Ash was startled awake in the middle of the night, caught up in the terror of a horrible nightmare. Her throat felt raw as her scream ended in a horrible coughing fit. She doubled over, wheezing as she struggled to catch her breath. She trembled from head to toe in a cold sweat, as she couldn't fully shake the horror of the dream. It started out as the same scenario where Korenaga poisoned her, his stupid face twisted in smug satisfaction as it spread through her body like liquid fire. Being left to die all alone was a terrible fate indeed but this one had taken a terrible turn. Instead of succumbing soon after to death, Law's imposing figure made its way through the flames of the torched Estate. He stood over her, watching her writhe in agony, with a cool indifference that bordered on heartless.
She looked down at her own hands as she remembered reaching out towards him, her mouth moved uselessly as she pleaded for his help. His gaze darkened as his golden eyes narrowed. "Your usefulness has come to an end, a pity really," he scoffed as he turned to leave. "But what else did I expect from just a pretty face?"
She stared in disbelief as he walked away, his form disappearing within the flames. She had thrown out her arm, screaming for his mercy, for his forgiveness! Her scream is what had woken her up in the first place. Tears collected in her eyes as she still felt the sting of his rejection. It wasn't real, it hadn't happened, but she feared it all the same. Who was to say if he wouldn't just fire her a week or two from now, maybe six months in? She grimaced as she rubbed her throat. It burned whenever she swallowed, she needed to take something for it. She climbed out of bed as she cursed Law for being so stingy with his handouts. Maybe there was ice cream in the galley? The prospect of a midnight snack lifted her spirits a bit.
The corridors lights had dimmed down to night mode, but she could still see enough to find her way to the elevator. She operated it with relative ease, she was starting to get used to it now. She didn't encounter anyone along her way, was everyone else asleep? Surely there was a night crew, but she continued on her way without seeing a single soul. Once she made it to the galley, she was surprised to see a light on in the kitchen, and she hesitated for an awkward moment. Was it the chef making morning preparations? It seemed much too early for that sort of thing. As she cautiously approached, she could hear a faint shuffling of bare feet on the tiles, and a drawer opened with the tinkling of silverware as they rummaged through it. Then it went silent again, so it wasn't likely to be the chef then. Then who else?
She tiptoed up to the door, there was a circular window set in it, but she couldn't see much of anything inside. The place was cleaned and cleared from its last meal served.
Something struck the door, making it shudder in its hinges. "Quit sneaking and come in already if you're gonna!"
She jumped back in surprise with a squeak, but this sudden upset created another coughing spell.
Law immediately recognized it and threw open the door to find Ash bent over, clutching her throat. She didn't see the concern on his face as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and led her inside. Her embarrassment at being caught made her self-conscious, which made it harder for her to recover from this particular episode. She coughed hard enough to see stars behind her closed lids. He lifted her up onto the counter and she instinctively leaned into him, seeking relief. He summoned a blue aura to his hand as he set about providing immediate treatment. Her cough soon subsided into a faint wheeze as she felt a soothing sensation spread along her neck.
"Take soft, shallow breaths," he gently instructed as he rested his forehead against hers. He wasn't so aware of this intimate closeness as he concentrated more on the technique. It wasn't solely to soothe as it was to assess her condition.
"Y-you scared me, you jerk," she grumbled under her breath as she began to recover.
His brow furrowed once he reached the conclusion. "There are two muscular tears in your vocal cords, the result of exceeding the allowed range. You've entirely overdone it." his golden gaze fairly glared at her.
It looked eerily similar to his condemnation in her dream. Her face went white as her eyes widened in horror. He frowned suspiciously as that was a complete first. She was frightened…of him? As impossible as that seemed, he still took two steps backward to give her space. It was then that he noticed her interesting choice of sleep attire; a button-up shirt that was mid-thigh in length. A brief thrill tingled up his spine at the sight, but he rested his hands casually on his hips.
Unable to look him in the eye now, her gaze lowered. She noticed that he was shirtless, dressed down to a pair of loose pajama-style pants. She reddened as she forced herself to look elsewhere. "It's not my fault," she complained with a faint whine. "I can't help what I dream."
He blinked in surprise at that. "You've been having nightmares." He stated in a solemn tone. She nodded silently. "Since when?" He pressed.
"What does it matter?" She scoffed bitterly. "You can't fix that."
He frowned severely at that. "Mental trauma to the psyche can influence the physical state," he explained as he lifted her chin to regain her attention. "That is why you should have told me."
