Leila walked through the snowy town with Law. The town was still painted white with snowflakes. Kilika's royal family had said it only lasts a week and happens often every year, due tp certain wind currents pass through around the same time.
They had all decided on appropriate dresses and she enjoyed having tea with Eloise as she waited for Law to finish up his tasks. They were walking back to the submarine together closely, not saying much as the snow continued to fall. Leila had become distracted by her newfound enjoyment. The newspaper, her past memories and the thought of Xander Brady were temporarily forgotton. She happily walked beside Law, a permanent smile on her lips. Law noticed her happy disposition, which in soothed him.
Suddenly, Leila lost her footing on the icy path and her knee gave way. She would have collapsed onto the floor if Law had not caught her arm, holding her arm firmly and lifting her off the ground and back onto her feet.
"Thank you" She giggled, unbelieving that she had almost fallen again.
"You're so clumsy, I wouldn't have thought it at first…" Law smirked at her.
Leila readjusted her sleeve and began to tread carefully over the snow, making Law laugh at her.
"If you need my arm to hold then just say so. If you walk like that it'll take us all day" Law said, holding out his arm for her to grasp onto. Leila looked up at him with wide shining eyes but took his offer, linking her arm through his and holding onto his forearm with her remaining hand. She spoke happily together as they walked and onlookers smiled at their presence.
The Heart Pirates were readying to set out to sea once more. They had stayed in Kilika island for a long while and the ball was finally approaching. They has spent all day stocking up on food and supplies whilst saying farewells to friends they had met along the way.
It was their last night in town and they were to meet the royal family at the ball in a week. Thus, they were situated in the warm tavern. The snow flurry was beginning to pass through and the usual warmth of the village was seeping back in. It was as if the village itself was wishing them a warm goodbye. Leila sat at a table, conversing with Bepo and a stranger who Bepo had grown acquainted with. Leila's eyes fell on Shachi, who was talking to the usual young woman from the market. His expression was sad, almost regretful, but Leila knew that he was deep down excited to set back out to sea. It went for all of the crew. The connections they made along the way were never forgotten or glossed over, but they couldn't interfere with their journey.
The young woman, who Leila had learnt was called Claire, had tears in the corners of her eyes but she was smiling happily. Her pink heart shaped lips were curved into a permanent grin, despite her and Shachi's unfortunate departure.
"Is he gonna be okay?" Leila asked Bepo, still watching the young couple. Bepo turned his attention towards them and hummed.
"He'll be fine" He assured her. Suddenly, Shachi leant down and kissed her on the cheek, blushing profusely and hiding under his hat. Claire blushed a light shade of pink and her hands came up to hide her face.
"Ooo…" Leila murmured, her eyes widening in surprise. Bepo's jaw also dropped open slightly in surprise, both of them eyeing up their crewmate. Law sat down beside Leila with a drink in hand, joining his crewmates on their final day. He let his gaze fall where everyone else was – on Shachi and his smirked to himself.
"I thought you would be annoyed…" Leila smirked at him. "You don't seem one for romance"
Law glared at her coldly before shaking his head. "He can do what he wants in his spare time – I'm not going to comment"
"It's nice to have someone special to you" The acquaintance, a middle aged man who sat next to Bepo hummed to himself happily. He turned to Leila curiously, "Do you have someone special to you, little lady?"
Leila's eyes widened slightly but the man smiled at her with honest intentions. Leila couldn't help but chuckle, making Law raise his eyebrows and watch her carefully. Bepo sighed and continued drinking, not wanting to partake in these antics.
The man raised his eyebrows at her. "Well, do you?"
Leila thought for a moment before smiling to herself. Law's gaze grew more serious – he expected her to brush off the man rudely but he was shocked to find her actually considering it.
'Is she….actually thinking about it?' He thought to himself, astounded. 'She obviously doesn't have someone – or else why would she be here?'
"Well…" She spoke slowly. "…Yes. I suppose I do".
Law's eyes widened to saucers and Leila smiled before realising what she admitted. Her cheeks erupted into blushes and she occupied herself by drinking the sweet alcohol in her glass. Law never took his eyes off her for a moment. Leila could feel his hot gaze on her and the tense aura radiating off of him, but she didn't dare look at the risk of further blushing like a school girl.
The man sighed and smiled to himself. "Ah yes, that's good to hear. When you're young it's to be expected"
Bepo also stared at her wide eyed, slightly surprised. He quickly shifted the conversation around, talking of trivial things and laughing happily to quickly move on from the awkward conversation. Law's chest felt tight and his ears felt hot. He looked down at his glass, thinking it was due to the alcohol but his mind wouldn't stop racing.
