fierybluebird | [Voice / Written]

[Eyes flare blue, a little annoyed, half-tempted to tell Ace off, but nakama... he can do better than this.]

Sorry. Been a rough month for us both, eh? I'll talk over dinner. For now, I'll listen, all right?

[He shakes his head and smiles, just a little.]

It's fine. As long as you know. [...now Ace has the difficulty of being honest. And if Marco's going to, he should, too. He shoves his hands in his pockets and sighs, looking at the ground.]

I... haven't been sleeping much. Or. Eating, really.

[One-armed hug that switches into a wing.]

Continuance from before I left or something else?

[He leans into the wing, taking in every bit of the warmth. Goddamn he missed it.]

Well, I was getting better. But... then you left and I just... I got really lonely.

Sorry. [He's frustrated. Ace needed nakama, after all those months of hanging out with his brother instead and then Marco wasn't there. To say it wasn't fair was too childish, and didn't cover the scope of it.]

You've got me now, eh? Anything you feel like eating? I'll make enough that even you get stuffed.

[He shakes his head again.] It's not your fault. Damn Malnosso...

[Suddenly, the though of food sounds like a wonderful idea. He smiles up at him.] Meat. And anything else.

Meat and veggies. Maybe bread if I have enough time with you falling asleep in the middle of it. [Sticks his tongue out teasingly and tugs that one wing around Ace's shoulders close.]

I'm glad to be back, kid.

That sounds good. [Whether he means the food or falling asleep, we don't know. He smiles, throwing an arm around Marco.]

I'm really glad you're back.

Good. Because you're stuck with me. [Ruffles and heads back to their place, for once, not switching to phoenix and offering a ride.] So other than not eat or sleep, what'd you do to keep busy? Any fires I have to look into paying damages for?

[He tries to look annoyed, but he's still too happy for that.]

I didn't burn anything down! I visited Luffy's place, went up to the hot springs, just kinda relaxed.

But there was a really weird shift. Everyone kept falling in love. Luffy thought he had a girlfriend.

Hot springs huh? Sounds nice.

Yeah? Not a real one, I take it. [He doesn't realize how incapable of having a girlfriend Luffy really is.]

It was really nice! We should go some time.

[He shakes his head.] Nah, he just thought he was dating her. Geez, that'll be the day.

Yeah? I'm not usually much of one for sinking up to my neck in water, but maybe.

Oh? Is this a big brother worrying about the youngest getting a girl ahead of him, or something else?

You can go only waist deep if you want.

Wha-- no! Luffy just doesn't see girls that way.

Nah, I'll just make sure to stay near the ledges and make sure you don't fall asleep and drown, eh.

Bats for the other team? [Ruffles. Damn it, he was just teasing. Go back to happy!]

Oi, I didn't fall asleep once while I was there!

Oi oi! [He just gives up on being annoyed and laughs.]

That just means you're due.

Well, maybe your food will be lucky enough for that.

[And then his eyes widen because ~~his mun~~ he suddenly remembered something important.]

M-Marco, I-I think my mom was here, too.

[Stunned. Understandably so.]

What? Was? She's... Ah... what do you mean?

[Malnosso... or fever dream? =\ That is the question.]

Edited 2012-02-19 22:51 (UTC)

W-well, there's a weekend that no one remembers, but there was just... stuff we couldn't explain. Miyabi, she's a friend of Luffy and the crew, sh-she had a picture of my mom. And she said she doesn't remember painting it, but it had her signature and everything.

[To say he's "shaken up" is putting it lightly.] She might've been here, I could've talked to her, and I don't even remember it.

[Hugs. Okay now he really wants to kill the Malnosso. Kidnapping and torturing him is one thing, but touch Marco's crew, make Ace cry, and usually there's not a force in the universe that could protect from that.]

If you did... I bet she was proud, okay? [Just holds him tight in both arms and nudges the door to the apartment complex open.] Come on, let's get you home. You can show me the picture.

[He hugs him back, still not believing that fact he might have met his mom.]

D... do you really think so... [He follows him inside, and nods in the direction of the hall.] I've got in hung up in my room.

How would anyone not be proud of you matey? Even Pops was, you gotta know that. [Another ruffle and follows along.]

Good, I'd have liked to meet her.... and thanked her, eh?

... I'm glad. [He blushes a little, smiling as he walks into his room, and comes out with a frame with a picture of Rouge.]

Me too...

[Setting up the groceries to make dinner and pauses when Ace returns with the picture to grin softly.] She's beautiful. You can see a lot of resemblance. [Another tousle of Ace's hair.]

So everyone really blacked out the whole weekend?

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