"hes at it again"

"mmm" Marco hummed in response. His mind was in another place so the noise was an automatic one.

The paperwork - sitting in a large pile before him - required his full focus. As much as he wanted to give Ace every millisecond of his attention. He knew he'd be spending all night on the reports if he wanted to even make a dent.

"Marco" said Ace trying again to catch his attention.

"yeah?" he glanced up quickly to see what Ace wanted. Ace was standing half crouched near the window of their home office. He was pressed against the wall peering out toward the front street through the blinds.

"Lawnmower guy, hes at it again" Ace's face pinched in displeasure. Marco bit down a smile, Ace's freckles and warm eyes made the look quite adorable.

Ace dropped his head sideways starring at Marco in aggravation. Marco had apparently failed in hiding his thoughts. Quickly he moved to change the subject and get Ace back on his tirade.

"You shouldn't be surprised, and his name is Heracules"

His statement worked like a charm as Ace scowled and turned back toward the window.

"I'm not surprised! Lawnmower guy-"

"Heracules" Marco corrected

"-won't be victorious, just you wait. I won't lose again" Marco rolled his eyes. There were so many things off with that statement. Like how Ace was determined to win a competition that didn't matter. Or how he insisted calling their neighbor Lawnmower guy. Which Marco didn't really blame Ace for.

Heracules was obsessed with his lawn, obsessed! He'd mow at every opportunity, at any hour – including four AM when Marco had work in a few hours. Still Heracules called Ace by name, it was only fair that Ace did the same, as accurate as the nickname was.

Marco looked away from the window and Ace, turning back to the accursed paperwork he really needed to finish.

As he returned to his work Ace finally pulled himself away from the window and started pacing. He spoke lightly to himself – or perhaps he thought Marco could hear and understand the mumbling he was doing.

"it's settled, we need to go shopping!"

"I'm not coming with you this time" Marco remarked not looking up.

"Of course you are" Ace planted his hands on Marco's desk shaking the stack of paper dangerously. He hadn't even realized Ace had approached. "This is war Marco, WAR, we must win"

"I have to finish this tonight" he answered calmly, refusing to look up. Looking up would be a mistake with Ace so close. Marco knew his gaze would be focused, his eyes light with determination. No he couldn't look, he'd be unable to resist agreeing to Ace's every word.

"It's only going to be a small, quick shopping trip. Just enough to one up Lawnmower guy!" Marco glanced up the protest on his lips. No way in hell it would be as Ace so lightly claimed a 'small, quick shopping trip' Ace never did quick – unless they were talking food.

"Ace" he said his tone cutting close to a whine.

"war Marco, war"

"fine" he dropped his pen and removed his reading glasses. "but you're helping me with my paperwork when we get back"

"deal!" Ace let out a maniacal laugh, his gleeful cackling bouncing around the room. Marco swore with the right lighting and a bit of ominous music Ace could pull off a wonderful villain. Maybe he should pitch the idea when Ace repeated this adventure next Halloween.

"let's go then, and this better be quick."

"it will be!"

Marco's first mistake was letting Ace decide to go shopping. His second mistake was taking it upon himself to prevent Ace from spending all their money. And his third mistake was looking into Ace's face – really after that he was just asking for it.

Ace and Marco had moved into their house approximately two years prior. The neighborhood they'd chosen was known for it's seasonal decorations, of course at the time the two weren't aware of it. It wasn't until their first Christmas came around that they found out.

The entire neighborhood exploded in Christmas lights and cheer. Lights as far as the eye could see were plastered over every surface. People from all over the city would visit and take in the sights. It was quite the event, not a single house was free of the vast decorations.

Though you really shouldn't ask Marco's opinion about the whole thing. The visitors made it incredibly difficult for anyone living in the neighborhood to get home after dark. The streets were packed for blocks in every direction. More than once Marco had simply flicked on his hazards, taken a back street and driven on the incorrect side of the road, just to get home.

A dozen competitions were held each year for various seasons and categories. For Halloween there was spooky, scary, gory. For Christmas it was even more vast. There were competitions for themed blocks, there were events for joyful, entryway, elegant creations, handcrafted, you name it. With countless competitions naturally some of the more competitive citizens went all out. The worst being their neighbor Heracules.

In their first December Heracules house drowned in decorations. The man had the works, lights of every color, lights that played to music, he gave out treats, his house and lawn screamed Christmas. It was a cluster of nonsense and Marco honestly didn't care. At the time Ace hadn't either.

Then later in December Heracules decided to question whether they were going to put up decorations right in front of Ace and Thatch, who was visiting. The competition started right then.

Marco couldn't honestly say his family wasn't stubborn or competitive, because they were. He could however say Ace and Thatch were the worst about it when pressed.

Ace became obsessed, he and Thatch bought out every store and created their own explosion of Christmas – shocking Marco who'd been at work and came home unknowing.

However to Ace and Thatch's great depression, they still lost the competition.

The event led to a similar one for every holiday that followed and each year Ace failed to win.

This year Ace was determined, it was the first of December and 'lawnmower guy' was putting up his decorations. Which meant Ace had to do the same.

After all 'it was on', as Ace liked to claim.

Marco managed to keep Ace from buying out the store and he'd managed to finish his paperwork without Ace's aid.

The next day started out great. He'd left happily for work while Ace worked on his plans. He'd had a exhausting and filling day, now finally he was coming home.

