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Yes, you.
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Chapter ten: Marco-chi, would you like some blueberry bagels?!
"Finally... home, sweet home..."
Inferno whispered huskily as he landed with a soft thud on the wooden floor. The sleep was trying to push his already semi-opened eyes close, and he knew that if he stopped fighting it even for a second, he would be out cold, snoring his lifetime chance to fix things up away before someone could say pineapple. Why pineapple? You know why.
Still don't know? Well I won't say it, because I know you want me to.
Fuck u his hair doesn't look lik-
"... And no more crazy-ass luffy-obsessed snake babes in sight, hurray."
Peeking around the corner carefully, he noticed a sleeping crewmate, slumped to the mast, drawn on with red and pink lipsticks. The almost indistinguishible words on his forehead read 'No mercy for Percy'...Wait, why for the love of Thatch's holy bagels are there kissmarks on his bare foot?! Marco didn't want to know.
'Dammit Percy, don't think just because you are not in my division I will let this go. You will feel Izou's wrath for drinking off your ass on watch again.'
He scoffed in his head and looked around if there was anyone else. He checked the crow's nest. There were usually two people guarding the ship.
'Observation haki!'
He gathered the last of his forces and concentrated it all on the nest.
There was someone up there.
But they weren't moving.
Not even the slightest movement could be sensed.
'A calm aura... Were they also sleeping?... These dumbasses I swear!... But, this one is kind of familiar...Hmm...Well, whatever, easier for me I guess'
The old grimy planks creaked under his steps as he sneaked across the unusually quiet empty deck of Moby dick. He successfully made his way to his room.
With an obnoxiously loud squeak, he pushed the door open and slipped in. As fast as he could, he undressed and stuffed the costume into the bag and threw it under the bed - the darkest place in the room and maybe even on the whole ship.
Yeah, Marco wasn't really that fond of cleaning that much in the past, before he met Luffy and the gang. Marco, Koala and Perona were the only ones keeping their house somewhat clean. He remembered too well how scary it can get when you don't check under Luffy's bed for a whole week. Tons of dirty dishes, crumpled wraps from chocolate bars and mountain of empty soda cans. Of course he beaten his ass into red and blue after that and made him help Marco to clean his mess.
To this day, Law still teases Strawhat about his butt playing all colors of rainbow after Luffy came to him for treatment, because it was too painful to even sit down. Law laughs, Luffy pouts, furrowed brows and all, looking cute and scary at the same time. If someone asked Marco if he was sorry, he would tell them something along the line of "If I ever find out he is still doing this, I won't hesitate to do it again. Rainbow ass jokes or not."
He flicked on his little table lamp and laid out the paper with evidence he collected so far.
"Sabaody archipelago - aside from slavery, drugs too are about to take over here..." he mumbled and ran his fingers into his golden locks in frustration "Dammit, that greedy bastard Drug Peclo is moving too fast..."
The door opened suddenly. A vibrant, friendly voice brought Phoenix out of his thoughts.
"Knock, Knock Marco-chi~, how are ya doing? Still such a big workholic I see..." Thatch beamed at him with his toothy smile as he came into his room. " Like seriously, do you ever laze around?" The chef sighed and walked towards messy table with a tray in the hand. He brought him mug of black steaming coffee and freshly baked blueberry bagels.
Marco's heart jumped happily. He still couldn't get used to seeing his best friend smiling at him and being alive. He missed his laugh, stupid jokes, bad pick-up lines he tried to pull on the nurses and of course... his cooking.
"At least I didn't t let the whole crew almost starve to death when taking a beauty nap instead of cooking." Marco shot back with mischievous leer and rested his chin in palm palm of his right hand.
"Oi! That happened only thrice! Here I am being nice to my best buddy and this is what I get? Tch, forget the bagels!" Thatch pouted as a little kid would and was about to dramaticaly turn around, but Marco hopped up from his chair and went straight for the bagels.
"Mm, it smells delicious~, as expected from the best chef of Whitebeard pirates." Phoenix smirked and was just about to take one bagel, but his hand was slapped away from the alluring delicacy.
"Tsk, don't butter me up, it doesn't work on me." Thatch grinned and put the tray in his other hand, stretching it out far from Marco's grabby hands.
