Dangerous Weather
Part Four
The crew stood still. Quietly, they exchanged confused glances at each other before carefully glancing at their captain. Law held very still as he held Neo to his chest. He didn't move until the baby reindeer walked up to them and nudged Neo's shoulder. When he didn't get any response, the baby reindeer nudged Neo again then lowered his nose to the blood on her coat. The baby released a startled noise of protest and stomped his hoof on the ground. Law stroked the baby's neck once. "Easy. She's going to be just fine. Her solar crystal is helping her heal. But I need to get her back to our sub so I can take out the bullet. I'm sorry she can't say goodbye to you. I know she would have loved to see you all before leaving, but we have to go now. The navy is probably going to be coming soon. Despite me being a warlord, I really don't want to have to try and explain all of this."
Law then stood up with Neo in his arms. He looked at Penguin who was as curled up as he could be in Jean Bart's hold. Topaz had four of her fire crystals hovering in a low flame near him. "Topaz, be sure to keep the flame at a low temperature for now. We need to slowly raise his body temperature up."
"Aye, Captain." Topaz nodded.
"Let's go then. Bepo grab my sword," Law ordered.
"Aye." Bepo nodded. He grabbed the nodachi off the ground.
Law created his Room and warped them back to the sub as quickly as he could. "Room! Shambles!"
Law narrowed his eyebrows and growled when they arrived back at the sub. Over fifty townspeople were gathered right in front of the sub. They were wielding pots, pans, bats, and pitchforks.
Topaz quickly banished her crystals.
One of the men pointed his bat in the pirates' direction. "You're not going anywhere! That freak almost killed us all!"
Law's entire body twitched as his hat fell over his eyes when the man called Neo a freak. His blood began to boil when the crowd cheered and agreed with the man. If he didn't have Neo in his arms, he would have killed every single one of them right where they stood. Twisting his hand, he created a Room around them all. "Room!"
The townspeople shuddered and took a step back. One man tried to hold onto his bravery. He stepped forward. With a trembling voice, he said, "We're not afraid of you! She almost killed us! Don't you know that?!"
"No! She didn't!" Shachi cried out. "It wasn't her! She stopped the storm! The one responsible for this is lying dead back in the mountain valley! Her companions are dead as well! Go see for yourself!"
"Don't bother, Shachi," Tero said. He cracked his knuckles. "We're pirates. We're going to get the blame no matter what the circumstances."
"I know that," Shachi protested even though he knew it wouldn't do any good. "But Neo…"
"Get out of my way," Law hissed. His hat lifted up, revealing his dagger filled glare to the townspeople. They all shuddered at the glare. Some stumbled backwards and fell to the ground. "Shambles!"
The townspeople raised their arms to protect themselves. After several seconds of not receiving a hit, they lowered their arms to find the pirates were no longer in their sights. They mumbled their surprises and relief while some started to walk off. "This is crazy."
"That pirate is a warlord. We have no chance against him. Why did we do this?"
"We could have died!"
"We've alerted the navy to their activities and their location. Let them handle it."
"Yeah. The navy is better equipped for dealing with pirates."
"But Trafalgar Law is a warlord. He works for the navy now."
"You don't think they were telling the truth, do you? Should we go check the valley?"
…
"Jean Bart! Bring Penguin to the infirmary then assist Archer and Bepo and get us away from this island! Bepo, I want this sub moving within two minutes!" Law barked out orders once inside the sub. He rushed Neo through the halls and into the surgical room. "Shachi, Tero, get some warm water in bowls so we can soak Penguin's hands and feet! We also need to get him out of those clothes before they become too wet! Topaz, start increasing the heat of your flames a few degrees every three minutes."
"Aye, aye Captain!" the crew chorused before scurrying around to fulfill their orders. Jean Bart took Penguin into the medical bay and sat Penguin down on the table before rushing out of the room. A couple other crewmates stayed beside Penguin to help him strip down to his boxers.
"Sorry about this," Penguin said. He tossed a smirk over his shoulder at Topaz. "You're getting a free show here. Tell me if you like what you see. If you do, we can work out a regular showing each week."
Topaz laughed. "Don't worry about it. I'm use to all of you guys by now. I don't mind seeing a little extra skin now and then. At least your sense of humor is in tact. Glad you're okay, Pen."
"Thanks, Topaz. Seriously!" Penguin said with a sincere smile. "You protect our crew during that storm. You're the best."
"Hey, we're all family here." Topaz smiled back. "I'll always do what I can to protect you all. And not just because Neo is my princess."
"Looks like Neo's not the only one who's grown up a bit," Penguin said. "You're not calling her princess as much anymore."
"Oh! Hush!" Topaz shoved Penguin's shoulder playfully.
