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It'd already been a long night, too long if anyone asked you. You were a member of the red hair pirates, and broadly considered to be one of the more sensible amongst them - mostly because you weren't bordering on being an alcoholic. Your crew liked to party, and who were you to take that away from them? But, it was a little excessive at times, really. They drank often, and a lot, and it hadn't taken long in your journey with them for you to decide that it wasn't something you wanted to partake in. That wasn't to say you didn't join them for their parties, or didn't drink at all, but you'd sit with them and have just one or two drinks, maybe three after a particularly good day, and then you'd drink soft drinks for the rest of the evening, keeping an eye on your crewmates with a smile.
It was fun to see what they got up to in their drunken adventures, mostly contained to the boat by your orders, because that's where they were least likely to cause problems and get you all kicked off an island - yes, that had happened before. As one of the doctors on board alongside Hongo, you felt secure in your decision to remain mostly sober, because should someone need any help, you were there to provide it. It didn't happen often, but when it did, you always felt good about your choices. Often, being the only crew member who was mostly sober after a long night of drinking, deep into the morning, meant that you woke up far earlier than the others and got stuck with cleaning duty - because God forbid those hungover idiots stumble around the deck and end up injured, which would be your problem.
For the most part, you didn't mind cleaning up in those early morning rays of sun, it was oddly therapeutic. You'd hum whichever shanties came to mind while you picked up bottles, swept and then mopped, and then you'd sit atop the figurehead while the sun dried the deck. Only then would the boys begin to surface. You'd watch as, one by one, they'd stumble out into the sunlight and cover their eyes, heading for the kitchen for coffee - which, at some point, you'd pre-prepared for them. You'd enjoy topping up your tan, coffee in hand, while they suffered.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: ⊹.👒. ⊹ :☆｡ﾟ･ ───
Thankfully, today you'd stopped on an abandoned island before the drinking had started. That lowered the risk of injury by quite a large amount, and it was harder for someone to fall in the ocean if they specifically had to wade out into deeper waters, it also meant the ship would stay mostly clean. You'd be able to leave once you were bored, head to your cabin, and actually be able to sleep because the noise would be lesser. You liked nights like this the best.
You carried crates onto the beach with Benn and Yassop, setting them down to be sat on, and so alcohol could be stored out of the sun, since it was only afternoon time now and the sun wouldn't set for some time. Yassop dropped himself down onto a crate, a bottle already in hand.
"We're not done yet." You said, brow raised, but Yassop just popped the cork out of his bottle and began to drink.
"Not his fault he's not as strong as us." Benn remarked, which made Yassop gasp and stand, leaving his bottle on the crate to approach Benn.
"Hey! Say that again!" He said, although he was grinning all the while. There was no animosity between these boys.
"You're just not as strong as we are." Benn said again, and you laughed, setting down the crate you were carrying, before starting back toward the ship for another. Benn and Yassop were still bickering when you returned, so you dropped the crate just a little too close to their feet, making them both startle.
"Come on, children, we've got crates to shift." Both men began to yell their protests, while you just laughed. It was too easy to tease them.
Lucky brought down a few platters of food for the crew to fill up on before the night of drinking began, and Shanks brought the media player snail so they could have music playing as the night stretched onward. You sat on crates, some in hammocks strung up between trees, and began to drink. It was the same as any other night really.
Until it wasn't.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: ⊹.👒. ⊹ :☆｡ﾟ･ ───
The boys got rowdy often, it was to be expected, they were like oversized children normally, and it only increased tenfold when they were drinking. You didn't mind it really, even without being used to it, it was entertaining. They kept you young, and there was nothing wrong with that. You also were often entertained by whatever tomfoolery they got involved with. Sometimes they tried to get you involved, and often you managed to escape that, but some nights you caved to their games and you joined in, because sometimes you just enjoyed being there with them.
So when Limejuice suggested truth or dare, all drunken giggles, you said yes because what could really go wrong? Famous last words.
Shanks started, because 'I'm the captain!' and he directed the first at Yassop, who'd selected dare. He did in fact make the shot. Yassop asked Limejuice, who selected dare. He did not make the jump. Limejuice asked Hongo, who selected dare. He finished the drink. Hongo asked Rockstar, who selected dare. He cannot do a handstand. Rockstar asked Benn, who selected dare. He *can* do a handstand, apparently. Benn asked Gab, who selected dare. Gab can do the alphabet backward, even drunk. Finally, Gab asked you. You picked truth.
The boys booed and jeered, but you just laughed and flipped them off, uncaring for their attitude. You weren't going to be pulled into their chaos, especially when you couldn't blame and failures on being drunk like they could.
"Go on Gab, lay it on me." You said, sipping from your bottle - it was only your second drink of the night.
"If you had to sleep with any crew member, who would it be?" He asked, and the crew erupted into laughter and chaos. You sighed and shook your head, rubbing a hand over your face to hide your embarrassment as you felt warmth rushing to your cheeks. You could blame it on the cool night air, if anyone asked.
"That's such a stupid question, you're all disgusting." You said with a laugh, only laughing harder as several crew members attempted to disagree with you.
"Come on, that's not an answer!" Shanks protested, winking at you. "You can say me, it's okay." He added, and you fake vomited.
"If I had to pick someone, it'd be Beck. He's the cleanest." They continued to laugh and protest, while Shanks lay a hand over his heart, dramatically declaring his heartbreak, while Yassop fake soothed him even as he laughed.
