Hello everyone ! Thank you for reviewing once again ! I'm really grateful to all of you who are reviewing, leaving kudos or favoriting (even if reviews are better, let's not lie to ourselves, ^^ not that I'm not grateful for those ;) ^^ ) So thank you !
Okay so here's chapter 10 ! This time we're changing target because Ace is not the only one who deserves to suffer. Fufufufu (truly evil laugh). So here's some more hurt.
PS: Special thanks to TigerMii who drew me some amazing fanart ! Go check her deviantart page and tell her how wonderful it is ! : / / foxmii . deviantart art/ First-Shot-656974164
Don't forget to check out the ones done by Lorena ! : / / lorena12me . tumblr post / 154082905478 / is-a-small-fan-art-of-a-very-good-fic-its-author
PS: Thanks to TigerMii who beta-ed this chapter !
Chapter 10: Trip Down Memory Lane
If there was one thing that Marco couldn't bear it was betrayal. As far as he could remember, his life had been paved with stones of betrayal and deceit. His own parents abandoning him to foster care services. Being tossed around by families that never really cared about him. Ending up in a nice family who then couldn't take care of him any longer because the husband's company had gone bankrupt and he had borrowed money from the wrong person.
Life wasn't easy. For anyone, really. Still, Marco had been resilient. If no one loved him, then, at least, he had to love himself and carry on. Of course he had some persons he tagged along with. No one had ever abused him, bullied him or harassed him. He hadn't had such a bad childhood, all things considered. Because there were others that weren't as lucky. Probably. Surely.
Still, it taught him early on that trusting people was a sure way to be deceived and that people lie. Often. Lying wasn't necessarily bad. Marco lied too. The whole world was lying after all. Still, lies lead to betrayal and betrayal hurts.
Meeting Edward Newgate had been a blessing. He himself came from an orphanage and in the end had opened one because of Marco. It had been a total coincidence, really. At that time, Marco had been twelve years old. Guarded, eyes wary, but particularly clever and cunning for his age. Nothing like the easy going person he had become once he had had the chance to blossom.
He had been sent back to the orphanage after his former family was deemed unfit to raise him. Things had looked particularly bleak from this point onward. The state was too poor to give enough money to them so the orphanage had a hard time pulling through.
It was to be closed.
So Marco was left wondering where he would go. Desperate, he had intended to steal. Because with money, you can do whatever you want, right? And the first person he had laid his eyes on, had tried to steal from, had caught him red handed.
Still, this person hadn't reacted badly. They had laughed outright, a peculiar laugh, a laugh that Marco never got tired of hearing to this day. Edward Newgate had asked him what he would do with this money and truthfully, because despite everything Marco was still honest before everything, he had told him the truth. The orphanage needed money. And Marco didn't want it to be closed.
The man had then told him he would take care of him and of the orphanage. Just out of the goodwill of his heart. Just like this. Just upon meeting a strange kid in the street and hearing a sob story which could have been lies. Just because he was a kind man. When reminiscing about this particular set of events, Edward would often laugh and say that Marco had been the worst thief he had come across in his life but that he didn't regret getting nearly robbed by a runt. That had been the best meeting of his life. Because the two of them had become a family, and in turn it had grown to be so much more. So much larger. Marco had given his trust to this man and had never regretted it. He trusted him from the bottom of his heart and he knew that he wouldn't get betrayed.
From then on, things had looked up. Marco had been able to open up and had blossomed inside his family. Newgate had hold to his promises of giving funds to the orphanage, even becoming the new director as a side business – as he was, first and foremost, a renowned business man. He had taken in every child lost in the system and he went as far as adopting a lot of them till the state decided to put a stop to this; sixteen adopted children was enough.
Marco had been his first adopted child. Marco Newgate. The thought still made him smile. Things hadn't always been nice as Marco had serious trust(ing) issues. He had been a hard nut to crack but his father's love and his new found brothers' efforts had changed him. Little by little, he began to be more open, to give his trust, to argue, to joke around.
