Pairing: Ace/Marco
Warnings: Mention of animal cruelty/starvation
Notes: Betaed by lunarshores - thank you so much! This was supposed to be something small for Marco's birthday, but instead it's something big for his belated birthday. Enjoy!
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Working in a travelling menagerie wasn't easy. Marco ignored the raucous calls of the parrots around him and focused on the ground birds, checking their health. They gathered around Marco merrily, peeping for food, and Marco reached into the large pouch at his side and spread some seeds.
Whitebeard & Sons was the finest menagerie in the world. They had collected species from all over the globe and they provided them with the best care they could. People were usually disheartened when they learnt a menagerie was coming to town, but they always left Whitebeard & Sons with smiles on their faces and happiness in their hearts.
The animals came first, they all believed in, and Marco patted a bird's head as it hopped onto his knee, pecking at the fabric of his trousers in attempt to get more food.
"Feeding time's in an hour," Marco said, setting the bird carefully on the ground and standing. "I still have the raptors to check."
They had only a handful of raptors, all birds that had been injured too badly to return to the wild, and Marco found Vista already handling one of the trickier birds.
"Figured I'd give you a hand," he said as Marco approached, spreading the wings of a female eagle. She nipped at Vista's covered arm, and Marco knew from experience that her beak was sharp. Fortunately, Vista had a thick glove on, and so her efforts were useless.
"Nothing going on for the cats then?" Marco asked, checking over the eagle's enclosure. All enclosures were large enough for the birds to fly around in, though Marco wished he could make them even larger.
Vista shook his head, tucking the bird under his arm as he stepped into her enclosure.
"Can't exactly check the tigers and that like you can your birds." Vista let the eagle go, and she flew up, a little shakily. She'd damaged her wing years ago, the reason they'd had to keep her.
"Oyaji said he wanted to see you, by the way." Marco nodded slowly, and knew that Vista wasn't just here to help. He was here to take over while Marco visited Whitebeard."Something about a possible addition."
That caught Marco's interest, and he looked over his section. A long line of tall cages contained his birds, and there wasn't a spare. If they really were about to gain a new bird, he'd have to do some quick shifting or settle the bird temporarily in another section.
He left Vista to continue the health checks and moved through the menagerie, greeting his band of brothers and sisters. Marco was directed to the main camp when he asked where Whitebeard was, and he moved slowly towards to Whitebeard's sleeping quarters. It was a rare day that Whitebeard wasn't spending all his daylight hours with the animals and Marco was curious as to what he was needed for.
"I'm coming in," Marco called, pushing apart the tent opening. Whitebeard was seated at his desk, shaking his head at some papers. He waved for Marco to join him, and Marco went, eyes narrowing at the darkness inside.
"Why didn't you light more candles?" Marco asked, moving around the tent and lighting the few tall candles that stood through the room. "Your eyesight's as bad as it is already."
Whitebeard laughed, looking away from the papers and at Marco. Marco slid the matches he'd picked up back onto the table and looked down at the papers on the desk.
"Some nobles wrote to me for some advice," Whitebeard said, spreading the papers out a little for Marco to see clearly. "I think it's in the animal's best interests that we try and gain ownership."
Marco raised an eyebrow and scanned the letter Whitebeard handed him. It as a request of a nobleman's son, who looked to have found a rare species of raptor. Marco sighed. Most of their animals came from nobles who hadn't looked after them, and he doubted this would be an exception. Animals didn't exist to make people look better, though this was the mentality the nobles seemed to subscribe to.
"They're not sure what bird it is, but I sent the messenger back saying that we'll send our expert over to assess the situation." Whitebeard leant back in his chair, and Marco set the letter down on the table.
"They're not going to give it up easily," Marco said, and Whitebeard nodded slowly.
"We might have to petition the king," Whitebeard said, letting out a heavy sigh.
Marco understood why. They'd had to petition the king before to gain ownership of a sickly armadillo. It had been granted to them with ease, but that king had died. His son, King Ace, had ruled for around a year and a half already. His land was prosperous, but those who had petitioned him for help had varying stories. Some claimed he was a saint, others a devil.
"Let us hope the king likes animals then," Marco said. "I'll take a horse and head to look at the bird now."
Whitebeard nodded, and Marco was free to leave. He headed for the horses, left free to graze through their camp, and found his favourite. She followed him to the tack carriage, and Marco was trotting away from his home a little while later.
It wasn't far to ride to the noble's house. Their menagerie was currently stationed in the huge park in the king's town, a twenty minute or so trot to the noble's house.
As he entered a stately courtyard (and how different this life was to the bare minimum Marco lived!), servants held his horse as he dismounted. One rushed off, presumably to inform the master of the house, and Marco was led inside.
"I'm here to look at the bird," Marco said, looking around an impressive home. Lavish artwork lined the walls and wealth practically dripped from every surface. Marco began to think that he'd never be able to get the bird from this nobleman's son, if he was used to showy displays of wealth.
"Of course," the servant said, and Marco was led into some kind of parlour room. The servant gestured for him to say, and Marco was about to protest when he heard the shuffle of feathers.
Turning around, Marco's heart felt as though it had stopped. His eyes widened, and his mouth grew dry at the sight of the bird. The cage it was in was admittedly beautiful, but the bird filled its entirety, and Marco wished he could take it with him right away.
"Look at you," he said, walking closer to the cage. The bird looked at him with creamy-blue eyes, long feathers on its head camped down miserably. Its huge beak clacked as Marco stopped before it, and Marco knew that beak could do a lot of damage.
"It is my prized possession!" a nasally voice said, and Marco turned as a man entered the room. He was dress sharply, expensively, and walked over to the cage. "It comes from a far-away land, full of barbarians and disgusting beasts."