She caught hold of his wrist and pulled her chin free. She glared fiercely in turn. "Don't read too much into such nonsense. Dreams don't mean anything anyway." He considered her statement with a blank expression, making her feel like maybe she had over-reacted. She gently pushed past him as she slid off the counter. She made her way over the fridge in the corner of the room and opened up the freezer. "Where's your ice cream anyway? That's what I came for in the first place."
"Third shelf," he mumbled as he turned back towards his own midnight snack of rice-balls. He noticed her position and suddenly added. "Towards the back, I think." He smirked as she bent over to lean into the large freezer as she searched. Her shirt shifted up, revealing a black, bikini-style panty with some lace trim. The cut was flattering, showing just enough ass without being slutty. He suddenly wondered if she was wearing a matching bra as well. Though it was more likely that she was going without it at this hour. A devilish smile crept across his face at the very thought, either prospect was delicious to consider.
She looked up through the wire rack above, spotting it there instead. "Hey, you're wrong! It's on the second shelf," she huffed as she pulled back to reach for one of the pints.
"Huh, my mistake then," he said off-handedly as his expression returned to normal when she turned around.
She closed the door and joined his side to get a spoon from the drawer. "I don't suppose you have any of those pills on you at this hour?" She asked as she took a big spoonful. She gagged slightly at the sudden chill to her sensitive throat. Her next bite was much smaller, and she swallowed more carefully this time.
He shook his head. "No. Besides, you'll need something stronger this time round. Finish your snack first." He said before taking another bite.
She noticed his choice of snack, so he'd had the same idea huh? "What's got you up at this hour, surely not work?"
He smirked at that. "No, not this time round. Though I do work late most nights," he conceded.
"Was it a nightmare?" She asked curiously, she couldn't help herself.
His face fell slightly as his brow knit together in a measure of regret. "No. I don't sleep deeply enough to experience dreams of any sort."
Was that a good or a bad thing? She wasn't sure what to say to that, so she remained silent. It was quiet for several minutes as they ate side by side. She discreetly admired his tattooed torso, but she wasn't as skilled in masking her discretion. Her attention pleased him but naturally he kept his own expression blank. She was welcome to look all she wanted as far as he was concerned. He made a brief show of stretching with a yawn. "Have you finished yet? You shouldn't stay up too late."
"Geez Dad, what's with the curfew?" She scoffed as she took another bite.
"You want that medicine or not?" He countered dryly as he placed his plate in the sink.
She quickly finished up and tossed the carton in the trash. He lingered behind as she opened the door so he could switch off the light. It took a moment for their eyes to adjust to the dimmer light of night-mode once again. He led the way to the elevator this time.
"You know, we'd get there faster if you just use that Room ability of yours," She suggested.
"That power isn't limitless, you know," he said in slight exasperation as he worked the metal controls to open it. "I'd rather not waste it."
"And here I thought that maybe it was because you enjoy my company so much," she teased as she playfully pinched his cheek. He flinched at the gesture and shrugged her off. Sure he may envy such lighthearted affection, but to experience it was just as unsettling too. Her face fell in turn as she realized how uncomfortable she'd made him. She'd gotten carried away; she hadn't been thinking. To see her disappointment instantly made him regret it. Her gesture had been a positive step and he didn't want things to regress backward. Once the elevator arrived, he opened the door and slid the gate back. Then he took hold of her hand to pull her inside. She was too surprised to resist. He gave it a slight squeeze before releasing it to select the desired floor. He didn't want to push his luck by holding on for too long.
The silence continued for the rest of the ride, though it wasn't an uncomfortable one. Once in the medical bay, she decided to wait in the hallway for him to retrieve the pills and mini water bottle. She gratefully took what he offered with a smile. "Thank you, Law."
"I'll have some more ready for you in the morning," he reassured her. "Let's head to bed."
"Which one? Yours or mine?" She teased as she flashed him a devious smile and laughed as he reddened at his slip. "Oh c'mon, I'm only teasing," she said as she took his hand this time and pulled him along. He swallowed hard as her fingers intertwined with his own, reinforcing her grip. "Seriously, where's your sense of humor?"
"That has nothing to do with it," he protested as he pulled back to stop her. "Such ambiguity draws vague conclusions."
