Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“YOU LITTLE SHIT TURKEY, I’LL FUCKING SKIN YOU!”  

“....”  

“....”  

“Thatch is not in a good mood.” Ace said as he looked towards the back of the deck where the screaming was coming from.  

“Well, it probably has to with Ph-”  

“God damnit, just wait! I’ll teach that stupid bird a lesson!” Thatch passed the duo still grumbling, entering the ship but quicky coming back out and seemingly making his way to the back of the ship, only to stop and.....  

“Why are you putting up Cd-discs?” The local firecracker asked confused as their chef started hanging said disks all around the passage way to the back of the deck.  

“Why? Why???? To keep that freaking chicken away from the back deck!”  

“Why can’t phoenix go there? Besides, he will just fly passed.”  

“First of all, he won’t. Bird is as stupid as any other bird. Second, BECOUSE THE SHIT KEEPS DESTROYING MY GARDEN!”  

Thatch gaped at Ace’s confused look and wiped a hand over his face. “Really Ace?” he signed and made a motion to follow.  

Confused the raven did follow and was led passed the row of cd’s glistering in the light and towards the back of the deck. It wasn’t that big and not many people came here, he atleast never came here himself, Thatch was one of the only ones he saw coming here pretty often.  

“I present to you my little garden to keep all you black holes fed with tasty food.”  

“Huuuuuhhh, how long has this been here?” Amazed Ace looked around the patch of sand spanning the back of the deck, seeing a foldable roof tucked away, ready to be pulled out when needed. “This is pretty neat.”  

“Since before you joined, doofus. And yes, thank you.” Thatch started pointing towards different plants, “These are all different kind of spices, I could never produce enough actual food for everyone here, but for spices it’s a good place.”  

“Oooooooh, I see strawberr-”  

“Don’t touch them, they’re mine.”  

“.... I swear I won’t” and he somehow means it because Thatch’s glare is already killing him. “What about those things, they look weird. He pointed to some plants that well... were weird. They had holes in the leaves.  

“Those weird plants are all Phoenix’s fault. They were blooming well, but Phoenix likes them … or doesn’t like them. I don’t even know. He always comes to peck at them, I don’t know if he even eats them or is just destroying them. What I do know is that the bird steals all my freaking strawberries to eat. For which Marco owes me a few crates by now as compensation. My only little treat on this ship gets stolen by that bird every time one sprouts! Doesn’t even get the time to become red....”  

“Why don’t you just like-” Ace made a motion over the plants, “put a net ove rit or something.”  

A sigh followed instantly, “While phoenix is stupid. A net doesn’t stop him, I tried..... No, wait, let me rephrase. There are two things that can happen and have happened.  
1. he has a smart moment and slices through the net with ease with his talons and his beak.  
2. He has no smart moment and is his stupid self and still lunges for the plants, not minding the net, thus tangling himself into it. Then getting into a fight with said net and making himself be stuck even more. Theeeen after not getting out, panick sets in and as a result you have a screeching crying Phoenix getting more and more stuck in the net.” Thatch sighed again as he looked over his garden, “And while I hate the bird for doing this, I don’t want to hurt him. Last time I tried he dislocated his wing, and while it heals when he’s free, we all know the thing still feels pain.” 

Ace hummed along and nodded, so a net wouldn’t work. “You’re nice to not want to hurt him even if he destroys your garden.”  

“... You really thought I would be that cruel, Ace?”  

Shrugging he spoke, “You do scream about pulling out all his feathers, maybe you would reason it’s his own fault for getting stuck.”  

“...”  

“What’s with all the weed though, just laying around?”  

Another sigh escaped thatch as he carefully stepped into the garden, going down on a knee and pushing the roots of said weeds back into the ground. “Not weed, Dill. Phoenix likes to pull them out. That's it. Does nothing else with it, just tugs at them, I think he likes pulling them out. He doesn’t destroy them though, so I just push them back in and most survive.”  

A thoughtful hum escaped Ace, making Thatch look at him.  

“What?”  

“Hmm, nothing, nothing. Well, I do hope your Cd plan works, whatever it is. I gotte go.”  

Looking on speechless, thatch watched his youngest brother just leave out of nowhere... “whatever, I'll just f-”  

SCRRREEECH  

Thatch swung around, just in time to see Phoenix lunge towards the few dills he just pushed into the ground again, “NO! BAD PHOENIX! GET OUT!”  

In the distance Ace snorted at Thatch yelling and phoenix’s screeching. He didn’t see the bird pass him, so he probably used the other side of the boat if he didn’t fly. There were two passage ways, better use more CD’s thatch.  

Couple of moments earlier – POV Phoenix  

“Morning phoenix.”  

“Cooo”, yes, It is morning, human! Smart observation!  

“It’s your day today huh?”  

“Yoi yoi!”, the whole day is Phoenix day! No pineapple-human!  

“Going to the garden, Phoenix? Be careful, I think Thatch is there right now.”  

“…” , Foodman.... He squinted his eyes. Foodman was a good man. Had good food. Hence his awesome title. But.... foodman also didn’t want him in his garden, while actually foodman should be HONOURED that Phoenix wants to visit his garden, even help to take care of it, pull out weeds, stinky grassy flower.  

Phoenix gave a nod to the speaker as thanks for the information, he’ll know to be very sneaky now.  

Thus, as quietly as he could, he got lower to the deck, crawling forward to the small pathway that led to the back. Careful, careful, almost th- “ SCREECH !”  

He jumped back as something was there. Something was hitting him! A weird fruit user????? 
Jumping around, flying small distances he dodged the colourful beams, getting back until they couldn’t reach him anymore.  

Once he knew he was out of reach, he took a moment to inspect the path. But... there was no human, no one shooting beams. Then where did the beams come from? The other humans here also didn’t seem fazed and while they weren’t as smart as Phoenix, they never let unknown humans roam around.  

He slowly got closer again, not taking his eyes of the deck, if anyone popped out, he would kno-, “ SCREEECH ! ”, IT WAS THERE AGAIN, ATTACKING HIM!  

