CLOSED THREAD: Marv/Don, Pirate Fantasies

[moehakase]

Important content note: This thread is about Don having a fantasy involving a non-consensual sexual scenario. If that is not the kind of thing that you want to read, please give this one a pass.







Most mornings when Don wakes up in his bed (as opposed to those mornings when he wakes up, or for that matter has been kept up all night, in someone else’s bed), he’s ready to start the day, and gets up right away so he can get dressed and start making breakfast for the crew. Someone has to get the food ready before Marvelous starts raiding the pantry, after all. Don has lost far too many raw ingredients that way.

Some mornings, though, he wants to stay in bed just a little bit longer, and on those mornings he usually rolls over on his side, snuggling into a slightly different position, and if he’s awake enough sometimes his gaze will fall on the wanted posters he has up on his wall. He has a full set of the Gokai crew’s posters, of course - not having the full crew up might look suspicious. And he can’t afford to be suspicious. The thought of anyone finding out why he keeps those posters up mortifies him.

This morning is one of those mornings where he’s feeling a little sleepier than usual, wants to stay in bed and indulge himself for a bit. He looks over at the posters, looks at the one of Marvelous with that huge bounty underneath his picture, and a little nervous shiver crawls through him.

He’d had those wanted posters up in his cabin back home, too, when a full set meant only three posters instead of six. Before he’d ever joined the crew. Before he knew what they were like - that even though they were pirates, they were all good people, none of them cruel or heartless at all. They’d just looked like pirates to him back then, and with the size of the rewards they must have been especially vile ones, or so he’d thought. Marvelous especially.

Don looks at Marv’s poster and whimpers softly, curling in on himself beneath his blankets. He feels silly thinking about it now, which is why he tries so hard to keep it a secret, but back then he’d sometimes imagined what it might be like if they took him prisoner. What kind of awful things they might do to him. It wasn’t that he’d wanted any of it to happen for real - god, no, that would have been horrible - but as just a fantasy it had made him hot and trembly all over.

It still does.

The fantasy changes in little ways every time he thinks about it, but one way or another he always ends up alone with the dreaded Captain Marvelous, tied up in his cabin. This time, he pictures himself on his knees beside the bed with his wrists bound to the bedpost. His thighs would ache from kneeling for so long, his arms would be sore, the ropes would be biting into his bare skin. His chest would be tight with fear, and he’d be shivering not only from fright but from (a curl of nervous excitement unwinds deep in Don’s stomach as he thinks about this part) exposure - his clothes wouldn’t be all the way off, not yet, but his jacket would be gone, his shirt pulled open, his shoes cast aside. And surely before long the rest would be removed as well.

"Let me go, please," Don would beg, and the fearsome Captain Marvelous would look down at him and raise an eyebrow.

"The only way off this ship is the gangplank, pretty boy,” he’d say. “If you'd like to be let out of my cabin, though, I can certainly oblige. I'll turn you loose and then you can fend for yourself against the entire crew--”

“No!” Don would cry, terror clenching his heart as he imagines the rest of the crew closing in on him, grabbing him, tearing at his clothes--

“--Or, you can stay in here,” Captain Marvelous would continue, ignoring Don’s outburst, “nice and safe and spoken for, and not a soul will touch you, save for me. So, what'll it be?"

Don would tremble in his bonds and bite his lip to fight back his tears. "P-please let me stay here."

And the vile Captain Marvelous would smirk at him, knowing he'd won. "That's more like it." He’d step closer, and Don would shrink away, but tied to the bedpost there would only be so far he could go. Captain Marvelous would reach down and touch him, run his coarse fingertips up Don’s neck. Don would whimper and flinch back, shutting his eyes and looking away, but Captain Marvelous would grab him roughly by the chin and force him to look up at him. Don would be nearly in tears, and the vile pirate would just smirk at him like a cat toying with its prey. “My, but don’t you look pretty when you’re scared...” He’d lean in close and Don’s breath would catch in his throat. “Now, pretty boy, you don’t want me to hit you, do you.”

Don would shake his head, barely able to make any sound come out when he speaks. “N-no, sir, please, please don’t...”

“I won’t,” Captain Marvelous would reply, his voice almost gentle, “so long as you’re a good boy and do as you’re told, and don’t try to fight me. Understand?”

“Yes, sir, I...” Don would swallow, and try to steel himself, but his body would already be quivering, any resilience he might have had long gone. “I’ll be good.”

And then Captain Marvelous, cruelest and foulest of pirates, would give him one last smirk before crushing his mouth against Don’s in a rough kiss that would force a sob from his throat and start the tears running down his cheeks. In no time at all he’d be pulling off Don’s clothes, nipping at his skin, pinching his nipples hard enough to make him yelp, groping him through his pants. He’d take his pleasure with Don any way he wanted, and Don would be helpless to resist.

...Don doesn’t usually let himself fantasize about this for very long, because there are things to do in the mornings that he can’t just put off forever, but this morning he doesn’t care about that. The crew can wait a few more minutes for breakfast. He deserves this little indulgence.

He’s so lost in his fantasy that he doesn’t hear it when someone knocks on his door and calls his name. He doesn’t hear it the second time, either. The only thing that jolts him out of his fantasy is when the door actually opens, and the very person he’d been fantasizing about steps into the room.

Comments

[foodispriority]

Marv always starts his day the right way; by waking up from dreams of food to the smell of incredibly delicious breakfast cooking. He wouldn't get out of bed anywhere near as early as he does if it weren't for Don's breakfast (all meals, actually) making skills. And he can always go back to bed afterwards, so it isn't too much of a sacrifice at all.

Of course it wasn't always this way; before Don came aboard most mornings did not start with the smell of delicious breakfast cooking. And when they did it was Joe, who always rolled his eyes and pointed to the five extra portions he had made. Not because he was being helpful at all, just because he knew that if he was daring to cook breakfast for himself he'd have to dish up something for Marv (and once Luka came along, for her too) or else risk having his own stolen.

(It was no risk, it was a certainty.)

The point being that these days to wake up and not be able to sense imminent food obviously means something is wrong. Waking up and realising that the smells from his dream are not crossing over into his waking time startles Marv more than almost anything else could.

He isn't the type to panic though. Perhaps his door is shut a little too far for the food smells to penetrate. Maybe the galley door is shut. Maybe Don is teasing him. Or testing him.

Captain Marvelous has an excellent sense of smell; he's not going to lose this game. He sticks his head out of the bedroom door and inhales deeply, but nothing.

He wonders how close he is allowed to get to the galley before he forfeits. He gets right outside the (closed) door, but there is no indication of any food cooking at all. And even disregarding the lack of delicious food smells, there's no sound of frying or sizzling, no rattling of pots and pans. He can't hear Don's satisfied light humming that he tends to indulge in every once in a while when he's pleased with how things are turning out.

