WinterRose61 - Yes! and he all appeared because of you! IF we hadn't talked about it in the beginning, he wouldn't have existed and I4m so happy we did because he was perfect to end the story with! I love CowboyVann so much!
Hahahahha he will definitely have a favorite even if no one knows yet.
"Tell me, Marco! What do you want for Christmas! And stop thinking of me!"
"All I ever want for Christmas is you, Firefly-yoi."
"Gaaah! I'll find it! I swear I'll find a gift that you want! Just wait Marco!"
Soulmate AU – Pictures of the other's thought appear in your own mind.
Something that had always popped into Ace's head was paperwork. Flashes and pictures of paperwork, endless and endless stacks of paperwork. Besides that, pirates. Especially the whitebeard pirates would suddenly appear in his mind. He hadn't known who he was seeing at first when he was younger, he did always laugh at the elder with a big moustache and often mimicked him to entertain Luffy.
With this info he had put two and two together quickly, his soulmate was obvious a high-ranking marine officer in charge of capturing the whitebeard pirates. Why else would he be thinking of them all the time together and with so much paperwork. He knew from his gramps there was paperwork for EVERYTHING in the marines!
To spite his soulmate and his 'justice', he always tried to think extra hard of his pirate adventures. Show off his fruit and how he would beat up marines that tried to catch him. Always looking smug when after he did that, more paperwork would appear in his mind, meaning he was giving the other work and it highly amused him!
Unbeknownst to Ace, the person on the other side was not a high-ranking marine officer at all, but no one other than Marco the Phoenix, a high-ranking pirate instead. The first commander of the whitebeard pirates to be precise.
Thus, while Ace was very sure of the idea that his soulmate was a marine that he would never ever date and didn't even know their face off. Marco knew exactly who Ace was from the day he set out. It wasn't difficult to figure out if the Raven had daily focussing session on his own flag, flaunting his devilfruit and achievements, all to be sure the pictures made it clearly to his soulmate's mind.
When they finally met up after the rookies tried to take Whitebeard's head, the crew was dumbfounded when one of their local jokster had asked if Ace was interested in dating his soulmate and instead of getting some snarky remark about not dating birds or his enemies or whatever, they got a grossed out look and-
"I'm not dating a marine! Are you crazy? And besides-" the teen snorted, "With all that paperwork? He wouldn't even have any time for me!"
This made everyone blink and the main entertainment duo on board had to hold back their laughter that the whole reason Ace didn't know his boyfriend was an actual pirate and not a marine was because of the amount of paperwork the blond did. The mumbling that followed of how useless all the paperwork was was hilarious, especially since Ace kept going on about how this marine apparently was hunting them and hadn't caught anyone yet after years, this just proofed his point that paperwork was useless. The whole statement almost made the chef wee his pants right then and there. And even Haruta was holding onto Thatch for dear life to keep it together. Marco's stupid look was not helping either!
Anyway, after the firecracker finaly joined and as the menance that he was, kept bothering Marco. The raven found out Marco also had an imense amount of paperwork, maybe even more then his soulmate and-
"Yet you eventually figured out it was me... after a year-yoi."
Ace grew beatread and hit the figure laying next to him, "s-shut up! How should I have known pirates had that much paperwork! And- Don't read my mind!"
The blond chuckled, turning around in bed and wrapping his arms around his soulmate, pecking his forehead softly, "It's not on purpose. I woke up with our whole origin story flashing before my eyes. I wanted to get to the good part where we're together, like right now."
He couldn't be mad at that and pushed his head into the big tattooed cross on his lover's chest, "I like this part too... even if it took a while to get here."
"And I would have waited however long it had taken."
"This would have happened quicker if you had just said something."
At the pout apearing in his chest the blond laughed loudly, "Would it have-yoi? I think my stubborn firecrackler would have scoffed in my face."
"... no..."
"Hahahah, alright, then I'm sorry firefly. Forgive me for waiting for you to figure it out."
"..."
At a picture of a kiss filling the blond's mind he didn't hesitate to pull Ace's chin up and connect their lips for a soft kiss. "There. I love you-yoi."
"Love you toooooo!"
They laid peacefully in their chambers, just enjoying the morning together in their cozy hot room... something not everyone on the ship could say right now since it was the middle of winter. And-
"Don't picture me as stove Marco!"
