Whumptober 2021
Summary: Whumptober 2021 Day 6: Touch Starved. Marco/Ace.
Author's Note: Hey everyone and welcome back to Whumptober! I do hope you enjoy! Couldn't help myself, implications of my headcanon with Shanks makes an appearance even though I don't state it.
Warnings: Touch Starved, Hurt and Comfort, Possibly OOC Ace (I'll try to make sure he isn't, just a warning just in case)
Whumptober Day Six: Touch Starved (Marco/Ace)
Touch wasn't necessarily a thing that Ace got often. Sure, Luffy gave him plenty. Always giving unconventional hugs whenever he could. Practically sleeping on top of each other in their bundle of blankets and pillows. He didn't do touch often. No one touched him, and he wouldn't touch anyone else. At most he would give a high five or the occasional slip of someone's arm on his shoulder.
The Whitebeard Pirates were strange. They always were hanging all over each other. Rather it was an arm thrown over the other. He saw it most with Izou and Thatch, though he could sum that down to their relationship with each other. The first time that a Whitebeard Pirate had actually touched him outside of a fight had been Marco. A causal slip of his arm over his shoulders as they were celebrating Ace's first successful mission with the Whitebeard Pirates.
It left an even stranger feeling in the pit of his stomach.
He actually wanted more.
He wasn't the most sociable person. He could pass it off within the crowd around him. It was completely different compared to his life on the mountain. In the forest with just his brother after Sabo's death. It made him almost anxious to be completely surrounded, yet unlike Luffy they didn't cling to him. It was off putting that they actually didn't just throw their arms around him. Clap him on the back. Nothing.
It felt almost as if he was an outsider looking in.
He had started to get closer to Marco and Thatch over his time with the crew. Learning more about the day-to-day life on the ship from the two. Marco was practically Whitebeard's right-hand man and Thatch was the cook. They knew everything about everyone.
It also didn't last long before he was falling into Marco's bed at night. Light, gentle touches that had him curling. Practically mewling in happiness whenever he would feel Marco's hands gliding around his skin. Marco enjoyed tracing the new tattoo on his back. The recent development that Ace had taken on. Becoming his new pride and joy as he found his place on the Moby Dick.
He also noticed the involuntary change in himself. He was on edge. Anxiety spiking through the roof. Anger becoming even worse.
He couldn't stop it.
He didn't even know the cause of it.
Which only worked to piss him off more.
X
It didn't take long for Marco to start to see the change within Ace. It was subtle. He could blink and miss it. That was until it was major enough that he wasn't the only one noticing it anymore.
If someone would ask Ace what was going on with him, he would explode before disappearing to another part of the ship. It was starting to worry everyone.
Marco didn't understand the change. Ace had been fine the entire time he had been here after he finally accepted to be one of their nakama.
They took care of their own. Something was up with their nakama, and they had to get to the bottom of it.
So, the Commanders hatched a plan to gage Ace's reaction.
They noticed the way that he was keeping his distance from everyone. The spike in anxiety. Even Ace's narcolepsy was affected. Instead of his constant bouts of sleep, he was almost insomniac. There was also the rage. Ace was already a hot head, but it was worse. Like a small string barely holding him together.
It was actually Haruta who had asked a simple question that had them all curious, "When was the last time he had a proper hug? He looks like he needs one."
Marco's mind had starting reeling. Normally their nakama were very touchy feely. They enjoyed showing physical affection to each other. A silent communication between them all. With newcomers, they usually hold back until they are comfortable enough that they embrace it with open arms.
Ace was no exception.
Though it had been long enough, and he always appeared slightly uncomfortable when they would show their own affections towards him. Shying away from touches that they would try to give.
So, they just didn't.
It clicked for him.
Marco knew what it was. At least what he suspected that it was. He would put it to the test next time they were all out on the deck. Since Ace was still in temporary assignment, it would be hard to pinpoint exactly when he would have a moment.
Thankfully he didn't have to wait long as it came up time for daily training regimes. Once a day the Divisions would bring their members up for an impromptu fight against one of the Commanders to gage their progress in strength, refining of skills, and if they need to transfer to a different division.
It was Ace's turn since he was temporarily with the Sixteenth Division for the upcoming weeks. He was to face Marco. It had started off fine, with Ace doing his normal long-distance attacks using his fire. It had changed when suddenly Ace had changed to hand-to-hand combat. Going for strikes coated with haki. A growl leaving him whenever he couldn't land a hit on Marco.
Their fight only ended when Marco clasped his hand around Ace's wrist, pulling him flush against his chest. With a smirk, he muttered, "I win."
Ace huffed, attempting to pull away from Marco. Haruta's words had flooded through his mind again. He watched – and felt – the way that Ace had tensed against him momentarily before he was leaning against the touch. An almost content look on his face.
"Hey… Ace?" Marco questioned.
Ace hummed as his reply, hands curling into Marco's shirt.
"When was the last time someone hugged you?"
Ace tensed, eyes widening as his head snapped up. "Excuse me?"
"When was the last time someone hugged you?"
Ace frowned, looking away for a moment. "A little over a year ago…" He paused, almost hesitant, "The last person to hug me was Shanks. Before him… probably six months with my kid brother when I left home."
Marco quirked his head. Shanks, huh? With the time frame, he was expecting to hear someone else. Marco gave a gentle smile, wrapping his arms around Ace's torso and pulling him closer. Hand carding through raven colored hair. Though it did pique his interest in why Shanks would hug Ace anyway. Though, Shanks was a very physical person when he wanted to be. Ace didn't seem like that. It wasn't the strangest thing he's heard of.
He paused as he felt heat against his skin, looking down to see that flames were flickering over Ace's hands and shoulders despite his eyes being closed. It only took a second before he realized that Ace had fallen asleep.
The First Division Commander smiled softly; he had figured out what it was even if it was just a simple gesture. Thanks, Haruta. Ace was touched starved. It wasn't healthy to go without affection for so long. Ace probably wasn't used to anyone showing it to him in the first place.
Carefully, he reached down, scooping up the sleeping pirate into his arms and starting over towards where the Commanders were. "Is he okay?" Thatch questioned, eyeing their resident hot head.
"Just asleep." Marco replied as he sat down. Placing himself next to Whitebeard. Ace almost instinctively curled into him, mumbling slightly in his sleep as he buried his face again into Marco's shirt. "You were right, Haru."
Haruta eyed him, a slight smile coming to her face. "What did he say to you?"
Marco hummed, looking down at Ace again, carding his fingers through his hair, tracing patterns into his scalp. "He said the last person who showed him any affection was Shanks. Before that it was his brother."
"Red-Hair?" Izou muttered. "That's a surprise."
Marco shrugged. "Maybe, but maybe Shanks figured it out. I don't know. It's hard to tell. It's hard to tell what is even going on in Ace's head."
Thatch grinned, leaning back against his arms as Curiel got up to start the next fight. "You just doomed him."
Marco laughed. "Eh, he'll adjust."
"Or combust."