Law stirred awake, reaching out with one hand. He frowned curiously when his fingers wandered about the empty sheet. He opened his eyes at last, which just confirmed his suspicions. He scowled bitterly as he rolled over and pulled the blanket up over his head. Why that insipid little...she didn't…she couldn't even…he growled as he pushed all thought of her aside. But despite his foul temper, his heart ached slightly. But he knew this would happen, it was the third time after all. How did this keep happening? How had she wound up in his bed again? He was pretty sure they'd been arguing over something, she wasn't the type who took orders as obediently as the rest of the crew. But how does that sort of passion evolve into love-making? If it could even be called that. He didn't love her, and he was fairly certain that she hated him. So why then…why three times even…?
There was a gentle knock on his cabin door. "Captain?"
He glared murderously at the door; the fierceness of the gaze seemed to make the one outside hesitate. An awkward cough sounded as they attempted to clear their throat. "They're assembled, as per your o-orders, sir."
He blinked in confusion for a moment before it came to him. He groaned as he sat up, tossing the thin blanket aside. "Fine," he conceded. "Tell them to wait, I'll be along shortly." He rubbed his haggard face with one hand as he snatched a pair of pants from the floor. He pulled them on and stumbled wearily across the room towards a small wash basin. He splashed some water on his face, the briskness of it made him shiver. He straightened as he squared his shoulders and set his jaw. It was back to business as usual. There was a small mirror studded to the wall and he flinched as something flashed a brilliant silver. From his bed? That didn't make sense. He turned around and squinted. There was something on her—the extra pillow. He approached to retrieve it, trying to ignore her lingering scent. There was a simple jeweled earring embedded in the pillowcase by its delicate clasp. His face twisted into a soft smirk at her mistake, and he carefully removed it before tucking it into his jeans pocket. Let her think its lost then, it would serve her right. After all, it could be anywhere on this ship.
Once he finished dressing for the day, he donned his signature fur cap. Outside the cabin, his crew was bustling about. A few stopped to wish him good morning with broad smiles and enthusiasm that softened his usual smirk. He raised his hand in return with a nod but carried on his way. It wouldn't do to keep them waiting much longer.
His first mate was waiting just outside the door and stood to attention. "Good morning, Captain!" He greeted with a cheerful salute.
"Well, that remains to be seen," he gently teased in turn as he waved off the unnecessary gesture. Loyalty meant more to him than posturing alone. "But let's get to it already."
He opened the door for him and stood aside to let him enter first. Four crew members stood to attention as Law walked in. He took a seat at the head of the table, resting his blade casually against his shoulder. The rest sat down as well, eagerly awaiting his next move. There was a hint of a smug smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as he made eye contact with each one. "Are we still on schedule for tonight's mission?"
Bepo nodded. "Yes, Captain. We'll arrive in Port Tamerel by sunset."
His brow furrowed slightly. "We can't very well sail the Polar Tang straight into their harbor-"
"Of course not! I know that!" He protested with a bit of whine. "I've made arrangements for you to travel on a yacht under pseudonyms." He noticed a few crewmembers elbowing each other with barely concealed sniggers. "And proper names this time too!" He growled at them as crimson color mottled his fur. "Incredibly noble ones!"
Law raised his hand to restore order. "I trust you, Bepo. That's why I assigned it to you in the first place," he grinned to reassure his trusty navigator.
Tears sparkled in his beady eyes as he was touched by his words. "Oh Captain! I won't let you down."
He nodded in turn before turning to Shirazuki Jashiro. "We'll need to keep the team small and civilized, only the best manners. We can't draw any sort of attention to ourselves. Blending in is absolutely essential on this one."
"But what about muscle when things turn sour?" Yurata Chisu objected with a bit of a pout.
Law turned a condemning eye towards the question. "When?" He growled softly.
He swallowed hard. "Well, it happens, you know, sometimes-" he mumbled in his defense.
"Not. This. Time." Law said firmly. "Understood?"
Yurata nodded meekly and wisely kept his mouth shut.
"Don't worry, Captain, he won't be joining you," Shirazuki assured him. He pulled out a scroll and set it on the table. It was a map of a nobleman's villa with several marks added. He quickly scribbled an additional note. "The muscle is only a last resort, stationed outside in case things get hairy and we need to make a speedy getaway. That's it."
Law nodded in agreement. "I trust you've assigned someone who can keep a cool head." He narrowed his eyes at the other, daring him to object again.
"Of course, but I think our real ace in the hole will be Ash."
Law seemed startled to hear her name spoken but he managed to recover quickly. "How so?"
"She is the daughter of a Marine and a socialite," he explained. "Manners and etiquette wouldn't come naturally to anyone less."
The fourth member, Oki Akeshiro, huffed a little skeptically. "So that explains her sudden appearance on board. But it's hard to believe she's truly capable of such when she's such a pain in the ass."
