Mao knew that she had some 'bad' habits but was okay with them. Hell they helped keep her san after all the shit she had seen and done. It had become a tradition that on every shore leave she got, she would hit up the bars and drink as much as she could in an effort to not give a damn about all of it. Luck had it that after her team came off their latest mission the TDD-1 was scheduled to dock the day after they got back and the crew was being given two days of leave. It couldn't have come at a better time either. It had been one hell of a bloody mission and she couldn't wait to find the closet bar and forget all about it. Was the leave all good? Yes and no. Now she could get out of the tin can and have some fun. On the other hand, whenever Tessa gave the crew some time a shore it usually met one of two things; they were going to be stuck underwater for an especially long period of time or a large group was going to be sent on a mission to some shit hole for eternity.

"Slow down babes, geez."

Mao turned, "What's the matter pretty boy, can't keep up?"

Kurz reached her side and gave her his 'magazine' style smile and teased. "I prefer the view from behind."

She shoved him and turned to walk away. "Ass."

"I do like yours if that's what you're asking."

That was it. Mao spun back around and landed a solid punch into Kurz's gut that made him double over.

"Dam it." He coughed.

"Is there no bar is this fucking town?!" She voiced her irritation to no one in particular. Kurz stopped a passerby and started to talk to him in a language she didn't know.

When he was finished with the man he went back to her, "There's one around the next corner, he said it can get a bit rough though latter at night. I told him it's your kind of place then." He finished with a cheerful, yet somehow menacing grin.

Mao gave him a perplexed look as he walked passed her, leading the way. "Was that French you were speaking?"

"We're in Bordeaux, what else would it be babes?"

"I didn't know you spoke French. And stop calling me babes!"

"Ok baby."

Mao elbowed him in the ribs, "That's the same thing Webber and you know it!"

Kurz rubbed his side, "Okay okay toots." He couldn't help but tease.

She shot him a dirty look but gave a small grin despite herself, "You're a candy assed fuck."

Kurz chuckled as he opened the door to the 'shady' bar, "Yep and you love it sweetheart!"

They both stepped inside and the smell of stale beer and cigars hit them. Mao took in a deep breath, "Smells like home to me."

He gave her an odd look, "I'd hate to smell you favorite perfume then." They shared another laugh as they took a seat at the bar. It wasn't as seedy as the places the usually went to. This one even had a jute box and other women in it. Hell by all usual standards it was a nice place. Mao ordered two beers and slid one to Kurz. He looked at her in surprise. She had never bought him a drink before.

"Thanks Mel."

"A beers the least I can do, after all, you took out that sniper who was trying to take me out. My ass would have been grass if it wasn't for you."

Kurz smiled warmly, "You know, I think that's one of the nicest things you've ever said to me."

There was a tension in the air between the two of them and she had to break it. "Ya well don't get use to it, or the free beers." They grinned knowingly at one another and then sat making small talk and reminiscing about pervious missions, enjoying the booze and each other's company.

"There's a table open. Are you in for a game of pool, or are you drunk already."

Mao gave a menacing snicker, "I'm just getting started. You're on!"

They both spent so much time in bars that they were pretty good at it. Mao won the first game and they were on their second when Kurz told her, "You've got some admirers babe." He nodded his head to the right.

Mao followed his gesture and saw a group of men looking her way. "Great." She said bitterly. "You've got an audience too pretty boy." There was distain in her voice and she couldn't help it. She motioned to two women in the corner who had been staring at him the whole night. Kurz caught them looking and flashed them a smile that made the two turn away giggling.

"What a romancer." Mao said sarcastically.

"Is that Jellicoe I detect?" He was joking but his tone was never the less suggestive and he went over to wrap an arm around her waist, pulling her into him. "Don't worry baby, you know I only have eyes for you." Kurz put his lips close to her ear so his breath would tease along her skin, "You know, we could ditch this place and go somewhere private."

His words were like an icy fingers running down her spine and she fought against the desire that was suddenly suffocating her. She quickly slammed the pool cub down on his foot and shoved him off with both hands. "Fuck off pervert!"

"Shit Mel, that hurt you know!"

"You had it coming!"

He couldn't argue with that, hell he was surprised that she didn't hit him as soon as he put his arm around her waist. He flashed her his best lady-killer smile, "Sorry sweetheart."

She'd never admit it but that smile did get to her a bit. "Shut up and shoot Kurz."

He easily sank the remaining balls left that were his. "Looks like I beat you babes. Guess you're paying for this round of drinks."

"Best two out of three!"

"No way."

"Coward." Mao accused.

"Smart."

"Fine, I'll get this round but were betting on best two of three!"

"Alright, what are we betting?"

"When I win, you have to buy drinks for the rest of the night and you have to flip for the room tonight."

