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Marco stood out on deck when Benn came out on deck, and looked at Ace, having gone inside as he got a call. "Ace, could I borrow you for a minute?" Ace blinked, but nodded and went with him, and Marco also joined. He knew he would be asked to leave if he wasn't welcomed. When they were alone, Ace hummed. "What is it, Benn?" Benn hummed. "I spoke with Daisuke and Moira, and was told, you should go speak with Jormungandr. He might have a tip on how you can get your arm back. Or maybe not. But it might be worth a shot. And to bring Marco. I am not sure if they know something or not, but you should try." Ace blinked. "What? How?" Benn shook his head. "I don't know. But I was told to tell you this, and I think you should go."
Ace nodded a bit, seeming to be in thought, before he spoke. "We can head there, it is no harm, and I haven't seen him in a bit." Ace then looked at him. "What do you say? Would you like to join?" Marco nodded and smiled. "I would love to, yoi." Ace nodded, and they decided to leave right away, telling Pops they would be back soon. Then they left, heading to a cliffside by the ocean, and Ace looked at him. "Ready?" Marco nodded and Ace moved to take a deep breath, before he gave a loud roar, probably to get Jormungandr's attention.
It didn't take long before the serpent came up, and Ace hummed, before he spoke serpent, and Marco didn't understand it for some reason, and looked at Ace in confusion, so Ace hummed. "I asked if he knew anything on how I can get my arm back after I lost it. And to not speak in riddles." Marco nodded and Jormungandr spoke again after using a few seconds to think. "The phoenix has healing powers, combining the two might be wise." Both blinked, and Marco spoke. "How, yoi?" Jormungandr spoke. "Coat your hand with fire and caress the area. It might not work, but it's worth a shot. A phoenix has a great healing ability that can help others heal." That was news to him, and seemed to be to Ace as well, who spoke serpent again, Jormungandr moved his head a bit, which he felt might be a nod of sorts maybe. "They are fine, Yuki is very kind." Marco got Ace asked about Yuki and Jinn.
Marco then looked at the serpent. "How often should I use my powers to help it heal, yoi?" Jormungandr answered it. "Every evening, when the moon is high, before sleep." Both he and Ace nodded and Ace looked at him. "We should try it." Ace smiled. "Yeah, we should." Ace then looked at the serpent and spoke septent, and Jormungandr moved down in the water again, and Ace looked a thim with a smile. "I thanked him. He doesn't really do small talk with others." Marco nodded. "He seems kind, yoi." Ace smiled. "He is. And he does like you. We should visit him more. So he could warm up to you." Marco didn't know how he felt about it, but it also sounded interesting. "We can try, yoi. But now, let us focus on your arm." Ace nodded. "Yeah."
They then left again and headed back to the boat and when asked if they found a solution, they said they needed to wait and see, and everyone accepted it, which was good. Then the day went on and Shanks had some more small tips for Ace, like how to wield a sword well now and that his center of gravity would be a bit off than normal, and Ace blinked, before he tried to do some acrobatics and did now notice it was harder than usual since his center of gravity was off, and Ace would practice on it, but also said he wanted to wait and see if he could recover his arm.
When evening came, they sat in bed, and Marco moved his hand up and coated it in fire, and Ace held out his stump, and Marco carefully caressed it, doing it for a minute, before he moved his hand away, looking at Ace. "How did that feel, yoi?" Ace smiled. "Nice. But I don't feel any different. But I guess we'll know tomorrow." Marco nodded, and they then went to sleep, Ace falling asleep first, before Marco soon followed after.
-x-
Ace woke up and stretched a bit, before he moved to get out of bed, but when he saw his stub, he blinked and moved it up, and Ace felt speechless. He now had about 5 inches after his elbow. Ace gave a breathless laugh, before he moved his hand to Marco's shoulder and woke him. "Marco! Wake up!" Marco woke up. "What is it, yoi?" Ace moved and showed his hand, and Marco blinked. "It… worked, yoi!" Ace nodded. "It did! I will get my arm back!" Ace smiled at Marco and hugged him. "It worked!" Marco hugged back. "It did, yoi." Ace felt so happy right now! He would get his arm back!
