Home
Neo sat hugging a pillow to her chest while she watched Topaz change the sheets to her massive princess bed. She glanced back out the window. Some of the crew was down below doing some jumping jacks with the elementals. Turning back to the fire elemental in the room she asked, "Do you really enjoy cleaning like this?"
"I do," Topaz said.
"Why?" Neo asked.
"I've always been the type to help out," Topaz said smoothing down the blanket. "I guess it comes with having grown up in the orphanage and having so many younger kids to look after."
"Do you want a big family?" Neo asked.
Topaz paused, pressing a finger to her chin. "Honestly, I never really thought about it. I would like a family of my own, though I think I would rather adopt some kids rather than have them biologically."
"I see. What happened to your parents?" Neo said then gasped. "I'm sorry. That was rude of me."
"Not at all, Princess. I know you're curious. It's normal to ask that." Topaz turned to Neo with a smile. "I never knew my parents. Apparently they didn't really want me. So I grew up all my life at the orphanage."
"I'm sorry." Neo ducked her head.
"There's nothing to be sorry about," Topaz said. "I never knew them so I can't miss them. Besides I had everyone at the orphanage. I still see them occasionally."
"That's nice," Neo said.
"And what about you?" Topaz asked.
"What about me?" Neo blinked.
"You have a rather big family right now. Do you like it?" Topaz sat down.
"I do." Neo glanced back out the window. "I love the crew. I wish to always be with them. Or at least be with them for as long as I can."
"And what about children? Would you like to have one or two?" Topaz asked.
"No." Neo shook her head. "I don't know anything about kids. And I freaked out when I saw the baby at the orphanage."
"I understand," Topaz said. "You still have a lot to learn about yourself. It's okay. That's something that you don't have to have set in stone. You can change your mind later if you want." When Neo didn't response she added, "So what are you up to today?"
"Well, getting ready to leave," Neo said. "We're finally setting sail tomorrow."
"Have you decided if there was anything you wanted to take with you from here?" Topaz fluffed the pillow before placing it back on the bed then stepped back down to the floor.
"I think I would like to take a few of the simpler dresses with me," Neo said. "I like them." She smiled. "And I like how they made Law react."
"I think we all find that amusing," Topaz said. "Would you like to pick them out now?"
"I guess so. Law still has about twenty minutes left of his healer lessons," Neo said. Placing the pillow down she stood up and walked into the bathroom with Topaz. The closet door was already open so she stepped right up to the dresses. Taking a few moments to look through them again she decided to take the one she worn when she got out of the ward, one that had long sleeves, two with short sleeves, and one with no sleeves.
"Excellent choices, Princess. You have good taste," Topaz said separating them from the rest. "I'll have these moved to your home soon."
"You think I have good taste?" Neo twirled a strained of hair.
"I do." Topaz nodded.
…
"I'm actually going to miss this place," Archer said the next day at breakfast. The scraping of silverware paused for a second before continuing.
"Me too," Conner said. "The elementals are pretty cool once they relaxed themselves around us."
"I would like to stay a little longer too but its time for us to go," Shachi said. "Remember we're still going to the New World. We have to get back into our pirate lives to make that happen."
"I'm not in that big of a hurry anymore to get to the New World," Penguin said. "I want to get much stronger than we are now."
"Working with the elementals not enough for you?" Archer asked.
"It was a great work out and experience." Penguin shook his fork. "I have no doubt that we have gotten stronger. Still, we need to see how we stack up against other pirates."
"You're quiet this morning, Neo," Jean Bart said. "You feeling okay?"
"I'm fine," Neo said. "I guess I'm a bit sad we're leaving too." She turned to Law. "Can we go for a flight before we leave?"
"Of course," Law said. He ran his fingers over her thigh, causing her to shiver, stiffen, and blush.
After breakfast, Law tied his sword on to his back before Neo led him outside. Summoning her wind crystals she lifted them into the air. It didn't take long for her to fly them over the island and land on one of the mountains. She walked to the edge of the cliff while Law stayed behind her.
Closing her eyes she took in a deep breath of the salty sea air. The sea breeze floated around her for several seconds before it died down and she reopened her eyes. Her electric blue orbs roamed over the island before her. She looked over the castle, the closest towns, the orphanage, the trees, and the sea. The entire island of Luminous was laid out before her. She felt as if the island itself was waiting for her to give it a command. Or make some royal decree. But it would never happen.
The view got her thinking about everything that had happened on this island since she was forced to come here by her people three and a half months ago. She never expected to learn so much about herself, her magic, and her bond with Law from that frightening experience. But she did. She learned she was actually a creature called an elemental, and a royal one at that. And while she was a royal, the strongest of all the elementals, she still wasn't all-powerful or indestructible. Her crystals and her body have their limits. Her solar crystal could heal minor things like bruises and cuts and help give a person their energy back, but can't set broken bones or heal major wounds like a bullet through the chest. She can turn her body into the elements, but only as a defensive measure. Trying to attack in this form was very difficult and it drained a lot of her magic to the point of being unable to form her crystals.
