Witch 68 - I do not remember if I already answered the comment you made in this story in another story... but Thank you! Purring always stays cute no matter how many times I read it myself. And the job is going great for now!
I'll also take this chance to react to your comments on 'Swimming with Marco' ^-^
Aaah thank you so much! They are the absolute most adorable couple, smiled so hard reading your comment! 3 Hahahha they will definitely tease him, Izou instantly and Thatch when he finds out what happened hahahha, I'll add it to my list so expect a 4th part for this story at some point!
Oh! Thank you again! I was a tiny bit worried people may be dissapointed there wasn't a lot of raggdoll marco and instead got magic swimming abilities haha, so very glad to hear you like the pearl idea! yeap haha, Ace is not going to enjoy that bad vibes one, RIP Ace. Funny one to heal our hearts after the bad one hahahah

Here we are! I am continuing this since there were so many requests for it! Thank you very much for this, it made me extremely happy that different people wanted to see how this would continue! I was unsure how to continue this since I haven't really written any ehm smutty themes before... but I am going to give it a go for everyone! Most will happen in the next chapter, more in the end notes.

With Ace

Ace slid down against the door of his room until he was sitting down on the floor, he looked up towards the ceiling thinking of the past events.

What was wrong with him these past days... he had been stealing Marco's clothes for goodness's sake! What the hell was up with that!

He hid his face in his hands and could feel his cheeks growing pink. Why, why did he do this. Just now he had even shooed the man himself away when he had come asking for the sash Ace was still holding in his hands. The sash he had asked for in the middle of the freaking mess-hall!
He groaned at the last thought, really, what was going on, he hadn't even noticed he had asked for it until he was suddenly in his room and the knock of the first commander stopped him from burying the sash in … in... in that...

He looked down towards his... bed... That whole thing gave him even more questions. For some reason he had had the sudden urge to collect more blankets and pillows than strictly necessary and scatter them around the bed. He had even removed the frame of his bed because, as his inner voice said, 'it was hard and not comfortable'. Not comfortable? It's not like he sleeps ON the frame?

But he hadn't been able to control himself, before he even knew it his bed had turned into a frameless-matrass filled to the brim with blankets and pillows and he still felt as if there weren't enough.

He looked towards the item in his hand and groaned again, he had been trying to restrain himself from taking more blankets and such, and here he was... taking clothes now too? He needed to give this back and apologize... tomorrow, he'll do that tomorrow. He could feel that if he got up to leave now, he would have a sleep attack within minutes, he had been a lot more tired lately, maybe it was all related? He should ask the nurses tomorrow, maybe he was getting sick.

The next morning everything he had been thinking about the day before seemed to have been forgotten, for the commander unburied himself from the mass of pillows, got out of his frameless bed and used his private bathroom to freshen up and start the day, not even given the now incorporated sash in the mess of blankets a second glance.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH" He screamed into the mass of blankets around him, he can't believe what he just did! Just thinking about it made him release another scream. At least this ungodly amount of still growing soft things made it very soundproof, the only comfort he had in this whole thing.

What. The. Fuck. Was. Wrong. With. Him! He knew something was up, but every time he had tried to talk to someone about it, he just blanched!

He would be walking with someone or eating with the commanders, wanting to bring up the subject, when he would suddenly be in his room again or when if he was still at the same spot, he would spontaneously forget how he even got there or what he was about to say!

"AAAAAAH" He can't, he's going too far! What must they think of him, what must Marco think of him!

Saying the name in his thought made a weird tingling feeling erupt in his stomach, it's been happening more and more often too, it's so strange. He feels... completed when he's with Marco.
This whole thing of gathering Items for no reason, having no answer as to why he was doing it, had been stressing him out a lot, but being close to Marco somehow cleared his mind and gave him some peaceful minutes. As a result, he had subconsciously started following the man around more and more. He hoped he wasn't annoying him... he didn't think he was since he wasn't pushing Ace away or anything...

He would probably hate him now though when he found out what he had... Sitting up in his nest, -yep, he started calling this a nest some time ago for some reason, his brain just said it and he accepted it... because why not...-, he looked towards his right, and just like too many other clothing items, before him was woven through the mess of blankets, a pair of pants. Pants owned by the first commander, a clothing item that the man had specifically forbidden him from stealing...

Just like he had done after his firstly taken sash, he hid his face in his hands and groaned, he had been doing that a lot lately. He had so many sashes and shirts from Marco, he didn't even know the man owned this many! And ….. and he only got a handful of them willingly.

Quickly grabbing a pillow, he released the scream he had felt coming thinking of how he got most of them. The easy way was taking them from the laundry, they had a big washing room where everything was cleaned and dried before being sorted, it was easy to spot the bright purple shirts in there and take them before they could ever reach their owner... but after it had happened a few times, Marco caught on and no longer brought his laundry in.

