Angsty one shot. Ace needs a hug and a bath. Enjoy~

Ace was born beautiful. There was no denying it, he was born beautiful, and everyone knew it. His mother was thrilled with how pretty he was, even as a wrinkly newborn baby. Even with the chubby body of a baby, there was no denying that the perfectly placed markings and wing bumps would grow to be fantastic and magical.

Most people were born with markings scattered around their bodies, usually a dull brown or sometimes black. Wings were usually feathered black or white. Even most dragon form bodies looked kind of scary. So when Ace was born with shimmery and gold markings dotted and looped around his limbs, little gold specks across his cheeks like shimmery freckles, he stole everyone's attention.

His father ran a newspaper business, which generated plenty of money and comforts. But just being well off didn't mean you had influence or anything. They would still be treated lowly just because of their family history. Sure his father and mother had built a comfortable life on their own, working hard to get where they were, but in a place like their home kingdom, it didn't matter much to anyone else.

So, when Ace came into the world looking as he did, they were relieved that he'd find someone easily, even if it wasn't a soulmate. The hopeful plan had always been to have him find someone high profile and be lifted from their lowly status. His parents wanted him to have a good life. They didn't want him to marry wealthy for their sake, only his.

As a child, he was brought around and shown off, but was always smiling, holding the hand of his loving mother, wearing comfy clothes, thought they were made strategically to show off his qualities. His wings were not strapped down to his back like most children, but they poked out of his shirts, specially made just to do that.

People liked to see him, and he was a friendly and happy child, soaking in the love of his family and all the light praises by the people around him. He was social butterfly, and his beauty didn't attract scorn or envy. After all, it wasn't like he'd ever steal someone's lover from them. He'd never make another jealous or anything like that. They were all set with their soul mates, so there was no way for him to do such a thing as attracting someone else who had a jealous crush or lover.

And he knew his soulmate at a young age. His name was Marco, and he was a phoenix. While he and Ace weren't the same second species, they were still soulmates, and so that wasn't a big deal. His parents didn't know that Marco was a prince of a neighboring kingdom because Marco didn't want people to know that.

They weren't enemies or anything, but Marco said he didn't want anybody to know because he was worried about any stigma that Ace may face. The phoenix was well aware that Ace was not in high status. He knew Ace's family worked hard and long hours, and that Ace was not a royal from an allied kingdom.

So, Marco being with Ace would not unite special families, it wouldn't be out of gain for anything, but just out of love for one another. His lover was only two years older than him, so the age difference was minute compared to sometimes the decade age gaps between soulmates. The other knew of Ace and what he looked like. And he wanted to see him so badly, but it wasn't going to happen while they were young.

Ace kept that secret, as it wasn't his to tell. He was a happy child, that is, until his mother passed away, and his father grew bitter and hateful. Not at Ace, but he wasn't the same man he was before. He still loved and wanted the best for Ace, but he wasn't taken around town much after that. He was kept at home.

There was a "good" intention from his father for keeping him out of the spotlight when she died. He was scared of Ace being targeted for his looks. Was scared he'd be stolen away, that he'd be hurt out of jealousy or irritation. That his praises and compliments would turn others off. It wasn't out of abuse or shame, but paranoia that Ace had no friends.

Paranoia that kept him from developing social skills. Paranoia that began to erase the life his mother had wanted for him. And it was made worse when his father married again, to a woman who had also lost her soulmate and was left a single parent. She was kind to him, but she became a negative influence. After all, she was everything his father feared for Ace. But he was lost in the infatuation of this manipulative woman that he didn't see the damage done to Ace's mental state, and his lack of self-worth.

He didn't know of the treatment that he wasn't around to see. Ace didn't hate him for it, but resentment grew in his heart as he aged. As he was not allowed to leave the house, and as that house was a toxic environment, his anger and bitterness blossomed inside, souring the child he'd been before.

The child he could have grown into aa a proud adult. A confident person who thought he was worth love and devotion. But because of his step-mother and her jealous anger, he never grew into that person. Life wasn't a fairytale, even if he looked like he belonged in one from the outside.

His real mother had wanted him to grow to know life wasn't fair, and that he was lucky to be the way he was. But he learned that lesson in the opposite. It was not her dream, that dream died when she did. Life just was not fair.

-x-

"Ace, come here, sweetie," Alvida said kindly. The ten year old did as she said, his only parent left. His two sisters snickered behind their hands as he walked up, his gold wings dirty and matted. He stood in front of Alvida, his hateful glare and circles under his eyes just what she liked to see.

