What Actually Happened
"So, the heat that I felt last night was yours? I thought that I was dreaming, sitting in front of the fireplace... while snuggling in a blanket." Lashea said after she swallowed her food. She already asked for a vegetarian menu, which was gladly accepted by the Spade Pirates' cook, a quite beautiful woman named Diane. And here they were, at the galley, enjoying their breakfast. Ace dragged Lashea to sit by his side. It seems like he wanted to keep her as comfortable as she could in a new environment, like pirates' ship.
"For your information, you did snuggle."
Her eyebrows raised when she heard the captain's sayings.
"Really?" She asked him, clueless.
"Yes. Against my chest, shoulder, and neck."
Her face burned immediately and turned just like a tomato, minus the green leaves that usually there on the top of it. When he saw it, he laughed hard. His laughter didn't end until she gave him an opportunity to feel her feisty fist for the first time on the back of his head.
"Meanie." He mumbled.
"You started it first, Ace-san." She snorted.
"Okay, okay. Sorry," Ace said lowly, "But it's not my entire fault, you know."
She glared at the captain, "What? Are you trying to say that it was also my fault?"
Ace nodded innocently, "You're so cute when you blushed, Gingy. That's why it's fun to tease you."
Another fist landed on his head. He groaned in pain, a hand rubbed the lump she created. Lashea in the other hand continued to eat her breakfast, with her back on Ace. Her anger has cooled, yet not with her tomato cheeks. What did he do to her exactly?
"Gingy." He poked her lower back, "Are you still mad at me? I've said sorry already."
"No, I'm not."
She turned to face him when she felt her face's temperature went back to normal.
"Thank goodness." He mumbled, "Anyway, why did you choose to be a vegetarian? Meats and seafoods are yummy, though."
"I always believe that being a vegetarian is healthier, because vegetables and fruits rich in fiber and useful minerals, also vitamin." She explained.
"But, meats contain protein, no?"
"And vitamin B12 too, the one I lack of."
"That's why you fainted last night?"
"I never faint before. It seems like the snowstorm was too bad, causing me to get too—" She stopped, thinking about mention her being cold is like telling Ace that all of her sayings to him yesterday when they first met were all lie. "Enough about me. How about you, Ace-san? It seems like your crew isn't too big. Let me guess. Rookie?"
"Oh, Missy. Don't call our captain a mere rookie. Because, he's more than that." One of Ace's crewmates suddenly joined their conversation. Her eyebrows furrowed.
"Huh? So, Ace-san is a rookie but… he's more than that? I don't get it."
"He's a super rookie! You won't believe what Captain has done before we arrived here." He laughed then walked away, probably to take another bowl of spicy potato and chicken soup, Spade Pirates' today's breakfast menu.
"He's exaggerating. Just ignore him." Ace cackled before he got up from his seat, "You finished?"
She nodded and followed him to the deck.
( Lashea's PoV )
"You seem happy."
Both of us went to the deck and stand side by side. Today, I learn more about the stranger beside me. Indeed, he's more than just a rookie. He's Mera Mera no Mi's user, a Logia type devil fruit, so it's normal for him to be a super rookie who attracts marines' attention. Oh, how I wish to eat that rare and powerful devil fruit.
"Happy?"
I nod to answer his question.
"Yeah, when your nakama bragged about you in front of me a moment ago." I say.
"I'll be lying if I tell you that I sad, right?" He smiles widely. I don't know why his smile is able to make me smile too.
"Hm. I think you've got the point." A smile flashed in my face. "Well, it's time for me to go. I need to help my mentor to treat the patients. Thank you for letting me stay for a night, also for the breakfast. I enjoyed your hospitality very much, Ace-san. I'm really glad to meet you and your crew. If I may say, today is a pleasant day."
"Just today? How about last night? Another information, we shared a bed. My bed, to be precise."
Damn. I'm sure, really sure, that my face redden. No, it's burned!
( Ace's PoV )
"W-why did you tell me that thing?!"
