A/N: Hello again ! I hope you enjoy this chapter, feel free to drop me a line ! I'm sorry for the wait, I need my friends to read my chapter first and give me their opinion about it before posting but they are often busy ! If some of you want to read the next chapters to give me their opinion, I'd be delighted !

Thanks again to every reviewer, I'm really glad to exchange with everyone of you !

Chapter 18: Showdown

Ace was gone. The nurse at the station told him so with an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry, he checked himself out this morning."

"I was told he would be there..." Marco tried, unable to mask his disappointment. "Are you sure he's not ?"

"Yes, let me check again but I'm quite sure."

She typed something on her keypad, frowning in concentration as Marco fidgeted.

He had gone home in a frenzy the night before, unable to fall asleep, worry gnawing at him. The doctor had told him that Ace was fine and that he would be there the following morning – which, as it was, was a fucking lie – but Marco hadn't been able to stop thinking about it. Kid had told him Ace had almost died. Almost died because of him... And even if Kid was a douchebag and should rot in Hell, it had to mean something. Marco had thought long and hard, all night, sitting on his couch, watching the night sky and drinking coffee – he had ran out of alcohol. He had thought about what it meant, about everything Kid had told him. He couldn't recall his words exactly but from what he had gathered Ace had never loved the man. Had never looked at him. Which was as strange a thought now as it had been the night before. And then, Ace had nearly died. Had he been reckless ? Had he been in some kind of accident ? If he was unharmed then it seemed unlikely but then, what did it meant ? There was one thing that kept coming back to the forefront of his mind but Marco was quick to dismiss it. Him coming back didn't warrant for Ace to make an attempt on his life again. He had been shocked to hear it from Izo. Had been shocked that Ace would do something like that, he had always been strong and fearless. But then with Sabo's accident... And Luffy away... But Kid should have been by his side, he should have helped Ace get better, Ace shouldn't have been in such a bad place if he had been in love... Marco had so many questions, so many things that didn't add up, so many doubts. He didn't know what to think, didn't know where to start. He just had to see Ace. He needed to see him and talk to him.

"He's gone, his discharged papers are in order, he left a little before eight, so you just missed him." She said, smiling.

It was eight fifteen in the morning. He thanked her and turned around, confused. Ace was already gone and Marco didn't know what to do. Didn't know where he should go with his questions. So many things were wrong. Resolutely, he walked out of the hospital. He would see Ace, no matter what. He needed answers.

- Letting go -

"Are you sure you're okay ?"

Izo was getting ready, preparing for his day of work but he felt uneasy. Thoughts concerning Ace plagued his mind since the day before and he couldn't help but worry, a heavy stone of concern resting in his guts. He had left when Ace had told him to. He had abode by his wishes but now he regretted it. He should have stayed, should have asked what was really wrong, should have helped him. Still he had left and maybe it had been a good decision, maybe it was what Ace needed at that time but he couldn't help his anxiousness.

"Love ? Are you okay ?" Thatch asked once again, touching his shoulder as Izo was applying his eyeliner making him flinch and mess up the line.

"Oh yes, sorry I didn't hear you." He apologized, suddenly feeling guilty.

He hadn't said anything to Thatch, only telling him that Ace's neighbour had been wrong and that Ace was fine. He had lied and it was probably a bad idea but he couldn't help but feel that Ace didn't need that on top of everything. Didn't need people worrying about him. Or maybe he did and Izo should have told his lover but it wasn't his secret to share. Ace probably didn't want everyone to know. Especially if Izo was right about why exactly he was in the hospital. He didn't know if it was the right choice, couldn't know but he didn't want to make his friend even more uncomfortable. Maybe Ace needed people to care about him, to know that they were here for him but Izo wasn't sure how well all of them would be received.

"You don't look well... Is something wrong ?"

"No, it's okay i'm just... a bit tired I guess." Izo replied with a smile and it didn't feel like a lie because he was tired. Of this situation, of his helplessness, of all the secrets around. He just didn't know what to do, didn't know who to talk to. Marco was stuck in his vicious circle of pain, unable to listen to anything and Ace... Ace was so far gone, Izo couldn't reach him. And it hurt. Hurt to be on the sideline, unable to do a thing. He could curse his bleeding heart, his sentimentality, his mawkishness, but he couldn't. He couldn't change who he was, couldn't help that he cared about his friends and family, couldn't help that he wanted to see them happy and well. Being denied that was hard on him.

