[Marco feels like he's trying to see undercurrents by watching a leaf vaguely float on the surface. He knows there's a whirlpool there and yet...]

I know you could. But do you want to really go do that instead of having fun? [That would be... exhausting. It could be done, of course. But would it be worth it?]

[As for the Moon... Marco's expression doesn't change. It's as deadpan as ever, but his mind is racing in thought.]

[Granted, they all hate rookies, and to a degree kids too but...]

[No, he's looking at the ripples and trying to see the currents. This is a ripple, and it's distracting him. He needs to find where it's coming from, not follow it.]

[Marco leans back against the wall next to Thatch and looks up at the stars.]

[He can't ever remember being so clueless. Even as a teenager, he knew he was painfully uninformed on things, and always tried to learn more. And wasn't that why his Pops took him in? What about the others though? Pops looked after some really obnoxious punks sometimes.]

Do you ever wish you could see yourself the way they see us?

I guess that's why I still haven't told Roxas that I'm not just Xifer yet. Because I already know he doesn't see 'Mr. Marco' as anything like his phoenix friend, even though he likes Ikki.

You'll have to tell me which kids are being trouble, but I think they aren't used to seeing us as us yet, eh? Remember how FireFreckles couldn't believe that we wouldn't lock him up when we first dragged him on board? They're still finding themselves, they don't even know how to figure out who we are, especially since they're not sure who they are yet, eh?

[Marco casually loops his leg around both of Thatch's braced against the wall, trapping the man there before he turns his head to give him a curious look.]

You used to enjoy that. Do you still?

[Maybe it's nothing major, maybe it's small, maybe Thatch just needs a break, or like Ikki & Marco: some kind of release.]