Brats & Chickens

[firefreckles]

Who: Portgas D. Ace [firefreckles] & Marco [burningfowl]
When: Saturday, early afternoon
Where: Sector 11, docks
Summary: Marco approaches Ace when the teen is watching the sea; different timelines for the two make for an interesting meeting.
Warnings: Pretty big spoilers for the One Piece series (revolving around the Whitebeard pirates) and a bit of language from a

Comments

[burningfowl]

It’s a hunch that brings Marco out to the docks. After being in Siren’s Port for a few days, Marco’s finally stretching his wings. Literally. Broad wings of blue flames support the phoenix as he glides through the sky, heading for sector 11. He knows from experience that this young temperamental Ace would have picked a small handful of spots in which he could seek solitude; it was simple luck that he’d caught a glimpse of the docks in the boy’s video feed the other day

[firefreckles]

Ace had a little feeling that something unpleasant was approaching even before the shadow crossed over him. Lifting his gaze upward, he lazily watched as the large bird descended, his annoyance causing a frown to form on his previously blank face. After Marco speaks up, Ace spends a moment just eying him.

"Damn...... I was hoping it was some other giant, blue phoenix."

The teen sits up, moody frown still in place, and crosses his legs at the ankles. Keeping his knees wide apart allows for him to comfortably drape his arms over them. Yes, his bare skin is a little chill to the touch now, but-

Flames crawl out of Ace’s skin like living things, bright and dancing their way over his body in a quick routine and leaving a pleasant warmth in their wake as they sink back down. It’d last for a short while. See, Marco? He was just fine in the cold.

"What do you want?" he says as he casts a suspicious eye over the man-turned-phoenix.

[burningfowl]

The teen’s cold greeting doesn’t bother Marco. He’d been expecting it, really, even though it was... decidedly odd to be talking to someone from his past. It might have bothered him if he wasn’t so glad to see Ace again.

Marco glances away from Ace, looking to the ocean. “Thought I’d see how you’re doing.” Just because the kid wants nothing to do with him doesn’t mean Marco can’t check up on him.

Then Marco’s flames rise up around him as his body shifts, the fire partially masking his appearance while he changes back into his human form. Thanks to the slight chill, he’s got the front of his shirt mostly buttoned up, though the top of his tattoo is still visible. A slight look of discomfort is on Marco’s face thanks to the foreign sensation in his chest, and he lifts a hand to idly rub at the spot.

“So this is that ‘pull’, hm?”

I'm tired so I hope this makes sense ^^;;;

[firefreckles]

Marco's apparent concern for his well-being only served to irritate Ace further. Why should that guy care?
The younger pirate frowns a little darker.

Was it because of the two year gap between them? Marco obviously thought he knew more about Ace than Ace was aware of for having not yet lived through it.

....Could it be more confusing? Probably, but Ace would rather not think about it right now. He has to resist the urge to rub his head as it is, and instead narrows his eyes as the blue bird transforms into a familiar dark-skinned man. The teen makes no move, just remains seated on the crate, trying to burn Marco with his gaze alone. Why is it not working. He watches Marco's discomfort with as much detachment as he can muster

Ditto. Ditto. Dx

[burningfowl]

A chuckle escapes Marco. It's still a bit of a small wonder to him that the Ace he'd known used to act exactly like this.. yet he'd gone and become such a fiercely loyal son to Whitebeard. Someone like this turned into one of the best division commanders the crew had ever seen.

"I would, but this seemed to be the best place to get a look at the sea." Marco turns to look at the teenager again, meeting that angry gaze with his own calm one. "It's the same for you, isn't it?" You miss home too, don't you, is left unspoken, though it's clear that's what the older pirate means. He won't need an answer; he already knows he's right about it. It's not surprising in the least that Ace would miss the ocean like Marco does. They're both pirates, after all

*snores~*

[firefreckles]

It was the best place to look at the sea - the best Ace could find after exploring the entire island - which is why he enjoyed coming here. Having Marco's presence there, however, was damaging the atmosphere

*tucks into bed!*

[burningfowl]

And there was the anger Marco was expecting. The older man knows, from dealing with Ace prior to this, that fathers are a touchy subject to the boy. He isn't aware of the reasons behind this anger, just that it exists. Ace had asked Marco about fathers before, back when he was still refusing to join the crew; Marco is almost certain that the Ace before him now hadn't brought up that topic yet

*cozy*

[firefreckles]

The hostility doesn't ease from Ace in the least when he hops down from the cargo crate and takes a couple of steps closer. This is a confrontation, and that's exactly what it looks like. He stops, leaving a few feet between himself and the Whitebeard pirate, looking the other over with hard eyes. A small part of him had hoped Marco would stay, and it's that part that addresses the older man now

|D

[burningfowl]

Marco's posture and expression don't change as Ace steps closer; he's still calm inwardly, as well. At first he'd wondered if Ace was simply going to leave to free himself of Marco's presence, but it thankfully doesn't look as though that's the case. Curiously, the blonde keeps his eyes on the freckled pirate as he approaches.

