To Love A Stranger

by takethethirdoption

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

I'm on a One Piece rewatch and I literally forgot that Lucci is so damn gorgeous it actually hurts

So my fic brain started bubbling away and here ya go.

Chapter 1: Emergency Situation

It took until the marvel of engineering that was the Water 7 Sea Train for a veterinarian business to find itself in the black. Even as a child, you thought that running an animal hospital in a time where not many families could afford to feed themselves let alone a house pet or working animal wasn’t a particularly wise idea. You could relate with your own dog, an elderly but friendly boy who got to eat mostly due to the fact that you fished day in and day out just so he would have enough in his belly. When your future mentor healed your dog at no charge after a bad bout of lung problems, you knew your fate was to follow in her footsteps and become a veterinarian as well. Even after she put your dog down a couple years later due to old age, her empathy and skill kept you coming back to her to learn more and more about that field of medicine. About your future career. It was your destiny, your aspiration!

Simply put, even in the worst of times, animals still needed to be looked after and it was up to good people to provide that care. You and your mentor, every day since you were eight years old, worked for scraps, IOUs and verbal promises that any outstanding bills would be paid as soon as prosperity was brought back to Water 7. You watched the Sea Train be built, experimented, tested, and finally up and running. It was enough to bring tears to your eyes, not just that the clinic was saved or that all Water 7 animals would get better treatment, but that your hometown on the brink of disaster was brought back and above the surface.

As time went on, you felt lighter than air. Lo and behold, everyone, even those you doubted, had come back to the office in the middle of town to toss Beri at you as thanks for always looking after their dogs, cats, Yagara Bulls, birds and mice. As the clinic grew, so did your income. When transportation across the canals of Water 7 via Yagara became a booming business, their care was of the utmost importance to the city and your mentor made sure you knew everything there was to know about Yagara care.

Within four years of the sea train being built, you were able to move into a spacious home in the upper levels of the city, above where the Aqua Laguna typically flooded other homes. It would be maybe six years until the flood waters would completely submerge your home, you figured.

In fact, you moved the day that Tom the Shipwright was due to be pardoned of his crimes. This ended up being a good thing in the end, as you didn’t have to witness the bombing of a Judicial Ship, Tom’s acquittal going up in smoke, the end of the company Tom’s Workers, and the fact that your precious mentor was one of the many casualties, as she had closed the clinic for the day to watch Tom’s acquittal on the Judicial Ship.

You heard that Franky died while trying to stop the Sea Train from taking his mentor. Iceburg, Tom’s other apprentice, worked diligently after the World Government left the city to unite all the shipwrights into one company. Iceburg managed to accomplish this feat in a year’s time and you had celebrated your 21st birthday at Galley-La’s grand opening. Seven docks filled with shipwrights, both master and apprentice, worked tirelessly to bring Water 7 into greater prosperity than ever before. You did the same with your mentor’s clinic, taking over and vowing to leave no one unattended who was in need, all in her memory.

It seemed to be neverending work, but both of you saw stunning success. Word of your expertise with animals spread to all islands that the Sea Train connected, bringing them to you for examination, surgery, and care.

You personally saw to the recruitment and training of new veterinarians and a small army of nurses, which took to different parts of the city as to not overwhelm your clinic, which was situated not far from Dock 1 of Galley-La. This rarely worked, as you were still the one most sought-after for your technical skill. Dock 1 often felt the same way; the other six Docks held very skilled workers, but usually clients wanted the best of the best.

New shipwrights came in to join the company from within the city and even abroad. Not everyone was good enough to join up though. Those that weren’t usually found a home within the Franky Family. Those that were did all they could to make Iceburg and their city proud.

On days off you could come to watch them work, as it was fascinating to watch a galleon being put together from stem to stern. However, your lives didn’t cross over too frequently. It took three years after Galley-La’s formation before you even saw a shipwright, much less a foreman, for an animal-related emergency on an otherwise quiet day.

 

 

“Doctor, two Galley-La foremen are at the front door. It’s urgent,” one of your vet techs said to you as you were going over paperwork from one of the Yagara rental companies of Water 7 at your back office desk. Overflowing with paperwork as always, you were actually going down to Galley-La tomorrow morning to speak with Iceburg’s secretary Kalifa for leads on hiring a scribe to do all this paper-pushing work for you. What a coincidence two of their workers would come to you!

“Oh dear, this is a first,” you muttered, jogging to the door to see Kaku and Rob Lucci standing at the door, the latter of which was cradling Hattori wrapped in a makeshift bandage. You could already see blood dotting through the layers of white cloth, staining it bright crimson. The bird was breathing, but it was slow and weak.

“What happened to your pigeon?” you asked, taking Hattori from Lucci’s steady hands. Or was there the slightest of trembles?

Hattori looked up at you when he felt himself being transferred to a new person and gave a weak coo before closing his eyes once more. The bird flinched slightly as you tried to lift up the wing that covered the wound as delicately as you could manage. You could barely hear Lucci take a short but sharp inhale through his nostrils at Hattori’s pain.

This was a man who you didn’t know particularly well at all, but had heard from many different people to be completely unflappable, even when being attacked by pirates, the Franky Family or even his own co-workers (Paulie was a frequent instigator).

“It was quite the mishap, ma’am,” Kaku explained as you and Lucci turned to Kaku. You opened your mouth to utter a small ‘ah’. With Hattori injured, Lucci had no means of talking. “A rookie shipwright lost control of an air-powered nail gun he had whipped up at home. We all told him to get rid of the contraption, but the blasted thing shot out nails faster than we thought! One of them grazed poor Hattori like a bullet. I bandaged him up with what we had on hand and Mr. Iceberg ordered us to come right here for treatment as quick as we could. It’s a good thing your establishment is so close.”

“I’ll have to look him over. His blood is already seeping through the bandage,” you sighed, carefully holding Hattori in your hands. “I think he needs surgery. Wait here, please.”

You turned and walked swiftly to a spare examination room, trying not to jog the poor bird too much, with two vet techs right on your heels. You heard a hushed ‘trust her, Lucci, she’s a doctor’ from Kaku. You guessed that Lucci had tried to follow you in worry for his little friend.

