"Guys I'm fine." Firmly, Ann assures both the fretful Rosinante and worried Bell having practically dragged her out of the boat towards the med bay at a familiar marine base.
"How can you be fine!?" Fuming, Bell demands from Ann forcing her to sit down at one of the med bay beds, her hands firmly on Ann's shoulder.
"Why couldn't I be?" Befuddled, Ann argues as she rubs her arm eyeing the two taken aback at their assertiveness.
"No one is fine after putting their arm back in their socket." Resolved, Rosinante tells Ann.
"Yeah, well I am." Ann assures as she eyes the two taken aback.
"And what if you've done it wrong? What if you've damaged a bundle of nerves?" Bell couldn't help but worry for her friend.
"I mean…I feel fine, still feel my fingertips and all that." Ann admits attempting to reassure her friends but…
"You shouldn't have done that Ann." Seriously, Rosi tells her.
"So what? Let you lot get crushed by that bolder?" Brow furrowed; Ann sharply scowls at the thought.
"You fell!" Bell snaps sharply at Ann.
"Everyone trips now and again." Aloofly, Ann dismisses.
"Not from the height you fell at!" Annoyed, Bell says scowling sharply at her hands on hips.
"Which is why we're here. You're going to see the doc." Resolved, Rosinante states the fact firmly to the annoyed Ann.
"Fine…urgh…" Ann groans craning her head back brow furrowed fatigued from the headache her friends were causing just as the curtain of the med bay is tugged to the side seeing a familiar doctor before them.
"Ah Doc!" Bell beams brightly by the sight of him as next Ann knew she was being examined.
"That looks good to me you did a good job." Impressed, the doctor admits.
"Thanks." Ann smirks slightly sending said smirk to the perturbed pair.
"She did!?" Bell and Rosi gawk gape.
"Told you." Amused, Ann smirks smugly at the pair.
"You can go." The doctor dismisses the trio.
"Finally." Ann exhales relieved as she heads towards the door.
"H-How!?" Baffled, Bell gawks gapes.
"Told you I'm fine." Ann amused by Bells and Rosi's reaction responds smirking smugly.
"But…!" Rosi insists taken aback as well as just then the trio note the warmth in the air sudden turn ice cold, a sharp shudder crawling down the spines of the shaking Bell and Rosi, an annoyed Ann arches a bored brow by the man seemingly waiting, leaning against the doorframe of the door.
"What are you doing here?" Ann asks arching a brow by the bandanna wearing male.
"We'll leave you two alone." Bell quickly grabs Rosi, the two taking off leaving the two alone.
"…" Aokiji eyes Ann as Ann frowns.
"Like I said, what are you doing here?" Ann crosses her arms over her chest noting him staring at her arm.
"I heard something rather ridiculous and wanted to see things for myself." He adjusts his lenses.
"And what would be rather ridiculous?" Ann cranes her head to the side seemingly challenging him almost annoyed.
"Some moron decided to take on a whole fleet by themselves. Then some giant bolder came out and the idiotic captain thought she could take it, dislocated her shoulder from it." Irritated, Aokiji shoves his hands into his pockets as Ann makes quite the face from his summary.
"Yeah well…what was the outcome of this excursion?" Agitated, Ann challenges cross.
"What?" Aokiji furrows his brow by her words.
"I'm asking what the outcome was? Any dead?" Ann remains resolute resolved in her stance scowling sharply at Aokiji.
"…No." Aokiji gives her that, reluctantly.
"Then it's fine." Flippantly, Ann dismisses Aokiji turning to brush past him, hoping to head back to her office when…
"This is not fine." Firmly, he stops her grabbing her arm.
"Why not?" Annoyed, Ann scowls sharply slapping his hand off hers.
"You dislocated your arm!" Aokiji snaps sharply scowling at Ann.
"So...? I put it back in, doc's fine with it." Aloofly, Ann dismisses rubbing at her arm as she then turns to leave, turning her back to him but…
"Why didn't you let your men fight? Why just you?" Aokiji demands annoyed almost as Ann frowns.
"Because they would have only prolonged the fight." Frowning, Ann states the fact firmly, why draw out a battle she knew she could end within a minute.
"And you could take them on all by yourself?" Aokiji crosses his arms over his chest cross.
"Hey, you said it not me." Arrogantly, Ann smirks slightly hands haughtily up in the air.
"Ann!" Aokiji snaps sharply scowling at the astonished Ann.
"What? You telling me you never dislocated your arm?" Amused, Ann chuckles coyly, it wasn't that big of a deal.
"…" Aokiji silently stares stunned at her.
"What's the problem?" Perplexed, Ann quirks her head to the side seeing him exasperated expression, noting his still silence.
"Putting it back in your socket…how did you know that?" Tense, Aokiji questions her brow furrowed firmly staring scowling at her.
