Hello everyone, here is another one shot

This one is from the story Deaf, and is about Ace accidentally being left out and some hurt/comfort between Ace and Marco, nothing too long or big, just some small scenes

Hope you enjoy

Read and relax

Ace gave a frown, walking out on deck to see people around here and there, but not the one he was after. He was hoping to find Marco, wanting to ask him where they were. His ears were starting to hurt somewhat bad, and he didn't want to sit alone in his room, it was boring. When he walked a bit further out on deck, he looked at Kent that was leaning on a crate and taking a smoke. "Have you seen Marco?" The man looked at him and shook his head. 'No, not the last hours. But I think he is with Thatch and those; they're having the annual small party for Haruta.' Ace blinked. "What?" Kent blinked. 'Oh, right, you haven't been here that long. Each year they have a small party, or gathering, for Haruta, wanting it before the big one next week. They usually have those who are close there.'

Ace gave a smile, doing his best to not look hurt. "That's nice. If you see Marco, can you tell I'm looking for him?" The man nodded. 'I will. You also shouldn't be out too long; we're about to hit some bad weather, a storm appeared.' That explained why his ears hurt. He gave a nod to the man before he headed a bit on to the side, looking and seeing a big storm not too far away from them, them being in a way 'surrounded'. This wouldn't go away easy and it would only get worse. Ace could already tell it would be a bad night.

Knowing it would get worse for him, and that his ears were already hurting bad, he slowly headed for the infirmary, seeing as he had taken a couple pills an hour ago and that didn't work. As he was walking, he tried to not think that the others were having a party. He knew it was a sort of private one, but he thought he was close with the female commander. They had been a lot together since they were both the youngest ones. The rest were a bit older and Ace liked Haruta was closer to him in age, only being 24. But, he wasn't invited. Did that mean they weren't friends? That they were just crewmembers? He thought they were best friends. He tried to not think about it, just that he had been wrong and to not feel hurt over it. They were a big crew; a big family. They all knew some better than others.

When he got to the infirmary, he saw a couple nurses here and there, a few beds having their curtain pulled as there were patients there. He got the attention of a nurse and asked for Bay, the nurse telling him to sit down in a bed while she got the doctor. As he sat in the bed, he couldn't help but think if he had done anything wrong, if he had messed up something with Haruta. He liked the other really much, she was amazing to be around. He was brought out of his thoughts by a hand touching his shoulder, turning to see Bay there. 'Portgas, what's wrong.' Ace took a breath. "My ears hurt, like really bad. The pills didn't help." The doctor gave a nod. 'Where in your ears does it hurt.' Ace moved a hand to be behind his ears. "Here, like not too far in or deep, or something."

The doctor nodded. 'I see. I think a numbing shot can help, as it sounds it's not too far in the inner ear, but close to the eardrum.' That made sense and he nodded. Before the doctor left to gather what she needed, she looked at him. 'It will make you drowsy, so I would like you here, if that is fine.' Ace nodded. "That's fine. I haven't anywhere to be." He wished he had though. The doctor gave a nod and walked to a cabinet and got what she needed, before walking back to him. 'You will be connected to a vital machine, since it can, in rare, cases, cause reactions to the heart and breathing, but I am sure you'll be fine.' Ace gave a nod. He didn't care much, knowing he was in safe hands; Bay was amazing. And, he wanted the pain away.

The doctor then asked him to tilt his head, making so she could put a couple drops into his ear, keeping it tilted for half a minute, before doing the same on the other ear. When it was done, Bay placed a thing on his arm, a thing to check his vitals. 'You will feel drowsy and fall asleep, which is normal. This treatment also lasts a couple days, but the first 7-8 hours you will be drowsy and sleepy, and might fall asleep for a bit.' Ace nodded. That was fine, he really didn't mind it, as long as the pain would go away for a while. It was really hurting.

The doctor then left him alone, giving him a thing to read as he relaxed and waited for this to work. After some minutes, he did feel thunder starting outside, feeling the rumble through the ship. The pain in his ears did thankfully subdue after about 15 minutes, also telling this to Bay when she asked if he felt better. As he was continuing to relax, it wasn't long before he felt drowsy and laid a bit down.

Within a minute, Ace fell asleep, feeling much better. Glad to be able to relax and feel okay through a storm.

-x-

Marco gave a frown, still not seeing any Ace in the room. They had already been here for a couple hours, having the annual small party for Haruta. She had been really shy at the start, the reason they had started this and still did it. They would have a normal big party in a few days, but they liked this small party too. But, why hadn't Ace showed up yet? He knew it was now, right?