Marco pinched his nose and squeezed hard.
"Ouch ouch nooo, stop. Stop. Time out!"
"Give me those bagels or perish!" Marco hissed out, but let go of him.
"You are so agressive~"
"Thatch..." Marco frowned and folded his arms across his chest in a disapproving stance.
"Oh don't look at me like that..., your I-will-murder-you-if-you-don't-give-me-those-bagels-and no-one-will-ever-find-your-body stare doesn't affect me either, but maybe 'Oh Thatch! You are my best friend and I love your style of flirting, you are so cool and smart' would probably shake me a bit" he grinned and poked into Marco's jaw.
The Phoenix scoffed, but stayed silent with a contemplating grimace on his face. Thatch was still throwing him a hopeful expectation-filled look. Wait, were his eyes sparkling?
'You are not cute.'
"..."
*SPARKLE
'You are not cu-'
"..."
*SPARKLE
'You are-'
*SPARKLE
'Gosh darn, fiiiine' Marco rubbed the root of his nose and sighed in resignition.
"Oh. Thatch. Your flirting sucks so much it hurts, you are so cool as Jozu's feet when he forgets to bath for few weeks and your pompadour isn't that epic and you are rather annoying sometimes,.." Marco listed thing after thing with robotically neutral voice laced with lazily faked admiration.
Thatch puffed out his cheeks and furrowed his brows. If he meant it to look intimidating, then... it was certainly not. He looked more like an angry pup that was just told it was adopted. But Marco's speech didn't end there.
"...And even despite all that... you are my best friend...all these things... it's what makes you... Well, you..." he said with emotion apparent in his voice again, looking him straight in the eyes "No...You are more like a brother to me and I love you. I really do so please... Never leave me..." Marco trailed off, adding in his head silent 'Again'. He held Thatch's gaze for a few seconds and then looked to the side, a little embarrassed by his confession. He was never thatch kind of guy who wears a heart on his sleeve... Not like Luffy.
Thatch was shocked. Marco has never shown so much affection towards his crewmates, not even to his friends, not even to...him. Yes, he cared deeply for them and they knew it, but he.. Never word it out... With his wide blown eyes he watched as a pink tint creeped up his way across Marco's cheeks and as his eyes looked into void, somewhere behind him. There was something in his eyes...Grief, deep sadness mingling with specks of sheer happiness... He couldn't put his finger on it, but Marco looked even more perplexed by his feelings than Thatch was.
His eyes watered with tears of joy.
He put the tray down on the table and caught Marco in a big bear hug.
"Who are you and what did you do to my Marco?" he hicked and rubbed his wet eyes with his sleeve" Man, you are making me cry here"
Marco put his hands around him too and sqeezed back. Thatch kept on dramaticaly crying, wetting his shoulder...Marco chuckled lightly at the display.
"Wat's so fubby, Uh?" (What so funny, huh?)
Thatch rasped out between sobs.
"I am just glad you are here." Marco smiled and řešte his chin on Thatch's shoulder.
"Man you are being weird. Almost disgustingly sweet... I swear if I find out you are some kind of imposter and where you hid Marco's body, you are dead man."
"Hahaha you always cracks me up, Thatch!"
"Well, duh! I am funny! See? Marco doesn't show his emotions so openly... But hey this is maybe better..." Thatch grinned and put his hand on Marco's head"Yooosh, this Marco is better, I am keeping you"
"Shut up dumbass and hug me properly" Marco hissed trying to sound annoyed, but his voice lacked the usual biterness.
"Fufufu~, you became so loving~, I am definitely keeping you."
"I said quiet"
Marco murmured and pinched his ear.
"Ah ite ite ite, sorryyy" Thatch squeaked out and embraced him more tightely.
"Now that's more like it"
"Good night Mar-co-chi~" Thatch sang as he was just about to leave.
"Yeesh, go already and stop calling me that!" Marco barked and threw a shoe at him.
"Wahaha okay okay I'll shut up. And you go sleep already, I wish you sweet dreams." Thatch gave him a last smile with closed eyes and let the door close behind him.
