Ace sat in his room, staring out from the window as the sun began to set.
In only a few short hours he and Marco would set out towards Marine ford and Ace had barley slept all night.
He couldn't get the feeling away that this somehow was a huge mistake.
The worst part was that there was nothing he could do about it, just as Sengoku said, he had a duty to fulfill, if not for himself, then for his brothers. He had to keep them safe.
Ace smiled gently as he thought of his two younger brothers, Sabo and Luffy. He could barely remember the last time he saw them, it had been so many years. What was it again, 5? 6? He wasn't sure, but he was either 14 or 15 when he left. He missed them so much it hurt.
At first, they had sent letters, but after a while Ace just stopped answering. It hurt not to have contact with them, but them not being proud about him for giving up his dreams hurt even worse.
Was it the same for Marco and his crew? Did it hurt them to be apart like this just as much? Ace had heard stories that they were just like a family, The captain calling them all his sons, and the crew called their captain Oyaji. It sounded to good to be true, but what if it wasn't. What if there actually was a crew out there With a man ready to fight for someone he sees as his son, and hundreds of men wanting their lost brother back. A brother who were taken away by force when all they wanted was freedom.
"Sounds familiar doesn't it dear brothers" he thought as he watched the sky.
Ace sighed, it was almost completely dark now, it was time to go.
-x-
Marco Was kicked awake by someone, and as he came to he saw 5 or so guards standing around him together with Magellan. At first Marco was confused, but then he remembered what today was.
Today was the day he was being shipped of too Marine ford.
He suppressed a sigh and raised up, and couldn't help the small smirk as the guards was clearly terrified of being too close to him, but that smirk quickly disappeared as someone slapped him hard.
"You better Wipe that smile of your face now scum, cuz you won't be smiling where you are going". One of the guards said, probably the same one that just hit me. I faintly recognized him from somewhere but I didn't remember where so I just raised my eyebrow at him before starting to walk, Guards in front of me and behind me.
There was something heavy in the air as they guided me through the prison, and I couldn't help but notice how quiet it became as we passed the inmates and guards. I could feel the stares from the other inmates watching me being led through the prison and forced me to keep my head high. It stayed quiet all the way through the prison, any talk or sound died down as we passed. It felt weird.
As we got closer to the main entrance the tension only grew stronger, It was like a massive weight was being put inside of me almost making me fall to my knees. My whole being seemed to scream at me to take my chance and run, but I just couldn't bring myself to fight, the torture and lack of food and rest had taken its toll on me.
As we stopped outside the prison, I wondered what Ace was up to, I hadn't seen him for a few days and I missed him. He was the one who had taken care of me during my time in the prison, tending to my wounds and keeping me fed. I let out a breath as the cold night air hit me and i looked up at the clouded dark sky. I felt the corners of my mouth tug downwards. I had hoped for stars. I had always enjoyed sitting outside at night watching the stars, and I realized with a streak of sorrow that I would never again be able to enjoy those moments again. In a few days, I would be at Marine ford, getting executed for my sins, probably with the whole world watching.
I would never again be able to listen to Oyaji's stories, spar with my brothers or enjoy a good adventure, hell I'd even take a whole month worth of pranks with open arms if it meant I could meet my family just one more time.
I stumbled as someone pushed me forward, I glared backwards at the offender.
"Get a move on pirate scum, your ride is waiting" The marine said with an evil smirk that made Marco's insides turn, but he simply gave an unimpressed look and turned back forward, spotting a small ship and an unmoving form next to it.
"Are they kidding? One guy? They think one guy is going to stop me from escaping"? Marco thought confused as to why they would make such a stupid move, but As the figure raised it's head Marco felt his heart skip several beats as he recognized the perfectly sculpted face spotted with freckles, and he understood. His escort was Ace.
"You think we didn't notice the looks you gave him from your cell?" One of the guards whispered in his ear, and he felt dread filling him. Ace being his escort wasn't a coincidence. Ace was escorting him because they knew that Ace was the only one he wouldn't attack Ace had taken care of him, so he was indebted to him. Attacking Ace would be the most lowly thing, something he would NEVER do, and they knew that.
"How do you know i won't just kick him overboard" I said, trying my best to keep the anger out of my voice, trying to sound as bored as usual.
"You won't" A second guard answered. He sounded so casual that it wounded like he was discussing the weather, and I hated him so much I gritted my teeth only because I knew he was right.
I was almost by the boat now, and I looked back at where Ace stood leaning against the boat with his arms crossed trying to read his emotions, but it was so dark outside I could barley make out his face, and what I could see was watching us approach emotionless, almost bored.
He didn't even move and inch as I walked past him onto the boat, but exchanged a few hushed words with the guards before boarding himself.
I was led into a small cell at the lowest deck with on small window so that I could just watch the sky.
I soon felt the boat shift and guessed we had set sail, and I hid my face in my cuffed hands, finally letting the tension get the better of me, I cried myself to sleep.