"You kind of ar- ouch ouch sorry sorry hahahahhahaha. I ofcourse meant that your love warms me-yoi!" The scoff that followed just warmed Marco heart more and he rested his lips on raven locks for a bit before pulling away slowly, "Love, it's almost Christmas."
"Pops is going to dress weird again."
"Not weird. But he will probably dress up as Santa, yes."
"The beard is obviously fake."
"Obviously-yoi." The blond agreed even though the picture he saw that Ace thought of looked even worse then it really was, their captain did not use that much tape to keep it attached to his face last year... or did he? "What do you want?"
"Huh? What do I want?"
"For christmas, what do you want as a present?"
"Nothing."
While 'nothing' was said, a very specefic picture flowed in Marco's minds, "that nothing is a very specefic orange fluffy bathrobe."
"N-no! You didn't see that!"
Marco laughed at the immage flickering, changing to random pictures of food, his poor lover trying so hard to think of other things. "And where can I find that bathrobe?" a humm left him as he got a picture of a shop, it really was very specefic, probably something Ace saw when they visited an island because while he likes to go half-naked, he quickly learned his freckled raven also loves to wear a fluffy bathrobe in his office when he's relaxing or after a bath, "And which island?... Thank you darling."
"You're stupid."
"Yes, yes firefly." Marco just chuckled softly.
"... What do you want? As a present- not me!" Ace peeped as a picture of them together appeared.
"But I do want you. Just you is enough for me-yoi."
The blush on him sparked on his cheeks, this man was so-! "Present! Something physical I can give you- Stop thinking of meeeeeee!"
"Oh firefly, don't be mad" the blond pulled on the body and tugged him ontop of him, nuzzling his nose, "I'm happy to be with you, you know how long I waited to find my soulmate. You're everything I need-yoi."
A pout was there but he knew he had won as a burning head hid into his neck, his own flames appearing to protect his skin. But Ace wouldn't be Ace if there wasn't a grumble of a challenge that he would figure out the present he would want.
"C'mon cap, don't sulk, you'll find something."
"..."
"And even if you don't, he did just want you, maybe we can wrap you up as a gift."
Ace groaned loudly at his old first mate's comment, "Deeeeuuuuceeeeee! Don't start like that! I need to get him something! He's definitely somehow getting me that bathrobe even if the shop is way out of our route."
"You know Commander Marco isn't that materialistic, Ace. I'm actually pretty sure he would be happy to just spend time with you."
"... I know... But I still want to give him something..." He still remembered his first christmas on the Moby, everyone gave him so many presents after he said he never celebrated it. And even the gifts that he had no idea what to do with, he loved that his brothers had taken the time to get him somethikng even if they didn't need to and... "Unwrapping is fun..."
The blue haired man laughed, "I guess that's true. He hasn't thought of anything yet?"
"Nothing! Or his head is empty, which is so weird for him, but I know he's doing that on purpose! Besides that he's only been thinking of paperwork and me! And when I randomly asked about gifts, wanting to surprise him to think about it, he just stares at me and thinks of me eating a pineapple! Like what?! Thats the weirdest thing ever! Marco loves to eat those fruits like an apple, not me! I'm not a savage."
"..."
"... Not that much of a savage."
A shake of the head later Deuce chuckled, "don't think too much into it cap, you'll find something , we're still stopping at a few places, lots of shops to see. And..." he properly looked up from his book, "Why don't we plan out a date for the two of you."
"A date?"
"Yeap" he nodded, "He said he wants you, -and yes yes you want to get him something and I'm not stopping you-, but if he wants your company. Why not also plan a date for the two of you. It will be fun for both of you. You can spend time together which I know you'll love too, you two deserve some alone time too, and you'll have granted the one thing Marco really did ask for, which is you."
"... You're right... you're right..." Ace murmured softly before a smile took over and he hit Deuce's back, "This is why you're my first mate haha! Let's plan a super awesome date! Oh! And plan in pineapples! I'll eat one if that's really what he wants!"
The book was closed and a gently shake of the head was there at his captain's antics, "No problem cap, let's start by requesting some time off from Pops."
"Yes! Let's gooooooooooooooooo!"
It was during re-stock at one of the last island they visited before Christmas that it happened. Right when Ace was carrying one of the supply crates up, a picture flashed through his mind and he almost promptly dropped the box as he swivelled to look into the town.
"Commander? Something wrong?"
