Hi ! Sorry for the delay! Here is the new chapter, I hope you like it!

This new arc of One Piece is totally firing me up ahahah ! I don't want to spoil anyone but I'm just sooo excited to see more !

Chapter 21 : Second chances are hard to come by

"So yeah, that's where we are in this joke that's called my life... A week has passed since seeing Marco and I've got no news. I don't know how to feel about that. Maybe it was some sort of closure to him? Maybe he put everything behind him now that he knows? Anyway, I shouldn't care. It's as much a closure to him as it is to me. And I come first. I don't care about him..."

A lull followed Ace's statement, his conversation partner staying quiet. Not bothered by the silence, the young man went on.

"Izo tried to call me a few times but I haven't answered yet. Maybe Marco talked to him. I guess he did, they are brothers. I don't want to talk to Izo. You can say that I'm afraid to know what he'll tell me. Do you think I should see him?"

Ace asked before sighing loudly. Without waiting for an answer, he went on.

"Of course you'd think that I have to see him. You'd be unsuferable about me avoiding Izo. I just need time, I guess. Or maybe it's an excuse but anyway what's done is done. At least, he doesn't insist too much. He only calls once a day and sends me a text message asking me to call him back. I'll reply next time. I mean... he's trying, isn't he? He's my friend, I can't avoid him forever plus he often gives good advice. Not that you don't of course, but except if you were sleepwalking, I don't see how you could give me the advice I need. But don't worry, me talking to you is helping a lot. So thank you for listening to me without chipping in every so often."

A small laugh escaped Ace's lips as he looked at the sleeping face of his brother still laying in this godforsaken hospital bed.

"Well, on another note, concerning my disease and my overall mental state, I'm not getting better but I'm not getting any worse, so there's something. I feel as fine as possible, I'm trying to go out, walk, not stay copped up inside our home to wallow. I was so angry after learning all of that. I'm calmer now, walking around helped. And as much as I hate to say that, seeing Marco helped. I'm still angry but not all the time. That's progress. Anyway, Dr Lenoir told me that I needed to stretch my muscles, that it was important so I decided to go and do some yoga. Okay, yeah, I know. Yoga? Me? Well, you never know, it's not like I could do kickboxing. It's supposed to relax you and it's okay. I've been twice already. It's not too far away from home and the hours are fine too, around five or six o'clock in the evening. It's not that bad and if it becomes too much or if I don't like it anymore, I'll quit. I just needed something else, something new. I realised that I don't want to die so I'm trying. I have two legs and I still can stand so it would be stupid to give up. You still have two legs too so I hope you'll stand up again soon. I can't wait. I... I really hope to talk to you again. Really talk to you. Not have those one sided conversations in which you can only listen. I know what you would say, mind you, but it's not the same. I decided to get better, you should too.

Ace stopped, not wanting to let his one sided conversation take this sad turn. He wanted to keep it light and happy. Warm. He wanted Sabo to hear that he was doing okay, that he was trying to stay strong and go forward. It might help him come back from his deep slumber. Ace felt responsible for the way Sabo's state seemed to have worsened but the doctors weren't sure what it had really done to him. They wouldn't know until he'd wake up. They didn't know when it would be though, but there was still hope and that was everything Ace needed.

He had decided to wait more than a week before coming back here to see his brother. He wanted to let him heal, to let him stablize before seeing him again. He didn't want to create another incident. One was more than enough for both his heart and Sabo's. And maybe he had been afraid. Afraid of what he would see, afraid of what he had done, of what he could cause once again. Yet his brother was the same as ever, face pale, lying motionless in his bed, emaciated.

Upon entering the room Ace had thus greeted him and apologized. Profusely. Deep down, he believed that his brother could hear him. Ace hadn't come to visit him for a while so he had decided to tell his brother everything he had missed. Sabo deserved to know. Ace had told him about his little 'near-death-experience trip' to the hospital, his conversation with Luffy, what Kid had told him and then his altercation with Marco. So much had happened in so little time.

"I met nice people at my yoga classes." Ace went on, sharing little details of his life. "I need to meet new people. It might not be right to them because I'll... die soon but I realised that I spent my life with you and Luffy and then Marco and his siblings. Kid was supposed to be my best friend but well... I realised that I don't have many friends. So I met a geeky guy named Sy, I think he's studying to be an engineer. I also met Liza and she's awesome, I can tell you that already! She's a police officer and she's a no-nonsense kind of woman, pretty straight-forward but she's got a lot of humour. If you heard what she says to Sy, she's devilish with him but the guy deserves it. They both are pretty funny!"

