Chapter 6

Marco gave a sharp cry of terror when the beeping on the screen stopped and the icon disappeared. He was so close! He couldn't lose Ace now!

"No, no, no, no! Stay on dammit!" Marco snarled, trying to fly faster but he had already been going as fast as he could.

It wasn't enough. He was too late. The icon was gone. Spade- Ace was gone.

Marco landed on his feet and cursed, chucking the pad at the wall which shattered it. Marco then swung around and punched the wall, ignoring the sharp pain and the fire pouring off it as he yanked at his golden, flaming hair.

What was the point of having superpowers if he couldn't even save his family?!

"Stop running Princess! The boss wants you back!"

Marco's brow furrowed when he picked that up and cursed to himself, changing back into his Phoenix form to fly up into the sky again. He couldn't sit and mope if someone was in trouble, even if he felt useless right now, so he suppressed the overwhelming despair and followed after the voices, hearing a man cry out in pain. Marco perked on a rooftop nearby a group of people and his eyes widened when he recognised the girl standing before five men, one on the ground, clutching his groin.

Ouch.

Wait, that was the Princess of Alabaster who was recently reported as kidnapped.

Who was also currently beating up the men who must have kidnapped her with those weird wire things she was spinning around her fingers before tackling one of the men and punching him repeatedly in the face. Two of them made to grab her but Marco swooped in and kicked them both away into a wall before landing beside the Princess who looked startled before tensing up, seemingly ready to defend herself.

He smiled weakly when she relaxed though, relief in her eyes. "You're the Phoenix."

"Pleasure to meet you." Marco greeted. "I'm glad to see you're okay-"

"I'm fine but the boy they kidnapped after me isn't!" Princess Vivi cried out, pointing down where she must have ran from. "He rescued me! Portgas D. Ace-"

"You know where Ace is?!" Marco gaped.

"Yes! Bluejam kidnapped me first then him!" Vivi told him. "Ace-san told me to run and get help and I didn't want to leave him but-"

"No." Marco shook his head. "You did good. I've been trying to track him down for a while because of a villain whose been after him. I didn't realise Bluejam was behind your kidnapping as well."

There was something in her eyes which made him slightly suspicious but she smiled.

"Bluejam kidnapped me a few days ago but thanks to Ace we escaped only for them to find us instantly. He stayed behind to make sure I got away so please, please help him." Vivi pleaded.

"I will. Thanks Princess! Get yourself out on to the main streets and into safety okay?" Marco told her, urging her to move which she agreed too and quickly ran on.

Marco took off into flight again, silently berating himself for nearly giving up on his search for Ace. His siblings would have strangled him if they had found that out.

.::.

It hurt. It hurt a lot. The goons were probably worse off, all of them covered in horrendous burns but Ace's head was pounding and something wet was trailing out of his nose.

Bluejam was also sporting more burns, which was pretty satisfying to see to be fair but it was difficult to see with his vision blurring and his head pounding like Luffy was playing on a set of drums again.

"You're still too terrified of your abilities brat. That's why your nose is bleeding. The strain of trying to force a wild, untameable force under your heel when you're so scared of it!" Bluejam mocked as he aimed his gun at Ace who felt overwhelmingly exhausted and sore. "This is a seastone bullet. If I can't have you working for me then no one else will. Especially not that hero."

Phoenix.

Phoenix hadn't appeared and the tracker would have dissolved by now. There was no time left. Phoenix wasn't coming for him.

He was alone again.

No that was fine. He lived a good life. Luffy would be fine, he had all his friends who were amazing people who would do him some good unlike his sorry ass. Robin, his former psychiatrist, would also stop feeling the need to check up on him all the time and would probably find her job so much easier to do without him being there to burden her even after she cleared him. Vivi should be safe too, hopefully now with the police, preferably someone like Smoker who would make sure she'd get home safe.

Nobody needed him.

He didn't bother closing his eyes, he stared hatefully at Bluejam instead, panting tiredly and wiping the blood now on his lips away. The gun fired almost immediately but instead his vision was filled with blue flames as Ace fell backwards when a warm weight slammed into him.

"Phoenix?!" Ace cried out, shocked before shaking himself out of it when he realised who just took the bullet. "You're hurt! Why did you-"

"Shh, it's alright." Phoenix hushed him gently and Ace stared, amazed as blue flames swallowed up the mask and the golden eyes began to turn blue-

Marco.

