Kidd doesn't know what time it is but it's still dark outside so he figured it's still probably between 3 to 5 AM, but what he knows is the warm presence right beside him. His head hurts because of the slack of sleep, but he can't help appreciate the warm presence beside him.
Looking at the person who must have turned around during her sleep, a smile naturally found its way on his lips. Her head is right next to his shoulder which is why he can easily feel her warmth. There's a crawling temptation at Kidd's head to wrap his free arm around her, but he shook his head. It's way too creepy and he should not be doing it anyway. It's a surprise why he even told her to stay when there's no reason for her to stay much less sleep on his bed. Sighing, he decided to go back to sleep.
As he sleeps soundly, hours gone past. Around 5:30 AM, Sab woke up as per her body clock. As soon as she opened her eyes, she was alarmed to see an unfamiliar ceiling and surroundings, but as the memories of last night came back in his head, he calmed down a little. Looking at her left side, she found Kidd still sleeping soundly.
Carefully, she got off of the bed and decided to cook breakfast. She still needs to go home to get dressed and report to work. Before walking into the kitchen, she went to the living room to get her phone which now has a lot of missed calls from Luffia.
Sab must have worried Luffia when she did not tell the youngest that she won't be coming home for the night. Since it's way too early to be calling her, Sab decided to leave a text message instead.
After doing so, she placed her phone back in her bag and walked into the kitchen to prepare breakfast while silently hoping that Kidd won't wake up till she leaves the house. Sadly that did not happen because Kidd woke up half an hour later.
It's 5 minutes past 6 and looking at his side, she's gone. Under normal circumstances, he would have chosen to go back to sleep, but not this time. Getting off his bed, he decided to go downstairs. There is a bit of noise coming from the kitchen so he decided to take a look and was pleased to see her preparing breakfast.
She has not changed clothes. The sight of her cooking while wearing his shirt made Kidd's heart beat a little faster than he'd like to. He may not admit it but the sight is such a turn on.
Damn it!
"Oh shit!" Sab shouted. "You startled me. You could have announced your presence." She said. This woke Kidd from his internal debate, thank goodness, but instead of answering, he kept his silence and walked towards the fridge to get water.
"I cooked breakfast before leaving. You can eat anytime. I'll be going now." For some reason, the atmosphere is quite awkward for Sab. Her outfit made her embarrassed, unlike last night.
"Join me." He said.
"I can't. I have to go home to get changed."
"It's far too early to argue. Sit down and eat." He said. Sab would have insisted that she needs to go but something tells her to stay behind. Maybe it was the tone of his voice. It's not like the tone he usually uses - a tone to annoy her.
With a nod, she took a seat in front of him and they ate in silence the whole time. Even when Sab washed the dishes, Kidd did not say a word to her or try to annoy her in any sort. That was something unfamiliar to her.
After washing the dishes, she walked into the living room who is empty. Kidd must be upstairs. Her clothes are in his room so she needs to go back there to get it. She should have taken it with her when she went downstairs earlier.
Ring... Ring... Before Sab stepped into the stairs, she heard her phone ringing. When she saw who was calling, it was Luffia.
"Sab!"
"Hey, Lu! Good morning. Aren't you too early to be up right now?"
"Good morning! Yeah, Zoro woke me up far too early. We're jogging around the village."
Turns out Luffia crashed in Zoro's place. At least, Sab won't have to worry that her sister will not have breakfast.
"I was going to tell you last night that I'll be sleeping in Zoro's house but you did not answer your phone."
"Yes, sorry. I fell asleep." Sab should be worried that her sister is sleeping in other people's houses, but this is Zoro. She knows he will take care of Luffia.
"Okay. I'll be going now. See you at dinner!" As soon as she ended the call, she heard Kidd walking towards her the same time the front door opened. Both their heads snapped in to see who opened the door and as soon as it opened, they saw a surprised Killer standing.
His eyes darted to Sab and her current outfit then said: "OH!"
There was silence between the three of them before another 'OH!' escaped Killer's mouth as if he connected dots. Killer remained standing there while Kidd was waiting for him to get inside. Sab, on the other hand, can't help but blush in embarrassment. There's no doubt that Killer's thinking a lot of things which might include a hook up between Kidd and Sab. Judging from the way she is dressed, anyone would have thought so.
"Sorry for the interruption. I didn't know - "
"You're not interrupting anything." Kidd said with an annoyed voice. He's frowning heavily right now while stepping in front of Sab as if shielding her or something. "Go get dressed. I thought you need to go home."
Sab only nodded as an answer before going upstairs to get dressed. she silently hopes that she will be swallowed by the ground due to the embarrassing state she was in.
As soon as she's gone, Killer stepped inside the living room while grinning nonstop.
"Wipe that grin off your face or I'll wipe it for you."
