Chapter 42
Awakening

Opening slowly her heavy eyelids from what seemed like a very very long, dreamless night, Eli took time to study her surroundings. She was lying on a comfortable bed, in a huge room illuminated by the gentle moonlight piercing through tall windows. From the look of it she guessed that she was in the palace of Alubarna. As she rolled sluggishly her heavy head on each side a soft smile appeared on her face seeing that her all fellow crewmates were there, sleeping peacefully.

After a minute Eli slipped out of her bed quietly, and looked questioningly at her outfit; she was wearing a long linen robe and looking at the rest of the Straw Hats she noticed that they all wore the same. Carefully she tiptoed out of the room, and once she had slowly closed the door Eli stretched out her arms with a long-drawn moan of deliverance. It felt so damn good, that it made her wonder for how long she had been sleeping. Her muscles were so numb that she decided to walk a bit to stretch them.

Strolling aimlessly through the sleeping palace the chronicler admired the beauty of the corridors adorned with luxurious friezes all along the walls. As she came by a large window leading to a balcony Eli was drawn to the view. Leaning against the balustrade, she rested her chin in her hands, and gazed at the city of Alubarna with a warm smile on her face. Even if it was damaged, the city was still there, standing proudly, magnificently. Like several hundred years ago, the majestic and white buildings reflected the moonlight brightly. The architecture was unknown to the chronicler who was gazing at the capital in awe and she couldn't wait to walk through the streets, watch the Alabastans freed at last and soak in their happiness.

"AAAAH" Eli's heart skipped a beat feeling someone tapping her shoulder jerking her out of her thoughts.

She swung around briskly, and brought her hand to her chest sighing in relief seeing Ace standing behind her. Amused, Eli smiled seeing that he was wearing a linen robe just like hers.

"Freckles, you scared... the..." Eli trailed off as she felt that something was wrong from the way she was talking. The girl swallowed hard and ventured a few more words. "Hell... out of... me..." she managed hesitantly for couldn't her own voice.

Oh... Eli remembered the explosion and the damages it caused to her ears. Yet she had thought then that it would be temporary.

Seeing Ace titling his head questioningly to the side while his mouth formed words she couldn't hear she drew a large intake of air and exhaled deeply to calm down her fears before his. Surely it was temporary, her ears probably needed just a few more days to heal.

"Don't freak out," she said calmly, putting her hands on his shoulders. "I can't hear you."

Eli narrowed her eyes to try to decrypt what words his soundless mouth was saying but apparently lip-reading wasn't as easy as she would have thought. However she clearly saw the anxiousness in his dark eyes.

"Don't worry," Eli said with a soft smile. "I'm sure it's only temp-"

A gasp escaped her mouth as the young man grabbed her hand and dragged her forcibly into the palace, Eli could almost hear his heavy footfalls feeling the ground trembling with every step he took.

"Freckles stop !" she ordered with a frown.

If she was capable of facing the situation with calm her friend should do the same in her opinion, but Ace didn't seem to hear her, or didn't care. He entered the pirates' bedroom briskly and marched resolutely over to Chopper's bed still holding tightly Eli's hand.

"Don't !" Eli whispered seeing him waking the small doctor vigorously.

After a few seconds of energetic shaking, Chopper sat up groggily and rubbed his eyes looking at the pair questioningly. Eli looked at him and Ace having a discussion, even if she couldn't hear it didn't take a genius to understand that Ace was telling the little doctor about her condition. Watching the young man talking for her, Eli didn't know how to take his behavior; she wasn't a child, and she could clearly handle the situation on her own, but Ace seemed genuinely worried, therefore she decided not to blame him for his mother hen's manners.

With his grave doctor's face, Chopper took the chronicler to an empty room and examined her ears on the spot while Ace, joined by Vivi, looked at them anxiously. If Ace hadn't been so worried Eli would have probably been racked with anxiousness too, but the grave frown on her friend's face only made her feel uneasily guilty.

"I'm fine," she said with a smile to reassure him.

Vivi patted his shoulder mouthing what Eli assumed as words of comfort, but Ace's frown barely faltered.

After a careful examination Chopper looked at Eli and gave her the thumbs-up. The girl let out a sigh of relief, and beamed at the small doctor, before giving him a warm hug. Seeing the reindeer blushing brightly, while his arms wriggled, Eli could almost hear his embarrassed routine.

"See ?" Eli looked at Ace and Vivi. "Nothing to worry about."

Chopper took a note-book, wrote something, and turned it over for Eli to read.

It's only temporary, I'll make a medicine and your hearing should be back in a day of two. He also drew a little him making a victory sign.

Eli chuckled with a nod, and went out of the room to let the doctor prepare the said medicine.

Since she wasn't tired at all the girl decided to go outside to enjoy the night's freshness. Sitting on the palace's staircases she watched the sleeping city of Alubarna, a soft night breeze caressing her smiling face Eli let a sight of content escape her lips.

Feeling someone tapping her shoulder she turned her head to see Ace.

"Hey," she said happily.

