Hey guys Sapphire Here, i hope you enjoy this chapter.
Ace was lying down in a field of was lying on his back looking at the sky while petals of his favorite flower went by, the flower that was always in his mother's hair. The pink hibiscus, the flower his father often had in his hair too.
His father, Roger often told him the reason for that. Roger usually put one in his hair because his mother usually put one in his hair. Some people don't think it's much of a reason but Roger thought it meant the world.
A figure appeared above him, standing over him. He raised his head to see them better, it was-
Ace woke up before he could see the shadowy figure, he realized he was sitting up and laid back down. It wasn't a nightmare, he hadn't had one of those in a while thanks to Marco. He turned to the man who had his back and hugged the back from behind.
Ace sighed at the past few days of his life. He was glad he trusted Whitebeard and his family. He loved it here and can't imagine what would have happened if he had stayed at that lab with that man.
He felt Marco shift and started to turn around. Ace let go and let Marco go letting him move. Marco came face to face with Ace, their noses almost touching. Ace smiled at their closeness, he wish they were more….
Wait. Did he really think that? Maybe he wanted more...maybe he….Marco open his eyes seeing Ace's on him. Ace was too tired to turn around and pretend he wasn't doing anything so he stared back at Marco. Ace noticed the man's eyes were blue.
He just smiled before getting up out of bed. Ace looked to the nest that Phoenix made in Marco's house, while Marco went to get dressed. Ace didn't want for Phoenix to get up so he looked from afar.
The nest seemed to be made of the regular of what it usually consistent of:twigs and feathers. Though it seemed that he and Phoenix had something in common, they loved Marco's sash. Ace smiled at the at the reddish, blueish bird(Or else known as purple:D).
Marco came back from the outside with a different shirt and pants but the same sash. Ace hopped out of the bed so that he could wash up to, he saw a waterfall exploring the sector after all. Ace was about go to where he found the waterfall but was stopped by Marco.
"Here let me go with you, after all you're still hurt from your encounter with Saber…."
Ace blushed but wasn't going to refuse Marco. He was right, He still had stitches and bandages from the fight that could get infected or worst if Ace didn't have any help with him. Ace nodded before also realizing that he didn't have any fresh clothes either.
"Marco...Do you have any clothes i can borrow. Since i was captured and turned, all my stuff isn't here and i don't have anything else to wear…."
Ace was not only developing feelings for Marco but he was starting to get shy as well, great, just what he needed...At least he wasn't stuttering though….
"Oh yeah sure...I'll go get some clothes and some more bandages. Yours looks like it needs some changing...stay here for a while for me okay?"
Ace didn't know why but Marco giving him orders sent chills down his spine. He...kinda like it...weird….Ace wasn't going to go too far, so he crossed the house to go to the door but before he could go outside , Phoenix hopped on him.
Ace slowly jogged outside to see the other houses he was offered before he decided to stay with Marco. There weren't that many now he thought about it. While Ace explored Marco had come back with some fresh clothes.
Marco looked outside to see Ace happily chatting to Phoenix sitting on...the...rope. Marco wasn't usually a mother hen that Thatch and Izo made him to be but he was worried for Ace.
"Ace can you please not sit on the rope...it really makes me uncomfortable…."
Ace got up immediately trying not to worry the man...it was only because he was wounded and could fall off...right? Ace jogged to Marco and stopped in front of him. Marco smiled while handing some clothes.
The clothes themselves were fit for the tropical setting and fitted his style of clothing. There was a yellow shirt, black cargo shorts, black boots and his red beads! The ones that his godmother gave him.
He hugged Marco with all the strength he had in his arms, he thought after the lab he wouldn't be able to find these, if he couldn't go back.
"How did you find these?! I thought these were gone when they beat and trapped me and took me to the lab…."
"I don't really know the specifics but I do know that Pops gained your file and where you came from, or at least the general area of where you lived...we found some of your belongings there like this bead necklace. Though we couldn't recover much…."
Ace shook his head, the only real things he cared about were this necklace and the hat that Lu and Sabo made him…wait where was that?!
"Marco did they recover anything else...I also had a hat that my brothers gave me as well…."
Marco was lost for a moment before he got and remembered what Ace was getting at, he smiled down at Ace and ruffled his hair.
"Don't worry Ace, we did find a hat but it needs some repair. Nothing major but they wanted to check it over, we sent it to Oars jr so it's it's it good hands, alright?"
Ace slowly nodded, but he trusted Marco and Pops so...Ace huffed his cheeks puffing. Ace started to walk to the door only turning around to see if Marco was following him, he was. Ace went right to Phoenix letting the bird hop on his head. Ace then went out the door, Marco not following far behind the bo as he head to the waterfall he sighted a few days ago.
