hiding

damn... okay

Alexia stumbled as she walked down the motel hallway with the man she had decided to drink with. She giggled as she grabbed on to his arm to keep her balance. Tonight, had been exciting. While she didn't like the idea of drinking and flirting with a stranger, she found it exhilarating. Alexia had thrown her caution to the wind, and found herself seeking any reckless outlet she could. It was an emotional high that her body, her mind, so desperately craved. Alexia had approached the bar for her second drink of the night wanting nothing but to do something stupid, foolish and completely reckless. Alexia wanted to feel in control and free.

Alexia hadn't planned to get as far as a motel. She actually hadn't planned on anything after getting drunk, dancing with strangers, and getting a hotel room while Marco slept with god know who on the ship. Alexia pushed the thought out of her plastered mind, easily encouraging herself to keep. The only thing she did know, was that she had no intentions of actually sleeping with the man.

They got to the room at the end of the hall, and she turned to thank the man and say goodnight. Alexia suddenly realized she didn't even know his name. Before she could say anything, she found her back up against the wall as he sloppily kissed her jaw, his hand fumbling with the hem of her pants. She became aware of the musky, smoky odor that rolled off of him; making her nauseous. She laughed nervously as she started lightly pushing him away.

"I'm sorry but I'm not interested in this." Alexia mumbled, still trying to push him away.

"Well I am honey." He chuckled playfully he shoved a hand up her shirt, "So be a good little kitty and let me make you purr."

"I said I'm not interested." Alexia gritted her teeth, the drunken fog in her mind starting to lift as adrenaline kicked in. She brought her knee up, hitting him in the groin.

"You bitch, I'm gonna show you what a good time really is," He groaned, leaning forward against her as one hand held his pained junk, "This evening could have gone so much nicer if you would just play along kitty."

"Get off of me now." She demanded, shoving him with the full force of her body. Alexia began to panic as she realized that the shove barely even moved him.

Before she could even register it the man was off of her in an instant, laying on the ground as he cried out in pain. Marco stood in front of her, glaring down at him as his fists were encased in scorching blue flames. Alexia could feel the heat radiating from his hands, noticing the burn mark that now adorned the man's cheek.

"I believe the lady said she wasn't interested." Marco spat as the man got up, stumbling back down the hallway away from them.

Marco turned towards Alexia, looking at her while she looked down towards the ground. They both stood in silence for a moment as Alexia began to tremble. Her hands balled into fists. Marco stepped forward, expecting her to start crying.

"What the hell do you think your doing!" Alexia yelled, taking him aback.

"What are you talking about? He was about to rape you." Marco's eyes were wide in confusion.

"I could have handled him myself! You don't have a fucking right..." Alexia was glaring at him.

"A right to what? Save your drunken ass? To make sure you aren't drunkenly screwing random men?" Marco spat at her, "I think as your commander I do have a right."

"I'm not your fucking slave commander," She spat back, "These were my choices damn it! Why do you care what I do? You aren't controlling the other members of your division like this commander; I guarantee they're out there sleeping and drinking with whoever they want. Just because I have tits doesn't mean you can make my decisions for me."
"Can't you just shut up and listen for once in your life? Somebody has to make decisions for you because obviously you aren't making the right ones."

"It's not your place to decide that Marco! It's my life, it's my choices! You don't get to take away my freedom to decide that! Why do you care? Don't you have some slut to go screw. Just leave me alone." Alexia snapped, turning to open the motel room door.

Alexia turned around to face him as she felt his hand on her wrist, only to find herself pushed up against the wall roughly. His hands now held her waist firmly as he moved his lips desperate and firmly against hers. She froze as he pulled away slightly, not giving her any room to move. She remained frozen as she stared at him in confusion, feeling the heat of his breath brush across her skin.

"I care because your driving me crazy." Marco growled lowly into her ear, "And I have no idea why. Your choices affect me too damn it. Ever since I brought you aboard the ship, your choices have affected me. You affect me in ways I can't even understand. You piss me off so much, but I can't go five second without wondering if your safe."

"Marco..."

"No," Marco cut her off, "God you are so stubborn. Why can't you just let me help you. You always fight me when it comes to helping you. Did you really think that I would be sleeping with a random hooker? I don't give a damn about some cheap whore that has touched every person in town. I can't even contemplate doing anything with anyone when your plaguing my damn thoughts."

"I didn't..."

"No Lexi," He cut her off again angrily, "Can't you see what the hell your doing to me? I never get angry, at anything. And then you come along and suddenly you're the queen at finding ways to piss me off in ways I have never felt before. How can you make me so furious but make me want you so much more? You're the one constantly by my side. You share my bed, you scout with me, you help me manage the division with more fluency than I ever thought possible. Most people would be terrified of flying up high with me but you? You love it! That look you get in your eyes every time; it never gets old. Most people are terrified the first time they see my devil fruit and instead your fascinated by it. Who in their right mind is fascinated by something that could potentially kill them? You are the only person that gets me worked up like this, the person that for some reason I am the most terrified to lose. You're the person that makes me react in ways I never have before. So for you to go out and do something so damn reckless and dangerous, just because you think I would be even remotely interested in some whore..."

Marco stopped short as Alexia buried her face into his chest, wrapping her arms around him. He paused for a minute before wrapping an arm around her waist, lightly grasping her head with his free hand as he held her impossibly closer to him. He nuzzled the top of her head and sighed in defeat, the anger quickly leaving his body.

"I'm sorry." Alexia whispered softly, "I didn't mean to make you mad. I just thought you didn't care."

"I care, I care more than you could ever know Lexi," Marco mumbled into her hair, "You are and will always be mine, I won't let anyone else have you. No one else has my attention the way you do. I'm sorry for the way I acted today, it was uncalled for, and I know it didn't make any sense. Just don't do stupid shit like this again, please."

"I promise."

"Come back to the ship with me, don't stay here tonight please. I've gotten too use to you sleeping next to me yoi." She nodded her head in agreement, suddenly too tired to protest anything else.