Part 3:

Three heads popped up to peek at the main deck of the Moby Dick. If anyone asked they would tell they were doing new exercises together, but truth be told, they were stalking their brothers.

Both Ace and Marco were currently on deck, chatting about who knows what, cause they were too far away from them to hear what they talked about.

Haruta was just as surprised as the other two, when he heard about the blonde and the raven being secret lovers. They explained what happened yesterday when they passed Marco's room and told him about the unmistakable gestures at dinner their friends used and he was all ears to any plan Izou and Thatch concocted.

Meanwhile the unsuspecting Devil Fruit users upon deck were enjoying the nice weather and each other's company. However, after they stopped laughing about something the three stalkers couldn't hear, Ace leaned closer to Marco and whispered something in his ear. A second later Marco abruptly lifted him bridal style and carried him quickly down the stairs to the commanders' quarters.

All three relaxed and let go of the railing at the same time jumping down and coming out of their hiding spot. They were sharing similarly knowing looks. This confirmed it. Definitely lovers.

Meanwhile with Marco and Ace:

"Mhh…What happened, Marco?" – the black-haired male slowly came to and found himself on his bed once again, Marco sitting at his side smiling softly at him.

"You had a narcoleptic attack again, yoi" – he ruffled the black locks and Ace yawned, blinking drowsily.

"Sorry"

"Don't bother, at least this time you warned me in time, so I could catch you" – he winked and Ace felt a little bit embarrassed because Marco had to be the one to bring him to his room again. Last time was humiliating enough. He didn't want to be reminded of it.

It was late in the evening and Ace was coming out of the shower, wet towel hanging loosely on his lean hips accidentally bumping into Marco on his way out.

They laughed it off, and were about to go on their way, when suddenly Ace felt himself slip out of consciousness and he fell hard on the floor, the only article of clothing he had decided to slip off him right then and there. Marco turned back and saw the younger sprawled on the floor snoring soundly, dead to the world and butt-naked. He froze. Such an inconvenient condition. Poor Ace. He thought and went to carry him to his room. He somehow forgot about the towel or didn't care but it was left behind. Ace's door was locked and Marco didn't know where Ace kept his key, because well he certainly couldn't have it on him. He wasn't wearing anything.

In the end he stumbled into his own room and deposited the youngster on his own bed. Ace was tucked in and Marco decided to slip in beside him when he was getting sleepy. Marco woke up to a strangely girly scream Ace emitted. He was clutching the sheets to his chest with one hand and pointing an accusatory finger towards the phoenix.

"What did you do to me, Marco" – he hissed, eyes darting over Marco and the room searching for an answer. Marco rubbed the sleep from his eyes and regarded him calmly.

"Nothing you didn't enjoy" – he avoided answering directly and smirked taking the horrified expression on the younger's face.

"Did we, um…" – Ace lowered his voice and mumbled the last part.

"Sorry, Ace, I didn't catch that, what was your question, yoi?"

"Did we have sex?" - Amusement was written all over Marco's face, and Ace hated not knowing the answer.

"What's the last thing you remember, yoi?"

"…I showered and then…" – he trailed off and frowned trying to remember.

"That's it? Then you don't remember barging into my room, begging me to make love to you, yoi?" – Marco told him seriously.

Ace froze in shock at what he's just heard. It was impossible, he would never…and then why couldn't he remember any of it. He was deep in thought. Unless…

And Marco burst out laughing.

"You should see your face, yoi. It's hilarious."

"Argh" - He hit Marco's arm angrily. "You bastard, how dare you"

"You should be thankful at least I didn't leave your naked ass out in the open, yoi."

"What?"

"Your narcolepsy kicked in and you fell. When I turned back to see what happened you were already exposed." – Ace felt heat rush to his cheeks. Stupid sleep attacks.

"Thanks."

"No problem, yoi."

After that embarrassing incident Ace became more vary of his relationship with Marco. That's why he was reluctant to go back inside his room when the phoenix wanted to give him a massage yesterday.

He wasn't an expert on love and didn't have much experience on encounters of that nature. It wasn't that he wouldn't be interested in it; he just didn't think it was important. Maybe, because he hadn't found the one yet.

Marco can be confusing sometimes. He sat up in his bed and the blond stood up getting away from the bed.

"I'm going back to the deck, yoi."

"Okay, see you later" – he wished he knew what Marco was thinking…

To be continued...

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