The sounds of hoots and hollers echoed throughout the nearly ship. The small skeleton crew found themselves gathered around the mess hall in celebration. Neo had finally, finally, beaten Trinity in the dojo without relying on code manipulation and his power as the One. This moment was months in the making. Hours of time dedicated to bettering and honing his skills, which usually ended in him battered and bruised. He wasn't sure how he managed to beat her; she was usually too quick for him to even lay a finger on her.

Trinity moved with such grace it appeared as though she was dancing instead of crane kicking him in the chest and Neo often wondered if one of the reasons she always beat him is because he couldn't help but gawk at her. And gawk he did, especially when she chose to wear the shortest and loosest clothing available to her. He knew it wasn't true, admitting many times that she was a much better than him, but her digital appearance was definitely a distraction.

Something about this spar had been different though, and Neo had managed to catch her off guard. Perhaps she had been distracted by something, mind focused on ship maintenance, potentials, or maybe what she and Neo had done the night before. It didn't matter. Neo had won fair and square, and the smug bastard knew it, too. He beamed as he reached a hand to Trinity, who was sprawled on the tatami floor.

"Don't get too used to this, soldier. You got lucky." She may have lost, but her expression deceived her, eyes shining with immense pride. She had taught Neo everything she knew and it seemed that he had finally mastered every technique, including her own signature moves. This called for a celebration.

She opened her eyes slowly, now back in the dark Core of the ship. Her jaw ached, and she rubbed it gingerly. A gentle hand rested on her forehead, another removed the jack from her skull. She held her breath as it scraped against her head. She sat up slowly, returning the smirk on Link's face with her own. "I think it's time we crack a bottle," she said. Link nodded, and headed out, leaving Trinity to jack Neo out.

"To Neo!" The crew of four clinked their glasses, shooting back the strong, clear liquid. Neo coughed violently, still not used to the burn at the back of his throat. Linked laughed, smacking his broad hand on the other man's back. "That's good shit, don't waste it!"

Morpheus stayed with them for a little while before retiring for the evening, knowing well that his position on the ship played a role in their reserved conversations. He congratulated Neo once more before he turned on his heel giving the crew the opportunity to celebrate freely.

"Another round?" Trinity eagerly held her glass towards Link. She glanced at Neo, urging him to get a refill. Unable to say no, Neo complied, amazed at the ease both Trinity and Link slung back the alcohol. He brought his own glass up to his lips and gagged as the sharp smell assaulted his senses. "Just shoot it Neo, we don't drink it for the taste."

"Speak for yourself, Link," Trinity said cooly, "I for one love the pungent notes of paint thinner and the astringent quality. The tannins really add to the experience." Her eyes sparked and crackled, fully caught in the moment as she shifted her gaze from Link to Neo. Link was not unused to their subtle and not so subtle glances and took the hint.

"Well, I guess it's about time to hit the hay." Link stood, clapping his hands together in front of him. "Don't get too crazy," he said, winking on his way out. Trinity nodded before turning her attention back to Neo.

She flashed him a smile which he returned goofily. Neo was beginning to feel the effects of the alcohol. He felt lightheaded, not sure if it was the alcohol or the way Trinity looked at him. She laughed when he told her this.

"You're telling me you think you're drunk on love?" she questioned reaching for his hand across the table. He accepted it, running his thumb over her knuckles. "No, I'm telling you I am, and I'm not joining AA and don't, for the love of god, throw me an intervention."

They continued drinking, not sure how much time had passed. Trinity had lost track of how many shots they had taken. All she knew was that she had drank significantly more than Neo and that she was now drunk enough to ask him anything and everything that came to her mind.

"You know, Neo," she started, taking another shot. She traced her fingertip over a deep indentation in the steel table, thinking deeply. Her forehead creased in utter confusion. "I don't understand how you do the things that you do."

"I don't know either." Neo caught her finger and kissed the tip, nipping at her knuckle with his teeth. "I just know it feels badass."

"Show me."

They sat on the table now, cross legged, brows furrowed in concentration. Neo had emptied the ship's entire collection of spoons between them. "Like this, Trin, see?" Neo stared intensely at the spoon, bending it with his fingers. A soft whoa escaped her lips. Try as she might, she couldn't will the spoons to bend. She laid back in frustration as Neo bent another utensil.

"I give up," she exclaimed. "No more." Neo agreed. Bending spoons was mentally draining. He looked down at Trinity, her chest slowly rising and falling with each breath. He leaned over her kissed her, nearly missing her lips. She kissed him back hungrily, fingers gripping the hem of his sweater tightly. "God, Neo, it's cold as shit."

