A/N: So first off, I just have to take a moment to scream. YOU GUYS HELPED ME GET 500 REVIEWS! KYAH! I flailed so much. I'm so happy. You readers are the best, and I love every single one of you!
Except Tim. I'm onto you, Tim. (There is no Tim. I love you all.)
I recovered from the plague! But then I had to do Thanksgiving stuff. I made a cheesecake and sweet potato casserole from scratch though! I feel so proud of myself. I hope everyone else had a lovely holiday, or just a lovely Thursday if it wasn't a holiday for you :3
Special thanks to Aynslesa, who is taking over as beta reader (and beta'd this chapter so I could post it today) while Beyond Kailani is busy getting ready to move. We miss you, Kailani-chan!
Dedicated to Beyond Kailani, the best little sister I could ask for :3
Also, I tend to use the Japanese names for the devil fruits. Gomu for rubber, Mera for flame, etc. As an example, Luffy's would be the "Gomu Gomu No Mi".
Edit: I just noticed all of the italics had been removed from the chapter. Gonna put them back in -_- I dunno if I got them all, so I'll check again when I'm more awake.
Bonds of Sea and Fire
Chapter 18: I'll Tell You A Secret
Ace clenched both fists, twisting the material of his pants in his hands as his shoulders scrunched tighter. The silence had been dragging on since his admission and he swore he could feel Sabo's horrified gaze burning into him. Maybe even through him.
"Say something," Ace finally pleaded, unable to take it anymore.
"Please tell me you're joking," Sabo whispered. "Even if it's a lie, tell me you're joking right now!"
Ace flinched, curling up even more. "It was stupid, I know. I shouldn't have done it. Damn it, Sabo, I'm admitting I screwed up!"
"Telling Luffy not to trust the crew? Saying if he wasn't more careful around them, they might split the three of us up? Ace!" Sabo's voice pitched with distress on Ace's name, causing his freckled brother to bury his face in his hands.
"Damn it, Sabo… I'm sorry!"
For several tense moments, Ace felt the weight of Sabo's silence. He didn't dare lift his head and risk giving in to the irrational fear that he was all alone; as if doing so would prove how afraid he was. He was only moments away from asking Sabo to speak again to reassure himself when he felt Sabo's hand on his shoulder.
"Ace," Sabo's voice was gentle, if a little strained, and it was enough to get Ace to look up at him. "What made you think you had to say that to him? Did he do something - did I do something?"
"No… I mean yes… maybe," Ace struggled with his words, wanting nothing more than to bury his face back in his hands and pretend ha hadn't said anything to begin with. "You didn't do anything on purpose."
"But I've been spending a lot of time with Haruta, Izo, and Thatch," Sabo concluded, guilt creeping into his expression. "And Luffy spends time with everyone."
"You two fit in so well," Ace confessed, looking to his lap. "Everyone wants you two to stay. They only want me to stay because you guys will leave with me. I just feel - I mean, felt like - you guys were moving further away from me and I had to do something to catch up."
"So you told Luffy to doubt them in order to get him to stick closer to you," Sabo murmured, voice heavy. "You just didn't expect him to outright antagonize anyone."
"I really didn't know he was gonna do that," Ace agreed. His shoulders sagged. "Not that it makes a difference. I shouldn't have lied to him like that."
"No, you shouldn't have. And first thing in the morning, you're going to fix it. You're going to tell him you found out you were wrong and to ignore what you said about not being able to trust the crew," Sabo stated. His tone left no room for argument, but Ace wouldn't have tried anyway. He knew Sabo was right. "Do you regret it?"
Ace barely hesitated before shaking his head. "No. I know it was a mistake, but I don't regret doing it. I don't know how much longer I would have kept quiet if I hadn't - and I could have done or said something worse."
"I agree," Sabo said, nodding. "No one was really hurt by it, and at least it got us talking about this stuff."
The silence stretched on between them for several moments before Sabo pulled his hand back.
"Ace."
Ace lifted his head, eyes shining with unshed tears of frustration and shame. "What?"
"I need you to make a choice," Sabo told him. "We can't keep going like this if you feel so alienated. We'd be better off just leaving."
"Neither of you want to leave," Ace protested. "I know that! Otherwise I would have said something already."
"I know," Sabo shot him a pointed look, which had his cheeks reddening a little. "Which is why I'm giving you an ultimatum."
"An ultimatum?" Ace echoed, confused.
"It means I'm going to give you a condition and if you can't meet it, I'm going to do something," Sabo explained. "Whether or not you want me to."
Ace's eyes narrowed, but he didn't speak up again, waiting to hear the conditions of the ultimatum.
"Do you trust anyone here, Ace?" When Ace opened his mouth, Sabo cut him off. "Anyone who isn't me or Luffy."
Ace closed his mouth again.
"Anyone at all?" Sabo pressed. "We've been on the Moby Dick for almost a month, and we were with Thatch, Izo, and Marco for about a month before we got here. Don't you trust any of them? Even a little?"
Ace swallowed a lump in his throat, then shrugged almost helplessly. "I guess… I guess I trust Marco a little. Why?"
"If you think you can trust him, then you have to tell him who your father is," Sabo answered. He ignored the widening eyes and the flash of panic that came with his statement. "If you can't do it, or if he can't accept it, all three of us are leaving the ship for good."
"That's your ultimatum? I told you, we don't have to go! I know you and Luffy want to stay!" Ace swore.
"That's not the consequence, Ace," Sabo sighed. "I think it'd be better if we kept the lies you told Luffy between the two of us, but if you can't agree to willingly tell Marco about your father or leave the ship with no regrets, then I'm going to tell Luffy."
Ace stared at him in horrified silence. When he finally spoke, his voice was strained. "You'd tell Luffy?"
"I don't want to." Sabo bit his lip, averting his eyes. "But if that's what it takes to get you to make a decision… Ace, we're not supposed to have regrets, right? So either you tell Marco, or we leave this ship without having to wonder about 'could have beens'."
"What if he tries to kill me, Sabo?" Ace demanded. "You know what those people in Edge Town would have done if they'd known!"
"If you can look him in the eye and think he'll try to hurt you after he finds out, then you don't trust him and you shouldn't tell him," Sabo answered calmly. "That'll be your answer. We'll leave."
Ace made a sound of frustration, then abruptly stood and walked away. He shoved a hand through his already disheveled hair before turning to look at Sabo. The sheer distress and vulnerability in Ace's eyes had Sabo standing up as well, heart clenching.
"You trusted me, Ace," Sabo reminded him. "It wasn't like telling Luffy… Luffy proved he wouldn't turn his back on you before you even came close to telling him. It wasn't like that with me. Even if you meant it as a challenge to prove some kind of point, you trusted me enough to tell me, and look how that turned out. I have a good feeling about this. I just can't live with someone and call them family if you can't trust them too, Ace."
