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She was helping more than she knew, and his fingers wriggled in her hands as they walked. Sure, it looked strange, a grown man being led like a child to a boat, but Marcus was not going to care. People already thought him odd. What was a little more oddity?

As they reached the boat he felt himself seize up momentarily, fingers squeezing Cass's smaller ones.

"Yeah." Her question registered, but he didn't let go of her hands until a beat had passed. He felt like he might vomit from the sudden anxiety but he had to do this. Just think about it logically he told himself. Maybe he had eternal floating magic or something. Would be more useful than his small blowing s**t up power at any rate.

"I-" He shut his eyes, breathing in and out. Trying to fight down the sudden nausea and fear in his gut.

"Promise me after this we'll go out tomorrow for brunch?" It probably sounded stupid.
"If- if I have plans that means I can't-" He can't die. "-Then I can't just bail. I can do this." He said it again. Just to help make it seem possible.

She had a better plan thanh e did and he liked it a lot more than just 'brunch'. It gave him a bit more motivation that tomorrows mid-morning meal.

"That's a good plan." He hadn't missed the last part she'd said either, and Marcus glanced at her with semi-hopeful look. He did like it when she ended up naked, bed or not. Still, the motivation of crab, movies, and sex didn't erase his apprehension entirely, though it was helping keep his queasiness to a minimum.

When Cass had let go, Marcus stiffened, a tiny helpless look washing across his face for a split second before it was swallowed back down with his usual pleasant expression. If strained. She'd done it so easily, getting into the swaying, rocking boat, surely, he could do the same.

"Yes, I can do this it's not.. hard." That was what Marcus said at any rate, sinking low to the dock as he scooted himself to the edge, very gingerly reaching a leg out along with his hands to try and find Cass's once more.

The second her hand was in his, he was squeezing, face marred by very plain fear as the boat gently swayed.

One leg in.
Two legs in.
The rest of him followed before he quickly flung himself to the most 'stable' area of the boat- the covered portion near the controls.

"......Is this a bad time to confess I have not been on a boat in years?"

One one hand, he was proud of himself. He'd done it. Cassandra had managed to help him get past the worst of it. She was proud of him and while he'd not tell her why he was so unnerved, her saying how proud she was of him made something warm bloom in his chest.

He wasn't supposed to say it was love but-
It was close, very close.

Putting on his life jacket, Marcus remained near the controls, waiting and hovering next to Cass as they made their way from the shore.

"We- I-" He was trying to find the right words but it was difficult.

"Thank you." He whispered, reaching over to pull her in for a kiss.
"I must be quite strange- a grown man terrified of a boat. Boats." He paused, holding her before letting her go with a sigh.

"Not that I was not strange already, but this is more common irrationality." As if his paranoia about the government was any better. "Thank you for being so patient and understanding with me Cass. I know I'm not always the easiest man to-" He smiled, shrugging his shoulders. Self depreciation would just sound like compliment fishing now.

"Well. We did it." The boat had past the worst of the waves, and now softly rocked back and forth.
"Open.. water."

Yes but thunderstorms could kill you and were present all across the world. Boats were a choice one subjected themselves too and only posed a threat on water. Marcus's irrational paranoia kept trying to downplay her fears and amplify his own. A terrible thing that was self-destructive and he knew it. Therapy helped sometimes in moments like this when he was over thinking.

As Cass set about to get the traps going, Marcus watched from under the cover with extreme hesitancy to move. It wasn't fair she do all the work and it was just a few feet. He could.. scoot there. One step at a time.
"I'd like to help if I can." It wasn't forced but just cautionary as he stepped closer and closer to Cass, until he was next to her, eyes flickering to the traps and the bucket of rotting fish parts.

"... Ten crabs should be good." Lifting a trap he moved slowly, also grabbing a pair of gloves.
"We can give some to friends."

"Ten each." he looked at the traps then- "Actually best get 30 if we can. I can freeze them." Marcus would and could eat crab for days if he was allowed. Not that he had before or that it was a good thing to do but, the man had his vices, Seafood being one of them.

As the trap was cast over and gloves pulled off, Marcus quickly darted back to the relative perceived safety of the overhang, eyeing Cass and then the distant shoreline. It wouldn't take too long, and, she was here, nothing bad would happen.

"Not lay down but-" He reached out, tugging her so she was sitting on his lap. Resting his face into the crook of her neck, Marcus sighed, fingers lacing around her middle.

"Just give me a second. We can.. do stuff in a bit." Maybe play eye spy or something? He'd not brought any playing cards so he wasn't sure how to best pass the time.

He smiled in her hair, enjoying the comfort of her touch and the feeling of her body against his. He sometimes wondered how one would call it because it wasn't desire he felt but a unique sense of calm. Not 'peace' since he could still fret but- not as much. Grounding was a word that came close but-
But his feelings were muted in expression. He learned that Cass didn't much enjoy discussing his affections.

Which made it all the more difficult to find a way to talk at time like this. He was happy to be near her, holding her, just existing and he wasn't sure how to express how he appreciated her being there and sharing the moment with him.

In his mind he went over what she said, how yes, they could eat crab for a while, but that was a given. The man loved seafood and had made no moves to hide just how much. She knew he was partially terrified about the whole boat and being on water and the whole situation. She also would likely know that he was probably overthinking given the span of time he remained silent.

He eventually, did find a point of discussion.
"How are we going to cook them all. I only have one deep pot and I don't think I have anything at home that goes good with crab."

Dinner was a good topic right?
"We should also rent a DVD and get dessert on way home."

Marcus hummed, then muttered about stopping at the kitchen store if it was still open. He'd chosen his path. Bigger pot it would be.
"I have a deep freezer in the garage. The rest can go in there- even if I'll have to make space." He honestly didn't remember what was in it aside from some meat he'd been given as a gift from his co-worker's hunting trip.

Hands running up to her neck and shoulders, he started a massage, giving his hands something to do rather than idle. This was- nice. Even on a boat he could appreciate her nearness and trust in him. Not to mention her willingness to entertain his thoughts.

"Redbox. Do you have a preference for genre tonight or just whatever strikes one's fancy? I could go with a drama myself." She'd probably want horror, which was fine by him.
"White chocolate truffles sound alright? Pair well with the white wine and mild flavor." He kept his fingers busy, occasionally playing with her hair and looking out at the water.

"........Did you put on sunscreen?" He hadn't and he was sure he'd regret it if he did not.

Humming louder, Marcus kissed the back of her neck, boldly, not thinking how it might have been 'too much' for her comfort in such a short span. But, he pulled himself back, leaning into the chair and trying to work out her muscles in his hands.

Lips pursed as she said they'd not need sunscreen but- He thought about it for a while longer. True, they were directly out of the rays. True, she might not burn. He could. Plus his mind kept going to find and excuse to keep holding her and touching her, taking his mind off the gentle rocking of the boat. That and other reasons he didn't think he'd actually consider but now actually seemed somewhat enticing.

"You sure?" His hands moved to her sides.
"Better safe than sorry." He stared at her, wondering if he was being too vague.