This is not a happy story, and includes major character death and sadness. This is the only chapter there will be of this story. Enjoy~
"Marco?" Ace asked, walking up to the first mate, looking bothered. Ace hadn't joined the crew yet, and was still being an obnoxious brat, trying to kill Pops, even though it no longer seemed his heart was into it, and hadn't actually come to speak to Marco personally. He wondered what had happened. Ace also looked tired, and not from his narcolepsy.
"Yeah?" the blonde asked slowly, not knowing what to expect.
"Thanks for everything you've done for me," Ace said with a smile. Marco's brows furrowed in deep confusion. The hell? What happened to make Ace change his behavior like this? Marco asked if he was okay. Not rude to ask what was wrong with him. But maybe this was the real Ace, and he'd finally accepted that he belonged. Marco couldn't help his hopes getting up. "It's nothing. Just felt like saying it," Ace said, and turned around and left the room.
Marco smiled to himself, thinking maybe things were changing. This was a step forward. Ace's daily attempts at "killing" Pops had pissed him off at first, but there was no point in that because Ace could never do it. He wasn't strong enough, and Marco was sure he was unable to do that now. He didn't even try in his attempts, it was more like a daily habit. Wake up and attack, then go about his business.
He shunned everyone still, tried to, but he couldn't help but get along with Thatch the most. Haruta, too, though Thatch more. Everyone knew it was easy to be with Thatch, so it wasn't so surprising that Ace considered him at least a potential friend.
-x-
Marco stood in shock as he looked at Teach's dead body, with Ace standing there with his dagger. He had a blank face, and the deck was dead silent in shock. Ace's hand was covered in blood as Teach's body laid there. He just stared down at him with a bit of sadness but also relief? He didn't look bothered about what he'd done.
It was only maybe fifteen seconds before everyone went after Ace, pinning him down harshly while others checked Teach, though Marco knew he was dead. His friend for thirty years was dead… Ace had killed him. Nobody expected it. Pops was extremely shocked as well. The night before, Marco learned Ace had thanked both Whitebeard and Thatch.
But here he was, just murdering one of their crew, their family, with no hesitation. He'd strode right up to Teach and slit his throat. It was graphic and horrible. Never had anyone witnessed the death of family like this. By the hands of someone who they considered one of their own! Marco's hearing came back and he hurried to Ace, and yanked him up.
"Get some cuffs for the traitor!" Fossa shouted. Marco was holding Ace up, but restraining him. Ace had his eyes closed, though he was awake. He had a small smile on, and it was disturbing. He didn't struggle one bit. Just letting himself be restrained. He even held out his hands to be handcuffed, which was confusing.
Marco grabbed him roughly and dragged him to the brig, others following. Some were crying over their friend's death, some in absolute fury at Ace, wishing him dead. Ace walked to the brig, nobody needed to drag him. It was so weird, and Marco knew something was wrong with him to act this way. It was out of character completely!
Ace never acted like an actual murderer, but he was a pirate after all. Maybe he was putting on a front, hiding how he really was for the past three months. Three months or them wanting to keep him, and he betrayed them all! But he showed no remorse or guilt! It was sick, how could he not be bothered?!
He was brought to a cell in the brig, and his chained hands were chained above his head. He just sat there, and pulled his knees up to sit cross legged. This position had to be uncomfortable, not to mention he was in sea stone, and just had a content look on his face. Content, relaxed. One dash of bittersweet, but no emotion that should come from murdering somebody. Unless he was a psychopath and it just didn't bother him.
"Ace, why?" Thatch asked, most of the commanders in the room by now.
"It doesn't matter. I killed him." They all bristled at this, furious. They demanded an answer, but Ace didn't say anything, no explanation! No excuse, nothing. He kept saying he'd done it and that was all that mattered. It wasn't long before the torture started. They thought it was for answers, but it was really just anger and hurt that they tortured him.
Marco went back in later, cooled off but still hurt and angry. Nobody was down there but Ace. He was covered in blood and bruises. His wrists were broken, and it was a nasty sight to see. Ace just had his head down, looking at his feet without an ounce of pain on his face. He just sat there.
"You deserve this," Marco said, though he found no glee or satisfaction at saying it.
"I know," Ace replied quietly. "You can kill me whenever you want."
"So, you want us to torture you more?" Marco asked in disbelief. Ace was speaking in such a dull voice, simple. No real emotion. It was kind of disturbing. Marco wished this wasn't how things had been done. How things had come to this. The teen said he deserved it. "For Teach?" Saying his name was hard, but his voice didn't waver.
