Crashing like waves | SatoRika pirate AU

Chapter 8

As Rika's ship docked neatly in the bay Satoko steered her ship to dock beside her scraping slightly on the dock which made Satoko wince taking her hands of the wheel "oops.."
Satoshi gave Satoko another concerned look making Satoko roll her eyes, she knew she was normally much better at physical skill based activities like this, she just couldn't shake the hug from her mind...
She'd not hugged anyone like that in forever, why'd she have to let someone as smug as Rika to be the one to do it.. Her whole ship was probably laughing about Satoko...
The crew began stepping off the ship, Satoko, however, moved for her cabin, taking a moment to sit on her bed, she was thinking about that hug.. She really liked it, but was Rika really safe? Satoko lifted the teddy bear she kept in her cabin, hugging it, it felt nice to do so but it missed that vital element of human connection the hug with Rika held...
Satoko couldn't help but whine softly, her thoughts were so confusing, this hadn't been a problem in so long, why was it a problem now?
Rika really ws turning Satoko's whole life upside-down... Satoko really wanted a hug.. But every time she thought about it a sense of shame would stab her in the chest... It was so difficult to reason with her own brain...
Suddenly, Satoko's cabin door burst open and in stepped Rika "are you gonna join us on land?" Rika paused and scoffed softly "are you hugging a teddy bear?"
Satoko wished she had been able to be defensive in that moment but she just couldn't, the extra jab of shame proved to be too much, Satoko felt the familiar pain behind her eyes from holding back tears but couldn't control it, the tears beginning to flow anyway "shuddup!" Satoko sobbed out, trying not to look at Rika hoping she wouldn't notice the crying.
Luck was not on Satoko's side and Rika quickly noticed the tears "ah-! No-! I didn't mean to make you cry! I'm sorry! I was just being playful-! Should I-? Uh... Agh.. C'mere.." Rika was panicked at first but her voice slowly turned soothing and she wrapped an arm around Satoko's shoulder, pulling her in a little "I've got you..
Satoko was still for a moment but melted into the gentle touch from Rika.. It felt so nice and soothing... Satoko fidgetted with the edge of Rika's jacket as she leaned into her, sighing softly. "..thank you... Please.. Don't mess with me about this one, okay..?"
Rika nodded sitting down beside Satoko, pulling Satoko in and leaning on her shoulder "I won't.. And it's okay.. I feel like, we're friends now, and what kinda friend would I be if I didn't support you? You wanna talk about what was bothering you?" Rika twirled a lock of Satoko's hair with her finger
Satoko sighed, she couldn't discuss the  fact she was becoming a mess with the person making her a mess.. Especially if that person views them as friends. "not.. Really. I'd.. Just like to be like this for a second.. I'm really glad I threw that lemon at your head and we became rivals."
Rika chuckled at she and grinned softly "awhhh my great pirate rival is going soft on me!" she pinched Satoko's cheek.
Satoko protested the pinch but didn't really mean it, it was fun and playful, which Satoko was quite fond of  "hey! I said not to mock me, dumbass!" Satoko couldn't help but laugh softly
"oh, come on! You like it!" Rika bumped Satoko with her shoulder.
Satoko bumped back, laughed softly, slowly the laughter died out and Satoko and Rika were left staring at each other, Satoko was starting to find the eye contact kinda intense..
Suddenly, Rika slid her fingers between Satoko's, interlocking their hands gently, Rika smiled a little and looked away making Satoko look away too, smiling bashfully at the action, Satoko felt Rika lean into her again as they held hands, making Satoko lean in slightly too, closing her eyes... Wow.. She didn't realise how much she needed this.. She really was in love with Rika...
Rika's voice softly interrupted the comfortable silence between the two "we should probably head out to meet the others..."
Satoko sighed "probably"
However neither made any attempt to move, just stayed, leaning on each other, hand in hand, this.. Didn't feel very platonic, but Rika had reffered to them as friends earlier, so Satoko was too nervous to talk about that.
There was another long comfortable silence between the two broken once more by Rika "I don't really want to go.."
Satoko chewed her lip "me neither. Wanna just stay here?"
"yeah."
"cool."

Once more a silence washed over the two, Satoko's eyes beginning to drift shut, they opened to see Rika lean over to pick up Satoko's teddy bear, initial panic washed over Satoko but she quickly relaxed seeing Rika gently examining it before giving it a soft hug, placing it down.
"nice bear." Rika mumbled stretching and yawning "I'm getting pretty tired would be a pain to walk back to my ship or get a room on land..."
Satoko glanced at Rika for a moment tilting her head "yep, doesn't sound fun."
There was a slight awkward pause before Rika spoke again "I was trying to ask if I could just stay here."
Satoko jolted a bit, realising she was being pretty stupid right now. "OH-! Yeah, uh sure. Of course"
Rika chuckled softly leaning back into Satoko as she finished stretching "beyond sword fighting and arguing you're pretty socially inept, you know?
Satoko tapped Rika lightly on the head "hey, that's mean! You're not much better!"
Rika sighed softly not even hiding her didintrest in the rest of this conversation "Mhm. Lay down."
Satoko tilted her head, laughing as she lay back on the bed "see??"
Rika lay back with Satoko resting her head on Satoko's shoulder, throwing an arm over Satoko's waist. "shh. Trying to sleep."
Satoko chuckled softly, blushing at the closeness "because of course you are as soon as your flaws are pointed out."

AN: finally back working on these is pretty great, updating two fics in one day lol. Anyway, hope you enjoyed and I'll see you in the next chapter! (hopefully with less of a wait-)