Marco rolled his eyes, making sure the nobleman's son was looking the other way. He doubted the people in the bird's native home were barbarians. The true barbarians were the ones who went pillaging the wildlife for a tidy profit.
"I graciously saved this savage bird from being sold into an unsavoury home. It gets fed every day, the finest foods of course, and is as happy as can be!" The nobleman's son finished with a smile.
"What was I called for?" Marco said tightly. He wanted nothing more than to let the bird free and watch it peck the nobleman son's eyes out.
"It stopped eating properly about two weeks ago," the man said, and Marco resisted the urge to sigh.
He wanted to ask why it had taken the man so long, he wanted to ask why the man thought it was acceptable to keep a bird like this, and he wanted to ask why the man was such an idiot. Marco knew, though. All the man cared about was looks, and after two weeks of hardly eating, the bird's body condition had gone down. That was the only reason Marco had been called.
"Can you fix it?" the man asked, voice demanding.
"It's not as easy as that," Marco began, turning from the pathetic bird to the man. "There's nothing I can really do unless you let me take the bird."
The man grew still, a red flush creeping over his skin, up his neck and onto his cheeks.
"It's my bird," he said instantly, and Marco knew there was no way he'd be leaving with the bird. "You can't just take it."
"Of course, sir," Marco replied, smiling tightly. "This bird will die soon if it doesn't get the right care. I'm offering to take the duty into my own hands, free of charge. The bird will be able to live a happy, healthy life in Whitebeard's menagerie, but if you prefer to keep it here then you have every right."
It wasn't a surprise that Marco was escorted from the property, his horse led out briskly.
"I'm sorry," the groom said as he passed Marco his reins. "The poor bird."
Marco smiled, mounting his horse and looking down at the groom.
"Oh I have no intention of letting that bird die," he said, and the groom looked at him curiously. Of course, Marco wasn't going to tell the groom what he was planning to do, in case it filtered back to the nobleman's son.
Marco didn't hurry to the palace but instead let his horse walk the way. She was grateful of the pace, and it gave Marco an opportunity to sort out what he was going to say.
The old king had died of an illness, and grief had encompassed the nation, until the new king had been crowned. Marco and the others had been in a neighbouring kingdom until a month or so ago, and only knew of the new king through word of the people. He seemed to be a good king, though he had a devilish streak.
Honestly, Marco wasn't sure what to expect. He tangled his fingers in his horse's mane and sighed. He hoped the king cared about animals as his father had, or else the bird really would die.
(Or he'd have to break into the nobleman's house, but that was a scenario Marco really didn't want to play out. He'd done it before, and they'd had to move the menagerie through the night and keep moving for weeks after.)
"Marco!" a guard at the gate greeted, and Marco recognised the friendly face. At least the king hadn't changed everything.
"Did you bring me something?" Moda asked, stepping out of the guard office, next to huge, golden gates that would grant Marco access to the palace.
"Not this time," Marco said apologetically. They used to frequently bring animals to the old king, to keep him updated on what they'd added recently. Moda, chief of security, had loved seeing them pass through the gates.
"Oh," she said, opening the smaller doorway in the gate. The only time the huge, elaborate gates every truly opened was when royalty passed through – everyone else had a smaller entrance to go through.
"Come in and sign our books then. If you're not here to show off something, why are you here?" Moda closed the gate as Marco trotted through, and he dismounted. He secured his reins and folded up his stirrups, letting his horse wander to graze on the grass around the path up to the palace.
"There's a noble with a sick bird," Marco said, entering the office and nodding to the two other guards inside. "He wanted me to fix it, but it needs to be taken from his hands, ideally."
Moda gestured for Marco to sit, filling out the logbook as he spoke.
"The bird's likely to die soon, which was why I wanted to ask the king to seize it and give me ownership." He signed the book Moda passed him, looking at her with a stern smile. "The man's more concerned by his image than he is looking after an animal."
Shaking her head, Moda made a noise of disapproval.
"Disgusting," she said. "The king should be on your side, and that bird will be in the right hands." Moda smiled, sending Marco on his way.
He didn't bother to mount, letting his horse walk behind him slowly. She'd pause every now and then to graze, and Marco was in no hurry. It was late afternoon, and he'd probably return home late, but it didn't bother him. His birds were in good care from his brothers and sisters, which left Marco to save their future addition.
The palace was just as beautiful as Marco remembered it. It had once housed great families who filled all the rooms and corridors with laughter and happiness. That dynasty had come to an end when the family had been assassinated, the previous king a distant relative and only survivor stepping up to the throne in the wake of their murders. The killer had been caught and imprisoned, though the world never forgot.
It was serene here, Marco though, despite its bloody past. Gardens surrounded the palace in all directions, and Marco knew it would take him at least a few days to explore the entirety of the grounds. It was a beautiful place, and Marco would like somewhere like this to settle down in if the menagerie ever settled.
"Excuse me," a voice called, a man exiting the palace and meeting Marco in the courtyard. A few other servants moved about happily, smiling at each other as they got on with work. It was clearly a happy place, if the servants were so relaxed.
Marco's horse was taken by a groom, and he turned to the man who had spoken.
"Moda called ahead on the denden mushi," he explained, pulling a small snail from his pocket. It resembled Moda, and Marco figured this servant must be one of the king's direct staff. His clothes were a little nicer than the generic servant uniform too, though he wouldn't look out of place down in the town.
"My name's Ace," the man said, and he smiled, offering Marco his hand.
"Marco," he replied, shaking Ace's hand firmly. "I'm here to ask the king for his help."
"I'll take you to the council room," Ace said, nodding towards the palace. "Hopefully he'll be able to help you."