His father would often compare him to a phoenix. His son had lived a harsh life, not necessarily bad but still harsh, but he had not given up and had risen from his ashes to become what he was now. This image had followed Marco all through his life, giving him strength. Being a phoenix meant that he could crash but he always would have his family by his side, helping him get up. That was the true meaning of family. He cared so much about them all. He still does even if things have started to fall apart because of his own stubbornness and his will to protect them from his own trouble. He trusted them but he wasn't willing to burden them with his own problems.
By seventeen, Marco was happy. Utterly happy. He had brothers and friends he could trust with his life, who would never betray him.
Still betrayal was never far, lurking in the corner, awaiting for a moment of weakness to strike. It was always like this.
Teach, a young man who had been adopted by Newgate, had accused him Edward of sexual harassment giving flimsy evidence to the police. The worst was that he had stabbed Thatch who had stumbled upon him while the treacherous snake was preparing those so called evidence. The police had investigated lengthily and came up empty handed but Newgate's name had taken a serious blow.
Lies and betrayal never were far from Marco but he had learnt to live with them.
Or, to deal with it accordingly.
Closing himself off.
Trusting people was difficult but he couldn't live his life in a shell. He needed to open himself. Despite the risks.
Anyway, by twenty, on the 16th of January he had thrown all caution to the wind when asking Ace out. He had put his heart out. He had decided to let his own issues in the closet so to speak, and to live on. Because he knew he could trust Ace. He was an open book, after all...
Such an open book, Marco thought bitterly, getting up and making his way to his bed sluggishly, his head pounding, feeling a bit sick from all the alcohol he had drunk. His phone suddenly rung. It was Thatch. Marco looked at it for a long time, wondering if he should answer. He hadn't moved an inch and it stopped ringing... he would call back in the morning then. He made his way to his bedroom, apathetic. Now that he thought about it, it was a phone call that started everything.
Marco already had concerns about Kid and Ace's relationship. Who wouldn't when they spend all of their time together, touching, grinning at each other, being close. Still, Marco couldn't do anything about it because Ace wasn't doing anything wrong per se and he was just being jealous.
"Marco ?" Haruta's voice buzzed through the intercom.
"Yes ?"
Marco was currently sitting in his office, going over a proposal that needed to be taken care of as soon as possible. He had joined his father's company as soon as he had finished university and was now VP. He took a fair share of Edward's work but he liked his job. Pops never would have pressured him into taking over if Marco wanted to do something else.
"You have a call from Squardo." Haruta informed him. She was the one who filtered his phone calls.
"What does he want ?"
"I don't know. He didn't tell me. Should I patch him through?"
"Yes of course."
It really was surprising that Squardo would call him. They, of course, were brothers but they weren't that close especially because both of them had busy schedules. Still, they managed to see each other at family gathering or parties hosted by their siblings.
"Hello Marco." Squardo greeted him, his voice as croaky as usual. "Sorry to bother you."
"Hi Squardo. No need to apoligize, you're welcome to call me anytime." Marco replied.
"Thank you." He replied, letting silence stretch between them.
"What was it that you wanted ?" Marco finally asked, wondering what was wrong with his brother for him to call him in the middle of the day?
"It's a bit complicated... In fact I'm not sure I should be the one to tell you this but well, hum..." He trailed off.
"What's wrong ? You know you can tell me anything." The blond-haired man said, worry sipping through his tone.
Squardo's behaviour was definitely strange. Was something really wrong ? Did he do something bad ? Was one of their sibling in trouble ?
"It's just that... Ah ! I need to tell you cause it's not fair to you." He finally exclaimed before reverting to being silent.
"Squardo ?" Marco asked gently, trying to coax him into saying what was the matter.
"It's just that... You know that I'm friend with Kid, yeah ?"
"Yes...?" He replied, not knowing where this was going, feeling wary all of a sudden.
"And I know that you're going out with Ace..." Squardo went on but paused at the end of his sentence.
"What do you want to say Squardo, get to the point." Marco snapped, wanting to know why exactly Squardo had called him and why he was talking about Kid and Ace. Just hearing Kid's name had set Marco's on edge. It only got worse once he heard Ace's name.
"I - I think that... they are together." Squardo said finally.
"They're working together." Marco said nonplussed. Worry was now gnawking at him. It couldn't mean...
"Not like this. I mean, I think that there's something fishy about their relationship..." Squardo finished.
Marco's brows furrowed.
"Fishy ?" He murmured, a bit shaken.
