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Description

The night was long, lonely, and gloomy.

Sleep long evaded, you were forced to toss and turn seemingly endless in bed. Never quite able to find a comfortable spot as the source of questioning distress was just a few feet away.

Did she come in as well? Was she staying the night once more?

You groaned into your pillow for the umpteenth time to the unknown questions. Haunting kiss in a painful repetition, the questions refused to leave.

Unwilling to wait for the front door to open into answers, you quickly ran away. Shutting yourself inside your bedroom, you held in silence as you tried to listen in with a pressed ear to the closed door.

A potential counting of steps drowned out by Law calling out your name as he entered a moment after; his voice echoing inside of the hallway as he approached your door. With his search drawing near, you managed to lock the door before he could open it.

Jingling the door knob as he repeated your name, you rushed to jump into bed. Fumbling to put in your earbuds, you played the first song on repeat until the noise outside had stopped.

Wallowing in the ever-replaying kiss, you contemplated leaving a few times throughout the night. Forcing yourself to stay after each attempt, you managed to make it through.

The early morning hour shinned back at your sore eyes spurring an uncomfortable groan. 5:49 AM, more than a few hours until work but it was ultimately best to get ready early.

Cautiously peeking out into the dimly lit hallway, Law’s uncharacteristically closed room door appeared. Slowly stepping forward, your breath held. Reaching out to knock, you pulled your hand back unable to muster the courage to do so.

Unsure if he was going to spring a second surprise, you hesitantly approached the end of the hall. Slow and soft steps halting, you carefully opened your eyes to the living room.

An empty area with no unwelcomed soul thankfully appeared, never had you been so grateful for lonely silence.

Expelling your tightly bound nerves in a drawn-out sigh, you slowly began to relax. A sense of comfort in your own home returning, you tapped upon the back of the empty chair in which you first saw her in. Light sounds before, the reality of the current silence drew in.

Years since a silent morning, you looked around searching for the usual. A light roast and greeting, the kitchen was also clear of a potential body.

Slowly, your gathered brows worryingly lowered the longer that you waited. Nervously peering back down the corridor looking for any sign, none ultimately came.

Evidently too busy in himself, you gathered your things to leave before he could appear. His early morning schedule pinned upon the fridge, he would soon need to leave as well.

You hesitated, looking back before you could leave. Coming dangerously close to being late, you pondered on a reminder. Although fearing the one potentially behind, you decided on a text.

“Sorry, oh, [Name],” standing from behind the counter, the cherry blossom haired woman turned to the front door as the small bell above rang. Set to turn away any early customer, she turned her head to your early appearance.

Picking up your dragging feet, you gave a airy sigh. Turning to adjust as you faced her concern, it wasn’t enough. A darkened pattern cradling your swollen eyes and forced smile couldn’t be hidden so well after all.

She couldn’t help but chuckle, her unique voice filling the once silence of the shop. “You look like you were out drinking all night.”

Your low groan turned into a slight chuckle as you heard her infections laughter. Gently tapping your flushed face, it seemed like a better reasoning than crying all night. “No, but that’s probably what I need,” you continued with a jokingly shake to your head while draping a dark apron over yourself.

Perona perked, a suspicious smile raising her light pouty rosy lips. Leaning the broom against the wall, she turned to beneath the counter. “I’ve got just the thing for you then,” humming, she moved around a variety of miscellaneous papers and scattered napkins to find her hidden stash a moment after.

Uncovered from beneath, Perona raised a darkened printed flask. Liquid sloshing inside to her bounce, she handed it over. “For emergencies,” she responded to your stunned look of confusion.

You sighed, giving up rather quickly without a word. The shop needing an obvious deep cleaning, that would be saved for another time.

Taking a long swig, your face quickly soured to the sharp taste. Overpowering each and every sense, the taste remained well after causing a coughing fit.

“Not much of a drinker, huh?” Taking back her pink bat imprinted flask, she took a smooth drink without much reaction; spending time with Zoro must have rubbed off on her.

Slowly recovering, you shook your head after failing to think of the last time that you had a drink, “Not really.”

