Yeah I decided to write another chapter for this one. Enjoy the embarrassment, fluffiness and romance.
Thatch's eyes widened lightly, when he felt Marco's lips on his. This was too good to be true and his heart fluttered in his chest. His eyes closed and he leaned into the kiss, telling Marco that he hadn't been lying about his feelings. A faint blush dusted his cheek, as they pulled apart, Marco smirking lightly. His thumb lightly caressed Thatch's cheek.
"Now don't go hiding such feelings from me, Thatch. It hurt to see you so distressed and I couldn't help. No worse, you didn't let me in."
"How could I? It's not like you're wearing your feelings on the outside either."
Marco just chuckled. "You could have asked. You know, rhetorically, yoi."
Thatch pouted at the light teasing. "You would have guessed the real meaning right away."
"I would and then I would have done this much earlier, yoi."
With those words, Marco kissed him again, this time with more passion. Thatch shuddered lightly, but kissed him back with as much passion. His hand went to Marco's neck, the other placed on his chest. Marco had a hand on Thatch's waist, holding him as close to him as he could, the other still on his cheek. Neither wanted to let go of the other's lips or body, both wanting this moment to never seize.
Izo was the first to notice that something had changed. While Thatch was back to being himself, there was something different about it. Whatever had bothered his brother had been solved and probably better than he hoped. It was still annoying him that he had no clue what had bothered Thatch. Though it seemed Marco knew, because the man didn't seem all too bothered that Thatch was just like that back to his normal self, yet different. Happier, Izo would say. It was good seeing Thatch back to normal and happy, still Izo wished he knew what had bothered Thatch and how the problem had been solve.
The more the cross dresser thought about it and observed his brother, the more puzzled did he get. Marco had changed too. Not much for many to realize, but Izo saw it. Marco was more relaxed, smiling more and even joked around with Thatch. Not that he hadn't done it before, but this was different somehow. And this annoyed the cross dresser, as he was known to know almost everything about everyone on this ship. Only their 'father' knew more.
"You know, frowning gives more wrinkles," Thatch said, teasing his friend.
Izo huffed. "I wouldn't be frowning, if I didn't feel left out by my best friends."
Thatch ducked his head a little. "I was that horrible to you? Sorry. It was just some very personal and it's all solved now. Don't worry about me anymore. I'm really and truly fine now." He smiled brightly to Izo.
"Even so, you've changed a little. You're happier and cheerier, which I thought couldn't happen. Why do you close me out?" Izo was a little hurt, as all he wanted was his family's happiness and freedom.
"You'll know that soon enough, brother," Thatch said and sounded slight excused.
Izo eyed him with slight distrust. "Is that so? Well, whatever. I have stuff to do." With that he huffed away.
Thatch sighed. An angry Izo was hell, but a disappointed Izo was hell frozen over. It would take time before Izo would forgive him for this, he knew. Though he didn't regret anything. After the other evening, Marco and he had agreed to not tell the crew right away, as they wanted to enjoy this without people disturbing them or ask questions.
"We should tell him soon or he might not forgive us, yoi." Marco spoke next to him.
"Yeah. He is our best friend. Let's tell him later," Thatch smiled.
Thatch placed the finished paperwork onto Marco desk. The latter raising an eyebrow at him, as it was really rare that Thatch finished his paperwork in time and of free will. A smirk found its way to Marco's lips, as he understood why Thatch had done so. It meant more time with each other. He rose from his chair and pulled Thatch into an embrace, capturing the lips for a sweet kiss. They had some time before Izo would come.
"You just can't keep your lips from mine, eh?" Thatch teased Marco lightly.
"Well you know I love the taste of spices and sweetness. You're lips got that taste, yoi."
Thatch grinned, but couldn't help the blush that adorned his cheeks. "If it makes you feel better, I love your kisses."
Now it was Marc's turn to have pink cheeks and he turned with a small pout, mumbling something about Thatch being a romantic dork. That only made Thatch laugh softly and Marco shook his head lightly, wondering how he could have fallen for such a dork. Then again, Thatch was the right kind of dork Marco wanted.
"You two have fun it seems." Izo's voice brought him out of his thoughts, as the former entered the room.
"Yeah. Fun." Thatch scratched his neck lightly.
"Oh?" Izo placed the papers on the desk, next to Thatch's. "Please enlighten me what kind of fun you have without me."
