... yoi?

Elbows are propped up on the bar counter and his hands folded in front of him. Sabo seems to stare at his folded fingers a moment. He can tell from Marco’s tone that they really did care for Ace and it makes him happy. Despite what the ex-commander believed, he deserved to be loved and accepted. Sabo could tell him that every day but He’s quite sure Ace would never believe him. 

Waving down the bartender after a moment, Sabo requests a drink for himself as well. Not alcoholic like Marco’s– he would never risk drinking while on missions. Even if this one technically was completed. “Oh, yeah? We’re around more places than you’d think.” He sends a grin to the other blonde and graciously accepts his drink when it arrives.

All the men in the bar were having a good time, and Sabo can’t help but notice that Marco seems to be watching over all of them. Letting his brothers relax and enjoy themselves while he keeps a watchful eye and a tab on everyone. It’s a lot like how the Rev was on missions with more than one of his associates with him.  

“I just finished a mission here actually. Or– well– as done as I can be until help arrives. We’re following some traffickers and I’ve been led here.” And he was so close too. Sabo even had a suspicion as to where the group they were after had been holed up with their new– cargo. Several shipments from them had already been completed to various nobles but this one– Sabo actually had a chance of stopping, provided his reinforcements arrive on time. The traffickers wouldn’t wait for him to make his move.

The mentioning of being around places, Marco knew that for years he could have come across hundreds of the army without even knowing. They were secretive like that, but it was understandable on with their goal and such. So many faces in his life, he kept track of the ones closest to him and now burning Sabo’s face to memory as a reminder of not only the Chief, but of Ace’s other brother. This man is important to Ace and now important to him, like as Luffy is and knows if he ever came across Luffy, Marco would greet him in open arms.

“Traffickers?” The word brings a burning in Marco, knowing well enough those people are cruel and sadistic beings that need to be stopped. Some of his brothers had been caught up in that, along with people they have saved from being sold off. It’s a big deal and he grasps the top of his glass with a glance. “On this island, yoi?” The curiosity is brimming, but he tries to keep it down as he doesn’t want to give way to his mind.

A Shipping meme for muse told by the mun

Yes still accepting as I only got one xD

🍰- What does your muses kisses taste like

Sunshine and rainbows! Just kidding~! Most likely coffee or fruits! He snacks on fruits often (his brothers putting a small platter down to keep him eating while working) so I wouldn’t doubt that’s the taste his s/o would find!

💌- Would your muse write a love letter

He could, though Marco is very lazy when it comes to writing when it’s not work related. But, he would do it on occasion and as loving as he can because his s/o is worth the effort.

💘- What is your muse like in ships

But– that’s not it.  Ace struggled to find the right words, but all that formed (and died) on his lips were jst similar exclamations wanting to be heard: It’s not that. He had never felt so at home before, so safe and loved as he did among Whitebeard and his fleet. That loyalty and devotion had spurred a bitter reaction in the wake of Thatch’s death, and his own folly had triggered the war and all those deaths. Some may argue that they had made their decisions on their own, as they were allowed to, to fight and die for the sake of rescuing Ace from execution.. but he still found it hard to believe he was worth the effort. 

“That’s… not true, at all.” Well, he had to say something. A resigned sigh left his lips finally, shoulders slumping. “They want me back so bad.. I can’t stop anywhere for too long, sometimes. I remember what they said when I was on the execution scaffold…” Whitebeard had made it difficult for the Marines to get their hands on Ace. 

But Whitebeard wasn’t here now. 

“You and everyone else did so much for me back then. I don’t want to see anyone else get hurt,” or killed, “because of me. I can’t let that happen again, Marco.”

The reply of not being true burns, and listening to that all as Ace can’t look to him hurts more than he can even describe. Marco only gives the attention that Ace needs, to understand that he would be here whenever he needed someone and many others would be too. Though, not many others would be so calm and collect to what is told. 