Marco looked over at Thatch "Are you sure you told Ace the right time, yoi?" The chef nodded. "Yeah. I said it would start at 6 in the meeting room. He did give a nod and smile as he said 'yes' and 'fine', so I'm sure he knows. I'm a bit surprised he hasn't showed up yet." It was weird; the two were best friends. Ace and Haruta was inseparable at times. Haruta had also looked forward to Ace showing up, seeing as this was the first time she had her birthday with Ace in the family.

When he still saw no Ace in 30 more minutes, he said he would go and check if he could find Ace. There were days Ace forgot time as he was doing something or relaxing, since he never could hear what was happening. When he got out of the room and out on deck, he saw the weather had turned bad, thinking the rumbling they had felt was nothing, but it was from the bad weather. He hoped Ace was fine, he didn't like bad weather. When he didn't find Ace in his room, he walked out and asked one of them on watch, Kent, if he had seen Ace. He was out on deck where he would see Ace when he walked out of his room.

"Have you seen Ace?" Kent nodded. "Yeah. He said he was looking for you, before he walked on. I think Nick said he went to the infirmary." Marco felt worry spike inside him. "Why did he go to the infirmary, yoi?" Kent shrugged. "I don't know. He did seem fine. But that was almost an hour ago, I don't know if he's out or not." Marco gave a thanks to the other and headed to the infirmary, hoping Ace weren't still there. Why hadn't Ace come and got him? He had seemed fine this morning before Marco left their room to do his morning duties. He felt his and Ace's relationship was going well, having gotten past the issues at the start, but it had gone well the last couple months.

When he got to the infirmary, he looked around to see if he found Bay. But, as he was looking around in the infirmary, he saw Ace lying in a bed, seeing the back of his head, which was out of the curtains that was half drawn. He quickly walked over moving a hand to Ace's head, no idea why he was here. He felt more worried when he saw Ace had an oxygen mask on and connected to a machine looking over his vitals, seeing his oxygen levels were still a bit low. Had anything happened? Ace didn't react to him stroking his hair, something he usually woke up from, being sensitive to touch since he was deaf.

"Commander Marco?" The first commander looked to his left, seeing Whiskey there, looking at him. "What's wrong with Ace?" The nurse shook her head. "I'm sorry, I don't know. Let me get Bay; she was the one with him." That sounded good and he nodded, moving to sit down on the edge of the bed as the nurse did. He kept his hand on Ace's head, moving it through his hair, worried for his boyfriend.

It thankfully didn't take more than a few seconds for Bay to appear. "Commander Marco, what do you wonder about?" Marco kept his hand on Ace's head. "Why is Ace here, yoi?" The doctor clicked her tongue. "He came about an hour ago, telling his ears hurt bad- most likely because of the storm- and the pills he got didn't help. And, knowing this storm won't go away for a while, I gave a long-lasting treatment. But it made him drowsy- which normal- and his oxygen levels dropped, which can happen. He is fine, and will sleep for a few more hours, and then be drowsy for a small bit more. The treatment also lasts for about 2-3 days." Marco gave a nod, giving a thanks as he looked back at his sleeping boyfriend. It was good to know he wasn't injured, but why hadn't he come to him? He has told Ace many times to never be afraid to come to him, he wanted to help.

The first commander gave a sigh, not going to be able to do anything until Ace woke up, hoping it wouldn't be too long. He would much rather have Ace relaxing in his room with him, instead of being here. Bay was amazing, but it was best being in their own rooms if they could handle it. And, Marco liked to have Ace close.

Marco decided to stay in the infirmary until Ace woke up, being allowed to by Bay, and asked one of the guys out on watch, Fred, to tell to the others in the meeting room he and Ace wouldn't come back for a while, seeing as Ace had some issues with his ears and was in the infirmary. The man did come back some minutes later and said it was fine and that they could hold the celebration off until tomorrow; Haruta really wanted Ace to join. He would be sure Ace accompanied them tomorrow, it would make the fourteenth commander happy. Marco got a chair for himself and sat beside Ace's bed, keeping a hand on Ace's head, slowly moving his thumb in a comforting way, hoping he would wake, so Marco could be sure Ace was fine.

When almost 3 hours had passed, the oxygen mask being taken off an hour ago, he heard Ace take a breath as he moved a bit, seeming to wake up. Marco moved his hand through Ace's hair and let it rest on his shoulder, moving comfortingly. He did want to speak up, to ask Ace if he felt fine, but knew it wouldn't do anything until Ace looked at him when he was more awake. Marco was still getting completely used to Ace being deaf; it was a lot to remember. And, since Ace was so well adapted in speaking and reading lips, it was easy to forget at times.

