When one free falls, they feel fear, if anyone says they don't they are wrong. Because even adrenaline is brought about with a mixture of fight and fear.
However Domino, though there was fear all she could feel was cold. She saw Marco, she knew he would catch her, but away from him she felt cold. She could feel the spray of the sea on her back by now and the closeness of the massive ship beside her, still she dare not close her eyes.
She could reach out for the ship, in a desperate attempt to save herself. But...Instead she reached out for him.
And in that moment she felt felt the warmth of Marco's heat envelope her. Wrapping her up and absorbing the impact of her force in his chest as they both landed roughly against the vast deck of the pirates ship.
The sounds of their respective crash and groans of the force ringing across the deck as small splinters of wood rose from the impact. Leaving the two laying still breathing heavy under the clouded night sky.
Marco let out an audible groan as he began to regain his senses, the impact against his back had knocked the breath clean out of his lungs and it took him a good second to wonder if he was even breathing at all.
It also knocked the fear of loss in him.
However as he looked down at the woman absorbed against his chest he let out a heavy sigh of relief.
Slowly he pulled himself from the rubble of his impact moving to lean against the steps that circled around Pop's throne. Once positioned he wrapped his arms around the woman who now snickered against his chest. Why was she laughing?
That was how she reacted to pain.
Oh no. Was she really in pain? Did he do this?
"Domino-yoi?" He asked her softly, worried he may have very well have hurt her in the fall. Even if he took the full force of the blast against his back he was still worried it was her who was hurt. He didn't matter, he only cared about her safety.
Her laughter only continued as her crumpled over figure moved to lay over him. Her arms wrapping around his neck as her long torso stretched over his and her legs moved to wrap around his waist. "henehen, Fine, I'm fine." Her low giggle continued nestling herself against his neck.
Marco let out a deep breath once more letting himself fall against the steps. Relief washing over him like the waves that picked up around the ship. Gently rocking the two who laid so openly under the night sky.
"Are you okay? That was serious hit you took?" She asked picking up her head to gaze at the trail of destruction he left against the ship, then his calming blue eyes. She found her hands freeing themselves from underneath him to rest against his cheeks as she watched him close his eyes and lay back. Pulling her closer to him.
"It will take a harder hit then this to take me down-yoi." He smirked as she rolled her eyes tapping his cheek. "You're in trouble~ You damaged the Moby." She teased him as he rolled his eyes, "What would they do to me? I am the First Division commander after all-yoi." He stated a proud tilt in his head.
Thinking very well Pop's will have his ass for this. At least the compassionate man would understand that it was damaged for a good reason. But it doesn't mean Marco won't get beat.
"Well, Commander, I am in your debt." She teased closing her eyes and placing a soft kiss along his jaw trailing down to his ear as his breathing hitched.
Did she not understand where they are? Here on the deck of his ship, underneath the growing storm clouds above so open and exposed. Was she not aware of what almost happened? Did she care?
Still, he didn't need to show his fear. She couldn't see it or else he would lose the moment she did. "Seems so-yoi." He continued slyly stretching his neck out for her to continue. His anger at her reckless actions seeping away as she continued to kiss along his neck.
She then stopped to smile against his ear. Her breath dancing along his neck and pulling at all the right strings.
"Hey, guess what?" Her cold voice growing lighter as Marco sent her a side glance. Watching as her intoxicating smile grew wider. "What?" He asked suspicious of how she now moved her hands over his chest.
He couldn't help but stay hostage to her touch. She was mesmerizing in just this moment.
She giggled, "I fell for you." She smiled before leaning back and pointing finger guns at him in a mad nature. Bouncing in her spot as she did so.
Marco sat up in her absence and leaned over his knees, before looking back up at her wide smile trying to muffle his laughter while covering his face.
He was torn, so many emotions swirling through his body. One moment she's plummeting towards the sea, then she's teasing him in every way possible. And now she was making a joke. He wanted to be angry, to be concerned, to be anything else but the calm he felt by her side.
Looking in her eyes, and how her voice sounded he now knew she jumped, there was no way he would have let her fall. And she knew, that he knew she jumped. She trusted him to catch her and for that he was grateful. But she jumped to begin with and put herself in danger. For that he was furious.
However her responses was only leaning in to him closing the gap he had created. Her smile growing wider as she did so. "Eh? Good right?" She asked him pulling back and crossing her legs to wobble back in forth in place it what seemed like a childish manor.
He raised an eyebrow and motioned for her to lean in. She did so as his hands found her face his thumb absently running over her cheeks as he watched her eyes. They looked different.
"Have you been hanging around Thatch-yoi?" He mused before looking down thoughtfully at the woman.