"You look tired, I hope you're not coming down with something." His lover said after a while, massaging his shoulders gently and kissing the top of his head, a small smile on his face. He probably knew that something was up but wouldn't ask.

"I hope so too." Izo replied, leaning back to rest against his lover standing behind him.

- Letting go -

This place was as he remembered. Rows of low buildings with balcony, a quiet neighbourhood, high trees here and there. It was strange, being here after so many years. He had thought he would never see it again. Had wanted to never see it again. Still, here he was. Marco didn't take the time to really look at his surrounding, not really caring to see what had truly changed and what hadn't. He had other things on his mind. He was on a mission.

He waited for a while, not wanting to press the interphone and be rejected from the get go. It would be better to directly knock on the door. An old man with a strange hat on his head finally got out and Marco went in, smilling at him for holding out the door. He climbed the stairs quickly suddenly feeling queasy. God, why had he thought it would be a good idea ? He needed answers but seeing Ace ? After everything ? After their last meetings ? It was meant to lead to disaster. He stopped halfway up. He couldn't go further. He had been determined but now ... what would he say ? What would Ace do ? But no, he needed to go. Needed it because he ached for those answers and even if he felt anxiousness course through his veins he needed to get it over with. Izo had told him, time and time again that he had to talk to Ace but he hadn't listen and now he was there, nearly on the doorstep of his ex-lover's. He couldn't turn back. Closing his eyes for a second to center himself, he hardened his face in an impassive mask and climbed the rest of the stairs quickly, panting upon reaching Ace's floor. He was feeling on edge, his heart was beating loudly, his hands were clammy. Come on Marco. It couldn't be that hard to face the man who broke your heart two years ago because he was in love with a moron. No big deal.

He went to knock on the door before remembering that there actually was a bell. His finger hovered over the button before he smashed his digit on it, hurting himself in the process. Well, at least now he wouldn't be able to back down. Marco heard the lock unbolting and soon the door opened to reveal messy black hair, dark shadows under darker eyes.

"You." The young man spat bitterly, his face losing all its warmth, shutting in a mask of pure hatred.

"Luffy..." Marco began, taking a step back seeing the young man's advancing toward him threateningly.

Marco didn't have time to dodge it, pain blooming on his cheek as soon as the punch connected. The older man's eyes widdened in disbelief as he held up a hand to his face, feeling it throbbing mercilessly.

"I needed that." Luffy spat before slamming the door in his face.

Marco was left alone on the doorstep, stunned and moaning slightly at the pain that was radiating from his cheek. Luffy had punched him. Hard. What was wrong with him ? Goddammit, you couldn't go and punch people out of the blue. Feeling angry at this situation, Marco banged on the door loudly.

"Luffy, open up the door, I need to talk to Ace !"

But the door remained shut and Luffy didn't answer. To say that Marco was frustrated would be an understatement. He was as stunned as he was floored, not understanding Luffy's reaction. Sure he had broken up with Ace, but nothing he did deserved this kind of punch, or did it ? Once again, his mind was assailed by doubts, ugly thoughts that cast his acts in a bad light. He just needed to talk to Ace. He was sick of speculating about what was wrong, about what had happened. He knew, deep down that something was wrong, but he didn't know what. But now... now he couldn't because Luffy refused to open the goddamn door... so what could he do ? Wait here for one of them to come out like some kind of creepy stalker ? Come back later ? Marco didn't want to be punched again, his cheek still throbed painfully and he was sure it would probably swell soon. Anyway, he didn't know what he needed to do now... he could try to call Ace but it would probably be in vain. He knocked on the door once again, hoping against hope that it would open, ready to make his way down dejectedly.

The door was thrown open suddenly and if it had opened on the outside, it would have hit him in the head. Luffy was standing in the doorway, seething, arms crossed in front of his chest.

"What the hell are you still doing here ?" Luffy spat venomously.

