[Video] With ash in your mouth, you'll ask it to burn again

[burnt_offering]

[The SmartSnail comes on suddenly, and two jeering youths can be seen making obscene gestures and laughing at the phone they've found. They seem to be pleased with themselves, and their unpleasant adventure starts with flipping up their middle fingers and slapping their butts at the camera.

Ah, the joys of youth.] Finders keepers, bitches. Whoever dropped this? Your loss! We got new tech now! [They give up on selfie time, and decide to use the camera function to keep a record of their destruction. They drag knives into every surface, kick over anything in their path, and brag about their piracy prowess in slurred drunk voices as the continue.] Oh shit, what's that? Hey, can you see-" [The name of the person is slurred beyond being audible, and they pull out a flashlight and shine it into the distance. They drag the weak light jerkily over a wide area, but find themselves staring at a grave . The light hits the top of it at first, and they murmur and mumble in slurred voices about what they could do if they took it apart.] So this is where the sorry bastard ended up. Guess the stones are worth something if nothing el-[A high pitched shriek emits from one of the men as he shines the light from the top of the grave, and then down to a huddled figure shaking at the bottom of it. The figure's back is facing the camera, scarred grotesquely, and a soft noise emits from the direction they're sitting in as they slowly rock back and forth.] Shit. Just a drunk. Go home! We claimed this place! Get out![No response comes.] Fuck off, and go! [One of them comes closer, and tries to kick at the figure while the other laughs and films.

But as he does, the form ignites. And the camera is dropped, shutting off as it meets the ground hard.]

Comments

[raiseyou]

[ Ah fuck, Ace... Marco softens under all that formless gratitude, still so angry at this world that took Ace away and spat him back out and furious that those fucking brats would try anything and livid that Ace has to feel like this but Ace is just... God, Ace is so good. Ace is always good and kind and full of love and Marco's heart's fucking breaking all over again, fuck. ]

[ He can't help himself. The force of will, the wall of impenetrable stone in Marco's soul that will be Ace's armor for as long as he needs it stays steady, but some of that overwhelming fury burns down. He tightens his grip as well, hand on the back of Ace's head holding him close, pressing his face into Ace's hair. ]

You can stay with me. You can stay with me as long as you need. I've got you.

[ He doesn't know how to handle the thanks. Hell, Red-Hair is who they all really owe. Maybe just being here will be answer enough. ]

[burnt_offering]

[He's still for a while after that. He doesn't know what he wants, or if he wants anything at all, aside from being tangled up with Marco like he's going to die again if he lets go. He's putting to much on him, it's a lot of pressure for one person to take, being the anchor of someone who's so traumatized that they're bouncing between believing they're dead and thinking they're alive. Someone who doesn't particularly feel like they deserve to be alive. But Marco is there, and Ace's heart feels like it's going to burst, and he'll just stay with him and soak up that feeling of life.

Marco has him. He's safe. And he just breathes against him, occasionally mumbling things like "You've got me." and "I'm alive." and "No one's gonna take me away."

And eventually, the tears and the mumbling actually cease completely. And all that's left is the sound of Ace softly snoring.]

[raiseyou]

[ Fuck... What a mess. What a hell of a way to come back. Watching worlds converge was one thing, getting hails from ships that both are his and yet aren't... but how and when the hell does anything bring someone back to life? And like a zombie on their own fucking grave to boot. ]

[ For the longest time, Marco just holds, and soothes, and agrees softly with each little mumble. He can feel Ace's jumbled energy breaking down. It's a relief when he slides into sleep, not for Marco's sake but for Ace's. Marco can't imagine the exhaustion. The panic. The confusion, the questions. Sleep should give him some time to settle. But he doesn't doubt it'll bring its own hell, expects the rest will be broken with nightmares. ]

[ There's no sense in going far. Marco eases Ace into his own shirt, covering the tattoo and the scars and scorch marks, and carries him to the nearest inn. Just a simple room, one bed. He's gonna hold his returned nakama while they sleep, so he can be right there when Ace inevitably wakes up in whatever awful state. ]

[burnt_offering]

[Ace is sleeping hard, he doesn't stir at all while he's moved, the bed doesn't offer him any more comfort than the ground would have. But for that night, as long as Marco is near, all is well and he sleeps soundly. There's an occasional whimper, a sound of distress, but as long as a part of him is physically touching Marco he settles from the start of his nightmares without much fuss.

But morning will come, and he'll have to deal with things then. But for now, sleep is a mostly welcome void, letting him leave the strain of this second life in the waking world for now. ]