Hello again~ so here it is the next chapter. Thatch got his time and his part got longer and longer x.x Seriously I didn't notice how long it got while I'm typing. But I hope you like it. Since I don't know yet which commander I'll write next it is possible that the next one will be a flashback chapter to the beginning of their relationship (PoV not sure at the moment). But no other spoilers for now ;) and the update will not come as quickly as they had been.
Shahana-G: No thanks needed^^ I'm happy when I get feedback that the story or chapter is good (spelling mistake and others I welcome too ;) ). It is a nice motivation. Yeah, Jozu is kinda hard. But let's face it all Whitebeard commanders are kinda hard to write because we didn't see much of their character in the war. So it is a bit like a gamble to get a fitting personality and chapter based on the information. But I'm happy how I got Jozu done =) Do I spoil or do I not? It's a hard question. Middle way. Let's just say Ace will be the thirteenth or later to find out (in my current plan. Like with Jozu und Thatch it can change).
~Chapter 3 - Spy Cook ~
Thatch pouted. After lunch, he wanted to grab Luffy and made him help with a few pranks. Marco's warning, that he would have to cook everything for Luffy's birthday, didn't really affect him. He did meet the chef of the Straw Hats once and he just knew that this man would be stopped by nothing to cook for his crew and especially his captain. So Thatch was safe to play a few pranks
But he couldn't. Izo stopped him by making him clean up the paint from his prank and then ordered the cook to be his helper for setting up a guest room for Jinbe. The Fishman himself was with Namur. The eighth division commander volunteered to help Jinbe out with calling the other Straw Hats. And the captain of the Straw Hats Luffy was with Marco. Thatch pitied the boy a bit. Don't get him wrong, he liked respectively loved his brother. But he could be so boring sometimes that Thatch wanted to sleep. Luffy was prone to get bored with Marco. Which he most likely did if you count jumping into the ocean for no reason. That gave Thatch a few moments with his blonde brother because Izo wanted to dress up Luffy. He mused to himself. The face, Marco made when he saw the boy in the red short kimono, was interesting. Thatch thought for a moment that he would start chasing Izo. But he didn't. Well, could be because Luffy already went to the next spot and shouted something about training. This would have been able to be a good prank, but sadly he didn't have time. Even if it was still afternoon, he should start preparing dinner soon. It wasn't a vacation with Luffy on board.
Now after dinner, he was in the lounge with Izo. Finally able to do what he wants to. But he couldn't. Marco took Luffy with him to Oyaji. No special reason, at least as much as he knew. And Izo was reading papers of his division next to him. This wasn't how an evening was supposed to be like.
„Stop pouting. It won't work on me", Izo said and stopped his thoughts. „But Izo, do you really have to read now? There are better things to do. Like thinking about new pranks and preparing them", Thatch complained. The cross-dresser didn't answer. But his glance made the redhead flinched. He knew that look too well. One wrong word. One wrong word and Izo would ignore him for a whole week. That was something Thatch couldn't live with.
The cook loved affection and attention from his family. But two people are more special to him. On one hand, it was Whitebeard. His father figure was the first person, who encored him to be himself. To be a little childish if he will like it. To prank the others as long as nothing important broke and no one got hurt. On the other hand, it was Izo. The relationship between him and the cross-dresser was deeper. So he never called Izo his brother and the other knew it, too. The cross-dresser didn't show it much with words, but with actions like a hug for an example.
„Please, Izo. Stop looking at me like that. I swear I will cook or bake everything for you. But please, stop looking at me like that, darling", Thatch begged and even got on his knees. Izo shook his head lightly with a soft chuckle. „If you get on your knees someone would think you would propose." „You know, I will someday. And I'll already know your answer." „Don't get too cocky with me, cook", Izo warned him, but he pulled the cook up to give him a quick kiss. Thatch smirked and sneaked his arms around his other.
This was better than sitting here and watching Izo read. The book was dropped on the sofa, where Izo had been seated a few seconds ago. This was how an evening should be. No work for their divisions. Well, there still was for Izo, but he hoped the cross-dresser would be distracted enough to not think about them any longer.