"Yeah..." Squardo replied uneasily. "I needed to tell you cause you're my brother and it's not fair to you I mean..." Once again, his voice died. He probably didn't know what else to say.
"I'm sure you're mistaken Squardo." Marco finally said. " What was wrong with Squardo calling him in the middle of the day to tell him his boyfriend was cheating on him ?
"I... maybe but... Consider it at least. And be careful." He added, his voice softer than usual.
Marco said ntohing but heard his brother saying goodbye and hanging up.
It couldn't be true. It couldn't. Marco trusted Ace. Ace would never do something like that. But maybe... His heart ached a little bit but Squardo's word couldn't be true. Sure, Marco had doubts but... doubts weren't facts;
That's what he had thought at that time anyway. That Squardo was crazy or mistaken. He should have believed him but... He trusted Ace.
Shaking his head and laughing bitterly Marco made his way to the kitchen to fetch a glass of water. He would need it come morning as his throat would be drier than the desert. He had drunk too much...
It started with touches. Nothing much really. Nothing to worry about anyway. But touches soon became hugs, hair petting and so on. Kid wasn't subtle in the least and it angered Marco because despite having faith in Ace, he couldn't stand that Kid's paws were touching his lover.
"I'm so tired !"
Marco heard Ace complaining upon entering his lover's shop. He had finished his meeting earlier than planned and had decided to surprise him by asking him out to dinner.
"Do you need me to give you a back rub ?" Someone who Marco recognised as Kid, asked.
"A back rub for tiredness ? Well, why not !" Ace replied shrugging, a smile on his oblivious face.
Upon turning around to sit with his back to Kid he noticed Marco and he dashed toward him, jumping in his arms, laughing.
"Careful or we'll fall down." Marco laughed, glad Ace had left Kid to come to him.
"Come on, old man, or are you too old to carry me ?" Ace teased him.
Marco's looks gave him at least five more years whereas Ace's freckles made him look younger than he was, thus they often joked about it despite being only two years apart.
"Brat." Marco growled playfully before kissing him languorously. Right before Kid. If he wasn't already lost in the kiss, Marco could have smirked.
Bonney's shriek of delight interrupted them.
"Please, go on." She said, a blush adorning her cheeks.
Ace stuck out his tongue, and taking Marco's hand, they left the shop.
"Close the shop will you ? I'm going out tonight !" He shouted out at his employees.
Once they were outside, they laughed and smiled at each other.
"Oh you're going out ? With whom, I wonder ?" Marco asked, a sly smile on his lips.
"Yes I wonder..." Ace replied winking. "Maybe Kid, who knows."
Marco's face hardened and he forced himself to relax. There was nothing going on between the two. It was obvious. Squardo was worried for nothing.
"What's the face for ?" Ace asked, looking at him.
"Nothing." Marco said pleasantly.
They were now strolling in a park, a short cut toward Marco's house.
"Are you jealous ?" Ace grinned playfully and ran ahead before turning around and walking backward, waiting for Marco's reply.
"You're going to fall. And yes, I'm jealous." Marco replied matter of factly.
Ace laugh rung in the park, scaring some birds away.
"No need to." Ace said, running to him and kissing him senseless before running ahead once again. "You're the only one for me."
"And it better stay that way." Marco purred, catching up to Ace.
He should also take some painkillers. Better be safe than sorry, afterall. He would wake with a hangover, of that he was sure but if it could lessen its effets, he would take anything. He shouldn't have drunk so much. But when your brains try to play tricks with you, reminding you of events that are best forgotten... well...
Sighing, Marco fetched the pills from the bathroom; Looking up he met his reflection in the mirror. His eyes were reddish, dark shadows underlined them, he had some stubble on his chin, his hair was a mess and, overall, he looked worse for wear. He wasn't a sight to behold, that was for sure. He felt so broken inside. So betrayed.
Since Squardo's phone call, jealousy was slowly eating at him. He never knew he would be the jealous and the possessive type. But well, here he was, looking at his reflection in the mirror while debating if it was worth it to bring Kid's behaviour up to Ace. His lover was bound to brush it away, oblivious as he was.