Ignoring the playful banter of his crew, Law rushed Neo over to one of the operating tables, laid her down, and started to remove the vine around her and her coat. While he was removing her coat from her, she whimpered at the pain in her body before her eyelids fluttered open. "Hn…I-hurts…"
"She's waking up! Get me some anesthesia! Now!" Law barked, dropping her coat on the floor. He cringed when their shared pain stabbed into her body from all the moving her had to do to her.
"Right away, Captain!" a crewmate shouted. He dashed over to the medical supplies and dove into the cabinet.
"It's okay, Neo." Law brushed his hand over her hair before laying her back down on the table. She tried to lift up her right hand, but when she couldn't she lifted her left one instead. Law pealed off her glove, dropped it on the floor with her coat and vine, before taking her cold hand in his. He breathed and rubbed his hands over hers. "We're on the sub now. You're going to be just fine."
Her lips moved, but her voice didn't form. She mouthed one word to him. "Penguin."
"He's here too. He's alive," Law replied. Neo nodded lightly then winced at the pain shooting through her body again. "Where's the anesthesia?!"
"I got it, Captain!" the crewmate said as he ran over to the table.
"I'm going to put you to sleep now so I can remove the bullet," Law said while administering the anesthesia. "It'll be over soon. Okay? I'll see you in a little while."
Neo kept her eyes locked onto Law. Her vision blurred and quickly shifted to black.
Another crewmate pushed the surgical tools over to the table. "Here you go, Captain."
"Thanks," Law mumbled while cutting off Neo's shirt. He laid a sheet over her before gloving his hands and setting to work on removing the bullet that was lodged in her stomach while trying not to twitch at the pain in his own stomach from working on her.
Penguin lifted his eyes to the table across from him. He quietly watched as his captain preformed surgery on Neo. He wanted to ask a million times how she was doing, but knew it was best for him to remain silent. Law was, after all, the best doctor he knew. He forced himself to shift his focus to Shachi and Tero when the two men returned with the warm water for his feet and hands.
Shachi addressed him. "How ya doing, buddy?"
"Great," Penguin replied humorously. He ducked his cold hands and feet into the warm water. "I now know what a popsicle feels like. I love it."
Shachi laughed. "You're fine."
"Of course I am." Penguin smiled. "I had my own personal reindeer heaters after all."
"Can you feel anything yet?" Tero asked. He dipped his finger into the water, wondering if it was the right temperature or not.
"Yeah." Penguin winced at the pain in his hand. "There's some tingling and a burning sensation."
"Good." Tero nodded. "Pain means you've kept all your limbs."
"How's it going over there?" Law asked, not taking his eyes off Neo.
"He's fine. Feeling is returning to his hands and feet," Tero reported. He crossed his arms. "Just minor frostbite."
"How's Neo?" Penguin finally asked. His eyes locked onto Neo's sleeping form. His stomach turned at the blood soaking the white sheet over her. His heart sinking at the thought of her having to deal with more pain like this. But he knew she still had her solar crystal. It was dutifully hovering beside her. He grabbed onto that and forced his regrets and worries down.
"She's just fine," Law replied. He kept his eyes glued onto Neo as he kept working on her. "The bullet has already been removed. Luckily, there's no major damaged to her inner organs. And she didn't lose much blood thanks to her solar crystal. She'll be completely healed in no time."
"That's good," Penguin said with a relieved sigh.
…
Law sat quietly as he watched Neo sleep and listened to the distance beeping of her heartbeat from the heart monitor. The pain in both their bodies had lessened up greatly since her surgery was completed. Her solar crystal was still doing its job properly. He glanced at the glowing crystal, which was hovering over the new wound on her stomach. His anger swelled up in his chest when he thought of how she now had yet another scar on her already marred body. It was another scar she was going to have to heal with the healer's cream.
Neo shifted and moaned softly in her sleep from the anger he was unintentionally sharing with her. Not wanting her to wake up too soon, he forced himself to release his fury. Any minute she would be waking up from the anesthesia and he didn't want to startle her in any way. He knew she would be a bit scared from waking up in the medical bay again so he remained by her side. He was going to make sure he was the first thing she saw. While waiting for her to awaken, he checked that the heart monitoring patches were secure and her breathing mask wasn't too tight. Like always, he was taking every precaution he could with her. He put antibiotic cream on her new wound while also administering antibiotics through an IV.
When Neo shifted again, Law could feel her starting to wake up. He placed his fingertips on her cheek and carefully turned her so when she opened her eyes he'd be the first thing she saw. Then her eyes cracked open. He smiled and stroked his thumb on her cheek in an attempted to stifle her anxiety as she remembered what happened and realized where she was. It caused the beating of the hear monitor to increase. "Hey, love. You're all right. You're in the medical bay. Both you and Penguin are just fine. He's resting comfortably now in the bed right beside yours."
Law nodded towards the nearby bed.
