Hello everyone, here is the next chapter!
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Ace was in her room, just relaxing right now, Deuce with her. It was soon time for them to head with Marco, but before then, they would just lounge and do nothing for a bit. It felt nice. They did speak a bit, which felt nice, she really liked Deuce. He was a perfect friend.
When the clock was almost 5pm, Ace walked with Deuce to the main deck, where they met Marco, and then they headed off the boat to the island to find a place to eat. They soon found a restaurant and sat down, and Marco looked at her and smiled. "Hope this is okay, yoi." Ace nodded. "It is. I know you didn't mean to do what you did, that drink did it. And it looks like it is out of your system." It did as the bruise and small cut was gone. Marco nodded. "It seems so yes, but the slap certainly sobered me up, yoi." Ace did feel a bit bad about that. "I am… sorry I slapped you." Deuce moved and nudged her. "Don't be, he deserved it." Marco nodded. "I did, yoi." Ace gave a small nod. "Still. It was… wrong of me… somewhat." Marco spoke before Deuce could. "No, it wasn't. It was wrong of me, yoi. You only defended yourself, which I feel very bad about."
Ace could get that. But still, Marco wasn't a threat, she had just been shocked. "I was shocked that you did that and just reacted." Marco nodded. "And you have every right to. Why don't we speak about something happier? How are you two settling on the boat, yoi?" Ace smiled and started to tell how it was going. She felt it was going well. Everyone was very supportive of her and she liked that. Deuce said the same, and that he loved being around everyone who was so welcoming. And Ace had to agree with that.
They then spoke a bit more as they ate some food, and after half an hour, Deuce said he would leave, and Ace gave a goodbye to him, before he left and Ace looked at Marco when Deuce was gone. "Deuce can be a bit… overprotective." Marco hummed. "It is fine, he only wants your best, yoi. I am really glad you have a friend like Deuce." Ace smiled. "Yeah, I am too. He is the best. I am so glad I met him." Ace then smiled at Marco. "And I am really glad I get to be with you guys as well, even after I tried to kill Pops." Marco chuckled. "Pops liked you, which I get, you're awesome and likable, yoi. And you fit with us perfectly. You are strong, kind, and amazing." Ace hummed. "Is that what is needed to join you?" Marco hummed. "Yes, and Pops needs to like you, same with most, yoi. You are an amazing person, Ace." Ace smiled. "I am glad you feel that."
Marco hummed. "Sometimes, seeing your own perfections can be hard, yoi. But you are amazing and very strong." Ace nodded a bit, she didn't feel like that. But she was glad someone felt that. She knew Deuce felt that, but that was Deuce. Ace looked at Marco. "How's being a commander?" Marco hummed, before he explained how it was. It sounded to be fun, but also a lot, and a lot of paperwork. But Marco didn't seem to mind it, which sounded right to her.
They then had a nice time out, before they went for a small walk, and it was very nice. They did hold hands a bit, and they also met a few from the family around and chatted with them, and they did hold hands at some times when they met them, but no one mentioned it, which was good. When they got to the boat, Ace wanted to head to her room to relax a bit, and when they said goodbye for now, Marco gave a smile and left, and Ace wondered why Marco hadn't tried to kiss her yet. …maybe he didn't like her like that? No, that sounded off. But still, he had had the perfect opportunity right now, but he didn't take it. She would think about it and maybe bring it up.
When she walked into her room, she saw Deuce was there, and Ace smiled and went to sit on her bed, Deuce beside her and he asked how it was, and Ace explained how it was very nice and what had happened, and Deuce nodded. "Good. He is a good man, but I am still a bit mad about what he did after that drink." Ace hummed. "He didn't mean to. You know this." Deuce sighed. "Yeah, but still." Deuce looked at her and smiled, moving a hand to her cheek. "You mean a lot to me, Ace. You're amazing, and I love you so much." Ace smiled, before it fell a bit, and Deuce blinked. "What? What is it?" Ace sighed, before she explained her earlier thought, that Marco hadn't tried to kiss her, and she didn't know why.
Deuce hummed. "I think I do." Deuce smiled at her. "He is taking it slow, for you. Which is good. He won't do a move before he feels you are ready I think." Ace blinked, before she nodded a bit, as that might make sense. But still. She shook her head a bit and changed the topic, speaking about normal things, before they went out a bit later, Deuce also had some duties he needed to do, and went to do that.
As Ace was out on deck, Haruta walked up to her. "Hey, how are you?" Ace hummed. "I am good. Anything up?" Haruta shook her head. "No, not really. I just wondered on how you are after what happened with Marco. Haven't had the chance to speak with you. just wanted to check on you." Ace smiled. "It's going okay, we had dinner earlier. I know he didn't mean to. Thank you, for checking on me." Haruta hummed. "No issue. I want you to be well. But… are you and Marco… a thing?" Ace thought for a second. "I guess we are? I think so." Haruta nodded. "How is that… going?" Ace hummed. "Okay, I think. We're taking it slow." Haruta nodded. "That's good. Marco is very kind." Ace smiled. "He is." Haruta smiled at her. "I am glad you joined us, you're awesome as well. And if Marco ever steps out of his path, just tell me, I will knock some sense into him." Ace blinked. "You… would?" Haruta smiled. "Hey, you're my sister. Sisters stay together." Ace smiled. She had never had a sister before. "I like that idea."
