Hello, this will be a chapter with a lot of feelings, mostly bad ones. Okay, like, only bad ones. I'm not sure I'm happy with this chapter though and might re-write it later. But for now, I hope you enjoy. I know you have been waiting forever for this! :3
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I woke up with the feeling of being watched, I looked around and saw Ace standing outside the cage looking at me with an emotionless expression.
I stared right back at him for a while, before he just shook his head, stuck something inside the cage through a small opening by the floor and left.
I watched him leave with a heavy feeling in my chest, I looked over whatever he had given me and realized it was food and a water bottle, but I wasn't hungry. I was thinking about Ace and how emotionless and cold he was acting towards me, it felt strange, I had really thought we had something but now I wasn't so sure. Whatever we had it was probably one sided. The Marines was smart to have Ace being his guard, It was the only Marine Marco wouldn't lay one finger on even if it meant his own death. The chance of Pops attacking a young man out alone in a small boat was also very unlikely, maybe the Navy was smarter than he had given them credit for.
I can't even hope for my family to find me now, because if they did, Ace would be killed. I would never live that through, It feels like Ace has become a part of me, I needed him to function properly. Ace had taken care of me for so long, tended to my wounds, he feed me, kept me entertained. I wouldn't be alive without him.
It wasn't until later that I realized something, As Ace dragged me of the boat and chained me too a tree before walking over to a fire that I understood that Ace hadn't done that out of the kindness of his heart, he did it so I would still be alive for the execution. Ace didn't care about me at all.
The realization tore through me and it felt like someone had pushed me into the sea, like someone was slowly cutting my heart into pieces, like someone had poured lead into my stomach and was slowly burning me alive all at once, but I couldn't do anything but sit there and stare towards the ocean, slowly falling asleep.
I dreamt that I was back on the moby, I stood on the head of the gigantic whale and felt the wind in my hair and the sun on my skin, warming me. Suddenly I felt arms wrap around my waist from behind, and I knew by instinct who it was and melted into the embrace. I felt completely at peace.
Suddenly, the picture changed and I found myself on a battle field. Everything around me was complete chaos, my family fighting to the death. I started to run, fighting my way through the mass of marines.
I heard someone call my name, and turned around to see Ace running towards me. I felt relieved, knowing he was alright, but it soon turned to horror as I saw one of my brothers sneak up on him. I tried to scream but my voice didn't work. But just as my brother and crew mate was about to end the life of the man I love, I woke up.
Panting, I looked over to the sleeping form of Ace with a heavy feeling in my heart. I wished I could go back to my family, to sail the sea once again, to be free, but I wanted Ace to be with me, and I knew I couldn't have that, and It broke my heart.
Ace's POV
As soon as Marco was locked up and I had boarded the ship, I lowered the sails, wanting nothing more than to leave this stinking prison as soon as possible, and It felt nice to have something to distract myself with, but I still couldn't stop my thoughts from wandering as I chained Marco to a tree when we stopped at an Island for the night, I felt so torn. I knew I had to stay with the marines for the sake of my brothers, to protect them, but I also wanted Marco and the life that came with, it felt like I could challenge the world and beyond and win with him by my side, being with him felt like home and like the biggest adventure in a lifetime all at once. It was like he had found part of him that he never knew was missing.
But of course, I knew that could never happened. In less than two weeks Marco would be executed at Marine ford, and there was nothing I can do about it.
But for some reason, I can't accept that. He just couldn't. How can I accept being a part of this? I knew I should, and I knew I had too, it's my duty as a marine. I sent a look at Marco, seeing him asleep, fidgeting as if he had a nightmare… I promptly stood up and walked over to a tree, hitting it hard enough to break it in half. It felt good. I needed that.
I sighed as I walked back to the fire, Laying down facing the ocean, watching it until I fell asleep, thinking about how wonderful must be to be a pirate, living a day at a time, wild and free.
Normal POV
When morning came along, Marco had all but forgotten the dream from last night, the only thing he could remember was the conclusion that Ace had played him all along, there was no other logical explanation. He was a Marine, and Marco was a pirate, and they needed him alive for the execution, he knew that, and when they realized Ace was the key to that, they probably used it to their full advantage. It made perfect sense in Marco's mind, but it didn't make the feeling of betrayal hurt any less.
He was led onto the ship and into his cell by a silent Ace before being left alone.
He sighed and looked out the small window in his cell, and when he said small, he meant small. He could just see the sky from where he was. After3 days had gone by without anything happening, he noticed that the clouds looked a bit too dark for his liking, he was worried if Ace would be alright all by himself if a storm broke out. Speaking of Ace, he had barley seen him since they stopped at the Island
Turns out a storm wasn't the only problem of the day. Not long after the storm started, a loud crash was heard and Marco cursed loudly as water started too pool into the small prison as more loud crashes was heard throughout the boat.
"This is so not my year, is it" He thought as he pushed himself into a corner, trying to avoid the water that would drain him the second it came in contact with him, but no matter his dire situation, he couldn't help but to worry about Ace, was he a devil fruit user too? Even if he wasn't there wasn't much hope surviving a grand line storm in a boat with a hole in it, but he could hope.
His thoughts was interrupted by the sound of running footsteps and felt hope filling him, thinking that Ace had come for him, but as the door was thrown open he quickly realized that none of the 3 men in front of him was even close to Ace.
The leader of the trio, or at least Marco assumed he was, for some reason, smiled wickedly as he set eyes on Marco, knowing instantly who he was.
"well, what do we have here! Marco the phoenix if i'm not mistaken"? He said with a sick gleam in his eyes.
"Heard you got captured by the marines, stupid move don't ya think?" He said with an evil smile.
Marco didn't answer but continued to stare at him with a bored look.
"Well, it can't all be blamed on you I suppose, the Marines was tipped off after all, knew you were injured and the location where you were". He said with a laugh when he realized Marco wouldn't answer.
That actually got Marco's attention. Someone had tipped the Marines off? The only ones who had the information to do that were his crewmembers, and there was no way someone from the crew would out another like that.
The guy must have seen something in his expression because he laughed even louder.
"You didn't know huh? well, dosen't matter now does it! You'll be dead soon anyway, but, now that I think about it, why don't I just kill you now to end your misery?"
Marco felt his stomach sink, someone had betrayed them?
"Where Is Ace" He heard himself ask, dreading the answer. If these guys was here, it meant the ship was under attach during a storm, and Ace was all alone up there to deal with it.
"Ace"? the leader asked irritated of being ignored once again. "Ah, that little prick upstairs? He left the ship the second we boarded, probably knew it was done for and saved himself." he said with a grin before turning around to walk out.
"Come on men, there is nothing here of value. Enjoy your swim, Phoenix! He laughed the last part, pointing over his shoulder to the rising water level. Marco had almost forgotten about it, but he felt himself not caring.
Someone had betrayed them, Ace had left him to die. He was all alone.
