A/N: Ace and Marco relationship at end. If you don't like it, don't read it.
Ace stepped out of his cabin in the morning. He'd been unable to sleep, his thoughts circulating around Marco and his fire. It didn't help that the man was gorgeous. He groaned and rubbed his hands on his face. Thatch chose that moment to come up behind him and slap him on the back. Ace was across the deck before he realized what had happened to him. He looked around and spotted Thatch laughing his ass off, and glared at him, fire starting to leak across his shoulders, and down his arms. A cool hand on his shoulder stopped him before he could leap at Thatch. Ace looked back, and found himself looking into the eyes of Marco. His fire was gone in an instant. He felt his knees weaken as the blue flames caressed his shoulder. He wondered if that was intentional on Marco's part. Ace swallowed and tried not to reach for the cool fire.
Marco saw the struggle written all over Ace's face so he moved his hand. He heard the small sound of disappointment that Ace made. "Don't kill Thatch yoi. He's not so bad once you get to know him." Marco said quietly. He saw Ace's expression falter.
"I don't want to get to know him. I don't want to get to know you, any of you. I just want to kill Whitebeard and leave. I need to..." Ace trailed off, his voice barely a whisper. He looked so broken that Marco wanted to hug him. The urge made Marco jolt internally. He didn't show a sign of anything outwardly.
"Why yoi?" he asked, but the black haired man just shook his head, and hardened his eyes. He ran towards the captain's room. Marco sighed as he watched Ace be sent flying into the ocean. The other crew members just looked at him. Marco raised his eyebrow. The boy couldn't swim, so why were they all standing there. "Someone jump in and save him yoi. He can't swim." he stated. That sent the crewmembers scrambling.
Finally Ace was back on deck. He coughed and sputtered as he was finally able to breath again. His fire burst out quickly and dried his clothes. He saw Marco's hand quickly caress his fire, then pull away just as quickly, almost like he hadn't meant to do it.
Ace wasn't the only one who noticed, in the back of the crowd, a man with long black hair, who was dressed in a kimono, smiled. Thatch saw Izou smile, and felt a shiver run through him. That was Izou's matchmaking smile, also known as his 'I'm plotting something, and nothing can stop me, especially if it's something I think is best for my brothers.' look. He felt sorry for whoever it was aimed at.
Marco glanced around himself, and realized that no one was doing anything, "Get back to work yoi." he said. The crowd instantly dispersed leaving only him, Ace, Thatch, and his brother Izou. Ace looked at the man in the kimono. He'd never seen him before. He looked at Marco in question. Marco caught the look and gestured at Izou, "This is Izou, commander of fourteenth division yoi." he said. Ace nodded, he stepped closer to Marco because he didn't like the way Izou was looking at him. He just as quickly stepped away once he realized what he'd done. For the second that he'd been by him, Marco had felt the heat radiating from Ace press against his body, even though the kid hadn't actually touched him. He could feel his fire trying to reach for Ace, and wondered if Ace's fire was trying to reach for him in return. From the uncomfortable look on Ace's face, Marco guessed that there was an extremely high chance of that being the case.
Izou watched them, and suppressed a giggle. He excused himself, and walked quickly to Oyaji's room. He knocked, and waited for the loud voice calling him in. He danced into the room and grinned. "Hey Oyaji." he started, then lay out what he knew of Marco, and Ace, and his plan for them. Whitebeard grinned, this would be fun.
Thatch watched Izou go, then turned back to where the two men staring awkwardly at each other. He blanched, he really didn't want to think of his oldest, and closest, brother getting it on with a man, not even one as pretty as Ace was. "Hey Marco. We should get back to what we were doing." he said. He swore he saw Marco jump, almost like he'd forgotten he was there.
Marco slid a bored look over at Thatch and frowned a bit, "I am doing what I'm supposed to yoi. You should go cook though." he said. He looked around, and blinked. He wondered when Izou had left. He watched as Thatch walked back to the kitchen, looking dejected. Marco just raised an eyebrow.
Ace saw that Marco was distracted, and quickly snuck away. He figured it was pointless if Marco really wanted to talk to him, but he'd try anyway. He snuck into the ship, and all the way down into the cargo hold. It was a bit musty, but it was nice and cool. He did well in colder temperatures because he was fire. He sat behind a box, all the way back in a dark corner, and started plotting.
