they blamed me-"
"If he was a copy-cat I doubt the serial killer would have liked that yoi," Marco said, frowning thoughtfully. "This could just be an act of revenge. Nobody can really say apart from the killer. This could have also been someone else who decided to punish the killer, a victim's family member for example."
"They killed the officers too..." Ace whispered.
Marco winced. "I know, but grief does horrible things to people. The victim's family might have thought they were protecting their family member's murderer. I can't tell you what happened, there's only really one person who can."
"So far there has been no evidence on who did this. The attack was aimed deliberately at the gang leader Bluejam, and for now, there are many questions taking place while the police continue to investigate into the matter. The police say 'do not panic', but how can we not when none of us are safe?" the woman's voice grew grave. "When we do not know if this is the act of a copy-cat, a partner, or the real killer themselves?"
The TV suddenly switched off, Deuce holding the remote, the remote Ace must have dropped, because he no longer had it, his hands were held in Marco's, who kept rubbing soothing circles over Ace's skin with his thumbs.
"We're closing for tonight," Deuce announced, his voice surprisingly steady. "Please, everyone return straight home."
There were hardly any protests, despite it being still early into the night. The joy had fallen into despair, and everybody left, guiding drunken buddies by their arms out of the bar.
Ace immediately sat down, feeling shaky and sick. His stomach felt heavy, and his head was starting to pound, but Marco's hands remained warm and steady around his own, and that brought him some small comfort.
.::.
Two days ago.
The five policemen were dead. He had made it quick, almost painless, none of them had realised the other was dead until it was too late. They shouldn't have been guarding different doors, at least not alone.
It was foolish, but then again, the police didn't have that many resources, most of them were out of the streets, trying to calm the rowdy, celebrating crowds of people, who were relieved the blue masked serial killer was finally 'caught', and the other enraged crowds who were demanding Bluejam's head on a pike. The thought made him chuckle. He'd get justice, but it wasn't for them, it was for Ace.
Ace who had been hurt. Who was probably frightened and scared. Ace needed protected, Ace who was so lovely and sweet, needed to be loved and cared for.
The fact that someone hurt his love made his blood boil.
He approached the cell, ignoring the cameras. They had been sorted out ages ago, forced to repeat the same film of the same empty hallway over and over again. It wouldn't see his copy's death, the dirty thief who tried to pollute his work.
Nobody would know until it was too late, and it left him with all the time in the world.
He smirked once he saw his prey, sitting slouched on a bench, though his head jerked up when he approached, a snarl on his face at first before he went pale.
"Y-You're the-"
"People are calling you the serial killer with the bird mask," he drawled, twirling his carving knife, one of his most excellent pieces of works.
It was a long, sharp knife, curved just that slightest bit. He had another that could bend, could get between all the bones, but his carver's knife was just so swift and smooth when cutting. The thought made him smile, not that Bluejam could see it.
"I do believe that is my title though," he continued, chuckling dryly.
"I-I just wanted to rob some folk! I-I thought using your name could scare them-"
He huffed in response. "So you used me for some shady robberies? I wouldn't have minded that so much, I mean, I would have stilled cut your throat open, but you took it too far."
"P-Please-"
"You hurt my beloved. You hurt Ace-"
"I don't even know who that is-"
"You will. I'll remind you," he sneered, heading for the door.
Bluejam began howling, scrambling backwards. "POLICE! OI YOU PIGS, GET IN HERE! SERIAL KILLER! SERIAL KILLER-"
"There's no point," he chuckled. "I already killed them."
He opened the door, laughed as Bluejam tried to swing at him, tried to rush past him. He dodged the blow easily, twisted round and drove his knife into Bluejam's back, tearing it straight through, and relished in the scream he got in return.
He'd cut Bluejam open, again and again, until he finally remembered Ace. Until he remembered the bruises he gave Ace, how he had scared his beloved Ace, how he had given his Ace a concussion.
Ace was his, and nobody hurt what was his.
He'd kill everyone before he lost Ace, then that way nobody could scare Ace again. Nobody could hurt Ace again. They'd all just be his works of art.
Pretty red works of art.
He and Ace could enjoy it together.