Izo mused slightly. It was a quite surprising sight. First Luffy waited for someone before he got himself food. Luffy, who did scare most of the cooks of the Moby Dick by even out-eating Whitebeard. Luffy, who didn't even wait for his brother when food is involved. If Izo hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn't believe it.
But Luffy had waited until Marco entered the mess hall before the brat got his food. That black-haired boy sat next to the blonde, wasn't a surprise. Marco and Thatch were the closest to the boy through the friendship with Ace. But what really surprised Izo was the food on Marco's tray.
The cross-dresser knew for sure that the blonde normally prefered fruit curds and he also knew that Thatch did make sure one was left for Marco to calm the first mate. But he didn't have a fruit curd on his tray. There sitting neatly in the right corner of the tray was chocolate pudding. Marco never took chocolate pudding. As far as Izo knew Marco didn't like chocolate pudding except if it was made with real dark chocolate. This pudding was a light brown. So why did his brother have a dessert which he didn't even like?
The answer came a few seconds later when Luffy had inhaled all of his food. To make sure they still have food for everyone the cooks decided a limit of food the brat got on his tray. Yeah, Luffy stole food from others but if they ate quickly they had a chance to eat something. The black-haired boy eyed the pudding carefully. He never stole food from Marco. Because he didn't like a cranky pineapple and with stealing food from the blonde he would do it.
The Phoenix seemed to notice Luffy's interest in the pudding. „Eat up, yoi." The blonde put the pudding in front of the brat. Luffy looked at the pudding then at Marco before his famous big grin appeared on his face. In the next moment, the dessert disappeared into the black hole. He said something, which couldn't be understood due to his full mouth. But Izo guessed that it would be a ‚thank you'. The dark eyes of the cross-dresser went back to his older brother.
He couldn't read him as well as Whitebeard. But he hoped he could still see some emotion that let him get an idea of his brother's thoughts. Marco had his normal lazy expression. Izo blinked. Did he see that right? He wasn't sure. But there was for a few seconds a soft smile directed at Luffy. His eyes turned back to the boy. Luffy would be easier to read.
The boy couldn't lie to save his life and wasn't really good at hiding his emotion. So perhaps he could get his information out of the boy. But just asking felt wrong. It wasn't Izo's style to get his information by simply asking. Izo prided himself that he was able to get a lot of information by just looking at things and didn't ask for details. So he thought about Luffy's reaction.
Luffy seemed to happy about his extra dessert. But the boy didn't have to ask for dessert. It was like Marco took the chocolate pudding extra for Luffy. But what reason would the blonde have for that? Izo didn't know at the moment. He just has to wait for more information.
„So Luffy, for your party. Why didn't you invite Hancock? I thought you were friends with her. She seemed to like you when we met you at the marine ford", a crew member asked. Luffy stopped and looked at the crewmate.
„She is my friend... but she always asked me to marry her and Sanji won't be able to cook anymore if she is there." The boy shrugged.
„It is better for the whole male guest if she isn't there. I don't want to carry the people around who will be turned into stone by her, yoi."
Izo's eyes turned back to his brother. The blonde was right about some of the crew will be turned to stone by her if they met her again. But something about his tone got Izo thinking that Marco didn't have just the crew in mind. Carefully the cross-dresser studied him. There in his eyes well hidden. A gleam of jealousy. Izo had to lift his hand to cover his mouth. So the others around him wouldn't notice. A soft smile played on Izo's lips.
If the cross-dresser's surveillance was correct, and that he was sure of, Marco had a crush on a certain straw hat wearing boy. It would make sense. Marco wouldn't take food for others if it wasn't their birthday, but he did it for Luffy. And with Marco's crush on Luffy, it would also make sense why the boy would stay with the Phoenix.
The cross-dresser looked back to Luffy. He hoped that he didn't miss the reaction. But Izo wasn't sure if Luffy noticed the slight jealousy in Marco's eyes. The straw hat boy looked at the older man before he smiled. „Don't worry. No one shall work at my party. Except for Sanji and perhaps Thatch so we don't run out of food. I wouldn't like work to ruin the fun." „Oi, Luffy, have some love for me. Two cooks for at least two black holes." „Three. Sabo eats as much as Ace and me." Luffy smiled while shocking Thatch. „Who exactly is Sabo? I know I heard this name before you mentioned him earlier", Haruta wondered. „Ace-san properly told you about him. Sabo is another sworn brother of Luffy-kun and Ace-san. We met him in Dressrosa. He works under Dragon with Revolutionary", Jinbei explained. „Sabo is cool. He beat up this mask-guy from this bastard's crew and helped us to beat up Mingo's crew. He doesn't have a devil fruit, but he is super strong. He doesn't want one to be able to fish Ace or me out", Luffy told them with a big smile. „So there are three of you, yoi?" „Yes, but we don't know if Ace or Sabo is older. They argued a lot about it." Luffy laughed. The boy did have some sad gleam in his eyes even if he was smiling. „It will be an interesting party then", Izo smiled slightly.
The cross-dresser looked amused at his blonde brother. Marco lifted an eyebrow. Izo shook his head. He would confront his brother later. Until then he would have time to think about it.
His brother, Marco the Phoenix, first mate of the strongest man in the world, a seasoned pirate together with a super rookie, one of the Worst Generation, the only person, who is known to invade and survive all three marine institutions, son of the revolution leader Monkey D. Dragon and grandson of the marine hero Monkey D. Garp and sworn brother to Fire Fist Ace and Sabo, another revolution army member. He felt like the marine would get suicide thoughts if that relationship would be official. They would probably think that Whitebeard and Luffy are now in an alliance.
Well, they already thought that they were allies since marine ford. But after the chaos in Dressrosa and following islands, it should be clear that they not really allies. The brat picked up a fight with Big Mom, who they beat with the help of Capone ‚Gang' Bege, and with Kaido without their aid. They didn't even know about it until they read it in the newspaper. Ace nearly had a break down while Marco patted his head with the words ‚We know how you feel'. At that time everyone thought the comment was about Ace's recklessness.
But if Izo looked back now. His blonde brother could have used I instead of we. Well, if he had romantical feelings for the boy back then. But that wasn't the important question. The important question was if there was a chance for Marco to get together with the brat. But only if Luffy returned Marco's feeling. Because Izo would damn himself if he tries to get them together and got his brother's heartbroken while trying.
After the meal, Izo waited. He thought about talking with Marco, but he saw that the blonde had Luffy clinging to his arm. The brat talked fast about Whole Cake Island, which was now under the control of the Straw Hats. His eyes were shining with joy and, Izo was sure that he guessed the emotion right, love. Love for the blonde he clung to. Izo smiled. They would get together on their own. Or perhaps they were already together?
There had been a quick move of his brother. The cross-dresser was sure that Marco did kiss the boy on his head. Luffy had a light blush for a short time. But it disappeared as quick as it appeared.
So Izo's job today was, keeping Thatch away or better stopping him from pranking. „Thatch? Help me out with the room for Jinbe."
