Jozu shook his head slightly. He volunteered to help Marco out, who normally took care of the division if the belonging division commander is absent. But with Luffy on the ship and under his care the blonde would be too busy to take care of second division. So he got the job to control the members. They should clean up the rest of Thatch's pranks. But most of them weren't even doing their jobs.
„So you don't want to do it because you think Thatch should clean up. Did you think that is also your fault to a certain degree? You ran out after he dropped paint on you. So you clean up the paint you dropped in this area", Jozu said and crossed his arms. He didn't even understand what their deal was.
„But if Thatch didn't drop paint on us, we..."
„Thatch did his cleaning part is now helping Izo setting up the guest room for Jinbe. So start cleaning. You guys are being an obstacle for Jozu, yoi."
Marco appeared next to Jozu. He nodded to his blonde brother. He noticed that a certain brat was missing but he didn't ask. He was a bit happy for the help because dealing with some of their second division members wasn't fun if Ace was away. But Marco's words seemed to do their job to motivate them to clean up.
„I thought you are on brat duty."
„I turned my head for three seconds because Haruta had something to discuss and he disappeared."
„So now you're searching the brat."
„Yes, I hope he will not jump in the water just because he sees a fish there."
„Want some help?"
But Marco shook his head. „I know you're on training duty today. So I won't bother you if you didn't see him."
„Nope, didn't see him run around here. But when I'll see him I take him with me. Perhaps training will take away his energy."
Marco grinned slightly. „Sounds like a good plan." And with that, the blonde got back to his search for Luffy.
Jozu hoped the boy was safe. He didn't want to be the one to tell Ace if something happened to Luffy on their ship. Even with his paramecia fruit. The second division commander wasn't someone who you should get mad at you.
Well, later Jozu knew that they were lucky. Yeah, the boy jumped into the sea. But someone was close so they fished him out quickly. So now the boy sat in a red kimono on a bench and watched them train. Luffy's clothes got somehow dirty and when Izo saw that he made Luffy changed clothes. The problem was the kimono itself. It looked like a kimono for girls and only went to Luffy's thighs. It also showed a bit of black boxer shorts. What was Izo thinking about dressing the boy up like that? Some man on the ship could wait until they were close to a brothel... but most of them didn't care any longer if they felt a sexual need. To dress up the boy like that when they hadn't docked for a long time was dangerous.
Jozu could see some of the men sparing sometimes watch the boy with hungry eyes. No way he would let the boy in the sparing. Even if he was whining. It was better than to see Luffy fight in a kimono. Jozu hoped Marco would be back soon. The blonde went away a few minutes ago to get something. He didn't know what the first division commander needed. But as sooner as he got back the staring to the brat would stop. Yeah, he could scold them, but that didn't really stop them much.
One of their newer member's eyes always went back to the boy and Jozu was about to scold him again when something blue and golden made the man kiss the wood. Marco stood above him. „Commander Marco."
„Let that be a lesson for all of you. If you don't keep your focus on your surroundings, surprise attacks can happen fast", Jozu explained while the first division commander turned around to sat with Luffy. But the black-haired one grinned and shoot himself at Marco. The Phoenix had to take a few steps back to not fall on the ground when Luffy hit him. But he missed a fighting stick on the floor and fell over it while he was still searching for his balance. Now the blonde sat on the wood with Luffy on his lap. The boy's legs were left and right from Marco's hips, so he straddled the older man. A big grin on his face.
„Can we play now, pineapple?"
Jozu shook his head at his men. Most of them blushed and some even had a nosebleed. Perhaps he should tell Ace about that and let the fire user have some fun with men to stop them from acting like that. „Don't be such perverts, yoi." Marco looked annoyed and slightly angry.
„Why are they acting like Sanji?"
„'Cause they were too long in the sun and think you are food."
„What I am food for them? I don't want to be eaten. I'll beat them up if they try."
„You will not. Not in this clothes, yoi."
„Do they look bad on me?" Luffy tilted his head and looked confused at the blonde.
Jozu could see that Marco didn't want to answer. Well not in front of the crew. „Training is over. Go to the showers directly or you won't have time for dinner." The blonde lifted an eyebrow at his order, but Jozu didn't care. He didn't need to know what was going on. He just knew that some privacy was needed. When everyone was away, Jozu wanted to go, too. But he was stopped by Luffy.
„Oi, sparkle. Did you send them away so Marco can be alone with me? Then thank you. Because he had too much to do to stay alone with me", the boy grinned. Marco looked like he wanted to facepalm. „Luffy..."
„Ops, it was supposed to be a secret. Please don't tell anyone, sparkle, and please don't be mad, Marco." Luffy looked at Marco with a pout and big puppy eyes. The blonde groaned and turned his eyes to Jozu.
„I won't tell."
„See, Marco, nothing to worry. It's not like everyone knows. Only Ossan and Izo know from your crew. So now it is one more and I'll get more hugs from you." Marco looked defeated.
„No one would judge you and it would make the others stop looking at him."
„I'll think about it, Jozu. Just don't tell anyone, yet. Especially not Ace."
„Don't worry. I'll protect you from Ace." And with that Luffy pressed a kiss on Marco's cheek. The annoyed look on the blonde's face vanished and was replaced with a soft expression.
„Well, I'm leaving. Don't be out too long, if you want it to be hidden any longer."
And with that Jozu went inside to take a quick shower himself. The men were already undressing and talking quickly about something, which the third division commander didn't understand and didn't try to. Well, that was until the topic went to a certain straw hat wearing brat. „He ate the gum-gum-no-mi so he is made out rubber. Imagine how it would feel to..." Jozu didn't need to hear the end to put the man through a wall. „Listen. I know some of you a frustrated but take care of it yourself and don't think about using Ace's little brother if you want live. Our second division commander has a brother-complex, if you haven't noticed, yet." /And our first division commander is scary when people, who he cared deeply about, are involved/, he added in his thoughts. But that was something he would leave out for the moment. Until the relationship was official to everyone. Then there will be some funny moments.
„Jozu, I hope the man did something to be put into a wall." That was the greeting of his captain when he went to him to report after the shower.
„Well, if Ace was there, there would be more damage tot he ship."
„So there was something about the brat? It was the clothes, right. I told Izo, he would draw a lot of unwanted attention to the boy." Whitebeard laughed.
„Is there a reason why they didn't raid Ace's room for clothes?" Whitebeard smirked and took a sip from his sake.
„Didn't you already see the reason?" The eyes of his father figure then went to his left side.
Jozu followed the look and saw the unofficial couple. Luffy seemed to have talk Marco into giving him a piggyback ride. The boy cheered and laughed while he clung to the blonde. His legs were now covered by leggings, but he was still wearing the kimono. Well, that way was better than one of the two clothes missing. Marco's face was unreadable for most of the crew. But he could see from the slight tug on his lips that the blonde hide a smirk.
„Don't you think that your brother is wrapped around a little finger, Jozu?"
„Perhaps a bit."
„I have to think about this old saw. Talking is silver, silence is gold, where does it leave you as a diamond?"
„Protection is diamond." Whitebeard laughed.
„Good answer. So I have a commander for each part of the old saw and one extra." Jozu turned his head. „Silver is Thatch. His swords. Gold is Marco. Look closely at his Phoenix form. And the extra is diamond part." Jozu nodded and allowed a smirk on his one face. Yeah, it fits the old saw. Thatch likes to talk, Marco was a great secret keeper, except when Luffy is involved, and he himself protect his family and the people, who they care for if needed.