A/N:: Things are moving along~!
Enjoy!
The Maiden's Light
"I like it," a groan left me as I was trying to have a serious conversation with Ace after being delayed a moment to from other things.
The day before yesterday was filled with everything not getting back to order and just tracking on ale. Most drank enough to the point not much could be done and I stayed on watch that night. Ace had passed out due to consumption as well, though he could easily burn the alcohol if he so desired. He liked to enjoy the night with the others, but had went to bed when I was taking watch as responsibility of letting everyone drink. Some of the ones to be on watch were too inebriated, while the others were responsible enough.
Then yesterday was filled with getting everything in order and it was now before dinner. Ace had a moment to slip in to drag me over to the bed with probably thoughts of returning the favor, but I needed to talk to him. Of course, when I mentioned of something important, he distracted away with what happened before being under cannon fire.
"I'm serious! I thought it was sexy!" I gave him a look of disbelief as he had me straddled to the bed, refusing to move. Not that it would take much to push him off, but I figured to get him focused somewhat like this.
"It wasn't supposed to come out."
"It's never supposed to, but it does randomly and I like it. Even when it's interrupting your words because it was still incredibly sexy!" A grin was there as he pointed a finger out, as if stating a fact. Thoughts ran across my mind as I stared to him with a frown and he showed pursed lips with tugs to my cheek. "No~! I know what you are thinking! Stop it! It's totally okay if you slip up around me! Because you only do that with me!" That smile was back, showing pure joy in the fact that my phoenix would let the noises come more freely for him. A low cooing left me, making him grin wider as I tightened my jaw. It was no use; the phoenix and I are completely smitten by Ace.
"Besides that, yoi. There was something important I needed to discuss with you." A groan left him as he pouts and I smiled at that before getting back on track. "You can do whatever when I am finished." That had him cheer up before shifting to sit onto the bed and I moved to take off sandals. I got comfortable with legs crossing onto the bed and his boots thumped to the floor. "I know it's touchy, but in that journal I am reviewing, there is four families heading to deal with the Marshalls." A nod of understanding is there and I knew he didn't know of the already bad blood, but this upcoming turn of events made it important. "Monkey, Trafalgar, Jaguar, and Gol."
"What? Really?"
"Yes, and in past entries it seems that Tiberius has some serious vendetta against Arthur, who is from the Gol family, yoi." I explained and there was a tension there as Ace seemed to be contemplating on things. "We are not positive if Teach knows of his history, but if so and he finds out…"
"You don't want to risk him targeting me." A nod left me as that confliction stayed before I grasped to one of his hands, eyes never leaving his.
"Oyaji and I weren't going to say anything anyways because it is your choice, not that it would ever matter since you are you no matter the name. We just don't want it to get out and Teach come after you because of old blood ties." I mention and he seemed to straighten his thoughts as he tilted his head.
"Do you think Teach would actually go along with his ancestors?"
"Ace, the Marshall D family were banished from being associated with the rest of the D families, yoi. And by the way the of how I have read about Tiberius and about Teach's terror, I have no doubt he would hold a grudge there. I do not remember if he ever implied towards Roger, but if I recall, he didn't linger much around and gave odd looks to the man." I mention and he was taking in the information with a sigh. "Something I find interesting though is that Gol D Arthur had your devil fruit."
"What? Really?"
"Aye," I nodded as he stared in surprise before I continued. "Gemma, a woman from the Monkey family, has a devil fruit but is not clarified. Then there is male mentioned within about being able to heal and shift into a phoenix, yoi." Eyes widened at those words and I smiled at his curiosity. "It's almost tangibly similar since Cole, the phoenix back then, is also great in navigation." I chortle lightly, feeling a stir in me as knowing of Cole being the phoenix seemed to have awakened something within me. Though, it seems I am not able to tap into my phoenix, almost like it was telling me my answer would come.
"What if he's like your ancestor or something?"
"Doubtful, it mentions him being the last of the line and, plus, devil fruit users cannot impregnate someone, yoi." I mention in a serious statement, which yes though Teach could not carry on his bloodline now with having the fruit—I didn't want to take any chances. Ace hummed in thought as he was thinking over everything.
