hiding

May as well give in?

Marco awoke to movement on the bed. Opening his eyes, he groaned slightly, noticing Alexia tossing and turning, mumbling something in her sleep, her face looking pained and covered in sweat. As he reached forward to wake her, Alexia shot up, gasping for air, her left hand reaching for where her mask should be. Her eyes were ones of confusion as she realized her mask was no longer there.

"It's gone yoi," Marco spoke, causing Alexia to jump slightly, "It must have fell off when you hit the water."

"Hit the water? What do you..." Her eyes widened in realization, drawing her knees up to her chest.

"How do you feel?" Marco ask cautiously.

"What's it to you?" Marco internally groaned, her defensive wall had gone back up.

"Lexi, you can trust us you know." Marco encouraged, "You looked terrified coming back up, mentally you couldn't even register anything going on. Doc had to give you some medicine to help you sleep. You gave us all a scare."

"What do you mean he gave me medicine?!" Alexia started checking her arms for needle marks, looking worried, "What did you do to me?"

"We didn't do anything to you, I swear on Pop's life yoi." Marco threw his hands up in defense, "You wouldn't snap out of your episode, you were panicking faster than you could breathe, there wasn't much else we could do."

"Like I believe that." She spit venomously at him.

"I really wish you would." Marco sighed, looking offended, "Have we really been that horrible to you yoi? Besides Thatch not knowing how to keep his boundaries?"

"No... not really." Alexia only focused on her fingers as they fidgeted with the blanket, "It's not normal! You guys are pirates! You don't know me. You shouldn't be this nice!" Her eyes showed confusion.

"What? Are you expecting us to beat you? Sell you to slavers? Kill you?" He asked irritated.

"Something like that."

"Maybe you need to open your eyes Alexia! Not all pirates are like that. We don't want to hurt you, if anything we'd like for you to join us."

"Why?" Alexia asked, looking defeated, it became apparent her body was still exhausted from being overboard, "Why would you want someone like me to join your family as you call it?"

"Because why not? Pop's is already dead set on having you as his daughter. And believe it or not, when you're not being defensive and hiding, your actually very easy to get along with."

"I'm weak, I can't fight. The World Government will do anything they can to get their hands on me, even if that means starting a war with Whitebeard himself." Her brows furrowed, "I'm nothing but a burden, you don't want me."

"And almost all of us felt the same way when Pops asked us to join. Your family, and family is never a burden. Pops doesn't care about a war. He would go through hell and back for any of us." Marco eyes bore into hers, stressing the seriousness of his words, "I know your not ready to join us yet, but please, give my family, give pops, a chance."

Alexia looked down at her legs, which were now crossed, not wanting to look at Marco. Marco sighed, getting up to give her some space when she grabbed his hand unexpectedly. She looked as confused about her action as he did.

"Will you... will you teach me how to fight?" She finally looked up at him, "I don't want to be weak, apart of the crew or not. I feel pathetic."

"Of course, yoi." Marco smirked at her, "Come on, it's almost lunch time, we slept through yesterday. That is if you feel comfortable eating with everyone."

Alexia dropped her hand from Marco's, looking down at the ground. After a few long seconds she looked at him with a forced smile, nodding her head. He motioned for her to follow as they made their way down to the dining hall.

The dining hall was crowded, and very loud she noted. Everyone was immersed in their own conversations, almost everyone looking very content. No one had noticed Alexia or Marco enter, as none had expected her to be ready to join them after yesterday's incident. Haruta looked up, a huge grin plastering his face as he elbowed the giant man next to him. He waved Alexia and Marco over. Alexia followed with hesitation. Marco gestured for Alexia to sit across from him, next to Izo. Thatch jumped up from the other side of Izo and practically ran into the kitchen. Within moments he was back with food for both Alexia and Marco. Alexia's plate was much noticeably larger than Marco's and filled with a huge variety of sweets and desserts.

"I am so sooo sorry Alexia, I did not mean to hurt you yesterday!" Thatch bowed his head and looked as if he was about to cry, "I know you probably hate me, but I really hope you will forgive me someday."

Alexia looked at Marco with hesitation, unsure about what to do with the now sobbing man in front of her. If anything, she had considered him a bit overdramatic. Marco shrugged his shoulders at her grinning, before shoving a piece of chicken into his mouth.

"I don't hate you." Alexia said, her voice unsure of speaking to someone new, "You just scared me, it was an accident right?" Thatch nodded his head vigorously, a grin plastered on his face, "Besides I'm pretty sure I've done more damage to you than you have me."

"Oh, nonsense Alexia! You could never have hurt me, your too beautiful for such a thing!" Thatch placed a hand on her head roughing up her hair. Alexia grimaced and flinched at the contact, but remained sitting, trying to remind herself he was just being friendly. Izo cleared his voice next to her.

"Thatch!" Izo hissed at him, "Do we need to remove your hands from your body for you to remember?!"

Thatch looked at Izo confused, and then to Marco who had one eyebrow raised at his apparent stupidity. Thatch then looked down at Alexia, who was shifting beside him uncomfortably, his hand resting on her head. Thatch's eyes widened in horror as he removed his hand.

"I'm so sorry! Please forgive me!" Thatch was on his knees now, crying again.

Alexia had decided that yes, in fact, he was extremely over dramatic. It was actually quite amusing to her. Everyone looked at Alexia confused as she attempted to stifle a laugh.

"It's umm no big deal Thatch. I'll get used to it... eventually." Alexia mumbled, smiling at his antics.

"Thank you Alexia! You're too forgiving!" Thatch lurched for her, throwing his arms around her, as they both tumbled to the ground from the force of his body. Alexia let out a small squeak.

"Thatch you idiot!" Izo hit him on the head hard with the butt of his flintlock, a bruising knot already forming. "She's a lady, start treating her like one."

Everyone looked at Alexia bemused as she laughed out loud, unable to containing it anymore.

"It's okay Izo, Thatch truly is a clumsy idiot." Alexia was grinning ear to ear, in pure happiness. A look that gave Marco much relief. Maybe just maybe, they could win her over.