Chapter 28: The fine line of control
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Law stood next to her, raising an eyebrow as he watched Emi laugh to herself. Was she drunk..? He was about to intervene when the Den Den Mushi rang inside Emi's bag. She fumbled awkwardly, trying to grab the device, which happened to be the one linked to Big Mom's pirate.
Terrible timing, Law thought, a flicker of concern breaking through his concentration.
Despite being somewhat affected by the alcohol, Emi answered, her tone less restrained than usual.
"What do you want?" she blurted out, her voice echoing oddly in the room, emphasized by the effects of the drink. She had forgotten to use the usual code, an oversight that could be dangerous.
"What? Am I really talking to Emi here?" the pirate exclaimed, clearly surprised by her state.
Not taking the warning seriously, Emi replied, "Who else do you think it is?"
The pirate's irritation spiked. "Who do you think you are, brat? Don't waste my ti—"
"Well, screw yー," she cut him off abruptly, but before she could continue, Law, with an exasperated sigh, snatched the Den Den Mushi from her hands.
Emi, desperately trying to take it back, reached for the device, but Law held it up, keeping it out of her reach. He finally ended the call abruptly. Emi clung tightly to Law's hoodie, her gaze fixed on the transponder snail he still held.
"Law! Give me the Den Den Mushi!" Emi demanded, her voice laced with irritation.
Her mind, clouded by alcohol, thudded in her head like a pounding drum. But Law, gritting his teeth, firmly asked her to stop acting recklessly.
"No. You're drunk. Don't even think about it," he said, his voice stern.
Emi, frustrated, insisted, "But this is important!"
"That's exactly my point. Don't ruin your commitments with him," Law responded, frowning.
Emi's eyes gleamed with a mix of anger and frustration as she suddenly shouted, "Why are you always so strict?!" Her voice echoed through the kitchen. "How can you be so indifferent after all the information I've given you?" she added, her voice trembling. "Why are you so cold to me?"
The alcohol had amplified her frustration and doubts about her relationship with Law. She suddenly hated the fact that he only treated her like a mere pawn in his schemes. This was why she despised situations like this, why she had always wanted to avoid prolonged contact with clients or allies. She hated the feeling of needing recognition. No, she needed no one. Especially not a pirate.
Law watched her, his brows furrowing slightly as he realized the impact his actions had on Emi, even as he tried to maintain distance to protect his own objectives. He disliked this situation, not just because it made him uncomfortable, but because he had no intention of justifying himself. He never felt the need to explain his decisions or his methods—especially not to someone outside his crew. Justifications were a sign of weakness in his eyes, an opening for others to question his motives or challenge his authority.
Yet, seeing how his actions had clearly affected her, it stirred something uncomfortably close to guilt, a feeling he quickly pushed aside.
Suddenly silent, Emi felt her head grow heavy, as if it were filled with lead, while her thoughts swirled like cyclones in a stormy sea. She collapsed against Law, burying her face into his hoodie, seeking refuge from the waves of nausea overwhelming her.
"Head hurts..." she mumbled, complaining about a sudden migraine.
Then, with a faintly mischievous smile, she lifted her head from his hoodie and fixed her gaze on his gray eyes before adding,
"Doctor, heal me."
Emi's eyes locked onto his, an unusual boldness for someone who usually avoided eye contact. Law, surprised by her behavior, met her gaze, unable to look away despite himself.
She then broke eye contact and fixed her gaze on his white hat, curiosity taking over as she reached out to touch it, wondering if its texture was as soft as Bepo's fur. Law intercepted her hand gently but firmly, capturing her wrist in his grasp. They stared at each other for a few seconds, a heavy silence hanging between them.
He couldn't help but wonder why she had let herself get carried away like this. Yet, instead of making a direct comment about her state, his gaze carefully studied Emi's features as he leaned slightly toward her. He observed the contours of her face, every detail becoming sharper the closer he got. Her lips, thin yet paradoxically full, particularly caught his attention, and he found himself staring at them, his gaze lingering on their alluring curve.
Law slowly lifted his eyes, leaving Emi's lips behind as he moved his focus to her delicate nose, and finally, to her eyes. He noticed a glimmer in them, a glimmer rarely directed at him. This unusual closeness unsettled him slightly, but he didn't let it show.
With a determined yet gentle motion, he lifted her and set her down on the countertop beside them. Her eyes widened in surprise, but she didn't protest.
Now, Law stood between her legs, his hands firmly resting on her hips. He moved even closer to her face, leaning slowly toward her left ear, his lips barely grazing her skin.