"I mean…" Ann trails off brow furrowed tensing up, how was she going to explain this? She couldn't exactly tell him the truth, she could say…
"I can't believe you." Aokiji's words snap Ann out of it.
"I can't believe how upset you are, you weren't on that mission." Ann huffs.
"But you were." Aokiji asserts anguished almost as Ann swore, she heard the faint twinge of his voice breaking baffled befuddling her.
"So? Everyone is fine." Firmly, Ann argues.
"You're clearly not fine." Frowning, Aokiji disputes.
"Why not? My arm's fine if you're worried about that then relax we-" Ann goes to assure but is oblivious to his clenched furious fist from the implication.
"Are you an idiot?" Incensed, Aokiji growls glaring at Ann.
"Are you!?" Ann barks back baffled befuddled as to why he was so angry.
"Forget it." Aokiji turns on his heel huffing.
"Forget what? What's the problem?" Agitated, Ann demands from Aokiji but…
"…" She is met by still silence, his back to her heading off leaving the astonished Ann to it, having no real clue what to make of that conversation.
"How many days has it been since Ann's argument with Aokiji? Rosi couldn't help but wonder feeling the sharp sting of guilt gnaw away at him, it was all his fault if he hadn't been so clumsy Ann wouldn't have had to deal with both boulder and pirate crew, if Rosi hadn't been so near the water Ann wouldn't have rushed to his aid, if Rosi hadn't been so weak, they wouldn't be in this mess.
"Urgh…" Rosi perks up at the low groan of Bell sadly slumping into the office looking on the verge of tears.
"What's wrong with you?" Rosi raises a brow by the sad slumped state of the whimpering Bell, tears freely falling from her sadly sniffling state.
"Everything Rosi everything." Crying, Bell whimpers weakly her head firmly flat on the tense table below.
"Care to explain?" Rosi asks as he picks up the paperwork by the fallen form of Bell, hopeful to not have it stain.
"My betting's scheme's going down the drain. My beri…my precious beri!" Bell whimpers weakly bowing her head sniffling sadly.
"How so?" Softly, Rosi hums having no clue, he thought she was betting on how long it would take for both parties to break, if he recalled right, a lot of people betted on Aokiji breaking before Ann however Rosi…Rosi could see how the just done drained Ann was acting, sure she was doing her work and acting normal but even Rosi could tell how done she was, how tired she was, how angry she was.
"How so!? Have you not noticed how cold it's been lately?! Hell, have you noticed how tense the captain is…" Bell swiftly slams her hands down on the table tense taking Rosi aback, surprised she hadn't broken the table in two at the sheer rage coming from Bell getting straight in Rosi's face flustering him recoiling back, blushing brightly by the sight of Bell right in his face.
"Wasn't she always…?" Rosi raises a befuddled brow by the intensity of Bell's words.
"Not like this! I mean maybe before…but I mean…you know what I mean…" Bell trails off blushing briefly by the implication alone, Bell could see her friend starving almost as if she were in a desperate but she of course being her friend was as stubborn as an ox, acting as if she were fine but Bell could see how irritated, how short tempered, how just done drained Ann was, looking on the verge of breaking the pen in her hand, she had built a habit of nibbling upon.
"I really don't." Rosi admits.
"Urgh you're so oblivious!" Bell complains cross groaning rearing her head back huffing.
"Hm?" Rosi raises a befuddled brow.
"Look it's obvious the boss needs some semblance of a stress relief without it well…you've seen the marine recruits, right?" Tiredly, Bell sighs softly, trying to reason with him, trying to explain but…
"Not…not really." Rosi recalls furrowing his brow by the realisation, he hadn't seen the if anything he had none of the recruits, almost attempting to hide away from them.
"Exactly cause they're hiding!" Bell admits, Bell herself had heard the miserable murmurings of recruits, some sniffling, some sobbing, some begging the gods above for some miracle to have them miss class, she had even spotted some souls brave enough to fake being sick. She had to give it to them, some were smart, some not so much she still recalled the fools praying for Ann to fall ill, to be sick or something still she felt bad for them, she couldn't help but pity the poor souls.
"Hiding?" Rosi raises a brow by Bell's words. She knew Ann had been stressed still though she never let that get in the way of her work, well that's what Rosi thought at the least.
"Yeah, last week Ann practically had them collapse; their legs were buckling some were even calling for their mothers!" Mortified, Bell explains to Rosi making him arch a brow, why had no one stopped her…? Then again with the wrathful storm surrounding Ann…Rosi couldn't help but understand why, not even he had the balls to do it.
"But Ann kept on with the class! She's going to kill them if she doesn't get some stress relief sooner or later…" Bell admits horrified at the thought as Rosi too couldn't help but pity the poor marine rookies below.
