Notes:
This chapter contains scenes that might be intense and mature for some readers ! While I tried to avoid explicit details, I still wanted to give you a heads-up !
Chapter 68 : More Than a Moment
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Emi's eyes widened as she processed what had just happened. The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from the faint glow under the door. It took her a few seconds to recognize where she was: Law's cabin.
And as she tried to piece together her thoughts, she noticed something strange—
The floor felt… oddly soft.
She slowly turned her head and finally understood.
They weren't on the floor. They were on Law's bed.
And their position…
A surge of panic shot through her. Law was hovering over her, their hands still intertwined. He had her hand pinned against the mattress, his other arm propped beside her head for support, his eyes locked onto hers.
"What the…?" she stammered, her face turning a deep shade of red.
Law frowned slightly, assessing what he had just done.
"Reflex," he muttered, his voice calm but a little lower than usual.
"Reflex?!" Emi blurted out, unable to hide her nerves. "I didn't know teleporting onto beds was one of your panic responses."
"I don't panic," he corrected flatly. "I was just avoiding an awkward situation with Zoro."
"Oh, right. Because this isn't awkward at all!" Emi turned her head away, her heart pounding so hard she was afraid he might hear it.
Law didn't answer right away. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, his gaze sharpening, almost like he was entertained by her reaction.
"Awkward for you, maybe," he murmured, his voice low, resonating in the confined space.
Heat rushed to Emi's face.
Damn it.
He was toying with her again. Testing her reaction.
Waiting to see how far she'd go this time.
And the worst part? She knew exactly where this kind of game could lead if he kept pushing.
But this time… this time, she wasn't sure she wanted to play.
Because this wasn't just some lighthearted back-and-forth or a way to distract from something else.
No.
This was different.
Something about it made her chest tighten.
Something about it made her nervous in a way she couldn't quite explain.
He hadn't changed.
Even after what she had done.
Even after she had betrayed them by revealing Caesar's location.
Even after it had almost cost them dearly.
He was still the same.
Why? Why didn't he resent her more than this?
She only realized too late that she was still holding his hand. And that, without meaning to, she had just tightened her grip around his.
An instinctive gesture.
Like she was holding on to something.
Law lifted his chin slightly, surprised by the sudden pressure of her fingers. His gaze locked onto hers.
She didn't look away.
"Why don't you hate me?"
A beat of silence.
Law blinked, momentarily caught off guard. That wasn't the question he had expected. He wasn't even sure he understood it right away.
She, too, seemed to realize what she had just said. But it was too late.
So she kept going.
"Why?"
Her voice wavered slightly. She was searching desperately for an answer in his dark eyes.
But he didn't reply. He just watched her, waiting for her to finish her thoughts.
And Emi understood that there was no turning back. She knew she should have let it go.
She should have taken a deep breath, nodded, and moved on. Like he had.
But she couldn't.
Because this wasn't just about guilt anymore. She wasn't still mourning that mistake. She had accepted it.
What troubled her… was him. His reaction.
It didn't make sense.
He should have been cold. He should have been sharp. He should have shut her down in a few words, left her with that bitter feeling of having ruined everything.
But instead… He had only given her a brief reproach. A look. And then he moved on.
Like…
Like something had changed.
Like he had become more forgiving with her. Softer.
And Emi didn't understand.
Why? Why the change? She should have just accepted it without asking questions.
But she couldn't.
Because deep down… what she really wanted to know was whether he felt it too.
That same unexplainable something towards her.
If, like her, his heart pounded when he held her hand.
If, like her, he fought against that strange warmth between them when their eyes lingered a little too long.
And without even knowing how she was going to approach it… the words had just come out. Spontaneously. Unstoppably.
And now, she waited.
Holding her breath. Still holding onto him, as if his answer could change everything.
But Law still hadn't moved. His gaze remained locked onto Emi's—deep, unreadable, heavy. But in the confined space, between the distant hum of the submarine's machinery and the faint creaking of the walls under pressure, Emi could almost hear what wasn't being said.