Ace looked away. "When do I have to tell him?"
"Before we reach the island," Sabo answered. "Because if we're going to leave, we're getting off at the next island like you said we would."
"Do I have to apologize to Haruta, too?" Ace muttered sarcastically.
"No," Sabo's response was almost instant, which had Ace turning to look at him again. "I don't care how frustrated he was, or why he lashed out. He threatened you, and he pushed the issue. You don't have to apologize. Luffy'll agree - we're on your side."
Ace cast a glance at Luffy, who was smiling in his sleep and mumbling about meat cakes. "I haven't forgotten that Haruta saved his life, you know. And his hat." He sighed again, shoulders sagging as he made his way back to the bed. Sabo took the initiative to climb over Luffy and crawl under the blankets so Ace could stretch out in his usual spot.
"If I tell Marco, and he doesn't make me leave or try to kill me or something, I'll apologize to Haruta. Otherwise there's no point - we wouldn't be staying," Ace mumbled.
"Okay," Sabo agreed. "And when you tell Marco and we decide to stay, maybe you should let Bay size a new brace for you."
Ace rolled his eyes. He wished he could be even half as confident as Sabo that everything would work out, but he'd never have that level of optimism. As much as he wanted to be proven wrong, his heart wouldn't let him believe it could happen.
He expected to lie there next to Luffy for hours after they turned out the lights, staring up at the ceiling while trying to smother his inner turmoil, but he found his eyelids growing heavy almost instantly. There was an odd sense of calm washing over him from knowing that no matter which route he took, there would finally be some sort of resolution to the conflicting feelings he'd been harboring all alone.
...
Haruta drew his knees closer to his chest, staring up at the stars. Rather than go to Whitebeard like he'd said, he'd snuck onto the figurehead to sit in silence. It was dark enough that no one would see him unless specifically looking, but close enough that he could still make out the voices of some of his brothers. He liked the feeling of being alone without actually being alone - it wasn't lonely.
"Got a lot on your mind there, shrimpy?"
Haruta sighed, trying to make it sound less sulky and more irritated. It came out in a petulant huff. "What do you want, Rakuyo?"
The older pirate plopped down beside him, bumping shoulders and nearly knocking Haruta over. He was grinning, alcohol on his breath and an open bottle in one hand. "Can't a guy check on his sulky little brother without needing anything?"
"I'm not sulking," Haruta argued, scowling.
"And I'm not drunk," Rakuyo teased, elbowing him again. "Come on now, shrimp. What's on your mind? You don't have an outburst like that and expect anyone to believe you when you say nothing's wrong."
"Is anything I say going to convince you to leave?" Haruta mumbled.
"Not a chance, so get on with it," Rakuyo chuckled.
Haruta sighed again, straightening up so he was no longer talking into his knees. "I'm frustrated with Ace. Wasn't that obvious enough already?"
"Because he won't pay any attention to you," Rakuyo nodded.
"Right, and- wait, what?!" Haruta whipped around to stare at Rakuyo, cheeks burning. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Easy - you're trying so hard to be a good big brother and he won't even acknowledge you exist unless ya have Sabo and Luffy's attention. You want his attention and it's pissing ya off that he won't give it," Rakuyo explained. "Like when ya lashed out at him earlier."
"Great, so everyone knows how lame I'm being?" Haruta griped. "Fantastic."
"Lighten up," Rakuyo said, clapping him on the back. "Only us older folks who know what to look for can tell, and we're not gonna go talking about it to everyone. I'm just checking on my little brother."
Haruta buried his face in his knees again, trying to ignore the warm feeling coursing through him at the familial claim. After almost a year, he still wasn't tired of hearing it. Even if he was still the little brother. "I just don't get it, Rakuyo… I've been nice, I've tried to include him in the pranks, and I thought we were getting along. I just don't know why he won't even try to be my friend. I'm a good big brother! I'm… I'm a good big brother, Rakuyo," Haruta finished, deflating.
Rakuyo slung an arm around him. "You're a damn good big brother, Haruta. Give it some time. He'll come around."
"And if he doesn't?" Haruta asked, shooting Rakuyo a sideways glance.
"Well, the sea is vast. People come and go, but the families we choose - those are forever. If they don't want to be a part of that, it's their loss."
"Yeah," Haruta agreed quietly, sitting up a bit straighter. He managed a small smile. Even if Ace left and took Sabo and Luffy with him, they'd eventually have new brothers and sisters - and he wouldn't be the youngest forever.
"That's the spirit, lad," Rakuyo cheered, satisfied that Haruta was no longer sulking.
Haruta cracked a wry grin at Rakuyo's enthusiasm, then reached for the bottle in his hand.
"Whoa, whoa, what do you think you're doing, shrimp?" Rakuyo moved the bottle just out of his reach.
"Give me some," Haruta stated, making another grab for it. "You're already drunk."
"Bay'll have my head if I let you get drunk again. It's not even Thatch's party yet!" Rakuyo protested.
"You're really scared of Bay?" Haruta goaded.
"The better question is, you're not scared of Bay?" Rakuyo nearly fell over backwards in his attempt to keep the bottle away, keeping his arm extended so it wouldn't spill.
"Just a drink," Haruta promised. "I won't actually get drunk again or anything. Come on, I'm not a kid anymore, right?"
"You're still too young for the rum!" Rakuyo protested.
"I won't tell Bay if you don't!"
"She'll know!"
"Oyaji said I could!"
"He said that while he was drunk, and I'm pretty sure Bay scolded him too!" Rakuyo yelped as Haruta managed to grab the bottle, nearly knocking him over. "Fine, fine! But don't let this come back to bite me in the ass."
"Secret's safe with me," Haruta told him with a cheeky grin, taking a deep swig from the bottle and struggling not to make a face when the alcohol burned his throat.
"I wish I could believe that, shrimp," Rakuyo sighed, leaning back on his elbows to watch the stars and sober up a little. He grinned when he heard Haruta laughing, even though tears were forming in the corners of the younger pirate's eyes from the strong taste of the rum.
The trio had their loyalty, and the Whitebeard pirates had theirs. As much as Rakuyo liked their company, until it became official, Haruta was still the youngest brother.
...
It hadn't been the worst day by far, but it had been one of the most uncomfortable that Ace could remember in a long time. No one was actively avoiding him or confronting him, but he wasn't dense. He could tell they were all treading carefully, as if worried they might set him off. The feeling of being treated like glass had him on edge, but not enough to say anything about it.
He was happy to see Luffy behaving normally around the crew, though. In all honesty, it had taken them longer to convince him Ace had been wrong about something than it had to convince him he could go back to trusting the Whitebeard Pirates. The memory of Luffy's confused expression as he'd studied Sabo - skeptically searching for a hint that he was joking before studying Ace to try and figure out how he could have been wrong about something so serious - had Ace smiling to himself.
