"I'd like to date you seriously, Melody-ya."

It reverberated through the room. Melody could feel her heart thudding in her chest; it was ringing in her ears. She let out a deep sigh; Law was saying yes to her.

"Wow," she took her pain medication and swallowed drily and with difficulty. "Do you even know how to date?" she teased.

"O-of course," he grumbled, sounding offended. "Where would you like to go?"

"Nope," she smirked, "You get to decide this time, Law."

He ran his hand through his hair, humming to himself.

"Well," he thumbed his belt thoughtfully. "Fishman Island is next, so how about I find us a nice dinner date there?"

"Okay," she blinked, impressed with the simple suggestion. "No pubs or bars if possible."

"On it," he smiled cockily and leaned into her personal space. "So, are you excited to date a wanted man?"

She laughed, happy he wasn't outwardly nervous like she felt. "Question is;" she slid from the room and headed to the door. "Can you handle a wanted woman?"

His hand was on the door before she even had her hand on it, he was blocking her exit. He smiled coyly and extended his other hand.

"May I hold your hand?" he asked, using an overly cutesy tone.

She chuckled and could feel her blush. Damn Law using even a tiny bit of charm.

"Yes, Law," she mumbled.

"Come with me to get a proper breakfast, Mel-ya." he took her hand and walked, leading her without pulling her arm much.

"I had a bit of egg," she grumbled.

"Ahh," he chuckled. "Perhaps some fruit then, my dear?"

"Fruit?" she raised a brow, not listening to the nicknames he was throwing out.

"Yes," he shook his head like he was rolling his eyes at her. "You haven't been taking your vitamins, some vitamin C is needed on the sea."

She sighed at his doctoring; it sounded like he was parenting and lecturing her all at once. It was endearing.

"Yes, doc." she saluted him with her free hand as he dragged her into the mess hall.

He tensed a little as they entered the room and let go of her hand heading to the food. The mess was mostly full now. Some guys probably had already eaten by now and left to their tasks. She curiously watched Law make himself a plate of food as she went to her seat where Shachi was grumbling to Penguin about something, Bepo listening in.

"-that's fucking nuts." Penguin shrugged.

"What is?" Melody asked as she sat down, grabbing her forgotten drink glass.

"Oh," Penguin looked startled by her appearance and started blushing "I-we..."

"I was telling them about you sensing all the navy outside," Shachi said, leaning on the table excitedly. "That's some strong haki, Mel."

"Please," Melody waved the compliment off. "My mentore was crazy. Altair knew when new merchants entered our town while he was hunting in the forest."

"That's insane!" Shachi cried and gripped his hat in surprise like it was going to fall off. "How?"

"Years and years of meditation and practice," Melody smirked. "The guy was still kicking at ninety-two and training since a child."

It was Penguin's turn to act shocked, his jaw dropped. "Your old captain was ninety!?"

Melody laughed. "Not the one who just passed, but yes." she rubbed her neck a little. "Ezio was only sixty."

"Why so old?" Bepo asked curiously as Law took his seat. The captain's plate was laden with bacon and eggs and fruit.

"Most in Massyaf join training at 17," she mused. "But most kids have already learned basic hand-to-hand and blending techniques from their family members that serve."

"So the assassin's are your town's army?" Law said simply, handing her an apple. "Or is it more complex?"

"A lot more." she smiled at the apple in her hand. "Is this a hint, Law?"

His brows furred at her question, looking at her then the apple. As the doctor joke finally crossed his mind, he rolled his eyes at the chuckles from the table.

"No." he glared and stabbed his egg with his fork. The guys fell silent. "You're avoiding the question," he smirked at her.

She smiled and decided to carve the look of the Apple of Eden onto the fruit before eating. She took a free knife from the table.

"Well," she sighed as she made a cut into the fruit. "It's very complex. In the past; we were protectors, like knights to invading ideals. We protected the old ways and our people. We also protected knowledge; that our world is not divided by Devil-fruit users and non-users. It's divided; Templar vs Freedom."

"Templar?" Shachi snorted. "What does that have to do with it?"

"The Templar's invaded the land long ago." she turned the apple, continuing the carving. "Looking for a 'Sacred Religious Artifact' for the Celestial Dragons." she snorted. "That's the official story, but the reason the Navy doesn't hunt us down is that there was no order from them. A noble learned of our artefact from our Leader's treachery."

"Who?" Bepo was leaning on the table, making it tilt a little. "Who betrayed them?"

