Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece

Omake

…

Old enough to know better, but young enough to do it anyway

…

"Captain!" Aiko called her red headed captain with a wave as she pointed to an overly large ship docked right next to theirs, the gargantuan ship completely shading their much smaller Red Force from the sun.

The red-haired pirates were currently docked on a wealthy island called Hand Island. It got its name from its shape, which was obviously, the shape of a hand. There was only one sole city on the entire island, but it was a lively, prosperous and bustling one that sold rare goods of all kinds and had been for years, considered a place where skilled artisans gathered to hone their craft. It was basically a paradise for artists, but when Shanks had heard from Roger knows who that it was paradise, he had dropped everything and set course. Not even caring that this particular island wasn't under their territory, but under the protection of the infamous Whitebeard Pirates.

Who just so happened to be docked right next to them…

And did she mention that they had all stopped to collectively glare menacingly at them?

"Yo!" Shanks just called to the commanders currently trying to put them six feet under with their eyes. He grinned his usual friendly grin at them and waved his good arm, nothing but happiness in his eyes. "Nice seeing you here!"

"Oi, brat." Whitebeards voice boomed, his eyes on Shanks alone. "Don't try anything."

"HAHAHAHA!" Shanks still had on that ridiculous grin. "We're just here to buy some things! Would you guys like to have a banquet with us?"

"Oi, Captain!" Some of the more nervous, newer lackeys in the crew called. They were obviously shaking, this was their first time in the presence of Edward Newgate, the revered strongest man in the world, himself.

Aiko just shook her head, tuning the conversation of the two Captains out and ignoring the death glare still directed at them by Whitebeard's crew as she stared ahead to get another breathtaking look at the beauty of Hand Island. They weren't here to cause any trouble anyway, so there was no reason for the Whitebeard Pirates to attack them, Shanks was a rather peaceful man after all. He wouldn't do anything unless provoked and she doubted any of the Whitebeard pirates were stupid enough to provoke a rival Yonko. Besides, they were only here because Shanks thought it would be fun. Being a pirate was fun after all.

She suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder, turning her head to see her mate: Yassopp, who was nodding toward the island and grinning mischievously.

"Oi, Captain!" Aiko called out once more, completely disregarding the fact that she may have just interrupted the only flow of conversation between the two rival emperors. "Can I go?"

She could feel the eyes of all the pirates, Whitebeard and Red-haired alike, out on deck focused on her. A brief thought of if he was there invading her mind, before she quickly shut it away.

"Yea." Shanks nodded with grin still on his face.

And that was it.

Most of the Red-haired Pirates dispersed, going out to look into all the wonders the town had to offer in groups or simply on their own. Most probably hitting the nearest bar for a well-needed drink.

"Be careful, Aiko." Her Captain addressed her, which she nodded to, before jumping off the ship and landing gracefully on her feet, walking in a random direction. It felt nice to walk on solid ground again, not that she didn't love being out at sea, but it felt nice to feel rock-hard ground under your feet especially when you've been on sea for weeks on end, dealing with persistent Marines and the horrid sea that was the New World.

She took her time and strolled around aimlessly, going into random shops here and there to admire the finely crafted works of the artisans who could create and just let their imaginations run as wild and freely as they liked as long as they were under Whitebeards protection. No one would dare bother them. It was amazing what a Yonko's Jolly Roger could do, the fear it instilled and the unbelievable amount of respect it demanded from everyone, marine and pirate alike.

The sun was already starting to set into the horizon in brilliant orange and red flames, fighting to stay out for as long as possible and continuously blind everyone, but obviously losing. That was okay though, she loved the night more than anything else, and besides the setting sun was just the beginning of better things to come after all. Everyone knows, fun things happen in the dark. She could see many artists coming out to take just the right pictures, to paint or to sketch the evening sky. The sight of them had a smile creeping up and onto her face.

Looking around one more time, she decided to stop and look at the menu of a nearby café, feeling the hunger of not eating and just walking all day catching up to her. She mentally contemplated if she should eat here or if she should just go and find her Captain who was no doubt with Benn and the rest. They were probably well on their way to getting shit-faced, possibly with some of the Whitebeard Pirates too. Maybe she should just grab some bar food and a few drinks with her crew?

Deciding what to do, she was about to turn away from the menu and be on her way when she heard a voice directly from behind her.