Deciding all the things he felt for her right now, anger was not one of the ones he wanted to show her. She had her reasons he was sure of it. So what would be the point in getting upset over it now?
One things for sure Pop's was right, At least with her he'd never be bored.
Domino smiled at Marco's warm touch enjoying the closeness he shared with her. Then winced as his thumb ran over the burn from earlier.
"Sss. Hey, careful." She looked down pouting as Marco nodded to himself and moved to push himself up dust and debris falling from his back as he did so. She took a second to take In the slight damage of the deck and then at the man standing above her unfazed.
"Lets take care of that first-yoi." He hummed holding out his hand for her to grab.
She smiled looking up at how relaxed he stood with his hand outstretched to her. It reminded her of when she first saw him the memory bubbling up with a new sense of nostalgia. '
"…you can have some real fun and join us-yoi."
She nodded, eagerly grabbing his hand and feeling the motion of weightlessness as he lifted her up so they stood side by side. She couldn't hide the smile on her face as she continued to look away from him and motioned for him to lead.
He nodded and began to walk away but not before locking his arm around her waist and pulling her by his side.
He wasn't lying to himself earlier when he said touching her would be bursting a damn he had desperately tried to keep blocked up. He had found himself believing that at some point the moment they felt in the sky would be timeless. However, now they had fallen, and with that his hopes of holding her forever. So instead he settled with enjoying the moment he had now.
He was a pirate after all. You may not get a future. So to hell with timeless moments.
Domino wrapped her finger along his belt loop and placed her head against his shoulders as they walked, She had started growing sober the moment she saw the pink clouds, and became increasing so when she jumped from his back. And now all she could feel was his intoxicating pull.
However she wanted to keep this scar, a mark from Ace, something to show Garp.
A sick and twisted trophy so to say. But she also couldn't say no to Marco. How he cared over her was heart melting. It was more then she ever thought she deserved.
"You know, I kinda wanna keep it. To show Garp his grandsons pretty bad ass?" Her voice seemed to try and convince herself more then it did him. He looked down at how her finger tips gingerly touched it as she leaned against him.
He darted his eyes away when she looked up, avoiding eye contact at all costs. He may want to hold her, but if he dare looked into those honey eyes he'd be lost in them till the morning.
"Didn't it just hurt-yoi?" He asked guiding her towards his room like he's done so many times before.
She shook her head a smile growing on her face. "I mean, unless you touch it like that it don't." She shrugged pulling away from his grasp to slip inside his room.
Marco leaned against his door frame watching as she entered the spacious room and quickly threw her jacket towards the floor. Her body moving softly around his room as she moved to trail her scarred fingers along his desk before she looked back at him as he spoke.
"You're lying Domino-yoi." He stated smugly.
"Oh, yeah, I forgot you read minds birdy." She sighed dropping her tattooed shoulder and leaning against his desk as he moved to gingerly close the door behind him, looking over her body in awe as he now saw her skin exposed in the bright light of his room.
Or at least what was left of her skin. He was making his way to his doctors kit expecting to patch up her eye in a more conventional way. (Considering her doctor did a terrible job of it in the first place. Which he was upset about. Because lets face it, Marco did not like Avery.)
However he found his calm demeanor breaking as he saw her look down. Her legs crossing as she leaned back to look up at him. Her honey eyes shifting around his gaze.
As if she suddenly felt guilty. It was the same look he had received when she had pressed her head against him, whispering "I don't wanna be a marine.."
He gingerly reached for her left arm noticing the long spiraling discoloration that nearly completely burned her tattoo away. She let out a low hum and pulled her skin further away with her right hand, which was heavily discolored as well, to revel that while the purple rose had been completely scorched away. The little blue bird still sat perched perfectly unarmed.
He couldn't hide the pain that crossed his face as he stopped closer to her, his outstretched hand which hovered over her skin finally finding her fingers and interlocking as he moved to pull it away from the tattoo to rest along the desk top.
"Domino who did this-yoi?" He asked her sternly his playful voice husky and low as her lip quivered before she shook her head.
"Sakazuki," She sighed and shook her head. "He decided he was going the threaten my brothers lives if I refused a mission." She sighed Freeing her right hand from his and moving to gingerly fiddle with her basic black belt and began pulling it free.
"You know, our first night together, you saw my scariest secret, Something no one but Ada and Garp had ever seen, and you stared, but…" She squinted "You didn't look at me like you are now." She stated her cold voice back as she finally pulled her belt free and she moved to stand up, her pants slipping from her waist as she wiggled free.
