Chapter 38
IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ THIS FIRST
Hi guys - I'm really sorry but this will probably be the last chapter i post, if not forever, then for a really long time. I wasn't even going to post this chapter, but well it was already written - it hasn't been checked and edited properly so I'm sorry about that.
Writing this fiction was a lot of fun - thank you so much for reading it. especially those who took the time to comment.
I love you guys so much.
Thank you
Max
/
"Y'know Fee Fee, I don't actually know what I'm going to do anymore," Marty said quietly, lying on her back, star-fished atop her fish friends' nose. The sea king snorted softly without opening its eyes or lifting its head from where it was resting on the dock wooden planks.
"Is it comfortable to sleep like that? With only your head out of the water?" Marty mused quietly to herself, "aaaaaannnn, I'm so tired" Marty sighed lifting her arm to rub her forehead. She really should try and go back to sleep. But sleep meant dreams. And dreams meant... Marty sighed again letting her arm thump back onto Fee Fees nose.
Gorram drugs, It had been so long since she had been on anything that powerful. Marty had forgotten how vivid strong pain killers made her dreams.
"Hmmmm, Whaddaya reckon Fee fee Trixabell babe?" Marty murmured dragging her arms back and forth across the Sea Kings nose as if she was making a snow angel, silently debating the pros and cons of spending the rest of the night awake, "aaaaaa even if I did go back Ace will be there. No way I can sleep through his lecturing... I could just sleep here. Hmmmm."
"I don't see how, as Ace's lecturing is here too," Ace's voice snapped irritated.
Marty jolted upright, wincing at the sudden movement, her hand moving to her ribs, to see Ace standing on the docks beside Fee fee's nose, arms crossed, with a vein visibly throbbing on his forehead.
"Ah... oh dear," Marty said glancing sideways, wondering if it was worth making break for it.
"Don't even think about it," Ace growled, "Fee fee, do me a favour and tip your head towards me so I don't have to physically drag Purple off."
"You can try- HEY," Marty yelped as the Sea King rolled its head onto the side, causing Marty to slide off into Ace's clutches, before returning to its original position.
"Traitor," Marty grumbled, crossing her arms as Ace hefted her more securely into his arms, before starting back up the docks towards the ship.
-AYYYSE IN CHARGE OF HURT MORRRHEY- Fee Fee mumbled sleepily. –COME BACK WITH THE SUN-
"How did you even find me so quickly, you only got back on the ship like 10-15 minutes ago," Marty sighed giving in to her fate of being lectured for the rest of the night.
"Well you were either with the Sea Monster or burning down another Mansion, and there are only so many docks to check," Ace snapped.
"Yeah, I couldn't find a good Mansion, so the Sea Monster it was."
"There are no other Mansions."
"Exactly."
"Freaking..." Ace took at deep breath, visibly calming himself, before making his way onto the deck.
Ace paused in front of the closed door that lead down into the ship, realising due to his arms being full of the disaster, he had no hands free and that he didn't think this through. Marty glanced up at him before solving the problem by reaching out and turning the door knob herself.
Ace blinked and looked down at his current bane of existence.
"... Were you actually just helpful?"
"This wouldn't have been a problem if you'd let me walk myself."
"We wouldn't have made it to the door anywhere in the near future if you had been allowed to 'walk yourself'" Ace raised an eyebrow as Marty made no signs of denying it, "Yeah, that's what I thought." He said tiredly shouldering the door open. Marty frowned, a little guilty as she realised just how tired Ace looked. Not that she was going to apologise. He could have just gone to sleep. Marty rubbed her forehead again glancing up at the man squinting slightly in the dim light. No, Ace wouldn't have been able to go to sleep any more than she could until he knew exactly were Marty was.
"So am I getting a futon set up in a cage, or worse are you going to put me back in with Cakes snoring," Marty asked resigned. Ace snorted quietly, which Marty quickly decided was not a good sign.
"No, the only good thing about being injured for you is that I can't realistically put you in anything other than an actual bed," Ace said lowering his voice as he turned down the hallway leading to the commanders rooms, "So back into my room you unfortunately go." Marty blinked as they stopped in front of Aces door. Ace raised an eyebrow at her as Marty made no move to open it.
