Hello everyone, here is the next chapter!

I hope you're enjoying this so far

Read and realx

Marco sat and played a game of cards with Pops in his room, enjoying a cold evening. As the game was going on, and they had just finished the current topic, Marco hummed. "Also, I have a question, yoi." Pops nodded. "Okay, which is?" Marco hummed. "Remember when you asked what methadone was?" Pops nodded, so Marco continued. "Did you ask because of Ace?" Pops blinked, before he frowned a bit. "How did you know that?" Marco sighed, before he explained how he had seen Sabo comking from an Al-anon meeting and what that was, and the conversation which had followed.

When he was done, Pops nodded. "I see. Yes, when Ace was hurt, he specifically asked for methadone I think, not morphine. I wondered if it was something stronger than morphine." Marco sighed. "And he isn't a part of the family officially, so you didn't lie either, yoi. When you said it wasn't someone in the family." Pops nodded. "Yes. I didn't want to say something that isn't my place. What will you do with this information?" Marco thought for a second, before he sighed. "I will try and ask about it when it fits, but he seems to be good as well, yoi. I don't want to corner him." Pops nodded. "I get that, and you're right, he seems well now. Which is good." Marco nodded. "Yes, so I will try and find a time to bring it up, but I won't stress it, yoi." Pops nodded. "Sounds like a good plan, son." Marco nodded and the card game went on. And Marco would think of how to do this.

-x-

Whitebeard hummed as he sat in the meeting room, waiting for their guest who would come soon, and they had prepared some things for him. The person coming was someone who had information for them now and then, rarely, but he did. Trevor was also here right now as he had some spare time and wanted a break from working, and Whitebeard saw no harm. In the meeting room, was the commanders with him, but also Trevor, Luffy, and Sabo, as the meeting hadn't started yet. Claus was also here, as he needed to know things as he was in charge of the media room. He had just told Trevor and the two brothers that they needed to leave when the guy came, and they said it was fine, Luffy and Sabo seemed to really like Trevor, so that was good.

It wasn't long before the door opened Ratchet came into the room, before he did a double take as his eyes landed on Luffy and Sabo, hand pointing at them. "Why are you here!" Sabo blinked. "We joined them. Why are you here?" Ratchet moved a hand to his chest as he seemed to have issues taking breaths. "I- I- I am dead, aren't I?" Trevor hummed. "Pretty much if he shows up. You got guts." Ratchet moved his hand. "I didn't know they would be here! Or you! Oh my God! Okay! All I know is going to be handed to someone, and I will leave before he shows up and kills me. Bye." Then Ratchet left, seeming to hurry. Whitebeard blinked, looking at Sabo and Luffy. "What was that?" Sabo hummed. "Oh yeah, Ace doesn't like him. Like, not at all." Whitebeard blinked. "Why?" Sabo shrugged. "Beats me. Never said why. But it has to be like really bad if Ace thinks he can't tell me." Didn't sound good.

Trevor hummed and looked at the two brothers. "You leave for a sec, okay? Grab some food. I don't care. Stay away from Ratchet." The two nodded and left, and when they were gone, Trevor sighed. "Years ago, there was this kid, who also was training to be an assassin/mercenary, he was the same age as Ace, and Ace loved him, was so excited to introduce him to Sabo and Luffy, and viewed him almost like a brother. Then, we went to this island to have some meetings, the island being very tense. Ace and Lucas playing with some sticks, just playing around and being children. Then, Ratchet, who was also there…" Trevor let out a breath. "He, somehow, thought Lucas' stick was a gun and with the island, so, he shot him in the head and killed him, right in front of Ace. They were 13."

Whitebeard blinked, same with the others and Izou moved a hand to his chest. "Oh my God, you're kidding! Right?!" Trevor shook his head. "Wish I was. Ace has a deep hatred for him because of this." Whitebeard nodded and got it. That was horrible. Trevor sighed. "If Ace shows up mad, because of him being here, just say you didn't know. Because you didn't, just be honest." Whitebeard nodded, he would be. Trevor nodded as well. "I am most likely still here then, I will back you up." That was good. He felt bad for Ace, that that had happened.

