1

„You know. Once upon a time a wise woman told me: 'All my life I didn't find better way to make a strong man cry than to give him the night of his life'. It worked for us, I guess" said Shanks with a hint of sad amusement in the corner of his mouth.

Truth be told he was not expecting any respond from sobbing figure resting on his shoulder.

They were siting naked in Shanks' cabin – locked on the inside with a forgotten key under the desk... or maybe a chair – dealing with Marco's grief. It has take them way too long to care of it.

Shanks chose that particular position, enjoying Marco's confusion. He was not a sadist – maybe a little bit in good days and right circumstances. The main reason for all of this was to show one thick-headed man that someone – everybody close to him – cared about his well being. Always will be, no matter how difficult he was to deal with.

It must have appeared to be funny for someone watching them outside: riding one's member senseless as proof of deep affection, then crying in its owner's shoulder seeking for consolation.

In his defense Shanks could say it worked way better than he had predicted.

He hugged Marco tighter – getting a breakdown like this was not an easy or quick way to deal with the current situation they all were in. Sometimes it took a lot of tears to feel only a little bit lighter.

So Shanks waited. Patience was all he could give right now – and has it as many as Marco needed.

There was not much more he could do after messing up last time, pushing him and letting Marco send his little brother to death – either by Marine Admiral's hand or by hand of the former brother in arm who betrayed their crew – their family – and had killed one of his own.

2

„Why won't you tell me your name?" asked Shanks the guy who has saved him in yesterday's undecided battle.

It was a bit embarrassing to owes his life to someone of the opposite crew. Captain Roger told them once that Newgate's men were odd – they have formed some sort of pirate family among their kind – but rescuing opponent's ass? It was beyond Shanks to even imagined such foolish action.

But the guy was standing on his right side, with grim expression, not as much alive as he was few hours ago. Shanks has nothing better to do, maybe got drunk with other pirates, but something attract him to this silent types with sharp eyes and an impressive body.

Time to try different tactic.

„So you are all a family?" Shanks asked curious, the other man flinched, otherwise did not reacte to the obvious statement, but he looked more interested than few seconds ago.

Gatcha.

„Like big brother, right?" Shanks continued, knowing too well that people do not like noisy brats sticking their noses in noone else business. „Sorta figured it out" stated Shanks not without hint of proud in his voice.

And then came a hit.

„Must be hard to jerk off in such a big family"

It was blunt but so worth seeing other guy's face all red from embarrassment. His lazy, half-opened eyes looked at Shanks, not avoiding the direct contact though.

„You need one to now one, man."

„What exactly are you talking about, yoi?" he asked and Shanks could tell he liked the sound yet could not place the odd feeling that appeared the moment he heard it.

How do they say? Hooked on nice fish?

„Oh, come on, I'm a man too. You can tell me." spurred Shanks smiling wide and not at all innocent or truthful.

A good blackmail material and awkward stories were always his weakest point while he was drunk and more talk active. Shanks loved to put people in the spotlight and then abandon them to deal with it on their own – all red and speechless. Buggy knew this the best, pure guy. Maybe Shanks should remind him that he was not safe, even if it was a while since last time when Shanks made him the most laughed crew member?

The guy was looking at him for few seconds before sighing.

„Name's Marco."

„Wasn't hard, right?" Shanks said with too big smile on his face.

He always got what he wanted – sooner or later, but the more time he needed to wait the meaner he became.

After party - in which both crews have anticipated - came the moment to depart. New camaraderie and friendships developed at good drinks and by sharing common stories were blooming. So were the hung overs and other aches in sensitive areas men talked about only if they were forced to.

Shanks was one of the pirates interested in the opposite sex as well as his own, so when he has an opportunity to get laid, without a second thought he chose to use it.

It has appeared Marco was sour loser with his unwillingness to admit that Shanks was better drinker than him. And more creative winner, probably. He was too proud to say few nice words Shanks wanted to hear instead of words about arrogant brat like himself. In same way Shanks thinks it was funny but otherwise quite annoying.

With that great body of his Marco do not have many reasons to accept an offer for one night stand coming from him... Shanks was a little proud of himself.

Marco's body was indeed great challenge to please, especially when its owner complain a lot about arrogant brat hundred years too young to making such demands and was confident enough to think it was all his doing to make Marco enjoy himself that he spaced out for a second or two.

But all that was worth the effort he put into it.

Shanks must admit it, Marco was skilled lover with good idea of how to punish overconfident brat and pleasure him at the same time.

And finally, when Shanks cock and balls were pulsing after rough treatment, Marco let him have his way.

He was young and - the little patient Shanks have in himself - has long gone, leaving only a need to proof Marco wrong.

In the end both of them got what they wanted.

3

They had crossed their paths for the first time over twenty years ago – in fact it will be their silver anniversary of not-being a couple this year.

In any of those twenty-five years Marco did not try to take over the charge during sex.

Shanks knew why, it amased him every time he encouraged Marco to do that, only to be rejected and insulted for being stupid brat even after so many years.

Marco was not a leader type – he prefered taking orders and fullfilling his duties was a priority. Not bad thing for second in command, but a big challenge for him and Whitebread's crew right now.

Thank you for reading!

I marked this story as completed, but I have an idea or two, what I could write next, just not enough motivation to achive those goals. So I can't promise that there will be another part soon.

And I know there is a lot of typos, misspellings and grammar mistakes, but I'm impatient creature and don't like to wait and search for beta-reader. So I'm sorry (not sorry) you need to bear with it but I hope you will enjoy the relationship between two old fools who depend on each other way to much to not make them a little embarrassed because of that.

To the next time!