There were probably a million reasons why Marco was pissed and Thatch couldn't deal with any of them. One thing at a time and the one thing right now was holding himself back from shaking Ace for missing the point entirely. He couldn't help it. He was Ace. And getting mad at him would only drive the wedge in further.
"Look, forget Marshall. Fuck Marshall. He's not even here and he's still tearing us apart." And he sent a glare between Marco's shoulder blades, knowing he could feel it. "Are we really that weak that we're so shaken up by that asshole?" Okay he sounded angrier than he meant-- so he reigned himself in and got to what was important.
He took Ace's chin so the kid would meet his eyes.
"Listen, it wasn't your fault. What he did. That you went after him. Even that you--that you died, okay? It happened. Maybe Marco will rip him apart a few years from now. Maybe he'll die a happy man in bed. I don't give a good goddamn. All I care about is the nakama I have right now. I'm alive. You're alive. And the sparkly chicken better sit his ass right the fuck back down and act like the captain we need."
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"Look, forget Marshall. Fuck Marshall. He's not even here and he's still tearing us apart." And he sent a glare between Marco's shoulder blades, knowing he could feel it. "Are we really that weak that we're so shaken up by that asshole?" Okay he sounded angrier than he meant-- so he reigned himself in and got to what was important.
He took Ace's chin so the kid would meet his eyes.
"Listen, it wasn't your fault. What he did. That you went after him. Even that you--that you died, okay? It happened. Maybe Marco will rip him apart a few years from now. Maybe he'll die a happy man in bed. I don't give a good goddamn. All I care about is the nakama I have right now. I'm alive. You're alive. And the sparkly chicken better sit his ass right the fuck back down and act like the captain we need."