They then got up and when others saw the arm and asked if it had started to regrow, Ace said yes, and it made everyone happy. When asked how, Ace smiled at Marco and said his powers helped enhance his healing powers, and it had everyone happy on his behalf. And Ace was as well. He felt glad he would get his arm back. When Shanks and Benn saw, Benn smiled and Shanks hummed. "I guess I'll lose my one arm buddy then." Ace nodded. "You will, but if you'd like, I can make you a one arm buddy, pick your choice." Shanks hummed. "But I also like to stand out, so it is okay." Ace chuckled. "Yeah. But thank you, Shanks. For doing your best to help me." Shanks smiled. "No problem, kiddo." Ace smiled and walked over. "One last ghost arm shake?" Shanks smiled. "I would like that."
Ace nodded a bit and moved to stand in front of Shanks and moved his stump a bit, and Shanks smiled. It was obvious they just shook their ghost hands, and when done, Ace smiled. "Now that we have shook hands, let's get on with this day." Shanks smiled. "Thank you, kiddo. I am glad you will get your arm back, and no matter what, I will always be here for you." Ace nodded. "I know, and I am grateful for this. That you stepped up, I needed it." Shanks nodded. "Yeah, it is an adjustment. But one does get used to it. But God, I still hate knives." Ace chuckled. "I can see it, having one arm would make that happen. But you are doing good, and if needed, if I lose it again, I know who to call." Shanks nodded. "Sounds good."
Then the day went on, and Ace was really grateful for Shanks' help, and he really hoped Shanks got that. Benn seemed to get it as well. And he was sure that if Shanks thought Ace didn't appreciate this help, Benn would set him straight. Benn and Shanks also left, as things would be fine with Ace's arm. When night came, Marco coated his hand with fire again and caressed his arm, and he hoped it would just be another day or two and he would have his full arm again. When he woke up the next day, he had his arm until his wrist, and Ace felt so happy, he would get his arm back. Bay also did mention he should drop by when he had his full arm so they could do some tests, as this was astonishing, and it was.
-x-
The next day, when Marco woke up, Ace was up and when he sat up, Ace turned to look at him and showed off he had his full arm now, which was good. So they went to the infirmary, Luffy and Sabo also joining as they were up, as Ace had slept a bit and the clock was 8am now, but then again, they hadn't gone to sleep before 5am, being up late. When they got to the infirmary, Bay did some standard tests, and he did notice Ace seeming a bit off, but he would take it after. When Bay was done, Bay hummed. "All looks good. How does it feel?"
Ace looked at his hand and clenched his hand, but had a sort of disquiet look on his face as he looked at his hand that he moved a bit and clenched it again. Sabo looked at Ace. "What is it? Does it still hurt?" Ace shook his head a bit. "No. But… it doesn't feel like my hand." Sabo blinked. "What do you mean?" Ace shook his head a bit. "I don't know. It just feels… odd and like it is not mine. I can control it, but something feels off. I first thought it was since it just regrew, but it is still there…" That didn't sound good.
Luffy then moved over to Ace and moved Ace's left hand to his cheek as Luffy spoke. "Do you feel this warmth?" Ace blinked, but nodded. "I do." That made Luffy smile. "Then it is your hand, because it can feel our brotherly bond." Ace blinked, before he gave a soft smile and cupped Luffy's cheek. "You're right, Lu." Ace then leaned his head against Luffy's. "Nothing will ever sever that bond." Luffy nodded. "Yeah." It seemed to help Ace's mood, which was good. And he hoped it was a feeling that would pass.
The day then went on, and when they had eaten lunch, He did notice Trevor talking with Ace, before the two headed off to somewhere, and he wondered where, but he would ask Ace later. Then Luffy and Sabo stayed a bit, and after Ace and Trevor got back, Luffy mentioned he should probably get back to training, and Ace did say it was okay, but he could stay if he wished. But both Sabo and Luffy said they should get back, so Ace took them back to train, but would visit them, which was fine.
-x-
Trevor moved to Ace, and asked to speak with him, so they moved a bit to the side, and Ace asked what he wanted, Trevor gave a breath. "I am not sure. I just, I don't really know what to do with Saint Charlos. I want him to suffer. But I feel every idea I have is… not good enough." Ace hummed. "I want to show you something, and you can't tell anyone." Trevor blinked, but nodded. "Okay? What?" Ace chuckled and said he would see, so they headed off, using Ace's powers, and they were someplace he didn't know where they were, by a house, and they headed inside and he smelled something, like blood in the air. Then they walked to a room, Ace showing the way, and Ace opened the door and Trevor felt shocked.
