Chapter Text
Marco stared at his reflection in the mirror, ignoring the taste of vomit in his mouth and the way his heart was clenching as he struggled to keep a hold of himself. Thank god Ace was a heavy sleeper. He did not need to witness him falling apart. Falling apart because he realized what was going on with him. Why he had been so sick this week. Why he had been so exhausted beyond what was normal for him. Why most foods had suddenly lost their appeal. He was pregnant. Again. And he didn’t want to be.
This had happened twice before. When he was eighteen and again when he was twenty-six. Both times ending with him in physical and emotional turmoil. His flames were only effective against the physical pain. He didn’t want to go through it again. Didn’t want to put that pain on Ace or any of their family members. Marco finally allowed himself to cry, already feeling his heart breaking all over again. For the previous two he had lost and the tiny life he was currently carrying that he would lose again. He was cursed. Poisoned. They wouldn’t even make it to him knowing what they were. Hell, Ace would never know they existed. Marco wouldn’t place this burden on him. It was his to bear. And his alone.
He took a breath, wiped his tears, and steadied himself. Marco was supposed to be the rock. The always steady big brother. There if someone needed him. Offering kind words and advice from a long-lived life. Calm and collected. Unshakable. What would they think of him breaking down like this? He rinsed his mouth then went to rejoin Ace. But as soon as he saw his lover in bed, he couldn’t face him. He pulled on his shirt and pants then left the room, choosing to go barefoot. Despite not wanting the situation he found himself in, he had already decided to keep the child. It was a piece of him and Ace. Deserved a chance at the very least. The phoenix had the slim hope that everything would go okay this time. But until he was sure, this was his dirty little secret.