Hello everyone, here is the next chapter!
I know the last updates have been very rapidly, as I don't see a reason to wait when all is done and I am very excited about this story, so I will update when I can, and hope you will enjoy it
This has some things happen
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Marco felt worried as no one had heard from Haruta for a day, and it wasn't like her at all. She was supposed to come home yesterday evening, as she had 2 days off from school since they had study time before a test and Haruta felt she had this in the box, but would still read and study a bit at home. But now? It was like she was gone without a trace. It has just been since last night, but this wasn't like her. So they were now heading to the police station to speak with them to see if there was anything they could do, not sure if this was the FBI or not, or if it was someone else.
He looked down at his phone when it rang, and he saw it was Ace, and ignored it, as he had the last hours, as he didn't want to worry Ace with this. There was no need, and he didn't know if there was anything they could do. And Ace was far away as he needed to do something in another city, might even be in another state for all Marco knew, as Ace didn't share everything with him as he handled a lot of private matters. And it was soon 2pm, and he knew Ace first called around 10am, but he was sure Ace would get it when he called back, they needed to deal with this. Ace had also tried to call Pops, but he also declined the call.
As they got to the police station, he blinked as there were many people who seemed to be special forces, as well as a helicopter that looked like it was ready to take off or had just landed. Was something going on? As they were about to head in, they had hoped to have Jozu here, but he was away in another city, when a man spoke. "You Newgate?!" The man half yelled, and Pops nodded. "Yes. Why?" The man motioned them to follow as he headed towards the helicopter as he said. "What do you need? As in help?" Whitebeard blinked. "How do you know we need help? Who called you?" The man looked at him. "Who do you think?" And opened the door to the helicopter, where Ace sat.
Marco blinked. "Ace?" Ace hummed. "You were ignoring my calls, what should I do? Now? What do you need? Do you need special forces? Should I call in favors? Should I call The President?" Whitebeard shook his head. "No, it is just, Haruta is… we don't know for sure, but maybe missing." Ace hummed and looked at the flyer. "Thank you!" The man who had flown waved to him and Ace got out. "I called in some men, just in case. Now, fill me in." Said Ace as he got his phone up. Marco nodded and Whitebeard filled Ace in, on how this wasn't like Haruta at all.
When he was done, Ace hummed. "I see. Now, I see her phone is off, but it pinged off this cell towers by the west side of town." And Ace showed a map with a circle. "Seem familiar?" Whitebeard blinked, and shook his head, but Marco knew what this might be now, and looked at Ace. "I do. She has an old friend close to there, she has been a bit out of it, so she ended their friendship, yoi. Maybe she contacted Haruta again and got her in some trouble?" Pops looked at him. "What?" Marco sighed. "Her friend used substances, and Haruta didn't like it. Maybe she knows Haruta started law school, a very expensive school, and thinks she has money, yoi?" Ace hummed. "That fits. Remembered the address?" Marco nodded and said it, which had Ace hum. "We can take a car then." And waved at the helicopter, and he saw the flyer wave back, before he started to take off.
Marco blinked. "Don't you need it to get back." Ace hummed. "No, I am free for now." Ace looked at him. "You really think I would be okay with you ignoring my calls? I knew something was up. So, now I am here." Marco got it, but felt bad for messing with Ace's time, he should have sent a message. They then left for the place, having a few with them in case, people who looked like they were special forces. When they got to the place, they first used the bell to ring into the apartment this woman had, but no answer. After a bit, Ace moved and lock picked the door, doing it very fast, before they got inside, before they went up 2 floors and found the right door, which was slightly ajar, so Ace opened it carefully, and inside, they saw a bunch of people lying about, some half-awake, some passed out. It was clear it had been a party.
Ace then went over to the couch, where he saw Haruta was and tried to wake her, but it didn't work, so Marco and Pops went over as well, trying to rouse her, but it didn't work, and Ace went a bit away, but Marco didn't really focus on that. Before Marco knew it, Ace was beside him with a glass of water and poured some of it on Haruta's face, which woke her up with a start as she sat up with a gasp. When she was up, Pops looked at her. "Hey, daughter, you good?" Haruta blinked, seeming confused. "Y-yes. Pops? Am I hallucinating?" Ace hummed. "You're not. You good? You partied?" Haruta massaged her face. "Yeah, but I think we went overboard…" Ace hummed and moved to crouch a bit down so he was at eye level with Haruta. "Look at me." Haruta did, and after a few seconds, Ace hummed. "So, you are drugged. Not just hungover." Haruta blinked. "I don't do drugs!" Ace hummed. "Well, seeing where you are, you have taken something. Either on purpose or by accident. I think by accident."
