The sequel! At last! It took me long enough, but I've finally managed to write a sequel that doesn't make me cringe. It's still kind of short and the part where Marco realizes that Ace and Luffy are brothers is tiny, but I hope you'll like it all the same.

Considering how long it took me to manage this second chapter, I don't know if I'll EVER be able to write that Marineford chapter but AT LEAST you've got this ;)

It's Luffy who finds him and he wonders if he should see a pattern there. He certainly feels weary from flying long distances, although this time he did land properly.

It's been almost two years since then and if he's honest Marco hasn't thought of it much. There was a lingering ache as he flew back to the Moby Dick and that haunting song echoing in his head, but once he is back in the chaotic energy of the crew, surrounded by his rowdy brothers and smothered in their affection, little else can inhabit his mind.

He doesn't forget exactly. There are times when he thinks back to that little island in East Blue, to the house in the trees and that boy whose smile is brighter than the sun. But most of the time he doesn't think of it. There's only the awareness that he left his heart back there and his eyes don't stray on women or men anymore. After all, there's no one with a smile as beautiful as Luffy's.

It is still true that he hasn't thought of him in a while, and it is a shock to see him standing in his line of vision so suddenly. There has been no indication that he would meet the straw-hatted pirate during his mission in Paradise and he certainly hasn't considered the possibility of encountering him on the inhabited island he has chosen to take a break on.

As a result he is left to stare in shock, gaping as much as birds can gape, eyes wide as saucepans as he tries to make himself believe he is not dreaming.

Luffy is not much better. He has stopped in his race abruptly, eyes locking onto the flaming bird with a look of astonishment. His jaw is hanging open and his eyes are unblinking. When Luffy's image doesn't suddenly vanish and the boy is still standing in the same step more real than ever, Marco's heartbeat starts picking up. The reality of Luffy being here is sinking in and all at once the dam opens. The long-forgotten warmth washes over him and makes his blood thrum with joy.

"My mystery bird."

The words are soft, just a murmur, but they make his entire body shiver.

There is always something in being someone's. Being Whitebeard's son makes him happy. It makes his mouth twist in a smile, it sets him at ease and makes him look ahead confidently. Being Thatch, Ace and Izo's brother makes him proud. He doesn't think their relationship would have changed much if they had been friend instead, they would have smiled and laughed just the same. But he always feels something fierce and proud rise in him when he points at one of them and says 'that's my brother'. It makes him proud in a different way than being the strongest man in the world's first mate does. It makes him glad too. Glad that he followed that strange man all those years ago, that young fool who dreamt of creating a family on those traitorous seas.

All of these titles make strong feelings arise in him, but more than anything it is being Luffy's mystery bird that gets to him. As the boy says those words, a tender smile on his face and eyes softened with love, Marco feels like preening obnoxiously. It makes him feel elated, drunk in the same way that he was the day he took to the skies and flew. All at once, he wants to puff out his chest, bury his feathered head in the boy's neck and turn back into his human form to embrace him.

There is perhaps nothing prestigious about being Luffy's mystery bird, but no title has ever been as precious to Marco as this one.

They end up in a tree, Luffy sitting his back against the trunk, holding Marco against him and gently carding his fingers through the phoenix's feathers.

For a long time, Luffy doesn't speak. He hums nostalgic words with an absent look on his face.

"You'll fly away one day,

No matter what you say,

I know you love the sea,

Much more than you do me.

I will remain alone,

Long after you have gone,

I will sing my sorrow,

To winds that always blow."

Marco leans into the boy's chest, closing his eyes to better enjoy the soft melody and the sensation of tender fingers caressing his plumage.

"I won't ever forget,

I wish I could and yet,

I remember us and smile,

As I have all this while.

Don't doubt I love you still,

As I wait on the hill,

Looking out to the sea,

She who stole you from me.

I have never blamed you,

Nor will I ever do,

You need not be with me,

So long as you are free.

But grant me this one wish,

To appease my anguish,

Swear your very last thought,

Will be of me or nought."

The song ends and Marco opens his eyes, almost startled by the new silence. He looks up to find Luffy looking down at him. The boy is smiling secretly as if he has just remembered something no one else knows.

"You never said goodbye." Luffy says, his voice isn't as accusing as it could have been, then he adds: "And that's not how you kiss properly."

The tone is light and teasing but it makes Marco jump out of the boy's loose embrace and dash up on a higher branch, heart hammering in his chest. He doesn't know if he should feel happy or mortified that Luffy was awake to feel that kiss on his forehead. For now, he can only feel stunned by the realization. Then, there's a little voice murmuring in his mind that Luffy hasn't actually said he had disliked it. If he had, he wouldn't have been so quick to hold Marco against him.

The phoenix's eyes fall back on the boy's face. He looks thoughtful.

"Hey," he says softly and his voice has lost some of that childishness that Marcos has always associated with him. "Won't you show me what you look like? I want to know your name. And then…" he hesitates and there's a note of uncertainty in his next words. "Then maybe…you can try kissing me properly?"

Marco realizes then that Luffy isn't a child. He's an adult. A childish one maybe but not as immature as his general attitude may bring one to believe.

Slowly, he relaxes his shoulder, taking in the anxiousness in the boy's eyes and the growing disappointment in his frown as Marco remains silent. Then, he opens his wings and drops from his perch, diving down to the ground without a backwards glance. He lands on two feet and leans against the trunk, feeling suddenly breathless. Then, he waits.

It takes a few moments for Luffy to react and to start climbing down and Marco takes the opportunity to try and calm the painful beating of his heart. Then, Luffy drops to the ground and moves around the tree. His dark eyes stare at Marco intensely, as if engraving every detail of the man's feature in his mind. The boy moves unconsciously closer, eyes still wide and fixed on Marco's face. Feeling ever so slightly self-conscious the man clears his throat.

"Marco." he tells the boy. "My name is Marco." he completes when he sees the confusion washing over the boy's face.

Understanding washes over the boy's face and he beams up at Marco as if he had just found the One Piece.

"Marco." he repeats.

He likes the way his name sounds when Luffy says it, he thinks.

"Now you need to kiss me." Luffy says very seriously.

Marco blinks and laughs. Because there's only Luffy to demand a kiss this way, with complete confidence and not an ounce of shame.

"Yeah, I suppose I do, yoi." he answers, still chuckling.

He says it like it's a chore and it makes Luffy pout adorably, but he's smiling when he bends to capture the boy's lips with his own and it doesn't take much coaxing before Luffy is kissing back, as passionately as he does everything else.

Later, when Luffy is buried in his arms, his fingers clinging to Marco's shirt and his lips swollen, he smiles secretly to himself.

"Marco, my mystery bird." he murmurs, and there's a new meaning hidden in those words.

Marco smiles down tenderly at his sleepy lover and gently kisses his brow. There will be time enough for other things later. For now just holding him is enough.

(When he goes back to the Moby Dick after a month of absence, Ace brandishes a wanted poster with Luffy's face on it and declares him his little brother with an overwhelming amount of pride. Marco is suddenly glad that he hasn't gone further with the boy because he doesn't know how he would have faced Ace otherwise. Especially not when the boy spends hours bragging about his adorable little brother, who already has a bounty and has made a name for himself by defeating Arlong.

He decides then and there that he will keep his relationship with Luffy from Ace for as long as he can. After all, what Ace doesn't know can't hurt him. Or Marco, incidentally.)