The Spade Coffee

Chapter 4

Before Ace left Marco's house on Thursday, after a make out session that ran long after the movie ended, Ace proposed to Marco to come to his apartment Saturday for the game night he was doing with Deuce, Sabo, Luffy and Luffy's friends. A few more kisses were enough to convince Marco to agree to go.

Saturday afternoon, Marco arrived in advance at the coffee shop, Deuce had sent him a text telling him to come early. When Deuce saw him enter, with his arms full of bags; Ace had asked him in the morning to bring groceries for dinner, he exclaimed "Great you're here. Ace is upstairs and really upset."

"What happened? Marco asked while he passed by the kitchen toward the doors leading to the stairs, Deuce following him.

"We had ... I would only say that someone Ace hasn't expected to see again showed up and was a ..." Deuce paused, searching for his words.

"A dick?" Marco suggested.

"Yeah, that's the word, so I sent Ace upstairs for the rest of the afternoon to calm down."

Marco agreed to stay with Ace for the time being and began to go upstairs. The door was open, so Marco entered and called for Ace. He only heard a faint "Here" in response.

Marco found Ace on his couch, a full glass of wine in his hand, Marco stared at the glass wondering how many Ace had already had, Ace saw him eying his wine and responded.

"It's only my second glass, don't worry."

"You never drank in the middle of the afternoon." Marco remarked, putting the bag on the counter of the kitchen, and began to put everything away. "Did something happen?"

"Yes, otherwise Deuce wouldn't have called you."

"He texted, actually." Marco turned to look at Ace "Are you mad that he did?"

"No. I would have hid it from you if not."

Marco finished putting the groceries away, and went to sit on the couch with Ace, after taking a can of soda from the fridge. "Do you want to tell me?"

Ace took a mouthful of his glass and put his head on Marco's shoulder. They stayed in silence for a moment. Marco waited for Ace to talk, not forcing to open up without him being ready.

After another mouthful of wine, Ace put his glass on the coffee table, and went back against Marco before he began his story.

"My ex came. You need to know that we broke up eight months ago, and our relationship was ..." Ace sighed "Not great to put it simply. So he came today, looking for me, trying to tell me that we should go back together, that I would never find someone as great as him, that he will pardon me for being unfaithful."

"Unfaithful?" Marco repeated.

"Yeah, he was in delirium, he wanted me to feel guilty about going out with you, one of his friends must have seen us at the coffee and told him about you. When I told him that I never wanted to see him again, and that it was not his fucking business." Ace breath in "He accused me of wanting him to die like my mom, while Deuce was pushing him out. I broke down and Deuce make me go here."

Marco didn't respond but took Ace in his arms, and kissed his forehead while Ace calmed down. He kissed him again, and talked in his hair. "What an ass."

That made Ace chuckled a little, five minutes passed and Ace began to talk again. "I should tell you why I broke down. My father was a firefighter, when my mom was six months pregnant, there was an accident. A beam collapsed on him, and they were not able to get him out in time. My mom was twenty-fourth, widow, and pregnant. My grandfather, uncle, and my father's colleagues helped her as much as they could. Rayleigh, my godfather, stayed with her until I was six months old. She had a hard time mourning and after I was born she went into depression, thankfully Rayleigh and everyone was here and helped her, with time she got better. We had some rough times, but everything began to look up when I began school."

Ace sobbed when he said the next part. "When I was seven, I was called to the director's office at school. My grandfather was waiting for me, he was crying, it was weird because he never cried. And then, he told me that there had been a car accident, and my mom was ..." Ace was unable to continue and began to cry in Marco's chest.

Marco let him cry until he was exhausted and began to fall asleep. He took Ace in his arms and carried him to his bed, where he laid him. Marco petted his hair, "Do you want me to call off the game night?"

"No, I want to see everyone." Ace mumbled, trying to stay awake.

"Okay" Marco kissed his hair. "Sleep, you'll feel better."

Marco stayed in bed with Ace until he was sure that he had really fallen deep in sleep. Then he got up slowly to avoid waking Ace up, he had to leave his sweat-shirt behind because Ace had caught it in his hand and refused to let it go.

Marco looked at the picture that was hanging in the doorway, he hadn't seen it before, but it was a beautiful picture of Ace's parents. By the look of it, it was their wedding picture. It was crazy how Ace looked like his father minus the mustache, though he had his mother's eyes, and his freckles too. They looked so happy, it was hard to imagine how everything had finished.

Another picture was hanging beside it, it was a group photo Marco recognized Ace, his mother, there was Luffy and Sabo too, with a man that looked like Roger, but with a huge tattoo on his face, he had Luffy in his arms, so it must be Ace's uncle and Luffy's father. Ace's grandfather was in the back, and a man with white long hair had his hand on Ace's head. Marco had already seen a photo of him, it was Rayleigh, Ace's godfather.

He shook his head to clear up his thoughts, now wasn't the time to think about it, Ace's friends were going to arrive in two hours and Marco wanted to begin the preparation for dinner.

A look in the fridge, made him see that Ace had already made marinated meat for the sandwiches. So Marco began the patties for the hamburger that Ace had wanted to make, he cleaned and sliced the salad, the tomatoes, the onions. Ace had told him that Sanji was going to bring the buns, and Marco had offered to bring Thatch special spicy sauce for the dressing.

Marco was cleaning everything he had used and the counter when Ace woke up and entered the kitchen. He sat on a stool in front of Marco. "You had prepared everything?" Marco nodded. "Thanks"

"How are you feeling?"

"Better, I'm going to drink some water, and shower before everyone arrives. You could watch TV if you want."

"I will do just that."

Marco finished cleaning while Ace went to the bathroom. He had barely sat when Deuce knocked and entered. Marco informed him that Ace was feeling better and when Ace got out of the bathroom, Sanji and the others arrived.

They played Trivial Pursuit, Catan, Cluedo and Codenames. Marco had asked about monopoly, but they all refused to play it. Sabo explained to him that after many parties with sole winner Nami, the game had been banned of the Saturday game night.

It was nearly half past one in the morning, when everyone began to leave. Marco stayed behind to help Ace clean the living room a little.

"Marco, do you want to stay tonight?" Ace asked, when Marco was going to put his coat on. "I'm not asking for sex, I just want to cuddle a little"

Marco smiled, and kissed him slowly. "I hope you're fine with me sleeping naked."

Ace's face reddened, but he took his hand and both of them went to the bedroom. Marco kept his boxer on, but he refused the t-shirt Ace offered him. Ace fell asleep with his head on Marco's torso and with fingers playing in his hair.