【Ma Ai】every moment

Ever since Ace helped Thatch fight a while ago, Ace seems to have become a little famous in the Whitebeard family for some reason.

So people often come to the clinic to pretend to be sick, just to see what potential newcomers look like.What newcomer?This is the nurse from my clinic?What does it have to do with you - Marco is very upset about this.

As for Saqi, he is completely familiar with Ace, and even brought Yizang to visit.

For his bad friends, Marco drove them away directly: "You guys are idle, do you need me to prescribe you some medicine to cure your brain?"

"Do you still have this medicine?" Sage replied with a smile, and greeted Ace who poked his head from behind Marco, "Yo, Ace. Let me see if you have become more like a nurse?"

"Wait a minute," Ace ran out energetically, buttoned up the short-sleeved shirt he was wearing, and picked up a notepad from the table and hugged it in his arms. "How about it?"

"Hahaha, it would be more similar if it was a round collar." Sage commented, "The color should be white or pink."

"It doesn't look like it at all. If you really want to play, go and play." Marco pulled the notepad from Ace's arms.

Ace stuck out his tongue: "Then I won't play."

Then Sage introduced Yizang to him, and invited him to have dinner with Marco at night: "I'm the chef today, come on, come on, I'll give you a discount."

"I'm not going, I'm going to Moby Dick later today."

Yizang asked Ace curiously: "Are you the boy Garp brought over?" He was also in the tavern that night.

Ace replied straightforwardly, "Karp is my grandfather."

Yizang looked at Marco, "Because of this, don't you want him to join the family?" It's not incomprehensible if you are afraid that Superintendent Garp will come to make trouble in the future.

"He just wants to monopolize our lovely Ace." Sachito complained with a face.

"You disappear for me." Marco kicked over.

Finally, when Sachi and Yizang left, Marco took off his glasses helplessly and rubbed between his brows.

Ace pulls the chair over and straddles it backwards, resting his chin on the back of the chair.He said to Marco: "Did I embarrass you?"

Marco put on his glasses again, turned his head and looked over, Ace was looking at him with a cute smiling face.

"... If you have this self-awareness, don't smile happily."

Ace still giggled: "Because Marcos are so nice."

"I'm really shameless. Anyway, I'm also the deputy of one of the four godfathers." Marco paused here, and then asked him, "I'm going to Dad's place in the afternoon, will you go with me? I want to introduce you to Papa Whitebeard."

"Wow, really?" Ace said excitedly.

Marco sorted out the materials for the morning consultation, while thinking: "Well...but it's just an introduction, I can't guarantee anything else."

Recently, he is also seriously considering whether to let Ace join the Whitebeard family.From the family's point of view, Ace himself must be good enough, but from Ace's point of view, Marco can't see where this young man's interest in the underground world comes from.

This is the source of his hesitation.

When the clinic is not open, Marco often goes out to do errands.Ace knew that he was going to deal with the affairs of the gangsters, and logically speaking, the clinic was a sideline.

So most of the time, Ace stays at home by himself, sleeps, and occasionally searches the refrigerator to add a meal for himself.When Marco goes out, he will say goodbye, and when Marco comes back, he will happily ask him.But Marco doesn't reveal much to him.

Ace couldn't wait for the two of them to go to the main house of the Whitebeard family today.He even turned into Marco's little tail, as if he was afraid that the other party would suddenly change his mind and run away by himself.

"Ace, wait for me in the living room. I'll change and we'll go. I promise, okay?"

Marco tried to coax him.

"Are you going to be so formal today?" Ace grabbed his bedroom door frame, refusing to leave, "It's okay, I'll wait for you here."

"……All right."

So under Ace's watchful eyes, Marco took off his casual pullover, put on a shirt, put on a gun sling, and put on a full body suit, from a small town doctor to a mafia cadre.

Marco adjusted his tie slowly. He noticed Ace's eyes and asked, "How do you feel?"

"Well, it feels a little distant."

Ace rubbed his nose, not wanting to say that he just watched an eye-catching dress-up show.Marco has a good figure, which Ace usually noticed, and the upright feeling after wearing a suit made the whole atmosphere seem to have changed a bit.

"Haha," Marco straightened his clothes, and cast his eyes on Ace from behind the lens, "Isn't this handsome? It's more presentable than a white coat."

When he opened his mouth, it was still the Marco he was familiar with.

Ace said stiffly: "But you don't look like a good person like this. How do you say a word... um, s-wen-scum-scum?"