Neo followed his gaze. She sighed when she saw Penguin sleeping peacefully under a thick blanket. The beating and beeping of her heart began to slow down. 'And Ren?'
"She's dead," Law replied, returning his eyes to hers. He noticed her going over everything that happened, wondering if there was anything she could have done to stop Ren. "Don't punish yourself like that, love. Ren chose that life. She chose to hunt us down. There was nothing you could have done to change her mind. It's kind of like back on Luminous, with Atlas and the darkness crystal. You know there are many types of darkness in this world. And she was consumed by one of them. So just let it go. I don't want you worrying over this. It's done and over with."
'Law?'
"What is it, love?" Law tilted his head when he felt her thinking something over, but was keeping it concealed from him.
'I need more training. I need to get better at multitasking with my crystals. I don't want something like today to happen again. I need to be able to protect you all while fighting at the same time.'
"Neo, you-"
'Law, you know we're going to be facing stronger opponents now, especially when we go to Punk Hazard. I could have lost Penguin today because I couldn't fight and cover him with heat from my fire crystals. I know we said I was going to be the sniper of the crew, but I keep getting drawn into upfront battles. I need to do better. Please, Law?'
Law sat quietly mulling over her words with her eyes tightly locked onto his. He knew she was right. His plan was to keep her as a sniper, but that clearly wasn't going to work in every situation they entered into.
'I need to learn how to fight side by side with you as well. We might have to do that at some point. I want to be able to fight beside you and not have to worry about accidentally hurting you. We can start tomorrow.'
"I understand what you mean. While I'd rather you not, you are correct." Law stroked her hair. "But you are not going to work on this tomorrow."
'Law! You know I'll be healed enough by then!' Neo kneaded her eyebrows at him.
"I know that. And I also know Penguin will be too once you used your solar crystal on him. But you, and Penguin, are taking a week off from every kind of fight we might engage in between now and then," Law said in his captain tone. He crossed his arms and gave her a pointed look. "And that's an order, little girl."
Neo huffed into her mask. 'Fine. But I'm still expecting that back massage later.'
Law chuckled. He leaned down and pressed his lips to her forehead in a tender kiss. "Yes, love. That is still waiting for you when you get out of this room and back into ours. Now sleep. I know you're tired."
'And I know you are as well. Lay with me.' Her tired eyes turned round and pleading.
He chuckled again before laying down beside her.
She started to roll onto her right side, but suddenly stopped when pain shot through her shoulder. She whimpered through the mask and increased her solar crystal's glow. 'My shoulder still hurts.'
"I know it does." Law nodded. He rolled his shoulder before shifting closer to her, knowing she wanted to snuggle into him. He pressed his forehead to hers. "It won't for much longer. You just need to relax and heal more."
Unable to breathe in his familiar scent, she peered into his eyes. Studying his gray orbs until she noticed he was hiding something from her. 'What is it, Law? Why are you hiding your thoughts from me?'
"I'm sorry, love. It's nothing. I was just a bit scared that is all. You got shot after all. That would scare anyone no matter how tough they believe themselves to be." Law pressed his lips to her forehead. Tugging down her air mask, he placed light kisses down between her eyebrows, over the bridge of her nose, the tip of her nose until he landed his warm lips on hers. When he felt her realizing he was trying to distract her from his hidden feelings, he forced his tongue between her tired lips. She gasped into his mouth when he started stroking his warm muscle over hers, effectively shorting out her brain as he easily guided her tongue into his mouth where he sucked mercilessly on it until he got her to moan for him. He then pulled back with a couple soft pants and mumbled against her lips. "You'll get more of that later. Sleep now, my love."
Unable to argue due to the combination of her head spinning from the short, but intense make out session, and the pain that was slowly leaving her body, Neo let her eyelids drop closed. 'Stay with me?'
"Of course." Law fixed the air mask back around her mouth. He pecked her forehead once more before pressing his own forehead to hers to be sure he was close enough for her comfort while she slept.
…
"Gin," Penguin said while laying down his cards on the bed between himself and Neo.
"I'm better at poker," Neo said letting her cards fall from her hands.
"Want to play that instead?" Penguin asked.
"Not really," Neo said. "I'm mostly bored with having to stay in the medical bay."
"What's the captain doing?" Penguin asked.
"He was in our room. But now he's heading down stairs for something," Neo said. She paused, her stomach rumbled. "I'm getting hungry."
"I'm a bit hungry myself," Penguin said.
Neo grinned. "Shall we do something about that?"
"The captain hasn't released us yet," Penguin said.
"Oh, we're not going to fight or anything," Neo said. "We're just going down to the galley."
"Okay," Penguin said. "But I'm blaming you if we get into trouble."
