I do not own One Piece.
Marco walks with me to the door to Pops' room, apparently the nurses had told him that he needed to go lie down for awhile, before running off to find Thatch, who was still out in the woods. Gulping slightly, I hesitantly raise my arm, knocking lightly at the door, not wanting to bother him if he is asleep, and slightly hoping that he is. Much to my dismay, and slight relief, I hear a quiet, at least for Pops, "Come in." Taking a deep breath, I slowly push the door open, step inside and close it behind me.
I stand there for a few minutes, staring at the ground as his watches me silently. Finally getting my nerve up, I take a few steps closer to him and look up. "P..Pops?" I whisper quietly. He motions for me to come closer, pointing to the end of his bed. I slowly walk forward and take a sit on the edge, fidgeting slightly. "I'm…I'm sorry…for not trusting you….and for attacking you….and Thatch and Marco." I whisper, staring down at my hands, which I am currently squeezing together to stop the shaking. I know that Marco said that Pops still loved me and everything, but who wouldn't be mad at someone for trying to kill them and two of their sons. Hearing the rustle of movement, I squeeze my eyes shut, not really sure what to expect. To say I was shocked when all he did was pull me into a hug would be an understatement. My eyes shot open and I stare off to the side, not really sure what to think. Isn't he even the least bit mad?
"No one blames you, Ace. I'm just glad that you are alive. I love you, son." he softly says. Feeling tears begin to flow down my cheeks, I bite my lip, return the hug, as well as I can considering my arms can't really go around him, and bury my face in his chest, sobbing loudly. He holds me slightly tighter, to the point that it is kind of painful, but I wouldn't tell him to loosen up for anything in the world. He continues holding me until my sobs finally die down.
Pulling away from him, I wipe my eyes, feeling slightly embarrassed. After I had calmed down enough, I begin telling him everything that had happened. Waking up tied to the mast, Tavaris' words, the dungeon, the beatings, the rapes, the lack of food or water, the doubts, the fear, Usopp's arrival, being forced to watch him get raped, Luffy saving us, and my recovering. I didn't leave out a single detail. I had to tell someone, and there was no one better than Pops.
"I'm sorry you had to go through all of that, Ace." Pops whispers, pulling me into a hug. "I take it you haven't told Marco any of this yet?" he asks softly a few minutes later. I pull away, shaking my head.
"No…I…I'm afraid to tell him. He'll leave me. He…he wouldn't want to be with someone as disgusting as me. Not after what happened…Not after what I allowed that man to do to me." I choke out, trying to stop myself from crying again. I have been crying way too much the past few days.
"Marco isn't the type of person to leave someone he loves over something like that. You should tell him, he has a right to know. And it wasn't your fault. It was Tavaris' and that bastard who did it. It doesn't make you disgusting or anything of the sort." he reprimands firmly. I nod my head. I know that I have to tell him eventually, but I want to enjoy being with him for a little while longer.
I sit around for a few more minutes, talking to Pops and just enjoying his company. I had thought for sure that I had lost my chance at having a father figure. First when I thought he betrayed me and then when I realized that it had all been a trick. Saying good bye to Pops, I stand up and walk out of the door to search for Thatch. He was pretty easy to find, sitting at the front of the ship talking quietly to Marco. I stay a few feet away, not wanting to eavesdrop on their conversation and wait for them to finish.
It doesn't take long. As soon as they spot me, they make their way towards me. I glance at Marco, who nods his head and heads off in a different direction. Thatch stops in front of me and smiles brightly. "It is good to see you back…and awake," he says cheerfully, putting an arm around my shoulders. I look up at him in shock for a couple of seconds, before I can finally get the words out.
"You're not mad that I attacked you? You are not angry that I nearly killed you or Marco? Or that I thought you all had betrayed me?" I asked stunned. Why was no one upset with me?
"Of course not. It wasn't your fault. It was that bastard that betrayed us' fault, and we'll pay him back for that. Though I do have to admit that I was a little hurt that you didn't trust us. But I can forgive you for that. And you gave me a rather nifty scar." he says with a laugh, before dragging me off talking about some prank he was wanting to pull within the next few days. Smiling brightly, I join in, throwing out ideas on ways to make it better and laughing at all his ridiculous ideas that will either fail or make Marco want to kill us.