You placed Hattori gently on an examination table, softly shushing him when he convulsed in pain as you removed the strips of gauze from his side. It did indeed look like a sharp, thick needle ripped right through his side, leaving a sizable laceration that wasn’t going to heal by wrapping up the bird in sterile bandages. You weren’t even sure how sterile the original ones were.

“I’m going to do my very best with you. But you’ll need to be brave, Hattori,” you whispered to the bird as you delicately pressed fresh gauze against the wound. “Get some anesthesia, disinfectant, fluids and prep Hattori for surgery. He’ll need sutures if we want this bleeding to stop.”

 

It was an hour-long procedure all said and done. For pain-staking minutes, you carefully worked a thin suture through Hattori’s side as soon as the bird was under the influence of the anesthetic. You had techs on either side of you keeping a close eye on Hattori’s vitals.

“You’re a wonderful little bird,” you whispered as the wound slowly began to close up. “Pigeons are resilient beings, so I have no doubt you’ll pull through fine. I bet Lucci was scared to death when you got hurt. But don’t worry. I’ve got you.”

You always spoke to your animals during surgery. They couldn’t hear you, of course, but it made you work with that much more diligence. You hadn’t lost anyone to an emergency and you weren’t about to start that early afternoon.

As soon as Hattori was stable, the wound was closed and bandaged and he was starting to come out of his anesthesia-induced brain fog, you went back to your office to scratch out some basic instructions for his owner.

“Let’s see… take pain pills on a tight schedule with food… do not stop until supply is gone… no flying for two weeks… no over-exerting… come back immediately if wound re-opens… stitches will dissolve naturally… come back and see me if worried or questions… that should do it,” you said, reading over your sheet a few times to check if your directions were clear.

Collecting Hattori from the surgery room, who sleepily trudged into your hands before yawning, you held him gently and went back to the waiting room to find Kaku and Lucci sitting patiently.

“Have you been waiting here the whole time?” you asked as the two men stood and met you. Lucci nodded, as did Kaku.

“We didn’t want to leave until the procedure was finished. One of your young ladies told us it went well?”

You nodded and flashed a relieved and brilliant smile before holding up Hattori, nestled in the palms of your hands. Yawning again, Hattori rubbed at his eye with his good wing before gazing upon Lucci and bobbing up and down with as much energy as his wound would allow.

“Hattori was an excellent patient. I think he’ll make a full recovery,” you confirmed. Lucci closed his eyes and took a full breath in and out. It was pure relief just to see his friend again. You stood on your tiptoes and put Lucci’s pet back on his shoulder. “Pigeons as a species are about as tough as the Galley-La foremen, so naturally he would do well,” you joked as Hattori nuzzled Lucci’s cheek.

Kaku chuckled at your lightheartedness and gave a thumbs up to his friend and co-worker. “Thank you for all of your efforts, ma’am. Splendid! Really splendid!”

“You’re welcome, my pleasure, but it’s not all over yet.” You were always a tad stern about after-care for animals, as many people you’ve worked with over the years neglected this part of the healing process. Your demeanor with Lucci was no different. “Hattori still needs to take it easy and allow his body to mend. I’ve prepared some painkillers for Hattori and wrote up instructions for you, Lucci. Follow them to a T.” You passed him your notes and tablets off to Lucci, who skimmed them, and raised your arm to brush Hattori’s cheek with your knuckles, your features softening once more. “Hattori, make sure to get proper rest, okay?”

“Yes, ma’am, thank you for the medical care!” Hattori cooed out, giving you a small salute.

That was enough to make you giggle. “Glad to hear! Bye-bye now, you three. Stay safe.”

Waving them off and closing the clinic door behind you, you went back to your desk with a spring in your step. You were able to help a Galley-La Dock 1 foreman with your own set of skills! And you saved an animal’s life! What was at first a quiet day turned out to be something special indeed.

“Ooh, that Rob Lucci is so handsome!” one of your nurses trilled, hands clasped together. “Caring for your pets like that is a real positive attribute. How was it being that close to such a guy?” she asked you as she placed a stack of paperwork on your desk.

“Huh?” you murmured, looking up from the newest workload put in front of you. “I guess…” You thought back to Lucci’s face. Truth be told, you were more taken in by his obvious fondness for Hattori more than anything. “I didn’t actually notice, so… oi oi oi, clean up the surgery room! Daydream about shipwrights on your own time!” you ordered ferociously, jabbing a pen at your nurse, who only chuckled abashedly and shuffled off to disinfect the OR.

Shoot, distractions were the last thing you needed. Busy busy busy, all the time. Lucci probably felt the same way. Never a slow day down at Dock One, especially this morning.

 

Walking back to Galley-La, Lucci looked at Hattori securely on his shoulder and gazed at the bird’s neat white bandages. Hattori, other than a long suture under his wing and some minor exhaustion from the pain med, seemed no worse for wear. Even as a small child, Lucci never liked a lot of people and the mere thought of losing Hattori from his side gave him pause. Today was close. Too close. Were his martial arts abilities becoming rusty after spending just one year in Water 7? How troubling.

“You seem perturbed,” Kaku said as the two secret CP9 agents took the long way back to the shipyards. “Relax, Lucci. You aren’t getting soft. You were just caught off-guard and Hattori got caught in the crossfire. Accidents happen.”

“I ought to kill that bastard,” Lucci said, taking the benefit of no one being around so he could speak for himself. “Not just for Hattori. All those shipwrights could have gotten a nail through them.”

“We’ll let the boss handle any troublemakers. It’s probably all taken care of by the time we find ourselves back. If something unfortunate were to happen to that young man, I’d imagine all eyes would turn to you.”

Lucci nodded. That was about as subtle a word of warning as could be given to him.

No revenge for Hattori.

Not yet anyway.

As for you, the doctor who took care of his bird… he had already thanked you once. That was more than enough.

Chapter 2: Return Visit

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

I will literally never get over the fact that Lucci talked in a ridiculous bird voice for five years to everyone but his three CP9 members. That killing machine squawked his way through conversations. Peak writing.

In light of this, instead of saying "Lucci said through Hattori" whenever Lucci has to speak outside of his thoughts or to Kaku/Kalifa/Blueno/Spandam, I'm just going to say "Hattori said" or similar.

