We Found Love (In A Hopeless Place) {MarcoAce}

Chapter 1

"Phoenix? What the hell kind of last name is that?"  

"I don't know, but I've always had it, Gramps says." (I don't want it.)

"That means your soulmate is older than you. Mine is too."

"I bet your soulmate's gonna really like you." (Mine won't.)

"I hope so. And I hope they're a pirate too."

"Yeah, if my soulmate isn't a pirate I don't want them." (They wouldn't want me anyway.)

---

"How many soulmates do you have, Luffy?" 

"A lot! I haven't counted in a while, so there's probably more than last time I did."

"Why do you have so many?" (I wish I had that many. I don't deserve that though.)

"Grandpa says it's because I don't have a romantic soulmate. He says they're pythonic or something. They're all gonna be my friends!"

"Oh hey, there's my name!"

"That means we have to be friends, Sabo!"

---

"Ace, is it true your dad was the pirate king?"

"Luffy, be quiet, I told you not to tell him."

"Who told you that?" (He's gonna leave me.)

"Sabo! So is it true?"

"Ow, Ace, that hurt."

"Look, Ace, if it's true, your name is on my arm. We have to be friends too!"

"No, I'm never talking to you again!" (He still likes me?)

"Ow, Ace, why'd you hit me?"

---

"I'm gonna kill the strongest man in the world." (I have to.)

"You're gonna go after Whitebeard? This wouldn't have anything to do with the name on your wrist, would it?"

"No, it doesn't." (It doesn't .)

"Mhm, sure it doesn't."

"It doesn't!" (It doesn't it doesn't it doesn't it doesn't- it does.)

"Alright then, I won't push. Why don't we drink, this is a party after all?"

---

"Why do you call him Pops?" (I've never had that.)

"Because he calls us his sons. To the rest of the world, we're outcasts. It's just a word, but it makes us happy."

(I could never have that. No one would want me.)

"How long are you gonna keep doing this? You can't possibly take on Pops the way you are now. Are you gonna leave and start over, or are you gonna stay here and accept Whitebeard's mark."

(I want what they have. Can I really stay here?)

(I will.)

---

"I'm Roger's son." (I wish I wasn't.)

"I know."

"Weren't you enemies? You're not gonna kick me out?" (You don't hate me?)

"It doesn't matter who you're parents are. Everyone is a child of the sea."

(He doesn't care. I'm his son.)

---

"Hey, Marco, can I come in?" (Please don't hate me.)

"The door's open."

"I have something I have to tell you." (Please don't hate me.)

"What is it, Ace?"

"I'm Gol D. Roger's son." (Please don't hate me.)

"I know."

"You know?" (You don't hate me?)

"Have I ever told you my full name, Ace?"

"No." (What does that have to do with anything?)

"It's Marco Phoenix. My last name is Phoenix."

"Wait, so you're saying you're my-" (Why doesn't he hate me?)

"I'm your soulmate, yes."

"And you knew this whole time?" (Why was he ever nice to me? Out of obligation?)

"Ever since I learned your name."

"You knew?" (Am I crying?)

"Of course I knew."

"How could you still want me?" (Am I crying?) 

"Ace, how could I not?"

(Huh?)

"You're strong, smart, funny, it doesn't matter who your father is. You're you. I love you."

(I am definitely crying.)

"Of course, I'm not gonna push you into anything you don't want, whether we're soulmates or not. If you don't feel the same way-"

"No!" (How could he think that?) "No, I love you too, Marco."

"Good, then let me take you out somewhere the next time we dock."

"That sounds nice." (Me? Really?)

"Then it's a date."

(He's leaving, what do I do?) "Actually, there's one more thing." (Good, he stopped.) "Can I have a kiss?"

"Of course you can, Ace."

(This is fantastic.)