~for general yumi , hope you like it, still taking theme requests, just PM me

poor Doffy and Croc, they see no love, I'll fix that soon~

Ace rolled his eyes as the pretty red-head cuddled closer to his bare chest. The things he put up with for Izo's intel hunts. "Why don't you have another drink?" She giggled, dangerously close to his face.

"No thanks doll, I have to be on my toes to keep watch on the ship tonight." A lie, because if he was scheduled for a watch he'd already be back at the Moby Dick, but the young lady was far too gone to question him.

"Oh, you're soo responsible." She sighed. "More men need to be like you."

"Nah, sweetheart, I'm like every other pirate out there." Truth was he had already pulled the info from red without getting her too tipsy, but she kept drinking and was now very clingy. He needed to deposit her with her friends and leave fast. He looked over to Thatch at the bar. All the brunette had to offer in the way of help was a lecherous wink. Ace clenched his fist to stop himself from throwing a fire ball at his friend.

"Aw~ Are you going to leave and break my heart too?" She almost had tears in her eyes.

Ace spotted a pair of blondes out of the corner of his eyes and recognized them as her friends. He stood, bringing her up with him and gently handed her over. "Sorry my dear, but my heart already belongs to another." He gave a short bow before turning.

"You seafaring types are all the same." She pouted but waved him off with small smile and a blown kiss.

He caught up to Izo who had dragged Thatch away from the bar by the ear. "You owe me."

"Only if what you got was solid." Izo released Thatch once they were a block away from the bar.

Ace spilled everything red told him, the location of the warehouse, the landowner, the foreman, five rumors spread around town about what really went on, and the general opinion of the foreman's sense of fashion.

Izo nodded. "It's true, he does dress like a cubist painting."

"Who cares about that?!" Thatch slapped Ace on the back. "We have a confirmed location now, thanks to you."

"Ugggh, yeah, whatever, I'm going back to the ship to recover."

"Marco's not there sweetie," Izo stopped him before he left.

"How-" Ace blushed. "How do you know... never mind. Where is he then?"

Izo shrugged and Thatch laughed. "Probably somewhere on the island. He stormed out after seeing that red-head all over you."

Ace groaned. "Thanks for the heads up guys." He punched Thatch in the stomach once before taking off. He hadn't even been aware of Marco being in the bar. He hadn't left with the three of them when they departed from the ship. He wondered if he was lucky enough for Marco to have missed when the girl had practically crawled in his lap.

He headed out of town into the forest area. When Marco got upset he tended to head for quiet areas in the wilderness, away from people, away from everything. Sure enough, as Ace rounded the trail at the base of a hill he saw the phoenix sitting on a lone rock near a grove of peach trees in bloom. He stood for a moment, awe struck by the beauty of what he saw. Marco's head rested against his chest, wings folded close at his sides, soft pink petals dancing around him in the wind, the sun setting the sky ablaze in a bright orange hue as it descended for the evening, like a scene out of a fairy tale.

Ace approached cautiously and let out a gentle whistle to get Marco's attention. Blue eyes opened and peered down at him. Wings spread out, flapping down heavily sending peach petals up in a flurry. Ace shielded his face from the gusts. "Hey, I came to say that I'm sorry!" Ace shouted over the beat of Marco's wings. He lowered his arms when the air grew still. There was short trill near his ear, then a pair of strong arms around his waist pulling him down to the grass. He laughed lightly turning in Marco's embrace so that their lips could meet.

Ace sat up as they parted. "I'm sorry, I was helping Izo and that girl is the landowner's daughter..." He frowned at the apathetic look on Marco's face. He couldn't tell how mad the man was or if he was making any progress in his apology.

"I know." Marco sat up beside him. They stayed in silence, shoulders against each other. "She was pretty." He said suddenly causing Ace to turn and look at him.

He laughed lightly. "She was drunk." He corrected. The dark haired man leaned against Marco a little more so that his head was against the blonde's chest.

"Who's the prettiest woman you ever met Ace?" This got another confused look from the younger man.

He sighed and looked up at the first stars appearing in the sky. "I've never met her. I know she's very beautiful and very kind though..." He trailed off.

Marco remained silent. He was pretty sure he knew who Ace meant. Portgaz D. Rouge, the only woman to have captured the Pirate King's heart. Marco had met her before, something he would probably never tell Ace, and she was indeed very beautiful. He wondered if Ace even had a photo of her.

"What about you?" Ace's question broke through his thoughts.

The blonde shrugged. "Izo, I guess." The warmth of Ace's body left his proximity and he turned to see that the freckled man had fallen to back to the grass laughing his head off. "What?"

Ace stopped, small chuckles still bubbling forth as he took deep breaths. "Our brother is the prettiest woman you've ever met?" He said finally.

"Yes." Marco replied, all seriousness with a slight scowl on his face. He punched Ace lightly when he started laughing again.

Ace leaned forward and captured Marco in a kiss. "What about me?"

Marco raised an eyebrow. "Far from the prettiest," He pulled Ace into his lap. "Well, in the way of women at any rate."

The pyro sighed dramatically. "Oh Marco, you break my heart. To think there's someone out there you find more attractive."

"Oi, that's not what I said."

"I don't handle rejection well." Ace mockingly pouted.

"I don't handle jealously well." Marco bit back.

"...I said I was sorry. It's Izo's fault." The young man hid his face in Marco's shoulder.

The sun had fallen and the night wind blew cold around the trees. Ace didn't notice and Marco found it impossible to be even a little chilly with the fire user in his lap. He inhaled Ace's smell deeply. He also found it hard to stay mad at Ace, regardless the situation.

"I guess you can make it up to me. And I'll talk to Izo." He finally conceded defeat.

They walked back through town holding hands. The streets were mostly empty; even if they hadn't been, they wouldn't have cared. As the pair rounded the corner toward the docks, a young red headed woman approached Ace.

"Is this the one your heart already belongs too?" She asked sweetly. Ace stared at her in shock. He honestly didn't think he'd run into her again. She didn't wait for him to answer. "You two are so cute~" She giggled before stepping forward and giving them each a kiss in the cheek. "Have fun with the evening watch and keep each other warm." With a suggestive wink she ran back over to her friends.

Ace looked over his shoulder as she disappeared before falling back into step with Marco. "She handles rejection far better than you do." He heard Marco mutter. Ace scoffed before pulling the blonde the rest of the way to the ship.