Ace was nice, Marco decided. He was a good judge of character, travelling all over and being one of the top people in Whitebeard & Sons made sure he had to be, and Marco liked Ace, even though he hadn't known him for very long.
"So what do you want help with?" Ace asked, waving to some maids as they passed, giggling down the corridor.
"I'm part of a travelling menagerie-" Marco began, but was cut off quickly.
"You're part of Whitebeard & Sons?" Ace asked enthusiastically, stopping in the corridor. He gripped the fabric of Marco's jacket sleeve in excitement, eyes wide. "I love seeing all the animals! It's been a long time since I've seen them though."
Ace frowned, eyes drifting down to where he was gripping Marco's clothes. He let go quickly, smiling sheepishly and bringing his other hand to rub the back of his head.
"Sorry," he said. "I was a bit overexcited."
"It's okay," Marco said as they resumed walking. "It's always nice to see people who have enjoyed looking at our animals. You're welcome to visit them any time, and if you like birds then you can help me check a few of them over."
Marco wasn't prepared for the way Ace's eyes lit up, and it made his stomach churn. He felt a little giddy, and Marco looked away quickly.
"I love birds," Ace said, unaware of what he was stirring in Marco. "I wish we had more birds in the palace."
Marco hummed in agreement. He knew from past visits that there was a large area in the left wing of the palace that had been intended for falconry, but the birds had vanished when the old royal family had perished.
"I'm asking for help with a bird," Marco said, bumping shoulders gently with Ace as they turned a corner. Their eyes met for a moment, and Ace gave a quick, quiet apology. He smiled before he looked away, and Marco figured he wasn't the only one who liked present company.
"A nobleman's son asked for assistance. His bird is ill, it won't eat, and he assumed I could work miracles and make the bird impressive again." Marco let bitterness creep into his voice. "The bird is locked in a tiny cage it can't move in. I doubt it's being fed properly, and I don't blame it for giving up on life."
"You want to save it," Ace said, voice quiet. They were alone in a small corridor, and Ace stopped them outside a door. It wasn't a place Marco had been before, and it certainly wasn't the council room Ace had promised.
Uneasiness crept under Marco's skin as Ace opened the door, not bothering to even knock. He threw the door open, revealing a small office, and Marco watched from the doorway, not daring to enter what was clearly the king's personal office.
"You can come in," Ace said, sitting down at the desk. "I figured it'd be easier just to bring you here as it's got all my writing stuff here and that." Ace beamed from his chair, and Marco's eyebrows rose in disbelief.
"You're the king," Marco stated, and Ace nodded slowly, a little sheepishly.
"I don't like flashiness," Ace admitted, opening a draw and digging through it. Marco entered fully, closing the door behind himself and sitting before Ace's desk.
"I wasn't raised in the palace. I lived in the town, actually, and I didn't even know I was a prince until a few years ago." Ace pulled out some papers, setting them on the table. "I try to be as normal as I can, whenever I can. Some people like it, others don't."
Marco nodded slowly, looking out of the large windows behind Ace. He had a beautiful view of the grounds, a tree gently swaying in the breeze. It looked down onto the small yard that Marco recognised at the falconry section, and it looked in better condition than Marco had been expecting. Perhaps the new king had birds of his own.
"I understand," Marco said softly. A long time ago, he'd run away from his home, and he never wanted to go back. Many of those under Whitebeard's care had pasts they wished to distance themselves from, and Marco couldn't fault Ace for wanting to rid himself of ceremony when he could.
"I want to help you, but I can't just march into a nobleman's house and demand he give up his son's bird without a good reason behind it." Ace leant forward, eyes sparkling and grin on his lips. "I want to make a deal with you, and it's completely your decision whether you accept my help or not."
There was quiet as he wrote his terms out, printing the royal seal at the end. Marco took the paper, ignoring the nerves building. He had no idea what to expect from the king, though he hoped he would find the terms agreeable. He scanned them, brow furrowing as he took in the words.
"I cannot make this decision alone," Marco said, voice tight and lips thinned. The words were honest, and Marco understood what Ace was asking for, but it wasn't Marco's call alone. He could be on his own for this one.
"I understand," Ace said. "I really do want to help though. Even if you don't accept these terms, please don't think that will end our friendship." Ace looked down at his hands, and Marco's lips parted slightly.
"I'll return tomorrow," Marco said, folding the papers and sliding them into the pocket inside his jacket. "I promise."
Ace smiled, and Marco couldn't help but return the gesture. He really liked Ace, yet he wasn't sure how Whitebeard and the others would react to the terms.
It didn't take long for Marco to return to the park, and he showed Whitebeard the paper as he ate his dinner.
"What of his character?" Whitebeard asked, not bothering to read the terms. He kept the paper folded, placing it on the table with a frown. Crossing his arms, he looked at Marco, waiting for his judgement.
"I didn't realise he was the king," Marco began, swallowing his last mouthful of rice. "And even after he told me, he remained the same."
Whitebeard nodded slowly, before looking at the paper, arms still folded.
"He is honest," Marco said, thinking back to the ease Ace had walked through his palace. He had been greeted with smiles and kindness. "I'd go so far to say that he is good."
Whitebeard tilted his head, looking down at Marco. He nodded, uncrossing his arms and unfolding the paper.
"So the king wants us to move permanently into the palace grounds?" Whitebeard said, summarising the terms. "In return, he'll help us secure any animal we feel isn't receiving adequate care."
Marco nodded, setting his bowl on the table. Candlelight flickered through the tent, and Whitebeard laughed.
"This king is a cheeky brat," he said, shaking his head. "It must be voted upon, but we might just be settling down for good."