I think her voice went up several octaves when she asked me. A blush comes over her face, adorning it. I won't take my words. She's indeed cute when she blushed.
"Nothing, just want to tell you that we SHARED a same bed."
I intentionally stress the word 'share' to make Gingy blushes harder. And, it really works.
"But, we didn't do anything, right? Just shared the same bed and nothing happened?"
"Do you want me to tell you the truth?" Instead of answering her question, I ask her back.
"W-what? We did... it?"
"What do you mean by 'it', huh? How indecent." I smirk, enjoying the look on her red face.
"S-stop teasing me! I just want to make sure that nothing happened last night. Geez, I'm leaving!" She runs, leaving our ship after she threw her tantrum to me. It seems I have made her angry, again. I just can't help myself to not tease her. Well, if she doesn't remember what happened last night, then let it be. At least, I have my own memories.
・・・
( Flashback; Normal PoV )
"Chocolate..." She mumbled.
"You're nearly die but you're still craving for chocolate?"
Ace adjusted her body on his back and continued to walk, despite the worsening snowstorm. He generated heat, in order to make Lashea warm. The unconscious redhead's face buried well on the crook of his neck. She managed to make Ace shivered everytime she exhaled, not to mention his cheeks were rather red.
"Captain! What took you so long?!" The crew started to yell at their captain who came back while piggybacking a red haired woman.
"Prepare some warm clothes and blanket!" Ace ordered as he walked towards his own room in a hurry. He laid her down on his bed when they finally arrived.
"Here you go, Captain. But, who's this girl?"
Two of his crewmates handed him the things that he asked before. Ace, maybe too much concerned about the redhead, unintentionally ignored them.
"Where's Diane? I need her help to dress this woman."
"Diane! Captain calls you!" A shoutout was made to call out the cook from her chamber.
"What is it, really?" The brown haired woman came to the scene. She rubbed her eyes as she strolled lazily to Ace's side.
"Oh, Diane! Help me to dress her up!"
Diane's green orbs observed the almost-frozen woman that lied in her captain's bed. She raised an eyebrow
"Help you? Which mean, you're gonna dress her up too? You pervert captain."
Ace's face went red. "N-no! That's not what I mean! I'll leave her in your care, Diane!" He stuttered then strode to the deck, leaving his room almost immediately while dragging his two men with him.
"Oho. It seems you have attracted our captain, miss." Diane smiled to herself.
Diane completed her task in 5 minutes, more or less. She went back to her room after she gave Ace a question.
"Who's that girl, captain? I believe she's not one of the girls who usually sleeps with you when we get off on an island."
"She's a doctor! So, that's why she's different from those girls."
"Ah, is that so? Well, you don't have to blush like that, then."
The younger man's eyes widened, realizing what the cook did. She just wanted to tease him!
"Diane!" He roared in frustration while the around-thirty years old woman giggled in her room.
"Calm down, captain. But, is that girl just merely a doctor?" This time was one of the shipwrights who asked him out of curiosity.
"Shut up! Go back to your own room, now!"
"A-aye, captain!" Both of them answered simultaneously then disappeared from Ace's sight in a second. The captain took a deep breath before exhaled it and went into his room. His bed was occupied with a woman whom he had brought here, to his ship. She was sleeping soundly, despite the cold that made her trembled slightly. It seems thick clothes and a blanket weren't enough to warm her. Another sigh left his mouth. Ace then crawled up his bed and placed himself right beside Lashea, but he put a distance between them. Ace stared at the wooden ceiling blankly.
"I want to leave…."
Ace turned his attention to his right immediately. The redhead's eyebrows furrowed and she panted heavily. Her forehead glistened with sweat. She wanted to leave? Leave what?
"Gingy, are you okay?" Gently, Ace shook her shoulder, in order to wake her up. He was sure that she was having a nightmare.
"Law… let me stay here…."
Heck. Who's that? And 'here' where? That was his thought. Apparently, she broke in cold sweat, not a normal sweat. She seemed afraid of something.