"I expected her to drop by today but I did not expect that she slept here last night. Your guest room is a mess don't tell me you let her sleep in there?"
"She did not sleep in the guest room."
"OH!" Killer answered again as if he concluded something out of what Kidd said.
"Don't jump to conclusions and connect dots, shithead."
"But she slept in your bedroom." That's something Kidd cannot refute. "And you never let anyone sleep in your bedroom. Wow."
"Shut up, why don't you? Don't start connecting dots, bastard."
Killer shuts up but his grin tells everything there is to tell which made Kidd annoyed.
"Why are you here anyway?"
"Did you forget? I'll be driving you to the office. Besides, we have a meeting with Roger and Rayleigh." Once again, Kidd groaned. He had forgotten that Killer was dropping by and he also forgot about the meeting. For some reason, he is tempted to postpone it until his sling arm is taken off. There's no doubt that Roger will tease him again.
Before both of them can resume their conversation, Sab arrived, dressed, and ready to go.
"You don't have to drop by to cook for my dinner. I'll eat out with Killer." He said to Sab while she reached for her bag before leaving.
"Alright. Bye!"
As soon as she was out, Killer can't help but grin again.
"Why don't you ask her out already?"
"You sound like Roger."
"Admit it, Kidd, she's special. No matter how you look at it. I've never seen you so focused on a woman like this and to think you guys are not dating."
"You know the reason why I don't want to date anyone."
"I am aware of your trust issues, Kidd."
"Then why not drop the notion that I should ask her out?"
"You trust her enough to let her in the house. You even gave her the passcode of your house. It's time for you to learn how to trust and she is a trustworthy one as far as I am concerned."
"No. Let's drop this conversation, alright? I don't want to hear any of this!" Kidd is getting mad, not at Killer, but at the idea that he's not too against the idea of dating Sab. It's the stubbornness in him that is preventing himself from accepting it.
"Fine. Don't regret it when she finds anyone to date. Koala told me that Sab is popular. One of these days, she might just date one of her suitors." Killer said while shrugging, provoking Kidd and he was successful. The jealousy is visible in Kidd's eyes while he looked at Killer.
"What suitor? Who?!"
"Who knows." Killer answered before taking his phone out. "I am going to call someone."
"Oi! Tell me about those suitors, damn it!"
"Get dressed, we have to go now." Killer ignored his question before he stepped out of the living room to call someone outside, leaving Kidd baffled.
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
Zoro can't help frown at the men who have been staring at Luffia while they are waiting for their take-out to arrive. After jogging around the area, they decided to get breakfast at a nearby fast-food restaurant.
Naturally, they are still in their work out outfits. Luffia is wearing fit jogging pants paired with a black sports bra while Zoro is wearing a sleeveless shirt and sports shorts.
When he caught one staring at Luffia's ass, Zoro glared at him. If glares could kill someone, Zoro would have been a murderer at this point. He's not sure if it's a good thing that Luffia doesn't care about the stares or not. Maybe it should be a good thing, but still, it makes Zoro irritated.
His hand latched itself on Luffia's waist, giving a signal to all these men that they are not allowed to stare at all. Being possessive is not in Zoro's personality, but when it comes to Luffia, everything is getting reversed.
Sensing his distress, Luffia wrapped her arms around his muscled waist which brought Zoro's attention back to her. As he looked down at her, she smiled as bright as the sun as if telling him that everything is okay.
"You've been frowning. Something wrong?" She asked while still hugging Zoro. Sometimes, Zoro forgets how instinctive Luffia can be or how she knows him too well.
"It's nothing to worry about. Come on, let's get your food." Luffia reluctantly let him go so he can get their take-out. Their hands are still intertwined together. While Zoro is busy getting their food, it's Luffia's turn to notice the women staring at Zoro.
She frowned or more like she pouted at them. God knows Luffia can't glare at anyone properly. No one will get scared at her glares, instead, they will feel guilty for making her upset.
"Let's go." Zoro said, dragging Luffia with him as he walked out of the restaurant, their hands intertwined while the take-out food is in his left hand.
They walked back to his house which is about 15 minutes away. As they walk in the sideways, they failed to notice a certain car passing by them. Inside that car is none other than Roger and Rouge.
Rouge was sitting by the window where she saw Luffia and Zoro walking while holding hands.
"By the way, honey - " Instantly, Rouge blocked the window using her own body. "Why are you sitting like that?"
"Nothing. I am just stretching. What is it?" Rouge mastered the ways of lying under her breath. She can't let her husband see Luffia and Zoro that way, otherwise, he will stop the car and cause a scene that will surely be in headlines. They can't have that.
"Should we buy breakfast for our children?" He asked.
"I am sure that they've eaten. Sab is there to cook for them." Roger shouldn't know that Luffia is not in their house. If Rouge's guess is correct, she slept in Zoro's house. It's far too early for her to be awake and work out. Luffia never works out.
