"Again," Law demanded without thinking.
"Law," He watched as she spoke his name with familiarity. "Did you want me to add san or something?" she asked when he remained quiet. She always thought of him as "Law" in her head. If he wanted her to call him something else it would be a hard habit to form.
"Have you spoken before this?" He had to know.
"No. I came to tell you I was spending the night on the sub instead of the island. You looked like you were thinking hard about something and I wanted your attention."
His name was the first word she spoke. Law took pride in that.
"Good night then," she turned to leave. Law didn't want to let her go.
"So early?" he asked giving her a mocking smile as if going to bed early weakend her somehow.
"It is a quarter to midnight. You said we were leaving in the morning." She was being practical as always.
"With the crew hungover we will most likely leave in the afternoon."
"You don't care if the crew is hungover," she smiled.
"Maybe I am feeling generous," he grinned back.
"Now," the tone implied that he would change his mind.
"Am I that fickle?"
"If you wanted company you could have just asked," Lia walked towards the table.
"If you knew what I wanted you could have just joined me," Law smirked. She knew him so well.
"I'm not drinking," Lia frowned as she took a seat next to him and eyed the bottle of alcohol. Law looked at her. Her hair was back in her regular bun and she was wearing jeans and a t-shirt.
"Tell me about your informants," he demanded.
"You know there are usually five. Only four are alive at the moment, three boys and one girl."
"How did you meet them?" Law rested his head in a hand. The alcohol was starting to take effect, making him feel warm.
"Remember the scar on my stomach?"
"Stab wound from a bandit," Law nodded.
"Sou was the traveler that took me to a doctor. He then hunted them down and got my stuff back." Lia didn't show emotion as she said this.
"He doesn't strike me as a man who would do something like that for free," Law's eyes widened.
"No. He wanted information. There were a few rumors running around wildly before I knew how to use them to my advantage. He came to me in the morning and held my stuff hostage for information. I told him everything I knew."
"How did he join you then?"
"I gave him the wrong information by accident. My source was horrible. When I learned this I hunted him down to give him the correct information. He thought I was stupid for being so honest and said he had to watch over me until I could lie straight," Lia smiled at the memory.
"Can you?" Law was teasing her.
"Do you really want to know that?" She smiled back.
"Was Sou-ya the first informant you met?" Law took a sip of his drink.
"No. Elliott was. I met him when I was twelve. We were the same age and just clicked when we met. We hardly separated since," Lia smiled happily.
"Were you lovers?" Law tried to keep the jealousy and bitterness out of his voice.
"Nope. Elli is a brother to me and I am a sister to him. But..." she trailed off.
"Yes?" Law wasn't going to let her change the subject now.
"Sou will tell you, he does have a surprisingly huge mouth, that Elli and I have no sense of personal space with each other," Lia shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She knew Law did not like her informants because they were a threat to him. He worried about her leaving the crew to be with them.
"Meaning?" Law did not like the sound of that. If what she was saying was anything like what he was thinking, she had no right to keep calling him a cuddle slut.
"In a sense of privacy I would treat him as a female rather than a male," when she said it, she realized that did not describe the relationship at all.
"That's is a very pretty way of saying you don't mind stripping in front of him," Law's voice was bland. Lia shook her head, very unhappy with the thought.
"You would have to see the relationship to understand it," she sighed.
"How would you define our relationship, Miss Lia?" Law tilted his head in curiosity. Half curious of her answer and the other half questioning why he asked that in the first place.
"Crew member and captain." She answered too quickly for Law's liking. Her voice was also matter of fact and he doubted she was lying.
"You may go to be now," he dismissed her. His pride was too damaged to continue the conversation.
"Night, Law. Try not to drink too much," she called as she walked towards the door.
"Is that an order?" Law smirked.
"Friendly advice." He raised his glass to her as she walked out.
...
The crew left the next afternoon, but early afternoon. I spent the morning following Cook's recipe for a hangover remedy and delivering it to the crew, including Law.
"Honestly, how much of a control freak do you have to be to not even follow advice?" I complained. I opened the curtains over the portholes and let in light. He tried to retreat under the covers. Bepo said that Law liked to be awake by eleven at the latest and he was worried because Law wouldn't get up. Bepo and I were the only ones without hangovers so when he failed it was my turn to try.
Now that the room was filled with natural and artificial light, I turned to the lump of covers on the bed. From what I heard Law usually woke up with out any problems. He might give the poor soul who was sent to get him up a death glare, but he would wake up and be grouchy until he had a cup of coffee.
