Acceptance, Chapter Eighteen
It was strange to tell myself – to have realize – that I was in love with the man who, not too long ago, made my climb walls. I hated him for so long the contrary seemed almost surreal.
I tried to find reasons to this sudden change, but I found none. Law was still the same man as before, as unbearable as my memories. It was instead the way I see things that changed. My emotions transformed from hatred to love. Without me realizing it. And without my consent, too. I was slowly starting to accept that fact, and I have to say our cohabitation was getting more and more difficult. At the beginning, I avoided him because I didn't want to see his face. Now, it was so I wouldn't betray myself. I knew me, and I was horrified that it would happen. My first love had been Zoro, and as soon as I realized my feelings, I became the clumsiest girl (emotionally) in the world. Even Luffy took notice of my feelings, just to show you how obvious I was. Fortunately, Zoro felt the same at the time. Law, on the contrary, was another story. First, he knew me too well, which meant he knew all my bad sides. Second, he was my teacher, and it was prohibited for a student and their professor to have that kind of relation. I think… And, the cherry on top was that we had 6 years apart, and I was still a minor. Not sure I was his type. The chance that he would find me interesting was tiny. To my surprise, I felt sad at that thought. Did this mean I wanted our relationship to be more?
"Cerys, are you getting up?" came from the other side of my door the voice of the person that monopolized my mind. "You're gonna be late for school." I sighed. "Yes, mom…" I murmured with a monotone voice. I lazily took of my covers and got up just as slowly. For once, I was the one mad in the morning. I didn't sleep much, my head too full of revelations and questions. I put on by rote my uniform and started to get ready for the first day of the week, as monotone and boring as possible.
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"Homework: done. Dishes: cleaned and put away. Good! Now…" I headed to the entrance and sat down so I could put on my little boots. I felt a presence behind me. "Where are you going?" I looked over my shoulder to see Law who fixed me with his grey eyes. I turned back my attention to my feet. "I'm going out to find a costume for Halloween. I was so busy (and I had other things in my head, I added to myself) I didn't have time to find one." Because of his shadow on the ground, I saw him nod. Then, he sat down beside me and put on his own shoes. I got up. "You're coming with me?" He stared as me as an answer. I ran to my room to find something inside one of my drawers as Bepo was peacefully sleeping on my bed. I observed him for a few moments, envious. I'm sure the life of a cat was an easy one.. No school, no job, no complicated love. Lucky… I finally took the items I wanted – glasses and a cap – before going back in the corridor. I saw Law already ready to go out. I hurried to put on my glasses and my cap before going to the closet to take out my coat. I then searched my bag, abandoned at the entrance, to take my wallet and put it in my pocket. All this time, Law stared at me weirdly. I saw him fixing my accessories. I gave him an explanation. "These are in case we come across someone we know. They won't recognize me this way!" He looked me over a few more seconds before searching himself in the closet and taking out a white spotted hat. Hey, wasn't that the gift I gave him years ago? It seemed used, even discoloured, but that was still it. He took my cap even with my protests and replaced it with his hat. He evaluated me for a while, nodded, like he told himself it was better this way. His right hand rested naturally on the fluffy fabric and I felt my check take a fiery colour. I looked down to escape his gaze and got out of the apartment. He followed me after locking the door.
Like last time, Law kept away from me and stayed a few steps behind. As time passed, I started to slow down until he had no choice but walk beside me. Seeing our shadows on the ground, I noted we were quite close. I saw our hands centimeters away from each other. My fingers itched me. Butterflies in my stomach, I neared my hand with his. "Is it still far away?" His sudden voice made me jump. I immediately put back my hand to my side and asked myself why I did that. Too scared my voice would betray me, I shook my head at his question. Suddenly, the wind picked up. I shivered.