Turning around he ran away to a safe distance, taking cover behind the big shiny guy who could also shoot beams (A/N: reflected light = beams) . The shiny beam human had been something to get used to too, scared him the first few times he sa-PHOENIX NEVER SCARED! But.... he’s used to this human now and knows he is not always shiny. Will also tell Phoenix when he becomes shiny. And now Phoenix thinks he’s pretty. But phoenix will not tell him.  

“Phoenix? What's up-AUCH okay no petting!”  

He ruffled his feathers lightly, human always trying to pet the mighty Phoenix. Phoenix is on a mission right now, no time for pets. Pets are for in the afternoon, after lunch.  

“Cooooo” , he called out, nudging the commander to the passage.  

“Phoenix?”  

“COOO”, No time for questions!  

“Alright alright, I’m following.”  

He kept pushing the man now he let himself be moved, going closer and closer. No reaction from the human yet, good good, maybe the beam person is scared of the other big shiny beam person. HAHA! his beam person was better then hi-, “YYYYYOOOOIII!”  

He quickly hid behind the man as the beam was there again, but he was able to dodge it luckily... No, he dodged because he’s awesome, Phoenix fast, FAST LIKE LIGHTNING!  

“...” Jozu looked around confused as Phoenix jumped away and hit behind him, obviously scared of something. And then the bird looked very proud, like... what the hell? It was already strange he had come to get him like this before he had had food.  

“He’s scared of the light.”  

The commander turned to one of Ace’s division members who was on deck duty nearby. He watched him point to the pathway, “Commander Thatch put up those CD’s earlier. They reflect light when the sun hits it. Phoenix is scared of it. Or well, I think that is it, it’s the only new thing over there.”  

Jozu hummed, waiting until the clouds moved and the sun hit the cd again, he stepped aside to have the beam hit the bird and instantly feathers stood up and he jumped away, once again behind him. So that’s what it is, he’s using him as protection to still get to the garden. But Jozu doesn’t want to escort the bird. He likes the bird, kind of. But Thatch would take away his desserts.... Doesn’t mean he can’t give any tips.  

“Phoenix.”  

“ Yoi?”  

“No need to be scared, it’s nothing b-”  

“SCRREEECH!”  

“Aw aw aw okay okay not scared geezes, no need to peck me.” Rolling his shoulders he looked around for a way for Phoenix to get to the garden and avoid the beams. The bird could fly, but well Phoenix would have tried that already right? Flying is like a first instinct to birds, right? So, no use in suggesting that, he would probably get pecked again. So what else was there.... “oh, you can use the other pathway, Phoenix.”  

“Coo?”  

Jozu pointed to the other side of the ship, a same pathway as in front of them at the other side of the cabins. He didn’t see any CD’s hanging over there, so Thatch must not have gotten to it yet. “Yea, there’s no CD’s there, so you’ll be safe.”  

“Co?” , CD’s? The name of the enemy?  

Confusion turned into an angry huff from the giant bird. Phoenix will remember. Beat up CD when he meets him! With this new goal, he nudged the shiny beam human again, ushering him to the other side. Only when they got very close and there was no sign of this CD human yet, did he peek his head out..... Nothing... coast clear?  

He lowered himself to the ground again, with squinted eyes stepped out and got closer to the passage step by step. Closer and closer with each wobble. He was almost in between the cabins and the railing, just a few more- HE MADE IT TO THE PASSAGE WAY! He almost cooed in delight but was able to stop himself and lower himself again, he didn’t want to alert the CD man that he had found a secret pathway all by himself...... he did a quick nod to the back, not to the shiny man who told him, he found it all by himself, Phoenix discovered it.  

Carefully he made his way further and further, he could see the light of the end of the path, the way to the little garden. He also heard voices, food man and Fire man. Both people he liked. Fire man was a good distraction to food man, good fireman, just like he had planned all along.  

Sticking his head out behind the wall he watched them talk, foodman standing with his back to him. Good good.  

He took his time to inspect the garden, proud of the stack of stinky weed he had pulled out some time earl- !!! there were some standing back up! They were so persistent getting back up again!  

He sneaked closer and the moment fireman turned his back and left, he lunged at the weed.  

“SCRREEEEECH!” , HE’LL GET THEM!!!!!!!  

“NO! BAD PHOENIX! GET OUT!”  

“SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSCCCCCCCCCCCCRREEEECHHHH” , KILLLL THE STINKY WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDSSSS!!!!!  

“PHOENIX, C’MON, I JUST PUT THEM BACK!”  

What does he mean ‘ put them back’ , Phoenix will get rid of them, they make the whole garden stinky!!!!  

He pecked out as many flower weeds as he could before the foodman picked him up. He screeched as he craned his neck to get the few still standing.  

“Damnit Phoenix!”  

Before he was pulled away, he was able to pull the last one and threw the weed in the air in victory.  

“COOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!”  

“Stupid bird, you got all of them!”  

PHOENIX DID GET ALL OF THEM, YES! PHOENIX STRONG!  

Having fulfilled his mission of getting the garden safe again, he let himself be carried back to the main deck and into the kitchen, ready for his propper reward from the foodman. He started his day out great. Outsmarted the CD man, saved the foodman’s garden so it smelled nice, and now he’ll get tasty rewards! Then later after lunch he’ll get pats! It’s going to be a good day!  

A week later – CD's installed at both passages  

It’s been a week and Phoenix has not given up on passing the discs that were now present on both sides of the ship. They were making it impossible for the bird to avoid the beams.  

“I feel a little bad.” Izou murmured as he watched the bird crouch low to the deck, sneaking closer and avoiding all the glistering lights on the floor. Only for the ship to shift, making all discs move, the light reflection thus moving as well and hitting the bird in the eye and scaring him away with a screech.  

“Yea.....” a crewmember who sat next to the commander said softly. “He looks so scared now when there’s a lot of sun out and....” they watched the Phoenix walk away defeated, head held low as he went back inside. “He’s barely out anymore...”  

On the days that Marco let Phoenix take over, the bird was normally outside the whole day. Destroying Thatch’s garden, playing around on the deck, chasing people and other birds. Flying all around the ship and collecting everything that was shiny or may be tasty. But now.... now after he had tried to go to the garden, or even hadn’t but was hit with a reflection of light, the bird got scared and, or went inside, doing who knows what, or gave Marco his body back already, maybe only an hour after he had gotten control.  

