Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece.
Start
Bepo walked into the infirmary carrying a tray of food and beamed at me, "Hello Ari-chan! How are you today?"
"Pretty good," Bepo walked over to me as I set my book down and set the tray of food on my lap, "What about you?"
"I'm good," I began eating as he took a seat in a nearby chair, "So Captain's having you stay in his room?"
Immediately, a small blush formed on my cheeks, but I pushed it down as I nodded, "Yeah. How is everyone?"
"They're really glad you're getting better," I smiled upon hearing that, "Especially Captain,"
"Law was worried about me?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
Bepo nodded with a bright smile, "Yup! He didn't sleep well at all after you got hurt. He was really worried about you."
Law lost sleep over me? The thought made me feel warm though I pushed it away. He probably did the same thing every time someone on the crew got hurt like I did, so it wasn't anything special. Even if I kinda wanted it to be. I shoved that thought away with a mental groan. Where the hell did that come from?
Law easily lifted Ariun into his arms making her squeak slightly. He chuckled and offered her an amused look, "A problem Ariun-ya?"
Her cheeks gained the faint pale rose-like tint it usually did when she was slightly embarrassed and she glared at him, "Yes. You picked me up without telling me."
"I will endeavor to tell you next time," Yeah that wasn't going to happen if it got her to make that sound and blush.
Ariun huffed and laid her head on his shoulder. He held back a shiver when she breathed out against his ear. He began to walk towards the doors as Ariun asked, "So did someone put some of my clothes in your room?"
"Maki-ya did at my request," Ariun nodded with a small sigh, "Are you happy about that?"
"Yes since Maki will actually grab things I'll wear while Kuro just picks up things at random," Ariun snorted softly while Law felt a small stab of jealousy at the amount of trust she gave Maki.
"Has something like this happened before?" He asked while pushing down the illogical stab of jealousy towards one of her brother figures.
Ariun nodded as they left the infirmary, "Once for a chest injury while the other times were when I got sick enough that Maki wouldn't let me stay somewhere alone."
"A previous chest injury?" Law hadn't noticed any scars during his checks on her injury.
He reached his room and easily opened the door before walking inside as Ariun nodded, "Yeah it wasn't anything too bad and the scars pretty faded so you probably wouldn't have noticed it unless I pointed it out."
"What exactly happened?" He made his way towards his couch where he set her down as gently as he could.
Once he set her down and backed away a bit, she placed her right hand on the area just below her heart, but before her stomach. A small jolt of coldness ran through him at just how close she had come to dying before, "I was cornered by Diablo's goons when I was fourteen. Beat them all, but one of them managed to get me right there. Maki happened to be passing by the alley we were in and got me the medical attention I needed. It was a bitch to heal from."
"Do you realize how lucky you've been?" He asked without thinking.
He regretted it for a few moments as she stared at him blankly until she let out a laugh before stopping with a small grimace, "Note to self: Do not laugh," She shook her head lightly before smiling up at him, "I know that I've been really lucky when it comes to shit like that. Just an inch upwards, I woulda been dead," He was surprised by how at ease she was with that, "My lucks really odd. When I'm in situations like that, I'm always saved by someone and usually get something out of it that makes my life slightly easier," He found himself agreeing as he remembered how he saved her from bleeding to death and the events that led to her joining his crew, "My luck turns shitty when it comes to me talking a lot of the time."
"Like with Buck-ya hearing you say 'It seems like the only way Buck could manage to give life to anything'," He recalled with some amusement.
Ariun grimaced, but nodded, "Yeah. I did apologize though."
"Ariun-ya," I looked at Law curiously, "Why are you so at ease with how close you've come to dying?"
Humming softly, I leaned back against his couch as I thought about it, "I guess it has to do with how death always seems to be apart of my life."
He sat down on the couch across from me, "How so?"
"Ever since I can remember, I've been surrounded by death," My eyes closed as I recalled the deaths I've seen and even caused, "The first person I ever recall dying was some random marine that had come to the island. I think I was around three or so when that happened. Ever since then, I've seen, and later caused, many deaths," I sighed softly, "Death is something that will happen regardless of what we do. I've long since decided that I'm going to live my life as best as I can and see what happens,"
"So you're not scared of dying?" I opened my eyes and looked at Law at the perturbed tone he used.
"Why should I be scared?" I countered as I felt a small amount of confusion both at the question and the tone he used when asking it, "I know that one day I will die, so I'm not scared of that. The only thing that I'm scared about is if I'll be surrounded by those I love as my heart beats it's last,"
Law seemed to be shocked at my answer and I was surprised to see some emotion pass through those grey eyes of his, but it passed too quickly for me to figure out what emotion it was. It must have been a bad one because his eyes darkened a little and the darkness in them seemed to grow. I was torn from my thoughts as Law said, "I hope you'll fight to live until then."