A weight lifted slightly off of Marco's shoulders, and he nodded, standing.
"Shall I call everyone?" he asked. Whitebeard nodded, and Marco set to work, gathering the entire Whitebeard & Sons under the stars.
"As many of you know, we were asked to help someone with a bird," Whitebeard began, standing before his clan. Nods passed through the group. "Marco visited the man today, but he is not giving the bird up. It will likely die within the week."
Whitebeard looked to Marco, who rose from the ground and stood before everyone. His stomach twisted uncomfortably, and he hoped that his family would take the deal offered,not just to protect the bird.
"I asked the King for his help," Marco began, and a murmur of interest passed through the group. "He is a good man, and he offered us a deal."
Silence moved over them all, and Marco took a deep breath.
"We will have permission to seize any animal we feel is being mistreated. In return, we will move onto the King's land, settling our menagerie down for good at the palace. We will remain open to the public, and our money will be split." Marco paused, stomach tightening at his next words.
"We will have enough to run our menagerie and live well, but we will also place money into a fund to help protect our animals and others across the world. We will work towards protecting our future, aided by the kingdom itself." Marco nodded, looking across the crowd.
"The fairest way to do this is by vote. I'll give you some time to think about it." Marco moved to stand by Whitebeard, scanning through the people around them, trying to figure out which way the argument was leaning towards.
"You know," Whitebeard said, voice low and for Marco alone. They stood side by side, and Marco glanced to the side. "Even if the family votes to continue on, you're always welcome to stay with the king."
Marco's eyes widened, and he looked up at Whitebeard. To think of leaving his family was unthinkable, and he couldn't believe it was being suggested.
"He may be a good man, and I might like him already, but Ace isn't enough to leave my family for," Marco said, voice stern. He turned his gaze back to the crowd, ignoring the stare he could feel from Whitebeard.
No matter what Marco had felt from Ace, he wasn't going to leave his family and his animals behind. They were his life, not some down-to-earth king.
"Have you had enough time to think?" Whitebeard called, and he received nods. "Raise your hands if you're opposed to settling down at the king's palace?"
Not a single hand was raised, and Marco's heart skipped a beat.
"And those in agreement?" It wasn't needed, but every hand rose, and teeth flashed under starlight as everyone grinned. His family knew what was best for their animals, and Marco wondered how he could have ever doubted them.
"Well then, boys and girls!" Whitebeard called, voice booming over the crowd. A cheer sounded, and soon they were echoed by their animals, wondering what was going on in the middle of the night.
Needless to say, the alcohol was soon fast flowing, and nobody got much sleep that night.
.
It was decided that Marco would ride ahead and inform the king of their move while the rest of Whitebeard & Sons packed up. They would join him later, full animal range and all. It made Marco smile, and he trotted briskly through the town, smiling brightly at Moda as she greeted him sleepily.
"Back so soon?" she asked, eyes warm. "Do I get a surprise this time?"
Marco loosened his contact on his reins, not bothering to dismount. Moda began filling out the logbook and passed it to him, aware of why he was here. Marco had made sure to explain when he'd signed out the night before.
"You might later," Marco said quietly, signing his name and returning the book. "Keep a lookout!"
With that, he was gone, his horse spurred onwards into a canter. She was glad for the run, and Marco was happy to feel the wind in his hair, freedom washing over him. It was the closest he'd ever get to flying, and Marco closed his eyes for a moment, only opening his eyes when his horse slowed, reaching the main courtyard.
Ace had already been informed, of course, and he was sitting on the courtyard steps, eyes wide as he watched Marco dismount. He looked scared, as if this simple decision was about to shatter his world.
"We've accepted your offer," Marco said, handing his reins to a groom and taking the contract from his jacket. He offered it to Ace, Whitebeard's signature bold and stern at the bottom of the page.
"You actually signed it?" Ace said, a look of total shock on his face. "I never thought…"
He broke into a wide grin, launching himself up off of the steps. He moved towards Marco, wrapping his arms around him, and Marco couldn't help but return the embrace.
"Do you know what this means?" Ace said, voice light with excitement. "Animals! Here!"
He let go of Marco, turning to point out at the greenery around them. Ace began talking excitedly, gesturing to the area they could build new enclosures on, and Marco was completely fixated. His eyes were drawn to Ace's lips, his eyes and his hands, watching him shape their future quickly and animatedly, wondering what animals they had that he hadn't seen before.
"My mother would have loved to see this," Ace said, voice drifting into silence. He didn't need to say anything more to Marco. His silence was the respect for a dead loved one, and Marco bowed his head slightly.
"Why are we standing here?" Ace continued suddenly, sadness lingering on his face as he looked at Marco. "We have a bird to save."
It was then that Marco learned Ace didn't do things by halves. He asked Marco to wait in one of the small parlours while he dressed appropriately. Tea and fine food was brought, and Marco enjoyed it. Some of the servants sat with him, and he began speaking about the animals they had at the menagerie, the servants listening in delight.
When he returned to the room, Ace's clothes had changed dramatically. The fabric was largely silk, patterned with flowers and tiny birds, and Ace wore a small coronet, gold and inlaid with small, red stones. If Marco had first met him like this, there would be no doubt that the man before him was the king.
"You look," Marco paused. "Nice," he finished pathetically, and Ace rolled his eyes.
"They're nice clothes and a fancy coronet, but it's not really for me. I'll be thankful when we pick up your bird and I can get into comfy clothes again." He smiled, pinching a biscuit from the table and biting into it. "The carriage should be ready by now."
A two-horse carriage was already waiting for them, and Ace thanked his servants, letting Marco enter the carriage first. It was comfortable, but not too lavish. There would be room for the bird's cage too, and Marco smiled as the door closed.
