*Please read my other fanfic Undying Devotion before reading this, or you'll be extremely lost!*
Alive
Billions of stars protruded through the obsidian curtain of night, encompassing the moon as ivory radiation illuminated from its waning gibbous form, bringing about an illusion of peace. By day, the Grand Line was the world's vastest and most treacherous ocean, but once the sun set, a pregnant calm engulfed the whole sea. The only ones who remained active and alert were a few Pirates and Marines on guard duty, keeping an eye out for any suspicious behavior.
The Straw Hat Pirates were no exception to the night watch routine.
Liara cracked her cramped knuckles and set down the pencil she had grasped for the past two hours. She shook her hands to relieve them of stiff tension and reached over to grab the thermos Robin had so benevolently brought up for her about an hour ago. Graphite-covered fingers untwisted the ebony cap, allowing waves of steam to flow out of the airtight container and infiltrate her nostrils with the gratifying scent of ground coffee beans. Tepid liquid streamed down her throat as she took what had to be only her fifth sip of the energizing brew, licking her lips and savoring the way coffee, cream, and sugar so sweetly coated her mouth. The brunette had never really been a coffee drinker, but she found it enjoyable to consume while drawing, or in this case, doing night watch.
She wasn't drowsy, not really. She'd seldom yawned since she scaled up the ladder two hours ago, and she still felt attentive, even though the hour was probably well after midnight. It was her first time doing night shift, as usually the men were the ones who rotated on watch. Robin occasionally did too, for she was a book worm who could easily read all night.
A part of Liara did feel guilty about how not once she'd even taken over the nightly responsibility. At first, she'd simply presumed that her turn would arrive and she would then be informed of her duty for that evening, but she noticed after a week and a half that turns were being repeated, and yet neither her or Nami had been implored on the matter. She resolved earlier during dinner that perhaps now would be the time to show her crew mates that she could handle the task.
"Are you sure, my dear? Me or one of the shitheads on this ship would be more than happy to look out while you get some beauty rest," Sanji charmingly offered, earning leers and scowls from almost all the men in the dining room.
"I'm positive," Liara reassured with a smile. "Besides, I still have a few drawings I'd like to work on, and I feel like I have plenty of energy. As long as I have something to keep me awake I'll be fine. I'm part of this crew now too, so it's only fair that I help out."
Nami draped an arm around Liara's shoulders. "That's right! More power to you!"
"You've never volunteered once!", all the men except for Sanji accused her. Her response was to wave off their words in an uncaring manner.
"Well yeah, but I actually need to sleep, or I simply can't navigate in the morning. Isn't that right Robin?"
The Archaeologist's eyes twinkled as she teasingly simpered. "I believe that's a safe assumption."
"It's fine by me," Luffy managed to say between greedy mouthfuls of food. He lifted his hand to avoid being stabbed by Usopp's fork, as he had once again snagged something off of the Sharpshooter's plate. He laughed at how frustrated his long-nosed friend looked, causing crumbs to fly out and land on Usopp's face.
"That's it!" Usopp snarled before tackling his captain to the ground. Liara giggled, still amused by how childish her friends could be, and loving them for it. Brook reached beneath the table and gave her small hand a squeeze.
"You'll do fine, but if you feel too tired or would like company come and get me," he offered, his violet eyes gleaming.
She beamed at him. "Alright. I'm sure I'll be okay though."
And just like that, she had secured the duty of night watch,which she was grateful for, as it had given her the chance to work on putting more images of Fantasia Island onto one of the multiples sheets of blank paper she had spread around her. She had feverishly worked on sketching in as much detail as possible, from the leaves on a tree to the way the water glittered under the sunlight.
She smiled fondly, for she knew she would never be able to forget the place that had changed her life.
She had been with the Straw Hats for only about a month and a half, but she had experienced so much more within that short amount of time than the past 22 years of her life. She'd run away from home, been lost at sea, rescued by pirates, visited islands, been kidnapped, learned the basics of using her own sword, flown by the magic of fairy dust, found the island she'd been dreaming of since childhood, broken a curse, and even died. Everything she'd gone through had helped mold her into the person she currently was, and although some of the memories were a bit terrifying to recall, they were all still precious to her.
The best part of the whole experience though, without a doubt, was being able to fall in love.
Her cheeks turned scarlet as the memory of her and Brook's first kiss filled her head. Her first and absolutely only love had been a skeleton, something that probably would've caused her parents and most other people to flip out, yet seemed perfectly fitting to her. The bond her and Brook shared was sure to be a lasting one, and even though there might be trials ahead in their relationship, there was nobody else she'd rather experience them with than him.
