Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece, or any of the characters for that matter. Only this story is mine.

Thank you so much for all the reviews, favs and followers! It really means a lot and I will try to update more, but I can't promise anything, sadly.
As many may know, I have started roleplaying on Tumblr and write as Marco-fushicho on there with my partner, and it keeps me very busy.
But I will still try the best I can even with my very stressful life as of late. I will answer the reviews in my next update or start to private msg'ing people.
There might be clear changes here, but I hope you will like them~!

Beta'ed by shockandlock. She has some wonderful stories, so if you haven't checked her out, you totally should~!

That blond, he's a bomb, he's an atom bomb.
Rigged up, and ready to drop!
Bad news, I'm a fuse, and I've met my match.
So stand back, it's about to go off!

Chapter 7: First Stage: Denial

Half-lidded, blue orbs followed the raven as the man stepped onto the training mat in the center of the room. Marco wasted no time in following the other when he saw the raven smirk at him with clear confidence.

He had a feeling that the man was underestimating him greatly if the cocky smile was anything to go by, but that just made a light chuckle escape his lips as he stepped onto the black mat, which made a soft noise under his weight.

"You should never underestimate your opponent, yoi," Marco stated, even though the confidence the raven was displaying made excitement dance in the pit of his stomach as he gazed at the other, who was looking at him with a smug expression. He had to hand it to the man. When it came to confidence, nothing was lacking. And that wasn't the only thing that wasn't lacking, Marco thought as he let his eyes focus on the rippling muscles while putting himself into a – somewhat - fighting stance. Why somewhat? Because not much did change beside the slight shift of his posture that seemed to visibly relax. Yet, a concentrated glint entered his blue orbs as he kept his gaze on the other male across from him.

"I will, as soon as you show me a reason not to," Ace answered smugly after having stretched out for a bit and lowering himself into a fighting stand as well. However, his breath caught slightly upon seeing the more concentrated look Marco directed at him. He immediately understood that the other was going to take this seriously. Well, who was he to let Marco down? And Ace had to remind himself that Marco could be dangerous. Or maybe he just had a passion for fighting like he did, which wouldn't come as a surprise to him, if the display of muscles were anything to go by.

"Ready whenever you are, yoi," Marco challenged, as he waited for the raven to make a move. Like a start bell had rung, Ace shot towards Marco with a right hook, which was easily sidestepped. Ace gave Marco no time to counter as he sent a side-kick towards Marco's unprotected side. However, what he hadn't predicted was how fast the other was, as Marco countered it by blocking with his own leg before pushing Ace's leg away with his right arm, making the raven jump slightly back in an attempt to get some room between them. Ace's eyes went slightly wide as Marco's right leg was suddenly very close. So close in fact, that he had no time to block. No, instead he tried dodge it, which did make the impact softer, but not soft enough for it not to hurt. Yet, the only reacting was a chuckle that escaped his lips as ecstasy and excitement started to run thorough his veins at the knowledge that Marco was a worthy opponent. There's nothing more fun than a sparring partner that can match you.

Marco locked eyes with the freckled raven upon hearing the male chuckle. It was a very nice sound and it made a slow smile make its way onto his lips. What also made it near impossible to look away was the excitement he could see dancing in the gray pools. Well, the raven wasn't the only one who felt excited at the knowledge that the other could keep up.

"So are we going to start now, yoi?" Marco asked teasingly with a smile in place, which was rewarded with a matching smile and that was all it took for the two to clash again. Only this time, everything around them seemed to fade into nothing as they kept on countering each other and getting a few hits and kicks in here and there.

The grin never faded from Ace's lips as he kept his sight locked on Marco, forgetting that Marco was his target. He knew he had to be serious and that he shouldn't be behaving as carefree as he was at the moment, but could anyone really blame him? With Marco having just as much fun, it was hard to think about anything other than the man in front of him, as they danced in what would be elegance if it weren't for the hits that occasionally connected, making sounds bounce off the nearby walls. However, neither of them heard that as everything faded around them at the joy and adrenalin that fueled their fast movements.

Ace had no idea how long they had been fighting before a very familiar voice sounded at the outer edge of the black training mat.

"So that's why you couldn't pick up the phone. You're sparring with your new boyfriend."

