Ace could feel his blood pulsating. His heartbeat was the only thing he heard. His hands were shaking, but not enough to be really noticed. He was a professional, this was just a job, he wouldn't be noticed.

He grinned and climbed higher, ignoring the already drunk but still drinking pirates. Even if they were screaming and singing, he made sure that he didn't make any noise while making his way across the hull of the ship.

(Those aren't morons. They are not all drunk. Some of them are keeping watch) and with that, Ace reached the railing and checked again if his presence was hidden. Of course it was, he himself wasn't a moron either. For a short moment, he thought about his plan and what he and Sabo had practiced. (Don't tell lies, but don't confirm the whole truth either. Don't say you are a part of the crew, that would piss them off, they're a family. Don't even think about harming one. Only think about your story... I'm here to get a chest back that they took. I'm a visitor and don't want to cause trouble.)

He held a little mirror up and checked his surroundings with it, if someone was approaching the place he was under. (Nobody there.) He hadn't caught sight of anyone looking this way either. He used his powers to take out the flame from a candle, which was placed near him.

Ace waited and checked again after 5 minutes. Still nothing. It was a rather calm corner. A bit away from the party and hidden by the shadows of the night.

He pulled himself over the railing, slipping through the wooden spindles and quickly stood up from the ground, not making any noise again.

He reached for the candle, took a match and lit it again. That way, nobody would get there to relight it and maybe catch sight of the thin rope next to the railing. (This is so time consuming...) He could have done it with his powers too... But now, someone could see him at any time and a 'crewmate' with burning fingertips would be suspicious. Wouldn't it?

Once that was done, Ace started to display a wide and happy smile, a joyful grin, while placing his hat on his head and smoothing out the dark blue long-sleeved shirt of his before he turned around and made his way towards the pirates. It would bring so much more attention to him if he would try to avoid the celebrating mass, then celebrating with them and going straight through the middle of it. Ace chuckled lightly. (Me and being straight, Hah! As if..)

He made it through the crowd without much delay, which only would be caused by some pirates that wanted him to sing with them, drink with them, dance with them... and so on. But he managed to turn them down or get rid of them by turning, twirling, twisting out of their sight, as well as using other fluid movements for the same purpose that went unnoticed by them too.

For the fourth Commander, as an example, the smiling boy who he wanted to ask if he would join him in a game of cards disappeared suddenly. The freckled male he had grabbed for took a single step and suddenly seemed to be around 8 feet away, slipping behind another crew member. Thatch let him be and had soon forgotten that he was even there.

.

Ace took a swig out of the tank he had picked up. It made him look even more like a fellow pirate. He tasted the alcohol in it, but burned it immediately while it ran down his throat. He had something to do, he could drink when he got what he was here for. (Okay. Next part.) He made his way over to some other Commanders. It was a pretty big risk, but all of them seemed to be at least very tipsy. He aimed for a specific one. Namur.

Namur was the one he had to take care of. He was the one who could ruin his plan if he was conscious. And Namur was the only one of his brothers who's mug was empty. So, Ace grinned a bit wider, took another sip and let a small pill fall inside of his mug while doing so. He grimaced at the taste of the liquid.

"Evening, Commanders." He greeted them, getting their attention and some greetings back. "Could I ask for a little Favor?" he started again, his joyful grin morphed into a sheepish one while he adjusted his hat in an embarrassed manner. "Commander Thatch gave me this-" he waved with his tank "-and I said I would drink it... But that's some hard stuff and I have watch duty in the morning... Is there a chance one of you could use a refill? He wants his tank back... Empty." He let some flames appear inside his mouth so that his cheeks would get a bit red in 'embarrassment'. The three Commanders laughed at him, while waving him closer. "Great timing, bud! Namur here was about to get himself some more. Give it to him, he can handle everything Thatch is capable of making. That won't be an issue." Jozu laughed while clapping his friend on the back. Namur himself nodded and reached for the drink. Ace grinned happily, knowing the drugs were now mixed with the liquid. He had made sure of it by shaking the tank a little. He grinned even more when he saw how Namur drank all of it with one gigantic gulp.

"Oi. That's good stuff!" Namur exclaimed and gave the tank back to the... "Where is he?" The Commanders exchanged looks and shrugged. Thatch would get his tank back with or without the new kid.

Ace meanwhile, escaped their eyesight and started counting in his head. He had to keep count, his time had started running the moment Namur swallowed. At the beginning he was a bit worried that Namur would share with the Commanders or would take only little sips.. But he got lucky and everything worked out!

Ace walked a bit more around, still counting in his head. After one minute he made his way towards the door that obviously led inside, letting him enter the famous Moby Dick- the flagship of the Whitebeard Pirates.