"Law," I tried calling his name again. "Its eleven thirty." The mass of covers moved then stopped. "The mug on your nightstand can stop your pounding headache." Again movement. "Law," I continued when he stopped moving for a moment. "If you don't get up I will be forced to take action. I've heard stories and the punishments for waking you up late are worse than waking you up by using force." Slight movement. Was he still drunk or something? I kicked off my boots and climbed onto the bed. I really hoped he slept in a t-shirt and shorts like he did on Estasia. I rolled the covers off of him exposing his head. I decided to check for a fever because he was not showing typical "Law" behavior. I pressed my forehead to his to get an accurate reading. His eyes shot open when I made contact and I just barely dodged as he sat up.
"What the hell?" he demanded.
"You wouldn't wake up so I was checking to see if you had a fever." Law held his head in his hands as he felt the effects of drinking last night. I reached over for the mug on his night stand.
"For the hangover," He took it and looked at the clock. Eleven thirty-seven. He opened his mouth to speak but I beat him to it. "Bepo came to wake you around ten after and when he couldn't he got me."
"And you just walk into a man's bedroom on your own?" Of all the things to be pissed about right now.
"I moved your nodachi out of reach as well as anything that could be thrown." He handed me his mug and I placed it back on the night stand. I moved to get off the bed.
Law caught my wrist and I was pulled back onto the bed. Law pinned my hands above my head as he loomed over me. His expression was one of annoyance. I could find nothing else in his eyes. I took in that he was wearing clothes, a pair of black cotton pants, just a pair of black cotton pants, before he spoke.
"That is not what I meant." His voice was low and deadly.
"I don't like hungover Law," I pouted. I doubted I was any real danger.
"Too bad." He glared. I sighed.
"Fine. As long as I have skin to skin contact, I have the advantage. Also, you are my captain and I am part of your crew."
"So?"
"You wouldn't hurt your crew," He looked at me for a moment. "If you want coffee after your hangover remedy you should let me go. Cook has a hangover so I have to make it." He let me go. I slid off the bed and put my boots back on. "Besides, you're not some random guy," I muttered before I walked out.
Bepo was waiting in the kitchen. I nodded and he smiled. I started to make coffee and breakfast for the rest of the crew.
...
Law was not happy. This had nothing to do with his hangover. The horrible tasting liquid Lia brought him dulled that. His mood was because of Lia. What she said to be exact.
She only saw him as her captain.
That really pissed Law off. He did not try to hide his bad mood that afternoon. The crew stayed away from him, scared of his death glare and fury in general. Law also had a habit of assigning extra work to whoever he saw when he was mad. Law over heard several of the crew ask Lia exactly how she woke him up after they witnessed his horrible mood. Lia just shrugged.
"Like you would wake anyone," was her answer.
The crew was excited that Lia regained her voice. The familiar knot in his stomach returned when he heard Lia easily talk and joke with his crew. She called the others without an honorific as well. They didn't mind. They already called the girl by a nickname anyway.
"Captain?" Law was in his office. He looked up at Bepo in the doorway. "I wanted to go over some maps with you," Law motioned for the large bear to sit. The maps were of islands they would most likely dock at in the future. There were also notes on what natural disasters they might face such as more whirlpools or other dangerous currents. Law helped Bepo decide on a path and made a note to go over what to do if they hit any dangerous currents with the crew.
"Captain," Bepo hesitated before he left. "Are you okay?" Now that work was done Bepo was in friend mode.
"I'm fine," Law replied instantly. The last thing he needed was for someone to know that Trafalgar Law, notorious lady killer of the Hear Pirates, was having trouble because a girl had not instantly fallen for him and he was unsure of how to make her.
"Is it Lia-chan?" Bepo knew he hit the mark. "Did something happen?"
"I had somewhat of an epiphany," Law muttered. He rested his head in his hand and looked away, feigning interest in the large bookshelf.
"Did you realize you like Lia-chan? That wouldn't make you mad though." Bepo started to think.
"Hey, Captain," Shachi and Penguin knocked and entered. Law glared at them.
"We checked everything and gave the juniors jobs," Penguin held both hands up in defense.
"We just wanted to know what was bugging you." Shachi took a seat on Law's couch.
"Couldn't be the hangover. That stuff Lia-chan gave us worked miracles." Penguin plopped down after him.
