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When the alarm starts blaring, brown eyes snap open and Ikkaku is already leaping out of her rack, stumbling to grab her coveralls hanging beside it, smoothly sliding in one leg and then the other before she's even properly awake.
Every movement is pure muscle memory as she laces up her boots, wrapping the extra long laces around the top before tying it in the front. Tugging her bushy brown hair back, she pulls it into a quick ponytail, using a hair tie that's permanently around her wrist. All the while the bunk room is bathed in red flashing lights, the alarm still ringing loud enough to wake the dead.
Standing, she makes her way out into the hallway, still putting her arms into the sleeves and zipping it up. It's chaos, shipmates running around, yelling orders, and jostling into each other as they rush to their stations.
Ikkaku scowls as she tries to find someone to grab to demand information from when a shout of her name catches her attention.
Hakugan waves as he jogs up. "Fuel leak! Aft of frame 10!"
She curses under her breath and before he can even catch up to her, she's already pivoting on her and taking off, yelling as she goes, "Gangway, gangway!" Her nakama, recognizing the command and the seriousness of her tone, quickly hug the bulkhead as she charges past them.
Fuel leaks are the most dangerous. They're on a submarine, under the ocean, for fucks' sake. Already her mind is racing ahead, logging how much spare fuel they have. Enough, maybe, but it depends on how much has been lost already.
It's especially dangerous for them to get a leak, not only for safety concerns (fire, her mind reminds her, is always a fear) but also because it's so hard to get ahold of. They had to steal all their fuel, pirates as they were, but most ships don't need more than a few hundred gallons.
The Polar Tang, on the other hand, is a guzzling monster that swallows down thousands of gallons a day, even without a leak. It's always a pain in the ass to source.
Speaking of fuel, she can smell it in the air as she turns the corner. Acid sweetness stings her nose as she runs down the hall. Along the bulkhead are circular void coverings, each leading into a different space.
Several are already strewn across the floor, her feet sending stray bolts skittering across the nonskid.
Creeping unease wants to crawl its way up her spine but Ikkaku breathes past it. Control, she's in control, she can handle this.
"Shipmate!" she screams, uninterested in checking into each and every hole to see where the leak is. They've found it clearly but where—
"Here!" a voice calls back and she stops short and falls to her knees to peer inside. Already two shipmates are working, fuel a glistening pool only a few inches beneath the knife-edge of the void, so close to being able to pour out into the hallway that she makes a face. That's a lot.
"Status?"
She's already crawling inside and they make room for her.
One curses before reporting, "Gamma coupling came loose and fuel started pouring out. Luckily, they caught it pretty fast and secured the fuel and—"
She listens with half an ear, eyes taking in the situation and the tools they have on hand. Rolling up her sleeves she asks, "They've already transferred the remaining fuel to the other pumps, right?"
"Yes!"
"And shut down the sub?"
"Yes, ma'am!" the other agrees.
She nods. "Alright then. Get a vacuum, we gotta suck all this shit up afterwards, but for now, I'll need a few things."
Both men wince at that but she doesn't spare it much thought as she begins to list out the other tools they'll need. They move out of her way so she can take their place, inspecting the fuel pipe that isn't aligned with the rest. It's still sluggishly pumping out yellow liquid and probably will keep doing so until they get it fixed.
Already her eyes are stinging and her hands are covered with the stuff, her palms and fingers somehow feeling like they're being dried out, even while soaking wet.
Ignoring all that, Ikkaku pops a squat and starts digging into the tool bag. The two men have already left the space, probably grateful to get away from the stink so it's to no one in particular when she says, with a smile,
"Let's get started."
Later, when the fuel leak is all fixed up and Ikkaku is officially done, her rumbling stomach leads her to the galley.
Hours have passed at this point, and she's definitely missed breakfast. Still, someone should be awake and willing to make her something. Her coveralls are tied around her waist at this point and Ikkaku knows she'll have to scrub herself down thoroughly in the shower later.
Even though she's washed her hands, she doesn't feel quite clean, dried fuel tacky on her skin, along with her sweat.
Still, she's feeling pleased as she enters the galley to see Bepo and Penguin chatting at the large dining table. The job had gone well, all things considered.
"Ikkaku!" Bepo greets loudly as the large mink scrambles up from the bench to rush over to her. Ikkaku smiles and opens her arms as he wraps her in a tight hug. She allows her eyes to fall shut, snuggling into the large bear. Bepo gives the best hugs.
Almost immediately he pulls away and Ikkaku stands there, confused. Bepo always hugs for way too long. His face looks to be in pain as he says, plaintively, "You stink..."