Izou looked at Trevor. "How did Ratchet know who Luffy and Sabo were?" Whitebeard blinked, that was a question, how did he know them. Trevor hummed. "He is a traveler, Ace has traveled a lot with his brothers, and they have met two times. Ace hates his face, and I am almost surprised Ace hasn't gone out of his way to kill him." Whitebeard nodded. "I can understand that. Why didn't he kill him then?" Trevor sighed. "Azuruko stopped him, killing him would mean bad then, now, I don't know. He was mostly laid off after it from us, we can't have someone like him in our team." That made sense.

Trevor then stood up. "Also, I will go call Ace." Trevor then looked at him. "This is not to throw you under the boat, this is simply to keep him in the loop. To not lie to him or keep him in the dark." Whitebeard nodded. "Sounds like a plan." Trevor nodded and then left, and Thatch spoke. "I can't believe Ratchet did that…" Izou spoke. "I have felt something was off with him, but this was… poor Ace." They all nodded, this was bad.

They then went out on deck, as there wouldn't be a meeting. Ratchet left as soon and quickly as he could, leaving files with Paul as he passed him, which was good. He would look them over a bit later, he had a feeling Ace would show up soon. And it was just 5 minutes before Ace showed up and instantly went over to his two brothers, checking them over. "Are you okay! Did he touch you! Did he look at you funny! Did he do anything!" Sabo moved his hand. "We're fine! He left as soon as he saw us. He did nothing to us." Ace let out a breath, before he hugged Sabo and Luffy. And he got it. Ratchet had already killed someone close to Ace, and was scared he would do it again.

After having hugged his brothers for a bit, Ace leaned back and asked Luffy and Sabo to grab some food, and when they were gone, Ace moved his hands to his head. "Why was he here!" He almost yelled, before he looked at him, and he was on his way to answer, when Trevor spoke, who was out as well. "They had no clue, Ace." Ace looked at Trevor. "Really?" Trevor nodded. "Yes. I am not backing him up, I am not. But he feels bad." Ace gave a look. "And he should! I wished the entire world knew what kind of man he was!" He did get why Ace was mad, and he wished he had known before, so he wouldn't have let him on his boat, seeing as Ace really disliked him, which he got.

Trevor hummed. "Also, you can't really be mad at them. They had no clue. They don't know of everyone you hate, which is a lot of people." Ace looked at Trevor. "He is in the top 3." Trevor nodded. "I know." Ace moved a hand to his face, giving a breath. Whitebeard then spoke. "He will not be allowed on the boat again, and should we ever need him, it will only be communication over Den Dens or letters." Ace nodded, giving a breath. "Yeah, that makes this a bit better." Ace then started to head to the galley. "I need to hug my brothers again." And then he was gone into the galley. Trevor hummed. "Ace is overprotective, but when it comes to Ratchet, he has every right to be." Whitebeard nodded. "Yes. I wish I knew before I said he could come." Trevor shook his head. "No, you didn't know, don't feel bad. Or, don't feel too bad." Whitebeard nodded, he would do his best.

Ace and his brothers then come out of the galley, Luffy eating something. When he asked if Ace would stay a bit, Ace said he could stay a couple days maybe, which sounded good. They would soon dock as well, as Ratchet had come with a boat, and they were close to an island, and he hoped Ratchet wasn't there. It was a medium island that had some wildlife and animals. They would, if the weather was good, would dock tomorrow. He also hoped he would never see Ratchet again, now knowing more of the man he was. How one could think a stick was a gun, he didn't know.

-x-

Marco sat in his room when evening came, doing paperwork, just commander stuff, when there was a knock on his door and he gave a come in, the door opening to show Ace, who had a soft smile. Marco smiled as well and got up, heading over to Ace, who closed the door behind him. When Marco was by Ace, he shared a kiss with Ace, before Marco hummed. "Well, this is nice." Marco chuckled. "It is, yoi. And I am sorry about Ratchet. We didn't know." Ace sighed. "I get it. And done is done, nothing happened, thankfully." Marco nodded, he was glad about that himself.

They then spoke a bit, Ace grabbing a chair as well and sharing stories of what had happened lately. After a bit, Marco felt this might be the time, and looked at Ace. "I don't mean to sound accusatory, but have you ever used anything to feel better, yoi?" Ace blinked, before he chuckled. "That has to be one of the most careful ways anyone has ever asked me if I have used drugs. And I need to ask, what makes you think that?" Marco sighed, before he told about the question Pops had, and that he had seen Sabo heading out of an Al-anon meeting. When he was done, Ace nodded. "I see. I didn't know Bay made such a detailed report. And Sabo does go to Al-anon now and then, which makes him feel better, which is good." Ace then looked at him. "And yes, I have taken some drugs now and then, and yes, I have been addicted now and then."

