concoursec | Because Kidnapping is Pirate Speak for "Hello"

Entry tags:

Because Kidnapping is Pirate Speak for "Hello"

Characters: Marco & Espio
Location: ON ~~Pooh's~~ A GRAND ADVENTURE
Rating: PG-13
Open/Closed/Finished: Closed!
Summary: Marco kidnaps Espio for Marco's birthday. What? It's a legit reason.

Marco didn't announce his plans, of course, he never did. And if his brothers remembered him well enough, they'd remember how much he hated parties on his birthday. Ace might not remember, because Ace was always happier surrounded by more and more people that loved him, but Marco just wanted some peace and quiet, and in this case, red velvet cake and heavily spiked milkshakes. So, for all that he loved having Thatch, Ace, and Namur constantly around, there was only one person Marco wanted to abduct and drag out for some time alone.

He planned it weeks in advance, staked out Espio's schedule, and without warning on the day of the fifth, Marco abducted everyone's favorite grumpy chameleon.

Because in pirate language, kidnapping was hello.

Now to make their escape before the others could find him.

"Shh, don't say anything or they'll hear us. It's a jailbreak, yoi. Just stick with me and we'll be free before you can say 'Oi what the hell, Marco?' eh?"

Clearly this plan was flawless.

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He landed carefully on the rocky ground, and grabbed the ground with his talons before carefully switching into human and even more carefully taking Espio into his arms to give him a giant warm-winged blue fluffy hug to let Espio hide in.

"They're wrong, yoi." Marco leaned his face down against Espio's and into the blue hug. "My brothers. They thought you couldn't be a Whitebeard pirate because you hadn't shared those experiences with us, but that is the most Whitebeard thing I've ever heard since arriving in this world."

He sat down cross-legged on the rocky ground, unfazed by the surface. "Pops didn't protect people for money, and he didn't protect them for politics. I had to handle almost all of that because Pops didn't, and wouldn't. What do you think true strength is? Pops was strong because he tried to look after people. He looked after people he loved, that he'd barely even met. Do you know how long it took him to ask Ace to be his son? Fifteen minutes. And that entire fifteen minutes Ace had been trying to kill him. And for the next several hundred more times that Ace tried to kill him, Pops never gave up on him because he knew Ace better than Ace knew himself. That is real strength, yoi."

Marco didn't pet Espio, but he did hold him close and snuggle him. "I'm probably the oldest person in the Garden, even including Grell, but I still feel like a child every day. A child who lost his father not that long ago. A child who is trying to follow footsteps seventeen times bigger than mine, and connect dots across the universe. There's no shame in that, yoi. That is why I loved Pops so much. He saw that and said I needed a father. That all us lost kids like that needed an old man like him."

A deep breath and Marco looked up at the sky. "Toby is strong to me, not because he could fight, not because he could endure, but because he got back up and tried, as scared as he was. People who haven't lost anyone, haven't lost anything, they aren't strong. They're cocky idiots who are brittle because they don't know how to fill in their cracks and so the more cracks they're given they eventually splinter apart entirely. I've broken men like that, and I don't even regret it."

Another deep breath and Marco leaned his cheek against the top of Espio's head. "You aren't sheltered, not at all. And that is unfortunate. That is why I am taking you back to my world. Because I need you, and you will survive. Most of the kids here are more fragile than the men I've broken, yoi. Sometimes I don't understand you Espio, but that's not because you're wrong, it's because you're smarter than me. I wish I could understand how my Pops could love so easily, so universally, to take so many risks and care like that and not worry, or stronger still, to face that head on, but I can't. I still have my own cracks I haven't figured out how to fill yet. You're here because we need you. Those of us who have cracks like mine that only you know how to cover. You aren't as big as Namur, and you're not as aggressive as me or him, but you're tighter wound, so you can see those things we can't focus on. That's the strength of a crew. Of nakama. My weakness is your strength, so together we're stronger than anyone else."

Marco bit back his own tears, his own sorrow and just squished Espio a little tighter. "Surviving is a lot harder than people realize. Not the part that comes from trying to survive, but the part that comes afterward, living with yourself afterward. You might not think you can protect people, be it Toby or Namur, or Thatch, but you cover my cracks and then I can do it. I can't do that without your help. Do you remember when Shadow was here and you were very upset? I thought you should have killed him. But if it wasn't for how you handled it, how you taught me to be strong about it, I wouldn't be able to help Thatch and Ace with dealing with Teach and all that aftermath. That's why I want you to come back with me. Because if you can help me that much, you can help my brothers even more. And I need them. I need you. All of you."

