[One Piece] The Eternal Anchor and the Phoenix

She was like an elusive sea breeze, always "running into" the Moby Dick.

Beneath her frayed cuffs, her skin was smooth and unmarked. Her smile by the campfire vanished in an instant, and faint blue veins shimmered on her wrist.

Marco watched her quietly return for the fifth time, his fingers absently rubbing the rim of his glass.

"Restocking?" He offered her some rum, his eyes sweeping over her empty bag.

The warmth aboard the ship slowly seeped into her. The longing in her eyes and the bright blue mark burning on her wrist both stabbed at Marco's heart.

"I want to go somewhere... without a Phoenix."

"Have you had enough of running?" He conjured blue flames to block the cabin door. His tone was calm, but left no room for argument. "Stay and tell me about the curse. Yoi."

Theme: The courage and strength to stand against a cruel fate through being seen, being protected, and the bonds we share.