He wasn't pretty anymore, as long as he was caked in dirt and grime. It was what she liked to see. "What?" he asked. She said company was coming over to play poker. They were having a party that night. So he would need to stay in the attic and not show his grimy, smell face. Even though he wasn't allowed to shower or bathe, she still insulted him and pointed it out.

"Hehe, Ace is dirty and smelly. Nobody wants to be around him," Flampe snickered. She was two years older than Ace, while Stelly was one year younger. The ten year old agreed to staying away from others. He hated the disgusted looked they made at him. It wasn't his fault. But he didn't know that.

It was his step-mother's doing, making him unwanted and looked down upon. He was given ratty clothes, a shower once every two weeks. His clothes were rarely washed, so he stunk from that, too. Everything he was was gross and disappointing. But since he stayed away from his step family all the time, they didn't suffer from their purposeful affects.

"I won't come out."

"Go brush your teeth, you reek." Ace pursed his lips and went to brush his teeth in the bathroom, but had no toothpaste given to him. He was the epitome of unhygienic. He went to his room after the useless teeth brushing, and laid on the bed on his stomach, looking at the large mirror places in his room. So he had to see himself like this. He couldn't avoid it by just not going to the bathroom.

One whole wall in his room was a mirror, just to torment him with his unsightly appearance. His hair was cut terribly, lopsided. He hated himself.

-x-

"I want to meet you."

"Shut up, go away."

"There's a ball this weekend. You should come."

"No."

"Please?" Marco asked through the bond. "You can even wash beforehand here."

"I said no!" Ace snapped, slicing a line across his arm. The blood dripped over the gold markings. He grabbed a paper towel and wiped it off, the pain a nice feeling. It felt nice, and he liked adding the lines to his stupid arms. They were way better than his ugly gold markings. If he could shave his wings, he'd do that, too. If he could saw them off, he'd go for that. Getting rid of everything that made him ugly.

-x-

Marco pulled at his hair in anger about Ace's attitude. But he wasn't angry at him. Over the years, the progression in the change of his personality for the worse was glaringly obvious through their soulmate bond. He tried not to be mad at him. It wasn't his fault. It was never his fault that he was this bitter person that had a deep, deep sense of self-loathing.

The man remembered when they were young, and Ace would always be giggling and happy. Marco loved talking to him, even if he had to keep who it was a secret. He was fun and just a cheerful and loving person. But as he got older, and his step-mother came into the picture, it changed.

Marco knew he wasn't allowed to shower more than once every two weeks. He knew he was given terrible haircuts, he knew that Ace was manipulated into this self-loathing. It brought Marco to tears the few times he did open up. When he let down his spiked steel walls. Ace thought he was a disgusting piece of trash.

It was his step-mother's doing that soured that bright flower. When he tried to convince Ace he was manipulated, he defended her, as she was his "mother". He didn't see it, didn't realize, and it was heartbreaking.

When Marco felt the sharp bursts of pain, nightly, he was positive Ace self-harmed. Marco never knew his full name or where he lived, so he was unable to try and rescue him. He knew who his soulmate was, but his self-loathing was intensified by the fact that Marco was clean and well groomed.

He felt he could never be with Marco because someone like him didn't deserve someone like Marco. The older teen did everything possible to try and find him, try and save him before it was too late. He searched everywhere, really. But he also knew Ace was kept in the house at all times, usually trapped in his attic bedroom, cold at night and dusty.

Pops hated Ace's situation and his step-mother as well. It was clear child abuse. Now that Ace was 17, having reached the age of an adult a year ago, he could leave. But he thought his step-mother cared about him, and felt there was nowhere else to go. He was emotionally tethered to that nightmare place. It often brought tears to Marco's eyes. Someone with so much potential had been purposely run into the ground. It was just painful.

So Marco was fed up with it. Ace didn't seem like he'd get better on his own, and Marco felt he was deteriorating daily. Closer and closer to suicide. On multiple occasions, Ace had said something about jumping out of his tower. Mostly when he was too tired, his narcolepsy messing with his emotions even more.

It was just so unfortunate, and Marco was done trying remote counseling. He knew Ace didn't live in the same kingdom, but he also knew he was somewhere reasonably close. Marco was going to save him, damnit!

He packed a bag, and told Pops he'd be gone for awhile. The man understood, and didn't send guards to trail him. Ace needed only him, not a crowd of unknown people to judge him, even if they didn't mean to.