Something really is wrong.

Perhaps Don is ill, that happens once in a while. That always gets between Marv and his food. And if so it means he'll have to get Joe to make his (everyone's) breakfast instead. That will take time, and also he needs to be sure that Don being ill is in fact the situation first before he goes making demands or alarming anyone. Marvelous grabs himself something to eat out of the cupboard to tide him over and pads off towards Don's bedroom.

It's pretty unusual for the door to still be shut; that's what tips Marvelous off to the fact that Don must still be inside, because in the morning he makes his bed, straightens his room, and then leaves the door open to allow air to circulate. Everyone respects one another's privacy on the Galleon. It's only Joe who insists on keeping his bedroom door firmly shut, and probably only because he's ridiculously uptight.

With this in mind Marvelous does knock first before even thinking of entering the room. He calls out to Don too, to let him know who it is by the sound of his voice, even though his impatient way of rapping at the door is probably just as good an good indicator.

There's no answer. Marvelous supposes, if Don were truly ill, and exhausted by it, he might actually still be asleep. It would be unusual, but not impossible. If so he probably really does need someone to check on him. Marvelous knocks once more, just to be sure.

He hears what sounds almost like it could be a tiny sob, and that sends his hand straight to the door handle, opening it hastily. Maybe Don isn't just ill, maybe he's in pain!

Marvelous steps into the room and takes in the scene; Don curled up under his bedcovers, eyes squeezed shut, at least, until Marv walks in and startles them open.

He looks a little flushed, perhaps he does have a temperature. Marv strides over to the bed and places the back of his hand across Don's forehead instinctively; he has no idea how hot would be too hot, but perhaps if Don has something to compare his own body heat to, like Marv's own, he will know?

"Hakase," Marv says, leaning down more until his face is closer to Don's, "are you okay?"

The answer must be no; it's obvious, but he still has to ask.

[moehakase]

Don had only just been thinking of the ways that Captain Marvelous would touch him, and he’d been touching himself just a little to enhance the fantasy - he’d pinched his own nipple through the fabric of his shirt, trying to be a little rough with himself to match what he was imagining. He’d whimpered as he thought of Captain Marvelous pinching him to make him cry, hurting him just to show him that he could, and then a second later his bedroom door had opened and the real Marvelous had strode into his room.

Don’s eyes are wide with shock as Marvelous crosses the room toward him. He’s too surprised to speak or even move, one hand still laid against his chest where he’d been pinching himself. He feels his face turning from warm with pleasure to hot with embarrassment. He’s been caught.

He feels suddenly naked and curls in on himself more beneath the blankets as Marvelous approaches him. He’s so embarrassed he thinks he might actually die from it. And then Marvelous reaches down and touches him, lays the back of his hand across Don’s forehead, and a tiny squeak of a sob slips from Don’s throat.

Marvelous leans down and asks him whether he’s okay, and oh god he must be here because Don doesn’t have breakfast started yet and he thinks there’s something wrong with him, like he’s sick or something. Ironically enough, Don had felt just fine until Marv came in, but now he’s pretty sure he’s going to faint from embarrassment any second.

“I-I...” he stammers, barely managing to make any sound. He can’t bring himself to meet Marvelous’s eyes, not with Marvelous looking at him with such concern when Don had just been thinking such dirty (not to mention awful) things about him a moment before.

His lower lip starts to tremble, and he doesn’t want to cry but he’s starting to feel awfully close. He whimpers and grabs the bedcovers to pull them up past his eyes so that he can hide his face.

[foodispriority]

Don can't even bring himself to say he's not feeling well, he must be feeling so guilty about denying Marvelous his breakfast, and Marv hasn't even mentioned that yet! Maybe now that he can see how worried Don appears to be about it he will put it off a few more minutes, just to calm Don's nerves. Don must just be feeling absolutely wretched because he tries to hide completely under his blankets so that Marvelous won't look at him in the state he's in. Marv's hand is in the way though, so it kind of ends up half under the blankets too.

He curls his hand around the top of them and pulls them back down; Don is going to suffocate himself if he isn't careful, let alone anything else.

"Don't do that!" he says, trying not to let the worry in his voice reveal itself and make his words too harsh. He sits down on the edge of the bed and holds the blankets firmly down below Don's chin. Too bad if he doesn't like it. He's probably in no condition to be making smart decisions right now anyway.

"Do you know what's wrong?" He asks. Don is so smart maybe he has already self-diagnosed. Or he may at least know what might have provoked a sickness in him. "Do you want me to go and get someone else?"

Marvelous knows he isn't the most useful person to have around at a time like this; he's actually really good at concern when it counts, but he isn't terribly practical otherwise. He's never been the one on the Galleon who had medical skill, or bandaged up wounds. He's been on the receiving end enough times, but that's all.

He also can't recall the last time he was ill. He's heard of food poisoning, and it sounds like the most terrible thing ever - for food to poison you - but he's never suffered from it. Maybe that's what has got Don curled up in his bed. He isn't coughing, or sneezing, so he hasn't got one of those airbourne viruses.

Marvelous waits a beat to be sure Don isn't just going to bury himself back under the covers again if he removes his hand, and then moves to get up again. Joe will probably be the best person to ask for help.

[moehakase]

Oh no, this just keeps getting worse and worse.

Don isn’t sure what he’d expected to gain from hiding his face, but he certainly hadn’t anticipated Marvelous sitting beside him and pulling the covers back down. Had he really not realized that Don is just embarrassed?

And then he asks whether Don knows what’s wrong, which, of course he does, what’s wrong is that Marvelous has just walked in on him in the middle of his most secret and shameful fantasy, and now he’s treating Don with all the care his protective side has to offer. But of course, Don can’t actually say that, and he’s still too shocked to think of a way to talk himself out of this disaster, so he doesn’t say anything at all. He’d hide his face again if he could, but Marv is pretty clearly determined not to let him.

When Marvelous offers to get someone else to help, Don is so stunned that all the words catch in his throat and he can’t make a sound. Marvelous seems to take this as an affirmative, and gets up a moment later like he’s going to go find someone, and Don is certain that there could not be a worse possible outcome than anyone else from the crew coming in and looking at him while he’s like this.

“No!” he cries, regaining his ability to speak at the horror of having someone else witness his embarrassment. He bolts upright and reaches out to grab Marvelous’s arm, catching him around the wrist. “Marvelous, don’t, I’m not sick, please--!” He stops short when he hears how desperate he sounds, and his panic fades back into embarrassment.

