Heart Pirates Ship – 3 weeks after the ball
It was a sunset on the Grand line – with a warm orange tone spreading across the clear skies and speckles of yellow and lilac painting the clouds. The Heart Pirates were calm, with Shachi leaning out and looking at the lapping waves. Bepo and Jean were conversing happily, tossing a tone dial they had acquired recently. Law was on the lower deck making makeshift repairs. Leila made her way towards Bepo curiously. She had been cleaning for most of the day and her hair was scraped up into a messy ponytail, her dark hair still reaching her shoulders. She looked slightly messy, but it was rare for her to not look attractive even in that state.
"What's on it?" She questioned, looking at the faded tone dial.
"An old song" Bepo tossed the dial towards Leila who caught it smoothly. She let the tone dial play and a gentle melody played out the dial. It sounded like a vintage love song with sweet lyrics and a comfortable tune. Leila smiled as she looked at the item.
"Why would someone record this?" She asked in thought.
Bepo shrugged "You never know what's important to some people"
The tone dial continued to play and Law's arm hooked around Leila's waist – pulling her towards his body closely. He kissed the back of her neck sweetly, the pair not concerning themselves with the crew anymore - they had also grown used to it. Law carefully twirled her around and Leila laughed genuinely, letting Law move her body to the music.
"I never expected you to be such a romantic you know" She smirked at him teasingly. Law lifted an eyebrow and held her waist even more tightly than before. Bepo sighed but couldn't help but smile at the pair and he returned inside. Shachi glanced at them before turning his attention back to the water, reminiscing about the young blonde he had become attached to at Kilika .
As the sun began to set out on the rarely gentle waves, Law swayed Leila to the gentle lull of the melody, settling his cheek beside hers as she chuckled at his whispers.
"I love you" He whispered into her ear. Leila blushed but smiled, her arms settling around Law's neck comfortably. She met his gaze hesitantly but saw his cheeks slightly flushed. Perhaps it was the sunset radiating off of him that was causing the subtle pink tones, or maybe it was her. Either way – she went onto her tiptoes and planted a delighted kiss on his lips.
"Have I caught you?" She grinned mischievously; satisfied that she had somehow entranced the cool doctor enough to not only cause him to admit his love, but to cause him to blush like a kid.
"You know you have" He kissed her back, pressing his lips against hers with increasing pressure. He moved down her neck, leaving feathery kisses against her smooth skin and making her shudder slightly. Law glanced up into her golden eyes. In the glow of the sunset her eyes reflected the orange of the sun, resembling a rich gold.
She felt her breath catch in her throat and she let her fingers run through the edges of Law's hair gently, fixing it for him subtly. It was a way to keep herself busy so that her heart wouldn't leap out of her chest. Law grabbed her fingers and held them against his lips, biting on one gently. Leila felt her stomach knot and she grew slightly breathless.
"…I love you" She couldn't help but reply, even though her face was answer enough. It was almost like she couldn't keep it inside of her; she had to tell him when it was so prevalent. It utterly consumed her thoughts and she couldn't care about anything other than him. Law pressed his lips together to stop himself from grinning.
' Maybe marrying her wouldn't be so bad' He thought tentatively as he bit his lip.
Somewhere in the Grand Line
Tom, a recently promoted knight raced through the dark castle carrying bundles of scrolls and newspapers. He quickly arrived at his commander's door and gestured to the knight with a panicked expression.
"Open, its an emergency"
"Captain Brady doesn't want to be bothered" One of the knight replied expressionless. Tom ran a rough hand through his hair, utterly perplexed.
" Trust me, If he finds out you didn't let me in – you're dead" He tried to communicate. He wasn't trying to threaten them, it was simply the truth. The knights barely moved but one of them swallowed uncomfortable. Tom shifted on his feet and looked around him carefully. "It's the red princess" He whispered. The knight's eyes widened and they immediately moved aside.
As Tom entered the hall of Xander Brady he saw the tall commander looking out the window with an unreadable gaze. He was looking down at the gardens with varying rose bushes.
"She used to love the gardens you know?" Xander said darkly. Tom stiffened as he situated himself into a kneeling positon before his commander. He didn't reply, causing Xander to glance at him. "Leila did"
Tom swallowed uncomfortably – it was rare the commander would be in reminiscent moods , but when he was he was all the more unpredictable.
"Permission to speak Sir?" Tom asked him, his eyes communicating that he had big news. Xander sighed irritated but nodded. Tom got up off his knees and laid out the varying newspapers and scrolls.
"What's this…?" Xander asked with a gruff tone.
"W-We've found her Sir" Tom let out a breath he had been holding in and looked up at Xander with a hopeful expression. Xander's eyes widened and he swiftly moved towards Tom, grasping a newspaper out of his hands.
"The journalist connections we made came through. She was spotted at a ball just a couple of weeks ago"
Xander glance down at the newspaper but his face was etched in confusion. It was not Leila he saw – but Law. The doctor of death – a new pirate under the worst generation title. "Explain" He commanded.
Tom nodded and passed Xander a different scroll with 'CONFIDENTIAL' splayed across it in smudged ink.
"A dark haired, golden eyed woman was seen attending this ball on the 8 th . It was a lead from a journalist who was there as a photographer." Tom began to explain, trying to swallow his nerves. He pointed to a picture attached to the scroll – a picture of a young lady with dark hair in a blue dress. Leila.
Xander's fingers tightened around the scroll and he couldn't help but laugh. Tom looked at him, fearing for his life.
" That is certainly her. Of all the colours – she chose blue?" Xander chuckled, his eyes lively and no longer dark and brooding. Seeing the young woman seemingly enlightened him and he looked back up to Tom, waiting for him to continue.
"She attended with Trafalgar Law – a doctor and captain of The Heart Pirates" Tom explained. Xander looked back to the newspaper from before, a picture of Law in a suit plastered across the pages. He glanced at the headline he had so easily missed before.
'Who is Trafalgar Law's new woman?'
'Dazzling blue beauty observed beside the handsome suitor at Ocher's ball on the 8 th '
Underneath the text was a printed picture of Law, holding Leila tight to his body with his arm snaked around her waist. Despite the masks, it was impossible to disguise Law's features and tattoos. His crew did not account for that w hen attending as what difference did it make if Law was recognizable? Surely, Leila wouldn't be able to be found out. However, they had been naïve.
Xander's jaw tightened in anger and he closed his eyes as he let out a deep breath. Suddenly, he had the intent to kill. Not just kill – slaughter .
"That daughter of mine…always the same" He growled. "But finally" He glanced down to her picture. " Finally , I have found you"
Tom stayed silent but passed other journalist reports about Law and his 'mystery woman' along with varying records of The Heart Pirates and their previous locations.
"You did well Tom" Xander praised the young knight. Tom bowed graciously and backed up a few steps.
"What shall we do now, Brady Sir?" Tom asked his head still in a deep bow.
"Isn't that obvious?" Xander asked with a raised eyebrow. " We're going to kill this guy and take back my daughter"