"Still, imagine if there was something with Cole and Arthur." Eyebrows wiggled and I noticed he was trying to lighten up the atmosphere and I let him with a snort.
A few coos left me, making him grin as he soon grasped my hand tighter to pull me towards him as he met me for a kiss. Hands gripped to my shirt as he moved me to pin me to the bed again and teeth roughly found my lips. Blue flames flickered to heal the split lip and he moaned with flames swirling in my mouth. A jolt went through me in surprise at the feel and my flames chased the burns away that had throbbed. Pulling back from me, he was flustered red with lips sputtering.
"S-Sorry, I didn't mean to burn your mouth!" I snorted lightly whilst bringing him back down for chaste kisses and he soon delved back in for more.
"Commander Marco~!" A groan left Ace hearing the taunting voice as he shifted to shove his face into my neck and whined in complaints.
"What is it, Jiru?" I asked the one on the other side of the door and there was a hum.
"Gill wanted me to let you know that June is ready for one more test before he can part with us." This breath left me as I had almost forgotten about that.
"I will be there shortly."
"You sure? Ace might not let you go~!" A teasing tone was there, making Ace pop up with a voiced complaint.
That only fueled Jiru in laughter before my lover was off to chase down the other with growls. He left his boots, not a first, and I began tugging on my sandals. It worked out, Ace running after Jiru, this was giving me a chance to get out. I have a feeling Jiru did it on purpose to not only help get me to do what I need to do, but to annoy the youngest commander. Anyways, I needed to go speak with June and get everything squared away.
-o-o-o-o-
I was wrong, it wasn't hurried writing it was livid writing that I read in the next few entries as he completely slandered the four D families whilst explaining how they wanted the Marshalls to take away their rule over the people. Explaining they didn't like how they treated the people there and would help them get their country on better track. Of course, Tiberius was furious on them talking about how unfit he was to rule. To me it seemed like they thought he was fit, but were concerned on his approach.
Now I was getting more to the battle after Tiberius decided to cause madness by having his man in hiding to fool around with the Trafalgar ship. I couldn't help but feel bad for what Tiberius explained happened, the Trafalgar's losing half their family members, but the Monkey family was there to help. All the families were, but in the journal, he specified on which family took them aboard.
Then things were spicing up more as Tiberius was trying to save his castle from being destroyed—which had me rolling eyes—and was threatening people. I know the threats were in the journal, but I wouldn't put it past him to actually do it in real life as well. I had been into the journal as I knew not many entries were left and that meant the war would be completely upon him soon enough, but then someone came in.
"Marco!" I was startled, but didn't show a reaction to that. A glare merely found Haruta who barged in as I was reading, but Ace on the other hand had started awake from a nap. Hands were gripping my legs as he jerked to sit up and I had the journal to the side so he could do that. "Ah, sorry, Ace! This is important!" A newspaper was in hand and I knew it had to be on Teach, so I waved a hand out. The brunette quickly moved into the room to hand over the paper to me and Ace had situated back as I held it before us. "Mostly page ten." My fingers worked quick to get to the page, already noticing the ugly mug on the front page.
My blood was boiling with a threatening coo following as I glare to the paper and the words I skimmed. Teach—I refuse to call him by his chosen blasphemy of a name—had the audacity to attack one of our territories in the New World. Teach was literally claiming war against us and I knew Oyaji wouldn't sit by for this, none of us would.
No words had to leave me as Ace quickly moved from my lap when I shifted the paper away. I still had my clothes on and didn't bother with sandals as I got out of the bed. Haruta was out of the way as I made my way out of the room and towards the large chair our captain sits in. I assumed the two followed and most steered clear seeing my livid appearance, most probably not aware yet. Though this alarmed some of the other commanders to follow and I soon found myself before Oyaji.