In a sense, Marco had nothing to fear because Ace was totally unaware of Kid's advance. Kid was definitely hitting on his lover, that was sure. As to know if Ace was responding to them... He seemed completely unaware of Kid's doing. Squardo had probably noticed Kid's attitude and drawn conclusions. Still, it bothered him. He didn't know what Kid would try to make Ace hisbut Marco wouldn't let him do anything, of that he was sure.
"Are you going to admire yourself all day ?" Ace asked upon entering the bathroom naked.
"I prefer admiring you any day." He replied, practically purring.
Seeing Ace in the nude, eyes heavy with sleep, covered with hickeys was a sure way to make blood rush ... south.
A pretty blush spread on Ace's cheeks.
"Idiot. Don't say that when I'm not prepared." he said gruffly, before taking his toothbrush.
Marco brushed his own teeth and as Ace was about to leave to dress or whatever, the blond-haired man resumed talking.
"It's better when you're unaware... So are you trying to seduce me by walking here naked and displaying your delicious ass right before my eyes ?" He smiled darkly, stalking toward his prey, intent pretty clear.
"What ? No ! I'm going to be late !" Ace shrieked taking a few steps back.
"So am I..."
He would talk to him about Kid another time.
Thinking back on it, he should have talked to him about Kid sooner. He had tried to, of course. He couldn't let things turn sour like this. His suspicions had been growing steadily but he had no proof so he needed to talk to Ace about it. To clear the air.
Shutting the bathroom lights off, he chuckled, his heart aching. His brain had decided to remember every single things tonight. Alcohol was probably to blame. He never indulged in such behaviour. It hurt too much to remember what led to this situation, to remember how utterly stupid and foolish he had been. How he had been betrayed. How everything happened right under his nose without him seeing anything.
"You know, Ace." Marco began, sipping his coffee slowly.
It was morning, Ace had spent the night at his apartment and they both had the day off. His lover looked up at him, waiting for him to continue. Kid's attitude had become worse from Marco's point of view and it needed to be addressed.
"Be careful with Kid." He finally said.
"Careful ? In what way ?" Ace asked confused, his brows furrowed.
"He's trying to seduce you." Marco replied, looking intently at his lover.
"Seduce ?" He spluttered. "Are you insane ? Kid is not even gay !"
"Ace. Just... be careful, okay ?"
"You're jealous again ? Of Kid out of everyone ?" Ace laughed before straddling his lover's hips. "I told you, didn't I ?" He began to kiss the living daylight out of him. "You're the only one that matters. Not Kid."
Ace hadn't paid any attention to his warning and maybe that should have been his first clue. Marco had simply thought Ace was just being his oblivious self... How wrong had he been.
Kid and Ace had seemed to grow even closer, always touching, sending each other knowing smiles, exchanging significant looks.
Jealousy was an ugly thing and Marco hadn't wanted to bring it up to Ace anymore. He hadn't wanted him to run away because Marco was too possessive. So he had decided to just deal with the urge to kill Kid. Maybe he shouldn't have. If he had killed Kid, all would be better... Still, he wasn't a criminal and all of it wasn't only Ace's fault. He was unable at that time to put his worries to rest, hoping that he was just being a possessive bastard with trust issues. Still, that didn't mean he hadn't lost control with Kid...
Things were a bit more thense between the two lovers but Marco had already warned Ace... what could he do ? He didn't want to make his lover angry if he was wrong. And if he was right... He didn't want to be right. So there was only one thing left to do. He needed to see Kid. To make things clear.
He knew that today was his lover's day off. Marco would take advantage of his absence to go and talk to Kid. It was nearly closing time, Bonney and Bartolomeo were already gone. Kid was alone, checking the cash register. Marco entered, a sour look plastered on his face.
"Sorry, we're closed." Kid told him, not looking up.
"I know." Marco replied angrily.
His anger was getting the better of him. He had managed to hold back from punching this bloody bastard who thought he could flirt with his lover but enough was enough.
"Oh, it's you." Kid said, glaring his way.
Yeah, the hatred was mutual.
"Ace is not here today." the red-haired told him, a small smirk on his face, as if he knew something Marco didn't.
"I know. He left my apartment this morning telling me he would spend the day with Sabo." Marco countered shabbily.
Kid's glared intensified but Marco paid it no heed.