Marco tilted his head a mixture of arousal and worry swelling inside him. Why was she taking off her pants? What was her plan?
"That was different, this...this-" He stopped as she moved to sit on his desk, pulling her legs above his empty chair and placing them over the edge and spreading them apart.
Her hand held up in a 'stop' motion as she shook her head softly. "You don't need to explain. I get it." She smiled before it quickly faded and she pushed his chair towards him her long leg outstretched and nudging against his arm.
He furrowed his eyebrows conflicted by how she sounded, and how she looked at him. Her body was teasing and alluring and he knew allowing himself near her would only lead to getting lost in her electric touch.
But her voice was soft as if tired and worn down. It surely did not fit this proud woman. Whats worse was how infuriated he felt himself growing at someone else laying a hand on this woman. No, his woman.
However his anger soon faded as he became mesmerized by the swirling discoloration along her legs starting from her discolored ankles to up her outer thigh. He found his hands trailing along her discolored skin as she took in a sharp breath at his touch. He continued to follow the scar with his delicate touch before stopping just where the discoloration stopped.
He wanted to wait till he regained his own calm composure before continuing. A mixture of anger and awe at this woman's strength overpowering his other urges.
"Do the marines not have competent doctors, they could have done something to stop this much damage-yoi?" He asked looking along her scars not daring to look at her eyes. Knowing very well they too had a mix of lust and hurt. Just like his.
She scoffed "Yeah like knock me out." She joked. She wanted a light and happy memory with him and not where this was leading. She had a feeling that once again they had begun to draw their lines and this time nether one dared dance near them.
To much time had passed and she no longer had the strength to truly deny the truth.
She wanted to be free. Her brothers would be fine? No. Yes? No. Does he need to know that? No.
"Besides, they can't all be sexy Phoenix's who sweep me off their feet now can they?" She asked him, her arms moving from her side to grab at his vest pulling him so he aligned his hips with hers. Her legs wrapping around him.
Sending him the signal she wanted him close in every sense.
"No, I guess they can't-yoi." He hummed allowing her to pull him away from his concern. His lips moving to to hover over hers. Waiting for her to lean in her lips parted before he found his hand cupping at her chin freezing her in her tracks.
He was about to lose by giving in to her magnetizing pull. He won't. These were serious scars.
"You won't win that easily, Marine-yoi." He cooed his lips moving away from hers to find themselves above her ears as he lingered from her view. He did so, so she wouldn't see the twinge of pain that filled his features at pulling away from her.
She leaned back against the wooden walls of his room pulling his head even with hers so she could see his mischievous blues. She'd be damned if he hid from her. Everyone else did, he was not allowed to. Or was it he couldn't look at her scars? Had he to...become scared of her?
Does it matter? Keep it light. No to hell with being light. She wasn't always light. She was dark. A dark drunk. Who wouldn't stand for the man she loved to be looking at her with that look in his eyes. She had never seen something like that before and didn't even have a word to describe it. She just knew he would not give her that look.
"You're right. You know. I don't plan on winning anymore." She smiled at him. Her arms moving to trail down his own muscular arm before her rough and scarred fingers enveloped his.
She looked down then back up at him determination in her eyes. "I need to tell you something." She gave him a stern smile.
Marco pulled back a light smile on his face. Unknowing that his look was misunderstood. Here she sat on his desk legs open and body exposed. Teasing him in every way.
Her body may be marked in these terrifying scars but in the end that's who he knew her to be, so he was left wanting once more.
Yet as she looked up and gave him a quick smile, a simple calm began to rise between the two as he sent her a look moving to sit back in his chair. Pulling it closer so she was now looking down at him and his head laying against her thighs.
"I know-yoi." He whispered placing a light kiss along her scar.
She went wide eyed and pulled at his head. "How the hell do you know what I'm bout to say?" She asked her cold voice shattering and a light smile on her face as she looked down at him.
He shrugged his hands moving to wrap around her thigh playing with it as he kissed the skin again. "I read minds, remember-yoi.' He mumbled against her skin. Losing his own control for a second.
He had a plan and needed to follow through with it.
Just did he have the strength to resist her this long. Of course he did, he was a god damn Whitebeard pirate, she couldn't take him lightly.
Domino rolled her eyes and leaned back letting out a quick breath before going wide eyed and swatting at his head. The motion only arousing his muffled laughter at how squeamish she got at his touch.
"Stop, stop, this is serious.." She whined before shaking her head at his raised eyebrow, "Tease-yoi." He sighed pulling away and leaning against the back of his chair and pulling his legs up to sit cross legged on it.