Her statement surprised him. This was not the reaction he was hoping for. Neo reached his hand under her shirt, but Trinity pushed him off. She grabbed the alcohol and announced that she was heading to the engine room. "Put those spoons away, Neo." Leave it to Trinity to, even in her drunken state, ensure every space was tidy. Neo grabbed the now bent spoons and tossed them carelessly into the drawer, closing it only halfway before chasing after her.

The gentle hum of machinery provided the soundtrack to their drunken dancing. Neo stumbled over his boots while Trinity tried to guide him. She swayed back and forth, loving the feeling of Neo's hands on her hips. Neo tried to follow Trinity's lead before deciding to take charge. He spun her around while she shrieked gleefully. In a bold attempt, Neo tried to dip her. She clung to him, fingertips digging into his arms, desperately trying not to fall. Neo didn't drop her and instead lost his balance. He ground, taking Trinity with him.

Trinity howled with laughter, reaching up to wipe the tears forming in the corners of her eyes.

"You might have a lot of tricks as the One, but dancing is definitely not one of them."

"Well, luckily for me, I don't think I'll be challenging the machines to a dance battle anytime soon." Trinity nodded in agreement, laughing at the mental image of Neo in the middle of a dance circle doing the robot. Yes, they were very lucky. Trinity tossed her sweater into the corner, very aware of the beads of sweat dripping down her collarbone. Neo's eyes followed them as they left wet trails down her chest and between her breasts. His breath hitched in his throat.

"Like what you see?" He nodded, eyes still focused on her chest. The jug of moonshine suddenly blocked his view. "Not the jug I wanted to see," Neo pouted.

"Shut up and drink, Neo."

Neo reached towards the bottle in Trinity's outstretched hand but instead changed course, grabbing her discarded sweater instead. He maintained eye contact as he slipped it over his head.

"No, Trinity, I'm in charge now. And as my first act of duty…"

He grabbed her arm and pulled her to straddle him.

"I'm going to make sure you earn your keep on this ship."

Trinity considered slapping him, drunk enough to play along, but not drunk enough to miss how playful and hot this newfound game was. "Fuck it." She took a swig directly from the bottle before turning her attention back to Neo.

The sex was sloppy and messy. This was a new level of desperation for both of them and neither bothered fully stripping the other of their clothing. Trinity's pants were caught around her ankles while Neo had pulled his own down just enough. He pulled Trinity's tank top over her breasts, leaving it on her collarbones before dragging his tongue over her bare skin. She cried out to him, begging him to enter her. Neo obliged and, after a few attempts, managed to slip inside her, knocking over one of the mugs still full of liquor onto Trinity's hair. If she noticed, Trinity didn't react to the wet sensation on her head.

As quickly as it had started, Neo called out before collapsing on top of her, panting heavily. Trinity was too drunk to care that she hadn't even come close to finishing.

Neo flopped onto his back and stared at the blinking lights on the ceiling, his breathing finally slowing. "That was good?" he asked. Trinity nodded, her eyes also now fixated on the same focal point. The cold floor felt nice on her back, almost soothing. She laced her fingers with Neo's, searching for shooting stars and constellations on the ceiling.

After some time, Trinity slowly sat up and pulled her - Neo's - sweater back on, the sweat on her body now cooling and causing her to shiver. Neo joined her, taking another sip from the bottle before offering it to her. She drank quickly.

"Whoa, slow down, Trin! Save some for me!" Trinity narrowed her eyes at him, refusing to break eye contact as she continued drinking. When she was done, Neo kissed her, lapping up the remaining residue off her lips. She kissed him back hard, slipping her tongue beyond his parted lips. He groaned against her mouth.

"Let's go, Neo."

Trinity had the sudden urge to look out into the tunnels, a habit of her's built on years of drinking alone. She was still very drunk and she wobbled towards the doorway, arms outstretched for balance.

"Where are we going?" Neo's eyes were dark, pupils so dilated that the warm brown was barely visible. Trinity wanted him again, bad.

"I think it's time we put the 'cock' in 'cockpit'." Trinity loved the way his jaw dropped, unable to mask his emotions.

"Fuck, Trinity."

She hummed in response. "That's the plan."

Neo and Trinity fought to stay on their feet, stopping often to tease and touch, tongues dancing against each other. "God, Neo," she gasped as he cupped the mound of fabric between her legs. "You're better than any man I've ever been with." Neo smiled, sucking gently at the crossroad of feminine neck and shoulder. Trinity couldn't hide anything from him when she was drunk. Those who knew her well never trusted her with a secret for this exact reason. "You told me you were a virgin."

"I lied," Trinity admitted.

Neither of this was true. Trinity had not once claimed to be abstinent nor did she hide the fact that she had been with other men. Women, too, she had admitted after a previous night of heavy drinking. She had locked Neo out of their shared bedroom when he suggested a threesome. He had been drunk then, too, so far gone that he could not recall ever requesting such a thing.

