One word - FLUFF. Ma and Lu getting closer~

Hey there, just some warning but there's some rape in this chapter. It's in italic and you can skip it if it makes you uncomfortable.

Enjoy~


Chapter 5 ~ Swimming and Weakness (9th day)

The next day, Luffy woke up and it was already bright out. 'I must have passed out' he thought. 'Since when did I get comfortable enough to sleep with a stranger around…is he a stranger? haa...Technically I knew him as a bird only, where's he?' He got up and winced slightly still sore. Marco's gone already, he didn't sense him in the room, 'Did he leave already? Did he…' his heart ached for no reason at all. Luffy took a deep breath, he's jumping into conclusions. He stood up and saw that Marco had prepared breakfast for him, so he sat down to eat and saw the blond walking back from the dock carrying the stuff he bought yesterday and released a breath he didn't realise he was holding. So he still had trust issues, the teen closed his eyes, banged his head on the table and sighed.

"What's wrong yoi?" The blond's deep voice suddenly cut through.

Luffy shot up and almost fell backwards before grabbing the table. Marco's arm shooting out to him, "Whoa-" he said, "surprised yoi?" Luffy only grumbled before he continued eating, joined by the chuckling pirate.

"You're awake early yoi. I expected you to sleep longer, I carried most of your stuff back here and your ship's covered in blood yoi" he said while Luffy chewed his bread and eggs, watching him. The pirate stood up after Luffy finished and went to him. "Can i check your wounds yoi?" Luffy nodded and just let the blond take off his bandages. "You're cuts were mostly healed yoi, but your stab wounds probably need two or three more days at this rate," and Luffy nodded again.

"So...when are you leaving?" He asked, feeling kind of sad at the idea of being alone again but it was for the best.

"Not yet, hope you don't mind yoi," the pirate said, "Which was why I asked if you knew why my devil fruit wasn't working, you seemed to know about it yoi. "

"Mnn, I don't mind," he said, smiling. "Also, I knew because it happened to me before due to being chained in kairoseki plus getting wounded and weakened with it on. But it'll return, so don't worry," he looked at the pirate, grinning, "...are you healed yet? We need to get you something to wear, my pants look uncomfortable and way too tight on you," he said blushing slightly.

'So he can blush too huh? Cute,' Marco thought and ruffled his soft hair like a reflex, which made the teen stiffen a bit. "Ah, sorry yoi," he added after he noticed the raven stiffened.

"Shishishi, it's alright," he replied after relaxing.

"So Luffy yoi, what happened yesterday?" he asked while reading the newspaper from yesterday.

"Mmm…", 'should I really tell him this stuff, I barely know him,' Luffy thought while peeking into the newspaper held by Marco from his shoulder and the man was looking at the teen expectantly with slightly raised eyebrows. "Well, long story short they found me and figured out I'm not dead and wants me back," he decided to say.

"Why are the celestial dragons so obsessed with you yoi?" Marco asked while reading, one of the headlines read 'Whitebeard terrorising the seas after a loss'. He knew that meant oyaji was looking for him, he knew his captain would never terrorise islands and civilians for no reason. "Celestial dragons don't care about a random slave that much yoi," he continued.

"You need to go back soon, your captain's worried," he replied instead, leaving to arrange the stuff he bought and clean up the ship later, "also if you're staying, we need to get you something to wear since you can't turn into a bird either." 'I probably should stay in hiding longer though,' Luffy thought, after what happened yesterday. He hopes he managed to stop them before they relay the message that he's alive to the gorosei .

"Alright yoi," Marco sighed, 'he's changing the subject, I guess he still doesn't trust me yoi.'

"You're coming with me this time," the raven said, grinning.

"I wasn't going to let you go alone after yesterday yoi," he replied and the teen just laughed slightly, "so, when do we go?"

"Tomorrow, that way my wound will be mostly healed. Try cutting yourself a bit everyday Marco, to see if your power is back," he told the blond, "serve me some pineapple," he snickered.

"You're worse than Thatch yoi, I will throw you into the ocean if I can right now," he grumbled then frowned and sighed when he thought of Thatch. Luffy noticed.