Haruta blinked and looked around, before she looked back at them. "Wait… I really did go with Amanda? What! Why would I do that!" Marco didn't know, as they didn't have a good relationship. They then got Haruta out of there, and Haruta explained she went out for a few drinks with some classmates, when Amanda showed up, and she had bought her a drink, which Haruta now realised might have been spiked, and then all black, and now she was here, in a car with them, heading home. Ace hummed. "So, she drugged you. Want to get her back?" Haruta shook her head. "For now, no. God, I feel my life is so hectic now!" Ace chuckled. "It is. The FBI, then this? You have an interesting life right now. And seeing how it is past 2pm and you just woke up, you had one Hell of a night." That was true. Haruta blinked and moved to take her phone up, but released it was dead, before she looked at them. "It is really 2pm?" They all nodded, Pops speaking as he looked comfortingly at her. "It is, we were worried." Haruta nodded. "Yeah, I get that."
When they got to their home, Ace looked at him. "And next time something happens, don't ignore my calls." Marco nodded. "I won't, I am sorry, yoi." Ace nodded. "All forgiven. Now, have a good day, and Haruta, you will feel awful in a bit." Harut seemed to get this, and then they were dropped off and Ace left with the car, probably heading home. Haruta did ask what that was about, and Marco explained it, how he had ignored Ace's calls, then Ace showed up like this, in a helicopter with strong people to help if they needed it. After explaining it, Haruta looked at him. "What if we once, all of us, are in a meeting with our phones off? All day. He would freak out." Marco hummed. "Hopefully it won't happen. You good, yoi?" Haruta nodded. "Yeah, I'm good, feeling a headache building though, but I am fine." Marco nodded, that was good. All was good, and he now knew to not ignore Ace again.
Then the day went on, and after an hour, Haruta was feeling awful, and she looked a bit awful. Haruta did stay in her room a lot, relaxing, before she came out a bit before dinner and looked better, and she did say she felt better, but still had one Hell of a headache. When the next day came, it was over and she felt like herself again. She did say she got a message from Amanda, but Haruta just ignored it, not in the mood to deal with her. But things were fine, so it was okay.
Then the week went on, and Ava visited them on Friday, and it was clear Thatch was so smitten with her, and they got to know her more, and she was very nice. Thatch was also out a lot with her. Ace also couldn't join today, but he would head to him tomorrow, spend the Saturday there.
When Saturday came, Marco stroked Ace's hair, them just relaxing on Ace's couch, watching a movie. As the movie went alone, Ace hummed. "I was thinking, for Jozu, would he like a motorcycle?" Marco sighed. "Ace, you don't need to buy our love, yoi. I've said this." Ace hummed. "And I am not, I-" Marco sighed. "You like to spoil. But this is getting out of hand, yoi." Ace blinked and sat up. "No, it is not." Marco looked at Ace. "Ace, you have given way too much already. Just stop while the game is good, yoi." Ace frowned. "Why? I can't just get some gifts, I need to get everyone." Marco moved a hand to his face, as this isn't going well. Ace frowned more. "Why can't you let me decide what to do with my money?" Marco sighed and looked at Ace. "It is not that, yoi. You just… you're going overboard." Ace shrugged. "So? I like it, they like it!"
Marco blinked. "No! They don't! It is way, way, too much, yoi!" Ace moved a hand. "I decide what I want to do!" Marco rolled his eyes. "So what? You will just ignore me, yoi?" Ace looked at him. "Maybe I will! I like to do this! People like this!" Marco took a breath. "Ace, I love you, but no, we don't. It is not a nice gesture, it is too much, yoi." Ace blinked,. "Oh, so now it isn't even nice?! Is that it?!" Marco massaged his face. "Ace, you're not listening to me, yoi." Ace moved his hand up. "Oh, so now I am not listening! I am! I get it might be a lot, but I like to do it!" Marco groaned. "We don't! We think it is way too much! So just don't, yoi!" Ace looked at him with a half mad look. "Oh, so what now? I am too much?!" Marco spoke before he could think, basically yelling. "Maybe you are, yoi!" And when Ace looked hurt, Marco regretted it.
