'When you love someone you always want to be near them, and if they aren't, then your mind will occupy you with your memory of them, making sure you don't forget them.'
''I'm not going to be a commander. I don't fit that role, Marco,'' Izo explained. He was tired of repeating the same reply over and over again. Marco, the first Division commander, was trying to bring Izo to accept becoming the sixteenth Division commander, but Izo had always been more of a follower than a leader.
He never felt like taking on such a responsibility. He liked watching from the sidelines and following the tides where they took him. But somehow, Marco was sure Izo could do it. He had never been this persistent with him before.
Izo finished the haircut he was giving to Marco and ran his fingers through the soft blond locks once more before looking at him in the mirror. ''Here you go. Finished.'' He always gave his brothers haircuts, made clothes for them, whether they wanted it or not, and made sure the younger ones always brushed their teeth. He sort of saw it as his job to do so. Up until now he had always been part of Marco's Division, so they mostly had to endure this persistent side of Izo.
''Thank you, yoi,'' Marco replied with a smile. He preferred the one and only look he always had, ever since he was young. The sides were bald while strands of hair stuck out of the top of his head, making others call him a pineapple, because it did make him look like one. ''You know I think you do fit in. It's not like you'll be handling the organization of the crew. You simply look over your division and make sure everything goes alright. You have a strategist who can help you fight the battles and you assist other divisions against their opponents, yoi,'' he explained as if being a commander was that easy. He took off the towel that hung around his shoulders and gazed back at Izo with his stern blue eyes.
Izo took the towel from him and looked helplessly at it. ''I wouldn't know what to do. The others will look differently at me.. I just don't think I'd be able to carry that much responsibility.'' He was always able to voice his worries and thoughts to Marco. They had known each other ever since Izo joined the Whitebeard Pirates when he was fifteen years old. Marco taught him a lot and he became really important to Izo because of that.
Marco sighed. ''You always think too much. You need to have more confidence in yourself. It seems hard because you are not used to be a leader, yoi. That's why you keep thinking you can't do it.''
''But why me?'' He asked in return. He still didn't understand why he could possibly be a good commander.
Marco stood up, making Izo take a step backwards to let him through. Standing before him held him by his upper arms. ''Simple. Because I say so,'' Marco replied.
''Huh? That doesn't make sense, Marco.'' There had to be a reason, a valid one, why he thought Izo would be a good commander, right?
''Izo, I don't want the same thing happening like what the previous Second Division Commander did, yoi. So now, I make sure I choose the right ones, and I am pretty sure you'll do just fine.'' The previous Second had been a painful subject for the entire crew, especially Oyaji. Everyone trusted the Second with all their hearts like they would for any sibling, but to be betrayed by someone so close to them.. They didn't really talk about it, definitely not if Oyaji was near. It still ached his heart to hear the Second's name.
Izo did understand now why Marco wanted him as the new commander of the sixteenth Division, but it didn't change his mind entirely. He was still doubting his abilities. When he wanted to speak up, Marco brought his forehead to Izo's and held the back of Izo's head with his hand. ''I will help you and guide you if necessary. You can lean on me for the time being until you are confident enough. Try it out and if it still doesn't work out for you after a month then I will not force you to be one of the commanders. Is that okay with you?''
Doubt was clearly visible in his eyes when he stared into Marco's deep blue ones. It was worth a try, wasn't it? He could always fall back on Marco and if he really didn't like doing this then he could stop. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath before opening them again. ''Alright, I'll do it,'' he muttered with a bit of a pout trying to force its way on Izo's lips.
Marco smiled at him and let him go. ''Good, I'll go tell pops. I'll be there with you when you'll visit your Division.'' With that having said, he squeezed Izo in his shoulder once before leaving the room. Izo started to sweep the floor to occupy his mind with something other than the worries of the decision he just made when someone knocked on the door.
''Come in,'' Izo called out while finishing up his task. When the door opened Izo looked up and smiled. ''Thatch, are you here for a haircut?'' He asked wondering why the cook was out of the kitchen at this time of the day. He took his duty as a chef very serious after all.
''Hey, thought I'd bring you some brownies. You've been giving haircuts all day, haven't you?'' He walked in with a small plate in his hands. The smell of chocolate filled the room, which was pleasant to Izo. Thatch grinned at him and placed the plate on a table near him. He was wearing his usual get up. His chef clothes with his hair in what seems an impossible pompadour. He took great pride in it since he managed to make it so big. A scar was visible under his eye and his never disappearing smile covered his face.
''I have. Many decide to do it on the same day, apparently. Although, I am not sure why,'' he pondered finding it quite odd indeed, but apparently this was simply how the family worked. It hadn't been any different the past few years. Ever since Marco found out Izo was good at styling and making clothes, he sort of took it upon him to do it for the entire crew.
