A/N:: When everything falls into place, yesssss...
So let me know how you are liking this all so far!
Enjoy!
Blackout
The dagger was like my new best friend as I began wearing it on my waistband even around the house, it made me feel sort of productive since I had to wear my shorts. Most of the commanders would smile with a chuckle as I had already began showing it off. Everyone complimented on it and was giving some pointers since I have used daggers, but wasn't good as some unless left with no choice. That was when survival kicked in though and I wanted to fight and flight. Actually knowing more advance knowledge on how to handle one made me train somewhat with Vista since he was known for them best.
That was only one session so far and Thanksgiving was upon us. The whole house was in a bout of laughter and chatter, not a single place was left untouched by our voices. Drinking games were put off for after the feast and our usual family games. We had started with wrestling and I was completely tapped out by Jozu, so unfair when he gets you locked tight. Then was arm wrestling, with me reigning as the champion for the moment since Jozu was champion of wrestling. Each commander could only have one title for all fairness and enough games were spread out so that each commander would most likely win and some of the men from different divisions would. Water balloon games against other divisions were being played with first division still reigning champions as we waited for our match, them dominating against Thatch's division. Stupid pineapple wasn't even trying much, but he had a good throw as I had a water balloon to the face before from the past years.
"Come on, second division!" A hand patted my shoulder from Thatch as he was drenched in defeat and I laughed out. As soon as you were hit you were out, but commanders stayed as bonuses because if you hit one then you get your whole team back in. That was why we are hard to battle against because I am good at dodging and it was a personal challenge since Marco is really good with his aim, besides Izo which is why I have been hit at least twice. Also why Izo is reigning champ over the sharpshooter game that we used a BB gun and bow for.
Noises ranging from dog barks to battle cries were heard and we moved to the playing field that was muddy, which made it more challenging. My bare feet found the middle of the field with a grin as Marco was before me. We shook our hands as always to start the game before turning and going to our teams. A pop noise was heard through the air as the game has begun and I got a hold of a balloon that was tossed to me before moving to a barrier. Water balloons were flying through the air and I dodged as much as I could and succeeded whilst throwing some back as I found a small bucket filled with some. Our ammo was being refilled every second by the bottom two divisions, being Haruta's and Blenheim's, and we were all laughing out in joy.
"Ace!" My body quickly bend backwards to avoid an oncoming balloon and looked to see a blonde smirking at me before shifting his head to avoid a balloon. A grin was on me as I sensed the challenge, but knew better to fall that dirty trick as I could tell some of his men were in waiting. "Lion and I got him!" The two had moved as I did to avoid some more, water splashing everywhere and I slipped in the mud. Luckily this had me avoid a balloon and I heard a shout of a cheer. I quickly looked to see Lion getting strike out, but had succeeded in getting Marco as the blonde held a scowl. So the others we had lost were back in and I knew first division was down to five, including Marco.
The game continued on with me easily dodging balloons, my men mostly distracting my lover to the point he was the last one, which meant we had to get him now. Which is proving more difficult as he was still good at throwing and I was down to three other men. I waved them over to me with a plan and explained it out as they agreed shortly after I finished. Once moving into action, noticing a curious brow at us, and cheering intensified from all around. Our team doesn't really do strategies so this probably surprised him as we began moving towards him. We got closer and he knocked one out before another and as he aimed for me with a victory looking smile, Iman took the hit whilst jumping and I slide underneath him to knock the legs out from under Marco before smashing the balloon against his chest.
"YEEAAAHHH!" My division cheered out as I held fists up as I sat next to the annoyed blonde who merely chuckled shortly after.
"THE NEW WATER BALLOON CHAMPIONS!" I shouted up as my men came over to lift me up with cheers and carried me over to snatch the plastic trophy showing a man with an arm up about to throw a water balloon. Yeah, we were that serious into these things since I had an armband around my bicep with a medallion on it to show that I was the champion at arm wrestling. "WHAT DIVISION?!" I asked out in a yell as they trotted with two still holding me up on shoulders and they made a roar.
"SECOND!"
"WHAT DIVISION?!"
"SECOND!"
"THAAAAT'S RIGHT!" They cheered again as we pranced around some more, letting first division laugh out at our crazy antics at finally winning since we have been head strong rivals for the past three years. Thatch announced the tables were set and we all began moving inside to change real fast, being put down and I felt an arm around my waist as I was shifted to be held on to. "Ah! Marco!" I complained as I heard some laughter of being 'romantic' and complained out with a hand waving as the other held tight to the trophy.
