Marco stilled and froze instantly, looking back into Thatch's eyes for a long time. It was easy to tell Thatch anything. Even the painful truths, even when he was overcome with emotions and all he wanted to do was break everything. Still, Marco was stubborn as fuck, and it wasn't that easy!

He was still mad! He still wanted to kick Ace off the roof just because! Part of him even wanted to peck Thatch for trying to boss him around! Stupid Thatch, who did he think he was? Marco's first mate?

Oh right. That's exactly who he was.

Marco let out an irritated phoenix growl, gave quick jerk back, but switched back into human.

He didn't look at Ace, just moved to the side of him and wrapped his arm hard over Ace's eyes, hooking him in the elbow and locking him there. "I love you. It doesn't matter how mad I get, I'll always love you. Got it?" Another irritated growl. "Fucking idiot."

Marco wasn't used to getting so angry with anyone he didn't want to kill. And he wasn't good at handling it when it did happen. It was too much like dealing with Squardo, or Shanks, or any of them. He didn't always have much of a temper when it did get set off, it blazed as badly as Ace's, but lower and more long lasting.