Marco blinked. "Now and then, yoi?" Ace hummed. "I work through stuff fast. My fruit makes that possible. I also detox fast. But I am well now." Marco nodded and smiled. "That is all that matters, yoi." Ace smiled. "It is. And I know Sabo can be very worried now and then, but I guess that is normal. Even though I try to shield them." Marco nodded and moved a hand to Ace's. "And know I am always here for you, yoi." Ace smiled. "I know." And shared a kiss with him. He was glad he managed to have this conversation with Ace, so he wouldn't go and worry about it.

They then went to bed and relaxed, not feeling like doing anything right now. He did notice when Ace laid down, that he moved a hand to check the dagger and gun, and it was okay for Marco, it was there for him. Marco did fall asleep first, and when he woke, Ace was gone. He still wondered if Ace slept at all with him in his bed, but he also got it and wouldn't push it.

The day then went on, and he was told Ace went to the island to check something and would meet them there, and they docked around noon, and went on the island to look around and see if they maybe could restock some wood and such. As they were off and talking on where to head and such, Thatch blinked as he looked to the left. "Okay. That is terrifying." They all blinked and looked that way, many looking shocked and a bit apprehensive as well. Because heading their way, was Ace. not that that was too unusual. But he had two lions with him, large ones, one on each side. That was very terrifying. He didn't know much about lions, but he knew they were basically untamable. He had heard about many circuses and zoos having deaths and bad injuries from lions.

As Ace was a bit closer, Luffy suddenly shot past them and into Ace's now open arms, Ace having a smile. But as Luffy was hugging Ace, the lion on Ace's left, a male one as the other was a female, started to growl at Luffy, which had Whitebeard feel a bit fearful for Luffy and Ace. But as soon as the lion growled, Ace got a frown as he looked at the lion and gave a stern. "Silent." He didn't expect that to do much, but the lion actually stopped growling and took a step backwards from Ace, as if scared, and that had him blink. The lion was scared of Ace?

He then heard a hum to his left and turned to see Sabo there as he headed towards Ace as well. "The lion, Rex, tried to attack Ace a while back. But Ace stood his ground and roared at Rex. Imagine Ace being mad, kinda like that. Everyone is terrified of that, even animals." That was clear, and Marco most likely would have been terrified himself if Ace was mad at him. Ace was terrifying when not mad. Sabo then walked up to Ace as well and gave him a hug as well. Luffy was now petting the female lion, and Sabo moved to do the same, but not with the male lion. Thatch then moved a hand up as if he had a question. "Can I pet the lion? I've never petted one." Sabo hummed. "You can pet Boonya, but not Rex. He is temperamental at times." Thatch blinked. "But Boonya isn't?" Sabo hummed. "Not as bad at least." Thatch blinked. "I- I think I'll pass." Sabo nodded. "Your choice."

Then the day went on and they managed to get some wood for the boat, so they had in case of repairs and such. Some of them then grabbed a ball, as the island had some open areas, and started to kick it around, just having fun. But as Thatch sent the ball towards Jozu, the lion, Rex, suddenly pounced on the ball, wanting the ball. Before any of them could react, Ace spoke loudly. "Drop it, Rex!" Rex didn't, and took the ball to head to the side, and Ace moved to stand up, when Thatch spoke. "It's okay, it's just a ball." Ace moved towards Rex. "It is rules, he is not supposed to do this." As he walked, Rex started to walk faster, before he ran, but Ace ran after and used his powers to appear next to Rex and get him down on the ground, before Ace moved and grabbed the ball and gave a stern look to Rex and pointed away. "Go!" Rex gave a small growl, but did head away, lying down on a spot in the shade by a tree, seeming to pout.

Ace shook his head, and looked at the ball, which had little air left, and looked at Thatch. "You want a punctured ball? Or should I toss it?" Thatch hummed. "Maybe we can try and fix it." Ace nodded and gave the ball to Thatch, who took it to see how bad the damage was. It was amazing to see how scared Rex was of Ace. Ace was a terrifying person, even to animals.