The pair continued to stumble towards the cockpit, nearly falling off the ladder in their drunken stupor. By the time they finally made it up, almost dropping the moonshine in the process, their sexual desire had subsided. Neo sat in Trinity's usual seat, demanding that she stand. No seats for low ranking soldiers in the cockpit, he teased, feeling powerful in the light blue official's uniform. She defied him, of course, planting herself in the captain's chair. "I'm always in command, Neo."

"I'll allow it."

For the first time that night, they were silent as they stared out into the dark abyss of the tunnels. Trinity broke the silence first.

"Do you want to get married?"

Neo turned to look at her, unable to mask his surprise. Marriage? Was this something she genuinely thought about? Or was this just a drunken sentiment?

"Hmm, Neo? We can jack in and go to Vegas right now. I always wanted to meet Elvis." She paused for a moment before continuing. "I can be your trophy wife."

"I always thought that I would be the one to stay home. You'll have your own ship and I'll be the dotting house husband waiting for my wife to return from war."

Trinity laughed, the thought of Neo in a frilly pink apron baking pies in anticipation of her return. In her mind, he didn't wear anything underneath. Naturally , Neo agreed. Anything for his breadwinner of a wife.

Trinity spotted a small strip of copper wire underneath the control panel, having been abandoned during a previous repair. She twisted it into a loop and slipped it onto her own ring finger.

"Yes, Neo, I accept." She stared at her hand, palm towards Neo, examining how the wire gleamed in the light of the controls. Satisfied, she looked to Neo again. "I suppose we should consummate the marriage, Captain." Neo nodded, already halfway to the ladder, prepared to have his first go at marital sex.

They continued drinking on their way to their bedroom, the bottle now significantly lighter than before. The pair moved as they had before, tripping over themselves while desperately trying to stay upright. Trinity hadn't been able to keep her hands off of him as they stumbled through the narrow halls of the Neb . Truthfully, neither could he. They kissed sloppily, teeth clashing together. Neo ran his hands over anything he could reach, finally resting on her breasts. She moaned loudly, unable to control herself, as he rubbed his thumbs over her hardening nipples. The bottle nearly slipped through her fingers and she scolded him loudly.

"This stuff is irreplaceable!" she yelled.

Neo kissed her hard, preventing any incoming expletives that were sure to come out of her mouth. He had her pinned against the door to their left, one hand gripping her waist under her shirt, the warmth of her skin burning his hand, and the other snaked behind her neck. She tasted of sweat and alcohol and he found it intoxicating. Neo wanted her now, and he whispered the sentiment in her ear. His breath was hot on her neck.

They were a flurry of limbs, grasping at each other as they struggled to remove each other's clothing. Trinity reached for the door handle behind her and they stumbled inside, tripping over the lip at the bottom. They fell, laughing, and began their drunken lovemaking on the floor, not bothering to continue towards the bed.

Their clothes were strewn across the room with complete disabandon. Neo kicked off his boots aggressively while he teased her mercilessly. Trinity urged him inside her, eyes rolling back with pleasure at the feeling of fullness between her legs. The entire night had left her very wet and Neo felt no resistance as he started thrusting.

"Jesus, Trinity. You feel incredible." She smiled in between moans, clawing at his bare back. They moved in unison, despite the alcohol, with Neo on top. Married couples loved missionary, she asserted. Despite the growing pressure between her legs, Trinity found herself feeling distracted, the alcohol now proving to be a detriment to the experience. Her eyes began to wander around the room. It was large and tidy, like hers was, but something was different. Something about the layout. Had her bed always faced that way?

Neo continued his slow movement against her, too inebriated to notice that he was no longer. Neo was close and he called out to her, his voice distant. Before he could feel the release he craved, Trinity suddenly shrieked and kicked him off of her.

"Neo! We need to get out of here. Now. " He was confused, but he obeyed, scrambling to get dressed. The pair bolted out of the room. In their haste, Neo hadn't shut the door behind him.

Still naked, Trinity struggled with a different door mechanism now, swearing under the breath, before finally flinging it open. Neo followed, still confused. She slammed the door behind them and leaned against it, gasping for breath. She suddenly felt ill, not sure if it was the alcohol or the fact that she had spotted the distinctive red of a captain's uniform draped over the edge of the bed. Trinity stumbled to her own bed now, dropping the moonshine in the process. The metal bottle clanged loudly as it rolled, now empty, towards the corner. She dressed herself clumsily in Neo's sweater before collapsing on top of the covers of her bed.

Neo tried to follow suit, but his eyes suddenly felt incredibly heavy and the room started to spin. The last thing he remembered before hitting the ground, just shy of the edge of the bed, was the distinct feeling of the cold floor beneath one of his feet.