The warm scent of jasmine and green tea filled the room, curling through the air like a gentle breeze across the ocean.
Luffy leaned back on the old but well-kept couch, his legs lazily splayed out, one arm draped across the top as he watched Ain move around the small kitchen with a faint smile tugging at his lips. She looked so at home here and, oddly enough, she felt as if she belonged here.
The way she carefully set down the two teacups, steam rising from them, was almost ceremonial.
"Here," Ain said softly, offering him the cup.
Luffy took it with a grateful nod. "Thanks."
Their fingers brushed.
Ain's cheeks turned a shade of pink that matched the ribbon in her hair. She looked away quickly, pretending to fuss with the teapot, but Luffy saw the twitch of a shy smile on her lips.
Luffy leaned back on the couch, the warm ceramic mug nestled between his hands, steam curling into the air like a lazy spirit.
Across from him sat Ain, legs folded neatly beneath her, her long blue hair tied in a loose ponytail that swayed every time she laughed — and she had been laughing a lot.
They hadn't seen each other in nearly a year, and now, sitting across from her, Luffy realized just how much he'd missed her presence. Not the battlefield version of her, cold and precise — but this version, soft-spoken, warm, with the smallest smile tugging on her lips.
"So there I was, on this pathetic little island," Luffy said, grinning, taking a sip of his tea. "Thought it'd be an easy catch. The pirate crew only had like fifteen guys, all weaklings. But turns out..."
He leaned in a little, voice lowering like he was telling some scandalous secret, "...they had a tamed Sea King. I mean, who does that?!"
Ain blinked. "A Sea King?"
Luffy nodded eagerly. "Yeah! It popped out of the water like gwaaaar!"
He made a wild motion with his arms, nearly spilling his tea — "and almost ate the whole damn ship!"
Ain giggled behind her hand, the sound delicate, musical.
"What did you do?"
Luffy smirked, raising a brow. "I punched it in the face, obviously."
Ain rolled her eyes, but the smile didn't leave her lips. "Of course you did."
Luffy grinned, watching the light dance in her eyes. There was a small pause, a comfortable silence that settled like a blanket between them, warm and familiar.
"You've gotten stronger too, huh?" He asked softly, tilting his head. "Your Haki feels different now."
Ain looked down, brushing her fingers along the rim of her cup. "Teacher Zephyr's been pushing me harder lately. But... It's good. I think I've finally caught up to myself."
She looked back up at him with a faint blush. "And you... Vice Admiral already. That's fast. Even for you."
Luffy scoffed and leaned his head against the back of the couch, groaning. "Ugh, don't remind me. I didn't even want to be a Rear Admiral. And then they shoved the Vice Admiral title down my throat."
Ain giggled. "You make it sound like they held you at gunpoint."
"They basically did," He said dramatically. "Sengoku keeps talking like I'm the next Fleet Admiral. Can you imagine me in that dumb uniform?"
Her eyes softened. "You'd probably find a way to wear it with your chest exposed."
Luffy laughed hard, nearly choking on his tea. "Damn right I would."
There was a lull again. This time, it was more intimate.
Ain looked around the room, then down at her lap.
"It was dusty when I got here," She murmured. "Your laundry pile had turned into a mountain."
Luffy raised a brow, amused. "So you did sneak in to clean up, huh?"
Ain flushed. "I didn't sneak! I just… thought you'd like coming back to a clean place."
"You cooked too," He added, sniffing the air. "I smelled curry."
She hesitated. "I was... going to surprise you."
Luffy tilted his head, studying her face. "Why?"
She blinked. "What do you mean, why?"
"You could've just waited to see me at HQ. Why come here first?"
Ain glanced away, biting her lip. Her voice dropped a little. "Because… I missed this. Being near you."
The silence that followed wasn't awkward.
Luffy smiled, setting his cup down on the table with a soft clink.
He leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on his knees. "You know, I think I missed you too. The way you nag me about folding my shirts. The way you pretend not to like my teasing."
"I don't pretend," She mumbled, cheeks burning.
"You're pretending right now," He grinned.
She turned redder. "You're so infuriating sometimes…"
"And yet," Luffy said, voice low, eyes locking onto hers, "you're still here."
Ain's breath hitched. For a second, she couldn't find words. Couldn't remember what she wanted to say.
Luffy reached out and flicked a strand of hair from her face.
"You've gotten prettier, too," he murmured. "More confident."
She looked like she was about to explode.
"Y-You're saying that just to tease me again."
"Maybe," He said with a wink, leaning back again. "Maybe I just like the way your ears turn red."
"Luffy!"
He laughed and ducked as she playfully threw a cushion at him.
"Hey now!" He grinned. "That's no way to treat a Vice Admiral."
Ain folded her arms, puffing her cheeks in mock anger. "You're impossible."
"You're adorable."
She looked down, lips tugging into a shy smile. "...Thank you."
After a beat, she glanced at the clock.
"I should go. Zephyr-sensei's probably waiting."
As she reached the door, Luffy called out, "Hey."
She turned.
He grinned. "Don't be a stranger, alright?"
Ain's face softened, her hand lingering on the doorknob.
"I won't. Not ever."
She left, and the door clicked softly shut behind her.
Luffy stood still for a moment, watching the spot where she'd been. Then he exhaled and flopped back down onto the couch.
"Man... she's trouble."
But he couldn't stop smiling.
Luffy stood up from the sofa with a quiet groan, arms stretching high above his head as his back arched with a satisfying pop. He rolled his shoulders, still feeling a bit sore from the recent fight at sea, but it was nothing new.
A warm bath would fix that.
"Time to wash all that pirate stink off," He muttered, smirking to himself as he walked toward the bathroom.
Luffy stepped into the bathroom and shut the door behind him with a quiet click. He smiled faintly at that before reaching for his belt.
One by one, the layers of clothing fell to the floor—his jacket, his open shirt, his pants, and finally his underwear, peeled off without ceremony.
His bare feet padded softly against the cool tile as he walked toward the shower, completely unbothered by the chill kissing his skin.
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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