Ace halted for a few seconds upon hearing the voice. That was all it took before Ace felt his legs swept out from underneath him and then the world seemed to turn. Suddenly he was pressed down into the mat beneath him, making his eyes go wide in surprise. A groan escaped his lips as he felt a knee press into his back, effectively holding him in place. However, that was quickly forgotten when he heard a husky chuckle near his ear, resulting in his cheeks heating slightly up. Damn. It should be illegal to sound that sexy just with a mere chuckle.

"Don't take your eyes off your opponent, yoi." A shiver ran through Ace's spine, and not the unpleasant kind. He had a feeling Marco knew exactly what he was doing to him and, damn him, it worked. Ace had to shake himself out of his trance when he felt Marco's weight vanish, making him turn around. He sat on the training mat, looking up at the man and expecting to see a clear smirk gracing the other's features. However, instead of having a cocky smirk, a warm small smile was directed at him. But of course a certain insomniac plagued raven had to ruin the moment the two shared with a loud cough. Well, Ace should most likely be thankful for his best friend's 'distraction', because again, he shouldn't be behaving like that around Marco. He had a job and that did not involving blushing while his heart felt like it took a ride in his chest. But instead of thanking his friend with a smile, Ace turned to glare at his said friend; Law. The man had made him lose after all, or so he told himself.

If Ace had to be honest with himself, then he could see that Marco had been just as enthusiastic in their fight as he had, but at the same time there was a calmness that told Ace that Marco hadn't shown everything that he had to offer. Maybe he was just imagining things.

"You know that doesn't work on me, Ace-ya." Ace rolled his eyes slightly before smiling at Law, pushing the earlier teasing comment aside about Marco being his boyfriend. Though, that made the raven feel slight heat in his cheeks which he ignored as he started to walk towards the raven. He was to blame for losing, even if he didn't want to admit that. So he couldn't really stay mad at the other.

Flashing Law a grin, Ace started to speak when he was an arm's length away, "I didn't expect to see you here, Panda. I thought you were out of town." Well, he hadn't expected to see a certain blond either. What an eventful day it already had been.

Ace had already expected the glare he received for the old nickname, but there was no real heat behind it since he had called Law that since their teenage years.

"I was, but I came back yesterday. I thought it would be best to just meet you here so we could grab a drink once you were done, but I didn't expect you to have company, Ace-ya." Ace didn't miss the hint in Law's voice at the word 'company'. It wasn't hard to know what the other meant, especially when a smirk played on the surgeon's lips. But he decided to just downright ignore it, although, he couldn't hide the way his eyes narrowed ever so slightly. Well, he deserved the teasing since usually he was the one teasing Law whenever the man was with someone, and that someone was as of late a fury redhead by the name of Kid. What a weird name, right? But who was he to really judge? After all, it wasn't every day you met someone with the name Ace.

Oh, yeah, speaking of company, how rude could he be? Marco was still here, and he didn't want the man to leave. Ace needed to get more information out of the other so he could see if this so-called "Blackbeard's" accusation was really true. Was it wrong that Ace hoped it wasn't? He wouldn't dwell on that now. He shouldn't think like that. Marco was his target, and he couldn't grow feelings for the man. It was just that the blond was so damn attractive. That was the only reason. It had to be.

Turning towards the said blond, Ace hesitated a bit before he spoke up, making the clear blue orbs settle on him, which had been gazing at Law.

"Marco, would you like to join us for a drink? There's a place not too far from here. It's actually just a few blocks down." At those words, Marco walked closer, until he stood an arm's length away from Ace, which made Ace crane his neck to look up at the blond. Damn. He didn't even realize that Marco was a head taller than him before now, which was kind of weird as they had just been sparring not even ten minutes ago. He would blame that on the adrenaline rush.

"Sure. I don't see why not, Ace." Ace was just about to ask how Marco knew his name, but luckily stopped himself before he could make a total fool out of himself. Because of course Marco knew, when Law had said his name more than once since he arrived. It really wasn't hard to figure out.

