Thatch chuckled to himself again and smiled devilishly at another twitch from his normally unflappable brother. The farther they were from Dawn Island the twitcher Marco got… Like he expected him - The Mighty Thatch to just get on with due teasing and waste opportunity for his great announcement. Oh no, no, no… For all wasted pranks, for mountains of paperwork and for the times Marco send him into the ocean… It was finally time for revenge. And little Lu's crush? That was the best ammunition ever! After all every King needs a… Another evil chuckle, another twitch from his oldest brother… And Luffy's barely 13 now~ Cue another evil, evil giggle.
"Stop laughing like a loon you are, yoi. Moby's in sight"
"In yours sight? or generally?"
"Take a look then, yoi" Marco threw spyglass at him with something some would classify as 'evil smirk'.
"Whoa, no need to throw stuff at me" Thatch flailed about for a while before catching said spyglass and giving First Division Commander baleful glare.
"I wouldn't need to if you wouldn't daydream so much. Remembering paperwork, yoi?" And here was that smirk again… Thatch couldn't count occasions on which he truly, truly wished to wipe it off his face. Luckily he'll get his occasion soon. Few more hours at max.
"Nah, Alvin is taking care of it for me." He gave off brilliant smile. Making Alvin complete his paperwork was genius idea if he ever had one. "If he'll do good I'll make him my lieutenant and be done with it"
"You're commander Thatch. Do your own work, yoi" Thatch just smirked at scathing reply.
"What you'd rather have done? Paperwork or proper pudding?"
"Yoi!" Whatever it was that Marco planned to say was interrupted by two fishmen jumping out of the water and into the deck of their small ship.
"Namur, Arin going to tow us to Moby?" Fourth Division Commander smiled widely at the sight of his two favorite sushi-eaters. It was only thanks to them that he could show off his skill.
"Yup. With how slow you're moving Commander, we were afraid poor Moby will get covered by seaweed before we'll be able to move again" Arin, one of fishmen under Pops' jolly roger answered cheerfully.
"That just mean that you're doing poor work of cleaning the hull, yoi. Put newbies to it" Their glorious and always right First Mate cut in, making all of them to roll their eyes. It was scary how much control over the fleet and pressure thanks to that Marco had. It took only one mistake…
"Mean." Namur grunted and moved to get the ropes, so they could tow the boat to mothership. Good, Thatch missed his family dearly.
"See? Everyone agree with me Marco. You're one mean bird" He crowed triumphantly with raised finger. It was finally time for all the pranksters on the ship, even those hidden deep, deep beneath to mobilize and pay him back!
"Thatch, yoi…" Thatch smirked seeing Marco rub his brows with pinched look… Good… Good…
"Don't worry, don't worry. at least now I understand what the problem is" Thatch laughed building his stage, Marco groaned finally understanding his plan. He could not escape that nor could he retaliate… After all that would just mean more ribbing for the Whitebeards! Namur and Arin threw suspicious glances on both of them, clearly sniffing a prank.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, yoi" Marco tried to make Thatch combust with his glare, Thatch just laughed at that intimidation try… It was revenge time~
"Of course, you don't~"
√ -√v-√ -√v—
"Welcome back my sons!" Ahh… That was home right there, Pops voice after long term mission "Come and tell us all about your journey!" Thatch grinned at the jolly voice and grabbed Marco's sleeve to make sure he won't escape. It's show time~
"Well Pops, since you asked so nicely…" Thatch halted his speech leadingly… He discreetly took count of those present and smiled mischievously. There was no way for bird-brain to get out of that! "Before we'll start the tales of our adventures I'd like to know if we have protocol on how to deal with royalty. You know, just in case."
"Thatch…" Marco growls at that. Uh oh, luckily Pops is interested. Marco can't get out of that! Thatch smiled impishly at the rest of their family. Their very much interested family.
"Why would we need one, my son?" Oh come on~ Why would Pops be suspicious? That's honest truth! And a little payback in one… Shhh! Honest truth!