Blinking he looked to one of his men that just came down the ramp from having carried up his own crate, "no no... I'm... I'm fine..." he said slowly, looking back once more to town before shaking his head, "I'm fine." he repeated better, "Let's get this over with so we can enjoy the town too."
"Ay commander, can't wait for some drinks haha!"
He send a smile to his brother and watched him go down before he made his own way up, a grin on his face. That was definetly a shop front he saw. A shop front with something blue inside it. Something that piqued Marco's interest. And something that by the amount of clear pictures of the blond's own to do list flashing his mind, flushing out that one shop-front, something Marco was trying to cover up. But he saw! He saw and he shall find out what it was!
After his division was done loading everything up, he had a shop and present to find and thanks to his lovely boyfriend focusing on his own to-do list. He even had a clear picture of Marco's future where-abouts and what areas to avoid to remain unseen! This was perfect!
Just over an hour later his division finished up loading everything and they were free to explore the town himself. Ace only stopped by his room to grab a pouch of money before he ran off into town, he had a present to find!
As he was running through town, people stared him down, lots of reason as to why. He was a well-known pirate. A handsome well-known pirate. He had masterpiece of a tattoo on his back. He not only was wearing his cowboy hat on his back but also a Christmas hat on his actual head, courtesy to Izou sewing them for all the commanders. And ofcourse, he was the only one practically naked midwinter. But he was sure they would be naked too if they were fire! He was hot! Literally and figuratively.
"C'mon shop, where are you." Ace murmured to himself as he passed different shops, pressing his face to plenty of windows to look inside. He got thrown varies thank you's from owners for getting the frost of said window and making their wares more visible. With it becoming later and later in the day, the temperatures dropped so it became harder to see inside. But he wasn't deterred! He had a present to find!
"Ah chestnuts... steamy roasted chestnuts." he started drooling as a bag of said goodness came into his mind before he shook his head, "Damnit Marco! Don't distract me! Stupid pineapple thinking of his snack on pur- oh he got a second bag..." A little detour wouldn't hurt anyone...
And thus not even 5 minutes later he followed the directions that got send to his mind and was at Marco's side, sitting on a bench and munching on the winter-treat.
"You like it-yoi?"
"-ov- t"
"I'm glad" the blond smiled as he peeled another nut and popped it in his own mouth. Not getting how his lover could stuff his mouth peel and all, but maybe he just burned it off? Ah it didn't matter, he was cute swinging his legs of the bench and with those stuffed cheeks he looked like a-
"Not a chipmunk!"
"Didn't say anything-yoi."
"Hmpf you thought it."
"Maybe," he chuckled again before he moved a hand to tap the white cotton balls dangling next to his soulmate's face. "The hat's cute on you."
"T-thank you..." blushing cheeks looked over to him before his face was stuffed back into his bag of nuts, "Yours is nice too... The blue shade fits you."
"Thank you, firefly." Marco smiled softly as he took another chestnut. Izou really was something. Even if he could have bought mass-made hats, or even used those of last year. Nope! Every commander got their own hat made and in their own favourite color, making him have a blue one and Ace and orange. Their pops got the red one since he was the official Santa of the ship.
He glanced over to the raven as he was stuffing his whole hand in the bag to presumable get the last chestnut out of there, he took a little pity on him as he knew the raven had been running around town to find him a present. The one thing that had indeed caught his interest so abruptly he hadn't been able to distract himself from thinking about it.
"West-district."
"Hmm?"
"The shop you're looking for. It's in the west-district-yoi."
It took a few seconds before a bright smile took over, "Thank you, Marcoooooooo!" he jumped up and pressed a big kiss to the other's lips before running iff, yelling a 'Loveee youuuuu!' as he disappeared in the distance.
Once he was out of sight, the blond folded down the bag to keep contained whatever he didn't eat yet and got up to return to ship. He knew Ace would be searching until he found that shop and even if he knew Ace didn't get cold, he also didn't want him in the winter weather longer than necessary, so since he would have kept searching he deemed it best to just tell him where the shop was. Plus... He liked having his human heater in his room on the ship, and if he on purpose later thought about these un-eaten chestnuts laying undefended on his desk... it wasn't his fault if that attracted a Raven rather sooner than later.
A couple of days later they were docked at the uninhabited side of an island, able to have their own far to big pirate party without bothering the town, while also giving those who wanted to the opportunity to make the small walk to town. Though they were sure most would stay on the beach and only explore the town tomorrow... or the day after when all the booze had settled.