Don loosens his grip on Marvelous’s wrist until he’s just clinging to the cuff of his sleeve, a fold of fabric held between his thumb and forefinger. “Please,” he says quietly, his eyes lowered, “I don’t want anyone to look at me right now...” He curls his knees to his chest and wraps his other arm around them, wishing to disappear.

[foodispriority]

Maybe it's pretty ridiculous that Marv's response to Don's insistence that he doesn't want anyone to look at him is to just sort of blankly stare at him even more at first, but he can't help it. Don says he isn't sick, and well, to be so panicky about Marv mistaking the situation it must be true.

Which begs of the question of what exactly is wrong then.

He does sound miserable enough that Marvelous can connect the dots when he combines it with the fact that Don keeps trying to hide: he's embarrassed about something. Marv has no idea what; Don hasn't done anything. Well, except forget to start breakfast. That's really not something to get close to tears over. Well maybe in Marv's case, but not in Don's!

It's actually easier for him to not look at Don if he sits back down, because he's facing out from the bed. So that's what Marvelous does.

"I'm not looking at you," he says. Which isn't the point at all, but technically that should appease Don. Technically. "So are you going to tell me what all this is about?"

Marv sits with his arms resting on his thighs. From where he sits he can see all of the Gokaiger wanted posters up on the wall. It always amuses him to see his; he's been wanted for almost as long as he can remember, and the bounty on his head just keeps going up. The Zangyack never admit defeat, but the continual rise in his reward is a bright flashing sign that says they still can't catch him, and they're getting more desperate.

Maybe he shouldn't be so smug about it, but he can't help the satisfied noise that escapes his throat.

[moehakase]

To Don’s immense relief, Marvelous does at least listen to his plea for him not to get anyone else. Don lets go of his sleeve and lowers his hand, resting his chin atop his knees. Maybe this will turn out alright after all.

Marvelous doesn’t leave, though; he sits back down beside Don on the bed, not quite near enough for them to touch. And he asks Don to explain what’s going on. It seems Don can’t get away with saying nothing. He can understand why Marv would be worried, especially after how panicked Don had been just now, and Don figures he ought to give him some kind of explanation, but he’s still so embarrassed.

Though, it is Marvelous, after all, so he’s not likely to be scandalized. Don doesn’t think Marv is ever scandalized by anything. A little bit of inappropriate fantasizing would hardly be the naughtiest thing Don has ever done with Marv around. Maybe he can tell him at least that much.

“I...” he starts, not looking up. “When you came in, I was...” He hears Marvelous make a soft noise, and he looks up to see what Marvelous is looking at. He seems to be looking across the room at Don’s posters. Don’s stomach twists a little. Marvelous couldn’t possibly know that much, Don wouldn’t be able to convince himself of that even on his most paranoid of days, but all the same it reminds him of how ridiculous his fantasy is.

Don bites his lip and risks a glance over at Marvelous. “You’ll laugh at me if I tell you.” That’s what he’s really afraid of, that Marvelous will make fun of him for fantasizing about him, and for having such an absurd fantasy at that.

[foodispriority]

Marv's expression quickly falters into a frown when he hears the, "you'll laugh at me if I tell you". Yes, he does laugh at things sometimes, but if it's something important to Don he definitely won't this time. Not if it really matters this much to him. Maybe later, privately, if necessary, but not right now in front of Don.

Don worries a lot anyway. There's nothing Marvelous can think of for him to be so embarrassed about, although... considering that Don is in bed, there is one thing that occurs to him that (other) people (who aren't Marvelous) frequently get embarrassed about. But it's no big deal!

Although he's not going to just come out and say, "Don, masturbating isn't a big deal, I don't care," because Marv has discovered that it doesn't help the situation at all. People either get more embarrassed, or they get angry. Marv knows which way it would go in Don's case, and he isn't out to try and make things worse, so he keeps quiet.

Is it the secrecy of it? Marvelous has watched Don touch himself for the pleasure and entertainment of both of them before, but in this case it would have been directly for Don's own pleasure. Is that something to be ashamed of? That he has needs he would rather take care of himself? Marv won't hold it against him! There's something to be said for getting yourself off, and in privacy. Perhaps Marv has just ruined that for him.

He not going to ask that though; none of these questions are things he is actually going to just bring up with Don right now. He decides to ignore the unintended accusation entirely.

"You were..?" He prompts gently instead, glancing to the side but still not actually turning to look at Don. He pulls one of his hands out of his lap and walks it across the bedcovers until it is in Don's line of sight. Maybe Don won't want to take hold of it, if he can't even handle Marv looking at him right now, but it's there regardless.

[moehakase]

It’s actually a bit of a relief when Marvelous doesn’t protest that he won’t laugh, doesn’t get defensive or upset. It means he’s taking Don seriously. And when he reaches his hand out as a gesture of comfort, just in case Don needs it, the last of Don’s doubts about how Marvelous will react disappear. Though the admission itself is still going to be embarrassing.

Don shifts on the bed and untangles himself from the bedcovers, pushing them aside. He’d been feeling much too warm; maybe this will keep him from getting any more flushed as he tries again to explain the situation to Marvelous. He doesn’t think he can possibly take Marvelous’s hand right now, as much as he appreciates the gesture - touching Marvelous while telling him that he’d been having a dirty fantasy about him would probably be enough to make Don burst into flames - so he keeps his arms wrapped around his knees as he starts to speak.

“I was...” He squirms a little in his spot on the bed, a strange curl of nervousness unwinding itself low in his stomach and tickling up his spine. The thought of telling Marvelous about this, embarrassing as it is, is almost exciting, in a way. “I-I was thinking about, um.” He lowers his voice a little as his face heats up. “About you, doing...” Don stops. He’s not sure he can tell Marvelous the specifics of his fantasy; what if Marvelous gets the wrong impression from it? Don wouldn’t want Marvelous to think that Don thinks he’s actually a vile pirate, or more realistically, that Don doesn’t trust him to respect his limits. Marvelous is never anything less than respectful when they’re in bed together, never tries to push him when he doesn’t want to do something, never gets angry or sore when Don tells him no, and Don appreciates that more than he can say.

So he decides to just be vague about it for now. “Doing dirty things to me,” he murmurs, He hugs his knees a little tighter. “So when you came in... I was really startled, and embarrassed, because it was like you’d caught me.”

[foodispriority]

"No," Marv says, shaking his head. "No, that's not it."

Or, more accurately: "That's not all of it anyway."

Marvelous shifts a little in his seat until he is almost facing Don. "I believe what you've told me, I just think there's more to it."