"What do you mean why?" Thatch puffed giving his very best to pretend to be offended. "Everyone needs protocol for meeting and spending time with royalty! Especially since we'll lose our oldest brother so soon..." At that on the deck chaos happened. Questions, threats, battle screams… And Pops' suspicious gaze…
"Is Marco okay?!"
"Thatch what are you going on about?" Izou's suspicious question finally quietens their siblings at which Thatch smiles winningly and drags Marco a little closer to him. Right into the spotlight.
"Well it's just not right for The Queen of Pirates to be our first mate" Silence… Complete, utter silence and then…
"Wha…?!"
"The Queen?"
"Hahahaha"
"Gurararara…" Even Pops joined into unrestrained laughter catching on the undercurrents… And Marco's reddish ears "So you found the nominated?"
"Luffy's sweet young girl" Fourth Division Commander confirmed and with faux seriousness added the most important details their visit gave them "with lethal puppy eyes and manipulative streak mile wide"
"Shouldn't queens be wearing proper gowns, my dear brother with slightly better hair?" Vista leaned towards Izou and said just loud enough for Thatch to hear and stiffle his laughter to listen to undoubtedly glorious answer.
"Of course they are, oh brother dearest." Izou closed his paper fan and smiled serenely "Wonder which style will be used at court this time"
"Ugh… Yeah, yeah laugh it up, yoi" Marco growled musing his hair. He even shot the 'you won this round' look to the great Thatch-sama!
"What are our future King's colors, Thatch?" Vista continued his ribbing while turning towards him "We should probably start preparing proper clothes for our Queen" He finished with flourish, tweaking his mustache and twinkling eyes… It was great!
"She was mostly wearing frilly dresses with her straw hat!" Thatch answered blithely and smiled full of accomplishment at another round of laughter at the deck.
"Frilly dresses? Hahahaha"
"Don't underestimate her" Thatch immediately went to warn his family, he didn't even want to think what little, devious Luffy would do with Whitebeard crew on her disposal "that cuteness is a weapon!"
"That bad?" One of his 4th division brothers… Anno yelled out the question. Thatch grimaced and made sure to convey his seriousness.
"She wrapped Marco around her little finger faster than he could blink"
"At least my hairs weren't braided by the end of our stay, yoi" Marco bit out with eyes shining unholy glee… Uhmm… Oops?
"Braids? Hahahaha"
"No more pompadours?!"
"That puppy look is lethal guys. Build your resistance now, before it's too late!" He warned them again hoping against hope that they'd listen to him. He wouldn't be surprised if she'd have Dracule whipped too, she was just that good… And yeah, she was ridiculously adorable
"You just don't want to admit you got wrapped around her little finger too!" Vista smirked down at him and tweaking his mustache again… Pffft… Mustache obsessed prat!
"Well at least I didn't take girl for a flight." He bit back and smirked down at newly annoyed Marco "Enjoyed having teenager ride you, brother dear?" He waggled his eyebrows and smirked again at waves of laughter of his family.
"Thatch…" Cue another growl… Bird brain was so cute thinking he could make him back out now
"What's human custom for that though?" Namur cut in with confusion… Which would be totally believable if not for his shark like grin "Is it still Marco that should give her the ring?" He paused for a second to enjoy Marco's splutters… Great Thatch-sama had to admit to being impressed "Or since she'd be The King then it's her role?"
"Huh… That's actually valid question." Izou murmured thoughtfully with folded fan at his lips and all... "Pops? Do you know how should it be done in this situation?"
