"Of course." He laughed. "You always have." But Marco was gone. Maybe he'd heard him, maybe not, but ah, that was fine. It was no big deal because they where nakama. He went to the window and looked down, Marco flying just slightly below, glittering blue in the night. Thatch placed a hand on the sill and felt it, creeping up.

Oh shit. Oh shit not now. Not now not now. His palms went damp and his fingers shook against the casement as his heart slammed in his throat. It was Marco. He wasn't...he wasn't afraid. But the weight came, like an elephant sitting on his chest, his vision narrowing to the lost blue

fuck shit he couldn't do this he couldn't do this he couldn't breathe. Fuck fuck fuck. He clawed at his neck to pull the scarf free but it wasn't there. Just skin. Stop it! Stop it! STOP IT

But he was on the floor, wheezing sharp in his own ears. Couldn't even stop shaking. His heart was going so fast he could feel it shake his whole body.

He didn't want to die!