Apparently Ace had taken the doctor note-book, he sat down next to Eli and wrote something in it.

Hey.

"Is everyone okay ?" Eli asked.

Ace nodded and smiled before writing again.

Yes, Luffy is still asleep but he's okay.

"Good." Eli gave a hearty smile to her friend, happy to know that they had all managed to get through this dangerous quest successfully and unharmed.

However, while looking at him Eli thought about the bomb incident and somehow felt that she had to apologize for worrying him. Yet Ace had to know that she was strong and learn to trust her instinct as much as she did... And after all she might have taken a risky bet, but the stakes were worth it.

"I'm sorry if I scared you... with the bomb thing..." Eli said quietly. "But I knew I could do this."

After putting the note-book down Ace looked at Eli deeply. Lifting his hand to her face, his thumb brushed softly against her cheek. His inky eyes glimmering with warmth Eli felt her insides warming at the affectionate closeness, a friendly closeness she thought contentedly.

She rested gently her hand on his to return the gentle gesture a soft smile brightening up her face until she felt a few raindrops falling on her skin.

Looking upwards the two pirate saw that the night sky was completely filled with heavy clouds. As the rain turned quickly heavier, the city lights lit up one by one and soon the pair saw the people of Alubarna getting out of their houses with buckets, basins, barrels... anything to retain the blessed water.

Ace and Eli exchanged a cheerful grin and strolled down the stairs to join the overjoyed citizens. The chronicler had never seen people being so happy at a simple rain; children as well as adults were capering gleefully in the street, and after reconsideration, Eli thought that it was no simple rain; it was the symbol of the country's rebirth.

The two pirates strolled throughout Alubarna, completely soaked and light-hearted.

"Did that really happen ?" Eli asked.

Usopp nodded, a self-satisfied look on his face.

The girl narrowed her eyes looking at long-nosed marksman suspiciously, and sighed resuming to the comic he had drawn for her. It was showing his epic battle in company of Chopper against two Baroque Works agents.

"Why are you so injured if they were that scared ?" Eli asked looking at a picture of him standing proudly before his shivering opponents.

Eli saw him huff, while taking the note-book that she kept with her everywhere she went so that she could communicate with her friends until her hearing came back.

This is nothing ! You should have seen them ! He wrote.

"Right..." Eli nudged Usopp's shoulder and seeing the boy wincing, obviously in pain, she rolled her eyes with an amused smile.

Looking around she watched the rest of the pirates; Chopper was making medicine, blushing under the amazed gaze of an Alabastan doctor, Ace was sleeping peacefully in his bed, and Vivi was taking care of Luffy, a hearty smile never leaving her lovely face.

Being with the crew was agreeable even if she could not hear them but since the King of Alabasta had graciously offered the pirates a full access to the Royal Library, Eli decided to spend the rest of her day resting there.

Upon entering the room Eli gaped at the dozens of tall bookcases covering the walls from the floor to the ceiling. Going rapidly through the sections the chronicler noticed contently that there were many books about the desert Kingdom; they would certainly give her interesting information for her log book. Impatient Eli picked one which was referencing the fauna of Alabasta, she sat down comfortably in a couch and started reading eagerly.

"What are you doing ?" Eli asked, watching Ace questioningly as he sat next to her.

As he took her little note-book she rested her encyclopedia on her lap, and tilted her head to the side to read what he was writing. Keeping you company. She chuckled as he drew a little smiling face.

"I'm fine," Eli said cheerfully. "You should hang out with people who can actually hear you," she mocked.

Since she was deaf keeping her company was a hard, and boring task to achieve, but Ace shook his head, picked a book in the shelf behind him, and started reading next to his friend.

For a moment she peered at him curiously, Eli was aware that the young man could read, but she had never pictured him sitting down with a book... But there he was reading a book, and as the surprise dissipated Eli resumed on her own.

Ah... That's more like it ! Eli laughed softly seeing that he had fallen asleep a few minutes after starting to read. She took the book from his hand, and put it on coffee table.

Reading her encyclopedia about the animal species of Alabasta Eli found out about the frilly lizards they had met on their first day. They were called Erimaki Runners and were sometimes used to deliver messages across the desert. Eli wondered if the ones they had met were wild since they didn't seem to be so friendly toward humans. The chronicler wrote down those information in her log book, and sketched the lizards rapidly.

Glancing at Ace, a warm smile made its way on her lips. She leaned on the couch's back, tuck up her feet and rested her head to face his. The last time the two friends were similarly close, they were in Ido and just like then the girl felt nothing but tenderness while watching her dear friend.

Naturally, Eli lifted slowly her hand to his face to push some black strands away from his eyes, and let her fingers brush against his charming freckles, a soft and warm sensation washing over her as she touched Ace's skin.

Eli ran her fingers through her bangs to put it aside and shifted her forehead against his, enjoying his familiar warmth as it diffused gradually through her. Watching Ace sleeping so peacefully she felt drowsiness slowly falling upon her. She didn't fight her heavy eyelids and soon fell asleep happily next to him.

