NightmareCloud
a little rain never hurt anyone
a private 1x1 RP with
Kaiju Cat
Kaiju Cat
Pain. And a disastrous ringing in his ears. Marco's senses were overwhelmed as he pushed himself up from the ground. His captain, Whitebeard, stood about 200 feet before him, hands out to his sides from the use of his fruit that had just shaken everyone at MarineFord to their core. The seafaring doctor wiped the dirt and stones from his hands with haste as he scanned the surroundings for his crewmate. Through the commotion, he caught a glimpse of the large red beads that Ace always wore around his neck.
Even now, facing death head on, it looked like Ace was still fighting.
Marco steadied himself as the ringing began to subside, replaced by the surge of battle; the clashing of metal against metal, the screams of marine and pirate alike. He had lost sight of Ace for the moment, but began running in the direction he had seen him, kicking up dirt and pebbles on the way. Between the fatigue from using his fruit and the unsteady ground underfoot, Marco's steady gate soon became a lopsided sprint towards the crowd of people.
Contact with the ground was quick, but painful as Marco slid forward on his stomach after losing his footing.
Before him was a horrifying sight. Ace was huddled over Luffy, blocking the captain of The Strawhats with his body. Blood spattered his back, though it was not his own. Behind him, standing tall with Akainu's molten fist jammed through his chest was Whitebeard. Marco's heart sank, and he felt his throat tighten as tears threatened his vision.
A eerie silence fell over the battle as Marco watched Ace turn and begin screaming at the sight of his captain. Time seemed to stand still as he scrambled towards Ace. He placed his hands firmly on his crewmate's shoulders as the battle seemed to kick up again.
The raven was being wracked by dry sobs, but there was no time to waste. It seemed that Akainu was getting ready for another strike.
"Ace!" Marco shook him roughly, "we have to go. Now" The urgency in his voice did little to sway his grieving companion.
Marco looked up from Ace for just a moment to see the admiral reeling up for yet another strike; this time he was aiming directly for The Whitebeard Pirate's second division commander. The doctor gripped him tightly and used the rest of his strength (with a bit of help from his fruit) to whisk Ace out of danger. The impact of Akainu's fist left a large crater in the ground where Ace had kneeled just moments before.
The creaking boards of the ship and the chatter of other injured pirates surely did nothing to comfort Ace, but Marco had no other choice. The phoenix man set his friend down gently on the deck and instructed him to stay there and wait for their retreat, which would undoubtedly be soon. With Whitebeard dead, there was nothing more that they could do but scatter; the marine's forces were simply too strong for them.
Crewmembers began piling on the ship in a matter of minutes, with Marco helping the more worn and torn ones to the infirmary, and as that filled up, the surrounding deck area. It took no longer than three minutes to gather themselves and hastily abandon their post at MarineFord.
Once out at sea and safely away from the battle, Marco felt himself decompress a bit. The weight of everything was still there, but for the moment everyone who had made it back was safe. He picked his way through the crew; he had someone he needed to see.
"Here," he started, handing a glass of sake to Ace. Marco couldn't help but notice that Ace still looked very unwell. It was understandable, but it made his heart ache.
"Maybe a drink will clear your mind for a bit... do you mind if I?"
Marco gestured to the space beside him, but sat before Ace could answer.
Silence fell between them again as Ace sipped his drink.
Marco shifted uncomfortably before looking at him again, "Listen I know...a lot happened. We're all upset, Ace. But we made it out. That counts for something, doesn't it?"
Even now, facing death head on, it looked like Ace was still fighting.
Marco steadied himself as the ringing began to subside, replaced by the surge of battle; the clashing of metal against metal, the screams of marine and pirate alike. He had lost sight of Ace for the moment, but began running in the direction he had seen him, kicking up dirt and pebbles on the way. Between the fatigue from using his fruit and the unsteady ground underfoot, Marco's steady gate soon became a lopsided sprint towards the crowd of people.
Contact with the ground was quick, but painful as Marco slid forward on his stomach after losing his footing.
Before him was a horrifying sight. Ace was huddled over Luffy, blocking the captain of The Strawhats with his body. Blood spattered his back, though it was not his own. Behind him, standing tall with Akainu's molten fist jammed through his chest was Whitebeard. Marco's heart sank, and he felt his throat tighten as tears threatened his vision.
A eerie silence fell over the battle as Marco watched Ace turn and begin screaming at the sight of his captain. Time seemed to stand still as he scrambled towards Ace. He placed his hands firmly on his crewmate's shoulders as the battle seemed to kick up again.
The raven was being wracked by dry sobs, but there was no time to waste. It seemed that Akainu was getting ready for another strike.
"Ace!" Marco shook him roughly, "we have to go. Now" The urgency in his voice did little to sway his grieving companion.
Marco looked up from Ace for just a moment to see the admiral reeling up for yet another strike; this time he was aiming directly for The Whitebeard Pirate's second division commander. The doctor gripped him tightly and used the rest of his strength (with a bit of help from his fruit) to whisk Ace out of danger. The impact of Akainu's fist left a large crater in the ground where Ace had kneeled just moments before.
The creaking boards of the ship and the chatter of other injured pirates surely did nothing to comfort Ace, but Marco had no other choice. The phoenix man set his friend down gently on the deck and instructed him to stay there and wait for their retreat, which would undoubtedly be soon. With Whitebeard dead, there was nothing more that they could do but scatter; the marine's forces were simply too strong for them.
Crewmembers began piling on the ship in a matter of minutes, with Marco helping the more worn and torn ones to the infirmary, and as that filled up, the surrounding deck area. It took no longer than three minutes to gather themselves and hastily abandon their post at MarineFord.
Once out at sea and safely away from the battle, Marco felt himself decompress a bit. The weight of everything was still there, but for the moment everyone who had made it back was safe. He picked his way through the crew; he had someone he needed to see.
"Here," he started, handing a glass of sake to Ace. Marco couldn't help but notice that Ace still looked very unwell. It was understandable, but it made his heart ache.
"Maybe a drink will clear your mind for a bit... do you mind if I?"
Marco gestured to the space beside him, but sat before Ace could answer.
Silence fell between them again as Ace sipped his drink.
Marco shifted uncomfortably before looking at him again, "Listen I know...a lot happened. We're all upset, Ace. But we made it out. That counts for something, doesn't it?"