That was Marco's face-

"Ma- Mar-"

"Shhh. Hush now." Marco shushed him, one hand gently brushing against his cheek, being so careful and tender against the bruises on his face. "Don't want to go blurting anything out now do we?"

His eyes were playful and fond.

The smile instantly turned into a scowl though then they were interrupted by Bluejam.

"Piss off Phoenix. This is none of your business."

"Give me a minute Ace." Marco smiled softly as he stood up, his mask reforming and eyes changing colour again.

His hair however, remained as a golden flame.

He saw the bullet Marco took hit the ground and flames flare up to probably heal the wound as usual.

"I'll deal with the trash and then we'll talk."

Ace nodded, stunned yet relieved.

He came. Phoenix actually came for him!

No Marco came! Marco saved him!

Oh god they had been partners for over a year! They... They really did have a lot to talk about after all this was over didn't they?

The first thing would probably be about how Marco would want a new partner...

.::.

"Not my business?" Marco asked darkly as he approached Bluejam who looked momentarily scared.

Good.

"You kidnapped my partner. You threatened his life and lured me into a trap."

He was livid.

"You terrified him and used him to try and hurt me and who knows how long it will take before he will forgive himself for that? Because Ace is the type of person who will blames himself for that even when it's a bastard like you who forced him into it." Marco growled. "And then you even had the gall to hurt his friends and family. Innocent bystanders."

Izo. Bluejam had put Izo in hospital and scared their family. Scared Thatch.

He ignored Bluejam firing his gun, the man looking terrified but Marco kept approaching, unfazed as his flames healed each of his wounds. Marco transformed, latching on to Bluejam with a screech and tearing into him with his talons. Not enough to kill unfortunately but enough to main the bastard.

As a hero he wasn't supposed to kill people for some reason. Even if some of them deserved it.

Once Bluejam was down and unconscious Marco turned away, completely dismissing him for someone much more important. He went straight back at Ace's side, smiling down at the shocked expression still staring up at him. He ignored it and gently tugged Ace back up to his feet instead, chuckling softly.

"It seems like we've both been hiding such big secrets recently." Marco drawled out, examining all the bruises and cuts on Ace.

He should have torn both arms off Bluejam and cauterised the wounds with his flames. He would still be alive but he would never harm Ace again. Unfortunately though he had someone much more important and much more worth his time to settle down.

Because Ace looked so confused.

"How did you find me? The tracker... I swore it would have-"

That fucking tracker dissolving had given Marco the biggest heart attack of his life. He thought he had lost his partner forever for a split second before he had found the Princess fighting off some goons.

Marco nodded grimly. "It did dissolve. You had no idea how terrifying for me that was. I was pretty close thankfully and ran into the recently reported kidnapped Princess of Alabasta."

Ace sighed in relief. "She got away alright then."

Marco smirked. "It certainly was difficult. I'm too used to Spade finding everything for me."

Ace simply shrugged, offering a shy look which made Marco smile fondly at it. He looked so sweet and cute and damn Marco needed to keep himself together before he started cooing-

"What's going to happen now?"

Marco tilted his head. "Do you still want to be my partner? I know you just went through something major and I completely understand if you don't want to be involved in that life again-"

He blinked at the startled look Ace threw him. "What?! No Marco I could have gotten you killed today! I set you up! Threw you into a trap with no warning and you ask me that?! Are you insane?!"

He knew it. He knew Ace was going to blame himself but he couldn't let him do that. He had to make sure Ace knew he wasn't at fault.

"None of that was your fault Ace." Marco insisted firmly. "Don't blame yourself. You were kidnapped by a psychopath who already traumatised you when you were just a kid."

Marco held out his hand, letting flames rise off it. "Because of him you're scared of apart of yourself. A piece of you he had no right to taint yet you show no fear of me-"

He paused, nearly blushing when Ace touched his hand, bringing it up close to his face to nuzzle against, despite the bruises on his face.

"Your flames would never burn me." Ace said firmly, his eyes meeting his own. "You're strong and in control. But me? I'm scared."

"And it's alright to be." Marco insisted but reached over with his other hand to take Ace's into it. "But when you feel ready to face that fear I'll be here. Ready to teach you."

He then leaned over and rested his forehead against Ace's.

"I'll wait for you. Always."

