It was getting to that point where it was happy hour, many people were pooling in, their drunken stupor laughs and jeering's getting louder by the minute as I served drinks.

Our tavern was huge and in a town in Sabaody Archipelago. It had tables lain about and was well known for trouble makers and pirates, so a casual marine visit was often. Though we had an agreement that they cannot be arrested on our property and 10 feet away.

As I served the drinks a large group of men came in, I noticed them as pirates... Some of their tattoos were distinctive but I couldn't look for too long or I'll be punished for not working.

How lucky they are to go out to the sea... Its been my dream to go out and see the blue but... In this place, freedom is impossible.

I am owned by the owner of this place. Narroe, he takes in the girls that grow out of their orphanage days and puts them to work as they also stay here at this tavern. As for me, I was sold from my orphanage to the slave trade here under the table so they could have some money.

I'm on my last straw here from breaking things more than making them money due to my clumsiness. But today, I haven't had any accidents yet, so hopefully I'll be lucky.

I get distracted by my boss grabbing my arm and pulling me behind the bar, "Serve them now. I'll leave the other girls to the others. Fail to do so and I swear by Roger I will punish you."

My breath caught in my throat, nervousness quickening my heart but I soon swallowed it to my best "Which crew are they sir? If I may ask..." My eyebrow rose at him, He was never usually like this when we got any pirate crews in here.

"White beard." He looked stressed as his messy hair that looked pushed back earlier, a tassle fell in front of his face and he answered it by pushing it back up again.

"Yes sir." I knew the immensity of this task, the name even fell to my sheltered ears.

As they took their seats I could point out the captain really easily, his massive size and distinctive facial hair, the men looked so tiny to him.

I nearly gleamed thoughts of all the adventures they go out in daily.

I grabbed bottles and put them under the folds of my arms and in my hands and went over to them smiling happily, "Good evening gentlemen! The first drinks are always on the house and pirates go for discount."

"Thank you kindly." A man with a blonde tuff of hair in front and shaved the rest of the way smiled and handed the larger sake bottle to his captain.

I recognized him as the phoenix Marco.

I see sitting next to him, Fire fist Ace. He nudged his friend next to him with a laugh, "Marco~ never pegged you as such a gentleman!" He boasted and I see Marco go a tad cherry on his cheeks and push Ace.

"Shut the hell up man!"

I giggled in response, they were so silly and I was also freckled with a tad of pink from the flattery.

He noticed my giggle and stopped with a even deeper blush and then grabbed a bottle of sake with a attempted pull in of embarrassment as he took a sip. His eyes were closed and he huffed a sigh.

"I'll get you guys more drinks, it's on me tonight okay?" He happily cheered and so did the rest of the men.

The captain smiled and looked at Marco but I turned away and left them to their enjoyment.

Once I got to the bar I started to fill up the drinks, and went over to my boss and gave him 'their' money for the drinks.

I could feel a stare on me and looked up to see Marco staring at me from the back table which him and the crew sat, he side smiled at me and I giggled in response.

I put the drinks on a plate excitedly and started to walk over to their table, passing the rowdy men.

Next thing I knew a man stretched his leg out with a wicked smile and it was too late for me to respond as I go falling, in my last seconds of falling I see Marcos face fall and go to a state of panic in mere seconds, Oh no..!

CRASH!

It was filled with laughter and small gasps at my fall.

I shakily sat up on my hands, I was bleeding from cuts that scattered my arms and I felt a sharp pain on my cheek that I fell on and my fingers came up to touch it and cringe to the shards of glass littering on it.

I look up to see Marco get up quickly, but his movements were stopped by a large black man I knew as Juzo.

I feel a tight pull on my left arm, the grip was bruising and I already knew who it was. Narroe.

"Get the hell up." I hear him hiss in my ear, "Pick this shit up already you useless brats!" He yelled to the other women and they hurriedly rushed to the scene as I was pulled to the back.

I started to cry and plead for him to change his mind.

"You make a mess in my tavern and you're out! Let alone make a scene in front of notorious pirates!" He opened the back door, the rain out side was making the dirt roads were now slosh and mud, "He quickly turned me around to face him, "Don't ever step foot in this bar again." And soon he shoved me into the down pour and mud, my dress instantly getting dirty.

"No please do reconsider!" I cried out in a desperate attempt but he slammed the door instead.

The pain in my body only getting worse, as the water pelted my wounds on my skin.

I heard yelling going on outside and loud thuds, soon a window busted through far to my right, the glass shattering from a chair going through it.

Blue flames soon followed through and a huge flame shot out and formed into a bird.

I was so stunned that I scooted back some but only slipped on my hands and fell back.

The flaming bird started to dissipate and form Marco, he rushed over to me and came to my side. His hands went instantly to my wounded right arm, he was quiet and the rain that dropped on us, it made his hair a light brow color. I couldn't help but to watch the little waterfalls on his face that formed around his deep jaw line and drop off his scruff on his chin.

"Come on." His arms went under my back and the back of my legs, soon he lifted me and the way he angled his arm on my back more turned me to his chest more. It guarded my face away from the rain as he leaned forward a tad and started to walk.

"Where are we going?" I ask quietly, I felt a nervousness build up in my stomach.

He kept his gaze ahead of him and didn't answer.

"Why are you helping me?" I ask another question, and look up to his face, he looked serious, almost... Angry...

I thought it would be best to stay quiet and I take a deep breath. I notice how warm he was and nuzzle into his chest closer and at that I heard I simple "Hmph." of amusement.

I smile a little and close my eyes, I was starting to feel tired as the more he walked rocked me to sleep.

"Thank you... Marco..." I said before I faded into sleep, his grip on me closer.