It was another few days later when Phoenix was trying again, that Ace came outside carrying a big box, placing it on the deck and calling out for the bird.  

“Oiii Phoenix! Come here birdy! I got something for you!”  

“Ace what’s that???”  

“Don’t worry, you’ll see.”  

“Coooooooo” , Phoenix ran to his favourite fire human when called, he was far nicer than the scary beam things.  

“Hi birdy” Ace cooed back, scratching the Phoenix’s head with a burning finger. Phoenix always let him pet him if he was fire. “Look what I got for you!” Ace said after a few scratches, patting the big box he had brought out.  

“Coo?”, What’s this? He stepped closer, pecking at the box. Just wood? Nothing special. Whole ship is wood.  

Laughing Ace lifted the lid and Phoenix screeched in happiness, instantly pulling at the flowers sticking out.  

“Ace! Did you steal my dill too! How could you!” Thatch cried as he got closer, ready to take it all back but... “That’s not dill?”  

“Nope” Ace stood up, watching Phoenix trying to pull out the plant . “It’s all fake. Made with fabric, leather, rope, whatever.”  

A screech of confusion was there as Phoenix had let go of the plant only for it to snap inside the box.  

“????????”, He was ready to pull out the weed, it didn’t smell yet, but it could still start to smell so he had pulled hard but then it just... disappeared into the box! Pressing his head against the wood he tried to look inside the hole it disappeared into, Where did his plant go???????  

“You defeated it, Phoenix, goodjob!!!!”  

“Coo?”, Defeated? But the plant is gone- IT'S GONE! , “Cooo!”, Yes! Phoenix defeated the plant!! Gone is the stinky plant!!  

“Oh no! What’s this?” Ace kicked a little pedal at the side of the box and withing seconds the plant shot back out, he gasped and pointed at it, “It’s back! Phoenix, get it!”  

“SCRREEEEECH!”, IT RETURNED!!!! He instantly attacked again, pulling at it before letting go, watching how it hid way again in fear. YES! FEAR PHOENIX! He sung happily at another victory, Phoenix was the greatest! All stinky flowers fear him!  

With a smile, Ace crouched next to the box, tinkering a bit with it and reaveling a lot more of the little plants. Phoenix instantly voiced his surprise before going in to pull at them much to Ace’s amusement.  

The others around them could only watch as Ace kept pulling more things out. Ropes that were hanging out, a few small bells attached to some, pieces of leather and drawers???  

“Thatch, come here.”  

Ace said and pointed to the little drawers all around the box when the chef got close. “If you ever have a strawberry or something too much or if you just want to distract him, you can hide some in these drawers or under these sliding buttons.  

Before Thatch could question him, Ace pulled out a few slices of apple, putting them in a few. He then called for Phoenix’ attention who was now beak deep into the box to get the flowers out.  

“Coo!”  

“I’ll get them out for you in a bit, Phoenix, look here first.”, he held up an apple slice, giving one to the bird when he wobbled over happily for the treat. He then showed another one and opened a drawer at the top, dropping the slice in and closing it.  

“.......”, Apple? Where’s his apple?  

“The slice is yours, Phoenix. You just need to get it.”  

The bird got closer, clearly confused, pecking at the wood and looking up at the raven.  

“Coo?”, there is no apple slice anymore, the box ate it.  

Without words Ace lifted the drawer again, showing the slice inside but closing it when Phoenix tried to get it.  

“REEE!” , his slice! It was still there! The box was hiding it from him!  

“C’mon Phoenix, you’re a smart bird, get it.”  

Ace chuckled as he was pushed aside, Phoenix taking his place and pecking at the drawer, screeching at it. It took a while but eventually he was able to grab the drawer and lift it. A victory coo left him, but when he let go of the drawer, it fell shut. HIS APPLE!  

“Faster Phoenix.”  

“Yoi!” , He ruffled his feather and took a moment to stretch out his body, flapping his wings. A challenge, Fire human and box challenged him, Phoenix can do that!   

Another five to ten times later, Phoenix had enough and when the drawer wanted to fall shut, in anger he kicked at the box, but by some miracle one little talon slid into the drawer, successfully keeping it open the tiniest bit.  

“Goodjob, Phoenix!”  

“?” , What? He has no apple. Why is Fire human saying goodjob? Fire human gone stupid.  

“Stick your beak in, get your treat!”  

… Only now the bird saw the crack and instantly lunged before it would close again, pulling out his slice of apple. “COOOOOOOOOO!”, APPLE! HE GOT HIS APPLE! HE HAS WON THE CHALLENGE! PHOENIX THE BEST! He wanted to eat it instantly but stopped.... He had to show the old man!  

Instead of eating it he ran to the eldest on the ship to show his price. He was going to tell Phoenix got it all by himself! He would be so proud! Give pets! Use weird fruit to make it feel better, best pats! And! Phoenix could eat on his shoulder, high in the sky! Only more wins for Phoenix!  

Ace looked fondly as the bird flew up to their captain, showing off the apple slice. Even dropping it in Pop’s hand so he could see it closer before handing it back over and patting the bird. Only then did Phoenix eat it.  

“What is this, Ace? You made this?” Thatch asked as he too watched the bird, he seemed... happy.  

“Yep, started after you showed me your garden. I think that or he was doing some heroic act to protect your garden, you know Phoenix is protective of us. Or if it isn’t that, then I don’t think there is anything specific about your garden as to why he targeted it. But that it was just the funniest thing on the deck, different than the rest that’s on the ship. Phoenix isn’t that dumb of a bird, so I think he is maybe just bored.”  

“So... you made this, to keep him occupied.”  

Ace nodded, “Yeap. He can pull out these look alike plants to protect us, or well for amusement. He’ll get bored of this eventually too if it stays the same. But I can keep tweaking it to do different things. Like the drawers, he now took awhile to get a treat, but once he figures out how they work, he will get everting in it withing seconds. I’m hoping with this toy, it will keep him busy and give him something to play with.”  