The family would be festered with how they would take him back in a heartbeat, harbor him with no issue and keep Ace safe. Say how they couldn’t stay long in one place for long either even as the marines know Ace is no longer with them. It would have the strain to almost pleas to get Ace back to the ship and have him safely with the family.

But Marco wouldn’t...

“Don’t read the newspaper any time soon if you don’t want to see the family hurt, yoi...” The statement is brought with a slight shifting to glance back to see if the family had made inward to deeper stores. He knew that Ace wouldn’t want anyone else of the family to see him, it was apparent he probably didn’t want him to see him either. “We have to cross into... Blackbeard’s territory to get to another island and no doubt will find a fight.” The response does not come out harsh, keeping his tone light and informative at the aching truth.

The revolutionary is nearly unseen as he slips past people in his cloak. His mission on this island is already done, however– he can’t help but stick around after hearing some whispers of the remnants of a certain pirate crew around. It doesn’t take much to find out where they are, not for him at least. And from how the villager made it sound, they were just taking some time off.

He also can’t help but wonder if Ace has had a chance to speak to them yet or if he was just avoiding them. There’s only one way to find out.

Sabo slips past the drinking pirates and makes his way over to the counter where the blonde he was looking for is seated. Taking a seat next to him, Sabo pushes back the hood of his cloak and gives the man a gentle smile. “You’re Marco the Phoenix, right?” It’s only right– to thank those who saved Ace when he’d been first setting sail and finding his way on the sea. Whitebeard wasn’t around anymore so that thanks would fall to his first mate then.

“I wanted to thank you. For taking care of Ace and giving him a home.” The rest of the revolutionary’s cloak is shrugged off and placed on the bar table. “I’m Sabo, of the Revolutionary Army. As well as his and Strawhat Luffy’s brother.”

Noticing the cloak figure enter the bar, Marco is on track to keep eye as he is just protective of his family. When the individual slips through to the counter, he goes back to drink his whiskey--silently wishing it would give him a buzz when he needed it most. Though, as the person sat next to him, pushing the hood back, he is met with a blond man that gives a smile. 

“Yes, though I would be surprised if you didn’t recognize me.” Marco replies as he takes another drink, honestly not wanting to think of his new position ever since that day they had to bury his father. 

The words bring an ache, eyes closing as he hopes his pain of losing a brother wasn’t noticeable on his stoic face. Pulling his drink away, “of course, yoi. We will always have open arms for him.” The clarification shows deep meaning to it, not wanting to push Ace to return when he needed time. “It’s a pleasure to meet the other brother,” a nod lingers with glass up.

The bar is overflowing with his brothers and some of the nurses that are off for the night to enjoy the town. There is plenty of places to drink and sneak off to an inn, though that was more something Marco would merely keep track of who would disappear with a lady into the night. He would sure to keep note so everyone would be accounted for in the morning, his memory quite impeccable on names and faces.

Drinking slow, shimmering azure eyes take in the rowdy place and keeping to the corner. Being here didn’t draw any attention, most times liking the peace to enjoy a drink while also aware of his brothers safety. If most knew that was the reason, they would complain that Marco should be having fun on his night off instead of worrying over them.

A light chuckle leaves him at the thought of how it was hard to not worry about what chaos they could create--and the multiple bar fights he has stopped or kicked out.

With a nervous half-smile on his face, Ace shifted his gaze away from Marco again. What had he honestly expected in a reaction though? Outrage, betrayal, yelling, maybe fighting? That was the anxiety talking. An apology stumbles from his lips almost immediately after the greeting from Marco. 

“I’m sorry.”

He had abandoned them in his grief, even if he had his own reasons for doing so. They all still deserved an apology, but Marco especially. Ace had been whisked away before their old man met his end, so he didn’t see it… but he knows that Marco had. He had heard about the Payback War, as they were calling it, from the mouths and whispers of passers-by on his travels. 

His own anger for Teach still burned stronger than anything else, made only that much worse when he heard about the defeat. 

“I’m sorry that I wasn’t there for you when you needed it.”

In honesty, Marco would have been surprised if he kept his gaze in this type of situation. There was so much going on, him knowing just from their side but also Ace’s side. He wouldn’t try to put things together on what is going through Ace’s mind, but he does have a ridiculous hope that Ace would come back one day. Come back to the family and help it to feel a little more together than it was before.

The apology ached, his mouth pursing before giving a shaky breath and pulling his reassuring smile. “It’s not your fault, Ace. We all need time to heal...” The explanation is brought heavily, knowing he hasn’t healed himself after losing their Pops. Being the first of the crew and by the stubborn man through the years and there for each brother joining... it was hard to try to overcome the lose, even just a little bit.

Marco knew he looked older, all the stress within just a couple years had brought him on edge that even his phoenix couldn’t do much. If he was an eternal bird, he wasn’t sure how long he would allow the eternal to be honest--even with new recruits that are helping to try and be a part of the family. It’s good to see the others making a stronger recovery, especially after the revenge filled war that he knows even some of his brothers blame Marco for losing more of their family.

Who was he kidding, it was Marco’s fault as Captain to allow such rushed intentions even after the overwhelming vote by the crew.

“No, I’m sorry we couldn’t rise to give you the sense of safety from the world, yoi.” He says, meaning every word as he knew how hard it could be--wanted so hurriedly. They had raised Marco’s bounty and were heavily after him to ‘stop Whitebeard’s reign’ as he is the one to keep the family still standing--and he knows it.

A Shipping meme for muse told by the mun

Still Accepting

🎁- Is your muse picky about gifts

No, he likes anything that is thought out and just for him, but you can totally win him over with something shiny!

💕- How affectionate is your muse

Super affectionate. Either way, he loves giving attention to his loved one especially when alone.

💋- How good is your muse at kissing

All around? It was a bad situation. 

Ace understood that many of his brothers and sister would be upset with him for not going back. How could he, though? Everything he did, everything he put them through after he had run off to chase Teach right up to when they had come to rescue him– How could he ever look them in the eyes again, after they had lost so much? 

He.. wasn’t worth it. 

When he glanced back around, he saw him.. there, just there all of a sudden, like nothing had happened… Ace wanted to run up to him like old times, wanted to go back home where familiar faces awaited. But, it was not the same there. His savior was gone, buried beneath after putting his life on the line so that Ace could live his. The Moby Dick was gone, sunk in the battle. 

His heart ached terribly with the memories as they came flooding back in.  But, Ace doesn’t run away either. 

I feel like I’ll lose something important. 

He can’t just go back with them, but… He wouldn’t pass up this opportunity either. With a heavy beating heart and a shortness of breath from the pressure in his chest, he finally pulled himself away from the building and approached with a brown gaze shifted away, trying to avoid eye-contact until he was right there by him. 

“Hey, Marco…” What can someone even say, after being away for so long? After what they had been through? He suddenly found himself at a loss for words, with a lump in his throat and his stomach in knots. 

Approaching where the figure had gone, they soon come out and it almost brings Marco to a complete stop at the sight. Taking in Ace, seeing him alive and standing with no visible injury brings a washing relief. He had always worried about Ace, any big brother would, and just seeing him was a tugging of emotions for how he wants to feel. Though, it stands out most that he was happy to see Ace standing and not... dead.

As he is approaching, Marco keeps his steps slow as he is not sure if the other did want to talk to him or try to avoid and get away. The avoidance of contact hurts, though Marco could understand on why for multiple reasons that probably range around losing Pops and Thatch. No one felt right after all that, but the crew felt a little heavier when Ace never came back to them.

As those brown eyes meet him, it brings an ache and those in greeting seem like something one should start with. Marco feels, though, a small smile spread along lips as he gazes to someone he would always consider as a brother.

“Hey there, Ace... It’s good to see you well, yoi.” The words fall from him, but his throat tightens right after as he hopes that Ace was okay with this.