She thought about Bayan, his bonded, and his journal. They did find a connection between their bond and Bayan and Zelenia that they didn't make until Law had found it. In one of the last entries, Bayan had written he felt Zelenia's heart stop beating at one point a few days before actually dying, but never said if his heart stopped too. Neo then remembered how she felt about Law when she was with Corazon. Law's heart had stopped when hers did. She told Law about it and he confirmed that his heart did stop beating when hers did. It scared her, but also brought them even closer and more understanding of their bond. She thought about being able to project herself to Law or pull Law to her. They could feel and talk to each other, but no one else could see or hear them. And they couldn't use their attacks at all. Neo couldn't pull Law's sword with him and she couldn't use her crystals either.
She had accepted her royal heritage. And her people had finally accepted her choice to live with the Heart Pirates and being bonded to Law. Some of them still weren't all to excited about their princess leaving Luminous, but felt a bit better about it after the Heart Pirates went through a specially created commitment ceremony to give their word to the elementals that they would always protect her no matter what. Law had also gone through another commitment ceremony where he committed his life to Neo and promised not to take away her purity until after they were married.
Law had also, more or less, became a healer. Neo finally adjusted to the point where Law could spend several hours with Healer Zinnia to study and help with sick elementals. During the times Law was studying with the healer, and Neo wasn't needed, she would spend time with the elementals and her crew. The crew had become a whole lot stronger while training on Luminous. The elementals had also gotten a lot stronger in their own training with the pirates in how to fight in hand to hand combat. Law even managed to find time to train with the elementals and grew stronger as well. And he, of course, always had time to spend with Neo. During their alone time, when they could actually get some, Law started spilling every dark secret from all corners of his soul. He even told her the secrets he knew revolving around his D name.
Now they literally knew everything about each other.
Neo was brought out of her thoughts when Law's familiar arms wrapped around her waist. She stiffened. He pecked her cheek and asked, "What are you thinking about?"
"You."
"Good answer." Law chuckled and kissed her cheek again.
"I was also thinking about Luminous." Neo leaned back into his embrace with a low sigh. "Its kind of weird I'm actually feeling conflicted about leaving now. I mean, my home is with you and the crew and always will be, but I still feel sad about leaving here."
"A lot of stuff has happened to us here. You've grown up a lot. You're connected to this place now," Law said. He rested his chin on top of her head while tucking her more into his arms and chest. "It's impossible for you not to feel this way. Maybe someday we can return to this island. You know we always have that option. This isn't really goodbye. It's more like see you later. Understand?"
"I suppose I do. But life always holds so many unexpected adventures and hidden dangers. We might never come back to this place." Neo turned her head so she could smile at him. "But that's okay. As long as I'm with you I can get through anything."
"Good girl." Law pecked her lips. "It's time for us to go now. The crew probably already has all the supplies loaded. Kailen and the healer woman are waiting at the beach to see us off."
"You're never gonna call Healer Zinnia by her name, are you?" Neo asked with a smirk.
Law returned the smirk with one of his own. "Nope. Never. You ready to go?"
"Yes," Neo said with a firm nod. She then summoned her wind crystals and flew them down from the mountains. She looked down to see a lot of her people were waving up at them, more goodbyes. Some used their elements to write things like, 'We'll miss you!', 'Good luck!', 'Become a great pirate!', 'Say 'Hi' to Shanks for us, if you see him!'. She waved back with sad, halfhearted waves. "They're going to make me cry."
Law chuckled and squeezed her hand. Soon Neo landed them on the beach where the crew indeed had everything loaded on the sub and was waiting for them to return. Kailen and Healer Zinnia where also waiting on the beach just like Law had said.
Kailen smiled sadly as Neo and Law landed a few feet from them. He said, "I guess this is it, huh?"
"Oh, Kailen." Neo released Law's hand. She ran over to Kailen and jumped into his open arms. She cried as she clung to his neck. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry, little sister," Kailen said while hugging her as hard as he could. He then loosened his hold on her so he could get one last glance at his baby sister. His eyes ran over her features, etching everything about her into his mind. He brushed her tears away with his thumbs. "I understand that you need to be with your bonded. You have nothing to be sorry for."
"You could still come with us," Neo said. "We don't have to separate."
"One day I will. I promise you that." Kailen nodded. "I will come join your crew one day after I finish learning how to be a healer."
Neo took a deep breath. "One day. I'll miss you until then."
