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The room was dark except for a candle kindling on the wooden desk. Red slowly removed the top part of her jumper, once it was off, Marco helped her move her hair. "Red… are you sure you're ok with this, yoi?" The blonde kept the hair over the scars for the answer. Red has been quiet since they entered his room. You could suffocate from the tension flowing in the air. The anxiety coursing through Red's veins made her want to puke. But nevertheless, "yes."
Marco removed her hair at a slow pace, leaving room for her change her mind. When the cold air hit her back, she clutched her shoulders. A lump formed in Marco's throat, this is worse than I thought. The main scar was more than three inches wide, and deeper than the rest. What was most concerning was the little ones around them. They were self-inflicted. "Red, yoi." Marco whispered. "Yes." Red knew what he was going to ask. "How many of these were by hand, yoi?" Red gripped her shoulders tighter. "A-all of them except the big one." The mood shifted in the air. Red could feel the anger brew in Marco.
The blonde has never been angry at her, no matter how much she annoys him. A shiver ran down her spine, "Marc-" Red froze. A warm, comforting sensation filled her back. Her breath hitches when she felt it again, and again, and again. Is-is he k-kissing my wounds? Red bit her lip while her eyes started to water. They haunt me, every day, they show my true self, flaws and all. But yet… he's… "Marco." Red choked. The blonde stopped and turned her to face him. Her teeth were dug into her lip, her hands compressed into fist. The woman's crimson eyes glimmered from the water in them. "Marco." She choked again. Her arms flared up, she jumped onto the man, head buried in his chest. "M-my Marco." She clutched his shirt once they hit the bed.
She couldn't stop the tears from flowing down her face. Her nightmares were burned to a crisp by her protector once again. How many times is he going to save her? "Red, did I do something wrong, yoi?" The blonde's confusion made Red let out a laugh. "No, you stupid pineapple. Thank you." Marco was still confused but wrapped his arms around the woman. Her entire body laid on his, she has never been this comfortable. His body was like a heating pad. "Get some sleep. Ok?" Marco ran his fingers through her bangs, easing her against his shoulder. Her lips touched his neck, giving a goodnight kiss before she passed out.
Marco was still awake, he thought about the last half year since he met the woman.
Flashback, the first week Red was captured
Marco pov
Once again, I jingled the keys in front of her cell, signaling for her to wake up. Every time I see her, I'm stunned by her beauty. The woman is dusty and bruised, yet she was still gorgeous. I knocked those thoughts out of my head when she shuffled on her prison bed. "Oi! Get up!" As usual, the woman groaned. "Have you ever thought I could be taking a nap, Marco?"
I snorted, "You act like we're close friends, yoi." I leaned to my side and placed a hand on my hip. I get into this position a lot when it comes to that girl. "I used your name you stick-in-the-mud. What would you like me to call you?" The redhead picked up her head to look at me, but her body was still glued to the bed. "First commander of the Whitebeard Pirates." Once again, the woman groaned. "Yeah, and get tongue cancer from having to pronounce that whole thing." The woman scoffed.
What is wrong with her? Not only is she our prisoner voluntary, but she shows no fear. She is insane. "Only crewmates can call me by my name, yoi." I unlocked the cell and walked in. "Well I changed that." She remarked in a cocky tone. Is she serious? Is she picking a fight with me when I hold her life in my hands? I grabbed her arm and yanked it, instead of a cry I got a hiss. "Let me sleep Marco." The woman sounded like a two-year-old being woken from her nap. How childish.
"Pops would like to see you, yoi. This is not for debate." My irritated tone had no effect on the woman. Her hisses died down, at first I thought she died, but then a snot bubble came out of her nose. Is she sleeping!? With another pull, she fell face first to the ground. "Oi! Marco, that's not nice you know!" I snorted and grabbed her jumpsuit. I began to drag the woman to the top deck.
"Red causing you trouble?" I turned my head and saw Vista. A snort escaped me, making me tighten my grip on the woman's jumpsuit. "Vista! He's being mean again!" Red pouted, not bothering to pick herself off the ground. Vista laughed at us. I continued to drag the annoyance until we reached the deck.
Red's mouth hung open when she saw him, little Oars. He is a giant among giants, and an ally to Whitebeard. Oars stood in the water, leaning over the ship. Ace, Izo, Thatch, and Whitebeard were there too. "Is she causing you trouble son?" Whitebeard asked. I turned my head to Pops and frowned. "If you just let me sleep, you wouldn't have such a problem." I rolled my eyes at the woman's comment and let her drop to the floor.
Ace and Thatch laughed at the interaction. Red stood up and growled at me, I but ignored it and walked to Pops. I took a seat on the ground to watch. The plan is to get Oars to get her to join our crew, but it might not work. That woman's stubbornness can't be cured.
Red turned to the giant, "hello, what's your name?" The giant grunted, making air smash against Red's face. Even with all that air pushing against her, she did not falter. "The names Oars, and you're going to join the crew." He said in a stern tone. Red pursed her lips into a line and created an unreadable expression. A few minutes passed before Red spoke, "do you want to make a handshake?"