"Well, well…" Now that voice was awfully familiar. "Who do we have here, yoi?"

She turned to come face to face with blonde hair and a lethargic expression.

"A face you've probably been dying to see." She gave him a sweet smile. "Lucky aren't you?"

"Hmm? What's up Commander? Someone you know?" Some pirate, whom Aiko didn't know the name of –nor could she bother with- asked Marco. She probably should pay more attention to the guy, he was after all in the Whitebeard Pirates for a reason, but she really could not give a damn with such a familiar man's presence around. Her eyebrows though raised slightly at the no name pirates words.

"Commander now?" She looked at him with soft eyes, "What I tell you?"

He smirked.

Looking at the members from his Division and addressing them in a laid back tone full of amusement. "You guys go on and do whatever. I'll be here."

"But Commander! Commander Thatch was looking for yo-."

He waved the men aside with his hand, clearly not all that bothered about the lack of a drinking buddy his fellow commander would have to suffer from tonight. "I've got some business with her."

"Y-yes." They all muttered simultaneously, before going on their way.

Leaving a moment of silence in their wake.

"Sooo…" She said once all of the men had left. "Commander-san, what business do you have with little ol' me?"

He fought the urge to roll his eyes at her teasing tone.

They hadn't seen each other in over a year and he didn't even get a hello? She had changed, donning a navy blue dress with the Red-haired Pirates Jolly Roger on the front, the dress barely hit mid-thigh. Was this woman trying to give him a heart attack? He expertly spotted her half a mile away, it was easy to, when all the men on the island were doing double takes and the fact that one of his own men had pointed out very clearly that there was a beauty where Marco was headed. Well, no shit. Why did he think the Phoenix commander was heading towards a café in the first place? To eat? Hah.

"I only recently got promoted, yoi." He muttered, bored expression still on his face even after such a long time apart. Aiko could never imagine that impassive neutral face of his ever leaving him. "And I saw you, thought I'd come and say hello."

"Now, Phoenix." She gave him that grin again, the one that had him going mad when they first met. "'Hello' to me? We both know it's much more than that."

He let out a smirk, she was right, not like he would admit it though. He took a quick look at the establishment she looked about ready to enter, seeing as how she had been checking out its large menu, before gesturing with his head towards the café.

"Wanna grab some dinner, yoi?"

"Mmm…" She thought for a moment, she really wasn't planning on eating in this place. She wanted a place where she could go and grab herself a drink. She shook her head slightly, Shanks and the crew were really rubbing off on her. The only thing she drank nowadays were alcohol, water and coffee, oh, and the occasional smoothie. She did a quick scan around the surrounding area with her eyes, spotting the perfect place, before pointing at a ramen shop across the street. "How 'bout there?"

He looked to where she was pointing, smirk growing wider at the small lantern in front of the ramen house and the large red words written across the small shop. "Let's go." He went first taking long and lazy strides over to the ramen house.

"Welcome!" The man behind the counter greeted as the young pair took a seat in front of him, it was very noticeable that the two that had just walked in were pirates. They just had a different air about them. They seemed close with the way they both had small amused grins on their faces when they had walked into his humble store. Maybe a couple?

Marco unconsciously, more out of habit than anything, did a quick sweep of the place with his observant eyes, they may always look tired and lazy, but they sure as hell weren't. The place was rather small with only a few customers inside –all civilians, which was good because he really didn't want to run into one of his mates right now- and everything you'd expect from a ramen shop, tables that doubled as the counter in an almost square around the old man's little cooking spot complete with small white and gray stools. The smell of soup and beef wafted through the air in a pleasant combination for any hungry soul in search of a decent and affordable meal.

"Old man." He called, giving him a friendly non-threatening grin. "Two bowls, an order of fried squid and give us some sake, yoi." He gestured a small sake cup with his hand.

"Oh, and some dango!" Aiko added with a grin in his direction.

"And dango." Marco said to the man, just to confirm what she had said.

"Comin' right up." The man replied grinning at the two pirates, before turning and preparing their order. Most pirates tended to go straight to the local taverns, maybe the two were going out?

"So, what have you been up to, yoi?" Marco asked the woman before him, who shrugged slightly before responding.

"The usual." She grinned, "You know, sleeping around with random sleazebags in third rate bars."