She can't help her sharp bark of laughter. "I'm covered in fuel, of course I smell."
Bepo rubs his snout, muttering under his breath. Penguin pushes him aside with a chuckle. "Move it, furball! Ikkaku's probably starving."
"You got that right!" she says, letting Penguin guide her to the bench with a steady hand on her shoulder. "You cooking something up for me?"
Penguin’s smile is bright as he pops a pose. "You betcha!! Heated up leftovers, coming right up!"
Ikkaku laughs, delighted. Penguin couldn't cook to save his life, something that has led to numerous shenanigans over the years.
"Ikkaku," a tired voice calls from over her shoulder. She turns to see Law making his way into the galley, his permanent dark circles under his eyes looking darker in the fluorescent lighting. "Good work today. Feel free to take the rest of the day off."
She grins and shoots him a thumbs up. "Not on your life! But thanks for the offer, cap. I'd love to be able to sleep in tomorrow though..." she trails off meaningfully, putting her chin in her hand, elbow up on the table. She watches as Law gingerly takes a seat across from her, next to Bepo who still has a paw up over his nose.
"Sure," Law agrees easily, as Ikkaku thought he might. Still, she's happy about it. Once she's awake, she tends to stay awake. Sleeping in, however, now that’s always a pleasure.
"Breakfast is served!" Penguin interrupts their quiet bubble, dropping a plate in front of Ikkaku. "Didja want anything, captain?" he asks as Ikkaku begins to dig in immediately.
"Coffee," Law answers mildly. Everyone rolls their eyes but no one says anything. Trying to get the captain to eat something in the morning can be incredibly difficult at times. Better to just slide something over with his coffee and hope he mindlessly nibbles on it.
Ikkaku lifts up her chopsticks and wrinkles her nose. Her hands still smell like fuel but she pushes past that, scarfing down the food like it might run away on her. She's done in record time and pushes away the plate with a relieved sigh, feeling full and content.
Penguin sets down two coffee cups, one for the captain and one for her. Hers is a light brown, and she sends him a grateful look as she picks it up to blow across the top to take a sip. It's perfectly sweetened, just the way she likes it.
The stinging stench of fuel hangs in the air around her but she doesn't let it ruin her coffee. She's eaten stuff with her hands covered in fuel and grease before, this is nothing.
Still, the captain's eyes narrow dangerously on her and automatically she looks over her shoulder to see if someone's behind her to explain the sudden shift in mood.
"What's up?" she asks when she finds no one there.
"Did you use rubber gloves during your repair today?" Law asks, voice eerily even. Ikkaku stiffens in her seat. Quickly, she takes another sip, trying to stall.
It doesn't work and when she lifts the cup away, she's forcing a smile and a laugh, gesturing with one hand. "It was all so fast, captain! And it's a fuel leak, you know, I just rushed in, no time for anything else."
Bepo and Penguin start inching away from Law who is sandwiched between them. Ikkaku starts sweating at her hairline, wondering if she could try to get away. The other two are probably thinking the same thing as Law's eyes spark with fury.
"While I appreciate your dedication," he says slowly, "we've discussed this before. Too much exposure to the type of fuel and grease that we work with causes skin conditions. Soon you won't be able to sweat through your palms, causing permanently dry skin, among other side effects. Do you want that?"
Ikkaku sighs, well-versed in this conversation. They've had it several times before. "No, of course not, captain. I'll do better next time."
There's a long pause and all three wait with trepidation for Law's response. Normally, he'd dig his heels in and they'd go back and forth in a long drawn-out fight that they've already had several times before. Ikkaku knows Law is just looking out for her, but also, she's a mechanic. This is what she does. She gets dirty, she has to rush to fix things, and literal lives are at stake. She's not going to fuss with gloves when she has bigger things to worry about.
All at once, Law sighs, long and drawn out. Ikkaku resists the urge to smirk. He's decided to drop it, then.
"Fine, fine," Law allows. "Hurry up and drink your coffee, then take a shower. Captain's orders, you stink."
Bepo and Penguin snicker with laughter and Ikkaku scowls.
"Hey! I'm working to save your lives, you know!" she says, all mock offense as the two boys look anywhere but her, whistling innocently. Law chuckles under his breath and Ikkaku folds her arms. "See how hard I work next time this happens! If this is the thanks I get." She pouts as Bepo and Penguin immediately start falling over themselves to compliment her, trying to make her feel better.
They all know she's just joking, but they still pile her with praises and she lets them. Laughs and pokes fun right back, getting Penguin to gasp with offense and Bepo to laugh and even Law cracks a small smile.
Ikkaku is good at what she does, the best even. And she'll do anything she can in order to keep her family safe.