Neo giggled. The two slid of Penguin's bed and headed for the door. She took his hand in hers before stepping out of the room. Instantly she felt Law disapproving glower for not obeying his orders to stay where they were suppose to. With another giggle she sent him the thought, 'But we're hungry. And we've been in that room all day without a break. I want to cook for our babies.'
'Babies?!'
Neo felt Law's entire body flinch as he scoffed at her in disbelief at what she had said. She located him in the lower decks of the sub, probably doing inventory of supplies. And she wasn't quiet sure, but she thought he was holding something fairly heavy, and dropped it, when some pain shot through her right foot.
'The crew is not our babies!'
'Yes! They! Are! And I need to take care of them!' Neo insisted with another giggle. She felt his mind growing flustered at the thought of grown men as their babies. 'Besides, tomato soup sounds really, really good after being in all that cold weather. We're both fine, anyway. And I still want that back massage. My back is nothing but one giant knot.'
'Fine.' Law relented. 'You can make soup. But after that you are coming to the room with me. I'm going to rub your back like I promised. We've waited fair too long for me to do that. And there's something I need to discuss with you.'
'I love you, Law! You're the best!' Neo giggled again. She knew from the beginning she'd get her way. She knew Law could feel that her body was no longer hurting. He was just being over protective like always. She pulled her mind back to the present when Penguin spoke up.
"Are we in trouble?" he asked.
"Of course not," Neo said. They entered into the galley. Before long the spices of their tomato soup filled the room. The two sat beside each other at the table. "How does it taste?"
"It tastes wonderful." Penguin hummed as he took another slip of his steamy soup. "I bet it smells just as wonderful too. Not that I can tell with this cold."
"Sorry my solar crystal can't fix your cold completely. It's kind of odd how man can't cure the common cold, but can cure other dire illnesses and stuff. I thought for sure my magic would be able to. I guess not." Neo turned her eyebrows up while lifting her own bowl of soup to her lips. She didn't feel like using a spoon, so she wasn't. She was just sipping it out of the bowl like it was a cup. "So I grew some fresh herbs and added them to the soup. I also made some fresh orange juice. Is there anything else you want that I can make for you?"
"No. This is good enough. I'm positive the captain doesn't want you to do anymore today than you already have," Penguin said. A couple crewmates then wandered into the galley, lured by the tantalizing smell of the tomato soup simmering on the stove. "And I know he's already miffed at you for making this soup."
Neo sniffed while adjusting Law's black and yellow hoodie over her shoulders. "Oh, he's nothing but a worry wart. If he really didn't want me doing this then he would have already dragged me back to bed."
"I'm glad you both are feeling better," Archer said after grabbing himself a bowl of soup and joining the two at the table. The two others that were with him soon joined them at the table as well. "And it seems the captain is feeling better too."
"Hm?!" Neo paused. The bowl to her lips, she blinked rapidly. Now confused, she lowering the bowl down from her lips and asked, "What do you mean? Did he get sick too from the cold? I don't feel it. And I don't think he can hide that from me."
The four crewmates exchanged looks.
Neo looked at each and every single one of them before resting her eyes on Penguin. "Penguin?"
"No, of course the captain didn't get sick," Penguin said. He took another sip of his soup before continuing. "It's just…we thought you already knew since you're connected to him."
"Already knew what?" Neo asked, clearly growing concerned. She narrowed her eyebrows when she noticed Law becoming stiff.
Penguin sighed. He forced himself to say the words. "The crew told me that the captain refused to use his powers on you again. You know, back in the valley when you were -uh- shot?"
"So that's what he was hiding." Neo lowered her eyes to the red liquid in her bowl. "I guess I didn't pay much attention to it since Law kissed me the way he did. I did feel that he was trying to hide something from me. I should have known that was it."
"Sorry, Neo. I didn't mean to upset you," Archer said.
"Hm." Neo shook her head. "No. Don't worry about it. I'm not really upset. I'm a bit confused, however."
"I don't understand why the captain is so afraid of using his powers on her," Conner said. They all turned their eyes to him as he continued, "I mean, he's used his warping ability on her many times and without any sort of hesitation. So why does he refuse to use the rest of his powers on her? He could have easily taken that bullet out of her stomach back in the valley. He would have done it to us to make sure he prevented infection."
"Only the captain can answer that," Penguin said. His eyes came to rest upon Neo. "And only one person can get him to answer it."
Neo sighed once all eyes were on her. She brought her bowl up to her lips and took a sip. "I'm not sure even I can get him to open up about this. He's trying to hard to keep it from me."
The crewmates then shifted the conversation.
Neo didn't listen to what they were saying. All she could do was stare into her soup and think about Law. She wondered if he was feeling her concern over him. He just seemed so distant at the moment. He wasn't concealing his thoughts and feelings from her. He was just distant. And she didn't like it.
'Neo. Neo?'
'Yes?' Neo replied once she felt Law breaking into her thoughts.
