Work Text:
Makino paused at each table, collecting empty plates and cups. Shanks watched her move with a practiced ease from the counter, a lopsided smile pulling at the corners of his mouth.
“You’re staring,” his first mate said softly, glancing between the two.
Shanks smirked. Makino waved from her spot across the room, carefully resting the tray against her hip. The captain winked, causing her to blush and giggle.
“I know,” Shanks said, wetting his bottom lip before taking a pull from the bottle in his hand. He loved visiting Makino; loved watching her carefully weave between tables and customers, loved seeing her smile when he caught her staring, or when she caught him. His eyes followed her around the room; tonight, she paused at a table with —
A giggle pierced the din of the bar as Makino and the woman she stopped to speak with covered their mouths.
Shanks looked out of his periphery to find Beckman quickly ashing his cigarette, doing anything but looking at the two women.
“Were you staring too?” The captain teased, eyes narrowing. He glanced between his first mate and the pair of women; ah. Makino’s friend was present tonight. Shanks recognized the woman at the table with the purple hair and wide glasses. Cute, but not as cute as Makino.
Shanks raised an eyebrow at Makino as her friend pulled her down to whisper in her ear, lips hidden by her hand. The barmaid whispered something back before nodding, making a quick return to the bar top.
Her friend and Beckman locked eyes for a moment before she ducked into the book in front of her. Shanks opened his mouth to speak, but —
“For you, Becks,” Makino smiled, placing a full glass in front of him.
He turned on the stool, cigarette idle between his fingers. Makino simply continued smiling at him, though she did briefly give her friend an encouraging thumbs up.
“Oho!” Shanks exclaimed, clapping his first mate on the back. “Would you look at that!”
“Tell your friend that drink is better in her hand,” the first mate replied with a shake of his head. “I know she needs it.”
Makino pouted. “Why would I do that?”
“You know why,” Beckman said softly, avoiding the leering gaze from his captain. He glanced over his shoulder for a moment to find the woman peering over her book, eyes wide. Her face had a pink flush to it, reaching the top of her cheeks.
For a split second, his heart stuttered — and then Shanks was pressing the glass into his hand.
“Do me and my girl a favor and go sit with her,” Shanks said, “captain’s orders.”
Beckman glared.
“Please?” Makino added, eyes big and doe-like.
He sighed, relenting as he slipped his cigarette between his lips. “Fine.”
Makino beamed as she placed another bottle in front of Shanks, who looked equally as thrilled to watch his first mate all but stomp over to the corner table.
The cloud of cigarette smoke followed Beckman as he crossed the room, careful not to spill any of his gifted drink.
“Hi,” the woman said softly, tongue darting out to wet her bottom lip. Her neck craned up, with Beckman towering over her.
“You didn’t —“ he started, holding his glass up.
“But I wanted to,” she interjected, a soft smile on her lips as she gently placed her bookmark on the page.
Beckman felt his heart stutter for a moment, catching the twinkle in her eyes.
“You need it more than I do,” he objected, finally sitting down at her table. Their knees knocked together briefly and he watched as she jumped slightly at their connection. “I know those kids are giving you hell.”
“No more than your captain gives you,” she mused, cheeks flushed.
Beckman relented at that point; perhaps she was right. He turned to look over his shoulder to see Makino and Shanks watching them intently, wild grins plastered across their faces.
“Perhaps…” he mumbled, taking a sip from the glass as he turned back to her. She’d bought him the good stuff.
“And maybe — maybe I wanted to be brave,” she muttered, tracing the pad of her finger around the rim of her empty glass. She dropped her gaze, almost dizzy from the attention he was giving her.
Beckman tilted his head, watching her lips as she tried to figure out what she wanted to say next. He exhaled sharply, smoke surrounding the table. She’d inhaled slowly, enjoying the scent she so deeply associated with him.
They’d danced around each other like this every time the Red Force docked in the port. Beckman couldn’t come to terms with the fact that he had feelings for the school teacher - she was never going to be his, not with the life he led. But as he heard Makino and Shanks laugh together, he wondered if he finally could.
“You’re the bravest I know,” Beckman whispered as he leaned in, cigarette resting between his fingers so his mouth was free to take hers.
“B—“
He silenced her with a kiss, as gentle as the morning waves.
Shanks cheered behind him, with Makino applauding.