"Gingy, get your sense back. It's just a nightmare. You—"
Ace's words got cut off by her hand that clutched weakly at the hem of his shirt.
"… Don't leave me alone." She started to sob quietly. Instinctively, Ace held her close to him. He also generated heat from his whole body to keep her as warm as possible.
"It's okay. I've got you and I won't leave you."
Those words came out of the blue. Even Ace himself didn't believe that he said it, like all of it were unreal. No. All of these scene that happened between them were also seem unreal. He got her in his arms, as the redhead snuggled comfortably on his neck and bare chest that wasn't covered by his shirt. Ace placed his chin on top of her head. His one hand ran up and down her back while his other hand stroked her ginger locks gently, in attempt to soothe her. Soft hum could be heard from her closed lips then a faint smile gracing her face. It seemed Ace's actions worked. Her breathing returned to normal. Thanks to Ace's ability, she wasn't cold anymore. Even so, Ace still held her.
"Good night, Gingy." Ace said as he closed his eyes.
( End of Flashback )
"I'm sorry, Doctorine!"
That was her first sayings when she arrived at the barn.
"Thank God you're alive. The snowstorm was terrible. I thought you have died, buried in snow last night." Kureha said casually as she checked the patients temperature.
"For a moment, I really thought you must have worried about me. But, your respond just now told me the opposite." Lashea also started doing her job as she used her surgical mask and distributed medicines to the patients. The witch chuckled in amusement.
"As expected from you, kid. You really can read me. I'm not worried about you because I know you're strong enough to protect yourself."
A smile flashed in Lashea's pale face. No matter what people said about how scary Kureha is, but for her, the old woman is her beloved mentor. She has gave Lashea her knowledge and enough care also love, which she didn't get from her parent. More than that, Kureha always believes in her.
"But still. I wonder how you able to survive in the middle of the snowstorm, especially you suffered last night, due to your health issue."
The redhead raised her eyebrows at Kureha's words. She also wondered how...
Ah. It was a bad idea.
Now she remembered it again, the fact that she actually snuggled into Ace. Her face once again reddened. What's his intention by telling her that?! Damn that yellow open shirt too! Did he want to brag his well-built chest or what? And how he managed to survive in those outfit?! That was when, she realized that he didn't wear the coat she had given to him.
"That crazy guy, really." She sighed.
"Lashea! Don't slack off! Even though you were able to survive that snowstorm, you're still late. As a punishment, you have to take half of Chopper's work!" Kureha shouted at Lashea who lost in her thoughts.
"A-ah! Yes, Doctorine!"
In fact, she only remembered Ace caught her last night and she felt his heat ―according to his explanation by being a Mera Mera no Mi's user― around her at the same time. She really didn't remember what happened next. Lashea wanted to know, but something told her that it's better to not know about it.
"Lashea!"
Another shout from the witch made the redhead completely awakened. Ah, she should get rid of those thoughts, the thoughts of that damn pirate captain.
Back to Spade Pirates' ship, Ace was checking the supplies they had. Too much booze and lack of foods. Great. He sighed as he gathered all of his crewmates on the deck.
"Remember. We need foods, no more booze. And don't create any ruckus."
The crew yelled 'aye' in unison and went away to fulfill the captain's order while some stayed, to guard their ship. Ace planned to stay but something caught his attention when he got back to his room.
"It's Gingy's, right?"
"Go and check the town, Lashea. Bring Chopper with you." Kureha said.
"Eh? What for?"
"To make sure that everyone are okay. Now, go."
The witch's order is absolute. Lashea couldn't reject it even though she wanted to. She just sighed before smiled and walked towards her reindeer friend.
"Chopper~! Let's go!"
"Go where?"
"Checking the other villagers, Doctorine's order. Now, come."
Lashea offered her hand and Chopper ―in his hybrid form― took it without wasting time. Chopper is a treasure for her. She never had a best friend before. Ah, no, she had, once. But it was long ago, around 10 years or so. And Chopper is a good, really good friend. Even though he didn't believe her at first, he befriend her eventually, knowing that she would never treat him like others treat him. For Lashea, Chopper is just a cute blue-nosed reindeer who has a dream to be a doctor that can cure anything, no more no less. Even though she already has seen his various kinds of form, she never regards him as a monster. Never.