"Did Lia-chan reject you or something?" Shachi joked. Law glared at him turning the mechanic pale. Bepo suddenly popped out of his own little world with an idea.
"Lia-chan doesn't like you back." He looked at Law who was now surrounded with a black aura of fury. "I'm sorry," the bear hung his head.
"It couldn't have been that bad Captain. What did you say to her?" Penguin asked. Law remained silent, the black aura fading. "So you didn't say anything," Penguin concluded.
"So if you didn't get rejected, why are you mad?" Shachi asked, confused.
"Maybe Lia-chan said something," Bepo pointed out. The three friends thought hard about that one.
"What if she's the type that's slow when it comes to relationships?" Shachi wondered.
You're the slow one. Everyone thought. Lightbulbs went off then.
"You may be right," Penguin agreed. "We know Lia-chan doesn't hate Captain."
"She spends a lot of time with you," Shachi pointed out.
"She doesn't flinch when you touch her," Bepo added.
"She doesn't flinch with anyone," Penguin countered
"May be she likes one of the crew," Shachi wondered. Three sets of eyes glared at him.
"She doesn't. I would have sensed it," Bepo reassured Law.
"How does she like Captain then?" Shachi asked, excited Bepo could provide some much needed insight. Bepo thought about that.
"She's comfortable around Captain. Safe. Happy."
"That's good!" Shachi exclaimed.
"She could feel that way around a friend though," Penguin frowned. "She isn't excited or worried around him or something?"
"I'm sorry," Bepo apologized.
"You did your best,"
"I say you have a chance," Shachi decided. "She doesn't hate you and may be a weird one but she is a girl."
"Captain! Do your best!"
"What is everyone doing here?" The whole room jumped except for Law. Lia was standing in the doorway. She shook her head at their strange reaction. "Lunch is ready," she announced. The mechanics and Bepo left the room, commenting about how they were starving. Lia watched Law shuffle around some papers.
"Is the hangover still bothering you?"
"No." Law filed away a few papers. When he looked up she was gone.
He was pissed off all over again. One second she was close, in his arms or talking to him, and a second later she was gone.
...
"I've been here before," Law looked at Lia as the island came into view. "Harafuji island. It switches from spring to fall every six months." Lia waited for the crew that heard her talk to gather around her to listen. "Government was a dictatorship but around thirteen years ago they changed into a monarchy. The king has less power than a traditional monarchy though. A group of elected officials can over power him if they vote unanimously on something. There is also a marine base here. It wasn't anything spectacular the last time I was here. They act like the king's personal guards mostly."
"What did you do the last time you were here?" Lia turned away from Law's question.
"I might have insulted the king in front of a large crowd and all of the officials," Lia said quietly. "I also might have screwed up a plan the king was working on, costing him a few million belli." Lia glanced at the crew's faces. "He insulted me first! I showed great self control that day! My informants were threatened and nearly killed!"
Shachi patted Lia on the head.
"Are your past actions going to cause us trouble?" Law asked.
"There's a strong opposition to the king there and one of the officials was an informant of mine. Sou is going to check if he still holds office."
"I want information about the marine base. Everything." Law sent the crew off to prepare to dock on the island. Lia stayed next to him as the sub neared the island. It was fall on the island. It was not colored a bloody red like the last fall island they visited. Spots of green dotted yellows, reds, oranges, and browns on the island.
Sou was waiting for them when they docked. He was not cheerful like he usually was. There was a frown on his face and his brows were close together as if he was thinking hard about something, or extremely worried. He gave Lia information on the island and she sent out butterflies. He then pulled her aside and showed her a piece of paper. She looked at it and then folded it and pocketed it. "Later," she said strictly when he started to say something.
Law stared at the odd behavior. What was his butterfly keeping from him?
It was rather late in the afternoon so Law decided some of the crew would check into a hotel and gather supplies and information tomorrow. There was only one hotel that would not report their arrival to the king or marines. It was called the Maple Hotel. It was located in a not so pretty part of the island, but it met Law's hygiene standards.
"Good evening, dearies," an elderly woman greeted. She took Lia's hands and kissed her on the cheek. She informed them that there were three rooms available. There were six Heart Pirates. There was an unspoken agreement among the pirate men that Lia-chan would stay with Law. When Sou picked up on this he offered her a way out if she wanted it.
"Hime-chi, you can stay with me,"
"Until we know everything about the marine's movements, I would like my crew to stay together." Sou opened his mouth for a rebuttal, but Lia raised a hand, silencing him. Law did not miss the butterfly she sent Sou when the crew's attention turned to finding their rooms and settling down before dinner.
