With a genuine grin back, Marco's fingers lazily played under Grell's chin and over his throat. "Only if I get to hold you to watching my back. And you'll have to find me, eh? I've got my pride after all." Despite Teach, despite all the men in any world Marco would never trust with anything much less something important, Marco still held a Whitebeard pirate attitude towards most people. And when it came to the many outcasts of the worlds, Marco would always trust them more. To the phoenix they weren't untrustworthy, they were misunderstood and just needed a little help to be able to take pride in themselves and become loyal nakama. Same went for Izou or Jozu, and even Ace to a very large degree. If Marco couldn't take a chance and trust outcasts who deserved it, he might as well give up being a Whitebeard commander because he wouldn't be any good at it. Men like Blackbeard were the exception, not the rule.

Nipping lazily at Grell's ear, Marco nuzzled the red hair softly. "But I know you won't let me down."