The wait in the infirmary for Law was almost painful.

It felt like time moved so slowly, heart pounding, thoughts racing, stomach turning.

Your head was spinning still, mind recalling and going over what had just happened. You could feel your legs still trembling slightly as you sat.

When the infirmary door finally opened it startled you, Law walking through the door, completely collected with his usual stern expression

He walked past your bed over to some cabinets, grabbing out a few things.

"Take off your shirt."

It was obviously for the purposes of wrapping the wound in your shoulder, yet hearing his voice say it made your whole body tense.

You had never felt more self-conscious.

And why?

Well actually, you knew why.

He had just seen parts of you no one had ever seen.

You felt anxious, exposed.

Your back was to him as you slowly took your good arm out of the sleeve of his shirt you had on. You then attempted at your best at getting your other arm out of the shirt, struggling slightly in the process.

The struggling stopped when you felt a pair of hands gently pull the shirt all the way off of you, earning a sharp inhale from you.

You felt your hair fall at your sides, your good arm immediately moving to cover your chest. You could already feel your face burning as Law came around the other side of the bed to face you, bandages, and other medical supplies in hand.

He set a few items on the table and then handed the shirt to you, holding it in front of your chest.

"Here."

You stared at him a moment, and then his shirt.

Without another thought you grabbed it in relief holding it to the front of your chest.

He then, got to work.

You could feel the sting as he cleaned your shoulder causing your body to jolt, a sharp inhale leaving your lips once again. He mumbled "Sorry," under his breath as he continued treating the wound.

Silence fell between you as he started wrapping your shoulder. You just stared at the floor. The thing that killed you most was not knowing what he was thinking at that moment.

Did he enjoy that?

What did it mean?

Is he still thinking about it?

You were interrupted from your thoughts when you heard him speak.

"Shiina-ya."

That deep voice.

The simple way he said your name made your body shiver.

"Hm?"

There was another pause as you felt him gently wrapping your shoulder with bandages.

"...why do you go back and forth?"

You sat silently.

Back and forth.

You knew exactly what he meant.

Why did you accept your life on this ship one day- and the next fight for your life to get out.

The truth was your mind was really starting to accept you were here. On the ship of the Heart Pirates. And the fact that you enjoyed your time. Enjoyed their company. You had gotten familiar with them fast.

But the thing that tore you up somehow, was simply that you felt safe.

Feeling safe.

Something you had always craved.

Being safe from Shouga.

It was a strange thing to think. Yearning to be 'safe' from the man who raised you like a father. It was something you didn't think you could ever explain into depth to anyone. 

Your mind struggled violently to block out all those memories. 

Painful memories.

When you finally spoke your voice was quiet,

"I feel... safe here."

"Safe from him."

He was silent. Continuing to wrap your wound.

You sucked in a breath,

"I'm just so incredibly confused."

You could feel your hands clench and unclench into fists.

"I feel bad, for enjoying myself here."

"I feel so guilty, so terrible, so angry. Because I want to stay."

You felt him stop for a moment.

"Shiina-ya."

You continued anyway,

"Not only that, I feel confused by you. You don't speak about how you feel, you're impossible to read, I have no fucking clue what's going on in your head! Ever!"

"And I hate it."

You felt his hand gently brush your cheek, as he looked at you, but then quickly retract and start re-wrapping your wound, as though he was struggling to let himself.

He sighed and spoke in his usual low voice,

"I'm not quite sure what it is about you."

You felt his hands continue to wrap the bandages as he spoke.

"But I feel this pull- this frustrating pull in me when it comes to you."

He paused, thinking through how to put those thoughts into words.

He had never admitted any of this out loud, but if there was a moment for it, now was that.

His eyes were glued to his hands as he spoke,

"I feel a need to be gentle with you."

He swallowed hard,

"I want to take my time and figure you out. I want to understand the complicated mess of your past- who you are. You're so fragile, but also so sharp and strong willed."

"but at the same time I constantly want to grab you and-"

You felt his hands stop once again as he went silent.

He took a deep inhale, and exhale.

"I'm finished wrapping the wound."

You remained silent clutching the shirt to your chest. Your gaze fixed on him as he stared straight ahead.

"Law."

"Put the shirt back on."

Your fingers sunk into the fabric you were holding to cover yourself.

For some odd reason when he said those words you felt terrible. You felt terrible for yelling at him on the deck, for constantly whining, for everything.

For giving him so much shit, when you had never even bothered to truly thank him for the fact that he had saved you. Even if it had been for selfish reasoning to begin with.

Because as much as he wasn't good at using words, neither were you.

He seemed to be devoid of emotion, meanwhile you were an emotional reck.

In a way, he was right when he called you a ticking time-bomb.

"I'm sorry."

You paused, trying to gather your thoughts as they overwhelmed your mind.

"I'm sorry for being a pain in the ass- for being confusing and complicated."

You felt his hand firmly grasp your jaw, and pull your face up to look at him. You could feel your eyes start to bead with tears.

He looked at you a moment, not saying a word. His silver eyes looking into yours.

"You eyes."

"They remind me of someone."

"Broken, but kind."

Your lip trembled as you felt a tear run down your cheek.

Why do I always have to cry?

Your voice came out quiet, almost inaudible,

"Will you... tell me about you one day...?"

His eyebrows furrowed.

You took a deep breath and wiped your cheek with your hand.

"I yelled at you on the deck. I said you didn't know what it was like to lose... the people you cared about."

"And the way you looked..."

He looked at you for a moment. Before he nodded his head slowly before he quietly said,

"I'll tell you about it one day."

You let out a shaky exhale as you nodded your head. His grip on your chin releasing.

He took a step back, and grabbed the medical supplies and walked over to the cabinets to start putting it away. You took that time to quickly put his shirt back on, not realizing you still hadn't put it back on yet.