Taking yoga classes had been a spur of the moment kind of decision. He was coming back home from the supermarket when he had stumbled upon the club. It had always been there but Ace had never noticed it. He had never thought that he would be interested in yoga one day. After all, it seemed to be a married-women kind of hobby. Yet, he had entered to ask for informations and the teacher, a little lady with vivid red hair and warm brown eyes had explained everything he wanted to know, stating that her lessons cattered to a lot of people and that yoga was becoming popular even for men. She had asked him to come to one session before deciding. He wasn't sure but let himself be convinced, especially because Dr Lenoir had told him that stretching his muscles would help him in the long run. What better way to get better than to allow himself to have a chance to get better? Nearly dying had put everything in perspective. He wouldn't say that he felt fine, far from it. Most of the times, his mind was filled with bleak thoughts. Yet, he knew that he couldn't let himself go. Not anymore.

For now, he'd been to two sessions of yoga where he had met those two friendly people, Sy and Liza. Liza was a bit older, around thirty to thirty five and Sy had to be around Ace's age. Sy was Liza's brother in law as Liza was married to his sister Veronica.

"So yeah, things are... going I guess. And it's enough for now, you know ? I just … I'm a bit tired of all this drama. I wish... I wish I had a simpler life. Guess you can't always get what you want. I think that's everything I had to tell you for now. I'll come by to tell you more don't worry. Oh and because I would rather bury Kid alive than let him have my shop as I had planned, I'll ask Bonney. She's sensible and I'm sure she'll do great with it. I can't keep it now. I can't work anymore so... I really need to find something else to do. I can't think of anything right now. I'll wait and see. I have some savings and Luffy's father is paying for the flat so that's fine for now. I'll cross that bridge when I need to. Okay, well that's it for today. Sleep tight, brother."

Ace rose from his sit and kissed his brother's forehead, petting his longish hair. He should bring a pair of scissors next time to cut them. And a brush. Sabo wouldn't have liked his hair getting so long.

- Letting go -

"Ace!" Izo shouted loudly upon answering his call.

"Hey Izo." Ace greeted him a bit warily.

Ace was outside the hospital, sitting on the only bench that wasn't covered in snow, near the wall of the building. After his talk with his brother he had decided to call Izo because if he waited, he would chicken out. There were things that needed to be said and Ace had already pushed it back, again and again. Even if things weren't the same and even if Izo had shut him out after his and Marco's break up, Ace missed him. Back then, back when they were still friends, they had done so many things together, had hung out, had partied, had talked about boys. He had known Izo before Marco. It was such a long time ago... many things had changed and hard feelings lingered but Ace couldn't forgo such a friendship. Not anymore, at least.

"I'm glad to hear you!" Izo said, not chidding him for his radio silence. Not telling him that he should have called back. He probably understood that Ace had needed time. Understood that sometimes you needed to be left alone to your own devices.

"Hello." He said simply not really knowing where to start or how to begin. A sorry would be too insincere but he didn't want to antagonize Izo either. His friend had tried to help, had always tried to since he and Ace had decided to pursue some kind of friendly relationship again a year and a half ago. "I..." He trailed off, unsure of what he was going to say next.

"You don't need to explain." Izo reasured him, his voice, though deformed by the phone, was warm and friendly. "You needed to be left alone and I respect that."

"Thanks." Ace replied simply because what else could he say?

"You're welcome. I told you, I really want us to be friends again and I won't do anything to put that into jeopardy." His voice had somehow become apologetic.

Izo probably still regretted his behaviour. Now that he knew the truth, Ace couldn't really hate Izo for abandoning him anymore. He had, at first, not understanding why Izo would forsake their friendship out of the blue. Ace had thought that their friendship would survive his break up with Marco but he had been wrong. Izo had ignored him, purely and simply. Ace had loathed him even when Izo had tried to patch things up. Their friendship – if their relationship at that time could be called friendship anymore – had become strained. Ace held a grudge and he couldn't move past it. He had tried to do as if nothing had happened but he couldn't. In the back of his mind, the betrayal was still fresh, as was the pain. So they were "pals", not really friends anymore. They hang out but it wasn't the same and they both knew it. Their friendship was just hanging by a thread and with Izo's recent meddling, Ace had shut him out even more. Yet, Izo was trying to be friend with him again. He wasn't giving up and it hurt as much as it filled Ace with warmth.

Now, now things were different because Ace knew the truth. The whole truth and he understood a bit better Izo's behaviour. Had it happen to Luffy, what would Ace have done? Probably the same thing. He already hated Trafalgar so it wouldn't have been that hard to ignore him. He would even have made this guy's life a living hell.