She clenched her teeth. Why wasn't he answering?
She wished she could read his mind. Figure out what didn't add up.
She had never thought he would forgive her so easily.
But she had never thought he could be this indifferent, either.
"Do you forgive me… or do you just not care?"
The silence stretched between them.
She knew him well enough to be sure—he never did anything without a reason. If he hadn't already considered this question, he would have dismissed it with a sharp remark. He would have looked at her as if she were wasting his time with nonsense.
But no. He was just there. Silent. Watching her. Thinking.
And that was far more unsettling.
Finally, he looked away slightly, exhaling slowly through his nose, as if forcing himself to put his thoughts in order.
Then, without warning, he let go of her hand. Cold seeped into Emi's palm instantly.
"Because it's easier that way," he finally said, his voice low and calm—but strangely devoid of its usual sharpness.
Her heart skipped a beat.
He wasn't denying it. He wasn't pretending not to understand.
He was just stating facts.
Emi frowned, torn between the urge to push further and the fear of what she might hear.
"Easier?"
Law ran a hand over his face, before fixing his gaze on her again.
"If I made you pay for what you did, what would change, huh?"
His tone wasn't harsh. Just… direct.
"You think you'd sleep better at night knowing I was angry?"
He wasn't really expecting an answer. Neither was she, honestly.
But he continued, his voice deeper, slower.
"You want to know why I'm not trying to resent you?"
He leaned in slightly, closing the space between them.
"Because you were there."
A strange pressure built in Emi's chest.
He didn't need to explain further.
She understood.
From the very beginning.
From that damned alliance when they first met, from the moment she insisted on helping him, on passing him information, on giving him the Log Pose, on following him into the chaos of Dressrosa… She had always been there.
Not just because it was convenient.
Not just because it was her job.
He knew it.
He had always known it.
And now, so did she.
A heavy silence settled.
She could have spoken. Could have found something to say.
But she didn't.
Because deep down, it wouldn't have changed anything.
They both knew exactly what this was.
But Law—he had never let himself dwell on it.
Not because he didn't want to.
Because he never had the luxury.
Before, he had only one goal. Doflamingo. His revenge. That was all that mattered.
Everything else—he had pushed aside.
But now…
Now, it was different.
He was at peace. Not completely. Not fully healed. But enough to finally see what had been staring him in the face all along.
A faint smile ghosted across his lips. Almost imperceptible.
"And you?" he murmured.
Emi flinched. Law knew her too well. He knew. He had seen it. She cared about him more than she wanted to admit. And now, he wanted to hear it.
Silence stretched between them, heavy but strangely natural.
He was waiting for an answer. But Emi had no idea what to say. So, slowly, she moved.
She straightened her upper body, her gaze locked onto his. Law didn't react, but she felt the tension in his shoulders, like he already knew what she was about to do.
When she sat up further, he leaned back slightly, shifting onto his knees to give her space. For a brief moment, they just sat there, face to face.
Then Emi moved again. She sat up completely and, without hesitating this time, lifted her arms and pulled him into a hug.
Law froze, caught off guard by the sudden closeness. Her body against his. Her arms around him. For a second, he didn't know what to do. He hadn't seen this coming.
But he didn't push her away.
He felt her fingers clutch slightly at his back, her breathing calm yet deep. Then, slowly, Emi rested her head against his chest. Right there, against his black shirt. She stayed like that, her breath syncing with the rhythm of Law's heartbeat. A steady beat. A little faster than usual. A detail he hoped she wouldn't notice.
Law glanced down at her, his expression unreadable. But he understood. This was her answer. A silent confession. And this time, he didn't look away.
For a moment, everything felt still. The silence, the weight of their bodies so close, the warmth seeping through the layers of fabric.
Then, slowly, Emi became aware of what she had just done. She had hugged him.