He had far too much influence on Luffy to be making mistakes like that. The idea of Luffy mistrusting someone who deserved his trust - someone like Haruta - because Ace simply told him to left a bad taste in Ace's mouth.
Sabo caught his eye and Ace's smile faded. They'd kept to themselves for the most part, though Luffy had happily chatted with several crewmembers. They'd sat with Marco and Izo for dinner since it had seemed safest, and it hadn't gone unnoticed by either of the older boys that the other commanders were keeping a distance. Even Haruta hadn't tried to talk to Luffy, sitting at a table with Rakuyo, Bay, and several others.
Sabo had lamented not being able to ask why it looked like Rakuyo and Haruta were both being scolded and followed by Bay throughout the day.
"Marco," Ace said, forcing himself to get the name out before he lost his nerve. When both Izo and Marco looked over, and even Luffy tilted his head - cheeks full of food as usual - Ace realized he'd just interrupted Izo. "Er… sorry. I'll wait."
"It's fine," Izo promised, waving a hand dismissively and nodding to Marco to pay attention to Ace instead.
"Something on your mind, yoi?" Marco asked.
Ace hesitated, already embarrassed for speaking without paying attention, but with everyone at their side of the table looking at him, he squared his shoulders. "I want to talk to you about something. Do you have time?"
"Sure," Marco stood, sliding the rest of his food over to Luffy.
Instead of instantly inhaling it, Luffy shared a glance with Sabo. He'd been told earlier that Ace would be confiding in Marco about his father, and he didn't want anyone else to hear it, so Luffy had done his best not to think about it and risk saying something by accident. It was on the tip of his tongue to ask if that was what Ace was about to do, but he quickly bit the inside of his cheek and turned his attention to the food instead to make extra sure he didn't blurt anything out.
Marco had just turned to walk to the doors, assuming Ace would follow, when a tug on his sleeve had him stopping in his tracks. He turned to see who had grabbed him, one eyebrow raising when he met Sabo's gaze.
The younger blond had an intense look on his face, like he was issuing some sort of warning or judgment. Even though there was no way Marco could have known what Ace was planning to tell him, he nodded to Sabo in understanding - a silent promise that Sabo could trust him with Ace's wellbeing. Whatever Sabo saw in his eyes must have convinced him, because he let go a moment later.
To his credit, Ace managed not to let his uneasiness of the situation or the mild embarrassment from Sabo's actions show on his face as he nodded to Marco and left the room with him. He shoved his hands in his pockets in an attempt to warm them. It wasn't a particularly cold night or anything, even with the warmth and light of the galley fading into the background, but his hands were freezing.
When they reached the deck, Ace immediately headed for the mast. They'd found out no one would be on watch that evening, and the crow's nest would be the least likely place to be overheard. He was also confident he could jump out and make a run for it if he needed to, and they were close enough to the next island that if Ace said the word, they could steal one of the small rowboats and escape.
"I assume you're telling me something you don't want anyone else to hear?" Marco asked, easily following him.
"Yeah," Ace confirmed.
"You could have said that - we didn't have to go to the crow's nest, yoi."
Ace didn't answer until they were done climbing, dusting himself off before wringing his hands again. Even the climbing hadn't helped warm them up. "I feel more comfortable up here."
"Works for me," Marco said with a simple shrug, leaning back against the wall of the basket. "What did you want to tell me, yoi?"
Ace met his gaze and almost flinched, quickly looking away. All he had to do was tell Marco who his father was and be done with it, but the very idea of speaking those words had the cold sensation in his hands seeping into his very bones and spreading throughout his entire body. He flexed his hands, trying to will them to become warm again, only to jerk away when heat spread across his skin from Marco's concerned touch.
"You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to, yoi," Marco said, kneeling down so he was closer to Ace's level. He was almost treating the freckled boy like a wounded animal. "Your hands are freezing and it's not even cold out here. Do you feel obligated to talk to me or something?"
"Sabo didn't say I had to - he only said I had to try. I mean, no, I don't- just…" Ace scowled at his own admission, frustrated. The fact that Marco was looking at him with such an understanding gaze only made it worse. "Don't try to make excuses for me. I'll back out… and I don't think I want to."
Marco tilted his head to the side. "Sabo gave you an ultimatum, didn't he?" he guessed.
"Yeah," Ace nodded, crossing his arms over his chest. He was not hugging himself, no matter how it looked. "And if I don't tell you about this, we're leaving at the next island."
Marco regarded him for several moments before moving to sit down instead of kneel, showing him that he didn't mind waiting if Ace needed time to work up the nerve to talk. Within moments, Ace sat down as well, pulling his knees to his chest.
"Can I trust you?" Ace's voice barely broke a whisper.
"Are you asking me, or are you asking yourself, yoi?"
Ace didn't answer. He wasn't even sure. Marco had told him he could come to him about anything, but he was so sure this would be the one exception. When he eventually lifted his head, positive Marco had to be staring at him while waiting for an answer, he was surprised to find Marco's head tilted back and gaze upwards. Automatically, Ace tilted his head to look as well.
"I'm just looking at the sky, trying to see the stars," Marco promised. "I'm still listening if you want to talk."
"Why are you looking for stars?" Ace challenged, thankful for the change of subject. It wasn't quite dark enough for the stars to be out.
He was met with silence, which had him scowling and lowering his gaze again to look at Marco. The scowl faded when he realized Marco was smiling, a serene look on his face.
"They make me feel free, yoi," Marco answered, meeting his eyes. "The sea and the sky are freedom to me, yoi."
Ace held his gaze, swallowing at those words. There had been times back on the mountain when he'd stared at the sea from the usual spot on the cliffs, trying to find the spot on the horizon where the sky and sea met. He'd always wanted to sail to that spot, even after he'd grown up and found out it was only distance and his depth perception causing the two to meet.
He had to force those thoughts from his mind again before he lost focus.
Sabo had only told him to come clean about his lineage, but Ace found himself pushing it, wanting to make the situation as bad as possible to soften the inevitable disappointment - the confirmation that it would end badly. "I told Luffy he couldn't trust the crew. I told him he had to be wary of them, just like he should have been with that guy back in Loguetown. I said if he wasn't, they might split us up and we wouldn't get to be together anymore. I said it knowing he'd listen to me, and that he was afraid of being split up again."
When Marco's expression didn't change - no narrowing of the eyes or flash of irritation - Ace continued to confess, balling his fists. Marco hadn't even tensed, like he'd expected it.
"I wanted him to push them away. Even though Haruta saved his life and never did anything to deserve it, I wanted him to stop trusting Haruta and push him away."