He sighed at the snarky woman before him, good to know she hadn't changed.

"I knew it. I hope you didn't give me some kind of disease, yoi."

She scoffed at him, "I should be the one saying that, you must've been with dozens of women." She looked at him from the corner of her eye, "And what's even more suspicious is that you had so many condoms on your person."

The man who was currently setting their plates down in front of them choked a bit when he heard the woman's blunt words.

Marco stopped trying his damned hardest to keep his composed face and in the end, just decided to let his facial expression do what it wanted. Mentally declaring that he didn't give a fuck and it was okay since none of his or her crew were there to see them. He rolled his eyes and gave her a playful grin, the action making her eyes widen slightly in surprise. "I didn't see you complaining at the time, yoi."

She was the one to roll her eyes at him this time. "As if you gave me any time to voice out anything."

"Now, yoi." He gave her the smuggest smirk she had ever seen on a human being. That triumphant grin of his completely lighting up his usual lazy expression. "I clearly remember you voicing out a lot of things. Complaints weren't one of them."

"Uhm..." The man at the counter cleared his throat, making the two young pirates look in his direction. They were having the most awkward conversation, yet he, who wasn't even a part of it, seemed to be doing all the blushing for them. He gestured to their order he had just finished placing in front of them, they both looked down in slight surprise at it. Not even noticing when it had gotten there. "Enjoy."

"Yea. Thanks." Aiko muttered, grabbing a pair of chopsticks and a soup spoon.

"Thanks, yoi." Marco said, taking the steaming hot bowl with one strong hand, placing it to his lips before lifting it up and eating the scorching hot ramen –noodles and everything- straight up. A line of soup steadily falling from his lips and down the span of his throat. When he put it down a minute later, with completely nothing inside the bowl, the man at the counter was gaping at him. "What?" He asked, lazy expression back in place and wiping at the leftover soup that had spilled on him.

Aiko, who had somehow also finished her food in the same amount of record time, sat and also stared at him, though no surprise on her face. Which was probably due to the fact that she was on the same crew with a man like Lucky Roux who devoured anything and everything, with no regard for table manners and proper etiquette. Well, who cares, they were pirates after all. Marco usually took his time with other foods, he was only like this with ramen. He didn't really know why himself.

"He's staring 'cause you're a filthy pirate." She told him grinning, before stabbing a piece of squid with a fork and offering it up to him.

"And you aren't?" He muttered, letting her feed him, the fiery taste of wasabi immediately erupted in his mouth, but he didn't show it, if he did that then she'd win, which was a huge no-no. He only glared silently and threateningly at her. A glare that she'd never admit was one of the scariest things she had ever seen.

She gave him her best innocent smile in return.

As if saying, 'Is something wrong?'

Marco swallowed down the squid. The spicy taste that could only come from excessive wasabi still burning in his mouth as he continued to glower at the Red-haired pirate.

'This woman…'

"You've got one helluv an appetite, dontcha?" The man grinned at Marco. "The two of ya completely ate those bowls in record time yea? I've nevah seen no two people do that kinda thing before."

"You should meet some more pirates, yoi." Marco said back as he took a sip of sake. "How long have you been working here?"

"Must've been about twenty years now, yea?" He looked between the two pirates in front of him. "And you two? How long ya've been pirates?"

"A long time now, yoi." Marco responded, not really looking at the man in front of him his eyes focused on Aiko who grinned at the man, before taking a few healthy gulps of sake. "Don't drink too much, yoi. I wouldn't want you passing out on me."

"Please, phoenix." She gave him a pointed stare from the corner of her eye. "I can drink you under the table."

He raised an eyebrow at the woman.

No way he'd let that one go unnoticed.

"Is that a challenge, yoi?"

"You wanna play with me again, Phoenix?"

"Always." He responded immediately, before looking towards the old man who was still trying to wrap his head around the banter they were having. "Old man. Could we get the bill, yoi?"

"Ah! No. You're Whitebeard's First Division Commander, right?" He gestured to the tattoo on said blonde commanders tanned chest. "On the house."

"Thanks, yoi. But…" He gestured with a subtle tilt of his head towards the striking woman next to him. "If I didn't pay on our first dinner date, she'd definitely find a weird way to use it against me."

Aiko grinned at him.

"Ah! But… I really couldn't…" He held his hands up, "You Whitebeard Pirates have all done so much for us on this island… So..."