"Pirates! Pirates are coming!"
Both Lashea and Chopper stopped. People were running to hide in their houses. In a second, they're all gone, but the pair just stood there.
"It must be that weird guy's crew." Chopper said, his hand held Lashea's tightly.
"Ace-san's?" Lashea received a nod from the reindeer.
"But, they don't seems bad. Actually, they prepared my breakfast today."
"Really?" This time, Lashea was the one who nodded.
"My, my. What are you doing here, all alone with your pet, little lady?"
Lashea diverted her attention from Chopper to the man who has greeted her. She smiled warmly.
"He's not my pet. He's a friend of mine. Don't you dare to say such a stupid thing again."
Her voice was full of confidence. There wasn't any single trace of fear in it. Later, s he realized that the huge man in front of her was the one everybody has been talking about, when she saw their jolly roger sign on his arm. No wonder they all fled, ran away like a coward. But, Lashea was different. She spoke calmly with a matching calm face.
"Oh. You're so brave, little lady."
"Well, yeah, sorta." She chuckled.
"And you're beautiful too."
"I know." She unintentionally squeezed Chopper's hand.
"Why don't you come with us?" The huge man asked.
"Yeah! Leave your pet here and let's have fun, missy!" One of his men shouted. Lashea tugged her lips, forming a smirk.
"I thought that I've warned you. Don't call my friend like that." Anyone could notice anger on her voice. "Well, you gave me no choice."
Lashea lifted her right hand then moved it from her right side to her left. With a second, they screamed in pain.
"Itami no... nami."
( Ace's PoV )
"Gingy~! Where are you?"
Searching for one girl in a quite big island sure is hard. She also didn't tell me where she live. How troublesome. Ah, yes, I decided to return her coat. When I remember how she shivered last night, I don't know why she gave her coat to me. Doctor's kindness? Isn't it too much to put your life at stake because of others? Especially if the 'others' is a complete stranger. No matter how many times I think about it, I still can't get it.
It seems my mind is dragging me so far away, since I didn't hear the commotion around me until someone ran into me.
"Pirates! Pirates are coming!"
Huh? Did the boys make a problem? Within a short time, the commotion ends. People are nowhere to be seen. Then, I hear a sinister laughter. Could it be...?
"My, my. What are you doing here, all alone with your pet, little lady?"
I want to thank God who gave the boys a not-so-stupid brain. The source of the commotion is not us, Spade Pirates, but another group of pirates, with an abnormal huge build.
"He's not my pet. He's a friend of mine. Don't you dare to say such a stupid thing again."
I've heard similar words before, somewhere.
"Oh. You're so brave, little lady."
"Well, yeah, sorta."
That voice and how the girl chuckles.
"And you're beautiful too."
"I know."
I remember it now! It's Gingy. Yes, that girl is Gingy!
"Why don't you come with us?"
"Yeah! Leave your pet here and let's have fun, missy!"
Sensing danger, my feet move on their own will. They drag me to the group of unknown pirates which is surrounding Gingy. The urge to save her suddenly come, out of nowhere. But, I stop when I hear her next words.
"I thought that I've warned you. Don't call my friend like that. Well, you gave me no choice."
Right next after that, those pirates are screaming and begging for their life. Scream of pain, I presume.
"Itami no... nami."
That time, my eyes widened. Gingy is not just a normal doctor. She's a devil fruit user, like me.
"Interesting." I state, amused by her action.
Lashea mentioned Law's name in her dream. What's happened with them actually? You won't get the answer in the next chapter, though, lol.
I'm so sorry if this chapter contained a lot of mistakes, in spelling or grammar. I got tired (plus sleepy) when I wrote it. Hope you'll enjoy it, though. 😊
Guest: I'll try, teehee.