A/N:: The complete author note will be at the end this time.

Enjoy~!

Joyride

Had I ever mentioned I hated my foster father? The man was atrocious with his mockery of how I was just a human being in general. He was part of the reason I never tried in school and some of the teachers had realized it. They couldn't prove anything and I hated how life was for me. A big part of me never understood how they could just drag me back after running away so much. I run from home and they drag me back after I tell them I wouldn't stand for such hypocrisy of being in that man's household. Unluckily for me, he's a marine and practically held power in the area as such a good guy and I get to see the other side.

Akainu was verbally abusive and knew how to hit me without leaving bruises. Thank you, military, on that, by the way. They show you how to look for signs of abuse even when not leaving marks and he uses those methods. When I try to say anything, they just give me a look like the problem child and felt so horrible for my foster father for having to deal with me. It was awful and I wish I could stop it all, but I was practically under his roof even at eighteen.

School wasn't worth going to anymore since no one was allowed to befriend me, but a few teachers were there that wanted to make a difference in my life. They had been trying since the beginning of my junior year when I came to school one day roughed up a little. I told them the truth, but when the police came and I was before Akainu, I knew it wouldn't work. The cops practically loved him and when I said I lied because these bullies told me to do it, I got the beating of a lifetime when they left. Then after that he was strikingly more careful and made nothing show, only a few slight bruising that could easily be mistaken for bumping into something. The teachers hadn't realized Akainu's power extended that far so they were trying other methods, but they hoped they could more when I was old enough.

The only problem was that Akainu was practically holding me hostage on purpose because he got extra pay for having a dependent. I was essentially here for money and it unnerved me to no end. No way, did I want to stay with the man any longer, but I couldn't get a job. Every time I tried, he would somehow get me fired or make sure to tell them I wasn't interested before hanging up. No money to leave and with graduation coming up, I wasn't even caring that I was on the verge of failing this year. I gave up around my birthday, celebrating by myself in the attic with a small cupcake I got from the bakery. I had placed one candle in it whilst holding my locket with a picture of my parents in it before blowing out the flame with a 'happy fucking birthday to me'.

"Hey!" I noticed a car driving next to me, it was a dark blue color—nice and sleek, too. "Do you need a ride?" There was a quirk of lips into a smirk and those blue eyes were very hypnotizing as I soon stopped. The car slowed to a stop by the curb as an arm was along the door and kept that look of invitation. Nothing was stopping me from jumping in this stranger's car and, at this rate, cops would be dragging me back after running off a couple days ago.

"Depends, where are you taking me?" I asked, not at all bothered by some person offering, it wouldn't be a first. Most knew my acclaimed foster father and would lead me back.

"Where do you want to go?"

"Not home." The words left me and that smirk grew as he used the hand on the door to soon point to the passenger seat.

"I can do that, yoi." I eyed him a little more and then down the street as I noticed a cop car. A grimace was on me as I soon moved around the front to soon get into the nice car.

"If you take me home, then I will punch you." I comment whilst he looked to me and that blonde hair shifted with his head tilted.

"I won't, I don't even know where you live. Seatbelt." That had me huff out as I began buckling before I heard the flicker of sirens. A groan left me as the window was rolled down soon enough and I noticed a familiar face.

"Portgas, you better be going home!" Seeing the officer being no one other than Smoker, I grimaced before sighing out and I swallowed thickly as I gave snarky hands up to pull an act—hoping this guy was serious on not taking me home.

"Why wouldn't I be?! Edmond is taking me home, alright?! What more do you want?!" I made up the name and Smoker tilted lightly, though I know he couldn't see that well around me, but seemed to deem it fine anyways.

"Good, and stop running off, brat! I have more important things to deal with! And there is some guy out their picking off people across the state, so go straight home." A finger was pointed to me as his other hand brought up a cigar and I rolled eyes with arms crossing.

"Fine, I'm going." The words left me and he nodded whilst pulling away. "Fuck, like I care if some crazy kills me…" I crossed a leg over as I adjusted my seatbelt and looked to the other who raised an eyebrow. "Look, just don't take me home, okay? Drop me off at the country side if you want, I don't care. At this rate, I want to just be gone from that fucking life and somewhat enjoy it before they find me again. Can you do that, old man?" Both eyebrows raised at the end statement and then he was chuckling with a smile as he began pulling away from the curb.