"That would explain why Aokiji-san has been in his office lately." Rosi hums recalling the icy tension of Aokiji's room.
"Exactly have you noticed how many people have gotten frozen lately?!" Bell adds.
"I have spotted some soaked back…" Rosi recalls a fair few badmouthing Ann, her training sessions not helping much either as the marine rookies would often complain, calling her a demon to monsters, most of the time when Rosi heard it, he would ignore it as Ann had told him, the first time he had hit them after all though Ann had swiftly shut him down, telling him not to do it again as Rosi listened. Still, he even recalled a fair few iced statues spotted around the place, he even recalled a fair few times, the marine hero Garp grumpily coming out of the office looking drained, done even as some soaked shyly marines followed after the marine hero.
"Exactly, they both just need to talk it out so things can go back to normal." Bell beams brightly relieved to hear another voice agreeing with her, happy for the support.
"And your beri bets can go back to normal." Rosi assumes amused almost as Bell flinches freezes from her words.
"Exactly! I knew you'd get it Rosi!" Bell goes with it amused almost as she points directly at Rosi smiling sheepishly shyly as just then the door swiftly slides open.
"Bell!" Ann enters her office, the pair flinching from the harsh heated flames of fury from Ann.
"Y-Yes?" Bell stutters scared almost at the intensity in Ann's eyes.
"Come on we got class." Ann reminds Bell grabbing Bell by her collar.
"R-Right away!" Anxiously, Bell smiles strained, sending a pained look to Rosi who only gives her a look of pity before watching Bell be dragged away by Ann, the two heading to another class of Ann's. Rosi silently sending a pitiful prayer to the poor souls for what they would have to endure…
Quietly, Ann makes her way towards a familiar training ground, the shy spark of sun peering in shining down upon the two. Ann hears the faint creak of the floorboards below but doesn't bat an eye to it nor to the rookies mopping away, some looking up at her in naïve awe and another glaring up at her but still she doesn't bat an eye to it, simply staring ahead as Bell by her side simply sighs, readying herself for another torture session for the rookies…or so she thought.
"Huh?" Both Bell and Ann blurt out together taken aback at the lack of marines waiting, seeing no one, no groups of marines murmuring gossiping amongst themselves, seeing no marines start some small exercises to seeing no marines standing proudly quickly assembling to salute Ann in greeting instead she is met by the still silence of the battleground, of the training grounds, the tumbleweed of dust brushing past the two stunned silent figures.
"…Bell…mind explaining where my men are?" Annoyed, Ann demands done.
"I…" Bell begins baffled as lost as her when…
"E-Excuse me sorry for being late!" A familiar redhead rushes in bowing her head towards the pair. blade strapped to her side.
"Isuka?" Bell recognises the redhead.
"I was on my way here when…" Isuka tries to explain shyly sheepishly poking at her cheek when…
"Where are my men, Isuka?" Incensed, Ann demands drained trying to keep her patience.
"Hm?" Humming, Isuka raises a befuddled brow.
"You converse with your class do you not?" Ann assumes.
"Well…I mean…yes…sometimes…" Shyly, Isuka bows her head.
"So, you may have an idea as to why they're not here." Ann presumes.
"W-Well…" Isuka stutters slightly.
"Well?" Ann gets straight to the point.
"V-Vice Admiral Aokiji...he told us…" Isuka begins as Ann's eye twitches tense.
"Told you what?" Ann snaps sharply scowling.
"Ann!" Bell's brow furrows at Ann but…
"I'mma kill him!" Angrily, Ann swears seething snarling scowling storming off, leaving the two to it.
Quietly, Aokiji reads the newspaper as he sits at his desk, dutifully going about his day when…
"Oi bastard!" Angrily, Ann slides the door to the side scowling at Aokiji.
"Hm?" Humming, he raises a brow at Ann.
"The hell are you thinking!?" Tense, Ann demands from Aokiji cross.
"Come to apologise, have we?" Aokiji assumes angering Ann.
"Oh, get over yourself! You're the one mad at me for some stupid reason!" Ann accuses agitated.
"You think being mad at you for having no sense of self-preservation is some stupid reason?" Aokiji sets his paper down frowning.
"Yes, I mean what does it even have to do with you?!" Ann demands done with Aokiji.
"…" Aokiji simply glares glowers at Ann.
"But that's not the point who are you to tell my men class is cancelled?" Cross, Ann seethes shakes.
"Who are you to continue class in your state?" Sternly, Aokiji fires back.
"What's that meant to mean?" Mad, Ann demands from Aokiji.
"You dislocated your arm, the least you could do is take the necessary days for your body to mend. Aokiji tells Ann.
"Oh for…would you stop making such a fuss about something so trivial!?" Tiredly, Ann rolls her eyes exasperated.
