Chapter Text
The sonar specialist’s eyes looked at the sonar before him dully, lost in thoughts but still focused; In the dead of night, he thought he was the only one left awake.
It wasn’t as if he never rested, no, his friends and he himself wouldn’t allow such a thing. His gaze was torn off of the sonar and onto the sand watch on the table nearby; Watching the sand seemed to be more interesting than the sonar but he quickly turned that idea down as he tried to figure out how long he had until Senku would wake up and take over for him, allowing him to get as much rest as he could.
His eyes moved back to the sonar, watching the green line and slowly getting on a train of his own thoughts to entertain himself in a not so distracting way.
Understanding others was something essential in Ukyo’s ideals; he always figured people around him out, sure, he didn’t understand them as well as Gen did, but he always knew what the meaning behind their actions was or what their intent was which helped him trust his allies and take note of his enemies.
Yet as he was deep in his train of thoughts, it slowed down and then crashed; Ukyo was sure he understood their captain, Ryusui. The blond never did anything to shock him or make him doubt his trust but what the younger did was say things Ukyo couldn’t exactly “decipher”.
Before Ukyo could do anything to stop it, Ryusui’s head began to ring softly in his head “I desire everyone” followed by “Desire is nobel” then “Greed equals justice” and many more soft whispers of every quote the captain repeated regularly.
To the archer, it made little sense. He was well aware of Ryusui’s self proclaimed title as the “greediest man”. Yet Ryusui never did anything greedy, he never sold anyone for his own benefit, he never stole anything and for what Ukyo was aware of, Ryusui had a Justice system similar to his yet what he said made it sound different and contradicted his nobel actions.
Of course the deal he struck with Senku when they first met was everything along the lines of Greedy but that was not to be judged but rather admired; He really trusted science so much that he knew he could gamble to gain his riches back while the world rebuilt itself.
The sound of soft steps echoed in Ukyo’s ears as he snapped out of his trance. Knowing the walking pattern of eveyone on board, it wasn’t hard to tell, it was no one other than Ryusui who had woken up and making his way over and into the cockpit where he usually was in charge after Ukyo.
“Morning” said the captain as he stepped into the cockpit, putting his hat on his head as he had only recently took care of his messy bed hair.
Ukyo didn’t look away from the raider, his eyes felt too heavy to move away from the raider. “Morning, you’re up earlier than usual.” It wasn’t exactly a question, it definitely sounded like an observation but Ukyo always welcomed explanations.
Ryusui walked over to one of the windows overlooking the almost magical looking sea, watching the calm water, which was illuminated by the moonlight, move the ship slowly along the path they had chosen. “Thought our sonar expert might be a little lonely and tired.” He spoke, a smug smile on his face fading into view as he continued “My sailor’s instincts are never wrong.” he spoke so confidently it would be hard not to believe him.
The archer felt a tired smile slowly form on his face “They really never are.” His tone held a mix of teasing and a sort of admiration. Why did skilled people never admit they worked for their skill and instead praise instincts and intuition, that is a question he’s never been able to answer because he himself was aware he did it too.
Silence was what followed, it wasn’t uncomfortable or awkward, it was simply acknowledgment between the two. Ryusui was always a talkative person, no matter what time of day it was or what situation he was in, he adored communication but he was also one of the first to understand when someone couldn’t entertain a conversation; At this moment, Ukyo couldn’t entertain talking.
Ukyo finally ripped his eyes off of the raider, looking at Ryusui’s figure; there were many things to admire about the other and if Ukyo started listing them off, he’d probably discover new ones, but that only seemed to make his questions rise more to the surface; why did Ryusui desire everything and how does he even do it.
Even being greedy could get tiring, the sonar expert was sure of that.
Ukyo looked back at the sonar, his eyes relaxing a tad bit now that he didn’t have to be as alert as before now that someone else had joined him, holding his breath and hoping nothing happens to the ship he was in charge of while the rest of the crew rested
“Ryusui,” Ukyo called out, his voice quiet but loud enough to catch the attention of the other
Ryusui needed a moment to register the other’s tone and move his gaze onto Ukyo. “Hm?” He made sure Ukyo knew he had his attention.
“How can you constantly desire everything?” He asked, adding to his question before Ryusui could answer. “Doesn’t constantly wanting and not feeling satisfied get tiring, even for you?” His tone was even, he was clearly curious with no real criticisms in his voice.
“Well,” Ryusui looked back at the ocean surrounding them. “I don’t want to desire one thing and watch something better leave because I didn’t desire it.” Ryusui’s words needed a couple of seconds to register in Ukyo’s head and even in his own, he hadn’t really expected himself to say something like that so calmly.
“After all,” the captain shifted Ukyo’s attention back to him, pulling him out of the new thoughts that now occupied his head. “I am the greediest man alive” his tone was the same as usual, a hint of smugness in his honest words.
That tone had become the norm for Ukyo which left him to turn his attention back to the sonar, he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t concerned when he didn’t hear Ryusui speak in it and before he could realize it, he was smiling softly.
Once the archer had looked back at the green screen before him he spoke up again “Then why not desire something big and accept everything small that comes your way?” The expert’s voice was laced with playfulness, a way to tease the other; Ryusui wasn’t the one he usually teased but he’s heard Ukyo tease Gen enough times to know he still meant it as a question despite the playful tone.
It took the captain a moment to think about it, registering and imagining the older’s words for a moment, letting his smile falter before it came back brighter than before as if he had gotten the world’s brightest idea.
“You’re right, Ukyo” Ryusui turned to face the other, walking closer and gaining the other’s attention with ease once again; how did he always do that, demand attention in such a gentle way that one couldn’t help but give it to him.
Ukyo was almost taken aback by just how happy and confident the other looked.
“I desire you, Ukyo.” The captain spoke with so much confidence that Ukyo physically couldn’t take it as a joke which left him in a state of silence for a short moment; He’d blame it on the lack of sleep.
After a moment of silence where the two looked at each other, gazes filled with different meanings, Ukyo looked away and began to laugh; Not the mocking kind of laughter, Ryusui was sure of that.
“How do you always say these kinds of things with the straightest look on your face?” The sonar expert asked, getting up and stretching his body enough so he could move freely without waking himself up.
The captain watched him, the same smile on his face. “Because I mean them.” The confidence never left his tone; Ukyo believed him.
It took a moment for Ukyo to gather his thoughts “I should head to bed, your turn to take care of night duty, captain.” With that, he began making his way under the deck, leaving a smiling Ryusui behind who didn’t seem affected by that weak rejection; did Ryusui even confess or was it one of his casual “I desire everything” moments.
The sonar expert stood still once out of the captains view and brought his hands up to his face. He was burning up; Ukyo didn’t need a mirror to know he was blushing like a middle schooler who held hands with their crush.
How did people regularly hear Ryusui say these kinds of things to them and seem unaffected; he couldn’t really ask them out of the blue and if he asked someone like Gen, the guy would figure out Ukyo had an “issue” with Ryusui.
His body began to move again, moving deeper into the ship until he reached his bed where he took off his hat and tried to lay down as gracefully as possible to not disturb the others. Ukyo’s thoughts quited down once his hat covered his face; whatever questions and thoughts he had could wait till the morning when he wasn’t too busy reimagining the tender look in Ryusui’s eyes and the gentle smile on his face.
The more he reimagined and analyzed, the more he realized he wouldn’t mind staring at the captain’s face forever.