Oh god, I just realized Marco hasn't used his speech tick not even once! And I love it so much! And I'm so sorry if I hadn't reply to your review and sorry for the delay! I hope you'll enjoy, even if it's short!

Chapter 02- That boy with clipped wings

Marco stared. And stared. And stared. He just couldn't understand it. That boy...he looked fierce and enraged, but he couldn't blame him. He would have been in the same state in his shoes. Oh God, how could they be so cruel? He heard his brothers whisper their indignation but he was concentrated on the raven that stood in that cage.

In a moment, everyone that was standing on the stage beside the young Fire bird vanished and the light became suffused. He saw the raven took a breath and close his eyes. Then, he started. And to say that Marco was shaken was an underestimation. A big one.

The song has no word, just a beautiful voice that sew, sound by sound, a delicious and colorful melody.

It was overwhelming, overflowing the space between him and the audience like an enraged river that submerged land. It was refreshing and calming like the breeze that blowed over seas and oceans but powerful like a tunderstorm. He longed for the sound like a drawning man longed for air and Marco lost himself in the beautiful melody. How could something so delicate come from that frawning young man? Marco struggled to find an answer but he found out that he wasn't able to think straight anymore. He briefly wondered if Mermaid's victim felt so lightheaded, free and enchanted too...probably yes. Then probably the wonderful voice belonged to a merman and not to a bird...

Roughly, he was shaken awake from his trance from deafing silence. Nothing moved, no one talked. Everything was still. Then, like they all snapped out of a magic spell, the audience started to cheer, clap their hands and wistle. It hurt his ears and he wished he could hear the magical sound again, just one more time. But the show was over and the host appeared again while the cage that confined the young man was taken away.

He didn't really understood any of the word that were spoken or the movements that were made. He placed a hand on his forehead, his head spinning like crazy.

"Are you alright Marco?" He turned to Jozu, blinking.

"Yes, yoi. It's just that I haven't slept much...Don't worry." Jozu nodded and turned to see the rest of the show.

However, for him, it was all an unpleasant blur.

Marco leaned in the chair, sighing. He was so tired that he could not even say what he was reading anymore. Well, he must admit that he had some major problems at concentrating after he returned from the Circus. He really felt stupid, but he couldn't stop thinking about that beautiful song and the one who created that beautiful melody.

He stood up, deciding that taking a walk was going to calm him. He sneaked trough the empty hallway, trying to make as little noise as possible. He didn't want to wake his -already really worried for his mental health- brothers, now did he?

Stepping on deck he inhaled the cool air, that seemed to work wonders on his unfocused brain. Marco felt himself relax while he hopped down the railing.

"Let's see, where should I go yoi?" He asked himself, picking some random direction and starting to wander. He slowly passed houses of every shape and size that threw their threatening shadows on the roads that divided them. The peace was absolute, the silence broken only by the sound of crashing waves on the shore. The wind was blowing lazily, bringing the smell of wood and salty sea water. Life was awake beneath the huge threes and he could hear the rustle of leaves and the soft pacing of small animals. He smiled, going deeper in the woods, enjoying the fresh air and the little light.

A gentle sound of flapping wings made him turn towards the sound. His breath stuck in his throat.

The faint moonlight was illuminating the enormous circus tent -he didn't even realized he was moving towards the circus, not even with his haki- that casted a long shadow that enveloped half of the clearing with his hug, caressing every three and stalk of grass, and even the big bird cage that stood there. Inside of it, the young man that sang that morning was on his knees and facing the Moon, hands sliding gently over the bars of the cage. His torso was bandaged up and his wings were now tiny and fluffy, feathers ruffled in a orange and red fluff. Marco couldn't tell what expression he had from where he stood but he was sure it was full of longing.

Pity filled him as he took an inconcious step towards the man inside the cage. The soft noise of Marco's step made him turn around and face him. Marco was surprised to face an absolutely gorgeous men. He couldn't have a good look during the show, but now he had all the time he wanted.

The hair, dark as a moonless night, framed the young face beautifully, creating a strong contrast with the pale skin. His mouth was full but ghostly pale and lightly agape from the surprise. A little shadow was casted on it by the smooth line of his nose which was sprayed -like his cheeks- of freckles. Marco couldn't help but compare these to the stars on the sky. Then, there were his eyes, that looked at him with the same pale silver of the moon, full of surprise.

He probably was the most beautiful man Marco had ever seen and he knew in that moment that he was screwed.