'Finish up there and come to the room.' Law ordered.
'Okay.' Neo pulled her bowl up to her lips and guzzled down her now cold soup. Once finished she stood up, noting some more of the crew had come in to have some of her soup, before walking over to the sink. She rinsed out her bowl and set it aside to be washed later.
"Where you going?" Penguin asked.
"Law wants to see me in our room," Neo said. "He doesn't like how stiff and tense my back is. It's been a while since I gave my wings a good work out. They hurt."
"I'll take care of the dishes for you later," Topaz offered.
"Thanks, Topaz." Neo smiled at the elemental woman while exiting the galley. Wandering down the halls of their home, she wondered how she could possibly get Law to tell her why he was so afraid of using his powers on her. With her mind was lost in thought, her body managed to get her to their room. She closed the door and pressed her back against it. Looking up timidly, her eyes locked onto Law. He was standing at his desk just blankly staring at his notes that were scattered over it. She knew he already knew what she wanted from him. But neither spoke. Pushing off the door, she walked over to him. She wrapped her arms around his torso and laid her head on his back. She asked, "Why? Why won't you tell me? We're supposed to be a couple. We're suppose to be able to talk to each other about anything."
His heart clenched. He placed his right hand over hers and squeezed. "Neo, love, we are a couple."
"Then why?" Neo's body began to tremble against his.
He sighed when he felt her tears gathering in her eyes. "Neo, don't cry." Loosening her hold, he turned around and wrapped his left arm around her shoulders while placing his right hand on her head. He buried his nose in her sweet scented hair and held her tight to his chest. "I'm sorry."
"I don't understand," Neo said pulling away from him a bit. She turned her glassy tinted eyes up to him. "You've used these powers for so long. You're a master of them now. So why won't you use them on me? I know you want to when I'm injured."
Law stared into her eyes. Her loving, trusting eyes were full of worry and questions. He knew he should just tell her. He knew he had to tell her. He just wasn't sure how to do that. Growing up a pirate never allowed for weakness to be shown. You had to be tough to survive. And he was. He managed to build up walls around him so that he could survive. He survived his family being killed, his town being destroyed, then Corazon being killed, breaking away from Doflamingo, starting his own pirate crew, becoming a warlord. He built up wall after wall so he would never show weakness to anyone. But somehow this blue haired young woman had broken through all of that. She had broken into his soul far deeper than anyone ever had. She had become his love, his life, his everything. She was able to peer into his mind and soul like no other would ever possibly be able to. She was the one he told everything to, all of his secrets had become hers. Yet he was still trying to hide this from her. He tightened his hold on her, pulling her back to his chest. Forcing the words out of his mouth, he admitted it. "I'm scared, Neo."
"Of what?" Neo asked softly. She rested her head over his heart and listened to its soothing melody.
"Of hurting you," Law whispered.
Now more confused than before, she lifted off his chest. Kneading her eyebrows at him. "What do you mean? You'll never hurt me."
Law sighed. He gathered his thoughts, trying to figure out the best way to put this without causing any misunderstandings or hurting her. "I don't ever what to hurt you. And you know that I never intentionally will hurt you. It's just… I've used these powers for bad things. I've hurt and killed so many people with them. I just don't want to do that to you, even by accident."
"So that's why you're so afraid to use them on me," Neo muttered back.
Law nodded. His entire mind and body opened up to her then.
She could feel the thick pressure of his worry settling in her chest. It felt like she was looking into an abyss that was solid black. "I think I understand. It's kind of like when I was afraid to use my crystals. I didn't want to hurt you or the crew. But back then we were more like captain and subordinate. We weren't lovers who are bonded like we are now. We're more connected and so the fear of hurting each other is more far worse than it was back then."
"I'm sorry, love." Law stroked her hair then placed his hands on her hips.
Neo shook her head. "Don't be. This was something I should have known already. But you know you don't have to be afraid of hurting me with your powers. I know you won't. You know you won't. You're just lacking in confidence. If I had to guess, some of it probably stems from me being poisoned on Luminous. You were unfamiliar with that type of poison from the nightthorn jessamine. That was the first time you've encountered a situation like that since Corazon first gave you the op op fruit, huh?"
"Yeah." Law nodded. "I was so terrified when Cora was hurt and I couldn't do anything for him because I was so new to my devil fruit. And then he died. I was right there. And I couldn't do anything to help him. I don't ever want that to happen again. I don't ever want to lose you to anyone."
"You won't, Law. I'm right here. And I'm not going anywhere. Okay? We'll work on this. We'll get you over this fear before we leave for Punk Hazard." Neo cupped his face. She brushed her thumb over his cheek before pulling him down into a kiss. She gave him a firm kiss then a lighter one.
