Hope you enjoy~!


Blackout

The following days of me actually going farther than the bedroom and infirmary showed my hesitation on facing my commanding brothers, even Marco at some points. The others noticed and tried to keep my spirits up, but I was having a hard time readjusting myself. I didn't have anyone to completely lean on before since at the time Lafitte wasn't necessarily someone I trusted, but being in an environment of many individuals to be there for me was hard to hold back. They knew me and knew my reactions and how I acted on a day to day basis. So, it had been evident of my emotions flickering and not wanting to talk about what plagues me.

After my outburst, the other commanders were too weary on actually being close to me. They hadn't of known and I knew they felt guilty for not being able to get me out of that situation, but it's not their fault. They didn't know and nothing showed of where I was. I also knew Marco was telling Crocus of me waking from nightmares, being sure to check on me and requesting me in. Lafitte was still in the infirmary and would sometimes just let me curl in a ball by his side, like I used to do at night at Teach's home base. It helped, being a bit familiar with such things and I knew it made Marco a little upset.

My lover wanted to be there for me through it all, but sometimes I needed a moment with Lafitte since he had been the one I went through with the first time. Then at night, Marco kind of cools off since I would always be there laying with him. It really helped settle himself and I knew it was helping me to be with him. I was getting myself adjusted back to before and braved some of the commanders, one at a time to have them know I was okay, but they knew I didn't want it mentioned.

"Ace?" I pushed Marco to the bed to sit down after closing and locking the door.

"Hm?" The hum left me as I flickered eyes up to blue and he had eyebrows raised as I pull at his shirt.

"What are you doing, yoi?" He asks while I got buttons undone and I moved to push him to the bed before climbing on top to straddle him.

"What's it look like, old man?" I asked cockily and hands gripped mine as I had been touching to his chest.

"Ace, we aren't doing that right now." That had me freeze with a look to him, viewing his facial expression.

"Why?" The question left me since it's been a couple weeks of me getting back into the groove of everything, plus I loved our intimate moments. He breathed out with a firm grip and gave a serious gaze.

"I don't want to put any stress on you." The answer was there as I frowned lightly and felt this clenching in my chest.

"I'm asking for it, Marco. I want to do something with you." I comment and he closed eyes for a second before letting out a sigh. Blue looked to me again as I viewed him, not changing on my answer.

"Just not right now, yoi."

"Is… is it because I am dirty?" Confusion showed on him as I felt myself straining and he shifts lightly.

"No, Ace. Plus, you just took a shower."

"That's not what I meant." The words left me in a hoarse tone before I shift to have him release hands and I stood up. A sharp inhale was there before he grabbed my hand and was sitting up, having me look to him.

"Don't think that ever." The words left him and the last was emphasized. My gaze went down as I trembled lightly with gritted teeth before he pulled me over. Hands had pulled me to the bed to lay on my side with him petting at my head. "I want to, Ace… Just not after we had you tell us so soon, yoi."

"But it helps." I tried to explain and grabbed his hand to be resting to my butt. "You are different with me and that's what I need." My arms moved to be around his head and I pressed against him with a smile. "Besides, we have already been doing stuff because I want to." I expressed, trying to clarify on the last part as much as I could and he breathed out with a grip as he pulled me close to him. That caused a spike in me of excitement as I shifted to kiss at lips, enjoying when he returned it.

"I have a hard time being more gentle with you, especially when you are being cocky." That had me chuckle while he firmly held me and it really did bring so much reassurance in me. "Besides, I just… most wouldn't want anything to do with that, yoi." He mentions quietly and I look to him seriously.

"That's because I trust you, Marco." It was like I sparked something in him as he viewed me with a smile there and kissed to my forehead some. "I mean… I… I know it's not something to forget… but you help by replacing the bad with good… and that's what I want."

"I will do anything that helps." The words left him as he kisses chastely to my lips and I shift to press for more.

"Then love me."

-o-o-o-o-

The family is still in potential danger, we began setting the bar to take on the war at our door steps. We had a meeting, everyone stayed serious, but I knew most were worried over me. The thing though is that I tried to snap out of it, worrying of Luffy and Sabo who are potential targets. Of course, they were worried over the fact that Teach has Shiliew coming after me, no doubt finding a time to do something. A few runs by my brothers have proven that Teach is angry about what he has figured out.

No doubt, Augur is upset as soon as he finds out I am not dead. I knew he had to of known that the bullet didn't kill me and it made me wonder if it was intentional since he had plenty of time to kill me before I noticed. It was unlike the man to miss a target, especially when distracted at a perfect time as I didn't know he was out there. I could tell it was of a warning and sign that they knew, which would have been quite more surprising if Sabo hadn't told me. Things were a bit vague on what is going on and I soon let myself dig myself deeper into this all.

Marco was showing that he was on the verge along with me, wanting nothing but peace for our territory. Not only that, but he just wanted us to be together in a peaceful environment with no fear on a very close threat. We tried to be uplifting to our brothers, me a bit less than before the whole blow up I had. Everyone was stressed and the fact that the home was in danger meant we had to begin moving people and divisions around.

