"Your brothers are insane." Ace stated in a snicker.
He watched as Thatch and Izou sang along with a local band at the dive bar they'd ended up drinking at. Thatch and Izou were already on their fifth or sixth glasses of alcohol while Marco was still sipping on his first. Ace had only drank two, and planned not to drink anymore or risk ending up looking as idiotic as the two tone-deaf men singing. Marco leaned against the bar with amusement only touching his eyes but not holding on his ever-bored expression.
Marco chuckled, "Aren't we all?" A slight smirk playfully tugged at his lips as he turned his blue eyes towards Ace.
In the lowlight the light blues looked even more captivating to Ace. He shook himself internally to remind himself of the task at hand. Ace frowned in curiosity. For a man who seemed to mean every word he said sometimes Marco was confusing.
"I guess," Ace shrugged. "What Thatch said is true though, you don't relax and you don't drink much either."
"And what I said is true, yoi," Marco stated, "those two get hopelessly drunk until I have to drag them back to their houses; sometimes literally."
Ace looked over to see the two other figures staggering while singing. "Why does that mean that you can't have any fun?"
Marco chuckled. "It's my position in the family." He smiled proudly as he spoke with commitment. "I'm Oyaji's first mate. I was his first son. It's my job to watch over everyone else. I have to keep them in line and make sure that they're safe and happy. Oyaji's strong and he protects us as much as he can from everyone, yoi. But, it's my job to keep everyone safe from themselves. I can't drop my guard for a second or it might cost one of my brother's their life." Marco's smile faded as he spoke the last word, he turned away from Ace but the young man still noticed.
"That's too much for one person to do." Ace said.
"You're being a bit of a hypocrite aren't you?" Marco asked keenly.
"It's different," Ace sighed.
"It's not." Marco stated. "Your younger brother doesn't know anything about Blackbeard, does he?" Marco saw Ace's lips purse into a thin line. "My flaw is also yours."
"How so," Ace inquired curiously.
"We both think that we have to bear everything to protect the people we care about." Marco surmised before frowning. "I'd suspected once that one of my brothers would betray us, but I was too concerned about not worrying everyone else that I thought that I could handle it on my own. Only Oyaji knew about my suspicion. In the end that brother who betrayed us almost took Thatch's life because I wanted to handle it alone, yoi."
"It was Blackbeard." Ace said breathlessly.
"Yes." Marco replied. "Ace, sometimes it's when we think we're protecting those close to us that we're hurting them the most, yoi." Ace stared into the distance with uncertainty. "Anyway," Marco sighed, "it's not like you're drinking a lot either." He smiled slyly.
Ace pouted, "Wouldn't want you to have to drag another person back to their house."
"Does that mean you're a light-weight when it comes to alcohol?" Marco laughed. "That almost make me want to see how easy it is to get you drunk, yoi."
"Yeah right," Ace shouted half angrily. "I bet I could out-drink a prude like you!"
"Maybe I'll take that bet sometime, yoi." Marco chuckled. "You should know better than to challenge a pirate; especially Oyaji's first-mate."
"That's big talk coming from someone who's still sipping his first glass." Ace snickered.
"Cheeky brat," Marco snorted.
From across the room Izou smiled as he watched his normally bored brother's face become alight with a smile. The boy must have something special about him, to get the phoenix's attention so easily. Izou snickered, to think that Marco was attracted to such a strange boy. Thatch's eyebrows rose as he stared at his kimono-wearing brother who was quite creepily staring at their other brother and his companion across the bar. Thatch frowned at the other man's strange behavior.
"Okay," He said, "Why are you staring at the two of them like a stalker?"
"Huh?" Izou questioned as he been caught observing the other two. "Nothing you need concern yourself over, not yet anyway."
"That's just makes me more curious!" Thatch exclaimed before begging. "Come on you stupid okama, tell me why you've gone all creepy!"
"Shut up!" Izou snapped.
"No!" Thatch pouted, "Either you tell me why you're staring and smiling or I'm going to tell Marco!" He threatened.
"No," Izou shouted, "You can't do that!"
"Why not?" Thatch demanded starting to walk towards Marco and Ace when he was hastily pulled back by Izou.
"Because you'll ruin everything!" Izou argued.
"What are you talking about?" Thatch asked.
