A/N: Hello my lovely readers! I'm so sorry for making you wait almost a month for this chapter! Writers block is the worst. Every day this month I opened up this document and tried to write. I stared at the page and tried to figure out how to make the words flow. I only managed to write down a couple sentences or a paragraph a day, so it took forever... I'm sorry. I wish I was faster. ;_; I hope you guys like this chapter though. I'll try to be quicker for the next one.

Chapter Fourteen:

Soul Meets Soul on Lovers' Lips

Shanks stepped onto the dock beside his first mate as he finished tying their ship to the dock. It wasn't a very big ship. In fact, it may have been too small to consider it a proper ship, but they didn't really need anything bigger for just two people. When Ben stood up after their boat was secured, he pointed towards a building with dark windows. "That place looks like they sell sake, but I don't think they're open..." It didn't look like they'd be able buy any to stock their ship until the next day.

"Well, it is kinda late..." the redhead replied. It was long past closing time for most shops. In fact, they really should have tucked in for the night, but they found themselves wide awake with no hope of finding sleep any time soon. The day had been rather slow and they had spent it napping in between looking for things to occupy their time. It was no wonder they couldn't sleep. "Maybe there's a bar still open somewhere we can hang out at." he said.

With that, Shanks and his first mate set out in search of a pub that was still open. It didn't take too long to find one. It was one of the only places that still had it's lights on. It was fairly quiet inside with only a couple of other patrons scattered around the room. Ben didn't pay them much heed, but one of them caught Shanks' attention. He stopped where he was, gaze locked on the lone figure sitting at the bar.

"Captain? What's the matter?"

Ben's question fell on deaf ears. "I'll be right back..." Shanks said absently. He bee-lined straight for the empty stool next to the girl he hadn't seen in just over a year. A twinge of relief surged through him as he slid into the seat and verified that it really was her. "Well, well, well..." He smiled when her eyes widened in surprise and rested his chin on his hand. "Fancy meeting you here!"

Grace lowered her mug onto the counter as she gulped down a mouthful of beer. "Shanks..." She shifted in her seat, turning her body slightly to face him. "What're you doing here?"

"I should be the one asking that, I think..." The redhead replied. "What are you doing here all by yourself?"

"Drinking. What does it look like?"

"By yourself? That's no good." Shanks turned away for a moment to get the bartender's attention and ordered himself a drink.

"Yeah, well, Valeska isn't really into alcohol." the marine replied.

"She's here too?" The redhead looked back at her with raised eyebrows. "How come?"

"Neutral islands like hers have been pretty easy targets for pirate lookin' to expand their territory..." Grace sipped her drink. "So she's moving."

"Oh. I see...Sorry about that." He watched Grace shrug it off.

"It's not like you had any part in it."

Shanks briefly glanced at the beer mug placed in front of him and took a drink. "So where is she moving to?"

"She hasn't decided on a place yet. We've kinda just been island hopping for now."

"Both of you?"

"Well, yeah. I don't want Val traveling by herself, and the marines are too busy to escort her where ever she wants to go." Grace replied. "And I kinda needed some time off anyway, so..."

"Never thought I'd hear you say that..."

"Me neither."

Shanks frowned at the gloomy response. "What happened, Gracie?"

"...I can't say." The marine brought the mug to her lips and took a generous sip. The redhead paused for a moment, debating whether or not he should pry. In the end, he decided against it. He didn't want to bring her mood any further down than it was.

"I won't push it then..." He slid his arm around her shoulders and tugged her closer until she was leaning against him. Shanks pressed his lips against her temple. "It's nice to see you again, sweetheart."

The marine squirmed slightly with reddened cheeks that seemed a like a little more than an intoxicated flush. "Likewise..." she mumbled. "But isn't it too hot to be sitting so close like this?"

