Your eyes fell closed and you inhaled deeply the air of that late-spring night. It was fragrant and tasted like a promise of summer.

The long, transparent curtains tickled your bare thigh as it slid outside the robe, hanging from the railing of the terrace.

You loved the night.

There was something about the silence, and the peace, that was able to calm your troubled heart since you were a young recruit.

The soft breeze leafed through the book on your lap while you listened to the unmistakable strides nearing from inside the palace. A light smile curled your lips.

«Here you are.» the Emperor grunted once he stepped into the balcony, frowning at your figure.

You turned your face to him and opened your eyes.

«Yo.»

«What the hell are you doing here?»

«Reading.» you replied with a small hint to the book.

Kid scoffed.

«And you have to do that at three in the morning?»

«So?»

«So, if you don't feel like sleeping, we could be fucking right now.»

A chuckle broke out of your lips.

«I love it when you do poetry.»

«Shut up.»

«Are you unable to sleep because I'm not in bed?» you teased, your smile crooking to the side.

Eustass Kid's cheeks puffed imperceptibly as his nose wrinkled.

«Wha— no! Tch, whatever, do the hell you want!»

He turned on his heels and marched back inside.

You let out an amused sigh.

No matter how long you two would be together, he was always going to be a tsundere.

You threw the book aside and followed swiftly after him, jumping on his back as soon as you reached him. Your arms immediately wrapped around his strong neck and you pressed your smile right below his ear.

«Aw, come on Kiddo, don't be mad.»

He scoffed, but you soon felt his mechanical hand sneakily closing around your waist.

Uh-oh.

With a curt movement, Kid pried you from his shoulders and pulled you in front of him, his metallic fingers pressing your arms against your sides and his sadistic smile finally breaking into his features.

«You're a pain in my ass, you know that?»

Before you could reply though, his flesh hand sneaked into your robe and attacked the tickle spots below your stomach.

«Wah— nggh, Kid, nahahah!»

You tried to swallow back your squeals, but a high-pitched shrill escaped your control soon enough.

«Damn, woman, you'll wake the squirts.» Kid grinned, albeit stopping his torment.

«You mean you'll wake the squirts.» you hissed, glaring at him, cheeks flushed as you regained your breath.

He shrugged and threw you over his shoulder, immediately catching the chance to give a solid squeeze to your butt.

«Serves you right for being a tease, birdie.»

Your mouth twitched as you tried to wriggle out of his grip, to no avail.

«I'm gonna get back at you, Eustass Kid, you know I will.»

«Oh, yeah?»

The redhead had already brought you in the bedroom, his foot kicking the door closed before he dropped you on the bed.

He lost no time and straddled you, blocking your arms against the mattress and licking his lips at the sight.

«Can't wait.» he husked before brutally kissing you.

Kid was probably pretty sleepy from before, because he dozed off immediately after sex.

Once you had enough oxygen in your lungs, you rolled to your side and watched him, sprawled beside you, his fiery hair scattered around his face and his mouth slightly open.

«Oi, Mr. Bastard.» you murmured, crawling closer and folding your arms over his chest. He opened one eye to peer at you.

«Mh?»

«There's something I have to tell you.»

«I knew I didn't pound you hard enough.» he grumbled, closing his eye again.

«Come on, look alive.» you huffed, pinching and pulling at his cheek.

«I swr, brdee...»

«It's about your daughter.»

That was much more efficient, because he seemed awake and listening in a second, his face now turned to you.

«What is it?»

You let go of his cheek and leaned back onto his chest.

«Nothing serious, don't worry. She got her first period today.»

Doruya had eventually said it was "whatever" if you were to tell Kid, which, in her language, meant she agreed he should be informed as long as you did it. Still, it was a relief: you wanted him to know.

The Emperor grimaced.

«Already?»

«Well, thirteen years is about right.»

«Ugh, fine.»

He turned his face back to the ceiling, but your mind was still too preoccupied to let him sleep.

«Oi, Kid.»

«What now?»

«I think it's time for us to have "the talk" with the twins.»

«What's "the talk"?»

«You know... when you teach your kids about sex and how to be responsible and stuff.»

He frowned, amber eyes darting to you.

«What?! Just because she got her period, doesn't mean she's going to have sex!»

You sighed.

«I know, I don't think she even cares, but Doruya is quite wild and unpredictable.»

«What's that supposed to mean?»

«She's like you.» you shrugged «If she gets a sudden itch, well... she scratches it.»

Kid looked like you just force-fed him a seaking's turd.

«Is this your way to get back at me, birdie?»

You chuckled and briefly pressed your forehead against his collarbone.

«Maybe a little... but I'm serious too.»

He groaned, the sour expression not leaving his features yet.

«What are we supposed to tell them anyway?»

«I don't know, things like how to be conscious, how to protect themselves and their partners, etcetera.»

«So basically we teach Law to wear a condom and Doruya to kill every man that approaches her.»

«That's the idea, daddy.»

«Birdie, I'm grossed out right now, but I'm pretty sure I can still fuck you senseless.»

You giggled and snuggled against him.

«I'm pretty sure too.»

His fingers started to lazily toy with your hair.

«We sit down with them tomorrow then.» you added.

He groaned.

«Or in a couple of years. They don't give a damn about this stuff at the moment, and I'm going to kill all the guys around Doruya anyway.»

You rolled your eyes.

«What about Law?»

«What about him?»

«We should teach him about consent and stuff. I'm not really worried since he's a decent person, but it's still good to make sure.»

«Ugh...»

Kid grimaced again and his hand rose to pinch the bridge of his nose.

«I'm not good with this shit, birdie, maybe you should do it.»

«That's lame, Kid, come on.»

His face hardened for a second and you looked up at him.

«What?»

«Nothing.»

«Kid.»

You saw his jaw clenching in the darkness.

«I don't think I'm the right person to teach him about consent.» he finally growled.

Your brows furrowed in thought.

«Mmh, I see. I don't really agree with you, but maybe I can do the talking for that part.»

He didn't reply but you felt his body relax beneath you.

«I'm more worried about Doruya's partners anyway.» you smiled, finally abandoning yourself on his chest «We should teach her about consent too.»

«Birdie, I'm this close to shackle you to a beam again.»

*

A/n. Hey guys! :D How is it?

I was originally going to include the actual TALK in this chapter too, since this weekend I had finally time to write again BUT of course, life hit. -_-

A water pipe broke down in my bathroom and I have to temporary move all of a sudden, which will take up a big portion of this WE.

Still, I wanted to give you guys something, so I decided to post this first part because I'm not sure how much time I'll have to write more.

I do have a couple of updates that are almost ready though, so something else may drop soon. J

As always, thank you all for your support and understanding! :D I would have stopped long ago if it wasn't for you guys.