He had been avoiding looking at Don earlier for Don's own comfort, but now Marvelous is turning the intense gaze on him on purpose in order to provoke him; Don often says things without really thinking about it, if you know the right way to prompt them out of him.

"After all," Marvelous says with a knowing grin, "I do dirty things to you all the time!"

"And I know you're always thinking about them. When you're making dinner. When you're cleaning up after everyone. When you're standing there pressing random buttons on the Galleon's computer, and you think I won't know what your mind is really on."

It's only a gentle tease, and it's not like any of it is untrue! Marv is confident in his skills; he knows people think about what they've been up to in his bed for days afterwards. He knows Don does.

"You think about me kissing you until you get weak in the knees and start to whimper. You think about how I can find your nipples right through your shirt, and how quickly I can get you out of your pants-"

Marvelous could certainly say more, but if he makes Don incoherent he's never going to find out what he's been trying to say. He hasn't forgotten the original point of this conversation after all!

"-But I know when you're thinking about those things, and this isn't the same as that."

Marv leans his weight onto the hand he has resting on the bed to lower his voice and confide in Don.

"You know, if you tell me, I might do it."

[moehakase]

Marvelous has the right of it, at least about Don not telling him the whole story. The part about how Don is always thinking about the dirty things Marv does to him is a bit of an exaggeration, though, because Don does have other things that occupy his mind; someone has to be able to think of something besides sex now and then, after all, and that duty shouldn’t always have to fall to Joe.

But that doesn’t make Don any less flustered when Marvelous looks over at him with that intense gaze that always sends a little shiver through him and starts listing all the things he knows Don thinks about. Don feels his whole body growing hot just listening to him, and he has to put one hand over his mouth to stifle a whimper. And of course Marvelous is right - as much as Don enjoys thinking about all those things, he hadn’t been thinking about any of them just now.

Marv’s offer to actually do what he’d been fantasizing about, though - that takes Don even more off guard. His stomach twists. “N-no,” he stammers, “it’s not, I wouldn’t want--” He doesn’t want to be forced, not really, that’s the whole point of it being a fantasy, so that it won’t be out of his control. “And you wouldn’t want to, you’re not like that!”

Those last words come out before Don has a chance to even think about them, but they’re no less true for it. Don has known Marvelous long enough to know that he’s not interested in forcing anyone into having sex with him.

“It’s just.” Don takes sighs and looks down at his knees. “It’s just a fantasy, is all, not something I ever thought would really happen. And I didn’t want it to, but I still liked thinking about it.” He looks back up at Marv. “Does that even make sense?”

[foodispriority]

Marvelous has to admit what Don says is intriguing. You're not like that. Oh, it's very interesting. Marv knows he raises his eyebrows at that as he tries to measure what Don might mean by it. The sharp insistence behind his words suggests something Marv personally doesn't identify with. Or that he finds distasteful, but there isn't a whole realm of possibilities there to choose from.

At least Don realises that fantasies are harmless, in their way. Whatever he was thinking isn't real and Marvelous isn't going to be personally offended by it. As if Marv himself hasn't indulged in a few fantasies in his time; being the Captain of a ship is a heavy duty, but he wouldn't change it for anything. That doesn't mean he can't imagine what it might be like if someone else were to take charge and give him the opportunity to forget his responsibilities for a while.

He isn't one to abuse his power as Captain, either, but does that mean he can't entertain the idea of being able to actually order someone else around for a while, knowing they can't or won't refuse? Of course not.

Perhaps these are things he should be telling Don.

"It makes perfect sense," Marvelous admits, sitting back again. It's not that he is reluctant to share the details of his own sexual fantasies, that part doesn't discomfort him at all. It's that explaining them means having to explain why they appeal. He can give Don some leeway here based on that fact, but Don is comfortable telling Marv his feelings; he has to be in order to be able to say 'no'. Marv doesn't talk about emotional things with anyone really, it's not specifically because he wouldn't want to tell Don.

This isn't about him anyway; perhaps another time.

"And it was only a suggestion, I wouldn't do it if you didn't want me to."

Marv doesn't want Don to think his feelings are at all hurt. He smiles, and then a laugh escapes him. He can't resist reaching quickly to ruffle Don's hair.

"Besides, now that you've had that to worry about, don't you think it'll be much easier to only have to tell me about it?"

(He hadn't been planning this all along, not at all.)

[moehakase]

Don smiles a little when Marvelous reaches out to ruffle his hair. He seems to get what Don had meant about having a fantasy that he doesn’t actually want to have happen - maybe Marv has some such fantasies himself (though he can’t imagine what sort of fantasies they’d have to be for even Marvelous to want to keep them secret). And the reassurance that Marvelous won’t do anything Don doesn’t want him to, plus the comforting feeling of having his hair petted, helps him feel a lot better about the whole thing. He thinks he can probably talk about it now, since Marvelous still seems bent on hearing it.

Don moves a bit closer to Marvelous and takes a deep breath, trying to decide where to begin. “So,” he says, “it’s a fantasy I’ve had for, um. A long time.” He looks down at the bed. “Do you remember when you found me, and I, uh... recognized Luka from the wanted posters?” He’ll just leave out the embarrassing part of that particular story. “That place wasn’t totally Zangyack-controlled, but they had a lot of power there, and they made everyone put those posters up. We’d get new ones whenever the bounties went up, and they were always going up. And I thought...” Don tries to force the blush out of his cheeks. “I thought you must all be very dangerous and vicious pirates, to merit having such high bounties.” He glances up at Marvelous. “Especially you.”

He laughs softly at himself. “I know it must sound really silly,” he says, “but I hadn’t met any of you, so I had no idea what you were really like.” He runs a fingertip in a small circle on the bedsheets. “I didn’t think I’d ever actually run into you, and I was afraid to anyway, so I didn’t want to.” Don swallows, his chest going tight with nervousness. “...But sometimes I thought about what might happen if I did.”

Don hugs his knees tighter and bites his lip before continuing. “I’d think about you capturing me,” he says, his voice growing softer. “T-tying me up, and.” He shivers a little just thinking about it. “Having your way with me.”

[foodispriority]

It doesn't sound silly, it sounds pretty sexy. Don has even calmed down enough to shuffle closer, and now after what's he said Marvelous is already tempted to push him back down onto the mattress and do all kinds of things to Don that he definitely likes, ones that have nothing to do with his fantasy. Because of course Marv isn't like that! He understands Don's outburst about that now. It's a fantasy. An imagining based on a total misconception; one that started long before they'd even met. Marv isn't going to take it personally!

Having an intimidating reputation surrounding him has come in useful more than once or twice in his lifetime, after all. It's totally understandable that Don could've perceived the rewards that way. All that Zangyack propaganda, their outright lies. He isn't the first, and he won't be the last.