Marco was on his way to speak, when Ace did as he stood up. "You can leave now." Marco sighed. "Ace, I didn't mean it like that, yoi." Ace looked at him. "Like what? That I am too much for you? Just because I spoil people? Well, you didn't seem to mind before, so you can just go now." Marco tried to speak, but Ace held up a hand as he went to another room. Marco sighed, but also felt he needed to calm down, same with Ace. So Marco said he was sorry, before he got to his car and left, heading home.
When he got home, Izou was in the hallway and seemed shocked to see him. "Marco? You're home early, why?" Marco sighed. "Had a fight with Ace, yoi." Izou blinked, before he looked shocked. "No, you didn't! Who was at fault!" Marco opened his mouth, before he gave a breath, and said. "It is complicated, yoi." Izou's mouth went open, before he found his words. "Are you telling me, that you fought with Ace? The same Ace who knows the president, who works with what he does, and you picked a fight with him! Are you insane! Go apologize!" Marco looked at Izou. "Izou, it isn't that simple, yoi." Izou was on his way to speak, when Haruta and Thatch came to see what the commotion was, and Izou looked at them shocked and said. "Marco fought with Ace! And Marco is at fault!" Thatch and Haruta looked stunned, before Thatch spoke. "Are you insane?! This is Ace!"
Marco sighed. "It was just an argument, yoi." Thatch blinked. "Who was at fault then!" Marco sighed. "I might have been wrong to yell-" Thatch cut him off. "Yell!? You yelled at him!? Oh my God! You're dead! Go apologize!" Marco took a breath. "Let me be, yoi. It was just an argument, he doesn't need to be so stubborn." And went to his room, hearing the others asking after him, but Marco didn't need that now. He wasn't the only one at fault. He might be at fault yes, but he felt Ace also was. But the more he thought of it, the more he was sure of one thing; he was wrong to yell at Ace and call him too much. Izou did come and ask for the story, and Marco told it, to which Izou said, that yes, Ace might be too much, but that wasn't something you yelled at others, and it was so obvious he had hurt Ace. Izou did say he should apologize fast, before he left.
After half an hour, he felt awful, and went out of his room and headed towards his car, going past Izou's room, who had his door ajar, he heard Izou half yell. "You better apologize good!" To which Marco just ignored. But when Marco got outside, he blinked when he saw Ace's car pull up and park, Ace coming out of it, and Ace looked still upset and hurt, and Marco was on his way to apologize, when Ace spoke. "Could we talk?" Marco nodded, and they went to Ace's car, to have some privacy. When inside, Ace sighed and spoke before he could. "I know I can be a lot, okay? I just… I don't know what else to do." Ace moved a hand to his face, looking upset as he massaged it. "I am not used to people actually liking me, so when they do, I mess it up by throwing money and stuff at them until they get sick of me and leave when they have all they need. I am sorry, I am. I just…" Ace gave a breath, hand moving away from his face, and Marco could see tears in his eyes.
Marco moved a hand to Ace's cheek, and when Ace looked at him, Marco kissed him, which did seem to shock Ace, but he did respond. When Marco leaned back, he smiled a small smile at Ace. "And I am sorry as well, yoi. I shouldn't have yelled that. It is not true. You're not too much, you're just… unsure. And that is okay. I won't leave because of that, yoi. I really like you." Ace smiled a teary smile at him, looking a bit unsure, and Marco leaned in to kiss him again. When they parted, Ace leaned his head against his chest, just staying silent for a bit, before Ace spoke. "So, what color would Jozu like his bike?" Marco chuckled. "Don't push it, yoi. But he would love red or green."
Marco then gave a breath. "Ace, I will support you through everything. I will always be here for you. But please, try, and I mean just to try, and calm down with the gifts? Maybe at least include me or Trevor on them?" Ace chuckled. "Trevor is already so pissed at me, and a bit at you, for me giving all these gifts and you accepting." Marco nodded and stroked Ace's back. "Listen, I spoke out of turn earlier. You're not too much, I am just not used to this, yoi. Like you are not used to not throwing money at things. So, how about we figure this out, together?" Ace leaned back and nodded at him, having a teary smile, but a happy one. "I would really like that, Marco." Marco nodded and cupped Ace's cheek. "That's all I ask, yoi. I am so sorry I yelled at you." Ace shook his head a bit. "No, you had every right to. I am sorry I put you up to it." Marco shook his head. "No, you didn't. I did it all by myself, and I was wrong to do it. And before you ask, Izou, Thatch, and Haruta, probably more now, are freaking out about the fact we had a fight." Ace blinked. "Why would I ask that? And why?" Marco hummed. "They say since you are dangerous. But I don't think one fight is enough for you to ruin us, yoi." Ace smiled a thim. "WIth a smooth talker like yourself? Never." Marco hummed. "I only am since I like you." Then they shared a kiss again.
