Captivity

16 - Mayhem

ADMIRAL AKAINU LEAVES THE MARINE CO.

UNKNOWN THE REASON FOS SUCH A DEVASTATING NEWS

[...] ... all the great things the Admiral has done to ensure citizens' safety. So, it comes as a shock that the Fleet Admiral Sengoku has dismissed Akainu Sakazuki two weeks ago. As of now, the reasons behind such a drastic action are unknown. There have been several rumours, but the most believable would be the failure of the exchange between the pirate Portgas D Ace, Second Division Commander of Whitebeard's crew, and the marine Monkey D Luffy, the late Rear Admiral, killed before he could be rescued.

Several people, mourning... [...]

Luffy folded the month-old newspaper and scratched his chin. That was sure to come bite his ass, sooner or later. As he knew Akainu, the man was not one to simply retreat, not if 'Absolute Justice' was involved. No, he would retaliate, instead... Problem was, how did he recognize the signs of that? The ex-marine had obviously had a hidden agenda, since the beginning, and it probably centred everything on taking Senny's position. At the moment, the closest to it was Aokiji, given Sakazuki's desire to be seen as childish.

When he'd met the two for the first time, he'd almost envisioned the Armageddon that would ensue, should the two fight over the title. The chessboard had been flipped, though. It was not his complete fault, he just did what he joined the marines to do, nothing more, nothing less.

He massaged his forehead with a silent sigh. With Sabo in the protective hands of Whitebeard, Ace in the possessive clutches of Smoker – he was happy for both, the marine kept stealing his brother whenever he was up for a... 'visit' – and his crew again at his side, on the Sunny, Luffy couldn't have been more relaxed. A certain pirate was also helping in that, under the covers of some bed whenever he came to visit or the raven himself decided he wanted a meeting. It didn't revolve only around sex, he was glad about that, because Marco, at times, simply hugged him, stayed for some hours and left with a kiss.

It was warm, embarrassing at some points, but welcome. He truly felt treasured and Luffy returned the affection with... with something he wasn't sure could be called love, yet. But it was the nearest he had ever been to it and... to his personal happiness.

So, the raven simply leaned back in the sudden embrace and sighed, contented. Two arms circled his waist from behind and Luffy started caressing the hands softly, closing his eyes. A kiss was left on his neck, not to ignite him but as a greeting, and he smiled.

"Hello to you, too."

"No chances I can sneak on you, yoi?"

"None." Luffy turned to meet the other's lips in a chaste kiss and opened his eyes. "Why the visit?"

Marco leaned his head on the man's shoulder, not breaking the lock of their gazes. "I've just dropped Ace on an island." His lips curled in something near displeasure.

"You still don't like Smoker?"

He shrugged, as much as he could in that position. "Not really, yoi."

"Mother-hen."

"Like you're any different." He gazed over the newspaper. "You're still worried about him?"

"As if you're not." He shot, but sighed. "He'll come back, I know. He's never been one to step down easily. What he deems just, he pursues."

Marco hummed, closing his eyes and relaxing. "No news?"

"Only strange movements in the New World... Nothing too worrying and probably unrelated to him. Akainu will take some more time to come, but he will."