Law remained silent but he couldn't help but agree. It was hard to imagine her playing the part of a well-bred lady. His experience with her was pretty few and far between. Their paths crossed occasionally.
Shirazuki laughed. "That's true, but she's good for it, I promise. I've seen her in action; we won't find anyone better suited." He pulled out a two more scrolls and handed them to Law and Oki. "I've consulted her on the most suitable roles and this afternoon she'll meet with us one on one to personally brief us on what's to be expected."
Law's mouth hardened into a bit of a scowl as he read through his. A waiter? Seriously? "There must be some mistake."
Shirazuki chuckled softly. "She knew you'd hate it, but I agree with her on this one. It's definitely not a glamorous role, but you did say that we shouldn't be looking to attract attention in the first place."
Law sighed as he stuffed the scroll into his pocket. "True enough. Anything else to report? Alright then, let's just get in and out of there as quickly as possible. Let's just hope the intel will be worth the trouble." He stood up, signaling the meeting adjourned. He left the room last and made his way down towards the galley for some breakfast.
Ash woke up in her cramped quarters with a faint growl of annoyance. She pulled her blankets up over her head and closed her eyes. At least this way she could pretend that she was in a large room with goose-feather blankets and vaulted ceilings with gold trim. The fantasy was slightly hindered by the stale air and musky scent of metal. "How does anyone manage to sleep in such a box?" She grunted with a bitter scowl. She pushed herself up into a sitting position, bumping her head on the ceiling in the process. "A shoebox is more like it!" She snarled as she rubbed her aching head. In truth though, it wasn't the only part of her that ached.
Her face fell as she recalled the events of last night. She'd gotten carried away again. Trafalgar Law was a cold bastard, she already knew that. That wasn't to say that he ruled his crew with an iron fist. But how he inspired such love and loyalty from them made absolutely no sense. She softened into a curious frown as she recalled his surprising gentleness in bed. Was it nerves? No, it was almost as if he was afraid of being rejected. She found herself drawn to this surprising insecurity from the great Captain, doubting very much that he showed such a side to his own crew. Even at the end, when she tried to leave, he pulled her back into his arms, resting his mouth against the back of her neck. "You will stay the night," he growled softly. "That's an order."
She was about to remind him that she was under no obligation to follow any such thing, but the way he trembled against her back shocked her into silence. What if…what if…? She couldn't finish the thought but there was an unspoken understanding between them. However, she couldn't bring herself to fully comply. Once his grip relaxed, she easily pulled herself free and quickly dressed. On his own, he seemed a bit fidgety in his sleep, his face twisted with tormented dreams. She watched with a measure of sympathy but knew very well that there was nothing she could do. Everyone has their own demons to deal with. She left because she was reluctant to face him in the morning. What would she say? And perhaps even worse, what would he have said? She shook her head to clear it. She had a contract to fulfill with Shirazuki, her time here was only temporary. Just get in and out without causing trouble, that should be easy enough to do. She quickly changed out of her nightgown and into silk blouse and a long black skirt. Normally she would have preferred something shorter, but it seemed best to assume the role to be expected of her later. She had to get down on her knees to see her reflection in the mirror so she could style her long gray hair. She had hoped to secure it in a tasteful bun, but she noticed a red mark on her neck. Her face flushed with embarrassment, and she let her hair fall back down around her shoulders. So much for that then, she thought woefully.
There was a knock on her door. "Hey girlie, the galleys gonna close soon," a man's voice sounded outside. "Better get something quick."
She opened the door to find Shirazuki waiting outside. He grinned as he offered her his arm like a gentleman. She glared at him as she went past. "Oh c'mon, is that anyway to treat your escort?" He feigned offense as he made to follow her.
"Not yet, you're not," she corrected him. "But thanks for the warning about the kitchen. I keep forgetting how early it closes."
"It's no good leaving food lying about when we're on the high seas," he reminded her. "You never know when we've got to go on the attack or slip into submarine mode." As he walked beside her, he slipped his hands into the pockets of his uniform. "I'll have you know that the Captain didn't take well to his role."
She smirked at that. "Of course not."
"You didn't do that on purpose did you?" He nudged her with his elbow and winked impishly at her. "Just to piss him off?"
"No, not at all. That's just an added bonus. But with that disagreeable mug of his, he could hardly pass as a nobleman. They hide their pigheadedness better than he can."
"Oh, come now, he's not that bad," he protested on his behalf as he opened the galley door for her.
"He's worse than that," she huffed with a pinched face. "How did an asshole like that ever become Captain in the first place?"
"If you find my hospitality lacking, you're welcome to leave at any time," Law's voice drawled from behind the pair. "If you can swim, that is."
She stopped at the sound with wide eyes but refused to turn around. Shirazuki felt the need to intervene. "I'm sure she didn't mean it like that, Captain." He objected on her behalf. He shot her a warning look. What was with her attitude? Surely, she knew better than to be so openly rude.
