Chapter 61
Ace and Marco just kind of stare at each other, they stare at each other for a long, long, long Second.
And Ace eyebrow twitched. “Did this bitch really just spoil the ending of this fucking dictionary size of a book for me?” He thought, his grip tightening on the book’s spine. He couldn’t believe it. This wasn’t just any book; it was the last in a series he’d been waiting to read for months, ever since he’d heard whispers of its release in the bustling ports they visited. The anticipation had been like a slow burn in his chest, building with every page he turned in the previous books. And now, here she was, his supposed sister, dropping the final plot twist without a care in the world.
He dropped the book, the sound echoing through the ships cabin, and without a word, he turned on his heels and started walking towards the door. Marco jumped up, her eyes wide. “Ace, wait! I didn’t mean to-!” But he was already gone, the door swinging shut behind him with a resounding thud. She sighed, slumping back down onto her bed. She knew Ace was a stickler for spoilers, and she hadn’t meant to ruin it for him. It was just that the plot twist had been so shocking she hadn’t been able to keep it to herself.
As soon as his foot hit the deck of the Moby Dick, Ace toom a long deep breath, his lungs filling up with fresh salty air, before shouting at the top of his lung. “Marco Has A Secret Boyfriend!”
The ship grew eerily quiet for a moment before erupting into a cacophony of disbelief and shock. The crew looked around in confusion, trying to make sense of what they’d just heard.
Thatch was the first to recover from his astonishment. “What did you say, Ace? Did I just hear you right?” His eyes searched for Marco, who was now racing out of the cabin with a mix of embarrassment and alarm painted on her face.
“MARCO! HAS A! SECRET! BOYFRIEND!” Ace’s voice reverberated through the ship. The crew’s expressions ranged from shock to disbelief to a few smirks that were quickly stifled when they saw Marco’s flustered face appear in the doorway.
Marco’s cheeks burned redder than the sunset. She had tried to keep her relationship with Borsalino a secret, not because she was ashamed of him, but because she knew the kind of teasing she’d endure from her brothers. And now, thanks to Ace’s big mouth, it was out. She stomped her foot and yelled back, “It’s not a secret if everyone knows now, is it?”
“You ruined my book for me, asshole, so I figured I’d return the favor!” Ace shot back with a grin, not bothering to hide the amusement in his voice. The crew members looked from Marco to Ace, unsure whether to laugh or offer condolences.
Newgate, who had been napping in his captain’s chair, stirred at the commotion. He sat up, rubbing his eyes sleepily. “What’s all the ruckus about?” he boomed.
“Marco has a boyfriend!” Ace’s words echoed through the ship, the crew’s murmurs growing louder by the second.
Newgate's eyes snapped open, and his expression shifted from sleepy to surprised in an instant. "A boyfriend, you say?" He looked over at Marco, who was now glaring at Ace. She rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. "It's not like it's a big deal, Pops."
The older pirates chuckled, some of them slapping each other on the back. Jozu leaned in and whispered to Haruta, "Well, I didn't see that one coming." Haruta nodded, his bearded face breaking into a smile. "Ahoy there, Marco!" Fossa called out. "Who's the lucky bloke?"
Marco glared at Ace. "Why do you always have to be such a little shit?"
Ace just scampered away, saying very, very loudly. “I know exactly who it is!” He sing-songed as he disappeared in the mass of people, leaving Marco to face the music alone.
The crew looked at each other in astonishment, some whispering to their neighbors, while others burst into laughter. Newgate’s face grew more and more confused with each passing second, his eyebrows knitting together as he tried to piece together the puzzle that was his daughter’s love life.
Thatch was the first to step forward, his usual grim expression replaced with one of curiosity. “Is it true, Marco? Who’s the lucky guy?”
“Uhm… I don’t think, I want to say.” Marco mumbled, her cheeks aflame with embarrassment as the eyes of the entire crew bore into her.
Thatch chuckled, the first genuine laugh she’d heard from him in weeks. “Come on, you can tell us. Who’s the lucky guy?”
“YOU WON’T LIKE HIM!” Ace’s voice cut through the air from wherever he is as he cackled like a hyena.
Thatch's expression grew serious. "Why wouldn't we like him, Ace?"
Marco took a deep breath and looked around the deck. "It's Kizaru," she said, her voice carrying over the clamor of the crew. The ship went silent again, the only sound being the gentle lapping of the waves against the Moby Dick's hull.
Then all at once at least 80 people yelled. “The Perverted Yellow Monkey!?”
Marco facepalms herself and groans. "Yes, it's Kizaru," she admits, her voice barely audible over the cacophony.
Newgate's expression darkened, and he stood from his chair with a thunderous roar that made the planks beneath him tremble. "The Yellow Monkey?!" he boomed, his voice resonating with the wrath of a thousand storms. "That good-for-nothing, perverted admiral?"
“Come on, Pops! He’s not that bad!” Marco protested, raising her voice to be heard above the sudden uproar of the crew. “He’s?… he’s just a little… flirty?”
Newgate's eyes narrowed, his massive beard quivering with rage. "Flirty?" He echoed. "The man's a menace!"
Marco sighed, her shoulders dropping. "Kizaru is not that bad."
Newgate's booming voice interrupted her. "Not that bad? He's got the nerve to flirt with my daughter in front of everyone!"
“Pops!” Marco all but whinied.
The deck of the Moby Dick was a flurry of activity as the whitebeard pirates reacted to the revelation. Some looked shocked, others outright disgusted, while a few had smirks playing on their lips, clearly enjoying the drama unfolding before them. The crew’s reactions were a mix of indignation on Marco’s behalf and amusement at the thought of the stoic Kizaru being her secret lover.