【Ma Ai】every moment

Could it be that a thief entered - this is an irrational idea.Even if they don't know that this is the territory of the Whitebeard family, a small clinic shouldn't be worth stealing.

Marco tried not to make a sound and came to the first floor to check the situation.He saw the lights on in the pharmacy, and just as he was trying to think, his instincts made him aware of the unusualness of the place.

There was a very faint scent of pine woods in the air, too thin to tell if it was aroma or what.

But there is no doubt that this is the pheromone of Omega.

Marco almost broke into the pharmacy, and he saw Ace standing in front of the medicine cabinet, holding a glass of water in his hand.

"Marco? Why did you come downstairs too?" The black-haired boy looked puzzled, as if he didn't know that he was exuding a "dangerous" aura.

"……What are you doing?"

"I just remembered that I haven't taken my medicine today, so I came down to look for medicine. I was going upstairs."

Marko's eyes seemed to be staring at the bottle of mental health pills, and he thought to himself that this is not a suppressant, it's just a placebo.What is the use of this?

"Ace, are you feeling well?"

"Well, it's just a little fever." Ace shook his head and said, as if he noticed that Marco's appearance was a little strange, "It's actually nothing, just get some sleep and you'll be fine."

Marco grabbed the young man who was trying to slip past him, and then raised his hand to test his temperature on his forehead.

Slightly hot.

Marco held Ace's arm, and he wanted to analyze why he had symptoms of estrus so much earlier, but no matter how much he concentrated, he could only notice that Ace's pheromone smelled, reminding him of Firewood and flames burning in the fireplace.

Ace saw that he had been standing still and not speaking, his expression became more and more serious, and his heart began to feel a little hairy, so he tried to pull his arm out.

Marco suddenly came back to his senses: "Ace, do you have any other reactions?"

"Probably not, so it will be fine by tomorrow."

Marco continued to approach his cohabitant, the eyes of the two met, and he could clearly hear the sound of a little rapid breathing.

"But your face is also very red, there is really nothing else..."

"That's because I have a fever and Marco is too close!"

Ace pushed the other away violently, and ran upstairs.While running, he shouted that nothing happened to him, and he would be fine tomorrow after taking the medicine.

Only Marco was left standing there with a complicated heart.

Marco sat in the clinic downstairs until the next morning.

As Ace said, the next day, he was really alive again, and the faint scent of turpentine disappeared.Marco took his temperature and everything was fine.And he proposed to draw blood for further examination, which was considered too much fuss by Ace.

Counting the time, it has been more than two months since Ace came to Marco's side.Not short but not long either.For this newly differentiated Omega, it's not yet the estrous period. ——In general terms.Maybe last night was just a small accident, maybe he was too tired, or too excited, it was the changes brought about by the fluctuation of hormone levels.

Ace is an inexperienced omega, unresponsive to hormone changes and severely lacking in sex education.This is Marco's current experience.

Marco felt a headache, and it was very difficult to control his instincts.If a similar situation happens again, it will really depend on inhibitors.

Not only Ace, but I'm afraid he needs it too.

***

Recently, not just clinic jobs, but Ace has also started to train for mafia jobs.After running around with Marco, he participated in the transaction of smuggled goods, inspected various properties of the family, resolved casino disputes, and visited Moby Dick Manor several times.

Once Ace and Marco happened to meet Sage when they were on duty together, and the other party put on an exaggerated surprised expression: "Ace, have you changed your job from a nurse to Marco's secretary?"

Thatch then received Marco's relentless stare.

Ace has not officially joined the Mafia at this point.Although Ace still can't make a decision at the moment, Marco said that he just wants to show him more of the underground society so that Ace can choose by himself.

So the deputy of the Whitebeard family introduced to Ace the various positions in the family and their responsibilities, as well as the structure of the entire organization, and Ace was almost dizzy.

"My head is getting big. Marco, why don't you tell me how you joined the gang?" He wanted to ask this a long time ago. He wanted to know why Marco didn't go to the hospital to be a doctor, and he also wanted to know why he joined the gang. How long has the Huzi family been, is there any opportunity, and how did they make this decision...

This was a question that Marco hadn't thought of. He said casually, "Why, are you interested in me all of a sudden?"

Ace choked suddenly.

"No, no, I just want to use it as a reference..."

refer to.Marco repeated, raising his eyebrows. "But you should know that my situation may be very different from yours."