"Gurarara…" Old yonko smiled down at his family and grinned fiercely "Politicians would put more of a thought in the relative positions between the pair and make it all into a power play" Thatch had to wince at that, he knew at least few captains, even their own allies who would indeed make proposing and in fact their entire relationship into a power play in that kind of situation… Yonko's officer, Nominee, especially female Nominee… That just begged of accusing her of needing to sleep her way up. Poor Luffy would need to do something absolutely outrageous to be considered something more than just 'Marco's little plaything' by veterans, he looked around, noticed most of his brothers shared that worry now and grimaced a little "But in the end traditionally the man in relationship should always get the ring… Gurarara"
"So we can not bother, then?" Thatch cut in to lift still heavy atmosphere in the room
"Braids, yoi" Whitebeard's oldest son bit out and slipped from his hold. Thatch knew that stance… That was bad, bad stance! That was stance that often ended with him in the ocean!
"Decided already where will the honeymoon be?" Jiru asked 'innocently' making Marco turn around and answer on reflex… And make them all roar with laughter again.
"Away from you all, yoi"
"Oh-ho! So there will be honeymoon!" Rakuyo yelled out triumphally, visibly happy that he finally could join in with them all and tease the oldest (and normally the most responsible) of siblings
"Maybe we should prepare one of our islands" Thatch proposed being one of the first to reel in his laughter
"Izou, do you still have that book on manners and court behaviour from Wano?" Blenheim asked right of the blue, reminding them of the fact that it's 'King's court' they're talking about and making them all crack again
"I'll give it to you after Marco finishes it" Izou declared loftilly, Thatch could just imagine all those etiquette lessons pineapple head will be forced into so Izou will be satisfied with 'his Queen's behaviour'. Poor sap.
"Gurarara… Okay brats enough." Pops voice drew their attention and quietened everyone on deck "Tell us, how is she?" Both Thatch and Marco drew themselves up and exchanged a glance… What to start with?
"She's sneaky yoi." Marco started carefully wording their 'findings' "Cunning and manipulative." And so very, very good at that "She made us think about her as a harmless little girl even with the Hat right next to her"
"That's right." Thatch jumped in to add his few beris "She projected the best innocent aura, I've ever seen. And that was when she was cuffed in sea stone!"
"Sea stone? She's fruit user?" Whitebeard leaned in a little… Thatch didn't even have to think what was it exactly that had his Pops so tangled... Roger didn't use fruit powers, neither does Shanks, did Shanks know that his Nominee is an user? Did he help the Nominee to get the fruit? Or was it recent development?
"Zoan one, yoi." Marco admitted carefully, now that Thatch thought about that… There was something fishy in that. He wasn't the only one to think that either if going by pensieve looks at other Commanders "No idea what kind though. The ears were canine-looking"
"She could be a cat as well though. It'd be in character" Thatch volunteered his own observation before turning to First Division Commander and asking "You think it was rather paramecia?"
"Or mythical, yoi." Phoenix admitted and shrugged "She gave up that information a little too easy after the feet dragging she did when we wanted to find out exactly how good in a fight she was."
"Or what she knew about politics of New World" Thatch added softly… She played them, he had no idea how but she played them "Could it be logia of some kind?"
"Hell, if she was really determined I have no doubts she could even pretend to have devil fruit power and be free from the course, yoi" Here Thatch frowned… yes, she could play them like that, but…
"She elongated her claws in one of the spars. I don't think she played us that badly"
"Isn't it sad that two New World veterans were played by cute, little girl at all?" Izou quipped and immediately raised his hands in universal 'don't shoot' gesture at the twin glares that were send his way.
"How old is she anyway?" One of Pops' nurses asked with interest
"Thirteen, yoi"
"How do you know?" Thatch turned to look at Marco in surprise. Even he didn't know exactly how old Luffy was. That was another impossible to get out of her information.
"I asked Makino, yoi"
"Why was she wearing sea stone even?" Blamenco brought their conversation back to topic, fruit users on board exchanged wary glances at that. Reading those glances Thatch determined that some of them knew about resistance, even less trained themselves to access that point, most were as clueless as Blamenco himself.
"Resistance building, yoi." Marco explained and then turned thoughtful… "Someone told her not only that it's a thing but also that it's something trainable" He mused and Thatch startled… Damn that girl for being able to keep them from drawing all those conclusion while close to her… How did she even do it?!