After talking some more, they decided to meet again tomorrow, on Sunday, as Luffy and Sabo were away until late anyhow, and that sounded nice. They could make up properly then. When Marco got out of the car and Ace left, Marco went back inside, and when he did, Izou met him. "Hey! No! You're supposed to be apologizing to Ace!" Marco looked at Izou with a smile. "And he came here to apologize, and we had a nice chat. All is good now." Izou blinked. "He did? When you were in the wrong?" Marco sighed. "We both were. Mostly me, but we both were, yoi." Izou nodded. "As long as it is all good." Marco nodded. "It is, yoi." Izou nodded. "Good."
The next day, he went to Ace and parked his car a bit before 10am, wanting to get here a bit early, and he knew Ace was up as he had answered a message earlier. Marco had also stopped by a flower shop and had some flowers for Ace. So when Ace opened the door, Marco showed the flowers, which made Ace smile as he took them. "Thank you." Marco shook his head. "It is nothing, yoi. And I am sorry for yesterday." Ace nodded. "I am too. Come in." Marco did and took off his shoes and they went to the living room, where Ace put the flowers down, before he moved to kiss him, which quickly deepened.
Then their clothes found the floor as they made their way to Ace's room, and when they were on his bed, just boxers left, Ace underneath him, Ace moved so he was on top. "So, I was thinking, why don't I top this time? If you're okay with it." Marco nodded. "Go for it." Ace smiled, before he moved to kiss him again, before they got to it.
When they were done, both were out of breath and Marco spoke. "That was… wow, yoi." Ace chuckled and moved to lie on his side, looking at him. "Good to know I haven't lost my touch, been a while since I topped." Marco looked at Ace. "One wouldn't guess that." Ace hummed. "But while it was extremely enjoyable, how about we stick to you topping, and we switch it up every now and then?" Marco smiled. "I wouldn't mind that, yoi." And kissed Ace, who kissed back. When they parted, Ace spoke. "Round 2? You top?" Marco smiled. "Hell yeah." And moved to be over Ace as he kissed him.
-x-
Then the next week came, and it went fine. Marco was with Ace on Monday, where he said he would leave for a work thing on Wednesday, and would call on Thursday, and again on Sunday, he had a lot of things to do, a lot of meetings to get in the box, and Marco got it.
When Friday came, Marco hummed as Ace called, and Marco answered it. "Hey, you good, yoi?" Ace wasn't supposed to call now, but in a couple of days, as they had planned. Ace hummed. "Yeah, I'm good. Hey, remember that Gipsy we saw?" Said Ace in a normal voice, which had Marco blink and feel confused. "When, yoi?" Ace hummed. "When we were last out, I just remembered her, anyhow, we still on for what we planned?" Marco nodded, not sure if this was the distress sign or not. But Ace sounded so calm and normal. It was probably nothing. They had probably seen someone and Marco just forgot about it. "Yes, I am available for it." Ace hummed. "That's nice, just making sure. Marco, I love you." Marco blinked, before he smiled. "Love you too, yoi. Speak later." And then Ace hung up, and Marco smiled. Ace hadn't said 'Love you' a lot, so this was nice.
-x-
Ace closed his eyes as the line hung up, before he looked up to his side, where a man stood, holding the phone. "There, you got a phone call. Now, let's go for a ride." Ace couldn't do much as his hands were tied behind his back and he was sure his left arm was broken and a couple fingers on his right hand. Hopefully, Marco got his distress signal. If not, Ace wasn't sure what would happen.