Marco had never seen Luffy like that, so angry and intense. He took a few steps back unwilling to get punched again but squaring his shoulders, not willing to look weak. Now that he was facing the young man, he had to convince him to let him see Ace, he couldn't waste this opportunity.

"I need to see Ace."

"I bet." Luffy snorted but it sounded more like a sneer.

Seeing the young man after more than two years was a bit of a shock, he had lost his baby fat and looked more like an adult but right now Marco couldn't dwell on that. He admittedly felt a bit scared at the look in Luffy's dark eyes and was sure that given half the chance, Luffy would beat him up. And Marco didn't exactly get why. He wasn't... wasn't the one in the wrong in this whole situation...

"I need to talk to him. Is he here ?"

Marco didn't want to fight Luffy, he had always liked the young man and he hadn't come here for that. He just wanted to see Ace.

"Go away." Luffy said, making to close the door again but Marco put his foot on the threshold making it stop short of closing, wincing as his foot was squished harshly.

"Please. Luffy, I just need to talk to him."

"Well, I won't let you see him. You've hurt him enough. I'll protect him from you." Luffy said forcefully, brows furrowed, pushing against the door to close it despite Marco's hindrance.

Marco was forced to pull it away or he was sure it would get crushed and the door closed with a final loud bang. Great...

Sighing loudly and once again not getting what the young man was getting at, he decided to leave. Shoulders slumped and eyes downcast, as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. It was hard to stand in the eye of the storm, not understanding where the storm was coming from or how to stop it. If one could even stop a storm...

He opened the door to the staircase, only to bump into someone who cursed him. Meeting the strangers' eyes he could feel his jaw hanging open.

"Ace..."

Ace didn't reply, his face closing itself off in anger and pain as he looked at Marco. Probably not wanting to talk, he tried to shoulder his way past Marco, pushing him out of his way none too gently.

"Wait. Ace." Marco's voice was pleading as he grabbed Ace's arm in his hand, clutching it tightly.

His movement made him let go of the door of the staircase which harshly collided with his shoulder as he was standing on the treshold leadiçng the door to stay half-open. Ace turned around and glared at him in disdain. Disappointment, hurt and rage were swirling in the depth of his black eyes. He looked tired, frazzled even, his eyes bloodshot, dark shadows underlining them. Had he lost weight ?

Ace tried to shake him off but Marco wouldn't let him go – couldn't, now that he had him in front of him. His ex-lover only stared at him, making no more move to get away, his gaze spelling in capital letters his thoughts. He seemed to be thinking about something but then he shook his head and a bitter laugh left his mouth as his lips curled scornfully.

"Release me." He spat, wrenching his arm away violently, managing to escape.

Marco stumbled back slightly before gripping Ace's hand in his own.

"We need to talk."

Ace's look was downright murderous.

"Oh. Do we ?" He replied, his words could have been pleasant if not for the bitterness his voice carried.

"I – I ... yes. I need to understand something."

"Understand ?" Ace parroted, prying Marco's fingers away from his wrist, scratching him to be released from his iron grip.

"I... "

"Don't. You... believed this crap and now... I can't even look at you without wanting to murder you ... How could you believe such a thing ?" His voice was but a murmur, teinted by anger and betrayal.

Believed such a thing ? What did Ace meant ? What did Marco chose to believe ? Kid's words came back to him, that Ace never loved him back...

"What do you mean ?" He asked, finally not willing to let his mind guess. He had waited to know the truth. Had thought that there was no "truth" to know before stumbling upon all those inconstencies... he needed to know what was wrong, what everything meant.

Ace's laugh was harsh, jarring. It didn't sound like the laugh Marco used to like; the timbre was the same but it felt more alien. Ace seemed to have changed so much...

"It's priceless. Priceless. I hate you Marco, I hate you so fucking much right now."

Well... that was to be expected but still, Marco was taken aback. If Ace hated him then he probably didnt want to get back with him... so Kid's argument made even less sense... why had Kid told him Ace had never loved him ? Things still didn't add up and Marco could feel his temper flare. Ace's voice sounded so angry and bitter, it raised Marco's hackles badly. Let's not forget that it was Ace who had betrayed his trust, not the other way around. The young man had no reason to be angry with him, he had made his bed, and now they both had to lie in their own.