Kaku was 100% correct on all points, as he and Lucci found out upon returning to Dock 1. The other foremen had already given the young rookie a lesson worth remembering via several painful swollen knots on the top of his head, each stacked on top of the other. He gained two more after a thorough apology to Hattori, courtesy of the two undercover CP9 agents.

It was just fair, after all. If Lucci couldn’t murder the rookie, a swift knuckle punch would have to suffice.

Lucci, after replaying the nail gun accident many times in his mind, also decided that he was still the unstoppable killing machine he always was. Even unstoppable killing machines can get caught off-guard by the unexpected. It’s how one reacts after a miscalculation that matters in the end. When one lived as a top government assassin, running into all sorts of deadly adversaries with strange Devil Fruit powers or unique abilities was part and parcel of the job. He wouldn’t be in CP9 if he didn’t know how to strategize on the fly.

So he relaxed, as much as was normal for him, and went back to work building ships for Galley-La. He also followed your instructions for Hattori’s recovery precisely. It amused some of his co-workers that he was being as diligent with his bird’s health as he was following galleon schematics, but they all understood that Hattori was a beloved pet that was not to be messed with, by accident or on purpose!

 

“So did you actually end up paying that woman for her work?” Paulie asked Lucci a week after the incident over a few rounds of beer at Blueno’s bar.

“Coo! Kalifa was visiting her the next day for scribe recommendations anyway, so she handled it,” Hattori sang, still bandaged on Lucci’s shoulder, but having regained his full energy. “Iceburg paid for Hattori’s medical bills out of pocket. Workman’s Compensation, he called it.”

“That bird of yours doesn’t actually do work, ya know!” laughed Paulie uproariously, the red tinge of the stacking rounds of booze piling up on his cheeks. “But that’s why Iceburg is such a great man. He looks out for everyone under him.”

“Which is why you shouldn’t be disgracing him with your constant gambling! Coo!”

“Damn bird… you were a lot quieter a week ago when your little ventriloquism puppet was out of commission,” Paulie grumbled into his mug as Blueno started pouring a new round.

Lucci was inwardly thankful that Kalifa and Iceburg took the initiative to pay you for your services. It would be a pain to go out of his way more than he needed to, even if your skilled hands kept his bird alive and well. It was such a waste of his mission time to fraternize with Water 7 citizens outside of his job. Being a Galley-La foreman was notable enough a position to immediately earn the basic trust of any person he came across in the city. So while these bar nights with Paulie were beneficial because Paulie was his co-worker and ‘friend’, he did not need to go through the same familiarities with you. As soon as Hattori got his bandages removed and was deemed healed, Lucci wanted little else to do with you.

Lucci hated many things: weaklings, Spandam, pirates, being inconvenienced, Spandam, mission failures, his pride being tweaked, Spandam, and being distracted.

To that last point, he was already thinking about you enough as it was.

But that was only because Hattori’s wrappings brought your clinic to mind, and with the clinic in his mind came you, who applied said wrappings. As soon as Hattori was healed, you would clear right out of his thoughts.

Right?

 

Another week went by and Hattori’s pain meds depleted with the little bird showing no sign of pain or discomfort. Finally, Lucci headed down to your clinic to have the gauze wraps removed so his pet could be free once again.

You greeted Hattori before you did Lucci when he opened up the clinic’s front door, scooping the bird right off his perch on Lucci’s shoulder.

“Hello, my dear patient. Are we ready to check under your wing?” you asked with a wide grin at which Hattori squawked. “Oh, hey Lucci,” you added, giving him a quick glance. “Thanks for arriving on time! As expected, naturally.”

Lucci nodded and stayed standing, not imagining that this would take long nor looking to give the impression that he wished to get comfortable by finding a seat. Recognizing his intent, you immediately got to work on the spot rather than using an empty examination room. You slowly unwrapped the gauze around Hattori and, when it was removed, lifted his wing and deftly ran your fingers along his side.

“Okay, looks like it healed up beautifully. I don’t see any evidence that you’re masking pain and your feathers will cover up any scarring. I deem you back to normal. Well done, Hattori.”

Hattori cooed at your lavish attention before gliding back to Lucci’s shoulder and striking a victorious pose. Adorable.

“Okay then, let’s see. Kalifa paid the outstanding bill on your behalf, so you’re free from your obligations here,” you said, looking up at Lucci with a kind smile. “I’m glad you take such good care of Hattori. It’s obvious you’re very connected to him.”

“Yes!” Hattori replied. “I’ve been with him for a long time and he goes where I do.”

You nodded at the sentiment and stuck out your hand. “Bring in Hattori if you’re ever worried about him. Have a wonderful rest of your day, Rob Lucci.”

Lucci nodded back and gave you a firm handshake. When he did so, you took the opportunity to get a decent up-close look at his features. Your nurses were absolutely right, you had to admit it. That there was one incredibly handsome being. Still, you couldn’t help but admire his devotion to Hattori more than anything else.

There, Lucci thought as he let go of your soft, warm hand so you could shake the wing that Hattori extended out for you, I’m finally done with this woman.

Indeed he was, but only for a short time.

Until the day he returned to the Enies Lobby with Nico Robin, he kept seeing you over and over again.

Unintentionally! At least to start.

Chapter 3: Day Off? What's That?

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

I did some brief research on basic steps regarding malpresentations in horses and cows. Thank God that Yagara Bulls don't actually exist or this might sound all sorts of wrong. But they don't so everything here is 100% correct HAHAHAHA.

Another day in Water 7, another day undercover. Lucci lightly sighed to himself as he walked along canal after canal while he did his afternoon shopping. What a shame that being on a mission didn’t preclude him from needing to buy food, clothes and other supplies. At least his shipwright job paid well enough. Less beneficial was the small crowd of onlookers, ‘fans’ and other admirers who he constantly ran into on these days. He’d rather be at home with Hattori having a nice glass of brandy.

“Back off, you damn vultures!” Paulie growled out. Lucci turned his head to see his co-worker whipping all the onlookers away. “I don’t know how you put up with the attention,” he gruffed as soon as he was at Lucci's side.

