Once it became clear that this part wouldn't be a single chapter, I decided I wanted this scene to have its own chapter despite it being short. I'll post the next one next week :)
The First Son
Newgate runs into Marco not even fifteen minutes after leaving the bar. As it turns out, Marco seems to be done with his shopping. He has a new bag that looks considerably fuller than the one he left the ship with.
Marco raises a surprised eyebrow when he sees Newgate, but he doesn't say anything. Newgate is pretty sure that, for a moment, there was a quip about expecting to find him passed out somewhere or something of the sort at the tip of Marco's tongue. He wishes Marco would've shared it, but a little sass this morning is already more than Marco displays most of the time.
"How did it go?" Newgate asks, stepping closer to Marco. They move to one side of the street to avoid blocking the path.
"Pretty well. I decided to get two maps that are supposedly recent, so we shouldn't run into any more surprises. There wasn't much about sailing the Grand Line, though."
That isn't a surprise. While Newgate brought the idea up yesterday, they are nowhere near the Reverse Mountain and the information must be scarce around here.
"We have time for that," he says instead, and then hesitates. Newgate has been worrying about how Marco would react to the presence of a third person on their ship, and suddenly realizes he hasn't thought at all about how to broach the subject. Every sentence he can think of sounds pressuring in his mind. He doesn't want Marco to think he has no choice here.
"What?" Marco asks eventually, and while he sounds calm enough, there is a slight note of apprehension in his voice.
Damn.
Newgate isn't very good at controlling his facial expressions.
He guesses the best he can do is go straight to the point.
"How do you feel about the idea of someone joining the crew?"
Marco is way better than Newgate at controlling his expressions, but he isn't perfect, and Newgate has caught him off guard enough with his question to notice the small grimace that takes over Marco's face before he can school his features back into a calm image.
"You've met someone you like," Marco says instead of replying, and then nods to himself before Newgate can say anything in reply. "Well, of course. This is supposed to be a pirate crew, not a nursery."
"Don't say that," Newgate says, his voice coming out harsher than he would have liked. A couple weeks ago Marco would have recoiled, Newgate has no doubt of that, but now he doesn't.
"It's true," Marco says with a too casual shrug. "And I don't like the idea, if I'm being honest, but…" He looks down at his feet. "This is like the first time we went to an island. I don't think I'll ever like the idea of anyone joining us if it's up to me."
"But?" Newgate asks, because he is certain that Marco isn't actually refusing the idea. Newgate isn't sure if he should feel worried or proud about it. Forcing one's limits can be dangerous, but interacting with other people in a closer way is something Marco will need to learn to do sooner or later.
"But I think you wouldn't consider this if you didn't think this person was worth something."
Newgate nods.
"If it turns out I'm wrong, you come first. You know that, don't you?" he asks, because while he doesn't think Marco has forgotten, a reminder is never a bad thing.
A tiny smile pulls at Marco's lips.
"Yeah, I do." He nods, more to himself than to Newgate, then looks up. "Can I put a couple conditions to this?"
"Anything," Newgate assures him, privately thrilled that Marco has enough self-awareness to look out for himself without prompting.
"I know you have to reveal we're devil fruit users, in case we fall to the sea and all that, but could you not say what my fruit is?" Newgate nods. He won't argue the point, not when Marco is still clearly not comfortable with his power. Or what that power has brought him. "And don't mention the haki, either. Just in case." Just in case Newgate turns out to be wrong and Marco needs to defend himself at some point. Newgate gets the message, and he nods again.
"I doubt he even knows haki exists," Newgate says lightly, trying to ease the mood a little. Marco obligingly raises an inquisitive eyebrow. "I learned about it from a pirate who'd been to the New World when I was in the Grand Line. Most of the people who heard the story thought he was crazy. Apparently haki isn't that well known outside of the New World."
Marco hums noncommittally, and Newgate knows he is filing that fact away for future reference.
"Anyway," Newgate continues, looking around, "I told Jozu we, or just me if you prefer, would meet him in a little over an hour, so what do you say we buy that chair of yours in the meantime?"
"If you don't take as long as last time…" Marco comments, and very pointedly trails off.
Newgate has to laugh. Marco is shaping up to be a sassy little shit.
He moves to start down the street, but stops when he realizes that Marco isn't following him. Newgate turns around to see Marco biting his lower lip with a conflicted expression. Marco looks at him and jogs up to his side.
Newgate is still debating how to ask when Marco speaks.
"Pops… don't tell him about… me either. Please."
"I wasn't going to," Newgate assures him.
That is Marco's story, and it's up to him to decide if and when he wants to share it with anyone. Newgate is just here to punch anyone who reacts the wrong way to the story if Marco ever decides to share it.