"I wondered about that, yoi," Marco spoke, stopping him before he could say anything else. "After you three left last night, I considered a similar theory. Anyway, are you expecting me to get angry at you, or try to punish you?"
"Why aren't you angry?" Ace demanded. "I'm the reason Luffy was rude to that Teach guy, and-"
"Ace," Marco interrupted. "Luffy was just fine with everyone today, so you or Sabo corrected the error, right?"
Ace opened his mouth, then shut it and frowned. He nodded once.
"Teach is an adult. He wasn't bothered by Luffy. Plenty of us have gotten into fights over the years - we're a big family, yoi. Besides, we won't force you to like someone if you don't." Marco watched him absorb that information before speaking up again. "I have a feeling that's not what you were supposed to tell me, yoi."
Ace looked away again, visibly deflating. "I thought you'd get mad."
"Would it be easier if I were angry with you?" Marco questioned.
Ace shrugged, absently wringing his hands together to try and warm them again. "What did you think of Gold Roger?"
Marco's eyebrows both flew up at the question, but when Ace dared a quick glance to gauge his expression, he saw no sign of hatred or malice. It was surprising enough that he kept staring at Marco's face, forgetting to look away.
"The Pirate King, yoi?" Marco asked. "I don't know. No one's ever asked me that."
"You were enemies, right? Whitebeard and Roger," Ace protested. "Don't you hate him?"
"Well sure, we were on opposing sides," Marco shrugged. "But that doesn't mean I hated him. Neither did Oyaji."
"Don't lie to me!" Ace swore, slamming a hand onto the floor beside him. "Everyone hated Roger!"
"Do you hate Roger?" Marco questioned.
"Of course I do!" Ace's voice came out in a low hiss, and when he spoke the next words, they tasted like poison in his mouth.
"He's my father."
Whatever reaction Ace had been expecting, he didn't get it. Marco's eyes didn't narrow in disdain, his body didn't tense with disgust, and he made no move to lash out or put distance between them. He just sat there, regarding Ace with curiosity, before chuckling.
"Is that funny to you?" Ace demanded, throat tightening from frustration. "Is it funny to you that I never should have been born? That no one wanted me to be born, and the whole world hates me for something that has nothing to do with me? That's funny?!"
The chuckles died instantly, a solemn expression appearing as those words sank in, and Marco shook his head. "That's not why I laughed, yoi. I'm sorry, Ace. I just thought whatever you had to tell me would have been much more… I don't know, serious. I can see it's serious to you, though, so I'm sorry." Before Ace could lash out again, Marco motioned for him to scoot closer, which had Ace tensing with uncertainty.
Still, Marco's words were somewhat calming, and unless he thought Ace was joking - which it didn't seem like he did - he had just accepted Ace's darkest secret with little more than a shrug. It was with great hesitance that he scooted closer until he was within reach, not sure what to expect. When Marco's hand moved to rest on his shoulder, warm and firm, Ace swallowed.
"That's what's holding you back, isn't it, yoi?" Marco continued. "You thought we'd turn on you the minute we found out who your father was."
Ace's shoulders scrunched a little at those words, but Marco didn't remove his hand, and slowly but surely, warmth was returning to his body. His hands no longer felt numb.
"That was why you wanted to get out of Loguetown as soon as possible, too," Marco guessed. "I assume Sabo and Luffy both know?"
Ace nodded. "I told Sabo a long time ago. I only told Luffy kinda recently. He doesn't get it at all. He thinks it's cool."
"You said you shouldn't have been born - that no one wanted you to be born," Marco repeated. "Why do you think that?"
"What do you mean, why do I think that?" Ace scowled again.
Marco sighed. "Alright, let me rephrase. Hasn't anyone ever made you feel happy to be alive, yoi?"
Ace fell silent, drawing his knees closer to his chest. Of course there had been times with his brothers where he'd felt happy to be alive, but those moments had always seemed so fleeting. A few moments of happiness couldn't outweigh the darkness in his heart. "It's not enough."
"Why?"
"I…" Ace trailed off, struggling not to let his distress show on his face. He just didn't know how to explain it.
"I don't know if Sabo has argued with you about it, or if Luffy has said exactly what you needed to hear without you asking, but you know you're important to them," Marco said after a few moments of silence. "It's not something anyone else can convince you of, not with words, yoi. As far as Roger being your father and you hating him… well, no one's asking you to change your mind there. I take it you formed your opinions based off what the townsfolk around your home said?"
Ace shrugged, a half-hearted confirmation.
"While it's true that it might seem like the whole world hated Roger, the only ones who talk about it are the people he defeated or the people who didn't know him, yoi," Marco continued. " And I can't honestly tell you there aren't people who would hate you because you happen to be Roger's son. Some of my brothers still hold grudges against him. But Oyaji, myself, all of the commanders… we don't care. It doesn't matter to us where you came from, who might try to claim you as family, or who has grudges against you. Once you're with us, we become your family. We inherit your grudges and challenge those claims, yoi."
He gave Ace's shoulder a light squeeze, seeing how he'd gone tense again at those words. "When I asked Oyaji if it bothered him that I was once a noble, he told me that once I made the decision to set sail, I became a child of the sea. Nothing else mattered, yoi. You don't have to tell Oyaji if you don't want to, but just know he would accept you with open arms if you did."
"I don't want him to know," Ace choked out, taking a deep breath. "I want this to be a secret. I'm not ready for anyone else-"
"Ace," Marco interrupted. "It's fine. It's a secret, yoi. No one will hear it from me. I'm just telling you that you have nothing to be afraid of."
Ace dropped his gaze back to his knees, shuddering again. He wasn't sure if he believed that - the claim that there was nothing to be afraid of - but he did believe that Marco would keep his secret. With that fear out of the way, he was able to ask the question that had been on the tip of his tongue for a while. "So you… you still want me to stay?"
"Absolutely, yoi."
The tension drained out of Ace's body, leaving him slumped against the wall of the crow's nest with Marco's hand still warming his shoulder. "I have no idea what to do now."
Marco tilted his head to the side, unable to stop a small grin from quirking his lips at Ace's response. "Hm?"
"I thought you'd hate me. I was sure you'd hate me, or you'd try to kill me or torture me or something. I had an escape route planned, and Sabo was gonna steal a boat… I didn't plan for this."
"Sorry to ruin your carefully laid plans, yoi," Marco teased, moving his hand to tousle Ace's hair. Ace swatted at him half-heartedly, but the color was beginning to return to his cheeks and he was even trying to grin back. "I have an idea."
"What?" Ace asked, grateful when Marco stopped messing with his hair.
"You told me a secret. Now I'll tell you one," Marco promised, standing up and stretching. "Don't tell anyone about this, okay?"