"I don't know that's pretty steep Mel. What do I get if I win?"

"What do you want?"

Kurz thought for a moment. "If I win, you have to dance with me for a whole song of my choosing."

"You're a serious letch!"

"So unconfident, that's not like you." He was mocking her and it only pissed her off.

"You're on pretty boy! Eight ball, anything goes!"

Mao broke and Kurz slapped her ass as she did so, causing her to completely biff the shot. She turned around to smack him but he stepped back with his hands in the air. "You said anything goes toots."

"You're a dirty asshole."

"I've learned from the best." He said as he gave a half assed salute.

Two can play at this game. Mao leaned against the table.

Kurz surveyed the table, looking for the best shoot. He tried for sweet, "You're in my way buttercup, do you mind moving?"

She smiled back sweetly, matching his tone, "Anything goes big boy."

He swallowed hard, not knowing whether or not he should do it. Fuck it, she knows what's going to happen now, she's just trying to call me out. Kurz stepped into her, straddling her hips and placing his arms around her body in order to hold the cub. He had to lean into her in order to get the leverage he needed, causing their hips to press together tightly. Mao suppressed gasp as their bodies touched and placed a hand in the center of his chest as she went up on tip toes; skimming her noise along the curve of his neck and letting her lips hover just above his skin. She was having a hard time controlling herself this close to him, after all, they don't put guys that are hard to look at on the cover of TAG Magazine and truth be told, it had been too long since she was with a man.

It's difficult to concentrate with her pressed to me like this. Dam she feels good! Kurz drew in a deep breath to steady himself before pulling back and sinking the ball.

"Fuck." Mao muttered as he stepped off of her.

Kurz moved around the table and lined himself up, sinking two more balls.

"Fuck." She muttered again.

This time when Kurz went to make contact, she slapped him in the back of the knee with her cub, causing him to completely miss.

Mao laughed, "Nice one." She lined herself up and Kurz pressed his chest against her back, setting his hands low on her hips as he let a breath out against her ear. Mao closed her eyes and let out a long breath of her own, trying to ignore him.

"Am I that irresistible?" He questioned in a low voice.

"You wish!" Mao shot back, though her voice was a bit shaky.

He chuckled, lips still floating over her, "You know, you've got a great body and I'm finding it hard to maintain my good behavior. And you know what, I think you are too."

His words teased along her skin, as she replied in a fading voice. "You've got one hell of an imagination Webber."

His lips continued to linger mere centimeters away as they moved down to her neck and his tone became suggestive again, "Ya, I do." God I wanna kiss her! He abruptly stepped away, afraid that if he stayed that close to her he would do it.

Mao was relieved that he backed off; she too was finding it difficult being that close to him. She went to take the shot and was suddenly blindsided with a face full of, of what? Mao brought her hand up to her wet face. Is this beer? "Did you just spray me with a mouth full of beer!?"

"Yep."

"You dick head!"

Kurz let out a loud laugh and shrugged. "You look like a drowned cat! Too bad you blew that shot doll face, guess it' my turn now."

Mao leaded over the table putting herself in his line of sight and showing a generous amount of cleavage as she did so. He'll be like a mouth to the flame! What the hell?! He just made the shot!

"Thanks for the show babes but next time you should try taking off your shirt if you wanna distract me."

He had the stupid shit-eaten grin on his face as he said it and it pissed her off. "Aahhh! Fuck off Kurz!"

"Easy babes, you're starting to attract attention." Mao looked around and saw a couple of men gawking at her.

"Great." She said angrily. "Let's just get this game over with."

Kurz took the opportunity to tease her, he couldn't resist the opening. "You're eager to dance with me, aren't you!?"

"Keep dreaming."

"Only of you sexy sergeant major."

"Shut up and take you shot Kurz."

He knew with the lead he had and the layout of the table, that it would be hard for her to beat him now. And sure enough, that's the way it played out. "Eight ball, right corner pocket." Kurz boasted as he closed his eyes to show off and sank the shot.

"Shit!" Mao said as she broke her cub over her knee. She was a bad looser to begin with and losing to Kurz and having to pay up with a dance was even worse.

"Easy babes! There's no need to go breaking stuff."

"I'm gonna break your jaw Webber if you don't shut it!"

He walked over to her and took the broken cub out of her hands, giving her his sweet, 'I'm so incant smile' in the process. "How about a beer to turn that frown upside down pretty lady, I'm buying?"

Mao couldn't help but crack a small smile, "Can we make it a shot?"

Kurz laughed, "You're not supposed to look a gift horse in the mouth babes, but okay, shots it is."

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This is the first fanfic I have ever written and have had a great time writing it. Hope it's enjoyable so far. Any feedback would be great and much appreciated. There are two more chapters to come with a lemon in the last. Thanks for reading!