Marco stretched his arms and sat down to table again, going through the documents he got from Shakky. It's was such a shame Rayleigh wasn't still back, chasing after his younger image. Well. To be correct, the image was now older due to their meddling, but whatever right? He wished Shakky a to have a nice day after bringing her the Boa sisters and went right back to the ship. He doesn't need to be worried, Shakky will take care of them. They will be back to their homeland in no time.
*BANG
"And by the way the bagels are made with pure love so they are really really special. Blueberry, not that sweet and with hint of almonds, Enjoy ~" Thatch busted in again as quick as he appeared, he left laughing his ass off after seeing the shock on Marco's face.
Marco sighed and grinned widely.
"Ha, that idiot." he scoffed with adoration apparent in his voice.
"I missed this."
"Good job, everyone! Let's just take these aboard and we are finished stocking up on food for another two weeks!" Marco boomed so everyone heard him and his command was answered with cheerful "Yes, commander!" from his subordinates.
As the pirates rolled barrels and carried the crates aboard, sweat rolling down their bodies from all that work, the first commander of Whitebeard pirates instead of over seeing their work, was spací g out as usual for him these last weeks. He looked at his ring.
It glinted and Marco couldn't také his eye of it. Just by looking at it, he felt much calmer. Of course he was happy being with his family again. There is no way for him to feel more safer than being in presence of Whitebeard himslef, the stongest man in the world, his captain and father. The one who rescued him from ending up dying alone, starved and unloved somewhere in dark alley of small city in New World.
Really, don't get him wrong he was happy... It was just that he found a new family. Or maybe would be better to say 'another one', he made it bigger... He wanted to have them close again.
Last five years have been excruciating. Was Fujitora really feeling okay, was he really healed?
How about Koala? Will she be okay? She will have to get her back burned again and all...
Will she get another fit? What will they do, when Luffy won't be near her?...
Yes... What about Luffy? Is his little troublesome sibling causing problems again? Did he meet up with his brothers already? Did he meet...
Ace...?
A collosal amount of questions swirled in his head in a chaotic vortex.
'Agh my head hurts again... I need to call them... I want to see them...'
He rubbed at the golden gem.
"Marco!"
Izou jumped down from the crow's nest, landing right in front of the startled male. He adjusted his clothes and tucked in a stray strand of his black obsidian hair, poking out of his perfect hairstyle and gave Marco a short measuring look.
"Dammit Marco! You worked over the whole night again, didn't you?! You look horrible." Izou scrunched up his nose in disapproval "Come with me, I'll try to fix you as much as I can" he said and started dragging the poor Marco towards his quarters.
"Well, sorry for looking like shit Izou" Marco bit out, his voice brimming with sharp sarcasm.
"You will thank me later."
The door closed behind them.
"So what are you going to do? Dress me into a skirt, extend my hair, put a neon pink lipstick on me and introduce me to the crew as Marcy, the new exclusive Thatch's nurse or what?" he jeered, thinking about the unpleasant memory.
"That was all Thatch's doing, and I have to confess, I thought it was very funny" Izou chuckled and rummaged through his things.
"Yeah, yeah it was hilarious"
"Oh shut it, don't be so salty, it was your fault for letting yourself get drunk into oblivion by him."
Marco just grumbled, but didn't answer after that.
Izou pulled out yesterday's newspaper, Sabaody Special, and handed it to the Marco who just lifted his brow in question on Izou.
"Read."
Marco shrugged it off and read the title. He was bit started how Izous voice hardened, but didn't inquire.
"Night bombing in groove 23, 2 and 1 last night. 28 dead."
Marco didn't let it show on his face, but his heart sped up. He raised his gaze back to Izou's.
"So?"
Izou stayed silent and handed him another two newspapers from past weeks.
"Mysterious figure seen in marine headquarters, the important documents on new recruits going missing!"
"An unknown individual broke into the Fjord's treasury! The famed ice blades went missing! The victim's calling out the Navy to catch the criminal"
Marco searched for any kind of trace of doubt in Izou's face...but his face stayed neutral...stone-cold and calculating, judging...His eyes though were piercing, as if only his gaze could make person spill out every last of their secrets, from wetting your bed until nine years old to accidently killing your cat with a boomerang once.
