I am truly sorry for the delay in my updates for my stories, a few days after Christmas I got really ill, not being able to get out of bed much less do anything. For the next week I will being working on my school work but will work on my stories on the weekend. Anyway please enjoy the chapter! :D
Ace arrived at his den, laying down for the boys to slid off of his back. They both landed on the floor before running to Ace's belongings, grabbing his furs and hunting knife. Ace changed into his human form to help them pack for the trip to a new home they were about to make.
Ace after packing the few things he owned, and got started to mask he had been here. He started to make as if the cave had been past used for what could be a hunter. He preferred to make it look like no one had been here but with the fresh markings and such that would be sloppy work.
Ace gave the boys instructions to put the two furs connected to rope laying across his back. He shifted, and let the boys saddle him up with their things. Ace took off into the time which was night darting past the trees.
The boys clinged to his back desperately in the cold. Ace didn't take notice of the boys shivering until Sabo said something.
"A-A-ace! Can we h-have some furs to k-ke-keep warm?"
He stopped immediately. How could he forget to properly dress the boys for this weather? Had he been so concerned about his safety that he didn't realize that the weather was the enemy to the boys as well?
He didn't turn but quickly bit out two large furs, and nudged them toward the boys who quickly and happily grabbed them. They wrapped each other before getting on his back once more. Before he began to run, Ace spoke to his little companions.
"Don't ever hesitate to tell me something please….Can you two do that for me?"
He felt his fur being clutched by a pair of small hands, accompanied by a grunt from next to his ear.(Sabo) Ace had no doubt ran for hours as he saw the sun come up. The forest was a vast place where her trees towered and snow practically never stopped. It was Ace's home...he might just have to say goodbye….
Ace deemed a spot far enough to at least help the boys rest and for him to hunt. They didn't unload all the way but enough that they were comfortable. Ace unpacked a few things before he turned to Sabo and Lu.
"I'm going to hunt a bit, then we'll have some dinner….If I don't come back they might have caught me then. If worst comes to worst I want you guys to run! Far away from here and Sabo's parents okay?"
Lu started to cling to him, starting to cry.
"No! I don't want to leave you! Ace!"
Ace knew Lu wouldn't let it go that he might not come back so he looked to Sabo giving him a look hoping he could promise him to take care of Lu. Sabo nodded, his hat casting a shadow over his eyes when he looked down.
Ace reassured the boy he would come back, that at least calm the boy down. Ace smiled as best he could before he ran out to hunt.
This was the last time he saw the boys before he was captured. He didn't know what had happened to them after. He was never told and nothing was said.
End of Ace's Past.
When Ace had sat up, breathing heavily from dream, or rather nightmare of his past. He whined noticing that he had turned to his wolf form. He looked around recognizing the house he and Marco lived in. He also saw Marco sitting at a makeshift desk doing some sort of paperwork.
Ace slowly climbed out of bed to Marco nudging his arm up before slipping into the man's lap. He felt the man continue to work as a hand began to gently pet his head and neck. His eyes began to droop. He fell into a deep sleep.
? hours later.
He felt himself being carried but why? Oh no….Was meeting Whitebeard all a dream? No! It was real! It had to be! Ace didn't move in fear that the what he thought was real was nothing more than a dream. He felt himself being laid on a cool surface and he snapped. He was not going to be a experiment again!
Ace jumped up snarling and using his claws to cut who touched him. He saw nothing but red, he never wanted to be in that darkness again!
"Ace!"
What? They didn't know his name…
"Ace! Please it's us!"
So why was it being called. Who is us?
"Ace, you're okay! You're not at the lab anymore!"
He wasn't….He was safe? He vision began to return to him, he looked around to see….what he thought was a dream….It wasn't! It was real, He was not in that hellhole! His eyes settled down on Marco whose hand was bleeding….
He had done that...He hurted his mate….Ace went over to Marco's hand lapping the blood up so it wouldn't get infected. Marco jerked his hand away from Ace making him think that Marco didn't want him.
Ace never looking up began to run out of the room that his family occupied. He heard his name being called but he ran not stopping. He had to leave, they hated him.
Marco hated him.
Ace went to the top of the facility using the stairs before running out of the main door. He was suffocating! He learned after he came to the Whitebeards that they weren't that far from where he was caught and had lived.
Ace had run for hours. He stopped to catch his breath only to have his side poked, him turning around to face the culprit. It was a blonde...haired….boy….
"Ace? Is that you?"
It was him. Ace stepped forward putting his face in the boy's shoulder fat tears coming out of his eyes. The boy lead him to a small hidden cave, where Lu was. They were still together. He was glad.
Sabo went back out while Lu hugged his side crying as well, sad that Ace had left them.
"Why Ace! You said you wouldn't leave us!"
Ace put his snout on the boy's head, whispering that he was sorry for leaving but he got caught by the bad guys. Ace expressed that he was glad at least Sabo and Lu had made it out. Ace heard snores a bit later looking down to see Lu had fallen asleep.