"And I'll miss you." Kailen wrapped her in another hug before letting her slip through his hold to say her final goodbye to Healer Zinnia. He looked up at Law and held out his hand. "I will never be able to thank you enough for all you have done. You saved my sister, gave her a home, educated her, bonded with her, saved her again, reunited us…take care of her. She's completely in your hands now."
Law nodded and took the elemental's hand.
Neo watched the two before turning to the healer.
"Princess." Healer Zinnia sighed. She looked Neo up and down. "You are just so strong now. I'm very proud of you, young lady."
"Thank you. And, um, do you think you could call me Neo?" Neo smiled. She put her hands behind her back and tilted her head with a sweet smile. "I think we know each other well enough to move passed these formalities."
"Perhaps you are correct." Healer Zinnia smiled. "Neo."
Neo then threw her arms around the healer's neck and hugged her tightly. "Thank you for everything you've done. Thank you for healing me. Thank you for teaching Law everything that you have taught him. Just thank you so much."
"It's all right, Neo. It was my pleasure to help and serve such a brave princess." Healer Zinnia patted Neo's back. The two women pulled away and looked at each other. "Take care of yourself. Have some fun out there too. And what ever you do…don't let this pirate get away with too much. If he ever gets too controlling of you, remember you're the one who was born of nature. You can kick his sorry pirate captain butt any time you wish. So be sure to keep him on a very short leash."
Neo laughed just as Law glared and growled at the healer.
Healer Zinnia laughed herself before pointing a finger at Law. "I'm serious, pirate. We elementals have our ways of getting around. We'll know if you're causing our princess a lot of grief. And we'll know if you take away her purity before marriage. Remember, if you do, then it's snip, snip for you."
"I know that! I've already committed myself to her and made my vows to not take away her purity before we're married!" Law hissed. "What do I have to do to get that through your thick elemental skulls?!"
The group laughed while Law steamed in his boots. Neo wrapped her arms around his arm. She pushed up on her toes and pecked his cheek. "She's just teasing you."
"Yeah. Sure she is," Law grumbled.
"Seriously, take care of yourselves now," Healer Zinnia said. She sniffed back her tears.
"And remember that there are other magical creatures in this world besides us. And they very well might have ways of tearing your bond apart. There's no way of knowing for sure if they can or what will happen if they do," Kailen warned in a serious tone that broke the light hearted, yet sad, atmosphere previously around them.
"We'll be as careful as we can," Law assured them.
"Also remember that there are elementals who live among humans and have for several years. A lot of them won't know that a new royal has been born unless they have met another elemental who does know and has informed them of it. Some of them might find it shocking that you are living with a pirate crew. And some of them might think you have been taken by the pirates against your will," Healer Zinnia warned. "It should be easy enough for you to convince them that you are with the pirates of your own free will since they'll still be loyal to the crown despite not living on Luminous. If not try showing them one of your commitment medallions. That might help convince them."
"We'll remember. And we'll be fine," Neo replied. She looked over Kailen and Healer Zinnia again. Neo hugged the two several more times before Law was finally able to pry her away from them. They walked over to the sub where the crew was out on the deck waiting for their captain and sister to finally join them. Tao was near the sub as well. He and several other elementals had helped the crew stock up on essentials. "Tao."
"It's been a pleasure serving you, Princess." Tao bowed to her. "I hope we get to meet again one day."
"Thank you for everything you've done for us Tao." Neo hugged him.
Tao sighed and hugged her back.
Pulling away from him, Neo lifted herself and Law up to the deck. She looked over the crew's smiling faces. Her eyes stopped on their newest member, Topaz. "Well? This is your last chance to rethink this and remain on Luminous."
"Not a chance, Princess. I hold firm in my decision to join you on the seas," Topaz said with confidence in her voice and eyes. "I'm looking forward to this."
"It's not going to be easy. Not only do you have to train rigorously to catch up with the crew, you're also going to have to learn not to use your crystals while we're around other people," Law said. "And you will be following my orders."
"I understand, Captain. You are my princess's bonding so following your orders is going to be just like following her orders. Something I'm use to doing by now. And learning how to fight and not use my crystals, I know it will be tough, but I'm up for the challenge. You can count on me."
"Very well then." Law nodded. "Let's set sail!"
"Aye aye, Captain!" the crew cheered. They all then scrambled inside with excitement on starting their next adventure.
Law looked down at his bonded. She was staring at the door of the sub with a mix of sadness and happiness swimming around her tear filled eyes. She turned around and looked back at Luminous and the few elementals still standing on the beach. They were too far away for her to tell what their expressions held, but she knew they were just as sad as she was. "Fare well, Luminous, my brother, my people…someday perhaps we really will meet again."
