For Onee-Chan1999
Marco leaned against the door frame to the infirmary. Occasionally a shot of orange fire would threaten to reach the ceiling. He looked back down to its origin sitting in a chair, pain written across his features. They should've used sea prism to cuff him but it was a little late for that.
"There." Izo took a quick step back to avoid another shot of flame. "His bones are set, just need to cast it." He walked by Marco, out the door before throwing a 'good luck with that' over his shoulder.
Marco sent his brother a halfhearted glare before returning to the matter at hand. "Ace." The teen was staring at up at the ceiling, trying to flex his hand. Marco kicked the door shut before walking over to him. "Stop that." He placed a hand on Ace's injured arm and let the blue flame spread across it gently. He couldn't heal others unfortunately but he could soothe their pain a little with his fire.
Ace was still scowling at the soot marks he had left on the ceiling but he slowly began to relax under Marco's touch. "Is Izo mad?"
Marco smirked. "As long as you apologize eventually. No one's upset really but you." He knew it wasn't Ace's fault. None of them knew that the chain hammer the captain was wielding was made of sea prism stone. His triumph over Ace was short lived. The moment Ace fell, Thatch and Juzo jumped the man. He was probably never going to sail again. And they had taken his hammer because that was a lot of sea prism to just leave. They had better uses for it. "Have you ever broken anything before?" Marco asked.
Ace sighed. "Little things, like my ankle once when I was a kid. Or just sprains." He looked down at his arm and was amazed to see it was already wrapped.
Marco laughed a little at his astonishment. "We heal faster than most thanks to the devil fruit. You'll be fine in a matter of days rather than weeks."
"You mean I heal faster. You heal instantly." Marco shrugged again. "What the hell am I suppose to do while it's like this?"
"Rest and recuperate. You can help with the watch or in the kitchen."
Ace rolled his eyes. "That's boring. And Thatch isn't going to let me help in the kitchen. I'm not allowed in there..."
"You can help me with paperwork. And finish yours."
Ace flinched a little at that idea. "But my right hand is the one that's broken." He replied quickly. "Sorry I can't help-"
Marco thumped him on the back of the head. "I know for fact that you're ambidextrous. Come by my room after dinner and we'll work on it."
Ace knocked on Marco's door after what had been the longest day in his life. His division hadn't let him help with any of the chores. The two crew mates he had shielded from the blow were constantly asking him if he needed anything. He had burnt off his cast twice. And now he was going to spend the last of his waking hours doing paperwork. He thumped his head against the door right as Marco opened it. Ace stumbled forward into the blonde. "Ow, sorry." He muttered but he didn't move.
Marco hugged him closer as he closed the door. "Long day?" Ace hummed in reply. The older commander ruffled his hair. "You're in horrible mood when you're injured." He pushed Ace in the direction of his desk.
"You would be too." Ace scoffed. "If you ever got injured..." He sat down in Marco's chair trying his best not to sulk like a child.
Marco sighed. This day hadn't been easy for him either. Ace was important to the crew's morale. He had a contagious personality and just made those around him happy. Marco had spent the entire day reassuring the second division that they were not at fault and Ace wasn't really mad at anyone. He stood by the teen and ran his hand through back hair. "If we don't do the paper work tonight, we have to do it tomorrow." Ace shrugged. Marco pulled him out of the chair by his good arm and over to his bed. "Sit."
Ace did as he was told and watched Marco as the blonde went back to the desk. He tidied up the chaos of paper before returning to Ace and sitting beside him. The teen leaned against Marco who held his hand gently, blue flames dancing across their skin.
It wasn't often Ace got like this. And it made Marco worry every time. He held Ace close all night, even after he fell asleep. And in the morning he took Ace back to his room before setting about his own chores.
Three days passed and Ace had only burnt the cast off a total of eleven times. He held his right arm out and flexed. "Hey, I don't think I need another one!" Izo hit him over the head anyway. But he laughed it off.
Marco watched from the other side of the deck. The change was visible as the crew lightened in mood and it was decided there would be a party for the recovery of those injured in the last battle, which, as it turned out, was really only Ace. He shook his head and went over to Ace. "Better?"
"Yeah... thanks." Ace smiled at him. "Too bad I can't return the favor."
"You already have." Ace looked at him curiously and Marco smiled. "Don't worry about it."