XXX

After Ace had changed into his own clothes and had signed out for the day, they had made their way towards the café while chatting about random things, but mostly about Law's trip. Marco was surprisingly quiet. It was almost like he was giving Ace and Law room to just catch up. As nice as it was, Ace couldn't help but wanting to make Marco talk as well. After all, he could always talk to Law later, but he wouldn't be able to talk to the blond so freely.

Finally reaching the place they had been looking for, Ace sat down, looking around at the familiar café which he had been to too many times to count. It looked the same with its round tables that were covered in white tablecloths and a little succulent plant in the middle of each of them. Sitting down, they quickly decided on their orders.

"I will be right back," Law said, getting up, but Ace didn't miss the faint smirk that was directed at him which nearly made him roll his eyes. If only Law knew.

"So," Marco suddenly said after a short silence, making Ace focus on him, letting him know that he could continue. "Your name is really Ace, yoi?" That made Ace let out a laugh which made several heads turn towards them, but he couldn't care less as it was just too funny.

"Let me get this straight," Ace said after he ceased his small laughing fit. "You weren't sure earlier, but you still said it, hoping that it was correct?" Were his eyes deceiving him? Or did he actually see a small tint of red upon Marco's cheeks?

Ace didn't have time to think about it before Marco spoke, effectively cutting his train of thought short. "Well, I concluded that it was the only way to get your name."

"You could just have asked, you know," Ace answered with a small chuckle. However, that was quickly cut off at Marco's next smug remark,

"I did that last time, yoi." Now it was Ace's turn to blush. Damn. That was smooth, but well, he did deserve that one. He wanted to retort that technically Marco didn't ask, but upon hearing the blond suddenly chuckle warmly, Ace couldn't help himself as he began to smile as well.

Ace was the one to finally break the silence that had settled over them. He decided that it was about time that he gave Marco his answer. "Yeah, my name is Ace." Of course Ace could just have given his name at Marco's question, but what would the fun in that be?

"Well, then, it's nice to meet you, Ace, even if it's on the late side to say that," Marco said with a small smile directed at him, making Ace's stomach flip-flop unwillingly. There was just something about Marco that made him unable to control his own emotions, or, not really his emotions, more like his body. It was probably just a phase. Again, Ace told to himself that it was just because Marco was attractive and it was okay for him to feel the way he did as long as he didn't act on it. And, it was good to play along, it would bring him closer to Marco, make him able to easier get what he needed. Why did that feel like utter lies? Pushing it all aside and just deciding that he could worry later, Ace let his emotions show as he released a chuckle.

"Better late than never, right?" Ace asked, humor shining in his eyes while sticking out his hand to shake at his own words. However, as soon as Marco's slender fingers took a hold of his hand, gray met blue and Ace found himself stuck, seemingly like Marco, as the blond didn't release his hand, that was until a familiar cough sounded beside them, making them both withdraw their hands. Okay, Ace had to thank Law for this later, but at the same time he wanted to strangle the other. That part of him was ignored, because that was the part that he had decided was a phase.

They all soon started talking, even Marco spoke every now and then to Law, which was rather nice as many people tended to judge Law for how he looked. Ace had had a feeling before they started that Marco wasn't that kind of person, which made him glad that he was right.

While drinking their chosen coffee - tea in Marco's case – and eating their cake, they ended up chatting about family. Ace learned that Marco had a big one – fourteen brothers to be exact. He also learned that none of them were related by blood, which made him tell about his own brothers in return as the knowledge of Marco viewing family just as himself made Ace want to tell about his own crazy family.

"Okay, okay. I will admit that your family sounds crazier than mine," Ace said, grinning at Marco after the man had told a story about one of his brothers running naked through an entire neighborhood because of a lost bet.

"I thought this day would never come where we would meet someone with a crazier family than Ace-ya's," Law said, which made Ace smirk. He knew all too well that Law had fallen victim to his family's craziness one too many times. Well, the surgeon was pretty much a part of the family by now. Even if Law didn't want to admit that. That didn't stop his little brother in dragging the man all over the place whenever Law was over. Sometimes, Ace felt sorry for him, but in the end he knew that if Law truly felt annoyed about it, he could just leave or tell Luffy stop. But Ace had a feeling that the surgeon actually liked their little family and had come to see Luffy as a little brother too. He knew there was a deeper meaning to that, but he wouldn't think about that now. After all, it was something that always brought sadness to his heart.