“Just ignore them then,” Hattori answered. “It’s what I was doing.”

“Your ignoring face and irritated face are too similar. How could I tell the difference?!”

“I didn’t ask for your help, Paulie.”

“Don’t mention it!” Paulie laughed with a wide grin.

Lucci was about to continue on his way when there was a sudden commotion in the waterways of Water 7. It looked like a larger Yagara Bull was having some sort of issue, coming to a complete stop in the water and tossing about its passengers.

“Calm down, girl, what’s gotten into you?” its driver gasped, reaching out to hold onto his friend, who was tossed into the drink, the driver shortly following.

“Is it manic?” Paulie asked while Lucci merely looked on at the thrashing with dulled interest. Maybe it was being attacked underneath by a carnivorous fish.

What actually caught his eye was you, who had dived straight into the canals.

“Does she have a death wish?!” Paulie shouted. “That Yagara is going nuts!!”

“She knows more about animals than you,” Hattori cooed. “Let’s wait and see.”

 

By pure coincidence, you were also using the early afternoon to do some shopping, having run low on a few favored pantry staples, like tea and seasonings. All you wanted on your day off was to laze about your house and do some reading, but your sensibility got the better of you, as it usually did. You were still quite a ways from home when you saw a Yagara thrashing in the canal far down the street.

That was a distressed look that you were unfortunately familiar with - a pregnant Yagara not only going into labor, but her calf was presenting wrong.

“Not dystocia, not now,” you gasped.

Her thrashing was perfectly understandable to you. She was in pain, distress, and worried about her calf. An amateur might come to the wrong conclusion and do something drastic and for the worse. So you had to hurry.

Setting your bag down and kicking off your shoes, you sprinted toward the Yagara. If that animal didn’t get some help with her malpresentation, then both their lives would be forfeit. Taking a sharp, deep breath, you dove into the Water 7 canal and saw your suspicions confirmed as soon as the birthing canal was visible. A normal birth involved the front half of the Yagara arriving first and you saw nothing but the back legs of the calf. You needed rope to keep the mother Yagara in place and more rope to tie to the calf for pulling.

You surfaced and looked around the goggling onlookers until you found someone who might be able to help. And thankfully for you, there were two!!

“Paulie! Lucci! I need your help!” you called out. “She’s giving birth, but it’s going wrong! I need rope!!!”

“Right!” Paulie replied, trusting your judgment implicitly, even though he was ready to subdue the animal before you jumped into the canal. He had been holding his breath when you dived into the water. In fact, the whole crowd had been as well, everyone silent except for the calving mother.

“Loop something around her head so she doesn’t thrash around as much and I need another set tossed to me so I can tie it to the calf.”

Paulie nodded and quickly had the mother Yagara’s head in a tight, neat loop and threw you another two lines of his rope.

“You heard her. Keep these still, Lucci,” Paulie barked, handing him the ropes of the mother. Lucci nodded and held them firm. At once her movements became less chaotic, as if the Yagara had been tied to a stone wall with chains.

Meanwhile, you had already gone beneath the water’s surface yet again to tie the ropes to the baby Yagara’s back legs. This Yagara calf wasn’t in danger of drowning, being part aquatic, but there was a very real danger of suffocation in the birth canal if it was left in there for much longer. You shuddered to think what would happen if you hadn’t been walking down the street that day. But it was almost over.

With a few solid tugs and some blood from the less-than-ideal process, you were able to birth the Yagara calf. Holding it in your arms, you swam back up to the surface and presented the baby, both of you sporting wide smiles.

“It’s a boy!” you announced proudly.

“She did it!” Paulie cheered along with the crowd. Lucci did not cheer, as it was just not his way, and instead just let go of the mother’s ropes so she could nuzzle her child that you had just gently set back on the water.

“Can you lift me out of the water please?” you asked when you swam to the bank of the canal and held your arm up. “It’s a bit exhausting to pull that size of animal out of anything.”

“Sure thing, I - oh, okay,” Paulie muttered as Lucci already bent down to fish you out of the water in one smooth movement.

“Thanks, Lucci.” You started wringing water out of your hair, the tight bun that you put it in that morning having since been completely dissolved by your little diversion. “Being a shipwright sure gives you some strength, huh?”

“Hey, I helped too!” Paulie snapped over to you after fishing out the former passengers of the Yagara out of the canal. “Where’s my th-HEY!”

“I was getting to that, but you looked busy.” You chuckled at Paulie’s beet-red face as he walked up to you and looked at you up and down.

“Would you get into some different clothes, woman?! Your outfit is clinging to your indecent body!”

“Excuse me?!” you snapped back, giving his ear a sharp tug. Your other hand was balled on your hip in righteous indignation. “I just got done with a birthing and that’s what you’re concerned about?!”

“Lucci, do something useful and find a towel!” Paulie snapped at his friend, eyes watering with pain as Lucci wordlessly grabbed his other ear and tugged on it as well. “Damn it, you too?”

“Coo, stop being a pervert,” Hattori squawked.

“It ain’t perversion!” Paulie shouted as both of you let go of his ears at once and glared at him. “It’s about morality! If you would j-”

“Excuse me?” said a soft voice behind you.

You looked over and down at a young girl holding up your shoes and your grocery bag. “You left these over on the other side of the canal before you saved that Yagara bull, lady.”

“Oh, thank you, sweetheart!” you replied, gasping as you had completely forgotten about them. “I appreciate your thoughtfulness.”

“No problem!” she grinned before running off.

“Ma’am, I’d like to thank you,” said the driver of the Yagara, tipping his sopping wet hat at you. Paulie had continued on his rant, but no one was paying attention to him. “The rental company said she was pregnant, but not due for a few more days. We feel foolish for not giving her resting time.”

“Don’t beat yourself up. Yagaras can still work until the minute they give birth, but it looks like the baby decided to show up early and out of position,” you replied. “These things happen. I’m usually not called in to help because the birthing process is typically without complication.”

“We’re just happy that you and Galley-La were there to help!”

“It was no trouble, coo!” Hattori assured them, Lucci putting up his hands in an effort to calm down the folks still surrounding them.

“Please enjoy the rest of your day,” you added with a small bow.

