“Captain-” Henry grunts, greasy blond hair flopping as he pushes the oars forward, “Did you put rocks on the oars!?”

Nico snorts, raising a brow at the other man as he pulls his shirt over his head, “Maybe I did Henry.” He says sarcastically and the crew laughs around them, Henry smiling in mild embarrassment as he grunts and pushes the oars forward again. 

Nico squints in the sunlight as they near the ship, breathing in a long, heaving breath. He can say one thing for sure: he still hates waking up in the sand after a drunken night. There's always pebbles in his hair after! And the alphas hair is way too long to be washing those out every single time.

They all meander about getting back on the ship, their bodies swaying- Nico's pretty sure that half of his crew is still boozed up. They all clammer on board, setting the dinghies up for the next few weeks until they land in Vincent- they definitely can't dock there, they'll have to port on the other side of the island where a small beach is. Vincent is much too large and way too full of soldiers for Nico Lysander and his whole crew to be docking there without a care. 

Besides, Nico loves that beach. They're always having fun there… Well, they always get drunk there and do stupid things that they don't have to worry about the next morning because more often than not they forget they’d even done it by the time they wake up.

“Hey Captain… Where's the new guy?”

Nico looks over his shoulder at Bastian, “He not in the quarters?” He asks, setting down the barrel of water he'd been carrying across the deck. 

Bastian shakes his head no, throwing a thumb over his shoulder, “His shit’s still there but he isn't anywhere that I've looked.”

Nico frowns some, gaze lingering on the boards beneath his feet for a moment. Luca must've really taken off. Did Nico ask too many questions last night? Was he too pushy?

“Oh well.” He sighs, grabbing up the barrel again and hefting it up into his arms, “As long as Jacob is well let's set off then.” He mutters and he doesn't miss the slightly bitter tone in his voice. He blinks at himself, clenching his jaw. Why is he upset? The kid wasn't doing much on the ship anyways…

“Aye cap’in.” Bastian says before going back to the quarters to check up on Jacob. He comes back minutes later, informing the blond that the old man is just tired from the sickness. Nico nods as he sorts out the dried fruits and meats, handing Lana empty bags.

“Start getting her ready to leave!” Nico yells across the docks later as he grabs a hold of his door handle, “I'll set the course in just a moment!” 

“Yes sir!”

He nods to himself, opening the door and heading in. Something about his quarters always brings him comfort, his shoulders easing as he finally lets his hangover headache settle in, throbbing slightly at his temples. He hangs his heavy coat up on its rack, trudging over to his desk. 

He stops short, eyes catching on a figure just to his right. He turns quickly, gaze set in immediate defense as his fingers snatch up a nearby rod.

Luca stares back at him with this blank expression, hands clasped around various bottles of medicine and drinks, “What?” The omegas eyes glide to the rod in the alphas hand and Nico flinches, fingers loosening as he sets the rod aside, “Gonna bludgeon me to death?”

Nico stares at him, still in shock, “I thought you left?”

Luca stares at him for a long moment before scoffing, “Why would I leave right after you offered me a place here?” He pockets a bottle of medication, tucking the drink under his arm as he closes the first aid kit.

Nico presses his lips together, unsure of how he should answer as he walks over to the desk, “Figured I’d scared you off with all the questions last night.”

He looks up at Luca, watching as those blue eyes flutter, body swaying as he shakes his head. His cheeks are pale, gaze lingering on the first aid kit for a long moment before he picks it up and sets it back on the shelf high above the bed, “Just annoyed the shit outta me.” He grumbles, and Nico feels a small smile quirk his lips up.

“Well, I'm glad you stayed. Jacob needs some rest.” He sits down, the chair creaking as he leans over his map, “He seems fine now thanks to you, just tired.” 

Luca hums, and Nico looks up to find him still standing in the same place, eyes set down on the bed where the kit had been sitting moments before. Nico watches him, noticing the slight sway in the brunette's legs, “You alright, freckles?”

Luca turns his head just enough to scowl at him, but it's dazed and foggy looking. Nico barely has time to process that by the time the omegas body vaults forward. 

Nico flinches, heart plummeting to his feet as his body tenses, running around the desk.