Feeling his phone suddenly vibrate, Ace picked it up to see a coded message from Sabo;

[Text]: 'I got a freshly made batch of cookies. I thought I would let you know.'

Cookies? So more than one mission. Well, that made him want to groan. Working alone was really getting to him. Law seemed to catch on as he asked for the bill soon after. Ace turned towards Marco who was seemingly busy with his own phone it, leaving Ace to focus back on Law as the man paid.

"Shouldn't I be the one paying? After all, you just returned and I stated it was on me," Ace said in a matter of fact tone. All in all, it was just because he was happy to see his friend again after the months Law had been gone.

"You can pay if we go out to eat, because we both know that your bottomless pit takes a bite out of even my money," Law answered, while handing over the required amount of money to the waitress.

Throughout the exchange of words, Marco sat silently, seemingly trying to figure out what they were talking about. He hadn't experienced Ace huge appetite, which Ace was very thankful for since it might scare the man away, and he couldn't have that. If that happened, Ace would have to stalk Marco to get the information he needed and that was something he didn't enjoy. Even if it gave him the chance of seeing the other naked. Whoa... He really needed to get out more if he was thinking like that.

"Well, at least I'm not Lu." If you thought Ace's appetite was huge, than Luffy's could be described as a black hole. Yes, that summed it up. If Sabo let Luffy have all his money on one card Ace knew that his little brother would easily use all of it on food, which would probably be very stupid in any normal person's eyes, but Luffy's love for food was just that big. It wasn't like they didn't have money enough, but using all of their money on food was a no-no.

"And that's the reason why I don't eat out with either of you without being absolutely sure that you pay," Law calmly stated with a small smirk.

Ace just shrugged at that. After all, he didn't really mind paying since he had more money than what anyone around his age would need - anyone with the right mindset at least. Ace had enough to buy a house, but had settled for an apartment since living alone in a house was not something for him. It was far too much, especially when he rarely was home to start with.

Getting up, Ace focused on Marco who currently was taking the long jacket from the backrest of the chair that had been occupied by the blond just a second ago before putting it on. Without really realizing it, Ace's eyes briefly ran over Marco's lean form, picking out how good the blond looked with the long jacket.

"Here, yoi," Marco suddenly voiced, effectively pulling Ace out of his train of though. Taking the offered paper with a questioning glint in his eyes, he gazed at Marco as the blond smiled at him.

"You will find my number on there. I thought it was a good idea to give it to you as I would love to repeat this again another time. Of course you don't have to if you don't wan-"

Before Marco could finish Ace rushed out: "I would love to!" He really felt like slapping himself for his lack of self-control in Marco's presence. It was just that he was happy with how smooth everything went. Ace would have asked for the blond's number anyway, since it would make it easier for him to keep track of the other and get more information. And whenever he wanted too, which was a huge bonus. It really went far smoother than it had gone with any of the targets he had had before Marco.

"You coming?" Law's voice suddenly rung through the air as the surgeon stood by the exit to the café, looking rather bored.

"I'll text you later!" Ace called, with a small wave and a smile directed at Marco as he started to jog towards Law, joining the surgeon before they made their way out to head back to Sabo.

"For your sake, I hope he isn't whatever the report deemed him to be." Hearing this, Ace turned to focus on Law with shock dancing in his eyes. So the man had known all along? But how- "Sabo," Law said, interrupting his thoughts before he could finish them, and that was all Ace needed to hear to understand.

"I am not a kid, you know. I don't need you looking after me while I do my job," Ace voiced, a scowl directed at nothing in particular.

"I know. And I never did say that, Sabo just asked me since he was worried. He said you seem to like this one, and he wasn't wrong. But you know what will happen if the report is right, that's the reason why I hope it isn't."

Of course Ace knew, but still, he pushed it to the back of his mind as he responded: "It's just a phase. Once I see that he's just an ordinary guy, I'll get bored, just like I did with the rest."

Law remained quiet throughout the rest of the walk towards the headquarters, but Ace had a feeling that the surgeon wanted to say more, however, he didn't push it as they made their way through the streets.

I hope you all enjoyed that~! And you're more than welcome to leave a review with your thoughts, it will be greatly appreciated.