All in all, it probably had been hell for Izo. Yet – yet he still came back to him even before knowing the truth and despite his misgivings about Ace's behaviour concerning Marco. He had come back and had tried to help ever since. He had argued with him, had tried to make him see Marco, to make him talk to him. Just talk. But Ace was just too stubborn, or too proud maybe, and he hadn't listened. He had totally and completely shut Izo out, ignoring him at times and being downright mean. There should be nothing left of their friendship and yet, they couldn't seem to let it go.

"You're cheesy." Ace teased him, wanting to fall back into their old selves, into their old behaviours once again.

"I'm honest! Don't laugh! What ever did I do to be dubbed cheesy?" Izo cried out dramatically, following Ace's tone. Maybe, he wanted the same thing for them. Maybe he missed them too. He probably did or he wouldn't hang onto them this hard.

"I'm not laughing." Ace said, snickering. He let static fill the silence for a little while and taking a deep breathe, started talking again.. "Do you want to … go and have some coffee?" He asked uncertainly, because that was why he had called. He wanted to talk to Izo face to face, to explain himself and start over. And maybe get some advice.

"I... Well, of course." Izo stuttered, probably surprised by this sudden proposition. "If it's fine by you." He hastened to add.

"If it wasn't, I wouldn't have asked."

"Then I'd be glad to go with you. Where do you want to meet?"

"Do you remember the coffee shop near the river?"

"The one with the chocolate fondant served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream?" Izo asked with hesitation, as if he really couldn't believe what was happening.

"Yes, that one. You remembered?" Ace asked. He would deny to his bitter end that his voice had shook.

The both of them used to go to this place a lot. It was a nice place. A high ceiling, large french windows that let the sun stream through them to warm the place, azure walls and nice paintings of larks and other birds adorning them. Flowers of every color everywhere. Plushy seats that felt like heaven and a tasty choice in furnitures. That, and the excellent desserts. They were to die for. Ace hadn't been there in two years, too many memories filled this place.

"Of course. At what time do you want to meet?"

"Whenever, I'm free today."

"Well I'm working but I can wrap it up quickly. Let's say in an hour? Four o'clock is fine by you?"

"Perfect. See you there, Izo." Ace said, his voice filled with relief.

He hadn't known how much he had needed to have a normal conversation with Izo.

- Letting go -

"Ace I'm so glad to see you!" Izo exclaimed upon entering the coffee shop. The place hadn't changed a bit and it felt like coming home. As if the past two years hadn't happened.

He rushed to Ace and bending forward squeezed the life out of him. He'd been so fucking worried about the man for the past week. Ace patted his back awkwardly and smiled.

"I can't breathe!" He complained, laughing."I'm glad to see you too." He said once Izo had let go of him.

Izo took a sit in front of him and stared at his face for a long while. He felt incredibly relieved to finally be able to see him. The past week had been hell. Each and every day he had called Ace without getting a reply. He knew that Ace would need time and yet, he couldn't help but try to reach out to him. To talk to him. Seeing that Ace was calling him had lifted a heavy weight from his chest. He hadn't known what his friend would do... he hadn't even known what had happened to make Ace go to the hospital even if he had his suspicions.

"Do I have something on my face?" Ace asked, his voice teasing.

"No, sorry, I'm just really glad to see you." He didn't say that he had worried, it was heavily implied and Ace probably wouldn't take kindly to any sort of pity. Izo knew him too well.

"I'm fine." Ace told him, as he pushed the menu that was open in front of him toward Izo. "I already know what I'm gonna take. You choose."

"I know what I want too." Izo smiled, closing the menu and motionning for a waiter.

"Our very own comfort food." Ace said wistfully.

"Yeah. Chocolate Fondant with a scoop of vanilla ice cream..." Izo answered, thinking back on all the times they had eaten this dessert in this place. When they were sad, happy, eating to cope with exam week or when they wanted to gossip, to have serious talk or to chat about idle things.

"It's been a while since we've been here." Ace started after ordering.

"It has been." Izo agreed, regretting their lost closeness.

They looked at each other lenghtily, neither knowing where to start this talk. Ace was pale, paler than Izo remembered him being. He had lost weight too, not much but he could still notice in the way his friend's cheeks were less full than before.

"I'm sorry for last time. I was rather short with you. And sorry for not answering your calls." Ace blurted out, as if he had this sentence on the tip of his tongue for a long time.

"It's okay. As long as you're fine, that is what's important to me." Izo replied amiably. He wanted to ask him more questions, to understand what happened, to know if he had tried to commit suicide again, to know why, to help. But he held his tongue.

"Thank you." Ace replied simply

Their conversation was strained and awkward. There were so many things that remained unsaid and that plagued Izo's mind. He didn't want to say the wrong thing so he didn't know what he could say. As for Ace, the young man didn't seem defensive, just wary. They had become strangers to each other. Should Izo simply tell him that he knew about Marco? That he knew the truth? Start from there and see what Ace would answer?