The man was now probably painstakingly doing his own laundry every few days on repeat, not only because he couldn't turn it in without it being stolen, but because he only had a few setts left with the amount Ace had taken already.

The cherry on top of the cake was what he had done for the last few shirts. He doesn't know how he can still look Marco in the eye after all of this, how he still feels comfortable with him and why the man doesn't shoo him away!

He... he … he had stolen his clothes when he had been in the shower.
He buried his face into the pillow, squeezing the life out of it if it had any left by now...

He can't believe himself... The look of utter disbelieve on Marco's face when he saw Ace taking his clothes was something he had never imagined. It wasn't even simply because of him stealing clothes, but because it was in Marco's private bathroom, in his personal chamber...
Not only was Ace now a pervert who was stealing clothes when someone showers, no, he was also a pervert who, on purpose, broke into people chambers to then break into their bathroom to steal said clothes.

Marco had yelled for Ace the moment he saw his hand reaching for his pile of clothing. Now, being caught red handed should have stopped Ace, should have made him put everything back and apologize for it, no matter how weird it would be. But no, he had grabbed as much as he could in an instant before bolting out the door. Marco quickly on his heels, using his beautiful blue flames to cover ehm private areas from the world, he didn't really have anything else to cover with, Ace literally had everything in his hands, even his towels, the only thing having dropped already was the sash. A real pity since it was the last one he missed... but he didn't have the time to pick it up, he was running as if being chased. Which he was, but for valid reasons.

He doesn't know how long he ran before he finally lost Marco, or he thinks he lost him... there's a very high chance the man just gave up... It had saddened him a little when he had looked at his catch, another shirt and some towels, meaning that besides the sash, he had also lost the pants, the jacket and the metal belt...
With his acquired items he dejectedly made his way back towards his room. However, the devil's luck was on his side and on his way to his room, he had crossed a sandal in his path, MARCO'S SANDEL! He had snatched it up in a heartbeat, giggling like a maniac while entering his room. He had lost a lot, but he had gotten a new item, pleasing him like nothing did ever before!

The last thing he was missing after this run was a pair of pants, pants that Marco for some reason desperately protected with his life...
Either way... he got one in the end... Marco doesn't even know that he got one... He'll keep it this way... no one needs to know how he got it...

"Urgh" He buried himself into his nest, getting comfortable very quickly despite all the thoughts that had been going through his head. He had just finished showering and had had a very hearty meal even for him before that.
He was growing insane, maybe he had to accept it, in his future was him as a very very perverted insane man stealing clothes of those he cared about...

Rolling over he automatically cuddled into Marco's mostly worn sash, it still smelled of the man even after days, and weirdly enough, he loved it immensely, he couldn't stop smelling it... Yep, totally perverted man it was...

He couldn't even form any thoughts or plans on how to apologize and give it back to his owner for the comfort of the pillows and blankets, plus the smell of Marco wrapping around him, lulled him into a deep and peaceful sleep. Confronting this again is tomorrow's Ace's problem.

With Marco

Ace's strange behaviour hasn't stopped and has steadily been becoming a normal thing. However, since realising it may be because their freckled brother was an Omega, things had started to make sense. It also became clear that he was definitely imprinting and had been imprinting on Marco for quite some time, no one just ever thought more of it.

Was it being closer to the man, always wanting to help him with work, warning him of pranks, giving random massages if he looked tense, sharing food, … you name it and it had happened! ….. They really should have known something was up the moment that black hole of a stomach started sharing food... but who would have thought that he was imprinting on him when everyone thought the kid had already presented! And besides, Ace had always been closest to Marco, and it hadn't been strange. The man was calm and collected, you could talk to him about anything and he would take you seriously no matter how small it may seem to others. Even if everyone joked and called him a mother-hen, they all loved him for it and looked up to him. So, a newbie being close to the commander never really seemed strange, especially not since it was Marco who had been able to pull the teen out of his murder streak and get him to become their brother, it formed a special bond. No one had expected, or even thought it had anything to do with presenting...

It's now been a few days since the purring accident at the meeting and the commanders finding out that Ace is building an actual nest. With the behaviour continuing, but never going out of line, they decided to 'ignore it', or well, treat it the same as always.
After having a small meeting between the commanders, minus Ace, it was decided that it would be bad for Ace's health and mental wellbeing if Marco suddenly became distant or even seemed to suddenly reject him, especially since up and coming Omegas are extra sensitive to these things.

