Chapter Nineteen: A Sailor's Prayer

It wasn't long after that they were allowed access to the bathing facilities. Feeling better after scrubbing off the blood, Business had claimed the entire bed for himself and promptly fell asleep. They were content to leave him be.

Benny dropped himself down at Bad Cop's side, hugging his knees as he sat in silence. Bad Cop glanced down at him, wondering what brought on this change; he'd seemed his usual perky self just a short time ago. "What's wrong?"

"I was really looking forward to building that spaceship," Benny pouted.

Bad Cop sighed. "I know you were," he said, giving the spaceman's shoulder a commiserating squeeze. As Benny continued to sit in sullen silence, an idea started to form. "…I think I know something that will cheer you up."

"What, more puns?"

Bad Cop seemed to deflate at that. "I thought you liked puns…"

Benny winced and backtracked. "I do, B, I just don't think they're gonna be enough of a distraction this time…"

"Well. I guess it's a good thing that wasn't my idea this time, then." Bad Cop got up and made his way over to the bedside, rooting through Business' jacket for his notebook and pen. Benny watched in bemusement as he returned with his stolen prize in hand, and leaned over to get a peek once he'd sat back down and started sketching. His eyes went wide once the sketches were far enough along for him to recognize what they were of.

"Oh my stars B, that's brilliant." He bounced eagerly. "Oh I can't wait!"

"Can't wait for what?" Emmet asked, coming back into the room. Bad Cop flipped the notebook shut.

"It's a surprise!" Benny giddily informed him.

Bad Cop chuckled. "Shush, Ben, you'll wake up Business."

"Right." He fell silent, but kept up his excited bouncing. Emmet gave him a wary look. A hyper Benny spelled trouble.

The door opened again, admitting Metalbeard and the girls. Emmet motioned for them to keep their voices down, gesturing at Business dozing on the bed. "I say he's got the right idea," Metalbeard said as quietly as he could manage.

"What do you mean?" Lucy asked.

"We ought to be takin' the opportunity to rest while we can. While that captain be repairin' her first mate, this be the safest we'll get."

"And how do we know they won't take advantage and try to off us in our sleep?" Metalbeard plunked himself down in front of the door and gave her a challenging stare. She shrugged. "Alright then."

There was some shuffling about as everyone made themselves as comfortable as possible. Unikitty curled up on the rug, Emmet and Lucy snuggled against her side. Benny scooted in closer and leaned against Bad Cop. He was still practically vibrating from excitement though, and not likely to rest any time soon. "Ben, would you calm down," Bad Cop sighed.

"I can't help it," the spaceman pouted.

"What be the matter, lad?"

"It's a surprise," Emmet answered for him. "I don't know what the surprise is, but he was awful excited about it when I got back."

Metalbeard sighed. "If I sing ye a song, will ye sleep then?"

Emmet looked intrigued at that. "You can sing?"

The cyborg shifted at that. "Well. I be no siren, but I can hold a tune, at least."

"Pleeeaaaaase," Benny begged.

"Only one verse," Metalbeard warned, then began to sing. "Though my sails be torn and tattered, and my mast be turned about, though the night wind chill me to my very soul, though the salt spray sting my eye, and the stars no sight provide, give me just enough morning light to hold. For I will not lie me down, this rain a-ragin', I will not lie me down in such a storm. And if this night be unblessed, I shall not take my rest until I reach another shore."

"Appropriate," Bad Cop commented, glancing down at a now-drowsy Benny. Emmet yawned widely and curled in close to Lucy, who gave him a sleepy smile. Unikitty had already dozed off.

"Ye should get some rest too, matey," Metalbeard told him. "We'll be needin' ye fresh and alert."

"I make no promises, but… I'll try."

Though he felt at ease, sleep evaded him, and nearly an hour after the others had passed out he found himself still wide awake. Benny had somehow migrated from his side to his lap, using him as a pillow and drooling all over his t-shirt. He heaved a sigh, opening his eyes to stare at the ceiling, and wrapped an arm around the spaceman, his free hand carding through ginger curls.

"Can't sleep?" Metalbeard asked softly.

"No…" He looked over at his pirate friend, and was greeted with an amused look. "What?"

"He's quite attached to ye."

"I know… Though I still don't understand why."

"Ye be a better man than ye think, Bad Cop." Bad Cop gave him a dubious look and didn't answer. "I may only have one eye, but I'm not blind. Sure, ye be downright terrifyin' when the mood takes ye. But ye've shown patience with Emmet, acceptance of Benny and Unikitty and their quirks, support to Lucy, and even concern for Business."

"I also destroyed Unikitty's home, captured and almost killed all of you Master Builders, and helped to nearly bring about the end of the world," Bad Cop muttered. "And I was glad to do it. There's a reason why I'm the Bad Cop."

Metalbeard tilted his head. "Lad, I've been around long enough to remember what the world was like before Business took over. Like Benny and Emmet, I weren't always a Master Builder either. Maybe Bricksburg was a little calmer, but the other realms were absolute chaos. Ye saw Cloud Cuckooland. Someone needed to bring back balance, and ye and Business were the only people with enough guts to try it. Obviously ye thought ye were doin' the right thing."

"Then why did you try to attack Octan Tower?"

"Cause ye crossed the line from 'balance' to 'extreme order' and that's not a good thing either." Bad Cop fell into thoughtful silence, glancing down as Benny stirred in his hold and snored. Metalbeard smirked at the look of exasperated fondness that settled over his face. "Ye've become quite attached to him too, methinks."

"…I guess I have," Bad Cop admitted. "Would explain why I haven't shoved him off for drooling all over me." Metalbeard snickered, and he sighed. "I've never been this close to anyone outside of my family, before. It's… different."

"But not bad?"

"No." He hugged Benny close. The spaceman shifted and murmured sleepy nonsense. "Definitely not bad."

Airheart finally set her tools down and took off her welding gear, wiping away sweat with the back of her arm so she didn't get grease all over her face. She would have thrown the ridiculous robot in the scrap heap if he hadn't made himself so useful- she hated getting attached to things. People. Whichever; he didn't quite seem to fit the bill for either. Yet here she was, using up resources and putting her plans on hold just to ensure he would be functionable again. "Why'd you have to go and get yourself shot. Stupid robot…" she grumbled as she powered him up again. "You're lucky you make a better second in command than spare parts."

"Love you too, Cap'," Flea sassed, vocalizer spitting static. He reset it several times and sat up on the work table. "What's got you in such a mood?"

"First of all, don't you ever do that to me again!" she snapped, swatting at him with a protective leather glove. "Next time it really will be the scrap heap for you!"

"Aww, I knew you cared!"

"Shut up! I got conned into letting those posers aboard my ship!" She threw her arms into the air, flinging her gloves to oblivion. She'd make him hunt them back down later, he knew. "He must have some sort of- mind powers, or something! Damn those eyes! And that cop is absolutely infuriating, ordering around my crew like they were his bots-"

"Amelia." She turned back to him, scowling. "What the hell are you talking about."

"The Special! He managed to talk me into 'working together' or some such nonsense!" she exploded, grabbing at her hair. "Just- aaauuuugh! How does he do that?!"

Flea couldn't help it- he laughed. "Geez, Cap', I don't think I've ever seen you this worked up. I thought you were enjoying the competition, though?"

"I was, until Business decided to show some initiative and start shooting my crew."

"Alright, alright." He reached over, taking her hands into his own. "Stop pulling your hair out, you're too young to go bald yet. Look, this doesn't completely derail everything. Atlantis is still yours."

"It better be."

"It will. Just play nice for now, they'll never know what hit 'em."