When you're climbing, crying

Reaching for the open sky

I'll find you and pull you out alive

"The Rope" by Hurts

Chapter 8

Naiya had a little more energy than the last time she woke up. She lifted the oxygen mask off of her face and sat up, blinking through the exhaustion she felt in every part of her body. Naiya rubbed her arms slightly. Her dark skin was lighter than she remembered it being before. Reaching up to her hair, she found it slowly ascending to cloud status. She did her best to pull it back to make it look less unruly. Naiya let out a soft sigh. She still felt tired.

Slowly taking in her surroundings, nothing seemed to have changed since she'd last woke up. There was no one watching over her though, so she supposed she was at least showing signs of improvement. Naiya didn't feel much like moving. She covered her mouth as she yawned. She decided to recount all that she remembered, afraid she might have lost her memories again. Naiya could remember reading the article about Ace's execution, and the memories she had gained in association. She remembered being captured and put in Impel Down. She wondered if the hazy dream she had of Law while she was in her cell was real or not. It seemed like it might have actually been real.

Naiya wondered what time it was, when the door was opened. She looked up at Law tiredly, "It seems you have saved my life yet again." Law looked at her. He seemed a little startled to find her awake, but then his expression fell into a small, easy smile. It was barely noticeable, the rare expression on his usually placid face, but she caught it.

"Well, as your captain, it was the least I could do," he responded. That told Naiya all she needed to know. She was a Heart Pirate, and the dream hadn't been a dream at all.

"Thank you," she said, yawning again.

"Your devil fruit was what really kept you alive though," Law told her, sitting down next to the bed. Naiya looked at him in confusion.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"It kept reviving you every time your heart stopped," he responded, "So I had enough time to find a cure for the poison that you had been slipped." Law looked irritated when he talked about it, but Naiya felt strange and nauseous. There was only one person who would've done that to her.

"He wants me dead," Naiya whispered. Law looked over at her curiously.

"Who?" he asked slowly.

"Blackbeard," Naiya answered slowly, covering her face with her hands. She was almost too scared to breathe, "He wants me to die because I betrayed him, and he needs my devil fruit." Law didn't say anything in response. Naiya didn't know what to do with this sudden realization. A huge part of her just wanted to run and hide, but there was no hiding from a Yonko. Blackbeard would find her eventually. Then being a part of the Heart Pirates probably wasn't the best plan. It put a target on Law's back as well, even though she would technically be able to revive him.

"Law, I'm a huge liability," Naiya started, "You might as well throw me overboard." Law laughed at that.

"I just spent several days trying to save you, and you want me to kill you?" he continued to laugh, and Naiya frowned at him.

"Of course," she replied, "It's the most logical conclusion. I'm disposable." Law stifled his laughter to look at her seriously.

"That's too bad. You're a member of my crew now, so I have to protect you," he told her. Naiya stared at him in disbelief.

"You have terrible risk versus reward decision making," Naiya deadpanned in response. Law merely smirked.

"Maybe," he responded, still looking pleased with himself. Naiya rolled her eyes, tired of his tomfoolery. She supposed she was still useful to him despite the fact that it might paint a huge Target on his back, and Naiya was just going to have to accept his nonsensical decision. She supposed she didn't actually want to die, so it was nice to know Law wasn't going to ditch her at first opportunity. Even if the thought of him caring made her heart speed up a little.

Naiya quickly tried to wave those thoughts away. There was no way that could ever happen, she needed to get that all under control before she developed feelings for someone who wouldn't look her way like that.

That's all for now folks. Consider reading it on Ao3 or giving it a review lol.

- Minatu