„You really like others to stop working, don't you?" There went his hope. „Only my favourites. But you don't have any more work, do you?" „Would you stop if I say yes?" „No, I wouldn't stop except you want to see some pranks. Then I think I could leave you for a few minutes." „Marco's warning isn't really stopping you." „Nope. I mean, I really like cooking and even if there are three black holes, which is kinda shocking when you first hear about it. But I think that the cook of the Straw Hats will cook the meal mostly. Because that's the kind of man he is. He won't be stopped by anything to cook for his crew. So I'm safe. I will help out, but I can still sneak a few kisses and a dance from you." Thatch smirked and pressed soft kisses to Izo's cheek. But before he could kiss the cross-dresser on the lips, someone spoke.„I have nothing against you two being like that. You know how some of the crew can be. So could two please get a room, yoi." Both were a bit shocked and looked at the door.
Marco stood in the doorway. Luffy was behind him, still dressed in red kimono and black leggings. The Straw Hat boy laughed. „Your faces. Shishishi." Thatch composed himself quickly from his little shock. „Jealous, Marco? You just have to say something. I can find the perfect pineapple partner for you. So no need to be jealous, my dear brother." The cook grinned. Marco's slightly annoyed face was worth the little hit which he got from Izo. „Wouldn't that be cannibalism, if pineapple gets a pineapple partner?" Luffy wondered and tilted his head. Thatch had to bite his lip to stop him from laughing. „He didn't mean that I should eat it, yoi." Marco looked angry at Thatch. The redhead didn't feel like it was his fault for Luffy logic. But this was better than pranking someone. Well, it could be some kind of a prank. Thatch looked at Luffy because the cook knew it wasn't over, yet.
The boy seemed to think about Marco's words. „So can I eat it when he brings it?" Something dangerous shimmered through the boy's eyes. But only shortly and Thatch thought that it wasn't real. So he laughed out loud and leaned on Izo. The cross-dresser only shook his head but didn't step away from him. „Thatch?" Marco's voice sounded a bit dangerous. „Yes, my dearest older brother." „You take my watch duty tonight and no excuses. I have to deal with the black hole which gets hungry from just thinking about food, yoi." Luffy pouted. „I don't always think about food. I also think about … about my friends."
Thatch would have also pouted if he didn't notice a light red blush on Marco's cheek. He was shocked. His older brother did not blush. It was hard to embarrass Marco and even harder to make him blush. So what was going on? The blonde didn't look Luffy's way. So could be that the blush had something to do with the boy? No way. Luffy wouldn't be able to make Marco blush. He saw his brother standing in front of Boa Hancock one time when she acted cutely, and he didn't even bat an eyelid that time. So how the hell should Luffy of all the people be able to make the first division commander of Whitebeard, Marco the Phoenix, blush? Well only asking would help him. So he opened his mouth to ask his blonde brother.
But Izo spoke before he could address Marco. „Don't worry. I'll make sure that he'll do it. So you can go to sleep and rest." Marco rolled his eyes slightly but offered a small smile to Izo as thanks for controlling Thatch. The cross-dresser grinned and then turned to the black-haired boy. „Luffy, our favourite first division commander overwork himself most of the time. So make sure he doesn't do any work. I don't want to see him up before breakfast is finished in the morning." Luffy tilted his head before he nodded and clung to the blonde's arm. „Leave it to me. Pineapple won't work today or tomorrow", the boy stated with a big grin. Marco rolled his eyes. „I can take care of myself. But could you please bring some clothes for Luffy? I think another day in this clothes won't be any good for the crew. Jozu already put a man through the wall for the idea of having sex with Luffy, yoi." Anger shimmered trough Marco's eyes. Anger, which Thatch could understand. The boy was naive and innocent. He wouldn't even know what sex is. He got his answer to this question with Luffy's next question. „What is sex? Is that eatable?" „No, it is not. I'll leave it to Ace to explain that to you", Thatch grinned. It would scare some of this idiots if the fire user gets to know why his baby brother would ask him. „Thatch, leave it. I'll look for clothes. But tonight this clothes and yours have to be enough", Izo said and started to pull Thatch away. „Good night you two." The redhead shook his head. He didn't try to understand what was going on in his lover's mind. „Don't forget a jacket. It can be cold tonight. Some men say we are close to a winter island, but I'm not sure. So be careful. We wouldn't that you get sick." „Don't worry about me. I'm resisting the cold and then after my watch, I have some questions for you about our blonde mother-hen." Izo looked confused before he smirked and shook his head. „I'm not telling." The cross-dresser pressed a kiss to Thatch's cheek and then went away.
„Stupid Izo, won't tell me anything." The redhead leant against the wooden wall. He sat outside in a hidden corner of the ship. While many people wouldn't see him there, he could see everything. Even if the lamp he had with him was dimmed. Thatch didn't like it if people saw him quickly when he had watch duty. He liked to spy on people before they noticed him or he could scare them as a prank. Both were fun when he had watch duty at night.
