The Titan stomped forward, its massive feet sending shockwaves through the ground. Alex and Marty clung to each other like they were about to face the final boss in a survival game.
"Uh, bro," Alex said, staring at the giant. "That thing is built like a refrigerator. What's the play?"
Marlo didn't even glance back as he adjusted his ODM gear. "Step one: Don't die. Step two: Kill it before it kills us."
"Oh, cool, love that for us," Marty quipped, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "What's step three? Therapy?"
"Step three," Marlo muttered, "is irrelevant if we fail step one."
The Titan roared, and Alex flinched so hard he almost faceplanted into the sand. "Nah, I'm good. This is giving major nope vibes."
Marlo fired his ODM anchors into a tree and launched himself into the air. "Stay here," he called back, already swinging toward the Titan.
"Yeah, sure, totally staying here," Alex said, before immediately grabbing a coconut from the ground. "Or, hear me out, I could help. Ever heard of teamwork?"
Marty smacked Alex with his hoof. "Help? With a coconut? What are you gonna do, invent Coconut Warfare 2?"
"Don't test me," Alex shot back, chucking the coconut as hard as he could at the Titan's head.
It bounced off with an anticlimactic bonk.
"Wow. That did... absolutely nothing," Alex admitted, throwing his hands up.
"Shocker," Marty deadpanned.
Meanwhile, Marlo was in full-on Titan-slaying mode, zipping through the air like a literal ninja. He closed in on the nape, blades ready for the classic one-hit KO.
And then Alex yelled, "You got this, Marlo! SLAY, KING!"
The sudden shout broke Marlo's focus. His blade glanced off the Titan's neck, leaving only a shallow cut. The Titan roared, swiping at him as he barely dodged.
Marlo glared down at Alex. "ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW?!"
"Oops," Alex said, wincing. "My bad. I got hyped. Happens."
"You're gonna get him canceled—by a Titan!" Marty exclaimed, yanking Alex's mane. "Stop talking!"
Marlo gritted his teeth and ignored them, refocusing. He zipped back up, scanning for an opening. The Titan leaned forward, exposing its weak spot again.
This time, Marlo went for the kill. With a clean slice, the Titan froze, then toppled like an off-brand Jenga tower.
Marlo landed in front of the pair, swords dripping Titan goo. He wiped them clean with a flourish, glaring at Alex. "Next time, shut up and let me do my job."
Alex blinked, then broke into a grin. "Yo, my dude, that was insane! You really just solo'd that fridge on legs like it was nothing."
Marlo stared at him, deadpan. "It wasn't nothing. I almost died. Because of you."
"Nah, nah, you're built different," Alex said, throwing an arm around him. "We make a great team! Like... I'm the hype man, you're the muscle. Marty's... uh..."
Marty rolled his eyes. "The only one with common sense?"
"Exactly!" Alex beamed. "Squad goals!"
Marlo looked at them, his face a mix of exhaustion and sheer disbelief. "I hate it here."
"Oh, don't be so dramatic," Alex said, ruffling Marlo's hair. "You're one of us now. Welcome to the jungle, baby!"
Marty groaned. "This is gonna be a disaster."
Time skip
The beach was finally quiet. The Titan lay crumpled in the distance, and for once, there wasn't immediate chaos looming over them. Marlo sat on a rock, cleaning his ODM blades while Alex lounged dramatically on the sand nearby, his mane perfectly fluffed despite all the action.
"Okay, real talk," Alex said, propping himself up on one elbow. "You're kind of a vibe."
Marlo froze mid-wipe. "What?"
"You heard me," Alex said, grinning like he'd just won an argument. "All that spinning and slicing and looking cool up there? Total main character energy. If I wasn't already king of the jungle, I'd totally hand you the crown."
Marlo blinked, unsure how to process a compliment from a lion. "I'm not trying to look cool. I'm trying to survive."
"Same thing, bro," Alex said, rolling onto his back and staring at the sky. "You've got that 'brooding but secretly heroic' thing going on. It's very attractive."
Marlo turned red instantly. "I—what?!"
"Oh my god," Marty groaned, walking up with a coconut drink he'd apparently found or stolen. "Alex, could you maybe not flirt with the guy who just saved our butts?"
"I'm not flirting," Alex said, sitting up with an exaggerated gasp. "I'm just stating facts. Can I not appreciate a good jawline when I see one?"
"Stop," Marlo muttered, his face now a full-on tomato.
Alex ignored him, leaning forward like he was about to drop the hottest truth bomb of the century. "You've got that sharp, anime hero look. You know, the 'I have emotional baggage but I'm still lovable' thing. It's working for you."
Marlo buried his face in his hands. "Please stop talking."
Marty shook his head. "This is painful to watch. I'm out. Y'all have fun being... whatever this is." He wandered off, muttering something about needing a vacation from his vacation.
Alex scooted closer to Marlo, a playful smirk on his face. "So, real question: Do you ever, like, relax? Or is this intense soldier vibe just who you are?"
"I don't have time to relax," Marlo said, finally lowering his hands. "There's always something to fight, someone to protect. It's my duty."
"Boring," Alex replied. "You're on my island now, soldier boy. No Titans, no walls, just vibes. You should try it."
Marlo sighed, but there was a small twitch at the corner of his mouth, like he might actually be considering it. "And what exactly do you suggest I do? Dance around like you?"
"Exactly!" Alex said, hopping to his feet. "Let me show you how the King of the Jungle lives. No swords, no stress. Just... this." He extended a paw dramatically.
Marlo raised an eyebrow but, after a long pause, took Alex's paw.
"Okay," Marlo said, standing up. "What now?"
Alex's grin widened. "Now we dance."
"I don't dance," Marlo said flatly.
"You do now," Alex replied, spinning him around with all the finesse of someone who thinks they're way cooler than they are.
Marlo stumbled, laughing despite himself. "You're ridiculous."
"And you're uptight," Alex countered, pulling him closer. "We balance each other out. Yin and yang, baby."
For a moment, they just stood there, the sun setting behind them and the ocean waves lapping at the shore.
"This is... nice," Marlo admitted quietly.
Alex's usual smugness softened, his grin turning into something more genuine. "Yeah. It is."
They held each other's gaze for a beat too long, and Marlo's face went red again. He quickly pulled back, clearing his throat.
"Okay, enough," Marlo said, trying to sound stern. "We still need a plan."
Alex chuckled. "Fine. But just so you know, you're stuck with me now. And I'm very hard to resist."
Marlo shook his head, but there was the tiniest smile on his lips. "We'll see about that."