"Thank you," he said sincerely. Ace rested an elbow on the window ledge, knees resting against Marco's.
"You don't have to thank me," he said, eyes taking in the scenery as it passed him. "Being a king is surprisingly lonely."
Marco stretched his leg out, feeling the warmth of Ace's thigh against his own. The heat passed through his entire body, comforting him. They would save this bird, no matter what.
"I've always preferred animals to people," Marco said. "Our menagerie is my family, animals and humans alike."
There was something else he wanted to say, but the words stuck in his throat a little. Marco took a shallow breath, eyes meeting Ace's. Courage surged in him, and he gave a soft smile.
"Welcome to our family," he said and wondered how many people could get away with saying something like that to any other king. Ace wasn't a typical monarch though. He knew loneliness and loss, but he also knew kindness and love. Ace was a fair king, one Marco would be proud to call family.
Eyes wide, Ace broke into a smile. His eyes were watery, but he didn't cry. He laughed instead, thanking Marco.
"It's been a long time since I've had a proper family," Ace said fondly. "I have brothers, but they went off to explore the world."
The world was so vast, and just the words sounded sad. It was terrible to be left behind in this life, but it looked as if Ace had found somewhere he could fit in, people he could grow to love.
"My advisor is going to have a heart attack when he returns from his holiday," Ace commented quietly, and Marco raised an eyebrow.
"You have an advisor?" he said, and Ace nodded, cheeky look on his face.
"The council disbanded temporarily a couple of weeks ago. They return from holiday this week." Ace paused, adding in afterthought, "I hope they like animals."
The carriage came to a slow stop, and the door opened.
"We have arrived, Your Majesty," the driver said, and Ace stepped out of the carriage with practiced ease. It took Marco an awkward hop to get down, but he stood slightly behind Ace when he had made it, waiting for the owner of the house to appear.
"Majesty!" the nobleman said, bowing low. A panicked smile was on his face, and Marco watched as
Ace tilted his cheek, looking down at the man. "We were not expecting His Grace to visit; I'm afraid we are unprepared."
Marco could see the man's family and servants moving inside of the house, no doubt trying to make their home presentable. He looked away, biting the inside of his cheek instead of laughing.
"I am only here for one thing, so please, relax," Ace said, voice crisper than it was whenever he had spoken with Marco. "I wish to take ownership of your son's bird."
The nobleman's eyes widened, and his jaw slackened. He called for his son, hand circling his shoulders and clutching his son tightly.
"The bird is my son's, Your Grace, " the nobleman said. "It is sickly, on it's deathbed. Surely there is something of greater value that would please His Majesty?"
Marco watched Ace's eyes narrow and his presence thicken.
"Do you presume to know what your King wants?" His voice was harsh, and it was hard to imagine that this was the same Ace who had bumped shoulders with him and accepted his friendship.
"N-not at all, Your Majesty!" the nobleman stuttered, pushing his son forward a little, using him as a shield. They were a pathetic family indeed, Marco thought.
"The bird will be taken into the King's care," Ace said simply. "And furthermore, any other birds your son wishes to own must be cleared with my Master of Birds."
Marco's heart pounded as Ace turned to him, the newly appointed position cloaking his shoulders. Marco had never wanted a title, but he knew that with fancy titles came power, and with power came ability. If he wanted to save as many birds as he could, Marco needed to be powerful, needed this title.
"Only once you have proved you can provide adequate care and nutrition will you be allowed any other birds," Ace finished firmly. "Now bring the bird to me."
The nobleman and his family wasted no time, and soon the cage was being wheeled out, the bird hunched in a corner. For a moment, Marco feared that it was dead, but it shuffled as the cage jarred, and relief flooded through him. Still, he'd be working closely with this bird. He hoped it would respond well to being nursed, or else he was in for plenty of injuries.
"It's beautiful," Ace said softly when they were in the carriage. Marco was already assessing the bird's condition, the carriage window opened to try and air out the smell the bird brought with it.
"It's hard to say," Marco began, "but I think I know what kind of bird it is."
Before he had joined up with Whitebeard, Marco had travelled the world, looking for a purpose. He'd spent years under the stars, alone yet comforted by the world around him. He'd seen many animals, studied even more, and he'd seen this bird before, though from afar and only a handful of times.
"They're known as the monkey-eating eagle," he said, looking away from the bird for a moment. Ace's attention was fixed on him alone and, his stomach flipped. "They're the largest eagle in the world and one of the rarest."
"It's sad," Ace said softly. "To see such a beautiful bird in such an appalling condition."
Marco nodded, swallowing a lump in his throat.
"I can help it though," he said. "It'll be a lot of work, and I doubt it trusts humans, but I will try."
The bird turned its head to look at Marco, eyes clear and intelligent, as if it could understand human speech. Perhaps it could: birds were capable of amazing things, after all.
The carriage began to slow, and Marco looked to Ace. They weren't at the palace yet, and Ace called out to the driver.
"Whitebeard & Sons is ahead," the driver replied. "We'll overtake them even at a walk."
That was true. Their menagerie moved slowly, safely. They managed to move past parts of the long line, his family waving to them and calling out happily. The bird looked towards the outside curiously, and Marco smiled as Ace nudged him, eyes darting to the bird.
"I think it likes hearing other animals," Ace said, and Marco couldn't help but agree. He imagined that the nobleman's house had been quiet, aside from pompous bragging. He didn't blame the bird for loosing appetite.
At the head of the caravan was Whitebeard, sitting atop the first carriage pulled by a huge, grey horse. Ace moved to the window, sticking his head out and waving to Whitebeard as they pulled up beside him.
