It was a Friday night.
Kate waited outside the Dock 1 fence as Kaku went to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything.
Kaku ran back, a worried look on his face.
"Kaku?" Kate couldn't help but feel a bit concerned by his expression. "Is everything alright?" She tilted her head.
Kaku sighed as he rubbed the back of his hat. "I'm real sorry, Kate. There's a project that needs to get out by tomorrow morning and Iceberg wants it done tonight so he can review...I can try to be quick and-"
Kate waved her hands reassuringly. "Don't worry about me! I promise I'll be fine!" She pointed towards her place. "I'll go straight home." She smiled before letting out a small laugh "and I won't talk to anyyy strangers."
The carpentry foreman continued to think.
I don't want her walking home alone..especially on a Friday night..
Paulie overheard the conversation and headed over, lighting a cigar on the way.
"I'll walk Kate home tonight, kid! Can't have her walking alone with the way she's dressed..."
The raven haired beauty blushed. For once Paulie wasn't wrong. She was dressed in a short and tight v-neck grey dress, high heels and a black blazer. They had a meeting with a few of the tool suppliers, and Kalifa had noted to dress...desirable.
Kaku stared at Kate, taking in her outfit...her cleavage poking out slightly...how it hugged her curves...
He straightened up as he felt his pants begin to tighten, pinching his arm to hide any evidence of his thoughts.
"Are you sure, Paulie?".
Paulie placed an arm around Kate as he led her in the direction of her place. "See you Monday!" He waved an arm in the air.
Kate looked back, waving her hand at Kaku.
He stood their dumbfounded and waved back...it was unlike Paulie to be so forward.
He quickly brushed off the feeling of suspicion, making his way back to his station.
Paulie and Kate walked quietly, with Paulie checking behind them every now and then.
"Is everything okay, Paulie?". She looked behind them to try and see what it was he was looking at.
"Yeah...just making sure he didn't follow us. He took a puff of his cigar.
"Who?!" Kate looked around, putting up her guard.
"Kaku". Paulie pulled Kate with him just within an alley way. "It's his birthday today, and the boys at Galley La are throwing a party for him at Shady's Bar. We wanted to have it at Blueno's, but he's got some family things?". He sighed. "I've been trying to tell you all week, but Kaku is always behind you like a sick puppy." He laughed. "Anyways, we'd love to have you there...and I'm sure the kid would too." He shot her a wink teasingly.
Kate blushed. "I can't believe it's his birthday and he didn't tell me!" She quickly began to run towards her house.
Paulie's cigar fell out of his mouth. "Where are you going?!"
Kate looked back, but continued running. "I'll be there, but I need to do a few things first! I'll see you later!" She picked up the pace and sprinted.
Kaku waited as Iceberg reviewed the order papers.
"Kaku, would you mind doing me a favor before you clock out tonight?" He hid his mouth, trying to hide his smile.
"Sure thing! What is it?". He was upset he didn't get to walk Kate home today, so spending a little more time out would help get his mind off of it.
"I need you to pick something up at Shady's Bar".
Kaku walked towards Shady's Bar. Kate's house was only 15 minutes away...
Maybe I could drop by...
He shook his head. Coming over unannounced would be rude, there wasn't anything for him to fix at the moment, and she probably had plans...
He sighed as he pushed open the door..
"I wonder what sh-"
"SURPRISE!"
Kaku stood there astounded as members of the Dock 1 crew as well as other Galley La shipwrights raised full glasses towards him.
Paulie rubbed his knuckles into Kaku's head. "You didn't think we'd let you get away with not celebrating your birthday again, did you?"
The long nosed man still couldn't believe it. He'd hadn't had a birthday party since his grandpa passed, and almost everyone was there...
Kate!
He scanned the bar hoping to see her, but to no avail.
He stopped his face from frowning, forcing a smile instead.
"Gee! Thanks fellas!"
Tilestone shoved two pints of beer into his hands "let's party!"
Kaku wasn't big on drinking, but decided tonight was a valid reason. As thankful as he was for the celebration, he couldn't help but be disappointed he had missed out on walking Kate home.
"Thank you!" He drank the pints as fast as he could.
Kate stuffed some tissue paper into a gift bag. She huffed as she changed into a tight short sleeve orange dress.
"That took way longer than expected..."
It was almost 10 o' clock at night. Still early in terms of a party at a bar, but it had started 4 hours ago...
"I hope they're still there!".
She fixed her hair before making her way to the bar.
"UNBREAK MY HEARTTTTTT!" Tilestone and Paulie sang drunkenly into the karaoke microphone.
Lucci and Kalifa had left earlier. They had decided it would be a good opportunity for them to have a meeting and investigate while most of Galley La was empty. Blueno was already at their meeting location.
Kaku sat with Peepley and a few of the junior shipwrights. He could barely see straight due to the amount of alcohol he drank.
A dark haired man drunkenly wrapped an arm around Kaku. "Hey man! There's some cute girls over there! Let's, let's get you one and me one okay?"
Kaku looked at a group of 2 blondes and a brunette. They were laughing at Tilestone and Paulie's duet.
The birthday boy shook his head removing the man's hand from his shoulder.