That's not the point, though. Because Marvelous has to remember where he is and try not to get too big-headed about being the star of Don's fantasy. Even if it isn't really him or his personality. It's still a huge compliment in his mind!

He should say something reassuring, but he wants to know more. It's not unusual for Marv to hold his silence until he's heard everything, and the fact that Don has dared to tell him this much is a good sign anyway; maybe when he notices that Marv isn't rattled by it that will be proof enough that he really isn't taking any of it personally.

Marv realises he has moved himself closer to Don as he's been speaking - he's leaning in, and not just so he can hear better. He's itching to touch Don, but what Don needs right now is to be able to talk about this, so he won't. Marv always waits until Don is ready. Even if the idea of Don tied up for any reason is very appealing to him. All that flesh that Don keeps covered up suddenly more accessible without Don's hands getting in the way out of instinct. They can (and will) talk about that another time. Marv will make do with some light contact for now.

"There are a lot of things that are more fun when they're not real," Marvelous murmurs next to Don's ear. He reaches out and places his hand on the back of Don's neck, keeping it still but for his thumb running back and forth over Don's skin. "Tell me the rest of it."

[moehakase]

Marvelous doesn’t seem to be upset about what Don has just told him. He’s actually moved in closer, like he wants to hear more. He’s not taken aback at hearing that Don has fantasized about him doing things to him against his will. Maybe he really does understand that it’s all only a fantasy, and that Don doesn’t think of him like that in real life at all. For that matter, Marv might even have a few fantasies like this himself - Don wouldn’t be surprised to hear that Marvelous likes the idea of being helpless against the onslaught of someone else’s ravenous desires.

Don quivers a little when Marvelous lays his hand across the back of his neck, warm and firm, his thumb brushing gently over Don’s sensitive skin. And when Marv speaks his breath is hot against Don’s ear, and Don can’t help gasping softly as a fluttery feeling spreads over his chest.

“I...”

Don isn’t sure what else Marvelous could possibly want to hear. Hadn’t he just told him everything, spilled the secret of his dirty fantasy to him? What more is there to say about it?

...Maybe Marvelous wants to hear the details. To hear Don say all the things he imagines Marv doing to him. Don’s face goes hot with embarrassment.

“It’s...” Oh god, he can’t believe he’s actually started saying it. “It’s not always the same, when I imagine it, but. I. U-um...” He bites his lip and hesitates, all the words getting caught in a nervous lump in his throat.

[foodispriority]

[ooc; continued from here]



His grand resolution to not touch Don any more than this is going to last all of... a minute? That's probably not the record, but it must come somewhat close to being the quickest resolution Marv has ever broken!

Don clearly wants to say it; he may be hesitant but he has already opened his mouth to betray himself further. He just needs a little encouragement! This is totally different. Totally. Marv can already feel the way Don squirms beneath his touch; partly because of the way the embarrassment has got his skin flushed, to be fair. But it's only partly that.

They have trust; Marv wouldn't think of persuading Don like this if he thought Don didn't really want to tell him. As if generalizing like that would ever satisfy Marv's curiosity, after the way the morning has gone so far. He still hasn't even had breakfast yet!

His mouth is already so close to Don's ear, it doesn't take much to brush his lips against it softly as he speaks again.

"But, this morning?"

He slides the fingers already on Don's neck up into Don's hair. When he draws his leg up until his knee is on the bed it helps him turn at the same time, until he is directly facing Don's side. It won't take much more to stretch his leg back out again on the bed and slide himself until he is behind Don, pressed against him from behind. He does it so quickly it's like one fluid movement; Don has barely any time to process it before Marvelous has a leg on either side of him, not entirely accidentally bringing his growing erection into contact with Don's back.

"This morning," he repeats, lifting his hand up enough in order to press a kiss to the back of Don's neck, before smirking against his skin. "You imagined...?"

[moehakase]

“O-oh!” Don shivers as Marvelous’s lips brush soft over the sensitive skin of his ear. The heat of Marvelous’s breath distracts him, makes him squirm, and before Don knows it Marvelous has moved behind him, with one hand in his hair and a leg on either side of him. He presses himself to Don’s back, and Don feels the heat in his face start to spread all over his body as he realizes that he can feel the bulge of Marvelous’s cock, hard and hot against the small of Don’s back.

Is he... turned on by this? thinks Don. Well, of course he is, he’s Marvelous, but... Don certainly hadn’t expected Marvelous to react like this - that the fantasy might be as hot for him as it is for Don himself. Don doesn’t need much more encouragement than that to keep talking, though Marv’s lips on his neck are certainly a fine incentive, too.

“You had me tied up,” he says, leaning back against Marvelous, “on my knees, with my wrists tied to your bedpost, a-and...” He swallows. “And m-my clothes half off, so you could look at me.” He pauses again, trying to find the right words to explain, and puts one hand on Marvelous’s thigh to steady himself. “And with my hands tied I couldn’t cover myself or try to get away, all I could do was... beg you to let me go, but, aah...”

Don is starting to feel pretty aroused himself, suddenly very aware of the way the fabric of his pajamas is brushing over his nipples, and of the heat growing between his legs. He feels exposed, but not in a bad way, not like before when he’d wanted to hide. He’s certainly capable of covering himself right now, of crossing his legs or folding his arms across his chest, but he doesn’t want to - he’d rather leave himself open for Marv to touch as he continues talking.

“But you said that if you let me go, you wouldn’t protect me from the rest of the crew, and there wasn’t any way off the ship, so, I ended up begging to stay with you, and... said I’d be good and let you do whatever you wanted with me.”

[foodispriority]

Don shivers, and Marvelous can feel the way his skin prickles as he does so. It might be a surprise to Don at first, to have Marv's hands and lips on his skin like this so suddenly, but then honestly it's nothing Don isn't used to. It's probably more the fact that he has real hard proof that Marvelous likes what he hears. If only he had thought of it sooner! 

When Don sinks back against Marvelous, resting his weight fully, Marv knows just how relaxed Don has become. It isn't such a terrible thing to have confessed anymore, not when the other person shares your feelings. He's so open to the touch. And Marvelous definitely will touch.

It's a pretty picture in his mind, to be sure, the way Don tells it. The thought of Don trussed up, arms up out of the way so that the lines of his waist are accentuated, his chest exposed. Don is wonderful to look at, the way his skin seems to turn every possible shade of pink depending on what you do to him. He is almost painfully slight, but so much tougher than most people would suspect. And open to so many things, if only in fantasies. But he has let Marvelous get away with some things in their time together! 