"Well, " He motioned for her to continue. She looked down and nodded "Right well…" She frowned then looked up shaking her head and going serious. "First." She held up her hands then shook them " I don't regret these scars. "
Marco nodded "I know that, you've never been one to regret your decisions-yoi." He stated simply she blinked and scoffed to herself looking away.
"Of course you do." She sighed and threw her hand up. "Then why do you look at me like that? At my scars like that?" She paused.
"I'm not ashamed." She started her cold voice cracking and underneath revealed her caring feminine voice that he had only heard call his name in the nights full of whiskey kisses and lustful touches.
"I' received these scars for my brothers, And i'd get them for you too if I had to." She continued.
Marco moved to stand up wrapping one arm along her waist and another around her back pulling her closer. "I wouldn't need you to protect me-yoi." He hummed holding her silently as she gave a straight face.
"I know, that's just not what I mean, I mean...I Mean...Marco..You can't look at me like that." She sighed defeated and slouching against his touch. "Ever since this last time I fought Sakazuki, I'd..everyone's looked at me differently. Like they're scared. And, I don't mind it. Parts of me...Likes it...But you." She looked in to his ocean blue eyes furrowing her eyebrows. "You, can't look at me like that."
Marco tapped her cheek lightly, "You misunderstand Weeds-yoi," He started moving to push a strain of hair from her face. His thumb running across her burn and it vanishing beneath his blue flame. She gasped as he moved to bring her chin up so he could finally give in to her honey eyes.
"You can't hide what they mean from me." He whispered as her eyes wavered. "A normal person would have died from just one scar like this-yoi." He stated shaking his head his eyes closed as she took in a deep breath ready to retort before she stopped and closed her own eyes.
"Yet here you are covered in'em. All while you sit before me proud and unwavering in your own path, Demanding I respect you-yoi" He continued watching her eyes as she bit on her lip to keep it from trembling. He had only see her cry the one time, back when her men where killed. And he wasn't intent on seeing those tears ever again.
Yet he needed to tell her the truth. He wouldn't let her go.
"What you see isn't anger or remorse. It's amazement-yoi." He smiled looking on at her genuine smile, the motion infectious and causing him to do the same.
He leaned in so his hands held her chin in place. "You may not see it, but you're a real pirate-yoi." He finished. His voice heavy but now his smile growing in a teasing way as she ran her hand along his chest. "It's just a shame I can't persuade you from the wicked marines-yoi." He teased.
Domino nodded leaning back but her arms wrapping around his neck, "You might be able to~ Only if it's the pirate kind." She hummed. Then tapped his chest "And if you promise not to hold back."
Marco smirked moving to tug her hair free of it's tie, intending to make up for the destruction of his ship. "I'd never hold back against you-yoi."
Adaline tapped her fingers absently along her skin as she sat her legs folded and her eyes burning holes in the ship, having seen Marco's crash and hoping that both parties involved where okay. But unwilling to rush and check up on the two. She had her own R&R to take care of after all.
Besides Marco was a topnotch doctor, if he hurt Domino in anyway Ada would have no problem putting a sea-stone bullet through his head. Because that makes sense.
She sighed and laid back against Thatch's bare chest. His softer hand caressed her shoulder thoughtfully as she pulled herself from her tapping and looked up at his caring brown eyes. "You worried about them?" He asked her with a smile. She tilted her head to look up at his warm smile. Then scoffed rolling her eyes.
"Of course not, I am sure Marco is very capable of keeping up with Dominos self destructive tendencies." She stated before biting her lip then furrowing her well done eyebrows then shaking her head again.
Thatch chuckled to himself. "I'm sure you do. Because that's how people look when they have faith in others." He sarcastically teased.
Ada rolled her eyes and crossed her arms looking away "It is," She paused "It is." She then sighed as he moved in to kiss her neck gently. "Well maybe I could distract you then?" He questioned before she squirmed beneath his touch.
"There's no need to distract me, because I am not distracted." She stated with an authoritative tone. Which his teeth along her skin caused her to break into another squeak.
He chuckled pulling away inspecting his handiwork before wrapping her in his arms tighter once more.
"So, what's not distracting you?" He asked her with a raised eyebrow. The storm clouds that had been growing above, had faded over the beech at the breeze that carried both of them together.
She let out a content smile and sighed feeling as his hands rested just on her chest. She sent him a quick look in which he looked back unsure who put his hands there. Surely she didn't think he would do that on purpose? Because he did.
"It's not nothing." She smiled then frowned "It is." She sighed shaking her head. He pulled away and held out his arms in a mocking manor. "Well by all means, don't leave me in suspense." He added with a jovial smile.