"Is that so?" He gently challenged as he took a step forward. She could feel his closeness at her back and her hands curled into fists. She stomped forward, ignoring them as she went to get some food. They were already beginning to collect it from the front counter display.
"She's good for it huh?" Law scoffed as he rolled his eyes.
"She really is," Shirazuki insisted. "Maybe she's just out of sorts because she's feeling a little homesick."
He shrugged his shoulders dismissively. "Then she should stay on land with her fancy carriage and silk sheets-"
Something whizzed straight towards them, he easily deflected it with the hilt of his sword. The hot roll bounced off and tumbled across the floor. His gaze darkened considerably at her insolence. Her choice in weaponry was certainly deliberate. She knew, as well as anyone else, just how much he despised bread. It was a necessary evil he allowed on board to keep the crew happy but if he'd had his way, they'd be banned. Shirazuki face-palmed with a groan. Was she trying to get herself killed?
Ash looked the picture of innocence as she sat at an empty table with her tray. As he made his approach, she still refused to look up as she peeled an orange. "Enjoying a bit of luxury hardly makes me soft," she scoffed. "But even this princess could kick your ass."
He seemed amused by her declaration. Was she speaking out of confidence or just false bravado? "Talk like that can get you killed around these parts," he felt it necessary to warn her. "Even a subordinate should know that."
She smirked as she regarded him with a dry expression. "A brief contract makes me no such thing, and especially not to you," she reminded him.
"Cool it Ash," Shirazuki said as he sat beside her.
"What for? Defiance is hardly straight-out mutiny. How strange to find such honor among-"
Shirazuki shoved a spoonful of porridge into her mouth, effectively silencing her. She coughed and gagged at the surprise. She spit out the spoon and slugged her friend in the arm. Law couldn't help but laugh at the comical scene as fury burned in her eyes. He took a seat across from her. "Don't you have work to do, Shirazuki?" He reminded him. "I'll see to it that our guest here will be looked after."
He hesitated for a moment at the smirk that widened on the Captain's face into a twisted grin. It wasn't his place to contradict but he squeezed Ash's shoulder to warn her. Law rapped his knuckles with the hilt of his sword, not painfully but enough to startle him into releasing her. He had no choice but to withdraw. He hurried away without a backward glance, saying a silent prayer in his heart.
Ash refused to look at him as she picked at her food, but she noticed how he rested his elbows on the table as he leaned in a little closer. "Honor isn't a virtue beholden to any one organization," he gently contradicted. "And neither is mutiny. But since you refuse to belong to any one company, how can you even begin to understand that?"
She folded her arms stubbornly across her chest. "I don't have to belong to understand. Independence doesn't make one blind to virtues or vice so spare me the lecture already."
He scowled slightly at her tone. "How do you manage so much attitude this early in the morning? Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed?" His seemingly innocent question masked his real meaning to the passing staff that cleaned up around them.
Her face flushed as at his implication. Now having lost her appetite, she shoved her tray off to the side. It was swiftly collected by a passerby. "My quarters are adequate," she shrugged in an attempt to be indifferent.
"Adequate," he scoffed with a hint of bitterness that surprised her. "Why would you settle for that?"
His expression was dark but there was pain in his eyes that he couldn't quite mask. She frowned suspiciously at the sight, had she actually hurt him? Surely not… "We all settle, Captain. But some more than others, I suppose." Her off-handed comment struck a nerve, as she'd intended.
He scowled at that. "I don't settle for anything or anyone," he hissed through his teeth. "You weren't the only one Shirazuki recommended, you know. You're not as vital as you think to this mission."
She looked a little exasperated. "You're so out of your depth if you think you can pull this off on good looks alone. It requires a level of charm you can't just pull out of your ass."
He rested his hand on one fist. "And those are the words of a lady?" He teased in turn; he just couldn't resist. He adjusted his grip on his blade, pointing the hilt straight at her. "Have you noticed that you're missing an earring?" He noted as he gently parted her hair from off her shoulder. He was surprised to see the faint bruise on her neck and stared at it. Had he been responsible for that? She reddened as she pulled back to clutch at her ear. No, she hadn't! Her face fell. "Oh no! They were my grandmother's!" She gasped as she jumped to her feet. "I'd better retrace my steps! But where to look first?" She muttered to herself as she hurried away, her head down as she concentrated.
He grimaced as his hand rested on his pocket. Well that certainly ruined the fun in keeping it, but he could hardly just hand it over. He'd have to find a way to be subtle, but his mouth hardened into a firm line. To part with such a rare prize was just as discouraging. It really sucked all the way around.
Authors Note: Please be forgiving avid One Piece fans! I'm very new to this anime and its characters so if things seem a bit off that's why. I just found myself drawn to Trafalgar Law in my friend's pairing so I'm trying it out. He's very fascinating and irresistible, what's not to love?