Thatch hummed, crouching to look at the box, pulling at the little drawers and pieces of leather and string, some even opened drawers of their own. The little bells would be annoying though if Phoenix liked them too much... “And what did you do to make these things pop up?”  

“hmm, there's a pedal here” Ace said as he put his foot on it, making the flowers that were hiding pop up. “It’s just a spring mechanism. I’m hoping that I can teach Phoenix how it works, then he can re-activate it himself again to play.”  

Thatch watched in awe as the flowers seemingly sprouted out of nowhere and he couldn’t help but pull at some himself. They were kind of elastic, a bit of force behind it as you pulled that tried to pull it down, and when he let go it disappeared inside. “This is really neat. What else d-”  

“SCRREEEECHHHH!”, Food man was taking away his fights!!!!!!  

“Woah!” Thatch had to jump away as the Phoenix tried to knock him over. The bird huffing at him and taking his spot to pull at the plants. Glaring at him after he made another one dissapear.  

Thatch held his hands up, “Sorry Phoenix, sorry. It’s all yours.”  

Another squint of the eyes and Phoenix was back to enjoying his new toy.  

Ace stood and looked to Thatch, “Hopefully this will keep him busy and entertained enough to not go and destroy your garden. So please take those disks away so Phoenix can be out again without needing to avoid half the deck because of the reflecting lights.”  

Thatch nodded along as he watched the bird, “I’ll be sure to take them off later in a minute.”  

“Thank you, Thatch”, Ace said gratefully, crouching to give Phoenix a few pets, laughing when the bird didn’t even react as the bird was now focused on watching himself in the mirror that was attached to the side of the box. Getting up he dusted off his pants, “I’ll help you take them off.”  

Together Thatch and him made quick work of the chef’s defence line, removing all the CD’s from the deck. And afterwards they both took to watching the Phoenix. The bird enjoying his box even for days to come.  

Everyone was happy. No more Phoenix trying to destroy Thatch’s garden or do other things like eat the rope of the rigging. Instead, there was a happy Phoenix that played with his box a few times a day when he was out. Even quickly learning if something broke, he just had to bring it to Ace and the raven would fix it for him. Allowing him to once more enjoy the fun box.

Chapter Text

"CATCH!!!!"

A loud coo and a blur of blue shot passed Ace at immense speed, following the fireball he just threw away.

"oh-oh quick Phoenix! It's going to it the beach!!!!!!"

ROOOOOOOOO

He watched in amazement as Phoenix's claws scraped over the sand, barely catching the ball before it hit the actual beach and flew up again with a thrill of victory, making a beeline back to him.

Laughing brightly he picked up the ball, lit it on fire and threw it again, the bird shooting after it within seconds.

They were holding a little break at a tropical island, however most of the crew was at the other side of it, enjoying the luxuries of the town. Every now and then he saw some of his brother's pass that were taking a walk, enjoying the land under their feet. Pops also had said he would join them in a little bit and Ace was already grinning at it, Pops could throw the ball even further then he could for Phoenix! That would give the bird some real challenge.

Screech!

"hmmm, oh sorry sorry Phoenix, was just thinking" he smiled ruffling the small tuft of flame on Phoenix's head, chuckling when the phoenix jumped back and had his wings ready to fly off again as soon as he grabbed the ball. It was a happy little accident this ball. He had no idea what it was even made off, they found it some islands back.
He could light the thing on fire and it stayed on fire for a while, yet it wasn't that hot to the touch. Sure it was warm, but not scorching. And it was soft. It was squishy, which was the weirdest of all. And the prankster that he is, he was using it to throw at people, of course putting out his flame before it hit someone, but it for sure was funny to scare them!

However, something he didn't expect happened when he threw the ball at an unsuspecting Marco. He gave it a bit more thrust then usual and didn't pull off the flames, it was Marco, he loved fire. Thus he threw it and without even turning to see it, Marco just cocked his head to the side to dodge, stupid Marco and he should have expected that, BUT what he didn't expect was for the man to suddenly thrill loudly and take after the ball, transforming mid-flight to catch it and roll to the ground, biting and clawing at the ball.

Trying to take it from him and making fake throwing motions, granting a few real ones, they quickly learned Phoenix absolute loved playing fetch, especially if it was fetch with actual fire. Seeing it was a bit dangerous on a wooden ship, Ace now made sure to make some time at the islands they stopped at to play fetch with the bird. ... No one spoke of Marco's blush when he transformed back the first time it happened... it hadn't been Phoenix's day.

"SHIT PHOENIX LET IT GO! DON'T CATCH IT!" Fuck! In his stupid thoughts he had thrown the ball in the direction Phoenix had dropped it. Just absentmindedly picking it up and yeeting it. YEETING IT RIGHT OVER THE FREAKING OCEAN!

Phoenix scoffed, as if a little water was going to hurt the mighty Phoenix and he wasn't even touching the water! Phoenix could fly, duuuhh! Stupid fireman forgetful sometimes, but he forgive him, cause he nice, and fireman is fire... he loves fire.

"Coooooo!" - Just watch fireman!

As fireman was screaming at him he just cackled inside, eyes squinted at the fireyball flying a bit below him, it had some good speed this time! But not enough for THE ALMIGHTY PHOENIX! Because PHOENIX FAST LIKE LIGHTNING!!!!!!!

Cheering himself on he put his wings towards his body, diving for the ball that was about to touch the water.

"PHOENIIIIXXXX!!!!!"

Together with the desperate scream he caught the ball in his beak, stretching his wings at the same time and shooting back into flight, the very edge of his wing slicing through the water, extinguishing the blue fire, but nothing he couldn't handle as he turned them just a tad to be able to catch wind and get catapulted higher into the air.

A few flaps of his wings and they were back to burning in their full glory as he made it a show to make plenty of loops and dives before finally making his way back to the fireman. Dropping the ball in front of him with a proud look.

See! Phoenix could catch the ball! Phoenix is a good Phoen- "Ree!?"

He was suddenly squeezed by a big weight and it took a moment to realise it was the fireman who was now almost laying on top of him and had his arms around him. Why? He brought the ball? He should throw again now. Fireman should know the routine.