"Thank you!" he called, and it went against every rule Marco had ever heard about royalty. Royalty should now bow to others, they should not thank others, and they certainly shouldn't make deals with the common folk.
That wasn't who Ace was, though. His kingdom prospered because of his kindness, Marco knew, and while it might not have worked for any other king, Ace pulled it off.
"Thank me when you have escaped animals destroying your palace," Whitebeard called back, nodding his head to Marco as their carriage slowly moved past. His father was happy, his family were happy, and they'd saved the bird.
"I'll need to keep the bird away from the other animals for a while," Marco said, fingers resting against the cage. The bird was staring at his fingers, eyes narrowed slightly. It was far from trusting Marco, but Marco had worked with animals for most of his life.
"You can use the falconry buildings," Ace said, the words Marco had been hoping to hear. "We haven't had birds in there… for years now. There might be some bird stuff left too." Ace shrugged his shoulders.
Ace instructed the carriage to pull around to the small courtyard, passing around the palace. They stopped and unloaded, Marco looking around the area he'd claim as his.
It wasn't fancy, but it was practical. It had likely been used partially as a smithy too, on account of the huge open bellows and horse stalls to one side. Opposite them stood an ornate door, wood carved with birds of varying species. This was the falconry section, and Marco rolled the bird through the wide doors, pleasantly surprised by the inside.
It could use a clean, but large, floor-to ceiling cages lined one side of the room. The other, smaller, wall Marco faced held ornate wardrobes and chests, no doubt containing falconry equipment that hadn't been used for a long time. If there were any thick gloves, they would certainly come in handy.
"Can I help?" Ace asked, and he looked at Marco brightly, still dressed in his fine clothes. Dirt smudged his cheek - goodness knows how it had got there - and Marco wiped it away without second thought, shaking his head.
"I need to clean the area down and get an enclosure prepared," Marco said, fingers warm where they'd brushed Ace's cheek. Reality seemed to catch up with them both, and Ace ducked his head while Marco let his hand fall down to his side. It jarred his shoulder, and he turned, moving to open the largest cage.
"Of course," Ace said, voice low. "I'll send someone to assist you."
He was gone quickly, fine boots clipping neatly against the cobblestones of the courtyard. Marco heard the rattle of his carriage pulling away and sighed, hoping he hadn't crossed a line. Some kings would have had Marco's hand for touching them like that, and while Ace wasn't a typical monarch, he was still a sovereign. Marco was still his subject.
Work took his mind off of Ace. There was no point trying to feed the bird while it was in the tiny cage, but Marco did give it some fresh water while he cleaned out its new home. A servant joined him halfway through, a hardworking woman who introduced herself as Makino and helped Marco finish cleaning in record time.
"It's a little bit terrifying," Makino said as they passed the bird, heading out to collect some materials from the bird section of the menagerie.
Marco laughed. "It's the top predator where it lives. It's not just terrifying: it's beautiful."
Marco managed to round up a group to help him with the enclosure, at Thatch's insistence.
"It's not fair you get to see the palace already," Thatch moaned, grabbing a few idle members of their family. "Does the king have a room full of food? I heard there's this banquet hall, but it's got giant piles of food in instead of tables and-"
Marco let his mind wander off, hefting the large, wooden post he held under his arm up a little. He'd built plenty of bird enclosures before, but he wanted this one to be special. This bird hadn't been living happily for a long time, and it deserved the best.
Slowly, they build up the cage, adding a sheltered, secluded area and plenty of branches. Marco set large plants down – the menagerie travelled well-stocked, and he'd managed to grab a few medium-sized trees as well as other plants. They were in large tubs still, and they wouldn't be taken out of those until a permanent enclosure with the other birds in the zoo was made, but they allowed the bird something nicer to look and some privacy.
In a perfect world, Marco would have loved to release the bird back to the wild. He could tell already, though, that the bird had suffered too much, and he doubted even with years of specialised rehabilitation that this bird would be able to soar and hunt as it once had – if it ever had.
When the enclosure was finished, bark chips coating the floor, plants stretching upwards and secured posts for the bird to rest on, Marco asked that he be left alone. Makino left with persuasion, though she made it clear she'd be outside, should he need her. It seemed that she was taking Ace's orders very seriously, and Marco felt grateful for it.
The room was quiet when they were left alone. Lanterns filled the room with adequate light, and Marco wheeled the cage over to the new enclosure. There was no safe way to do this, and Marco doubted the cage had been opened since the bird had been shut in there. Faeces lined the bottom of the cage thickly, so thick that it wouldn't surprise Marco if no one had bothered to clean it properly ever.
The only way he was going to be able to do this was from inside the enclosure. If the bird flew out, it would enter the enclosure. The door to the outside was still closed off, just in case. If the bird remained in the cage, then the gloves Marco was wearing would help him get it out.
"Come on then," Marco said, reaching to unlatch the cage. The lock screeched, and Marco frowned as he tried to open it. The metal moved slowly, and he tried to soothe the bird as it backed into the corner of the cage, feathers fluffing up in defence.
"It's okay," he assured, stepping to the side as he opened the door. Marco waited a moment, but the bird didn't even attempt to exit the cage.
Plan two then. He'd have to handle a bird that was easily the size of his torso and had a wingspan that was definitely longer than his body. Not to mention a set of talons and a beak that was designed to rip medium-sized mammals apart.
Marco began to talk to the bird, hoping his voice would soothe it.
"It's okay, I'm just going to get you out. It's scary, I know, I've been scared a lot before. You'll be happier when you're out of there though, I promise." He reached inside, ducking his head as the bird tried to move its wings. The cage was too small, though, and Marco managed to grab the bird's legs.