Another squeeze. "I'm sorry about Toby. I was always scared that even if he came back, he might leave again. That I wouldn't be a good enough father to protect him. Here or back in his world. He's back in my world. That's selfish of me, to be relieved about that. There are things he needs to learn here still, but he's not ready yet. Maybe someday he will be. But for now, I will cover those cracks of yours, okay?" Marco's voice drops quietly, but no less intense. "You're not weak. You're my brother, and therefore one of the strongest people I know. Sometimes we're not always successful at what we try hardest at. But so long as we keep getting stronger, then the next time we'll know what to do or not. And that's why I brought you with me today, okay?"

Espio was barely listening - he was familiar with Marco's kind of reassurance. Didn't want to hear it, shook his head, barely reacted to the hug that made him feel yet more like a little child screaming for attention. He shouldn't have said anything, but once he started talking he had found that he couldn't stop.

Only snippets of Marco's words really registered.

"You don't get it," he mumbled. "My entire identity is useless to this world. Maybe you - just you - can find a tiny worthwhile part of me to cover up your own flaws, but the rest of me is still worthless and clinging on for no reason.

"I am far from 'strong'. What good am I if I can't even live up to my own ideals? When the ideals i have, with a 'naive' conception of good and evil, right and wrong, serve no purpose in a world of politics and militia? If I was strong, I wouldn't hate everyone on this stupid planet. I wouldn't wish I could just die and spare everyone the trouble of dealing with me, spare myself the guilt of just being alive when I failed everyone. And..."

A short, bitter laugh,

"The only reason Shadow didn't die was because I lost the fight.. Him being a different Shadow, us ending up on reasonable terms? Doesn't change that I did try to kill him."

Who cared about the rest of the world? Fuck them. They didn't know shit, and Marco could barely stand them. Well, clearly Espio cared. Like Ace. Marco never understood it. He was too used to being hated, too used to wanting to be hated. If the world hated him, it meant that he was doing something right.

So Espio hated them too, but felt guilty about it? And worthless.

"Espio," Marco growled, all fire and steel core. This was why Marco nearly never sparred. Because there was no holding back with him. Once he lost his temper he went all the way. "Don't set your identity to depend on how the whole world sees you. So you hate them? Aye, so do I. That just means you understand. You are not worthless. The world can't decide what your worth is, and neither can you. Only your friends can, the people closest to you. Listen, Espio. It wouldn't be sparing me the trouble, got it? Not me, not your other brothers here, and not Grell. Your ideals are no more naive than mine. They're founded in your experiences, and like hell I'll let anyone take that from you. It doesn't matter who dismisses you or not, because I promise I will always value you and that means you have a home and family who care, like it or not."

Marco moved to hold Espio out, one hand on the chameleon's head and fingers laced around the horn. He didn't want to force Espio to look at him but at the same time, he wasn't giving much other option either. "Look at me Espio," it was still a growl, fully commanding, going beyond just the authority of someone who'd spent years never giving orders except when he knew full well who had to do what. It was the commanding tone only the phoenix could hold. As thought piercing through time, and somehow more solid than any steel wall could ever be. More irrefutable. "All of us here have wanted to die at some point or another. Living past everyone hurts the most. Losing Thatch damn near killed me, and losing Ace before he was even dead did the same. Ace, Thatch, Namur, Grell, none of us truly have the right to be alive." Grell wasn't even alive, and yet she was. Thatch and Ace too. And Namur was in the center of it all. Marco was going to give him a big hug tonight. "But we are. I still don't give a flying fuck about this world, most of the people, or any other god damn world in all of the fabric in time and space. I'm only capable of caring about the people I love. Maybe I can add more, maybe I can't. But you aren't alone. You haven't failed anyone, and you'll never be useless to me. So whatever dumbass voice in your head that says otherwise is wrong. Got it?"

Espio refused to look at Marco, reached up for the hand that had grabbed him by the horn and pushed him back. Not even Marco's commanding tone could persuade him.

