#zoan

The days passed, and yet Marco didn't let you have a second out of his sight. Maybe with bathroom breaks, yes. But he'd wait outside the door until you came back.

On other news, everybody on the ship was *panicking.* They couldn't find Milo, at first Vista had just said maybe it was just scared so it hid, but as the days progressed nobody could find Milo.

Haruta started getting anxious, Izo and Namur were sent to look through every room and barrel to see if they could find you, and even Stefan grew anxious upon not seeing Milo around anymore.

You knew Marco knew, and he knew that you knew that he knew. (Does that make sense wtf)

The only reason you knew that Marco knew, was because of a conversation you'd had a day prior.

"Marco, am I really stuck in your sights all the time?" You'd asked.

"Yes, we know Teach did it but we haven't been able to find his cat since. You could know more and could be hiding it-yoi." He answered smoothly.

"I don't know what he did with a cat? How would I know."

"Because I figure that cat was a zoan, and pops has pretty good memory of who he lets on his ship. And yet I haven't seen you around-yoi."

"I'm normally out, collecting recipe ingredients from different islands. Of course you wouldn't see me often."

"Right." He said, unamused.

That conversation had ended there, though you knew completely that Marco had known. You were confused why he didn't just kill you or demand you change back..maybe he would. But he hadn't yet, and that was odd.

Now you were sitting on a chair by Thatch in the infirmary. He hadn't woken up yet, you hoped he would be alright.

Even if he was alive, fighting for his life..There was so many things that could still go wrong.

Masked Deuce was in the room with you, he'd noted to himself that he didn't see you anywhere but the infirmary in awhile. And every time Marco was busy- Deuce or a commander would watch after you.

You never changed seats, you never asked him questions on if Thatch would be okay or not, just watched.

"He'll be okay." He answered for you, knowing what your mind was most likely stuck on.

"..You know, I could've done something earlier." You turned to him for merely a second, then looked back at Thatch on the cot.

"You could?" He asked.

"..Yes, I was in the kitchen with him at the time." You sighed, then continued.

"I saw him holding the knife- but..Thatch had been so calm I didn't think I needed to worry about it. Of course until Teach actually stabbed him.."

His eyebrow tilted up, then shrugged and sat beside you and Thatch's cot. "Eh, that's not your fault then."

You tilted your head. "How is it not?"

"You both believed he wouldn't betray you like that. And you didn't rush to harm Teach when he hadn't done anything yet."

"..I guess thats true."

"It is." He smiled. "Plus you saved his life didn't ya?"

"We don't even know if he's gonna wake up, so technically maybe not." You answered.

"..Fairr point! But Thatch is strong, you sayin he's not?"

"..No- no! That's not what I'm saying.." You pouted.

Deuce stared at you, for several moments in fact after you pouted. "I see why Marco said that now."

You blinked. "Said what?"

"Nuthin." He did a small chuckle, but looked away.

"..I should be worried, shouldn't I?"

"NO!" He squealed, moving back to the counter and pretending like he was doing work.

One thing you noticed- was after he said that he seemed to be more comfortable with you, you wondered why.

You instead moved your hand to put it on Thatch's, maybe just for a sense of comfort. You missed hearing him speak after all.

Then it twitched around your hand in an embrace, Odd.

"Deuce?" You asked.

"Yeah?" He piped up, suddenly looking back at you instead of that 'work' he was doing.

"Uh, is it normal for people to like- hold your hand when they're asleep?"

"NOOOAHH??" He suddenly squealed again, running over to look.

"Oh! Oh good golly Jesus!" He seemed to grin upon seeing Thatch's hand around your own.

"..What the fuck does that mean?" You asked.

"Good golly Jesus or the fact Thatch might be awake?"

"Both...preferably?"