"I thought it was weird, You know... News about mysterous person wrecking havoc on island after island that we 'coincidentally' also were on in that time." Izou started pacing across the room "I thought I was just being paranoid and all... But I watched Marco... And I saw someone leaving the ship at night... Just the nights before the scandals." Izou's face twisted in worry " I didn't mean to be suspicious of our crew, but it just... I felt like something was wrong... "
Marco gulped but remained stone-faced. Sweat trickled down the back of his neck and he prayed Izou didn't see it.
"Do you know what else was weird? "Izou said and took a step closer to Marco to look him in the eye again
"You."
Marco's heart felt like it stopped for a second.
'Fuck. Here I am telling Luffy ti be careful and I fuck up first'
He shook off his shock quickly.
"What do you mean? I was same as always. By Thatch's own words 'Bored old grumpy workholic'... I guess he forgot he is only two years younger than me" Marco chuckled, trying to sway Izou's doubt.
"Maybe you glaring at Teach every damn second he has his back turned to you and you think no one' watching you?... I swear I saw you crush the iron railing while glaring daggers at him...you are a lot more emotional now... Before you were more laid back kind of person, more quiet... " Izou smiled sadly and brushed off hair from his face."...but these days...you chatter every minute you can and you look so overjoyed..." he huffs as he just told a stupid joke." And that time you saw pops one morning and ran to hug his leg and then the rest of us, the commanders. The whole crew was whispering about you becoming possesed by hug demon after that... You never hug anyone... You became strange since three weeks ago so I must ask you then,"
Marco held his breath.
"..from where were you coming from last night in two in the morning? The first commander of Whitebeard pirates?" Izou asked with voice sharp as knive, as if trying to cut through all lies Marco was about to say.
"..."
'So he was the one in the nest... I guess he wasn't asleep huh. But it's okay, I was disguised, he couldn't have recognized me'
"I was in my quarter's all night, working as usual. I don't now what are you talking about. Thatch can confirm my statement if you don't believe me." Marco said lazily, keeping cool head and appearing almost bored on the outside, only finger in his nose was missing and he could be marked as being ignorant.
"I don't know why are you lying..." Izou started carefully "I trust you Marco, we are all family, but... Why?..." Izou's gaze softened as he came closer to anxious Marco and took both of his hands in his"...Is something bothering you?... Don't you trust your family with your problems?" he squeezed them lightly but Marco just smiled and shoved them off gently.
"I really don't know what are you talking about Izou. I don't have any problems."
Izou frowned, but didn't say anything else. He took his hands in his again.
"Let me go, I need to work."
"Why don't you trust me enough to-?"
"Izou."
Izou bit his lip.
"Please"
"..."
He sighed and let go of him. He looked down on his feet and turned around.
"I will be there to listen if you ever need someone to lend the ear... Thatch too... We are all here for you." he whispered, voice thick with the emotions.
"... I know" Marco whispered back and exited his cabin. Guilt was crawling up his back.
'Did I...? Should I...?'
'No, there's too much to lose...'
'Sorry Izou'
Marco's slow steps resonated in the hallway.
'He was always the observant one... And kind at that'
Marco huffed and went back to his position.
"Commander Marco!"
"Yes Alex?"
Marco turns around to see his subordinate. Small woman in red jacket, breathing heavily and rubbing droplets of sweat from her temple.
"It's a-", *huff it's a- " Alex panted trying to catch her breath.
"Don't tell me Percy is drunk again!" Marco bellowed, ready to tear that little shit apart.
"No, no.. Captain wants to talk with you."
Marco froze.
'Shit'
"Commander?"
"Yes, yes...I'm going. Tell Percy to be ready for punishment. He will know why." he managed to croak out and started walking towards Whitebeard's cabin.
'Did Izou snitch on me?... No, he wouldn't do that... Or was he that worried about me?'
Marco was so deeply submerged in his thoughts that he didn't even realize he was already in front of the massive door.
He lifted his hand to knock but hesitated.
He stood there for minutes.
'What if he'll make me to spill everything? He will want to chan-... He will... He will...'
"Are you going in or you are you going to stand there for another ten minutes?" a booming voice thundered from behind the door.
Marco swiftly opened it and closed it behind him with a loud click.
"Hi Pops, sorry I just have a lot on my mind these days" Phoenix smiled apologitecally.