Trafalgar Law.
She swallowed, her arms still wrapped around him. Shit… She had gone too far, hadn't she? She hadn't thought this through. It had just happened naturally, but now that her brain was catching up with her body, a small wave of panic crept in.
What if she had just screwed up whatever weird dynamic they had?
She loosened her hold slightly, hesitating, and slowly lifted her head to look at him. Law was already watching her. Still unmoving. Still unreadable. But he hadn't stepped back.
A shiver ran down her spine under the intensity of his gray eyes. Damn. Why did this feel so… charged?
Her heart pounded against her ribs. The air felt heavier, harder to breathe. What was this silence? She had to say something. Anything.
So, without thinking, she blurted out with a small smirk:
"Maybe I was right after all… Your hat really does make you softer."
Law blinked.
Then, a quiet, amused breath slipped past his lips.
"Really?"
His voice was low, almost a whisper. He still hadn't pulled away. The silence returned, but this time, it carried a different weight.
They looked at each other, the space between them shrinking without either of them really noticing. Law's gaze flickered to her lips. And Emi, completely caught in the moment, felt her breath hitch.
Then, all at once, they both closed the distance.
Their lips met.
Firm. Intense. Burning.
For a brief second, Emi froze.
Her?
Him?
Here?
But her thoughts vanished as quickly as they had come. Because her body—her traitorous, impatient body—was already reacting before she could even make sense of what was happening. Her fingers slid instinctively to the back of Law's neck, holding onto him as the kiss grew deeper, more urgent.
Oh, hell.
They were kissing. No hesitation. No second-guessing.
And it was insanely intense.
Neither of them tried to slow down, to pull away. If anything, it only escalated. Law's grip tightened around her waist as he pulled her against him, his firm hold making her gasp against his lips. Before she even realized it, she had shifted onto his lap, straddling him.
Law wasn't the type to lose control. He was always calculated, always aware. But right now? He wasn't thinking. Not about the consequences, not about what this meant. Just her. Just the warmth of her body pressed against his, her fingers tangled in his hair as if she was afraid he'd disappear.
Emi tried—really tried—to steady her heartbeat. But it was useless.
Law was right there, his hands moving along her waist, his lips claiming hers with a kind of hunger she had never seen in him before.
Damn.
She had never felt anything like this.
The realization that he was just as caught up in this moment as she was, that he wasn't holding back either, shattered every last defense she had built against him.
And now, she needed more.
With a desperate impulse, her hands slid down his chest, feeling the firmness of his muscles through his shirt, trailing lower over the ridges of his abs.
Oh god.
Even through the fabric, she could tell just how perfectly sculpted he was.
Law inhaled sharply at her touch, his breathing growing heavier. Then, as if her curiosity had ignited something in him, he let go of her waist and started unbuttoning his own shirt.
Emi hesitated, her gaze flickering up to his. But when he didn't stop, didn't waver, she swallowed her nerves and reached forward to help him with the last few buttons.
And then, just like that, the shirt was gone.
She barely had time to blink.
Her eyes fell on his exposed body, and every single thought in her head just—
Vanished.
Shit.
Of course, Emi knew Law was built—she'd seen him shirtless before. But seeing him like this, up close, under the dim light, his tanned skin stretched over perfectly sculpted muscles, his unsteady breath making his tattooed chest rise and fall… this was something else entirely.
She didn't even realize she had already let her hands roam over his body, tracing the hard ridges of his abs before gliding up his chest, following the sharp lines of his muscles.
How the hell was he this perfect?
Under her touch, she felt him shudder.
Law leaned in, pressing his forehead against hers, his warm breath ghosting over her lips. The heat that shot through Emi was almost dizzying. And when he dipped his head to kiss her again, her body responded before her mind could catch up, her hands instinctively finding his skin again.
Without breaking the kiss, his fingers slipped under her shirt, gliding over her bare skin, exploring every inch he could reach. When he found the clasp of her bra, he hesitated only for a second before undoing it with practiced ease.