"My mentor's mentor." she chuckled. "Al Mualim, the Man of the Mountain, the Leader of our Order. He had the younger assassin's including Altair, steal sacred treasure from the Templar's who invaded the far side of the island." She sneered at the apple in her hand, taking the shape of the real one as the runes graced the surface. "When Altair learnt of his betrayal the old man said it was to strengthen Altair's belief in him. He wasn't swayed by the Apple's power, so Al Mualim had to lie to gain his trust."

"What power?" Law said, covering his mouth full of food. "I thought the apple was an old bible thing?"

"It is," she finally looked up. "Know any bible stories?"

"Enough," Law shrugged. "Why?"

"There are several apples," she continued carving. "The first was the one Adam and Eve took, from the dystopia of 'Eden'. They used it to escape and pass on their powers; some say the will of "D" and several others. Then, as more were found and changed hands; the parting of the 'Red Sea', the transformation of water to wine, and fuel to many wars."

She looked up at the shocked expressions, "Fruit?" Law asked stunned. "Fruit passed on power? Like a-"

"Not the Devil-fruit," she interrupted. "The Apple of Eden is different. Though one could argue the fruits were made thanks to the apple's manipulating the trees that grow the Devil-fruits."

She set the apple on the table. "Imagine this smooth and golden or silver-like treasure, and glowing brighter than Admiral Kizaru, and that is what the Apple of Eden looks like."

She looked around the table. Only Law was pale, everyone else seemed shocked.

"You're fucking kidding me," Law breathed. "How?"

She could see in his eyes.

"Who had it?" she asked. She wasn't dumb, she didn't want to insult herself and Law by asking if he'd seen it.

"Vergo." Law breathed shrinkingly like he was looking at his first dead body. "Doflamingo offered it to him, and before..."

Melody almost snapped, she could feel herself bending the knife in her hand,

"That fuck really needs to pull more strings by having another person who can hold his puppets, and do it better." she bit her tongue angrily. "You may have sparked my vengeance going after him, but now you've lit a fire."

"Good," Law grumbled and stabbed a bit of melon onto his fork. "You'll need to get better though. Don't cut yourself on that."

She sighed and dropped the knife. "Yes," she took a steadying breath, desperately wanting to change the subject. "Now that I've done my sharing," She bit into her carved apple. "Wanna share, doc?"

He tensed immediately, choking on his food a little, exactly as she expected. She meant to tell the men right away that Law was dating her. He didn't. Either out of lack of confidence or embarrassment. No doubt the boys would make perverted jokes. She wasn't fond of PDA, but she didn't want the guys trying to take advantage of her.

"No," Law cleared his throat and glared at her as he sipped his coffee. "End of discussion, Mel."

"Come on..." Shachi elbowed Law with a smirk. "You guys fucked?"

"No," she said as he shouted the same. She sounded relaxed, but he was incredibly tensed.

"Look here guys," Law glared, his aura threatening. "I don't want any damned jokes about Mel and I sleeping together; she's in my room, so you pervs don't get nosey."

"But," Penguin mumbled. "You're the biggest pervert at the-"

Law gave him a cold glare that felt like an ice pick.

"S-sorry, Captain." Penguin looked down at his plate.

Bepo leaned into Law and mumbled. "Can I talk to you in private?"

"Yea," Law stood and moved his plate away, leaving some of the bacon behind. "I lost my apatite."

He stood and marched to the door, Bepo following. Melody felt a pang of guilt. She was already starting to make him regret saying yes, she could bet on it.

"Go to the training room a bit, Mel," Law said over his shoulder. "Just don't over exert yourself. I expect the guys to fill me in for lunch."

After Law left Penguin jumped on the bacon left on the plate and devoured it before Shachi could protest. His friend wasn't paying attention though, when she looked at him she knew why. His eyes were locked on her.

"So," he asked, keeping his voice even but a curious flick of it. "Are you going to explain what that's all about?"

"Explain what?" she asked, not wanting to explain anything if she didn't have to.

"Well," Shachi leaned over the table a bit. "Law was colder than normal about our jokes, he normally brushes them off. He got overly defensive when we did joke. And to top it off; you watched him leave. Did you guys-"

"No," Melody snorted and waved the question off. "We didn't have sex or fool around or anything like that. So; No."

"Well, then what was that all about?" Penguin asked, his mouth full.

"I watched him leave because I was a little worried about how he was acting," she shrugged and picked up her plate. "The rest you'll have to ask him about."

She dropped her dishes off and headed to the lounge. Thankfully Bepo and Law had walked upstairs to his office, she could listen from where she was if she meditated on them.

She sat on the floor and crossed her legs. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, carefully listening in.

"So," there was a sound of a door shutting. "What's this about?"

"You're bad at hiding things from me," Bepo said, sounding a little scolding. "Even worse from hiding from the rest of the men. What happened with Mel?"

