A/N:: Finished, so definitely hot off the press! Wanted to upload because about to leave and was just like "dooo iiittt" XD

Hope you enjoy!

"Seastone doesn't work on either of them." Maybelle had come to the meeting room as I linger along the couch with bandages and commanded rest by the head nurse, plus Pops and everyone else.

"What?" Confusion leaves many of the commanders—just like us minutes ago and still trying to wrap our heads around this new information.

"How? They are still devil fruit users?" Thatch asks. I knew my voice is still a little hoarse or I would have mentioned how we had been skeptical, too, but I can't and I hated seeing those concerned looks from everyone.

"Yes, they are. Though, it seems whatever the scientist did on them has made it where their body is now resilient against the seastone and most likely water since the stone has a higher concentration." Maybelle explains while shifting papers so Marco can view over them more in depth as she promised.

"So, they basically can't be stopped with that now?" Rakuyou asks for clarification, no one seeming to believe this as fact. Of course, I hardly believed it even as Maybelle was pressing seastone to my body in the infirmary and did nothing to my fire as it continued to burn. We did the test and even Marco is still in disbelief, viewing the papers as if she only used regular stone.

"Yes," Maybelle shifts a rod before nodding to me so I can hold an arm out. "If you will Jozu," the commander moves over while forming to diamond on one side of his body. "As you can see, this is seastone." The rod is moved to touch the diamond arm and quickly has it retreating with the commander shifting a little with a small cringe on his face. Taking it away, Maybelle shifts towards me and my flames come to life on my hand as she lowers the rod to my wrist. Flames continue to linger and the stone gives no effect, like it wasn't seastone in the first place. "The seastone is ineffective, the man had reconstructed the devil fruit ability somehow."

"I will continue to question him with my men," Haruta clarifies with head held high as he had been the second to find me after Thatch. They were all worried about me as half of the lab had been engulfed in my flames.

I had only been grateful they didn't see me in such a state again, white hot flames overtaking everything in their path with destruction. Being overtaken in such a state had been like I had been floating—though I guess I was—but in a way where I was aware of my surroundings somewhat. My fire consoled me to protect our body and I let it do such a thing. The lab and people of the lab were a threat and my fire knew to take care of it. A part of me noticed the awareness of Marco lingering, and never hurt him as my fire knew important people. When Marco had pulled me out of it had been an adrenaline crash and I basically crumbled. Turning to human had been something to leave me breathless as I woke up still as human. The wounds still lingered, feeling the exhaustion in me. It is different, not being suffocated this time, but my fire knew how much pain I went through. The strain the experiment caused on my body lingers as I knew I was full body exhausted.

"That's incredible," Izou says while most stare in surprise as the rod moves back to suppress Jozu once more for proof again.

"No wonder they had a hard time taking you down, little bro." Thatch states up and only showing pride over the fact that I handled myself, though they are all unaware of what exactly happened. Maybelle somewhat knew, but I told her I wanted to wait a few days before talking more on it.

"You two should go rest," Pops speaks up and probably noticed my exhaustion trying to settle in once more.

"Yes, I do not require them present for the rest of the report." Maybelle clarifies while taking the papers from Marco and he gets me standing up. A huff leaves me while I shift to begin walking on out the door with Marco to his room tiredly. "Both of you rest, even you, Commander Marco. Although you may heal, this still caused a strain on you." The comment has me know she means more mentally than physically, and he presses along my arm with fingers finding mine.

"I'm going, yoi."

Making our way to his room, I held myself up to be greeted by some of the men from my division. They asked and checked in with me on how I was feeling and if they needed to bring me food, as Gil was asking Marco the same with mentions of handling navigation with June. After settling food would be retrieved and brought to the room, we reached the door and I was helped in more when passing through the second one.

"I have you," Marco reassures as I slouch against him more with hands gripping as I try to gather myself enough for the last steps. It took a lot to walk normally and not show how much I was exhausted in front of the others. "Come on, let's lay down." A hand runs through my hair as I get feet shifting and not lean on him so much, though he drags me in for it.