A faint click, and the fabric loosened.
Emi's breath hitched.
Law moved lower, his thumb brushing—slow, deliberate—over the delicate curve of her chest, testing her reaction. The way she tensed, the way her fingers dug into his shoulders, told him everything he needed to know.
Encouraged, he kept going, his touch becoming bolder, savoring the contrast between his rough palms and the softness of her skin.
Then, when he traced a particularly sensitive spot with just a little more pressure, Emi let out a quiet, strangled moan.
And suddenly—
He felt her nails dig into his back, raking down with a heat and intensity that sent a jolt straight through him.
"Hhngー!"
Law's eyes widened slightly, his breath catching in his throat.
A sharp mix of pain and pleasure shot through his spine, momentarily stunning him. It took him a second to process what had just happened.
He pulled back slightly, his breathing uneven, and stared at her.
Emi, completely lost in the moment, didn't even seem to notice what she'd done. Her flushed cheeks, her half-lidded eyes, the rise and fall of her chest—she was totally absorbed, oblivious to the effect she'd just had on him.
She blinked, slightly dazed. "What?"
Law let out a breath, somewhere between a scoff and a laugh.
She had no idea. No clue how much that had just wrecked him.
And that? That was worse than if she'd done it on purpose.
Because it was instinctive.
Uncontrolled.
And so damn hot.
Without a second thought, he slid Emi's shirt off, and she let him. He kissed her again, pressing her back against the bed as he settled over her, his bare chest brushing against hers. A shiver ran through him at the sensation of their skin meeting with nothing in between.
Emi didn't resist—she clung to him, her legs wrapping around his hips, pulling him even closer.
Everything was too much. Too intense.
And as their bodies pressed fully against each other, Emi suddenly felt something.
Something... hard.
Her eyes snapped open as realization hit her like a brick.
Oh god—was that… was that what she thought it was?!
Her body tensed instinctively, and Law, always attuned to her reactions, stopped immediately. He studied her, intrigued, before following her gaze to… his own very obvious erection, straining against his pants.
Silence.
For a moment, he wasn't sure what to say, faced with the mix of shock and embarrassment on Emi's face. Eventually, he cleared his throat slightly, a fleeting hint of awkwardness crossing his expression.
"It's a natural reaction," he finally said, his tone calm and almost clinical—like he was giving a medical diagnosis.
Emi, red to the tips of her ears, quickly snapped out of it, her brows knitting together.
"I know that!" she shot back, flustered but determined. "I'm not… naïve!"
Law couldn't help the amused smile that tugged at his lips. Her attempt to cover her embarrassment was endearing, and he'd be lying if he said it didn't make him like her even more.
Meanwhile, Emi's heart was pounding as her mind raced with a thousand questions. Was she supposed to… do something? But what? Was it her responsibility to… handle this? The thought left her both confused and ridiculously nervous.
Law seemed to catch on to her hesitation because, rather than pressing closer, he shifted slightly to the side, breaking the direct contact between them.
Emi, unsettled by the sudden distance, instinctively leaned forward, trying to close the space between them and kiss him again. But before she could reach him, Law's hand came up, pressing firmly against her shoulder, stopping her in place.
"Don't move," he said, his voice low and commanding.
She blinked, startled.
"Huh…?" she murmured, visibly lost.
He didn't answer right away. Instead, he leaned in again, his lips grazing the sensitive skin of her neck, while his hand trailed slowly down her stomach.
Emi's breath hitched when his fingers reached the button of her pants.
And that's when she understood.
Her gaze flickered from Law's hand to his face, her eyes wide with surprise, a mix of nervousness and anticipation swirling within them. She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out.
Law lifted his head slightly, locking eyes with her.
"Relax," he murmured, his tone gentle but firm. "Trust me."
And at that moment, Emi decided to do just that, letting her embarrassment slowly fade in the face of Law's quiet certainty.