Following her silent request, Law slipped his tongue passed her lips. He slid his hands up and down her sides while exploring ever corner of her mouth as slowly as he possibly could. He then bent down so he could wrap his arms around her waist. Standing up with her in his hold, she wrapped her legs and arms around him. Tilting her head, she pushed his tongue back into his mouth so she could explore him for a while. He smiled into their kiss.
Keeping their lips connected lightly, she asked. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing," Law panted.
His warm breath washed over her lips making her want to kiss him more. So she did. She pushed her tongue back into his mouth and twirled around his.
He could only finish answering her question when she broke for air. "I just love it when my shy, quiet lover becomes more dominant when we kiss."
"Really?" Neo pulled back so she could look at him. She tilted her head curiously. "You want me to be more dominant?"
"Only if you feel like it." Law nodded. Feeling her back twinge in pain, he slipped his right hand between her shoulder blades and started to press his fingers into her, making her tense. He then walked her over to their bed. "I know it can feel a bit awkward when stepping out of your comfort zone. It's a bit odd for me to let you take the lead sometimes. But I adjust after a while. And I'm really starting to like it."
"Hm." Neo hummed while Law sat her down on their bed. As she spoke, he slipped off his boots. "I'm getting the feeling, especially since you're hiding part of your thoughts from me, that this conversation has a more sexual meaning to it than you're letting on with your words."
"It might." Law smirked. He opened the nightstand draw and pulled out the healer's cream.
Neo released a frustrated huff. "Just a little bit longer. This is torture."
"Don't worry, love. We are extremely close to finally being married," Law said sitting down on the bed. He leaned over to her and nibbled on her ear.
"And then no more hiding these thoughts from me?" Neo asked while trying not to get distracted from the pleasure he was giving her. "You'll be an open book about them?"
"Once we get sexual active," Law said. He worked his way from her ear to her neck. She gasped when he reached her soft spot. He smiled when he felt her melting into his touch. "But not before then. And when we start sharing those thoughts, I'll take it slow. I don't want you to get over heated. Now, take off your shirt so I can take care of you."
Neo whimpered. "But you're doing so well as you are."
Law chuckled. "I know. But this is about your back not about me giving you a love bite."
"And, yet, you keep sucking m-hn-neck," Neo moaned when he sucked harder on her tender skin. She reached up for his black locks and, knocking his hat to the bed, she raked her fingers through his tresses. "Are you sure you want me to take off my shirt while you're like this?"
"Yes. I'm switching into Doctor Mode," Law mumbled. He then pulled away from her, earning a pout. He pecked her pouty lips once more. "Now, off with your shirt."
"Yes, Doctor Trafalgar," Neo snapped playfully with a grin. Pulling her legs under her, she then slipped both his hoodie and her tank top over her head, fully aware of his eyes slowly roaming over her white bra, breasts, and curves. She snickered at his thoughts of wanting to kiss every part of her exposed skin. "So much for Doctor Mode."
"Don't get sassy with me. I said, switching into Doctor Mode. I didn't say I was already there," Law said with pink cheeks. He poked her in the ribs causing her to squeak. "Now lay down, patient."
"You're the one who thought that," Neo said. Crawling up to her pillow, she hugged it as she laid down on their bed. She looked over her shoulder and winked at him. "I'm ready, Doctor Trafalgar."
Law chuckled and shook his head. Moving his own position, he scooted closer to her. He sat the jar down on his bed and unlatched her bra then carefully laid the straps out of the way. He picked up the jar and twisted its lid off. He dipped three fingers into the lavender scent cream before placing the jar back on his bed. He then smeared the cream between Neo's shoulder blades and started working it into her skin with deep, slow kneads and rubs. He smile when she gave off a moan of pleasure as the stiffness in her back immediately released. Once the cream was worked into her skin he repeated the process two more times before feeling satisfied that her back was now back to normal. He then proceeded to massage her entire back and shoulders while trying not to think about how she was almost topless before him. Slowly, he could feel his Doctor Mode giving way to his fleshly desires of wanting to flip her onto her back, ripping her bra off completely and clamping his mouth around one of her mounds, then the other one, until he got her into a moaning mess. He put up a shield around his thoughts, hoping she was too distracted by how good his massage felt to notice where his thoughts had went, without his permission no less.
"Hey, Law?" Neo asked, pulling his from his guarded thoughts before he could actually enact his little fantasy.
"Yes?" Law asked back, trying not to let his face flush from his thoughts.
"I've been thinking about something Ren said."
"Oh?" Law raised an eyebrow.
"Do you think it's possible that we elementals can do far more than what we think we can?" Neo asked.
"What do you mean?" Law questioned, confused. His hands paused on her back. They remained in place as she rolled over onto her back.