"Where are you gonna sleep?" Marty said crossing her arms.
"I have a futon in- " Ace started.
"Pretty sure Polo over there is sleeping in it," Marty said nodding towards the two men (still asleep) on the floor outside the girl's room.
"Fine, Marco- "
"Marcos futons laying right next to yours, and I wouldn't really be game to go into his room considering the way he and Beth were acting 15 minutes ago." Marty interrupted again, "What are those two even supposed to be guarding anyway, I mean they didn't hear me or Beth leave, or you coming or going. Hell they haven't even woken up to me-"
"Purple. Open the damn door." Ace said tightly, quietly contemplating on the fact that this girl, who was so light and small with her sweet face and mane of deep purple hair, always managed to be such a massive pain in his ass.
Marty raised an eyebrow, and then surprisingly did as he asked. Ace shouldered his way into his room, pushing the door behind him closed with his foot. The bed clothes were already pulled back from Marty's last escape so it was easy enough for Ace to deposit the girl onto the mattress before deliberately yanking the blanket up so it covered her face. Marty huffed in exasperation, pulling the blanket down to see Ace drop down to sit on the floor with his back against the bed frame. Marty blinked at the back of Aces head as he ran a hand wearily through his messy nest of hair.
"... You're not actually going to sleep like that are you," Marty asked curiously, turning carefully onto her side in order to avoid sore ribs. Ace sighed
"No."
"You are intending to sleep right?" Marty said quietly, she pulled the blanket up tighter under her chin as a stab of guilt hit her, "I'm not going to try anything else until the morning I swear." Ace snorted at that.
"That's comforting," Ace said dryly, "But yeah I am intending to sleep, I am just trying to remember which of the commanders other than Marco and I still keep spare futons in their rooms."
"You mean they usually don't?"
"They are supposed to, but they tend to go walkabout due to parties and camping onshore." Ace said rubbing his neck. Marty watched his hands for a few second before giving into a yawn.
"Why don't you just go though each room until you find one?"
"Because I don't know how long it will take to find one and I'm not really game to leave you unsupervised for an unknown period of time," Ace said turning his head to look over his shoulder at Marty. Marty blinked.
"I told you I'm not going –"
"Yeah yeah till morning," Ace agreed waving his hand before leaning his elbow on the mattress, without moving his gaze, "How the hell did you even wake up in the first place. From what Beth said you should have been doped enough to last till mid day tomorrow, exhaustion and injures on top of that to boot." Ace blinked as Marty averted her gaze, shifting uncomfortably.
"... Cakes snoring probably," Marty said shrugging.
"Probably?" Marty frowned meeting Ace's sceptical stare.
"Definitely," Marty retorted, rolling onto her back to stare stubbornly at the ceiling.
Lying, Ace thought frowning.
"What are you running away from?" Ace asked instead. Marty glanced at him surprise.
"Excuse me?"
"I've never seen you run from anything other than Marco and I. And that doesn't count since it's not out of fear. It's an inclination to continue causing the things you should actually be running way from," Ace said dryly turning his body to face Marty, his legs swung around so they were under the bed. He leaned one of his elbows on the mattress, resting his chin in the palm of his hand, "And yet, something got you all the way out of a deep sleep, off the ship, and into the protection of your Pet Sea King. So what spooked you into flight?" Ace blinked in surprise as Marty sat up suddenly with an angry expression on her face and her hands balled into fists on top of the blanket.
"Even if that was true-" Marty said, practically growling.
"And I think it is." Ace said mildly remember the one other time he had seen Marty angry, and sincerely hoped his prying wasn't going to result in her accidently breaking something. Like the ship.
"Even then I hardly think it would be any of your business." Marty huffed. She was right. So long as Marty stayed put Ace really shouldn't be snooping into something she obviously considered private.
"I was the one who had to fetch you back which makes it my business," Ace snapped matching Marty's glare, "And seeing as whatever this is, has got you attempting to stay awake and therefore a possible flight risk..."
Ace stopped, anger disappearing.
"What" Marty said annoyed, "And 'therefore' what."
"You had a bad dream," Ace said, knowing he was right when Marty suddenly blushed red.
"I- No! I did not-"
"Bad enough to wake you out of what should have been a deep sleep and go seek company."
