(Marine AU)
"Alright, Ace. You're wound has healed nicely, although you might still feel tender and weak," Bay smiled. "I think we can start letting you walk about now."
Marco felt the gleefulness and immediately darted forward, barely stopping Ace from trying to scramble out of bed. It earned him a complaint but Marco merely rolled his eyes, keeping his hands firmly on Ace, to keep him in bed.
"Ace, you've not been on your feet in weeks. You need to take it easy getting out of bed yoi."
"I'm fine!" Ace complained.
"Just take it slowly yoi," Marco sighed. "I don't want your legs to give way. Your body still needs to recover."
Ace made a disgusted noise. "I hate that word."
"Recover?"
"Yep. Worst word ever."
Marco snorted. "You're just as bad as Pops."
"Not my father."
"Yeah, sure yoi. Now take it easy," Marco said, nearly smiling when Ace held on to his arms.
"Still not my father," Ace grumbled.
Marco did smile at that. The complaints were just so cute.
Ace eased his feet out of bed, and Marco braced him when he started to put weight on heels, only for Ace's legs to start to shake. Ace threw him a frustrated look, as if it was all his fault that Ace's legs weren't used to standing up anymore. Marco chuckled, nuzzling his neck, which earned him another complaint.
"Don't nuzzle me!" Ace smacked his head.
"But you're cute yoi," Marco grinned.
"Bay, help!" Ace pleaded. "I'm just a poor, injured prisoner. I don't deserve this."
Bay snorted, but said nothing else. Marco couldn't help smirk, planting a kiss on Ace's neck which earned him a startled squeak. He really wanted to just embrace Ace, but it wasn't good to get him too riled up just yet, he was still recuperating after all.
"Alright, alright yoi," Marco laughed. "I'll stop. Now c'mon, try take a step forward."
"You suck."
Marco smirked.
Ace did manage a few steps, he was a little shaky at first but slowly Marco began to lead him around the room, coaxing his legs to start to regain their strength. Ace was surprisingly energetic afterwards, much to Bay's confusion.
"You should be tired after all that," Bay huffed.
"I think he's just excited yoi," Marco said. "Probably because now he can try to start plotting his escape attempts."
Ace threw him a betrayed look.
Bay scowled. "You're not making any escape attempts. You're still my patient and you're still in the process of getting better. That means, you aren't fully healed yet. So don't go overexerting yourself."
"Marco, you suck," Ace said.
Marco only tugged Ace into his arms in response, crooning softly. "Sorry, darling, but like you said, you're our prisoner. I can't let you go free."
"And here I thought you guys wanted me to be apart of your crew."
"Do you want to be yoi?"
"Nope."
"Ah, shame," Marco said, nuzzling his neck again. "Prisoner it is then."
Ace groaned. "Urgh, why me?"
"You got injured and we rescued you, that's why," Marco smirked. "Now, do you want to relax in here or go outside and see everyone yoi?"
"If there a third option? Like be given a boat to sail away on?"
"Nope."
"Then outside it is," Ace sighed. "I'm going crazy, being locked up in here."
The amount of cheers Ace received the moment he stepped out the medical bay with Marco at his side nearly deafened him. Marco had an arm secured around his waist, ready to catch him, but Ace was determined not to need to support. If he could prove he was fine then Marco would stop clinging to his side, and perhaps, that would mean the sooner Ace could go back to his own ship.
Which better not have been sunk, bloody pirates.
"Ace! You're up and about," Haruta grinned, rushing over. "How do you feel? Sore? Tired? Do you want Jozu to carry you?"
"I can carry him myself yoi," Marco scowled.
"I do not need carried by anymore," Ace huffed. "And you don't need to hold me, Marco."
"You've been on bed rest for a long time, Ace. Your body needs time to adjust," Marco reasoned, smirking. "Besides, I like having you close yoi."
"Damn bird," Ace grumbled.
"It's early, but how about we head over and get lunch?" Marco suggested. "It would keep you from being smothered by the bulk of our siblings."
"Your siblings. Not mine."
"Sure, sure yoi."
"Don't sound so sarcastic. I'm a Marine dammit."
"And also our prisoner apparently."
"You guys are the worst kidnappers ever. I should be in the brig, considering the fact that I am a Marine, you're enemy."
"Baby brother," Haruta cooed.
"Shut it."
Marco chuckled. "It's too late, Ace. We've all accepted you into our family-"
"I haven't!" Ace hissed.
"And since you are the youngest that means you are the baby brother in our family. A wayward one at that yoi."
"You guys are seriously the worst," Ace sighed, turning away to head to Thatch's domain. "I'm going to go drown my sorrows in food now."
If he was lucky Thatch wouldn't be there, but then again, Ace never really had a lot of luck.
