Everyone wanted to party today since teach and his group has returned after 2 months but since most of them were on island they postpone the party. But no worries they will party some other day.

Marco is on his way to deliver a bowl of soup to an angry fire brat.

Since thatch is blaming him that, it's because of Marco ace didn't come for dinner. Thatch gave him a mission and that is to make sure ace ate whole soup and Marco is actually determined to fulfill it.

So he is here infront of ace's room with a big bowl of soup in his hands.

Knock knock

Ace didn't answer, Marco sighed.

"Ace yoi, I'm coming in" after saying that Marco opened the door and closed it afterwards and looked at ace.

Ace was sitting on one of the corner of the room, knees touching his chest, hands on his knees, his head buried in his hands.

"Ace this soup is for you yoi" Marco said while going towards ace.

Ace just glared at him hatefully.

Marco sat infront of ace while putting the bowl of soup near ace.

It's been more than 30 minute since Marco was here sitting infront of ace.

Ace sighed. He took the bowl in his hand and started eating it. He knows if he didn't eat soup, Marco will not go from here and ace just wants to be alone.

"Luffy ate his dinner and right now he is with thatch yoi." Marco Informed ace.

With a thump ace put down the bowl and looked at Marco while nodding his head as a way of saying thankyou for letting him know about luffy.

"Ace i know yoi that you don't want to talk about it but please try to understand everyone wants you guys to join us specially oyaji, he really love luffy and you too. he wants you to be the part of his family yoi, and what made you think that we are not going to accept you yoi?" Marco asked in the end because he really don't have any idea why ace said that they can't accept everyone.

Ace clenched his fist, his anger simmered up nearly at boiling point and he finally burst out with a question that he wanted to ask ever since waking up.

"Why the hell do you guys call him father?" Ace spat the word out before he could stop himself.

"What's wrong with using the title of what he is huh? He is your captain"

Marco looked at ace with a strange expression which one can call pity?.

"He calls us his children/sons and we call him our father" Marco said while closing his eyes, a fond smile on his face. Thinking about his father and his big family.

After a pause. Marco opened his eyes a fond smile still on his face, he looked directly at ace.

"It's just a word..... but it makes us Happy" ace just looked down his hairs covering his eyes he knew he shouldn't be feeling jealous but he can't help it.

"Like fucking hell!" ace yelled.

Marco blinked at him wide-eyed.

"But you can't accept everyone, he won't accept everyone as his son, i know" ace said lowering his voice until it sounds like a whisper. Ace just buried his face in his hands.

(Like this☝🏻)

It was a lie, they couldn't,they wouldn't, no one will ever accept him, he know that much. Ace knew what applied to others doesn't apply to him.it was something that he'd been told by countless people in edge town when he asked the question.

It was something his idiot overly abusive gramps told him without saying a word when he asked the question and given the answer that he had to find it himself.

Ace could never be truly accepted,he is a living sin. He should have never be born.

He raised his head and glared at Marco.

marco just looked at him concerned, It had caught him off guard a little- asking about oyaji? Why we call him father? It was odd. But ace was pale, a desperate look in his eyes. Something told Marco that he should answer it before ace gave into the temper tantrum that he was not holding back.

"It's just a word... But It makes us happy"

Ace was glaring at him with wild eyes.

Ace had growled, betting that they can't accept everyone.

"Why is he so pressed that we can't accept everyone?" Thought Marco.

"So who are you, ace ? Who are you, that you think we can't possibly accept you, especially when its so  obvious that we have already accepted you brother."

Ace sneered at him "luffy's a kid and i know that whitebeard pirates don't hurt women and children, everyone know that."

"and you yoi ? Who are you?" Marco asked again genuinely confused and curious.

There was a vicious snarl more animal than human. he watched as ace gave him a smile, that was painful to look at.

"My real name is Gol d ace , my father is.... Gol d roger"

Ace had hurled those words at Marco, a verbal bomb intended to cause phoenix to erupt and explode, to prove himself right. Which probably worked.

Marco could have erupted- but with surprise and curiousity not anger and hatred.

Marco looked at him wide-eyed, surprised. Of all things he thought ace might reveal to him, this certainly wasn't on his list.

"You.....you are-" Marco was too surprised to even say anything.

"The son of the pirate king" ace hissed.

"Born with the blood of demon, a living sin in this world that should never exist."

Marco didn't know what to say but something inside his chest hurt at the sight of the young teenager who is obviously hurting deep inside.

This was what oyaji had sensed inside ace- this was what oyaji wanted to heal.

This was what screaming loudly inside ace even with his emotions covering with his jerk like attitude or flaring annoyance except luffy, of course.

That was what his father saw in ace maybe a similarity between Roger and ace.

He can't stand the sight of the young teenager who is supposed to live his life to fullest hurting so bad. Now he knew about ace, he just wants help him.

Marco watched as ace's chest heave as he glared at Marco. He certainly didn't think that ace's blood is more demonic than his own or most people in this ship but looks like people told ace different thing the sheer desperation, rage and the pain in his tone, in his voice was enough to know how much this world had hurt him.

Now Marco finally connected the few dots that has been in his mind about tha kid. His relationship with luffy now made much more sense. Obviously the little boy had been raised by ace, must have been the one and only person in ace's life who had loved him unconditionally, who had made ace feel that he is dear to someone, that he is happy that ace was born.

His willingness to hold his temper. Not letting luffy out of his sight despite them showing him that luffy is safe with them. Losing luffy would most likely...... Would definately kill ace too.

Luffy is the only reason why he is still alive in this cruel world.

This sight of ace only produce a protective feeling inside Marco which he had for his other siblings the only diffrence was his brothers were all older- used to this cruel world but ace? He was still a young kid barely started his life and this World already made him feel like this.

"Ace.." Marco whispered while looking ace.

"Should have never been born" ace continued hatefully.

"Ace should never-" this is it Marco could not bare to listen it anymore.

"Ace, stop" Marco commanded with a soft voice while slowly placing his hands on ace's shoulder.

Marco absolutely won't allow ace to say those horrible words ever again.

"Luffy wouldn't like you saying those words right? It's okay yoi."

"Ace.." Marco called, ace looked at him.

"It doesn't matter who your father is, ace is ace and nobody can change it not even ace himself."

Ace looked at him with a little hope in his eyes. He knew ace also wanted to be part of their family, the way he looked at them happily playing or just joking around or the way they take care of each other and luffy. Ace might not accept but everybody has already made ace their little brother and Marco would do anything for his family for his little brother.

"It.. it might not matter to you but what about the other people on this ship what about whitebeard, your father huh, you might be saying that it doesn't matter but it's not same for everyone." Ace said while lowering his eyes.

Marco sighed, he just looked at ace with pity in his eyes he just wants to hug ace and tell him how much he means to luffy. And how much they are glad that he was on their ship.

"Ace if you think like that why won't you go and ask oyaji yoi, that is he going to accept you or not?" Marco said softly.

"And before you say anything I can assure you that whatever decision oyaji is going to make which is obviously going to be better than you imagine. Nothing will ever happen to luffy, you have my word." Smiling ressureingly Marco went away with now the empty bowl of soup while leaving ace all alone in his own thoughts.

(This where our chapter ends. Thankyou for reading and voting on my story)