He didn't look around and just kept walking, crossing the hallway. Ace only stopped, when he had the feeling he was deep in the insides of the ship. That was the first time he dropped his smile and took in his surroundings properly. (Magnificent. It really is huge. But still manageable.) He started searching for the treasury, while humming Luffy's favorite song to keep concentrated. He didn't use his Haki. It would be way faster, but he wouldn't be hidden anymore. Someone would sense his presence, most likely the first Mate or the Captain himself. And Ace didn't swim all the way here from the island they would reach next, to get noticed or even captured in the attempt of stealing. Oh no. He had been careful to not look at Whitebeard or the first Mate directly. They both would have unmasked him as a stranger in a matter of seconds! (Sabo would kill me. He would absolutely kill me. More than once.) Ace huffed and gave the bubbly-coral in his pocket a small pat. That thing was amazing. Without it, Ace wouldn't have made it. He wouldn't even have had the chance to get on the boat unnoticed, in the middle of the sea, without it. He was a devil fruit user damnit!

After about five minutes, he arrived at his destination. If the sign was correct, that announced the treasury behind it... But he was quite sure, it was. So he opened the door, grinning at the treasure... and an Alarm started bawling through the whole ship.

"FUCK!" Ace cursed, ran inside, ignored how absolutely perfectly organized everything was, grabbed the small chest he was here for, turned around and ran outside again. He left the door open, he didn't have time for that. (Which PARANOID AssHoLe oF an uGly PirAte would seCUre his DAMN trEAsuRy with a fUcking, DicK SUckiNg, ALARM when it's in tHe MIDDLE of the sHIp!) he wanted to cry. That wasn't fair. He, okay Sabo, had planned everything. Mostly. Ace had helped him. Maybe.

Ace busts through the door and stumbled on Deck, hurrying over to the railing where he had placed his escape equipment. Only there, he noticed that nobody was chasing him. But the first mate was scolding the fourth Commander. At least that was what had happened before Ace crashed through the door towards the railing and stopped in his tracks, staring irritated at the Pirates. The Pirates stared back, eying the slightly panting boy, noticing the chest under his Arm.. But even more, they noticed that they didn't know that boy. They had an intruder, a thief it seems, who got scared by the prank Thatch had pulled.

Ace was about to lose his mind. He got tricked. He really got tricked. He ruined his own perfect plan because he got fooled. He hated it. But while one side of his brain cursed him and the whole world, the other half, the one that was smart, made a plan how he would still be able to escape.

Marco let Thatch down, never letting his eyes go off the teen while walking to where he was standing. "Who are you?" he asked, knowing he hadn't seen that face before. That was no-one from the crew. None of his brothers.

Ace didn't stop in his preparations and stuffed the chest in his bag, zipping it close. Then he grinned at the blonde male. "Heyyy nice to meet ya! Wait a sec, yes? I'm just.." he bent over and grabbed his beloved rope before standing straight again. "Okay. There." He clicked it on the gear he was wearing. "I'm really sorry I interrupted your party. I really enjoyed it here... But I have to go, okay?" He even smiled in an apologetic way. (Oh God. Sabo, I hope you are in position.) Ace noticed that all the Commanders were getting closer, the tension on deck was growing thicker.

"I don't think you will be going anywhere, anytime soon." The Phoenix stopped right in front of him, arms crossed. Ace felt all eyes on him, staring at him. So he kept acting. "Yeah... I think I do." He gave a little laugh and pressed a button inside of his pocket, knowing Sabo would get the signal in a matter of seconds. "But hey. It's okay. I'll surrender, okay? I'm not stupid." Ace slowly moved his hands up and took a step towards Marco. (just some more Seconds.. Just 10 more.. Please!)

Marco grabbed his wrist... And suddenly all Hell broke loose.

Ace pulled his arms backwards, letting the other man smash against his chest, grinning like a madman. "Not so rough, Commander! I'm not that type of person!" Ace felt the grip on his wrist tighten, so he did the only thing that would catch Marco off-guard.

Ace wrapped his arms around the taller male and kissed him roughly and with such a passion, it robbed himself of nearly all his breath. The Crew gasped and stared shocked at the youngster who kissed their second in command. The kid even dipped him slightly. For some seconds, it was completely silent, no sounds were heard, then everyone heard a soft moan. From both men.

While Ace kissed the absolutely shocked Marco senseless, Namur stumbled and suddenly collapsed. Shocking the other, already shocked pirates even more. Marco broke free, shoving the freckled teen against the railing and whirled around to his unconscious brother. He turned back the moment his brain caught up. But then, it was already too late.

Ace stood on the railing, arms spread and giving a bow. "I hope we won't see each other ever again, Whitebeardpirates. I enjoyed my stay, but it's now my time to leave."

Ace felt two things happening at the same moment. One, a wave of deadly strong Haki washed over him, making him dizzy. And two, the Rope straightening, pulling him backwards. And he let it happen. He let himself fall in the sea, getting swallowed by it, immediately feeling the exhaustion and the urge to take a deep breath...

But he couldn't. He let himself sink, thinking about the stupid faces that were made and smiled. He pushed on his coral, the moment he felt he was about to pass out. Then let himself get pulled by his belt through the sea, back home, to Sabo and Luffy, who were on their own ship and pulling the rope.

He didn't want to harm a Whitebeard Pirate, a Commander no less, but Namur was a fishmen. He would have been able to get him if he was conscious. It was necessary.

.

The whole Ship was silent.

What the hell just happened?

Marco touched his lips.