"Such as what?" She purred as she drew in closer, her chest lightly pressed against his own. Her gaze was alluring as her tone tempted him to take action. But should he give in now which would only prove her right? Her closeness, the softness of her features through that thin nightshirt blurred the lines a bit. What was stopping him from acting? His pride or his fear? He stiffened as he felt her mouth softly press against his. "Don't make it more complicated…then it needs to be," she whispered softly in the relative darkness of this empty corridor. He sighed in slight surrender as he tasted her in turn. Her lips had a bit of bite to them as she kissed him a little harder. Then just as suddenly she pulled away with a laugh. "You see what I mean now? Don't make such a fuss over-"
He grabbed hold of her face as he seized her mouth to cut her off. This wasn't a fuss over nothing. This wasn't nothing. He wouldn't take this sort of risk with anyone else; didn't she know that? She tasted sweet; he recognized the chocolate flavor that lingered on her tongue. Her gasp of surprise was muffled as he savored its taste. Then he stopped just as suddenly as she had but remained close. He stared down at her with slight smirk. "Where's your sense of humor now?" He teased as he held her chin in his one hand, lightly rubbing his thumb around the outline of her full lips.
She panted softly, red-faced, as his expression softened seriously. "This isn't a game, Ash. I wouldn't be so reckless to treat your heart that casually. And that is regardless of the choice you make," he hinted back to his earlier proposition as well. She remained silent as she found her senses reeling at the stimulation, it was hard to process this sudden shift. He placed a tender kiss upon her forehead. "Good night." He turned aside to leave.
She panicked at the thought of being left all alone and grabbed hold of his arm. He paused to look over his shoulder. She trembled slightly as she stumbled over her words; not really sure what to say, let alone how to say it. This was an awkwardness he could relate to all too well. He took hold of that hand, gently prying it free before leading her down the corridor. "I'll escort you back, you are still my guest after all." She remained silent as she focused instead of her hand intertwined with his own. His fingers were slender and slightly cool, his thumb lightly stroked along her index finger. He stared straight ahead; his expression was unreadable.
In the silence, his words began to resonate within. This isn't a game…it was clear that he craved her on some level. She was used to men with lingering leers and wandering, greedy hands. Law wasn't like that, ever. Yes, he surprised her by that sudden, passionate kiss but he was still very much in control of himself. He wasn't going to force himself on her. She licked her lips to savor the taste of his mouth left upon them. It definitely left her craving more.
Once in the elevator again, he released her hand and she scowled slightly in disappointment. How dare he be so stingy with his affections? She stubbornly folded her arms across her chest with a pout. He seemed amused by that and was content to keep his hands to himself. It was probably just as well, really. There was no sense in getting carried away when her condition was so fragile still. He frowned thoughtfully as he began to worry about her nightmares. She was right, that was completely out of her control. But perhaps, there was something he could do to ease her discomfort which would decrease the likelihood of reoccurrence. The only question was, would she allow it? He considered how best to phrase his proposition when they reached her door.
Before long they had arrived, and he still found himself at a loss of what to say. She couldn't help but notice his lingering when she opened the door. "You're welcome to come in, if that's what you want," she offered him.
He nodded as he followed her inside. She wasn't sure what he was up to, but she wasn't going to give him any more leads. Let him pursue her for a change. She didn't bother to turn on the lights and climbed back into bed. "Well, good night, Law." She said off-handedly as she rolled over to face the wall. She stifled a faint giggle as he grumbled behind her. She could well imagine his embarrassment at being so shunned and it served him right for teasing her like that in first place.
"Scoot over," he whispered as the bed creaked. She did and he climbed in behind her. This bed wasn't as spacious as his was, so he struggled to fit in with her. She couldn't help but laugh but he quickly shushed her. "Don't exert your voice right now," he scolded in her ear as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. His chin rested on top of her head as he let out a soft sigh. His warmth at her back felt soothing and she enjoyed a secret smile.
She felt safe here in his arms, how very strange, but she couldn't deny it. Still, she was wondering what was taking him so long. "Look, I don't mean to rush your technique," she began sarcastically.
"I'll hold you until you fall asleep," he murmured softly. "Nothing more." Not yet anyway, he thought to himself. He couldn't deny that he was tempted, but he would resist the impulse.
She blinked in surprise at that before her expression twisted skeptically. Just how naïve did he think she was? But as the minutes passed by, she was beginning to realize that he meant it. She shifted a bit restlessly. "This is ridiculous," she muttered under her breath. "Surely you have much better things to be doing than this." It was more than that though, part of her was afraid that her racing heart would give away just how much his closeness affected her.