"Dislocating your arm is not trivial!" Tense, Aokiji barks back at her.
"And ordering my men not in your regiment is not trivial it's a violation!" Ann slams her hand down on his desk disgusted.
"A violation?" Aokiji frowns.
"Yes, those people were assigned to me, they are my responsibility not yours." Ann fumes furious at being undermined.
"At least I treat my men right." Aokiji leans back in his seat.
"Excuse you!?" Ann seethes snarls.
"I've heard how hard you've been pushing the rookies." Aokiji accuses.
"They want to survive the new world I'm simply helping them with that." Ann argues.
"You're breaking them!" Aokiji snaps back.
"They need to be pushed to their limits if they want to survive the new world." Ann insists incensed.
"They are humans, they have their limits least you can do is respect them and give them a break from your torture." Aokiji tells her.
"You think I don't respect my men? And respect? Oh, don't give me that shit!" Seething, Ann glares glowers at Aokiji.
"Do you think the swearing to be necessary?" Aokiji raises a brow making Ann's blood boil, bubble, burn.
"Oh, get over yourself! These are my men not yours! What gives you the right to take control of my class?!" Cross, Ann challenges Aokiji.
"I've been in the marines longer." He reminds her.
"And that's the only reason you're bullshitting with? God, you sound so much like him!" Haughtily, Ann sneers scowling.
"Who?" Aokiji's brow furrows at her challenging her almost.
"Who do you think? Tch all you need now is some cigar in your mouth." Mockingly, Ann sneers.
"You're the one pushing your men too far!" Aokiji stands up from his seat easily towering over the angry Ann.
"And you think you can just take over my class? The level of disrespect is disgusting!" Ann argues angrily, pain laced in her hurt tone towards him.
"And the level of disrespect you give your men is disgusting!" Aokiji barks back as something seemingly snaps in Ann.
"Urgh forget it why am I even here? How could I even think someone like you could understand!?" Ann steps back disappointment drenched in her tense tired tone turning towards the door.
"Oi Ann we're not done here!" Aokiji calls out but…Ann ignores him heading towards the door.
"Oh, and you can decide that? Cause you just decide everything I do, don't you?" Ann sneers snippily scowling.
"Of course not!" Aokiji frowns at Ann.
"Really feels like it… I was going to teach them swordplay today!" Ann argues annoyed.
"With a dislocated arm?" Aokiji raises a baffled brow at her.
"It's been relocated!" Ann snaps seething.
"Do you know how many weeks you're meant to leave the arm to heal?" He demands from her.
"…That…" Ann begins but falters from his question.
"Have you ever left an injury to heal on its own?" Aokiji probes.
"…Uh…" Ann trails off.
"ANN!" Aokiji snaps sharply seething scowling at her.
"What!? Not my fault I have great willpower!" Ann huffs haughtily.
"Willpower has nothing to do when it comes to the process of your body healing idiot!" Incensed, Aokiji snaps scowling.
"Who the hell are you calling idiot idiot!? Urgh, forget it stop telling people my classes are over if you think you can overstep this bound just cause of certain crap than you can think again!" Ann demands fury freely flow through her.
"Fine but don't expect an of that certain crap anytime soon." Aokiji huffs going back to his paper as Ann's eye twitches tense.
"Expect? Oh, Kuzu you make it sound as if you're the only option I got!" Amused, Ann chuckles coyly.
"…What's that meant to mean?" Aokiji peers over the top of his paper, brow furrowed at Ann.
"Take it as you want, I can hold out but don't come crying and crawling over to me by the end of the month I know how you lot are." Amused, Ann smirks smugly looking over at her nails.
"Ann!" Aokiji calls out but it falls to deaf ears as Ann swiftly slides said door shut.
"That woman…is going to be the death of me!" Aokiji swears it, his firm fist hitting the desk below brow furrowed fuming at Ann as Ann takes off, back to her office.
"Can you believe him!? He cancelled my class my class!" Cross, Ann fumes furious pacing back and forth fuming furious fidgeting with the glass of wine in her hand while Mihawk holds his own glass of ruby red, staring stoically the fuming furious mess that is Angrily pacing back and forth at his place while he sits in his throne of ruby red in the castle.
"Are we not…?" Mihawk couldn't help but eye the angry Ann, having no clue what was going on, one moment he was sipping wine with the baboons farming away when his snail went off, hearing nothing but the furious fuming rant of Ann as next he knew she was at his doorstep enraged.
"Who the hell does he think he is? He has some god damn nerve to think he can get away with this!" Tense, Ann continues fuming, fury freely flowing through her pacing back and forth furious.
"…" Mihawk simply reads his paper.