''Well, at least you'll be done today and won't have to worry about it tomorrow!'' Thatch said cheerfully. ''Has Marco been able to persuade you? He looked rather happy.''
Izo sighed. Of course everyone knew about Marco trying to get Izo to join. They all secretly hoped Izo would join. It wasn't really a secret, but they thought Izo wouldn't notice the hopeful glances he received occasionally. ''He has..'' he started but before he could explain even a single word Thatch jumped up and down once.
''See?! I knew it! I won the bet!'' Realizing what he just said he closed his mouth, now looking troubled.
''You bet on it?'' Izo asked baffled. ''With who?'' And knowing Thatch wouldn't give him the name he took a step closer, crossing his arms and pursing his lips. ''Tell me, Thatch, with who and why did you bet on this?'' They found it funny apparently, but to Izo this was a nerve wrecking change. It took him weeks to manage to yes, for he had only refused up until now.
Holding up his hands in a defensive manner Thatch smiled hesitantly. ''I'm sorry, Izo. It's not all that bad, although you seem to think so. It was more of a joke, although not that enjoyable for you..'' The last part came out as a mutter, realizing he was only messing up more. ''I-I know this makes you nervous and all! Gosh, I almost pissed my pants back when I had to give my first order,'' he chuckled nervously, ''but you'll get used to it quickly, I'm sure!''
Letting out a frustrated noise Izo threw up his arms. It made Thatch look even more troubled than he already did, but not enough for Izo. Of course it was not enjoyable to him, for the Sea Goddess' sake! Taking a deep breath, because he honestly had no idea what to do with this, he calmed himself and hid his arms in his long sleeves before sitting in a comfortable chair with one leg crossed over the other. ''Thank you for the brownies. I appreciate it,'' he replied harsher than he intended to.
''Izo.. come on, man..'' Thatch still tried.
He softened his gaze and relaxed his shoulders. ''It's fine,'' said Izo quietly. ''I should've expected it and perhaps I really am panicking too much. It's what I am good at, is it not?'' He couldn't let out the irritated tone, even though he meant what he said. Thatch often had to suffer from Izo's temperamental moods so he could never stay angry for long.
Thatch decided it was safe to approach now since he took a few steps towards him and sat in a chair across from him. ''You're worried, you care. That's why you freak out so often. What's so wrong with that?''
''Well, apparently, others don't agree with that.''
''How so?'' Thatch asked confused. ''Don't tell me you've been filling your mind with this lately?'' Thatch sounded perplexed, making Izo avert his eyes guiltily. He knew it was bad to think like that, but with all the worrying about the commander thing he couldn't help but downgrade himself like that. ''Izo, if anything, I think you have a big heart having saved a place in it for each brother and Oyaji. Not to mention you are strong and have leading qualities. You're always honest and fair. I don't see why you think you're not good enough for this.''
A jolt of happiness shot through his stomach as Izo took in those words, or rather, compliments. He never really paid attention to what he was good at, others did point them out, but not like this. Not the way Thatch did it. It felt different when he tried to cheer Izo up. It had always been different. And why? Because Thatch managed to make him happy entirely, not just a part of him, but everything. It was as if the negativity washed away and made place for what Thatch thought he was good at.
His eyebrows furrowed slightly as Izo pinched his arm inside his sleeve to prevent him from showing the happiness he felt. The corners of his lips curled upwards as he couldn't hide how he felt completely. ''I think I just need to get used to this.. And calm down perhaps. That would help a lot,'' he muttered. He wanted to thank him, but the words got stuck on his tongue, not being able to let them roll out of his mouth.
Thatch traded his worried expression for a happier one, which he showed through a grin and small wrinkles showing up on the sides of his eyes. ''Now, eat those brownies and come with me. A nearby island is being attacked by other pirates. Your Division and mine is to take them out.''
Surprised, Izo shook his head. ''But Marco would introduce me first!''
''He will, I guess. I haven't spoken to him yet, but Oyaji wants us to set sail right away. Maybe Marco will accompany us?'' Thatch stood up. ''Don't worry!'' He said after seeing Izo's troubled look. ''It's an easy task and we'll help you out. You've got to throw yourself into the deep from time to time so you can learn to crawl back up yourself, you know.'' It would have been a wise advice had he been informed of this earlier. No wonder Marco tried to convince him harder than ever to accept the job.
Thatch was by the door when he said: ''Are you coming yet or not?'' He forgot the brownies already. Not that Izo had the appetite to eat them now. The nerves felt dreadful.
He reluctantly followed the other out muttering he'd have a good talk with Thatch and Marco later, because he was so not going to forget what they just did.
Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece.
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