"Sure," Ace moved to stand as well, blinking. "Is it something your crew doesn't know about?"
"No, they know I can do this, but if word gets out that I let you do what I'm about to let you do, they'll get on my case, yoi," Marco grimaced at the thought, glancing around. The sky had darkened considerably during their talk, but even if anyone wandered on deck, no one would be paying attention.
He slowly extended both arms, never losing sight of Ace's face as he let his limbs become engulfed in blue flames. The transformation was slower than usual, but he was wary of scaring Ace the way Luffy and Sabo had been scared by Thatch.
At first, Ace's eyes only widened, the blue glow reflecting in the light gray of his eyes, but as it began to sink in that he was watching Marco transform - that he was a devil fruit user - his jaw dropped and a spark of excitement began to shine through in his expression. Marco couldn't help but smirk at Ace's awe, before allowing the transformation to fully take hold. The heaviness of his limbs seemed to melt away, a warmth curling through his body that he would never be able to express in words.
He lowered his head when he realized Ace hadn't budged an inch, then gently nudged at his shoulder. Ace jumped, yanking back before gasping. "It doesn't burn! But… you're on fire - you're like some big blue firebird!" Marco saw the exact moment it clicked for Ace, and he would have smirked had his beak permitted such a smug expression. "That's why they call you a phoenix! And all the bird nicknames!"
Marco nudged at him again, watching out of the corner of his eye as Ace began to card his fingers through the soft feathers near his neck, trying to get a feel for them. For Marco, they simply felt… well, like warm feathers. He didn't feel any specific texture other than the airiness and heat, but Thatch had often compared him to 'toasted fluff', while Izo had shrugged and told him he felt more like wool.
"It doesn't burn," Ace repeated, softer this time.
Marco made a soft trilling sound in the back of his throat, nudging Ace again. They weren't bound by any time constraints, but the quicker they were, the better. It took several nudges and some careful maneuvering before Ace realized he was being goaded to climb onto Marco's back.
"You're taking me flying?" Ace breathed, a moment before Marco drew himself up. Ace's arms quickly wound around Marco's neck, and once he was sure the freckled boy was secure, he pushed off of the crow's nest and into the sky. Ace's gasp was swallowed by the wind as he flapped his wings, climbing higher and higher until the Moby Dick was nothing more than a distant speck of white in the dark sea.
At first, Ace's grip was tight enough to register as uncomfortable to Marco, though he did nothing to discourage the secure grip as long as Ace felt he needed it. As he stopped climbing higher into the sky, spreading his wings and allowing his body to soar on the currents, Ace slowly relaxed his hold and began to sit up, keeping one hand bunched in the feathers near Marco's neck.
It was a little strange, because Marco had never flown with a passenger Ace's size before. He wasn't really used to flying with any passengers at all, though he made obvious exceptions for his family if he needed to. Ace's weight barely registered, and he found himself wishing Ace would hold on tighter again just so Marco would know he hadn't fallen off. Thankfully, Ace kept the secure grip on his feathers, and as the exhilaration of their sudden ascent calmed, he finally found his voice again.
"This is… this is just amazing," Ace breathed. "You can do this whenever you want?"
Marco trilled again. He knew it baffled some that he couldn't speak in his phoenix form, but zoan or not, his fruit had clearly not been typical.
"It feels like we're close enough to touch the stars… like we could go anywhere in the world," Ace continued. "If I could fly, I don't know if I'd ever stop…"
Marco spread his wings to their maximum span and tilted, gliding lower and picking up speed. He didn't want Ace to get distracted by thinking. He wanted Ace to experience flight the way he did. A sensation of freedom where everything else faded into the background. An escape from the weight and worries of the world.
He swerved to one side, causing Ace to gasp and wrap both arms around his neck again. The moment he was sure Ace had a good grip, he swerved again. This time, he let all of his weight shift so he spun, folding his wings in closer to his body to lower resistance. He only completed three full spins before his wings shot out and caught the current again, and as they resumed a lazy glide through the air, Ace found his voice again.
"Do that again!" He laughed, tightening his arms around Marco's neck. "Can you go faster?!"
Marco would have laughed if he'd been able, another trill escaping and echoing into the sky as he began flapping his wings to climb higher. He would go a little faster, and add a few more spins, but aside from that small flourish he would not let Ace goad him into acting reckless.
He had to keep reminding himself of that as Ace's laughter echoed and the tormented boy who had claimed he never should have been born faded into a distant memory.
...
It had to be a bad sign. That was the only explanation that made sense for why the dumpling had very little taste. Thatch and the rest of the kitchen staff always made delicious food, even when it didn't have any meat in it.
"Luffy, you're eating your napkin," Sabo pointed out.
Luffy blinked, crossing his eyes to look at the tail end of a thick white napkin. He'd already eaten half of it though, and it wasn't like it tasted bad, so he scooped the rest of his dumplings along with the napkin into his mouth and swallowed them.
"That's not… oh, nevermind," Sabo sighed.
Luffy grinned, only to pause at the sound of a familiar laugh. He turned in his seat, eyes immediately zeroing in on the source and narrowing a little. He hadn't thought any food Thatch made could look unsettling or unappetizing, but the dripping cherry pie Teach was shoving in his open mouth made Luffy's stomach churn.
"You should go back to being nice to everyone," Sabo's voice from that morning reminded him.
Ace had been wrong.
That was okay.
The crew could be trusted.
Except… Luffy turned back to his empty plates and couldn't bring himself to reach for anyone else's food. He didn't like Teach. He didn't know why, and he doubted he could explain it better than he already had, but his brothers were telling him he should go back to getting along with everyone, and even Haruta had been upset the night before…
Well, it was only one pirate, and there was enough space on the Moby Dick that he didn't need to spend time around him if he didn't want to. Luffy could just avoid him the way he'd avoided the bandits before he'd started to like them, and if he never started to like Teach, he could keep that to himself unless someone asked him outright.
He really didn't want to cause any problems with the crew, not if Ace wanted to stay. Ace being happy was far more important than the annoyance of putting up with one person.
"Oh, there's Thatch," Sabo murmured. "I need to go talk to him really quick."
"Can I come?" Luffy asked.
"No - I'll be right back," Sabo promised, hopping up from his seat and hurrying to catch the chef before someone else dragged him away.
Luffy sighed, puffing his cheeks out and trying to tune out the obnoxious sound of Teach's laughter. He hoped Ace hurried back. He was bored and restless, and maybe even a little worried, though he wouldn't admit that to Ace. Ace would only scold him for worrying.
...
It was still a little difficult to breathe as they landed on the figurehead. Marco had circled a few times, probably making sure the coast was clear. The moment he'd touched down, he'd inclined his head forward and lowered his wings so Ace could climb off, but even with both feet firmly planted on the Moby Dick's massive figurehead, Ace was still shaking.