"Who?" Jozu turned to them, making all Commanders frown. She was in East Blue, right? Who not only had that knowledge but also was ready to share it with her?
"It could be Shanks, but I somehow doubt it" Thatch mused aloud… Damn that girl, seriously. "it had to be someone from Grand Line though. She knows too much for not having somewhat regular information from here." Now that he thought about that... "She recognized Marco's tattoo right from the bat and even knew to threaten us with Garp"
"Could it be Shanks' doing after all?" Vista asked suspiciously… That was indeed to much knowledge for teenager in East Blue. Even people in paradise often times didn't recognise their jolly roger, at least not in stylised form Marco preferred "He should support his Nominee, right?"
"From what people of that village said, Redhairs were there only once, 7 years ago." Thatch shook his head… Where else could she get her information then?
"Hmmm…" Marco's voice brought their attention back to him again "From what she said it seemed like Garp was the one to train her, yoi." Thatch jerked his head up… Bird brain was right. In rather loose definition of train but she did suggest rather heavily that Garp had a hand in her form "Or at least cuff her."
"That's true." He admitted and added grinning evilly "She sounded a tad bitter talking about that"
"I'd be bitter if I'd need to spend my time with Garp The Fist too" Vista quipped making almost everyone on deck shudder… That man was insane!
"What else can you tell us about the brat, my sons?" Pops asked and Thatch perked up… It was a long time since he heard Pops somehow hesitant to call someone a brat.
"She's pretty good swordsmistress for her age." He promptly answered and closed his mouth wondering if he should share his suspicions about her 'Shishou'.
"So every pretty good thirteen year old can land a hit on you, yoi?"
"What?! She's that good?" Vista startled, well no wonder great Thatch-sama was his favourite sparring partner. To know that there was teenager even close to their level had to rattle… It certainly rattled him enough to train more in previous days.
"I at least managed to land a hit on her" He grouched in answer, reveling in memory of frustrated, out-of-practice Marco being danced around by little Lu-chan.
"She has really good technique for using only bokken, yoi"
"She had familiar form" He answered Marco's defence with a little pride soothing.
"How familiar, my son?" Thatch looked up at his Pops and sighed resigned.
"She was using one of Hawkeyes stances" Silence… Absolute silence reigned on the deck while everyone thought about what exactly could that mean.
"Could he be the one to bring her Grand Line information?" Jozu asked and that made both First and Fourth Commanders think on it for a second
"It's possible but somehow it doesn't seem right to me" Thatch answered carefully, with Marco nodding along. That made everyone back off. Intuition was important for New World veterans.
"She was healing pretty fast now that I think about it, yoi"
"As fast as you?" Rakuyo asked making few pirates on deck snort derisively… There was no way some little girl could… right?
"Not that fast" And right when there was collective breath of relief, Thatch cut in
"But faster than zoans I know"
"So that's what she can do, her potential whatever…" Fossa grouched and leveled his less serious brothers with a look, reminding them exactly who did they talk about "What did you think about her?"
"She can do it"
"She will do it, yoi"
"That's not what we want to know" Curiel explained with something akin to smile on severe man's face
"She's... warm yoi." Marco promptly answered and promised with a grin "You'll see for yourselves"
"And she has the biggest crush on Marco!" Thatch almost managed a squeal and looked at Marco evilly… C'mon take the bait...
"Wait, so she'll seriously make Marco her Queen?" Atmos cut into the conversation for the first time. Thatch understood, previously they were only teasing but now that they were reporting… It was serious
"Well there is possibility for her to choose someone from her own crew or another one, but…" Thatch hedged a little… It was a possibility even if he believed Redhair would go entire year sober before that.
"You don't believe it, do you?" Pops looked right at him with a knowing grin.
"She's a D," well… she said she's a D, he didn't think she'd lie about something like that. It was a bit too risky to do so "they don't change their targets."
"True enough"