"Just cause he's a man they listen." Ann seethes shakes scowls. She worked hard to get where she was, having to deal with scum like Akainu and Kizaru on a daily basis to getting the respect she has now not to mention her struggle with inputting and outputting her strength, they had no clue how hard she found trying to hide her power from them, sure she knew the marines were weak but not that weak…!
"…I believe his height doesn't help matters." Mihawk remarks but it falls to deaf ears.
"Oh, don't get me started on his height! It's a challenge enough climbing him!" Ann complains cross.
"Climbing…?" Mihawk gives her quite the look.
"And that's not just it, get this it's so weird right so when the deeds done you know what he does?" Ann continues ranting fuming.
"I rather not know." Mihawk admits frowning down at his glass.
"He stays!" She says stunned.
"…" Mihawk silently stares at Ann.
"You heard me stays, cuddles, talks! How weird is that?!" Ann continues ranting.
"…" Mihawk silently stares at Ann.
"Then he goes about how he kissed me and how apparently he never kisses someone when doing the deed which is just weird to me, that's weird to you right?" Ann assumes as she turns to Mihawk but…
"…" Mihawk silently stares at Ann.
"Wait…have we ever…?" Ann gives Mihawk a look but…
"…" Mihawk silently stares at Ann.
"Oh my god." Ann stares stunned shocked at the realisation.
"Ann?" Mihawk eyes Ann.
"Is it a man thing!? I swear I've never heard this crap before! Arghhh! I just want to put him in a headlock! With his stupid cheekbones too boot! ARRRGH! I mean how could they listen to him!? I'm their commander!" Cross, Ann seethes shakes, ruffling her long locks of pink.
"Well respectively you are the same rank, what he says goes as it does with you." Mihawk reminds Ann.
"Oh, please in the marines if a man says it immediately, they listen to him, do you know how little the number of female marines there are?" Agitated, Ann places her hands on her hips.
"I haven't noticed many." Mihawk admits.
"Exactly because there aren't many, most females get outranked by asshole men who just take all the credit and get prompted to admiral I had to work hard to get this state. I had to earn people's trust what does that jackass have to do? Just walk in bowing his head as he comes in cause of how freaking tall, he is…" Incensed, Ann seethes snarls shakes fierce flames coiling wrapping around her while Mihawk simply sips his wine.
"…I can't tell if you're envious over his height or authority…" Mihawk admits eyeing the mad mess that is the angry Ann.
"ARGHHH! I HATE HIM!" Ann grabs a nearby chair throwing it.
"I hate her!" Aokiji complains heatedly to Garp.
"Hm?" Garp grunts looking up from his snacks towards the fuming Aokiji.
"That granddaughter of yours Garp-san is going to be the death of me." Aokiji admits as he huffs taking a seat, slamming his hand over his face frustrated from it all.
"…Don't tell me you froze more guys badmouthing her?" Garp sighs sadly exhaustion etched into his tense-tired tone.
"Course not!" Aokiji snaps sharply scowling.
"Hm? Then what is it?" Garp probes perplexed puzzled even.
"She comes into my officer and has a go at me for cancelling her class." Aokiji fills Garp in.
"You cancelled her class?" Confused, Garp raises a brow befuddled at Garp.
"Of course, she shouldn't be teaching in her state not to mention the wreck she left the marines in, they're barely breathing from what she put them through!" Aokiji argues agitated.
"Heh that sounds like Ann." Garp smirks slightly.
"Don't sound proud of that, she's making enemies left and right with her ruthlessness." Aokiji argues annoyed arms crossed over his chest cross.
"And you're freezing people left, and right?" Garp raises a bored brow.
"That…!" Aokiji begins but…
"…" Garp raises a brow, the pair giving each other a look until…
"She just…frustrates me, what kind of past did she have? She must have been dragged up to act so casual about her arm?" Aokiji sighs slouching slumping his shoulders, everyone had their secrets he knew that but…
"…I mean you're not wrong." Garp rubs the side of his neck, furrowing his brow not quite sure what to say.
"Huh?" Aokiji blurts out surprised.
"Ann…her childhood hasn't exactly been normal." Garp sighs softly.
"What do you mean?" Aokiji probes perplexed.
"She grew up in the new world." Garp tells Aokiji.
"…New world?" Aokiji says slightly surprised but then soon falters frowning from the implication alone.
"You know how treacherous those seas can be…especially with the yonko about…" Garp continues on.
"…" Aokiji goes quiet from his words.
"That girl knew nothing but survival." Garp admits as he couldn't help but think back to that day that rainy day…the heavens almost weeping for the man above as he was cut down right before his child, helplessly watching on, having no clue but to watch on as he approached the soaked sorrowful state of the child just done, not really there as he took her away to…
"There are no more pregnant women here. It's been ten months since Roger's capture maybe there was no child after all?" An admiral wonders while looking over at the report oblivious to the pink haired girl listening in leaning against the wall through the darkened streets of the hall, the only light there being the gas lamp the man holds in the rather secretive meeting, the elites converse amongst each other.