"Well, Ren was clearly more powerful than any other elemental back on Luminous, even Tao who is also a dual element. She did make a good point in how the elementals have done nothing but live a life of peace on Luminous, with the exception of being taken over the darkness crystal." Neo tucked her right hand behind her head while placing her left hand on Law's, which was now on her bare stomach.
"Neo, what are you getting at?" Law asked. He kneaded his eyebrows at her.
"Well, Ren's magic was off the charts, take my word for it. I have all four of the element crystals and I had so much trouble taking her down. I know I'm still not that strong."
Law tilted his head in a way that said 'You're wrong'.
She shook her head. "You know I'm right. I do lack a lot. I'm still not as experienced as everyone else. You've been fighting pretty much your entire life. I've only been doing it for about two years. I still have a long ways to go. But I can't help but wonder if there's more to my magic and crystals than the elementals back on Luminous even know. Ren adapted to the New World because she had no choice in using her magic. Back on Luminous, the elementals don't. Sure they use their magic some, but not like they would out here in the human world."
"Are you saying…?" Law's voice trialed off.
"I'm asking…" Neo paused. She bit her bottom lip before continuing. "Do you think it's possible for my magic to…evolve in some kind of way? Or that maybe I will evolve in some kind of way? Right now I can transform into the elements and I still have my conscious about me. But what if I turned into some kind of creature that's beyond that? Beyond human or elemental thought? Maybe something more elemental, but also less?"
Law's body temperature dropped at the thought of Neo becoming something else. His hand clasped around hers. She curled her fingers around his hand when she felt him tremble. He asked, "Did…did you have some kind of dream about this?"
"No." Neo shook her head. "It's just a thought and possibly a feeling. I could be wrong. Ren just got me thinking, that's all. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you like that."
"It's okay." Law brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it. "Your questions are justified. But I don't want you to worry about it. If it comes to that, we'll deal when it happens."
Neo nodded again. "So what was it you wanted to talk to me about?"
"Right. I almost forgot." Law released her hand so he could recap the jar of cream. He tossed it back into the nightstand drawer and closed it. He turned back to her. "We're adding in another cook."
"What?" Neo asked flatly. Her eyebrows narrowed slightly and the corner of her lips pulled down into a light frown. Keeping her eyes locked onto Law's, she shot up into a sitting position, forgetting that her bra was undone. The cotton fabric fell down her arms.
"Relax, love," Law said. Though he didn't look directly, he did notice her bra falling from his peripheral vision. This caused his heart to skip a few beats. "I'm doing this for you."
"Oh?" Neo crossed her arms. "How so?"
"Because when we're married you're not always going to have time to cook as much as you do now," Law said, struggling to keep eye contact with her.
"And why not?" Neo asked, her eyebrows and frown narrowing more.
"Because," Law drawled while leaning into her neck.
She instantly tensed when he nipped and licked her skin.
"There are going to be a lot of times when you are busy preforming wifely duties. And you know the crew won't want to cook every single meal each time that happens."
"Hm…hn…" Neo moaned and tilted her head, giving him better access to her neck. He ran his hand up her right side, kneading her flesh with his fingers and palm. "M-maybe…but it better be a guy. No other woman -hn- is allowed to cook for -ah- my babies, especially my bonded."
Law growled against her neck before sucking hard on her soft spot. He mumbled into her skin, "Of course, love. The new cook will meet your approval before setting food into the galley or on the ship. And the crew are not our babies."
"They are to," Neo insisted. She reached up and tugged on a lock of his hair.
Obediently, Law lifted from her neck and captured her lips with his. After two minutes of intense tongue wrestling, Law trailed kisses away from her mouth and across her neck while she pulled him with her as she laid back on the bed. She panted softly as he made his way across her neck and over the top part of her chest. His hands trailed along her sides until he got high enough to brush his thumbs over the sides of her breasts.
She tilted her head back, moaning from the pleasure he was giving her. She smiled. "So are we going to do what you were thinking a few minutes ago?"
Law pulled back from her with wide eyes and a flushed face.
She giggled at his fire red cheeks. Tilting her head innocently, she asked, "What? It's not sex, right? And you want to, don't you? And, you know, you're so very cute and very sexy when you blush!"
The two slipped into a silent stare. Neither reading the others thoughts or feelings, but neither hid them either. Law let his eyes dropped down to her almost completely exposed chest. Leaning down, he placed a feather light kiss over her rapidly beating heart. He pressed a firmer kiss over her heart when her breathing increased. He could feel she was divided on actually doing what he had thought about doing. At this point, he was divided on it as well. He placed a couple more kisses over her heart and thought about how far he wanted to go.
"Please, Law? Just once?" Neo whispered softly.
With hesitation, Law began to place light kisses over her chest until he got to her medium-small size breast, tugging the fabric out of the way and took her into his mouth with one gentle suck.
She gasped at the shocking, yet frightening, pleasure detonating in her body. She clenched her eyes tight and started to tremble.