"It's not really that warm in here." he replied. He twirled a strand of her hair. "I think the booze is getting to you, deary." The pirate smiled. A smile that turned into a flirtatious smirk after he licked his lips. "Or maybe...I'm the one getting you all hot?" He couldn't help but chuckle when Grace pushed off of him.

"Absolutely not!" The heat rising to her face was almost warm enough for Shanks to feel.

"I was only kidding, love!" He slid of his seat and wrapped his arms around the marine's waist. "Please don't be mad." He didn't appear to be too worried if his mischievous grin was any indication.

Grace shifted around so that she was mostly facing the cheeky pirate. She had her hands on his chest as she halfheartedly tried to push him away. "As if anybody'd be affected by you..."

"Aw, don't say that. You'll hurt my feelings." Shanks took hold of one of her hands and kissed her palm. He flinched slightly when she pinched his nose.

"Yeah right. You don't sound very offended." Grace leaned back against the counter.

"That's 'cause I know you don't mean it." The redhead replied. "I also know you're lying, so..." he added with a grin.

"I am not."

"Oh Pinocchio, I think your nose is getting longer."

"You're such a pain in the ass."

"You know you can't get enough of me."

"You think so? 'Cause I think I have had enough..."

Shanks had to step back when Grace slid off her seat. He watched her reach into her pocket and fish out some money to pay for her drink. "You're gonna ditch me already? But it's been so long since the last time we saw each other..." he pouted.

"What, you mean you're actually gonna listen for once if I tell ya to get lost?" Grace raised her eyebrows at the redhead briefly and then turned towards the exit.

The pirate blinked dumbly for a second before squinting at the marine. "Was that, like...a really really indirect way of inviting me to go with you? Or is that too much of a stretch?" She didn't respond. She just looked down bashfully and started walking towards the door. "It was." He could feel himself practically beaming. There was a certain pep in his step as he followed Grace out the door. "Someone alert the press! I think we have tomorrow's front page story! 'Antisocial Grump Asks Charming Redhead on a Date!' How's that for the headline?"

"You're exaggerating." Grace replied with a roll of her eyes. "And you're also making me regret letting you come out here with me."

Shanks chuckled. "Can you blame me?" He stepped closer and encircled her with his arms. "You're being so..." Nice? Accommodating? What was the right word? "...Approachable." he decided. The lack of reluctance on her part was so unlike her. He cocked his head slightly, curious. "How come?" he asked.

Grace bit her lip, eyes refusing to meet his. "Well, I..." She trailed off. After a moment she took a deep breath and finally looked at the redhead in the eye. Before he could ask what was on her mind, he felt a pair of hands firmly press against his cheeks and pull his head down.

The redhead's mind went entirely blank. All that existed was the feeling of lips pushed up against his own. It ended far too quickly, disappeared as suddenly as it came. If not for the way Grace hid her blushing face from his wide eyes by resting her forehead on his chest, he may have even doubted it happened at all.

Shanks licked his lips and rested his cheek against the marine's head. His pulse was racing and he wanted to dive in and show her how to kiss someone properly. (Not that he had that much experience with it, but still.) But he held back. There was no sense in rushing it, and this was a moment where it would be smart to play it safe. "Gracie..." He paused a moment and then continued when he didn't get a response. "I was supposed to do that first." he whispered. He heard a snort muffled by his shirt and smiled.

"Is that all you have to say about it?"

"Yes. Wait... Actually, no. I'd also like to mention that I think it was entirely too short."

"Gimme a break... You're lucky I did it at all."

"Yeah, but..." He nuzzled her hair. "You have to admit it kind of leaves something to be desired, no?"

"Oh, well, if you think you can do better..."

Shanks pulled back and licked his lips when Grace looked up at him. "Is that an invitation?"

"Did it sound like one?"

"Can you give me a straight answer instead of being cryptic?"

"I can."

"...Look at you being all cheeky." The redhead grinned when a small smile appeared on her face. He narrowed his eyes. "Who are you and what have you done with my prickly hedgehog?"