"Nahhhhh they're not my type you see!" He laughed and took another swig of alcohol in a bottle.
"Oh?!". The dark haired man along with a bald man leaned in closer to Kaku; teasing smiles on their faces. "So what IS your type?!"
Kaku smiled. "I like long black hair, cute face, a single dimple on the right cheek, great body, not too tall-"
One of the men pointed at the door "ohhhhhhh someone like her?"
Kaku turned towards the door sluggishly and perked up when he saw her.
Kate!
He quickly put the bottle down and tried to straighten out his clothes. He shook his head, but the alcohol was over powering him.
Kate excitedly waved and made her way over.
Peepley pondered then looked at Kate, having realized who Kaku was describing...
"Kaku! She's exactly like-".
Kaku quickly covered his mouth.
"Kate! Hiya!" He hiccuped.
She let out a laugh. She had never seen Kaku drunk, let alone THIS drunk.
"Happy birthday! I can't believe you didn't tell me!". She looked at the soiled table and at Kaku's outfit, putting the gift bag behind her.
Maybe it's best if I give this to him later...
She pointed at the bar. "What can I get you?"
Kaku waved his hands. "No thanks I've had more than enough!" He rubbed his hand down his face.
Peepley handed Kate a shot of something that smelled horrible.
She shook her head "oh no thank you! I don't really drink much.."
Peepley laughed, adjusting his sunglasses. "It's a Galley La birthday tradition! All members must have a shot, and you're one of us now!" he raised a shot glass of his own.
Kate blushed. One of them now...
The comment had lifted her spirits up. "Oh what the hell. Cheers!" Her face scrunched as she swallowed the shot, feeling tipsy immediately. The rest of the members raised their glasses to her, and took a drink as well.
Kaku laughed, but then let out a yawn. He felt his eyes getting heavy due to a mix of fatigue and alcohol. The loudness of the crowd was getting to him, and all he wanted was some quiet...
Kate noticed he seemed a bit uncomfortable..
I hope he's okay...
Feeling a bit braver than usual; she pulled him into a hug. Before he could react she whispered in his ear. "Want to get out of here? I have a plan."
He sighed with relief. "Yes please."
Kate grabbed Kaku's hand, lifting him from his seat. "Let's dance!"
The bar was playing a slower, but still upbeat song. The dance floor was crowded, but Kate carefully lead Kaku to the center as he held onto her hand tighter.
Gosh her hand is so soft..
He snapped out of his trance when Kate pulled away, instead wrapping her arms around his neck as she faced him, the gift bag hitting his back.
She had touched up her make up and curled her hair. Kaku's vision was still slightly blurred, but he could still tell how beautiful she was.
He carefully placed his hands on her hips. "You're wearing my favorite color!" He rubbed one hand down, only a few inches away from her bottom...
Control yourself...
She blushed. "I'm surprised you could see anything in here!"
Kaku adjusted his eyes and noticed how dark the bar was...
Can't see anything eh...
He looked at her lips, drawn in by her smile and dark pink lipstick...
Just one...
He closed his eyes and leaned in, but Kate was no longer there. Instead, she was once again leading him through the crowd with his hand in hers.
She looked around before leading them out the back door.
They walked along the water in the direction of Kaku's hotel, which was an hour away by foot.
Kate laughed. "Wow! Judging by how drunk everyone else was- I'm surprised you're still walking! How much did you drink?!"
The shipwright hummed, trying to count the number of drinks he'd had. He went to count on his fingers but realized he was still holding Kate's hand...
She shot up and blushed, having just realized she was still holding onto him.
Before she could let go, Kaku tightened his grip. "Just a bit longer, please? This is nice..." He smiled sleepily.
He must've had more than he could handle, because there was no way he would've requested such a thing had he been sober.
"Okay." She smiled shyly at the ground.
Kaku beamed then cheered loudly, lifting their hands in the air.
"BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!"
Suddenly, his smile dropped and he fell over.
"KAKU!"
He laid on the path, a smile back on his face.
Kate looked for help, but there was no one else around.
There was no way she could carry him to his hotel, but her place was less than 10 minutes away from where they were.
"Hang on, Kaku!"
She carefully laid him on her bed. His clothes wreaked of alcohol. She sifted through her closet for some large t-shirts she usually wore to bed. She pulled out a long yellow one with a pink cat winking on it.
"Oh...please don't hate me."
She pulled away his jacket, leaving him in his white t-shirt.
It's just a shirt...It's not like I'm taking off his pants...
She gasped as soon as she removed his t-shirt. His body was so defined... but covered in scars.
Kate traced her fingers along them. They all had different shapes and sizes. He couldn't have gained these scars during a single event...
"Kaku..."
She shook her head to snap out of it. It was none of her business since she shouldn't have been in this situation in the first place.
She then dressed him into the t-shirt and removed his hat, fixing his hair afterwards.
He murmured in his sleep. "My grandpa would love you. Darn tootin' he would".
Kate stroked his head, holding in a laugh to avoid waking him up. "Goodnight Kaku."
She tucked him into her bed before closing the door behind her.
Luckily, she had extra bedding and decided it'd be best if she slept on the couch. She changed into a pink night gown and curled up sideways, laughing at the sound of Kaku snoring before falling asleep.