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"Has anyone seen Ace?" Thatch voiced out his question while looking around the other tables in search for his youngest brother. He usually sat with them at the commanders' table but he was nowhere in sight today. "He wasn't here for breakfast so I thought he'd definitely be here by now."

Ace never missed lunch. Especially when he overslept and missed breakfast, like today.

"Nope," Haruta answered with her mouth stuffed with food.

The other commanders followed suit and shrugged. None had seen him.

Thatch frowned. That was odd. Unless he was sick?

Marco, who was already done with his food, stood up and offered to search for Ace. He knew Thatch had been extremely busy recently and didn't have time to even have a proper meal.

"I'll go look for him. Don't worry 'bout it."

Thatch nodded. "Thanks. Tell me what's up later."

And so, Marco left.

After a visit to Ace's room that turned out to be empty, Marco headed to the next place that he knew Ace would be at. The crow nest. The Second Division Commander had mentioned before that being at the crow nest where he could see the sky and sea the clearest was extremely smoothing. And indeed, he knew him well enough.

The First Division Commander climbed up the rope ladder and earned a glance from the raven haired teen. Ace didn't say anything, but Marco took the way he had shifted a little to the side as a sign that he was not unwelcomed.

"Everyone's worried, yoi. You didn't show up for breakfast and lunch." Marco sat down and tried to pick up any hints that would hopefully tell him what was wrong. But Ace was facing the other side, his gaze seemingly fixated at the sea. His eyes were a little distant though.

"Didn't feel hungry. Sorry." The usual cheerfulness was nowhere in sight. Marco knew something was definitely up.

"It's fine. We just found it surprising that the ship's biggest eater was skipping meals." When Marco received no reply, he had a vague feeling of what was going on. After all, there were only that few things a pirate can be this solemn about. After another beat of silence, he asked, "What's up?"

This time, Ace tore his gaze away from the sea and his eyes fell upon Marco for a second before he looked away again. Marco caught the muddle of sadness in his eyes as he waited patiently for him to continue.

Ace put out his hands and opened them. Fire slowly lighted from the tip of his pinkie finger to his thumb. The flames burned brightly, and Marco's gaze flickered between the flame and Ace.

"Sometimes, I'm afraid of the fire. I hate it too. But it's funny, isn't it? I'm made of flames but I'm afraid of it."

"And why's that?" Marco asked softly, knowing it was something personal to him. And painful.

Ace looked genuinely surprised that Marco had asked that. He turned away and buried his face into the space between his chest and knees.

"You could always tell me, yoi. Anything."

Ace looked up. Closing his eyes, he breathed out a sigh.

"Flames…remind me of my brother." Ace squeezed out in tight voice. "I'd remember the day he died. In a sea of flames." His voice went silent, and it sounded a little broken, like how Marco remembered it to be during the days Ace wasn't one of them yet.

"Not Luffy?" Marco recalled the number of times Ace had talked about his foolish little brother with such a huge grin.

"No. I had another brother. Sabo."

Marco knew from the way Ace had uttered his name so gently like it was a piece of glass that would shatter so easily if not handled with care.

"He was a noble. But hated it. Said they were all too fake and inhumane. The three of us, me, Luffy and him. We shared cups of sake and became brothers. And we promised each other we'd be free."

Ace paused and ran his fingers over his tattoo on his arm. It burned his fingers. It felt like it did.

Marco wasn't an idiot. He was quick too. It was then he realized that that tattoo wasn't misspelt like how half of the crew guessed to be.

"He set sailed earlier. While we weren't in contact. But a Tenryuubito just had to visit at the same time. He got in those bastards' way and they shot him. They shot him with a cannonball. And I could only watch as everything erupted into flames and they burned on and on. Until nothing were left."

Ace paused for a very long time. Releasing a shaky breath, he continued, "I never would have thought I'd be a fire logia user now. The one thing I'm afraid of. The irony." He snorted.

Marco remained silent, letting his younger brother let everything out. He imagined a child having to witness the death of his own brother and being completely helpless. It was no wonder that he'd blame himself. Ace always blamed himself for everything. That was why he was gazing out at the sea so forlornly.

"Today's the anniversary, isn't it?"

"Yeah." Ace closed his eyes again, wishing the familiar numbing pain could just disappear. But he snapped them open when he felt a weight on his head.

"It wasn't your fault, Ace." Marco lightly ruffled his hair.

The raven haired teen widened his eyes.

"No, I...I had some responsibilities. Things happened and if it wasn't for me..."

"Then he wouldn't have such a good brother that would grieve and blame himself after so long, yoi." Marco cut him off.

This time, Ace was so surprised his mouth hung opened. He felt tears pricked at his eyes but blinked them away. He had always told himself it was his fault and no one had ever told him that. Somewhere inside his heart, he knew he couldn't have done anything, but no matter what, he was still guilty. Especially when he was now free and happy while Sabo could never taste the same freedom.

They promised to be free together. If only…

A reassuring warmth found its place on his shoulder and Ace swiped his hand across his eyes.

"It's in the past, Ace. He wouldn't want you to be this way, yoi. You can always remember him. But not this way. No one wants to be remembered with tears and remorse. Aren't there other memories you guys shared, yoi?"

Ace ignored the lump in his throat. "Yeah. There are. So many of them."

At that moment, memories of the past flashed across his eyes and Ace couldn't help the smile that tugged on his lips.

With that, relief flooded Marco. He knew the pain of losing someone can never be erased, but at least he could try to lighten it.

"I'll bring you some food. And then, after that, you can tell me about Sabo if you'd like to."

Ace nodded, and before Marco was gone, he added, "Thanks, Marco."

He may have lost a brother, and even though he was irreplaceable, Ace had new brothers now. And they were equally irreplaceable in his heart.

Marco smiled. "You're welcome, yoi."

As for Marco, he swore he would never let Ace go through the same pain ever again.

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