"-and that's the last news on the deal going through with Shanks. I've already got someone watching the follow-through in case he has any complaints about the contract, but you've already addressed his major concerns and Shanks is always happy to partner with us." Marco watches as Sabo clicks the end of his pen and finally hands over the revised weekly schedule, waiting for-
Sabo leans in close, their shoulders pressed together, and points out a square of blue near the top of the chart. The contact sends a shiver through him, and Marco bites the inside of his cheek so he can pay attention to Sabo's parting words. It'll be clear enough in the schedule, he's sure, because Sabo's always kept them more organised than even an army general, but- well, Sabo always seems to know when he's not paying attention. He'd rather not get caught out because he's daydreaming about the breadth of Sabo's shoulder pressed against him. "Because you'll be busy for the next few days most of your schedule is free, but we can have meetings at 10 to cover any potential emergencies. Not that I expect many." Sabo grins at him, the little one that shows the corner of his canines. "Think of it like that holiday you're always promising me we'll have."
We. Fuck he hates how Sabo uses we. He knows the context - that Sabo gets a break when Marco gets a break, because Sabo's basically replaced 'secretary' with 'right limb', that Sabo would spend his free time with the few friends he'd made since losing all memories of his past life….but still. We makes him think about them, together, on a beach or in the snow, just-
Together.
"I'll do my best to take it easy," he says, and Sabo snorts.
"I'll believe it when I see it."
The sharp words bring a smile to Marco's face, and Sabo huffs before stepping away. Still, his scent lingers softly in Marco's space. Dampened, because Sabo's only a beta, but Marco's spent two years in his company, and four months memorising the smell of him lingering in the air. Parts of Marco's apartment smell like him, all ginger and thunder and somehow irrefutably sweet, but he's always liked it best from the source.
God he sounds like a creep. Marco shakes his head and folds up Sabo's schedule, resolving to have another look when he has time later tonight. "You'd better head off. It's already past ten, sir organizer. Won't that interfere with the rest of your day?"
Sabo looks at him like he's an idiot and Marco wants to laugh. "Who do you think I am?" he asks, and Marco gives a lackluster shrug that makes Sabo sniff theatrically. "I left extra time because I figured this would run long, considering you've had me attached at the hip for a year and can't brush your teeth without me, and-" Sabo pauses, and Marco finally sees the tension that's been underlying Sabo's fast words. All of this has been hard on him, in ways that Marco can't decipher, but- fuck he wishes he knew the reason. Wishes the reason was that Sabo- Sabo didn't want this for him, because he wanted Marco's attention, wanted Marco to want him instead of-
But a beta wouldn't get Marco into the parties he needed to attend, to make Whitebeard Corp. stay on the rise, and a beta like Sabo... Well. Sabo would've had an easier life being a nursemaid, and (though Marco had kept his prying subtle), as the son of a well-bred omega and an alpha, he would've been perfect for it. Why chose this career unless he detested the thought? Marco knew enough about betas to know they fit into two categories; too alpha to be good with kids, or too omega to be good at work.
"It'll be fine," Marco says, laying a hand on Sabo's shoulder and squeezing gently. "None of this is going to interfere with- our work together. It's only a week and then everything should settle back to normal."
Sabo's mouth moved, barely, some funny twist that makes Marco frown, but then it's gone and Sabo's smiling benignly. "I'd best get going, don't want to be in the way when you start introductions."
You wouldn't be, he almost says, but just nods instead and heads for the door. "Tomorrow, ten am."
"Schedule's got all your notes," Sabo promises, and opens the door to the sight of two burly betas and a large box. "Looks like my timing is perfect, as always," he says, shooting Marco a grin, and Marco, faced suddenly with the reality of what's about to happen, almost grabs his sleeve.
But the box is going through the door, and Sabo's pressing himself against the wall, and Marco has to cover his nose to stop the sharp smell of slick from suffocating him. Sabo falters, a pained wince on his face. His hand goes to his head, and worry beats against Marco's ribcage. "Sabo?" he asks, waving absently at the movers to put the box down wherever, trying to get past them.
"It's fine, it's fine. You've got- introductions to get to," he says, and offers Marco a smile, wan and tight. Stay, Marco wants to say, hands already moving to hold him, to pull him back to where Marco can keep him safe, it's fine, let me help you. Let me take care of you. They can wait. "It was only a little spike."
"Oh," Marco says, and the worry beats harder, but differently. Sabo's memories come back in bits and pieces, punctuated by pain, but he hasn't had anything new in half a year. Hasn't had any reason to go beyond his new life to find the remnants of his past, and selfishly, Marco's glad. "Anything- anybody new?"
Sabo grins sharply. "You know how it is," he says, and Marco gives a stuttered laugh, finally stepping back from the door and letting the movers finish their work. "I'll see you tomorrow, and if it settles I'll tell you!"
Marco holds up a hand as Sabo vanishes down the hall, shoulders tense, and then one of the movers steps in front of him and holds up a clipboard. "Sign here?"
"Ah, yes, of course," Marco says, quickly startling into action and signing the release forms, and then suddenly they're gone and he's alone in his apartment with a box and an omega and nobody else between him and his heart beating jackrabbit-fast.
review or hmu on anon kingsofneon . tumblr . com. faves+follows are cool n all but only left once and I like attention (im not joking about writing only for the possibility of people telling me they liked specific shit)
also i told y'all mar was an idiot (─‿‿─)
p.s. i literally forgot i had an ff.n profile. there's 7 chapters of this on ao3 + more works. so if you enjoy my stuff i recommend a migration