Taking the flask once more, it raised up to your lips before the front door bell pulled you momentarily away. “Sorry, we’re closed,” without seeing whom, you called back to the one entering.

“Make an exception, won’t you?” Law returned with a boisterous yawn stretching out his words.

Giving a sharp gasp, you quickly turned knowing exactly who was present. Any low point inside of your body raised the moment in which you laid your eyes upon him.

“Ew, gross,” Perona focused on your expression as she took back the flask before you could drop it. Your suddenly shaking hands becoming unreliable.

“W-What?” You turned slightly back to the woman searing with an off look.

“Your face lights up when you see him,” raising a tease, she chuckled to your reaction caring none for speaking in a soft tone.

You shot back with a silencing glare before clearing your throat trying to cover for her words. “Can you go and start the machines in the back?” You sent Perona away before slowly approaching Law waiting up front.

“H-Hey,” you tried to clear your suddenly shaking voice as you saw him. “What are you doing here? Don’t you have work soon?”

Helping himself to a bottle of orange juice from the fridge, he gave a mumbled response.
Obviously dehydrated, he nudged over with a head tilt as he continued to drink.

Taking a seat at the nearest table across from you, he was finally able to relax. “I asked someone to cover for me,” he sighed, looking down and away as he rubbed his pulsing temple.

Selfishly searching for any sign of a recent involvement, you tried to look him over as he was before you. A hickey or a scratch, just any little sign to answer an itching question. Although that search dropped as the sound of his pain spurred an unlikely sound – a chuckle.

He raised his head up slightly cracking open an eye to your reaction. Taking a moment to savor your lovely expression, he snickered a loud after you finished.

“It’s not like you to drink so much, let me enjoy your pain for a bit,” you began to chuckle once more from behind the cover of your sleeve.

“Yeah yeah,” he shook off your reaction with a shake of his head as he reached for the bottle. Close, it was suddenly pulled away from his grasp.

“You need to pay beforehand,” you raised a brow to his look of confusion. Holding the bottle from the neck, you rocked it back and forth before him teasing the drink.

Clearing his expression to his usual stoic, he mustered up the last bit of strength to grab your wrist. “It’s not like you to be so mean.”

Your cheeks quickly flushed, the warmth of his hand causing your heart to race. “I-It’s not called being mean, it’s called being concerned.” You quickly let go of the bottle, the plastic dropping and bouncing on the table as you tried to pull out of his grasp.

He refused to let go, pulling against your jerk as he held your hand closer to him. “Fuck, I don’t remember much but I didn’t mean to,” he gave a hearty sigh as he admitted to his overconsumption.

You bit your lip on bubbling questions surfacing, what exactly did he remember? What didn’t he?

You gave a sigh as you chose a soft berate as you shook your head, “So irresponsible, you look like a mess.”

“Eh?” He looked up, raising a brow to your sudden words. “I feel like a mess,” he airily admitted as he continued to control your hand. Placing it besides his face, he held your hand to cup his rosy cheek.

You held your breath, freezing from his sudden approach going further. His heavily inked hand keeping you close to him as you slowly moved. Lightly brushing against his cheek, his neglected stubble prickled against your thumb.

“You’re a little warm,” a silent moment after, you softly whispered as his heavy eyelids shut allowing him a moment of much needed rest. “What were you doing last night?”

“What?” Having caught just every other word, he raised an opening question.

Boldly over speaking, you quickly bit your tongue to change your words. “I-I said that you’re right, plus you reek of liquor, go home.” You exaggerated, wafting your hand before you as you forced a laugh covering for your mistake.

His usual low frown quickly appeared, evidently displeased to your unexpected tone. Yet slowly urged on from your laughter, he managed to chuckle once, “It’s not that bad, I can smell the alcohol on your breath more than you can on mine.”

You quickly stunned, you covered your mouth with your sleeve turning quickly away from him. “N-No, it’s just you.”

“Your heart is racing, and your face is red,” he began to slyly evaluate you as he pressed his fingertips to your pulse upon your wrist as he kept speaking of your symptoms.

“I-It’s just your imagination,” you interrupted, trying to push against his cheek, but he still wasn’t budging. “You’re so much worse.” You reached over with your free hand to remove the cover of his furry spotted cap. Uncovering his hidden messy hair, you ran your hand through ruffling with a chuckle. “See?”