To be truthful though, she was still trying to get used to the idea that Brook was no longer an aged skeleton who cracked skull jokes every five minutes, but a living, breathing and young human man. He himself struggled to get used to the fact that he now had skin covering his rib cage and could no longer go nights without sleeping the way he once did. The tone dial he'd kept hidden in his skull wasn't available to reach at a moment's notice, but instead hidden in a drawer in the men's quarters. The new couple, however, were pleased to be able to feel each others lips and enjoy the contact of soft skin. They'd never been farther than that, and hadn't felt the necessity to rush anything. They were experiencing being in love for the first time, and it wasn't a process that needed to be quickened, as they had their whole lives ahead of them.
Occasionally, a stray thought of wondering what it would be like to rest her cheek against his chest would stray into her mind, and she'd envision what her bare skin against his would feel like. Her and Brook were both adults, so something sensual was bound to happen eventually. She bit her lower lip and closed her eyes, trying to fight the warmth that only continued to spread on her face.
A creak on the ladder beneath her suddenly snapped her consciousness back to reality. She grabbed the hilt of her sword, which had been conveniently placed against the wall behind her in case of emergency, and cautiously peeked below the door on the floor.
Much to her relief, she saw the familiar ebony afro on Brook's head, his lanky form climbing the ladder with expertise. Liara pulled the hatch back to allow him entry and returned her sword back to its place against the wall. She smiled at him as he poked his head through the floor with a grin.
"Hello there," he greeted as he climbed through and swung his lengthy legs up, closing the hatch once his entire person was through.
"Hi," Liara responded as she scooted back against the wall and placed her chin on her bent up knees. "Can't sleep?"
Brook sat next to her and shook his head. "Nope. I'm not sure why, but I'm wide awake. I'm still trying to get used to this whole human thing." He gestured at himself while she nodded in understanding. "I tried listening to my old crew singing again but that didn't help at all. I mean, we were not very good when it came to lullabies." He chuckled and drew her into his side, his cheekbone resting atop her auburn curls.
Liara knew that while he had many fond memories of his deceased crew, he also struggled with the main sad one that revealed the deaths of all his friends. She couldn't imagine how he felt, as she felt she would lose her sanity if she were to witness the demise of all the Straw Hats. She already felt an ache in her heart from missing her parents, but she was certain that her pain was a mere trifle compared to his.
She leaned into him a little more to show her support. "I'm sorry you miss them. I would've loved to have met them."
He rubbed his thumb over the back of her knuckles and squeezed her shoulder. "They would've adored you, my dear. I can imagine you being the lead singer of our little group."
Her cheeks darkened at his compliment. "That's kind of you, but I don't think so. My voice isn't anything special."
He tilted her chin up and gazed into her eyes with a smile. "It is the most alluring voice I've ever heard, and it's special to me. I'll never forget how you sang with me your first night with us. It captivated me, just like your kindness and beauty." He softly kissed her cheek, bringing about a desire in the young brunette. "I've waited so long for you, my siren."
Liara drew in a sharp breath, her heart pounding from his amorous words. She felt different that night, as if all the love she felt for him would burst out of her uncontrollably. A deep need pulsed in her lower regions, leaving her hungry for his kisses and affection. She blushed at the strange longing she felt, excited over the unfamiliar desire.
Brook's face lit up as a smile broke across his lips. He leaned over and lifted her chin up with his fingers, their faces so close to each other that she could feel his warm breath on her lips. Their eyes met, and Liara felt herself almost melting at how lovingly he gazed at her. "I'll be damned if I let anybody else feel those incredible lips of yours," he whispered in a low voice before claiming her mouth.
Her whole body felt light, lighter than when her and Brook had danced in the air on Fantasia. While their first kiss as him being human had been sweet and a little sloppy, this one was more passionate. He had never kissed her so ravenously before, and gradually she felt herself turning to putty as their lips melted together in a wave of heat and need. Her mouth opened on instinct, and she gasped as his hot tongue entered and swiped across hers.
Was it truly possible that he'd never had a lover before? He was kissing her the way one might after having been with numerous partners, or at least had enough practice in the act. She always knew kissing could feel wonderful but this...this felt so much more erotic than she'd ever imagined.
Liara boldly pressed her tongue back against his, earning a groan from him, signaling that she was at least doing something right. Fighting off her bashfulness, she encircled her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss. He placed one hand on her upper back and the other securely around her waist while their tongues danced around as they explored each others mouths.