"So I'm a hedgehog now?"

"Shh, they're cute. And prickly. Just like you are."

"Hmph."

"We're getting off track." Shanks' hands found their way to the marine's cheeks. "Was it an invitation or not?" Grace nibbled on her lip for a second, and then gave a small nod. That was all the pirate needed to tilt his head and lean in to claim her lips.

It was hard not to be acutely aware of every minute detail in that single moment. The nearly dead night time silence was only broken by the sound of slightly uneven breathing and the quietly shuffle of clothing as the pair pressed as close as possible. One of the hands on the marine's cheeks slipped around to gently cradle the back of her head while the other felt it's way down to the small of her back. It was so intimate. There was so much Grace had to focus on, it was almost overwhelming. The tip of a tongue brushed against her lips every now and then, not quite becoming a substantial part of the kiss but just present enough to catch the marine's attention. Either Shanks was deliberately being cautious and testing the waters for a reaction or maybe he was a little bit uncertain as to whether he should go for it. Maybe it was a little of both.

In one bold second, Grace let her tongue flit across the redhead's lips. But immediately afterwards, she chickened out and turned her face away to hide it against his shoulder. She suddenly felt like she'd had enough, like she needed to let this new step of their relationship sink in properly. There was a pause during which she heard him lick his lips rather audibly and then his face was pressed against the side of her head. "What's the matter?" His voice was somewhat husky, making her heart pound.

The marine swallowed down the butterflies trying so desperately to escape her body. "I-I think that's just fine for a first kiss, don't you...?" she murmured.

"...But...It was just getting good, wasn't it...?" Shanks sounded faintly crestfallen, and Grace felt just a little bit bad.

"S-sorry..." Her cheeks felt hot.

The redhead let a sigh and tilted her face up with a reassuring smile. "It's okay..." He then looked at her lips longingly for a moment. "Are you sure—"

"Shanks." There was the barest hint of warning in her tone.

"...Fine..." He pouted.

Grace bit her lip timidly. "Look, um...I-It's just been kind of a long day you know? For me, I mean..." She said.

"Aw, you're not gonna leave already, are you? So cruel. You steal a kiss and then you vanish..."

"Who's vanishing? Why are you being so dramatic?" Grace shook her head. "We can see each other tomorrow, if you're gonna be around."

"Really?" Shanks seemed to perk up. "You promise?" When she nodded, he smiled. "I guess I'll live 'til then. Maybe we can go on a date..." he said. Suddenly he paused and looked towards the bar. "Maybe I can also introduce you to my first mate that you made me forget about..."

"First mate?"

"Yeah! His name's Benn. I started my own crew!" he replied. "It's just the two of us right now though. And I kinda ditched him so I should probably..."

"Right...Well, then I guess I should go..." Grace looked up at Shanks somewhat awkwardly. How did people smoothly extract themselves from these kinds of moments?

"Yeah..." He didn't immediately let her go. Instead, he leaned in and stole kiss, and then another after murmuring "Good night." Only then did slip away from her waist.

After uttering her own 'goodbye' she began her walk back to the inn where she and Valeska were staying. Along the way, she had plenty of time to ponder the events of that evening. Grace brushed her thumb across her lips and was mystified by the fact that she already longed to see the pirate again. She never thought she'd indulge in any romantic pursuits, yet there she was; thinking about what their next tryst would be like. She felt silly being distracted by something that seemed so innocent compared to what she normally worried about.

Her thoughts turned to what she had been brooding over before Shanks had distracted her and frowned. That whole terrible year weighed on her soul like the sky weighed on the god Atlas' shoulders. Maybe losing herself in her forbidden romance wouldn't be so bad.

And so began her personal rebellion against the supposed symbol of justice that the World Government claimed to be.

A/N: Finally! A kiss! Took 'em long enough, eh?

See you lovely readers next time!