Everyone was busy setting up for the Christmas party that would start one the sky turned darker and even whilst it was snowing, that didn't deter anyone from building campfires and even brought a more joyful spirit (and lots of snowball fights) into the equation.
Lights were strung starting from the boat all the way over the beach to the trees of the forest, campfires carefully placed so nothing would catch on fire and constructions to BBQ were build overtop many of them while skewers with marshmallow and pans of nuts were prepped to roast close to others. There were hot coco stations all around that of course also included the right amount of alcohol extras. And most importantly, in the middle was a big tree that riveled Pops in hight.
When almost everything else was set up, the whole crew worked together to decorate said tree. Pops taking charge of decorating the very top, while the rest was done by everyone else. Some standing on each other's shoulders to reach higher, or just chucking their brothers up to put up an ornament up high (of course catching them when they came down.)
The tree soon was fully decorated in every color one can think of, every kind of ornament that existed. If Izou had a say in how it looked... It was a monstrosity... But it was their monstrosity of joy. A collection of traditions from all over the seas coming together to create the star of the show.
Speaking of fire...
"Ace-son, won't you start our party off?" The elder grinned down at the very youngest of the crew and there was a big grin in return.
"Ofcourse Pops! Let's get Christmas... STARTED!"
Under the cheers of his brothers, he combusted into flames, sending hundreds of fiery sparks into the darkened sky and letting them scatter at different hights. The whole thing mimicked a stunning show of fireworks and was the official start of their Christmas party.
"Having fun, firefly?"
"Marcooo!"
The blond smiled at a picture of himself filling his mind before the raven even turned around, accepting the bearhug that came seconds later. "Missed youuuu!"
"Sorry-yoi, I had to wrap you present."
"Huh? I didn't see it."
"Wouldn't be a surprise if I spoiled it by showing it."
Ace followed Marco to a nearby bench, sitting down by his side, "You're so good at hiding your thoughts."
"Nah" Marco chuckled as he passed on wide but thin rectangular present, "you were just too busy stuffing your mouth with everything edible you found to pay attention to what I was thinking."
A little pout was there, "I didn't eat that much yet."
"Oh, So I didn't see you getting 3 re-fills on your hot coco's, roasting atleast 100 chestnuts, eating like 25 Christmas cookies and-"
"Okay!... I ate a lil..." Ace blushed embarrassed that he showed everything to the blond without knowing, "they were good."
"I know, love. Open your present."
Even with that Ace still smiled as he tugged the wrapping paper off and pulled the lid up of the box inside, revealing a bright fluffy bathrobe. "You really got it." smiling he pulled it out, rubbing his face into the fabric, "so soooooooffftttt!"
"And look at the back-yoi."
"The back?" if this was the bathrobe he pictured, there was nothing on the back- "My tattoo!" He stood up, the box dropping to the floor as he held the clothing item out before him. His own big tattoo embroidered on the back in a vibrant red thread.
"Can't cover up your mark-yoi." He knew how much it meant to the raven, "Same with your other tattoo." The one he knew represented his late brother.
At the mention of that Ace slowly raised the left sleeve of the bathrobe and tears sprung to his eyes seeing the four letters embroidered in the same thread. Elegant thin lettering but still perfectly visible to everyone around. Slowly the garment was hugged close and a freckled face buried into the fabric.
Very gently Marco tugged the raven down onto his lap, hugging him to his chest and kissing his dark hairs. He didn't need Ace to speak right now, the emotion spoke for itself that it meant the world to his soulmate and that's all that matters.
A couple minutes and sniffs later a soft 'Thank you' was spoken, one Marco simply replied to with another kiss. Letting the other get up when he pulled away.
The bathrobe was pulled on and the wearer spun around to show it off, the smile Marco loved so much back on his face. "How do I look?"
"Like the most perfect and softest boyfriend in existence-yoi."
"Hihi, thank you Mar! Let me get your presents t-"
"Here cap."
Ace screamed at the sudden voice right behind him before recognizing the blue hair and very amused face.
"Deuce! When did you- you've been here the whole time?!"
A raise of an eyebrow was there, "Everyone has been here the whole time." and gestured to the whole crew around, "you're in the middle of the party." and chuckled at the embarrassed face. "Don't worry, half the crew... 90% of the crew is too drunk to even hold one sentence conversations and too obsessed with partying to pay attention to you two. And I myself just returned from inside. When I noticed Marco getting your present, I took it upon myself to grab the ones you had prepped."
