꧁ Gasoline ꧂

Morning came at an agonizing slow peace. Hazel awoke from her slumber at the soft sound of the rain tapping against her bedroom window. The woman heaved a tired sigh, wondering how much longer her nightmares would have kept her from sleeping. Then again, those weren't nightmares, but memories of the past months — an annoying reminder of all her bad decisions and her naivety.

Going down to the kitchen, in desperate need of a coffee that would give her the strength to face the day, the woman took a quick look at the entrance. Marco's coat and shoes were not there; she had missed him again. Hazel hadn't had the chance to spend another moment alone with him since Luffy had barged into his room two nights before. She didn't even manage to talk to him about the favour she was meant to do for Ivankov, all she could do was hope that Ace had already mentioned it to him, so he wouldn't freak out the next day. But it was another conversation that caused her to get a pit in her stomach just thinking about it. Hazel shook her head and decided to focus on her plans for the day, pushing the tempting image of Marco's lips on hers at the back of her mind.

Hazel always believed the aroma of her coffee to be a part of the rhythm of her day, another anchor in the routine that soothes and gives a sense of normality and predictability. Perhaps that was the reason why she didn't mind working at the Cafe Flamingo, however, having a BSc in Marketing, she felt she ought to do more with her life. Immediately after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, Hazel managed to get an internship at the FVM — all of her dreams would have come true had it not been for her abusive relationship with James. When she had decided to leave Philadelphia and return to New York to free herself from the clutches of her ex-boyfriend, the woman knew that she wouldn't have had another chance at that kind of career, and had made her peace with it. But that didn't mean that she would just throw in the towel and work as a bartender for the rest of her life.

On her laptop screen were thus open two tabs, one with job offers, the other with possible gift ideas for her brothers — and Marco. Three of them were already settled: Thatch's cookbook was wrapped and hidden in her closet, and she had set several reminders on her phone to bring her father's watch to Yasopp's shop and buy fresh meat for her famous meat pie that Luffy loved. Sabo and Marco's gifts, however, were still missing. For the former, she had decided to organize a romantic getaway that he could go to with Koala, while for the latter she was waiting, not very patiently, for a particular model of telescope that he had wanted for years to come back online.

"That's pretty expensive," Thatch hummed, carefully leaning over her shoulder and looking at her screen, trying not to spill any of his coffee. 

"And still not available," she complained.

"Need any help paying for that?" he said.

"You're asking 'cause you haven't found a gift for him yet?" she answered, a smirk curving her lips.

"What? No! Of course I have!" he feigned hurt feelings as he sat down by her side. She was right, of course, but he wasn't willing to admit that.

"Sure," she chuckled.

"Shush you. What's that?" Thatch then asked, nodding at the second open tab.

"Job applications," she simply replied.

"But you already have a job," he pointed out, giving her a confused look. "And, about that, don't you have a morning shift today?"

"Nine to five. So I still have ten minutes," she sighed. "And, considering I managed to get into the FVM, I guess I want something better than to be just a waitress."

"Then why don't you talk with Pops?"

At that, Hazel turned to him, her dark eyebrows furrowed.

"You majored in marketing, right? And, as your brother, I know for a fact how smart and cunning you are. We could definitely use someone like you, especially now. Talk Pops into getting you in the family business, I'll help if needed." Thatch told her, a serious expression on his face.

"I wanted to ask you about that, actually. Marco's been running around a lot lately and-"

"I'm sorry, Haz. I gotta stop you right there. I can't say a word about it," he cut her off. "Marco handles a very delicate side of the business and, as for now, you can't know about it."

"I understand," she nodded. She wasn't mad, she had expected a similar answer.

"I'll be able to explain everything once you get into the company, though. So talk to Pops," he then added, giving her a reassuring smile. "And don't worry about Marco, he knows what he's doing."

"I'm not worried about him screwing up, I'm worried about him working himself to death," she admitted.

"Yeah, I know. Nothing a good kiss can fix, though," he joked and quickly moved away to avoid the slap he knew was coming for him.

Hazel looked at him shocked. "How do you — I need to teach Ace how to keep his damn mouth shut."

Thatch let out a loud laugh. "Ah! That will never happen, no matter what you do," he then said. "And, just for the record, Izo told me."

"What?" she exclaimed. "I'm hurt. I didn't think Izo would ever betray me like that."

"Don't be so hard on him, I had to pull every word out of his mouth," he confessed, hoping to somewhat spare his partner.

"Ugh, fine. Just don't tell anyone," she threatened, and the look in her eyes alone was enough to convince him that it would have been in his best interest to do as he was told. "And about the job, I'll talk to Pops as soon as he comes back," she then added as she closed her laptop.

"Comes back?" he asked, a puzzled expression on his face.

"Yeah, from his business trip."

The look of confusion on Thatch's face didn't change: either he knew nothing of it or he had totally forgotten about it.

"He left early this morning for Chicago. He'll be back on Sunday," she explained.

"Oh, right," he nodded.

Hazel decided it was better not to ask any questions and get ready for work. She would have looked at more job applications in the evening.

✵✵✵✵

Time seemed to stand still in the stylish cafe, as if each second would take hours to pass. She had seen a total of four clients that day, the cold weather of December appeared to have become a jailkeeper, forcing people to stay inside the warmth of their own homes.
It was now a quarter to five, only fifteen more minutes and she would have been free from that bubble of boredom. However, there was a part of her that wasn't too willing to go home just yet. Tedium had been an invitation for her mind to play, to allow her thoughts to become powerful fantasies that were hard to let go of. Some say daydreams are like paracetamol, but for Hazel...they were heroin.