So, Marco got the task to act as normal as possible, do not promote the behaviour, but also don't discourage it in any way you wouldn't have done before. Which was easier said than done since the blond actually quite liked their fire hazard and his own Alpha was pretty smug and happy about being chosen by the almost newly formed Omega.

Luckily, Marco was a rational guy and knew this wasn't the time to talk to Ace about a serious relationship, his changing hormones and body structure would have too much of an influence right now.

"Has anyone seen Ace?" someone questioned at the breakfast table, interrupting any thoughts and ongoing conversations.

"Hmm, no, maybe he went for a morning swim."

"Namur dear, you're the only one who does that, besides, Ace can't really swim."

"Ah right... then I don't know."

"..."

"Why is everyone looking at me-yoi? I haven't seen him either."

"This is our way of saying 'go get him birdy'."

"Thatch, stop those stupid names, wh-" - "Never!" "... Why do I need to go get him? You can go yourself."

The chef tutted while waving his spoon "No, no, Marco, as the first commander, you are the responsible one and should check on him."

"..."

"Plus, he probably just overslept and if he misses breakfast, you'll be the one he goes to to bother for some reason."

That is true... Ace had been coming to him the last days even if it was to ask for food, he doesn't know why either, Ace knows he can't cook and should ask the chef...

"Fine, I'll check on him, don't touch my dessert-yoi."

"No one wants a pineapple for breakfast Marco, don't worry."

The blond just glared and made a motion with his fingers of 'watching you'. Which was completely unnecessary, everyone knew to stay away from Marco's pineapples unless you want toilet duty for months and a dip in the ocean.

With everyone on his tail about checking Ace, he had reluctantly gotten up to check on him. Or well, not really reluctantly, he very much had wanted to check instantly when he noticed the second commander wasn't there, but he didn't want to seem too eager to the others. There were already enough jokes about him somehow having courted the male.

Crossing the umpteenth corridor, he finally stood before the closed door next to his, a big number two on it, indicating it was the second Divion's commander's room. Atmos had even sculpted little flames and added them to the design, making it a bit more personalized. He had done the same for everyone, adding wings to his own number, a fan to Izou's, a chef hat to thatch's, a spikey ball for Rakuyou and so on and so on, he had said it makes it seem more like a home. And he must admit that it was a nice touch, each made with love and care too.

Wait no, this wasn't why he had come here. Raising a hand, he knocked at the door before calling out. "Ace? Ace, are you there?" After a moment he tried again, knocking and talking a bit louder, but when only silence greeted him, he called that he was entering.

The door wasn't even fully open yet, yet he was already engulfed by the obvious smell of an Omega in heat. It wasn't too strong yet, indicating the heat had only started a few hours ago and was still building up.

Carefully he opened the door further and stepped inside, calling out Ace's name once more. He would try and Juge Ace's reaction for if his presence was welcome or not. Some liked having someone close-by, while others detested it with a passion if not for certain exemptions.

This was the first time he actually came into Ace's room these past weeks, not having tried to enter again after Ace had shooed him away and … Haruta had been right. Before him was an actual nest. You couldn't even see the matrass anymore, it was simply a fluffy bundle of blankets, towels and pillows, anything soft Ace had gotten his hands on.

He swallowed as he saw that his clothes were indeed weaved throughout the whole thing, but suspiciously all on the inside of the nest within easy reach, none on the outside or touching the floor. Buried under it all was Ace who was clutching onto one of his sashes for dear life, going by the wear and tear of said item, it was even the one he wore the most.

"Ace? Are you okay?"

The form shifted on the bed revealing a flushed looking commander. Weakly Ace called out "M-Marco? -hat you?"

The Omega was slightly out of breath, fairly normal with his whole body changing at the moment, it did use a lot of energy, and experiencing a heat for the first time certainly didn't help.

"Yes-yoi, it's me."

A sigh of relieve left the teen and the tenseness left his body. A smell of fear had appeared when Ace had realised someone was in his room, but it also quickly disappeared again when Marco had made it known that it was him. This ensured him that it was okay to stay, that Ace was at least somewhat comfortable with him in here when he was in this state.

"What- what are you doing here?"

Marco walked towards the bed and swiped away some of Ace's wet sweaty hair from his forehead "I came to check on you, I was worried when you didn't show up for breakfast by the time it was almost finished."

The Omega instantly followed the hand, yearning for the touch. "It's morning?"

"Yea, already 10am by now."

"I-I didn't realise."

"That's okay, it happens-yoi. I'll go get you some food and something drink, you just stay here."

Marco made to leave to room and get the items when a trembling hand stopped him.

"No-o, Marc-o, stay, please."

"Ace..."

"Please, I... I don't know what's going on. I feel hot, so hot, my body is all tingly and weird. I don't know what's happening, if there's maybe something wrong with my fruit. I'm scared Marco."