After half a minute, Ace slowly moved to sit a bit up, moving a hand to rub his eyes as he turned to look at him, blinking when he did. "Ma'co?" The first commander gave a smile. "Hey," He paused when Ace closed his eyes for a second, obviously being tired still, before looking at him again. "How do you feel, yoi? I heard your ears hurt." Ace gave a small nod. "'eah. I fee' fin', 'etter." That was good, he was relieved Ace felt fine. Marco moved his hand to Ace's cheek. "Why didn't you tell me your ears were hurting?" Ace gave a small frown. "Y'u were 'usy? Ken' sai' y'u were. I di'n't wan' to bo'her." That had him frown. What did Ace mean? "You could have come. We were waiting for you, yoi. Haruta looked forward to you showing up." Ace's frown deepened. "Wha'? I was invite'? I 'i'n't kno'"

Marco frowned. Thatch had said he invited Ace yesterday. "Thatch said he told you yesterday. After dinner, yoi." Thatch had even said Ace had said yes and that it was fine. Ace looked to be thinking. "'ut, he di'n't say any'hin' to me? He jus' aske' if I wa' fin'." That wasn't what Thatch had said. "Let's do this again. What happened yesterday, yoi?" Ace gave a small nod, sitting more up. Ace then told that he had been out after dinner, enjoying the sunset as seagulls and dolphins were around them, when Thatch had suddenly been beside him, having a hand on his shoulder and asked if he was fine, which Ace had said yes too, before Thatch said they would see each other tomorrow, which Ace of course said yes to, sure they would see each other outside or during meals.

Marco gave a sigh, moving a hand to his face as he got what had happened. Thatch was still… well, Thatch. Even Marco had noticed Thatch often just speaking to Ace without thinking that he was deaf, already having multiple misunderstanding happen, but only small ones. The chef had probably told Ace to join them at the party, but when Ace didn't answer, not knowing he even was spoken to, the man had probably gone over and asked, actually getting his attention and just telling 'see each other tomorrow' which they would either way.

He moved both his hands to Ace's face, now feeling awful Ace had accidentally been left out. "No, Thatch was supposed to invite you, I promise, yoi. You were invited, Haruta really wanted you to show up. You were always invited." Ace gave a small frown. "I was...?" Marco nodded, moving his head to Ace's, looking into his young boyfriend's eyes. "Yes, yoi. Haruta loves you so much. She almost rivals me." Ace gave a small breathless laugh, somewhat mixed with a small sob, eyes blank. Marco didn't waste time in hugging Ace, using a hand to thread through his hair comfortingly. Ace must have truly felt left out, thinking they didn't want him there. But that was as far away from the truth as possible. Marco felt Ace moving his head into his shoulder, obviously feeling upset. Ace always wanted contact when he felt upset, Ace had said it made him feel better.

After a minute or so, Marco moved and asked Ace if he wanted to head back to their room and relax. Ace would be tired for a while still, also telling they would have the small party again tomorrow, since Haruta wanted Ace there. It made Ace look glad, to know Haruta really wanted him there, which she did. Marco did move his head against Ace's again, moving his hands to stroke a bit under Ace's red eyes, taking away small signs of tears, before giving a small kiss on his cheek. "Ready to head out, yoi?" Ace gave a small nod, before looking a bit down. "I jus', I fee' 'issy." Of course Ace did. Ears weren't just for hearing, it helped balance too. And, Bay had said the treatment was numbing shot in that place. "That is fine, I have an idea." Marco then took the equipment that looked at his vital signs off, before he just lifted Ace in his arms, making Ace give a small yelp, hands moving to hold around his neck. He had never actually carried Ace, but the raven-haired kid didn't seem to mind.

Ace did lean his head on his chest, taking a breath and relaxing, eyes closing. Marco did give a look and a nod to Bay, telling they were leaving. Ace seemed fine now and Marco would be with him until he didn't feel drowsy any more. He didn't want to leave Ace alone, not only since he was drowsy from the medication he had gotten, but since he also felt bad for Ace being left out and feeling left out. He would be sure to tell Thatch that he needed to make sure Ace looked at him when he spoke, not just speak. He would make sure this never happened again.

They spent the rest of the evening and night in bed, Ace seeming to not want to let go, and to be close, which Marco got. Ace always liked that to be sure things were fine. And Marco would make sure Ace felt fine, that he felt loved and everything, just as he was. Things would be fine.

And that's the one shot, hope you enjoyed

This was just a small thing as I said on the start, to show a scene on how things are for Ace and the others

If you have any ideas, don't be afraid to tell them, I love making things other want

And I love feedback and it is what keeps me going

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