Being only in my shorts and shirt, he helped with the shirt with a grimace to my bandaged chest. It had been worse than I thought, those vines left bruising and my skin is raw along calves and shins, also my back and chest. It was like he was trying to burn me from the inside with the injections mixed with seawater—we assume at least. It's hard to say on what exactly was in the injections, but the lasting so far leaves my skin raw in those areas for getting the brunt of it all. Marco had been expressive to Maybelle on how my skin looked better than when I first transformed back in the lab—which means Thatch and Haruta saw me like this.

"Pillows," I hum as I like that the bed is covered in pillows and blankets that look like a messy nest.

"My phoenix panicked, yoi." Marco tries to explain as it had to have been when I was passed out or when he went to the bathroom when I was looked over. "We wanted you to be comfortable, and you had been happy with a nest and the phoenix sort of took over on that." More of the explanation brings a flurrying in me at such a gesture and I look up to him in surprise before grinning.

"Thanks, birdies." I reply while pressing into him more with a hum and he begins chuckling with soft cooing. Being led to the bed, he helps to get me to it and I easily curl into a spot while waiting with a blanket and Marco pulls his shirt off and left his pants on. Climbing in, I happily smile while he gets more into the spot I saved for him and he helps to get me resting along him comfortably as my legs ached and so does my torso when I press wrong along it.

"Want me to wake you when food gets here?" The question is soft in tone while I press my face more into his neck and breathe out slowly.

"Sleep," I mutter to his skin and he gives a cooing while nuzzling to my head.

"When you wake on your own then, yoi." Marco states as it is decided that he wouldn't move and would let us rest before eating, even if it gets cold.

"I'll be here for you, Marco." The body stiffens at my words before a hand brushes through my hair and then holds me in place to nuzzle more.

"I know… I need you here right now."

-o-o-o-o-

Arms are crushing me in a hold, the screech startling me and hearing a clinging noise. Shushes are heard, my heart thundering as I feel like we are back in the encasing prison where I had warmed Marco. My grip tightens at the thought of feeling that pain once more and whimper. Words are incoherent as I try to bury away, to keep away from feeling that searing pain, that pain that led me to almost die.

"Ace," the voice is from Marco and is calmed down while the hold is still firm, but not as gripping from before. "I-its just the family…" Hearing those words have me slowly relax as I notice it to be Jozu and Maybelle in the room. The tension dissipates, but I do not pull away as I feel safe in my hold. "Sorry, Jozu. I was in a fog, yoi."

"It's fine, Marco. Maybelle had a feeling you may be when coming to wake you." Jozu replies smoothly, though a hint of worry strings along with it. "I will take my leave now."

"Thank you, Jozu." Maybelle replies as steps creak the floor and Jozu leaves, leaving us with the head nurse. "Please tell me what happened, so I may try my best to help or be notified."

Being aware I told Maybelle I wanted to wait, I still shake my head while burying into Marco as I didn't want to talk about it. Just remembering it was painful enough and I hated having to relive it for just a moment—even just as remembrance. Arms give a small tighten at my reaction and gives kisses to the top of my head, though I can hear a light sigh from Maybelle.

"Marco? Would you like to begin then? After being caught as Thatch has already filled me in mostly on that." It slowly prompts Marco to start in on the cage we were put in and to the knew cylinder like prison. As he goes on about the cold and the mentioning of freezing water, I can hear scratching of paper as Maybelle makes notes. The words from Marco slow up as he is mentioning of being separate, him dealing with a vague cold and even trying to find a route out but couldn't. As it came to the other room, Marco trails of and this prompts Maybelle. "What happened?"

"I was strapped by vines down and put through the experiment, yoi." He explains while fingers grip harder on me as I tremble while wiggling as close as I can be. "It was painful, but as soon as my ability was able to push forward, I healed from it. Then I tried to get out to get to Ace, though he still threatened with the freezing water on both of us. I didn't want to risk it, yoi."

"Ace?" The question has me shake my head vehemently against a neck, trying to stay calm. "I need to somewhat get an idea."

"No…" I repeat verbally this time, tone more of embers burning. "We don't want to talk about it…" The gravelling of my tone shows of my fire showing in agreeance before I whimper while gripping to Marco.

