Jeffrie floated back inside, water dripping off his suit, blood mixing in as it pooled beneath him. His breathing was slow, measured—but the moment he stepped forward, his knees wobbled just slightly.
He was injured.
More than he was letting on.
He yanked off his helmet, shaking out his soaked hair like he'd just finished a casual swim. Then he smirked. "What? You act like you've never seen a man take a midnight dip."
The room exploded with voices—shouts, questions, disbelief.
But none of it hit as hard as Lily's fist.
CRACK.
She socked him square in the chest—not hard enough to knock him out, but enough to make him stumble back a step.
"OW—shit, Lily!"
"You reckless, stubborn, irresponsible idiot!"
Another punch—this time to his shoulder.
"You could've died! You realize that?! You came back BLEEDING!"
Jeffrie tried to laugh it off. "You know, for someone so tiny—"
SLAP.
Straight to the back of his already wet head.
"I swear, if you make another size joke right now, I will open your stitches with my bare hands!"
He held up both hands, grinning through the pain. "Okay! Okay! I surrender."
"No, you don't," she snapped, grabbing his arm and dragging him—limping—toward the med bay. "You never surrender. That's the problem."
He tried to say something, but she shoved him down onto the medical table.
"Shirt. Off. Now."
"Wow, forward much?"
SMACK.
Right to his ribs.
"OW! Okay! Damn!"
As he peeled the suit down, Lily moved with precision—angry, fast, and still incredibly gentle in the way she handled his wounds. Her hands were efficient, practiced—but her eyes burned.
"You think you're invincible," she muttered, disinfecting a deep gash along his side. "You think just because you've survived worse, you get to throw yourself at every suicidal plan without backup."
Jeffrie winced, sucking in a breath. "I didn't want anyone else getting hurt."
"Too late," she snapped. "We hurt every time you pull this shit."
Silence.
Jeffrie looked at her then—really looked at her.
Her hands had slowed. Her jaw was still tight. But her eyes—they were scared.
Not angry. Not furious. Just scared.
He reached up, and touched her wrist gently.
"I'm sorry," he said, quiet now.
Lily didn't pull away. Just stared at him for a long moment.
Then finally—she exhaled. The tension broke, just a little.
"You're such an idiot," she whispered.
"Yeah," Jeffrie said, giving her a tired smile. "But I'm your idiot."
Lily rolled her eyes, but her hands didn't leave him.
"Damn right you are."
Scarlett hurled a towel at his face. "YOU COULD'VE DIED, YOU IDIOT."
Sophia folded her arms, unimpressed. "Seriously? Do you just assume you're immortal?"
Raven punched his arm—hard. "Next time? You wake me up."
Ray laughed so hard he had to lean against the wall. "Nah, bro, I can't even be mad. You different."
Trice shook his head, grinning. "Cuzzo really out here thinking he's Poseidon."
But Azul? Azul wasn't laughing.
Her arms were crossed, her expression unreadable—except for the sharp tension in her jaw.
Jeffrie locked eyes with her, still smirking. "You mad at me too, babe?"
Azul didn't answer.
Instead—she grabbed his face and crashed her lips onto his.
The kiss was rough, heated—possessive in a way that sent a ripple of shock through the crew.
When she finally pulled back, her grip tightened on his jaw. "Next time you pull some dumbass, reckless, self-sacrificing bullshit—" she exhaled sharply, voice low "—I'm locking your ass in a cell."
Scarlett raised an eyebrow. "Damn. Can she lock me up too?"
Jeffrie just grinned. "That's a yes in my book."
Azul rolled her eyes, stepping back. "You're an idiot."
Before Jeffrie could fire back, Lily stepped forward.
"Sit. Down."
Jeffrie blinked as the room went quiet.
Lily pointed to the nearest chair. "Now."
Jeffrie sighed but obeyed, easing himself onto the chair.
Lily kneeled in front of him, grabbing her med kit. She ripped open his suit—her eyes narrowing as she took in the damage.
Deep claw marks. Ripped flesh. His ribs were bruised badly—one of them definitely cracked. Blood still seeped from some of the deeper wounds.
Lily clicked her tongue. "Unbelievable."
Jeffrie smirked. "You worried about me, doc?"
She didn't smile. Instead, she pressed a disinfectant pad directly onto the worst gash.
Jeffrie hissed through his teeth. "Shit, Lily—"
She shot him a glare. "Don't shit Lily me." She grabbed another pad—this time, pressing even harder. "You tore through a horde of weaponized sharks like a damn lunatic. You're lucky you're even breathing."
Azul crossed her arms. "She's got a point."
Scarlett leaned against the wall, watching with amusement. "Lowkey? This is kinda hot."
Sophia rolled her eyes. "Of course you think that."
Jeffrie chuckled—until Lily tightened the wrap around his ribs.
He let out a sharp breath. "Damn, Lily—easy."
Lily's expression was unreadable.
Then, quietly, she muttered, "You scared me."
The room stilled.
Jeffrie's smirk faltered.
Lily finished the last bandage wrap, tucking it in carefully before sitting back on her heels. She exhaled, running a hand through her hair. "I can patch you up all I want, but there's gonna come a day where I can't." Her voice softened. "And I don't wanna watch you bleed out in front of me."
Jeffrie held her gaze.
Then—he reached forward, tipping her chin up. His thumb brushed her jawline, a small, unreadable smile playing at his lips.
"I'll try not to die," he murmured.
Lily sighed, swatting his hand away. "Damn right, you won't."
Scarlett scoffed. "That's the best promise you're gonna get."
Ray chuckled. "Damn, Jeff. Your girl threatening to put you out."
Trice grinned. "Cuzzo ain't human, but Lily? She's the real beast here."
Lily finished repacking her med kit. "You're cleared for the mission."
Jeffrie exhaled, stretching his bandaged arms. "Damn good job, doc."
Lily stood, muttering, "Someone's gotta keep your reckless ass alive."
Jeffrie grinned. "Guess that means I can't die, huh?"
Lily narrowed her eyes. "No. But next time?" Her voice softened, just a little. "Don't make me have to patch you up like this again."
Jeffrie studied her, then nodded. "I'll try."
Scarlett scoffed. "Uh-huh. Sure."
Azul checked her watch. "Alright. Enough emotional bonding. Mission time."
Ray clapped his hands. "Finally. Let's go break into an underwater prison."
Jeffrie smirked, cracking his knuckles.
The Kraken's engines rumbled, signaling the next phase.
Azul exhaled, running final diagnostics. "Next time, let's try NOT waking up to an underwater war zone."
Jeffrie rolled his shoulders, testing the bandages. "No promises."
Trice chuckled. "This man really thinks he's a sea god ."
Scarlett rolled her eyes but smirked. "Alright, sea god, if we're done with the shark wrestling, can we focus? We've got a prison to infiltrate."
Jeffrie smirked.
"Let's go hunting."