hiding

Welcome Home

"Alexia?" Alexia heard a familiar voice call out as they approached the tavern.

Alexia and Ian turned around to see Jozu, Marco, Thatch and Vista approaching them. Marco stopped briefly, his face flooding with concern as he gazed upon the blood that covered her body. He rushed forward quickly, followed by the others as he grasped her wrists and looked her over to check for injury.

"What the hell happened? Are you hurt?" Marco demanded.

"I'm fine, it's nothing really." Alexia shrugged off.

"Nothing?" Ian scoffed at her before exclaiming, "It was epic! I was attacked from behind by a Marine. I thought I was going to die for sure! Alexia came out of nowhere and beat his ass! With his own weapon I might add!"

"A Marine? Alexia fought a Marine? Willingly?" Jozu sounded confused.

"Lexi, are you okay yoi?" Marco's eyes stared into hers.

"Yea he barely even got a kick in..."

"Not physically Alexia." She was very aware of everyone's eyes on her.

"I... I don't know at the moment. I've never killed someone before." She looked conflicted.

"Wait you actually killed him?" Thatch asked amazed.

"Well he was going to kill Ian so... yea."

"We need to get you cleaned up." Marco stated. Alexia nodded her head in agreement, "We'll meet you all back at the Moby once your done in town."

Marco motioned for Alexia to get on his back. Alexia hesitated, looking down at her bloody clothes. Marco rolled his eyes and motioned again. She gave in, and they quickly took off from the ground. The Moby was a short distance away, near the docks. Alexia noticed as they landed, that the Moby was almost deserted. Most of the crew was on the island. Marco pulled her into their room.

Alexia headed to find more clothes but found herself being stopped short as he turned her around to face him, both hands on her shoulders, his face filled with concern and seriousness.

"Are you sure that you're okay?"

"It's like I said, I don't really know." Alexia gave him a weak smile, "I think I'm going to need a bit to process it, but I think I feel fine."

"You took on a Marine by yourself? Just like that? What was going through your head?" Marco looked exasperated.

"That he was about to kill a brother." Alexia mumbled, looking at the ground, "I just saw Ian on the ground, he was scared, and that Marine was going to kill him... and I just acted."

"You did good." Marco stated, surprising her.

"You're not angry?" She looked confused.

"You got away unscathed and killed someone who harmed our family." Marco smirked, "Of course I'm not angry. Definitely concerned, but proud."

"Thank you." Alexia looked embarrassed, "Honestly, thank you, it means a lot."

"Go get cleaned up yoi." Marco sat down at his desk.

"Yea yea yea." Alexia stuck her tongue out at him as she grabbed her clothes, walking out the door to the shower.

The warm water felt good against her skin, as she found it always did. She loved her showers. Alexia found scrubbing the blood off, very difficult. It felt as if she was scrubbing her skin off, the water turned red as it flowed down the drain. She rushed through her shower, satisfied when the blood no longer remained. She hurried to dry off and change clothes in case someone decided they needed a shower at the moment. Unlike the bath, the shower room was definitely not private, and she didn't believe soaking in a tub of bloody water would get her clean. She had settled for a black skintight midriff another pair of cutoff jean shorts. She smiled at the long scar on her side, the one Marco had given her when they had first met. It was faded now, and barely noticeable. She was happy that the scar had resulted in her ending up where she was now.

Alexia shrieked coming out the door as someone grabbed her arm. Thatch was heard laughing.

"Hey! You didn't try to hurt me this time!" He grinned.

"What the hell are you doing Thatch?" Alexia laughed as well.

"Well little sister," Thatch looked smug as he threw an arm around her shoulder, leading her towards the front of the deck, "We have a surprise for you."

"Oh god, you didn't actually cook Marco did you? I was kidding!" Alexia joked.

"Yoi! Want to say that again?" Marco appeared in front of them, looked irritated.

"Marco! You are alive!" Alexia grinned, punching him on the shoulder. Her eyes widened as she realized the deck was filled with almost every member of the Whitebeard Pirates, "What's going on?"

"Call this a welcome party of sorts." Marco smirked, amused at the face she was making.

"Alexia!" Izo called out, holding something in his arms as he approached, "I heard you had quite the adventure today."

"Indeed!" Alexia grinned. Her face confused as Izo held out something for her.

"Since you insisted you must have something with sleeves." He reminded.

Alexia held it out and instantly fell in love. It was a button up jacket, the main body was a dark grey jean fabric, the sleeves and the hood was made out of a soft black cotton fabric. Their jolly roger standing out boldly in white on the back. She lurched forward, trapping Izo in a tight hug, kissing his cheek in excitement.

"Thank you so much Izo! I love it!" Alexia slipped it on, keenly aware of how perfectly it fit.

"Brat!" Whitebeard's voice rang out, Alexia grinned as she walked towards him, her arms wide to hug him. Whitebeard leaned down, hugging her back as he laughed. "This is too officially welcome you to our family, as a member of our first division. And to congratulate you on taking down your first Marine. I couldn't ask for a better daughter."

"What the hell are we waiting for? Let's have a party!" Atmos proclaimed. The rest of the crew cheering loudly in agreement.

Alexia found herself surrounded by sake and music. Her brothers truly were a cheerful bunch. She found herself being hugged or patted roughly on the back almost every place she walked. After a couple hours, she sought out a less crowded spot. She found herself on the top level of the Moby, leaning against the railing as she smiled at the night sky. She swore she had never seen so many stars in her life. She gave Marco a grin as he joined her at the railing.

"Are you enjoying yourself yoi?" Marco inquired, handing her a bottle of sake.

"Absolutely." She laughed lightly, "I don't think I've ever been this happy."

"I have something for you. Actually, two things. Consider them welcome presents." Marco handed her an object as she sat down her sake.

She quickly realized it was a knife, donned in a leather sheath with the Whitebeard jolly roger engraved on the front. She pulled the knife out of the sheath, examining the blade. It was beautiful and sharp, the blade glistening in the light of the torch. He held out a cloth fabric. She took it, and smiled, tears brimming in her eyes.

It was a mask, almost similar to the one she had before, except this one covered her mouth and nose, leaving the upper half of her face revealed. Marco ran a hand through his hair.

"I kind of figured maybe you could wear it whenever you had to fight or something. I'm hoping that your comfortable enough to keep it off around us."

Alexia hugged Marco tightly, before grasping his face and kissing him on the cheek as she had done with Izo. Her thumb brushed his right cheek lightly as she gave him a smile. Marco blushed slightly hoping she didn't see.

"Thank you so so much. You have no idea what this means to me." A tear of happiness slid down her cheek.

"Your home yoi." Marco smiled back at her.

"This is the greatest home I've ever had." Alexia admitted, staring off into the night sky once more, feeling the most happiness she had ever experienced in her life.