She nodded and leaned back in to him. Not caring at how he snuck obvious glances at her scantly clad body in her red and yellow bikini. Hell his hands where already back in their 'rightful' position.
"When I joined the marines I set out to do nothing more but protect people like my family from the wicked scourge of pirates." She giggled looking at Thatch who gave a proud smile. "Thats me!" He cheered before frowning at her serious face. He dropped his hands to just at her waist as well.
"(cough) Erm, And you do a damn fine job at it." He nodded his head towards her his hair moving as he did so. She gave a light roll of her baby blue eyes and tapped his scar. His skin now rough around the edges from age. Still he leaned into her light touch.
"I know that." She stated before giggling to herself. "But never did I imagine that one day I would end up like this. Strung around like the dresses I design." She sighed.
Thatch perked up at her metaphor. Pulling his eyes away from her glorious bust.
"Oh yeah! You told me you started designing, dresses?" He cringed with an emphasizes of dresses. She caught his tone and furrowed her eyebrows.
"So you are going to quit the wicked marines and start your own shop or something is that the thing that's not distracting you?" He asked tapping his fingers against her hips as he happily continued. "If so I think I might know a place you can do that." He smiled thinking fondly of Pop's little peaceful island. It was one someone could call home.
That is if he ever gave up being a pirate. Which he would never do.
Adaline shook her head turning to look at him and moving to push against him, so her small stature towered over him. Her large bust in his face as he tried desperately to listen to what the now angry looking woman had to say.
If he could just advert his eyes a little while longer.
"Why say dresses like that!? Like you can't be bothered to say it. They happen to be cute, And I happen to be good at designing them!" She stated losing her tone of authority before shaking her head at his adverting eyes. "And just so you know the marines are not entirely wicked. Our missions may be, however not all marines are. They are just as complicated and complex as Pirates." She stated before narrowing her eyes and looking at Thatch fidgeting from looking away.
She giggled and shrugged sitting back on her knees over his midsection, she put her hands together and nodded bouncing over the man as she did so. Knowing damn well what she was doing.
"Besides, that wasn't what I was talking about." She sat back and took in a deep breath her chest going out with it. Thatch watched with wide eyes.
"I never planned to be lovestruck, so." She started as Thatch moved to sit up positioning her to sit in his lap as he eagerly taped his fingers now expecting her to say. 'yes Thatch I will now be the one to admit I have fallen head over red studded heels for you.'
She smiled at his eager eyes and bit down on her lip. "Would you consider a truce." She held out her hands. Thatch furrowed his eyebrows, the now age lines pushing together as he did so.
He blinked thinking about her words.
"A truce?" He asked her disbelief in his voice his shoulders sagging as well. A truce? Wasn't what they did every single time they met? Wasn't that what she meant when she said 'we can do things with other people'.
A truce was when she would sneak around to his ship when he would take it out and she would teach him how Angelic she was.
A truce was when he would hear the others curse the 'Femme Fatal' he would quickly rob them of life privileges.
A truce, was the nights he would be cooking a delicate treat for the two to share, and look over seeing her legs swinging over the counter happily munching on a bowl of chocolate he had left out. Not expecting to see the proper woman's face covered in it with a surprised look at being caught.
A truce was when she had sent him letters ranting about Akainu berating the woman for acting on their own in cases. Or just skecthe's of outfits she had begun working on.
A truce, A truce was all of this, this very beach with the trees covering them was a truce.
Adaline watched the expressions of Thatch's face as he waited for her to speak. She nodded eagerly. Knowing that all the men she had seduced to complete Akainu's orders meant nothing compared Thatch.
But, That was the thing, he was under the impression it was just Morgen, Domino knew the truth it wasn't just the one time, after all she was responsible for getting information with any means necessary.
And she wasn't Domino who was known for torture. So she had to find other ways naturally.
"Well.. no..yes?" She asked looking up and then sighing. "I don't want to be a marine for the rest of my life." She looked down playing with the tassels of her bikini bottoms. She was growing tired of watching how beaten the men got, or how gruesome some of her missions were. She wanted more but she couldn't just leave.
Not without Domino. So she was trapped. But that didn't mean that she couldn't not have a truce with this pirate. No, This man.
Thatch leaned in his smile fading as he watched her look so uncertain. "Okay then don't be." He smiled with wide open arms.
"You should come be a pirate, I know Izo could use some competition. If you ask me he's getting kind of rusty. Or settle down on one of our islands," He mumbled quickly afraid of what her responses could be.
Seeing the look in her baby blue eyes showed him that she was not using his charming personality. But instead confiding in them.