When they got to the waterfall and it was just as breathtaking as Ace remembered it. Ace smiled before he let Phoenix down and jumped in the waterfall. Marco was surprised at the fact that Ace just jumped in with his clothes on….crap. Marco quickly jogged to the edge of the water and peered in, seeing Ace swimming under the water.
"Ace! Please come back up! You have to remove your bandages and clothes before you go into the water!"
Ace swam to the surface, his head popping up from the water. Marco put his hand out to Ace for him to grab, Ace grabbing the man's hand and pulling himself up. Once Ace got from the water he started to strip his clothes without thinking of Marco watching him. Marco's mouth went dry seeing the boy's wet, but slim body.
Ace felt eyes on his body, making him turn around seeing Marco staring at him. Ace started to get red but then got a sly idea. Ace realized that Marco didn't see that Ace had turned around, so he stripped down the entire way and his bandages as well, taking the towel, putting it around his body.
He went past Marco while grabbing the dazed man's hand leading him to the water. Ace didn't know what he was doing but his instincts never lead him wrong. Ace dropped his towel turning around. Ace took the man clothes off with the exception of his underwear not looking down there. Ace pulled Marco down in the water making them go under water.
Before Ace went to the surface to he saw the beauty of the waterfall and the underworld of the water. He saw and interacted with some of the younger and littler fish of the deep waterfall pit. They were clown fish, shrimp, and other sorts like rainbow fish as well.
Ace pulled the man under the sea with him, Ace happily smiled as he let go of Marco's hand. Marco seemed to release himself from his daze long ago and started to admire the boy.
Marco started to swim along side Ace looking at the sea life around. Marco, to be honest, wasn't one for swimming, of course he knew of the sea and it's habitats but this was amazing.
Marco suddenly felt arms around his neck and a face in it as well, Ace was hugging him. Marco wrapped his arms around Ace as well...that was until he realized he was running out of air. Marco started to swim up, much to the surprise of Ace, making them break the water's surface.
Before Marco knew what happened he felt a pair of lips on his cheek. Once they left he slightly leaned back to look at Ace, who was a tad red and laughing without a care in the world. Compared to the beginning when Ace came, it was like a whole new person came. Marco loved to see the bright smiled of the dire wolf.
"Thank you Marco...you and Pops saved me, and for that I'm really grateful…."
The boy looked at him before once again enveloping him in a hug. Marco, with Ace at least, could be content like this, he needed to make a decision that much was clear but...did he want to take it further? Ace might not want a romantic relationship with him….
Marco sighed getting Ace's attention. Marco shook his head, swimming to the edge of the waterfall picking Ace up and gently pushing him out of the water. Ace blinked before sliding out the rest of the way. Marco using his arms, pushed himself out of the water sitting then standing out the water.
Marco gathered his clothes, only putting his shirt on, he couldn't put his pants on with wet boxers could he? Ace started to get his clothes on since he didn't have underwear to begin with, everything had fit perfectly. Ace started to twist to see the clothes on him.
"Hey Marco, where did you get these clothes from?"
"I got them from Izo the 14th sibling to join the family...do they fit you? Are they alright?"
Ace nodded, these clothes were perfect for him, just his style too. Marco started to walk slowly to their houses,quickly looking back to see Ace picking up Phoenix who was playing in the water a father away from them so he didn't get in the way. They both walked back to the treehouses climbing up the ladder and going in.
Marco went in the bedroom to change his clothing while Ace stomach growled. Ace pouted, he was hungry but he didn't want to bother Marco...He knew! He would go to the kitchen and get food for the both of them! It was hard to adjust to life here, after all he couldn't hunt the animals when he wanted but that was okay.
Ace told Phoenix where he was going not accounting for where the kitchen was or that Marco couldn't possibly talk to his bird.
Marco's Pov. Few minutes later.
Marco walked out and saw nothing remotely close to Ace in the house, he raised his eyebrow but didn't really think anything of it, Ace went out all the time. He walked into the living room where it seemed Phoenix was waiting for him.
"Ace left to go get some food for you and him Marco…"
"Did you tell him where the kitchen was?"
The silence between him and Phoenix was big enough to spell out for Marco that he forgot to and Ace would be lost until someone found him. Ace was a dire wolf though...Maybe he should just check on him just in case...sigh.
Ace's Pov. ? Minutes later.
Ace walked out of the Tropical Sector starting to walk in a random direction. A few moments later Ace did not need any directions...ok maybe he did...Ace walked until he meet that guy with the pompadour hair and the kimono woman.
"Hey guys, can you point me toward the kitchen? I want to get some food for me and Marco."
The man and woman were shocked at first but that soon wore off as the woman started to hug him and pinch his cheeks. The man was just laughing behind her.
"So kid, now that you're living with Marco, which house do you stay in?"
"Don't mind Thatch, Ace, he's very rude. He didn't bother to introduce himself. Hahaha. My name is Izo, it's nice to meet you!"
