I actually went through with it! Ehm. Welcome, welcome, readers. Below, you will (hopefully) read the first drabble for MarcoAce week.

The second he saw Marco get pierced by the blade was, admittedly, the worst moment in his life. Ace broke the neck of the Marine he was fighting and dropped the body to the ground, before starting to run towards the First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. His heart was pounding in his chest, and he was terrified.

Why?

Because after the sword was removed from Marco's back and the blond fell to his knees, there was no blue. No sign of the healing flames that had saved his life more than once. Instead, blood ran freely down his bare back, sinking into the dark fabric of his pants without showing a sign of ever stopping. One of the Vice-Admirals Marco had been fighting ran off to help his men, while the second one was attacked by Thatch, a pair of twin swords narrowly missing his jugular.

Ace paid them no attention, opting instead to catch the First Division Commander. He wrapped his arms around his friend, putting pressure on the injury, trying to stem the blood flow. Marco wasn't moving at all. He wasn't breathing, either. Ace gave his body the once-over, looking for whatever might be preventing the blond from healing.

A pair of seastone handcuffs on Marco's wrist glimmering in the sunlight quickly caught his eye. But he didn't have a key…

"Thatch! I need a key to the cuffs!" he shouted, in hopes that his friend could hear him. He put a hand to Marco's face, ignoring the fact that it was covered with the other man's blood.

"You're gonna be okay, Marco." The blond gave no sign that he could hear him. "Come on, you've been through worse than this… Marco?" Ace's voice was getting quieter with each word, eyes widening more and more in terror as what was happening finally sunk in.

"Thatch?!" he called out again, voice riddled with pain as he wildly looked around for the other man.

"Catch!" Ace looked in the direction the voice had come from, lifting the hand that was resting on Marco's cheek to grab the object flying towards him. His hand wrapped around what he made out to be keys to the handcuffs. He quickly shoved them into the lone cuff that was around the blond's still wrist and started fiddling with the lock. It clicked open easily, and dropped to the ground. Ace's hand instantly went to cup Marco's face again.

"…Marco?"

He received no answer. Ace let his arms drop to his sides as he stepped away and the blond fell to the ground before him. It was impossible. Marco couldn't have been killed that easily. There was just no way in hell that could have happened. It was all a dream… wasn't it?

Ace scrunched up his eyes tightly, before opening them again. Nothing had changed. Marco was still on the ground.

He couldn't hold back the tears that had gathered in his eyes. The salty drops of liquid cascaded down his cheeks, falling to the ground, where they landed on the sand beneath.

Marco was dead. There was no denying it.

At least that's what he thought until he saw those familiar blue flames engulf his body. Ace was forced to take a few steps back.

They were that same, vibrant blue color, intertwined with the slightest bit of yellow, which he remembered. They broke out over Marco's wound, and slowly started travelling all over the First Division Commander's prone form, spreading like wildfire, until Ace couldn't make out the body of his friend through them. They shone with a brilliant ferocity, each flame climbing higher into the sky than the last, illuminating the surroundings. Ace watched as the shadows around him danced with each and every flicker of flames.

Then, all of a sudden, a bird emerged from the depths, wings spreading from side to side, tearing through the flames, head twisted upwards, and the Whitebeard Pirates' symbol standing out proudly on its broad breast. The next second, the bird transformed into the First Division Commander, who slowly fell to his knees yet again.

Once more, Ace rushed forward to catch him before he could fall, embracing the now smiling man and hiding his face in the blond's shoulder. Marco didn't move away, but rather returned the hug gently. He ignored the new wetness on his skin, preferring to run his fingers through the hair of the boy before him.

"I-I thought you were dead." Ace sniffled, tightening his hold. The blond's body was still covered with blood, but the wound was gone. There was nothing left in its place, not even a scar to serve as a reminder of what had occurred.

"Hey, now. I won't die that easily." Ace pulled away for the slightest second, before moving forward once again to touch his lips to Marco's. The blond could feel Ace's desperation and despair as their lips moved together just as well as he could taste the saltiness of his tears. They separated, and dark gray eyes bore into Marco's blue orbs.

"Never do that again, you stupid chicken…"

I would also like to say that I now have a tumblr account. The link is on my profile, so if anyone wants to check it out, please do ^^