Ace turned his head a little annoyed, and whispered, "Do I look like I'm very interested in you...Actually, a little bit, but really only a little bit!"

The boy's contradictory words made Marco laugh.Should he be straightforward or awkward?

In response, on weekend nights, Marco pulled out a large photo album.

He temporarily borrowed this from Sage. Over the years, Sage has collected a lot of photos of the Whitebeard family, which also records Marco's various experiences from when he was as old as Ace until now.

Marco and Ace prepared juice and beer, and sat on the sofa together to watch Marco's family album.

Ace was looking forward to it very much. He didn't expect that Marco would even take out the photo album. "I thought you would introduce it casually... Is there no dark history in it?"

"Who knows, since it's Saatchi's photo album, maybe there will be." Marco said with a smile.

"Ah, did you already check it in advance?" Ace narrowed his eyes, "Couldn't you have hidden some interesting photos?"

"I'm not that stingy." Marco rubbed his messy and soft black hair, "But, before I change my mind, let's get started."

The two sat knee to knee, shoulder to shoulder. I don't know when, the distance between the two has completely disappeared.Marco spread the photo album on their laps, introducing the Whitebeard family from decades ago.It turned out that Marco, like many people in the family, was born as an orphan, and after being taken in by his father, he naturally became a member of the family.Edward Newgate was our real father, and we were a real family in this big family.

Ace didn't expect the topic to be so serious at the beginning, nor did he think that the relationship between Marco and Bai Tuan would start like this.

Marco pointed to the photo to Ace: "Look, this is me and Jozi. I should be the same age as you at this time, right?"

He stroked his chin remembering.

"It's not a big change from now." Ace's mood picked up a little, and his eyes lit up when he looked at the photo.He thought, it really was the familiar blond pineapple head, and the way he smiled was very similar to now.Although Marco will not be so stupid now.Ace couldn't help but swipe his finger across the photo of little Marco, and laughed too.

"Speaking of which, why have you had this hairstyle since you were a teenager? Didn't you become bald like you are now?"

"Huh??" Sudden personal attack? "Stinky boy, you are very rude. Is this a popular hairstyle back then?"

"Liar, look at these photos, no one else wears this hairstyle except you, what is this popular?"

Ace flipped through the photo album back and forth, and it was true that there was no second person with this hairstyle.Marco really stands out from the crowd.

He also saw Yizang and Bista when he was young, and many people he had met. It turned out that everyone had joined the family for so long.The members of the White Group must have known Marco...Ace did some calculations, it's been more than 20 years.

It's been a long time, longer than my own life.

I have only known Marco for three months.Hmm, this is a bit disconcerting.

"...this was the pioneer mohawk hairstyle at that time, of course not everyone had the guts to cut it..."

"Hahaha? Marco, why are you still talking about this? I really care about it." Ace was staggering on the sofa laughing.

The young man continued to look through it with great interest. There were even photos of Christmas, weddings, and banquets... The Whitebeard family is a mafia family, and this album is simply a real family photo.Ace couldn't help but think of his family members, Luffy and Sabo, Dadan, well, and old Garp.

He was sincerely happy: "This is very similar to my family. Although they are not related by blood, as you said, they are real family members."

Marco was touched by Ace's words, and he said gently: "If you want, you can have more family members in the future."

Ace was silent for a moment, he felt a warmth rising from his chest, maybe Marco just had a whim, but it made him very happy.

"Well, I do." He looked into Marco's eyes and answered seriously.

The two stared at each other, both a little stunned.

As if he suddenly realized something, Ace immediately continued: "I also want to be a family with Marco. Although I used to be the eldest of the three brothers, you can be the eldest brother in the future. Ah, then we will be four brothers ? I think you'll like Sabo and Luffy too."

"Huh?" Big Brother stuck.Marco's head was sweating a little, "Well, it's not impossible to be a big brother..."

Although he may not mean it.

But for now, if Ace thinks this is better, then he thinks it's good too.

But accidents always come when people are least prepared.

As Ace talks about their family with pride, he flips to the next page of the album, and a large print shows a young Edward Newgate drinking with him The one who drank was the emperor of the underworld, Gore D. Roger.

Ace's voice faded quickly and finally stopped completely.

"Ace?"

Marko also poked his head to see what had caught the boy's attention.