"Why did you want to come with me?" I curiously asked. I saw his shadow shrug. What if he came so nothing would happen to me? After all, he related to me that Doflamingo threatened him with me. Maybe that's why he came last time and refused at any cost to let me outside by myself. Or maybe I was thinking too far, again. Maybe it was the complete opposite. But it still warmed my heart to think he was worried for my well-being. I could stop a small smile from forming on my lips. "Why are you smiling?" Asked Law with an amused voice. I adjusted my hat on my head to hide my eyes and trotted faster until we arrived at the store "Celebration's Specialist" that, fortunately for me, was still opened even after 6pm, the normal closing hour. Since there were always slowpokes (like me), the store stayed opened until 9pm for the last two weeks of an event (Halloween, Christmas).
I entered inside and right away rushed over to the costume's section under the amused, yet exasperated eye of Law. Like a parent who went along their child to a toy store, he followed me absentmindedly while browsing the shelves himself. I even caught him staring a few seconds too long a pirate costume. I smiled. "You should take that costume for school. We can dress up on the 31st, and there'll even be a costume contest." He seemed to consider my proposal. I continued to try to convince him. "You could even take your Nodachi for the final touch!" He shook his head while smirking. "You forget that it's illegal to bring weapons to school." I whispered a discouraged "Oh…". "But you're right. It's a good idea." He took a costume his size so he could try it in the fitting room later.
I continued my search without finding anything to my liking. I took on of the shelf without much interest. "What if I dressed up as Zorro, the masked avenger?" I took a cape of its hook and put it on my shoulder. Law disapproved. "A little too masculine, don't you think?" I rolled my eyes at his comment (was he stuck in the nineteen hundreds?) while he took something behind him. He showed me a princess costume from the kid's aisle, a mischievous smirk on his lips. "Why not this dress?" I showed him my tongue. "Very funny, Law." He put the item back to its place and stared at me with his deep eyes, mischief gone from his irises. "Well, you would be so beautiful in this dress. A real princess…" I thought I imagined the last three words since he whispered with a soft voice. Even without them, my body heat went up and I fell into my search once more to mask my embarrassment.
Finally, I found a beautiful blood red kimono with a pair of geta, Japanese traditional sandals. No hesitation, I took them and went over the fitting rooms, Law on my tail. "You're gonna dress up as a Geisha?" he mockingly said. I stopped in front of the curtain where the only fitting room of the store was and glared at Law. He put his hands up as a sign of capitulation while softly laughing. "Go change instead of saying stupid things…" He accepted my request with a sarcastic bow and disappeared behind the curtain. I sighed. An evening with Law wasn't relaxing at all. But I have to say I enjoyed his company way more than before.
Suddenly, I heard 4 familiar voices coming closer. I vividly turned around and saw Usopp, Luffy, Zoro and Sanji walking directly towards me. I froze. What do I do? If they see me and Law decides to get out at the same time.. I tried to found a way around them, but the only escape, the aisle right in front of me where the boys were, was my only choice. Without thinking, I hastily entered the fitting room and closed the curtain behind me. And my eyes were face to face with Law's very nude back. A surprise scream threatened to get out, but I silenced it with my hand. At least he still had his pants on.
Like he sensed I was there, he turned around and his eyes doubled at my presence. Now, it was his chest that was shoved in my face. Oh God…. "What the-" I swung my hand on his mouth, which resulted in us being extremely close to each other, and I put my index finger on my lips to show him to shut up. I followed my action with a silence "Shhh!".
Law intensely started at me and all of a sudden, I felt something wet on my palm. By reflex, I removed my hand from his lips and this time, a small yelp escaped me. Law licked his lips and got closer. Instinctively, I backed up until one of the walls was behind me, my heart pumping loudly in my chest. He trapped me between his arms by putting them beside my head. By surprise, my head hit the wall and my hat fell down, as well as my costume. He didn't have any intention of letting me go. Slowly, he dangerously approached his face to mine, his lips parted, his cloudy eyes half-closed. My face was now completely on fire. I didn't understand a single thing that was happening before my eyes, and my brain was out to lunch at the moment anyway. So my senses took over instead. His body's warmth emanated so close to mine, and his hot breath was burning on my lips. He was aiming directly for my mouth. Trying to put some distance between us, I put my hands up in front of me and they came in contact with the naked skin of his chest. They backed up immediately. However, soon enough, our skin came in contact once more, our body too close to avoid themselves. A strange warmth spread in my stomach. Our noses touched each other now. He modified the angle of his head and his tongue passed his lips.