The next thing he knew was that both of Ace's hands yanked themselves out of his grasp and grabbed his head and yanked him down into a kiss. Marco's eyes widened and he was still gaping when Ace pulled away, cheeks bright red and face soft and shy.

He ignored Ace's embarrassed, about to abort protest and grabbed the younger teen and dragged him into a proper kiss.

Much better.

.::.

A week later things had settled, at least with the whole Bluejam thing. Him and Ace dating on the other hand? No, that he was still getting threatened for. The y'know, 'break his heart and I'll kill you' thing? Yeah Luffy had already done that and so had Luffy's friends. Deuce and his group, Bonney, Eustass Kidd, Law Trafalgar and even Marco's own brothers.

Well Ace did have a lot of friends after all. He somehow managed to fit into so many different types of groups, all with a cheery grin and relaxed attitude. Heck, even little Oars junior came up to Marco and threatened to squish him. It should have been obvious now that Marco thought about it, how many death threats he was going to get off of people.

Apparently he still had more to go too, from what Luffy told him. A Makino lady, bloody Garp the power enforcer, Dadan and her bandits who were currently resting in hospital after being attacked by Bluejam's gang, which answered that question he had wondered about Ace's capture. Honestly though Marco was more curious why a bandit clan was raising Ace. Oh and then there was that bloody Shanks and his group who were in college now, finally faraway from Marco.

Marco did not like Shanks. He was a prick.

But apparently he had lived in the same Edge Street Ace and Luffy were on. He had actually trained Luffy how to fight after becoming friends with the kid, as well as Ace, before Shanks had finally headed off to college with his boyfriend Benn.

The threats were worth it though. Each time it happened Ace got flustered and embarrassed but also looked so damn amazed and happy to know that people cared about him.

Marco was growing numb to it on the other hand.

Oh yeah and the Straw Hat gang!

They had been the first with the death threats!

They had appeared after Bluejam had been defeated and he and Ace began talking while waiting for the police. The Cat Burglar had been pissed off at Bluejam for kidnapping the Princess for some strange reason and had threatened bloody murder on him while Straw Hat asked Marco and Ace if they were going out now.

They both agreed to it after much blushing and stammering from Ace while Marco himself turned into a nervous wreck before being stunned when Straw Hat threatened to kick his ass if he hurt Ace's feelings.

The rest of them had joined in too while the Cat Burglar bet the crap out of the downed Bluejam and his goons along with Blackleg for harming a beautiful lady and Marco had been too stunned and confused to even try and stop them.

It got even worse when the Devil Child stepped up, dismissing Cat Burglar and Blackleg and snapping Bluejam's spine and commenting darkly on how she'd break him for messing with her charge.

Marco knew he should stop her but Ace looked very satisfied at the sight.

He also found that he had a lot of questions. Like how did the Straw Hat Gang or the Straw Hat Pirates, because for some reason they were torn between the names or something? But anyway he needed to know how the heck Ace knew them!

The moment the police arrived the Straw Hats scattered with Smoker chasing them, leaving both himself and Ace dumbfounded as Rocinante handled the arrests and checked up on Ace, wanting to make sure he was alright and get his statement and Phoenix's.

Thing had changed and certainly in a good way. Ace seemed much more confident and Marco felt much more relaxed with them dating now. Heh, they were even going as a couple to the Halloween Dance which he was looking forward too.

Ace was going back to see his pychartrist Nico Robin, them both agreeing that he needed her help after the trauma Bluejam put him through again. Marco supported the decision completely, wanting what was best for Ace's health and happiness and Ace usually came back a bit more settled after those talks with her. He hadn't been surprised to learn though that Ace had the same discussion with Pops too, wanting his input who had agreed thankfully that Ace could benefit from meeting up with his pychartrist again for a good few sessions.

They were still Phoenix and Spade too. The Newgate family all knew too now, with Ace's permission of course, so Thatch wouldn't try drag Ace out and about during the weekends anymore.

It was perfect.

And it was only the very beginning for them.

Spade and Phoenix still had plenty more work to do after all.

The End

Thank you so much to everyone who has read this so far! I'm working on the next part right now so hopefully I'll get it up and running soon :D I'm looking forward to having it all written up for you guys :3 I've got a few other stories I'm planning up right now too so maybe soon I'll be telling you all about them too :) Anyway keep an eye out for Phoenix's and Spade's next adventure! For now that wraps up this part, thanks again for reading!