When at last air became scarce, Brook slowly pulled away and gazed at her. Both were slightly panting, trying to catch their breath, but kept their hands in the same positions. He placed his forehead against hers and rubbed their noses together.
"I'm not going to lie, Miss Liara, I really want you," he confessed in a husky voice as he raised a hand up and stroked her face, his violet orbs glazed over with lust.
She gulped and stared at him, completely speechless. No man had ever openly admitted to yearning for her before, and she'd never considered herself worth wanting, yet the one in front of her had confessed of his desire to have her. Her heart pounded and her whole body felt like it was going to explode from nerves, but she knew that she wanted him just as badly. She had for a while, but it hadn't seemed so clear until tonight. Liara loved Brook with all her heart, and she was going to prove it.
"Brook," she whispered as she softly placed her mouth against his, "I want you too." Her face grew hot as the confession escaped her lips, and she knew that they were about to cross the point of no return. She truly felt a bit silly, and realized that their exchange of words was perhaps a bit too sweet, but it was something that she felt they both needed to hear and say.
He pressed his lips against hers before pulling his face away and earnestly searching her eyes. "I love you Liara, and I'll wait if you want me to. Please don't feel that we have to do anything."
She steadied herself, trying to ignore the pleasurable pressure that had start throbbing between her legs. It was a powerful, new feeling for her, with a sensation that seemed indescribable. Her anxiety vanished as she wished for nothing more than to have her desires sated.
"I'm sure," she assured him, and before she could stop herself, leaned towards him pushed her tongue into his mouth, sliding between his lips with ease as she sought to taste him. Brook wrapped his arms around Liara's waist and pulled her onto his lap without breaking the kiss, her legs straddling him and heels pressed right above his buttocks. His fingers slid up the back of her pajama shirt, her soft skin heating his fingertips with every light stroke. Carefully, he pushed her backwards so she was laying on her back, arms still firmly wrapped around his neck. Her fingers combed into his raven hair as she urged him to even close to her, their tongues swirling around each other as the kiss deepened.
Brook pulled his tongue out and kissed her cheek before crawling over to grab a couple blankets that were folded near the wall. Liara gratefully smiled as he placed one under her head and the other beneath her body, her back arching up into a bow shape. His eyes drank in the sight of her body as a hint of her stomach peeked out beneath her shirt, her skin smooth and taunting. Her back flattened against the floor once more after he finished laying out the blue spread beneath her.
He angled over her and placed his hands on her abdomen, analyzing her eyes for any traces of uneasiness. Instead, they seemed to beckon him onward, eager for his touch.
"I'm going to take your shirt off," he told her, licking his lips nervously. Brook almost felt pathetic; he was 24, well, technically 90, and he'd had yet to even feel or see the breasts of a woman. Liara was his first for many things: first love, first kiss, and now the first woman he would willingly display himself to. He knew he was also the first man that Liara would be experiencing this with, and he didn't want to ruin such a precious moment. Even though she'd given him the okay to make love to her, he was still a bit hesitant in pushing her into something she might not feel comfortable with.
Liara beamed up at him, her lips twisting upward into a shy smile. "I trust you. Don't ask, just do what you would like." To further her point, she timidly grabbed his hands and settled them on her breasts, an involuntary sigh passing between her lips at the pleasant sensation.
It was all the confirmation he needed.
In an instant, his hands reluctantly let go of her chest and eagerly gripped the bottom of her shirt, nimbly pulling the soft material upward. He watched as her cheeks darkened into a light shade of red, his eyes not leaving hers as he continued to lift the shirt up until it trailed up her arms and over her head before he tossed it to the side.
Without breaking eye contact, Liara sat up and grab the hem of Brook's black shirt, yanking it up his long arms and over his afro. She giggled at the slight challenge his hair provided before she hurled it away. She kissed him and slipped her fingers beneath the top of his pants before hastily sliding them down. He helped by kicking the bothersome fabric off of his feet.
Next came his boxers, which snuggled nicely against his slim waist, and slid off in one fluid motion. He was completely revealed now, but they still continued to kiss, not wanting to see the other until both were nude. Brook's long fingers glided under Liara's crimson pants, hooking underneath the top of her underwear as well. He dragged down the two remaining items on her that separated their bodies from complete contact, and laid her back down. They both sighed in each others mouths as they knew the moment had finally come when they would be able to see all of what was private to the other, and yet had enough trust in each other to reveal themselves. The kiss ended, and both eagerly allowed their eyes to drift.
