Thanks a lot for the reviews :* You guys brightened my crappy day [and it was a really, really horrible day... been crying for like half of it. Writing this story actually helps :D ]

So I wanted to post this as soon as I could. Please forgive the many mistakes, my head hurts bit .

As always Enjoy!

If I owned One Piece there would be a hell lot more Marco and Law. But I don't.


The past month had been awful for Avani. Caught between pushing papers and some random fieldwork, she had little time for herself. Restless nights, plagued by nightmares about her brothers being captured by the navy or sweet dream about a certain Pirate Commander, didn't help her mental state either. But the worst of all was her grandfather. The old man got it in his head that she should apply for a promotion. How the hell he got that idea was beyond her. It was true that she had brought down some notorious pirates, but that was a long time ago, when she was still making a name for herself. When she was still blaming all pirates, because of the few that stole her mother from her and Ace.

But she was all over that now. And she refused to condemn innocents together with criminals, for the simple fact that they shared a common title: pirate. Life had proven her that there were some good pirates out there, some more noble than many marines she personally knew. Avani was just about to leave her office when her old man came in.

"Avani, good, you're still here."

"No. Just leaving." She was not in the mood for another argument. Her work was officially done and she was planning to check on her trouble making brothers. With the bonus of hopefully running into Marco as well.

"Oh, don't be like that. I just want what's best for you."

"I know. But I'm really tired right now and…"

"Is this about something else?"

"Huh? What? No." Damn old geezer always smelled when she was up to something.

"Maybe your run into your brother?"

"Which one?"

"Aha! So you did see those brats. How are they?" Garp took a seat wad didn't seem to be leaving soon, so she sat down as well. Gears were turning in her head, mapping a way for her to escape the current predicament and be on her merry way.

"They're good. Both found some good crews. Luffy is actually a captain."

"Ah yes. I saw his bounty."

"Going up by the minute, huh?" Even if both had a smiles on their faces, the atmosphere was rather tense. Avani knew Garp wanted to warn her of the consequences she faced is anyone found out she was helping her pirate brothers, pirates that were making names of their own, much like Avani herself.

"Being an Admiral… It would give you certain advantages."

"And more constrains. I wouldn't be able to pass official marine events, would have even more soldiers to take care of, and the entire world would be fixing their eyes on the new Admiral. No thank you. Plus, I'm nowhere near as powerful as any of the Admirals."

"You are strong, Avani. You may not be able to beat Sakazuki now, but you would definitely rough him up."

"My answer is still no."

"Wasn't this the plan all along? Become an Admiral like your old man?" She looked at him, broad smile, radiating pride. One of the bastards he adopted actually followed the path he had set for them. How could she kill that smile by telling him she thought she wasn't meant to be a marine?

"It was…"

"What changed? Don't you want justice…"

"Who are we to judge others?"

"The Marine."

"We are humans just like the rest… I'm not saying the world would be better without us. Hell no. But I think we have to focus on more important things than getting the world rid of pirates." He looked dumb-folded at her so she continued. "We put bounties on pirates like Luffy, who only do good and help people and we turn our backs on slavery and other horrid things…"

Garp sighed. He knew quite well about her opinion of the Celestial Dragons and some of the Shichibukai. After her first few years as a soldier, Avani traveled all over and met a whole bunch of people, good and bad, pirates, marines, mermen, and common people. As result she now saw the world as more complex than black and white. There was also a vast colour spectrum. The colour blue presented a new-found passion for her.

Avani was not stupid enough to think she alone could make a difference. But she was naïve she was, believing that she could at least start a revolution of sorts. A movement that would make everyone open their eyes and see the Celestial Dragons for what they were: a bunch of spoiled punks that needed to be taught a lesson. One of the reasons she didn't dream of becoming an Admiral anymore was because she would have to protect those monsters. She was pretty sure she would end up killing one of them, or all, and that wouldn't be so good for her. Well, at least she would leave the world a better place.

"Look, I'll think about it, okay?"

"That's what you always say, dear." He got up and ruffled her hair like he had always done. It brought back memories of the times he came by when she was young. Even if Garp was not always there, she grew respect the man, to earn his approval. As he left her office, waving his hand back at her she wondered if she had daddy issues. She had no idea who her father was, that must have left a hole somewhere.

Avani shook her head and quickly turned to air. She whooshed between all the busy-bees, not stopping for anything. Once outside, she rejoiced for a moment in the warmth of the setting sun. Lounging forward she took in the scenery. The sky kissed the sea and the red colour of the sun trickled into the water. Dusks and dawns had been Avani's favourite for as long as she could remember.

The wind was blowing in the direction she was headed so she let it carry her. Avani was constantly asked what it was like, being nothing but air. She had no idea how to answer though. As soon as the smallest part of her changed, the world exploded with information, like having a second and a third pair of eyes and ears. When she turned completely, she exploded. Her body was not air, it was the air. She merged with existing mass of gasses and she could feel the world around her pulsating with life. It was truly magnificent and words came short when she needed to detail her experience with her Devil Fruit power.

It was a great power and it scared her sometimes. She got so much stronger in the past years without really training. She enjoyed playing with her gifts, so it came naturally to her to speed the ships blowing wind in the sails or blow-dry her clothes and hair. As each little task became easier, she realized she could cover bigger distances when she was fully air. There were small islands that she could completely dome over. She could also easily suck the air out of the said dome, if she wanted to. She could do horrible things with these powers and she understood where the name 'Devil Fruit' came from. As innocent as air may seem, inn the wrong hands the element could be an incredible force of destruction.