"So, Roger's age is really over then?" The marine soldier says surprised as her eyes narrow noting the footstep from the side scowling at the familiar footstep.
"…Are you finally ready to tell me where she is now kid?" The tall, towering marine hero towers over the girl breaking curfew however while most would freeze flinch, scream even terrified of the man above she silently stares back bored almost at the sheer sight of him.
"…. On one condition." Softly, she whispers back, her eyes glaring glowering into his.
"…Why couldn't she have told me that then?" Aokiji demands cutting Garp out of his thoughts.
"Eh?" Garp snaps out of his thoughts turning to Aokiji.
"She hardly tells me anything." Aokiji huffs.
"That's the sort of person she is." Garp shrugs, softening slightly remembering the tortured expression of the young helpless child he pried away that day.
"But…" Aokiji begins but…
"Ann has always had to fend for herself, trusting others…it isn't easy for her…I wouldn't be surprised if she found the idea terrifying." Truthfully, Garp admits recalling her ice-cold glare towards him on that very day.
"Terrifying?" Aokiji whispers.
"…Aokiji that girl…she has been through a lot…please be patient with her." Garp bows his head, a still silence settling between both mentor and student.
Quietly, Ann sits at her desk drained, rubbing at her head aching from the searing sensation throbbing in her tense temple trying to deal with her hangover while working when…
"Wow…" Bell blurts out.
"What?" Ann grunts glaring at Bell, legs draped over the coffee table.
"Aokiji-san hasn't visited you once this past month." Bell points out.
"Not even slept on your sofa." Rosi throws in.
"I was wondering why this month had been so peaceful." Ann huffs looking down at some paperwork below ruffling through the papers.
"And here I was wondering why you had been snappier this past month…" Bemused, Bell throws in.
"You wanna die!?" Ann growls fist furiously shaking seething snarling at Bell.
"Case and point." Bell smirks smugly.
"He really is mad…" Rosi looks down at his paper.
"Aren't you going to talk to him?" Bell couldn't help but ask Ann.
"Talk about his erratic behaviour? No thanks." Ann scoffs shaking her head huffing.
"Erratic?" Bell and Rosi share a look.
"Him blowing up like that, he wasn't on the mission, it had nothing to do with him and yet he had the nerve to lecture me, someone's getting arrogant…" Ann sneers scowling, glaring to the side seething shaking.
"Sounds to me that someone had gotten concerned." Rosi argues.
"Why? I'm capable enough." Ann annoyed argues.
"Sounds to me like someone's pent up." Bemused, Bell winks.
"What was that?" Tense, Ann slams her fuming fist against the desk glaring glowering at the giggling girl.
"If you want, I could offer you my body." Bell winks.
"Offer that to Aokiji I'm sure he'd be happy to take up the offer." Ann sneers snippily, poison pouring out of her tense tired tone rubbing her temple.
"Aw Ann don't be jealous." Bell teases.
"I'm not jealous dumbass! You're just annoyed that no one's taking in your beri bets." Ann dismisses Beli.
"Maybe if people took more bets, we wouldn't have this problem." Bell grumbles.
"Sounds like more of a you problem than a me problem and for your information I'm not jealous. I'm fed up with him making a bigger deal out of my arm then needed!" Ann barks back brow furrowing fatigued from it all as she feels the sharp sting of her head aching at her raised voice.
"Ann your arm dislodged." Rosi reminds her while reading the paper one leg over the other as Ann grimaces from the searing sensation in her tense temple.
"Yeah, and I fixed it, what's the problem?" She cradles her head rubbing patterns into her tense temple trying to soothe said headache.
"…How thick is she?" Bell couldn't help but wonder whispering it to Rosi.
"Even a brick wall would question that…" Tiredly, Rosi couldn't help but compare.
"You know what forget t, if you guys are going to continue acting like this then I'm done." Ann raises her hands up in the air annoyed.
"Ann!" The two call out to her but it falls to deaf ears.
"No go. I have work to do." Ann commands, opening the door for them sliding it open making the two share a look grumbling going off, leaving Ann to her work.
"Someone's grouchy, missing a certain someone are we?" Garp peers into the office smirking slightly at the sight of the just done drained Ann sat down behind her desk.
"Don't you start…" Ann groans rubbing her fingertips through her hair leaning back in her seat brushing some stray strands of her hair to the side.
"Heard you two got into quite the scrap." Smirking, Garp takes a seat sitting down.
"I wouldn't call it that." Tiredly, Ann leans over her desk.
