(Marine AU)
"I'm bored," Ace complained.
"You're spoilt. That's what yoi," Marco smirked.
He was sitting at Ace's bedside once more. It had been a week so far and he knew Ace was going stir crazy. Marco could understand why but both he and Bay agreed that Ace was to stay put otherwise they'd cuff him to his bed. Ace was recovering faster than most folk would but he was still very weak and cold, despite the fact that the blankets Izo had made were burying him.
Ace groaned and leaned back into the pillows. "I'm sick of lying here."
"It was a bad injury Ace. You'll be lying there for another week."
"Mercy kill?"
Marco chuckled. "Oh no yoi. You're going to put up with it, along with the gentle smothering we're going to give you to show you our love."
"This is torture," Ace grumbled.
"Thatch delivers you carts filled with food, Izo makes you handmade blankets and everyone keeps bringing you gifts and you call it torture?" Marco teased. "Most people would love to spend all day in bed yoi."
"Yes, a day, not days or weeks." Ace pointed out. "I've solved so many puzzles and read so many books and I'm starting to wonder if my brain is going to burst or not."
"I hope not yoi. That would be messy."
"And you're enjoying this." Ace huffed. "All of you are."
"Not the part where you got injured," Marco said firmly. "That part was terrifying for all of us." He softened his voice when he saw Ace wince. "But having you here? Yes. We're enjoying that very much yoi."
"You guys even forced Deuce to send over his manuscript..." Ace complained. Okay, it wasn't much of a complaint. He felt honoured that Deuce, for some strange reason, had decided to write about Ace of all people.
Then again Deuce had said Ace was the one who got into the most craziest events out of all the Marines. So perhaps it did make sense.
What Ace didn't appreciate though was the fact the Whitebeard pirates threatened to kidnap Deuce if he didn't send over said manuscripts. Deuce had sounded almost horrified over the den den mushi. Haruta, the one who had made the call, had looked gleeful.
"Pops enjoys reading them. Even if he did say Deuce's writing needs work." Marco mused. "Which it does, although that will come with practise. I've already sent an edited version back over-"
"You did what?!" Ace had pushed himself up only to wince and ease himself back down. Marco rolled his eyes at the sight.
"Relax yoi." Marco hushed. "If you move about too much Bay will tie you down and I won't disagree with her either."
Ace whined at the thought but settled with a sigh. The peace and quiet was interrupted when Thatch wandered in with another tray, this time it looked like some kind of salad. Thatch was grinning happily, setting the tray down on the bedside table.
"I know you like meat but this will be nice and refreshing." Thatch grinned, already ruffling Ace's hair. "And you'll enjoy it so much better, after all I'm an excellent cook, much better than the Marines."
"Uh huh," Ace raised a brow.
"Yup!" Thatch beamed. "So get used to my amazing meals because we're keeping you forever."
Ace's eyes landed on him, throwing him a desperate look. Marco only chuckled. He had told him, Ace was going to be smothered in love and affection, after getting so badly hurt.
"You guys can't keep me here forever." Ace huffed.
Thatch raised a brow. "Wanna bet? We've kidnapped plenty of our family members on to our ship."
"Seriously?" Ace sighed. "You shouldn't sound so happy about that."
"Ace, really, I love you, but all I have to do in this situation is tell Bay you're squirming about too much. You'd be tied to that bed." Thatch pointed out. "Then we could give you all the cuddles and kisses we want! You wouldn't even be able to squirm. It would be so sweet."
"You guys are the worst pirates ever." Ace groaned. "Seriously? Why?"
Marco chuckled warmly. "We want you to be apart of our family."
"I'm going back to sleep." Ace buried his face into his pillow. "I'm too tired to deal with this..."
Thatch grinned, stroking Ace's hair. "Yes... That's it... Sleep little firecracker... Sleep..."
"STOP BEING CREEPY!" Ace snarled but winced, clutching his chest.
Marco frowned, noticing Ace didn't settle back down so easily this time, he looked more pained now. Marco got off his chair and sat on the bed, wrapping one arm around Ace while pressing his flaming hand against Ace's chest, coaxing away the pain and healing the wound a little further. Thatch threw him a sheepish smile when Marco scowled at him.
"Stop riling him up, Thatch. He might look better but he still needs a lot of rest yoi." Marco sighed.
Ace completely relaxed against him, slumping against his chest, soft snores slipping past Ace's lips as he slipped into slumber once more. Marco smiled, allowing his healing to continue a little further before letting the flames die off. His Phoenix crooned sadly but he merely hushed the bird, running a hand through Ace's hair instead.
"I can't help it. He's just such a cute fiery thing." Thatch rubbed his head, laughing quietly.
"Yes, a cute fiery thing who will reopen his wounds if he gets too agitated yoi." Marco scolded, earning a whine.
"You're such a mean big brother. I hope you finally relax when Ace joins us. After all you'll finally have a boyfriend to dote upon everyday, so you might just finally leave us alone-"
For that, Thatch deserved the wing that smacked him in the face. The wing that then proceeded to wrap itself around Ace protectively, while his actual hand continued stroking Ace's hair. His Phoenix was feeling awfully satisfied and Marco couldn't agree with it more.