"Questions?" Marco can certainly answer those, though he'd be much more willing if he knew whether or not Ace had been told any of the events concerning Marineford.

How is he supposed to word something like this..?

"A few hours before we were pulled here, we fought together with a common purpose." He'll leave it at that for now. If Ace wants more of an explanation, Marco will fill him in when he asks.

A wry grin forms on Marco's face. "It wasn't hard to recognize who he was, yoi. You-- The you from my time, that is, wouldn't quit showing off his wanted poster to anyone that'd pay attention. Wouldn't shut up about him, either."

[firefreckles]

"A common purpose." Ace repeats levelly. According to Luffy, that purpose was

[burningfowl]

So Ace already knew about his execution... That made things marginally better for Marco; at least he doesn't have to attempt to convince the teen of that part of the story. Ace's next question, though, confirms Marco's suspicions that this question-and-answer session won't be too easy.

"Your brother isn't a very good listener when he's focused on something, Ace." He lets out a quiet sigh and shakes his head slightly, recalling the way that Luffy had just... haphazardly flung himself into the fray.

"There's only so much we could do when he kept running off, yoi. Every time someone intervened, he'd go and get himself in trouble again." And now the older pirate is looking just a little exasperated with Luffy's actions. "At one point he launched himself right in front of all three admirals."

Even after saying that, Marco can't help but look the smallest bit amused. "The crew took a liking to him despite that, though." Pops too, but Marco leaves that part out for now.

[firefreckles]

It was true that Luffy was horribly stubborn, but Ace doesn't remark on that statement. Not thinking before he went charging forward was just how his brother was.. Ace already knew that, too. It was very worrying that Luffy would have tried to take on three marine admirals at once though....

This knowledge puts a frown on the freckled pirate's face, one that's more disquieted than angry. He's no longer really looking at Marco as he listens, just staring down in generally the same direction as the man while his mind turns

[burningfowl]

Watching the expressions cross Ace's face, Marco realizes that Luffy had hardly told his brother anything concerning the war; not surprising, considering the little Marco had observed of the boy's personality. That also likely meant that his nakama was clueless about the events that led up to his capture as well

...

[firefreckles]

Marco is given a dark glare for what he says first. It wasn't stupid of Ace to not want his brother (or anyone he supposedly cared about two years from now) to get hurt for his sake. And they were all bastards for not listening to him.

Ace is suddenly very alert though, because the older man's shit-eating grin had vanished so quickly.

Something was wrong.

If the obvious hesitation the other pirate had in continuing to speak wasn't enough, alarm bells were set off in Ace's head the moment Marco looked away. Whatever it was on the other man's mind, he didn't want to tell Ace, which could only mean it was of extreme interest.

"What is it?" Ace asks sharply, moving around to stand directly beside Marco. He stretches out a hand and grips one dark-skinned shoulder tightly, giving it a hard push to turn the man towards him. As much as he wants to avoid contact with Marco, he needs Marco to face him right now. Fear is rising up in Ace and growing stronger the longer this silence stretches on

D:

[burningfowl]

The push to his shoulder snaps Marco out of it and he brings his gaze back up to Ace's face. It wasn't that something had happened to Luffy.

His eyebrows furrow a bit more. There's another pause here as Marco briefly considers telling Ace that he'd been taken by the pull before seeing the outcome of the war, but..

"Your brother is.." Not okay. "Alive. You made sure of that."

Thinking about lying to his nakama about this doesn't sit well with the man. And besides that, Ace has a right to know about this. Marco takes a breath and lets it out before continuing.

"The two of you were pursued by one of the admirals. We were all falling back to the ships then, ready to head out with both of you."

Marco's frowning again, the events replaying in his head. "You let Akainu's taunting get to you, and the two of you were held up." Why couldn't you just ignore it, Ace? Why didn't you listen to us pleading for you to return to the ships? "You.... sacrificed your life to protect your brother

....MY HEART WILL GO OOOOOOONN ANNND OONNNNNNNN?

[firefreckles]

When Marco's eyes lock with his, Ace can read raw pain, sharp as a snakebite, in them and it startles him for a brief moment.

He's relieved, so relieved that his brother hadn't...died. He could never forgive himself if that happened, even if it was two years in the future and could yet be prevented.

"Alive" still meant that the idiot would make it..

Ace figured that Marco worded it in such a way because of the wounds Luffy had obtained; he really didn't look good at all.. but Ace wouldn't let him die, not while he was present and especially not for himThe freckled pirate lets out a huge sigh, lowering his head as the heaviness of anxiety lifts from his chest, barely hearing what the other was saying about admirals. The grip he has on Marco's shoulder loosens significantly but he does not remove his hand yet, isn't really aware that it's still there as he's lost in his thoughts