Marco knelt down besides the nest and took a hold of the hand that had grabbed him. Ace wouldn't normally be this honest, admit that he was scared of all things. It was already a sign that Ace wasn't fully there, no, it was still Ace, but it was a clear sign that his Omega was taking over. Especially in a first heat they could become very emotional, especially with the one they trusted the most.

"Don't worry Ace, everything is fine, nothing is wrong with you, your fruit's okay too."

"Then?"

"It's your heat."

"Heat? Like an Omega?" Marco nodded in return "But... I am a beta?"

So Ace didn't know and thought since he hadn't had a noticeable presenting, he had thought that he was a beta? That did clear up some things as to why the commander never said anything.

"I'm sorry if you wanted to be a beta-yoi, but right now you are presenting as an Omega. Your body is preparing to go into your first heat."

Silence met him and he could smell confusion in the air. It's been a while since he's smelt this many emotions, one quickly learns to control their pheromones, but it's practically uncontrollable when you're only just presenting, the body still getting used to it and reacting to all the natural stimulants.

The air of confusion stayed when Ace asked his next question, uncertainty joining the mix "A-are you my Alpha?"

Marco had to control himself to not release his own pheromones and confirm that statement, no matter how much his own Alpha wanted to. He wouldn't misuse this situation.

"No." He squeezed Ace's hand and continued the instant he smelled distress coming off of Ace "It's not that I don't want to Ace. But this is your first heat, a very unexpected one at that if you thought you had already presented as a beta, and I will not use you in this situation. If you want me to be your Alpha, I would be honoured, I really like you Ace-yoi, but we should talk about it after this has settled, when you have a clear mind."

"But I like you too, I want you Marco." The Omega before him almost begged.

Marco could see that Ace was starting to lose himself more and more to his heat, breath coming in harder, he was starting to actually pant, his pupils were blown, sweat was gathering in his locks and the smell was obviously becoming more and more pungent by the second.

Marco kissed the hand he was still holding "Thank you Ace, that means a lot to me, but I stand by my word."

"... Will you stay? Please. I don't want to be alone."

He thought for a moment, going over the pros and cons of the whole situation. Knowing Ace, or his Omega at least, liked him enough to want him near while he was in heat. This meant that his presence would influence him and would probably send Ace into a worse heat than he would have been in if he had been left alone, so leaving would be better.
On the other hand, after Ace had had him close, had had contact with him, knows Marco likes him too, leaving now would make it feel like a rejection. A rejection that could spiral a freshly presented Omega into a state of immense distress.

"..."

He looked over Ace once more, he was so vulnerable like this, holding onto him like a lifeline, body damp with sweat and shivers racking through his body, droplets of unfallen tears glistering in his eyes. He already couldn't deny Ace a lot in normal day to day life, so rejecting him in this state, those pleading eyes, the smell of comfort that had been present in the background ever since he had been here, the hand in his grasp that started trembling more and more with every second he didn't answer, didn't leave him a lot of choice. Not that he actually wanted to give any other answer himself, he had known his own answer to a request like this even before he had stepped into the room.

"Don't worry, I'll stay with you."

"The whole time?"

"The whole time. I'll be right next to you no matter how long this will take-yoi."

The Omega breathed out another sigh of relieve at the Alpha's words, with a small smile he thanked Marco weakly before the heat took his last conscious thoughts away.

So, this was more of an intro chapter, but already making it clear on Marco's side that he's not just going to use the situation and mark/bond with Ace instantly, even if Ace would let him.
*cough* He is going to help in other ways though *cough*
I've already worked out a plan and hope to finish the next chapter tomorrow, it will be my first time writing something like that sooooo ehm I hope it goes well haha. You'll all know soon if I was able to do it or not XD

EXTRA NOTICE!
 I'm sorry if I've missed anyone's comments, I always try to react to them, or through PM's or in the next story I post, but fanfiction has for some reason stopped giving me notifications about them! So if I haven't reacted to anyone's comment, it's not on purpose and feel free to let me know!

On that note:

Jasmine - I do not know if you read this story and will repeat this on the next update in the merman series, but i do not know when this will be. For your comment on 'Fiery Scales': Yes! The bad idea I mentioned in 'swimming with Marco' with the pearl also includes that bastard! And that man would definetly try and take him! 'Furiously makes notes to have happen what you wrote.' - It shall be worked on in the future! (Bad theme stories will be posted in 'Dark Flames' though even if it's about mer-Ace. I want to keep most story compilations on the happy side and then that one seperate one will include all the more sad/bad themes.)
Haha yea, Marco would find him the best trident out there too. Ace could ask for anything and Marco will get it for him as if his life depends on it haha.