Backing his head down allowing you to do so, you caught his smile before he protested. “Hey—”

*tap tap*

You and Law paused simultaneously to the disruption. Turning to the noise, you glanced out of the window to face an unexpected sight. Suddenly appearing before, the woman with bouncy hair smiled and waved as she was spotted.

Roughly dry swallowing the large lump in your throat, you watched as his focus shifted onto her. Stoically nodding at her, he let go of your hand allowing you to remove your hands slowly off from him.

As she pointed towards the door, Law pulled back in his chair; the scratching of the floor covering his mumbling. “I’m going to work now,” his once playful laugh lowered once more into a deep sigh.

You weren’t sure if his discouragement was from work or from her, unable to question, you quickly rose.

“S-Sure,” you followed behind as he walked out. “W-Wait, don’t forget—” as you turned over to get the bottle, he pulled you in close to him.

Cupping your body into him, his hands suddenly slithered to behind your back. A slight startle caused you to press closer as his hands picked up the loose fabric around you. Tying a knot of your apron, he kept his face hidden amongst the head of your crown. “Have a good day, I’ll see you at home,” he softy whispered as he loosened his grasp to leave.

You couldn’t speak, your voice caught in your throat as your hands subconsciously ran over the tied knot that he created. Watching him through the glass door, he met up with the woman in scrubs calling out to him.

Hearing a muffled greeting before the door shut, you let go of your held in breath. “Fuck,” calling out a loud obscenity, you rushed to fix yourself in the back.

“Per--!” As you tried to called out to the woman in back, the bell rang once more.

“I’ll be right back, I just…wait,” the curly haired woman called back to Law as she entered.

Freezing from her voice, you tried to move but simply couldn’t.

“Perona?!” You tried to loudly whisper urging Perona to quickly come. Not wanting to speak to the woman whom was at your door and home, you’d let her deal with it instead.

“Excuse me?” It was far too late, the woman in scrubs stepped forward up to you calling for your attention.

Description

The night was long, lonely, and gloomy.

Sleep long evaded, you were forced to toss and turn seemingly endless in bed. Never quite able to find a comfortable spot as the source of questioning distress was just a few feet away.

Did she come in as well? Was she staying the night once more?

You groaned into your pillow for the umpteenth time to the unknown questions. Haunting kiss in a painful repetition, the questions refused to leave.

Unwilling to wait for the front door to open into answers, you quickly ran away. Shutting yourself inside your bedroom, you held in silence as you tried to listen in with a pressed ear to the closed door.

A potential counting of steps drowned out by Law calling out your name as he entered a moment after; his voice echoing inside of the hallway as he approached your door. With his search drawing near, you managed to lock the door before he could open it.

Jingling the door knob as he repeated your name, you rushed to jump into bed. Fumbling to put in your earbuds, you played the first song on repeat until the noise outside had stopped.

Wallowing in the ever-replaying kiss, you contemplated leaving a few times throughout the night. Forcing yourself to stay after each attempt, you managed to make it through.

The early morning hour shinned back at your sore eyes spurring an uncomfortable groan. 5:49 AM, more than a few hours until work but it was ultimately best to get ready early.

Cautiously peeking out into the dimly lit hallway, Law’s uncharacteristically closed room door appeared. Slowly stepping forward, your breath held. Reaching out to knock, you pulled your hand back unable to muster the courage to do so.

Unsure if he was going to spring a second surprise, you hesitantly approached the end of the hall. Slow and soft steps halting, you carefully opened your eyes to the living room.

An empty area with no unwelcomed soul thankfully appeared, never had you been so grateful for lonely silence.

Expelling your tightly bound nerves in a drawn-out sigh, you slowly began to relax. A sense of comfort in your own home returning, you tapped upon the back of the empty chair in which you first saw her in. Light sounds before, the reality of the current silence drew in.

Years since a silent morning, you looked around searching for the usual. A light roast and greeting, the kitchen was also clear of a potential body.

Slowly, your gathered brows worryingly lowered the longer that you waited. Nervously peering back down the corridor looking for any sign, none ultimately came.