Ace shrugged, and Marco's "tsk"ed in irritation. "Do you want to die?"
"Yeah," Ace replied honestly.
"If we were to let you go off, would you still want to die?" Marco asked. He wanted to see the reaction.
But Ace nodded. "I want to die. Then I wont cause anybody any more trouble," Ace said with a soft sigh. Why was he saying this when he'd killed somebody they loved? That caused a lot of fucking trouble! Marco couldn't help but be disgusted, but also concerned. Was Ace mentally ill? Was that why he did this? He seemed suicidal. He hadn't before now, though. Was he hiding his mental illness this whole time?
Marco left, passing Pops when he walked in. But Marco couldn't help eavesdrop. He stood outside the closed door with his ear pressed to it to listen. "Ace, have you decided to answer, now?" The captain's voice was cold and hard. He had to feel bad, recruiting someone who killed one of their own. Plus, he'd really liked Ace. This had to hurt.
"No," Ace said simply.
"Your execution will be in the morning," Pops said bluntly.
"Okay," Ace replied, not an ounce of fear or regret in his voice. It was just a simple response to something that should scare and freak out anybody normal. Something was wrong with Ace, but that didn't excuse his actions. Pops left, storming out almost. Marco hurried up the stairs, but the man knew he'd been listening in.
He asked Marco if he'd spoke with Ace at all. "Yeah. He said he deserves to die or be tortured, and wanted to die regardless so he never bothered anyone else." Pops' eyebrows raised in surprise. "He seems to genuinely want to die."
"I wish we could excuse his actions as a result of a mental illness, but that just isn't applicable this time. What a shame." They were having a funeral for Teach that day. Ace wasn't invited, of course. He was going to stay injured and covered in blood in the brig, chained and unable to move.
Nobody else went down, but Marco went and found Thatch, who was in the library, laying on the couch on his stomach with his face in the pillow. He was devastated. Mostly about Ace's betrayal, as he'd never been too close to Teach other than making him his cherry pies. "Hey."
"How is he?" Thatch asked through his pillow. "Izo says I shouldn't go see him or it would look bad." That was true. Siding with the betrayer wouldn't be a good look for him, and would probably just be harder for him if he went and saw the state Ace was in. If Thatch was told by Ace the he wanted to die, it would upset him.
Marco sat on the floor and said, "He wants to die, and says he deserves the torture. Still won't get a reason, though."
"What if he's sick?"
"It doesn't excuse him murdering Teach, if he was mentally ill," Marco said softly. Thatch turned his head, and Marco frowned deeper when he saw the red and wet eyes of his close brother.
"I thought he would finally join when he was nice to us. Why would he do this?" he asked in a broken voice.
"He knew full well he was going to do this. Maybe he wanted them to be his last words or something," Marco replied quietly. "I don't know, and I doubt he'll say why. Give any reason, because he's content to stay and be punished how he is now. I'm upset, too. Pops is as well. But we cant side with Ace. Teach is dead. Gone forever."
Thatch wiped his face and nodded, knowing Marco was right. "I'm sorry, Thatch." He returned the sentiment. They both had had bursts of hope and expectations in their hearts when Ace had genuinely smiled at them, and thanked them for what they'd done for him. It was confusing, and it hurt. Badly. They wanted answers, but Marco honestly didn't think they'd get any.
After talking with Thatch, who went to make dinner for everyone, Marco went to Ace's room. It was a mess of clothes and blankets. Mugs of water. He sure made it his own, despite it having been a storage room with crates in it. Marco searched everywhere for any clue. He found something stuck in the wall. Between the boards, there was a white stripe. Paper.
He hurried to slide the folded piece of paper out slowly so it didn't rip, and opened it up. It was Ace's handwriting, clearly. It sucked.
If you ever come across Monkey D. Luffy, please tell him I love him and I'm sorry. I wish things could have been different. But they couldn't be. Thanks, Ace.
There were dots on the paper of what were probably tears. What was the point of it all?! Ace knew he was going to die, wanted to die, even though there was somebody out there he loved who would miss him.
Marco had never heard the name Monkey D. Luffy before, but he would keep his eyes out for him. It wasn't his fault Ace chose to do this, he shouldn't be punished, too. Marco was angry at everything, but folded the paper back up and put it in his pocket. Ace had hidden it, not wanted them to read it until he was dead, probably.