Hitting Thatch was always well earned.
Cuddling his Marine (future pirate) was pretty nice too.
.::.
When Ace next came to he saw Whitebeard sitting by his bedside, reading a book. Whitebeard glanced up and smiled at him as Ace rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.
"Hello son, hope you had a nice sleep."
Ace was struggling to wake up, blinking blearily even as he felt a large finger ruffle his hair. He settled back against the pillows but reached out for a glass of water.
"How long have I been asleep?" Ace asked softly.
"A few hours. I got locked up in here not too long ago. Your sisters think your old Pops has been drinking too much." Whitebeard winked, gesturing to all the needles and medication being pumped into him.
"You do drink too much," Ace rolled his eyes. "Also you're not my father."
Whitebeard smirked. "It's only a matter of time."
"Until you become my father? Because it's not happening. I don't need one."
"Oh no, I'm that already. Gurararara!" Whitebeard laughed. "No, I mean it's only a matter of time until you agree to call me that. I've had many stubborn children over the years, although not quite as stubborn as you."
"I'm young enough to be your grandson." Ace complained.
"Guararara, now you wouldn't want that. If you think you're being smothered now just wait until you see how spoiled my grandchildren get," Whitebeard grinned. "I only have a few, most pirates don't want to risk having kids, but they are very precious to me. As are all my sons and daughters."
"Why did you want a family in the first place?" Ace frowned. "Most pirates just want treasure and power."
"Now that is a good question. None of the Marines know where I come from after all," Whitebeard mused. "I won't tell you the name, just in case the Marines decide to ask you questions, there are plenty of islands that are unaffiliated with the World Government anyway, so it's not like it matters that much. Now, about your question, my home island couldn't afford to pay so it became lawless. Pirates and slavers roam freely in those kind of islands since they had nobody to protect them."
Ace grimaced. "I hate that part about the Marines..."
"I know you do, son." Whitebeard agreed, running a few fingers over his hair soothingly. "You have a good heart. It's one of the many reasons why we love you so much."
Ace felt his cheeks burn at that so he buried his head into the pillow when he heard Whitebeard laugh, ever so fondly.
"Guararara, such a cute blush you have," Whitebeard teased. "Ah, I'm getting old. Can't even tell a proper story without getting sidetracked. Anyway, being in a lawless island left a lot of children as orphans, including myself. I was a big kid though, so I managed to get rid of a lot of the raiders and the kids that were left all rallied up behind me. We managed to claim back our island but at that point it was in ruins."
"What did you do?"
"I set sail," Whitebeard grinned. "It was a lonely life I led at first, even on the island surrounded by terrified children, all wanting their parents back. It was a relief when I started gathering up my own sons and daughters, giving those lost children a place to call home, where they could rest, safe and happy."
"Gold and power are all meaningless in the end. My family though? My family is something to treasure forever."
Ace had no idea how to reply to that. That was a very unique thought, family over gold, especially for pirates.
Ace frowned. "Why do you always let me go back? Most pirates just take what they want, consequences be damned."
Whitebeard snorted. "You enjoy being a Marine. They've not managed to spoil it for you yet, somehow. I also like letting my children do what they want, having you all happy and safe is my biggest joy in life."
Ace twitched. "Then why do you keep kidnapping me?"
"Guarararara, we're still pirates, my boy. We kidnap you because we want you to join our family properly. Sail the seas as one of us." Whitebeard laughed, ruffling his hair again. "We'll convince you of it one day. Although I'll leave more of that to my sons, you're such a young one, and it's getting hard for my old knees to keep up with you."
"Like hell it is," Ace scowled. "You keeping chucking me overboard when I fight you."
"I consider it to be just spars, Ace."
"You're going senile. I'm trying to assassinate you and sow discord in your ranks."
"Guararara, of course, my son. Although you might need to work a bit more on that." Whitebeard chortled. "Unless 'sowing discord' means getting spoiled rotten."
"Yeah, well, whenever someone sits in here with me I'll tell them all the nasty stuff the others have said about them and start a mutiny," Ace teased.
"Guararara, I see! What a cunning plan," Whitebeard grinned. "Shall I tell you the latest talk then, to help start you off?"
Ace shook his head. "You're really just a gossip, Whitebeard."
"Not a 'Pops'?"
"Nope."
"Not even going to try it out?" Whitebeard teased.
"No."
"You're breaking my heart, son."
Ace sighed, but he couldn't help but smile. "I'm not your son."
Whitebeard chuckled. "Sorry Ace, but you don't get a say in this."
"You're all the worst," Ace buried his head into the pillow.
"Ah, yes, I was waiting to hear that from you. Guarararara, it's not the same when you don't say it," Whitebeard grinned.
"Yeah, well, I can't let such traditions die now, can I?" Ace replied.
"Not until the day you join my crew," Whitebeard agreed.
Stubborn idiots. Ace grumbled at the thought, but relaxed against the pillows, feeling warm and comfortable. He'd eat something soon, work on regaining his strength, right now though he was enjoying the peaceful quiet. He heard Whitebeard lean back in his chair, and the sound of turning pages of a book began once more.