Marco sighed a bit, before saying "Alright then. Thanks again, yoi."

Aiko was the first to get up, placing a hand on the blonde commander's shoulder, before heading out. Marco mentally counted to three in his head, before lazily getting up and following after her. Clearly not in a rush to do anything, but waste away the day with pirate woman.

The man noticed that as the two left, there was a large bill of beli under the Phoenix Commanders sake cup.

Meanwhile, outside…

"What a waste… I would've gotten a lot of change from that bill." Marco said to no one in particular as Aiko laughed at him. The sun was already completely gone and all that was left was the bright moon high above them and the sounds of artists still hard at work in their own individual passions.

The two walked slowly, heading in no particular direction.

Thatch walked aimlessly around, trying to and so far completely unsuccessful at finding the infamous Phoenix commander. He stomped his feet and muttered curses under his breath as he looked, making people instinctively get out if his way and his rare pissy mood.

Why was he in a pissy mood? Because, there he was, he had it all, an extremely hot babe and her also extremely hot friend out and alone for the night. He had promised to bring another commander for her friend, which he didn't even understand why he needed to, he could take care of two women. He sighed to himself, why couldn't most women just be into that kind of stuff? So then, he had gone off and told various members of different divisions in the crew that he absolutely needed Marco. Since Marco was the only other commander that fit the bill and for reasons beyond him the two women wanted only commanders. Bragging rights, maybe? Anyway, he had given specific instructions to the crew to tell the Phoenix commander that it was a life or death situation and he needed to go there immediately.

And a full two hours later, where was he?

Abso-fucking-nowhere.

His two lady friends ended up going home with these two other guys and no way did he want to pay to go and sleep with some whore today. Not after the last time when he thought he had gotten herpes. So, now, he was out and about, prowling the streets for a certain blonde haired commander to give him a piece of his damn sex-deprived mind.

So, he continued walking in semi-silent fury, even trying to use his Haki to pinpoint the man, but there were just too many people to actually tell even remotely where he was. Maybe he had found out about his anger and decided to hide? He let his ego be boosted by that thought for just a moment before he reminded himself that this was Marco he was thinking about. No way in Hell that would ever happen.

Speak of the devil.

Just then he saw Marco and what was the fucktard abandoning once best friend doing? Walking languidly on a solid stone walkway with a sparkling view of the night ocean, with his usual tired eyes like he owned the god damned place. Didn't he get his damned message? What if he really was in a life or death situation? What then? HUH?

"OI! MARC-" The brown haired commander suddenly stopped, going completely still mid-yell as he saw the Phoenix commander walk up to a woman with dark hair and a short navy blue dress who was busily staring out at the ocean. All his focus seemed to be on the woman, seeing as how the blonde man didn't even seem to notice that he had almost yelled his name at the top of his lungs. Thatch squinted his eyes a bit, just who was that woman? She looked familiar, but he just could not for the life of him put his finger on who she was.

He watched as Marco placed an arm around the woman's middle, crushing the side of her body to his own as he bent to let her whisper something in his ear. The woman had a red tint on her face, now that he noticed, he saw that Marco had one too albeit less noticeable due to his tan complexion. Maybe they were both a little tipsy then? Thatch's eyes suddenly widened in realization, wasn't that woman a part of Red-haired Shanks crew? But she didn't seem to have a problem with Marco touching her, nor Marco with her and if there was one thing he knew, it was that full blown drunk or not Marco always had control over what he was doing.

And then, the impossible happened.

Marco gave the woman an impossibly huge grin.

He was grinning at a member from a rival crew and not just any rival crew. An Emperor's crew.

Did Hell finally freeze over?

"Yo!" Thatch decided to intervene, previous petty anger forgotten completely. He needed to know just what was going on between these two. Now.

The two looked at him, he could guess that he had on some pretty expectant eyes because Marco lifted an eyebrow at him. "Oh? Thatch? You were looking for me weren't you? What did you need, yoi?" Thatch couldn't help but notice his un-slurred speech and completely sober train of thought as he still held onto the pirate in his arm.

"Nothin much. Just thought maybe you'd want to grab a few drinks and some women but…" He looked towards the woman, now getting a better view of her. He could tell why Marco liked her, people's eyes just couldn't help but be drawn to her form. Even he found his eyes lingering slightly longer than they probably should have been because Marco returned back to his usual carefully composed expressionless face.