"oh for – Ace!"
"You woke up alone, not knowing where you were, or were anyone else was. And the proceeded to go seek comfort in a pet and avoid going back to sleep. I'm still processing that you did something so girly," Ace said shocked in the knowledge he was right. Marty made an exasperated noise lying back down to throw her arms over her face, "Guess tidal waves don't work so well against dreams huh?" Ace said quietly dropping his chin back onto the palm of his hand. Ace frowned, slightly concerned at Marty's actions and the fact she still hadn't uncovered her face.
"Beth was on deck why didn't you-?"
"I was going to but then you and Marco showed up, and then you were shouting, and then Beth was actually making headway with Marco so I just... I figured some air and someone with nothing better to do and no inclination to lecture would be helpful even if it was only for the 10 minutes in which you tracked me down," Marty said, emotionally drained and muffled beneath her arms. Ace winced at how loud and angry he had been up on deck. But Marty had disappeared. Again. Injured this time and...
"What on earth was the dream about?" Ace asked quietly, crossing his arms to lean them on the bed.
"Nothing Ace."
"Was it something from the past couple weeks you been in this world?"
"No Ace I said it was nothing."
"If it really was nothing you'd tell me." Ace frowned as Marty didn't move or speak. He really should drop it. Ace dug his fingers into his hair and scratched his head. If it wasn't anything from the past couple weeks, Ace had a pretty good idea on what the dream had been about. Not that Marty knew that. And she wasn't supposed to find out he knew that.
"Yo, can you look at me at least so I know you're not trying to suffocate yourself," Ace said reaching out to tug gently on one of Marty's wrists, and was stubbornly ignored. Ace really hoped he hadn't pushed the girl to tears. Ace squeezed Marty's wrist gently.
"Hey-"
"I'm fine Ace. Really. When you've finished poking fun I'll roll over and go back to sleep ok? So just leave it be," Marty said tightly. Ace jerked back letting go of her wrist, before his face dropped into a scowl. Ace dragged his legs out from under the bed, pulling himself up to sit on the mattress with his hip touching Marty side. Marty tensed at Ace sudden change in position, moving one of her arms slightly to see. Ace wrapped his hands around Marty's wrists, pulling her arms away to reveal her surprised face.
"Hey!"
"I wasn't poking fun," Ace said annoyed.
"Ok!" Marty said matching his tone, "Can I have my wrists back now?" Ace snorted.
This was such a bad idea, Ace thought irritated.
"Hello?"
It is not my business
"Earth to Cowboy."
I should just leave the girl alone.
"Bah, Ace! What!" Marty said exasperated using Ace's hold on her wrists to pull herself into a sitting position, obviously giving up on tugging free, "Did you suddenly slip in to a coma-"
"Was it about your parents?" Damn it Ace, way to keep your nose out of her business. Marty blanched jerking back slightly before her face darkened into a frown.
"... What do you. Know about my parents," Marty said. Ace could hear a quiet fury lacing through her voice. Ace sighed.
"Do you remember at all what happen at the mansion after Donna got shot and you lost control?" Ace said quietly. Marty blinked, surprised before going bright red.
"Ah I ... yeah, some of it...," Marty stuttered embarrassed, looking away, "I just ... it didn't mean anything, the flying debris and cake statues made it seem way more dramatic than it was." It occurred to Ace that while Marty was generally a open and happy person, she was about as good at talking about her feelings as the next whitebeard pirate.
"You mean the stuff about your parent not wanting you?" Marty's went an even deeper shade of red.
"I never said it had anything to do with my parents," Marty muttered resuming her efforts in tugging her wrists out Aces hold. Ace just tightened his hands slightly.
"Marty," Ace said quietly. Marty froze at Ace use of her actual name, her eyes snapping up to meet his, "While you were going through that nutter Edgar's laptop, Amber came over to talk to me." Marty blinked.
"What? About what? What do your wedding plans have to do with-."
"She heard you too."
"Oh freaking – great who else heard."
"Only me and Amber as far as I know."
"As far as you know – that really doesn't fill me with confidence," Marty said dropping her head slightly to rub her forehead with one of her still captive hands, covering her eyes in the process.