"Alright. Let's just invite them to dinner one of these days. They have been far too busy to drop by at home." It's true, the sisters rarely drop by nowadays. They are busy with something else.
"Roger, they're adults, no longer children. They have to live their lives to the fullest. And that includes dating."
Roger froze from the driver's seat as soon as he heard the forbidden word.
"Let's face it, honey. They are at the right age to decide who they want to date. They are no longer teenagers."
Rouge figures that it is time for Roger to start accepting the idea that their daughters will start dating. Now that Ann's dating Marco while Luffia and Zoro are together, it will just be a matter of time before Sab will follow suit. One of these days, Rouge is sure that Ann will tell Roger on her own accord.
"Men are evil! I can't have their filthy hands on my daughters!"
"When will you start accepting it? Not all men are evil and will hurt our daughters."
"Why does it sound like you want to give our daughters away?" At this point, Roger's face can't be painted anymore. He's pouting while sideglancing at Rouge with a suspicious look.
"I am not giving them away. It's just that one of these days, they might find someone they want to date. The thing I can do is to instill in your head that it will happen and you have to be prepared."
Roger did not say anything after that. The two of them remained silent inside the car.
It's not like Rouge can't understand where Roger is coming from. She, too, is worried that their daughters might get hurt and that is the last thing she wanted. As a mother, she will always worry about her children, but it is also her responsibility to let them learn from their decisions. They can't shelter them forever.
If Lufia decided to tell Roger about her relationship with Zoro, Roger may accept it, albeit with resistance. All the years that Luffia has been with Zoro, Roger witnessed their bonds. Zoro is not someone who will hurt Luffia willingly.
As for Ann and Marco, that one is a bit complicated. Given that there is a signed deal with Whitebeard, Roger may completely disagree with the relationship. Even though Marco came from a good family background, son of Whitebeard, Roger will not easily trust him.
Now, with Sab. As far as Rouge's concerned, she is not dating anyone, but who knows. It might happen one of these days.
Rouge once again, sighed, dreading the day that Roger will explode with the dating news brought to him by their daughters.
Meanwhile, Zoro and Luffia were walking back to Zoro's house, with no clue that her parents just passed by.
"Should we tell your parents?"
"Huh?"
"Should we tell them?" Zoro's serious question almost surprised Luffia.
"Do you want to be killed?" She questioned with a serious tone. Zoro wants to doubt himself is he heard it right, but knowing Luffia, she is serious in her question.
"You're not going to let me get killed, are you?" Zoro may not say this loudly, but Roger is damn scary. He's already scary when he and Luffia were just friends, and now that they are more than that, it feels like Zoro's life is on the line. As if the Death God is going to visit him at night - in Roger's form, that is.
"Hmm... Dad's probably not going to kill you. Maybe just send you to the hospital. Shishishi!" Zoro can't help but sweatdrop at her answer.
"Should I prepare my bones to get broken?"
"Yeah, probably."
Yes, this may be the only thing Zoro can do in case they tell her parents about them. All he can do is prepare his body to get the wrath of Roger because as far as he is concerned, Luffia won't be shielding him at all. She might just watch and laugh as if watching a scene from an action movie. She might even bring popcorn while watching her father attack Zoro.
Maybe he should tell the twins first so he will have someone to protect him once the inevitable happens. Yeah, that sounds like a good plan. They are his only hope in staying alive and reduce the impending damages that Roger will inflict in the future.
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
Kidd has enough of getting teased by annoying people. First thing in the morning, there was Killer. Now, before noon, there was Roger. Worse of all, he's even telling her wife about the whole ordeal!
"Honey, let me tell you, this guy is in denial! In denial! Hahaha!" He laughed loudly. "I told you, Kidd! The woman who put you on your toes is the right one! See, she even injured you!"
"Oh, shut up already!"
"Hook up already! Hahaha!" Roger placed his arm on Kidd's shoulder while he dragged him somewhere and started whispering something in Kidd's ear as if telling him secret tips on how to get a woman.
Rouge was left with Killer and Rayleigh while she rolled her eyes at her husband's antics.
"Sorry about that. My husband is a rowdy."
"Don't worry, Miss Rouge. He's not wrong though. Kidd is in denial." Killer answered.
"Alright, alright. Roger, come on. Leave Kidd alone, why don't you?" Rayleigh said while dragging his best friend away from Kidd is getting high blood pressure by the amount of teasing he is getting from Roger.
They are onsite right now to monitor the renovation. Rouge has nothing to do, so she tagged along. While Rayleigh, Roger, and Kidd are discussing matters a few meters away, she was left with Killer as a companion.
"I am curious about that woman. For her to injure someone like Kidd, that's a feat if you ask me. Oh, but of course, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I don't want to overstep my boundaries."