There was a long moment of silence, the only sound of cabinets opening and closing.

"Shiina-ya."

"Hm?"

The shuffling stopped and Law walked over to you again.

"You should see Riku in the infirmary."

"He's awake, and well."

He sighed and looked off to the side.

"...and he's been requesting it."

A slight smile formed on your lips at the thought of that fool requesting you to come visit. You had technically saved his life hadn't you?

"Just don't let him go overboard with you. He can be obnoxious sometimes."

A slight laugh escaped your lips.

"I won't."

He sighed his arms crossed as he looked at you.

"Then that's it I guess. Your wound is cleaned, and wrapped."

You looked at him a moment, before you hopped off the bed and stood beside him.

"I'll head to the infirmary then."

You turned to walk out of the room, but his call stopped you in your tracks.

"Shiina-ya."

You turned back to look at him.

"You're still injured. Don't let them pressure you into doing anything stupid. Please."

You rose an eyebrow,

"So you're worried?"

He scoffed and walked over to the counter to put away a few more things, his back turned to you.

"Shut up."

You let out another slight laugh as you walked out the door.

—

You walked down the hallway to the main infirmary.

It was much bigger than the room you were in. When you walked in, your eyes immediately stopped on Riku. Who was laying in a bed chatting with none other than Shachi and Penguin.

"I swear I never see you two fools working."

All three turned to look when they heard your voice, all of their faces lighting up when they saw you.

Of course, the first to speak was Riku as he blurted out,

"MY SAVIOR-!"

Shachi burst into laughter as Penguin shook his head.

You approached the bed and put your elbows on the edge, your chin resting in your hands.

"So I take it you're feeling better?"

You observed all the patches and bandages covering his body. A few scratches and scrapes on his face.

Nonetheless, that man was smiling ear to ear as he looked at you.

"Yes- I am alive because of you and I really I-"

You were startled slightly as he grabbed both your hands and leaned forward.

"I owe you my life."

You smiled slightly.

"You don't owe me anything."

He shook his head and squeezed your hands,

"No- no- I am convinced you are a real life angel."

Penguin rolled his eyes,

"Don't mind him, he's still on heavy painkillers."

Riku snapped, "Oh shut it! She quite literally took a bullet for me and you expect me not to profess my eternal thanks?!"

He sighed and released your grip turning his attention back to you.

"I'm just... thankful."

"I will never call you prisoner-girl again. It's Shiina from now on."

He bowed his head,

"Thank you. Shiina."

You smiled,

"You don't need to shower me in thanks. I was just in the right place at the right time."

"-And you dove in front of a bullet," Shachi chimed in.

Penguin looked at you,

"Is your shoulder still doing okay?"

He then stared at you a moment.

You tilted your head as you looked back at him,

"What? Is something wrong?"

There was a long pause as the two other men looked at you.

"...is that captain's shirt?"

You felt your face heat up slightly as you crossed your arms,

"It's only because he had to assist me with some things because of my shoulder."

"...nothing like that."

Penguin and Riku let out an exhale of relief, while Shachi just laughed.

Your brows furrowed as you looked at Shachi,

"Seriously! Quit having a dirty mind!"

He waved his hand, as his laughter came to a halt,

"Fine, fine!"

You sighed, your arms uncrossing as you looked at Riku,

"But hey. I am just happy you are alive and okay."

Riku blushed and looked at Shachi and Penguin,

"Did you guys hear what the angel just said to me?"

You let out an exasperated sigh,

"Do not call me that."

Riku looked at you,

"But hey, it was pretty insane to see you like that though. In that... form."

You let out a slight laugh,

"Well... thank you."

"So you're one of us now then?"

You blinked in surprise as you looked at Riku.

"What do you mean by that?"

He glanced at Shachi and Penguin, then back at you.

"Y'know, one of us. Apart of this crew?"

You just stared at him for a moment.

You contemplated. You couldn't dare let them down, yet you also couldn't bring yourself to say something that wasn't true.

"I'd say... you can call me an ally."

Riku looked at you and then nodded a smile forming on his face,

"I can accept that answer."

You then turned to Penguin as you felt him place a hand on your arm,

"In our minds you were one of us already."

You felt a slight smile tug at your lips.

"...thank you."

"Come here you..."

Your eyes widened as Shachi embraced you in a tight hug, lifting you off the ground slightly. Then Penguin joined in as well.

Riku gave you an air hug from the bed chuckling,

"As soon as I'm well, you will be getting one from me!"

"-and as soon as I'm well we're throwing a damn party for you, for saving my life n' being one of us!"

As the pair released you from your embrace you let out a slight laugh,

"Sometimes I forget I just met you all."

Shachi crossed his arms,

"You've been here for like a month now, you know that?"

A month?

Shit.

You hadn't even realized you had been on the Polar Tang for almost a full month. Time had flown fast.

"Damn," you muttered under your breath.

Shachi put an arm around you,

"You know they say time flies when you're having fun..."

You rolled your eyes as you ducked out of his arm,

"Yeah, yeah, right."

You took a deep breath as a sudden wave of exhaustion hit you.

"I think I need rest."

Penguin smiled,

"Want me to walk you to your room?"

You shook your head,

"I'll be okay, but thank you."

"Goodnight angel!" Riku sang out.

You let out a slight laughs as you turned to walk out,

"Goodnight fools."

"Goodnight you!" Shachi called out as he waved.

"Goodnight Shiina." Penguin responded as he elbowed Shachi.

You disappeared out of the infirmary door, and headed down the hallway back to your room.

You could feel the ache of your shoulder, and the exhaustion creeping up through your body.

When you arrived into the infirmary you got into bed immediately, not even having much time to think.

As the moment you shut your eyes, your body succumbed to sleep.