"So why are you here, then ?" Kid barked more than he asked.
"To warn you, of course." Marco spat. "Do you think I don't know what you're trying to do ?"
"Oh and what are young going to do ?" Kid snarled, getting up and stalking toward the blond-haired man.
"Punch you and take Ace back." Marco replied matter of factly, his tone cold as ice.
"He's not yours." Kid growled, stalking closer. "And at the end of the day, he'll love me and not you." A smirk adorned his features. "I can't wait for him to leave you." Marco felt so much hatred at this instant that he wasn't able to prevent himself from punching Kid.
The fricking moron was on the floor, a hand cupping his bloody nose before he could say anything else. Without waiting for him to get his bearings, Marco stalked out, fuming.
Swallowing the pills, Marco went to bed, snuggling into his covers. He closed his eyes, feeling incredibly sleepy and tired. He found himself unable to fall asleep and he began to imagine sheeps running around in a field, counting them as they jumped over a fence. But it was too hard to do. The sheep weren't obedient and wouldn't jump. The same sheep would come to the fence and stop, over and over again. Strays thoughts began to filter once more in his mind despite his will to think about those damn sheep. Events that he had forced himself to forget came to the forfront of his mind. Especially because it was dark and he tried to sleep. He couldn't concentrate on anything but his memories. What was wrong with him ? Why was his brain able to show him all these things with this clarity? Like it had been yesterday… it hurt like yesterday. Maybe that was why...
Things were tensed between himself and Ace. He was trying to act as if nothing happened. As if he knew nothing. But he couldn't. He would look at Ace lengthily, trying to find the truth of it all. He needed to confront him. To ask him if it was true.
"You seem really tense these days." Ace said, approaching him, looking sad.
Marco sat at the living room table was nursing a cup of coffee, reading a journal.
"Sorry. I'm just stressed out with my job." He lied, plastering a fake smile on his lips.
Ace hummed and began to rub his shoulders gently.
"You should lie down and sleep for now. I'm really worried you're going to turn into a workaholic." He laughed.
Silence stretched between them, broken by Marco's low moans of pleasure as Ace worked his back.
"If you... if you ever get tired of me... will you tell me ?" Marco suddenly asked.
Ace started and stopped what he was doing.
"What gives ? Did something happen for you to ask me such a thing ? Are you tired of me ?" He asked, his voice low as he resumed his work on Marco's shoulders.
"No !" Marco protested. "Of course not. It's just. I was wondering I guess..." He trailed off uneasily.
"I'm not tired of you." Ace said gently, kissing the top of his lover's head. "If I was I would have told you." He laughed lightly.
Marco grunted but didn't reply.
/
Liar.
/
It was maybe a week after he had punched Kid. That had felt so good... and a few days since his conversation with Ace. He had looked for the signs. He didn't know if his mind was playing tricks on him, blowing everything out of proportion such as small smiles or brief touches, but they were hints.
He sighed, letting his head fall on his desk. Not only was he possessive bastard, he was turning into a stalker checking if his boyfriend was truly cheating on him by following him around. It needed to stop. He needed to talk to Ace. Because their relationship couldn't go on with Marco being so insecure.
He was walking down the street, making his way to Ace's shop when suddenly he came face to face with Squardo.
"Hello Marco !" He said with a smile showing his crooked teeth.
"Hi Squardo." He replied uneasily. He hadn't talked to him since their last phone call. He still didn't know what to make out of it. Everything was a mess in his head.
"It's been a long time since we last saw each other so I was wondering if you wanted to eat with me and then hit the bar ?" He said, sounding hopeful.
Marco wanted to see Ace... but he couldn't tell no to his brother. It was true that they didn't spend much time together and it was a shame. And maybe spending some time with other people would do him good.
"Whitey Bay, Oars Jr and Doma will be there." Squardo added, probably as a mean to tip the scales in his favour.
"Okay, I'm coming." Marco replied with a smile. Seeing his family would do him good.
/
It hurt.
/
"So, do you wanna hit the bar with the two of us ?" Squardo asked Whitey Bay, Oars Jr and Doma who had just finished eating.
The five of them had met up and decided to eat at a restaurant. The evening had been rather pleasant, despite Squardo's phone ringing way too often.