"You're probably wondering why I was in the hospital." Ace finally said, looking past him, not meeting his eyes, in an obvious sign of discomfort.

"Yes." Izo replied truthfully. "But if you don't want to talk about it, it's fine."

The sun was streaming through the french windows, warming them up after so many cold days. People were strolling side by side in the streets, wrapped in heavy coats, throwing snow balls at each other, laughing or talking quietly. It was nice to enjoy the outdoor after so many days of snow, wind and bitter cold.

Silence settled between them once again before Ace finally caught his gaze, a rueful smile stretching his lips.

"It's sad. That you have to walk on eggshells with me." He stated simply, shaking his head. "I can't say I don't know what went wrong cause I know."

Izo didn't answer, caught of guard by this sudden statement. He didn't expect Ace to suddenly adress the elephant in the room. Their lost friendship.

"I'm so..." He started before being interrupted by the waiter who brought their order. The chocolate fondant looked as delicious as before and they didn't wait before digging in, Ace letting out a low moan of delight as he took his first bit. Izo followed suit, revelling in the taste of this otherwordly dessert.

"You don't have to apologize. Or I should too." Ace resumed.

Izo opened his mouth to tell him that no he wasn't the one who had to apologize because he hadn't done anything wrong but Ace went on, not letting him the time to answer. "You tried. I know that. I see that now. I... was angry with you. I even hated you for abandoning me. You came back though. You came back and you seemed sorry. And you were trying to be my friend but I couldn't. Deep down, even if you had come back, I couldn't help but be bitter, hate you for wanting to help now, for butting in, for meddling in what didn't concern you. Now... now it's different. I realise that things must have been hard for you too. We were friends and we're not anymore. Yet, yet I hope we can – I hope we can be friends again because I missed you. Deeply."

To say it didn't hurt would be a lie. Izo knew that. Knew that Ace must have hated him for his behaviour. He had every right to, frankly. Izo wasn't a ressentful person. He forgot and forgave a lot. There were things, though, that he couldn't forgive, when they were too close to his heart, when they had hurt him too much. In Ace's stead, he didn't know if he would be able to look past his own behaviour.

"I – I missed you too Ace." He stuttered, voice dripping with barely contained emotions.

"I know. I know because you tried to help all along. Even when I didn't want your help."

"I wasn't there for you when you needed me. I only heard from Kid what had happened back then. I didn't want to let you by yourself anymore. I wanted to be there for you because I understood that something was wrong."

Izo couldn't help but notice the way Ace's face grew darker at hearing Kid's name.

"Hm. Do you remember, it was a few months ago, the day Marco came back into our lives. You asked me whether or not I could forgive you."

Izo nodded, remembering this day. It was a bit hazy as it was almost four months ago but yes he remembered this night. It had been nerve wracking to say the least. Marco and Ace had seen each other again, after so long, both believing in some lies or another. Both hurting so deeply. And Ace had suddenly disappeared.

"At that time, I didn't reply. I told you that I believed you when you said that you regretted it. I didn't tell you that I forgave you. Because I wasn't able to. So if you can forgive me and if you can forgive yourself then I can forgive you. I don't know if our friendship can be mended. I hope so from the bottom of my heart. So yeah, I understand now and I forgive you. Let's be friend again." Ace said warmly, a true smile stretching his lips. Izo was dreaming. He hadn't seen such a real smile on Ace's face in so long. His friend hold out his hand above the table, waiting for Izo to grasp it and seal their new beginning. He squeezed Ace's hand tightly, not wanting to let go.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'd like that." Izo replied shakily. He could hear the tremor in his own voice and feel the tears well up in his eyes. He hadn't known how much he needed to hear those words. Ace had always been there for him since he had met him and ignoring him had been a heartache. He shouldn't have, he knew that. If only he had gone to talk to Ace himself after the break up. Yet, he had chose to believe in his brother because he hold his family in high regard and thought that Marco's decision didn't come out of nowhere. Izo had been foolish and stupid and he didn't know how he could have forsaken their friendship just like that. In the blink of an eye. What had gotten into him? He had been hurting on his and Marco's behalf, had felt betrayed as much as his brother had been and yet, yet he hadn't really known what had happened. Just heard that Marco had left, leaving Ace and putting an ocean between them. Haruta had told him that Marco looked heartbroken and was miserable. She didn't know why but could suspect the reason. As could Izo. On assumptions alone, he had done the biggest mistake of his life.