He also pleads prettily, even when he isn't begging for anything. The way his hand tightens on Marv's thigh, the way his voice catches, those ask loudly enough. Marvelous slides his free hand up beneath Don's pyjama top and brushes the flat of his palm across Don's nipple - he knows Don well enough by now. 

"What did I want to do with you, Hakase?" he asks. He runs his tongue up Don's neck at the same moment he takes Don's nipple between his fingers, creating contrasting sensations, then lowers his voice. "Were you a good boy for me?"

[moehakase]

“Yes,” Don whimpers, trembling beneath Marv’s touch. He arches back against Marvelous’s chest as another jolt of arousal reaches through him, and squeaks as the movement produces a tug on his nipple, still held fast (though not so tight as to hurt) between Marv’s fingers.

“Yes, oh, I was...” He pauses, panting a little already. “I was scared, I thought you’d hit me if I resisted or cried too much, or you’d decide you didn’t want me anymore and throw me out... And I didn’t want that, s-so.” He lowers his voice to just above a murmur, his nerves fluttering over what he’s about to say next. “I was a good boy for you, and let you use me however you wanted, I didn’t try to fight, even though... Even though I didn’t want it.”

He squirms again, rolling his hips back against Marvelous’s. “You were rough with me,” he continues, “like you wanted to show me that you were stronger than me, and could hurt me if I didn’t obey you. You kissed me, and put your hands all over me, pinched me so hard I cried...” His voice breaks a little - just thinking about it has him tingling all over, filled with that mix of fright and arousal that always makes him quiver. He doesn’t feel unsafe at all, though; it’s only a fantasy, and he trusts the real Marvelous not to hurt him or do anything he won’t like. He almost feels safer like this, with Marv warm and solid against his back, than he does thinking about his fantasy alone in his bed.

“A-and you... You...” He hesitates again, struggling to articulate the other things that he’d imagined Marvelous doing to him - the really filthy things that make him blush and stammer to even think about putting into words. He’s not sure if he can bring himself to keep going.

[foodispriority]

When Don pushes back against him, the heat of his skin seeping right through his clothes - both of their clothes, Marv can feel it spreading through his own body too - Marv can't help but rock his hips where he sits, thrusting lightly but persistently against Don. The problem, he decides, is the pyjamas. He can't get at as much of Don's skin as he would like with his pyjamas in the way. 

Even though Marv isn't about to do the things Don is saying, it's the fact that the more Don elaborates on the fantasy, the more he is baring himself to Marvelous. And it makes sense to keep the symmetry by baring Don's skin, too. Marvelous lets go of Don's nipple just long enough to unbutton Don's shirt one-handed. The other hand, on Don's neck, he uses to pull down the collar of Don's pyjama shirt once it is fully open and kisses the skin between his shoulder blades as it is revealed. With his fingers curled over the top of the collar, tugging it down, it's soon sliding off of Don's shoulders completely, and Marvelous is able to lean down a little more and kiss his spine. 

It doesn't have to be the way Don is describing, it's just the freedom to talk about it that makes the situation more charged. Marvelous can picture it in his mind without having to play along in that way, instead reaching around to skirt the palms of his hands across Don's hard nipples, taking them between his fingers and rolling them both at once, so gently, teasingly.

"You were brave," he says, placing his mouth right next to Don's ear again. Marv can hear just how husky his own voice has gotten, thick with arousal. He wants to feel Don tilt his head back and whimper. It's a complete fabrication, yet so very real at the same time, too. It doesn't feel wrong to play along, talking about it like it actually happened. 

[moehakase]

Don is starting to get a little light-headed from all the pleasure Marvelous is giving him. He had hardly noticed that Marvelous had started to undo the buttons on his shirt until it was halfway off, Marvelous trailing warm kisses down his spine that make him arch his back. He can barely keep track of all the places Marvelous is touching him - rocking his hips against Don’s, running his mouth over his skin. When Marvelous takes both his nipples between his fingers, teasing so gently in contrast to how it had been in Don’s fantasy, the pleasure nearly overwhelms him, and he has to lay his head back on Marv’s shoulder, a long, shuddery whimper breaking from his throat. And then Marvelous kisses his way to Don’s ear and murmurs something that sends a whole different kind of warmth spreading over him.

...Brave? Me?

Don has certainly never thought of himself in this fantasy as brave - he never even thinks of himself as brave in real life! He’s not sure how anything about the way he’d been imagining himself qualifies as brave; he’d been helpless, submissive, too frightened to resist. But Marvelous had said it anyway.

Does he really think I’m brave? Don wonders. He knows they’re just talking about the fantasy, but it’s not like the way Don sees himself in the fantasy is that different from how he sees himself in real life. Is it possible to be brave while still being scared? To be brave while not fighting back? Don had always thought they were mutually exclusive before, but maybe he’d been wrong. He feels warm and good inside at having heard Marvelous call him brave, and he takes a moment to turn his head and nuzzle the side of Marvelous’s neck while he catches his breath. He’s going to want to ask Marvelous what he’d meant by that brave remark, of course, but that can wait until he’s finished telling him about his fantasy.

“Mm, you...” Don tightens his grip on Marvelous’s thigh and rocks back against him. “You tore the rest of my clothes off, and forced me...” He swallows, pushing his way past the nervousness in his chest. “Forced me to come, stroked me until I was begging for mercy and then made me ask your permission to come for you, like a good boy.”

[foodispriority]

Pressed up against Marvelous like he is, Marv can feel everything in Don's whimper as his head falls back. Marv always knows just how much Don is enjoying everything Marvelous does to him, he himself gets so much out of creating the entirely unrestrained pleasure that provokes such a response, the kind that feels like it could have come up right from Don's toes, building as it rises through his body before escaping out. It's not unlike playing a fine instrument - Marvelous is definitely an artist, in his own way! He flicks his finger across one of Don's nipples lightly, traces circles around the other at the same time. Don is like putty in his hands, giving himself over to Marvelous completely. 

It's difficult to know whether Don was just hesitating over his words before, or whether he wasn't actually planning on saying any more at all. What matters is the way he buries his face in the side of Marvelous's neck, the curve of a soft smile pressing against Marvelous's skin. There's something to be said for the kind of good feeling you can give to someone that isn't just physical, (though Marv really excels at that). 

With Don, it isn't just about the physical. It never really was. 

Marvelous is relieved when he continues to talk, though. If he's supposed to know why Don was reluctant to say any of it then he's surely lacking here, because he can't figure it out. Don loves to be told he's a good boy; in the context of his fantasy it must be thrilling and embarrassing all at once. Perhaps he has a fascination with danger too, because it scares him, unlike Marv who enjoys the adrenaline rush. 

Not that Marvelous has forgotten completely, but he has been neglecting one very important thing, and Don's words remind him of it. 

