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Ace couldn’t help but grin as he glanced at Marco’s hand clutching his own, the blond pulling him along. They were climbing up a hill on one of the islands under their protection, an island that was known for quite a number of things, but if Ace had to believe Thatch they also had amazing views on falling stars.
Which was where Marco was leading him right now, his boyfriend had asked him to come along. That he had the perfect spot picked out for them, where they were abel to look at the showers of falling stars without anyone else from the crew bothering them or coming in between their alone time.
As this had happened a lot these past few weeks, Ace was really looking forward to this date - at least, he thought it was a date - where they would have some time alone this evening. He was also curious as to where they were going, having been walking up the hill for the last 10 minutes. The only reason he wasn’t asking how long it still was until the top was because of the picnic basket Marco was carrying (they had learned not to let Ace carry it, as he had a habit of eating it before they arrived at that location).
Not even Thatch had been able to tell him about this location, as Marco kept it a secret for a reason. Ace would be the only person, besides Oyaji, who would know where Marco’s mystery spot would be.
Seeing the hill even out as they got to the top, Ace quickened his pace to go and walk next to Marco, a grin on his face, “So, are we almost there?”
Marco chuckled, “Yeah, we are almost there -yoi.”
Ace beamed, following Marco until they came to a clearing on top of the hill - no trees restricting their view of the sky, the stars twinkling overhead as Marco stopped walking and took the blanked he they had taken along to spread it over the ground, sitting down to put out the food he had brought along.
Ace on the other hand was looking up to the stars, having a very nostalgic feeling - it used to be so clear a sky back at Dawn Island, back when he and his brothers were still together and they could watch the skies like this; without a care in the world.
“Ace, you ok -yoi?”
Humming, Ace turned towards Marco, a smaller grin on his face as he nodded, “Yeah, I’m fine. Just - reminiscing - about the past, and how much I miss my brothers.”
Waving his hands in front of him as he realised how that came out, he shook his head, “Not that I want to imply that you and the crew aren’t good enough for me. Not at all, I love you guys! But… Luffy and Sabo, they were really something else.”
Feeling a hand on his shoulder, he turned to find Marco standing there, a soft smile on his face, “I know what you meant - yoi. And this isn’t implying anything, it’s logical that you’re fond of younger siblings, Sea knows I am, even if half of them might just make me grey early.”
Pressing a kiss to Ace's lips, he added, “I think about home too, everytime I come here -yoi. It’s the main reason I don’t want the crew knowing about this. I love all of them, but they’re a bit rambunctious and loud whenever I don’t need that. So, I make sure to have spaces that only Oyaji, and now you know exist -yoi. Where I can have a bit of downtime, and just think back about the good old days.”
Letting Marco lead him back to the blanket, Ace sat down, feeling honoured that Marco was willing to tell this. That he was willing to share this, even if they hadn’t been a couple for so long, he felt warm (and warmer than he normally felt, being a fire logia) at the trust the blond was giving him.
Having eaten, they cleared up the blanket before laying down on their backs. Looking up at the sky just as the first falling stars were showing themselves. It was a beautiful sight, and one they didn’t often get to see at sea.
“Thank you, for bringing me here, for trusting me with this.”
Marco grinned, “I had to tell someone, eventually -yoi. But I like that this can be our little secret, a spot on one of our protected Islands that we can visit together, whenever we come by. This felt as good a time as any to share, and make it a little getaway date as we didn’t get a lot of alone time these last few days -yoi.”
Ace shook his head, “No, but I guess we knew that was going to happen sooner or later with all the marine activity going on nearby. Not to forget the calls we picked up from the revolutionaries, I didn’t even know we helped them out.”
Marco shook his head, “It all depends -yoi. Oyaji knows Dragon, and he knows why the man is so obsessed with his revolution even if he never told me so. But their chief of staff is a great guy, I think you would get along great -yoi. Chances are he’ll meet us here, and I can introduce you.”
Ace hummed, his eyes locked on the skies above as he thought back on his own connection to Dragon the Revolutionary, and how maybe he should tell Marco about that, and about Luffy one of these days.
But not right now, right now he was going to enjoy the warmth of the firepit they had just started, as well as the showers of falling stars that went on overhead. Almost wishing upon a star that he would see his brothers again - even if one was dead and the other was back on Dawn - it would be really nice to see them again.
---
When in the morning, they made their way towards the Moby again, they were greeted by an orange haired woman, who Marco introduced as Koala - the third seat of the RA. Before a blond came out of the dinning hall, only to stop and stare at Ace.
Until he was hugging Ace close, apologizing for forgetting - much to the shock of Marco and Koala. They had known that Sabo had amnesia, but to see him regaining his memories just from seeing Ace, it was a shock to all of them.
Ace however, couldn’t help but thank the falling star he had wished upon, for a chance to see at least one of his brothers again. Knowing that he would run into Luffy at one point or another, that still didn’t prepare him for the fact that Sabo was still alive and out there - a part of the Revolutionary Army.
Looking at Marco over his blond brother’s shoulder, he grinned, “You’re right I would get on great with him, seeing as he’s the brother I assumed died when we were 10.”
This of course started a whole discussion about what had happened to them as children and how Sabo had been saved by Dragon as the Celestial Dragon shot him down. As well as the fact that their boss, Dragon, was the same as Luffy’s father; Dragon. (Which came as another shock to the people looking on as Ace and Sabo reunited.)