"Ugh," Izou grumbled, "Would you look at them, you imbecile?"
Thatch turned to see Marco and Ace again. This time both of the men were nearly doubled over with laughter, Marco had his hand on Ace's shoulder while the boy wiped tears from his eyes. Thatch could see that they were getting along fairly well.
"I don't think I've seen that blue-chicken that happy in a long time." Thatch commented. "So what's so funny about that that it would make your stare at them like a creeper?"
"Why are men so oblivious?" Izou asked making a gesture towards the sky as if asking the question towards a god. "Can't you see how attracted they are to each other?" He asked.
"What?" Thatch asked as his voice rose a pitch in denial. He sputtered, "Birdbrain and that fire-brat are you serious?"
"Of course I'm serious," Izou groaned, "just look how the kid makes Marco act. He's so much more carefree with the boy around. Can't you see how perfect Ace is for him? Ace could make him happy."
"Seriously," Thatch squeaked, "dude, Ace is like half his age at least, no way Marco's going to go after him. And even less likely is the kid going to go after Marco."
"Hmm," Izou hummed, "And what if I tell you that Ace is attracted to Marco. Or that he's going to pursue our big brother."
Thatch paused as he processed that statement. "No fucking way," He gasped.
"Way," Izou confirmed.
"Damn, Featherhead's got some luck. That kid's way out of his league." Thatch whistled. "And what part are you playing in all of this?" Thatch asked knowing that the other man had some plan up his sleeve.
"I may or may not be helping Ace woo our dear elder brother."
"If he finds out you are so dead." Thatch chanted.
"Then don't tell him, stupid!" Izou said smacking Thatch on the arm.
"So what's the plan?" Thatch asked.
"Like I'm going to tell you," Izou replied.
"And you're suddenly Marco's best friend." Thatch croons.
"I'm sure Marco uses the title lightly, extremely lightly." Izou jaunts. "Anyway how do I know that you won't run to Marco and tell him my plan?"
"Well, if I'm an accomplice it makes me less likely to snitch." Thatch reasons.
"Yeah well, snitches get stitches." Izou says before sighing, "fine. I told Ace to wait until Marco reveals his phoenix form to make his move."
"That's not going to be enough." Thatch scoffed. "You're underestimating the peacock."
"Of course it's going to work." Izou defended. "Why wouldn't it work?"
"Because just because he's vulnerable doesn't mean Marco's going to fall head over heels for anyone who's seen him all feathery." Thatch stated. "I get what you're thinking. You think that Marco has to trust Ace with his other form to fall in love with him. But you're underestimating Marco. Even if he falls undoubtedly in love with the kid, and even if the kid is pursuing him; he still won't act on his impulses so easily."
"What do you mean? Ace wants him and Marco will trust Ace, so what's the problem?" Izou questioned.
"Marco won't ever put his wants ahead of someone else's wellbeing. And even if Ace says he wants Marco, Marco won't date him unless he thinks it's in Ace's best interest. I'm guessing Marco has some reason for not wanting to be with someone as insanely hot as that kid." Thatch summarized.
"Ace said that Marco thought that Ace was too young and that dating him would be taking advantage of him." Izou admitted.
"So there's something we don't know." Thatch assumed. "But it boils down to if Marco feels he's good for Ace; which means that Ace has to trust Marco not just the other way around. Marco needs to feel like he's needed by Ace."
"And how do we do that?" Izou asked incredulously.
"Hmm," Thatch paused, thinking, "I guess we have to find out a bit about boy-wonder over there and force the two together by some sort of altercation."
"What sort of altercation?"
"I don't know that yet!" Thatch yelled in response.
"Well that's no help at all!" Izou replied.
"What are you two screaming about?" Ace asked as he approached the two.
Both men startled by the boy's unexpected presence. "Ace," Izou smiled, "we were just talking about your troubles with romance." Izou admitted after glancing around to make sure Marco was no where nearby.
"You told him!" Ace exclaimed before slapping a hand to his forehead.
Thatch chuckled, "relax, flamer, I'm not going to tell anyone, and definitely not Marco. Peacock is too righteous for his own good on most days."
"Ugh that's not the point!" Ace argued.
"Come on, I'll have you know I'm Marco's best friend. Who could be better at helping you seduce him? I know all of Marco's secrets." Thatch boasted.