The home isn't safe anymore.

We decided at the meeting that I would be moved from the home along with fourth and eighth division. Of course, they made sure with me first since I wouldn't have Lafitte or Marco there for me. It was something important to do, knowing that Teach would figure I would stay with either person or my division. I agreed to go, fighting back the lump forming in my throat as I didn't want to separate from them, but it was to get plans moving along then I will go along with it.

Marco and Vista are tasked with finding Shiliew's whereabouts more accurately to get rid of that threat whilst staying in the main home with my division. Izo and Jozu are going after Augur to take him down and make sure he is no longer a threat at a different home. Haruta and Curiel were to follow up with Burgess, getting anything from my brother's gang to find him and eradicate him as well—also lingering in a different home. We needed to clip at Teach's ego, taking out bits that had him feeling all mighty.

When it was time to split houses, the first two to leave were fifth and ninth division as they headed closer to where my brother is. As it came for me to leave with Thatch and Blenheim, Marco hugged to me with lips feathering along my cheek in reassurance. It was going to feel weird without him there and tried to hold back my anxiety on the matter, focusing on taking Teach down so we could go back to how everything was before.

"If you need me, even late at night, just call. I will answer, yoi." My lover told me and it had me breathing easy at the thought of him being as he was. I couldn't have asked for a better boyfriend.

"Thanks, Marco…" I whispered as we stood in the hallway, just before the loud front room of everyone gathering or moving outside to do some things. It was a bit dangerous, but we had others on standby in case of a sniper.

"Are you sure about this?" The question was a last-ditch effort for me to bail out of this and I swallowed with a nervous breath.

"Yes, we need to do this and get it over with." I told him firmly while he held a look of restraint as I knew he didn't like the idea of it, but knew logically it would work out better than other options. The rating of how well is higher than anything else, but didn't mean it was that high to begin with. This was all dangerous and I tried to think positive on it all. "Then I will be back in bed with you every night," I told him as a means to look on the bright side and he smiled at that.

"So I can pamper you in kisses," lips pecked to my temple, making me laugh lightly. Then as he stopped, arms were around me as pressed his cheek to my head. "Don't be afraid to go to Thatch or Blenheim, okay?" That had me choke up a little as I knew what he was talking about, but was really hoping those nightmares won't plague me—though that is a very demanding wish. "Just promise me that, yoi."

"I will try if necessary…" I replied. A low breath left him in some relief and I held to him with eyes closed. I tried to hold myself strong while he soon pulled back to give my lips some passionate kisses.

"I hate to interrupt," the new voice had me snort while we parted and I looked to an amused smirk.

"It's fine, Lafitte!" I told him with a grin and was released so I could move over to him. "You make sure everyone in the division stays on their toes and support Lion as I have him temporary stepping in." I mention as though Lion is up to the plate, he would consult everything with another commander before doing anything officially.

"I will try my absolute best, Commander." It still made me laugh when he called me so formally on these types of matters before his face softened. "I will also be available to talk with if Marco is not able to for some reason or other." It was reassuring and I grinned at that before moving to grip him into a hug. A hesitant hand patted to my back as Lafitte wasn't one for so many hugs, though he knew how I was once being with the family more. I pulled back with a grin and a nod left him as I soon turned to go bump into Marco with kisses up at him.

"Another kiss-kiss, blondie!" A chortle left him as an arm was along my back to grip my waist and giving peppered kisses everywhere except my lips, making me complain.

"Come on, little bro! Let's get you in the trunk!" Thatch had peered around with a grin, finding humor of where I will be riding.

"It's like your kidnapping me, Thatch!" I joked while flailing arms and gripping to Marco's neck. "I don't wanna ride in the trunk~!" I whined, knowing I wouldn't get out of it, but thought I would at least try while wiggling around.

"I would tie you on the roof, but they might see you there." Thatch comments next making me complain at him before Marco chuckled. Lips press to my temple a few times before I met lips for a moment so I could be released.

"Try not to be too much trouble for Blenheim, both of you." Blue eyes flickered between us and we both gave a firm denial of what he was talking about.

"I will be out in the garage," Thatch gave a point as he walked off and Lafitte gave a nod towards me while making away to the front room.

"I love you, Marco." I immediately said with my body snuggling into him firmly and gave a grin, making him chortle while peppering kisses to my forehead.

"I love you, too." He told me in reply before he shifted a bit down and then I was picked up to go over his shoulder, making me voice a complaint. "Here, I will put you in the trunk, yoi~!"

"Marco! Noooo!" I whined with a smile and was laughing as he began to carry me out, making others laugh all the way to the garage. Thatch got an absolute kick out of it along with Pops as he was there to see me off and being put into a trunk, a smile was on my lover.

"See you soon." He told me softly while the others enjoyed jokes on my predicament and I only smiled in return as he lowered for a few kisses to my lips.

"Soon."