Days had passed since that night and not once had she invaded the privacy of his room since, every so often her dreams would be haunted by it. The knock that woke her was welcomed, she didn't think she could stand the embarrassment of those dreams much more. She stirred a little, bringing her hand to her face. "It's open." She responded to the gentle knocking, she was at least grateful they did knock considering her door had no locks so anybody could waltz right in.
"Bones?" Came the shy response as the door creaked open.
She recognized the voice, sitting up to great another of her pupils with a yawn. "Neddy-Love?"
The girl poked her head in, smiling a little with those pouty lips of hers. Her shaggy yellow hair covering her eyes as they always did. "Good morning." She said in a little sing song voice
Abby yawned again as she swung her legs over the edge of her bed, waving for the girl to come inside. Neddy was one of the few other females on board and by far her most promising student, much more so than Stitch who was to take over as the ships Doctor once she was done. She even told this to Neddy but the silly girl refused to take Stitch's spot as Head Doctor. "Isn't it a bit early?" She looked at her clock before giving her body a nice stretch, it wasn't even dawn yet but it sounded like the ship was awake and bustling.
"Yes." She sat down on the desk opposite of her teacher, the chains on her hip jingling as she moved. She smiled a little as she watched the woman, even waking up her teacher looked so pretty.
"What are you smiling about?" The elder of the two smiled as she combed her hair out, she had been given an anonymous gift a day or so ago of a hair brush with a small box of chocolates. An incredibly sweet gift… she just wished she didn't eat all the chocolates in one sitting. She didn't know they didn't have any more sweets on this ship. Still, she was grateful for a proper hairbrush. She found some yellow hairs in it so she thought it might have been from Neddy but she didn't want to embarrass the girl by bringing it up if she went through all the trouble to drop it off when she wasn't in her room. She'd have to remember to return the favor somehow…
"The next island is in view."
That woke her up a bit. "Does it seem promising?"
"Yes. The log pose needle pointing to this island was very calm and the men in the nest said they can see a fairly large port town so there should be at least one or two medical stores…. Oh…" She rummaged in her pocket for a moment and pulled out a note. "The Captain wants us to be in and out quickly, we still have plenty of supplies from our last stop so this is basically just for you…" She blushed a little. "I mean, us. This stop is for the medical team." She smiled a little as the look she was given and held out the note. "Here, I was supposed to give this to you."
She took the folded up paper with an arched brow, the only person she could think would give her such a thing was Eustass but even then it seemed unlikely. She took the piece of paper and unfolded it to see his unmistakably messy handwriting scribbled across the paper… and instantly a headache began to brew as she clenched her jaw… That little shit.
Neddy cocked her head to the side as she saw the reaction. "What did it say?"
She handed the girl the note as she reached for her boots, might as well get up and moving. She was almost glad this was going to be a grab and go… so to speak.
The girl made a curious little sound as she took the paper back and read it out loud. "No fucking around…" Well, that was a fairly short message. "Heh…" she laughed a little nervously. "I'm sure the Captain meant it… uh… some form of nice way."
Abigail shot the girl a cynical look as she strapped on her belt, she meant well but she could be entirely too optimistic at times. "Is Stitch-Love ready?" She changed the subject as she put her hair up into its customary ponytail.
"Oh?... Oh! Yes! Yes he is!" She got flustered a little as she caught on to the new topic, she had a hard time following when the conversations shifted suddenly. "He should be on the main deck with Heat."
It took her a moment to remember that Heat was supposed to accompany her while she went ashore. "Excellent, as soon as we dock I want to be off this ship and finding the supplies we need." She nodded to the doorway to signal the girl to follow, she grabbed a pack that she had been given as they headed out the door. She was going to need it if she planned to pull this off. There was no avoiding having to use her devil fruit powers but she had still been very skeptical about letting anyone on board actually know what they were.
The ship was full of life; people running up and down the halls to get ready, preparations where being made and supplies double checked. Usually every new island was scoured for supplies since there was no telling when they'd reach the next but as Neddy pointed out they were pretty well stocked from their last stop. It was refreshing to see the looks on all the faces she passed by, such excitement at finding a new island they had never been to before. It made her smile at their enthusiasm… and then there was Eustass.
She noticed him almost immediately as she entered out on to the main deck, standing near the main mast with Killer to one side of him and Heat on the other. She thought he would be happy to get off the ship for a little while what with the possibilities of random mayhem he could create… but he didn't seem very pleased at all. She shook her head and turned her eyes to the island, with any luck they should be docked in the next few minutes.
"Bones! Needle!"
The two females turned to see Stitch running up to them; Needle was the girl's actual name but Abigail didn't care much for it, which is why she alone galled the girl 'Neddy'. "Stitch-Love." She gave the boy a nod to say good morning. "Do you have the lists on you?"
"Good morning Stitch." Neddy gave him a little wave with blushing cheeks, it was no secret who she liked on this ship.
"Morning Needle." Was his simple response but his cheeks had the same rosy tint as hers and accompanying awkward smile.
"Oye, Lists." Abigail smacked them both upside the head to draw them back to reality. "You made copies like I asked, ya?"
"Oh, yea." He produced the sheets of paper and handed them to her. "Three copies, one for each of us."
"Excellent." She took them and scanned them over one last time before handing the other two each a list. "These supplies up top are the most important. Once we land you two will go off in opposite directions to find what you can. Neddy-Love go left, Stitch-Love right." She eyed the town with a little bit of a sigh, she had to admit she wasn't entirely hopeful about finding everything they needed due to the size of the town but anything would be better than what they had.