Ace gladly followed the boy into sleep.
Timeskip
Ace woke up when he smelled food. It was cooking and smelted to be almost done. He yawned softly seeing Lu still clutched to his side, somewhat tiny hands in his fur. He looked at Sabo who was cooking what seemed to be rabbit meat.
"Oh you're awake. That's good! Were you captured on the day you went to hunt….?"
Ace only nodded.
"Oh...I'm glad you're okay….Where have you been the past few months?"
Ace began to retell the time he had at a Lab when he was captured for three months. Then told Sabo of the weeks he had been at Whitebeard's when he had attacked his mate, making him look down in shame.
"Your mate?"
"Yes, my mate. His name is Marco…."
"You said you were with the Whitebeards right? Marco is the first commander of them and is a phoenix."
Ace raised his head at what Sabo told him. Marco was a hybrid too? How did Sabo know all of this?
"Sabo where have you gotten this information? Did you go back to where you lived and get it?"
"No. When I lived there a few months ago, the Whitebeards were a big deal in the news. How they protected areas, people and animals that were wanted by the Nobles and Celestial Dragons. Whitebeard is someone is kind and forgiving for sure."
Ace started to think about how he had ran from Marco and Pops. Were they really mad at him? Did they hate him? He...hoped not. He decided what he was going to do. He was going to go back with Lu and Sabo to see Pops.
"Sabo would you and Lu be willing to come with me back to Pops' place?"
"Do you think he would allow us to stay there?"
Ace nodded before shake a bit trying to wake Lu up. Lu continued to sleep, Sabo signaling him to carry the boy instead. Sabo helped Ace with getting Lu on his back, while also jumping on Ace's back as well.
"Don't you have anything you want to bring?"
"We really don't have anything since you left….I have have a pole and a hunting knife."
Ace nodded before slowly walking out the cave. He trotted back into the direction he came from by following his footprints. He came back to the Sectors, standing on his back paws, looking into the door howling.
The door was open by Haruta, having his eyes widen at Ace and the kids on his back. He was herded in the facility. Haruta began to call the commanders to help the kids with me. I walked to the tropical sector as Sabo looked around in fascination at the facility around him.
The brothers looked at Ace in shock and surprise only following him to Marco's sector. Ace walked to their house still unsure what Marco would think of him….He looked back at Sabo when he felt the boy start to whisper in his ear.
Ace nodded turning into a human, climbing the ladder. When he made it to the top he was of course greeted by Phoenix.
"Hello Ace! Do you know why Marco is down in the dumps?"
"He is, why though?"
"I don't know you have to ask him!"
Ace nodded walking in, finding the living room empty….He went into the kitchen….Nothing….The bedroom was the only place to look now. Ace walk in the room to find his mate sitting down, he slowly let Sabo and Lu from his back, letting them slide down on the bed.
He walked over to the man to his desk putting his head on Marco's shoulder, listening as Sabo took Lu out of the room. Ace started to feel the shift in Marco's shoulders, making the motion to lift his head but was surprised when his chin was captured. Marco moved his head to the side having their lips connect.
Ace was pulled into the man's lap feverishly kissing Marco back as if his life was at stake. Ace moaned at the intrusion of Marco's tongue before they parted.
"I've remembered that everyone has a sort of dark past….Your no different. I want to help you be there, for you when you want to confide to someone. When you left...as cheesy as it sounds, I...missed you from the start, wanting nothing more than for you to-"
Ace kissed Marco again, cutting him off. Ace pulled back looking at Marco with a sincere look.
"I know you might have things you don't want to say or tell either and personally i don't care. I'll have you strong mind, and soul. I will not fear the faith I have for you, if you'll have me as your mate…."
Before Marco could say anything Lu came running in with Sabo trying to pull him back into the living room. Ace breath was knocked out of him as Lu slammed into his stomach wrapping his arms around him.
"Ace! Sabo told me you were with your mate! But I was afraid you had disappeared again!"
Ace kissed Lu's head before returning the boy's hug back.
"No i'm here to stay with you and Sabo. I won't leave you guys again."
Ace felt a tap on his shoulder turning his head only to find lips meeting his. He melted into the kiss putting his hands on Marco's chest.
"Ace!"
Ace blushed mentally face palming that he forgot Lu and Sabo was there. Ace was about to go back to Lu and Sabo when another pair of arms bigger than Lu's wrapped around him. Ace looked at Marco who put his head on Ace's shoulder.
"So will you introduce me to our new children?"
Ace couldn't believe what Marco had said but was happy. He did consider the boys to be family that's for sure. Ace smiled as he put himself more against Marco's chest, motioning for the boys to come sit in his lap.
Hopefully this would last a lifetime.
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter please tell me what you think, but wait! Just kidding C ya guys later!
Sapphire~