Marco was feeling relaxed, smiling contently as he caught up with his siblings. None of them had been adopted by Edward Newgate but Marco considered them as family. They were all raised together and that had forged deep bounds between all of them
"I can't, I'm working early tomorrow. Sorry." Whitey Bay apoligized.
"Me neither, my dad's out of town so I need to take care of his monkeys." Doma said.
"Sorry, I'm working tomorrow too." Oars Jr grunted.
"Ah well, no can do then. And you Marco, are you free ? You can't leave me alone, now." Squardo laughed.
"I work tomorrow but if I'm back before midgnight it should be alright. I'll just text Ace not to wait up for me."
To Ace: Don't wait up for me tonight, Squardo talked me into going out with him for some drinks and I accepted since I don't see him often. See you tomorrow. Love you.
To Marco: Okay ! Family is important, I understand ! Don't drink too much old man. Love you too."
/
It hurts. Stop it.
/
The bar was dimly lit and upon pushing the door open a cloud of smoke got swept away by the wind. The music was quite loud and there was a lot of people mingling on the dancefloor and near the bar. Squardo found a booth in a corner and went to fetch some drinks, stating that he was the one who invited Marco so he was the one who should pay.
They chatted for a while, recalling some of their brother's best pranks, catching up on each other lives. Marco was relaxed and content.
That's when Marco's world came crashing down around him
/
It hurts. Stop it. Stop it !
/
They were here for at least an hour an a half, it was maybe eleven thirty, he couldn't be sure, he couldn't really remember it. The bar was quite crowded, the scent of smoke was heavy in the air mingling with the smell of sweat and alcohol. People were tightly packed on the dance floor and that's probably why he hadn't seen them sooner. Or maybe they came in a few minutes ago and he hadn't seen them. Anyway, it meant the same. Ace was here. He was here with Kid. Wrapped around each other on the dance floor.
/
I don't want to remember. It hurts.
/
Ace hadn't told him what he would do tonight. He hadn't told him he would be here, dancing with none other than Kid. Anger surged forth but he had to reign it in. Marco hadn't asked. So Ace wasn't guilty of anything.
Squardo was still talking to him, oblivious to his inner turmoil but Marco couldn't listen to him anymore. All he could look at was Ace and Kid, dancing closely to each others. Ace seemed to stumble a few times and Kid would steady him, resting a hand on the small of his back.
The glass in Marco's hand nearly shattered from the force of his grip around it. But he couldn't do anything. He wasn't going to go down there and ask for a death match with Kid. Ace was free to spend his time with his friends. Marco shouldn't feel the need to interfere.
And that's when it happened.
Kid bent down, kissing Ace fully on the lips.
/
Please. It hurts. Don't.
/
Marco wanted to get up. To go and punch him. But he was unable to move, his ears rung, his heart ached, he felt like throwing up. He got up, albeit on shaky legs and ran outside. He didn't remember much, really. He had just ran cause he couldn't stay a second longer. He stumbled through the door and made his way to a secluded corner in the street, chest heaving, a hand in front his mouth to stop him from emptying the content of his stomach on the street. It hurt. It hurt. It hurt.
Squardo had been right. There was something fishy about Ace and Kid's relationship. If one could still call it fishy and not love. A broken laugh escaped his lips and he felt himself fall to his knees, a hole in his chest.
/
Let me forget !
/
He needed to go back, to put an end to this farce.
Squardo was behind him, rubbing his back soothingly, talking to him. But Marco couldn't understand a word he said. His vision was blurry, all was swimming in front of him.
He got up. His face pale, his face wet with tears. He made his way to the entrance of the bar only to see the both of them on the sidewalk. Ace entered a taxi, followed by Kid and they both were gone. In just a second. As if they had been spirited away.
Marco got his phone out. He would call Ace then. It rung, and rung and rung.
"Hello, I can't talk to you right now, call me back or leave me a message !"
/
… I can't … Let me die.
/
He didn't even know how he went home. Squardo might have dropped him. He didn't know. Still here he was, sitting on his couch, a glass of something, alcohol from the taste of it, in his hand, Squardo nowhere in sight. He probably felt like leaving Marco alone. What had he done to deserve this ? Did Ace really cheated on him ? Was it a mistake ?
