|| One Piece || Together for Always

Chapter 4 - Getting Help

A/N: I wanted to apologize for this late update. This shitty author got excited on her grad that she totally forgot what to write for this chapter. Sorry again. Anyways, I'll remind you all that whatever you will read here regarding medical explanation might be inaccurate. I did all the research but doesn't mean I get it right. I'm not a medical student after all.

This chapter was beta-ed by the lovely, Royiah. The title chapter was from her as well.

I own nothing so without further ado!

Marco was currently talking to his Oyaji about the kid that stole money from Thatch and their idea to recruit him when the Moby Dick shook violently. From his captain's room he could hear the shouting of his brothers coming from the deck. Tensing, Marco looked to his Oyaji seeing the concern for his children as they both stood to check on them. Marco stilled as he took in the deck, the wooden flooring held new scorch marks upon it. A few of his brothers are sporting new burns. The raven-haired kid panting heavily. Marco noted that the raven-haired kid was glancing at the other kid with worry, urgency and desperation. Another young blond-haired boy wearing a top hat and what looked like noble clothing behind the raven, his eyes blown wide looking toward himself and Oyaji then back to the raven in the middle of it all.

Turning to his brother Izo, Marco's eyebrow raise in question but didn't get an answer as Oyaji's booming voice reverberated throughout the Moby Dick.

"What's happening here?" Oyaji asked. The two boys flinching before looking at Oyaji with more attention. The bag of money being tossed and the expression of the raven he dragged here Marco could see he was trying to get the blond to escape first but the blond was refusing. 'Who was that kid, anyways? I don't remember seeing him from here earlier.' Marco asked himself. The glare from the raven was sharper now than before but behind that glare Marco could see the panic and worry. He couldn't blame the kid though, he was currently face to face with the 'Strongest Man Alive' and one of the Yonko of the sea, Whitebeard. Just the name of his father brings fear to anyone let alone being in his presence.

"Is that the kid you were talking about, Marco?" Marco looks up at Whitebeard just to see him, staring at the raven-haired kid with scrutinizing eyes. He could feel the slight amount of Haki coming from his father, probably testing the kid's willpower.

"Yeah, Oyaji." Marco answered calmly before turning his gaze to kids.

"Who's the other brat?" Oyaji asked. His father's eyes assessing the blond kid, the raven had moved his body to shield the blond one which earned an amused look from his father and of course from him. Both the kids can even move under his father's Haki. Marco couldn't count how many times he watched pirates that always challenged them cower at this level of Haki his father released but these two didn't even flinch nor show any fear. It just proved how strong willed these two are and he couldn't help but wonder what these two had faced to become fearless at such an age.

"I caught him sneaking here, Oyaji." Izo answered. His father hummed thoughtfully as he stared at the two. It looks like that Whitebeard had taken a liking at the two. Marco glanced toward Thatch sharing their smug faces and pride in finding new recruits.

The two we're so engrossed in their silent conversation that they hadn't noticed that the blond kid had stepped out and started talking to his father. Only snapping back when the thumping of the blonds knees hitting the deck on his hands desperately pleading with Oyaji. The raven behind him tried to make him stop but the blond kid just shrugged his hand off and continued his plea.

They're conversing like their life depends on it, it's not but they don't know that. What he heard next however makes his blood run cold and guilt suddenly weigh upon him, crushing his unfounded pride in taking the raven to begin with.