"Are you ready?" Law asked when she turned her eyes up to his.
"Yes." Neo nodded. "Let's go home."
Hand in hand the two pirates walked through the open door of the sub. A crewmate, who was waiting for them so he could close the door, smiled at them as they passed through door. A familiar creak and thump of the door affirmed that they were finally home. The crewmate then waved at the couple before heading off to preform the rest of his duties as the crew got underway to finally depart from the shores of Luminous.
"It feels kind of weird," Neo said.
"What does?" Law questioned.
"I feel more complete now that I've learned more about myself, but there's still a piece missing," Neo mumbled. She was staring down at the floor in thought. "And this piece might be even more difficult to find."
Law stared at her for a long while before finally realizing what she was talking about. "Red Hair Shanks."
Neo nodded. She lifted her gaze to his. "Do you think we'll ever run into him?"
"Well, it's a possibility." Law nodded. "We'll be heading into the New World before too long. And that's where his territory is."
"Yeah." Neo nodded.
"So what are you going to do now?" Law asked after several silent moments of listening to the familiar humming and groans of the sub as it pulled out into the sea.
"I'm going to fly into and check out every single room on the sub and pretend, just for a second, that I never left home." Neo giggled. She summoned her wings and flittered into the air. She released Law's hand so she could come face to face, and eye to eye, to him. "You want to come with me?"
"I would love to, but I got to make sure the sub is heading in the right direction and then I have to unpack some of my healer books. And isn't it going to be a bit hard to pretend you never left when you have your wings out?" Law smirked. He pointed to her blue ombre appendages.
"Oh!" Neo stuck her tongue out at him then giggled again. "That's why it's called pretend. And you're suppose to be the smart one of the two of us."
"Hey." Law locked his arm around her waist and pulled her to his body. "You're pretty smart yourself. And don't you ever forget that."
Neo parted her lips to reply, but was stopped when Law placed his mouth over hers and immediately sucked on her bottom lip. She squeaked in surprise as her wings failed to continue flapping and a tidal wave of tingles flooded her body.
Already expecting this reaction, Law had his arms waiting for her to drop into them. He gave her lip one gentler suck before releasing her. He sat her down on her feet and surveyed her reaction. He glanced up from her to make sure they were alone before speaking to her unresponsive form. "I guess we still have a lot of work to do on getting you use to such affections. But at least we're finally home where we'll have plenty of time and privacy to work on that."
Neo's whole face turned red.
Law then pecked her still unresponsive lips before walking off to let her recover, pleased with her reaction.
…
"Hey, Captain?" Bepo called. He was looking into one, of many, boxes that held healer books of Law's. He was helping his captain unpack them while some of the other crew was unpacking Neo's books in the rec. room.
The majority of their supplies had ended up being books for both Neo and Law. Neo would have brought the entire castle library with her if Law had allowed it. But their sub wasn't big enough for them all so Neo had to narrow down her choices to her top favorite genre, fantasy. While they had added more bookshelves into the library, and in Law and Neo's room, and in the galley for several cookbooks Neo insisted she must have. Neo had pouted at Law for the cookbooks causing him to cave pretty much immediately despite his best yet pointless efforts not to. The only other thing she brought from Luminous was some dresses. She wanted to bring her crown too, but felt like it was too much of a risk if someone outside of the crew happened to see it.
"What is it?" Law replied.
"Are you and Neo planning on having kids?" Bepo asked.
"No. Why would you even ask that?" Law narrowed his eyebrows at the bear.
"You have a whole box here on elemental pregnancies, health care, child care and such." Bepo waved the book in his paw. He was squatting down over the open box before him.
Law shoved the book he was holding into the bookshelf then walked over to his navigator. He took the book from the bear and opened it. The pages landed on a list of pregnancy symptoms elemental women went through. Being the doctor he was, he couldn't stop his eyes from running over part of the list.
Early pregnancy signs:
Desire for more affection from husband, family, and friends.
Wind elementals or royals will have the addiction of flying upside down: sometimes for hours and to the point of making themselves sick due to all the blood rushing to their head.
Spontaneous outbursts of emotions: Some of which can be extreme and last for hours.
Low-grade fever.
Shivers.
Playfulness.
Fatigue to the point of being unable to use crystals properly.
Sleeplessness. Sometimes for days, if this occurs seek help from a healer for some sleeping powder to relax the expectant mother.
Law closed the book with an annoyed huff. "That healer woman. I told her we were not having kids. She must have snuck them in here without my knowledge."
"Why not? I think Neo would make a very cute little mother," Bepo said with light pink cheeks. "She's just so gentle and caring."