What? What did she ask? Shock grew on the commander's face, did she ask a giant to do a handshake!? What is wrong with her!? A grin appeared on Pop's face, but he stayed quiet. Oars raised a brow, "what's a handshake?" Red's jaw dropped, "oh my god! You don't know what a handshake is?! I'm so teaching you one!" And just like that, the two began planning a handshake. I couldn't believe my eyes, the woman is more than insane, she's, shes-
"Extraordinary." Whitebeard chuckled. I turned to Pops with more shock growing on my face. He looked down at me with a smile, "it's all over your face son." Another laugh escaped Whitebeard.
I snorted, "she's crazy, they won't be able to-"
"Good job!" Red cheered.
The two of them actually did it? No way. "Do it again Red!" Thatch called, she looked as excited as ever. Red nodded. Gusts of winds shook the ship with every move, it was hard to see but yes. They made a handshake. Red jumped and cheered, "now there are rules to the handshake." She said in a stern voice. The giant nodded and listened. "One, it's our secret handshake, no one should know how to do it besides you and me. Two, we are now friends." Oars nodded and did the handshake with her again.
Did Oars forget his reason for being here? "Isn't she supposed to join our crew, yoi." I muttered in a bitter tone. Pops let out a chuckle, "she will, and when she does, I have a feeling you'll never want her to leave."
"I doubt that."
Flashback ended
Third pov
Red's nose nuzzled against Marco's neck. The small snores she let out tickled his skin. He's never felt more comfortable in his life. His eyes started to become heavy and his body became more relaxed until he-
Crash. Red's body toppled off the bed and smashed against the floor. Marco jumped up and turned towards the woman, "Red are you ok, yoi?" He would've sounded worried, but the woman was wide awake. Her nose kept scrunching as she sniffed the air, and her body was tensed. She looked like an animal getting ready to attack her prey. "Blood." She spat. Her face became disgusted. "What do you mean by blood, yoi?" Red's eyes darted towards him. "Thatch's blood, she's in danger. We have to go, now!" Red didn't need to explain more. They both dashed out of the room, they're heavy footsteps caused the others to wake up as well. They followed too when they saw the worried expression Marco and Red wore.
"What's wrong Red, Marco?" Izo asked. He was one of the ones following them. Along with Vista, Namur, Haruta, Fossa, and Blamenco. "I smell Thatch's blood. Marco, Blamenco, go to Thatch's room. Namur, go get Pops. The rest follow me." Red sent a kick to one of the room doors. It was the heavy sleeper known as the second commander. "What Red? I'm tryin-"
"I smell Thatch's blood, come on." Red yanked the second commander to follow. Unlike the others, he needed more detail. "Why would Thatch be bleeding?!" Ace yelled. He doesn't want to believe the things Red's telling him. One of his crewmates, his family, stabbed another? That's the worst thing you could do when you're on a crew, betray them. "She was stabbed. I can smell the blood still on the knife. More importantly, I could smell who did it." Before Ace could ask another question, they made it to the top deck.
A gasp came out of everyone besides Red when they saw Teach standing in the center of the deck. His clothes stained with blood and a crooked grin on his face. "Zehahaha! How did you know?" The question was directed to Red. He knows the rest don't have good tracking skills. "My nose never lies." Red spat.
The commanders were appalled by the betrayal. Teach has been on the crew for as long as Ace was division commander. "Did you stab Thatch!" Haruta shouted. His voice was shaky, and his eyes became watery. The laugh Teach let out, proved all their suspicions. "How could you do that to a division commander?! Why would you do it!? Thatch did nothing to you!" This time it was Izo whose voice was shaky. He was the closest to Thatch, the thought of the woman hurt angered him to no end. "He had the devil fruit I've been wanting. I have no ill will towards the lady, but what's done is done. Whitebeard's days are numbered-"
"So are yours." Unlike everyone else, Red doesn't need to ask questions. She gripped her charm and pulled out her weapon. Her hair flared and her eyes glowed, it's been a while since I was this mad, congrats Teach. Her back was still exposed from showing Marco, meaning all her scars were shown to her crew. Horror stretched onto the commander's face. The scars were more gruesome than they expected.
The weapon doubled in size, Red placed her left hand on her weapon to balance the scythe. Anger couldn't describe what Red was feeling right now. Thatch, a cheerful ray of sunshine, stabbed and betrayed by one of her own. The woman was the first one to except Red while everyone else remained skeptical.
"Yo!" The brunette smiled at Red through the bars of her jail cell.
A laugh came out of prisoner, "Your kind of weird. You come by every day, just to say that. I'm a prisoner you know?" Red shifted in her bed to sit up. The woman wore the same grin every day, she's like a ball of light.
"Well, aren't you bored? I brought cards, wanna play? Everyone's busy so I'm bored." Thatch's lips tilted downward.
Red stood up and walked over to the bars, "Stop frowning. I'll play, but don't expect to win." The redhead sat on the ground and leaned against the wall.