"Nothing," Law said, sighing and a sound of him sitting. "We only slept."

"And nothing else?" Bepo said sternly, his voice sounding sceptical.

"Nothing else," Law sighed. There was a pause. "Why do you ask?"

There was an even longer pause that hung in the air.

"She smells like you," Bepo spoke softly. "And you smell like her."

There was even longer pause and a shrugging sound.

"I can also smell the hormones in the-"

"Okay," Law sounded annoyed, and there was a shuffling sound. "I like her, okay."

Bepo chuckled.

"You didn't need to convince me," he snorted. "I just don't like you lying. So what did she want you to share at the -"

"Please don't have me answer." Law's voice sounded muffled like he was covering his face.

"Please," Bepo spoke softly. "You have enough secrets eating you up, Captain."

The silence stretched the room, for a long while. Like they were sharing a meaningful look.

"She asked me out." Law breathed, his voice was shaky.

Bepo gasped.

"And I said yes." Law mumbled, his voice fading with embarrassment as he spoke.

There was a fast rustling and quick whooshing sound, followed by the sound of Law groaning weakly. Bepo had probably given him a big hug.

"You can't just dump her like the rest," Bepo was mumbling. "She's a different one, so-"

"I know," Law wheezed. "I can't mess it up, and she has to win over the crew still."

"Oh she will," Bepo reassured and there was a sound of Law sighing.

"Thank god she's occupied," Law grumbled. "I don't like that she can eavesdrop so easy."

"Is that why she's heading to the gym?" Bepo asked. "To keep her occupied?"

"Yea," Law sighed. "I wonder if she's there yet..."

She pulled away quickly and panicked. Had Law sensed her? She teleported to the gym, where Shachi and Penguin were already stretching. No one else had come by yet.

"What the hell, Melody!?" Penguin tumbled back, shocked by her arrival.

"Where'd you go?" Shachi asked, helping his friend off the ground.

"Just got some meditation in." Melody cracked her fingers out of habit, sitting on the bench nearby. "Is it normally this empty?"

She gestured around the empty gym room.

"Oh yea," Penguin rubbed his back. "We have morning and afternoons for training and midday is for people who want a little extra time. We're warming up now and using the place in the afternoon with some of the others."

"Do you guys do a circuit?" she asked curiously. "Or is it first come first serve?"

"Normally first come first serve." Shachi shrugged and extended his hand to her. "But we're all friends, so no one really gets testy about switching off for a bit."

She allowed him to help her off the bench, very confused as to why.

"No weapons on the sparing mat," Shachi smirked, tapping the mat they were on. It was firm but a little spongy in some areas. "So armour off, Mel."

She sighed and slid the weapon off, understanding as she set it down that Shachi wanted to spar her first. She was silently thankful she threw on a sports bra this morning.

"So," Shachi tilted his cap down, a cocky grin on his face. "Bepo told me you took out your old captain while you and he were younger. Show me how."

"I'm sorry in advance." she smiled and crouched down like she was prepping to sprint. Shachi nodded to Penguin.

"Begin." his friend shouted.

Melody teleported in front of Shachi instantly at crotch level and grabbed his jewels roughly earning a wince. There was a gasp of pain from the man as she released him and he backed up a bit.

"What the hell?!" he cried out. "No one fights like t-"

"Exactly," Melody sat back on the mat. "I incapacitated you without killing or maiming visibly."

Penguin bitting his lip and looking between the two a mixture of amusement and concern on his face.

"Are you okay, Shach-"

"It hurts you bitch," Shachi groaned and kneeled. "Don't do that again."

"I'm sorry," Melody looked down. "You asked me to take you out like I did my old captain."

"We should have asked," Penguin sighed and mumbled to Shachi asking if it still hurt.

Shachi flopped onto the mat, spread out in defeat.

"Are all your old crew dirty fighters?" he sighed, breathing laboured.

"Yes," she chuckled. "I taught them all the worst of the worst. And I held back on you. I normally squeeze like a bouncy ball."

Both men shuddered.

"Why?" Penguin asked. "It hurts and can kill chances of having a family."

"I don't do it often," she sighed. "Sometimes just a hard kick does it when the stance is too wide."

They cringed and winced together.

"So brutal," Penguin rubbed the back of his head. "I see why your captain liked you."

"I wasn't the most brutal one," she sighed. "La Volpe would cut and leave things places to scare the enemy, and you don't wanna ask what. If you can slice it, he left it."

"That's disgusting," Shachi sat up slowly. "But we can talk about it later, you need to fairly spar Pen now."