Izou scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Point being there's nothing you need to worry about, Ace. With our help Marco will fall for you in no time."
"Are all of you guys this invested in messing with each other's love lives?" Ace asked annoyed.
"Yes," both of the siblings answered without a second of hesitation.
"Shit," Ace cursed. "I didn't want any help!"
"Too late," Thatch smiled. "Speaking of flamers, where did our phoenix go?"
"He said he was going to ask the owner to play a certain song or something." Ace chuckled. "We made a bet about you two."
"What?" Izou asked insulted, "What about?"
Ace snickered, "You'll see."
"What, that's not fair." Thatch added.
Marco emerged from the crowd and approached the group of three men with his normal bored expression. "You guys ready?"
"Ready for what," Izou asked before a familiar tune started to play and everyone in the bar started to clap to the beat. "Are you serious?" He asked recognizing the song.
It was a country tune played with a multitude of string instruments. Hoots and hollers ignited a pulse of activity as everyone was clapping and quickly forming lines. The four men swiftly took their place in pairs with partners across from each other. Ace positioned himself across from Marco and Thatch and Izou ended up across from each other as well. Ace wasn't as familiar with the steps but was able to easily pick them up. As he did a wide smile adorned his face. Seeing the boy's radiant expression caused Marco's face to break into a smile as well, which didn't go unnoticed by his siblings. Thatch and Izou, with a good amount of alcohol in their systems, were having trouble keeping upright with the steps of the dance. As the partners latched arms Ace and Marco smiled at each other jovially. As the pairs spun and then exchanged places in line; Thatch tumbled to the floor.
While spinning the cook had to cling to Izou to keep standing, but, as the pair released each other Thatch was unable to stop the momentum of the motion. Thus the force of the motion caused the intoxicated man to be thrown to the floor. Many of those dancing grimaced in sympathy for the man while Ace and Marco just started to laugh.
"Damnit," Ace cursed through his giggles, "you win."
"Of course I did, yoi," Marco laughed. "I'm related to these two idiots."
"What are you two talking about?" Izou asked helping Thatch from the floor.
"The bet," Ace replied as he and Marco didn't even pause in the dance to address the other two. "We bet on which one of you would fall down first. I thought it would be you because you're smaller than Thatch, but Marco won." Ace explained.
"That's what you bet on." Thatch accused angrily.
"Yup," Ace and Marco said easily, with a smiled shared between the two.
…
"Why did we have to leave, Zoro?" Luffy whined. "I'm still hungry, and Sanji's food is so good."
"Because shit-cook had something he had to take care of and we'd only get in the way." Zoro grumbled.
Chopper sobbed, "Is Sanji mad at us? Did we do something wrong?"
"One of us did," Ussop whispered, but Nami heard anyway and glared at him in a way that man the long nosed man shiver with fear.
"Excuse me for not trusting a man that could legally murder us." Nami said.
"Shut up," Zoro barked aggressively.
Nami huffed and Robin asked, "Why did we have to leave? Cook-san didn't seem very angry about the incident."
"His overly clingy best-friend needed him." Zoro mumbled.
"Overly clingy best friend," Franky restated although he made it sound like a question.
"Yohoho, how funny," Brook laughed.
"Not so much," Zoro said. "The best friend didn't look too good."
…
Sanji had managed to relocate himself and Law to his bedroom. Law had been unwilling to move but thankfully Sanji had been able to convince him that moving to the bedroom would be better than alerting the group of guests in the dining room of his condition. To Law emotions were weakness and he didn't want others to think he was weak. Sanji and Law were now lying on Sanji's bed, both still fully dressed. Law was too upset to worry about being comfortable and Sanji was too worried about comforting Law that he hadn't thought about changing.
Law buried his face into Sanji's chest to quiet his sobs and hiccups. Sanji's arms were wrapped around Law's shoulders to support him and Law's arms were wrapped around Sanji's waist. Their legs were entangled and Law tried to press himself as close to Sanji as possible. He hoped he could bury himself into Sanji's warmth and disappear. Sanji rubbed Law's back in soothing circles and briefly pressed his lips to the top of Law's head. Sanji repeated sweet words like 'it's okay' until Law's sobs became only broken breaths and his shudders stopped. Law was nearly drifting to sleep when Sanji spoke up again.
