Chapter Text
The next morning, the sun rose lazily over the horizon, casting a warm glow over the deck of the Moby Dick. The salty breeze carried the scent of the ocean, mingling with the distant sounds of the crew stirring awake. Ace stretched, feeling the warmth seep into his bones as he stepped onto the deck, still slightly groggy from last night.
His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts—of moonlight, stolen glances, and the almost-but-not-quite moment with Marco. He had barely slept, replaying the scene over and over. What would have happened if Sabo hadn’t interrupted? Ace shook his head as if trying to rid himself of the thought.
“Morning.”
Ace nearly jumped at the sound of Marco’s voice. The phoenix was already on deck, arms crossed, his golden eyes glinting in the early light. Unlike Ace, he looked perfectly at ease—maybe a little too much.
“Uh, morning,” Ace replied, trying to sound casual. He wasn’t sure if Marco was going to bring up last night, but part of him hoped he wouldn’t. Another part, annoyingly persistent, kind of wanted him to.
Marco studied him for a moment before smirking. “Didn’t sleep much, huh?” Ace scowled. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Marco chuckled. “Nothing. Just that you look like hell, yoi.”
Ace grumbled under his breath, running a hand through his hair. “Thanks, I guess.” Before Marco could reply, a loud voice interrupted them. “Ace! Marco! Get over here!” Thatch stood near the galley, waving them over with a grin. “Breakfast’s ready, and if you don’t hurry, I’m eating your share.”
Ace sighed in relief at the distraction. “Yeah, yeah, I’m coming.” Marco followed at a leisurely pace, avoiding Ace’s gaze, and Ace did the same, pretending to focus on the path ahead. Whatever had almost happened last night was still there, hanging between them like the last wisps of a dream before waking.
As they made their way toward the galley, a familiar, enthusiastic voice rang out. “Ace! Marco! Let’s eat!” Luffy came bounding toward them, his trademark grin stretching ear to ear. “I heard the food here is amazing!”
Behind him, Law followed at a more measured pace, arms crossed and expression neutral. “You act like you’ve never eaten before, Straw Hat-ya,” he muttered, but there was a hint of amusement in his tone.
Ace grinned as Luffy practically dragged him along. “You’re not wrong, Luffy. Thatch makes the best food.” Marco sighed but smiled, still careful not to meet Ace’s eyes. “Great. Now breakfast is going to be loud, yoi.”
Law smirked. “Was it ever going to be quiet with Luffy here?”
With laughter in the air and the smell of food drawing them in, the morning already felt lighter.
As they sat down to eat, Luffy's eyes darted between Ace and Marco, his face scrunching in confusion. “Oi, why are you two acting so weird?”
Ace nearly choked on his food. “Weird?! I’m not acting weird!” he sputtered, his face turning an unmistakable shade of red.
Marco coughed into his hand, his own cheeks tinged pink. “Yeah, yoi. Nothing’s weird.” Luffy tilted his head, still unconvinced. “But you guys aren’t looking at each other! Did you fight or something?”
Ace waved his hands frantically. “N-no! We didn’t fight! Why would we fight? That’s ridiculous!” His voice cracked slightly, making Law smirk over the rim of his cup. Marco exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “You’re imagining things, Luffy.”
Luffy narrowed his eyes at them before shrugging. “Alright, if you say so! Anyway, the food’s amazing!” He shoved another mouthful into his mouth, seemingly forgetting the conversation entirely.
Ace let out a breath, sneaking a glance at Marco, only to find Marco doing the same. Their eyes met for the briefest moment before they both quickly looked away, their faces still slightly flushed.
Law chuckled under his breath. “This is going to be fun to watch.”
Just then, Sabo strolled into the galley, carrying a plate of food and instantly picking up on the awkward atmosphere. His sharp eyes flickered between Ace and Marco before a knowing grin spread across his face. “Did I miss something?”
Ace groaned, burying his face in his hands. “No, you did not!” Marco, still blushing, cleared his throat. “Nothing important, yoi.” Sabo raised an eyebrow, amused. “Uh-huh. Sure.”
Luffy, mouth full of food, pointed at them. “They’re acting weird, Sabo! Like, super weird.”
Sabo chuckled, taking a seat next to them. “Well, whatever it is, I’m sure it’ll be entertaining.” He shot Ace a teasing look, making Ace groan again. Law smirked, leaning back in his chair. “Oh, it definitely will be.” Marco sighed, muttering under his breath. “I need more coffee for this.”
“Luffy, wait!” “Hm?” Luffy turned around, confused. He had just left the dining room and was on his way to the deck. “We need to talk.” Sabo’s voice was serious. Luffy tilted his head, then nodded. “Let’s go to my room.” Sabo gave a brief nod. “I’ll be there in a minute. You can wait there with Law.”
“What happened?” Law asked the moment Sabo stepped through the door, arms crossed, amber eyes narrowing. Luffy sat perched on the edge of Sabo’s bed, legs swinging slightly, impatience flickering in his expression.
Sabo closed the door behind him and leaned against it for a moment, exhaling slowly.
“Robin contacted me.” Both Luffy and Law straightened immediately, the atmosphere in the room growing tense.
“Robin?” Luffy repeated, eyes wide. “She’s here too? From the future?” Sabo nodded as he stepped away from the door. “Yeah. Just like us.” “Where is she?” Law asked, his voice low and serious.
“She’s at Tequila Wolf,” Sabo replied. “She managed to get a message to Koala, who passed it on to me. She’s safe—for now. The Revolutionary Army is keeping her under the radar.” Luffy’s brows drew together. “She’s really okay?”
“She is,” Sabo confirmed. “She’s laying low and gathering intel. She said she’s trying to track down the rest of the crew. Once we figure out our next move, we should reach out.” Law folded his arms again, thoughtful. “Then maybe we should start by making a plan with her. Coordinate.” Luffy nodded firmly.
Law turned to Sabo. “Can you get in touch with her?” Sabo hesitated, then gave a short nod. “I’ll try through Koala. Give me a minute.”
He reached into his coat, pulled out a transponder snail, and dialed. It rang a few times before Koala’s voice came through—sharp, concerned, and unmistakably her. “Sabo!? Is everything alright? It’s not like you to call out of the blue. And you’re not even on a mission right now.”
Sabo chuckled softly. “I know. Everything’s fine, Koala. But there’s someone with me… who wants to speak with your newest guest.” The eyes of the transponder snail widened, then curved into a knowing smile. “Of course,” Koala said warmly.
A moment later, the snail’s features shifted—its eyes turning a calm, familiar shade of blue that made Luffy’s heart skip.
“Hello, Captain,” came Robin’s voice, soft and steady.
Luffy leaned forward, a grin already forming. “Robin…”