He was too familiar with her temper to pay it much attention. He shifted his position to settle in more comfortably, moving his arm to rest along her waist. His chin nestled in close to her shoulder now and he started to hum the North Blue Lullaby. She went still as she listened to his rich tone, both impressed and bewildered by it. She never would have guessed he had such a talent before. But the song reminded her of his generous gift. "By the way, I never did get to thank you-"
His hand raised for a moment, resting across her mouth to gently silence her as he continued to hum. "Hey, I just-" She protested once his hand shifted away but then it came back to muffle the rest. She growled softly in annoyance. It was just like what the Straw Hats said, Law never accepted gratitude. He didn't have the patience for such posturing. He wasn't one for recognition either, he just ignored the attention his actions tended to generate. She sighed in surrender which prompted the removal. His hand instead moved to gently stroke her cheek as he continued to hum uninterrupted.
Her cheeks reddened slightly at this direct attention but there was still something very sweet about the notorious Surgeon of Death being so tender. She didn't want to fall asleep, to have this precious moment come to an end where he'd go back to being his cold, indifferent self once more. But the hour was very late, and her eyelids grew heavy. He smiled at his success as she grew heavy in his arms. He gently brushed her long hair aside to plant a soft kiss on her neck. "Sweet dreams," he whispered against her skin.
In the morning she panicked a bit when she felt a pressure on her chest. She pressed a hand against it, surprised to touch something hairy. She looked down to see Law's head resting across her breast. So he never left after all, strangely that relieved her. He rumbled softly in his sleep, an adorable sort of snore. He seemed so peaceful, almost childlike, the way he snuggled close to her; it was a scene she was reluctant to rouse him from. She gently embedded her fingers in his thick black curls. It was wiry and stiff, as if even his hair was just as uptight as he was. That made her smile and giggle softly.
That slight movement broke the spell and he stirred awake. He raised his head, it bobbed slightly as he blinked with a bleary gaze. Obviously, he was still half-asleep as he looked about, confused by the unfamiliar setting. Then his gaze finally rested on hers and clarity cleared the fogginess of it. She cringed slightly, feeling a bit awkward and unsure of herself. Should she say something? He blinked a few times before rising up onto his elbows and leaning in closer to kiss her forehead. "Good morning," he murmured in a husky tone.
He then kissed her nose before claiming her mouth. The kiss was soft, almost a brush, but that didn't make it feel any less passionate. His warmth along the length of her body, his familiar scent that still had that medicinal hint, ensnared her senses as he now nuzzled along her chin. Though she didn't dare to presume anything, in this very moment it felt like the emotionally elusive Captain of the Heart Pirates was hers, and hers alone. She gently nipped his passing mouth to pull him in for another kiss. He shifted to claim the top position, relishing her taste almost as much as he did the way she curved deliciously beneath him. She clearly craved him as her hands ran along the length of his bare back, her nails dug in slightly in her eagerness. He was more in control of himself, certainly not reckless enough to get too carried away. But he still took great pleasure in the moment as he deepened the kiss with a faint groan. One arm wrapped around behind her pillow to maintain his balance while his other hand set to unbuttoning the top of her nightshirt. He just had to satisfy his curiosity from the night before. His fingertips slipped in, meeting no resistance of an undergarment, and ran along her softest curves yet. She arched against him with a moan which turned into a cough. He froze as she trembled against him, struggling to suppress the tickle before it could turn into another wheezing fit.
He had clearly taken it too far and rose up on his hands and knees. Her disappointment at the interruption was obvious but the cough was a stubborn one. He summoned power to his hand and eased her discomfort. He frowned down with a measure of regret and concern. "I'm afraid that this tear will require a minor surgery." She opened her mouth to speak but he rested a finger on her lips while shaking his head. "Try not to speak, that will only inflame it further. I only have you for a few days more, so I have to make the most of your treatment in that short time. Come down to the medical bay in an hours' time and I'll be ready with the necessary preparations." She looked absolutely devastated and his expression softened sympathetically as he mistook it for panic. "Trust me, I'm a doctor first and foremost."
He climbed out of bed and hurried over to the door. He cracked it open, cautiously checking to see if the coast was clear before slipping away. She sat up and hugged her pillow to her chest. It still smelled like him. Bitter tears gathered in the corner of her eyes. This really sucked! It just wasn't fair.