It isn't that long but I hope it is enjoyed. Sorry for the lull in writing/updates. School is a bitch.

pairing: Smoker/Hina
rating: T

Friendship Evolved

"I always had to bail you out back at the Academy, and now, all these years later here I am still cleaning up your messes."

"No one asked you to."

Smoker growled at the tall woman in front of him. He had been lounging on his chair on the deck and she had come strolling across as if it were her own ship. He had been expecting her, he knew he wouldn't get away without one of her lectures so he had decided to sit himself more comfortably this time, he'd never forget the time she caught him going to shower. He had had to stand there awkwardly for what seemed like hours, wearing nothing but a towel.

He sat there only half listening while she imparted her great knowledge of how he should handle the higher ups in the marines. It wasn't anything he hadn't heard before and he instead amused himself by checking out her trim body. "Black Cage" Hina was quite the woman and Smoker could appreciate the fact. She was tall and thin, in good shape and from his days at the Academy he knew that beneath the outfit lay a strong, lean body. Her light pink hair was long and had the slightest wave to it as it fell down past her shoulders. As his gaze travelled up her body he realized her ruby red lips were no longer moving, then it registered that her speech had stopped and she was just glaring at him.

"You done?" he said gruffly.

"Are you done?" she asked raising one perfectly arched eyebrow.

Smoker had to fight to keep from blushing, it wasn't like him to get caught checking out anybody, and least of all Hina. He was struggling for an answer that would diffuse the situation or at least not get him in trouble when he noticed the faintest flash of pink on her milky white cheeks. A flustered Hina was something new, something he hadn't seen in all of his years of friendship with the woman and he found it oddly attractive. Just like that gone were the thoughts of diffusing the situation. Letting it play out might prove to be more interesting.

"Almost." Smoker replied huskily.

The splashes of pink darkened into a red as Smoker allowed himself to peruse her body once more. He let his imagination mix with old memories as he took in her svelte figure, seeing her without the restrictive clothing. He felt himself becoming aroused and he realized just how long it had been since he had been in a woman's embrace. Smoker rose from his chair and crossed the distance between them in two strides. Hina took a step back and he could tell it was involuntarily so he tossed her a smirk.

"Smoker" she said her voice containing the hint of warning as well as desire.

The way his name rolled off of her tongue so smoothly had him closing the distance between them, he pressed his lips over hers in an aggressive kiss almost daring her to kiss back. Hina liked challenges, Smoker figured that's why she was always trying to bail him out and this time was no exception. The kiss became heated in no time as her tongue pressed into the warmth of his mouth and Smoker recognized the need for her to take that step first. He allowed her to dominate the kiss for a short while before his own tongue came out to play and he quickly wrestled control away from her, his arm sliding around her back and pressing her firmly into his strong chest.

As they kissed it occurred to Smoker that he should have thought of doing this a long time ago. For the life of him he didn't know why it had taken him all these years to recognize his attraction to Hina and act on it. She was a firecracker, giving back everything he gave and taking it all in greedily. Pleasure and desire were exploding in his brain and his skin seemed to sizzle wherever she touched him. Her hands were never still, always moving, caressing and teasing amplifying the pleasure of her tongue sliding across his with an almost frenzied desire.

When they pulled apart, both gasping for some much needed oxygen, Smoker stared into her flushed face and felt an intense ache to bury himself in her, to lose himself to her completely. He gently tugged on her hand pulling her in the general direction of his room. Hina looked up at him from under hooded eyes and with a soft smile allowed him to lead her into the heart of his ship.