His adrenaline had him wide awake and a little wide-eyed, gaze never leaving Marco as the glowing blue flames flickered back into flesh and bone. He looked utterly casual and unfazed, like transforming into a giant phoenix and soaring through the sky was commonplace, but then, Ace supposed it was.
Marco grinned at him, crossing his arms over his chest. "Enjoy yourself?"
"Of course I did," Ace answered, cheeks burning. "That was… I can't even explain it. I've never felt anything like that before."
"It felt like freedom, right, yoi?"
Ace could only nod, legs shaking as he turned to follow Marco to the deck. He jumped down without any help, but it was clear he only barely stopped himself from crumbling when his feet hit. "Everything else just… faded away," Ace admitted.
"That's how I clear my mind," Marco told him. "So how about a deal?"
Ace looked at him with uncertainty. "A deal?"
"Because you trusted me enough to tell me your secret, even though it was eating you up inside - even though you still flinch when I bring it up," Marco said, grin softening. "Any time you feel scared or you hate yourself, or you just need to get away for a little while and stop thinking, we can go flying. No questions asked - just tell me, and we'll sneak off so you can clear your mind, yoi."
Ace's eyes widened. "What?"
"I mean it," Marco promised. "I don't care what the circumstances are. If you need a break, we'll go."
"What if I get into a fight with Haruta, or I insult someone on the crew?" Ace asked with obvious hesitance.
"I won't ask you to explain yourself, yoi. Even if you're just angry about Luffy stealing your breakfast. It'll be our secret," Marco answered. "Trust me."
"I'll try not to bother you," Ace said quickly, looking away. "I mean, I'll try not to ask too often or anything, just-"
"I don't mind," Marco interrupted, putting a hand on the back of his head and gently nudging him forward. "We've been gone for a while now. Sabo's probably worried."
"Luffy, too," Ace agreed quietly, offering no protest to being guided back to the doors. "We told him I planned on telling you. I'm surprised he managed to keep his mouth shut about it."
"You shouldn't underestimate the lengths either one of them is willing to go to for you, yoi. You three have a deeper bond than the average person would give you credit for. It takes most people years to form that kind of connection."
"And that old Whitebeard guy really wants three brats like us running around his ship?" Ace asked. Any hint of challenge or skepticism was gone from his voice this time, which had Marco chuckling.
"Try talking to him sometime, yoi," Marco encouraged. "I can tell you all about what he thinks of you three, but something tells me it won't matter unless you decide for yourself. You're free to approach him anytime."
"Maybe," Ace said, his guard already sliding back into place. "I mean, all I really know about him is you guys call him your dad and he makes his crewmates get tattoos of his mark."
"You're only half-right about that," Marco informed him, shaking his head. "Wouldn't you sleep easier if you could warn enemies away without having to be there in person any time Luffy got into trouble?"
Ace frowned, regarding him silently.
"The whole world should know what happens when they mess with one of ours. I'd be surprised if anyone didn't by this point. This mark we bear shows the world we're a family, bound together. Hurt one of us and you've hurt all of us, yoi. It might look like something to chain us to this crew, but it's the exact opposite. We took this mark willingly, and just having it gives us freedom."
"Everything you say always sounds too good to be true. There has to be a catch," Ace muttered, looking away.
"I've been on this crew for well over twenty years," Marco said, purposefully keeping it vague. "I'll let you know if I find one."
Ace clenched his fists, then slowly unclenched them. "You really think he'd accept someone like me?"
"Ace," Marco said, smirking when Ace turned to look at him. "He's the one who wants you to accept him, yoi. He accepted you the moment you and your brothers set foot on the Moby Dick. I know the three of you don't seem to have the best track record with fathers, but you couldn't ask for a better father than Edward Newgate. Give him a chance."
Low voices from further down the corridor had Ace jumping, effectively ending their conversation. He didn't want to risk anyone overhearing them - especially when Marco's comment about fathers had caused his chest and the back of his throat to tighten. He didn't want to admit that he both craved and detested the thought of having a real father in his life.
It sounded like the crowd in the galley had thinned since they'd left - which made sense since it was well past dinnertime. The urge to go see his brothers hit Ace like a swift punch to the gut and he found himself quickening his pace.
He'd barely pushed open the doors to the galley and walked in before another thud hit him in the gut - this time in the form of an excited rubbery brother.
"Ace!" Luffy cried, winding his arms around Ace's torso multiple times. "You're back!"
"Sorry," Sabo apologized breathlessly, coming to a stop in front of them. "I tried to stop him from launching but he wouldn't listen."
"Was Mango nice to you?" Luffy demanded.
"Marco," Marco correct with a chuckle.
"And he was," Ace mumbled, returning Luffy's hug with a sigh.
"You feel better?" Luffy tilted his head back so he could study Ace better, a serious look of concentration on his normally carefree face.
"I feel better," Ace promised.
Luffy's face split into an almost blinding grin, one he turned on Marco. "Thanks, Marco!"
"It's M-..." Marco trailed off, eyes widening.
"Let's go find Haruta!" Luffy chirped, oblivious to Marco's dumbstruck expression. "He left a while ago, but I bet I know where he is!"
Sabo shot the older blond a knowing grin, then assisted Luffy in dragging Ace to go find Haruta. As they ran off, several pairs of eyes fixated on Marco, wondering just what he'd done to finally get Luffy to call him by his name. Marco eventually shrugged away their glances and headed over to Thatch and Izo - Thatch, who was leaning over the counter with Izo leaning against it - smirking.
"What did he tell you?" Thatch asked. "Is it a secret? Can you tell us?"
"I think he's decided to stay," Marco said without answering Thatch. "What were you two whispering about, yoi?"
"Oh, about that…" Thatch sighed.
"It's about Luffy's birthday," Izo clarified.
"Yeah, so here's the thing…" Thatch trailed off, lowering his voice again.
...
They found Haruta in the training room. Most of the lights were out, and no sane pirate liked to spar on a full stomach - or while tipsy - leaving the large room mostly empty. With all the training dummies and weapon racks, it had always seemed cluttered when full of pirates, but with Haruta all by himself, it seemed empty and lonely.
He stilled at their approach, but quickly resumed cleaning the sword he was holding as if trying to pretend he hadn't noticed them.
"Haruta," Ace's voice was a little uncertain, but it carried a distinctive tone - the kind someone used when they were trying to form an apology.
Haruta dropped the sword and stood abruptly, shaking his head. "Wait. Don't say anything," he interrupted. "I need to say something first."
Ace opened his mouth, clearly taken aback by Haruta's actions, but he quickly shut his mouth and tried to act nonchalant, bumping his shoulder into Sabo's on accident. Luffy tilted his head to the side, looking at Ace with a curious and hopeful expression.