"You shouldn't let yourself get like this, especially on a ship full of men," he murmured, his warm breath caressing her ear. As he spoke, he caught the scent of citrus from Emi mixed with the alcohol, a troubling contrast.
Emi's heart raced, pounding faster and faster in her chest as Law whispered in her ear. A shiver ran through her, spreading within, a mix of excitement and embarrassment washing over her. She felt her cheeks flush, but she didn't move, anchored to the countertop, her hands gripping the edge for stability.
She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to catch her breath. Law was so close, unbearably close, and her entire body seemed to respond to this unexpected proximity.
She slowly opened her eyes and met his gaze once more. She knew she was playing with fire, but something inside her urged her to push the boundaries, to go beyond the hard stares and the usual distance he kept.
"And what if I don't want to be careful?" she whispered, gently placing her hands on his shoulders. She could feel the tension in his muscles beneath the fabric of his shirt.
Law remained silent, inwardly struggling to maintain his composure. He could see in Emi's eyes that she was searching for an answer, but this wasn't the right way to give it to her. Did she really intend to go further? That question echoed inside him, stirring an internal conflict he hadn't thought possible.
With calculated slowness, he moved one of his hands from her hip to gently caress her cheek. His fingers lightly grazed her skin, sliding cautiously down to her chin. But the moment he felt Emi tense under his touch, he stopped. His gaze shifted to her, noticing her eyes were now closed, but her face betrayed clear tension.
Law furrowed his brow. Was she unaccustomed to physical contact? This wasn't the reaction he had expected, and it left him perplexed. Maybe she was just nervous, or perhaps there was something deeper, something she wasn't used to sharing. The thought that she might never have experienced this kind of closeness crossed his mind. He found himself wondering if she had ever been in this situation with anyone else.
But why should he care? After all, it wasn't his concern. Yet, something inside him refused to completely ignore it. He sighed softly, realizing he couldn't go any further, even if the thought had briefly crossed his mind. He didn't want to take advantage of Emi in her current state, and more importantly, he didn't want to complicate things between them.
He slowly released his hold on her, his hand leaving her chin and dropping back to his side.
Emi, her cheeks flushed from both the alcohol and Law's touch, slowly opened her eyes, suddenly feeling vulnerable and embarrassed. Her heart raced, and a wave of uncertainty washed over her. Why had he stopped? Had she done something wrong? Her alcohol-clouded mind desperately searched for an answer.
She recalled those scenes in the books she'd read, where the heroines closed their eyes just before a kiss, a gesture that seemed to signal complete surrender to the moment. That was what she was supposed to do, right? She had followed the script she imagined, but something hadn't gone as expected.
She lifted her gaze, meeting Law's eyes once again, searching for answers in his steely gray stare. But what she saw only heightened her unease. There was no judgment or reproach in his eyes, only a quiet understanding, which unsettled her even more. It was as if he had understood something about her before she had even realized it herself.
Emi suddenly felt foolish, her cheeks burning with shame. Why had she thought she could play this game? The truth was, she had no idea what she was doing. And now, she feared Law knew that too.
As she tried to calm her emotions, an ill-timed hiccup escaped her lips, quickly followed by a wave of uncontrollable nausea. She pulled away from his embrace and gently pushed him aside before vomiting into the sink, breaking the intimate moment.
Sachi and Penguin, who had grown concerned over her prolonged absence, immediately appeared, rushing toward Emi to take care of her.
Seizing the opportunity, Law quickly slipped away, throwing a firm order over his shoulder to the two crewmates,
"Stop making her drink."
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The next morning, Emi woke up with a heavy head, the effects of the hangover brutally reminding her of the excesses of the previous night. She cautiously turned over in bed, her blurry vision causing her to blink several times to adjust to the morning light. A glass of water and a box of painkillers rested on the nightstand next to her, a quiet reminder of the events of the night before.
As her memories gradually returned, a wave of shame and regret washed over her. God, she had acted so unprofessionally, so recklessly, letting herself be carried away by alcohol and emotions. She felt like a careless teenager, far from the serious and determined image she always tried to project.
In truth, Emi had never been that close to anyone, let alone in such an intimate context. Her knowledge was limited to romantic stories, to abstract ideas of what such an encounter should be like.
She wondered if Law had noticed her inexperience, if that's what had stopped him. The idea that he might have guessed her lack of confidence embarrassed her even more. She had overestimated herself, imagining she could provoke something she didn't fully understand.
Emi wasn't used to feeling so exposed. In her work as a journalist, she always controlled the situation, mastered every detail, every interaction. But with Law, everything was different. She wasn't in control anymore, and that deeply unsettled her.