"Lucky, truth or dare." You said, eager to move on from your answer. Benn was a handsome guy, you wouldn't deny it, you would be stupid if you tried because it just wouldn't work. Your real feelings for Benn however, were second nature to deny. Nobody could know, because there was no world in which you could allow something like that to jeopardise your position on the crew. Lucky picked a dare, and the games continued onward. The boys traded dares amongst themselves, and you watched as they continuously almost hurt themselves and then didn't - thankfully. You sat, and you sipped your drink, letting it all wash over you as you usually did.
"Truth or dare?" You were asked by Limejuice this time, and you sighed dramatically, adjusting your sitting position so that you were facing him directly.
"Dare." You answered this time, to avoid any more embarrassing events like last time. You saw a glint in Limejuice's eyes, and you didn't process it fast enough to take your answer back before you could get your dare.
"Kiss Beck." He said, smirk on his face, the other men laughing and clapping each other's backs. Benn rolled his eyes, and shrugged at you. He was probably the most sober of the rest of them, though still far less sober than you. At least he had the decency to look apologetic.
"Oh this is just silly. I'm going to bed." You said with a scoff, quickly finishing your drink before dropping the empty bottle into the sand. You weren't going to play along, because you didn't have to, and you weren't too proud to walk away.
"Oh come on! You can't turn down a dare!" Yassop yelled after you, the other guys joining in with their protests.
"Have fun guys, don't die, I'll see you in the morning." You replied, waving your hand vaguely as you walked up the gangplank back to the red force, because you were too old to cave to peer pressure.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: ⊹.👒. ⊹ :☆｡ﾟ･ ───
You would have loved to have kissed Benn, you wouldn't deny that, but this was hardly the time if ever there was one. You wouldn't kiss him for the first time while he was drunk and you were sober, that was a big nono thank you very much. You weren't a creep.
You slipped into your room to grab some night clothes to change into shortly, and your towel, before heading through to the bathroom. It was a communal space, and the only one on the ship, so nobody ever locked the door - so you didn't either. You tossed your dirtied clothes into the hamper, and set the clean ones aside to change into once you were done. You could hear everyone still having a good time outside, so at least you wouldn't be disturbed. You turned on the water, waiting for it to heat, and hummed softly. You often liked to hum, or sometimes sing, even if you didn't think you were a very good singer, just to fill the silence that often befell the ship in the absence of the crew. You stepped under the spray of water, and sighed softly with relief - there was nothing better than stepping into the warm, fresh water after a long day, especially after you'd been not just embarrassed but a little stressed.
You hummed softly while just for a moment, you stood under the warm water, letting it wash everything away. The sound of the crew on the beach faded away into the background, and left just you and your thoughts.
You turned to face the water, grabbing the bar of soap from the holder on the wall, and began to rub it across your body. You missed the sound of the door opening, and then closing again, the click too soft to be heard over the water and yourself. It wasn't until someone cleared their throat, making you jump, that you knew someone was in the room with you. You set the soap back down and turned to see who had joined you, the steamed glass shower screen preserving your modesty temporarily. It was Benn.
"Beck, how can I help?" You asked, continuing to spread the soap across your body, attempting to be as unphased by his presence as possible. You looked up from your body and found him undressing. *What?*
"I'm gonna join you, if tha's alright." He said, and you didn't have it in you to argue, though you'd never let another crew member join you before, and you wouldn't have let anyone else join you in that moment. You just nodded, then you turned away from him again, keeping all your private parts private.
Benn stepped in behind you, and leaned in close to grab the soap from beside you, then paused.
"Mind if we trade places for a minute?" He asked softly, closer to you than you'd realised.
"Oh, sure." The two of you stepped around each other, your front now to Benn's back while he let the water run over himself for a moment, then began to put the soap to use.
"You ran away pretty quick back there." He commented, as if it didn't matter at all, but you could see the way something in his neck twitched - it did matter, he wanted the true answer.
"Yeah." You managed, because technically he hadn't actually asked a question.
"Why's that? Did you not wanna kiss me?" He asked, and for just a second, he turned back to face you - eyes respectfully locked on yours - and he looked vulnerable, hurt. But then he turned away again to continue with what he was doing.
"It wasn't that." You replied, and you knew as you watched his posture change just slightly, that the slight twitch of his lips as he almost turned to face you, meant he'd regained his confidence. After another moment, he set the soap bar back down, then turned to directly face you, tipping his head back to wet his hair.
"Tell me then - why run?"
"You're drunk Beck - wasn't about to kiss a drunk man."
"I'm not drunk now."
The words hung heavily in the air, making your fingers twitch, eyes fighting not to wander his body. He was being respectful, so would you. You wanted to ask more questions, or to run again, but Benn's eyes on yours kept you stuck in place.
"Go on, darlin'. Kiss me - it was a dare." A dare, he said, but nothing about the rules of a dare told him to follow you to the bathroom, get naked, and get into the shower with you. You inched slowly closer, drawn to him like a moth to a flame. He didn't need to say anything else. He looked down at you, wiping hair and water from his face, and waited for you to make your move. Your hand came to rest on his chest, and his on your hip - so respectful - you leaned in closer to him, chests almost pressed together, mere inches apart. Then your lips were on his.
You'd had plenty of first kisses in your lifetime, but this was nothing like those. This was what every author describes a first kiss as - it was magic. It wasn't quite fireworks, but it was butterflies and it left you almost lightheaded with the rush. Once the first kiss had happened, it was easy for your second hand to find Benn's skin, and his to find yours, holding you so gently.
"Wasn't so bad, was it?" He asked when you separated finally.
"Guess not."
"Tell me the truth - would you really only sleep with me cause I'm the cleanest?" He asked with a smug smile, water still running down his back.
"Maybe a couple other reasons too."