She closed her eyes and tilted her head her red hair cascading from her shoulders as she did so. "No, As much as I may admit that I do have feelings for you, I can assure you I can't be a pirate. But that's not the problem. The whole problem at least." She shook her head then motioned for him to lean forward. Which he did eagerly.
She took in a deep breath and nodded her head making up her mind. She had seen to much torment in the world. By both her and others hands. She had seen how easily it is to die. Hell she was the cause of many men's quick deaths.
"A truce between us. All of this. I no longer wish to be a 'forbidden love' I want to be…" She paused and crossed her arms. "I want this to be a more permanent erm..ah...Agreement?"
Thatch laughed. "Aw~ I see that kind of truce." He smiled then shrugged wrapping his arms around her with a smile. Nearly squeezing the life out of her as he did so. "Okay, a truce then."
Domino took in the light swaying of the boat and held it close to her. She never slept well when she was on the sea, but she never handled herself well when she was on land. So she was always stuck between lucid dreams and fears robbing her of sleep. Yet in her semi aware state she felt relaxed. It was as if the curtain of dread that always wrapped around her was gone.
She smiled not thinking about it to much and moving to snuggle against the plush pillow wrapping her hands in the blankets and pulling them to her chin taking in the lavender smell as a nice plus.
She barely registered a deep groan as the blankets were tugged from her unwilling hands. "Quit taking the blankets-yoi." The deep voice grumbled. He sounded just as sleepy as her.
She grumbled and turned away from the sound. "Then get bigger blankets." She mumbled towards the voice that scoffed. "If your ass wasn't so big it would be enough-yoi." It grumbled back.
Domino took in a soft peaceful breath and sighed "You like my ass, deal…" She stopped her eyes growing wide as she stared at a brown wall instantly pushing herself away from it. "Shit." She yelped.
Knocking out the other figure in the bed with a 'omph' Quickly she sat straight up and looked down at a very disgruntle Marco. "You can have the blankets, I'm up now-yoi." He sighed rubbing his back and moving to get up.
Domino watched him stand before her in nothing but boxers and went wide eyed then moved to hold her head remembering the foggy night before. "Oh flipping fuck, I'm sorry." She rubbed her neck and looked down moving to pull him up with a smile.
He took her hand chuckling as he did so before moving to reclaim his spot by her side.
He propped his head up with an arm and ran a finger over her scarred shoulder as she sighed and shook her head against his pillow.
"How'd you sleep-yoi." He asked her lightly as she pulled her mess of a hair away from her eyes and raised an eyebrow. "Let me sleep," She stated coldly before leaning against him and wrapping her arms around his bare chest.
"Then ask me again later." She hummed happily. Marco laughed and nodded to himself moving to lay back in his plush bed enjoying her warmth. Watching the clear blue morning sky through his small port hole window nestled in the center of his wall.
Somehow, he found his eyes being pulled away from the crystal blue of the sky and gazing down to the haunting mark on her back. The burning along her arms reached just around the edges of the first triangle on the right side of her body, however just like the little blue bird on her shoulder it remained untouched.
He let out heavy sigh as Domino raised an eyebrow.
Her eyes still closed but face half buried against his skin and the pillows they laid on. "It's weird." She hummed.
Marco raised an eyebrow. "What is-yoi?" He asked her resting his own eyes as he now ran his fingers through her hair carful not to pull at the tiny knots that formed from their lively night of hair pulling.
"I don't care for that mark. It's cause me pain in every waking moment of my life." She hummed then shrugged "But I still wouldn't change it. You know?" She asked him moving to now rest her chin on his chest her body following suit moving to lay over him. He may have had boxers on, yet she was completely nude and the movements did not go without a response from the man beneath her.
Yet once again he was captivated by how she stared up at him smiling. "When I was little, (she waved her hand) Before all of this, I wanted to be a singer." She smiled "And I would have never met you?" She stated with a light comfort sinking in the air.
Marco however was surprised.
Is she saying she would go through all of this again? Everything? She giggled reading through his unfazed expression and smiled. Her sharp canines protruding from her lips as she did so. "Did I ever tell you that?" She asked lightly. Marco raised an eyebrow, He has heard her sing on nights where they where alone and she would hum tunes he requested.
In fact, by far his favorite memory of her singing would have had to been, when she was challenged to sing Binks' Sake for Pop's birthday. In which she did, inciting the whole crew to quit literally drop their drinks and Marco to relish in the money in his pockets. And a proud smile on his face.
However never had she been candid enough to tell him she wanted to be a singer beforehand. Nor, did they really give each other time between rushed breaths and hot touches to talk about such things.