"We better hurry before no food is left." The words left him as we made it in the room with him letting me go and I set the trophy down before finding my boxer briefs and shorts to change real fast. By the time I was done, he was buttoning his Capri like pants with shirt left open and a hand pressed me into the dresser. "You brought strategy to the game this time." He commented with interest and I laughed out with arms around his neck with pursed lips.
"I had to throw you off somehow, stupid pineapple." I mentioned with a snarky grin and those lips found mine for a deep kiss.
"It worked, yoi." A chuckle left me as he looked down at me with eyebrows shifting before pulling back with a hand finding mine to tug. "Come on, food is waiting."
"Ah, right!" We made our way out as I began to drag him lightly before letting go to dive to my table with my men and was joining the chaos. During Thanksgiving we all sat at our division tables that made an interesting pattern so we could all easily see Pops with a simple look or turn of our head. Standing on my chair, I fought over a bowl of mashed potatoes with laughter and Kratos slipped from it whilst falling back into some fried corn. More laughter left us at such a sight and he began fuming for embarrassment, but was trying to hide his grin at the same time.
After dinner, which was around the afternoon time, we began for more games as I went to cheer on my men at what they did. Thatch had won best hair, though I am not sure how that all went, but mainly doing stuff to their hair that looked good. Vista is the high ranking chess player, I didn't even try that, and Blenheim is the winner for biggest muscles again this year. Haruta won best for a beautiful display of a cultural dance ceremony, which usually Izo did first, but Haruta is pretty dang good at it so he usually wins. It seemed like some things were simpler than others, but that is how we liked it. The whole point is to spend time with your brothers and to bond all over again with games and fun. We had all joined together for certain things as well, fifth division link with us at a dance off, though we barely lost against Thatch's and Haruta's division.
In a way, fifth division relied on me a lot as my division hung around them a lot when Teach was still here. They had been devastated on what happened and had nowhere to really turn, but to other divisions. They keep themselves prideful as fifth, but make sure to consult us commanders on things. They report mainly to me as most of the time they are with my men, if not they just do something as a division. They had first feared we would abandon them for what Teach did, but we knew they had nothing to do with it and reassured them. We didn't restrain them from being free and just told them to be cautious since Teach did turn and we didn't know if he would try anything since it was his former division. They have only had a few surprised attacked, but kept close to others and help along.
The evening was wearing down for a custom drinking game that anyone could win, even champions. Though, I knew very well on who wins and is going to win since Pops always plays and he never fails. So I kept in moderation as I enjoyed the dessert soon appearing around us in the dining hall as we had moved the nice tables and sat around on the floor, mixed all together that it would be hard to gather your division if need be. That shouldn't happen though as we enjoyed ourselves and I moved with my new plate of dessert to soon sit into my new favorite spot of the night.
"Here." I spoke out with the plate held out and feet tucked under my legs as I rest against his chest.
"Thanks." Marco took the plate as he set it to the side on a table and began eating like that as I ate mine comfortably.
His piece wasn't as large as mine since I liked the cherry pie a bit more than him, but I also had the mousse one too. The men had enjoyed my flame show on the Alaskan dessert as I had used hands to twirl around in the fire to show my attachment to it before it was fanned out by Izo. Watching all my brothers made me feel happy at the display and wish it could stay like this forever, but tomorrow would just go back to the usual shifts and me fretting over them. It sucked having to sit back and watch, but I would give my life to any of them if they needed help.
"Sunroom, now." Words whispered in my ear as I smiled out before shifting out of the lap, placing my plate on his empty one.
A hand grabbed mine as we snuck out, only a few noticing but not saying anything. Marco began leading me to the 'sunroom' on the second floor (the home containing three floors) and I was keeping pace with him. We were quiet with our walk as it didn't take too long and he left the light off, eyes adjusting to the low lighted camp lamp on one of the tables. I was dragged to one of the many floor to ceiling windows and he smiled to me. Eyes looked up to the half-moon and the many stars spanning over the dark blanket of the sky. My free hand found the window as I smiled at seeing the different astrological signs and soon felt him let go so arms could go around my waist.
"Let's enjoy this peace, yoi…" The words made me hum in agreeance as I tilted my head to rest against his as it was on my shoulder.