"She maybe gentle and caring, but I won't let her go through the risks of a pregnancy. She's been through enough pain already. I won't be the cause of more for her," Law said. His eyes dropped to the book in his hands. He stared at it with narrowed eyebrows. "Besides you know what happens to children born of pirate parents. Neo wouldn't be able to handle it if we did have kids and someone tried to hurt them because of us. It would hurt her too much to see that."
Bepo carefully took in his captain's expression. The intensity in the captain's eyes was greater than he had ever see before. He knew Law was determined to keep Neo from getting hurt in anyway possible, especially by his own hands. He chuckled causing Law to give him a curious look. "You really do love her, don't you?"
"Shut up!" Law hissed with flaming cheeks.
Bepo chuckled more at the flustered man.
Squatting down, Law jammed the book back inside the box and closed it just before Neo entered into the room.
"Law!" Neo giggled. She dove into his chest when he stood up. Wrapping her arms around his waist she squeezed him as tightly as she could. She glanced up at him with smiling eyes and lips. "I'm going to start cooking now! Do you and Bepo want anything in particular?! I'm going to make cookies! And a cake too!"
"Already? We've only been on the sub for two hours," Law pointed out.
"I know. But it's been almost four months since I've cooked for my favorite crew!" Neo pouted. Her pout then turned into a thoughtful expression. "I should have ordered the elementals to let me cook. Hmm…all well…I'm still learning how to tell people what I want and how I feel. But I'm home now. And I want to cook!"
"Okay, okay." Law chuckled and rubbed her back when she pouted at him again. "You now you can do what you wish here. I just thought you might want to relax a bit and unpack your books."
"I already did that." Neo blinked.
Law gave her a skeptical look.
She giggled again and poked him in the stomach. "Ah, and you're suppose to be the smart one. I used my wind crystals. I had those books unpacked and shelved in seconds."
"Neo," Law said in a slight warning and exasperated tone. He flinched when she peered up at him innocently. "I know you are now completely open to using your crystals, but that does not mean you have the right to be lazy."
"I wasn't being lazy. I was…being excited?" Neo offered.
Law gave her a tolerant look.
"Okay…I won't use my crystals for trivial things anymore."
"Good girl." Law pecked her forehead.
"Then what have you been doing for these past two hours?" Bepo asked curiously.
"Running around the sub," Neo replied. She turned to face the bear. Holding onto Law's wrists, she wrapped his arms around herself, her back against his chest. "I was checking out every single room. I know no one messed with the sub while we were on Luminous, but I just felt like making sure everything was where it's suppose to be." She scanned her eyes around the room. "And I saved the best room for last. It's been so long since-Huh?"
"What is it?" Law asked when Neo stopped explaining herself. He smiled when he noticed what she was looking at. Over in the corner, where her stuff bear was, was a clear crystal, two shelves, enclosed box mounted on the wall.
Neo slowly pulled herself from Law's arms and walked over to the new item. Inside of it were the glass figurines she got from some of the crew for her one year anniversary with them, the two pictures of her parents that Kailen gave her and Bayan's journal. All of the pieces were anchored in the crystal. Her eyes then wandered over to the dent in the wall. She blinked at the dent a couple times then looked over at Law while ricocheting her extended index finger between the dent and the box. "Well, these are new."
Law smiled and walked over to her. "It's a surprise. Kailen figured you'd want to keep Bayan's journal and the pictures of your parents in a safe, waterproof area just in case the sub does sink. And since this is a clear crystal if anyone outside of the crew sees it they'll only think it's made of glass or plastic. They won't be able to open it either. Only you and Topaz can do that with your crystal glow."
"You kept a secret from me? When did you two do this?" Neo asked.
"I asked Kailen about it one day after I was finished with my studies in the ward. And since you saw less of him than you did of me, he came here with Shachi, Penguin, and Bepo to install it. The crew brought up the figurines and asked if it was possible to put them stabilized in the box as well so you could see them more often instead of having to keep them in storage to keep them from getting broken," Law explained. "You're not upset with me because I kept this from you, are you?"
"No!" Neo put her arms around Law again. Happiness flooded her to the point she barely noticed he put his arms around her and kissed her hair. "I was just surprised that's all. It's a very good surprise. I'm glad I don't have to worry about water damage to the pictures and journal. And the dent?"
"Oh…well…" Law tossed his eyes to the dent. His mind snapped back to when he had hit the sub.
"Law," Neo said in a slight warning tone they weren't use to her using yet. Both the bear and the captain blinked in shock. "That wasn't there before."
"I know." Law sighed. "I hit the wall when Kailen had brought us on to the sub after the elementals had taken you."
"It upset you that much? Law, you could have hurt yourself." Neo's eyebrows turned up in worry.
"Don't think about that. I didn't hurt myself at all. I was just upset about you being taken and just hit it. I really didn't even feel it at the time," Law replied.