"Rice Cracker?" He offers the packet to her however…
"No thanks." Smoothly, she declines it.
"Aokiji's been in his office for a whole month." Garp points out munching away on his crackers.
"Yes, that is his office, what do you expect?" Ann deadpans, confusion clear on her furrowed features, was she going to keep hearing his name all day? She did have a life outside him…
"…Come on tell your old man what's been going on?" Garp leans in smirking slightly at the just done drained Ann.
"You're not my old man and why do I have the feeling this has some ulterior motive?" Ann sceptically stares scowls at the giddily grinning Garp.
"…Rice cracker?" Garp offers the packet again to Ann.
"Don't change the topic!" Tense, Ann barks back brow furrowed fuming.
"Look the bets have run cold as cold as Aokiji's ice has been you should see him he's been pouting in that office of his for a whole month." Garp points out to Ann annoying her.
"…Pouting?" Ann's eye twitches tense unable to see that sort of image as she sceptically eyes Garp.
"Yeah, you kicked him out again or what?" Garp asks as he chews on his crackers, small fragments of cracker debris hitting the just done drained Ann's cheek, her eye twitching tense looking so done, so drained, so disgusted by the old man before her.
"I did nothing." Ann asserts annoyed as she uses her hand brushing the debris off her face frowning.
"Oh?" Garp raises a befuddled brow curiosity getting the best of him.
"He's the one making the fuss about my arm." Annoyed, Ann leans back in her seat.
"Your arm? Ah I heard you busted it up right?" Garp eyes her arm.
"Eh not really just dislocated it, had to pop it back in is all." Ann shrugs squirming briefly but she bites her lip from said sudden sharp sting to her arm.
"That so?" Garp warily watches her hide her brief grimace.
"Yeah when I came back, the guys were telling me to get it checked I told them it was a waste but they insisted, doc was right said I did a good job but then for some reason Aokiji popped up and lectured me, me about saving my men?! Who is he to tell me how to lead!?" Ann fumes furious to Garp.
"Hmm…" Garp grunts going back to his crackers.
"He acts as if dislocating your arm is odd? Every kid dislocates their arm." Aloofly, Ann scoffs.
"You think that?" Garp raises a brow.
"What do you mean you think that!?" Tense, Ann barks back.
"Ann most brats don't do what you do." Garp tells her.
"You're shitting me." Ann makes quite the face.
"Nope." Garp answers.
"But back when I was a kid it was one of the first things I was taught!" Tense, Ann argues.
"Ann…kids nowadays aren't raised like you were." Garp tells Ann.
"But…" Ann attempts to argue but…
"Look talk to Aokiji hear his side of things." Garp advises Ann cutting her off.
"Urghhh…. fine." Frowning, Ann groans, craning her head back before leaving the old man to it.
"Hey…" Ann leans into the side of the doorway finding Aokiji attempting to read his paper as Ann internally screams, hating every single second of it all as if she was about to be punished however…
"…" Aokiji remains glued to his paper.
"You still mad?" Ann breaks the still silence squirming slightly from said silence.
"I'm not mad." Aokiji finally breaks the still silence, silently reading his paper.
"Fine then." Ann takes a seat across from him.
"…" A still silence occurs between both of them.
"You still pouting?" Ann attempts to break the still silence once more, hating every single second of the tight tension.
"I'm not pouting." Pointedly, Aokiji swiftly slams said paper down on the desk.
"Then why has the temperature in this room risen? I heard it became an ice cube in here." Ann asks as she tries to make conversation looking around the place perplexed.
"…Don't know what you mean." Aokiji huffs dismissing her.
"Oh, come on Kuzu don't be so childish." Coyly, Ann leans in smirking slightly.
"Childish?" Aokiji's brow furrows at her.
"Look I get it seems doing what I did isn't exactly normal." Ann huffs hands up in the air exasperated.
"You just figured that out?" Aokiji raises a befuddled brow.
"Look why are you so mad about this?" Tiredly, Ann sighs frowning flabbergasted by his rage.
"You're still confused?" Baffled, Aokiji stares stunned at Ann.
"Yes, why does it matter to you?" Ann gets straight to the point perplexed puzzled.
"Because I care about you." Aokiji admits astonishing Ann.
"…H-Huh?" Ann stutters shocked stunned.
"I can't believe I have to even say this but…I care for you. When I heard what happened I came to the med bay to see you because I was concerned because I care for you." Aokiji tries to explain to the astonished Ann.
"…you…you do?" Ann says softly stunned even.
"Of course I do. You think I just did what I did with you because you're some woman?" Aokiji arches a brow at Ann.
"I mean…" Ann begins but…
"Ann, have you seen me flirt with any girls since we had this agreement?" Aokiji asks Ann.
"…No now that I think about it." Ann admits as she bows her head brow furrowed.