The name of his step monster was Alvida. And he lived in a manor with a tall tower where his attic bedroom was. So, he went on the search, took hours, going door to door, knowing the bitch liked handsome travelers. There were often random men in Ace's home that he didn't know. Marco had a brown wig on to try and hide who he was. He wore flattering clothes.

He went from home to home, and knew vaguely what Alvida looked like. It took too long for his liking, but as he made it further and further out of the city limits of the nearby kingdoms, his impatience grew.

When he got to the last house, it fit the description, and when the woman opened the door to see Marco, his button up but tight shirt open barely at the top to show his strong chest, she looked him up and down in a hungry way, despite being only nearly 20 while she was in her forties.

"Hello, miss," he said with a cheeky grin. "I was wondering if you had any water? I ran out, I'm looking for someone," he added vaguely.

"Oh, come right in. I'm just having dinner, if you'd like to join." He grinned and thanked her for her kindness. When he entered, he widened his senses. He could tell she was a dragon, and Marco had supherb phoenix senses. He heard quiet swearing from up the stairs. A young man's voice. A voice he knew like the back of his hand.

He had dinner with her, and watched as she had her daughter bring food upstairs to the "dog". He swallowed down anger as his heart beat quickly. "May I use your bathroom, miss?"

"Of course!" she said brightly. He saw her adjusting her blouse to try and show cleavage. Marco could not be least interested in anybody than he was her. This evil, tormenting and manipulative witch that ruined a wonderful boy's childhood. Marco slowly wandered upstairs to the powder room. When he could tell nobody was in the hall, he headed up the second staircase.

His heart continued to beat in his ears. He could smell the scent of blood, and was afraid of what he'd find. He didn't knock, and opened the door to see the room smelled terrible. Really, like he'd not showered. The bathroom, he'd seen, had a shower that had a lock on the door so he couldn't get in without a key.

Ace was gorgeous, even if he was covered in dirt, wearing terrible clothes. There were feathers all over the floor. It was so bad. Ace jerked up and hid the knife behind his back. There were deep circles under his eyes on his gray face. Marco's heart broke even though a smile was on his face. "Who're you?" he demanded. Thinking maybe he was just some other man Alivda let into what was originally Ace's family's home.

Marco took off the terrible wig, and walked towards Ace, who pulled the knife on him, not knowing who Marco was. "I finally see you," Marco sighed, and took Ace's hands, the wrists covered in bandages. Ace was frozen, not knowing what to do. "It's Marco," he said simply. The younger, grimy and abused teen looked incredulous, and the prince hugged him, holding him close.

"G-Go away," Ace said, his voice breaking and uncertain. Marco pulled his face away, and gently placed a kiss on his lips. He smelled bad, but Marco knew why, and didn't judge. He didn't many a single show of disgust or distaste. He pulled away and rubbed thumbs under his eyes. Ace's face was red in humiliation, and he wouldn't make eye contact.

Marco threaded their fingers together, and pulled him down the stairs. "Let's go, we're leaving."

"B-But-"

"Ace, do you really want to stay?" Marco asked quietly, but not in a reprimanding or annoying way. It was just a genuine question. He wanted to know. Ace was confused, and said he wasn't right for him. "All you need is a good long bath. I'm not leaving you here to rot away." Ace got extremely defensive. Marco knew his mood swings through and through. "I won't leave you behind. Not now that I have you in front of me. You won't need to see anybody else until you're comfortable."

Ace had tears of embarrassment down his cheeks. He pulled away and went to his room and got a little bag that only had picture frames and a single stuffed bear. Alivda thought Marco was taking a long time, and went to try and find him, only to see a now blonde haired man holding the hands of her destroyed step-son.

"I'm taking Ace. You won't poison him anymore," Marco said firmly. Seeing him up close now, she gaped, recognizing who he was.

"W-What is going on here?!" she demanded after curtsying.

"I'm here to get my soulmate and take him somewhere happy."

"Soulmate!? I never knew-!"

"Save your excuses. I know all about you and your treatment of him. Don't think I won't be reporting you to the authorities for the years of child abuse." She sputtered, and Marco was glad Ace didn't defend her. Marco took him down the stairs, and Ace seemed to not care about anything in the house.

