After a few long hours of sitting around the campfire with his crew, the alpha finds himself walking away on numb legs, a bemused smile crawling across his lips as he makes his way back to the ship. 

He feels lighter than air as he moves towards the ocean, gaze shifting. He feels delightful, but honestly he's pretty sure that if he spent another moment up there with his crew singing, he might've actually gotten annoyed. His bed is calling him, and he can't ignore its siren song. 

He sighs as he looks over towards a large rock that juts up from the sand, hazel eyes dazed as they catch on a slim figure falling forward and plummeting into the dark, shifting surface. He watches as the figure swims across the water with a finite grace, and somehow the moonlight outlining the easy back strokes just makes the blond wish he could swim so happily and easily. He can, but he's not sure if it's ever felt as easy as it looks for Luca. 

He feels his feet squish into the sandy surface as he turns towards the rock, body floating on air all the way to it until his soles are chilled by the cool surface of stone. He finds himself sitting just on the edge, flushed gaze watching as that dark figure swims back to the edge. He blinks down at him, eyes following as a soaked shirt sticks to toned skin, water rushing off of the other man's body as he pulls himself up out of the water. 

Luca stops midway, eyes bulging for just a moment in surprise before those thick brows furrow again, “When did you get here?”

Nico hums, body lighter than air as he blinks, “Just now.” He says softly, voice grumbly. He's so damn tired, “Have you been swimming the whole time?” He asks.

Luca glances at him as he sits on the edge, adjusting his shirt as he shakes his head no. Nico nods, not feeling a need to ask anything further as he looks back out across the water, buzzed mind fading away into the calmness of the water rushing against his feet. 

“Are you drunk?”

Nico looks over at the other man, taking in his silhouette against the silver lining that the moon has clothed him in. He has a very prominent jawline Nico realizes, gaze lingering on the freckles that line his cheeks and neck heavier than the rest of skin, “A little.” He mutters before looking back across the waves, “I went a little too hard on the rum tonight.”

“I'll say, you smell like a bar.” Luca says and Nico doesn't miss the small hint at the teasing tone he had. He smiles, looking over at the smaller guy.

“Oh so he does have a different personality other than angry?” Luca scowls at him and Nico snorts, “Nevermind, I've ruined it.”

The omega jerks his face away, and Nico feels his face beam as Luca clearly hides a smile, the brunette's hair covering his cheeks. The alpha watches as the other boy's feet sway lightly against the water beneath them- his feet don't go into the water nearly as much as Nico’s. 

The breeze makes their hair flutter, and Nico doesn't miss the subtle scent of lilac soap that hits his nose. A small hint of caramel and sugar is just beneath it, and he feels his shoulders shimmer with goosebumps as the pheromones almost get to him.

“Where did you get lilac soap from?” He asks, and Luca looks up at him with a raised brow.

“I grabbed it back at the market.” He says, reaching up and tossing his own hair for a moment before huffing, “I smelled like a damn raw, rank ass fish. Couldn't stand it.”

Nico finally looks into those blue eyes, and he feels his heart stutter as he sees how red they are. He swallows down the snarky remarks he was gonna say, jaw clenching as he sees the way the omegas eyes are just a tad too puffy- a telltale sign of previous tears.

Luca stares back for a moment before jerking his gaze away, rubbing at said red eyes as he looks a little annoyed, “What're you doing over here anyways?”

Nico brings in a stuttered breath, “Couldn't stand to be around Lana anymore.” He smiles wryly, trying to ignore the strange tightness in his chest that started when Luca hid his face behind those bangs again, “She's crazy when she gets too drunk.” He says with a huffy laugh.

Luca hums, and the conversation dies off into quietness. The sound of the sea surrounds them, the waves killing away the captain's anxious feelings and making his body relax as he leans against his knees. He closes his eyes, listening to the water move. 

“I thought you would leave today…”

Luca looks over at him, and Nico opens his eyes just slightly to watch as those freckles scrunch together between his brow, “Why?”

“Well I told you we weren't making any stops but here we are…” Nico waves a languide hand towards the rest of the island behind him, “I figured when we went into town earlier today you woulda just slipped away…”

“Oh…” Luca shrugs, eyes growing hard as he looks back out at the rushing water, “No… I've got nowhere to be any time soon. Besides, I like this damn salty water.”

“Why don't you stay with us then?”