Evidently too busy in himself, you gathered your things to leave before he could appear. His early morning schedule pinned upon the fridge, he would soon need to leave as well.

You hesitated, looking back before you could leave. Coming dangerously close to being late, you pondered on a reminder. Although fearing the one potentially behind, you decided on a text.

“Sorry, oh, [Name],” standing from behind the counter, the cherry blossom haired woman turned to the front door as the small bell above rang. Set to turn away any early customer, she turned her head to your early appearance.

Picking up your dragging feet, you gave a airy sigh. Turning to adjust as you faced her concern, it wasn’t enough. A darkened pattern cradling your swollen eyes and forced smile couldn’t be hidden so well after all.

She couldn’t help but chuckle, her unique voice filling the once silence of the shop. “You look like you were out drinking all night.”

Your low groan turned into a slight chuckle as you heard her infections laughter. Gently tapping your flushed face, it seemed like a better reasoning than crying all night. “No, but that’s probably what I need,” you continued with a jokingly shake to your head while draping a dark apron over yourself.

Perona perked, a suspicious smile raising her light pouty rosy lips. Leaning the broom against the wall, she turned to beneath the counter. “I’ve got just the thing for you then,” humming, she moved around a variety of miscellaneous papers and scattered napkins to find her hidden stash a moment after.

Uncovered from beneath, Perona raised a darkened printed flask. Liquid sloshing inside to her bounce, she handed it over. “For emergencies,” she responded to your stunned look of confusion.

You sighed, giving up rather quickly without a word. The shop needing an obvious deep cleaning, that would be saved for another time.

Taking a long swig, your face quickly soured to the sharp taste. Overpowering each and every sense, the taste remained well after causing a coughing fit.

“Not much of a drinker, huh?” Taking back her pink bat imprinted flask, she took a smooth drink without much reaction; spending time with Zoro must have rubbed off on her.

Slowly recovering, you shook your head after failing to think of the last time that you had a drink, “Not really.”

Taking the flask once more, it raised up to your lips before the front door bell pulled you momentarily away. “Sorry, we’re closed,” without seeing whom, you called back to the one entering.

“Make an exception, won’t you?” Law returned with a boisterous yawn stretching out his words.

Giving a sharp gasp, you quickly turned knowing exactly who was present. Any low point inside of your body raised the moment in which you laid your eyes upon him.

“Ew, gross,” Perona focused on your expression as she took back the flask before you could drop it. Your suddenly shaking hands becoming unreliable.

“W-What?” You turned slightly back to the woman searing with an off look.

“Your face lights up when you see him,” raising a tease, she chuckled to your reaction caring none for speaking in a soft tone.

You shot back with a silencing glare before clearing your throat trying to cover for her words. “Can you go and start the machines in the back?” You sent Perona away before slowly approaching Law waiting up front.

“H-Hey,” you tried to clear your suddenly shaking voice as you saw him. “What are you doing here? Don’t you have work soon?”

Helping himself to a bottle of orange juice from the fridge, he gave a mumbled response.
Obviously dehydrated, he nudged over with a head tilt as he continued to drink.

Taking a seat at the nearest table across from you, he was finally able to relax. “I asked someone to cover for me,” he sighed, looking down and away as he rubbed his pulsing temple.

Selfishly searching for any sign of a recent involvement, you tried to look him over as he was before you. A hickey or a scratch, just any little sign to answer an itching question. Although that search dropped as the sound of his pain spurred an unlikely sound – a chuckle.

He raised his head up slightly cracking open an eye to your reaction. Taking a moment to savor your lovely expression, he snickered a loud after you finished.

“It’s not like you to drink so much, let me enjoy your pain for a bit,” you began to chuckle once more from behind the cover of your sleeve.

“Yeah yeah,” he shook off your reaction with a shake of his head as he reached for the bottle. Close, it was suddenly pulled away from his grasp.

“You need to pay beforehand,” you raised a brow to his look of confusion. Holding the bottle from the neck, you rocked it back and forth before him teasing the drink.

Clearing his expression to his usual stoic, he mustered up the last bit of strength to grab your wrist. “It’s not like you to be so mean.”