Thatch sighed. He wasn't sure why Izo wouldn't tell him what was going on. Normally he told him everything. He bothered him. The only things Izo would normally not tell him were secrets he learned about others and which should stay secret for now. But that made it even more interesting for Thatch. His brother was involved. He had a right to know what was going on with his mother-hen of a brother. But he had to wait until duty was over. Izo wouldn't leave the warm bed for a short visit now like he often did. His shift ended in thirty minutes.
While he was in his thoughts, he didn't notice the two people coming out of the ship. He stopped when he heard Marco's voice. „Aren't you tired? With you running up and down the ship the whole afternoon I thought you would fall asleep standing, yoi." Thatch was surprised. Didn't Izo sent the blonde to bed and even gave Luffy an instruction to make sure of that? The boy seemed like he had accepted the order and planned to fulfil it. But with Marco being here, then the second person was most likely Luffy. It even fit with the question the blonde had asked. „Nope, not yet. I want to see some stars with Marco. Couldn't we sleep outside?" That was another surprise for Thatch. He couldn't remember ever hearing Marco's name from Luffy. The boy always called him pineapple or pretty bird, depending on the form he saw him in. But never by his name. „Not if you want to sleep like you first intend to." Marco chuckled. Thatch put his fingers in his ear to clean them. That didn't sound like his brother.
Thatch turned and ducked more into his hiding place. He tried to see the outline of these two clear, so he could guess what they were doing.
The smalle figure tilted its head. „I want to sleep close to Marco and cuddle." The boy stated and jumped the bigger one for a hug. His arms were around Marco's shoulders. The blonde did take a few steps back before his own arms went around Luffy's waist and held him close. „Don't worry. You can. I already promised you that you sleep in my bed and not in the extra one." Thatch watched closer. He never heard that Marco allowed someone to sleep in his bed, or nest as Thatch like to call Marco's bed. Did he mistake someone for his brother? No, that couldn't be. He would notice that with Haki.
Luffy seemed happy with Marco's answer because the shadow of his head melted with the blonde's shadow. „You are not mad at me for telling Sparkles, right?" What did Luffy tell Jozu? The boy didn't have much contact with the third division commander. But Luffy did tell him something, which he didn't tell Thatch. His own lips formed a pout. He thought Luffy trusted him with everything. But the way these two hugged bothered him, too. It didn't seem to be a normal hug. It looked more like a couple hug. But Thatch knew that Marco wasn't interested in a romantical relationship. So there had to be another reason? Especially since Luffy was allowed to sleep in the same bed as Marco. So one way to find the answer. Doing one of his favourite things on watch duty. Spying.
„I'm not mad. I wasn't even mad. I'm just not happy with how easy people seemed to pick up what is going on without us telling them, yoi." „Only Ossan, Izo and Sparkle know and they wouldn't tell anything if you are not ready. They care about you. They are family." „I know… but doesn't it bother you that they find out before you are ready to tell your crew and Ace?" Luffy lifted his head and from Thatch's point of view, he seemed to look up at Marco. But he wasn't sure. „I don't know if I will ever be ready. But I know what I want. I want to become king of the pirates and stay with Marco forever."
Thatch put a hand on his mouth. That was cute. Luffy wanted to stay with the mother-hen of the Whitebeard pirates. Marco got himself a little duckling. But… why weren't they saying anything about that? Izo wouldn't make a secret of it either. Thatch was confused. His second idea about them having a parental relationship seemed wrong.
Then he had to stop himself from moving and making any kind of noise. Marco had pressed a soft kiss to Luffy's forehead. „I will always be there for you. Especially to protect you." The boy whined. Thatch couldn't hear the exact words, but something about the wrong place and that he didn't need protection. Marco chuckled as Luffy's arms snaked around his neck. The boy stood on his tip toes while the blonde leaned down. Then their shadows melted completely into one as their lips met.
So romantical relationship it was. Thatch let himself sink more into his hiding place. That was what they were hiding. The thing Izo won't tell him because it wasn't his right to do so. He didn't know how to feel about it.
On the one side, he was happy for them. Marco needed someone who didn't care what comes next and just wanted to live and Luffy needed someone level-headed like the blonde. But on the other side, it somehow hurt that they didn't seem to trust them enough to tell them about their relationship on their own.
Perhaps a talk with Izo will let him see clearer. And tomorrow he will use this to tease Marco a bit, before making Luffy spill every little sweet detail about their relationship.