"Stinky boy, can't you say something nice with your mouth? You say Brother Marco is super handsome." Marco reached out and pinched Ace's face, "Besides, I'm not a good person."

"It hurts..."

Marco let go, and then he took off his glasses and put them in his pocket.

"But to be honest, I actually feel the same way. So I usually don't wear glasses when I wear a suit."

Then he smiled at Ace: "Isn't it better?"

For a moment, Ace felt that his heart was beating so loudly, he whispered "It's okay", but he was almost too noisy to hear his own voice.

Then he raised his hand and pretended to rub the place where Marco pinched the pain just now, but in fact he wanted to block the cheek that suddenly started to heat up.

***

Moby Dick is an estate on the outskirts of Lower City where the mafia godfather known as Whitebeard Edward Newgate founded his family.Marco drove Ace into the depths of the manor and arrived at the mansion where Whitebeard was.

Ace had never been to such a large manor, with trees and lawns everywhere, and many people nodded to Marco.

After getting out of the car, Ace looked at the black-clothed bodyguards around the house, and suddenly remembered: "Is it okay for me to dress like this? I should have changed just now." At least dress formally.

Marco showed him the way and led him to the main house: "Next time, it's fine like this today." Is there anyone who doesn't like Ace wearing a goose yellow shirt?

"Okay," Ace looked around, "but I think everyone else is stern..."

It looked similar to the mafia's territory in the movie, and the person beside him was even more serious.He usually looks like a slovenly uncle...

Marco comforted him: "Don't worry, Dad is a very easy-going old man. He won't look down on you just because you dress like a little boy."

Ace was still a little discouraged, even though he wanted to trust Marco for the time being, he couldn't help asking: "The Whitebeard family is a powerful mafia, right? Why is the leader an easy-going old man?"

"That's because to the members of the family, he is like our father." His tone sounded a little complacent, "There is no one better than Dad."

"Really...then he treats people outside the family?"

"If you regard Dad as an enemy, then he is the most terrifying opponent. Even Roger, the underworld emperor who ruled the underground world back then, may not necessarily be able to defeat Dad."

Ace slowed down.

He didn't think why this name would appear suddenly at this time. "You guys, do you know Roger..."

After speaking, he discovered his stupidity.You don't need to think about it, how could a gangster godfather like Whitebeard not know Roger?What happened to me before, have I never considered this matter?Or, I just subconsciously refuse to think about it.

"It's been a long time in the past. At that time, we and the Roger family fought with each other and fought against each other. Dad and Roger are mutually recognized opponents." Marco raised his head and cast his gaze into the distance.

That may be a special memory, because when Marco mentioned it, he seemed to be a little bit nostalgic.

And Ace felt his heart sink like a stone.

Ace then meets Edward Newgate in the reception room.He found that the image of an easy-going old man described by Marco suddenly became unconvincing.

Although Whitebeard is getting old, he is still tall and stalwart. He sits there like a mountain, and his eyes are as sharp as eagles, which makes Ace feel indescribable pressure.This is the godfather of the underground society.

"Dad, this is Ace, I told you about it."

"Yeah." The old man with the white beard nodded, and he squinted at Ace.

"I'm Portgas D. Ace. It's the first time we meet, please give me your advice." Ace greeted the old man using the polite language he had learned.

"Boy, I heard you want to join my family?" White Beard asked bluntly.

The affirmative answer could not be said immediately.Ace's mind was still in a mess, and he didn't know what to do for a while.Do you really want to enter the world where Roger used to be?Do you want to follow in Roger's footsteps?

"I think it should be. But, I'm still thinking about it..." He spoke with difficulty.

"If you want to join, you need a reference. Is Marco your reference?"

Hearing this, Ace looked at Marco naturally.And Marco is surprised by Ace's subtle attitude.

He simply said: "Father, I haven't decided to recommend Ace to join the White Group."

Although I don't know why Ace suddenly changed his mind, he thought, but it's not too much to follow Ace's intentions, he also decided in the same way.

The white-bearded father was a little helpless: "Okay, so what exactly are you here to do? Are you asking me for pocket money?"

Marco smiled: "Actually, I think you two will get along well, so I want to introduce you to each other."

After speaking, he also turned his head to look at Ace, and the eyes of the two met. Ace looked at him apologetically, and Marco winked at the young man as a sign of encouragement.

And the old man looked at the two of them in front of him like no one else, blatantly whispering with their eyes, raised his eyebrows and thought, I think you two get along quite well.