"I don't think you have-yoi." He stated now circling around the blue bird while she moved to rest her head under his chin laying just against his neck.
"I'm sure I would have gotten a big name, you know?" She smiled waving her hand in the air as Marco smiled to himself "Adoring fans from all around the world," She smiled once more opening an eye to smirk at Marco, "A few thousand men here and there," She smiled watching Marco's eyes flicker for a second before he closed them again and scoffed.
"A big head-yoi." He hummed moving to grab at her exposed skin for a second stopping when he opened one eye to see a wide smile. "Well of course? But you're one to talk." She scoffed now moving to straddle his hips and laying down against him once more.
Marco let out a low warning look before rolling his eyes. Not giving in to this woman's new battle. So much for not wanting to win anymore. That was a lie.
"I'm sorry, are you saying I have a big head-yoi?" He asked her playfully his arms slowly moving to wrap around her waist but hovering above them. Waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
She rolled her eyes "Ohh Phoenix not only do you have a big head, but an ego to match!" She laughed to and opened her eyes to then tilt her head "Marco?" She asked him lightly before he stopped tensing at how adorable her voice sounded so light and concerned.
He looked away shame filling his features as he dropped his arms to rest against the dip in her hip. "Nothing-yoi," He sighed before looking up at her honey eyes wide and curious.
"Are you sure you weren't just planning to flip me over and show me how cocky you are.?" She mused playfully as he looked away.
An obvious blush across his cheeks.
"Who's the mind reader now-yoi?" He asked her with a raised eyebrow as she moved to trace the stubble along his chin.
"Well i've learned from the best." She smiled then shook her head.
"I can't believe this, a pirate sparing a marine? How unusual." She smiled tapping his chin.
Marco found his hands acting on its own accord as it reached up to wrap around her arm pinning it to the pillow beside him before his body followed suit.
Before he had both her arms pinned beneath him.
"Mar..Marco!" She chocked out as he leaned in above her ear. "But you're no marine? Are you-yoi?" He asked her his voice low as she took in a deep breath and sighed laying flat.
"No, but you're a brute." She mumbled blowing a strain of hair out of her face afterwards. Marco chuckled to himself moving to hold both of her wrists with one firm hand then brush the hair out of her face with the soft touch of the other.
"I'ma pirate, one of the strongest ever, You'd be wise not to forget it-yoi." He stated with a proud smirk plastered across his.
Domino huffed quickly pulling her wrists free and swiping at Marcos chest catching him in the side and turning around so she sat up even with him.
Her body though free of his grasp not free of his gaze. She moved to get on her own knees pushing against him as he let her ease him back against his soft bed. "See, there goes your ego! Jeez, i'm surprised there's a ship big enough to carry it?" She laughed as he growled at how she now straddled him.
"It's got plenty of room for the both of us-yoi." He smiled finally seeing her gaze widen in surprise as she took a deep breath and dropped it. With it her body against his causing him to grunt his disapproval how she laid against him.
"I don't doubt it, but..." She sighed nuzzling against his neck. Marco sighed placing his hand over her back and placing a quick kiss on her lips. "I know, it's for your brothers?" He asked her with a raised eyebrow.
She nodded and then sighed "Yeah for them." She looked back up at him.
"So tell me about them-yoi?" He asked her she picked up her head smiling wide. "Really?" She asked before thinking about it. She talked about them almost all the time but never really about them, just that she was selling souls in their favor. He had that picture of them, but that was only an assumption.
"You're diary barely mentions them-yoi, And every time we've met you've mentioned them, so tell me." He stated nestling against his bed. He designed it to be similar to a large nest so, unfortunately for Domino she was stuck against him.
"Journal."
"Diary-yoi."
"Fine okay, Diary." She smiled before looking towards the purple flower that bloomed untouched for all these years against his desk lamp. Vision's of their wanted posters flashing before her eyes as she continued.
"Honestly, I don't know much about them now, I keep tabs on em, because well..I need to but." She sighed, "I really haven't talked to them since we were freed, I never really had a chance to either. Everything, happened so fast." She sighed moving to nestle herself underneath his blankets. Which he held open for her.
Then he frowned as she began to pull them to almost completely cover herself. "Only Pirates Steal-yoi." Marco murmured pulling the blankets towards him as well. She rolled her eyes and cuddled against him. "You should know, Mr. Heart stealer." She murmured before tapping his shoulder as he looked up to protest.
"Anyway, Rappy (RA-Pee) was the baby, he was the sweetest, definitely the most sensitive one. You really couldn't tell him anything without him crying." She smiled fondly, remembering his faint red eyes and how his tiny cheeks spilt up in a skull splitting smile as he would bring her flowers from her fathers garden. Which in turn would get the both of them scolded.