"I'm sorry," Haruta said, sighing heavily. "I was way outta line yesterday."
"What? Wait, no, I-" Ace started, but Haruta cut him off, shaking his head.
"Let me finish, okay? I mean, just hear me out," Haruta pleaded. When no one interrupted, he looked to the ground, ashamed. "I'm the one that needs to apologize, not you. I knew you guys weren't sure about staying. I even tried to keep my distance so I wouldn't get too attached in case you just up and left right when we started to become friends." Haruta took a deep breath. "Thatch convinced me I should get to know you anyway, and I don't regret that. It's just… Rakuyo came to talk to me last night and it reminded me that if you did stay, I'm supposed to be a big brother. I've never been one before. I got along so well with Sabo, and I don't know anyone who can't get along with Luffy, but… I just couldn't figure out why you didn't like me, Ace. I tried really hard to get you to like me."
He fidgeted, unable to bring himself to look at their faces. If he had looked up, he might have seen the stricken look on Ace's face.
"I guess I resented it. I mean… I wanted you three to stay really badly, but I knew you'd all leave if Ace didn't want to stay. I got angry and I took it out on you, Ace. I just… I just wanted you to pay attention to me for a change, and be my friend. Acting the way I did, though, that was really childish of me and it wasn't your fault at all. If I want to be a big brother, I have to own up to the fact that I shouldn't have lashed out or pushed you, and I shouldn't be throwing tantrums like that."
"Haruta…" Sabo murmured.
"I don't understand," Luffy piped up, frowning.
"I think it's a mystery," Sabo lied. He knew exactly what Haruta meant, but trying to explain it to Luffy would probably only embarrass Haruta further, and Luffy's opinion wouldn't change either way.
"Oh, a mystery," Luffy realized, nodding. "Well, Haruta apologized to Ace and said Ace doesn't have to apologize back, so everything's okay now, right? Can we go do something fun?"
Haruta kept his gaze down, fists clenching. He wished it could be that easy, but a simple apology wouldn't undo the things he'd said to Ace, and it wouldn't fix the problem, either.
"Yeah, we should go do something fun," Ace agreed, voice softer than usual. "You guys can help me decide on something."
"Oh?" Sabo asked.
"You guys can help me decide where I should get my tattoo," Ace stated, keeping his eyes on Haruta. "I was thinking I wanted it somewhere obvious, but not on my chest."
Haruta raised his head, staring at Ace with a puzzled look on his face. "Tattoo?" he echoed.
"You said you can't get your tattoo until you turn sixteen, right? Whitebeard's rules?" Ace asked, recalling a conversation Haruta had been having with Sabo while he'd been feigning disinterest. "I mean that's still five years away unless they change their minds, but I wanna know where I plan to put it." Ace glanced away, struggling to keep his expression as neutral as possible. "You said you wanted yours on your chest or upper arm, right?"
Haruta's eyes slowly widened. He looked to Sabo, silently asking confirmation, and found Sabo wearing the exact same expression.
"You could get it on your face," Luffy offered. "Then everyone would always see it!"
"Idiot," Ace chided, grinning. "I'm not putting the Whitebeard mark on my face."
"Why not? I think it'd be cool," Luffy commented.
"You were talking about wanting something on your left arm," Sabo added, a grin quirking his lips.
"I don't want a small mark like that," Ace said, shaking his head. He looked to Haruta again, expression a little hesitant - testing. "What do you think?"
Haruta's posture relaxed as he realized Ace was gauging him, testing his response to see if it was okay to start over and keep the past behind them. He was saying he wanted to be friends, to stay on the Moby Dick - to be brothers.
"What about your back?" Haruta asked, grinning.
"My back?" Ace asked.
"Well, that's where Oyaji has his," Haruta said. "And before you stopped wearing the shirts Izo was making for you, you were wearing them backwards like you were trying to hide the mark he kept putting on them. So I got used to seeing the mark on your back already."
"Huh. I didn't think about that," Ace rubbed the back of his neck.
"We could let Luffy try to draw it on your back to see if you like it," Sabo suggested.
"I get to draw on Ace?!" Luffy demanded, jumping into the air and pumping one fist in a cheer of victory.
"Yeah, then you can put one on Sabo's back, too," Ace said, shooting Sabo a playful smirk. "And then you can draw one on Haruta's chest."
"Hey! You can't volunteer me," Haruta protested with a laugh.
"I think he just did," Sabo shook his head. "Besides, now Luffy's excited. We can't tell him no after that, can we?"
"Guess not," Haruta relented. "Let's go see if we can get some paint from Curiel. Hey, later, wanna look through a book with me?"
"A book?" Sabo asked, catching Luffy around the waist on a wayward bounce and trying to hold him still before he bounced into a sword rack or something equally dangerous.
"Yeah, I got it from Teach a while ago," Haruta explained. "It has all the different known devil fruits in it. I thought it might be fun to look at."
"Sure," Ace said, leaning down to pick up the sword Haruta had been cleaning so he could put it away. The two exchanged one more glance - with Ace offering a tentative smile that Haruta returned - before heading out to start over as brothers.
...
Just knock.
The worst he can do right now is tell you to leave, right?
Stop stalling. Knock.
Ace bit his lip, hand poised to knock but refusing to close the distance between his clenched fist and the sturdy door to the Captain's Quarters. He was just about to chicken out and lower his hand when it swung open, startling him so badly he back-peddled and fell right on his backside in front of the captain himself.
"Wasn't sure if you were planning on staying out there all night or not. Gurararara!" Whitebeard laughed, placing one hand over his stomach while he laughed.
Ace's cheeks burned, but since he hadn't made a very clean getaway, he decided not to back down. "I know it's really late, but I was hoping we could talk. In private," he added the last part when he saw a few curious crew members looking over, attention drawn by the noise. Several of the pirates had turned out to be insomniacs or night owls, and while there wasn't an official nightwatch, they apparently had nothing better to do.
"Alright," Whitebeard agreed, still grinning as he stepped back to allow Ace passage into his room.
Ace's first thought - other than his wounded pride - as he stepped inside was that the room wasn't as grand as he'd imagined. Other than a large bed and what looked like medical equipment, there were few furnishings and no obvious extravagant luxuries.
Then again, Whitebeard never appeared to flaunt wealth or power the way other captains Ace had met seemed prone to do. The sound of the door shutting behind him had him jumping and then stepping aside so he wasn't in the way. Whitebeard didn't spare a second glance as he made his way back to the bed and sat down, reclining. "Well, what did you want to talk about?"
There was a chair near the bed, and despite no verbal invitation to have a seat, he assumed Whitebeard would have told him if he wasn't allowed to make himself comfortable. He had to climb into it since it was clearly meant for someone much taller, and the foolish thought that he was incredibly tiny entered his mind.