"I want us to be friends again. I can't apologize enough Ace. I really can't. I – I get that you don't want an apology but I need to tell you that I'm truly sorry. I was stupid. I didn't even try to talk to you. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"It's okay." Ace told him squeezing his hand with force. "I wasn't any better. I thought that I was stronger than that and I was mistaken. I let everything get to me. It was a dark time. Kid helped me through it, that bastard. He put me through this and for what?" Ace began to mutter darkly, releasing Izo's hand to clench it into a tight fist. Everything had happened because of Kid. Izo couldn't help but think back on what Marco had told him about him and about Squardo's role. "You don't seem surprised by me saying that." Ace said, shattering Izo's thoughts process and making him frown. Suddenly, he remembered that he shouldn't know about a few things, including Kid's betrayal. He cast a sheepish look Ace's way but found himself unable to reply.

"You saw him, didn't you? He talked to you?"

It was no use playing dumb. If they wanted their friendship to work, it was better to be honest.

"Yes, Marco came to me."

"I guess he told you everything?" Ace didn't seem angry so at least it was a good sign.

"Yes." Izo kept it short and simple, no need to give too much details in case it lit Ace's anger.

"At least, I won't have to do it myself." the young man sighed, somehow defeated, resting his head on the palm of his hand. "I wanted to tell you. That's why I called. That's why I understand. I get why you acted the way you did. Anyway, I'm glad to have seen you either way, to have that talk."

"I'm glad too. I'm sorry you had to learn the truth like that. I'm sorry about Kid..."

"Don't be sorry for him. Kill him next time you see him, that'll be enough." Ace said and Izo couldn't tell if he was serious or not.

"Will do." He replied, letting out a small laugh to lighten the heavy mood.

"Good." Ace nodded before looking at his empty plate thoughtfully, probably wedging the pros and the cons of licking it.

"You can order another one instead of eating the plate." Izo teased him and Ace threw him a playful look before raising his hand to order another serving.

The waiter left to prepare his order and they were once again left in silence. It wasn't yet comfortable, it was still tense and somehow suffocating. They had agreed to start over but regaining their closeness wouldn't happen in a heartbeat.

"How are you, anyway?" Izo blurted out rather suddenly, trying to fill the silence.

"Fine I guess." Ace replied before pursing his lips and frowning. "Well, no. Honestly, I'm not doing so great." His tone was a bit clipped and self-deprecating.

"That was insensitive of me to ask, I'm sorry." Izo backtracked rapidly, realising that of course Ace wasn't alright.

"It's fine. If we want to be friends again, I have to be honest with you, don't I?"

"I... guess so."

"There are things I can't tell you now, because I don't want to. But, I can tell you that I'm not really okay. I think that I'm doing better than last week, which is probably good. I... you can ask me about the hospital. I send you away without even an explanation... you learnt from Marco why but anyway... I ..."

Ace gulped and sent a quick look toward the kitchen, probably wishing for the waiter to hurry up so he would have something to occupy himself with instead of blurting out his every thoughts. Either way, he looked straight in Izo's eyes and resumed his explanation.

"I was in the hospital because I... I nearly killed myself."

"What?" Izo screeched loudly, making a few other patrons turn around to see what was going on. "What?" He repeated more quietly this time, fixing his gaze on Ace, trying to understand. He had thought about it but it didn't seem as real as right now, sitting in front of his friend who was telling him that he had tried to commit suicide once again.

"I mixed sleeping pills with alcohol. A deadly mix." Ace snorted, shaking his head as if it was a mere joke. It wasn't. It wasn't a laughing matter. It wasn't alright.

"Ace... I'm so sorry... If I had known, I – I ..."

"Don't. There's nothing you could have done. I didn't intend to do it. Things kept pilling up and I snapped." Ace explained matter of factly, his voice devoided of any emotion. He was probably trying to contain them all.

"But..."

"I made a poor decision, I realise that. Luffy was rather indignant about my behaviour. He's currently chaperoning me. Well, he had to work today so I was left to my own device."

"Why?" Izo asked then, unable to hold back this question anymore. He needed to know what had led to this. Was it Marco's come back? Was it something else? What was wrong?! "Why did you do it then?" He clarified, not wanting Ace to play dumb. He needed answers now.

"Well." Ace started before shrugging, seemingly uncaring. "A lot of things got to me. I don't really want to talk about it right now." He evaded, affliction now coloring his voice, his mask of impasivity slipping.

"I – I …I understand." Izo began, the words not wanting to escape his mouth, grief overtaking his whole features. He didn't understand. He couldn't. Yet, he had to, for Ace's sake. "I wish you would tell me but if you need to talk about it, any day, at any time. I'm here. Really. Whenever."

"Thanks. I'm glad you're here. I'm glad to know I can talk to someone." Ace's tone was full of sorrow and he couldn't mask it anymore.

"You can tell me anything you want." Izo stated with force, trying to convey his determination. His will to help his friend no matter what. He understood that Ace wasn't going to open up to him suddenly. It would take time for both of them to trust each other, to be comfortable sharing their deepest thoughts. "Are you sure... are you sure you won't..." he trailed off, not wanting to say the words aloud but needing to know.