Marco found him down there few hours later. The kid had been not eating, so Marco had brought him some food. He walked quietly as he didn't want Ace to bolt away before he could block the way. That was his plan anyway, but it was forgotten when Ace came in his sights. He'd expected the man to be down in the hold plotting, not making pictures with his fire, telling himself stories in quiet whispers. A young boy with a crescent scar under his left eye was depicted in the flames, as well as a younger looking ace. A third boy made of fire wearing a top hat appeared to be laughing and pointing at the other two. Marco realized that they were memories.
He quickly made his footsteps louder so that Ace would hear him. Ace's head shot up, and he looked like he was about to bolt until he saw it was Marco. He still looked leery, until he saw the food that Marco was holding. He shuffled a little closer to the wall, but stayed where he was. Marco could almost see him drooling. He smiled lazily, "I thought you might be hungry yoi." he said, and held the plate out to Ace.
Ace looked Marco in the eyes as he slowly reached for the plate. Marco held still, feeling almost as though he was dealing with a wild animal. Ace grabbed the plate and pulled it close to himself. He started to devour the food, pausing briefly when Marco sat beside him, and leaned back against the wall. Ace finished eating and put the plate down beside him. He turned to Marco, "Will you show me your fire?" he asked. He had been avoiding it since he'd run down into the cargo hold, but with Marco sitting so close to him, he had to ask. He wanted to see it so bad, it felt like an urgent need.
Marco turned to the black haired man, and saw the need in his eyes. Marco nodded, "In return, tell me a story with your fire yoi." he said. Ace nodded quickly. Anything, he would give anything to see the blue fire that was calling to him. Marco held out a hand towards Ace, and let his fire out. Blue light danced around them, shimmering in time with the flickering of the flames. Ace scooted closer to Marco, and reached his hand out to touch the fire. Marco's fire caressed him, sending shivers through his body, and heat pooling in the pit of his stomach. He felt his breath catch as Marco moved his hand to touch Ace's face.
Marco swallowed hard when Ace's face pressed into his hand, his flames caressing over Ace's soft skin. Marco lowered his lashes over his eyes, the feeling welling up in him was incredible, and terrifying. He opened his eyes, and found himself gazing into Ace's. He swallowed, and ran his tongue over his suddenly dry lips. Aces eyes flickered down to watch before returning to Marco's eyes. Marco let his flames creep all over his body so that he was covered in them, but not yet turned into a phoenix. Next thing he knew, Ace was in his arms, pressed against his body, feeling the fire on him. Ace's fire sprung out in response. The flames crackled with heat. Marco wrapped his arms around Ace, and pulled Ace closer.
Marco's heart was pounding, but he couldn't let go. Ace moved closer, and Marco could feel his breath ghosting over his lips. Their fires danced around them, between them, mixing together, and pulling them closer. Ace's lips brushed against Marco's. Low moans sounded in their throats. Marco ran his tongue over Ace's, begging for entrance. Ace opened his mouth and Marco's tongue swept in mapping his mouth. Ace tasted of cinnamon and cloves, it was a hot and spicy taste that Marco thought fit him perfectly. In contrast, Marco tasted like mint and lemon to Ace. Ace moved his tongue against Marco's, and wrapped his arms around the blonde's neck. Ace moaned, and rubbed his tongue against Marco's. He could feel himself getting hard, even as Marco was getting hard beneath him. Their flames touching, and stroking each other was pleasurable, and was bringing them closer to completion. Marco pulled away for air, and moaned, "A-ace. Pull back your fire yoi. If you don't we'll have to walk through the ship in dirty, wet clothes yoi." he said as he pulled his own fire in. Ace nodded, and did as he was told. He slumped against Marco, panting from the effort it had taken. Marco wasn't in any better condition. They lay there until their hearts calmed down, then Ace slid off of Marco's lap, and turned so that his back was against the wall.
They were both silent for a while, then Ace spoke up, "I owe you a story." he said.
Marco smiled at him before standing up, "Yeah, but lets do story time in my room, it's musty down here yoi." he said. Ace nodded, and got up and followed the blonde man, who had started walking away.