"The experiment wasn't meant for someone without healing abilities…" Marco merely mentions while a leg moves around mine, talon appearing to grip at my calf protectively. "How many times before me, Ace?" Marco tries to soothe out and I whimper with a shake of my head.

"L-lost count… hurt…" I answer to him as his voice soothes me and my inner flames while giving heat in return.

"I know… I didn't like seeing you in pain, love… Can… can you tell me, yoi? Tell me anything?" The questions feather from him, but I shake my head with whimpers and crackling to my tone.

"Pain… s-so much pain… I was going to die…" Shaky sobs start to leave me, pain flourishing where the bruises are, burns under my skin from the treatment throbbing.

"Sshh-broo~! I got you, Ace." Comforting coos force their way through for comfort that I need and can't help gripping with trembles. "Sleep more… We have you, the nest will stay perfect." The mentioning has a small smile pull on my lips, having appreciating the show of comfort and wiggles to find that comfort—calming my crying.

-o-o-o-o-

At least five major injuries were made from the conflict and fifteen minor ones that ranged in divisions at who would be ideal for when they went, though most were on stand by and ready to go if needed. Not all commanders went either, to watch over the ship, and the only one who got injured was Curiel as he sustained a cut to his arm. The village had been surprised on what had been happening and helped as much as they could in providing before we had set off after cleaning up some, though the village insisted that they would handle it—most likely exploding it for the mountain to collapse.

The crew were weary, not wanting to hurt me as it was informed of my injuries, which is expected. Though, my mentality had a small roll when I was hugged by others, making me stiffen at the constricting place. Thatch noticed first and immediately backed off, apologizing on doing that to my wounds—but I saw the look in his eye that told me he had an idea it was more than just that. My division had been next, knowing better than to grip me because of wounds and seeing my reaction of constricting. Tight spaces were a no go before, but this was different as they are unaware what happened. I was sure to take naps in my Marco's room and even sleeping as I made a mistake a few times.

The mistakes also shows how much my divisions cared, no one ever got burned, but my fire flared in protection to back off. When I would rise from the bed, I would be haggard and blindly looking for reassurance on where I was. They had been good to be patient and I felt horrible on it happening, but they understood. I was so grateful, even as they persist it was fine to sleep in the quarters. The only reason I didn't was because I usually searched for Marco, but seeing second division helped just as well.

Marco on the other hand, if I wasn't handed over, then there was an issue. After seeing me going through the last phase of the treatment really messed with him. He knew I was in that much pain several times before he was brought to the room—reaching my breaking point every time. The thought of almost losing me had him on the verge to go down to the prisons of the ship and kill the scientist. Just seeing me, I couldn't imagine what ran through his mind when I was going through the last one. I know he mutters of protecting me, not letting me ever reach that point ever again—having me hope deep down I never will.

"You shouldn't be working," Iman mentions with a frown as I had the report for second division in hand.

"It has to be done and I'm fine." I comment while writing down to the table in front of me, plates empty from their food.

"Right, why not let Teach do it a couple more weeks?" He suggests and I pause while staring to the papers before sighing.

"If I don't do this then my mind wonders elsewhere, okay? This gives me a peace… a normalcy…" I speak quietly in honesty, not wanting to gaze to him as I twirl the pen a little. There is a trailing silence before a small grunt in return.

"Okay, we are playing cards later in the first barracks. You should come join us!" A more happier tone is to the end and has a smile pull to my face as I look to Iman with a sincere happiness.

"After dinner? I'll be there to wipe you all out." A laugh leaves him, having me give a light one before he leaves and I go back to work. Writing a few more things down, a hum strays right behind me, having me not know someone was there.

"You are just like Marco on that… Work to ignore inner turmoil." A snort leaves me while tilting my head and looking back a bit.

"Hey, Izo… Were you… uh, able to fix my bandana?" The question lets him give a dramatic sigh before sinking into the bench next to me.

"No! I ran out of the cloth and it was so perfect on you!" The complaint brings a smile to me as I continue with a few more words as he rambles on fabric types and such. "I don't know what to do for you now!" A small whine lingers before I glance up to see a tattoo showing to the side of someone's neck—striking a thought in me.

"Don't worry about it, I got a better idea."