Hello everyone, here is the next chapter

Things will progress in this and bonding and just a lot

Hope you enjoy

Read and relax

Ace gave a frown as someone knocked on his door. It was late, so why would anyone be knocking on his door? He walked over and opened it, blinking as he saw Marco. "Marco? Is everything fine?" The man nodded. "Yes, everything's fine, yoi. But, could I come in for a minute? I want to ask you something." He gave a nod, letting the first commander in. "Yeah. What is it?" When the man was inside and the he closed the door, he looked at Marco, waiting for the man to speak.

"I want you to change into your vampire, yoi."

Ace blinked. What? "What? Why?" He didn't get this. Why would Marco want that? What could he gain from it? The man shook his head. "My phoenix is scared of it, the vampire, as it is a predator." Ace gave a small nod. "But… why do you want me to change into it if it scares you?" He didn't want to do that now since it scared Marco, or at least his phoenix. He would try and not do that around the other. Marco shook his head a bit. "Because I want to get my phoenix used to it, yoi. It can't be afraid of you. Not in case we are in battle, emergency, or anything like that."

Ace gave a small nod. He understood it, but still. "I don't want to do it if it scares your phoenix…" Marco shook his head. "It will go fine, yoi. I just need to show it is no danger. You aren't a danger, but my phoenix hasn't realised it yet." He was scared it might do something bad if he did it. He knew animals were scared of him. Well, Marco wasn't an animal in the sense of that, but still. He gave a small sigh; he knew Marco was right.

He gave a nod. "Okay. I'll do it." Marco gave a nod. "Okay, yoi. Just change and we'll take it from there."

Ace gave a nod, taking a deep breath, trying to ready himself for this. He was more okay with everyone knowing he was a vampire, but to change and knowing Marco might react to it was not something he wanted to do. After a few seconds, he breathed out and opened his eyes, lifting his lips a bit automatically as his teeth were out, looking at Marco, knowing his eyes were red. Marco gave a small frown at him. "It doesn't feel like last time, yoi." He shook his head. "It won't. That time… I didn't have control… Any animal would react to a predatory animal, or an hungry animal."

Marco gave a nod. "It doesn't feel bad… I don't even think my phoenix is reacting much. It knows there is something, but it's not dangerous, yoi. But, I have only been feeling things when you're hungry." That had him give a small chuckle. That explained why he didn't feel anything now. This wouldn't do much then.

Ace got a small idea, and he wanted to try and help Marco, understanding why he wanted to do this. "I can… try and do a thing that would get a reaction…"

Ace was a bit unsure about this, not sure if he should do this or not, but really wanting to help. The first commander gave a nod. "I'm open to try things, yoi." Ace gave a nod. "Okay. Just, tell if it's too much." The man nodded, which had Ace taking a breath, needing to tell himself over and over to do this, that it would go fine. He trusted the first commander had thought this through and that he really wanted to do it. And, since he was unsure about this situation, he would use that.

He moved his face to a small snarl, before letting out a small warning growl, to say he wasn't happy, knowing his eyes would light a bit more up as he did.

The reacting from Marco was almost instant, seeing Marco taking a small step back, eyes holding a small bit of fear, which had him calm his face again. Marco used a second, most likely to gather himself, before he spoke. "What was that, yoi?" He gave a small fidget with his shoulders. "I just said I wasn't to… happy about this. Was it too much?" Marco shook his head. "No. I just didn't expect it, yoi. I wouldn't mind trying again, but when I can ready myself and my phoenix, now knowing what to expect." Ace nodded, that sounded like a good idea. "Yeah. We can try that." He knew he wouldn't be happy to do this the next time, or the next few after that. He didn't like that his vampire scared Marco, or the phoenix, and wanted to help with it.

He closed his eyes for a second, taking his eyes and fangs away, calming down. When he opened his eyes, Marco gave him a small smile. "How about we try again in a few days, yoi? So I can process this." He nodded, giving an affirmative sound, smiling. "Yeah. That sounds good." He really wanted to help Marco's phoenix be okay with him. He didn't know why, but he really wanted that.

They gave a goodbye to each other, before the man left, leaving Ace alone for the night. He hoped the next time would go better.

-x-

Marco gave a small breath as he walked out of his room in the morning, glad last night had gone well. Well, he hadn't gotten anywhere with his phoenix, it being scared by the small growl Ace gave, but now knew more what to expect the next time, glad Ace wanted to try again.

But, as he walked out of his room, he gave a frown as he felt something, though not completely sure what. He was sure he had felt it before, but not sure still. He would see if it would get better or worse during the morning, and take it then.

As he was out and seeing not many up yet and not much would happen before after breakfast, he walked to Pops room, updating him on what he had done yesterday, the man a bit shocked Ace agreed to help him get more used to his phoenix, but was glad about it. He knew Pops didn't like his phoenix reacted as it did to the vampire, but didn't know what to do with it, and knew it wasn't Ace's fault. This would hopefully do a lot of good if they got somewhere, which he thought they would. Ace looked to be wanting to help.