 

Soon enough, everyone went about their normal day and you said your good-byes to the two Galley-La workers. You bent down to grab your grocery bag and shoes, deciding to forgo squelching back home until at least your feet were dry. What you needed was a bath.

“Ugh, I smell like a fish tank,” you muttered to yourself as you headed back home. The canals were known for transporting people and cargo, not for being pristine.

Lucci and Paulie watched you go until the former turned around and headed back to his home as well, wanting to get back to some private Rokushiki training. He wasn’t going to become weak just because he was on a long-term mission.

“Sure I can’t interest you in a drink, Lucci?” Paulie offered, pulling his arms behind his head for a good stretch. Lucci offered no response and kept walking with his signature stern look. “Yes or no?”

Lucci turned around and pointed at his visage. “This,” Hattori cooed, “is my ignoring face.”

With that, Lucci turned back and kept down his original path, no more stops, as Paulie called him an anti-social birdbrain over his shoulder.

 

Even Lucci had to admit to himself, however, that today’s diversion with you wasn’t entirely unwelcome. That little spitfire way you handled Paulie was amusing. Amusing, indeed.

Chapter 4: Kidnapped?!

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

Water 7 just has the most colorful cast of characters, I love all of them

You always started your days early and you rose with the sun. That was the life of a veterinarian. You had regular office hours three days out of the week and specialty visits another three, having only one day off a week to relax. Before you expanded your practice to all of Water 7, you even worked nights for emergency calls. Thanks to the scribe that Kalifa had personally recommended, your day-to-day paperwork was shortened to the point where you could take on a few additional clients with your newfound free time. Additionally, and most importantly, you were actually able to get proper rest now! Whistling to yourself as you walked your way down to your clinic, you saw a few shadows shifting around just out the corner of your eye.

Pausing, you glanced around before continuing back on your way. You started to whistle again, though kept your head moving. Now it was footsteps and soft murmurs along with shadows. Damn, who mugs a doctor at dawn on their way to work?!

Screw it, you had to run, maybe lose them in the back-alleys of Water 7. Yes, that was the ticket.

Now booking it down the canals, you skidded around corner after corner and kept running. This seemed to work like a charm and you were about ten steps from your destination when three loud thuds hit the ground behind you.

You skidded to a halt and felt your whole body shiver in fear.

They could keep up this whole time?! Who would go this far for a mugging?!

Turning around, you saw three members of the Franky Family, going strictly by their ridiculous get-ups. So you were about to get mugged by a group of underworld thugs! Damn it all!

You were able to get out half a scream when a burlap sack was thrown over your head from behind you. Then you were tossed on some brute’s shoulder and spirited away. To where? You had no idea, but there wasn’t a soul around when it happened.

 

It was high sun when Kalifa was reviewing Iceburg’s schedule for the week. She and her boss Iceburg were in the shipyard to properly supervise the beginning stages of the construction of a new Marine vessel. Hearing swift footsteps, she looked up to see the scribe that you had hired, Jonathan, sprinting up to her with a look of absolute despondence.

“Yes, what seems to be the matter?” Kalifa asked while Jonathan took heavy breaths to regain his composure.

“My boss! She didn’t show up for work this morning!” he wheezed. “She always meets me in the office in the morning, but I haven’t seen her for hours. Her house is empty and everything!”

“Is she missing then?” Kalifa asked, adjusting her glasses. “I can file a missing persons report with Water 7 authorities right away.”

At this moment, the shipwrights of Galley-La started gathering around to hear about this piece of news. Even Lucci, when he heard your name, stopped hammering away at a keel and glanced over.

“No, I don’t think she’s… she’s missing.” Tears sprung to his eyes as he continued, whispering your name in despair. “I asked all around town along her usual route to work. No one said they saw her, so I went east and overheard someone saying they saw a strange sight while opening up shop. Someone in a burlap sack being carried by… The Franky Family!!”

Loud gasps and whispers from everyone sounded around the Dock 1 shipyard. A kidnapping!! By The Franky Family?!

“Then I remembered I heard a scream, or maybe a cutoff scream, this morning when she usually gets in, but I checked outside and I didn’t see anything. I think she’s in big trouble!”

“What would a bevy of ship dismantling hooligans want with one veterinarian?” Kaku asked. “One of us, sure, but her?”

“Sounds like she was targeted,” Lulu said. “Should we involve the authorities?”

“WHY SHOULDN’T WE? Tilestone shouted, arms pumping into the air.

“We all know the Franky Family aren’t exactly harmless,” Lulu replied. “Regular authorities might not have the manpower to deal with them.”

“We can’t exactly wait for some Marines to show up, not that they would for a single person in danger,” Iceburg considered with a finger up his nose. “Lulu, fix your cowlick and go see if she’s fine. You know where their house is, right?”

“Yes sir, Mr. Iceberg,” Lulu said, pushing his cowlick on the side of his head down, only for it to reappear out of his nose. “Mind if Lucci tags along? Two heads are better than one in this situation.”

“Yeah sure, why not,” Iceberg shrugged. “Paulie. Kaku. Cover for those two while they’re gone. Lucci. Lulu. You boys are on the clock. So get in and get out.”

Lucci nodded and followed Lulu toward the outskirts of Water 7 and the rocky capes where the Franky Family’s house was known by everyone to stand.

 

“Think she’ll be okay?” Lulu asked as he and Lucci ran over the rooftops of the city, which was far quicker than taking Yagara Bulls up and down the numerous canals.

“They probably took her for some animal problem they’re dealing with, not for ransom,” Hattori said.

“Hopefully they aren’t roughing her up…”

Lucci remembered you letting Paulie have it a few weeks ago after your calf rescue and shook his head. “She can bite back.”

“Oh? Do you know her well?” Lulu asked as the two finally reached the last few rows of houses of Water 7’s outer rim and settled on a high rooftop.

“Hardly, coo coo. I’ve only met her a handful of times.”

Scouting ahead, they just about made out the Franky House in the distance. “Hey, I think I see your girlfriend,” Lulu whispered after pulling out some binoculars for a closer look.