The three of them talked a lot afterwards, and Whitebeard and Marco recalled many past events together, some of which even happened before Ace was born.It was also a period of shining years.Then they talked about the current situation of the Whitebeard family, and mentioned a lot of interesting people, some of which Ace had met.When Whitebeard asked Ace how he and Marco met, Ace no longer had the hesitation and depression that he had at the beginning, and he began to try to join their conversation.White Beard mentioned several times that times are changing now, and the future belongs to young people.And Marco always likes to comment on how powerful Papa is, and Ace asks various questions about this seemingly unconvincingly.

In the end, he asked Whitebeard: "Marco just said that you and Roger are rivals who recognize each other... Is this true?"

"Roger? Ah, I miss you so much. Of course we are mutually recognized rivals, but I won't humbly deny that."

"So... what kind of man is Roger?"

"Based on the evaluation of the world, he should be said to be a big villain, right?" White Beard looked at him and smiled very gently, "In my opinion, Roger is a likable guy."

This is a day beyond imagination.Ace knew a lot and heard a lot.When they left Moby Dick Manor, Marko also told him that whether he would join the family or not, he could come back anytime.Papa Whitebeard would welcome him.

It was already night when we left by car. Although Ace was exhausted, he was much more relaxed than when he first arrived here.

He closed his eyes and wanted to recall everything that happened today, every word he had said to Whitebeard and Marco.He wanted to remember the words that brought him comfort.

***

When Ace opened his eyes again, he found that the car was not moving.It was also dark all around.He unconsciously raised his hand to rub the corner of his mouth, and then slowly realized that he had just fallen asleep.

"You're awake, Sleeping Beauty."

Marco's brisk and humorous voice came from beside him just right.

Ace flexes his shoulders a little, and Marco's blazer slips off him.

"I'm asleep?"

"I slept soundly."

Marco raised his hand to turn on the lights in the car, Ace still frowned, and then slowly got used to the weak light in the car.

The car was parked downstairs at the clinic.He checked the time and found that he probably slept for more than an hour.

He said to Marco with some embarrassment: "You should wake me up."

Marco shook his head.Excluding the driving time, he has been sitting in the dark for a long time.But he didn't feel any impatience. Through the dim street light outside the window, he could see Ace's sleeping silhouette.He thinks about a lot of things, most of which are about Ace.

He reached out and rubbed Ace's black hair: "It's nothing, adults need such time occasionally."

Ace sat up suddenly: "Marco, why are you so nice to me?"

Marco froze for a moment, then slowly withdrew his hand.He tilted his head, motioning for Ace to continue.

"I'm...strange, right? Obviously I was the one who clamored to join the mafia, but I hesitated at the moment...but Marco still spoke for me.

Also, I didn't do you any favors, I just stayed here with you, and I was just playing around when I said it was a part-time job. "After all, how naive and reckless I am. Thinking of this, Ace couldn't help but tighten the clothes on his lap.

Marco didn't answer him directly, but said: "It's really strange if you say that a child of your age is always thinking about things."

Ace turned his head and looked at him. He wanted to say not to treat me like a child all the time, but he immediately remembered that he still hated his childishness just now, so he pursed his mouth and didn't answer.

Marco was a little amused seeing his stubborn and aggrieved expression.

"I'm nice to you because I want to. I don't see any reason."

"Really?" Ace muttered and said suspiciously, "Then you are also quite strange."

"Okay! The conversation is over, let's go back. I have talked too much today..." And if I continue to sit here like this, the uncle's waist should also hurt.

So such a long day is finally drawing to a close.When saying goodnight to each other, Ace didn't smile as usual, but was a little absent-minded, or thoughtful.

Marco thought, maybe after a night of sleep, tomorrow it will be all right.For a 17-year-old boy, what troubles are worth thinking about for too long.

But after thinking about it, Marco still couldn't ignore it.In this way, he himself could not sleep well.

At first he was very sleepy but had insomnia, and when he finally fell into a light sleep, he started dreaming again and again.It must be because during the day, too many people and things from the past were mentioned. In his dreams, the past and the present are intertwined, and the past and the present appear alternately.

Then Marco woke up suddenly.

The moment he woke up, a thought flashed through his mind.That was a very clear, very firm conclusion.

However, just when he was about to record this idea in his mind, he keenly heard something in the clinic downstairs.

"Middle of the night...two o'clock?" Marco sat up vigilantly, and looked at the alarm clock beside the bed.

There shouldn't be any patients coming to the door now.He decided to take a look.

And the flash of inspiration just now, like those dreams that he clearly remembered when he just woke up, was instantly forgotten.

TBC