🌒🌓🌔🌕🌖🌗🌘

It feels weird coming back home. Actually, it feels weird calling this place home. You left the tranquillity of the countryside behind before finishing high school, deciding to live with your mother when she and your father separated because you always had a restless spirit and the Calm Belt is far too quiet for you to feel fulfilled.

It hurt to leave friends behind. When you’re in highschool your friends are akin to family and you feel like they will be with you forever, through thick and thin. And though you still text some of them regularly - Nami and Robin - other friends and acquaintances naturally drifted apart. 

You finished your college education and pursued a master’s degree while working at a prestigious company. Life in Grand Line City is amazing and fulfilling. You have wonderful friends, an active social life and your own place, which you share with your fiancé.

Well… ex-fiancé.

This is actually one of the reasons you are returning home. He’s the son of the owner of the company you worked for and, as you discovered after four years together, a marriage proposal and a shared life, he is a fuckboy.

The signs were always there, really, you just didn’t want to see them.

Another reason for your untimely return is the horse riding accident your father had. He assured you over the phone that he is fine and doesn’t require any help around the house, because his neighbours and friends have been helping him, but you are still worried about him.

He can be strong and very able, heck, he is still in his early fifties, but ever since he lost his arm when he was young, you felt the need to protect him, somehow. And, frankly, the timing could not have been better. You need to get away from the city.

Your mother doesn’t need your company anymore and spends a lot of her time on cruises - where she is at the moment - and you still speak with her every day on the phone, your apartment has become a landfill of hurtful memories and you quit your very promising job on the day you found out about your good-for-nothing boyfriend.

So now, at 25, you are returning to your hometown, your tail between your legs and seeking the care and comfort you know your father can instil in you. You’re still not quite sure what you are going to do with your life moving forward, but for now, all you need is a little rest and relaxation, time with your father to help him heal, and to clear your head.

And definitely, no men to hinder your life!

-*-

Ace:

“Daddy, I’m home!” You call as soon as you open the front door with the key you never took out of your keychain. 

A freckled face with a wide grin pops up from the kitchen. His greasy black hair is sweaty and clings to his face. “Oh, hi, princess, welcome home.” The man walks out of the kitchen, still grinning. He’s only wearing jean shorts and a cowboy hat. 

Your eyes drink him in as if he’s a tall glass of water. Top to bottom and bottom to top. This man is sinful, to say the least. And familiar, somehow… Sweat drips from his glistening pecs towards his sculpted abs and drenching the hem of his shorts.

He leans in the doorframe, one leg lazily crossing over the other, and pops the can of beer open with just one hand, taking a long, lazy gulp while his dark eyes wander all over you. “Like what you see, gorgeous?”

You swallow the lump that formed in your throat and inhale deeply while a crimson flush settles on your cheeks. “And who are you supposed to be?” Good, your voice is still there and not as squeaky as you thought it would be. 

“Your daddy?” He chuckles at your unamused face, finishes the beer with another long gulp and crumples the can, forming a fist while the other hand presses against his heart. “You don’t remember me?” Shaking his head, he feigns a hurt expression. “And here I thought we had something in the past.”

Your confused face must be amusing him because he keeps grinning at you and, damn, how hard is it to stop looking at his sculpted body? It’s just a man! And yet his face is just as interesting… with those sweet sun-kissed freckles and-... oh!

“Ace?” The hat! The freaking cowboy hat and the attitude? Plus, how could you forget those freckles!

He is one of the neighbour’s grandsons. Mr. Garp. You went to school with the youngest, Luffy, and you hung out together quite often so you knew Ace well. He was a little troublemaker but once he hit puberty… you used to sigh and dream about him quite often, him being the older brother of one of your best friends. That was always a trope you were interested in. But then you left and those dreams stayed behind.

“Finally! I was actually getting hurt, you didn’t remember me!” He laughs while you grin back at him. “Can I get a hug?” The smile he gives you makes his freckles move and you blush some more.

“Hell, no. You look disgusting.” You scrunch up your nose feigning repugnance at him because of his sweaty body.

He pouts at you and you actually laugh out loud. “Wish I could say the same for you but, damn.” He looks at you from top to bottom again. You’re dressed in tight jeans and a purple top that shows a lot of cleavage and curves. “You look mighty appetising.”

You blush some more and it’s his turn to laugh out loud as he passes you by and picks up your heavy luggage like it weighs nothing. “Show me the way to your room, princess.” He winks at you and nods his head for you to lead the way.

You start walking towards the stairs and he follows you without putting on any shirt, so you keep your eyes ahead, enjoying the way nothing has actually changed in your childhood home. 