He hated what Ace had done, but for some reason, he was going to keep this to himself for now. And not confront Ace about it. He didn't know why he was showing any sort of compassion or respect. But it seemed to be his dying wish, and despite him being a traitor and killer, Marco just couldn't invalidate that. Which he felt guilty about.
Why did Ace feel he had to do this? Even if they asked, he would be executed for the ultimate sin, unforgivable no matter what the reason. The one rule that could never be negotiated on every crew was to not kill another crew member. It was taboo, a sin and just something that wasn't accepted or acceptable. It just wasn't, that was how it was.
Marco brought the paper to his office and put in the drawer. He went to get lunch, which was sandwiches since Thatch didn't seem to be in a cooking mood. He looked for his brother, but couldn't find him. So, he had a feeling he knew where he was. He went down the brig and saw the door was open a crack. Thatch was inside.
"Why? Why wont you tell me?" Thatch asked in hurt.
"I can't."
"Why?!" He didn't sound angry, just hurt.
"I cant. Please stop asking," Ace said, showing some emotion, finally. It was just dead tired, defeated, depressed. Marco stayed silent at the doorway. But then he said something else. "I'm sorry I hurt you." The blonde's eyebrows furrowed, thinking this was not mentally healthy for Thatch. Was Ace being manipulative now?
But it didn't change things. It just didn't. Even if he had the best reason in the world, it didn't matter because he didn't give them one. Marco sighed and left, Thatch leaving shortly after. Marco didn't show he'd been there, but saw him walk down the halls with a brownie in his hand, shaking in repressed emotion.
Marco stopped him. "Thatch, stop. You're only making it worse for yourself. Just stop," he said kindly, taking his hand and the brownie away. Thatch clearly knew he shouldn't, and his shoulders slumped. He nodded, wiped his eyes, and headed to the commander's hall, where their bedrooms all were.
For the funeral, Teach's body was placed on a spare row boat and sent away, lighting it on fire with a well aimed molotov that burnt the body and deposited his ashes to the vast sea. Pops stood behind everyone else, who were all either crying softly or silent. He looked guilty. That he didn't see Ace was this kind of person before it was too late. None of them did.
They agreed that the execution was the next morning. Many jumped on the time to torture him, and Marco didn't hear a single scream all night. Ace was either holding it in, it didn't hurt, or he felt he deserved it. Marco bet it was the last option.
He had a lot of trouble sleeping, and Thatch knocked on the door at 2 AM. Marco got up and opened it to see Thatch was in his sleep clothes, his hair down in a pony tail. He held a spare mat, and he was welcomed into Marco's room to sleep on the floor. He didn't want to be alone, and Marco didn't want to, either.
Not long later, Haruta came in, too, and the three were silent besides the soft sniffling that didn't annoy Marco one bit. They all had to act strong, and angry at the traitor, but it was hard for some reason. Why was it hard? They should hate him, be furious. And Marco was angry, very, but he didn't hate him.
He felt sad for Teach, and sad things ended up this way. He just mostly felt sad. And confused, but the sadness was stronger.
In the morning, there was no breakfast before the execution. Ace was a beaten and bloody mess once the commanders went in to get him. People tortured him all night. One of his eyes was bloody, and he had to be blind in it now. It was gruesome. Torture wasn't really something their crew did, but Ace had gained their trust and then abused it and threw it away.
Jozu unchained him, and Ace walked obediently with them, not making any show of pain from his broken leg or toes. He was quiet, looking in front of him with a blank face. No negative emotion, no positive. They brought him out on deck where there was an angry crowd. He would not be given the option of dying at sea.
He would die the same way he'd killed Teach. There was a tarp down, so more blood didn't get on the deck. Ace sat down, and looked out at the ocean. Rayuko was the one who had to do it. Ace said one thing. "Thank you."
Thatch started crying, unable to help it. He'd really latched onto the kid. Ace was 18. He was too young to die, but he must. He took a deep breath, and relaxed his body before his throat was cut. He made no sound as he bled out, and it was fast.
Recruiting him had been a terrible idea for multiple reasons, but still Marco was sad and confused and felt unfulfilled. No answers were given. But he would tell whoever the note mentioned that Ace loved them. He wouldn't say what had happened. Ace was thrown into the ocean, sinking down. The bloody tarp was tossed, too.
Why did he do this? They would never know.
Yup, Ace is dead. Title probably made you think Teach was the one killed and Ace got out! Sorry not sorry lol. Poor Thatch, though.