"I'm Aiko." The woman told him with a friendly grin before saying bitingly. "And, yes, from Shanks' crew."

The pompadour haired man's eyes widened. Was this it? Had he finally found the infamous Phoenix Commanders TYPE? This was gold. Absolute gold. But, now that he thought of it the man did usually go for women who had similar or a certain feature that was the very same to the woman in front of him. Thatch let a mischievous grin cross his face, a grin Marco didn't fail to notice.

"You two know each other well?" He still had on that wicked grin.

"Very." She replied raising her eyebrows suggestively to which Thatch burst out laughing.

Marco rolled his eyes, something that had Thatch's laughter disappear completely and instead had his eyes going wide as saucers, but once again the Phoenix commander didn't notice as he spoke to the raven haired woman. "Oi, oi. Stop getting me into trouble, yoi."

"Me? You do know that Yassopp saw us together right? How am I supposed to explain that?" She sighed exasperated, it was hard to hide in a city crawling with your mates, seemed the only place they could hide was alone in some inn room. "I'm just evening it out."

"If you wanted to even things out, you'd let me have fun too." He muttered.

"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow at him, "And what kind of fun is that?"

"Want me to show you?"

Thatch burst out laughing at the two and their banter, was this a constant between them? For the life of him, he hoped it was. He'd never get tired of hearing these two.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

The two Whitebeard commanders looked as Aiko pulled out a tiny alarm from her pocket. "Oh, that's our reservation for the night, Phoenix." She got out from under his arm and began walking first towards wherever it was the two supposedly had to be. "Let's go."

"Yea." Marco was about to turn and follow her when his fellow mate grabbed a hold of his arm.

"Where you guys going?" A confused Thatch asked.

The Phoenix Commander just smirked.

Realization creeping onto Thatch's face.

"Oh, you bastard." The brown head grunted, previous anger rising back to the surface. "You ditch me and two hot babes. Yet you still get laid with an even hotter babe. This is not right. NOT RIGHT. I'll remember this!"

The man just waved him and his resentment aside with the casual toss of his hand and the turning of his back. He raised a hand in silent farewell to his mate, before he quickly caught up to where Aiko had stopped to wait for him.

Just how the hell did Marco's lazy ass pick up a girl like that anyway? As far as he knew, the man was fond of just sleeping the day away. He hadn't really been all that interested in other women, but Aiko did say that they've known each other for quite a while. Maybe Marco was waiting around for her? Subconsciously? He couldn't really say, at least not unless he'd get the chance to observe the two more. And what was even more surprising was that they seemed to have a good thing going on too. He sighed, well at least Marco looked happier and more lively than usual around the pirate woman. He was even taking the time to playfully tease her, so that was a good sign, wasn't it?

For that reason alone, Thatch would keep this secret of Marco with him from the rest of his crew. He didn't want Marco suddenly avoiding her or anything, that wouldn't be good for anybody. He was still his brother after all. And brothers look out for each other, especially when a woman suddenly comes into the picture. 'Cause women be crazy.

Besides, he wouldn't even have to tell the crew, why spoil the fun when Marco, himself, would own up to whatever it was he felt sooner or later, right?

A/N: Thanks to those that greeted me last week. Here is the promised omake chappie, you'll see a lot of Thatch in these chappies, I want to bring out his and Marco's friendship more here! Anyway, so I'm thinking of maybe writing a new story, but haven't decided if it should be about Ace or Law... Ughh, the struggle... What do you guys think?

stella: Don't worry it's not rude because you said it in a nice way. Thank you for your honest criticism, if possible could you maybe pm me some examples of these mistakes and I'm real sorry about them because, well, English isn't my first language, so the things I write make perfect sense to me, y'know?

DarkAngelLida: I feel you, I wish I was Aiko too (cries in corner) But, alas, I am stuck in this world with no Marco... T_T

Kiara97: Thank youuuuuuu for your review and taking the time to read this and I'm so happy you like my OC! Stay tuned for more!

Hitsugaya Hibari Nico Robin: Too bad it's only a day *sigh*

Alice: Hahaha, Believe me when I say, just writing about Marco makes my heart flutter. :D

Wicken25: Soon :3

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW!