#whitebeansoup

Apparently along with losing the proper use of my limbs I had also lost my sense of time. After a few minutes of me and Izou looking at myself in the mirror he put his gloves back on and hoisted me up into his arms, taking me out of his room down to the main deck. Unlike Marco, however, he didn't forget that Stefan was waiting at the door. 

He paused for a moment, giving the pup a second to take in my new appearance before Izou nudged him to the side with his foot, which Stefan tried to bite, and walked past him and down the stairs onto the deck. But the second we got there my jaw dropped yet again.  

The sky was pitch black, the cold evening air making me shiver, goosebumps spreading from my arms to my chest and neck. Just how long had we been upstairs? It couldn't have been this long. 

But I didn't get to dwell too long on it when my body curled in on itself, as best it could while izou held me, from the crisp air. The dress was nice and flowy so it didn't do much when it came to keeping me warm but I was thankful that it covers my legs and feet, but it was also a thin fabric so it didn't protect my already damaged skin from the breeze as much as I would like. I started to understand what Izou meant when he said I wouldn't be able to retain my own body heat. 

I looked around the deck as Izou walked in the direction of the galley. But when we passed one of the massive masts my body seemed to get a lot colder as I quickly realized we wouldn't be having this meeting inside, dread settling in the pit of my stomach. 

There on the deck was a bunch of large tables that had been pushed together with several lanterns lining the tables that already had food and place settings on it. 

Some of the commanders were already at the table, Ace and Marco among them and several others that I didn't recognise. 

As Izou got closer Ace noticed us, propelling himself upwards on a pillar of fire making me yelp. He easily got a good twenty feet in the air before landing in front of us with an ease that can only be achieved through practice. Made me wonder how many times he got it wrong before finally being able to land on his feet.

He held his arms out, opening his mouth to speak only to freeze in place, his smile disappearing just as fast as it came. I waited for a few seconds for him to say something but he just stood there… staring… aggressively. 

It felt like a good few minutes but only could have been seconds of him just standing there with his mouth open like a fish out of water before I looked down at my bandaged hands to break the intense eye contact. I burrowed into Izou a little as if it would hide me from Ace’s intense gaze, my fingers fiddling with each other. My cheeks got warm the longer he stared despite how cold I was. 

I knew I looked ridiculous in this dress. It was too nice of a dress for someone like me to wear especially when I was all wrapped up in bandages like a mummy. I heard Izou taking in a breath getting ready to say something to Ace but he was beaten to it by Marco who had walked over without me realizing until he smacked Ace upside the head making Ace yell out in pain while catching his hat that had been knocked off.

“What the hell Marco!?”

Ace looked back to glare at Marco, rubbing the back of his sore head as he placed his orange hat around his neck with the red beaded necklace.

“You're making her self conscious, you dumbass. Say something.”

Ace stopped glaring at Marco, his head whipping back to face me with a look of worry plastered on his face. His warm eyes full of regret.

“Oh, no, Firefly. That's not it. You look amazing, took the breath right out of my lungs!”

I looked up at him through my lashes. I knew he was being genuine. Honestly, I didn't think he could be anything but honest. He always seemed to blurt out and do the first thing that popped into his head. But I still had trouble believing him.

It would seem my own doubts were not well hidden because Ace’s face seemed to drop even more. I could feel Marcos' presents behind me before I felt his warm hands on my shoulders. I couldn't understand how he was so warm when it was so cold. Even Izou seemed nice and toasty and I knew Aces was, He was made of fire, the lucky bastard. 

His fingers squeezed my shoulders a few times, massaging my tense muscles. He leaned down so his lips brushed my ear, something I've learned he likes to do a lot.

“He’s right, Little Bird. Even if ‘Amazing’ is an understatement.”

He kissed my cheek before standing up straight as Ace’s worried look turned to one of annoyance, standing up straight to try and meet Marcos height.

“Hey—!!”

Ace clearly had something to say but one look from Marco was enough to shut him up. Ace rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed but didn't say anything. 

“Come on, Thatch is almost done getting all the food set up.”

Marco started to make his way back to the long table, joining his fellow commanders. Some of whom were staring at us while most were busy chatting and already drinking.

When Izou didn't start to walk over to the table after a few idle seconds I looked up at him only to find him staring at me with a pinched expression, his eyebrows knitted together and a frown on his painted lips. But as I opened my mouth to ask him what was wrong, my self consciousness surfacing again, he beat me to it and looked back up to Ace.

“You should hold her tonight. It's too cold for her in this weather.”

Ace's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates, almost wider than the smile on his lips that I was worried would tear his cheeks as he came close so Izou could safely transfer me into his arms. 

The second I was in Ace's arms I couldn't help the sigh of relief slipping from my lips from the change of temperature. Ace was like a living furnace. It felt like my body was defrosting just from being in his arms. My muscles relaxing immediately and my eyelids close as I soak in all his heat. I felt like putty in his arms as I nuzzled my icy nose into the crook of his neck. 

I felt Ace's chest rumble with his chuckle as he watched me snuggle into him. Normally I'd be embarrassed and mortified by my own actions but right now I couldn't find it in me to care. If they were all touchy I didn't see the harm in getting all touchy with them, besides with all the affection they have been giving me I couldn't help but relax around them. And Ace didn't seem to mind at all as tilted his head down so his cheek rested on the top of my head. 

“Jeez, you feel like an ice cube. Feel better, Firefly?”

I nodded not wanting to say anything. I was so comfortable I could fall asleep right here. 

I heard Izou chuckling before I felt his gloved hand on my cheek, tilting my face towards him while encouraging me to open my eyes. 

“Come on Little Flower, we can't have you falling asleep now.”

 Ace nodded in agreement.

“Yeah, besides you have to meet a few of the other commanders.”

Ace abruptly turned, surprising me and Izou as he started to walk to the table.

“Not everyone is here. Some of them are out on missions but you'll be able to meet most of them.”

Once Ace got to the table he sat beside Marco who was on Aces’ right and at the head of the table, and who I had my back turned to as Ace adjusted me to sit sideways on his lap, and Izou walked over and sat a ways down the table from us. They all seemed to be sitting in order of their divisions. Nine people were sitting at the table in total, so assuming everyone was here there would be ten commanders since Thatch isn't here yet. 

The silence hung heavy in the air as they all stared at me, their previous chatter quieting the second Ace sat down. I was comforted by the fact that none of their stares had any animosity. Some eyes were wide with their mouths hanging open, some were just looking intensely waiting for something to be said, much like myself, but a few were just smiling kindly. The one sitting across from me and Ace being one of them. 

He was incredibly tall, a darker skin complexion with black hair with tight muscles and incredibly wide shoulders to match, though for the most part that seemed to be a requirement to be a commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. Everyone at the table, aside from myself and one other, was massive and clearly had muscles to rival Greek gods. The closest to my size being Ace and one other commander who was a little shorter than me seemed to be dressed as a medieval nobleman. He had the most mischievous look on his face as he stared at me with big blue eyes that were framed by light brown cropped hair. By his place on the table beside Izou he was one of the lower ranking commanders but much like everyone at the table, even everyone on this ship, were all stronger than me by a lot. 

After a few seconds of everyone staring at me and me taking a glance at a few commanders, Thatch came bursting in from the galley with a few other chefs from his division holding plates of even more food. 

“All right! That's the last of it.”

They all place the food down, everyone's eyes leaving me to look at the mouth watering spread of food. Thatch took a seat on Ace’s left side, turning to tell him something but he got distracted by me.

“Hey, Buttercup! Didn't see ya there.”

He throws an arm around Ace pulling him closer, hence pulling me closer along with him, my feet now resting on Thatch’s lap. He seemed to notice the nervous look on my face, but to be fair, who wouldn't be nervous while being surrounded by some of the strongest pirates on the sea. 

Thatch takes a look around, noticing my nervous eyes shooting around from person to person sitting at the table when I did not respond to him.

“No worries, Buttercup, as scary as they look I promise they're all already smitten with you. Even Fossa.”

His thumb shoots over to the massive harsh looking man sitting across the table from Izou. A burning cigar pinch between his teeth. His face was harsh and looked unkind and intimidating but the look in his eyes was soft enough as he lightheartedly scoffed at Thatch’s words but didn't bother with any of his own. 

Everyone at the table seemed to laugh at his reaction, some throwing in a few jabs at the man but Fossa just glared at them all. 

Marco cleared his throat and silence blanketed over the table, everyone focusing on him.

“All right everyone enough of that. We all know why we are here but let me reiterate. As you all know we are here to welcome (Y/N) to our family, she'll be staying with a few of the commanders on a regular basis while she heals...”

Everyone's eyes shot back to me, most giving me small smiles or encouraging looks.

“And secondly we will have our commanders meeting since enough of us are here as well as to prepare for the next docking.”

My eyes go wide. A commander's meeting? I shouldn't be here. I'm a civilian, and I'm here temporarily. Anything said between them when it comes to their work or running the ship should not be heard by my ears.

I look up at Ace, my body starting to shiver from the cold sweats that had developed from my nervousness. 

I tapped one of his arms that was wrapped snugly around my waist, trying to get his attention quietly while he listened to Marco who had already started talking about what will be needed at the next port they stop at, who will be assigned what and how it would all work. And while general stocking up wasn't confidential information I imagine there will be other topics of conversation that someone like me should not be hearing. 

Ace looked down at me, holding me a little tighter as he warmed himself a little more, noticing my shivering. 

“What's up, Firefly?”

He whispered softly with his lips leaning down to the shell of my ear, his hot breath that smelled like cinnamon wafting over my cheek, so as not to interrupt but I could see Thatch’s eyes zero in on me and Ace.

I leaned up as much as I could to whisper in his ear with a little help from Ace’s other arm that was on my back, giving me a little boost, while I tried to be as discreet as possible, luckily only Thatch was paying attention to us as far as I could tell.

“I shouldn't be here.”

Ace scoffed, a little too loud for my taste as he got the attention of a few of his fellow commanders but it was just a cursory glance before focusing on Marco and his long list of ‘to do’s’

“You're fine, Firefly. It's just a few things to go over for the next time we dock, nothing for you to be making a fuss over.”

I felt my cheeks getting a little flushed, I felt like a child being chastised. Deep down some part of me knew that if there was anything that was going to be discussed that I shouldn't hear I wouldn't have been brought here, but still. It felt wrong. Like a private conversation one might overhear at a cafe and all of a sudden you knew something about your neighbors personal lives that you shouldn't. 

But with Ace’s reassurance, if you could call it that, I put my head down and stayed quiet till I felt Ace’s lips near my ear again.

“You don't need to look so worried, we have mini meetings like this every now and again before we have a meal together and just catch up. It's just called something as official as ‘the commanders meeting’ because we are all commanders. Especially when we are about to dock, such a big ship like the Moby needs to have all of its commanders to be on the same page, especially when it comes to getting supplies. One slip up can lead to a whole lot of mess.”

Ace looked over to Thatch before snickering a bit.

“Once, Thatch didn't confirm who was buying potatoes before one of our longest voyages, so almost everyone in the fourth division had bought several pounds. We had bought the entire island's worth of potatoes and no one had noticed till we were already set sail. Thatch was beside himself, and he hates wasting food so he was determined to cook them all. I didn't know you could cook potatoes so many different ways but after a good month and a half we all got really tired of them. Even now some of the crew can't look at a potato without heaving."

I couldn't help but laugh, doing my best to keep it down so as not to interrupt or draw any attention to myself. I got a few glances but other than that the focus stayed on Marco. Aside from Thatch, he currently had his palm to his forehead in what looked like shame. 

As Marco continued on I took the chance to snuggle into Ace a little more, to the point that if I went any deeper I'd be absorbed into his skin, soaking up as much of his warmth I could trying to relax with his reassurance. The dark clouds that had descended earlier when me and Marco had left Whitebeard's cabin still present, the cold wind still accompanying it. 

I looked around the ship and out to the open sea while drowning out Marco’s smooth voice. The waves weren't all that calm but when were they ever? And besides, the ship was big enough that it really didn’t affect the ship, the food that covered the table not moving an inch despite the waves. 

I found myself getting lost in the darkness of the deep sea, I couldn't see much but with all the lamps surrounding the tables it was just enough to see the waves surrounding the ship before it all faded into the darkness of the night, but it was still enough. Enough to be hypnotized by their motion. 

I knew the sea was a cruel place to be but I couldn't help but find it so calming despite knowing the dangers that it held. The strong motions that I would usually be uncomfortable with on any other ship soothed my mind, my pain seeming less prominent. But I knew It was most likely because of the pain meds izou had given me but it was still nice to have something so hypnotic to take my mind off of my own thoughts. 

I adjusted my head so it was on Ace's shoulder, my cold ear and cheek tingling with pins and needles as it warmed up. I could have sworn I felt Ace shiver a little before he brought the hand that was wrapped around my waist up to my other ear, cupping it in his palm. With Ace’s warm hand on my head, Marco's calm, steady voice that was a little more muffled because of Ace's hand and the waves softly rocking the ship all combined with the pain meds finally giving me some relief I took the chance to close my eyes to enjoy the calm atmosphere. I couldn't remember a time when I felt this relaxed. It felt nice to not have to worry about anything but myself. 

I don't know how long I had been spacing out, almost asleep, but it didn't feel like two long before Ace gave me a few nudges. 

“You awake, Firefly?”

I opened my eyes again, the meeting must have concluded because everyone was chatting, drinking and eating. Two plates full of amazing food in front of me and Ace. I couldn't help but practically drool over the food. The plate I assumed was mine was a little different from everyone else’s. It was well balanced. It had mostly vegetables and protein. There was a nice lettuce salad and some steamed green beans along with what I assumed was sliced roast beef that was in small little pieces and mashed potatoes and a nice slice of cornbread. I looked up at Ace whose eyes were on me along with Thatch's while all the others seemed to be enjoying themselves. It was nice that the other commanders just carried on as normal instead of focusing on me. Having Ace, Marco Thatch and Izou  focus on me was more than enough. 

“Yeah, I think the pain meds are just doing their thing.”

“It kicked in fast, that's good.”

I turned my head to look at Marco who was also paying attention to me, making my neck stretch a little too much so I could properly look him in the eyes.  

“It means I gave you the right dose, I wasn't too sure.”

I looked at him with a confused face.

“What do you mean?”

“Well there are a lot of factors that go into prescribing different medications. Age, gender, height, weight, allergies, all kinds of things. But because you're a little underweight right now I wasn't too sure what kind of meds to give you. For example, the kind of pain meds I would give you compared to what I would give Jozu...”

Marco gestured towards the tall man across from me and Ace who paused eating to shoot us a smile before Marco continued. 

“... are very different. I’m used to male patients with unusual sizes, not small little birds.”

I felt my face warm, but I wasn't too sure if it was from shame or the look he gave me.

“Ace is the closest to your size so I went with the kind of meds I would give him but I cut the dosage down by a little more than half to account for your malnutrition and smaller size.”

“Speaking of malnutrition, how bout’ you stop yapping so she can start eating, Marco”

Marco’s eyes rolled at Thatch's rebuke but kept his mouth shut, his hands going up in a kind of surrender. 

“Come on, Buttercup. Take a bite, tell me what ya think?”

I looked over at Thatch, my neck protesting a little once I was facing forward again after attempting to turn like an owl. He was looking at me with wide excited eyes. I wasn't too sure why he was excited, the food he had given me so far was delicious but to be fair I was a little too preoccupied to really pay attention to it. 

I looked back at mine and Ace’s plate. I hadn't noticed Ace eating but more than half of his food was already gone, and from the smudges on his plate something tells me that this wasn't his first plate. He must have been eating while Marco was talking. Looking up at him and the mess on his face only cemented my theory. 

I turned towards my plate, picking up my utensils with some difficulty before trying the salad. Bringing it to my lips and taking a bite was met with a wonderful fresh, crisp taste. It was well balanced and perfectly dressed. I couldn't help the small ‘hmm’ that followed after my first bite. 

Looking over to Thatch I was met with a rather smug look. Clearly pleased with my reaction. Forkful after forkful was never disappointing. Every bite of the food is mesmerizing. I definitely could never make anything that could compare back home. But to be fair it was in part because of our living conditions. We always had meat and proteins but never fresh veggies.

I had finished my first plate in what felt like seconds only to fill the plate again with some help from Ace. It became pretty clear I was still very hungry since I didn't take a break from eating, shoveling more and more food into my mouth as well as I could. Even with the pain meds it was still a little hard to hold the fork properly and the more I used my hand the harder it was to tighten my fingers around the utensil, not only that but the tight bandages definitely made it a little more difficult to curl my fingers around it, my fingers straining like they had weights attached to my fingertips. But I didn't care, each bite of Thach’s cooking was more heavenly than the last and the emptiness of my stomach didn't feel like it was going away so I persevered, determined to not only eat, but to feed myself. 

I only stopped when I heard a loud laugh. 

“Damn Ace, looks like you have some competition.”

I look over to see a…. Shark? 

“What did you expect Namur, she hasn't eaten a full balanced meal in over a week. I've just been giving her light soups, porridges and plain foods so that she wouldn't get sick, this will be the first full balanced meal she's eaten.”

Namur, whom I assumed was a fish man, was sitting right across from a man with long blonde dreadlocks and a bandana with the same mark on it as Marco’s chest tattoo, a symbol that I have come to assume is their secondary mark, took a second to take in Thatch’s response before nodding, 

“Fair. I guess anyone who hasn't eaten for so long would eat almost as fast as Ace.”

I felt Ace’s chest rumble with a chuckle before he addressed me.

“Better slow down, Firefly. At this rate you're gonna best me, and I have a reputation to uphold.”

Ace took another huge bite of some kind of stake, with his bare hands I might add. Apparently utensils were beneath him. But I didn't get to dwell on it very long before he started to sway from side to side. 

Before I could react I heard Marco call Thatch’s name and just like that Thatch snatched me up, depositing me on his lap just in time for Ace to face-plant into his half eaten plate. 

I gasp, my hand covering my mouth that was currently open so wide it was on the deck.

“Ace!!!”

My worried outburst got the attention of the table, everyone's eyes glancing at me then Ace before they all burst out laughing. 

I look around the table, completely aghast. Their second division commander has just face planted in his dinner, and if he's not dead yet he's probably suffocating in his mashed potatoes and they are just laughing. 

Marco seemed to notice my displeasure and concern now that I was facing him on Thatch’s lap.

“Relax, Baby Bird. He's fine”

I glared at Marco. 

“He just headbutted his dinner…how is that fine!?”

The table erupted in even more laughs, some of the commanders sounding like they were having trouble breathing. Jozu looked like he was turning blue and about to join Ace.

Marco stood up and leaned over the table, one of his hands supporting his weight while the other reached for Ace. He grabbed Ace’s hat that he had put back on before we sat down, removing it from his head so it rested on his back once more, held in place by the strings attached to it before grabbing a fist full of hair and yanking upwards.

Ace’s eyes were closed, his mouth wide open and his face covered in food. For a second I really did think he was dead, the back of my eyes stinging with the familiar feeling of tears welling up until I heard it. 

After a good second Ace let out the loudest snore I had ever heard. I froze. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. He fell asleep. One second he was chatting, eating and enjoying himself and the next he's out cold. 

The laughter around the table started to die down around the table and I took a second to look around again. Everyone was holding their stomachs and trying to catch their breath. Some whipping tears from their eyes. 

“What just happened!?”

I looked up to Thatch for answers but he was still catching his breath, a few stray giggles escaping him but he was clearly too incapacitated to answer me. The half worried half angry look on my face only made him struggle even more to collect himself. I looked over to Marco who had let go of Ace’s hair, letting it plop back down into his plate with an echoing ‘SPLAT’ before answering me.

“Ace has Narcolepsy, Baby bird.”

I stare at him with an unimpressed look.

“That gives me no answers, that just makes more questions.”

Marco looks down at his own plate, huffing out a laugh while he grins devilishly before he looks back up and explains.

“It's a condition that affects the mind. In severe cases it shuts down the individual's brain making them fall asleep at random time throughout their day, Ace’s condition isn't that severe. He falls asleep randomly but only when he's eating.”

I look down at Ace, then back to Marco.

“He's not hurt?”

Marcos smirk softens.

“Not hurt at all.”

“Just sleeping?”

Marco nods, leaning forward to take my hands in one of his. 

“He’ll wake up in a minute or two, it happens every time he eats. Honestly I should have known better than to let him hold you while he’s eating but he’s the warmest of us all.”

He lifts my hands, kissing my knuckles. 

“I’m sorry it scared you, Baby Bird. I should have warned you, but I promise he's fine.” 

I looked back down at Ace who was snoring away in what was left of his dinner while Thatch’s large hands started rubbing up and down my arms. 

“Come on, Buttercup. Eat a little more than we best head inside. It's late and the last thing we want is for you to catch a cold.”

I looked back over to my plate past Ace’s head as best as I could. It was almost empty, just a bit of steamed beans and the last bit of my meat. Thatch snatched my plate from the other side of Ace's head, placing it in front of me again right beside his already empty plate. I reached for my fork, before I felt Thatch be shoved forward making my arm jolt forward.

“What?! Bed already? Absolutely not! You haven't even introduced any of us properly yet.”

I looked back to see Thatch being shaken by the medieval looking guy. To his credit, Thatch was doing his best to keep me still but I was still rocked a little which is more than I can say for poor Thatch. It looked like he was in the middle of a monsoon. 

“She’s injured and sensitive to the cold right now, Haruta, She needs her rest and not be out in the elements.”

Thatch’s words were all wobbly as Haruta shook him and despite Thatch’s explanation he just rolled his eyes. He paused for a second but only so that he could punch Thatch in the arm. The jolt to his arm that was around my waist made me wince when Thatch subconsciously tightened his arm around my middle. 

Thatch took in a breath, getting ready to chastise his fellow commander before he was interrupted by a fist slamming down onto the table. The force of it rattled the table and all the dishes. A few cups tipping over. It was strong enough that Ace shot up so fast I thought he would fall back onto the deck.

I look up, Marco’s fist practically embedded into the wood of the table. The look on his face was sharp enough to kill. And from the look on Haruta's face it looked like he was about to drop dead right where he stood.

“Endanger my patient's health again and you'll have worse wounds than she does.”

Haruta audibly gulped while Ace looked around like a gaping fish after shooting up from his plate of food, his head going from side to side as he looked at the very angry Marco and a very stiff Haruta.

“What happened?”

Rubbing the ‘sleep’ and potatoes from his eyes, Ace looked around now that his face was clear ish. Haruta's face was so white it put the sails to shame and Marco’s face that just begged someone to test him.

“What did you do now you twit?”

Haruta took a second to compose himself before he answered. His face goes from horrified to goofy/nonchalant. Like he didn't just get the scare of his life from the first division commander. 

“I just wanted a proper introduction, that's all.”

At that Ace shot up like a bullet.

“Damn, you're right!!!”

Ace looks down at me with a big grin while I imagine I was the one who looked like the gaping fish now but the atmosphere had calmed down again. It was kinda strange, one second it was tense and nerve racking and the next Ace started to introduce all those at the table like Marco wasn’t still staring daggers into Haruta’s skull. 

Ace launches himself over the table, much to Thatch’s displeasure who groaned something about leftovers, and clung to Jozu’s shoulders that were a good ten feet above the table forcing me to crane my neck to make proper eye contact.

“This is Jozu, he's the third division commander.”

 He smiled softly at me as I gave him an awkward wave. I knew everyone here knew who I was but I didn't know them, so it didn't quite feel right to introduce myself. 

“Nice to meet you kiddo.”

I opened my mouth to respond but Ace beat me to it as he jumped off Jozu’s shoulder and made his way to the next seat over. He bumped into a man who was also fairly tall but much easier to make eye contact with in comparison and had a very long mustache with a top hat on while being mindful of the two swords strapped to the man's waist. Or at least as careful as someone like Ace could manage. 

“This is Vista, commander of the fifth division.”

“Hello, Little One. It's a pleasure.”

His tone kinda took me by surprise. Out of everyone so far he spoke the most eloquently. Kinda like a proper nobleman but without all the bluster attached to the title. But once again Ace had already moved on to the next person before I could even manage a ‘thank you’ or ‘hello’.

“This is Rakuyo, he’s barely ever here but he's the commander of the seventh division.”

Rakuya, the man with blonde dreadlocks and bandana, nodded at me, opening his mouth to say something. But apparently Ace had other plans as he shoved his hand in his face so he could jump over the table again using poor Rakuyo as momentum. 

The fish man Namur who was sitting right beside me and Thatch, who hand maneuvered me the other way so I could see everyone, easily caught Ace before he could shove his foot in his plate of exclusively meat, holding him up as Ace properly introduced him.

“This handsome fella is Namur, the eight division commander.”

Namur gave me a wide, sharp toothed smile in greeting, not even bothering with a ‘hello’. It was a good thing because Ace was on a roll with no intent of stopping. 

“This is Fossa.”

Ace paused for the first time, taking the time to re-light Fossa cigar before continuing. 

“He's the fifteenth division commander.” 

Fossa gave a nod but wasn't looking at me, instead he had his eyes shut as he took a slow drag off his cigar.

“And last, and certainly least, the jester dressed as a wannabe nobleman beside you is Haruta, commander of the twelfth division. Also known as the cause of most problems and headaches that take place on this ship.”

Haruta, being the last to be introduced, gently took my hand, kissing the top of it.

“It's a pleasure. Sorry if I caused any discomfort, it wasn't my intention.” 

I looked up at him with a smile but from the looks on Thatch and Ace’s faces this was not normal behavior for him. But it didn't take Ace long to recover, his wide grin quickly returning to his lips. 

“And that's everyone, of course you already know Izou, Marco, Thatch and myself and we can introduce you to all the other commanders when they are all here. It's rare enough to have this many of us together so you'll probably never meet the other commanders in a big group like this.”

I nodded my head smiling, gently removing my hand from Haruta's hold.

“It's nice to meet you all, thanks for having me.”

Everyone smiled in some way shape or form. I felt Thatch give me a bit of a squeeze, his head bumping into the side of mine a little. 

“Of course, Buttercup.”

I relaxed into Thatch a bit more as the commanders began chattering amongst each other. I sat there for a few more minutes, enjoying the feeling of a full belly and the cool open sea air until the cool air became too cold. I couldn't help the big yawn that escaped me. 

I felt a rumbling on my back from Thatch who had laughed a little.

“Alright, Buttercup, I think it's time to call it a day.”

I gave a smaller yawn and nodded.

“Let's get you to bed.”

Before I could say anything, Thatch had stood from his spot at the table and started walking towards the door leading to the stairs leading up to the commanders/my rooms as I heard a few goodnights from the table. 

As Thatch made his way up the stairs the slow rocking of his movements and the ship itself only lulled me to sleep even more. By the time he reached my door at the end of the hall I was barely coherent. 

Thatch maneuvered me to one arm, opening the door with his now free hand walking into the room and pulling back the sheets while Stefan, who seemed to appear out of nowhere, curled up at the foot of my bed. Thatch laid me down gently before pulling the blanket back up and covering me completely. 

I hadn't realized how cold I really was till I was snug under the blanket. I turned to my side, nuzzling into my pillow and pulling the blanket over my chin as much as I could. Stefan moved so his body was over my cold feet.

I heard Thatch chuckle before I heard his footsteps walk over to my bathroom, the sound of running water filling the quiet room for a few seconds before he came back and sat on the bed. 

Thatch leaned over me, turning my head to face him. He had gotten a wash cloth and got it wet before gently rubbing it all over my face, trying to remove the makeup without much success.

“.....waterproof…..”

Thatch paused as I mumbled before saying he'd be right back, coming back a few minutes later with makeup remover. But at that point I was already more than half asleep.

“I had to ask Izou but he gave me this, said it’d come right off.”

He tried again, getting the cloth warm again with fresh water and adding a few drops of the makeup remover. This time it came off easily.

“There we go, all clean.”

Thatch placed the cloth beside my sink before he came back and leaned down and kissed my forehead. 

“Sleep tight, Buttercup. If you need anything Marco and Ace and I will be up a bit later so just call out and we'll hear you, I'll wake you in the morning for breakfast.”

I heard him talk for a few more minutes before he left but I couldn't recall any of what he said as I drifted off into a deep sleep.

___________________________

I walked back down to the deck, wishing I could stay with (Y/N) all night, preferably in my bed especially with that dress, though not wearing anything would be better. Luckily I couldn't dwell on it too long, knowing I had to clean up from dinner and wanted to do some of the prep for breakfast. 

As I got back to the deck I saw Ace, Izou and Marco were the only ones left, Izou having made his way back to the deck after he had given me the makeup remover. They were all talking among themselves. The other commanders are likely doing their last checks before bed. 

“What are you hens clucking about?”

Izou and Marco looked at me with an unimpressed glare but Ace snorted at my comment. 

“We are trying to figure out what to do next.”

Marco answered for the group. I raised my eyebrows at him. 

“How so? She's here, she's hurt so badly she can't walk on her own, you saw how she could barely hold her fork tonight. By tomorrow her hand will be so sore she'll need someone to feed her for the next two days I'd bet. She's completely reliant on us and has no idea how this all came to be. And she's already starting to seek affection and physical contact for us. This is going better than I could have imagined.”

Izou sighs, 

“That's true but it's clear she has every intention of leaving the second she's well again, starting new somewhere else. The last place she wants to be is a pirate ship, nonetheless a Yonko ship, no matter how comfortable she is getting with us.” 

I nodded, acknowledging Izou's concerns before Ace spoke up.

“Yeah, but she's not going to be properly healed for a long time. We have lots of time for her to warm up to us and want to stay even if we have to manipulate her a little. She has no reality of the situation that led her here and no idea who killed the pig she called brother, all this works in our favor. And in the worst case scenario we can always make her sick to keep her here longer if need be.”

Marco slapped his fist on the table again, this time almost splitting the wood in half. Clearly he didn't like Ace's comment. 

“Last resort Macro, only a last resort. The last thing I want is to see our girl suffer but it might be something we need to consider.”

Izou speaks up, soothing the doctor.

“It could be a contingency plan but it's in all our best interests to avoid that, saying as much I think it would be good to smother her as much as possible, especially since she's already getting used to us touching her so intimately. If we keep her with us day and night under the guise of it being for her own safety. Even going so far as to have one of us sleep with her. Not giving her any space and always having one of us in her ear.”

I could see everyone's eyes light up at the thought of sleeping with her, I was obviously all for it as well, thinking back to how cute she looked when I was wiping her face, half asleep and all curled up.

“But what about our duties? We are all very busy and there are some things on this ship I'd rather she not see. Even the talk of some of the crew, one slip up from anyone could jeopardize this whole plan. We were lucky she didn't know anything in the first place. We have to be careful otherwise she's going to be asking dangerous questions.”

Izou looked at me, waiting for me to give him an answer.

“Fair enough, which is why we would rotate. She’ll learn to rely on us for different things: like we originally planned but she wouldn't have any alone time, we would be keeping her from her own thoughts while subconsciously teaching her how to become dependent on us and we can move forward from there. This will also move us forward romantically with her.”

I could feel the air tense, especially around Marco. Izou felt it too and turned to face the man. 

“Oh come one Marco, all of us: especially you, want to get her in our beds in more ways than one. What do you think that dress I put her in was for?”

Ace laughed at Izou bluntness, Marco simmering down but still close to boiling. I couldn't help but smirk while Ace decided to speak up.

“As much as I would love getting in her in our beds and in between her legs sooner than later, I think that would have the opposite reaction we want right now. She's hurt, scared and traumatized in a completely new atmosphere and was just introduced to some of the most powerful people in the world. Even if she is starting to seek physical comfort from us, we need to let her adjust to her new reality. Keep things casual. A few kisses won't ruin anything but we need to be strategic about this.”

We all gaped at Ace.

“What?”

“I think that's the first time I've ever heard you think so deeply and carefully about anything, ever…. In your life.”

Ace tried to smack Marco for his comment but was unsuccessful. 

“That being said, I do agree. We need to keep her with us at all times but we need to be careful about how much we expose her to. We need to control ourselves. I think we should only mention her sleeping with us until she starts having night terrors, we'll be able to say it's to prevent her from hurting herself. Having her sleep with us will make it so we can keep her from thrashing around and tearing her skin.”

We could all see Marco’s internal struggle with his own statement. Most of the crew knew how his devil fruit was essentially another entity inside of him. A voice with its own feelings and emotions inside him at all times. It was very similar to Marco’s own personality, but in some cases like love and obsession, those feelings multiplied by ten fold making it difficult for him to control himself. 

“Then we need to figure out some rules for her and us.”

I suggested. 

“She probably won't be too happy about the rules.”

I nodded at Izou's point.

“Ture but we can manipulate the truth a little. Make it seem like it's only for her health and her benefit. These rules won't be permanent and will change as she recovers but when she's as vulnerable as she is, physically and emotionally we need to keep things under control.”

They all nodded. 

“We can figure out her rules but the only rules we really need is: nothing forwardly sexual and no competing with each other. We all knew what the goal was but now that she's here we need to be careful. No getting ahead of ourselves. When the time does come to properly have her we will discuss it as a group.”

“Agreed, we can't overwhelm her.”

Once everyone agreed we started coming up with a plan.