"What did I believe wrong ?" Marco tried to say normally but it came out vexed and angry. "What's not true ?" He went on, the volume of his voice rising along with his agitation. "That you ... cheated on me ? Because I saw it, clear as day."

There, he had said it. It was out in the open and the hurt in his voice wasn't feigned. Two years later it still hurt like hell. Especially looking at the dispassionate face of his former lover. They were standing in front of each other, half in the staircase, half in the corridor, at a standstill. Ace's face was set in a deep scowl but otherwise he remained unmoving. It was strange, to really see him, look at him like that. Marco was angry with him, was hurt but couldn't help but notice all the little things. How dark his eyes were, how long his hair had become, how pale his face looked. The color of his skin had always been a warm honey color, as if he spend hours sunbathing but now, now it was sickly white. Was Ace sick ? Now that he thought about it, Marco hadn't asked him about the hospital, too busy thinking about the answers he had to get...

"Exactly." Ace finally spat. "You're a moron ... and a bastard. I hate you so much."

"You cheated on me !" Marco nearly yelled. Forgetting his earlier thoughts and letting his anger show. He was quickly losing his composure, being totally thrown off his game because of those baseless accusations. "I saw Kid ! I... he told me you had never loved him ! I don't understand ! You left me to be with him ! I need answers !"

This time, he managed to block the punch aimed at his nose, but barely. It grazed his cheek and nearly connected. He now held Ace's fist in his hand but didn't release him as Ace continued to apply force, trying to touch him.

"You left Marco. Youfucking left. All on your own ! You decided what was true and what was not !"

Ace's said tremoulously, his voice getting louder. His face now looked wretched, as if pain had suddenly erupted from deep inside him to settle on his face and in his eyes. "You saw what he made you see and you didn't trust me !"

Marco was silent, couldn't think of a thing to say to that, understanding where this was going, because deep down he had thought about it but not willing to really believe it.

"You didn't ask me. You assumed. You just left, too self righteous and prideful. Too much of a moron. Well fuck you Marco, fuck you..." His voice was now quivering and his whole frame shoke with repressed anger or repressed sobs, Marco couldn't tell. "I loved you, of fucking course I wouldn't have cheated on you. You're a bastard. I hate you."

Finally his eyes began to glisten and soon fat tears ran down Ace's cheeks but he held his head high, glaring at Marco while his pain was plain for everyone to see. A pain that Marco had caused, obviously.

He wouldn't have cheated on him ? Marco had decided to leave ? But he had seen it... he had witnessed Ace's betrayal. Hurt, confusion and doubts were clouding Marco's mind, as he was unable to process. His grasps became slack and he let Ace's fist fall from his hand, his arms hanging limply at his side, his mouth opening but no sound coming out of it. What could he say. Where should he begin ? Finally he tried to reach out to Ace, to wipe out his tears because seeing Ace crying was hurting his very soul. He couldn't bear to see him in such pain. His ex-lover batted his hand away.

"Oh no, now you don't get to comfort me. It was Kid. He probably didn't tell you but he told me. He did that. He made me take some drugs. Made me go to this nightclub. I don't remember a thing from that night. It's a blank."

Kid had made Ace take drugs ? What for ? Well, the answer was obvious. He had claimed he would show Ace Marco's true colors. So this was how he had done it... He had managed to break them up so Ace would fall in his lap... that was why he was hang up on Ace and probably the reason why Ace had never loved him back. But then...

"I called. You told me you were with Sabo. What was I supposed to believe ?!"

"What was I to say ? I was out with Kid and blacked out ?" Ace scoffed, his tears not abating, throwing his arms in the air in utter disbelief.

"Yes !" Marco cried out, because of course Ace should have talked.

"You would have worried ! You were already on edge, eaten alive by jealousy ! I had told you that you were the only one for me, but even then you didn't trust me. I didn't think anything had happened and I didn't want you to get angry about nothing, so I lied, yes.

So everything was untrue ? The reasons why he had broken up with Ace were false or at least had been manipulated so he would believe them ? He had been played ? Kid had managed to be that devious to make Ace love him and he had let him break the best relationship of his life ? If only Ace had told him, it wouldn't have come to that.

