A/N:: So happy to see the reviews~! Enjoy!
Haruta had found out first, spying on us at the last bit there since he was about to find me anyways. Izou was the next to know right after that and had come in with a gift, making others look on in confusion. I had been dragged to the commander table that morning and was insisted to open the gift. When opening it, I was presented with a bandana with the crew's insignia perfectly stitched on in a vibrant orange as the cloth color.
"You have to show you are with the family." Izou had claimed out, having others catching on with cheers and then I was being hounded. Everyone was welcoming me to the family, Thatch calling out to the other kitchen workers that they should prepare for a celebration of a new member and I couldn't stop smiling with laughter leaving me. It had been a great experience as they coddled me for the rest of the day, the larger men totting me around and was told not to get used to it. I wouldn't, but it was still nice of a feeling and Whitebeard was being boastful and called me son whenever he could.
I had a family again.
"You will be considered a cabin boy until four months from now and then you will pick a division to reside under, with some recommendations by Pops." Marco explained from his desk as I sit on his dresser with papers of the guidelines, though he was basically explaining them all.
"Neat," I mention while glancing at the words written, somewhat faded by how many times they have been looked at and the years on them. The weight of the bandana is around my neck, the emblem showing on the back of my neck as I was still trying to find what felt more comfortable. "Not kill another of family? I thought that is a given rule?" I ask curiously and notice a look towards me as Marco seemed thankful on my attitude on that.
"You know we have no second commander," a nod leaves me even if he was stating that as a fact. "About ten years ago, one of our own got into a big argument over a disagreeable matter with Lavi, our second commander, and it ended with a way too serious fight. We had pulled them apart as Lavi was mainly defending himself and thought it had been dropped there. Though, it seems not, yoi." The words follow and I frown at hearing that, the mourning in his tone showing how much he was as important to the crew like the others. "Lavi had been killed on watch, we couldn't save him in time. It really didn't help Maybelle either, since she couldn't stop the bleeding for her own blood brother." He explains, having me think of the head nurse and not able to see her so sorrowful as she most likely was. "We had to stop her from pummeling the guy who did it, giving him a rightful trial before ending his life, yoi." The explanation has me most definitely see Maybelle attacking an individual in a very deadly manner, she really would be capable of it if allowed.
Marco seemed done telling me that and it has me close up a bit, not used to those types of emotions with others. It always made me feel awkward, maybe because I never rightfully mourned over my mother after she passed and just kept out of that mind set. "I-I'm sorry for your loss…" I strain to say as I do mean it, but I am bad with these kinds of emotions from others—hell, I have a hard time with those emotions with myself.
"Thank you," he replies, as if knowing I mean it and soon breathes out a sigh while moving a piece of paper to the side. "After that we made it an official rule in place where you get death for betraying a brother." He continues while I nod and went to looking back at the papers, skimming along it and was surprised at some things.
"Whoa, you guys even have dating rules?" I ask with a questioning look, not bothered at all by it, just extremely curious.
"Of course, if you haven't noticed Thatch and Izou are actually in relations with one another." I stare to him with eyebrows raised before thinking back on their interactions.
"Oh yeah, I guess they do act like it." I comment with a thoughtful face and he chortles with a low cooing follow, lips twitching after it. A chuckle leaves me at hearing it while propping a foot up to the dresser so I can lean against it. "A story behind this one too?" I am a bit hopeful it is a happier story to liven up the space.
"Yes, people were being too frivolous and there were too many rivalries, yoi." At hearing that, I chuckle more as that must have been a sight and he is smirking while completely stopping his work. "It was made that if you want to have someone as a bed mate, you of course get permission, but don't take it farther if that is not your intention. If your intention is of being more than bedmates then you must first court one another to make sure it will work out and not for just sexual interactions."
"So, you guys have your own one-night stands?" I ask curiously, happy to know he was obviously referring to the fact of men being with men without judgement on the ship.
"One-night stand, yoi?" He asks curiously and I smile while moving my leg to butterfly out, foot resting to my thigh.
"Basically, having sex for a night and that's it." I mention and he nods while crossing arms and leaning back in his chair.
"Though, by fair warning if you do have any relations in a sexual manner, you have to be tested to make sure you both are fine. It's rare to get any kind of infection, but we do have the medicine on board for those rare occasions." Marco tells me and it quickly dawns on me about 'STI's, the 'forever infection' and is something people associate with gay people most.
"What? You have treatment for it?" I ask in confusion and he raises an eyebrow with a tilt of his head.
"Of course, did you not?" A frown is on me has him know the answer and seems a bit surprised. "You have all that technology and you could not find an antibiotic?"
"Okay, we were advance in technology doesn't mean we have everything figured out." I defended lightly before shrugging shoulders with a sigh. "If anything, we probably do but the government won't allow it out. My… er, that country strives on medicines, and doctors costs a butt load. Like, there was a cure for cancer, but the country is blinded to know about it because then the government would lose money." I explain to him while trying to correct myself since it's technically not my world anymore and see this knowing look on him, as if comparing what I have said.
"So, your former government had been just as corrupted as ours is, yoi?"
"Seems like it, I guess, but I know nothing of the government here." A snort leaves him and has a look of not asking because it was just as bad in their own way. "But that's cool, we always had to wear a condom to prevent such things." I mention to get back a little more on topic and I see furrowed eyebrows looking to me.