“She’s not my g-”

“You don’t need binoculars to see those King Yagaras,” Lulu said, paying no mind to Lucci’s fierce rebuttal. “Well, that explains that. She must be treating those beasts. Don’t know why they kidnapped her though,” he hummed, pushing his cowlick. Lucci took the binoculars for his own turn to view and saw you petting the snout of the yellow one. The purple one was being tended to by the three largest Franky Family members under what looked like her direction.

At least you were safe. Not that Lucci doubted as much.

“Who knows?” Hattori replied. “They likely thought it was an emergency.”

“Guess two people aren’t needed after all. Lucci, make sure she gets home safe. I’ll be back at the shipyard.”

“Why me? Why not you, coo?!” Hattori squawked as Lucci handed the binoculars back.

“Easy, I’ve been at Galley-La longer than you, so I’m throwing my seniority around. See ya, kid!” Lulu laughed before leaving Lucci to you.

Lucci rolled his eyes and gave Hattori a tender brush with his finger. You sure were troublesome. Standing up, Lucci resumed hopping across rooftops until he leapt off the last one and hit the ground, then began a leisurely walk to the Franky House to retrieve you.

Chapter 5: Time to Collect

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

When you're not tough, sometimes you need someone tough at your side to get things done.

Kidnapping was a harsh, accurate word, the Franky Family conceded as they released you from your burlap sack prison as soon as you were at the seaside house of their little gang.

After giving each one of them an earful, you asked why you were apprehended on your way to work.

“I had a surgery consult today for a client! Why did you drag me out here?” you growled, arms folded across your chest.

“This is way more important!” Zambai countered, pointing a finger to the sea. “Sodom and Gomorrah need to be looked at! They were attacked by pirates yesterday and got all bruised and bloodied. People around town said you’re the best of the best, so the best doctor has to treat the best Yagaras in all of Water 7!”

“Yeah!!!” the chorus of Franky Family members cheered.

You stared unimpressed at the bounty hunters, then shifted that same gaze to the water and raised an eyebrow, as you saw nothing but open sea.

“I can’t treat invisible animals,” you grunted. “Who are Sodom and Gomorrah? Some kind of Franky Family masc-”

Your barb was cut short, your mouth agape, as two of the biggest King Yagara Bulls you had not only seen in your life but even read about in the record books breached in front of you. You were sprayed with seawater from the surfacing Yagaras splashing at the shore. So large were they that you craned your neck back far enough to tip over and fall on your rear.

“Not so invisible now, huh?” laughed several other Franky Family members. Sodom and Gomorrah both roared out at seeing a new face cowering under them. “I wish Big Bro was here to see the look on your face!”

“These are… incredible!!” you gasped, your frustration at being taken away from your office all but forgotten. You jumped up and ran up and down the shore line to get a good look at them both. It’s as if Sodom and Gomorrah knew they were being admired and gave you large grins in bashful appreciation. “Stunning creatures!!”

“So, you’ll treat them?” Zambai asked. “Do you really mean it?”

Now, in the Franky Family’s defense, you reasoned, they simply had no choice but to bring you out to their neck of the woods for veterinary care. One couldn’t exactly lug these Giant-sized beasts through the narrow city canals, correct? But still, there was protocol to follow in your clinic!

“Look, next time,” you said with a sigh, rolling up your sleeves, “set up an appointment.”

“Sorry, ma’am,” he replied, giving you a short bow along with his brethren.

Sodom and Gomorrah looked like they took several cannon blasts to the body, indicative of a fight on the seas with pirates, just as the Franky Family reported. Thankfully, the damage didn’t look too severe, but several layers of bandages would be needed to help the wounds heal quicker.

“Looks like the saline in the ocean helped keep the lacerations clean and the contusions don’t seem to be in bad shape. But they should be taking it easy for a few weeks. We don’t want any injuries to be aggravated,” you informed Kiev, who was writing down your instructions on pads of paper.

“You got it, little sister.”

“I’m, uh… not your sister,” you muttered as you went back to your examination. “Whatever. Do you guys have large swaths of gauze? These are the first King Yagara Bulls I’ve ever treated. Even if I went back to the clinic, I wouldn’t have enough.”

“We’d have to break into the supply that the Destroyers have,” Zambai suggested. “They’re the only guys big enough to need them.”

“Then go find them. Since I’m out here, I might as well give these two a full examination.”

 

You ended up spending several hours at the Franky House, patching up Sodom and Gomorrah with the help of the Destroyers (due to their size, they were the only ones who could properly bandage the King Yagaras) as well as giving day-to-day care advice to the group.

“Okay,” you instructed Kiev, “you need to let them do their own hunting and not to give them a lot of people food. No booze in any amount. If they start to list to the side while swimming, let me know. If they start to vomit repeatedly, let me know. If they stop eating, let me know. If the wounds don’t heal, let me know. Unlike their smaller cousins, these guys are pretty self-sufficient due to their size and proximity to the open sea. Just don’t do anything crazy with them and they should be perfectly healthy for many years.”

“Bro Zambai!” one of the Franky Family called out while you were finishing up with Kiev. “Lucci from Dock 1 of Galley-La is walking toward us!”

“Lucci?” you repeated, looking over to indeed see your acquaintance making his way toward you, Hattori perched on his shoulder as usual.

“Begone, shipwright!” the men shouted, brandishing swords, guns and other weapons as soon as Lucci got within conversational distance. “You’re on Franky Family turf!” All of them looked to be downright frightened of someone outright stronger than them, but they more or less stood their ground.

“Move aside, idiots,” Hattori squawked. “I’m not looking to fight.”

“Then… what are you here for, huh? If we have lumber from ship dismantling, we always bring it to you,” Zambai said with an unsure look.

“Half the town has been in a panic because you swiped that woman over there.”

“We needed her for our King Yagara Bulls,” Kiev stuttered out as Lucci came to your side.

“Did you come to check on me?” you whispered with a wink, at which Lucci rolled his eyes and folded his arms across his chest.

“I was asked to, don’t get it confused,” Hattori replied.

“Well, like they said and I’m sure you gathered as soon as you heard I was missing, I was kidnapped for work-related purposes. Lucky for us, I’m just about through here.” You wrote down a number on the bottom of Kiev’s notes and handed it to Zambai. “Just pay the amount and I’ll be off.”

