Chapter Something or Other

AN- Yet another timeline leap here, folks. We're flashing to an unknown amount of years after Marina's 'Conspiracy' section, which you have just finished reading. She's now JUST entered the BPRD, and has, for lack of a better description, guppies in her stomach.

Chocolate andwarm weather toAdiva,and thanks for beta-ing, whenever I getup the determination to actually write something!

"I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks"
Twelfth N, Act iii, Sc.3

Esperanto For Beginners

When I first saw Abe I was frightened. I felt like I was rejoining society. Like he wasn't going to accept me. Like I was a betrayal to the noble clan of Icthyo Sapiens.

And then I saw him, floating in his tank, and he had his eyes closed, looking so peaceful, and so in control.

But he was so fantastically graceful and beautiful. He was so perfect, and I was so broken. I could feel his energy. He was an indigo power, and I had just turned blue, so the green came out in strong hints. And he was reading, something long, and complicated, a classical piece, Shakespeare or the like, when all I'd ever read was the study books, which were a vague memory.

And I ran. I spun, and ran out of the library as fast as I could.

Liz Sherman saw me go, and she understood.

I think she understood better than I did, at that point.

So she went in to talk to Abe, who's confusion I could feel, even from down the hall where I had collapsed against a wall.

And later that night, Abe came to try and talk to me.

I was sitting, cross legged, on the floor of a side room. Somewhere I thought no one would look for me, but Abe found me. Later he told me that it was because my energy was so bright. I'm still not sure if he's being a romantic, or if he saw me on the surveillance cameras.

Abe came in, opening the door quite loudly, so there was no chance he was going to sneak up one me.

"Hello, there. I've got some food here, I was wondering if you were hungry."

I shook my head, no, even though I was. So he ignored me and sat down across from me, setting the bowl of eggs between us.

"I'm Abe Sapien."

"Nice to meet you"

He looked at me, for a long moment, and his head quirked sideways, a rapid flicker of movement that made me draw my hands back onto my lap, holding one of the eggs.

"Do you have a name?"

Blushing, I shook my head, no. I didn't remember, and still don't, really.

"I didn't either, when I first came to the BPRD."

That inspired some confidence in me, and I met his eyes, for the first time.

They were so kind, and so lovely. I think I may have begun to fall in love with him right there and then.

"How did you get a name?"

He reached out, and snagged an egg.

"My friend Hellboy helped me chose it."

This crushed my spirits again. I didn't have any friends, then.

"Can I help you find yours?"

I know I began to fall in love with him, at that.

I nodded quickly, and dropped my head, blushing again.

"Something with water, I think. And maybe with your accent…"

What?

I looked up, confused. He didn't think I talk right?

"You have a lovely Scottish lilt. It would be a shame to ignore it."

That buoyed my spirits, I can tell you. I'd been complimented. And it was, really, without question, the nicest thing anyone had ever said to me.

"Thank you"

"It's the truth. Aqua? What're different language words for water?"

I smiled. This I knew.

"Water, eaux, agua, akvo."

He looks very impressed, and I blush again.

"Alright, I got the French and the Spanish, but which was the last one? I didn't recognize it."

And I smiled at this. That was a topic I know a lot about.

"It's Esperanto"

"That's fantastic that you speak it. But none of those really suit you."

I was crestfallen at this, but I tried not to show it.

"How about Marina?"

He grinned.

"Don't ask me, it's your name"

And his smile was all the encouragement I needed.

"Marina."

I said this firmly and he offered me another egg, which I took.

"Connery?"

"Why Connery?"

"Famous Scottish actor"

I nodded.

"Marina Connery it is then."

Abe sits on the armchair across from me, his fingers steepled, and his brow drawn in.

"La knabo havos la sukeron." I nod, and grin. "Now can you make 'boy' and 'sugar' plural?"

"La knaboj havos la sukerojn?"

"You've got it. Now; The teacher forgets the boy."

"la instruisto forgesos la knabon"

"Close, Abe, but what tense is present?"

Abe sits and thinks for a mintute.

"La instruisto forgesas la knabon"

"Perfect"

He grins, and stretches languidly. My heart gives a little jump, and I close my eyes. I will NOT let a little crush get the better of me. Even if the crush is not so little…

But then Abe is talking again, and I open my eyes.

"…if that's alright with you?"

I blink, and ask him to repeat himself. Blushing again, I'm wondering if I'm just going to be dyed this color permanently.

He sighs in exasperation, and suddenly his mouth is on mine.

He's kissing me. He's kissing me! He's kissing ME!

When my mind stops doing cartwheels I look up, knowing I must be grinning.

Abe is looking at me intently, and I try to calm my racing heart down, wondering if something's wrong.

"I've wanted to do that, Marina, since you picked a name."

Well, that's encouraging.

"Oh, well... that's the best news I've heard all day."

Abe looks perplexed, then starts laughing.

"Mi amaras vin"

His Esperanto really is improving.