The next morning, actually more mid afternoon than morning, as soon as Eli woke up from a long night sleep, she gathered the books she had borrowed from the Royal Library, and walked happily to the dining room, her stomach growling hungrily. The smell of cinnamon filling softly her nostrils, the chronicler sped up her pace, clutching her books against her chest.

"Morning'," Eli greeted Sanji and Ace, as soon as she entered the room.

"Good morning Elisabeth~" Sanji replied cheerfully, swirling sanjily around the girl. "You look absolutely stunning today !"

Oh... Eli smiled happily as she noticed right away that she could hear again. The cook's voice was still slightly muffled but clearly understandable. Now she had to think of something really awesome to say to surprise him. Eli sat down next to Ace and put her books on the table while thinking of a good repartee.

"That's not really fair Sanji," Ace said. "You know she can't hear you."

"And that way I can compliment her without being mocked." Sanji smiled, serving Eli a large plate of waffles, some fruits, and a tea. A breakfast in the middle of the afternoon, the cook apparently knew how to please the girl.

Oh really ! Eli was highly amused. Being able to hear the words she wasn't supposed to made the mischievous girl imagine rapidly all kind of pranks to trick her friends.

"True," Ace said, looking at Eli with a little smirk making the girl press her lips together to choke back her laughs.

After she thanked Sanji with a nod, he left to go check on Nami and Vivi, and Eli started eating while reading the books and writing at the same time. The chronicler used her devilish speed to accelerate the process as she had a lot of things to write down since she had almost the whole journey through Alabasta to transcribe; Ido, the adventures in the desert, the meeting with Eyelashes, Yuba, Rainbase-

"You're the most amazing girl I have ever met."

Eli snapped her pen due to the shock, ink splashing on her precious log book.

"MORON !" she cursed, grabbing briskly a napkin to sponge up the ink.

"WHAT ?" Ace yelled, looking at the girl with wide, bewildered eyes. He obviously wasn't expecting such a reaction, in fact the young man was probably not expecting any reaction at all...

"You're the most amazing girl I have ever met," she repeated in a very annoying tone of voice as his supposedly unheard declaration had sounded really stupid. "Dumbass..." she muttered, watching at the damages the ink had done to the page she was working on.

"YOU LITTLE..." Ace stood up briskly his freckled face flushed. "YOU CAN HEAR !"

"Glad to see you so happy !" Eli stood up as well, ink dripping from her clenched fist. "Thanks !" she barked angrily, not thinking for a second that she was wrong to flare up like this.

"Little pest !" he said sharply.

"I thought I was 'amazing' ?" Glaring at the angry young man, Eli tried to tower over him by a few centimeters. "You know, you're quite amazing too !" she sputtered impulsively.

Ace gulped audibly. "What ?"

"You heard me !" Eli growled with rosy cheeks.

Eli's heart was pounding fast in her chest while they blasted each other with angry glares. None of them seemed to want to back off, nor have anything more to say, therefore they stayed there, glaring at each other silently.

But soon Eli felt her anger being replaced by something else... a burning sensation in her chest... something powerful and overwhelming prompting her to touch the young man.

What's wrong with me ! Eli thought, as her mind was playing images of herself kissing her dear friend passionately.

Her face was burning up for she couldn't stop the flow of heated images flickering in her rushing mind. Glaring at him Eli found him so terribly attractive... The girl felt her skin tingling all over her body, demanding to be touched by the flame user.

Please anyone... anything... Make that STOP ! Eli pleaded inwardly, as she couldn't bear the painful torture her mind was putting upon paralyzed her body.

"I'M HUNGRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY !" someone yelled so loudly that his complaint resonated throughout the whole palace.

Eli managed to snap out of her disturbing train of thoughts thanks to the frantic cry.

"Luffy ?" the pair breathed in unison.

"WHERE IS MY HAAAAAAAAAAAAT ?"

"Luffy !" they said, dashing over to the bedroom.

Focusing only on her dear captain, Eli managed to forget her troubling fantasy... or at least put it aside.

to be continued

This chapter hasn't been betaed since my beta is on vacation... I hope it's okay.

Sorry for the delay, I hope this chapter was worth the waiting.

Also, and this is 'important' : I am working on rewriting my firsts chapters.
Now that I know a bit more about Luffy and Ace childhood there might be some changes (I will warn you when it will be ready).
As I studied they childhood and other memories I couldn't help but feel stupid for Ace's shirtlessness. It is the result of him joining the Whitebeard Pirates, therefore 'my' Ace should be wearing a shirt just like when he left Fuschia (opened shirt hopefully xD) and so from now on, he will be wearing one.
I will correct the past chapters, and 'erase' his flame tattoo... I will miss it though (especially during the night in Ido).

I am very sorry for those changes, I hope you won't be too confused. I'm sure this is annoying for you, but when I started writing this fic I obviously didn't think about everything (how stupid of me) and now I'd rather correct those mistakes than writing reluctantly things that doesn't seem right anymore.