"No," he protested. "Hating people for existing is not a good thing. It goes against my own convictions - that every life is as valuable as the next, whether I like them or not. That's what I've fought for, for so long - to protect lives. To hate them, to think of them with almost the same kind of revulsion as Shadow, without even knowing why... I can't bear that.

"I've dedicated half my life to protecting people. To fighting those who cause suffering. And I can't do it anymore - if I try, I'll only fail. And what support is a family that can't share my convictions?"

He shook his head, still refusing to look at Marco. "You might say I'm not alone, but you said it yourself - your brothers don't think I could be one of them. They might be right. Ace, I can deal with, but the other two... we're so far apart in attitude and beliefs, I don't even know what to do with them or around them. Me and Grell have never seen eye-to-eye, and I couldn't even just talk to Toby without hurting him in some way...

"Can't even take a night out for my best friend's birthday without ruining it.

"I'm sorry."

He offered an awkward, strained smile. "Thanks, but if logic and sense helped, I wouldn't be in this mess."

"You're wrong," it was another growl and Marco flicked Espio's forehead, but at the weak smile he let go some of his own rage so that it drained out of him.

"Come here," he picked Espio back up into a tight hug. "You didn't hurt Toby. Toby hurt Toby. Toby was hurt by the world. You did nothing, but protect him. My brothers still consider you a brother, but they forget that we weren't just bound together by my father. We were bound by our own ideals too. Espio... Just because you hate them, doesn't mean you take it out on them. Do you really think that doesn't make you strong? To deal with all that rage and not lash out? If I had as much rage as Ace, the world would never stop burning. You hate them, but you still fight with all your strength to protect them. Even now, you're fighting yourself. I don't share that kind of passion. To protect everyone, and everything. But because you have it, I work better at it. You protect all those people would them ever knowing or giving a damn. Why the fuck do you think that you don't deserve far more happiness and protection in return?"

Marco sighed softly and leaned his cheek on Espio's head. "It doesn't matter that we disagree with you. Because you stick to it, you get us to help you do what you need, what you want. Ace is also a lot more protective of total strangers than I can ever be. He rescues marines, his grandfather was a marine, as I told you, and he actually cares about people who call him a monster for being born. I don't get him. I really don't. But I want to help him, and that means helping his convictions too. You're strong enough that your convictions won't become mine just because my will is around you. That is strength. I think it's okay to hate people. To be jealous, to feel hurt, to really resent them for the bullshit they do. But you need to stop hurting yourself for it. Even though you hate them, you still love them enough to protect them in a way someone like me can't. And more than that, you pull me into helping you, got it?"

Marco set Espio back up on the top of his head and pet him gently. "You're not alone. Thatch and Namur are old pirates like me. But we listen. Especially to the future. Our Pops taught us that." More pets. "And it's the nice thing about being a pirate, you can be family with whoever you want to, you don't have to let pesky things like biology or laws or justice get in the way. My justice is not yours. It can never be that strong. I am too old and jaded, and I've never been that adaptable to change. But, and I mean this with all my heart, so long as you're around, I will always fight for your convictions, even if we disagree. Because I trust you. Because you're my brother. Because we're family. If it's important to you, then it's important to me. And I meant what I said. I wanted to spend my birthday with you. I don't want you to hurt, and I'm sad that you are, but I wouldn't have this day any other way."

Again, it seemed as though Espio wasn't really listening, though he did shuffle a little on Marco's shoulders, again hiding his face in his arms and resting on Marco's head. He wasn't sobbing, but there was definitely a distinctive wetness coming from his eyes. "I don't think I have it in me to fight anymore," he mumbled. "...come on. Let's go."

"Then we'll fight for you and you can rest. That's what family does, yoi."

Marco spread his arms and jumped high, switching into phoenix in one fluid movement as he went.

"I'm sorry." Espio knew his mumbled repeat of an apology was most likely unnecessary, but he felt the need to offer it anyway. "I'll try to cheer up a bit. ...I'm gonna start cooking again, too."

Definitely unnecessary. Marco nudged Espio with his head as they flew off, another attempt to hug him and remind him it would all be okay. If nothing else, Marco wasn't going to be giving Espio much time alone for the next month.