"Yeah. Yeah. Once was enough, twice was too much. I... want to live, you know." His voice was so small and filled with distress that it tore at Izo's heart yet Ace smiled somehow ruefully. Izo got up and went to hug his friend.

"Great. Great. I, yeah, that's, I mean. Hum." Izo babbled, not knowing if he should feel relieved or worried.

"Let's talk about something else." Ace began, trying to steer the conversation toward safer ground, returning Izo's hug.

"Yeah. Of course. What do you want to talk about?" He said releasing Ace from his embrace but not moving from his side of the table.

"I don't know. Do you have things you want to tell me?" He asked with a watery smile.

Well, Izo could think about a tons of things they could talk about. He began rubbing his chin thoughtfully. He could stike an awesome conversation about the latest gossip concerning some celebrity but Ace had never heard their names so... not a good idea. Maybe he could talk about some new recipe he had tried to impress Thatch and had ended up in a disaster – not great to bring up Thatch so soon. Some new drama he was watching... oh that could be an awesome idea actually. Back in the days of university, they often watched drama while eating sweets in their dorm rooms. Sometimes, Marco would come along and Ace and him would cuddle, being their ridiculous disgustingly happy and in love selves... Marco … Izo frowned and began bitting the nail of his pinky finger. It probably wasn't the right subject to broach right now. Izo would wait before telling Ace about Marco. And Squardo, now that he thought about it. Ace needed time to heal and get better. Izo could see, clear as day, that his friend wasn't as fine as he claimed to be. It showed. In his physique but also in the way he wasn't able to keep his emotions in cheek, distress piercing through his walls.

"What do you have in mind? It seems to bother you?" Ace interrupted his thinking

Izo grimaced slightly and stopped bitting his nail, a tell tale sign of anxiety. Of course Ace had noticed it but Izo tried to brush it off anyway.

"No it's nothing, I was just trying to think about what to tell you, that's all. So I'm watching this drama..."

"There's something else on your mind." Ace interjected, not letting him finish. "It's written all over your face, Izo. I know you."

Damn it. Couldn't they just talk about some drama instead of … well this drama ?

"Is it about Marco?" Ace asked, his voice half bitter and half wistful. Izo didn't reply because he couldn't outright lie to Ace. He was a good liar usually but he just didn't find it in himself to craft a careful lie right now.

"In a way." He replied simply, not really wanting to give further explanations. "But I'd understand if you don't want to talk about it." He argued, trying to find a way to avoid this particular can of worms. Marco had asked him to talk to Ace but Izo couldn't do it right now, it would seem so... self-interested and selfish.

"Tell me." Ace asked, his tone brooking no argument.

Why was he so stubborn? Now that he had smelled something fishy, Ace wouldn't let it go.

"Okay." He relented. "I'm telling you but you have to know that I'm not speaking on Marco's behalf, okay?"

Ace looked at him warily, somehow distrusfully but he was the one who had asked to know so he simply nodded.

"Something else came to light. In regard to your break up."

"What now?" Ace sighed, sounding defeated and tired. Izo should have kept it to himself, damn it. Anyway, it was too late to backtrack now.

"Squardo had a hand in your situation too." He blurted out, not wanting to delay his annoucement.

"Squardo?" Ace asked bewildered. Izo wondered then if Ace even knew who Squardo was. The man had so thoroughly ruined Ace's life and they didn't even know each other...

"Yeah, one of the kid that was with us back at the orphanage. Our brother..." the word tasted like ash on his tongue and he couldn't help but shudder as the thought that he once had considered this man as his brother.

"What about it?" Ace asked, seemingly uninterested but he couldn't mask the glimmer of incomprehension shining in his eyes.

"I... I'm not saying that to make you change your opinion about Marco but... It appears that he sabotaged your relationship with Marco."

Ace was silent, staring intently at him, confusion swirling in his dark eyes. First Kid and then Squardo. Why did people have to meddle so much in his life? Why did he have to hurt because of others selfishness? Izo felt so sorry for his friend.

"Back then, he kept telling Marco he had doubts about you and Kid, planting the seeds of doubt in his mind." Izo carefully explained. "He kept on calling, repeating the same thing over and over again and you know how Marco is with betrayal... he didn't believe it at first but well. Anyway, the night you were at the nightclub with Kid, it was Squardo who brought Marco with him. To let him see what he and Kid had planned..."

"..." Silence met his words but he didn't let it deter him. Now that he had began, he had to explain everything he had learnt. Maybe, just maybe, it would help change Ace's mind about Marco. One could hope.