Whitebeard threw him an amused look and took a big swig of saké he had in his flask.
"Gurara,...that is okay my son, but what would have you so invested in it that you spaced out for so long in front of your captain's door?"
Marco's mind was blank, he wanted all those distracting feelings to stop. He can't concentrate properly.
"Well, what did you want to talk about pops?" Marco tried to dodge the previous question.
He could feel Whitebeard's curiosity, but the old man didn't call him out and just went with it.
"You seem troubled Marco... Is there anything you want to tell me?" he leaned forward and offered his hand to him. Marco accepted his invitation and took it. Whitebeard placed him on his right leg and leaned his heavy head on his hand.
"No, Pops. Everything is great! I am so glad to have all of you." Marco smiled, feeling his smile coming off as slightly strained. But he technically wasn't lying that much. He really was glad to have them back.
Whitebeard smiled, his eyes glinting in dim yellow light with pure adoration as he looked at small Marco, one of his first sons. The boy was always there with him, by his side. Helping him gather his family and win lot of battles on the sea. Whitebeard felt like it was just yesterday, when he found battered kid on the sidewalk in red light disctrict in Mocha-town. It was just after the Rock pirates were disbanded and even though his crewmates weren't the best friends in the world, he still respected them and was with them for quite a while. People do get attached easily, huh?
"Gurarara I am glad you like our family... But are you sure you like Teach too?"
Marco didn't let himself panic.
'...'
'...'
'C'mon say something, even something ridiculus, just say something. '
"Yea well,...he just ate bagels that Thatch baked for me and...somehow everytime I see him my blood boils."
'I can't show such animosity towards him when I have no proof he will betray us yet'
"..."
'Yeah, like he will trust this fucking lie'
Whitebeard looked into his blue eyes, desperately searching for the truth...but without success.
Maybe Marco was scarred on his soul just as the others were, but he also had a resolve, a strong desire to see this operation till the end... They couldn't afford to fail... This was their only chance.
As they say, escaping from death's doorstep changes a man, but only those with a strong will can truly come back to the side of living. Because if you are in corner sobbing your eyes out, pitying yourself and regretting everything... Are you truly living? Did you really escape or just stalled the inevitable death's scythe? It has its blade pressed to your neck, drawing small drops of blood,... you are just waiting for it to strike. You are but an empty husk of your former self... You are already dead.
"..."
"Is that so?" Whitebeard mused, drinking again and wallowing in its bittersweet taste.
'He knows.'
Marco almost stopped breathing.
'He knows I am lying... That is obvious, but he knows what I am feeling... He knows me too well'
"Well if that's all I will be go-" Marco tries for the last time to evade reaveling his true, internal feelings, that eat him, make him sick to his stomach.
"You've changed."
"Huh?"
Marco's looking at the Whitebeard, finally looking up to his eyes.
"Not in a bad way... I can see how much you love this ship and family we roamed the sea with... I can see how much you care in your eyes." Whitebeard chuckled.
"..."
His smile disappeared and something similar to worry could be heard in his loud yet comforting voice.
"But you must know...We also care about you." he ruffled Marco's hair "Tell me my son what is it that burdens your mind?"
Marco face shadowed. He slowly exhaled and looked him straight into his warm loving eyes... He looked at him with all the pain that accumulated in him in these last few years.
"I am...just scared"
"..."
".."
"Scared my son? This is the safest place on this planet, why should you be scared?" Whitebeard frowned and gave Marco.
"...I'm scared for... someone... I'm worried...I miss someone"
"Oh? I didn't know you had such a good friends aside from your crewmates... Or possibly is it a lady?" Whitebeard's grin turned feral, teasing and flicked Marco's forehead.
Marco reddened and started flailing around with his hands.
"No! No! It's more like... Um... Another family to me? Especially one Guy... He... Is pretty troublesome fellow, he is like walking catastrophe" Marco laughed while scratching the back of his neck. He looked off somewhere into the space, reminiscing about his beaming smile and rubbery hands snaking their way around his shoulders.
"Gurarara then they must be incredible people. I want to meet them sometime. Especially that guy, he sounds interesting, no?"
"I am sure you will." Marco smirked and hopped off Whitebeard's knee "Anyway thank you for asking but I will cope with it on my own, it's not like I won't see them again."