"What's wrong? Is Thatch the one that got…" He asked carefully, looking sorry. The blond hummed a response and nodded slightly. "Ahh.. I'm sorry," Luffy said apologetically.

"It's not your fault yoi," he ruffled his raven locks again, this time making the teen giggle and Marco smile. He sat down and watched Luffy arrange stuff and placed some nearby for tomorrow's trip, wincing slightly when bending over or moving too fast.

"Neh, Marco," the pirate hummed a response again, not totally paying attention. He was lost in thought, worried about his family until, "wanna go for a swim?!"

'Huh!?' Marco looked dumbfounded. "You do realise I would drown right? yoi," he replied, eyebrow raised with that 'are you stupid look'.

"Aww~ come on just trust me, it'll be fun and calming~" the teen whined giving him puppy-dog eyes. That's the introduction for the puppy-dog eyes of doom that shall destroy him.

The blond sighs, "fine yoi but if I drown, I get to ask a question with a straight answer yoi," he smirked. 'So he noticed that I'm worried yoi, he's good at reading me,' despite my bored face went unsaid.

"Aa~hhh you won't! Let's goooo," he said, dragging the blond by his arm while carrying a bucket filled with scrub and cloths for cleaning. Then they got to the dock and went on the boat, the raven then dipped his right hand into the sea and the boat moved further from the beach.

'He's controlling the water yoi,' Marco observed, amazed. "Luffy yoi, what devil fruit do you have?" he asked curiously.

"Hmmm, hi...mi...tsu," the raven replied, sticking his tongue. The blond just gave him a deadpan expression, "Moh...it's not fun if I just tell you~" he retorted, grinning.

"Okay we're far enough now, ready?" He said mischievously and the pirate winced, he's going to regret this won't he. Then the teen suddenly rushed him, held him by the waist and jumped into the sea. He closed his eyes waiting for impact and the draining, cold, sea water but there were none. When he opened his eyes, he was surprised. He was in a bubble, probably from a bubbly coral. Beside him was Luffy, swimming with a bubble covering only his head with his ears and tails, they were all black with golden tips.

'There's 5 tails now yoi,' the blond watched. Holding his bubble, the fox swam further down till it was getting slightly darker. Then the raven lifted his hands and from his palms, tendrils of flames shot out, lighting up the sea. 'How the hell…' Marco thought. It was pretty to say the least, the blue ocean, the colourful fishes and corals, together with the beautiful orange flames that lit up the dark.

"Pretty, right?!" he suggested, smiling widely while looking at the sea. The raven had made the bubble larger and joined him on his right.

"Yeah yoi," Marco replied absentmindedly, watching the teen instead. He's hugging his legs, his ears were drooping slightly, five tails lax at the side brushing against him and his eyes were gold with blue reflected on it. It was a beautiful sight indeed. Before he realised it, his right hand was on the raven's cheek, making him turn to him in surprise, blinking. 'Ah…' "Sorry yoi," he said, Luffy stared at him a little longer before turning away looking hurt.

To say Luffy was surprised was an understatement, he suddenly felt a firm, calloused hand hold his cheek but surprisingly it didn't make him flinch. He turned around to see Marco staring at him, he held his breath, blinking away wondering what he would do? Then he said sorry and Luffy felt a slight disappointment that he would deny. 'Why am I acting like an idiot right now, why do I feel comfortable with him? He might just be the same like everyone else, I should've learned by now not to trust so easily,' feeling hurt at the thought. "Let's go back now," he decided to change the subject and break up this awkward atmosphere.

"Alright yoi" replied Marco. He carefully went out of the bubble, making sure it doesn't burst. He held his breath and swam up. Using his powers to control the water and deposit Marco on the boat directly. Then he climbed on and retracted his fox appendages. They cleaned the ship off the blood stains and went back before lunch to prepare.

"Can you cook? Better than me, I mean" Luffy asked, smiling again.

"Not really, want me to help yoi?" he offered.

"Yes pleasee, I'm lazy," he whined, making the blond chuckle.

"Sure yoi," and they prepared a meal together and chatted about any random topics.

Luffy had to change bandages after the swim getting nagged at by Marco for getting it wet, while Luffy claimed he forgot about it with a nonchalant shrug. Other than that, nothing happened until that night. They were asleep as usual, Luffy on the bed and Marco on the carpet floor with an extra blanket, the one he used as a bird, his blanket. Luffy slept early, he was tired and still wounded.