While Thatch shuffled the cards, Red decided to ask some questions. "Mind telling me why you don't care, I'm a prisoner." The brunette looked up from her cards and tilted her head. She gave Red a confused look, "you did volunteer so are you really a prisoner. Plus." The woman tapped her chin, looking for the right words. "Something about you makes me think you're a good person."
The image of Thatch's body, bloodied and beaten, makes Red's blood boil. What did she do to deserve that? Just because he wanted a devil fruit? He put someone's life in danger for power. How disgusting. Red grit her teeth and tripled her weapons size from the thought. The redhead loath people like Teach. "How disgusting." She spat. Red tilted her head upwards to glare at Teach. Her crimson eyes glowed, striking fear into the man's heart. The hostility she held in her eyes shoved an image into Teach's head.
Crimson flames circled the two. Teach laid in front of her, his head severed and his blood splattered. The redhead sat in front of the body, grinning ear to ear at the sight. She looked like the devil himself.
Her eyes are too familiar for him to handle. "Y-your his sister. Aren't you!?" The tremble in Teach's voice snapped the commanders out of their shock. A spot on Red's back glowed, right next to the main scar. "666" Ace said out loud. What's with the number? Who is Teach talking about?
Teach took another step back and tripped. He sat on the ground, wide eyed and shaken. "No, o-only on-e person can h-have those ey-es!" He screamed in terror. Footsteps came from behind the other commanders. It was Namur, Jozu, Curiel, Atmos, and Whitebeard.
The image of Red's back and the sight of Teach trembling gave Whitebeard a bad feeling. "I am." Red laughed. Her weapon changed shape. The blade doubled and grew in size. Her body turned, bringing the blade back to strike. "And you're dead." She lunges at the man at full speed. Her arms swung forward to hit her target. Only to be stopped by a small knife, a dagger to be exact.
Red's blade shrunk from the contact, turning it back into a charm. Her body became numb from the sight of the man next to Teach. His red hair shifted to the right side, covering one of his emerald eyes. A bright green earring dangled from his left ear. There's no doubt about it… "big-big brother." The numbers on Red's back began to throb. She let a cry and gripped the aching skin.
Izo's eyes narrowed on the man, there's no doubt about it, that earring is way too familiar. He thought. He looks just like the boy in the picture. Ace thought. The second commander's head pulsed when he saw the man. His memory became hazy and images popped into his mind. I've seen that man before, somewhere recent, but where? Ace isn't the only one, Haruta, Namur, and Vista felt the same pain. Why does he look so familiar?! "You're the bartender. From five months ago. I remember seeing you when we docked on that island and when we first found Red." Izo said. He was the only one who didn't drink that night.
A laugh came from the man. He wore baggy gray pants, a skin tight moron shirt, and fingerless black gloves. A black coat was dragged over his shoulders, highlighting his frame. The man was tall, about 6'3, and his body was more slender than muscular. "Y-you met my brother?" Red asked, her voice still trembling from his presence.
"Kind of, he was the bartender of a backwater bar. His face was covered, but his earring wasn't." Ace focused on the earring the man wore. The pieces clicked in his head. "Your right Izo." He muttered in shock. Ace's head continued to pulse; more pieces clicked in his brain.
The man took a step closer and leaned over Red, "Well, I feel honored to be remembered." A laugh came out of him as he patted Red's head. A shiver ran down the woman's spine from his touch. "I miss you little sister." Red's throat went dry, her body wouldn't stop shaking.
Teach collected himself and stood up, "s-so she's the sister you talk about a lot. Eh? Dr. Vegapunk."
VEGAPUNK!? Whitebeard scanned the boy. No one has ever seen Dr. Vegapunk, the man is a total mystery. Is that who he is? It's a possibility but it's so unlikely. "Yes, this is Red. Now, I think we'll be going." The older brother grabbed Red's arm and pulled her up. Whitebeard snapped out of his thoughts and growled. "You brat! You think you can come on my ship and take my children!?" Whitebeard slammed his staff against the ground, causing the boat to shake.
"Sorry old man, but I'll be borrowing her." Dr. Vegapunk smiled.
"The hell you will!" Ace dashed to the man with a fist full of fire. I remember it now, there's no way I'm letting her go. I'm not letting Red go! Not when I remember it! Our childhood... the words you said!
Red jumped in front of her brother, stopping Ace in his tracks. Her hands were balled into fist. The nails in her skin drilled in deep while blood leaked from them. Her bangs hung over her eyes to cover the emotion she was feeling. Even so, Ace could see a string of water slide down her cheek. "I'm leaving. I'm sorry." Her voice was low, but everyone heard her. Her voice was filled with grief and pain. "No Red! I remember now! You can't leave! You-"
"Enough Ace!" Her yell shocked the brunette. His fire went out and his hand fell to his side. Red turned her back towards the commanders. Her hair was now covering her back, shielding them from her nightmares. Every step she took made their heart clench, this has to be a dream, she can't be leaving. RED!
"Sorry Pops, sorry everyone. I'm leaving the crew as well. Tell Marco… I'm sorry."
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