"She told me about your family situation," Ace said quietly watching Marty hand go still, "As well as the incident where you got kidnapped," Ace sat silently for a waiting for the girl to respond.
"She had no right," Marty said finally in a voice that was nearly inaudible.
"Amber was just trying to stop me asking you about it," Ace admitted quietly.
"Well nicely done on that front," Marty said, no real bite in her voice anymore.
"Hmmmm," Ace leaned forwards slightly, "Was that your nightmare?" The hand Marty was using to cover her face went tense.
"It doesn't matter Ace."
"Its keeping you awake, so it's does matter," Ace insisted, he sighed annoyed, "Were you gonna tell Beth about it?"
"... No."
"Have you ever talked to anyone about it."
"No."
"Why not?"
"I told you Ace it doesn't matter, its fine," Marty snapped, finally pulling her head away from her hand to glare at him with watery eyes. She was holding it together, but Ace could tell she wouldn't last much longer, "Let me go."
"No," Ace said firmly.
"Ace let me go!"
"No."
"Why are you doing this!" Marty snapped yanking her arms almost desperately, "You don't even like me remember?"
"You think I would put up with all the crap you throw at me if I didn't like you?" Ace snorted in disbelief, "You keep saying it doesn't matter, its fine, but are you?"
"What?"
"Are you fine," Ace raised an eyebrow as Marty opened her mouth angrily, "Don't lie to me." Marty bristled , before all of the fight went out of her as she slumped forward, her hair falling down to hide her face.
"Fine." Ace leant forward
"What?"
"I said fine," Marty muttered, " you were right about the nightmare."
"What happened."
"In the nightmare or real life Ace."
"Both"
"... They came to my house. Both my parents were out to brunch that day with some of the people. I don't know who, someone they worked with. I was alone, I was ... I was in the backyard. They must have seen me from the street, I don't know how they knew," Marty's hands balled into fists at the memory, "I fought I ... they broke my arm. I can't remember if they meant to or... it hurt. They didn't bother trying to apply first aid because they thought my parents... thought they would pay up immediately, but they... They didn't... They didn't care."
Ace stared at the top of Marty's head wanting nothing more than to pull the girl against him, afraid that if he moved, Marty would stop talking.
"They kept me in a room with no furniture or windows, just a bathroom and... it was so cold. The cold stopped the... it ... it helped my arm, but it was so hard to sleep. I was alone the whole time I was there. They pushed food under the door once a day but... but after the second or third day the pain... I felt so queasy... I couldn't...
They said I was in there for five days but it felt longer. I don't..."
Ace let go of one of Marty's wrist to move his now free hand to the side of her face. Hurting at the wetness he found there, Ace's jaw tightened.
"Your dream?" Ace asked quietly dipping his head so his forehead was just shy from touching the top of Marty's head. Marty drew in a shuddery breath.
"I was back there. But my parents... my parents were with me... I didn't... I," Ace felt Marty's free hand grab the hem of his pant leg as if she needed something to hold on to.
"They were so angry Ace, I ... I didn't mean to. I didn't want... I" Ace had heard enough. He let go of Marty's wrists, wrapping his arms around the girl Ace pulled her into his lap. Ace hugged Marty against his chest, tight as he dared. Ace pressed his face in to Marty's hair as she shivered against him regardless of the fact it was a reasonably warm night.
"I didn't mean to," Marty whispered thickly, pressing her face into Aces neck.
"It wasn't your fault," Ace murmured into Marty's hair, frowning as she shuddered, "Not your fault." Ace breathed out angrily, annoyed at the people who were suppose to be protecting the girl. Instead they were showing up in here nightmares to make bad memories worse.
The pair sat like that for several long minutes, Ace silently listening to Marty's breathing slowly calm down and even out.
Eventually Marty drew in a shaky breath
"All that aside, we probably need to go to sleep." Ace hummed in agreement.
"Do you want me to stay with you?" Ace smiled slightly as he felt a tiny nod against his neck, "Ok."
/
So yeah. ... this is a ridiculous chapter. And I am highly uncomfortable with couples but oh well. Let me know if you don't think the chapter read right, I dislike writing romance and don't have experience in it.
ILY GUYS (especially reviewers, gold star guys.) love you, miss you already