"It is alright, Miss Rouge. It's not like it is a secret anyway. Sab is one hell of a woman. The only one who can annoy Kidd and get away with it."
As soon as she heard the name, Rouge's instincts are pointing her to her daughter.
"Really? Pretty interesting, indeed. Kidd is giving me the impression that he won't take annoyance as easily."
"He is. But Doc Sab is different. I've been telling Kidd to ask her out already, but he's a wuss. Like Roger said, in denial."
"Doc Sab? So, she's a doctor, huh. I know a lot of doctors and they are scary, especially the doctors I knew from RGH." Rouge is tempted to ask if the Doc Sab they are talking about is the same Doc Sab that is working in Revolutionary Grandline Hospital, so she needs to play her words right.
"You might know her, then. She's the Director of RGH"
Uh, oh... Rouge can't help but mutter inside her head. Turns out she's right. Look at the timing. Earlier, she was dreading that Sab may follow the footsteps of her other sisters, and she's right.
What irony it is... Roger is encouraging Kidd to date the woman who injured him... which coincidentally is their daughter.
A smirk appeared on Rouge's lips. She can't wait to see Roger's reaction once he finds out about this. That surely will be a sight to see especially if Sab and Kidd will start dating.
Imagine, he played the role of Cupid to their daughters' love lives. First, the drunken signed deal, now, this one. Looks like Roger will be in dilemma one of these days.
===XXX===XXX===XXX===
Ann feels a little bit sad that they have to leave the island this soon, but she figures it is time to go back. After all, they have responsibilities that they need to fulfill. After their lunch, they packed up so they can leave before dawn.
As soon as their luggage is prepared, Ann proceeds to double check the helicopter. She knows it is in tiptop condition, but it's better to check before they depart.
At 3:00 PM, they left the island. Of course, Franky and Usopp were informed beforehand. The travel was as smooth as their travel on their way to the island. As soon as they got off the helicopter, they were greeted by Luffia and Zoro.
"Ann! Marco! Hi! Hi! Did you enjoy the stay on the island?"
"Yes, Luffia. It was a great place, yoi."
"Fantastic! I am glad to hear that!"
As usual, Zoro remained silent but nodded to Ann and Marco as a greeting.
"She did not do anything drastic, did she?" The question was pointed to Zoro. He knew that Ann was talking about Luffia.
"None so far."
"I am behaving!"
"That's not convincing at all, Lu. Anyway, let's go." Ann said.
While on the elevator, Luffia kept asking if they tried the island activities which Marco patiently answered. As the two of them kept talking, Ann decided to ask Zoro something that's been bothering her for quite sometime now.
"Are you and Luffia - "
"Yes." Before she could finish her question, Zoro answered as if guessing her question. "I planned to tell you and Sab, but the timing is not in my favor."
Ann can only raise her eyebrows at him. It's not like she dislikes Zoro. In fact, Ann trusts him when it comes to Lufia's wellbeing. But the thing that's been bothering her is the fact that Zoro was in a relationship with Tashigi unless the two of them broke up.
Judging from how sincere he looks right now, Ann decided not to ask anything further. She will have to trust the two of them.
The four of them arrived in the basement where Marco's car is. While loading their luggage in the car, Ann's eyes drifted to where Zoro and Luffia was. The two of them acted like they usually do, but Ann knew that there's a change, albeit almost non-noticeable.
It didn't take time before Ann and Marco bid their farewell to Zoro and Luffia. During their drive, Marco noticed how Ann is frowning.
"You look worried, yoi."
"Yeah, a bit."
"Is it about Luffia?" It's not like Marco did not notice that Ann's been paying attention to Luffia and Zoro's interaction earlier.
"Yes."
"It's given that you will be worried about your younger sister. You've known Zoro for a long time now, isn't it?"
"I know I can trust him, but let's just say that I am still worried. Although, I am not going to tell Luffia to break up with him."
"Your sister is smart. I think she knows what she's doing, yoi." He might not have known Luffia for long, however, Marco knows that underneath that sunny personality, there is something akin to intelligence. She's pretty observant and right on the spot too, if Marco had to be honest.
"Maybe you're right." There's no use to worrying.
"By the way, Thatch's been asking for souvenirs, yoi."
Ann snorted upon hearing his statement.
"Yeah, right. As if you can get anything for him."
"I did, yoi."
"What did you get him?" This made Ann curious. There is no store in Sunny Islands after all.
"I took a small amount of white sands and placed it on a container. I'll be giving it to him later on." After hearing his statement, Ann's loud laughter echoed inside the car.
"Send me a picture of his reaction. I bet it's going to be hilarious."
"Definitely, yoi." Marco can't wait till Thatch sees his souvenir. Speaking of siblings, Marco dreaded the questioning that he will definitely receive from Izou. Oh well, he hopes he can dodge her as soon as he can.