He spoke a bit more with his captain, before both went out on deck, going to enjoy the day, which hopefully would be calm as the weather looked to be good. He still felt the weird feeling, which was weak, but at the same time, not weak. He would see what would happen during the day. More and more did start to wake up and everything seemed to be normal, everyone waking up and getting ready for breakfast, which was inan hour and a half.

Marco gave a small frown, looking to his left, for some reason feeling something, feeling like Ace's vampire, but not quite. It felt different. As he was on his way to go and check on Ace, not sure what to make of the feeling, which he had felt the entire morning, now closing in on breakfast, he heard Thatch speak, seeing the man backing away from something, looking scared. "A-Ace?" When Marco turned to see where the chef was looking, what had him scared and why he muttered Ace, he blinked, feeling worried for a second.

Ace stood there, big red wings out behind him, eyes red. Had Ace lost control? Why? He knew Ace ate yesterday.

Before he could react, Ace moved to look at Thatch, before looking at him, a smile coming on his face, showing off his te-fangs. Why wasn't his phoenix more scared? Last time this happened, it had been terrified. After a few seconds, Ace moved, his wings moving and making Ace fly a bit over the ground, grabbing him, Marco not able to react for a few seconds as he didn't know what was happening. When he was about to change to his phoenix and get away, he heard Ace give a laugh.

"Fly with me!" As it was said, Ace let go of him, above the water, making him change into his phoenix. This was confusing. Was Ace in control?

As he was in his phoenix from, he looked over at Ace, who was hovering a bit away, wings moving to keep him in the air, having a big smile as he was looking at him. "Try and catch me, Turkey!"

As Ace said that, he turned and flew away, Marco deciding to go with it. Ace did seem in control, and the kid had a lot of explaining to do. He started to fly after Ace, gaining on him, and when Ace looked back and saw it, he gave a laugh, before speeding up, seeming to enjoy this. The times he was half-gaining in on Ace, the kid did a maneuver, making it a hard chase, Ace smiling and laughing the entire time. He was chasing Ace to find out what this was, not too happy, but he couldn't help but find out he was enjoying it, finding it fun. He noticed the ones on the Moby had figured out Ace was in control and they were playing chase, now cheering them on.

As he was really gaining on Ace, on his way to move a talon to catch him, Ace did a laugh, as he sped up for a second, flying up, Marco sure he would turn and fly the other way, being good at maneuvering, before Ace suddenly flew straight down.

Straight down into the water, the water shifting before calming, making him panic. Ace couldn't swim.

Just as he was about to turn to go and grab Namur, to have him fish Ace out, he saw something -fish?- flying towards him, hitting him in the head, turning to see Ace laughing as he flew up from the water, making a mocking face at him.

Before he could react to it, he heard Thatch yelling from the ship. "DID YOU JUST DIVE INTO WATER AND THROW A FISH AT MARCO?! THE HELL?! WARN A GUY!" Marco had kind of the same thought process. Ace moved and gave a face to Thatch, before throwing something- squid?- at the chef, making him yell out as it his, its tentacles sticking to him. "GAH! WHY?! NOOOO! IT'S INKING! MY HAIR!" Not even Marco could keep from laughing, seeing Thatch rolling around on the deck, trying to rid of the squid, leaving a black trail as the squid was protecting itself.

Ace hovered in the air as he laughed, his hands around his stomach. As Ace was preoccupied, he flew over, making a motion with his head towards the boat, Ace giving a nod, still smiling, before flying back to the ship with him.

As they were back to the ship, Marco moved to the deck, changing back to his human from, seeing Ace hovering a bit over the deck, in a lying position with his back to the deck, as he was looking to be relaxing and bored, but still smiling. "Son," He heard Pops starting, looking at the man, who was looking at Ace, the vampire moving his head back to look at the man, still flying and head now upside down, making the man continue. "You have wings, why?"

Ace got a shocked expression, as if having forgotten something. "Oh! I forgot." The kid moved to be in an upright position, still about 10 feet in the air, looking at the sky, before pointing. "It's not noticeable now as it's far away, but the moon is red, like 'blood moon', meaning today, I am a vampire, no devil fruit or anything. Not a halfling as normal, and I can use my wings! Which is awesome!" Pops gave a chuckle at that, Ace looking really happy. "How often does this happen?" Ace seemed to be thinking.

"Umm. I'm not sure completely, but about 6-8 times a year..?"

Marco blinked. "But, there is only a blood moon once, maybe twice, a year, yoi." He had at one time, seen two in a year, but that was rare. Ace gave a nod. "Yeah! But that's when it's close and at night. That's a blood night moon! This is just a blood moon, during the day. It will be normal before dark, and I will be back to normal."

That made sort of sense, he had never thought about it. When he looked back at the sky where Ace had pointed, he saw the moon far away, seeing it a bit tinted. He would never have thought about it if Ace hadn't mentioned it. He looked back at Pops when the man spoke. "Is it the same for everyone, son?" Ace gave a nod, moving to be in the lying position with his head upside down. "Yeah! But like, the lords are different as they are lords. But, yeah!" That had him and the others nod. "Does everyone get wings, yoi?" He had never seen anyone with wings, and if it was as often, shouldn't he have?

