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Marco walked onto the deck with a bottle of sake in his hand. He walked over to the railing and leaned against it as he stared at the stars. It was weeks after the war, after losing Ace and Whitebeard, that Marco was still trying to adjust. It felt weird not hearing Ace's laugh or Whitebeard's booming laughter. It was quiet in a way that he didn't know what to make of it.
Marco spent most of the week caring for the rest of the crew that managed to make it back to the ship alive. He got in contact with Law to see how Luffy was healing. Law let him know that they made it to Amazon Lily where Hancock took over which set Marco at ease. At least Luffy was at a place where he would be protected. He’d check up on him a little later again. He felt it was the least he could do considering everything Luffy did for them. It helped him take his mind off the emptiness of the ship too.
Marco sat down by the railing, his mind going back to the time he caught Ace sneaking into Whitebeard's room again. A sad smile graced his lips at the memory. He would give anything to do that again.
Marco sighed as he opened the sake. He needed something to take his mind away from it all. Marco poured his first cup when he heard someone walk over to him.
"May I join you?"
Marco looked up to the owner of the soft request. His mind blanked a bit until the person smiled. Marco's mind clicked back into motion when he recognized Izou. Izou wasn't wearing his usual outfit. He wore a light blue and white yukata with matching sandals. His hair was down, his face clean except for some eyeliner. It looked like he had been crying, but Marco acted as if he didn’t notice it. He nodded and offered the bottle to him. "Be my guest."
Izou smiled. "Thank you." He took a seat next to him before he pulled out his cup. Marco poured some for Izou before placing the bottle down. They silently drank their first cup then their second. On the third refill Izuo broke the silence.
"Couldn't sleep?"
Marco shook his head. "I haven't been able to sleep for a while. You?"
"The same. Whenever I close my eyes I still see Pops and Ace. I don't want to go to sleep, but I don't want to leave my dreams either." Izou said finishing his third cup.
Marco nodded. "I understand. I face the same decision every morning. I keep waiting for Ace to do another fire trick. Then for Pops to call me in for a drink. I have to remind myself that it won't happen."
"I know how you feel. I keep waiting for Ace to hide one of my combs then for Pops to fuss at him about it. It feels weird knowing I'm not going to get any more combs from them."
"Ace gave you combs?"
"My birthday, Christmas, New Year's, when we met up at port…any chance he could get really."
"...I noticed you weren't wearing one."
Izou touched his hair slowly. "I couldn't bring myself to get one tonight.” He brought his cup up to his lips. “...Pops liked to give me combs too."
"It feels weird knowing I'm not going to have dinner with Ace at port anymore."
"Ace did that for you?"
"Every time we met up."
"Did you have to leave money behind for meals?"
Marco chuckled. "Every time."
Marco and Izou shared a laugh while they swapped stories about their times with Ace and Whitebeard. There were moments that they learned from each other. The moments that they shared which they wouldn’t forget. Then there were the special moments that they each held close when it came to Ace and Whitebeard. They knew that those two cared about everyone, but to learn about how that same caring nature spread out across the sea was something they would always hold dear. During their storytelling they continued to catch each other’s gaze. It wasn’t the first time Marco and Izou had noticed each other before. How could Marco ignore the perfect way Izou did his makeup and hair every time? How could Izou not pay attention to the muscles Marco displayed or the way his lip curved when he laughed? They tried not to acknowledge the shift in the atmosphere and continued to stare at the stars.
It wasn’t long before they made it through the bottle. Marco noticed nothing was coming out when he tried to pour another drink. He peeked in the bottle then placed it back down with a grumble. “Damn it, we’re almost out. I’m going to go get some more.”
Marco got up and turned towards the kitchen. He turned around to see Izuo following behind him. Marco could find the rest of the sake without any trouble, but he wasn’t going to push away any company. Once they made it Marco started looking through the cabinets. “I know it’s here somewhere.”
“Is it over here?” Izou asked as he opened a cabinet next to Marco.
“Yes that’s it! Here let me go get it.” Marco walked over though in the process he stumbled and nearly fell on Izuo. Izuo caught him and fell back against the counter.
“Sorry, are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I’ve been hit with worse you know.”
Marco chuckled. “Just want to make sure you’re still not sore.”
“Well, there are other ways to check…” Izou trailed off as he looked up at Marco.
Marco placed the bottle on the counter behind Izou as Izou placed his hands on Marco’s chest. The energy between them that had been growing for awhile snapped when Izou closed the gap between them. Marco wrapped his arms around his waist. Their kisses started out as slow almost as if they were asking each other the same question before they pulled apart. They weren’t in a very private place the door wasn’t locked and nearly everyone on board was asleep except for the night watch crew, yet that didn’t pass through their minds as they stared at each other.
Izou smirked. “So…did you check?”
Marco returned it. “I think I need to check again.” He cupped Izou’s cheek, sealing his lips over Izou’s in a deep kiss. Their kisses changed from soft, tentative ones to hard, hungry meetings of the tongue. It was something they needed. Something they could ensure they make it through the rest of the night.
Marco broke the kiss and placed kisses down Izou’s neck. Izou moaned softly, leaning his head back for more as he gripped Marco’s shirt. He arched against him when Marco slid a hand into his yukata as Izou moved his hands up to Marco’s shirt. Marco kissed up his neck to his ear. “My cabin or yours?”
“Doesn’t matter,” Izou breathed as he started to take off Marco’s shirt.
Marco nodded and gave Izou a quick kiss before he grabbed his hand. They walked out of the galley and over to Marco’s cabin where they spent the night working out all the stress that had kept them up for weeks. There were other things that they needed to do, people they needed to check on, and other things that needed their attention on the ship. All those things could wait until later, right now they needed another way to help calm those thoughts that ran through their mind at night.
It wasn’t the same as drowning their sorrows in alcohol, it was better.
They had each other.