-x-

Whitebeard then watched his children enjoy their stay on the island, and when they set sail again the next day, Ace left, as he had some work to do, but said he would drop by in a month's time, which was fine. It was next week, when they docked on another island, the sail had been calm, and they would restock food here and have some fun. But as they were about to head off the boat, Luffy suddenly gave a happy sound, before he shot off towards the plank, and when Whitebeard turned to see, he blinked as he saw Ace was there, Luffy ramming straight into him as Ace hugged him. Sabo went over as well. "Hey. Why are you here?" Yes, why? Ace wasn't supposed to drop by right now. Ace hummed. "Got some quick work to do here, and I have the time to drop by right now." Sabo nodded. "Nice."

They then headed on the island and looked around, before they found a tavern to head into, being a group of them, and Ace and his brothers were with them. As they sat down and ordered some food that came fast, Curiel looked over to the pool table, where some guys were playing, Curiel gave a small sound. "Those guys there, playing pool, stay away from them." Whitebeard looked over and saw 3 guys playing pool. Not looking to be someone sketchy. "Why, son?" Curiel shook his head. "Just do. I've heard some rumors and spoken with a few of them, they rub me the wrong way." Whitebeard nodded. He would keep away if he could then. Ace hummed. "Of those 3, is there someone you dislike more?" Curiel nodded. "Yes. The one with the dark hair. He said something once, and it just felt wrong. Even if he didn't mean it, you shouldn't say that. And I think he did mean it." Ace nodded, before he looked at Luffy. "Hey, Lu?" Luffy gave a small sound as he ate his burger. "Could you and Sabo head to the boat? I will come after, I just need to settle the tab." Whitebeard blinked. "We c-" Ace held up a finger, silencing him, making him confused.

Luffy looked confused, but Sabo nodded and stood up and grabbed Luffy's arm. "Come on, Lu." Luffy nodded, swallowed the entire burger, and stood up and went with Sabo out the tavern. As they were out, Ace grabbed some money from his pocket. "Here, since I said it." He said as he put it on the table and stood up. Izou blinked. "Wait, you didn't mean it? Then why did you say it?" Ace hummed as he was up. "Needed my brothers to leave." He said as he started to walk towards the exit. That was odd, why did he need them to leave. Ace then sent a smile at Curiel over his shoulder. "This is my work here, but this one is for you." Then Ace walked on. Curiel looked confused, and Whitebeard did as well.

As Ace was halfway out, he was by the pool table and he grabbed a cue, which had one of the guys by the pool table look dissatisfied, a blond haired man. "Hey, we're playing. You can't join us." Ace didn't seem to mind as he lifted the cue and looked at it, which had the dark haired man take a step towards Ace with the blond "Hey, kid, lea-" The man didn't get to finish as Ace in one quick move smashed the cue over the blond guy's head, snapping it in half as he fell to his knees with a scream of pain.

The dark haired man looked shocked, before he looked mad and moved his cue on his way to do the same, but before he could, Ace used the broken cue he held and stabbed it though his neck, making the man look shocked as he moved his hands to his neck to stop the massive bleeding, but it didn't help that as Ace dragged the cue out of his neck. With that he fell down to bleed out, while Ace used the bloodied cue to stab in the blond haired man's back, making him gasp for air and it sounded gurgled as Ace most likely hit between a rib and punctured a lung.

The last guy, a red haired man, looked shocked and scared, pleading for his life, when Ace grabbed something from a pocket, seeming to be an envelope. "Bring this to your boss. If the guns are not returned to this address by 6pm tonight, your little group is going to be wiped from the Earth, slowly." Ace then gave a smile. "Enjoy." Then he left as he left the envelope on the pool table, before he just went out the entrance. The red haired guy looked shocked, before he grabbed the envelope and went out the door in a hurry.

Curiel blinked. "Ace… did that for me? Killed someone? What?" Whitebeard hummed. "I think they are bad people, son." He felt this more as none of the ones in the bar had stepped in, and now, as it was over, the dead ones were just removed, before the bar owner came and said they could close for a bit to clean up, which was fine. Curiel looked shocked, and Whitebeard hummed. "Ace did say he had some work here, son. And I think that was a part of that work." Curiel nodded and now seemed to realize that, and they went on with their day. They didn't see any more of Ace, and when he asked Sabo, he said Ace had to finish something, before he would head on to the next place who needed help, and that made sense.

And that's the chapter! Hope you enjoyed

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