"Very well, I was just leaving town anyways. You can join me for however long, yoi." The little tick at the end was interesting and I smiled a bit as he really started to head out of the area. A thrill was in me as we didn't talk to one another and I sat up more as I looked out the window attentively as the town was disappearing behind us slowly. "My name is Marco, by the way."

"I'm Ace, Portgas is my mother's maiden name and I keep it since it's the only thing I could have really." A hum was there from him as I soon looked to him and I had hands up to the head rest.

"Want to tell me about this horrible life?"

"Why?" Confusion left me on why he would even bother with such a thing, but maybe it was just because of boredom?

"I am driving you away from it."

"But you did ask~!" I playfully mentioned back and he snorted with a light chuckle. "Eh, sure if you want to hear it. Basically, my parents died when I was younger, put into a foster program and got adopted by this guy named Akainu. I refuse to name him as a father, he can go burn for all I care." I began whilst looking to the window as I continued, "he's military. They practically teach you how to abuse, make drugs, and probably make a bomb. So, he verbally and physically abused me from the start of being under his roof and has been restricting me from working. He gets money from me until I am twenty-six and no doubt he would either throw me out or maybe get me into an accidental death for more money. Either way, I just don't fucking care about life anymore." The words left me as I really did resign myself to just facing the truth. "Everyone fucking adores him and I am just the problem child that should be so fucking 'grateful'. The cops don't give a damn and no proof is there for them to pick up on and I gave up that the teachers who did care for me would be able to do something. They can't and I'd rather fucking die, run off far away, or I was going to get myself arrested. I will not stand him much longer…"

A silence followed and I knew it would happen, I did just lay down a lot of my personal life. The guy probably wouldn't give a damn and I merely let myself view out the window. I heard a chuckle, though, and that had me hum as I tilted my head to him.

"I think I like you, Ace." Blue eyes flickered to me and that had a curl go through my stomach, sending a warmth of need.

"Like me? Why?"

"Because you are different, yoi." A look was there before gazing to the road as we travelled a highway through the middle of practically nowhere. "How about you travel with me?"

"Where are you going?"

"Just making my way across the state is all, just a free roamer." The words came out and I sighed a bit with a thought.

"Wouldn't I just be a burden? I mean, I told you that you can throw me out whenever." I mention whilst he was smirking still and it was giving me chills, but for some reason I was liking the way he made me feel.

"Nonsense, you wouldn't be a burden, Ace." That had me staring in confusion before a fluttering was in my chest as a hand was gripping to my thigh. "Quite the opposite." Heat flared through my body as his words were deep and I felt this desire in me at the thought of him wanting me to travel with him. "You have so much ahead of you, Ace. Let me show you how to live." He had looked straight to me, making me swallow thickly and was able to fully breath when he looked back to the road.

"O-Okay…" I spoke out lightly and that hand stayed as I felt myself enjoying the sign of him liking me. Not many did in my life and I hardly remember my parents and life beforehand. "So… it's really…?"

"Yes, yoi. I want you to be with me. I'm glad I decided to ask you—it was merely to be hospitable and ask for some information on the town, but since you wanted to leave… I couldn't resist. You can say I was already entranced by you, Ace." Those words caused my whole being to spiral in a more searing heat and I felt myself smile, liking that someone actually wants me for once after so long. I wasn't sure deeply on why, but I felt this need to make Marco not regret picking me up. Lips pursed before trying more for that smile again as a thumb rubbed to my leg affectionately.

"Okay, I want to travel with you, Marco." I looked straight to him with hands moving to my lap and hesitantly touched his hand with one of them. He moved to grip onto mine and slowed a bit so he could look to me in the eyes fully, pulling my hand closer to kiss at it.

"I'm going to make you happy, yoi."

-o-o-o-o-

A/N:: Let's just say I cannot listen to Melanie Martinez without feeling a bit sadistic there, or some craziness at least. This will most likely have a second part to show more of how they interact with one another, but I am pleased with it like this as well so it will be listed as complete (just keep an eye out). It is Rated M because if I add a second part then it will most likely involve some lemons or at least limes-but also some OTHER types of scenes that will have a proper warning at the beginning.

Let me know what you all think~! *grins*