His appearance was calm, but those eyes showed entirely different. Storms brewed in grey eyes and he was trying to keep lax from the rage he felt for someone to do this to us. I knew he had already known, probably wanting Haruta to bring it to my attention next. We consulted each other on many things and, from the start, we have always trusted one another to know of important matters first and then breaking it to the crew. This was a completely different matter that left me staring firmly with the paper clutched in my hand.
"What are your orders, Oyaji?" I knew my body was tense and he let out a tremor along the area of the deck. Most knew what that meant and people were quickly gathering along with the rest of the remaining commanders.
"My sons!" The words started as I knew already on what he would say as his eyes spoke volumes. "One of our territories has been attacked!" The voice boomed so everyone could hear and I heard angered spats coming out, but only for a moment so our captain could continue. "This man has claimed war on us, no one other than Marshall D Teach himself and refers to himself as Blackbeard." Most cursed about that, not liking the traitor claiming a title so close to Oyaji. "We cannot stand by and let such a person try to tear apart our family!"
"Aye!" Most shouted in agreeance and I could feel my adrenaline pumping through my veins, the phoenix in me stirring for a fight against this man who has been nothing but a terror.
"We set sail to war, my boys!" The word 'war' alone sent a strain in me as well, knowing of what Maybelle and I discussed. Seeing the head nurse give me a knowing look, I merely masked my emotions as I was still pissed about what Teach had done. Most of the crew hollered in agreeance at Oyaji's proclamation and grey eyes peered to me. Turning to face my brothers, I stood firmly and kept a stern appearance.
"From here on out will be us preparing for the worst!" I hollered as everyone paid attention to me, nothing but looks of guidance there. "We won't be showing any mercy!"
"Aye!"
"We will show them what it means to mess with our family!" I spoke loudly next as they all cheered again and I looked to Whitebeard. "And we will always stand by you, Oyaji!"
"AYE!" They shouted louder that time as I knew I had to prepare my heart of having to let go. Our father merely grinned in approval and I turned once more to everyone.
"Commanders!" They all answered with straighter stances from where they were and I gave a look over, already knowing that Jiru and Blenheim were not present as we are supposed to be meeting up tonight—good timing, too. "We will have a meeting first thing tomorrow morning after breakfast!"
"Aye, Commander!" They all voiced out, practically echoing over the sea and I heard a couple of thumps from the chair.
"About your business, sons!" Everyone seemed to be bound up more in tension as they moved to leave whilst probably to wait for dinner or finish up chores. "Marco," I turned to Oyaji as he spoke out my name and he gave a tilt of his head. "After dinner, come by the conference room."
"Of course, Oyaji." I replied and he moved his hand to shoo me off and, doing as motioned, I went to my room to start organizing some things.
When returning to my room, hands were gripping to my forearms and dark eyes stared up at me seriously. I was going to voice out how I wasn't in the mood, but he merely pulled me before arms were around my neck. We fell to the bed as he held to me, my face to his chest as we situated to our sides and I let out a breath. My hand found his back as my arm was around him and I pressed in with eyes closed. The fragility of my emotions caused my body to fluster and he voiced confusion. I felt a hand move and find my lower back, making my jaw tighten when he found the tail ringlets of my phoenix form lingering along the bed.
"Just relax before dinner. Just take this moment, okay?" Ace spoke softly as I already knew I was going to be pushed to my limits with this upcoming war.
It sat outside on the porch swing, just waiting for opportune time to bust down the door. I already knew what the discussion after dinner would include, with Maybelle no doubt tagging along to be aware of everything. I wasn't ready for any of it, but knew I never would be. With being a pirate, there isn't going to be a long-standing peace and I knew better than to ever think it, but this was something I wanted to avoid. Time was running out and there was nothing to put it off now.
"Marco," my mind focused to Ace as he held onto me and I squeezed eyes closed even more. Gripping to him, I pressed in to keep calm and soft cooing left me for comfort. Warmth filled my body as he heated his more and I took it all in with my hand moving to grip at his shoulder. It was interesting that he could practically tell there was something more going on, but didn't push on the matter. Legs twined with mine as we just took this moment to breathe and enjoy this time that we know we can have for now.