'She has someone special…' He thought morosely. 'I don't have a clue who that would be. How irritating'
Law felt especially tense throughout the rest of the night, his thoughts never resting. The thought of Leila being with someone irked him to no end, he despised the thought. She conversed with the rest of the crew happily for the remainder, seemingly forgetting the awkward confession. When it came to return to the ship, Law held back and walked behind his nakama. Leila observed him, looking back occasionally to check he was still there and well. He was making her feel on edge – he clearly wasn't himself.
Leila slowed her pace down until her pace became level with Laws. She looked up at him expectantly but he kept his eyes to the floor as they walked.
"Hey" She nudged into his shoulder playfully, trying to get him to flash his usual cocky smirk. The cold doctor ignored her and kept walking. Leila thought about what could get his attention. She waited behind him for a moment before attempting to steal his hat in a playful manner.
Law instantly caught her wrist in his firm grasp, making her quietly yelp. Law's eyes widened as he realise he was violently holding her arm up and her eyes looked at him hurt. He released her almost instantly, not quite knowing what to say. They had stopped following the crew and stood alone in the town. Leila rubbed her wrist with her hand cautiously, realising her plan had ultimately backfired.
"Sorry, I was just trying to get you to smile" She confessed, feeling stupid now that she had tried it.
'Of course his hat is important to him; it never leaves his side…' Leila thought to herself, sighing as she regretted her actions.
"…It was on instinct" Law explained, feeling troubled. "Sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you"
Leila looked up into his eyes that were now looking at her. His eyes were cold but held a glint of emotion – regret. Leila nodded, accepting his apology.
"What's up with you tonight?" She asked him seriously, still holding her wrist close to her chest defensively.
Law let out an unsteady breath, his stance closed off and uncomfortable. Leila could tell he wasn't himself – she had been around him every day for months for now. "Law…" She coerced him, her sweet voice calling out to him almost made him speak but he struggled to find the words. She took a tentative step towards him, her arms crossed across her chest. Law let himself look into her eyes, her golden pots of honey that he got lost in every so often.
"I didn't…" He began to talk, his voice not the usual strong and calculated manner. He spoke from the heart. "I didn't realise you had someone dear to you"
Leila's eyes widened as she realised that was what he had been fixating on all night. 'How am I meant to tell him that I was thinking of him when I said it?' She blushed.
"Well…I would be lying if I said I didn't" She confessed to him. Law's jaw clenched as she confirmed it once more and he turned to walk away from her, he didn't want to dwell on such a frustrating topic.
"W-wait" She caught up to him. "Why has that put you in such a bad mood?"
'Did he…realise I was talking about him?' She thought solemnly.
"How could that not put me in a bad mood Leila-ya?" He growled at her, his temper rising. "I didn't realise I was just a fill in for someone else"
Leila's eyes widened in surprise but a small smirk fell on her lips and she walked by Law's side happily. The fact he was showing evident jealousy made Leila's heart flutter in happiness. Although he wasn't aware of it, Law was frustrated at the thought of her being intimate with someone else. Being important to someone else.
Law looked down at her absolutely appalled. "Why are you smiling?" He asked her. "Is it that hard not to think of them?"
Leila laughed to herself, further enjoying the extent of Law's jealousy. She looked up at him knowingly and shook her head, thinking about how childish he was being.
'He's jealous. He is totally jealous.' She thought. 'So he does have some sort of feelings for me…'
Law's irritation only grew and he huffed in displeasure. Leila linked her arm around Law's casually, forming a natural physical connection between them.
"…Are you scared you'll slip again?" He asked her, looking at her seriously to check on her wellbeing. He forgot about his annoyance momentarily to help steady her but she shook her head. She moved up to quickly place a chaste kiss on Law's cheek. Such a simple gesture would normally make him scoff but his thoughts became muddled and his chest heaved at the simple act of affection. She smiled up at him cheekily, enjoying being the one teasing him for once.
"You are definitely not a fill in for someone else Law" She reassured him. Law didn't know what to say, or what to think. His usual calm and calculating brain had seemed to have broken under the pressure. He just nodded curtly, accepting her words for now and leaving it at that.
Despite this, Law couldn't shake the growing thought on his mind - it was spreading and consuming him like a virus. He could not stop thinking about the fact that she was not his and could be taken from him at any moment.