"A what?" The question has me stare in disbelief and soon sit back a little, trying to think how to explain that without being awkward. "How does it prevent it?" It's curiosity peeking in his tone and I look to him before breathing out.
"A condom is basically…" I wave hands out a bit and feel my cheeks flushing with no will to stop them. "It's like this type of latex that goes… goes around a man's penis to prevent pregnancies and infections." The words leave me, knowing I am burning in embarrassment on talking about such a thing, most people's parents explain that or a quick look up on the internet or even a local health center with a nurse. Blue eyes are staring to me as he seems to be thinking on that information before down at himself very noticeably. It doesn't stop my curiosity from looking to his lap, too, and brimming to know what he looks like underneath those pants, which has me pull my eyes back up quickly to stop those thoughts.
"That sounds uncomfortable, yoi." Eyes find mine as I scoff lightly with a small laugh and have hands moving to grab around my shin.
"It is, it feels like you are suffocating him." I explain while giving another laugh and feel my hormones calming down.
"Judging by how you explain of not having much of a medicine for the infection, I can see you have good judgement for bed mates, so at least I will not have to cover that." Marco mentions as he moves to grab the paper from the dresser next to me, desk chair only having to be tilted slightly.
"I never had many partners anyways, I'm more of find interest in someone kind of person." I explain as he takes the paper to look over before flicking eyes to me, a soft cooing leaving him and has me purse lips as I try not to show my smile as he curses under his breath. "I think it's cool on how much you correspond with your Phoenix, like it's not just an ability, but a part of who you are." The words leave me, not being able to help myself as I do love phoenixes and hearing the noises causes a fluttering in my stomach.
"One thing you learn with being a Devil Fruit user is that you should correspond with your ability, or it will just cause problems." The way he says that shows his experience and a low cooing following has him roll eyes, causing me to chuckle. "Most say I show traits like my phoenix, yoi."
"I've never had a bird personally before, so I wouldn't know." I shrug as he goes back to looking at his paper and I felt curiosity prickling at what birds are like, wanting to mess with the other.
"I think that's the important things and if you have questions just ask anyone." He continues while handing me the paper and I jump down with it in hand as I move to stand on the other side of him, closer to the door. As he shifts to go back to work, I smirk in mischief and step closer with a hand moving around him. "Do you want me to throw you in the ocean? I can officially do that." A laugh leaves me as he doesn't move, so I quickly get my hand to his sternum and use the first two knuckles of my fingers to rub.
"Good birdie~!" I praise and there is a movement from him with a sing-song tune leaving, startling not only me, but him as I pull back with purse lips of surprise and try to control the smile wanting to show on how much I loved the sound. A hand is covering his mouth as he glares to me sharply as red flares over his cheeks. I squeak when he is moving, having me quickly run out with the paper forgotten, avoiding a foot and then slipping out the other door.
"Hey, Ace!" Thatch calls as I round the doorframe with a laugh and avoid a heel that finds the deck, barely holding back strength. I see amber eyes gazing in surprise as Marco must have come out of the room, having me notice by the slight pressure as well, and Thatch quickly slipping into the door provided to the side that has other commander rooms. "You're on your own, little bro!" He claims while I pass by and I can only laugh as talons find my shoulders.
"Gah! Come on~! I won't peep~!" I claim while he lifts me up higher and as he moves to the side, I quickly gripped to his legs. "It was cute~!" I merely tease and feel as he dips and throws me enough to slip and land into the ocean. Swimming, I break through the surface to see Marco standing on the railing with a hint of pink on his cheeks as he views me in a slight disgruntled fashion. A grin shows on me as I laugh, giving someone enough time to throw a rope down and telling me I was officially in the family with Marco throwing me in.
-o-o-o-o-
I had been oh so tempted to tell Thatch what happened, but I didn't want to share that so I said I taunted Marco to the point it made him chase me out. It seemed to work, Thatch thinking that since I was new and now no longer protected by the 'guest' title then I was free game to throw my ass into the ocean if making him pissed off. Laughing it off, we then ventured around as I started to decide on where I would stay since I couldn't just stay in the single room, needing to adjust anyways.
Second division claimed me on spot with roaring voices and excitement when it was agreed since they had a few more hammocks empty than any other division in their barracks. Of course, everyone was claiming that I should keep an open mind for different divisions, but it seemed the challenge was on for them all to have me try to favor a division.
Besides all of that, I was starting to join in daily things more than before and though it could be grueling, I was absolutely delighted to have this opportunity to be a part of the crew—more so then when I would get a job in the city. The difference from the city to here is a lot, but something in my bones told me that this is where I belonged. Not just on this crew, but in this world. It was like I was made to be here and to live my life here. The sea is so beautiful and the rocking of the ship causing creaks is like a lullaby. Even with starting to sleep in the new quarters, it only took me a couple nights to get used to the sound of snoring.
This is where I belonged and I knew that to the last ounce of my soul.
I am curious if you all will be all right with me changing this to rated M? I was planning to do some mature stuff later on. If you want it to stay T, I can? And those who would want to read the M could go to AO3? Just curious! I mean, I usually end up doing something M related, but if you all don't mind then I will go ahead and change it to M. Let me know!