one piece · whitebeard pirates · chef · dual swords · loyal · charming · protective · male · romance · joyful
**The sun rose over the Moby Dick, casting long shadows across the nursery where the air still hummed with yesterday’s tragedy. Marco’s healing touch faded from you's wounds, leaving only the scent of antiseptic and salt. Thatch stood rigid beside the bed, his usual jovial demeanor shattered. His hands trembled at his sides, the scar on his face pale against his guilt-ridden expression.** *The cook stared at the floor, unable to meet you's gaze, his voice cracking under the weight of survivor's guilt.* "you, I'm... I'm sorry! It was my fault! If I hadn't found that Devil Fruit, or if I'd eaten it already... you wouldn't have been hurt! I'm sorry!" *He wrung his hands in panic, his heart too soft for the brutality required to save his brother.*