fierybluebird | Memories of better times // Headcanon and exact quotes warning

He was flying. There was wind through his feathers, birds saying hello -- when they weren't just startled entirely at seeing a blue phoenix flying around -- and ocean as far as phoenix eyes could see, and that was pretty damn far. He landed on the deck of a truly giant ship, and instantly felt home. He was instantly greeted by hundreds of crew members looking up from their card games, or drinks, paperwork, whatever was going on.

"Marco! You're back!" they grinned.

He grinned back, happily walking over to his Pops. "POPS!" Marco beamed, and hopped up higher to talk to Whitebeard. The strongest man in the world was impressive. Even sitting down, he was five times taller. Still, Marco couldn't suppress the surge of affection fro the man just from hearing the familiar laugh.

"Gurararara!" Whitebeard laughed, grinning cheerfully. "Good job my son! Back so soon?"

Marco laughed and carefully handed the folder to Whitebeard. It was as big as he could make it and still a tiny mini-book in his father's hands. "Wasn't hard. Got the info on the slavers, Pops. They shouldn't be too difficult."

"Good, good," Whitebeard beamed, flipping through the folder. "Always so serious? Have a drink!"

Another laugh and Marco proffered a rare expensive bottle of sake that had filled up his entire backpack. "You first Pops!"

*******

The memory changed to Marco, Izou, Thatch, and Ace pouring over papers. "If we kill the ringleaders," Trap-chan suggested.

"Then the next ones will just take their place," Thatch pointed out.

"So burn their ships down," Ace grinned and flicked his orange hat up with a finger made of fire.

"That's your solution to everything," Marco grinned.

Ace smirked right back, "What's wrong with fire?"

"Nothing Sparky," Marco leaned on the wildfire, "But we can't, they've got kids on board."

*********

Another memory of Ace trying to kill Whitebeard. He lunged with an axe and Whitebeard just moved to the side and the brat fell overboard. "Ah? Ace is in the water again," one of the pirates pointed out.

Thatch dove in and got him out, griping about wet clothes and young brats, but only half meaning it. Marco watched from the railing and laughed. "How many times are you going to keep trying?"

"AS LONG AS IT TAKES!" Ace roared.

"Suit yourself kid," Marco grinned.

Later when Ace had dried off, he was off sulking by the railing. Marco frowned and went off to get him some soup. Damn kid was likely to starve himself. And usually Ace could eat an entire ship out of house and home. He brought it up and gently set it next to the kid. He was about to leave, give the kid space when Ace spoke up instead. "Why do you guys call him 'Pops?'" the kid glared sullenly.

Marco beamed. He was thrilled. If Ace was asking that could only mean good things. "Because he calls us his 'sons,'" was the easy explanation with a large grin. "We're hated all around the world, eh. But we're happy. Words like these makes us happy. Do you seriously want to continue getting almost killed, eh? It's time to reach a decision, eh. Will you take Whitebeard's mark on your back?"

*******

And then Ace did. He had the tattoo done just like Pops' himself and worked his way through the ranks better than they could remember almost anyone ever doing so. Marco felt pretty damn proud of the kid. Hard not to. Those were the best days of Marco's life. The commanders had never seemed stronger. Missions with Vista, or just hanging out on deck with Jozu. Sometimes Marco even took Ace flying with him. There wasn't much better than seeing the angry kid actually laugh and smile for a change, demanding they go faster or take a dive. He spoke in phoenix to Thatch, and just for a couple of years, Marco somehow thought those days would never end.