Avani let out a tired breath. She needed some sleep before going to search for her brothers. But she also didn't want to waste any moment he could spend with them. From the last records she read, Luffy was a few days away. There was no news of the Whitebeard Pirates, but there rarely ever was. For a crew so famous they sure know how to lay low. Avani went to the last place the she knew the Moby Dick was anchored. She spread tendrils of air in every direction, hopping to get a glimpse of the pirates' whereabouts. She moved in the general direction they were headed when she left the ship.

She spent hours just drifting with the wind, continuously scanning for the large ship or any of the crew members she knew. Ah, Marco. He had really done a number on her. It had been a long time since she'd been so smitten with a man. And what a man The Phoenix was. Dirty images of her late night dream invaded her mind, her cheeks instantly heating. She cursed the pirate in her head and hoped she won't jump him when her eyes land on him. Seriously, she should buy him a shirt that covers more. That purple jacket should be illegal, it represented a danger to himself and the women around.

Avani shooed the thought away rapidly. There was no need to ponder, again, on the women the pirate probably had at his little finger. He was handsome, famous, charming even when he wanted to and rich. Dames were most likely flocking at his door in that very moment.

Passing by a small island she thought she should dress nicer in the event she actually found Ace and his crew. And get rid of the uniform. She passed on the empty streets, looking for a clothing store. She entered one through the key hole and the space between the front door and the ground. There were a lot of cute items in there, but she didn't want to spend much time on selecting clothes. A dress had already caught her attention anyway. It was not the dress really, but the color. Blue, like the flames of a certain Phoenix. Even if she wanted to look for something else to wear, her eyes would constantly turn to that particular garment.

She changed quickly. Well, changing was always quick with her. She only had to slip out of the uniform and into the dress, like pouring water from a bottle into a cup. Fast and easy. She left the island and continued her 'hunt'. The white marine uniform was discarded somewhere in the ocean. She needed a new one s there was no need to cry over it.

It was deep into the night when Avani spotted a faint flash of blue above the clouds. She was about to quit for the day and head somewhere to rest when it happened. At first she thought it was her mind playing trick on her. But it didn't hurt to check out. So she ascended until the pale moonlight lit the night. And there he was, majestic Phoenix, gliding through the clouds. She just stared at him from afar, mesmerized the beauty of the flames that engulfed his body. It was one of her hobbies actually, watching people in their element, with no knowledge that they are being watched. A small part of Avani knew that was invasive, but she didn't hurt anybody, she was simply curious to learn about human nature.

A wicked thought crossed her mind. Before her was an unsuspecting victim. She would play with him a little before asking him to take her to the ship and her brother. Avani concentrated to make her presence as unnoticeable as possible and moved towards her target. She pushed him with force in a different direction and the pirate made a few loops backwards. He turned half of his body back to human and Avani inspected him a bit. Yes, the damn jacket still had an effect. Marco was scanning the clouds beneath. The woman lounged for him again, but this time span, catching the pirate in a small whirlwind. Her 'body' was so close to his, it was intoxicating. She could feel every curve and edge, every muscle flexing, the air the inhaled and exhaled. She was lost for a moment, completely taken by her craving for the man. His voice brought her back to reality.

"Avani, stop it, yoi." She giggled and stopped moving the air around him. He looked left and right for her, but she was still invisible. "You had your fun, yoi. Now show yourself." The same bored eyes were searching for her but his voice was a bit different. She gathered herself in front of him, revealing herself, only her legs from knee down remaining fuzzy, like a semi transparent gas, and keeping her airborne.

His eyes landed on her and Avani thought she would melt under his stare. Marco's huge wings were flapping slowly, moving the shadow around them. He seemed troubled and she wondered if she made him angry with her little joke. Her eyes darted beneath them and she was suddenly at a loss for words. She thought about saying 'sorry' but decided to keep it playful.

"Missed me, Marco?"

Not a second later his lips crashed on hers. She felt the proverbial butterflies invading her stomach and doing back flips. Her eyes, wide open at some point, snapped shut and she responded to the kiss. Avani felt him relax a bit and come even closer to her. She wrapped her hands around his neck to keep him there and enjoyed the feeling of their bodies pressed together. They parted after a while and she gulped when she saw the lust in the pirate's eyes.

Marco leaned in again, this time with more courage and dexterity. Avani's hands trailed down his chest, to his abs and felt him shiver. Her hands mover to his back, pinning her body to his. He bit her lover lip seductively and his tongue found its way inside her mouth.

It was incredible, the way this man made her feel. The serenity the moon and the clouds offered and the weightlessness their powers gave them made the entire experience unique to Avani. She loved it. She wanted more. And as if in tune with her thoughts, Marco turned his hands to normal and took a hold of her, one grabbing the back of her head, the other her waist.

It took Avani some time to realize they were falling. The air was moving fast around them, Marco's added weigh not having registered yet. She held him tight as she twisted them right before hitting the water and launched them upwards. She giggled and turned her head to the now fully human Marco.

"You could have given me a heads-up, you know?"

"About the kiss, yoi?"

"No, that was a pleasant surprise. I expect many more in the future. But don't just shift you wings like that."

"Not so all-powerful as you lead on, are you?"

"I'm just tired."

"What were you up to, yoi?"

"I'll tell you on the ship. But it's your turn to carry me." With that she let them both fall. Marco smiled and spread his wings, Avani safely latched to his neck. Soft blue flames spread around them lulling her to sleep as Marco took them to his crew.


Hope you stay with me till the next chapter :D

I hope I didn't make Avani too... weird? Or umm, confused anyone with her powers. I feel like I beat around the bush a lot in the last 2 chapters...