He knew to expect at least something, as he avoided the huge line of cars. Ace and Thatch would no doubt do their worst.

As Marco pulled up, he decided he should have stayed at work.

"Really Ace?" he called pulling toward the front of their house rather than the driveway which was filled with decorations not yet up.

"Marco! Welcome home" Ace called looking up from a large blueprint.

"Oh good! you can help us" Thatch added in a greeting not even glancing up as he poured over the paper before him.

Marco sighed at the two and parked his car. Resigning himself to his fate. He'd be spending the night checking and untangling lights. He walked over to his brother and boyfriend, doing his best to keep the despair from his voice.

"What's the plan?" twin grins turned on him both of their eyes glancing toward the pile of lights.

"Dammit!" Ace cried. Marco sputtered in his sleep sitting up in a rush of panic and adrenaline.

"What's wrong!?" he glanced around for potential danger.

"Lawnmower guy's house! He's better than us again!" Marco dropped himself back onto his pillows with a thud. Why couldn't Heracules give Ace at least one, then he and Thatch would be done with this and Marco could get a full nights sleep – pending Heracules finally stopped mowing at four AM.

"We can't win" Ace whined "no matter what we do he one ups us"

Marco opened an eye to see Ace looking dejected out their bedroom window. He hated to see Ace look like that, defeated wasn't a good look for him.

Marco felt a twinge of his competitive spirit flare up.

"Then play dirty" he stated sitting up fully. Ace perked up twisting away from the window to look at Marco.

"What do you have in mind?"

Ace knew Marco wasn't in to the decoration competition as much as he was, which was fine. Marco preferred a traditional Christmas. The one where you spent time with family, you traded gifts because you wanted those you loved to be happy. He celebrated the holidays because he loved his brothers, father and friends. It was for that reason that Ace was a bit surprised.

Sure Marco was competitive, every son of Edward Newgate was. It was almost a requirement. You needed it for the card games, the pranking and the betting always going on.

Still Marco had always been a bit more lax about it then the others. He'd slaughter anyone in a drinking competition but only if you forced him into it. He owned at card games and was often banned. And despite Thatch, Ace, and Haruta being the go-to pranksters Marco could hold his own and had proved it many times.

Still Ace figured the light competition - going off Marco's love for the traditional part of the holiday's - would never be the man's thing. He was wrong, Marco didn't get into that kind of battle because he was a damned master at them.

Using his free day Marco ordered Ace to call Luffy and his friends then got to work. Obediently Ace called those Marco wanted him to call and then returned to his side.

Marco's plan was relatively simple. Until the day of the competition he didn't allow Ace to do anything extra for their house. They let Lawnmower guy think he'd won. Then the night before the actual competition they set to work.

Eldest brother to his family, Marco stood in front of the house with his arms crossed as he ordered his 'men' around.

Franky, Usopp and Blenheim built huge displays. Zoro, Sabo, and Haruta climbed all over the roof laying lights while Koala, Nami, and Robin handed the strings to them keeping them untangled. Thatch and Ace were put on check the light duty out of revenge. Each one of their friends and brothers helped in one way or another.

In a manner of hours their house was quite possibly the most over the top Christmas explosion Ace had ever seen, and he loved it.

As the judges went around that night Marco set his finishing touches. The neighborhood was visited by lines of people attempting to see the lights and Marco took advantage.

The group oh'd and ah'd as the last touch was placed in the form of their father.

Edward Newgate was well known in the city. He did charity work, he visited hospitals, he cared for countless orphans and he happily would help out his sons when asked. Wearing a full getup made by Izo he sat in the display Franky had made dressed like Santa.

He waved and took pictures, he handed out simple presents and candies and 'ho ho ho'd' fully into being Santa himself.

Parents stopped in their cars and let their kids sit on 'Santa's' lap. He asked about their Christmas list and joyfully took pictures with any who wanted it. Not far off Chopper raced around in a reindeer outfit, while a few of Luffy's friends and Marco's brothers ran around dressed as elves.

On their lawn you couldn't see a spec of grass, so covered by lights and wire Ace was prepared to call the fire department. The house was the same, with words flashing to music and a full sized sleigh placed on top of the roof.

"It's amazing" Ace said sniffing emotionally, because if he did say so himself, they totally won.

"If we don't win this thing is rigged" laughed Thatch, wandering around geared out in elf clothing – complete with pointed ears.

"Thatch, Sanji, we need more cookies!" called Izo from his spot beside their father.

"Got it!" their chef raced off to hit up Marco and Ace's kitchen with Sanji to resupply.

Ace grinned as he left and turned toward his boyfriend who was resting against their mailbox inspecting his work.

"It's amazing" he repeated looking right at his boyfriend instead of the house "Thank you Marco"

"Hm" Marco glanced upward right at Ace his face in a wicked grin "I guess you owe me one"

Ace smirked "I'm sure I can think of someway to repay you" he waved his hand in a circle letting his eyes fall on Marco's chest. A sly smirk placed on his face as Marco followed his line of sight.

"So can I" responded Marco pushing himself away from the mailbox.

"Oh?" Ace licked at his lips

"Yeah" Marco returned Ace's grin with a smirk, one he used when he'd won a battle "I have a huge amount of paperwork left, you can help me with it"

Ace's resounding groan was heard by everyone on their lawn.