Zambai glanced at the bill total, other Franky Family members looking over his shoulders.

There was a beat.

Then a very loud, sustained bellow of shock and disbelief from the Franky Family that sent you and Lucci’s hair blowing behind you.

“That’s a small fortune of Beri! What is this, highway robbery?!” Zambai shouted, stabbing the amount with his pointer finger.

“Oh damn, I forgot to add the kidnap surcharge,” you huffed, grasping your chin in consideration. “Okay, double that and we’re square.”

Out of the corner of your eye, you could have sworn you saw Lucci smirk. Even if it was just a figment of your imagination, you smirked as well.

“We ain’t paying that! You can head back to your clinic empty-handed!”

“The hell I am!” you barked out, brandishing a fist after the Franky Family pulled down their eyelids and stuck their tongues out at you. How childish!! “You owe me good for my services and you better find that money right now!”

“Just pay the bill, coo!” Hattori added, brandishing his wings as Lucci looked on at the Franky Family.

“Unless you got a bill collector stronger than us, forget about it!” Zambai laughed, though he was visibly sweating while looking at Lucci. That guy sure was scary for a guy with a tall hat and a bird on his shoulder. But he wasn’t here to rough them up. Right?

“Bro Zambai is right!” one of the Herculean Destroyers laughed, tapping a club into the palm of his hand. “Beat it, shrimp!”

As soon as Lucci saw you gulp in trepidation, that was enough for him. Not only was he wasting his valuable time, you were threatened simply for requesting payment for service. It was really no different than when pirates tried to stiff Galley-La for ship repairs. So he did what he normally would have done at his job.

He kicked that same Herculean Destroyer, one that was, again, several times your height, into a boulder several yards away from the Franky House with enough speed that he was stuck deep inside of the boulder and knocked out cold.

“Wow,” you murmured, staring at the downed Destroyer and then back at the Franky Family. “So uhh… unless you want more trouble, I suggest you cough up the money!” You looked up at Lucci, who gave you an almost imperceptible nod, an OK to use him as a bodily threat just this one time.

“Gah!! We’re so sorry!!” Zambai cried out, falling to the ground and slamming his forehead down in deep and sincere apologies. “So so SO sorry!!! We’ll get you the money!” He lifted up his head just enough to turn to the rest of the Family. “Boys, empty the coffers! Quick!”

The Franky Family fought themselves to get inside the Franky House first and avoid any further dealings with your terrifying bodyguard while Zambai stayed where he was, forehead back in the dirt.

After much commotion that caused you and Lucci to tilt your heads in bemusement, eventually Kiev ran to the pair of you with a patchy, beat-up suitcase.

“H-here, sis! It’s everything you wanted.” He shoved the suitcase into your arms, picked up a still-groveling Zambai and ran back to the safety of Franky House. “So now go away or else!!” he added over his shoulder as the door slammed shut. The Herculean Destroyer was still embedded in the boulder, though appeared to be slowly waking up.

You checked the case to make sure it was filled with money and not rocks before clasping it shut once more and holding it under your arm.

“Okay, guess I better get this to the bank,” you shrugged. “Lucci, are you ready to go?”

Lucci nodded in reply as the two of you headed back to Water 7. You in particular were feeling quite giddy. Not only were you able to treat the once-in-a-lifetime prize King Yagara Bulls, you were paid extremely handsomely for it.

The icing on the cake was, in your mind, getting personally checked in on by Rob Lucci. Even if Iceburg told him to, you were sure Lucci could have said no. So you took that as a heavy compliment.

Though one thing was bugging you.

“Hey, Lucci. Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“I have a sneaking suspicion about you by the way you kicked that big guy around just then. I think you’re hiding something. Something big.”

“Oh?” Hattori hopped on Lucci’s shoulder and bent his head to look at you closely. Lucci knew without a shadow of a doubt that you weren’t speaking about him being an undercover government assassin. But perhaps a sliver of trepidation ran through him. Maybe a quarter of a sliver.

You leaned in to match Hattori and gazed at him expectantly. “Were you holding back? I don’t think you were giving it your all… in terms of power.”

That was all? You had a keen eye, all right, but you didn’t have all the dots connected. Lucci shrugged and looked at you, still speaking through Hattori.

“You caught me, coo coo. I didn’t need even half my strength for that.”

In response, you gave a smirk of utter satisfaction and held your chin up high.

“I knew it…”

“Mmhmm…”

“I had a feeling you were holding out on me, Rob Lucci!”

You actually caught it this time when you looked up at Lucci. He had an amused smirk on his lips while gazing back at you, about the most non-stoic you had ever seen him act. It was almost cute! No, wait, it was cute!!

“Don’t worry, good sir. I’m very discreet in these matters. I’ll keep this little secret to myself.”

For as rough and tumble as a shipwright employed at Galley-La could be, and for as strong and immovable as you knew Rob Lucci was, it surprised you when a gentle hand came down on the top of your head and ruffled your hair.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

You felt your heart jump, just a little, as the two of you continued to walk.

It went unsaid, but Lucci now considered you, strictly in terms of being undercover and not anyone else's business, a friend.

Chapter 6: Heat Waves

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

When it was terribly hot and I still had outdoor chores to do, I would dive into our pool, outdoor chores clothes on, just to immediately cool off, then take a cool shower, then lie down under a fan. Reader is lucky to have the sea close by. Immediate coolness!

Also, Kaku is adorable.

Most days in Water 7 were relatively moderate in terms of climate. Being a city of water, even the slightest breeze had a cooling effect. It was rare for you to lose layers due to heat and you could often be seen around town wearing your white doctor’s coat that you wore in the office. On your free days and off hours, it wasn’t out of the ordinary for you to have on long sleeves or long pants or both.

Some days though? Some days were absolute scorchers. And even in shorts and a tank top you were ready to keel over.

“I’m dying,” you muttered, cranking open every window in your clinic, propping open the door and seriously considering busting a hole in the wall. It was so hot that you and your staff had to turn away certain animals with instructions to keep them hydrated and in cool areas to avoid heat exhaustion. “I hope Hattori is okay…”

That poor bird would turn into a roast pigeon if Lucci wasn’t considerate. You knew he was, but it was in your nature to worry about animals, big and small.