“Where’s my dad?” You ask nonchalantly. “You’d think that after half a year without seeing me, he’d be waiting by the door.” It’s your turn to pout now. 

“He’s fixing the fence outside. One of the bulls broke it and he wanted to mend it himself before any animal escapes.”

“What!?” You suddenly stop while climbing the stairs and Ace bumps into you, his head straight into your ass as you were a few steps ahead. “Ace!”

“I’m sorry!” He apologises as all the bags come crashing down the stairs, one of them opening up and scattering all the contents on the floor. “You just stopped! You gave me zero warning!” His face is as red as yours because you can still feel his face pressed against your bottom, his nose nearly at your core and you are so embarrassed.  “I’ll help you pick this up.”

Ace goes down a few steps and starts to gather your clothes but, as soon as his hands start to pick things up, you realise which suitcase fell and your heart sinks as you  hurry down before he sees it.

“It’s okay! It’s okay, Ace! I’ve got it!” You rush, kneel by his side and your hand reaches at the same time as his but you're too late. 

“Wow.” He mutters. His face is serene, though you can perceive the way his lips are thinning as if he is trying to hold back a smirk. 

“Shut up. Just throw it in the bag and don’t say a word.” You’ve never blushed more in your life than the way you are now. Why, oh why was the bag with your personal items the one that opened up? And why has Ace picked up your vibrator of all the things scattered around?

You are mortified. But he complies without another word, though his smirk returns to his lips. 

Bag filled again and closed, both of you resume your walk up the stairs. Your blush has settled permanently on your cheeks and you know there is nothing to be done about it but own it. You are a grown-ass woman, without a boyfriend, and you aren’t ashamed to say that you like pleasuring yourself. 

“Why is my father mending the fence if he’s supposed to be resting?” You ask, trying to change the subject. 

“Ah well, you see, he is a very stubborn man, so even though the doctor told him to stay in bed and rest, he replied with: ‘Screw you, son, I’m fine and I do what I want.’ and he did just that.” Ace sighs. “I was helping him when you arrived. Your father is fine, as you’ll see for yourself. He just gets a lot of back pain when he’s up for a while and needs to rest more.”

You nod as you make your way through the corridor, glancing at pictures of yourself as a small child and of you and your father wearing smiles and goofy grins. You get your stubbornness from him so you know he can be quite strong-headed.

“Here we are.” You stop at your door and Ace sets down the luggage, his face turning serious.

“Why did you come back?” His dark eyes pierce yours and you can see he’s serious. 

“I…” You struggle to find the right words. “I came back to help dad. I don’t want him to be alone.”

“Bullshit.” His arms cross in front of his bare chest and your brows scrunch together. “Your father is fine, which I’m sure he told you over the phone.”

You sigh. “I was homesick.”

“Bullshit.”

“I wanted to spend more time with my dad and...”

“Bullshit.”

“...with my friends, I’ve missed Nami and...”

“Bullshit.”

“...Robin, and...”

“Bullshit.”

“Fine!” You scream. Your arms cross defensively in front of your own chest and you look away from him as you feel your lower lip start to tremble and your eyes fill with tears. “I caught my fiancé cheating, and I needed a change of scenery.”

The silence that surrounds you both after that is not at all unpleasant and it helps soothe your unshed tears. “Well, it’s his loss, princess. Some men don’t know the difference between pinchbeck and gold.” 

You catch his eyes and he gives you a small smile and a nod with his hat. “I’ll be around. I help your father around the property all the time.” As he reaches the stairs, he stops and stares back at you, a very mischievous grin on his lips. “If you run out of batteries and still feel pent up, give me a call, will you, princess?”

And he was out of your sight before you could reply.

-*-

You take some time settling in your old room, removing old posters and storing your stuffed toys in a box to put in the attic. You consider looking for your father but you aren’t exactly sure where he is. Besides, Ace is probably still with him and you want to avoid him, for now. 

Your teenage self is gleeful and revelling in the attention he has given you today but your adult self keeps reminding you that men are only good at breaking your heart, and nothing else. 

Well… actually men are good for something else… but are you in the mood for some meaningless, rebound sex?

Your mind reminds you of perfectly sculpted, glistening and sweating abs and pecs; a beautiful freckled smile and a silly, goofy attitude. 

Rebound sex doesn’t sound so bad, after all…

“Sweetie? Are you upstairs?”

“Daddy!” You scream as you drop the clothes you were putting in your closet on the bed and rush out the door, jumping down the stairs, two at a time, to hug the red-headed man waiting for you at the bottom. 