'He was strapped to a metal table, almost naked again, it was really cold and hard. His mind was going on an overdrive, he knew where this was leading, being strapped onto the table meant pain. Getting cut and injected with poisons for tests that satisfy the doctors assigned by the gorosei… neck, legs and arms bound onto the table with thick kairoseki cuffs that cut into his wrists and ankles. It was dark and eerie with only a small white light above his head. The door creaked and he could hear a trolley pushed in, his heart rate skyrocketed. "No… stop, you bastards! Not again!" The doctor laughed at his predicament, making him scowl. He could hear the clinking of needles, scalpels and scissors, rattling, small noises echoing in the cold, empty, gray room and it all seemed so loud to him. Then he could feel hands all over giving him goosebumps, it disgusts him. "Don't touch me you filthy old dog," he yelled and jerked the chains. "Oh… did you forget about that little kid you left, maybe I should do the tests on him instead," The doctor sneered, grabbing his face harshly. He glared at the bastard harshly which made him laugh and ordered the nurse, "you, go grab the ki-", making his eyes widen. "NO!" he cut in, "no…I-I'm sorry... you can do whatever you want to me…" he added, tears threatening to fall but he would not let them enjoy this. The doctor ordered everyone out and hell began again, the filth stripped him of his only clothing, exposing everything as he licked his lips and touched him everywhere. Luffy closed his eyes and bit his lip when he felt something touch his ass, he knew where this was going, it wasn't the first time after all but it doesn't make it any less painful. The doctor gripped the table and thrusted into him harshly. He bit his lips so hard to stifle a scream that he drew blood. It kept going as he gasped and moaned, it felt like he was being torn apart, tears dripped down slowly as he endured it. The dog grunted as he finished into him and the tests began, he always felt empty at this point and couldn't care less what happened anymore. "Thanks for that, little slut," the doc whispered in his ears as he licked it. Luffy clenched his teeth, not willing to show him any reaction, making the man annoyed. "Your test today would be poison MX440D, it's a new poison that burns your cells," he said, smirking. "Let's see how fast your immune system creates an antidote this time, hahahahha," he laughed and Luffy could barely hear him by the end as his body BURNED, making him scream.' and he jerk up sweating, biting his arms so hard to stifle screams that he drew blood, just like in his nightmare.


Marco was asleep when he heard groaning and mumbling. 'Is he having a nightmare again yoi?' He thought as he stood up and went to Luffy. He saw him thrashing slightly, eyebrows scrunched. Then he heard mumbling, "no...plees not ag...in," the sleeping raven slurred out, he could barely understand it. He frowned and decided to wake him up.

"Luffy, wake up yoi it's just a dream," he shook him slightly. But he didn't wake up, instead he started crying and whimpering, "Dohn… tuchh me…" he slurred, started shivering and more tears flowed out. Marco was worried now and tried harder, shaking him and calling his name out loud. Luffy's breathing started getting heavier.

"LUFFY!" This time he jerked up with a strangled scream before he bit his arm so hard it bled to stifle it. His breathing erratic and his eyes were darting everywhere wildly.

"Luffy…let go yoi," Marco tried softly while trying to pry the bleeding arm out of his mouth. He heard him and flinched violently, arm forgotten, now inching away into the corner, whimpering and crying softly.

"No...no...no more...it burns…" he whimpered out. Marco frowned, realizing how small and weak the teen looked now, curled into himself. Hands clenched and crying, he's not sure how to help.

"Luffy, it's Marco yoi, you're on your island remember...? And you found me as a bird yoi," he inched closer and reached out to touch him. The raven's bitten arm was bleeding all over the bed now and Marco wondered how many times this had happened when he was alone. Luffy flinched again when Marco grabbed his arm and whimpered but looked up slowly. His eyebrows were scrunched, his eyes looked so pained and resigned, Marco felt pissed at whoever hurt him so much that his usually lively eyes could look like that. He saw the teen close his eyes and took several slow deep breaths. Eyebrows relaxing, but when he opened his eyes again it looked dead and cold now. Marco hated that but at least he's calm for now.