"Of course," It was an odd statement and I wondered why he said it, "I will fight as hard as possible and only accept my death when it is unavoidable,"
After that odd conversation, Law got up and headed to his desk. I stayed in my relaxed position on his couch as my mind went to the events on the island we left. Lee and her partner came to mind almost immediatly. I wonder what will happen with he goes back to that island and can't find his crewmembers. I mentally grimaced as I realized that the innkeeper had seen me leaving with Lee tossed over my shoulder which would most likely make that bastard realize that I'm still very much alive. I pushed that thought away as it was too late to change anything. My thoughts turned to my injuries and reminded me that I hadn't showered since the morning of the attack. The thought immediatly reminded me that I was going to be taking a bath with Law at some point which made my face heat up. God damn it! Why the hell am I blushing? My thoughts were cut off as a familiar bag was settled in my lap and Law teasingly asking, "Ariun-ya why are you blushing?"
"No reason," I busied myself with my canvas bag and checking to see what Maki had put in it.
I was slightly surprised when I felt Law's hand on my chin and he tilted it back until I was staring up at him. He smirked at me in a way that made me internally shudder. My blush deepened slightly as his voice took on a huskiness that sent heat straight towards my core, "Ariun-ya there's no need to lie. Perhaps you were thinking of our bath tonight?"
My mind immediatly conjured up images of a naked Law while some distant part of my mind wondered if any of them were accurate since I'd never seen him naked. The fact remained that the images were enough to make my cheeks heat up even more. I mentally pleaded for Bepo or someone to interrupt this conversation while I asked, "When are we going to bath?"
"Sometime after dinner," He replied making me feel slightly relieved, "It will be after I take care of my captainly duties for the night," He looked at me in a way that made me shiver, "Looking forward to it?"
I swallowed which made his smirk widen. He leaned down, but before he could press his lips against mine there was a knock on the door. I was torn between mentally cheering and groaning as Law moved away from me. I returned my attention to my canvas bag and began looking through it. Maki had taken a lot of stuff I usually had in my bag out of it, but I didn't mind since it gave him enough room to put in five pairs of day clothes. I was slightly surprised to find that he hadn't put in any of my night clothes, but reasoned that he probably couldn't fit any in it since my sketchbook and drawing supply pouch took up quite a bit of room. I made a mental note to tell Law of my lack of clothes to sleep in so that Maki could bring me a few sets as well as my usual bathing supplies
Law offered Maki a raised eyebrow as he held out another bag, "Captain this is has Storm's night clothes and bathing supplies."
"Why wasn't this with everything else?" Law asked feeling irritated that the silver haired male had stopped him from kissing Ariun.
"I couldn't fit it in her bag and had to find another in my room," The silver haired male actually looked faintly irritated, "Kuro's a slob which turned a five minute search into an hour long one,"
Law promised himself that he would punish the brunette haired male later as he took the bag, "Return to your work."
Maki nodded, "Aye Captain."
The silver haired man left and Law retreated back into his room after closing the door. He saw Ariun flipping through one of her sketchbooks with a soft hum. He walked over and set the bag next to her which immediately gained her attention, "Maki-ya just delivered your night clothes and bathing supplies."
"Good this will save me the working of telling you that I didn't have this stuff," She looked through it and nodded to herself, "Looks like I'm all set,"
He chuckled softly at the childishness in that statement before heading over to his desk, "I'm going to be working on paperwork."
Ariun hummed in reply and a companionable silence settled over them as he settled in his chair.
It was late when Law returned to the room after we ate dinner in here. I glanced at him with a raised eyebrow as he muttered, "Idiots."
"What's wrong?" I set my sketchbook down as Law moved further into the room.
He set Kikoku against his desk and took off his hat revealing the spiky obsidian strands that were softer than they looked. He ran a hand through his hair in irritation, "They decided to celebrate your recovery."
"Without me?" I snorted softly, "And when we're not near an island with a stable magnetic field? Idiots indeed," Law chuckled while I muttered, "Kuro probably started it,"
Law walked over to me and picked me up. I let out a small squeak gaining a chuckle from him. Before I could ask what was going on, he was walking towards the bathroom door. Realizing what was going on, I felt my face heat up slightly as Law said, "Due to how busy most of the day is, you're going to be bathing at night until you're healed as this is one of the only times I'll have the time to help you."
"Why can't Bepo help me shower?" Why was I even asking that question? "Or Maki?"
"Because Bepo-ya is steering the ship and his claws can't be retracted like yours can," I mentally wince at the mental picture, "As for Maki-ya, I do not want him in my room,"
End