He cooed in question as he felt the fireman shake, was he cold? Phoenix's fire is cold, hugging not smart when cold.

"Phoenix, phoenix phoenix"

Yes?????? Phoenix is here???? Fireman is weird. "Coo????"

"Don't do that again Phoenix!"

"Coo-" he stopped his angry yell back when there was something small extinguishing his flames. There's no water here.......? Craning his neck a bit he gasped, the human waterworks!

"Thank goodness you're okay! God, if you had transformed back, phoenix, I- I can't come after you- there's no one nearby- god-"

"...." Fireman was worried? Worried for him? Very slowly he moved to put his head on the fireman's back, nuzzling the picture of the old man until fireman seemed okay.

"Thank you Phoenix" Ace smiled a bit as he pulled back, wiping his eyes and reaching out a hand to pet the bird, "I'm glad you're o-"

Huh? "Ooh?" Phoenix took a step back to watch the fireman bend down. Fireman just started to eat the sand?

"Coo" this sand isn't delicious sand fireman, Phoenix already tried.

"...." well... if you really wanne try... Phoenix will help search for something good! Foodman says there's always gems to be found even in nasty food! Thus he started scratching and pecking in the sand nearby, searching around for something the fireman could eat. Not long later he found a pretty white shell and picked it up, perfect!!!!! Will scratch stomach good, good for bones!

With his catch he waddled back and dropped it in front of fireman, cooing in place.

"..."

"..."

"Coo?"

"..."

"..."

"Coo. Cooo. COOOOOOOOOOOOO" He pecked on the fireman's head, Phoenix found a shell! You don't need to keep looking!

"...."

There however wasn't a reaction even after a minute, he was getting a tiny bit worried now, especially when the fireman's body slumped further, no longer bended but just laying down, unmoving... this wasn't how one searched for food in the sand!

He carefully bend his neck down, nudging at the fireman's shoulder.

"..."

No reaction... with his talons he then started pushing at the body, shuffling the body around in the sand until it rolled over.

"Coo?" Fireman??? Fireman??? He looked over the other's body covered in sand to the face. Eyes closed.......

"!!!" Eyes closed! Unmoving! S-suddenly falling! He knew this! Phoenix had seen it! But- but Fireman not wrinkly! He only saw it happen with wrinkly people or if there was the red human waterworks, but there was no red!

But... there was the clear human waterworks, because fireman had been worried. DID PHOENIX CAUSE THIS! No no no no!!!!!!

More desperate he started nudging at the fireman's body, cooing in panic and he pushed his body around, but there was no movement, nothing! He had to get the fireman moving, if he didn't.... the other humans always took those that stopped moving away. Phoenix never saw them again after. He didn't want the other humans to take fireman away! He wanted to still see fireman! Play catch with fireman!

Another few minutes passed and nothing happened, he had to- he had to! YES!!!!!! Phoenix could do something! Lil phoenix crystals!! Yes!!!!!!

Standing over the fireman..... no..... his friend.... Phoenix started to blink his eyes. C'mon, c'mon lil crystals! Crystals could heal everything! Crystals could heal his friend!

It hurt, it hurt Phoenix to make the crystals, was difficult and painful. He would loose some of his powers for a while, but it was okay, it was for his friend!

It took him far too long, but eventually he felt the sharp shiny crystal form at the side of his eyes, he would definitely have a gash at his eye, wouldn't heal with flames either, but it okay, it okay!

Blinking he felt it indeed slice though his flesh as it fell out, he watched it dropped right onto his friend's cheek and chirped in joy as he took a step back, waiting for it to work.

... waiting....

Waiting....

Why... why is it not working? Crystals heal everything.... everything? SO WHY NOT HIS FRIEND!

His fire flared in anger, why did it not work! He had his friend to heal! He was healing phoenix! He couldn't be the mighty phoenix without his friend! Stupid friend just had to heal!

He was about to peck at the body when he stopped. No... his fire deflated, growing small as he let himself drop next to the body, shuffling against it and nudging at his cheek. Starting to cry, making more crystals even if it hurt.

"Phoenix?"

"?" looking up, his face hurt.... oh. Old man. Maybe the old man could he- NO! Phoenix jumped up, standing in front of his friend. Old man was another human, other humans will take unmoving humans away!

"SCREEECH!" - He screeched at the old man, no matter how much he liked the old man, he wouldn't let him take away his friend. HIS friend! He would protect him forever!

Pops blinked at the screeching and hissing Phoenix, the only time he had ever gotten this treatment from the bird was the first few times he met him.

"What's wrong Phoenix?", he tried to ask as gently as possible, reaching out a hand only to be pecked hard, there was even haki in there, his finger bleeding. Pulling back his hand he took a moment to inspect the situation. He noticed the fire around phoenix's eyes looked off somehow, he was trembling too, the flames somehow bright yet dull, flickering all over the place. And behind the Phoenix was his son, Ace, sleeping peaceful, probably an attack by the weird way he was laying. That wouldn't be comfortable if he woke up.

"Ace can't be comfortable like that, let's move hi-"

"SCRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEECHHH!!"

Blue fire lashed out violently the moment he even mentioned of moving his son, and phoenix seemed on the verge of tears somehow. "oh... are you worried for Ace? ... that's it isn't it?"

He nodded at the reaction of the Phoenix and took a step back and crouched down, "He's okay Phoenix." he said with a small laugh and okay... he deserved the hiss. He kept speaking gently and more carefully, "He's really okay Phoenix, he's sleeping.... I know human don't normally sleep so suddenly. But Ace boy has narcolepsy... Ace is special." he decided to simplify it, not knowing if the bird even knew of human illness.

"He will sometime for asleep like this, he can't control it. But he's fine.... why don't you put your head on his chest hmm? C'mon, trust me... if you do I won't try to move him."

Without taking his gaze of the elder, Phoenix carefully took a few steps back to be able to put his head down. He would do it if the elder promised to not take his friend. Laying it down he still felt the abnormal human heat he loved. Keeping his head still he looked at the elder. Now what?

"Don't you hear something, Phoenix?"

Hear? He focussed a bit... "Ro... ro ro... ro" He copied the rhythm of the weird noise he heard as he looked at the old man, was that it?

