~Prolog - A father always knows~
It was a peaceful day in the Grand Line on the famous Moby Dick, the ship of the Whitebeard pirates. Whitebeard himself sat in his chair and watched over his children. Most of the crew were working on the deck, but the commanders were with him.
Except for Ace, his second division commander. The fire user was away on a mission to an island under his protection. The mayor called them more often in the last time that they have problems with some bandits and they don't know how to help themselves except calling the Whitebeard pirates.
Most of the other commanders were either sitting or standing next to his chair and watch their two brothers' chase. The first division commander Marco was chasing after the fourth division commander Thatch after the redhaired pirates pranked the whole second division, who wasn't on the mission. The blonde has started to get annoyed about the complaining and wanted to throw his brother into the ocean now. Whitebeard laughed about their antics and took a sip from his sake cup. Well if Thatch bothered Marco enough the blonde wouldn't remember his promise to the nurse to stop him from drinking too much. That meant it would be a more peaceful day on the Moby Dick than ever.
„ACE!" A loud shout was heard. In the next moment, Thatch was on Marco and on the fourth division commander sat a nineteen-year-old boy with black hair, brown eyes, a grin too big for his face and straw hat. „Luffy-kun, you can't do that like this everytime. Even if we are on a friendly basis with them." A Fishman appeared behind them and lifted the boy of the two commanders before he bowed slightly to Whitebeard as greeting. „Excuse our unannounced visit", he told and put his hands on Luffy's shoulders. The boy looked a bit confused before waved his hands as greeting tot he commanders and turned to look at Whitebeard while saying: „Hi Ossan."„Jinbe, Brat, nice to see you again", Whitebeard nodded slightly in return for the greeting. Luffy grinned.
Thatch stood up quickly and hugged the boy. „Good timing, Luffy. Really good timing. Now I have to get away from the pineapple of doom. See you later." And with that, the redhaired man ran away. Luffy tilted his head before he shrugged his shoulders. His attention then focused on Marco, who started to get up to chase after Thatch. „Pineapple!" In the next moment, Luffy hugged the blonde. Marco sighed before he turned his attention to the boy. „Hi Luffy", he told him and patted his hair lightly.
„Well, how did we get the honour of your visit?", Whitebeard asked. He seemed to look at the boy, but his eyes were on his first division commanders face. For strangers, Marco had his normal sleepy looking, lazy poker face. But Whitebeard saw more than that. It would be a bit embarrassing if he didn't know his brats well enough to tell what they are thinking even when they aren't showing it. The captain could see a soft look in the blue eyes and that his son suppressed a smile. An interesting reaction to seeing the brat again.
„I wanted to invite Ace and you guys personally to my birthday party", Luffy told them with a big smile. „I know your kind of parties. You invite a lot of people and expect them to not attacking each other, right brat?" „No, I don't invite a lot of people. Just my crew, you guys and Sabo. Perhaps Iva-chan is coming, too. But I don't know", Luffy said. „I'm sorry again that we didn't call you ahead. But we had some trouble on our way here with the Marines so we had to separate from the others", Jinbei explained their situation and the lack of the rest of the Straw hats. „Where is Ace?", Luffy changed the subject by asking for his big brother. „Mission. But Luffy. Can you do me a favour? Go find Thatch and tell him if he does one more prank he will cook everything alone for your birthday as a present", Marco said and everyone could see a slightly devilish smile on his lip. Luffy looked up at him. An unsure look on his face. But then he nodded and let go of Marco. With a scream for food, he went after Thatch.
„I hope we don't disturb you too much. But I would like to call the others so they can pick us up and to check on them", Jinbe said. „Stop worrying. Even if we aren't really allies, the brat belongs to the family so it is fine. You can stay here until Ace is back and the rest of the brats are here to pick you up. Izo, make sure the guest rooms are clean for them", Whitebeard ordered. „Oyaji.. we will need just one room and someone who Luffy can stay with. Remember the last time the brat was on the ship. He didn't do well and made a lot of noise until Ace got fed up an let him sleep in his room", Izo remembered and looked at his father figure. „Well, the only rooms with enough space for a second person are the commander rooms. So I say we put him in a room with Thatch. Maybe so we can keep him from playing pranks", Blennheimer offered. „No. Absolutely not. We don't put a troublemaker like Luffy with a self-appointed king of pranks like Thatch in a room for the night. We will have more trouble than usual. Luffy can stay with me. That way we have less trouble, yoi."
Whitebeard's eyes studied the Phoenix carefully and then he understood. „Good. Then prepare everything and tell the crew we have guests for a while. Marco, I want a word with you", Whitebeard said and stood up. The blonde seemed a bit surprised but didn't show it as he followed his captain in his ship cabin. The other commanders went with Jinbei after Luffy to make sure the chaos was still controllable.
„So the brat got to you?", Whitebeard said with a small smirk. „I don't know what you are talking about, Oyaji, yoi." The captain laughed. „So used to hiding your feelings even in front of your father?" Marco blushed a bit and looked to his left side. „Don't be embarrassed. I don't judge you for falling for the brat." He took a sip from his sake. „I don't care about it as long as you are happy. From the boy's face, I'll say it is a bit obvious that you two are in a relationship."„Fine... I confessed. I'm in a relationship with Monkey D. Luffy and no one except you knows because I like my sleep at night. Ace will start his whole killing season again if he finds out and I don't want to know what his crew will do, yoi." Whitebeard laughed.
Yes, he could imagine that while Ace's killing antics will mostly annoy Marco. The brat's crew was a different subject. He must say even he, the so-called strongest man alive, wouldn't like to know what the brats would do for their captain. He was sure of two things they all would die so that the brat could fulfil his dream and they're all very protective of their captain. „I can see your problems. But don't let them disturb you too much. You are both children of the sea. Free to do whatever you wish", Whitebeard said with a small smile. „Thanks, yoi." Marco turned to left the room, but his captain wasn't finished yet. „Don't be loud at night with him." The blonde froze and his whole face seemed red. Whitebeard laughed about his reaction and wondered to himself when his other children will notice that one of their older brothers, the so-called mother hen, is in a relationship.