Emi buried her face in her hands, trying to calm the pounding of her heart that echoed painfully in her head. How could she now face Law after being so vulnerable, so exposed? She felt embarrassed, humiliated by her own behavior, and dreaded the moment she would have to confront the pirate's stern gaze.
Sitting up carefully, Emi swallowed the painkillers with a grimace, hoping to soothe the torment in both her head and her heart. She knew she had to face the reality of her actions, even if it meant admitting her own weaknesses and mistakes. Mentally preparing herself for what lay ahead, she slowly rose from her bed, ready to face the challenges of the day—and, most of all, to face Law.
Emi made her way through the kitchen with heightened caution, her footsteps lightly echoing on the tiled floor as she tried to minimize the sound of her heels. She had hoped the kitchen would be empty, but of course, it was always when she wanted some solitude that everyone decided to gather for breakfast. She spotted Law seated at the kitchen table, engrossed in reading the newspaper, a steaming cup of coffee in his hands. Next to him was Bepo, busy preparing something on the countertop, while Penguin busied himself near the fridge, pulling out the fresh fruit they had bought at the market.
Penguin, noticing Emi, cheerfully exclaimed, "Hey Emi, not too hungover? Want some fresh orange juice? We've got some really juicy fruit!"
Emi smiled and nodded enthusiastically, grateful for the refreshing offer. She took a seat opposite Law, trying to maintain a cautious distance. She wasn't ready to engage in a conversation with him just yet. Besides, he seemed so absorbed in his reading… oh, it was today's edition? Her natural curiosity and the journalist in her compelled her to take a glance at the articles Law was reading. She carefully got up to move closer to him and peered at the newspaper.
To her surprise, she noticed him reading a column about Sora, Warrior of the Sea. It brought back memories of her own small discovery in the submarine's library, where stacks of Sora's adventures had been tucked away. So, Law had been a fan of the comic all along? Maybe this could be her chance—asking him about it might be the perfect way to break the ice.
"Interesting choice of reading, Law. The story is captivating, isn't it?" she said casually, hoping her light comment would lead to a more relaxed conversation.
Law looked up from his newspaper, a smirk stretching across his lips. "Ah, Stealth Black, a fascinating character," he remarked, his tone tinged with mild amusement. "He's a formidable enemy who can blend into his surroundings and become invisible."
Emi responded with a relieved smile at his openness. "Yes, it's really cool!"
Law nodded, agreeing with her words.
"By the way, the author of this comic has a nasty temper. He used to come by the Times just to remind us how important he was." She added, a hint of bitterness in her voice,
Law raised an eyebrow, "you work for the government?" he asked, his gaze scanning Emi with curiosity.
"Not anymore, that's in the past…" Emi replied, rubbing her head, slightly embarrassed by his perceptiveness.
She turned her attention away from the comic to focus on a newspaper section titled:
*The Revolutionary Army Strikes Again: A Threat to Security!*
Intrigued, she leaned in to read the paragraph. Her eyes quickly skimmed the lines:
The Revolutionary Army has struck again, destroying Noble Vemrick's castle in an act of pure violence. Their actions only sow chaos and threaten the security of our world. Posing as defenders of justice, they are in fact nothing more than criminals seeking to disrupt the established order.
This recent attack raises serious concerns about the safety of our citizens. It is time to take firm action against this dangerous organization. As responsible citizens, we must remain vigilant and united against this growing threat. The security of our world is in our hands.
A look of dismay appeared on Emi's face as she read the accusation against the Revolutionary Army. They were portrayed as dangerous, an image Emi found completely biased given the actions of the nobles they were fighting.
Aside from that, Emi was impressed by how quickly the Revolutionaries had responded to her request for intervention. She felt a mix of relief and pride, knowing that they had succeeded in destroying the castle and likely freeing the slaves.
However, the false image the government was painting of the Revolutionary Army outraged her. How could they dare accuse the Revolutionary Army of being dangerous when that noble had used slaves to build his castle? It was revolting. She planned to discuss this with her father later, who worked for them, to clarify the situation.
As for Law, he had been watching closely as Emi's expression changed while reading the article. He wondered if she had a connection to the Revolutionary Army. It was indeed too coincidental that their intervention had occurred right after they had left the area. He suspected Emi was involved in some way and planned to ask her about it later, knowing this information could prove crucial for his future actions.
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Thank you for reading this chapter ! And thank you always for your comments! It makes me extremely happy :D
There's been some slow but steady progress between Emi and Law, and while things aren't moving too fast, something is definitely brewing :D
Lilly Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to leave feedback. I'm really happy to hear that you're enjoying the story and that the characters feel natural to you—that's something I strive for, especially with One Piece! I'll keep doing my best for the upcoming chapters! :D