Liara stared at Brook's body in amazement. Just as his form indicated, he was lean with only a bit of muscle on his arms from sword fighting. His nipples were a light shade of red, surrounded by small black curls that covered the middle of his chest and trailed down past his stomach. She swallowed as her eyes rested on his manhood, which she was pleased to see was erect in her presence. She had never seen an actual penis before, so she didn't really have anything else to compare it to, in regards to whether he was long or not. Still, she found herself not really caring, as it belonged to Brook, and that made it perfect. Her fingers itched to touched it, her mouth growing dry as she watched it twitch in excitement.
As Liara's eyes scanned his body, Brook himself was studying every inch of flesh belonging to the woman beneath him.
Good God, she was a goddess.
Her chest heaved up and down with every deep breath she took, causing her hardened pink nipples to rise up towards him, only to lower in a teasing matter. The area between her legs had soft curls of brown that rested over her desirable vertical lips. Her cheeks were flushed under his lustful gaze, wet lips parted and auburn curls spread around her head.
"Oh Liara..." he throatily moaned, laying his chest on hers as he resumed kissing her, her arms tightening around his neck. "You...are...so...beautiful..." he whispered to her in between kisses. His hand cupped her right breast, his long fingers rubbing circular motions on her nipple. The mound of flesh on her chest felt so incredibly soft in his hand, and the way she moaned in his mouth from his caress only caused his erection to grow even harder.
Their mouths separated as Brook began a trail of kisses along Liara's neck, occasionally sucking and giving little licks with his tongue. She tangled her fingers in his hair, allowing his curls to twist around her fingertips as she pleasantly sighed. Slowly, he moved downward, placing a kiss on her breast and swirling his tongue around her nipple, using his free hand to grope her other breast.
"This- this feels nice," she whimpered, her voice laced with lust and wanting. Her breathing grew heavier as his kisses trailed down her stomach, nearing her most private place. He kissed her inner thighs, tongue occasionally lapping against her skin.
A heavy blush spread across her cheeks as she felt Brook's fingers spread apart her lips, his eyes glowing with fascination.
"Please don't stare, it's embarrass-ah!" Her head titled backwards as she felt his tongue slide across her tenderest part, her legs spreading apart automatically to allow him more access. She'd never felt such an amazing feeling before! In the past, she'd experimented by touching herself a few times due to curiosity, and while the experience had been pleasant, her fingers had grown tired and she wasn't entirely sure if she'd been doing it correctly, especially when compared to this.
He swiped his tongue across her clit, prodding into her folds and tasting hot wetness. As she moaned above him, he pressed his mouth even closer so he could increase pressure, and then fluttered his tongue on her clitoris while gently sucking on the small bundle of nerves. He placed his hands on her thighs to hold her down as she involuntarily began to buck her hips up.
The room was filled with the sounds of his tongue lapping at her and her increasing moans that began to turn into pants. She ground herself against his tongue, her clitoris hot and throbbing. She arched herself off the floor, shaking as the pleasure and tension only increased with every lick, perspiration gathering all over her body. Something was building up in her clit, as if it was being electrified but in a pleasurable way. She pushed herself even closer to his tongue, sharply crying out as he increased in speed, the wet noises of contact against her clitoris growing louder as her cum began coating her tongue.
"Brook," she panted, "I'm going to-oh I'm going to-" Her mouth parted open into a silent scream as her toes curled and her eyes squeezed shut, face flushed and heart pounding beneath her ribs. Her body shook as waves of pleasure suddenly overtook her, her fingers clenching the back of Brook's head tightly as he continued to taste her until her body collapsed in an exhausted heap. He pulled back with a smile and crawled over her so he could plant a kiss on her forehead, his eyes closed as he enjoyed the sound of her trying to catch her breath.
When her chest had at last stopped heaving so much, she reached upward and snaked her arms around his neck, pulling him towards her so their noses and foreheads pressed into each other. "Was it awful, to taste me?" she shyly asked, her face still crimson from pleasure.
Brook leaned down and tangled their lips together, his tongue swiping at hers . Liara emitted a moan, her own taste mingled onto her tongue. It wasn't delicious, but not unpleasant either. It was tolerable, and that eased her tremendously, knowing that the experience hadn't been completely horrible for him.
Their lips parted at last, once more leaving Liara gasping for breath as her blue eyes mingled with his violet ones. He gently stroked her cheek, rubbing his thumb over her soft skin. "So, my Liara what do you think?" His voice was low and sent a shiver up her spine, his tongue licking his lips as if he couldn't get enough of her.