"Right, Marco, thanks, sorry you had to see that," he said tonelessly and walked to the kitchen. He dug around and pulled out bottles of rum and started chugging it like it's water. "Drink…?" he offered, flushed already.

Marco gaped 'is he a lightweight yoi?' but he's drinking non-stop, like he wanted to drown in them.

"Slow down, you're going to choke on them yoi," he said watching the teen drink from bottle after bottle.

"Hic… ahh.. What a-hic...way to die, hicc," he hiccuped, then he chuckled like he just said the funniest thing in the world. Marco sighed and decided to stop him, he already drank 5 bottles in such a short time. "NOOooo~ Mar~coe~, give it back, hic.. you chicken! hic…," whined Luffy. Marco's eyebrow twitched and sighed. "...I need...It," he said again, looking desperate this time causing the blond to frown and sigh again for the nth time.

"Come with me yoi" Marco said, dragging a stumbling teen along after he grabbed some bandages from the table. It was used earlier to change Luffy's wet bandage.

"Ehhhh~ where are we hic.. going...hic," Luffy whined. They left the cabin and went to the bonfire area, Luffy looked at Marco questioningly. "Wha-," he started as Marco sat him down beside him. Then he tried to light a fire and grumbled, failing. Luffy giggled at his predicament and lit the flames for them by making a lax gun sign pointing to the woods, fire tendril shot out and burst into flames. Then, he smirked at the blond, looking as smug as a drunkard with a flushed face and swollen eyes could look.

Marco wrapped his bleeding arm with bandages while Luffy stared at him dazedly. Once he was done, he lay down on the sand. It didn't take long for Luffy to join him too, albeit confused. Luffy then stared at the sky, finally noticing the bright stars lighting up the sky. They laid there quietly and watched the stars until Marco broke the silence.

"Calmed down yet yoi?" he asked softly. The raven hummed a response.

"I don't know how you feel yoi, but you can talk to me if you want to." Luffy hummed a response again.

"I'm… wanted by the world government," he murmured softly after a silent while, almost a whisper but Marco heard it anyway. "I was used as a test subject, they like to test my healing abilities and often inject poisons into my system so I could- produce antibodies for them to harvest. My looks...didn't help either…they never harmed my face because the celestial dragons… liked it. And I'm a slave so… technically, anyone can do whatever they want to me… you get it…" he finished quietly, Luffy gripped his arm to stop his trembling. "I hate it, Marco. I hate being weak, I hate that it still affects me, I hate that I still get nightmares! It's pathetic, I'm free, I'm supposed to be free," huffing by the end, tears threatening to fall.

Marco sat up and picked him up to sit face to face, he grabbed his face with both hands which startled the teen. "What-".

"You are not weak yoi!" the blond emphasized, "you're one of the strongest person I know, it's normal to cry, to have nightmares after what you went through and you just have to move on slowly yoi. So don't ever say that again , or I will slap you myself yoi!" Luffy was staring wide-eyed at him for a while, then he started chuckling and crying at the same time as he grabbed Marco's wrist and the blond just watched smiling slightly.

"Thank you, sweet pineapple," he giggled softly again. Marco rolled his eyes and sighed. Luffy pulled the blond's wrist down, leaned his head on his shoulder and finally cried until the teen finally fell asleep, sobbing lightly.

Marco sat there, feeling pretty satisfied with himself, brushing the raven's hair softly and rubbing his back. He watched the fire burn and listened to Luffy's soft breathing until the wood ran out, deciding to carry him back to bed.

"...stay?" he heard the teen mumble, half asleep while staring at him through sleepy, swollen eyes, holding his wrist as he was about to leave the room. Marco smiled and nodded, laying down next to him. He gave him a peck on the forehead as the raven snuggled closer. He's not even sure if the teen would remember the next morning with how drunk he was.


Aww Luffy finally spilling his guts a little. I hope you love their interaction. Also I have always thought those bubbly corals could be used more often, I mean it allows you to swim even with devil fruit right! So yeah, taking advantage of that.

There's some Japanese word that I sometimes use just for fun, though most One Piece viewers should know but for those that don't,

Himitsu - Secret

Kairoseki - Sea stone

(~!~) Edited.

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