Haruta chuckled and held out her hand. "Sister packt? We stick together and support each other, sounds good?" Ace nodded and shook Haruta's hand. "Sounds very good." Haruta grinned. "We need more female power anyhow, so this is great!" Ace chuckled, she liked the sound of this as well. They spoke a bit more, before they went on with their day. They would stay docked for one more day, before they set sail for another island, and would dock there as they needed to stock up on some things they didn't have here. It would be about a 4 day travel.
They enjoyed the last night on the island, before they set sail, and a few more approached her to ask if she was dating Marco, to which she said yes, when Thatch asked, and Ace said yes, he blinked. "Wow, birdy has never liked anyone before. Cool. He does deserve someone amazing, so I get he fell for you." Ace blinked. "I am… amazing?" Thatch smiled. "Sure you are. Hey, don't think so lowly of yourself! Who was it that tried to kill Pops for weeks! Get that courage back!" Ace chuckled. "I will try. And hey, you're not that bad yourself." Thatch hummed. "Oh, hey, I am awesome! And I know it!" Ace chuckled. "You sure are." Thatch clapped her on the back. "And hey, if Marco ever steps out-" Ace hummed. "Just tell you and you will knock some sense into him. You're like the 7th person who says it." Thatch nodded. "Good! Not that I think Marco ever will- what happened yesterday was my fault- he is a very kind man." Ace nodded and smiled. "He is."
As they sailed, it went uneventful. Which was nice. Many did come to her with words of encouragement and that if Marco ever stepped out, to tell them. Even Pops did, which was… well, it was nice, but she didn't expect it. Everyone was so nice and welcoming here. And they supported her. When she spoke with Marco, she asked if anyone had said the same to him, to which Marco hummed and said. "No, but they have said, if I ever hurt you, I will pay, yoi." Ace blinked. "What?" Marco hummed and smiled at her. "They care for you, and want you to feel safe, yoi. And I am sure, if I ever hurt you, I will pay." Ace blinked, before she smiled. "I am sure you won't."
Marco chuckled. "I hope so, yoi. I feel I have already, what happened on the island." Ace shook his head. "No, it wasn't you. It was the drink." Marco hummed. "Still. I feel bad for it, yoi." Ace smiled. "Try not to. Also, I wonder… Why haven't you… kissed me?" Marco blinked. "I want to take things slow, yoi. I don't want to overwhelm you." Ace blinked. "Oh, so it isn't since you don't like me?" Marco's face softened. "Ace, you are amazing in every way, yoi. But I don't want to scare you off or go too fast. You have your reasons to be cautious." Ace blinked, before it made sense. And that made her feel more at ease. She had been wondering why he hadn't even tried. Marco looked at her. "Would you like me to?" Ace blinked, before she slowly shook her head. "I… think not just yet. …if that's okay." Marco gave a supporting look. "We will take this at a speed you are comfortable with." Ace nodded. "...thank you."
Marco shook his head. "Don't thank me, yoi. I do this because I want you to be comfortable, a relationship is based on trust, and I know I need to gain that, and that might take time, but it is okay. Because I get to be around you, and that is just perfect, yoi." Ace smiled. Glad Marco felt that. She did feel safe around Marco. Marco smiled at her. "We will do this the way you feel comfortable with, and even if that takes years, it is okay for me, yoi." Ace smiled. "You're… so kind." Marco hummed. "I am with those I like, yoi. And I really like you." Ace smiled. "I like you too." Marco hummed. "And that's all that matters, yoi. I know many say you need to have a physical relationship and be intimate, but that's all lies. It is the emotional bond that is the most important, yoi." Ace blinked, before she smiled. "Yeah, I guess you're right." Marco nodded. "I am, at least this time, yoi. And I want you to be comfortable. If I rush this, you won't be."
Ace nodded, that was true. "I am glad you're so patient. I really do like you." Marco smiled. "And I do too, yoi. And that's all that matters." Ace smiled, Marco was so nice. They then spoke a bit more, before they went on with their days. When they did dock later on the next island, Ace went off the boat and onto the island a bit after noon, going to look around a bit as she hadn't been on this island before. As she looked around, she found some interesting shops she would like to go into with some of the others. Many, most, weren't heading off right now, as it was early. Most went off the boat when it was getting later, She did get that, as most wanted to party, but Ace liked to scout a bit first.
As she walked around, now being more on the outskirts of town, Ace froze as her gaze landed on someone a bit away, and Ace felt like she couldn't breathe. About 50 feet away, was Dolus. Ace felt she was stuck, and Dolus was staring at her with that sick grin, before he started walking towards her, and Ace tried to run, she yelled inside her mind for her feet to turn around and run, but it didn't work. Her legs, her entire being, was just frozen. She wanted to scream, but her lungs were not cooperating, she couldn't do anything. When Dolus was nearing her, Ace couldn't even look away, just seeing her death approaching her. Or she hoped for death, because death would be good. She wasn't strong enough to go through what she had one more time.
And that's the chapter!
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I hope the next chapter will be out on time
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