To Izo's surprise both men blushed a little and avoided his gaze for a moment. Then Marco gestured Izo to sit down and the latter did so, sitting on the chair. Marco sat on his bed, Thatch next to him. Like really next to him, leaving little air between them. This made Izo raise a brow, but before he spoke, Thatch spoke up.
"The reason for my ... mentally absence, was because I was dealing with some feelings I thought I shouldn't have and which I didn't know how to handle, as I haven't felt that way before. Izo, I have falling in love for the first time."
Both of Izo's eyebrow rose. "You're in love?" He couldn't believe it. Wait, had he said for the first time and what did he mean with shouldn't have?
"Yes. I thought you and Marco would take distance from me, if you knew. Especially if you knew who my heart has fallen to." Thatch felt like disappearing.
"What? I would have encouraged you to pursuit your feelings and confess. All I want is for you to be happy, Thatch. You should know that." Izo was slight offended.
"Even if the person I have fallen for is a brother?" Thatch looked at him.
"Even if it is me." Izo looked back. "Though I would have to gently turn you down and tell you to fall in love with the birb next to you. Oyaji knows how much our birb needs a person loving him for who he is."
Thatch sighed, before bursting into a laughter, as Marco huffed and looked offended. While the cook knew Izo was right that Marco needed the love, the cross dresser couldn't be more on the spot that the birb actually wanted Thatch.
"I guess you talked to Marco with it and everything is fine now? Who is the lucky guy?" Izo asked, once the laughter had died down.
"Our birb." Thatch smiled, taking Marco's hand.
A soft smile graced Izo's lips. "I see. Thatch you're a moron. I bet Oyaji told you that and yet you kept being a moron for a while. Well, things worked out for the two of you and I'm happy. Still, you could have told earlier." The latter was spoken in a harsh tone.
Thatch sighed. "Yeah I know. As you said, I'm a moron. However, you had this images of me and then I turn 180 degree from that images. I feared you would ... well ... stop seeing me as your friend, besides brother."
Marco smacked Thatch's head first and the Izo, both calling him moron. Then the former pulled him into a kiss, as to prove that Thatch was just perfect as he was. Izo smiled softly, even if he was disappointed that Thatch had kept such things from him for longer than necessary. Yet he couldn't be angry, knowing how beat up Thatch had been, because his inner demons had control.
"You two are a cute couple. Now enjoy this before the crew finds out," Izo said and rose. "Congrats and be safe."
With that he left, leaving two flustered commanders behind, as the meaning of his last words settled in their minds.
It took about two weeks before the rest of the crew realized that their first and fourth commander were a couple. As they feared, teasing and questions rained down on them from the others and it was hard to be alone together. Still they did found moments to be together, be it early morning, Marco drinking coffee, while Thatch baked breads for breakfast or be it late night, where Thatch brought Marco tea and snack, since he had been working too long. Those moments they treasured even more. So what if the crew were worked up about them being together? It didn't bother them, when their eyes met and the love was clear to be seen in them. Together they could survive the annoyance their family was the first month.
"You know, kidnapping me like this could have brought you into trouble, if you weren't part of the crew already, yoi," Marco teased Thatch.
"I know, but I had to celebrate our first month and just the two of us. Izo and Oyaji got my back."
Marco smiled softly and leaned closer to Thatch. They were sitting on a blanket on a cliff. Beneath the cliff the sea roared against it. Thatch had made a picnic for them and 'kidnapped' Marco to this spot. Very romantic, but that was the cook for you. And he had spoiled Marco with his favorite dishes and drink, which Marco could get used to.
"It's perfect, Thatch. You spoil me, yoi."
Thatch chuckled and pulled Marco onto his lap. "You heard Izo. I should give you my love, because you deserve it, which I intend on doing."
With pink cheeks, Marco kissed Thatch passionately. If Thatch insisted on spoiling him, who was he to say no? Though he knew he would spoil Thatch too. The cook might not think that way, but he too needed to be loved and spoiled. After all, he did as much for the crew as Marco. Both giving their hearts into what they did and to keep the crew safe, healthy and happy.
"I love you, moron."
"Love you too, birb."
Yeah, so the end kind of got sloppy, but meh. I redid it like five times and this is the best I could come with.
I hope you like this extra chapter, which shouldn't have existed at first, but for you who write yourself, you know that sometimes the muse decides otherwise.