"He apparently hates Marco and he wanted to destroy his life, out of jealousy. Marco was the first kid adopted by our father and Squardo never was. He believed that Marco was handed everything on a silver plate. He didn't realise all the work and sacrifice Marco had to do to be where he is today."

"..."

"Well, things are somehow settled. We have a large family with too many hands in too many pies. His bank accounts have been emptied and frozen, his passport revoked, his detective licence erased and we're trying to dig up some dirt on him to have him arrested for life. We've already found some shady things. We would rather kill him but we're not a mafioso family. So yeah..."

"I don't give a fuck about that Izo!" Ace blew up, nearly rising up from his sit. Yeah, Izo should have stayed quiet. He knew that Ace wasn't ready to hear that. "It doesn't change anything!" He went on, louder this time, people all around them turning around. "Marco didn't trust me! He let himself be led on by a douchebag!What of it? The end result is the same!" He spat out the last sentences, anger coloring his voice and overtaking his whole features. He fisted his hand tightly, knuckles turning white, jaw clenched.

"It is." Izo agreed, his voice soothing.

"What's done is done, okay!" He asserted, losing what little calm he had left. "I don't give a fuck about what went wrong! I want to put this behind me! "

"And I'm not telling you not to." Izo interjected, placing a careful hand on his friend's arm to make him settle down. "I can't defend him on this particular point. He acted rashly and like an idiot. He screwed up. So you have every right to want to put it behind you..." Izo trailed off. Of course he thought that Marco had screwed up big time and of course his brother was an idiot. Yet Marco was still that, his brother. As much as Izo threw him under the bus, he also wanted Marco to be happy.

"But?" Ace prompted him, probably having noticed Izo's hesitation.

"But... I can't help but wish for you to talk." To make up. But Izo didn't say it, knowing that it would just anger Ace more. He didn't want to already be given the cold shoulder.

"We talked." Ace said simply, sticking a finger in his second empty plate to gather what was left of ice cream, having had the time to devour the second one while they were talking. He then licked his finger clean, not wanting to waste any drop.

"I know. I also know that it didn't went well"

"What did you expect? Anyway, it's fine. He got the truth he was searching for and he put it behind him. I had my closure. I can move on." Ace's voice was emotionless but his eyes spoke of a completely different story. A painful one.

"And it's not like he cares. It's been a whole week and he hasn't called so it's settled." Ace added as an afterthought. As if what he just said wasn't the key to everything.

"He cares. He regrets what happened." Izo said tentatively.

Obviously, Ace hadn't put everything behind him if he still thought about Marco, about his ex-lover contacting him. Izo had advised Marco against trying to see or talk to Ace but he might have been wrong. Ace was waiting for Marco to do something, to prove him something even if he didn't want to admit it to himself.

"Well so do I but what can we to?" He answered vehemently. "Turn back in time? Impossible. I can't live waiting for another betrayal. He made me what I am today, he fucked up my life. I won't be taken for a fool again. It's me who can't trust him now." He sneered, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"I won't push it because as your friend I don't think he deserves a second chance." Izo told him truthfully.

"And as a brother?" Ace prodded, having noticed the distinction.

"I want him to be happy. I think that you could be happy together. Anyway, I'll drop the subject, I know you don't wish to talk about Marco so we can chat about something else. I'm sorry for bringing him up."

Ace narrowed his eyes but nodded.

"Yeah. Well. What's done is done." He asserted forcefully, nodding his head in emphasis, probably trying to convince himself in the process.

Izo could read him like a book. Could see plainly that Ace was hurting. He was hoping, despite his better judgement, that Marco had changed, that he wanted to start over. He didn't want that but deep down he wished for it. Wished to start over because he still liked Marco. Izo would bet his life on it. So, even if his days of meddling were over, he could give the subtlest hint to Marco.

"So, I'm totally into some drama I discovered recently. It's called something like Hana Yori Dango, and well I'm quite passionate when I watch it... If you want we could watch it together, just like we used to before?" Izo began, enthusiasm not faked.

"Yeah, sure I'd like that." Ace said, a small smile brightening his features. He definitely looked better smiling. Misery didn't suit him at all. "What is it about?"

"Well there's this girl who's in a school for rich kids and..."

He then began to explain the plot to Ace, gushing about some characters and about the story line. Ace listened intently, previous conversation put at the back of their minds for now.

- Letting go -

"I might have been wrong."

"Well, Hello to you too Izo. What is it about?" Marco drawled, putting his phone on speaker as he kept on looking a the spreadsheets in front of his way. After that, he would be free to go home. He began rubbing the bridge of his nose feeling tired.

"Yeah, hello if you want but that's not what I wanted to talk about." Izo said rather shortly. Marco huffed, shaking his head at his brother's antics.