"I wasn't nothing ! You should have talked to me !"

"I should have talked ? Fuck you Marco. God dammit, fuck you. You're such a hypocrite ! You can't even see that you were wrong ! I should have told you ? You should have allowed me to speak ! I wasn't even given half the chance. It broke me. You broke me..."

And yes, Marco could see his hypocrisy and was feeling ashamed, he had been so sure that he had been the victim in everything, that he hadn't been wrong to leave and now... now everything was upside down, guilt was making itself known in the pit of his guts and he couldn't stomach it, couldn't comprehend how it had gone so wrong...

"Was there someone else ?" Ace asked suddenly, his bloodshot eyes screaming murders. He was no longer crying, having been able in his anger to placate his pain but tears tracks were clearly visible on his ashen skin.

Marco looked at him without understanding what he meant and then it downed on him.

"You told me you were leaving me for someone else. Is there a someone else ?" Ace clarified, probably already knowing the answer but needing to know nonetheless. It had played a major part in his downfall two years ago. To know that he wasn't enough, that Marco had been bored with him, that he had needed someone new, someone else.

"No..." Marco admitted, ashamed of his own behaviour. If everything Ace told him was true – and it probably was, things were adding up now, things were beginning to make sense, then he had destroyed the love of his life... because of his pride.

"Bastard..." Ace breathed out, smiling in a broken way. Marco had not spared him anything. Anything at all.

"I... Ace..." Marco began, not knowing where he was going. Still, he had to say something, he had to talk to him because otherwise Ace would slip through his fingers and he wouldn't see him again and now that he knew the truth he couldn't let him go...

"Don't tell me your sorry or I'll break your nose. God help me, I'll break your legs." He threatened, quite seriously if his gaze was anything to go by.

"Why were you at the hospital ?" Marco suddenly blurted, because he didn't know where to begin, how to begin or even if he should begin somewhere and this question had been nagging him and it had been the first thing that had come to his mind so...

Ace was looking taken aback by such a change in conversation and his shoulders slumped slightly, as if he was ashamed, his eyes drown to his front door, all the way down the corridor.

"It's none of your business." He spat, turning around, intending to leave this conversation at that. And he probably was right, there was nothing either could say, Marco needed time to process, needed to know where he should go from there.

"Kid told me it was my fault." Marco said nonetheless, wanting to talk to Ace, needing to talk to him.

His ex-lover stopped short and whirled around.

"Did he ? That douchebag. You're not the center of the world Marco." Ace turned right back and hastened his pace toward his front door, probably wanting to put as much space between them as possible. Marco had probably put his finger on something.

"Ace..."

"Shut up. It has nothing to do with you, you're nothing to me, you're no one." Ace asserted, not turning around but picking up his pace. He was at his door and Marco was still standing half in the corridor and half in the staircase, the door connecting the two still open. With shaky hands, Ace began to open his door but he fumbled and dropped the keys, picking them up quickly and trying to open it again while Marco watched him.

"Izo told me. Two years ago... I understand now... I- I did that to you..."

The keys fell to the floor once against in a clatter of key chains and keys, the sound deafening in the otherwise silent space.

"Did you... Have you tried again ? Is it because of me ?" He asked finally, because putting two and two together, he was finally seeing the big picture, finally understanding things. Ace had been at the hospital but he wasn't hurt or sick so... there was only one thing left, especially knowing his antecedents...

"No." Ace only said, finally managing to turn the key in the lock. He opened the door, marking the end of this conversation. Marco didn't try to run to him, to hold the front door. If he had wanted to, he would have caught up to him sooner. Now it was too late anyway. "I only learned about being drugged yesterday. About why you left. Kid came by."

Finally Ace's front door closed, leaving Marco still standing in between, not really inside and not really outside. Ace had been in the hospital before learning that ? It didn't mean it wasn't because of Marco but what did he meant ? Sighing and needing to put some orders in his thoughts, Marco finally let the door of the corridor close behind him. It banged shut loudly, reverbarating in both the corridor and the staircase.

I hope you enjoyed their confrontation ! Don't hesitate to tell me what you thought ! See you next chapter !