"Do you want to come?" He asks absently, reaching down to run light fingers over the bulge in Don's pyjama pants. "Now?" He presses his palm down in Don's lap. "Do you want me to make you come?" 

[moehakase]

Don is actually a little unsure how to continue explaining about his fantasy from here - Marvelous had walked in on him before he’d gotten any further, to the part where he usually thinks of vile pirate Captain Marvelous taking his mouth or forcing him to press his thighs together so that he can fuck him, though sometimes he just pictures Marvelous jerking himself off and spilling his semen on Don’s bare skin - but thankfully, Marv provides him with the perfect excuse not to keep going.

When Marvelous reaches down to stroke him through his pants, his fingers light and teasing, Don squeaks in surprise and bucks toward the touch. Marvelous responds by pressing his hand down and rubbing harder, making Don wail and clench his fingers in the fabric of Marvelous’s pants. He can’t possibly stay coherent with Marvelous touching him like this.

He rocks his hips up and moans at the pleasure spreading over him from the warm, firm touch of Marvelous’s hand. He shivers against Marv’s chest, craving more friction, and release from the throbbing heat between his legs.

“Yes,” he whimpers, “yes, please, I want you to, can I...” The words are out of his mouth before he can even think about them. Don hasn’t done this with Marvelous before, asking permission to come, but given the fantasy they’d just been enjoying, it had seemed like the natural thing to do. “Can I please come?”

[foodispriority]

Asking Don if he wanted to come - if he wanted Marvelous to be the one to get him off - had been a way to offer Don control over the situation in reality, when the fantasy had been so very different. And in reality that's what it's about: being in control of the fantasy. And maybe, more than a little, he had asked because Marvelous wanted to hear Don say it; that yes, Don wanted Marv to make him come, not anyone else, not himself.

He hadn't been expecting that sort of response though! For Don to actually ask for permission. It seems the moment he offers Don some power it just comes right back to him. Marvelous has no problem with that at all; the moment Don asks the question he feels a rush run through him, body tensing momentarily as though there was a physical shock. Maybe it would be tempting to think that over for a long, torturous moment, make Don ask again, but that can wait for another time. Marvelous hasn't the patience for it now, not after hearing that for the first time. He can't even manage to reply, other than to let a groan escape his throat.

It doesn't seem like Don will draw his thighs together, but Marvelous can't resist hooking his feet over Don's ankles anyway, just to hold his legs apart and in place. The less he can wriggle the more noise he will probably make. He slides his hand into Don's pants and starts to stroke Don's cock firmly, but not roughly. He couldn't press himself against Don's back much more thoroughly now, making the most of the friction between them, and the way Don squirms beneath his touch.

It might be an obvious conclusion to draw, considering Marvelous is jerking him off now, but he knows what Don needs is a verbal instruction that he is allowed to come, not a hinted one. His chin is level with Don's shoulder so that he can see over and down, but turns his head to look at Don's face instead.

"Of course you can," he says, as if he never would've stopped to consider any other option. "Come," he orders, and presses his mouths to Don's.

[moehakase]

With Marvelous holding Don’s legs spread apart, and his arm splayed across Don’s chest, Don can’t possibly squirm away from his touch - not that he actually wants to get away, but sometimes his body’s natural reflex is to pull back a little when the stimulation gets intense, even when he’s enjoying it. Being held in place makes it so he won’t have any way of escaping should those reflexes kick in.

Like when Marv slips his hand inside Don’s pants and starts to stroke his cock at the same time as he’s still teasing one of Don’s nipples, sending waves of pleasure through his whole body. Don moans and tries to squirm but he’s held fast and has nowhere to go, can’t do anything but take all the overwhelming pleasure Marvelous wants to give him. And when Marvelous grants him permission and tells him to come, pressing his lips to Don’s, and all Don can do is whimper into his mouth as Marvelous strokes him harder and faster. The heat behind his hips builds up until it feels like it’s going to overflow, and when Marvelous slips his tongue into Don’s mouth and tweaks his nipple as he brushes his thumb over the head of Don’s cock, it’s finally too much and he comes, clenching his fists in the bedsheets and arching his back even as Marv is still rocking up against him. He pulls back from the kiss and wails as he spills his come over Marvelous’s fingers, his body tense and shaking as Marvelous milks his orgasm out of him.

When he’s finished he slumps back bonelessly against Marvelous’s chest, spent and trembling, and an exhausted whimper escapes his lips. He feels warm from the afterglow but he’ll be chilly from being half-undressed before too long, but right now he doesn’t have the strength to do anything but curl himself a little closer to Marvelous and rest his head on his shoulder.

[foodispriority]

It's not like Marvelous couldn't get off by continuing to thrust up and rub himself against Don, but there's a certain kind of urgency that attacks him right after watching Don come; seeing the way Don's body jerks, the blissful look on his face. His jaw slackens for just a moment, mouth parting in an 'o' before he cries out. Suddenly Marv has to jerk himself off right now.

He gets into his own pants hurriedly, gripping his cock just a little on the side of rough - it's hard not to when the desperate need to come is threatening to overwhelm him. His fingers fisted around his cock catch on the fabric of Don's shirt which is pooled between them as he runs his hand up and down in sharp strokes. It's a kind of soft barrier between them, because with Don collapsed against him Marv doesn't really have a lot of room to maneuver. It's still more than enough for his needs. It also means Don's neck is exposed again, and Marvelous can't resist a taste. He sweeps his tongue across Don's skin, just barely nipping at the skin. He has to stop when he feels the pressure building, afraid he'll accidentally bite Don's shoulder, and instead groans into Don's skin as he slides his hand up his cock one final time - a light squeeze for good measure - and comes hard and fast. Suddenly, after the euphoria, he notices little things. Like the sweat he feels prickling on his forehead; he's still clothed after all. Marvelous waits a moment until his breathing has slowed again before actually removing his mouth from Don's neck.

He feels energized by his orgasm, ready to go again. That's nothing new, though, and that energy can be redirected towards all kinds of things; for now he brushes Don's hair away from his forehead and kisses his temple.

"You okay?" Marv asks with a quirk of his lips, and he's only really half-joking. As if Don wouldn't be okay right now, and yet he has shared a lot of intimate secrets this morning, and the aftermath of that is probably going to set in for real any minute now. It might take a moment to adjust to.