"Is everything ok in there?" Said a feminine voice behind the curtain. Startled, Law froze up. Gradually, realization crossed his face and he abruptly took a step back. After a few seconds, he eventually answered the woman. "I'm fine." Footsteps receded. My heart still going crazy, I clumsily took back my costume, not daring looking up at Law, and precipitately got out the fitting room. I didn't bloody care if the 4 boys are still here. I just had one goal: get the hell out of here.
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Law ran a hand through his face with a frustrated sigh. He messed up. His brain had completely disconnected when Cerys's hand touched his lips and he felt her body against his. It was the first time in his life that he wanted a woman so much and his instincts took over him. If the woman didn't came the time she did, he didn't know what he would've done, what he could've done. And he would've regretted it for certain. He wanted to make her his. But not this way. Not like that. He wanted her consent. And with what just happened, he told himself he would probably never have it.
He noticed the hat that fell on the ground. With gentleness, he took it and put it on his head. It was still warm.
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Back to the root
Law entered Doflamingo's office, more determined than ever. He finished paying off the debt of his parents. After 4 longs years, he was finally free from it all and could put this dark period behind him. Maybe even go back to his hometown and start over. Yeah, that would be nice.
That's why Law understood as soon as he got in that something was off, with Doflamingo's delighted aura. He was up to no good. Up to something he wouldn't like.
"Ah, my dear Law! Excellent timing! I just had the perfect job for you!" Law stayed stoic and gathered all the confidence he could muster to put it in his voice. "My debt is payed, I'm leaving." Doflamingo didn't seem one bit inconvenient with his words. "Ha, I remember! It's been a while since we talked about your past life!" It didn't feel right. "It seems your little Cerys has a boyfriend now! Since you're her self-proclaimed big brother, you shouldn't be happy, isn't that right?" he said with a sickening smirk.
Law wasn't stupid. He knew without fail that this was a threat. A threat to hurt Cerys. Even if he told himself she was just the whining little girl from his past who didn't matter, he couldn't lie. Even if she was unbearable, she was still important to him, and Doflamingo knew it too well. But this time, Law had enough.
Without uttering a work, he got out the room as fast as lighting, then the house, and entered his car. He started the engine and drove without looking back. He left that life behind him, and he was determined to protect his friend from the claws of that flamingo.
After many hours on the road, he finally arrived at the house of his old neighbour. It didn't change at all. Slowly, he got out of the car and went to the entrance. He hesitated some time before knocking. After a dozen seconds, the door opened to reveal Cerys's mother. Still as beautiful as in his memory. And just as warm. "Law!" She took him in her arms and suffocated him. Even so, Law smiled. He felt at home here. He almost forgot that feeling. "Don't just stand there, come in, come in!" Cerys's mother invited him inside and, arm in arm, guided him to the kitchen where her husband was quietly reading the paper. "Love, look who came back!"
As soon as he saw him, Cerys's father got up, a gigantic smile on his lips, and shook his hand, robust and friendly. Like in his memory. Everyone sat at the table and the woman questioned him without delay. Of course, Law lied to her when she asked where he's been for the past five years. Then, like she remembered something, her eyes started to sparkle. "Cerys, honey, come here please!" "Coming!"
Footsteps could be heard in the stairs and Law observed with apprehension. Soon he saw a young woman full of life, a smile on her lips, tumble down the steps. She had changed in those few years. She was more mature, going from a small girl to a full-fledged woman. She now had her hair all the way to her shoulders, giving her a more grown-up look. Her eyes were the only part that hadn't changed. Still as deep as before. She's beautiful.
As soon as her gaze took notice of Law, her smile disappeared and was replaced by a wince. Law smirked maliciously. He felt like a 17 year old kid all over again. "Missed me?" She was fast to answer.
"No way!"
The rest, well, is history.