"Are you going to tell me what happened?" Sanji asked softly.
Law sighed, "I don't really want to. I just want to sleep."
"Well, that's too bad for you because I'm not letting you sleep until you tell me what happened." Sanji said poking Law repeatedly in the face.
Law laughed though it wasn't as happy as it was ironic. "You're going to keep me awake via poking me in the face?"
"Yes." Sanji nodded with a small smile. "Now tell me whose ass I have to kick."
That earned a sad giggle from Law. "Are you going to track down Eustass-ya and beat him up for me if I tell you what happened?"
"That depends on what he did." Sanji huffed.
Law sighed again. "As it turns out Eustass-ya was following me for a reason. He wanted information on Joker; DoFlamingo."
"Fuck," Sanji cussed.
"Yeah, that's what I thought." Law stated.
"What did you do?" Sanji questioned.
"I told him."
"You told him."
"I told him everything." Law said. "Not in great detail, but I still told him everything. I told him about the deal I made, about Cora-san, and about you. I told him everything." Law face broke into a distraught frown as his eyes started tearing up again. "He wanted to go after him. I tried to stop him and he got angry. Words were said and I ended up here." Law ended the story abruptly, not wanting to give Sanji any more of a reason to track down Kidd and beat the shit out of him.
"What words?" Sanji asked not missing a beat.
"Mean words," Law continued after Sanji gave him a potent look. "He said that maybe I like being abused since I didn't want to get revenge on Doflamingo."
"But you do want revenge," Sanji reminded while being slightly confused.
"Yeah but I don't want it by knocking on the man's door and thinking I can easily kill him!" Law responded as his voice rose angrily.
"And that was your new boyfriend's plan?" Sanji asked.
"Maybe," Law drawled.
Sanji nodded. "Are you going to try to see him again?"
Law let out a huff of exhaustion. "I don't know. It'll all just seems so suspicious."
"What do you mean?" Sanji inquired.
"Kidd said that Doflamingo turned one of his crewmates against him and that's why he was in marine custody when we met. He also said that a woman gave him the information that made him think that I knew about Joker's true identity." Law explained. "I wouldn't be surprised if Doflamingo is planning something."
"Do you think he's going to turn this Eustass guy against you?"
"I'd be very surprised if he could." Law stated. "I think it's more likely that he wants Eustass to get close to me and then he'll take him from me."
"Why would he do that?" Sanji wondered, "And would Doflamingo know that you would like Eustass?"
"He's smarter than he's presumed to be." Law surmised. "I guess you could say that he knows my type. Doflamingo killed Cora-san in front of my eyes. I bet that he'd do it just to watch me squirm as he kills another person I care about. If you weren't a Celestial Dragon I would be astounded if he wouldn't go after you. Hell, that bastard still might someday." Law replied. "He wants to inflict pain on me. Maybe it's because he wants revenge for being sent to prison, but I bet it's just because it's fun for him. He likes to cause people pain and watch them beg for mercy; mercy that he won't give."
Sanji nodded slowly. "Okay," Sanji shifted so he could look Law in the eyes, "Let's say that everything you assume will happen is true. Would you still want to be with him, even if you know it's a trap set up by Doflamingo to hurt you."
"It's not that simple." Law said.
"It is." Sanji insisted. "If you love him, then, whether or not it's because of an evil madman's plot to harm you, you should be with him. But, before that, you should beat him up first for saying something that idiotic and cruel."
Law laughed, "You're so idealistic, Sanji."
"Maybe," Sanji granted, "but if Doflamingo wants to make you miserable by going after this Eustass person, then shouldn't you just stay that much closer to him, to prevent it from happening?"
"I get your point," Law admitted, "But what if I can't protect him."
"I didn't say that you should protect him; no man like being protected." Sanji lectured, "I said that you should stay close to him. Warn him about what you think is going to happen, that way, if something happens, you can fight side by side and kill the damn bastard."
"For all your stupid chivalry, sometimes you give good advice." Law conceded.
"I'll choose to take that as a complement."
…
I'm sorry it's short but I wanted to get you guys a chapter on Christmas. So, Merry Christmas. The next one will be much long I promise. Thank you Prissycatice, Muffin, MiKaGu, and Snoopypompom for reviewing. Love yall.
-LPC