Breathing in deeply with eyes closing, I relaxed in the hold with a breath slowly coming back out. These arms made me feel safe and I can't imagine them gone from me. Marco is very important to me and has become one of the top people I care for in a more personal way. I love Marco, but Pops and Luffy still held a high place in my heart. He already knew that though, without having to say anything, and I knew he held Pops high as well. If anything they are all three tied at first place, but Marco of course is reserved for the other number one position of being my lover.
As per usual, the next four days were filled with leftovers from Thanksgiving and most complained about the repeats since Thatch didn't want to waste food. We didn't really argue too much about it knowing very well and just liked bantering with the man. Of course he promised something extravagant once we finish the leftovers. That helped motivate everyone to push through.
"It smells good, Thatch!" I commented at the smell of spices finding me and this laugh left him as he let out the vapor, making a circle with it skillfully.
"Of course it does! It's my famous curry!" The man boasted as we discussed the food some more.
"You use some strange spices, though. I don't think people usually use them!"
"Well that's because some spices are only good for certain things!" A laugh left me at seeing him kiss his fingers before waving them in the air. "Only a master chef would fully understand the extent!"
"Well, putting meat over a fire is my kind of cooking so!" This laugh found us as he took a swig from his whiskey and I merely drank a soda. Thatch had a high tolerance for alcohol since he favors whiskey and on occasion I would join him if I didn't plan on anything and was in the mood for it. Our phones played little noises for our designated messages and I pulled out my phone as Thatch was stirring the curry.
"What is it?"
"Blenheim's been hurt." I spoke out suddenly and Thatch grasped his phone in panic as we soon heard the front doors and some shouting. "I got it, stay here!" I called out as I began my way out of the room and rushing out of the room. Izo hollered for crowd control and I took to that immediately as we watched a very bloody looking male being dragged in with his men coming straight behind in concern. We had our men distract his division to coax them and I was left with getting the story, which took me a minute to get all of their attentions.
"It was that body builder and some sharpshooter since the shot came from nowhere! We had been out of view and brother was hit. The bodybuilder prevented us from getting too close, but we were able too after we began to overrun him a little." At least eighteen are in Blenheim's group and they are very loyal to the man since he had saved each of them individually from something or someone. "We were able to drag him away before he could be hurt anymore, he was already injured fighting the big guy."
"Thanks, you all did well." I smiled at one of the men with a reassuring squeeze to his shoulder. He was the only one coherent enough to explain and they all appreciated my calming comment. "Dinner will be done soon, please eat." I spoke out comfortingly and they all nodded as some of the brothers from other divisions began leading them to the dining hall.
"Good job, little brother." Jozu commented with Haruta nodding with approval as well and they both gave me pats. "He's going to be alright." They had to reassure me as I held a tight jaw and tried to keep myself strong on the outside. We are picked as commanders to be a strong figure to our brothers and show them the way when they get lost. They help us, as well, along trying to find our way, but we had to be the ones to stand tall.
"Blenheim isn't going to let this get him down, if anything he is going to be flashing the wounds and scars for a while." A chuckle left me as Haruta groaned in exasperation on having to hear about such things all over again from the last time he got a scar about a year or two ago. On some occasions, he still flashes his scars with that bellowing laugh filling the air.
"Vista should be back soon. Pops and Marco are a little tied up at the office, so we have to keep the fort for a while longer."
"Well, I have been holding it down for a while now." I commented and they laughed at my humor before we began moving to the hall. "Let's go, Jozu." The words left me as I knew Haruta would be checking on Blenheim and talk to Izo about what we had learned.
"You have turned into a mighty fine commander, Ace." I looked up to Jozu in slight surprise at his words before grinning.
"I try my best, since I am second and therefore should really scold a certain two for overworking again." The scowl found me as Jozu laughed out before I sighed with a slight whine.
"Got paperwork again?"
"Yeeeesss, stupid old men." I commented in exasperation since that what my days have been filled with and though I love helping, it's very tedious. Usually I would shake it all off by riding my bike or going out and doing something, but I am confined until it is deemed safe for me to leave. It felt like that was going to take a long while though.
"You are doing well, though, little brother." A hand ruffled my hair as I huffed with heat on my cheeks from embarrassment and he laughed again.
"Thatch made curry." I commented as we entered the room and he praised the other for something different finally. The room was in laughter, lightening up the atmosphere and I smiled at the sight of it all.