Their room was a standard hotel room, two beds, a small bathroom, a dresser and mirror. Law took a moment to regret not asking if there was a room with one bed. Lia sat on the bed closest to the door.
"Are you going to tell me what is going on?" Law asked after he shut the door. Lia shook her head.
"I won't put the crew in danger," she looked determined.
"You will be in danger though," Law muttered. Had she not told him several times that she was part of his crew? Trying to force information out of Lia would be a bad idea. Law knew she could withstand torture and if he threatened Sou he could end up trapped in one of her nightmares. He could pull the "I'm captain" card but he had a feeling that would do him more harm than good.
"I'm going to have dinner with Sou. There is a local place where I can get information," Lia's tone was dull, emotionless.
"I'm coming with you,"
"No,"
"No?" Law frowned, his temper rising. "Just because you can order you informants around does not mean you may order me, or have you forgot who the captain is here?" Lia looked at Law for a moment and then took a deep breath.
"I don't know what I'm walking into. Sou has more experience working with me. He is less likely to be surprised by anything making him safer to work with," She explained.
"Are you saying I would drag you down?" Law demanded.
"I'm saying I haven't trained you with my techniques now that I have my voice back. That could get someone killed." She was being practical again. Law hated that. He just couldn't argue with practical.
"You have two hours. If you are not back by then we will come after you, and people will die."
...
Law did not have a good night after his argument with Lia. Her odd behavior put him on edge. He ordered his crew not to get drunk which put everyone else in a bad mood. It was hard to pick up a chick when you couldn't get her drunk. The only one that had remotely any luck with women was Law, who was constantly ignoring the attentions of a curvy blonde in a tight green dress and too much makeup.
Lia came back fifteen minutes early. She was alone and in a worse mood than before. Law thought he saw blood splattered on her clothes. Law pushed the whore off of his lap and followed his butterfly to their room. When he entered he heard the shower running. Law kicked off his boots and waited for Lia while he laid on his bed. He wanted to know what was bothering her, mainly so he could make it go away and get his butterfly back.
Someone knocked on the door. It was the girl from the hotel bar. She smiled and flirted as she wedged her was expertly into the room. Law told her to leave, but the idiotic woman refused with a smile.
"Its not like you have another woman here," the blonde laughed. Lia emerged from the bathroom then, wearing the huge yellow t-shirt she received when she first arrived on Law's sub.
"Bath is free," she announced as she dried her hair.
The girl laughed. "See, she is a child." The blonde crossed her arms under her chest to make her breasts stand out more.
Lia looked at Law, silently asking if he wanted the girl there. Law shook his head.
"Fuck off," Lia told the girl. She immediately stopped laughing. She frowned, glaring at Lia. Lia returned the glare.
"Make me," she challenged. Lia crossed the room and grabbed the girl's wrist and twisted. The girl fell to her knees attempting to lessen the pain. She cried out when it increased. Lia's eyes widened as she took information from the girl. Lia touched the the girl's forehead and Law saw a black glow rather than the usual blue. The girl's eyes showed pure terror.
"That is what will happen if you try to spy on us again or if you tell your sorry king anything," Lia whispered when she let go of the girl. She ran out of the room as fast as her heeled feet could take her. Lia turned back to Law. "Happy now?"
"What happened during dinner?" Law asked as he sat back on his bed.
Lia sighed loudly. She reached into an outer pocket of her bag and pulled out the paper Sou gave her earlier. She handed it to Law.
It was a wanted poster for a Rosie Simmons. The picture showed a tall, curvy, blue eyed blonde, but nothing like the one Lia just threatened and threw out of the room. The girl looked respectable, as if she was raised by nobles. Law couldn't see tell tale signs of surgery to enhance her beauty. She was wanted for twenty million belli.
"She was our informant in the marines. From what Sou knows, she was caught looking through classified information about plans to recapture me and she found something important. She was going to meet Sou here four days ago. At dinner I found out she was being held at the castle."
"Why couldn't you tell me this before?"
"There was no reason to worry before. She could have gotten caught in a storm before, now she is being held by the king so he can take revenge on me." Lia shrugged as if that wasn't a big deal.
"What do you want to do?" Law expected she had a plan of action prepared.