"Okay son, I am always glad to help one of my sons or daughters."
"...I know" Marco murmured, more to himself, the weight on his shoulders getting heavier.
The night on the fishman island would be a quite terrifying one, if it wasn't for the lamp dials. The darkness in the deep abyss of the sea was truly a nightmare material.
"I am so glad I have this." Marco mumbled, alone in his room, rubbing the gem on his ring.
He took the gem off of the ring and turned all the lights off. He stood in the dark room, quiet, excited to see his memories again.
He lit a small cyan fire on his finger and put it under the crystal. The gem light up with a golden light.
Numerous images appeared on the walls all around the smiling Phoenix. They were photos featuring his most treasure memories with his loved ones.
"Oh Ace... That was when he became the second commander..."
"Thatch and me, the Marcy, gosh how much I hate and love this photo."
Then his eyes fell on the photo in the middle... photo of him and every member of survivors...Happy and yet so broken. Happy to be alive and at the same time beating themselves up for being weak.
Luffy...
His smile was really medicine for sadness.
It just soothed your soul when you looked at him.
All smiles and bouncing around like a small cheerful idiot he was.
'Lets call giggles'
*puru puru puru puru
*gacha
"Howdy, Marco~"
"Hey... What are you? Cowboy now?" Marco snickered.
"No, I am a pirate silly. Anyway, what's up?"
Marco smiles humms.
"Mm mm, I just wanted to tell you that Hancock and her sisters are safe."
"Really?! How are they?! Were they hurt much? I hope not, I like them. They helped me so much in the war and gave me ton of delicious food. And-and Hancock died for me... Did you talk to Hancock about me? Did you reveal yourself? And-"
"Whoa, whoa stop. I'll tell you just that yes, mission acomplished, they are safe and you don't need to worry."
"... Okay Marco... Thank you."
"Of course Giggles, that's expected of your right hand-man, no?"
"That's right! I have the best right hand man in the world! Ah! But what is Zoro then?... Hmm he is the best first mate!"
"Haha okay, ... Btw did you-..."
"Ha? That kid... He is talking with someone again?" Ace whispered to himself as he watched Luffy from the shadows of the jungle.
'I'll try to get closer. Last time I was too far to hear anything aside from his dumb laugh.'
Agile as monkey, he made his way across the branches to the kid, sprawled out in the lush grass. He hopped quietly down and hid behind the wide tree.
"... Again? How were they?"
"Ah... Not yet. I... Y'know I have to train first and... Gramps didn't show up yet, it would be weird-"
"You are just afraid aren't you?"
"..."
"Giggles?"
"Yea, you're right but wouldn't you be too if-"
"Don't say it... I know... Do what you think is the best, sorry... It's just I want to-"
"Thanks, I get it. Don't worry."
"But follow the plan ya hear me?"
"Aye Aye and hey you don't order me around stupid head!"
'What are they talking about?... Stupid head? Can't think of a better insult?'
"Haha sorry boss~, just tell me, do you think they are near you?"
'Boss?! This kid? That has to be some kind of nickname. Hah, that one on the other side is pretty dumb too.'
"It's quite possible, they have a secret stash of money in tree branch near here. They are still trying to save up for when they sail of to be pirates."
'What?'
Ace stopped snickering. His lips formed into a deep nasty scowl.
"Ah talking about money, you need those right? To pay for the-"
"Yeah, yeah you told me the plan like milion times. I know what I need to do."
"Great. Don't screwed this up"
"Shaddup you dummy!"
"You shut up! It's important. You are a kid, they will underestimate you and put their guard down. Don't hesitate and take the money."
"Aghhh, so is that all you wanted to tell me?"
"No.. Maybe I just called you because I wanted to hear your voice?"
"...You don't need to be worried I am strong!"
"Yes, you are"
'I know' Marco thought to himself. He felt like everytime he says it, the burden he pulls behind him is getting harder and harder to drag with him.
Ace didn't stay to hear the rest of the conversation as he made his way to the Sabo as fast as he could.
'I knew this kid was a bad news!'
So yeah! This is the longest chapter yet! I had a writing mode switched on XD, so what do you think? The first tragedy is about to happen, how will our Luffy get through this?