He hurled his full glass at the wall, seeing it smash and empty the liquid on the floor. The shards reflected the light beautifully. He wished he could smash his heart to the ground so it wouldn't hurt so much. But it was still here, beating in his chest steadily. He gripped his chest in agony and a sob tore its way from his mouth.
/
...
/
Why was everyone betraying him ? Lying to him ? Why Ace hadn't told him anything ? Why had he lied ? Why had he betrayed him ? His breath was coming in short pants as he cried, sobs tearing themselves from his throat painfully. He was already hoarse.
He didn't know how long he just sat there, looking at the ceiling. He might have fallen asleep, but he was wide awake now. What time was it ? He took his phone out and noticed a missed call from Ace. Probably to know why he had called last night. It was nine thirty in the morning.
He needed to know. He press the button to call Ace back.
"Hello Marco !" Ace greeted him cheerfully.
Liar.
Marco tried to talk but he could only emit a small croak, his throat hurting.
"Are you there ?"
"Yeah sorry." Marco finally croaked.
"Your voice sounds so bad !" Ace's voice sounded worried. "Did you catch a cold ?"
Liar.
"Something like that probably." He replied.
Ace was talking to him as he would normally. As if Marco didn't know what was really going on... Did he think things could stay this way ? That Marco wouldn't mind being cheated on.
"I missed you yesterday." He finally said as a way to coax the truth out of him. He wouldn't ask him what he was doing last night. He wouldn't be the jealous and angry boyfriend. He wanted Ace to admit to being wrong.
"Yeah, I missed you too."
Liar !
Marco closed his eyes and a wave of bitterness and anger overwhelmed his mind. But he forced himself to go on. See how far Ace would go with his deception.
"I'm still sorry that I wasn't able to see you yesterday."
"No need to, as I said, family's important, I understand that you want to spend some time with them, I'm not jealous !" His voice sounded joyful. Carefree.
Liar. How could he lie like this ?
Of course he didn't care. It allowed him to spend time with Kid.
"You weren't bored too much ? What did you do ?" He asked, hoping Ace would tell him the truth.
"I stayed at home, watching a film with Sabo ! It was great, don't worry about me !"
Lies. Always those fucking lies.
Marco nearly lost it, laughing brokenly in the receiver. But he forced himself not to. He had to stay neutral.
"Okay. See you tonight then."
"See you ! Love you !"
Liar. How could you ?
Finally tears gathered at the corner of his eyes and spilled down his cheeks. Liar. Liar. Ace had lied to him. He felt stupid, foolish even. How could he have believed that Ace wouldn't betray him when everyone betrayed everyone. How much of an idiot was he ?
The phone was still pressed against his ear. Ace hadn't hanged up. Normally, it was Marco who did it cause Ace forgot. But this time, Marco hadn't had the force to push the red button and end the call.
"You didn't tell him you were with me." A gruff voice sounded, distorted by statics and distance.
Kid.
"No. He would have gotten jealous or something."
A vice squeezed Marco's heart. What more did he need ? A signboard with "You've been screwed" written in capital letters ? He took the phone and hurled it at the wall. It fall next to his glass, soaking in the alcohol, destroying it. He didn't need to hear more of this conversation anyway. All was said. He had opened up to Ace, he had told him everything about him, about his childhood, about how he took betrayal. And still, here he was, laughing bitterly at his own foolishness.
Liar. Betrayer.
His father wanted him to go to New-York ? He would. He couldn't stay here anyway. It was better to run away than to have to face Ace and see guilt or worse, pity on his treacherous face. He didn't want to see him anymore. He would shoot Ace a quick text to tell him he had to go overseas for business. He would pack. He would call him to put an end to this. To betray him and not stay the one who had been betrayed. And he would go.
Tears were strimming down Marco's face as it all came crashing onto him once more. Sobs tore itself from his throat and he couldn't help but feel the hole in his heart widening once again.
Liar. I loved you. And you betrayed me.
TBC
Notes : Here it is ! Almost all the truth had been uncovered ^^ Feel free to let me know how you feel after reading this !
See you in (probably) two weeks... (I'm drowning with papers to hand almost every weeks... so yeah... I'll update every two weeks, sorry).