Neo locked eyes onto his. Slowly, she searched them and his feelings.
He smiled gently at her while running his fingertips through her hair. "Love, you don't have to search my feelings like that. That happened months ago. You have been safe for a long time since then. Okay?"
"Okay." Neo nodded.
"Good." Law tilted her chin up and placed his lips over hers.
She tensed up for ten seconds before kissing him back.
"Ah," Bepo, the forgotten bear, cooed.
Neo's face flushed while Law's face took on a look of annoyance at the bear and at himself for forgetting their was a third party in the room.
Bepo pointed to the door. "If you two want me to leave, I can."
"No, it's fine," Law mumbled. "I still want you to help with my books."
"A-and I'm going to go…uh…what was it that I came in here for?" Neo asked. She tapped her finger on her chin in thought. "I know I came in here for something."
"You both turn each others brains into mush," Bepo snickered.
Law ignored the bear as he walked back over to the boxes of books they were unloading. "You came in here to ask if there was something we wanted to eat."
"That's right. Did either of you want anything specific?" Neo asked.
"As long as you make something with fish, I'll be happy," Bepo replied with a smile.
"Fish it is! Law?" Neo turned to Law.
"No, I'm good. Whatever you decide to make is fine with me," Law replied while pulling a couple books out of a box.
"You know…I could…" Neo summoned a wind crystal and lifted a small breeze in the room.
"Neo." Law warned. He looked over his shoulder, shooting her a warning, yet playful glare.
"Okay, okay. Put the books up the human way." Neo giggled. She waved to him as she headed for the door. "See you later!"
"She's definitely has gained so much more confidence now," Bepo said once Neo was out of earshot. "In a weird way, I'm glad all of this stuff on Luminous happened."
"Yeah." Law smiled. "In the end it did do more good than harm."
…
"But it's just so cute how she freezes up," Archer said with a humorous chuckle.
"It's been several weeks now since they've started kissing. You'd think she'd be use to it by now," Conner added.
"Oh! Hush!" Neo plopped another ball of her cookie dough on the cookie sheet. Finally filled she picked it up and shoved it into the waiting oven. She then pouted at the two crewmates teasing her inability to not freeze up when Law kisses her. She waved her wooden spoon at them. "I'm still learning. It's just still so new. And the feelings I have when he kisses me is just so…umm…I'm not sure how to describe it. All I know is I really like it."
"Kissing is great. But you're the first we've ever seen freeze up like you do," Archer said. He then froze his body in place as an example. The two started laughing again.
Neo puffed out her cheeks at the display.
"You two better watch it," Penguin said. He looked up from the book he was reading. "You know better than to tease her too much. She'll get use to the feeling of the captain kissing her soon enough."
"Everything all right in here?" Law's commanding voice then asked.
"Aye, Captain!" the two crewmates squeaked. They turned their eyes to Neo and waited to see what she would do.
Neo studied her two crewmates for a few seconds before smiling at Law. She knew her crew meant well and, for the moment, didn't deserve whatever punishment Law would dish out on them. "Yeah, everything's fine."
Law nodded. He then walked over to her and tilted her chin up to him. Her face flushed at his closeness and at how she could feel the other pirates' eyes watching them closely. Law pressed his lips to hers for a few seconds. When he pulled away he sucked on her bottom lip a few times before releasing her. Her eyes widened while her body tingled at the feeling of Law's lips gently sucking hers. He pulled away and said, "I'll be in the medical bay for a while if you need me."
The two crewmates waited until their captain was out of the room before letting their laughter of Neo's stiff body pass over their lips.
Neo's face flushed even more at their cackles. She started to whip around to ignore them, but then a certain order from Law seeped back into her memory. She paused and looked at the two crewmates.
Penguin's eyebrows rose on his forehead when his little sister gave the two crewmates a blank stare. He watched carefully as her lips twitched into a mischievous smirk. His own lips pulled into a grin when Neo summoned a wind crystal and filled the room with her winds, sucking the two hyenas into the air. He laughed out loud when his two crewmates were suddenly hanging upside down with stunned expressions on their faces. "Well, I did try to warn you. Our little sister isn't that shy little girl anymore."
"No, she isn't," Law's voice then said. The small group in the kitchen turned to see him leaning against the door frame with a smirk on his lips. He pushed off the door frame and walked back over to her. Once close enough, he pushed back her hair from her neck. "And here's your reward for putting the crew in their place."
"Wha-Eek!" Neo squeaked when Law licked the shell of her ear. Her hand tightened on the wooden spoon while waves of shivers ran over her body before she tensed up. Her crystals disappeared causing the two crewmates to drop from the air and land on their heads.
They cried out when their heads hit the sub's hard metal floor. "Ouch! Captain! You set us up on purpose! You never left, did you?!"