"So you're the Izo Marco said made these clothes for me! Thank you very much!"
Ace did a small bow, he was raised with manners.
"Oh! He's so polite! Thatch you should take a note from Ace here!"
Ace watched both of them fight, well it was more like Thatch fighting and yelling while Izo was laughing at his antics as usual. Ace felt a bit uncomfortable at first but then he even started to laugh as Izo was. Both the brother and sister looked at Ace, with Izo starting to laugh again at Thatch as well.
"Anyway! Ace which house did Marco put you in? The Treehouses."
"Oh those he allowed me to pick whichever one I wanted…."
Both siblings leaned in waiting for Ace to tell them the details of what's been happening in Marco's life with him.
"I slee in Marco's house and his bed…."
Thatch and Izo couldn't believe it, since Pops brought Ace here, there was no doubt in loyalty, what was there? Ace might decide to leave but with the way things have been going they didn't think that was the case. Thatch and Izo now had great blackmail material to work with.
"Here I'll lead Ace to the kitchen, where are you going Izo?"
"To Marco of course! I need more details then that sweetheart!"
Ace didn't know what that meant but he didn't want Marco to be troubled….Thatch started to lead him in the opposite direction that Ace was going before...while Izo went to the Trop. Sector. Well at least he was going to get Marco some food now.
"So Ace, what's your relationship with my dear brother Marco hm?"
Ace almost turned beat red at that. He didn't know a lot of things considering he was alone in the wild for some of his life but he didn't need to know Thatch that well to know he might be implying sexual actions between Marco and him.
"I'll tell you since I don't think you'll give up but you can't tell Marco ok?"
Thatch put his hand to his mouth, acted like he was zipping it and throwing away the key to the lock. Ace sighed but prepared to tell Thatch what he really thought of Marco was.
"My relationship with Marco is-"
Izo Pov. ? later.
Izo had made the walk to the Trop. Sector where Ace had told him, that Marco should still be here. Izo went to the Treehouses where the birds and Marcos alike liked to spend their time at and climb up. Izo was meet by Phoenix who was sitting on the rope.
"Hello Phoenix! How are you?"
"I'm doing fine Izo! What have you been doing!"
"Oh you know. Getting the details from Marco, but it might be a little hard."
"Good Luck!"
Izo gave a small wave to the bird while passing him before walking in Marco's main house. Izo noticed the house looked more like a den then a nest. Izo walked to the couch sitting down, looking down at the house that both Ace and Marco shared now. Marco like Izo thought walked in the room, looked at him before sighing.
"So what did Thatch do?"
"It's not what Thatch did, but you mister!"
Marco raised his eyebrow before going into the kitchen with Izo following behind.
"So what did I do?"
"You lured a young,handsome, active boy into your bed and did not tell me! Marco I thought we were brothers!"
Izo watch and laughed at the face that Marco was so surprised at what he said that he started to choke on the food and drink he started on. By this time Marco should be used to what he says by now, come'on how long have . And Thatch been brothers?
"Izo, for one I didn't lure anyone into my bed. Second, i'm sure you asked Ace and he told you yes, Ace sleeps in my bed, he said he didn't want to be alone. From day one I allowed him to do so. Lastly i have not slept with him either!"
"You say that but I think you and Ace want to. Marco, it's simple really,Ace wants you and you want him!"
"How do you figure that?"
"Here let me ask you some questions. One,Do you guys feel comfortable around each other?"
"Yes, even so from day one…."
"Two,Do you find yourself or have caught Ace staring at you?"
"Yes,one time when we both woke up together this morning, I think he was looking at my eyes?"
"Three,have you guys shared any intimate moments together?"
"..."
"See! All you have to do is take that risk Marco! Ace is not going to be here forever!"
The silence that followed after told Izo that maybe that wasn't the push that Marco needed...crap.
"You're right Izo…."
"Look Marco I-Wait I am?"
"Yeah...he isn't going to be here forever...I have two choices...either tell him or let him go on his way...there's no point in starting if I'm just going to be forced to stop with him...please let me think about this Izo…."
"Alright...but if you ever need anyone you know I'm,the family, Pops, or hell even Thatch is here for you. We are all family."
Marco only nodded. Izo went to Marco patting his shoulder before he made his way out of the room, the house, and the Sector. He hope he didn't screw up Ace's or Marco's chance with each other.
Hey guys, I'm back! Sorry for the delay on my part but things were happening and there was no time to get all my thoughts down before they disappeared.
Anyway, I wanted to introduce some more of the family and habitats for the story. Right now there is a tropical sector /w birds, and the hint of Saber from another one, What would you like to see? I'll also use some animals and habitats from what I find as well. I hope you enjoyed and please review, tell me what you think!
Sapphire~