[Anon - A witch hunt has been hunting devil fruit users (and the leaders of it selling the reincarnated fruits to the navy). Could we have protective Marco when witch hunters half-drown Ace with sea/salt water?]

Ace ducked and weaved, keeping his distance. If he could just get in close, he could take them down. Right away Ace knew he'd overpower his opponent. The force behind their hits were good and precise but not much behind them. The problem is. It was a sea-stone linked whip. When this was all said and done, he was finding whoever came up with that idea and strangling them with it.

"Shit" he muttered ducking out of the way. The sand under his feet hindering his movements. Backing out of another hit Ace smirked. It may be hindering his movements now but it wasn't very hard to heat up a large area at once. Ace took another step back, ready to melt the ground beneath their feet. However, when Ace stepped back it wasn't just sand he sank in. A freezing chill ran up his spine and the momentum caused his suddenly weakened body to stumble back further.

A heaviness settled in his gut that had nothing to do with the salt water sapping his strength. This was their plan. Their wild movements, keeping Ace at a distance. They were driving Ace to the water. Ace snapped his head up just in time to see his opponent diving and colliding right in his middle. He was tackled to the water and struggled to push himself up as fast as he could but his movements were too slow.

"You're struggling is futile, Fire Fist. Your fruit belongs to the Harvesters now." The masked figure said, their voice light and sharp. They grabbed at Ace's hand as he reached for his dagger and straddled his body.

"Fuck yo-" Ace was cut of when they wrapped their other hand around his throat and pushed up back under the water. Even without his fire , Ace's physical strength was abnormal to most. Even with the sea hindering that, he should still be able to break their hold. He should be able to push them off. But it was cold, like sharp ice that pierced his body. And he couldn't get air, Ace couldn't breathe!

The masked figured screamed out when sharp talons dug into their shoulder. In a swift moment, Marco had dived down, grabbed a hold and tossed them. He couldn't be bothered where, he had more pressing issues. All that mattered was they were away from them, away from Ace. His own blue flame diminished the moment his feet hit the water. But he still retained enough strength to grab Ace by the shoulder and pull him out of the water.

Ace broke the surface gasping and coughing. As quickly as he could. Marco grabbed Ace firmly by his arms and dragged him out of the water. Ace stumbling trying to walk himself but collapsing the moment he was away from the water, still coughing and struggling to regain his breath. But he was breathing and that was all that mattered right now.

Turning his attention back on Ace's opponent, Marco charged forward. He saw what they did, before they got Ace to the water. Purposely guiding him there. Marco was not going to make the same mistake. When they snapped their whip forward, Marco shot his arm out. Causing the whip to wrap firmly around his forearm. It hurt, it may even cracking one of the long bones that ran down it. But Marco couldn't be bothered by that right now. He'd heal.

"You are as foolish as your little friend, Phoenix." They jerked the whip back and Marco let himself be pulled forwards. He stumbled a few steps and fell to his knee. "With both your fruits, I can earn such a pret-" They gasped when Marco jerked his arm forward and up and over the wielder's head before jerking it back. They stumbled forward and Marco jumped towards them. He dropped the whip from his arm, blue and yellow flames climbing up it instantly. Marco kicked them in the hip sending them towards the ground with their back to Marco.

Scrambling up did nothing to help them as Marco quickly wrapped his arms around their neck. "You've made two fatal mistakes. One" he tightened his grip as they struggled, gasping for air "you grossly underestimated me. And two." Marco dropped his voice and whispered in their ear. "No one fucks with my family." With a quick jerk and a snap, Marco let the body drop. He kicked it over and glanced at the emblem staring up at him from their chest.

There has been word of people not only killing people with devil fruit abilities. But these people having a way to actually take the reborn fruit without having to search to the end of the earth for it. Ripping off the emblem, Marco pocketed it. Looks like there was a little something more real to these rumors and Marco wanted to have information on it but for now. He turned his gaze behind him and looked back to his crewmate.

Ace was still kneeling in the sand, his forehead to the ground. Marco wasted no more time and swiftly walked back to him. When Ace raised his head at his arrival, Marco could already make out bruises that were blossoming over Ace's throat. In that moment, staring at the redness over such a fragile area, Marco felt like he went way too easy on their opponent. Holding out his hand to Ace, the younger took it and wobbly got back to his feet.

Ace was still coughing. His throat probably swollen. Marco worried he was having trouble breathing. Not that Ace would ever say anything. With a sigh Marco walked in front of him and leaned forward. "Climb on, I'll carry you." Ace frowned the stubborn pride he held making him shake his head.

"I" Ace coughed "I can walk mys-" he coughed some more doubling over as he struggled to get the words out. His sore throat making each raspy word he got out burn.

"This isn't your choice Ace." Marco said as gently as he could. Rubbing along his tattooed back soothingly. "You can either climb on my back, or I'll carry you in my arms. That's all you get to choose from." Ace glared up, his pride probably hurting more than is throat right now. Or at least, Marco figured that how it was to Ace. "Ah" he cut Ace off when he opened his mouth to argue "and no talking. I'm taking you straight to the infirmary and you're not allowed to say a word until they say you can."

Scowling Ace dropped his gaze and bowed his head. Marco was about ready to scoop him up when Ace dropped his shoulders and sighed. Unfortunately causing him to cough, though lighter. Still, Marco had turned back around and grabbed onto Ace's legs as freckled arms draped over his shoulders. "Sorry Ace" Marco said lightly when he started walking forward "I know you're capable but considering you almost just downed, let me help you out. Just a little bit."

"Yeah, yeah." Ace rasped, making him struggle to stifle another coughing fit. Well, he wouldn't be Ace if he listened to everything Marco asked of him. Marco probably be more worried if he did.