Law just shot them a wicked grin before disappearing from the galley, this time for real. Seconds after that, Shachi and Topaz walked into the room. Shachi was saying, "Yeah. It can get a bit boring, but we-What's going on here?"
"Is the princess all right?" Topaz asked with concerned. Her eyes pulled from Neo and landed on the two crewmates tenderly rubbing their heads. "Did something happen?"
"Nothing much." Penguin shrugged casually.
Shachi and Topaz exchanged glances before shrugging off whatever happened in the galley.
…
Neo sighed in contentment. Dressed in her navy blue night shorts and tank top, she was staring down at the bed she hadn't slept in for four months. "It seems like it's been years since the last time I slept in your bed."
Law chuckled. He slipped his arms around her waist while placing his lips on her shoulder. "Our bed. And I expect you to be in it instead of staring at it when I get out of the bathroom."
"Mhmm." Neo hummed.
Law pulled his arms from her and headed for the bathroom.
She sighed again before forcing herself to move. She climbed onto the soft mattress, automatically going to the spot where she was use to sleeping. She plopped down on her stomach and hugged her pillow, breathing in its familiar scent.
Soon, through her closed eyes, she noticed the main lights going out and Law sunk down on the bed. She heard him chuckle. "What are you doing way over there?"
"Hm?" Neo lifted up from her pillow. It took her a moment to realize he was talking about being so far away from him. She had slept right beside him in her castle room. "Oh…um…I guess I'm just use to sleeping this close to the wall in your room."
"Our room," Law corrected. "We're dating now. This is our room and our bed. Remember that."
"Okay. I'll-" Neo rolled over onto the right side. Her voice sharply cut off when her eyes landed on Law's bare chest.
With a deep, amused chuckle, Law hooked his arm around her slim body and pulled her closer to him. He kissed her hair while her eyes remained locked onto his brain malfunctioning chest. "Get use to it, love. Now that we're a couple I'm not going to be wearing shirts to bed anymore."
Keeping his arm firmly around her, he sighed contently and closed his eyes. He allowed himself to feel all the exciting, yet still somewhat new, emotions she always stirred in him while she recovered from seeing his chest again.
Suddenly she gasped then said, "I feel so incredibly stupid."
"What do you mean by that? You're not stupid." Law pulled back from her so he could look at her. Confusion swirled around in his brain at why she would say that. He became even more confused when he noticed her gaze was bouncing back and forth between his chest and his ring. "What's wrong? What is it?"
"How could I not have noticed?" Neo questioned. Her gaze continued to bounce between his chest and ring several more times before her eyes bounced up to his. "Your ring…you had it designed to look like your tattoos."
"I did." Law smiled at her. He tucked her hair behind her ear then brushed his thumb over her soft cheek. "You didn't notice because you were always so shocked when you saw my chest before because of all the unfamiliar emotions you felt. Now, you're more use to the emotions you feel for me. I chose my tattoo design for your protection. You have been a part of my crew for so long. I wanted people to know that so they wouldn't bother you despite someone always being with you when you were off the sub. Which reminds me, even though your confidence and control over your crystals have grown, I still want someone with you when you leave the sub."
"I figured that. You've always been so protective of me. I always knew that, but now I see just how protective you really are of me," Neo said.
"And you are still okay with that?" Law asked.
Through their bond, Neo noticed a little worry rising into his eyes and his chest that she might not need him as much anymore.
"I will always be fine with you protecting me no matter how independent I might become." Neo cupped his cheek in her hand. "You make me feel safe. I always want that feeling from you. I would be so lost without it. Never ever stop."
"I won't." Law placed his hand over hers. As she tilted her chin, he leaned down a placed his lips on hers in a gentle, caressing kiss. He broke the kiss then nuzzled his nose to hers. "Sleep now."
Neo reached for her pillow. She pulled it under her head, laid down on it, and closed her eyes. Just like always, she was fast asleep in seconds.
Law smiled. He never would ever understand how she was able to fall asleep so easily. With how horrible her life had been and with all the nightmares, both in dreams and reality, he used to think she would have trouble sleeping.
He lightly shook his head. It didn't matter how this was possible. He was just thankful that she did sleep as well as she did. And he was thankful she was finally back in their bed, in their room, in their home. He laid down himself. With his arm protectively around her and his nose buried in her hair, he slowly let himself drift off to sleep to the familiar, intoxicating, sweet scent of her and the hum of the sub's engines as they glided through the water. While drifting off, he whispered softly to her peacefully sleeping form, "Welcome home, Princess."
