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The first night on the White beards ship was nothing like Ace thought. And everything is worse. He thought they would lock him away in some cell. Keep him there until he agreed to join them. But they didn't. Instead, they let him roam their ship. Almost saying he wasn't strong enough to hurt them. He could do anything, but nothing would change. It didn't help that they were everywhere. Watching him. Always looking at him like he was some freak. Taking his anger out on their captain didn't seem to do much but make them laugh. Some had the decency to hide it behind their hands or turn around. Then there were others like Thatch and Marco who laughed while looking at him. Smiling like he was a child.
"Relax, we're not going to bite," Thatch said, sitting on the railing. Ace figured the man must have thought him stupid. After all, what kind of idiot would believe they wouldn't attack him? The fact that he had gotten away with this much was already crazy. Ace ignored him, heading back to his plan. Ace tried to kill the older man three more times before his back and arms hurt too much. His heel his the wall a little too hard and was now vibrating with pain.
Ace tried everything to kill the older man on the first day. Attacking at every chance he got. No matter how many times he was thrown back into a wall or railing. Or the time the rail gave out and almost had him falling into the sea. Thatch grabbed his arm before he fell. The other smiled at him, and commented on needing to keep an eye out for the other. Ace shook him off. Glaring past him to the old man on his chair. Watching them. Constantly watching. Waiting for Ace to change his mind.
Ace hated it here. Everyone treated him as if it were a done deal. He would would join and they would get a new sibling. Some even started calling him brother. 'I already only two brothers,' Ace thought, pushing them aside. He wasn't cruel, no matter what the World Government thought. He wouldn't just reject them because their captain forced them to keep him and his crew here.
Ace couldn't sleep. They were enemies. He didn't need to be told what was waiting for him. Sure, they hadn't done anything yet, but that doesn't mean anything. The later it got, the more he fought, the more they watched. Looking at him constantly. The only place he could hide from it all was a small side room. But even that didn't last long as Thatch found him. How the man kept finding him Ace wanted to know but wouldn't risk asking. The man apparently in charge of caring for him on this ship.
"Hey, wondering where you'd gone to." Thatch said, stepping close. Ace didn't lift his head from his knees. Just listening to the sound of his own heartbeat in his ears. "I brought you dinner. It's apples, rice and a grilled fish. I know you don't trust us, but you should still eat."
Ace ignored him again. Letting his mind wander as the scent of the fish wafted around him. His stomach growled. Everything ached. His head hurt from lack of sleep, and now his stomach hurt.
Thatch kept talking as Ace ignored him. About everything and anything he could think of. It was all just a game to see what the other would react to. He had been doing this for the last couple of days. Hoping it would be enough to keep the younger attention on something not killing their captain. Thatch wasn't dumb and knew he wasn't listening. He still talked.
Ace breathed in, his voice shakier than he thought it would be. He didn't realize he had begun to cry. Or how hard it was to breathe right now. Hearing it, Thatch stopped talking, eyes scanning Ace for injuries. Hoping the other wouldn't need Marco. "Hey," Thatch called, scooting closer to the younger man.
Ace didn't look up. Now that he was aware of his inability to breathe, he was conscious of it. His arms shook from lack of everything, and the panic eating away at him. How he thought he had failed his crew and they would suffer for it. He could hardly hear Thatch as the other touched his shoulder. His hand was light.
Thatch leaned in, whispering low. "I-are you…crying?" Ace moved his head to shake it no. But his arms were wet where his eyes were. Ace curled in tighter trying to stop the crying. It was stupid. He wasn't sad. Nothing bad had happened to him. "No, hey, it's okay." Thatch cooed. Wrapping his arms around Ace, hiding him from the world and the ship. "I'm not leaving."
Thatch held on to Ace for a while. Neither checked the time. As Ace tried to get his panic under control. When Thatch started talking about the randomness of things. Like the time he smacked a guy for saying a woman had a beautiful front butt. Ace laughed at that one. "Wh- why did he say that?"
"I have no idea. In what world was that sexy or charming?" Thatch asked, his grip on Ace lighting up. Letting the other uncurl a bit. Thatch talked about how much of a woman's man he was.
"Why are you telling me all this?" Ace asked, tilting his head.
Thatch smirked. "So you know the moment a beautiful woman wants me as a kept man, I'm dumping all your asses." Ace laughed, along with Thatch. It wasn't a big deal, but all this helped. He felt better than he had in days. And, more exhausted than before.
Ace leaned back. Finally able to breathe, and think a bit clearer. "I'm still trying to kill your captain."
Thatch snorted. "Go ahead. "You won't beat him." He pushed the bowl of food closer. It might be cold, but it was still a good meal. One Ace ate quickly before passing out. Still not happy to be here but not as freaked out. He would know for sure in the morning if they were trustworthy.