Eustass eyed the woman with a sideways glance, she was talking to the Doc-duo that she was supposed to be training for him… Damn it she pissed him off. Everything she did was making him mad, he couldn't even sleep peacefully anymore since that night in his room… Damn it. He could feel his cheeks getting a little warm just at the thought of it…
"Something wrong?"
Killer's voice got his attention and he realized that he had been full on staring. "No." Was the simple response as he looked away from her and back to the town as it grew ever closer. "Don't let her out of your sight, Heat."
The blue haired man looked over to the woman, watching her as she spoke to the others. "Of course, Master Kid." Once more he was going to be in charge of her, hopefully she would be just a compliant as she was that first day.
"You still think she will try to escape?" Killer crossed his arms in front of his chest as he watched the woman talking to the kids, they had such stern faces. It was going to be a simple supply run but they had the expressions of going into a full on mission.
Eustass grumbled a bit, he really didn't know. Ever since that night she hadn't come barging, or sneaking, into his room for any reason...
"The crew likes her."
"Eh?" He turned his attention to his first mate, a raised brow as he crossed his arms. "Why should I care?"
"Just an observation." Killer shrugged as he walked away to take up a new position on the railing, he still hadn't decided if he wanted to leave the ship for a few or not after docking.
The Captain grumbled as he eyed her again, she certainly was making herself feel at home.
Neddy shifted her feet awkwardly as she tried to listen to what Abby was saying but she felt really uncomfortable right now…
"What's the matter Neddy-Love?" Abigail didn't look up from the paper she was talking over with Stitch but she could see the girl fidgeting in her peripheral vision.
"Um… It's just the Captain…" She tried not to look up as she fiddled with her chains. "He's been glaring over here for a minute… or five."
"Did you make him mad again Bones?" Stitch asked as he hazarded a glance over to see the lok on their Captain's face… eesh, he did not look happy.
"Oh I'm certain I did… or will soon… whichever." She pointed to a few supplies at the top of the list. "If you find these buy as much as you can, I don't care how much we end up having…"
The two exchanged looks as she completely ignore the Captain so nonchalantly and went back to the task at hand.
"Secure the Docking line!"
A voice rang out from behind them, the helmsman eased the ship into the docks skillfully. It would only be a matter of minutes now till the ship was secured and they'd be able to go ashore. Abigail folded up the paper she had and stuffed it into her pocket then grabbed the bag she had hanging from her shoulder. "All right you two, open em up."
They both presented their bags as instructed, she had made it adamant that they had these. Together they watched her reach into her own pack and whisper something but it was too low for either of them to understand.
"Remember, don't let your bags or the money get wet under any circumstances." She instructed as she pulled a bundle of belli out, stuffing half into each of their bags. It should be enough to get mostly everything on the list if they could find manage to find it all.
"Oh, wow." Stitch exclaimed as he looked at the Belli being given to each of them, he had no idea she had these kinds of funds. Did the Captain give her this? He didn't think she had anything of her own.
She stuffed the same amount into each of their bags before closing up her own. "Spend as much of it as you can on supplies then get back to the ship, you have an hour. That's it." She slung her pack back on her shoulder and positioned it comfortably then poked both the students in the foreheads. "That means be back on this ship in exactly an hour, ya? I don't care if you didn't find anything, that is the time limit."
"Yes mam." The two smiled at her and her mothering tone as they made mock salutes to her.
She returned the smile and salute with a laugh then eyed the dock, she was feeling a bit impatient today… plus, they were close enough. "Oye! Heat-Love!" She waved her hand above her head to get the man's attention from across the deck. "Keep up, ya?" With that she sprinted to the railing, legs clearing it as she leapt over the edge with a laugh.
"The fuck?!" Eustass exclaimed as he watched her, a few of the men went to the railing to watch her go.
Killer had a better view point than anyone at the time and kept his eyes on her as she jumped over the side, curious though… he got the distinct impression she wasn't so much falling as she was floating to the safety of the dock.
"Tch!" Heat exclaimed as he followed suit, he didn't think she was trying to escape considering she called out to him first but he wasn't expecting her to take off like that.
Abigail couldn't help but laugh a little, it was going to feel good to stretch her legs again. She missed the feel of running. The moment her boots hit the wooden dock they carried her as fast as she could muster; she felt the thump of another landing behind her but didn't bother to look back, no doubt it was Heat chasing after her. Still, as much as she wanted to enjoy herself she was on the same time limit as her pupils… but just maybe she could fit in enough time to do a little personal shopping.
Eustass glared at the back of her head, there she went acting like she could do whatever she wanted again. He still had no idea on how she was going to pay for anything, hell, he didn't even know what devil fruit abilities she had…
Killer chuckled a bit, it was good to hear her laugh and be so full of life. Maybe she'll finally start to open up…
"What's so funny?" Eustass looked over with a raised brow, he wished he could see the look on his friends face. It was always hard to read him.
Killer waved a hand dismissively. "It's nothing, I'm heading ashore for a bit. You coming?"
"No." He turned his back to the town, he wasn't feeling like dealing with people right now. "I'll be in my room, come find me when you get back."
"Sure." Killer nodded before jumping over the side, his pace much more relaxed than the two that went before. Perhaps he'd keep an eye on the woman, he was curious on where all that belli came from that she oh so discretely produced from that bag…
To Be Continued…