After coming back home and just staring at the screen of her laptop for more than an hour, the woman regretted letting her mind off the leash for so long. She was unable to focus on anything that wasn't the lustful image of Marco in her head. She had even decided to lock herself up in Pops' study, to avoid being bothered by her loud brothers, but it seemed to have been perfectly pointless. Or so she thought.

As if called, Marco entered the room and closed the door behind him, making her jump.

"I should really start looking for my own place, yoi," he sighed, obviously referring to the screams that were coming from the living room.

Hazel seemed to have lost her faculty to speak as she stared at him with wide eyes, praying not to resemble a tomato.

"Marco," she eventually mumbled.

"Don't worry, I'm not here to bother you. I just need a book, yoi," he reassured her, his eyes carefully scanning the bookshelf that occupied the entirety of the wall in front of the desk.

I want you to bother me, Hazel thought, but didn't dare to admit it out loud. "What are you looking for?" she said instead.

"Pops' accounting ledger," he told her, trying his best to keep his composure when she suddenly appeared at his side.

"That's here," she murmured, lifting her arm to pick up the book, but suddenly coming to a halt when she felt him breathing down on her neck.

"Marco," Hazel murmured, as she turned around only to be met with his chest just a few inches from her.

He leaned forward, resting both his forearms against the shelves, over her head. At that moment, he appeared totally different from his usual self. The calm and composed man that everyone knew had given way to an hungry predator, who was now looking down at her as if was the first prey he had seen in years. His lust-filled gaze skimmed everything inch of her, drinking in her appearance, acknowledging for the first time what a truly gorgeous woman she had become. Her wide amber eyes looking up at him as if he was her whole universe, her rosey slightly-parted lips begging him to kiss them, her thick wavy hair waiting to be grasped by his hands — Marco was on fire and she was his gasoline.

Hazel closed her eyes as he bent down to her, his nose almost touching her ear. "The book was an excuse, yoi," he confessed in a low, deep voice that made her shiver.

Her arms moved on their own, reaching up and clutching the helm of his shirt to bring him closer. She wanted him, she wanted him to touch her, to kiss her, to take her right there and then, claiming her as his. She desired him in the most erotic way, and she knew he desired her just the same.

Unable to restrain himself any longer, Marco brought a hand down to grab her waist as he moved a leg between hers, effectively pinning her against the bookshelf. He then kissed her neck, in such a slow and gentle manner that was almost excruciating — he was making her wait and she could hardly bear it. His warm lips on her skin made her tremble with yearning as her hands fell down on his back and her head swam.
Hazel gasped as he bit down on her sweet spot, leaving a heat pooling in her abdomen. She instinctively moved closer, pressing herself against him and earning a low groan from him in return.

"Tell me what you want, yoi," he demanded, taking her earlobe between his teeth and gently sucking on it.

His desire to pleasure her was the most seductive thing about him. Before Hazel had the chance to answer, however, the door opened and a clueless Sabo was met with a sight he had never imagined he would have had to see.

"I'M SORRY!" he yelled, immediately bringing a hand up to cover his eyes as he stumbled back against the door and fell on the floor.

Both Hazel and Marco's heads shot in his direction, their faces turning a deep shade of red.

"I'm so very sorry," he apologised again, struggling to get himself back on his feet. "Dinner is almost ready," he finally mumbled what he had come to say, before quickly getting out the door and closing it behind him.

Marco's hand that still rested against the bookshelf clenched into a fist as he sigh and leant his forehead against hers. "That's it. I'm getting my own place, yoi," he murmured.

Hazel let out a soft chuckle as she brought a hand down to caress his cheek. "He didn't do it on purpose," she whispered.

He was so close she could feel his breath on her lips. She wanted more. She needed more.

"I know, but-"

"And he's gone now," she cut him off, impatient to gain back his full attention. 

Marco seemed to have finally gotten the hint. His gaze on her lasted a full second, enough for him to take in her flustered face, then he leaned in and brushed his lips against hers.

"NO, LUFFY WAIT! DON'T GO IN THERE!"

It was once again Sabo's voice that yelled from the hallway, just a moments before the door bursted open and an angry Luffy marched in, heedless of the scene in front of him.

A reflex reaction. Hazel pushed Marco away from her and turned her head not to look at her younger brother, definitely embarrassed because of the situation. On the other hand, Marco pinched his nose to try and calm himself down before glaring at the brat.

"I'm hungry! Come to eat!" Luffy roared, before simply turning around and walking out, leaving the door wide open.

The tension that was now between them was eating Hazel alive. She glanced up at the man, the disappointment and the frustration were plastered on his face. Her heart instantly filled with guilt, her mind with dread. Thoughts started running through her head, mixing together in a whirlwind of questions with no answers. Is he mad at me? She wondered. Is he mad that I pushed him away this time? Does he think I'm ashamed of him? She could hear James' voice screaming at her. How could she possibly be ashamed of him when she wasn't even enough to stay beside him in the fist place? Hazel wanted to say something, anything, but nothing seemed right.

Marco took a deep breath. As frustrating as it was, it seemed now obvious that nothing was to happen that evening, hence glaring angrily at the door was totally pointless. He glanced in Hazel direction, his eyebrows furrowing at the sigh of her wide, scared eyes; whatever was going through that stubborn head of hers wasn't good. The man instinctively stepped towards her to hug her.

"Let's go eat before I murder somebody, yoi," he murmured, leaving a soft peck on her forehead. Then he leaned down, a smirk forming on his lips as he felt her stiffen in his arms. "We'll continue this another time," he added, brushing his lips right under her ear.

Hazel watched him step away ad walk toward the door, motioning for her to follow. She did, all the doubts in her mind suddenly gone, replaced by the certainty that the she would have stayed by Marco's side until the very end.