One Piece Various x Reader

2: Aching Hearts [Marco x AFAB!Reader]

Summary | Continuation of Mythical Matters, this DOES have spoilers!!

CW | AFAB reader / no reader pronouns used / angst / mentions of death /

!!! Spoiler Warning !!!

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Everything was perfect once you joined Pops' crew, you became a part of a family that loved you, one that cherished you despite having a devil fruit, and you even found the love of your life. But it seemed no matter what, you were destined for a life of despair. Not quite being given the break you had wished for every single night on the island you were born and raised on.

It all came crashing down a week after Thatch had found that devil fruit on one of the islands you and the crew had visited.

He was proud, excited even that he had managed to get his hands on such a remarkable fruit.

But jealousy and anger ran rampant that night.

It was storming out, everyone had retired for the night.

Everyone but two people.

Morning came, it didn't take long for the crew to find Thatch's dead body or to notice Teach's absence.

After the death of Thatch, a chain of events began, each more horrible than the last.

Ace running away in search of Teach, blinded by his anger.

The news that Ace had been captured.

Teach became apart of the warlords.

Ace was killed.

And pops fell victim to his wounds, all of which caused by the world government and their admiral dogs.

You were there when it all unfolded, baring witness to the horrible truth of what it meant to be a pirate against those with twisted versions of 'justice'. You watched as countless of your crew, your allies, all dropped dead, each of which fighting for Ace's life.

You watched as Marco failed to heal himself due to sea stone cuffs.

As Ace protected Luffy, sacrificing his own life.

And as Whitebeard gave his final words before the light of life left him.

You remembered how you couldn't move, staring as the slaughter continued.

You could hear Marco yelling your name, telling you to run, to get away, but it was far too late.

A sword from one of the millions of marines had hit you, taking off half of your horn and leaving a sizable scar across the side of your face. You could still feel the searing pain as a chunk of your cheek was cut off, the feeling of your blood dripping down, onto the ground below.

If it weren't for Izou, you would've been dead.

You blinked, breathing in as you ran a hand along the scar that marred the side of your face.

You were thinking about the war again.

Sighing, you set down the book you had been reading before your thoughts wandered, you got up from your spot on the couch.

"Marco..?" you softly called, looking for your lover.

The sun was going down, it would be dark soon.

You figured he was sitting in his usual spot, the old tree stump that sat outside your shared home.

"Marco?" you called again, opening the front door.

There he sat, elbows resting on his knees as he sat hunched over, most likely lost in thought.

Making your way up to him, you placed your hand on the middle of his back and rubbed it. This seemed to knock him out of his thoughts, as he looked up at you and smiled, though you didn't fail to miss the way his eyes flickered towards the scar on your face.

Sitting down next to him, you hummed and looked at the sun. "You were thinking about it all too, weren't you?" you asked. It wasn't rare for the both of you to think about everything that had happened, the ache in your hearts caused by the death of Whitebeard and Ace, along with the disbandment of the Whitebeard crew all together.

Marco sighed, "Come on, let's get back inside, it's going to start getting cold" he stood up, offering you a hand. You gave him a small, sad smile. He was thinking about it, but he knew you were too. There was no reason to put more of a damper on things.

Taking his hand and following him inside, you closed and locked the front door behind you.

"Do you think things will ever go back to normal?" you asked, already knowing the answer to that question.

You've asked it many times now.

'I don't know' was Marco's usual answer.

But today was different.

"They will, Pops wouldn't want us continuing to mope like this, Ace lives on within his brother, and the whitebeard crew still lives within our hearts-yoi" Marco smiled, though you could see the way his eyes glossed over.

Nodding, you let out a shaky sigh.

It was time to move on, and you knew that.

"Come on, let's go to bed" Marco tugged at your hand.

You followed him to your shared bedroom, slipping off your clothes and pulling on your night-dress, you climbed under the blankets and into Marco's arms.

"Do you think we'll ever see them again?" you asked.

"Who?"

"Jozu, Vista, all of them..." Your heart hurt thinking about them, what were they doing now?

"I don't know-yoi" Marco answered honestly, "they've gone their separate ways" he pulled you closer, resting his chin on the top of your head. "I'm sure we'll hear about them soon enough, they make great pirates-yoi" he smiled.

You hummed in response, running one of your hands over Marco's bare chest, you felt him shiver under your touch.

"Hey, look at me" Marco prompted.

You shifted, pulling your head out from under Marco's chin to look up at him, "hm?"

"You're still beautiful" he breathed, "I'm sorry I could never reach you in time to..." his words trailed off as he delicately ran his thumb over the scarred part of your face. You smiled sadly, "It wasn't your fault."

"I know-yoi" Marco frowned, "but still... If I had been quick enough I could've-"

"Stop" you shushed him, "it was something not even you could've stopped, it happened and there's nothing that can be done about it" you brought a hand up and cupped his face. "I'm just happy we're both still alive, I'm happy I get to see you everyday."

He said nothing as he wrapped his arms around you and brought you closer, pushing your chest up against his. You let out a deep sigh, taking great care to enjoy the fact that his body was warm and alive.

"I love you" you whispered.

"I love you too."