"Sorry, sorry," he said as he pulled the bird out, trying to keep its wings folded while he pulled it out.
The bird let out an angry sound, but Marco had cleared the gate, and he settled the bird upright, holding tightly to its legs with one hand. He sat down, letting the bird rest on his knee.
It was surprisingly calm, Marco noted.
"You're probably too hungry to do much of anything," he said, wincing as he ran a hand over the bird's chest. There was no muscle there at all, starvation had stripped the bird completely. This bird wouldn't be able to attack Marco even if he tortured it.
"Let's check the rest of you over," he said, humming to himself as he turned the bird around, checking its feathers and body. Its wings were intact and nothing was broken. Aside from neglect and starvation, the bird was in decent health.
"I'm going to let you go now," Marco said, setting the bird on the floor and withdrawing his hands gently. It moved away instantly, walking hurriedly to take cover in one of the low bushes. Marco smiled as it peered out at him, eyes wary.
"It's okay," he said, standing slowly. "I'll fetch you some water, and we'll see about you eating."
Marco had filled a large bucket up earlier, and he dragged it into the enclosure. The bird remained in a corner, far away from Marco, and he left the enclosure with a sigh, locking it up.
"I'll be back in a moment," Marco said. He considered heading to Whitebeard and looking for food there, but it would be quicker to get Makino to take him to the kitchens.
"This way," Makino said, smiling. The sky was beginning to grow darker, and Marco wondered if his family were sleeping in their tents or if Ace had moved them inside yet. He'd promised that he'd move them inside before the nights grew colder, but there were so many of them and supplies didn't magically pop up.
Makino led him through the servant's corridors, and everyone they met asked about the bird. It was big news, apparently, and when they entered the warm kitchens, the cooks looked at them with a warm smile.
"We were wondering if we'd have to provide for the animals too," one of the cooks said.
"I'm not sure how it'll work in the future, but I need some fresh meat for a mistreated bird," Marco said, and the cooks shook their head.
"The King was in here telling us all about that poor thing," someone said, and snickers broke out through the room. "And about his new Master of Birds!"
Giggles sounded through the kitchens, and Marco felt as though he was missing out on some joke. He looked to Makino, who was trying to conceal a smile. Her eyes widened, and she looked away.
"Fresh meat, is it?" the first cook said, wiping their hands on their apron. "Let me see what I can get you."
In the end, Marco left with a variety. Monkey wasn't exactly an option, and, while it was the bird's natural diet, Marco doubted the bird had ever eaten its natural food anyway. He had venison, beef, chicken and even some fish to tempt the bird.
Again, he made Makino wait outside, and she pulled a book from inside of her clothes, sitting comfortably against the warm stone wall of Marco's bird house. It was still warm enough outside for Marco not to worry, and he made sure to close the door behind him as he moved to the enclosure.
"Hello," he said, smiling as the bird hurried back into hiding. It had been investigating some of the bark chips, but had abandoned that upon seeing Marco.
"I'm going to give you some food," Marco said, opening the door. The bird was weak still, and he didn't fear an attack, but that didn't mean he was going to let his guard down. Animals, even the tame ones, were unpredictable.
Marco crouched down, sitting on the ground. He had the bucket of meat at his side, and the bird watched him curiously.
"Try this," he said, throwing a few small pieces of red meat towards the bird. It stepped back for a moment, then its eyes focused on what Marco had thrown, and it dashed forward, eating the meat in a moment.
"Ah, so you weren't ill at all," Marco said sadly. "They just didn't bother feeding you the right foods."
Marco had seen it before. Someone gets a new pet and feeds it whatever they feel like. The animal begins to starve, not getting the proper nutrients, and it dies. This bird was simply hungry for the right food, and it began to move closer to Marco.
"Yes, you're very pretty," Marco said as the bird raised its head feathers. "But you can't eat too much too quickly. You'll be ill."
The bird had other ideas, and it stomped one of its feet, tilting its head as it let out a quiet screech. It was so close that its chest feathers brushed against Marco's knee, and he took a chunk of meat in his bare fingers, offering it to the bird. Delight flowed through him as the bird took it gently, swallowing it whole.
They continued in that fashion until the meat was gone. The bird investigated the bucket, beak easily cutting into the woven straw, breaking it. It moved back in surprise, looking at Marco as if he had done something.
"It wasn't me," he said, reaching out to stroke the bird's neck. It allowed the action, and Marco wondered how lonely it had been in order to be so accepting of his kindness.
The bird wandered off eventually, and Marco left. He needed to wash his hands and he went to one of the outside taps, pausing in surprise when he saw that Makino had company. A head was in her lap, Ace fast asleep. Makino looked at him in surprise, putting a finger to her lips with a smile.
For a brief moment, jealousy curled inside of Marco. He had no reason to be jealous, but seeing Ace so intimate and open with Makino stirred something inside of him. He liked Ace, probably too much for a simple subject to like a king, and he didn't want Ace to love Makino.
"I helped to raise Ace when he was a little boy," Makino said softly, and Marco looked down in surprise. "Whenever he's had a trying day, he likes to be around his loved ones. He's always come to me since his brothers took off exploring."
The jealousy inside of Marco was soothed with Makino's words, and guilt seeped in. He shook it off easily, moving to the tap nearby and rinsing his hands well. While it wasn't his intention, the water roused Ace, and he rubbed his eyes, already smiling at Marco.
"I'll return tomorrow," Makino said, bowing and leaving swiftly. Marco wiped his hands dry on his trousers, and Ace stood up slowly.
"I thought I'd show you your room," he said, voice washing over Marco gently. "If you like it, it can be your permanent room."