-x-
The next day, Whitebeard took up his phone when it rang, blinking when he saw it was Sabo, and Whitebeard answered it. It was Sunday, Sabo didn't call on the weekend usually. "Hi, Sabo, is everything okay?" He heard a stressed breath. "Not sure. Just, have you, or anyone, heard from Ace today?" Whitebeard blinked, looking at Marco. "Son, have you heard from Ace today?" Marco shook his head. "No, he is supposed to call some time tomorrow. Why, yoi?" Whitebeard didn't know and spoke on the phone again. "I'm sorry, Sabo, but no. He is supposed to call Marco tomorrow. Why do you wonder?" He heard an upset breath. "It is just, he was supposed to return yesterday from a work thing, but he hasn't. And it wasn't even his side work. He's never been this late, even with his side work, he always manages to tell us he is late, and I am just very worried." Whitebeard blinked, he got that. "If you want, you can come here. So you two are not alone." He heard a breath. "Yeah, I would like that." Whitebeard nodded. "We will see you in a bit." Sabo gave a yes, before he hung up.
When he had hung up, Marco looked at him. "What was that about, yoi?" Whitebeard felt a bit troubled. "It was Sabo. Ace is maybe missing." Marco blinked. "Mi- missing?" Whitebeard nodded. "He went on a work trip, not his side work, and he was supposed to be back yesterday, but he hasn't contacted them either. We'll know more once Sabo is here." Marco nodded, and he seemed worried, really worried, which he didn't get why. Ace was a busy person. When he tried to ask about it, Marco said nothing about it.
Half an hour later, Sabo and Luffy arrived, the two seeming worried. Whitebeard and Marco asked to speak with Sabo, who went with them and Sabo said what had happened. Ace went on a work trip for the company, easy work, for then to suddenly stop responding to their texts, his phone went straight to voicemail, and that had never happened before, especially over such a long period, which was since yesterday at noon. Sabo also said he had contacted Trevor, who would look into it and he was waiting for the call back from him.
This was worrisome, but he told Sabo to not be too worried. He saw Marco on his way to speak, when Sabo's phone rang and Sabo answered it, as they were in the hallway and no one was close by. He heard Sabo answer it with "Trevor, you found anything?" He heard the other line speak, but not what, but it had Sabo look horror stricken with tears in his eyes, before Sabo said, in a weak voice. "W-what?" The other line spoke again, before Sabo handed the phone to him as Sabo sat down on the ground, and Whitebeard moved the phone to his ear. "Hello?" Trevor spoke. "We found Ace's car, it was set on fire in a ditch. Ace is not in it, but he is missing." No wonder Sabo was so shocked and upset. Trevor sighed. "Just, take care of Sabo, Mika and Cioup is on their way to your place to help, I am out looking, but will drop by later." Whitebeard nodded. "Okay, Trevor. Keep me updated." Trevor sighed. "I will. And there was no blood either, so I think Ace is alive." That was good to know. They then hung up, and Whitebeard relayed it to Marco, who now also looked shocked and worried, a hand on his mouth.
Whitebeard then said what Trevor had said at the end, that Ace was most likely alive, before he added. "And this is Ace, he is a fighter." Sabo nodded, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath, before he got up and headed back to the living room, and Luffy looked up. "Any news?" Sabo gave a forced smile. "They found his car, but not him. But you know him, he is a fighter, he is probably having a secret meeting." Luffy nodded slowly, not looking to truly believe it, before he smiled. "Ace is amazing." Sabo smiled a bit. "He is." Then Sabo hugged Luffy.
Marco then spoke. "Pops, could I talk with you?" With a shaky voice. Whitebeard nodded and they went to his office, where Marco moved a hand to a chair as he started to breathe harder, which had Whitebeard shocked. "Marco? What is it?" Marco used a second and spoke in a shaky voice. "Ace called yesterday…" Whitebeard nodded. "Okay?" Marco took a breath. "He said Gipsy.,.." Whitebeard frowned, not sure what that meant, when Marco spoke. "It is a code word we made, in case any of us was in any trouble. But he said it so casually, I didn't react… Oh my God, what if I just doomed Ace, yoi? What if I could have saved him and he is now dead?" And Marco started to hyperventilate, so Whitebeard hugged Marco. "No, you didn't, because Ace is a fighter as I said. Trevor will soon be here with an update." Marco tried to breathe calmly. "He will kill me for not reacting, yoi." Marco then moved to sit on the chair, head in his hands, trying to breathe calmly, but not really doing it.
God, this was a mess, and he hoped Ace was okay wherever he was.
And that's the chapter! Hope you enjoyed!
I hope this was interesting
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