"That's it" Pops smiled, and pointed to his own chest, "That's a human's heart. If you hear those thumps they're alive. They're okay. You can have faith Ace will wake up for as long as you hear those thumps... just wait."

With a small nod he kept his head pressed to the chest, listening carefully, getting scared a few times when there was a pause in the noise, but it always returned. Then... it suddenly started getting faster and!

"COOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" he jumped on his friend the moment he felt movement.

Ace stuttered incomprehensible words as the moment he woke up and tried sitting up he got a face full of blue flames and had to flail to keep sitting up and hold the Phoenix so he didn't fall as he sat up properly.

"Morning son, you okay?"

"Huh, oh pops." Ace looked towards the voice, "yea, I'm fine. Just an attack."

"Thought so," he nodded before pointing to phoenix, "he was worried."

"Worried?"

He nodded again, "he didn't let me close or move you, seemed to have been crying too."

"C-crying? Why? I was just sleeping."

"I don't think Phoenix understood. I think that he thought you were dead or something. I let him listen to your heart as proof you're alive. But he was still a bit sceptical until you woke up. So if you wake up with a bird on you again, you know why."

Slowly Ace nodded, embracing the Phoenix in his arms. He saw from the corner of his eyes that pops left them alone and went to sit a bit away to give privacy.

"I'm okay" Ace whispered, stroking over the blue flames with care, giving his head a small kiss, "I'm fine." and tried to explain as best as he could what happened to the bird. Yet even after he didn't push the Phoenix away, not even when the sun started to disappear behind the ocean and the only light left were their own flames. Usually Marco returned by dark, but it seemed the blond was letting Phoenix have this moment for now. So for as long as the bird wanted to, Ace held him close, not leaving his side until he knew the Phoenix would be okay.

Couple of weeks later

He cooed in victory as he got a strawberry out of the sliding drawer in his personal box. His friend had made new things to try and this was one of them. He liked these, there was always a surprise in them! Most often treats!

About to try one of the other new challenges he heard a thump not far from him. Looking around he found his friend laying face down and butt up in the middle of the deck.

Instantly he cooed and ran over, nudging the body over so he was laying down on his back, one arm next to body. Without hesitance he started nudging with his head at the arm so he could get under it, scootching further until he could settle against his friend.

With a happy coo he nuzzled the freckled cheek with his beak before laying his head on his chest. Nap time. It was nap time now. He liked naptime. Naptime wasn't scary anymore because he knew his friend was okay.

Soft coos left him as he now enjoyed the warmth radiating of his friend and the heaviness of the arm he laid under. He listened to every little thump of his friend's heart, knowing that as long as the little thumps were there, everything would be alright.

Lil Phoenix drawing that has absolutely nothing to do with the story....

He's stuck in a roll of toilet paper haha!
Reason for it? ... Who knows! Only Phoenix knows for sure why he crawled in. 

Chapter Text

Some crew members blinked as Ace come onboard with something on his head, something blue and talking.  

“Commander Ace? What’s that?”  

“It’s a parrot! I found him on the island, isn’t he the cutest!”  

“YOI!” - PHOENIX IS CUTER!  

Ace blinked as someone yelled, obviously Marco, but he still had to ask the blond not far away from him, “Marco?”  

Said blond cleared his throat, “Sorry, something- ahem- got into my throat.”  

“Oh annoying, anyway!” Ace smiled turning back to the others, taking the parrot of his head and cupping it his hands to hold out. “Look at him he’s so-”  

“Yoi.”  

The deck grew silent....  

“Yoi.”  

Ace squealed and turned the bird to him, “You said yoi!! Ooooooohhh that’s so cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just like Phoenix!!!!” And laughed brightly for a second until suddenly he was knocked to the floor.  

“Huh- wha- Phoenix!” Ace smiled seeing the big bird on top of him, “You came to say hi to little Phoenix.”  

“YOI!” Phoenix called out and with a talon pushed the little guy off of Ace’s hands. He was about to nuzzle into the raven, HIS raven! When instead he was pushed off.  

“Phoenix! No!” Hurriedly Ace pushed the bigger bird off and went for the little parrot, picking it up, “Are you okay little one?” and patted over the head.  

A meter away the blue bird laid on his back, not reacting to the pirated nudging him with their foot, asking if he was okay. So, he was going over everything just that just happened.  

His friend had pushed him, pushed him away for another Phoeni- NOT PHOENIX!! For a tiny little ugly bird. Ugly bird that copied him. Ugly bird at least knew Phoenix was great and tried to mimic his greatness, but would of course never be as good as him but-… he was pushed!  

“Guys I think he’s crying...”  

“What do we do?”  

“... Ace? Can you like... Help Phoenix up?”  

Ace blinked “huh? What do you mean?” and looked over with a chuckle, “don’t worry, he’s just napping!”  

Napping...  

A long coo left him as his wings spread out around him on the floor, letting himself melt away. So this was his end.... Pushed over the edge to his death by his friend.  

‘Phoenix, you’re okay.’  

Shut up my human, Phoenix wants to die alone  

‘You can’t.’  

Phoenix will.  

‘Why are you dying-yoi?’  

Friend pushed me to my death.  

‘... Maybe it was an accident.’  

“Yoi?”  

‘Yea, you know how Ace gets sometimes, maybe it was a weird spasm from his Narcolepsy.’  

Phoenix thought over it before he jumped up with a loud happy coo, not caring he knocked over atleast two cabin boys with his wings. They need to make way for the mighty Phoenix!  

Accident!!!! His friend didn’t mean to push!! Yes!! NO DEATH FOR PHOENIX!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Cooooooooooooooooooooo  

With happy coos he swung his head side to side as he sung, walking to his lovely fire human and nestling in his side, for now ignoring the ugly blue bird.  

“Do you want to say hello to mini-Phoenix?”  

Blinking he saw the little bird being lowered before his sighed, confused he looked up, why would Phoenix say hello to ugly impersonator?  

“C’mon, just a tiny greeting. You would make me very happy.”  

…  

…  

Greeting... they didn’t need to hello right?  