[moehakase]

Don is still much too tired to move when Marvelous starts jerking himself off, so he’s not exactly able to help out with that much, but he doesn’t want to just be dead weight either, so he traces his fingers lightly up and down Marv’s thighs, and when Marvelous starts kissing his neck, he lets his head roll to the side to give him more access. His body feels even more sensitive than usual, since he’s still coming down from his orgasm, so even though Marv is keeping his kisses light, the sensation is nearly overwhelming, making him whimper helplessly. He can tell that Marvelous is getting close from the way his breath is growing heavier, and the way his muscles are starting to tense against Don’s back. And he feels Marv shudder when he comes with a ragged groan, as well as the way he goes briefly slack after while he catches his breath.

A moment later he seems to be re-energized, as is usual for him. Don has never been able to wrap his head around the way Marvelous doesn’t seem to get tired out by sex at all - even the rest of the crew together can’t keep up! But he seems to sense that Don is too wiped out to keep going, so rather than pushing him back on the bed to go another round like he does when Don has energy to spare, he just kisses Don’s temple softly and asks him if he’s okay.

Don shifts himself a little, his cheeks going pink as he takes stock of himself. Marvelous had gotten him off without taking off his underwear, and he’s starting to feel a little uncomfortably sticky. They’ll have to clean up eventually, but right now he’s still too tired to want to move. He shivers a bit as the exposure of still being half-dressed chills him.

“I think so,” he replies, huddling closer to Marvelous. “Just kind of cold.”

And then as he’s trying to tug his shirt back over his shoulders, he catches sight of Marvelous’s wanted poster on his wall, and it starts to sink in that he and Marvelous had just gotten off to talking about his dirtiest fantasy, the one he’d sworn he’d never tell to anyone! His face goes hot and he bites his lower lip. He’s not ashamed or anything like that, but it’s a little overwhelming to think about.

“I, um.” He reaches over and clings to Marv’s sleeve with one hand. “I didn’t think you’d like that fantasy so much...” It really had surprised him that Marv had been so encouraging - that even when Don had gotten embarrassed, Marv had just coaxed him past it. Marv had been so willing to play along with it, too, and it had felt even better for Don than thinking about it by himself. Which reminds him of the thing he’d wanted to ask Marv about earlier.

He tugs lightly on Marv’s sleeve and glances up at him. “Did you really think I was brave?”

[foodispriority]

Not that Marvelous is an unclean person by any means - he's actually always exceedingly well-groomed, (he has to look good for his ship before anything else even enters the equation) - but he's just not phased by the messy aftermath of sex. He's too used to it. (He has also mostly convinced himself that he's been able to make people come in their pants in the past just by looking at them the right way). Marv wipes his hand idly on his pants, makes a promise to himself to change out of them later - after - and breathes in the heady, musky scent in the air. He could definitely go for another round of that. Or whatever else Don might prefer.

Don, however, shivers against him, and makes a feeble attempt to get his pyjama shirt back up and covering him up again. Marv stops playing with Don's hair long enough to be able to use both of his hands to lift Don's shirt back over his shoulders again properly, freeing the fabric from between them much more easily than Don could, trying to reach behind himself for it.

He could even do the buttons back up as well, but that's not the kind of thing Marvelous is at all likely to do. Generally he only indulges in the opposite. He wraps one side of Don's shirt over the other so that it clings tightly around him, just like a robe would, and lets go so that Don can get himself comfortable.

But then there's a fist in his sleeve. Marv's mouth quirks when Don speaks: "I didn’t think you’d like that fantasy so much", no stammering at all.

"You liked it," he replies steadily; it doesn't embarrass him, after all. "A lot. And I like when you really like something. You let go and enjoy yourself. You stop worrying. It's a good thing."

Marv definitely thinks Don has a habit of worrying too much. And you can only use the same distraction techniques on him so many times before he notices! Three times - at most! - to be exact.

Those eyes, though. That peer up at him all uncertain; curious, but hopeful. Marv feels something inside him crumble a little bit, some undefinable wall that just keeps getting chipped away at somehow, and he has to quell the instinct to lash out and blame Don for that. It isn't Don's fault.

"What don't you get?" He asks, trying to keep the words soft; enquiring, not accusatory. "You can't ever be brave unless you're scared. How is it brave if you have no idea what the risks are? Then it's just stupid. Trust me, I know."

Have they really gone this long without ever talking about this? Marvelous can admit there's really no-one to blame but himself.

[moehakase]

After Marvelous pulls his shirt back up for him, Don shifts himself a bit to get more comfortable, still leaning against Marvelous’s chest. He smiles a little when he hears Marv’s explanation of why Marv had enjoyed the fantasy with him - that it had been because Don had enjoyed it so much himself. He’s always appreciated that about Marvelous; the fact that he’s so open to the things others enjoy, and that when it comes to sex he’s just as focused on his partner’s enjoyment as his own, if not more so. And Don knows he worries too much sometimes, and though it’s not something he can really stop doing, he finds himself worrying less and less every time Marvelous proves one of his worries to be unfounded.

When Marvelous replies about bravery, Don bites his lip for a moment, thinking about it. It’s not that he thinks what Marvelous is saying is wrong; it’s just not easy for him to reconcile it with the way he’s always thought of himself.

“That makes sense, but...” He frowns, still trying to puzzle it out. “Is it really still brave if you just give in, and don’t fight back?”

Don knows he isn’t quite at that point in reality, not anymore - Marvelous and Joe had taught him to fight in his own way, and that he didn’t need to be just like them in order to contribute. He’s had his moments where he’s surprised even himself by drawing on some previously unknown source of courage for the sake of the crew. But it’s still hard for him to see how it could be brave not to fight back.

[foodispriority]

Marvelous doesn't think about how Don's question affects their reality, perhaps because his head is still too focused on Don's fantasy. But mostly because that isn't Don in reality. He's not someone who doesn't fight back. So Don doesn't think with his sword or his gun first, so what? Those aren't the only ways. What if you didn't have your weapons? (Yes, some smartasses would probably just point out that you could use your fists instead; Marv knows because he is one of those smartasses. But that would be missing the point.) What if you honestly had no other option?

It's not something he has to think about at all; Marvelous has been in every kind of danger possible by now. He knows what he's talking about. He makes sure to catch Don's gaze again and hold it before he speaks.

"What's the most important thing?" Marvelous asks, and doesn't wait for an answer. "Staying alive. You can't find a way to fight back eventually if you're not alive to do it! So doing what it takes in order to stay alive, that's brave too."

He's not going to say it out loud, but the truth is that in a lot of painful, difficult situations it probably would be the easier option for a person to choose to let go of it all. He won't say it though, because it's not something he would ever consider for himself. There are people he plans to stick around for, for a very long time.

He wraps an arm around Don's waist and at almost the exact same time the curious grumbling of his stomach fills the brief silence. Sure, he ate something this morning, but his stomach knows that wasn't a meal substantial enough to be breakfast.