"Do? Nothing. Not now at least. Rosie is strong. This isn't the first time and I doubt it will be the last she's been stuck in a cell." Lia laid back on the bed and closed her eyes. Law stared at her as if to question how much she cared for her nakama. She gave in to the stare. She could feel it even with her eyes closed. "Sou arranged for certain guards to watch her and report back to us. I'll piss someone off tomorrow and they'll willingly drag me into the castle, with the show I put on tonight most of the guards will be focused on me instead of Rosie. Sou will slip in and get her out."
"Show? Does that have anything to do with why you were covered in blood tonight?" Law folded the wanted poster and set it on a night stand.
"I shot someone," Lia yawned. Law's eyes widened slightly.
"How many times?"
"Seven, I think," Lia replied after a moment.
"Are you that bad of a shot?" Law teased.
"I hit where I was aiming," She waved his accusation away. Law smirked at her and went to take his shower before bed.
...
The girl was trembling. Her eyes were big and sky blue. I was sure her hair was golden, but it looked brown because of all the dirt. All of the other prisoners fled. She was the only live one left. I held my hand out to her.
"Its okay, they won't hurt you anymore," I told her softly.
"Y-you k-killed them," she whispered. I nodded. She reached out slowly and took my hand. I smiled brightly and pulled her up and into a hug.
"Let it out," I told her softly. She started crying, releasing all of her pain and relief and happiness. Sou and Elli stood in the shadows. I sent them butterflies.
This is why we do this. This is why we make that extra plan. This is why we are extra careful. This is why its worth pushing our limits.
The girl calmed after a few minutes.
"What are you going to do with her?" I turned to look at Kai. I blinked in confusion. No one was behind me.
A horrible feeling knotted in my stomach. Rosie, Sou, and Elli seemingly evaporated along with the prison until only darkness remained. Where was Kai? Why didn't he come back?
"Kai is dead," a deep voice sounded in the nothingness. I turned every which way, spinning, searching for Kai, panicking when I couldn't find him. Everything grew cold. Even my tears were freezing.
I woke with a start. Law was leaning over me, a hand on my shoulder, trying to wake me. Hair was wet from the shower and dripping on me. I grabbed the towel hanging around his neck and pressed it over his head, rubbing it against his hair.
"For goodness sake, didn't anyone ever teach you to dry your hair properly?" I grumbled.
"I was a bit busy trying to wake you from your nightmare," he shot back. "You were tossing and turning."
I looked at the tangled covers. I had kicked most of them off. "Thank you."
"Any time," he watched while I straightened out my covers. "Miss Lia, are nightmares a normal occurrence for you?" He was in doctor mode.
"Its not some form of PTSD," I reassured him. "I was just worried about Rosie and my mind just wanted to take me on some messed up roller-coaster ride to explain why I was worried."
"Is that all?" Law smiled. He stood and left to turn off the light. A moment later I felt my mattress move and cold air rush under my covers.
"What are you doing?" My voice was a bit higher than I meant it to be.
"A person is less likely to have nightmares if they have company," He replied smoothly. I could hear the smirk in s voice.
"You still count as company while occupying your bed on the other side of the room!" I tried to roll away from him.
"That is not how science works, Miss Lia," he laughed as he pulled me back.
"That's my pillow! At least get your own!" Law continued to laugh softly as he pulled me away from my pillow and against him. His chin rested on top of my head like it did whenever he pulled me into his lap. My head rested on his arm and I had to admit that I was comfortable. "You just wanted an excuse to be a cuddle slut," I mumbled.
"I had to do something to get my butterfly back," He sounded relaxed, as if he was already half asleep.
His butterfly?
Did I act different around Law? Was he referring to when he teased me and I failed to think of a proper come back? Or was he referring to the calm part of me that spent hours reading and becoming bored only to start reading again?
Was he laying claim on a part of my personality or me?
Law's breathing was slow and even. His body heat and the covers protected me from the chill outside. I fell asleep before I reached my answer. It didn't matter. I would find out soon enough. Law wasn't someone who waited for what he wanted. He reached out and grabbed it.
...
Harafuji Island was created by angryHarlequin. Yes, it is a wonderful island for snuggles. :)
Welcome to the season of Fall everyone in the northern hemisphere!
I feel Law is ooc in this chapter. Does that bother anyone? Please tell me is it does bother you. Law is a hard character to grasp. I keep watching videos of him and reading other fanfictions to help me grasp his character.
I feel like this chapter raises many questions for some reason. O.O
Thank you to everyone that read, followed, favorited, and reviewed! Please remember that I am forever in need of islands! Thanks!