Everything hurt, the more consciousness came back to him the more the pain let itself be known. His whole body seems to throb, like his own pulse was too much movement to handle. Ace clenched his teeth and tried to relax his muscles, finding it hard not to try and coil away from the ache. Even the warmth brushing against his knuckles wasn't enough to distract him from the blaring pain. Warmth. . .

Opening his eyes was more difficult than Ace thought fair. Like weights held down his lids and a part of him didn't want to bother moving them. But he with effort, Ace had opened his eyes, even if it was just barely, and looked down. Marco had his joined hand over Ace's, his thumb brushing over his knuckles. The touch was gentle and he was careful to avoid the split on his forefinger knuckle.

While the touch sent uncomfortable sharp tingles up his arm. It was nice at the same time. And for a moment Ace was tempted to close his eyes again. Let consciousness leave him. If the pain had let it that is. But Marco's hand wasn't in better shape and Ace thought back to the dead weight he had to drag from the water.

"How's your head." His voice was rough and left an scratchy feeling in his throat. Ace would kill for some water right now.

"It's fine." Marco's voice didn't sound much better. Trying to peer at him without moving was difficult and the little light that broke through the bush made things harder to make out. There was a blossom of blood through the wrapping but it was already browning. Or at least Ace hoped, looking at it in the dim lighting. "I promise." Marco followed up, taking his silence as disbelief.

"Yeah, sure." Ace smiled at Marco's hand tightening over his. "I believe you just as much as you believe pops when he says so." He chuckled and closed his eyes, trying his best to relax. The rain still pouring outside offering a sense of peace.

"I worry about him." Ace opened his eyes wondering how much time had past between the last moment and this. What he might have missed. But he stayed quiet, wondering who Marco was so worried about. "I can ease his aches and make sure he takes his medication but there is no fighting time. He's getting older." So Marco's worrying about pops again.

It's not unusual for Marco to dwell and worry, over his captain and father more than anyone. But it was weird for him to be so open about it. Ace cracked a grin and bumped his shoulder against Marco's. Regretting the movement slightly. "It's pops! He's stubborn enough to fight anything."

"Like you?"Marco didn't smile like he expected and it sent something all swirling in his gut.

"Exactly." Ace laughed, cutting himself off when he realized how loud it came out. For a moment he had forgotten they were hold up in a tree for a reason. "And we have pretty good records, don't you think?" Marco just stared at him before he looked towards the tree opening.

"I worry about that too." He whispered. Ace let his eyes linger on the bandage on Marco's head before resting back as comfortably as he could. He didn't pull his hand away but a tightness had come over Ace, a certain uncomfortableness as Marco's concern shifted. "You're so reckless and eager for a fight."

"You're such a worry wort old man." Ace chuckled and tapped his foot against Marco's. "You best remember I win those fights, you bird brain." That wasn't met with the response Ace was hoping. He wanted to receive a chuckle for Marco to snap back. Ace could handle jokes, he was better at handling jabs and teasing. Jokes meant everything would be met with laughs, that it wasn't serious, that they can continue to ignore the things that won't go away.

Marco sighed and Ace couldn't help the way he straightened up when blue eyes focused on him once again. Like dark endless pools taking in every part of him. "You throw yourself into fights like you don't care if it kills you." Ace began to bite at his lip when Marco didn't look away. "Do you care?"

Ace wanted to argue "I care" he replies but it weak. Ace wants to counter and tell Marco he shouldn't worry, that he cares about his life. But those little vicious voices are ever present in the back of his mind. Whispering those ever so familiar, cold and uncaring words. Ace doesn't try to die but if he did, well, it wouldn't be the worst thing would it?

"Your life is no less important than the people you throw yourself to protect." That's not true but Ace keeps it to himself and bites back the alarm as Marco's brow furrows in sorrow as his voice lowers. "I don't want you to die." Marco leans his head on Ace's shoulder and sighs deeply. The way someone does when emotion is so close to the surface. "I know it's selfish. I've seen so many people go. I don't want you to die before me Ace. I don't want you to be another face I can't save."

Ace hated when others worried for him. Hated the wash of feelings that came over when they expressed it. This was too much. Too much information to process. Marco worried so deeply, it was no secret, everyone knew. But Marco didn't just spill his worries like this, not even to their captain. It made Ace worry and it made him feel terrible for making Marco feel the way he was. Hesitantly and slowly, Ace rested his head against Marco's.

"I'm not gonna die so soon." Ace whispered, tightening his fingers over Marco's. "You don't have to worry about me Marco."

"I can't help it." Ace assumed he was falling back asleep by the way his words began to meld together. "You're so warm." He said snuggling closer to Ace. As his breathing evened out, Ace wished there was room to move away. So aware of every part of Marco touching him making his skin, sensitive by the aches and wounds, hurt. Wanted to curl away from the worry so freely spewed over him. Ace wanted pass back out into the fitful oblivion to let go and forget about it. But Marco's words echoed and repeated in his mind over and over. So Ace just sat there, staring into the branches of the bush that hid them away. Watched at the leaves dripped with rain. Wishing to lay out in the free falling water. To open his mouth and hope it quenched his thirst and eased the scrashing burn in the back of his throat.

But he didn't have the energy and he didn't have the mobility. More than that he would have to wake Marco and Ace couldn't do that. He needed his rest but that wasn't why Ace wouldn't. He didn't want to hear the worries, the fears so freely shared. So Ace stayed in silence, just staring.

Ace didn't know how much time he just watched the falling rain dripping from leaves into the already soaked earth. Marco had woke twice but it was not the same as he did earlier. He mentioned Ace's warmth, the cold outside it. Mentioned the same thirst that Ace felt but neither of them had the energy to seek. And before Ace knew it the light had faded again and the exhaustion became too much even for his anxieties to fight off and once again despite the aches and pains and loud thoughts, Ace managed to fall asleep.