Penguin helped his friend up to the bench and then stood at the far end of the mat, getting into a stance. Melody picked herself up.

"So," she sighed. "What is fair?"

"Punches, kicks, jabs and knees or elbows." Shachi groaned as he relaxed into his seat. "Anything else is off-limits."

"Understood." Melody stood still and took a long breath, staying in a relaxed, open pose. "I'll do my best but be fair."

Penguin nodded to his friend.

"Begin," Shachi said merely, watching.

Melody didn't want to cheat too much with her haki, so she watched as Penguin slowly advanced. When he was close enough, he leaned a little onto one foot, and she realised by looking at the distance that he was going to lunge.

She ducked as he swung and used his forward momentum to flip him over her back.

He hit the mat, but the thud told her that he immediately bounced up. She swayed forward and moved around, he was leading with his fists again.

As she was low, he swung at her leg closest to him with his free foot. Her leg went sliding as she tried to keep it rooted and she slipped into a split. Thankfully she was flexible enough that it didn't hurt.

He made to knee her in the face but she bent back and swung her legs out from under her so she could crouch again. Her leg hit his rooted one, and he swayed.

While he was recovering, she kicked him with force behind the sole of her shoe, and he fell back.

"That's two," Shachi said from the sidelines. "Pen we talked about fall recovery, but she can't be pushing you over with textbook observations."

"I was going easy on her," Penguin sighed, sitting on the mat. "Law said to let her recover."

"Come on, Penguin." she was feeling a little irritated that he was going easy. "Show me how a real man fights."

Penguin's eyes sparked by a fire, a bit of a flirtatious and excited spark.

"You asked for this Mel." he smiled darkly.

"Watch my side though." she sighed and got into a critical stance.

"With pleasure." he smirked.

That pissed her off, for some reason it reminded her of the over-the-top teenagers when she went to school. It angered her to the bone. She swung first, faking with her right and then kneeing him hard.

He caught it in his hands and pushed her back with such force that it put her off balance as she regained her stance.

He swung with his foot, his heal connecting into her stronger side. She gasped in pain, it had been a while since she'd sparred or been hit.

She felt her knee buckle as she tried to keep her stance firm, she regained it and he was already swinging again, with a kick he knocked her on her back, taking her feet from under her. She groaned as her body smacked into the mat.

"Your stance is too light for hand-to-hand." Penguin said as he helped her up. "You're not rooted."

"I've never been," she sighed. "Assassin's need to be light-"

"You're not just an assassin anymore." Shachi interrupted. "Your also our crewmember and a change in stance is important for hand-to-hand."

"My stance was rooted though-"

"There wasn't any strength in it," Shachi continued. "You need to be committed to the fight entirely. You can't run here, just engage and defend."

"Show me your stance again," Penguin stated, standing back with his arms crossed.

She stood, and she immediately felt what they meant. It was light and determined, her feet weren't facing the enemy together, one to and one away like she was ready to fence.

"Here," Penguin pointed with his foot. "Your stance can be closer together or wider apart, all that matters is that both feet face the opponent. Shoulder length apart is best."

She adjusted and could feel it in the balls of her feet.

"It's like prepping for yoga," she sighed.

"Have you seen anyone box before," Penguin asked. "Or fight at all?"

"Yes," she brought up both her fists, both below her line of sight, neither clenched in case she needed to deflect. Elbows close to cover her sides.

"The upper body is there," Shachi said. "We can work on strength when you get better."

"Behaving yourself,?" Law's voice broke the scene, she felt a shiver tingle up her spine as she realised he was addressing her.

"Of course-"

"Not!" Shachi shouted. "She attacked me."

"That was the idea," said Law, getting closer to the mat he crossed his arms.

"It's not like that," Melody said, but Penguin was already whispering what she'd done to Law.

"You two can go," Law nodded to the boys. "Wash up a bit."

After the door closed, he sighed.

"You're making this difficult for me," Law sighed. "You know that, right?"

"Sorry, Captain," she looked down. "I just-"

"How much did you hear of Bepo and me talking?" he asked, a chill shuddering up her spine.

She swallowed busted.

"From him saying he can smell you on me," she blushed looking at the ground. "Up to you guys saying the gym would distract me."

There was a long pause, she waiting for him to start shouting at her.

"We can't go around telling everyone," Law rubbed his jaw, sounding tired.

"Why not," Melody asked, crossing her arms a little. "Bepo didn't-"

"He's different," Law said quietly. "Until we have one date we can't share it with the men, understood Melody-ya?"

She took a deep sigh and nodded. Knowing just how to leave the man speechless.

"Yes," she then took his hand and kissed his cheek, rushing out before her captain could retort.