"I think...it was perhaps not unpleasant," she confessed, her eyes continuing to focus on his to show her honesty, though at the same time she wished to look away in embarrassment. She wasn't used to experiencing such things, and talking about it invoked a child-like shyness in her. "Thank you, though, for doing that for me," she added before pulling him in for another kiss, their hands roaming around on each others bodies. As she pressed her thighs against his, she let out a surprised gasp as she felt something hard rubbing against her stomach. Brook let out a pleased sigh at the contact, and Liara realized that he also deserved to experience the same pleasure she had.
She wasn't a fool. While she may not have had any sexual experience prior to that moment, she knew what was going to happen next. The air was filled with the sudden tension of desire, and judging by the lustful gaze in Brook's eyes and his darkened cheeks, he was more than ready to take become one with her.
His fingers trailed down her face, his thumb rubbing at the soft skin just below her jaw. "This is going to be a little painful," he warned, searching her face for any signs of wanting to back out.
Liara knew it was going to hurt, and wasn't looking forward to the pain. She was thankful that her mother had initiated "the talk" with her when she was younger, giving information that piqued a child's curiosity about the sexual world, warning of pain and wanting and what signs should be ignored. However, she knew that eventually she would probably be experiencing the pain at some point or another, and while she was a little scared, the moment felt right and they were both ready to merge their bodies together. It was something she wanted to fully experience with Brook, and she wasn't going to back out.
She trailed her fingertips down his chest. "I know, and while I'm nervous, I'm also ready."
He kissed her on her forehead, as if he was thanking her for allowing him the opportunity to sate his desire. He positioned himself between Liara's legs, his right hand placed around his member as he lowered it to her entrance. Slowly, he began pushing himself into her, watching for any signs of discomfort.
It wasn't entirely unpleasant at first, just a bit uncomfortable. However, when he was about halfway through, a sharp pain that made her feel like she was breaking apart brought tears to her eyes. She bit her lip and urged him forward, knowing he wouldn't hesitate to pull out just to ease her discomfort. He firmly pushed himself in deeper until he was completely inside her, earning a whimper from her as tears fell down her cheeks at the sudden shock of increased pain. He lovingly stroked her face, kissing her on the cheek as he waited for her body to adjust to his presence inside her. When the shaking and tears stopped, he pulled back and then slid forward, repeating the process a few times before thrusting into her. She managed to lift her legs up and wrap them around his back as she secured her arms around his neck, pulling him down for a kiss as they made love. Eventually the pain faded away, and while what she felt wasn't the pleasure she had felt when Brook licked her, it was still a nice feeling that earned sighs from her as they kissed and moved together.
Brook lifted his head up, panting as beads of sweat lined up along his forehead. "Liara, I'm getting close. I'm going to pull out, and if I get anything on you I'm sorry." With one final thrust he pulled out, and began pumping himself. It was one of the most erotic things Liara had ever seen, to watch the man she loved so much pleasuring himself and succumbing to nearly inhuman sounds of pleasure as he leaned backward, supporting himself with one arm and his mouth formed in the shape of an O.
Her eyes widened in surprise as a milky white substance squirted out of him, his hand quickly covering the top of his cock to prevent any of the liquid from landing on Liara. When it had finally stopped, Brook laid down on his back, his chest heaving as he fought to catch his breath. Liara beamed as she realized they were both able to fully experience pleasure during their first time together, and while it hadn't been like anything she'd read from her mother's books, it was still certainly a memorable experience that she would forever cherish and look back on if she were to ever favor the feeling of blushing.
"I suppose we'll just have to throw this blanket out and not tell anybody," Brook suggested with a smirk and he rubbed his white-coated fingers on the fabric below him to rid himself of his sticky seed. "Next time, we'll be much neater, especially since I plan on buying condoms at the next island we go to." He chuckled, and the corners of her mouth tipped upwards. "Besides, I doubt you'll be bleeding the next time I enter you."
"Bleeding?" She glanced down and squeaked in surprise as she saw a small sliver of blood sliding down her inner thigh. Of course! How could she forget that most girls bled when they lost their virginity! Her cheeks grew scarlet as she quickly used the other side of the blanket to wipe away her mess, and cradled herself against his side, where he welcomed her with an extended arm. She smiled and pressed her cheek into his chest as he stroked her hair. "So, does this make us lovers now?"
His chest rumbled with laughter as he bent down and kissed the top of her head. "Yes, my dear, I suppose so." It was silent for a minute, save the gentle sounds of their breathing as they relaxed against each other, enjoying the afterglow. His fingers danced down Liara's back, sending a shiver up her spine as he smiled into her hair. "You know what the best part about all this is though?"
"Hmm?"
"I didn't even have to ask to see your panties."