He hummed, deciding not to say anything else and just wait for whatever his brother deemed important enough to announce in such a way. He felt content that his brother would call him out of the blue to chit chat. His self-exiled had dampened their usual talks but now they were able to talk again and it felt great.

"I saw Ace." Izo announced and that made Marco pause, pen above the papers he was reading, eyes widening. He was quick to pick up the phone and put it against his ear.

"What did he tell you? What have you talked about? How is he?" He asked in one go not taking the time to breathe between all his questions, self-restraint gone in the face of this kind of information.

"Hold your horses. I was telling you that I might have been wrong. I talked to him and he didn't tell me in so many words, and I'm only telling you that because I think it might benefit the both of you, but he's waiting for you to do something."

"Do something? What exactly? What can I..." He asked, nearly demanded, mind filled with what ifs and possibilities.

"Let me explain." Izo cut him off, enunciating every word carefully to make a point. "And then you'll talk. I think you might have a small chance but you need to do some serious grovelling. Ace is not really ready to hear your excuses and I don't think he wants you to apologize. He just needs to know that you care. It's been a week and you haven't contacted him so he's taking it to heart."

"You told me not to!" Marco argued, a bit heatidly but not accusing.

"And I obviously was wrong." Izo answered back. "Yet, you need to be careful. He thinks that you got the truth out of him and now that you're living your life peacefully."

"It's not tr..."

"I know." Izo scolded him and once again cutting off the beginning of a rant. "As I was saying before being so rudely interrupted, he thinks you just wanted some closure. And he's convincing himself that it should be one to him too. That he can put your story behind him."

"It's not over..." Marco murmured then, twirling his pen in his hand before getting up and began pacing back and forth in his large office. "It wasn't closure I was seeking when I went to him. It was answers..."

"I know." Izo said again. "But well, Ace didn't take it that way."

"I don't want things to end." Marco insisted. "I don't."

Izo hummed noncommittally. Marco could hear him putter around his kitchen, setting some water to boil and probably fetching a cup which nearly fell and shattered on the ground from the curse Izo let out.

"What now?" Marco asked when the silence began to be too much.

"I don't know. I told you what I could to help you out without betraying Ace's trust in this."

"I... thank you Izo. It means a lot."

"I'm doing it because I think Ace needs to talk to you. Afterward, it's his choice if he wants to forgive you. If he wants things to work out with you. I can't do anything about that."

"Yes, that's fine. You're doing a lot already. You're giving me hope." Marco said wistfully, one hand resting on the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the busy and lit up streets underneath. Slowly he let his forehead rest on the cool glass and shivered.

"I hope that everything will be alright too. I care about both of you so much. Don't be an idiot this time."

"Yeah. I'll try not to be one..."

Izo didn't reply but Marco guessed that he was probably smiling or shaking his head.

"How should I do it then? How should I approach him?"

"I don't know, send him flowers, a pome, whatever crosses your mind! You have to show him you care. He needs to hear that you care." Izo said passionately.

"Should I talk to him first then?"

"Do whatever you think is the best. You have to find the best way to show him how sincere you are. He might shut you out if you try talking. I can't really help you anymore than that, the rest is in your hands."

"You're right. I need to show him that I'm sincere, that I truly care, that I want to make up." Marco felt hope blossom in his chest. He would prove Ace that he was serious. He didn't know how yet but he wouldn't give up. He would pursue him, relentlessly if need be. "Thank you Izo. Truly"

"Don't mention it. Oh by the way, Thatch wanted to talk to you and give you an earful too. Hang on for a second, I'll fetch him."

Marco winced and was tempted to hang up to avoid the ear bashing he deserved from one of his brother. Sighing, he replied nonetheless.

"I'll hold. Good night Izo."

"Good night to you too brother. You can run your ideas through me first, in case they are not so great ideas." His voice was teasing and full of mirth. You couldn't take the meddling out of Izo...

"Yeah yeah." Marco agreed. "Go and give the phone to Thatch so I can get my earful and think about what I can do."

I hope you enjoyed this chapter !

PS1: If you have any idea on how Marco could win Ace over, let me hear them, I might include them if they fit into the chapter ;)

PS2:I hesitated a long while before publishing this chapter because I thought that Ace could get better but to the extend of trying to make up with his friends? It seemed a bit rushed. But I finally decided to publish it that way and it's a firm stance as an author. To me, Ace doesn't want to look back at his past but at his future, however bleak it is and he knows he will need his friends in this future he wants to create for himself. So, instead of closing himself off as he had been doing since he had lost his will to live, the reverse process will go off.

It's how I see things, I hope you liked how I decided to write this chapter! If you really didn't, don't hesitate to point it out and I can change it.

Thank you for reading ! :D