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Blinking awake, Marco winced at the bright light coming through the small window in his private cabin on the Moby Dick. Man, he really overslept, didn’t he…?
“Fuck,” he groaned, rubbing at his eyes. Eyes that for some reason just refused to stay open.
Why was he so tired? Sure, he wasn’t the youngest anymore, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t handle the little bit of stress brought by Ace’s imprisonment, culminating with the war at Marineford, and the subsequent all-nighter taking care of everyone’s injuries—
Okay, maybe it was no wonder he just passed out for god knows how many hours. He really didn’t want to move but he really didn’t have the luxury right now…
With a deep sigh, Marco pulled his blanket back, forcing himself to sit up.
“Mn.”
Someone stirred next to him, and immediately, a pang of guilt ran through Marco. After all, if anyone deserved to sleep for a week right now, it was him.
“Go back to sleep,” Marco whispered as he reached out, gently running his fingers through Ace’s hair.
Ace hummed noncommittally before he rolled over and threw his arm over Marco’s lap, seemingly falling asleep again.
“Ace, please. I need to go check up on Pops and everyone’s injuries,” Marco muttered, nudging Ace to get him to let go.
With a groan, Ace’s grip only tightened. “Says who? No one came to get you, they can deal with it for once.”
Marco paused. He had to admit that Ace did have a point but—
As he tried to reason with himself, it became harder and harder with each passing second. His brain was foggy, his eyelids heavy, the bed so comfortable, and Ace so warm, so solid, so alive. Marco couldn’t fight it anymore.
Taking a deep breath, Marco finally gave up. He let himself fall back into his bed, settling in next to Ace as if that was where he was supposed to be.
Immediately, the young pirate shuffled closer, snuggling up to Marco as closely as he physically could, and Marco felt a wave of emotions overtake him. He was so close to losing him. So close to losing everything. If it wasn’t for Straw Hat and Trafalgar Law…
Wrapping his arms around Ace to pull him closer, Marco closed his eyes tightly, pressing a long kiss to Ace’s temple, pouring all his feelings into the simple touch. He was sure Ace was already asleep again… but he didn’t care. He would do it again and again, as long as he was allowed to do so.
He was close to losing him but he’d be damned if he let something like that happen again.