Your cheeks quickly flushed, the warmth of his hand causing your heart to race. “I-It’s not called being mean, it’s called being concerned.” You quickly let go of the bottle, the plastic dropping and bouncing on the table as you tried to pull out of his grasp.

He refused to let go, pulling against your jerk as he held your hand closer to him. “Fuck, I don’t remember much but I didn’t mean to,” he gave a hearty sigh as he admitted to his overconsumption.

You bit your lip on bubbling questions surfacing, what exactly did he remember? What didn’t he?

You gave a sigh as you chose a soft berate as you shook your head, “So irresponsible, you look like a mess.”

“Eh?” He looked up, raising a brow to your sudden words. “I feel like a mess,” he airily admitted as he continued to control your hand. Placing it besides his face, he held your hand to cup his rosy cheek.

You held your breath, freezing from his sudden approach going further. His heavily inked hand keeping you close to him as you slowly moved. Lightly brushing against his cheek, his neglected stubble prickled against your thumb.

“You’re a little warm,” a silent moment after, you softly whispered as his heavy eyelids shut allowing him a moment of much needed rest. “What were you doing last night?”

“What?” Having caught just every other word, he raised an opening question.

Boldly over speaking, you quickly bit your tongue to change your words. “I-I said that you’re right, plus you reek of liquor, go home.” You exaggerated, wafting your hand before you as you forced a laugh covering for your mistake.

His usual low frown quickly appeared, evidently displeased to your unexpected tone. Yet slowly urged on from your laughter, he managed to chuckle once, “It’s not that bad, I can smell the alcohol on your breath more than you can on mine.”

You quickly stunned, you covered your mouth with your sleeve turning quickly away from him. “N-No, it’s just you.”

“Your heart is racing, and your face is red,” he began to slyly evaluate you as he pressed his fingertips to your pulse upon your wrist as he kept speaking of your symptoms.

“I-It’s just your imagination,” you interrupted, trying to push against his cheek, but he still wasn’t budging. “You’re so much worse.” You reached over with your free hand to remove the cover of his furry spotted cap. Uncovering his hidden messy hair, you ran your hand through ruffling with a chuckle. “See?”

Backing his head down allowing you to do so, you caught his smile before he protested. “Hey—”

*tap tap*

You and Law paused simultaneously to the disruption. Turning to the noise, you glanced out of the window to face an unexpected sight. Suddenly appearing before, the woman with bouncy hair smiled and waved as she was spotted.

Roughly dry swallowing the large lump in your throat, you watched as his focus shifted onto her. Stoically nodding at her, he let go of your hand allowing you to remove your hands slowly off from him.

As she pointed towards the door, Law pulled back in his chair; the scratching of the floor covering his mumbling. “I’m going to work now,” his once playful laugh lowered once more into a deep sigh.

You weren’t sure if his discouragement was from work or from her, unable to question, you quickly rose.

“S-Sure,” you followed behind as he walked out. “W-Wait, don’t forget—” as you turned over to get the bottle, he pulled you in close to him.

Cupping your body into him, his hands suddenly slithered to behind your back. A slight startle caused you to press closer as his hands picked up the loose fabric around you. Tying a knot of your apron, he kept his face hidden amongst the head of your crown. “Have a good day, I’ll see you at home,” he softy whispered as he loosened his grasp to leave.

You couldn’t speak, your voice caught in your throat as your hands subconsciously ran over the tied knot that he created. Watching him through the glass door, he met up with the woman in scrubs calling out to him.

Hearing a muffled greeting before the door shut, you let go of your held in breath. “Fuck,” calling out a loud obscenity, you rushed to fix yourself in the back.

“Per--!” As you tried to called out to the woman in back, the bell rang once more.

“I’ll be right back, I just…wait,” the curly haired woman called back to Law as she entered.

Freezing from her voice, you tried to move but simply couldn’t.

“Perona?!” You tried to loudly whisper urging Perona to quickly come. Not wanting to speak to the woman whom was at your door and home, you’d let her deal with it instead.

“Excuse me?” It was far too late, the woman in scrubs stepped forward up to you calling for your attention.