Marco looked completely relieved that she moved closer, and even more that she wasn't bored or overwhelmed by the conversation, so he moved his arm around her shoulders for support.
"He remembers his own death well enough, though, I'd rather he didn't. He acts like it's meaningless because he's alive here, but he wouldn't be a Spade captain if he truly didn't remember the war." Besides even Ace had to realize Marco would never have let him go backwards so much in time and against Ace's own loyalties, if things hadn't changed. "Ah... he is a good captain, eh? So I don't want to doubt him at all."
Another frown as he thought it over, leaning back, and relaxing. Maybe Ace always had been this way. That was true. But it wasn't something Marco liked either. "Roxas still considers himself a Spade. He and Lea both got the tattoos, but if Lea plans to remove his, Roxas doesn't want to remove his at all. He doesn't even want to stop considering the crew family." Another frown. Was that just because Roxas had trouble moving forward? "Ace thinks that Roxas being on another crew means he's asking for another captain to look after him and so that's very disrespectful." Marco's frown deepened, "But this isn't Davy Back. I don't see the difference between when we ordered Ace to catch Blackbeard, and this." Or what difference Marco did see, was not in Ace's favor, and that much more painful.
"Pops always said any son of the sea could be a son of his. All of our allies and the islands he protected he saw as his own children. I don't nearly have a heart that big, I'm not sure I ever will, or that anyone else could, but still..." Marco leaned his feet back trying to see it from all perspectives possible. "I did talk to Ace about it," kicked him in the head actually, but same thing in Marco-speak, "But we didn't seem to get anywhere. It's still his crew, but--" Marco pinched the bridge bridge between his eyes and moved to lean on Robin. "I like being the one kicking suspicious crewmates out, eh? That's what I've always done. Chameleone, and any other jackass who tried to sneak in. I haven't a clue how to be the soft-hearted one. Or even if I should be. Ace is the most stubborn guy I know, so maybe he wants Roxas to show him how much it means to him, not just coward out because it's familiar."
Marco rubbed his scruffy chin in thought, now just thinking out loud, "I know it means more to him, and I thought I got it through to Ace that none of us are with him for him to protect us," Marco rolled his eyes lightly. Really, Ace? Was anyone with Whitebeard for Whitebeard to protect them either? Haruta, Izou, Namur, and most of the commanders had always been more stubborn about protecting Pops than vice versa. "But he's looking for something, and neither of us know what it is."
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"He remembers his own death well enough, though, I'd rather he didn't. He acts like it's meaningless because he's alive here, but he wouldn't be a Spade captain if he truly didn't remember the war." Besides even Ace had to realize Marco would never have let him go backwards so much in time and against Ace's own loyalties, if things hadn't changed. "Ah... he is a good captain, eh? So I don't want to doubt him at all."
Another frown as he thought it over, leaning back, and relaxing. Maybe Ace always had been this way. That was true. But it wasn't something Marco liked either. "Roxas still considers himself a Spade. He and Lea both got the tattoos, but if Lea plans to remove his, Roxas doesn't want to remove his at all. He doesn't even want to stop considering the crew family." Another frown. Was that just because Roxas had trouble moving forward? "Ace thinks that Roxas being on another crew means he's asking for another captain to look after him and so that's very disrespectful." Marco's frown deepened, "But this isn't Davy Back. I don't see the difference between when we ordered Ace to catch Blackbeard, and this." Or what difference Marco did see, was not in Ace's favor, and that much more painful.
"Pops always said any son of the sea could be a son of his. All of our allies and the islands he protected he saw as his own children. I don't nearly have a heart that big, I'm not sure I ever will, or that anyone else could, but still..." Marco leaned his feet back trying to see it from all perspectives possible. "I did talk to Ace about it," kicked him in the head actually, but same thing in Marco-speak, "But we didn't seem to get anywhere. It's still his crew, but--" Marco pinched the bridge bridge between his eyes and moved to lean on Robin. "I like being the one kicking suspicious crewmates out, eh? That's what I've always done. Chameleone, and any other jackass who tried to sneak in. I haven't a clue how to be the soft-hearted one. Or even if I should be. Ace is the most stubborn guy I know, so maybe he wants Roxas to show him how much it means to him, not just coward out because it's familiar."
Marco rubbed his scruffy chin in thought, now just thinking out loud, "I know it means more to him, and I thought I got it through to Ace that none of us are with him for him to protect us," Marco rolled his eyes lightly. Really, Ace? Was anyone with Whitebeard for Whitebeard to protect them either? Haruta, Izou, Namur, and most of the commanders had always been more stubborn about protecting Pops than vice versa. "But he's looking for something, and neither of us know what it is."