"I talked to Marco today," Ace started. Whitebeard didn't interrupt, merely waiting for him to continue while reaching for a large cup of sake that had been placed on his bedside table. "And I decided to join your crew."
"Did you now?" Whitebeard asked.
"Is that okay…?" Ace wasn't sure why he was hesitant, but when he'd expected more of a reaction and been met with… well, that, he didn't know how to respond.
Whitebeard laughed again, sitting up so he was no longer reclining. He even set his sake back down. "Why wouldn't be okay? You brats practically run the ship right now," he mused.
It wasn't far from the truth, either. While Ace had been keeping his distance, Luffy had managed to wrap most of the commanders around his rubbery little fingers, and Sabo had a natural charisma and curious nature that had led to him forming his own connections. It was the only reason Ace could guess for Namur's willingness to spend time around them, what with Luffy's constant questioning, poking, and prodding.
"We'll carry our own weight," Ace promised, wanting to assure Whitebeard that he wasn't joining for a free ride - that even if they were accepted because they were liked, they wanted to contribute.
"I wouldn't expect anything less," Whitebeard answered, studying him curiously.
"And Luffy still says he isn't joining, but he's staying with us," Ace added.
"The Pirate King can't very well join another crew, can he?" Whitebeard chuckled again. Ace studied him for some sign of sarcasm, but he sounded more amused than condescending. Like he supported Luffy's dream, even though they all knew how ridiculous it sounded.
"So, is that all you came here to say, Ace?" Whitebeard asked.
Ace fidgeted. "I don't know if I want a father, you know."
"Hm," Whitebeard acknowledged.
"Do I have to call you 'Oyaji' to stay?" Ace asked.
"There's no point in using that name if it means nothing to you," Whitebeard stated firmly, all traces of humor gone from his voice. "Just as you won't be taking my mark until you're older, there's plenty of time for you to decide if this is really want you want."
Ace was silent for several moments, aware of Whitebeard's eyes on him as he dropped his own gaze to his lap. "Do you think I belong here?"
"I already know you do."
Ace swallowed. The tight feeling was back, and he didn't trust his voice to come out steady if he spoke again. Luckily, Whitebeard seemed to sense his need to keep up appearances and resumed drinking his sake to give Ace time.
They sat in comfortable silence until the last of the sake was gone before Ace finally spoke again. "Haruta said it's a rule on your ship that whoever finds a devil fruit gets to decide what to do with it."
"Mm," Whitebeard agreed wordlessly, eyes curious again.
"We were looking through a book he had on devil fruits and I don't know if there's anyone out there with this one right now, but…"
"Found one that caught your attention? Most pirates don't fancy the idea of giving up the ability to swim. You wouldn't be able to go in after Luffy if he fell into the water," Whitebeard pointed out.
Ace flinched at the very thought of standing by helplessly while Luffy drowned, then forced himself to remember that there were others who would help when he couldn't. And this was to help Luffy, too.
He thought back to the way both of his brothers had flinched away and gone pale at the sudden fire on Thatch's small ship, of the way Sabo had questioned whether or not he'd ever stop being afraid of that memory and how Luffy had clung extra tightly while trying not to think about the last time he'd been surrounded by fire. Ace's resolve strengthened.
"There's a devil fruit I really want to have," he continued. "I understand if you think I'm too young or something - I can always try to find it myself - but… I wanted to let you know my intention first, I guess."
"What fruit would that be?" Whitebeard asked.
"The Mera Mera No Mi," Ace answered. "I want to become fire."
Whitebeard was silent for several moments. He'd already heard from Marco and Thatch that all three of the boys had been traumatized in some way by fire - Ace not as much as the others - and he instantly understood Ace's motives.
He smirked.
Ace was exactly the kind of person Whitebeard wanted to have for a son, and despite his age, despite what some of the commanders might say about his decision, he couldn't find a reason to deny Ace's request.
He didn't even want to try.
"If it's in my power," Whitebeard said, "I'll see to it you become living fire, Ace."
Ace couldn't stop the wide smile that spread across his face, eyes widening in a mix of surprise and delight. "Really? You'll help? Thank you!" He cried. It took him a moment to realize Whitebeard was flat out staring at him, and he quickly coughed into his hand, cheeks burning. "I mean, thank you sir- er, captain- or… captain," he finished lamely.
Whitebeard laughed, a booming sound that echoed off the walls. Once he finished, grinning at the sight of Ace's embarrassed face, he reclined again. He had a feeling if he drew attention to how joyful and open Ace had looked just then, it would be a hell of a lot longer before he saw that kind of expression again.
"Thank you, again," Ace said, hopping down from the chair. "It's really important to me. I… honestly didn't know what you'd say. I mean, it's a powerful fruit, right?"
"Some would consider it one of the most powerful, being a logia," Whitebeard agreed.
"And no one else will have a problem with someone like me having it?" Ace asked.
"Who can really say?" Whitebeard shrugged. "But they'll understand."
"I'll even make sure to get help controlling it," Ace promised. "I mean… I heard logias are harder to control. And Luffy struggles with controlling his own powers, but that's probably also because he's Luffy." His cheeks burned again as he realized he was rambling. "It could be tomorrow, or ten years from now… but if I can become fire, become strong enough to protect my brothers this time, then they won't have to be afraid of fire anymore. Ever again."
It was important to Ace - and he couldn't explain why - that Whitebeard fully understood his reasoning for such a selfish request. He gave another small smile before heading to the door. His hand had only just grasped the handle when he heard Whitebeard speak again.
"Thatch told me we're celebrating Children's Day this year."
Ace's smile widened as he remembered the news Sabo had given him before they'd gone to bed - or at least before he'd watched his brothers fall asleep and decided he needed to speak to the captain. He glanced over his shoulder at Whitebeard, opening the door. "Yeah. I heard Sabo insisted on it. We might be a bit late to the party, though. We're celebrating Luffy's birthday together, just the three of us."
Whitebeard merely laughed his approval, reaching for the fresh jug of sake near the bed. Any lingering doubts Ace had about joining the crew had dissipated, and he left the captain's quarters feeling surprisingly light.
...
A/N: Lot going on in this chapter! And because someone asked, I did accidentally make a few nods to my other story, Kyoudai, with the trio's backstory. Nothing big, but I'll try to watch myself for the readers who aren't reading that story.
Thank you again, everyone! I'm so excited to hit the milestone of 500 reviews! I didn't think it would happen this fast. I'm not sure when the halfway point for this story will hit, but I hope everyone continues to enjoy it until the very end.
Also don't worry; Lami's story will come into play soon enough, and everything is woven together in some way. :) Til next time, you lovely readers!
~Mithril