"He was always making things like gifts and stuff, Hell he's the one that brought me my devil fruit. He thought we could plant it to grow a tree. Or something. I thought it was poison and should burry it." She smiled happily then went straight faced.
"Honestly, I wish we did burry it." She remarked remembering how their stomachs ached for any kind of food. And how they had all gathered around the devil fruit with it's green color and pattern ominous.
Normally she would have let her brothers eat it first but she was scared it was poison, So she took a tiny bite. After the awful taste filled her mouth she took in a deep breath knowing she didn't die and let her brothers eat the rest.
It was only when they where crying of hunger the next day, and she wished of just a single orange did she activate her devil fruit. Since then they never starved. Even when the slavers came. She would secretly make them a fruit here or there. But that was all they could get, then it was back to work.
"It tasted so fucking bad." She groaned into Marcos shoulder as he chuckled.
Marco nodded "Mine tasted horrible as well-yoi." He agreed as she closed her eyes. "I guess the devils power isn't supposed to taste good huh?"
Marco shrugged holding out his hand watching as flames grew around it. "It was worth it-yoi." He smirked. She nodded. Then tapped his shoulder to pay attention.
"So anyway, Rappy was always bringing me gifts and stuff, flowers things like that for me to grow and such. But Addler the middle child? Ooff, boy." She frowned shaking her head remembering her round and short brother.
"He was the meanest little shit you'd ever meet. We'd always and I mean always get into fights. Over stupid stuff too, like which cow had more spots or if the corn field was tall or not, One time we even got into a fist fight because I looked at him wrong." She laughed remembering how his deep dark blue eyes would be full of hatred.
It was only more so when they were enslaved. Marco smiled looking at Dominos thoughtful smile. "I'm glad to know you were always a fighter-yoi." He mused.
She rolled her eyes. "Well we had to be, even before..." She stopped then shook her head smiling once more, "Even before...all that, we had tough times. My parents were farmers? I think. Yeah." She nodded "So there would be plenty of things we had to do that kept us busy, but we where young still, evern when everything happened? I was like maybe 6?10? I don't remember my age really?" She asked him then made and 'oh well' face and nodded.
"Wow, I never realized how young Rappy and Addler where? They're both like 2 years apart from me. But anyway yeah..." She smiled then made another unsure face. "That's it." She shrugged.
Marco raised an eyebrow. "That's it-yoi? There's nothing else about them that you know?" He asked her wanting to see that smile on her face longer. She went wide eyed pulling away.
"Well yeah, that's it. I mean we just ran around causing a ruckus on the island. See it was a pretty big island, and we had a decent sized forest so the three of us would spend our time playing around with my devil fruit." She started before she felt the agonizing memory growing inside her body.
Something that even in her drunken state had barely surfaced. The memories of Rappy bringing her the one flower that would ruin their lives. Then her want to regrow it solidifying their islands destruction.
"I miss that forest. It was burned down to make room for a factory some months before everything happened." She gave a hurt filled smile then she dropped it. "But after everything it was clear that the three of us couldn't stay together. So we decided to go our separate ways." She sighed looking around to find Marco's eyes.
Understanding was the only look she got from them.
"Then I joined the marines became Garp's first apprentice," She smiled " and you can piece together the rest right?" She asked him placing a hand under her chin and atop his chest while he nodded his hand running through her hair absently.
"I can-yoi." He let out a deep breath, staring up at the brown wooden tint of his ceiling. His eyes scanning above him till he found a metal grate along the edge of where his walls met. That was his air vent, Which was open?, most of the time he would have to keep it closed off because Ace and Thatch where known to sneak in to play pranks on him.
He rolled his eyes away from the memory and looked back down to Domino's honey eyes. Well he would of if they weren't closed. Her breathing calm and a light smile on her lips as she stayed like that.
The light from window was beginning to shift and shine around her peaceful figure.
"I never knew my parents-yoi, I just bounced around ship from ship until in a stroke of luck I found pops. He's been everything i've had for as long as I want to remember." He stated to himself only expecting his words to fall on deaf ears when Domino smiled.
Once again tricking him.
"I feel the same way about Garp. He took me in after everything and gave me a purpose besides saving my brothers. It's crazy." She smiled looking up at Marcos blue eyes moving her body so she lay even with his lips. "We're the same, but so different." She whispered moving to kiss him.
Her hands finding the back of his head as he quickly took over and switched the positions so he was now above her.
With that moment, Marco knew something he wasn't ready to admit.
She truly had no intentions of winning anymore.
Well? What fun was that?