"Do you want to see the bird?" Marco asked, pushing the door to his bird house open. The light was dim, but it was sufficient, and the bird peeked out from the foliage, backing off a little when it saw that Marco wasn't alone.
"This is Ace," Marco said, and the bird paused. "He helped me rescue you."
Ace moved forward, and the bird hissed loudly, throwing its wings out weakly. Ace moved back instantly, apologising, and turned to Marco with wide eyes.
"I'm so sorry," he said. "I didn't hurt it, did I?"
Marco shook his head, glancing at the bird a little sadly.
"It'll come around to you. You're a person who hasn't given them a nice home or food – that means you might be a bad person." Marco picked up the meat bucket and began putting the lights out. He hated leaving animals in the dark, but there was no way he was leaving fires on or taking the bird outside.
"I'm sorry," Ace whispered to the bird again, leading the way from the room to the courtyard. He waited as Marco washed the bucket out, leaving it to dry.
"I don't suppose I could have a bath or something before bed?" he asked, aware he smelt of sweat and animal blood. It wasn't a particularly nice smell, and he couldn't wait to get into new clothes.
"We have public baths that are open through the afternoon and evening," Ace said. "I think a few members of your family might be using them now, so we can join them."
He paused, opening a door to the main palace for Marco.
"If you'd prefer, though, I can have a private bath drawn up for you." It might have been Marco's imagination, but he sounded a little less enthusiastic about that option. Marco might have been intrigued by the more public bathing option, but he was beginning to feel exhaustion creep on him and knew he needed a quiet bath to think and process what had happened after the past day or so.
Ace looked a little put out when Marco asked for a private bath, but he snagged the nearest servant and sent them off.
"I'll have some food sent up to you as well then, though I hope we can dine together at some point this week. Your new title will come with new duties, I'm afraid, or else the council will be on my back about giving out titles." Ace rolled his eyes, stepping down a wide corridor.
The walls were decorated in beautiful tapestries, mythical animals dancing across the fabric. Ace stopped beside a tapestry of birds, in front of a dark, wooden door.
"This will be your room, if you like it." He paused, shifting his weight from foot to foot awkwardly. "My room is the one on the opposite side of the hallway."
There were only two rooms down this corridor, Marco realised. Ace was honouring him ridiculously, and Marco bowed his head.
"I do not mean to sound ungrateful," he began, "but I don't deserve your kindness."
Ace took a half-step forwards, and Marco looked up. He had never seen someone look as vulnerable and scared as Ace did now, and his heart jolted in his chest, shooting panic to his stomach.
"I have too much," Ace said, looking down at the ground. "Being king, I have too much. I was raised with little, and I enjoyed that life, I lived that life."
He paused, looking down at the rings on his fingers, the jewels that marked him as the sovereign of the kingdom.
"I didn't ask to become a king, and my father let me live away from the palace after my mother's death because he thought I deserved an honest life. I love my people and I knew I'd be king one day, but…" Ace sighed, looking up at Marco. "I don't need a palace. I have no need for hundreds of servants and fancy titles."
He smiled sadly, eyes crinkling.
"I like looking after people, and I want them to be happy. I want you to be happy," Ace added quietly, shrugging his shoulders and looking away. "I never intended it to make you uncomfortable and-"
"Thank you," Marco said. He'd been worried that Ace had seen them as a charity case, or that he wanted something more than they'd agreed on. Instead, Ace simply didn't know what to do with everything that came with being a king.
Ace had opened up himself for someone he hardly knew, and Marco knew exactly how he could return the favour.
"I shall see you in the morning," he said, opening his door and stepping over the threshold. "I also feel I need to be completely honest with you, and I want you to take what I say with an open mind."
Ace frowned, and Marco ignored the nerves in his stomach. He'd never been one to shy away from how he felt. Marco preferred to get everything out into the open, and Ace being king wouldn't stop him from doing it this time either.
"I'm attracted to you," he said, the words rushing out in one, small breath. "Physically, and emotionally. I feel as though you deserve that honesty, and I want to be clear about where I stand."
Marco smiled tightly, looking at the tapestries on the opposite wall as Ace remained silent.
"Sleep well, Sire," Marco said, and he shut his door, closing it behind him. He leant against the wood, eyes screwed shut, wondering if it had been a good idea at all.
Well, he never did things by half, let that be said at least. When Marco liked someone, he was quick to tell them, and often even quicker to get them in the sheets. Not this time, though. Ace was something different than the people he'd known before, someone who seemed as though he could teach Marco a thing or two.
There was a knock on the door, and Marco jumped back from it. He tried to calm his pounding heart and open the door with a serious look, but he was sure he failed, on account of the waver to the line of his lips.
"You can't just say sleep well and expect me to toddle off to bed," Ace said, voice incredulous and eyes wide. He stepped closer to Marco, looking up slightly as he closed the distance between them, grabbing the front of Marco's dirty shirt, pulling him close and planting a hard kiss on his lips.
"You'll get a proper one when you learn proper manners," Ace said, releasing Marco with a grin. "And you can hear all about how well I slept over breakfast. If you oversleep, there won't be any food, and you might miss out on a nice treat."
And, with that, he left the room, humming merrily down the corridor. Marco sunk to the floor, shock spreading through his body, and he remained there in a comfortable bubble until servants arrived with his bathwater, none of them too concerned to see Marco on the floor.
"Took the king long enough," one of them, a face Marco recognised from the kitchen earlier, said fondly. "You hurt our Ace, bird boy, and you'll face the wrath of his household!"
Marco turned his head, looking up with a smile. He felt like a young child in love for the first time, and he sighed, closing his eyes again.
"I won't hurt him," Marco promised, and the servants resumed filling his bath, satisfied with the answer.
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