When they made it outside, Marco smiled at Ace and asked if he wanted to fly with him. Ace looked away, unsure. "Please? I've always wanted to fly with you, ever since we were little." Alivda was in the doorway, not daring to protest to the already furious prince. Ace took a shaky breath and changed into his golden feathered dragon body.

God, he was beautiful. And Marco would do what he could to make him believe it. He was much smaller in his phoenix form, but they flew away. Now that he was a full phoenix, he could really smell Ace. The grime and sweat and blood. He cut himself. Marco should have found him sooner, but at least he hadn't seem to get too far cutting his feathers off.

Then landed at the palace, on Marco's balcony. Ace changed into his humanoid body before landing since he was too big. Marco brought him to the bath immediately. But he was unsure about it all. Bathing had always been a very private thing for him. He'd take long showers and just appreciate the feeling of being clean.

Marco poured bubble bath into the large tub, and Ace looked frightened of it. So Marco took off everything but his underwear, boldly and unashamedly, and climbed into the bath. "C'mon, let's get you squeaky clean. You'll feel so much better," Marco encouraged. Ace slowly peeled off his rags, down to his underwear, the only clean clothing on him.

Shaking in fear of the water almost, he hissed at the heat of it. He'd always been forced to take freezing showers. Marco took both hands, and he gingerly took the bandages off. There were very old ones, and recently scabbed over newer cuts. He seemed to scar gold and not pink. He entered the tub, and sat down.

He seemed to fully relax in the tub, and Marco slowly soaped him up, washing his back and wings, and scrubbing through his oily hair and slightly crusty scalp. The water turned a very dull brown, and more and more of his beautiful gold skin was revealed. His wings were bright and shimmery, no longer a muted grayish-yellow.

He took water from the faucet and dumped it over Ace, pouring the warm, clean water over him to rinse him off. He smelled much better and looked so much more healthy after the bath. Nobody knew Marco had returned yet, so it was a very private moment. Nobody would interrupt this important time.

Marco had a clean pair of pajamas for him, and wrapped a towel around his clean, glowing body, rubbing him warm and soft. The wings would take a longer time to dry since they were thick feathers. Marco had no feathers and his phoenix attributes didn't show through in his human body. Which was convenient. "I'm sorry-"

"Don't apologize, there's no need," Marco said sincerely. "You'll be clean and loved and cared for from this point on to the rest of your life. You're never going back. Even if you wanted to, there's no way I'd ever let you." Marco pushed a strand of hair behind Ace's hair. It was so obvious the haircut was just to make him look bad.

Marco hugged him close, putting his face in his shoulder. At least he wasn't starved. Ace put the pajamas on, and made sure the sleeves covered his wrists. Marco rubbed his thumbs along the damaged skin. "Another line will never be added. You won't need to ever again."

Ace tried to apologize again, shaking in his arms. The taller man brought Ace's head down a bit and kissed his forehead softly. "Let's go. I'll find you a warm and comfortable bed. Thick, soft blankets and pillows. A room that's warm and cozy and smells nice." Ace looked like he wanted that desperately.

The room was already made in advance, as Marco had no other option to not bring him. Even if he'd had to kidnap him forcibly, he would have. The room was the smallest they had, and one of the only with a carpeted floor. The most cozy. Ace looked at the bed fearfully, and Marco sat on it, guiding him on.

The teen laid on the pillows and fell asleep instantly. Marco tucked him in, and put his clean teddy bear next to his head. It was the cleanest thing that had been in his room, so Marco assumed he'd never touched it before. Or at least not for extended periods of time. The phoenix laid next to him, just looking at his beautiful, broken soulmate.

Some tears came out at how terrible he'd been treated. How damaged he was inside thanks to Alvida. But there was a lot of time to try and remedy that. To heal him, let him known and think he deserved love and happiness. He ended up falling asleep, too, and when he woke, he saw and could tell Ace wasn't in the room.

Marco jerked up and went searching for him, only to find he was back in the bathtub, crying and itching at the scars nervously. There was a lot to do to heal him, but Marco was there for the long haul. He sat against the tub, and took Ace's hands and forced then apart gently, before kissing the wrists. "It'll be a lot of work, but we'll get there. I promise." Ace started to sob, and nodded. "You're free, now, to be your best self. And be who you are. No matter if you're angry or scared or hurt, don't hide away."

"I… I'll try," he said quietly.

"That's all I ask," Marco said, and stayed silent there as Ace spent three hours in the tub. But he didn't scratch at his scars again, and was completely relaxed. It was the start and Marco would see it through to the end.