Law remained leaning over her, his fingers toying gently with the button of her pants, testing her reaction. Emi didn't know where to look, her heart pounding so hard she thought it might explode.
He unfastened the button with excruciating slowness, his fingers grazing the fabric as he eased her pants down, gradually exposing her skin. The cool air in the room sent a shiver through her, but she knew that wasn't the only reason for her reaction.
Ever meticulous and attentive, Law observed every little movement, every shiver that ran through her. He traced a featherlight line along her underwear with his fingertips, his touch slow and deliberate, as if exploring forbidden territory.
Emi squirmed slightly under his touch, her cheeks burning red. She bit her lip, trying to stifle the sounds threatening to escape, but it was useless. When his fingers wandered lower, a small sound slipped past her lips, which she immediately tried to muffle by biting down harder—but it was futile.
"You're so sensitive," he murmured, a smirk playing on his lips, his deep voice vibrating against her skin.
Those simple words were enough to make Emi falter, her defenses melting away under the heat of his gaze. Another trembling sigh escaped her as one hand instinctively gripped the sheets beneath her, while the other tightened around Law's arm—the one he had braced beside her to keep himself steady.
Law deepened his movements, his fingers slipping beneath the thin fabric of her underwear, grazing over more intimate places. Emi arched slightly, her breathing turning erratic. She felt like she was losing control, completely swept away by the overwhelming sensations he was awakening in her.
And as Law's touch grew bolder, her nails dug into his skin.
Hard.
Hard enough to draw blood.
Law tensed at the sharp sting, a rough groan slipping from his lips, his breath hitching for a second. He could have pulled away. He could have stopped. But damn…
It only spurred him on.
A dark glint flickered in his gaze—a mix of raw excitement and pure pleasure at the way she responded beneath him. He inhaled deeply, his jaw tightening slightly as a shiver ran through him.
"It's… so much…" she stammered, struggling to find the words to describe what she was feeling.
"You don't need to talk," he murmured without thinking, his lips brushing over hers before trailing down her neck, then the hollow of her shoulder. "Just let go."
Emi still clung to his arm, her fingers tightening around his muscles. She had never felt anything this intense, this dizzying. She was completely lost in it, her mind drowning in the intoxicating sensations he was drawing out of her.
"Law…" she murmured, her voice trembling with a mix of hesitation and pleasure.
He lifted his eyes slightly to meet hers, capturing her gaze with an intensity that made her heart pound even harder. His fingers continued their dance, becoming a little more precise, more deliberate, and Emi felt the tension inside her growing.
It was as if an immense wave, gentle yet relentless, was rising within her, ready to crash. And when she could no longer contain that energy, it was as if the world had stopped for a moment. Everything she felt exploded in a cascade of warmth and inner light, leaving her breathless and trembling beneath him.
Law looked at her, an almost imperceptible smile on his lips. He seemed proud to have guided her to this point, but it was clear that he wasn't done yet.
As Emi caught her breath, her cheeks still flushed from the intensity of the moment, she watched him straighten slightly. With a smooth movement, he unfastened his belt and let it drop to the floor, revealing the perfect lines of his body. His already bronzed and tattooed torso was now accompanied by the sight of his hips, and Emi couldn't help but avert her eyes, embarrassed yet curious.
"That was…" She hesitated, unsure of what to say.
Law raised an eyebrow and leaned in toward her, his hands gently framing her face.
"You thought that was the end?" he murmured, his deep voice tinged with a slightly teasing amusement.
Emi blinked, sitting up slightly, confused.
"It wasn't…?"
He gently eased her back down onto the bed, his burning gaze locked onto hers.
"No," he simply replied, a smirk playing at his lips.
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Thank you for reading this chapter! I'm really not used to writing this kind of scene, lol, so I hope it still satisfied you ! I'm not the type to go into too much detail—I prefer to leave room for imagination!
See you next time ~