Law quickly released her. Slipping his hand behind her back, he pulled them both up into a sitting position. She clung to his shirt while he fixed her bra back into its correct position. He then wrapped his arms around her. He kissed her shoulder. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that."
"No." Neo shook her head. Her voice was slightly shaking, but the small amount of fear that had risen in her was gone. "I asked you to do that. And it was nice. A little scary, yes, but very nice. I liked it. You're not upset that I asked you to do that, are you?"
"Of course not," Law said with a sigh. He held her for a while before a deep chuckle vibrated against her chest.
"What's so funny?" Neo pulled back from him.
"I was just thinking about how much of a natural tease you are." He took her face in his hands. Brushing his thumbs over cheeks, he tilted his head and smirked.
"I am?" Neo blinked.
"You are. I never would have guess it back when you first came to live with us that would you have just a natural gift in teasing me so much." Law kissed her forehead.
"And that's a good thing?" Neo asked.
"Yes. But it's only for me," Law said in a warning tone. "You may not tease any other man like you tease me. Not even the crew."
"You know I won't." Neo smiled. "I can only do this to do because we are bonded. I trust you on such a deep level. My body, my thoughts, the things we share and are going to be sharing, are only for you."
"Good." Law pecked her lips then suddenly pushed off the bed.
"Hey!" Neo, disappointed and confused, whined as she watched Law walk away from her. "Where are you going?!"
"To take a very, very, very cold shower," Law said without stopping or looking back at her half dressed state as he entered into the bathroom. He smiled when he felt her confusion and disappointment shifted into a humorous, bell filled laughter. He walked over to the shower, turned on the cold water, and stepped under the falling water without bothering to take off his clothes. He let the cold water rush over his clothed body while dropping his forehead multiple times on the shower wall. "How is it possible such a shy, timid girl could be such a tease? Cursed hormones. We seriously need to get married before I lose control completely."
…
Tapping his finger in deep thought, Doflamingo stared at the transponder snail that he knew wasn't going to ring. She was dead after all, confirmed in today's newspaper. He pulled his eyes from the silent snail and looked down at all the gathered newspaper articles he had on her, old and new. They were scattered on the round table in his room, along with her bounty poster that had her now frozen bounty of forty million beli on it. He ran his eyes over them again and again. Carefully taking in each and every word about her.
He looked at the titles of the articles:
-New Heart Pirate. Law's Lady?-
-A Child Pirate?-
-Crystal Elements, A New Kind of Devil Fruit?-
-Who is She? How Old is She?-
-Heart of the Elements Strikes Again!-
-Trafalgar Law, Warlord! Female Subordinate Named!-
He then dropped his eyes to the articles themselves, noticing, and studying carefully all the similarities in them:
"I could believe it when I saw her! She was nothing but a child!"
"That new Heart Pirate is a child. Who lets a kid run around like that?"
"Who let's a child have a devil fruit, anyway? What kind of devil fruit is it? Is it really a paramecia?"
"I'm not sure, but she didn't really seem human to me. I could see something while using my observation haki. It was like her spirit was different from everyone else's."
"There's something odd about her. It was like she wasn't human. There was something odd about that other female crewmate too."
"What kind of crystals are those? Does anyone know how powerful she is? She's controlling the elements after all. But she doesn't seem all that strong. Is it a trick?"
"She seemed almost hesitant to attack. She seemed more playful than anything else."
"I couldn't believe it when she just turned and flew away. She could have killed me, but she didn't. She didn't seem all that into fighting. It's like she doesn't have an aggressive streak in her at all, unlike other pirates. She's really like a child."
"She only became aggressive when I attacked her crewmate."
"New Warlord, Trafalgar Law's blue haired female crewmate is named Neo. She's twenty-one years old and hails from the Grand Line. Topaz, the other female crewmate, is said to be her older sister."
Shifting his hand, he started tapping his finger over her name on her bounty poster. Neo. His eyes ran over her name and her crystals for a solid ten minutes before he pushed himself out of his chair. He walked over to his closet and jerked the doors open. Squatting down he starting moving boxes, shoes, and lazily thrown in clothes out of the way until he found what he was looking for.
Tucked away in the back of his closet, almost forgotten, was a small wooden treasure chest just slightly bigger than his hand. He pulled it out and walked back over to his chair. Slamming the chest down on the table, he dropped into his chair. With a deep, thoughtful frown, he stared at the chest for a good while before opening it. He reached in and pulled out the only item inside.
With his left hand behind his head, he dangled the item in front of his eyes while leaning back into his chair. A sadistic, predatory grin spread across his lips as a deep, guttural laugh bubbled up from inside of him and spread out over his room as he watched the diamond shaped, silver pendant with four mysterious crystals embedded in it and the three-letter name engraved in the center swing back and forth in front of his eyes.
