A soft knock sounds through the bedroom. Marco looks up from his papers, a small frown appeared on his Face "yes?"
The door opens, revealing a smiling Izou "Hey Workaholic, Delivery Service." he says, while entering the room and dragging a snoring Ace behind him, having a firm grip on the fire users belt "get over here. He fell asleep again, loosing the poker game. And you are working again. What was the last island you sat a foot on?"
While holding his monologue, he walked over to the bed which belonged to the Phoenix and placed Ace there. The later one grabbing the next pillow and makes himself comfortable while grumbling about a 'feathery fluffy ball of fluffy feathers'.
Both older brothers smiled about his action.
"I don't know... Where did Ace accidentally burn down this flower shop because he sneezed after he semelled a Lily?" Izou gave a little snort at the memory, which developed 3 islands, 8 weeks, away. Before he could answer, Marco spoke up again. "he played poker? How much do I owe you-yoi?"
Izou smiled "Oh. Nothing. It was strippoker and he was on his way to catch sight of a pretty naked Thatch. Have you practiced with him?" he asked, turning to him.
The blond got up and headed over to the two beauties, one dead to the world and the other one still aware. Secretly, he preferred the who's currently dead asleep. But he wouldn't dare to voice his thought. Izou would be Heartbroken... and probably try to kill Ace... or Marco... or both. Nope. He preferred being alive and loves his boyfriend... Definitely no, Nu-uh. He won't be the cause of Ace's death. Never. A shudder makes its way down his spine.
.
"Marco? Are you okay? What's wrong? You are pale..." Izou calls out to him, waking him from his daydreaming nightmare of evilness. "Huh? Uhm... No, thanks. Everythings fine. I'm good." he says while bending over to get a closer look at his younger lovers sleeping face, buried in his pillow. "I'm good.." his hand moves forward carefully stroking a lost strand back behind his Ear.
Izou sighs. "You two are disgusting. Way to cute to be our highest in command after Pops." slender hands finding their way to Marcos shoulders, carefully taking off the violet jacket, the trademark of his fellow commander. "You know, you should join him." folding said jacked he walks off, blowing out the candle on the desk, taking some of the papers with him while doing so. "Get some rest."
The room is now only illuminated by the glowing light shining inside from the hallway, giving Aces tanned skin a slightly golden touch. Hypnotizing Marco. Showing him again how beautiful his firefly is. The rest of the room seems to get darker an darker. The shadows swallowing most of the furniture.
Marco, still stroking the freckled face beneath him, nods slowly. "You're right... He's so beautiful Izou. I'm so lucky to have him, aren't I?" Izou appears right next to him, taking in the sight "I'm always right sweetie. And now shoo. Cuddle your boyfriend." he gave Marco a soft touch at his upper arm. "You are both really beautiful. And I'm happy for you two. You deserve each other. He needs someone who saves him from all the trouble he causes and you needs someone who is stubborn enough to drag you off the damn ship to enjoy life."
Marco takes off his pants while Izou fiddles Ace's boots off his feet "I assume you can take it from here?" he laughs softly. Marco let's out a laugh himself, barely audible, opening Aces shorts too and dragging the fabric down and off his body. "Yeah. I think so. ... Thank you Iz." he crawled next to Ace, dragging one arm from said Raven over his shoulders.
Making himself comfortable in the embrace he shows Izou a tiny smile and places his cheek on Aces torso, enjoying the warmth and the soft skin.
"Nothing to thank me for, big brother. Take some rest. I'll finish those documents and turn them in before midnight. I promise. Sleep well" he mumbles, draping the blanket carefully over both body's before stroking each head a few times. "And we all are lucky to have Ace. It wouldn't be the same without him. He's a little sunshine. The spirit of the ship."
Marco huffs in response, pulling Ace closer "more like a Poltergeist. Yoi." Now it's Izou's turn to huff "I said spirit of the ship. Fight me if you disagree. You can't tell me you'd call him that to this cute face. And now, good night, you fluffy feather ball" he snickers and walks out of the room. "Night Izou" Marco responds while he snuggles, again, a little closer towards his fire. Basking in the warmth, relaxing and drifting away with his thoughts.
Slowly falling asleep, he didn't noticed Ace's own smile and the little blush that appears on his cheeks. Just that a pair of strong arms pulled him a little closer to the warm chest before falling asleep again but never letting go of the blonde.
.
Izou goes back outside rejoining with the other commanders on deck, who stopped their game of cards as they taking sight of him
All of them starts to smile more when noticing the big stack of paperwork in his hands.
"It worked?" Haruta asks.
"It works every time, idiot." Thatch chirps in, giving him a light bumb on the head.
"it worked," Izou confirmed, coming to an hold in front of those two. "and that is the result. That's all the paperwork Marco has got to do because of your last prank. I promised him it would be finished and turned in before midnight, so you better start writing. The rest of us will have an eye on you two." he shoved the stack in Thatch's hands while giving him a peek on the lips.
Both stared in awe at all the pages, Haruta on her way to protest was silenced by an elbow roughly making contact with her ribs, knocking most of her air out of her lungs. She looked up at Thatch who just slightly shakes his head, dread in his eyes, Gavin seen the evil gleaming in his boyfriends Eyes. Daring him or her to say something against it. She swallows, now noticing it too. That would have been her death.
Izou nods in an approving manner "I think so too. I have finished all my work. And I think it would be wise to do so too" he locked his eyes with every other commander, even Pops. Most of them nodding, looking away in shame. They know how much work they have to do and how much of it actually Marco does. Finishing that would not be so hard.
Even some of subordinates of them looked away, suddenly remembering some work they have to finish soon.
After about 15 minutes the whole crew was busy with something. All of them wanted to please they're commander, giving him some rest and not wanting to cause trouble. Even if it already was way past dinner, closing onto midnight and everything was dark. The had rested enough.
.
By three in the morning everything was done. All the paperwork out of every office, even Marcos. The whole ship was cleaned, the stock was checked, time schedules were made, a shopping list filled, the money counted, everything you could think off was done. Really everything.
And Marco? Marco was asleep, dreaming about his family and how much he loves everyone. And Ace. Maybe he loves Ace a bit more then the others, or at least in a different manner.
He rubbed his cheek on his fire, smiling, having the feeling he could allow himself to sleep a little longer.
...
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