"Oh, thank you, Deuce. I can always count on you." Ace smiled softly as he accepted the box he had wrapped days before and the envelope on it.
"Never a problem cap, and now if you'll excuse me, I've got a date with the 12th commander."
"Right, goodluck- WAIT WHAT!?" Ace's eyes blew wide as his first-mate was already leaving, "Haruta? Since when- You have to tell me how it goes!"
Ace plopped down next to Marco as a simple backwards wave was there, "Man, I didn't even know they were together. I wonder how long they've been dating."
"Practically since the day you joined us-yoi."
"Wha-" the raven gaped at the other.
"Why else did you think Deuce was in Haruta's office every other day?"
"Because they're friends- Don't laugh at me!"
Even if that was said, Marco couldn't hold in his loud laughter. Oh he loved his boyfriend so much, even if he could be a little dense sometimes. "Sorry, sorry. Ofcourse yes, they're good friends. And a little more." he let his laughter die down into chuckles.
"And a little more." the raven grumbled a little before he noticed the box he held, "your present! Here!" and pushed the box to the blond.
"Nice finishing touches-yoi." Marco smiled touching a few scorch marks on the paper before tearing the paper open as his boyfriend was stuttering out that the paper was fighting him as he wrapped it. "You really found it." he whispered as the insides where revealed.
"Of course I did!" Ace sat up straight, patting his clothes chest, "I knew you wanted this so I would have kept searching until I found it."
"Thank you, it's stunning." he picked up the quill with a delicate hand, admiring the marksmanship of the golden tip running along the hollow shaft to the downy barbs. Tiny blue stones embedded throughout, the color matching that of the long elegant feather coming out above. He had only held the quill for a few seconds, but it felt comfortable between his fingers and was above all a beauty to see. He couldn't wait to see the feather move as he wrote.
"You were also good at keeping your thoughts to yourself-yoi." The blond remarked as he placed the quill back onto the satin pillow and moved to trace the golden lettering at the top of the wooden box. "I never knew you got the box personalized for me. Thank you-yoi. I can't wait to use it."
"Well, you'll have to wait to use it though."
"Huh?" I mean, he knew he would have to wait to use it till after the party atleast, but Ace seemed to say it like he meant he couldn't use it then either. "What do you mean?"
"Because you won't be working on paperwork anytime soon." And with a grin handed the envelope over, urging the blond to open it.
Carefully Marco closed the box and put it next to him and accepted the envelope, opening it with curiosity and confusion. In it was a letter addressed to him and by the writing (and size of the words) he knew it was his Pop's. The man could write tiny for his size, yet never as small as they could.
"As of the 25th of December... you... are dismissed from you position of first commander?!"
Wide eyed he looked to his grinning boyfriend, was he fired? What? How did a pirate even get fired?! And why was Ace happy!?
"Keep reading haha."
A tiny nod was there as he kept going. "Together with the second commander you are relieved of your duties until the 7th of January-yoi. You are hereby ordered to leave the ship and spend the next two weeks relaxing with your soulmate. Any work done will be punished with an extra day of dismissal... Ace..." Stunned he looked to the other, the grin he had only having gotten wider. "We're... We're..."
"Going on a vacation!" Ace cheered happily, "I already booked us a night at the hotel on this island, and I asked for all their pineapple dishes to be prepared in the morning! They'll make us a lunch pack for on the go- oh and Deuce already packed a bag for you to take with us, just clothes and such, they're ready in my room with my own bag. I charted some courses to islands nearby with good food and massages and-"
As Ace rambled, Marco couldn't keep the smile from forming on his face. In the end he did get the one thing he had been wishing for since the start. Ace. His soulmate. He was already happy with what they got, that he had Ace by his side on the ship, that they spend time together and cuddled the nights away. That he had found his soulmate after years of loneliness. And while he hadn't thought of his wish to become a gift like this, he wasn't complaining. On the contrary, he was looking forward to these two weeks with all his heart and... if some paperwork would grant him an even longer vacation... Maybe he will test out that quill already.
"Thank you." He stopped Ace's rambling with those simple words. Raising a hand to cradle his cheek and lean in to connect their lips, "Merry Christmas-yoi." he smiled after pulling away. The sunshine smile he got in return will be forever etched in his mind and he couldn't wait for a repeat of this next year.