"Ah, but... aren't there things you want to talk about, too? We haven't really had a chance to talk for long in ages..."

There was a slight accusatory tone in his voice, though he tried to hide it - he still was a little jealous of the attention all the rest of the family were getting.

"...but don't chirp it at me."

Marco opened his beak to talk to Espio -- to chirp at him, but closed it again with a slight huff before laughing in amusement a little.

He nodded his head. It could wait until they landed.

"Dumb sparklebird."

Espio shuffled a little on his back, apparently deciding to just hold on and snuggle a little into the feathers and rest until they got to wherever they were going.

Another laugh and Marco snuggled back. Espio couldn't be too bad if he was able to act like he was back to normal, he figured. The phoenix adjusted his wings to puff around Espio more like a blanket and settled in to let the chameleon have a quick nap until they got there.

He picked out a good place for milkshakes and cake and made sure to land someplace that wouldn't be too noticeable by anyone who simply bothered to look up into the sky. Phoenixes were less rare in this world than in Marco's own, but it still wouldn't do to be seen that easily. He switched to human with Espio still wrapped around his shoulders and tousled the Stetson hat on his head to put it back in place before climbing down to the streets below.

"Cranky chameleon," it was an extremely late retort, but still, had to be said.

To tell the truth, Espio felt a tiny bit better for the moment after getting all those worries off his chest to someone who mattered, but a simple mumble of 'dumb sparklebird' was still only a shadow of himself.

Woken by the tousling, Espio checked the hat to make sure it was where he liked it. "Mm. So...?"

He looked around. "Where are we?"

"Cake and Shake," Marco gestured to the shop's sign, "They also have tea."

Obviously this made all the difference.

Espio tilted his head, a little confused by the choice - he had kind of expected a bar, it being Marco's birthday... but since Marco seemed fond of treating his sweet tooth, he shrugged - he should be used to this by now. Eh.

"So I see." He didn't point out that he meant what town. "Did I fall asleep? I don't remember getting here."

"Aye, you did, but I take it as a compliment. It means I flew smoothly, yoi." It was also a common sign of depression, but c'est la vie.

"Feeling better?"

"A little... now that I've talked about it..." Even so, he looked at the floor as he said it. It probably wouldn't last. "You know. To someone more important than a doctor."

That is adorable and Marco is almost overcome with his intense desire to glomp the chameleon on his shoulders. He settles for reaching up to ruffle the hat instead.

"I'm glad," his voice is quiet, and incredibly less intense then when he was mad. Intellectually, Marco knew it was his desire to kick whatever problems came their way to protect his family and when he couldn't kick the problem, he wasn't so sure how to protect his family, so he acted less rationally, but it didn't fix it. Still, he's genuinely happy that it helped, however slightly. "I'm not going to be giving you much space for awhile. Not because I don't trust you, but because I want to reinforce the idea of how important your company is to us, got it? And since Ace has been sleeping in my bed on account of nightmares, don't be surprised if we start kidnapping you for that too, yoi. The more people he has around him, the better he'll be."

And helping Espio wasn't going to be a quick thing. The problems had taken years to develop, they wouldn't be cured in one conversation. It was still a start.

"I am not sleeping in your bed," Espio said, after a moment of trying to figure out if he just heard that correctly. "And what is Ace - five? Geez."

Marco just tugged on Espio's cheek. "I'd still sleep in Thatch's bed, if I wasn't married." And we're jut not even going to bring up the times that they shared beds anyway, because it's weird, and possibly brain scarring.

"So? That's because you're weird."

Espio's reasoning was absolutely flawless.

"Aha!" Marco smirked evilly, "But so are you. Therefore, it's settled then."

Nothing was settled and never would be, but that was how Marco expected it, for all that he claimed to the contrary.

"Nuh-uh," Espio responded, a little childishly and lacking in a better retort. "Besides, I think I'd get chainsawed before Grell'd let that happen."

"She lets Ace in, what's one more?" Marco shrugged. "But if it makes you feel better you could always join in on the Ace patrol. Between his narcolepsy and a few other things--" PTSD, flashbacks, prison, torture, whatever the fuck Blackbeard did to him, dying, guilt, Marco being a lousy brother who was more liable to yell at him than fix things, "He needs someone to keep an eye on him at night."

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