"…Exactly. That's because I care about you, it hurts me seeing you doing this to yourself seeing you dismiss yourself so readily and throwing yourself into danger without an inch of concern for your own well-being." Aokiji explains to the astonished Ann.
"…That…it that why you were so angry?" Ann says shakily shocked even trying to comprehend his words while rubbing at her face flabbergasted by his words, no…it was a lie it had to be…Ann couldn't help but furrow her brow by the bright blush crossing her cheeks.
"I just want you to care for yourself more." Aokiji admits as he stands going over to her side, crouching down, taking her hand in his.
"But I'm the leader, I lead that group I had to protect Rosi and Bell at the least….!" Ann stresses, her grip interlacing with his own.
"And what about yourself? Who protects you?" Aokiji asks her astonishing Ann, her eyes expanding at his words while meeting his own.
"…" Ann goes quiet from his words, brow furrowed from the question. He…he didn't mean it he couldn't mean he can't mean it…he can't…if he knew who she was…who she really was…
"It'd be better if that guy was never born…he's scum, and the rest of his family are too!"
"Thanks to him so many towns are being pillaged by these pirates he sent out to sea tch he was trouble when he was alive and he's even more so now that he's dead! He's the worst trash in the world! Anything that came from that scumbag is just as bad!"
"He's a demon those with his blood are inhuman!"
"They should be shot on sight would be better for the world without them lot infesting these waters!"
"You want to know about Roger?" The young Ann looks up at the drunk above in the bar.
"Heh, he's a liar and murderer! His family are nothing but scum! Don't say such a disgusting name kid you'll spoil my beer. Now get lost. Why're you looking at me like that?!" The drunk notes the young Ann's angry glare.
"Argh!" The drunken adult cries out from the firm fist to him.
"Hey what are you doing, you damn brat!?" The bartender calls out at the child takes on the whole bar.
"If Gold Roger had a child, they'd be beheaded, no doubt about it!"
"Their last words should be something like I'm so sorry I was born I'm just garbage!"
"She is the child of a devil…"
"So…you went to Roger's execution…" Aokiji furrows his brow at her.
"This again? Well yeah…it was a big thing at the time you know? A whole era was changing…it still is changing I suppose, I wonder what the future will bring?" Ann couldn't help but ponder to herself.
"More scummy pirates after that treasure he mentioned." Aokiji's grip tightens around the anxious Ann grimacing glancing to the side scowling.
"You really think all pirates are scum?" Shyly, Ann asks as she removes herself slightly from Aokiji, his brow furrowing from her words.
"All they do is cause trouble I wouldn't have this job if it weren't for them." Aokiji argues.
"Do you…do you think Gol. D Roger is scum?" Softly, Ann asks Aokiji.
"He's king of the scum." Aokiji asserts as Ann couldn't help but grimace.
Ann couldn't help but grimace from the fierce flash of memoires, what had she done? He didn't know…he couldn't have known, there's no way he knows…even then…what had she done? What had she done to this poor man? Had she meant to lead him on as she had? Had she meant to be this selfish? It didn't matter either way no matter how loving his words were, Ann knew the reality, Ann knew the truth, Ann knew how people were, how they all saw Roger.
"So maybe…maybe she could be a little selfish play around with him for a bit, get some stress out then nope out as soon as a chance comes, no harm no foul, soon as he learns who she is, he'll hate her, he'll hunt her down, he'll try to kill her while she is free on the seas as it should be…
"I just want you to think more about yourself than throw yourself into danger time and time again. Think about the people who will be concerned if you were to fall." Aokiji admits to Ann unaware of her heavy heart of the pain of the guilt gnawing away at her. He didn't men it he couldn't mean it he'd probably say this stuff to the next girl he found himself with, kissing or no kissing…he's probably only trying to make things easier for him in terms of workplace environment that's why he's being so sweet….so kind…so loving…much more lover than scum like her deserves.
"…I'm sorry for scaring you." Ann notes Aokiji simply staring at her waiting for her response, so she gives one, rubbing at her fatigued face frowning, having no clue what else to really say, still stunned this had happened. Sure, she'd had her flings, sure she has her charm but this…this was different, this was new, this was…
Ann looks down at his hand, his bigger, rougher, colder hand entwined with her smaller, thinner, warmer hand, his thumb brushing against the top of her hand, waiting patiently for her response. Ann couldn't describe the warmth she felt from the cold man's words.
"Just be careful for now on, please…" Softly, he presses his temple to hers, squeezing her hand.
"I'll try…" Tentatively, Ann sighs softly, feeling him gently peck her temple, no words needing to be shed for either party just happy to be back in one another's arms.
*So...thought to add something new...what do you think of Ann and Aokiji now? Compared to Ann and Mihawk? Would love to know!*