With that Phoenix turned back to the thing before him. Beady eyes, blue feather, even a few yellow ones in between, obviously badly mimicking him.  

With a little roll of his eyes he leaned closer, lightly tapping the tiny birds chest with his head. ‘Phoenix is better then you.’ He cooed out to the tinier one. Good greeting if he thought so himself.  

“Goodjob! Thank you!!!”  

See! Even friend knows is good greeting. He preened at the head rubs he got from the scorching hand, looking smug at the tiny bird. Phoenix is best Phoenix. Always.  

Marco groaned, hitting his head on the table at breakfast.  

“What’s up birdy-”  

“Don’t, Thatch, Don’t-yoi.”  

“Aaawww cmon, tell uncle Thatchy what’s up??”  

“You know what’s up.” Marco sat up, blue flames spreading over his forehead before they’re gone, “That.” And nudged his chin to a table further.  

Humming Thatch looked at the other table, a table full of spades and....  

“Hiiii! How are you! Yoi! Hi!!! Yoi!”  

Ace squealed, “he’s learning more and more words!!!!! Isn't that amazing!!!!”.  

Deuce laughed as the small bird seemed to preen at the attention, only yelling louder while it jumped around on the table. “What are you teaching him next?”  

“I want him to say ‘Phoenix’.”  

“You sure?”  

“Yea! Since they’re friends he needs to be able to say Phoenix’s name! And he can already say ‘yoi!’ so he obviously likes Phoenix.”  

Deuce nodded, looking a little besides eyes at the glaring blue eyes from the other table, “Yea... friends...”  

“HIIIII! YOI!!!”  

“He is cute, cuter than the big version who’s deadly.” Deuce chuckled and patted the little bird, “Goodluck with the friendship little one.”  

…  

Thatch laughed “Please don’t tell me Phoenix is jealous?”  

At the defeated groan leaving the blond Thatch laughed even harder.  

“It’s not funny-yoi.”  

“Kinda is.”  

“No.” Marco grumbled, sprawling his hands over the table for a minute before laying his head down on top of them as he crossed them. “Phoenix has done nothing but yell. Yell at me to let him out. Yell at the tiny ugly impersonator.”  

“Tiny ugly impersonator?”  

“Phoenix’s name for the parrot.”  

“Nice.”  

“Yea, sure-yoi.” Marco rolled his eyes at it, “and when he’s not yelling, he’s or crying over how Ace is leaving him, how he’s dying, how-”  

“Dying? Are you for real? Because Ace is giving a parrot attention.”  

“Do these look like I’m joking?” Marco looked dead into Thatch’s eyes and pointed to the baggs under his eyes. “He’s not letting me sleep in favour of coming up with things how to please Ace and win his favour again. Or how to get rid of the parrot.”  

Thatch snorted, “Very different topics. I am interested in the ideas.”  

“Which ones?”  

“Both?”  

“For Ace... Kinda keeps going to just showing off. Flying around him to show off, preen to put attention on his feathers, catch him some big animal to show his strength and to give food, find pretty rocks. Ya know, the basics.”  

“The basics, yea, sorry forgive me for forgetting those.”  

“Shut it-yoi. Anyway. For the getting rid of the parrot. Far to many have been Phoenix picturing himself eating the thing.”  

Thatch choked on his own spit, “Excuse me?! Eat him! I know he dislikes him, but EAT?!”  

“You do need to remember Phoenix is a predator Thatch, even if he looks like a softy onboard and loves fruits and seeds.”  

“He was afraid of CD’s marco!? How is that a predetor!?”  

“That’s different Thatch. Phoenix doesn’t know what a CD is. In the wild he’s on top of the bird predetor chain or whatever. I mean... You think there’s many other birds with talons his size and the ability to just heal from whatever?”  

“Yea... I guess you’re right...”  

“And why do you think the Moby doesn’t have a mouse or rat problem?”  

Thatch nodded to it, “Fair.”  

“Now excuse me while I go and try to do atleast some paperwork and ignore the screeching of revenge and Phoenix’s greatness.”  

“Alright” the cheff watched Marco leave, but as he left he started blinking, “W-wait! What did you mean with the mouse and rat problem is not there because of Phoenix????”  

After having stopped for a second to listen what Thatch wanted, he however walked quicker on his way out.  

“Stop! Does Phoenix hunt them?! Does Phoenix eat them?! DO YOU EAT THE MOUSES ON SHOP MARCO!? COME BACK HERE!!!”  

“Look! They're playing!!!!”  

“Ace....... I don’t.... yea... sure... Playing murder.”  

“Silly Jozu!!!” Ace slapped the diamand-man’s back so hard the man had to actually transform a  part of it to not get hurt, “They’re playing catch!!!”  

…  

SCRRRREEEEEEEECHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH  

GET OVER HERE LITTLE PEASANT!!!!! HOW DARE YOU PREEN MY FIRE HUMAN FRIEND’S HAIR! ONLY PHOENIX PREEN FRIEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

…  

“Catch...” Jozu murmured watching the obviously with murder intent Phoenix fly after the tiny blue parrot. The Phoenix uncaring for anyone in his path and if the crew members didn’t jump out of the way or take boxes aside, the Phoenix would just fly through them or knock them away to pursue the target that, with its tinier size, was a lot more mobile.  

“oh no.”  

…  

GOT YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!  

Phoenix screeched in victory as the little ugly impersonator was trapped under his talon.  

‘Yoi! Hii! Yoi!!’  

Impersonating Phoenix shall not save you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But! Phoenix shall grant mercy and be quick! Only quick swallow and no chew!  

…..  

As phoenix opened his beak and was nearing the small being trapped, chaos interrupted around.  

“Someone’s gotte stop them!” Thatch came running, “Marco said Phoenix was actively gonne eat the parrot!”  

“What?!”  

But no worry was necessary for just before the parrot disappeared inside, never to be seen again, it-  

…  

‘Yoi! Foenis! Phoeniss!’  

??? Phoenix stopped and pulled back a bit, cocking his head at the little bird. What you say to Phoenix???  

‘Yoi! Hi! Phoenix!!!’  