Then he immediately noticed this astonishing fact too.He suddenly remembered that in a certain dream, the faces of Roger and Ace overlapped, just like the reality before him now: Ace beside him and Roger on the photo paper, the two people are simply one Carved out of the mould.

"Ace, could it be that..." Marco forced his question to stop.

It seems that Roger has a lover, but it is not known whether he has offspring.Ace's face is slightly softer than Roger's, perhaps inherited from his mother's outline.In fact, there is no need for Ace to answer anything.

All the mysteries and contradictions in Ace can suddenly be explained.

Ace stood up abruptly: "I'm out of juice, I'll go get some more."

As he said that, he left the living room as if fleeing.

Marco wordlessly picked up the photo album that had fallen on the floor.

It must have been known.

Already know.

Marco knew it all.

Ace, who was hiding in the kitchen, had only one thought at the moment.What juice to drink, should I run away now?Just now he still wanted to be a family member with Marco, he looked depressed and disappointed in himself.

"Let me see if you won't run away?" The sudden voice behind him made Ace almost jump up.

Marco touched his nose: "I know you may need some alone time, but that's not wise."

After that, he took Ace's hand and led him back to their sofa.

"Sit down, Ace. I just took a look. There are some photos of Roger in here. We can look at them together."

"...I don't really want to see it." Ace finally said.

Marco stubbornly ignored the boy's resistance, and he turned to the page they had read just now: "Look, Roger and Dad can be regarded as enemies and friends, and a scene like this sitting together and drinking together, I can't believe it." I can’t remember how many times. Maybe the world thinks that gangsters must fight each other, but it’s not like that.”

Ace glanced quickly at Roger in the photo out of the corner of his eye, then looked away again.

"Here is also a photo of the main members of the Roger family. I don't know where Saatchi got it... This is the time when the Roger family is at its strongest. Roger has indeed done something that no one has ever done before, saying King's Landing is no exaggeration."

"...The leader of the heinous criminals in King's Landing." Ace added masochistically.

Marko sighed: "The labels affixed to people in the world cannot fully summarize the essence of a person."

Roger was cast aside by society.A person who was exiled and executed.As Roger's son, one can imagine what kind of life Ace has lived these years.The denial of Roger will all turn into a denial of himself.

He patted Ace on the shoulder reassuringly: "Ace, since the existence of the underground society has its meaning. No matter how capable the police are, they cannot cut this part out of society. Although the society only gives Roger is labeled as a criminal, but Roger is more than just a criminal."

Marco closed the album and put it aside.He tilted his head to look at the young man beside him, wondering if his thoughts had reached the young man's heart.

"You see, I am also a gangster, a criminal, and the things I do are by no means worth boasting about. But I should not be useless."

"Marco is different..." Ace whispered.

"You feel different because now you know me. Roger is not just a criminal. I can tell you a lot of Roger's stories. I know it probably haunts you. Roger is also a great man. people."

Ace fell silent again.Marco also stopped talking.The room was shrouded in silence.

"So, why do I exist?" Ace asked, "I also want to gain the meaning of life. Not as someone's son, but as myself..."

Ace hadn't fully recovered from his depression, but he looked at himself with hesitation and anticipation of trying to cheer up.

Marco felt his heart tighten.

"Is it the meaning of my life to be part of your family?" Ace thought in disbelief.

Marco tried to answer in the most gentle tone: "Ace, you are still so young, in the future you will have a lot of time, a lot of opportunities, to find the meaning of your life. What kind of person do you want to be in the future? , What kind of person you want to be with is up to you to decide.”

"What if you can't find it?"

"Then keep looking."

Ace hesitated: "...I don't have much confidence. Marco, will you help me?"

"If you need me, I will always be with you. Your 20 years old, 30 years old, 40 years old, 60 years old..."

Ace wanted to laugh, but frowned again: "Back then you would be an old man."

"Wouldn't that be great." Marco put his arm around Ace's shoulder.

"Well, that would be great." Ace's answer was a little nasal, and he squeezed Marco's hand on his shoulder.

Then Marco couldn't help but put a kiss on Ace's forehead.

Ace widened his eyes slightly in surprise, and looked at Marco.

The man was also a little surprised: "I thought you would cry."

"I won't cry." Ace turned away awkwardly, "I don't care about Roger that much."

The stubbornness and bluntness of young people is also part of Marco's liking.

"...can you kiss me again?"

——And this kind of straightforwardness too.

TBC