“Hey! Here’s my little cowgirl! How are you, bug?” His strong arm envelops you in a tight hug as he plants kisses on your head, forehead and cheeks. 

“Daddy… I’ve missed you.” Your heart clenches against your chest at the security and comfort only Shanks can provide, and tears well up in your eyes again. You purse your lips trying to stifle away the sobs that are clawing at your throat but your father catches on quickly.

“It’s okay, bug, it’s okay. I’ve got you. The asshole doesn’t deserve you, anyway.” 

You had yet to have the opportunity to share with your father what had happened between you and your ex so, if he knows, it was either the work of your mother, or Ace… and your mother is on a cruise.

Either way, it feels good to be back in the safety of your father’s arms. Back in your hometown, back in your house, back in your room. 

“Sachi, the Captain and I aren’t an item. I don’t own him and he’s never made a move either. He can ‘get with’ anyone he wants.” You finally spoke, turning to lean against the bar and look at Sachi with a frown. You really didn’t get why he was being so pushy about the subject but after seeing the flush against his cheeks and large drink in his hand you decided to put it down to the alcohol in his system making him like this. You cast a glance around the bar to see the rest of your crew were letting themselves truly enjoy the evening and let the drink make them more relaxed and at ease. A night without having to constantly worry about the readings of the sub and having to do set rotations and watches was a godsend and one that everyone knew to make the most of. 

Finally you let your sight fall back to the table you and Law had been sitting at and your whole body tensed to see your seat was now filled by a woman who had her sights firmly set on your Captain. Worse still it seemed he was enjoying her presence, the fact that he hadn’t told her to get lost and instead seemed to be answering whatever she was saying was proof of that. You tried to bite back the bitter taste climbing your throat and forced your expression to remain as calm as it could even though you wanted nothing more than to glare at the scene. Like you’d said to Sachi, Law could have whoever he wanted. You didn’t own him. And yet your fingers flexed and tightly fisted against the edge of the bar’s countertop. “Hmmm she’s cute. If you want to give the Captain some privacy you can join us?” 

Law didn’t know what he could say to this woman to give her the hint that he wasn’t interested. He couldn’t outright say what he wanted to to this girl, with everyone enjoying their night of freedom the last thing he wanted was to bring trouble to their door. So he just had to give short, basic answers to his unwanted acquaintance while he waited for you. You were the only person Law wanted to spend time with, no one else made him feel the way he did. Thankfully he felt your familiar presence approach behind him and his hand instinctively lifted to take the beer you reached out to him without needing to turn and look. “Thanks, I’ll get the next round.” He told you and then blinked in confusion when you remained standing behind him. 

“Don’t worry about it.” You said, taking a slow sip of your drink and maintaining eye-contact with the woman still in your seat. It brought you swift satisfaction to see the nervousness in her eyes and watch her adjust her position. “Who’s your friend?” You asked while letting your free arm drape over your Captain’s shoulder, your fingers almost grazing against his bicep. Law’s eyes flickered down to your hand and said nothing. You were probably only doing it because of the fact you were still standing and your balance would be slightly skewed from your alcohol intake. The woman opposite you both tried to introduce herself to you but quickly forgot her name as soon as it was out of her mouth. 

“Are you just going to keep standing there?” She snapped, suddenly becoming defensive to your presence that she clearly didn’t want interfering with her hopes at getting to know Law better and you smirked at her. “You’re in my seat.” You answered simply with a smile, shifting your feet and making it so your chest was pressing a little closer against Law’s back. 

Law watched the woman splutter and look around the empty seats around them. “Well sit somewhere else!” She protested in annoyance, unable to really cause a fuss because you weren’t actually doing anything to intimidate or threaten her. Last time you’d checked standing wasn’t a crime and she knew that. At her suggestion you pouted, pretending to think about sitting somewhere else. Truth be told you had a moment of going to a different table when you’d first caught sight of her with Law but your jealousy and sudden spark of possessiveness only got worse and her whining only provoked you even more. “There’s tons of places for you to sit, just pick somewhere else. It’s really off-putting if you keep standing there.”

“Oh I’m so sorry! The last thing I want is to be off-putting!” You gasped in false concern before smirking as you stepped around Law and perched yourself with ease on his lap. “There we go, how’s that?” You asked sweetly while trying to ignore how rapidly your heart was beating. You’d been so focused on getting under this woman’s skin to get her to leave that you didn’t stop to think about what you were doing but it was far too late to go back. That was proven even more when Law’s arm secured it around your waist, effectively keeping you seated and his chest firmly against your back. “So, are you finally going to leave us alone now?” Law asked frowning at the woman who floundered and finally got to her feet storming off to find someone else to annoy.