…
Soft winds teased Neo's long, blue tresses as she walked through the lightly lit flower field. The mix of all of the flowers scents tickled her nose. She paused to look at the strange glows that lit her path. Walking over to one, she knelt down and inspected it. It was a strange flower. The stem was about a foot long in length. They spouted out from the ground and curved up and around so their bell shaped yellow flowers dangled over. It hovered over all the other flowers in the strange field.
She placed her fingertips under the thick bulb and tilted it up. The light was soft and gentle. It shot passed her shoulder, but wasn't bright enough to light up the darkness in the distant. Despite the yellow glow, she felt like the strange light was more like the moon's glow instead of the sun's. It was soft, easy to look at just like the moon. She released the bulb and stood back up when she felt a familiar, yet unidentifiable presence coming towards her. She wasn't afraid. She knew she didn't have to be. She knew this presence from somewhere. From somewhere long ago, yet from some time not so long ago.
The presence was very commanding, but softened as it came closer. Neo stood patiently for them to arrive. Another wind began to blow around her. It brought the familiar presence with it. The presence floated on the wind. It wrapped around Neo's body. She grabbed it like it was a blanket and pulled it around her shoulders. She cocooned it around herself just like she use to do with her blanket.
She closed her eyes. Holding the presence to her nose she noticed it not only felt familiar, it smelled familiar. It smelled similar to the drink Law had once allowed her to taste. Scattered and distant voices floated along the wind. She tried to focus on what they were saying, but was unable to. She felt a familiar rush of urgency in the voices. Her heartbeat started to increase when she realized the voices were those of people under attack. Soft cried of a child, of a baby mixed in with the scattered voice.
She then felt her body swaying. She thought it was herself doing the movement, but then realized the way she was moving would have been impossible for someone to do to themselves. She also noticed that she was no longer standing. She was being cradled in someone's arms. She wondered if it was Law. She opened her mouth to ask if he was there with her, but she couldn't speak. She wiggled her fingers free of the presence around her, but still kept it tight around her shoulders, and touched her lips. They were still there. She was opening and closing her mouth like always. Her voice just wouldn't come out.
She still wasn't scared. She felt a bit confused now. Opening her eyes, she saw someone. The person holding her was looking down at her. Or she thought he was looking down at her. She couldn't tell. He really didn't have a body. She could make out his shape, but nothing else. She wasn't even sure why or how she knew this person was a man. She just knew it was. And she knew she didn't have to be afraid of him.
She felt so many emotions coming from him. Fear, hope, determination, and love were the strongest. They passed between their bodies as if they were only one person. It felt similar to how she felt when she and Law shared their feelings through their bond. Again, her body started rocking. This person rocked her gently and mumbled something incoherently to her. She reached up for the person just as her eyes opened up.
Neo opened her eyes. She stared at the bluish gray wall of the sub for several seconds before realizing she was awake. She pushed herself into a sitting position, not registering the oddly placed weight on her side that slid down to her legs as she moved. She looked around the room. It was lit up with not only the soft glow of the night lights, but also by the warm, golden rays of the rising run. The sub was above the surface now. She blinked and pulled her eyes away from the small porthole. She glanced around the room again. Something felt different, but nothing was out of place. Everything was where it should be. Her bear, figurines, pictures, and journal were still tucked into their crystal home. The doors, all of them, were shut like always. Law's desk and chair were still in their place. And Law…Neo dropped her eyes down to the sleeping man beside her.
That's when she noticed the pressure on her legs was his arm. She smiled. He must have fallen asleep with his arm around her. Keeping her balance on her right hand and arm, she ran her fingers of her left hand carefully through his dark mane. She loved it when he didn't wear his hat. He looked fairly different without it. She continued to work her fingers through his hair, earning a satisfying moan from the sleeping surgeon. He started to stir in response to her movements in his hair. His arm moved. He placed his hand on her hip and gave it a gentle squeeze. "What is it, love? Is something wrong?"
"No." Neo pulled her fingers from his hair and traced them over his tattooed shoulder. "It was…just a dream I guess. I don't remember."
"Hm…" Law whined. "Lay back down then. It's not time to get up yet."
Neo laid back down beside him and chuckled in amusement. He tightened his arm around her, pulling her even closer to him. With a squeeze to her body, he asked, "What's so funny?"
"Nothing. I just never knew that the powerful Surgeon of Death had a whiny side to him." Neo snickered. She poked him in the chest with her finger. "It's really, really cute. I love that you are showing your more vulnerable side to me."
"Hm. Another secret revealed." His eyes still closed, he smiled. "No telling anyone. I have a reputation to protect, even from the crew."
"You know your secrets are safe with me," Neo whispered. She snuggled into his bare chest, purposefully not looking at it so she could fall back asleep instead of freezing up against him. "They will always be safe with me. Just like I will always be safe with you."
With a throaty chuckle, he pecked her hair. "Good girl."