Trevor blinked as he walked into the room, taking the scene in. A bit in the back of the room, sat a man, chained to a chair. His front, as in his torso, was cut open and ribs removed, his intestines hanging around the room like Christmas decor. His heart was a bit out of his body, same with other organs. Being stretched as far out as possible. He walked over to the man, in awe, and the man opened his mouth to speak, but his tongue was half missing, being first split in half then one side removed. He had some cuts on his body and he had some things stuck under the few nails he had left. Only a weak sound left the man.
Ace hummed. "Meet Van Augur. He was the one who shot me when Davy saved me, and he also shot Marco, the reason he is kept here." Trevor nodded. "How long?" Ace hummed. "What is it now, Augur? A month? Two? You've been such a good guinea pig." Trevor blinked. "How is he even alive still?" Ace hummed. "Got some nurses checking on him, he is hooked onto antibiotics to keep infections at bay." Ace then walked over and moved a hand to his heart, poking it with a needle of sorts, not enough to poke a hole, but enough for Van Augur to whimper. Ace hummed. "I like to see how long he can take it."
Ace then moved to show a small shelf with doors and Ace opened it. "Here we have adrenaline, in case his heart stops, so it can restart. Should he flatline, the nurses will be alerted. And only I, Moira, and the nurses know about him. If you'd like, we can place Saint Charlos here as well. I wouldn't mind more guinea pigs, and poor little Van Augur could use a friend. Isn't that right?" And Ace moved over and squeezed his liver a bit, which had Van Augur nod with a whimper. Ace hummed. "I trained you well." Van Augur strained, before he got some words out. "Kill… me…" Ace hummed and moved and clapped Van Augur on his cheek. "Not just yet. You see, you shot Marco, almost killed him. You're not going to die before I say so." Ace gave a sweet smile. "So, enjoy. And maybe you'll get a friend."
They then left and Van Augur tried to say something else, but they didn't care and left. When outside, Trevor looked at Ace. "I may want to put him there, but give me a day to think." Ace nodded. "Think all you need. And why not just say yes?" Trevor hummed. "This feels like your thing, and I don't want to impose." Ace smiled at Trevor. "It does feel good to have him there. And if I get mad, I have an outlet here. But I also want him to suffer in silence. The nurses also are not allowed to speak with him." Trevor nodded. "You need this. With Saint Charlos, I will figure something out if I don't put him here." Ace nodded. "I am sure you will." Trevor nodded, and he would think of something to do with Saint Charlos, if not, he would join this Van Augur.
Then they went back to the boat and continued their day.
-x-
The next night, Marco felt out of breath as Ace moved to lie down next to him, also somewhat out of breath. Ace then gave a small chuckle as he moved to lie on his stomach and looked at him. "This was nice." Marco gave a chuckle himself. "That's one way to say it, yoi." Ace chuckled and moved a hand to Marco's chest. "You know, you're surprisingly…. hairless. You know, for being old." Marco gave an odd look to Ace. "You are as well, yoi. Not for being old, but for being male." Ace gave an odd look back. "Hey, I shave and use my powers to be hairless. I can't have a lot of hair on my body, I like how I look now and I sometimes need to be Ann." Marco chuckled. "Fine, good excuse. I am fire though, yoi." Ace hummed. "You're fire is more… cold rather than hot." Marco hummed. "True. You know my powers so well, yoi." Ace chuckled. "I know. But I know Jormi, and he knew the one who previously had your powers." That was true.
They then just enjoyed the moment for a bit, before Ace spoke. "Buttercup." Marco blinked and looked at Ace. "What?" Ace looked at him. "Something Trevor said. Stupid, but who knows. He said everyone should have this one word, an odd word, which means stop or that something is wrong, a safeword. Mine is buttercup." Marco blinked, he got the idea, but why that word? "Why-" Ace cut him off. "Don't ask me why I chose buttercup." Marco chuckled. "Okay, yoi. I will not ask. But my word will also be buttercup. I like the ring of it." Ace looked at him. "Are you mocking me?" Marco looked at Ace with a smile. "I would never."
Ace smiled back at him. "You are so bad at lying, Marco." Marco hummed. "Maybe. But still, I will stick to buttercup. And should I ever hear it, I will stop what I am doing and ask you if you are okay, or run to your rescue and ask if you are okay, yoi." Ace gave an odd look. "To my rescue? Are you my knight in shining armor?" Marco shook his head. "No, I am your hairless shining husband, yoi." Ace hummed as he leaned closer. "And I wouldn't have it any different." Then they kissed, and it felt perfect. And he would forever remember the word buttercup. Hoping he never heard it.
And that's the chapter, hope you enjoyed!
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