An Eternal Bond

Separating from someone who I haven't seen in so long is a solemn experience, but I want to see his life start over.

Marco started his over when Oyaji died.

A part of me wondered if I should too. Stray away from the life of a pirate and live a quiet life.

But it was all decided the moment I drew my first breath. A quiet life isn't one that is suited for me. I said to my crew long ago that I wanted to explore this vast ocean, and I will.

"Not coming back with me?" Marco asks as I turn in the other direction.

I glance back at him and smile. "Maybe for a bit. I want to taste your cooking again."

"Aw, that's it?"

I giggle and follow him back to the house we share. The door creaks open and we are welcomed by silence. That's fine though, I'd hope that there isn't anything else in there.

"Well, I guess we can relax before I return to work." Marco says. "What do you want today?"

"Actually... can we cook together?"

His brows raise but he nods as a hit of nostalgia comes to him. "We haven't cooked together in a long time."

"Indeed we haven't. But I just felt like it today. Wanna do one of Thatch's recipes?"

He nods, handing me a knife. "Don't be dangerous with this, now."

"No promises."

We finish up making the food and I push against him. "Go, go, I wanna surprise you!"

"With what, your setting skills?"

"Yes! Sanji told me about it at some point... I think." I display an innocent grin. "Sit down, I've got it."

Marco, despite how he acts sometimes, does trust me. He watches me for a while until I way a dismissing hand at him. "Stop looking!"

"Right, right."

I pick up two plates with food presented on them and place on in front of Marco. "Did I do okay?"

He examines it as if he's some sort of food critic. "Hm, not bad."

"Not bad?!"

He chuckles. "I'm joking, it looks great, Y/N."

I sit across from him, ever so often glancing away from my food and seeing him smile. I don't know what he's smiling about. I'm not entirely sure. But he does it so genuinely that I don't want to ask. I enjoy looking at it.

"So what's the special occasion?"

"Hm?"

"You don't ever want to cook with me, let alone make a little presentation."

I move some of my food around a bit with my fork. "Marco... would you be against me going out on my own? Just out at sea by myself?"

He pauses. Not just pauses, it's like he froze in his position. Then he let out a sigh. "You want to see the world, huh?"

"Well, yeah, sort of. And I don't want to disrupt what you've made for yourself here."

He smiles again, but this one is more solemn.

"We always knew you'd grow to be someone great." Pride fills him. I can see it in his eyes, even though he's not looking at me. "I guess you won't call us your older brothers anymore, huh?"

"Don't be ridiculous." I point my fork at him. "All of you will always be my older brothers. That will never change. After all... we're all children of the sea."