All the rage and jealousy inside the mythical being’s heart melted away in an instant and slowly the big talon was opened.  

The little bird jumping out and nuzzled against the big deadly talon in where it had just been in. All the while chirping, randomly calling out Phoenix’s name and all the other words the bird knew.  

Phoenix had to crane his neck to look underneath him, to see the little ugly bird rub against him, he barely felt it... but...  

‘Phoenix!!!! Yoi! Yoi!’  

“Yoi.” Phoenix cooed back softly, still a little confused on the whole thing.  

‘YOI!!!!!’  

The little one chirped back louder and happily and Phoenix carefully pushed the tiny bird away from himself... This was... weird...  

‘YOI! PHOENIX PHOENIX!!!’  

But the little one kept running back to him.... Why... Go away... Phoenix tried to eat ugly impersonator...  

‘HIIII!!!!’  

…. Without a sound Phoenix slowly nestled down. A few sounds of horror around that Phoenix sat down on the parrot and crushed it. But a few seconds later, out of the plumage of Phoenix’s chest, did the small hat pop out. Chirping happily.  

Ugly impersonator... maybe... not so ugly...  

With his beak Phoenix carefully nudged the little bird more towards his wing, opening it slightly and smiling inside as the tiny bird hopped inside the gap. And when the tiny one started pulling at the feathers inside on him, it only took a minute to realise the smaller bird was preening him.  

Silly little impersonator, Phoenix’s feathers are too big for you to preen.  

But still Phoenix didn’t stop the little one and instead fully nestled down, putting his own head back and resting it into the wing, still able to see the little guy work away.  

Maybe.... maybe Phoenix can share his friend if it is with little impersonator... just a little.

Chapter Text

“Alright, new move time!” Ace called out as he pulled up imaginary sleeves.

A blond person close by had the opposite reaction to the firecracker’s cheer. “Ace-yoi... no...”

“Ace-yoi, yes!"

“...”

“...”

A heavy sigh and Marco came to stand next to him, “Just this battle.”

“Wwwwwwwwwwwwwwooooohh!”

“And just once.”

Ace cheered and loudly thanked Marco right as they were attacked by some idiot marines, it wasn’t too long later before this new attack Ace talked about came into play when an captain came at Ace.

“Alright!”

Marco could already be seen sighing again as he let blue flames flare around him, all the while Ace was still yelling.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah!” Ace was making a show of making a decently sized fireball between his hands before condensing it, making it the size of a small ball.

“You think a small ball like that will hurt me?” The captain of the marines raised an eyebrow, already laughing at the display.

But Ace didn’t let it deter him as he pulled his arm way behind him as he yelled, “AAAAH!!! Take this! PHOENIX IN YOUR FACE!” And threw the ball towards the captain who easily sidestepped it and was smirking as he turned back.

“That was it? That was-”

“SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEECHHH!”

The whole fight got silent as everyone, brothers and enemies included, watched a bright blue Phoenix fly against the captain. It wasn’t an attack like usual, not Marco attacking with his talons or back. No. The Phoenix literally flew straight against the poor guy, throwing the captain off his own ship in one fell swoop.

The mighty Phoenix however didn’t stop his flight and kept…. Chasing after the fire ball.

Any marine, or friend, that couldn’t jump out of out of Phoenix’s straight path in time, got hit in the face with blue feathers. Be it from wings or a feathery chest, it didn’t matter as the Phoenix pursued the deadly fire.

When the bird caught the ball in it’s talons, it let out a jumble of happy bird noises before turning around in the air. Once more flying over the marine-ship, knocking stunned marines over, and going to Ace where the ball was dropped in the fire-user’s hand.

Ace grinned widely, “That’s a good birdy!!!!!!!”

You could see there was a moment of proudness in the bird before it was gone and the flames sparked, indicating Marco would return, but Ace was quicker.

“Wanne go again?”

The transformation stopped and beady eyes locked onto the ball again.

Ace pulled his arm back and instantly the Phoenix’s talons shifted on the ship and his wings were slightly opened, obviously ready to take to the air at any time.

“Readyyyyyyyyyyyyyy setttttt GO!”

SCRRREEECH!

Once more Phoenix was off after the ball, marines trying their best to dive out of the way. But not only did Ace have good aim. The ball and Phoenix were fast!

It was repeated a few times, at one point Ace even faked a throw, making the bird fly off only to stop and look back to Ace in confusion, trying to figure out where the ball is.

Ace just held up one hand, “I don’t have it.” Even if it was obvious he had it behind his back with his other. Just as Phoenix was about to come back to him, Ace gasped and pointed at the Marine captain that had just been able to climb back on board, “PHOENIX! HE HAS IT! THE CAPTAIN TOOK YOUR BALL!!!”

“W-what?” The captain asked out of breath before his eyes widened when the bird turned to him, “NO NO! I DON’T HAVE IT! I WOULD BURN! HOW WOULD I EVEN HOLD IT!?”

But Phoenix didn’t listen and just dove for the captain, taking him in his talons and raising him in the air, literally shaking him as he squawked at the man.

While even the pirates where gaping at the scene, Ace was cheering, “Gooo Phoenix!!! Shake it out of him! C’mon!!!!!!! hahahahahhaha!!!”

Eventually the bird must have realized the man in fact didn’t have it and let him drop to the ocean again and made his way around the ship, essentially defeating every marine that remained in search of his ball. When the whole ship was finally defeated, Ace threw it without the bird seeing.

“There it is Phoenix!!! Quick! Catch!”

The bird looked to Ace and followed the direction the firecracker pointed into, screeching as it saw the fireball fly into the distance. Within second the marine in his claws was forgetting as the bird sped afterwards.

Now when Phoenix returned and Ace tried to take the ball again, the jumped aside, giving a look that dared the raven to try and take his ball again.

Ace however didn’t mind and laughed, “Alright! You win!” and instead hugged the bird tightly. Nuzzling into the feathers as the bird plopped down in favor of playing with his ball. Chewing on it like he was a dog or pushing it with his beak. And as long as Ace didn’t try to take his ball, he let the raven cuddle into him freely and give all the compliments to him that the raven wanted. They were all deserved anyway as he was a good bird indeed.