Ace gave a nod, looking a bit sheepish. "Yeah. But I can't… control it as well..? Like, I am me, but I can't make my wings disappear. Aoba can do that. I keep being told it's because I'm a child." Ace gave a pout at the last sentence, having Pops and himself give a laugh. "You are a child, yoi. You're barely 18." Ace gave a huff at him. "Hey! I'm soon 19!" He gave a snort. "In 8 months." Ace gave a huff, pouting. "I will throw a fish at you again, Turkey." He lifted an eyebrow. "If you do that, be ready for a month with cleaning duty, yoi."

Ace gave a small pout, before smiling and giving a laugh, moving to hover an inch in front of him. "Let's race again!" And Ace was off, laughing. Ace really seemed to enjoy this, to fly, which he got; it was a freeing feeling.

As he was about to tell Ace no, hearing him laughing to his left, he didn't get a word out as a fish hit him in the face again, Ace laughing, as well as many others around them.

Marco felt his eye twitch a bit, looking at Ace. "You will pay for that, yoi!" Ace gave a small 'oph', before he flew away, him changing into his phoenix and flying after, chasing Ace, who was laughing.

Marco would not admit he was enjoying this. No matter what anyone said.

-x-

Whitebeard gave a small chuckle, seeing Ace lying on his back in the air, seeming to be enjoying himself and being a bit bored. He was glad to see Ace as happy today, most likely since he seemed to really like his wings and to fly. That, and to see Ace not caring about showing he was a vampire, him thinking it was because he was a full vampire in a way today, not a halfling as usual.

Dinner was just over, and Ace had even been flying in the galley, above the table, sitting in the air, wings moving in a calm manner to keep him up. This was all nice to see, but he still had questions. He looked at Ace. "Ace, son," He started, getting the vampire's attention, the kid moving his head down, looking at him upside down, making him continue. "You said Aoba could hide his wings, how would one do that? They are big." He didn't get how one would hide them or remove them, they were bigger than Ace. Ace blinked, before giving a small 'oh', moving to be standing in the air, before flying a bit closer to him, then landing on the deck in front of him, moving his back to him, moving one wing to stretch out to the side.

"They kind of 'grow' from our backs, the spine. And they are kind of made by… blood. At least mine. They're still not… 'developed'…? and I don't really know when they will be. They should have been, but since I'm a halfling, that might be the cause. No one knows."

He gave a nod, understanding some of that. He didn't know Ace's wings weren't fully developed in a way, and wondered how they would look when they were. He could see where the wings came out from his back, looking like a wound of sorts, but not bleeding. He looked at Ace, who was still showing where they came out with one wings stretched. "Can I touch it, son? I don't need to, just curious." He saw Ace giving a nod. "Yeah. Just, they're sensitive, since they're not developed, so be careful." He gave a nod. "Of course, son," He said as he carefully moved a hand to Ace's wing that was outstretched, touching it carefully.

It felt hard, but also soft, like skin tissue at the middle, and harder at the edges. They were magnificent. He took his hand away after touching it, not wanting to hurt it. They did feel vulnerable, but he understood that as they were not fully developed. "They feel magnificent, son."

Ace gave a nod at that, turning around and moving to hover a bit over the ground, moving to a lying position again. "Yeah! I like them. I like flying. But, I can't wait for my fully developed wings... if I get them." Ace had a small somber look as he muttered the last part. He got Ace liked this and since he was a halfling, he might not get them, especially since he didn't have them yet and should have them. He gave the kid a smile. "I am sure it will turn out fine, son. Even if they stay like this, they are amazing." Ace gave a thankful smile to him. "Yeah."

It was calm after that, Ace staying in the air most of the day, either just a bit over the deck, lying in a bared manner, ordoing small maneuvers as he spoke to others, many wanting to feel his wings, Ace being a bit reluctant at times, him even seeing the wings twitching a bit at times. But, before he could tell everyone to leave Ace be for now, Ace flew higher up in the air, staying away from the deck. He sent a look at Marco, who got it, and flew after Ace, keeping him occupied and happy, joining him in a small race again, Ace seeming to enjoying himself.

An hour or so later, Ace landed on the deck, which he hadn't done, and before anyone could comment on it, Ace's wings stretched out before disappearing.

The captain guessed Ace felt timewas up, knowing when to land, to not fall and injure himself. Ace seemed to be happy during the day after that, eyes still having a red tint until supper, seeing hints of his fangs too. It was amazing to see Ace being a full vampire for a bit, also looking so happy.

The captain was sure things would be good for now.

And that's the chapter, hope you enjoyed

This is a bit short and posted early, since Beta Reader wanted that, and she left a beta note underneath this

Beta reader note: okii guys I wanted a hella short chappie because I wanted to finish this before I'll be busy the rest of the day and next day, s :D

If you have the time, I greatly appreciate feedback

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