“Ma’am, your last patients have canceled their appointment or rescheduled due to the weather,” Jonathan said with a kind smile. “Why don’t we close up early for the day? I’ve already called the other clinics to have staff on call in case of emergencies.”

“You think so?” you asked weakly, wiping your sweaty brow. “I could go for a swim in the sea to cool down, now that you mention it.”

“Let’s finish some paperwork and lock up.”

With renewed vigor at the thought of an end to your workday, you filed papers and signed off on documents with impressive speed. By the time your scribe was ready to wish you a pleasant afternoon, you were already out the open door.

You dodged along alleyway after alleyway until Scrap Heap Island and then the open sea were finally in your sights. Sprinting and enjoying the breeze on your body as you ran, you giggled and dove headfirst into the sea. The cool salty ocean brought you immediate ease and you surfaced with a loud sigh of contentment. Flipping onto your back, you let the water soak into your bones as you gently kicked about the seashore. Even taking into account the occasional heat spell and Aqua Laguna, Water 7 was the best place to live in the world.

You took a breath and dove underwater in order to enjoy the marine life that lived in the coral and rocky beds below the surface. Out of the corner of your vision, you thought you spotted what had to be the ugliest looking manatee that you had ever laid eyes on. A pink lower half and what looked to be bright green seaweed stuck to its head like twin ponytails.

Yeesh, you thought, kicking to the surface. That sea cow was born under an unlucky star.

Upon breaching, you cleared the seawater from your eyes and gazed around. To your complete surprise, you found that you weren’t the only one with this bright idea.

If it wasn’t a couple of Dock 1 foremen!

 

“I bet you wish you didn’t eat a Devil Fruit today,” Kaku teased Lucci as the square-nosed young man stripped down to his skivvies next to the water. “I think actual leopards are strong swimmers too.”

Lucci rolled his eyes and looked over at Hattori sleeping in the shade. The poor thing had been overheated the whole day and Iceburg had let most of his Galley-La men head out early, leaving only a skeleton crew of the men who could tolerate heat the best. Kaku could handle it, but was told to beat it for the day anyway by his boss.

And there was no one around on the shores of Water 7, so Lucci could speak normally to a fellow CP-9 member.

“Oh, shut it and enjoy your swim. I don’t need to cool down anyway.”

“Suit yourself,” Kaku grinned before jumping high into the air and diving in perfect form right into the sea. Lucci muttered under his breath that he felt like he was on baby-sitting duty with the comparatively young Kaku, but he supposed that he should consider the afternoon off to be a good thing. At least he was alone. Or so he thought.

After maybe a half hour of Kaku swimming around like a madman, Lucci saw you running for the shore and diving right into the water. Out of all the shorelines in Water 7, you had to pick the one he was occupying. Just because he considered you a friend in his mission persona didn’t mean that he wanted everyone to know that, least of all anyone else undercover like Kaku.

But it appeared as though you were just trying to get cool like anyone else. You were a strong swimmer, much like Kaku, who had finally noticed you and made strong strokes to reach you in the sea.

“If it isn’t the doctor!” Kaku greeted with an amiable grin. “Are you trying to find some relief from the blistering sun as well?”

“You caught me,” you grinned back. “I thought you Galley-La types didn’t mind a little heat.”

“Even us shipwrights need a break from time to time. Mr. Iceburg was kind enough to let some of us out for the day.”

“I had a similar idea with my team. Hey, isn’t Lucci going to join us?” you asked. You and Kaku glanced over at Lucci, who you made eye contact with before he went back to staring out at the open sea.

“He’s not exactly a swimmer,” Kaku explained.

“I can’t believe a shipwright doesn’t know how to swim!”

“Well, don’t mention it to him. I bet he’s self-conscious about it,” Kaku whispered, though he kept a smile on his face. It was very amusing to him to tease someone as powerful as Rob Lucci out of earshot.

You believed him (you had no reason not to!) and started swimming for shore, Kaku following behind you.

“Ah, I feel 100% better now,” you announced with a happy sigh. You decided to meet up with Lucci and say hello before going back home to enjoy a chilled drink or two.

At your side and joining you, Kaku shook out his strawberry blond hair and noticed your upper left arm and its significant scarring. It looked like something, at one point in time, had tried taking a chunk out of you. Was it a wild animal? Did it happen while you were a child? Even Lucci took notice, though he didn’t look at it too intensely. The five scars on his back caused anyone who looked at them to start sweating, so it took quite a bit more than yours to take him aback.

“It was a baby Rabuka Bull,” you calmly explained to Kaku and Lucci. “Everyone stares at least once.”

“When did it happen?” Kaku asked. “If you don’t mind me asking, of course.”

You took a deep breath and thought back on that day. “I was a teenager and in waaay over my head. My mentor was running late one morning and I tried to practice feeding a baby Rabuka Bull without her guidance. I made a wrong move and its sharp teeth bit my upper arm. By some miracle and a bit of misdirection, I got it to let go. Their jaws aren’t particularly strong that young, at least compared to its adult form, but it’s almost like a vice grip. I needed to go to the hospital for plenty of stitches and I carry the scars to this day. I’m not ashamed of them or self-conscious, but sometimes I could just deal without people whispering about them like I can’t hear or see them.”

“Sorry that happened to you,” Kaku said quietly after a beat.

“Thank you, Kaku, but it’s okay,” you replied. “Sometimes… sometimes you get hurt while trying to protect people or when your heart is in the right place. But it doesn’t mean you have to regret it.”

“Wise words, miss!”

“Not wise, just speaking from life experience and a personal philosophy,” you chuckled. “Stay cool, you three! I’m heading home.”

“Don’t let Paulie see you. I don’t think he’d approve of your make-shift swimsuit.”

“Oh, good point,” you muttered. The last thing you needed was for Paulie to start lecturing you about the state of your dress without Lucci there to pound his skull. “I’ll keep an eye out for him.”

Lucci gave you a nod of acknowledgement when you waved at him and Kaku before leaving Scrap Heap Island to walk home. In this heat, your clothes were sure to be dry by the time you reached your house. But at least you cooled down!

 

Kaku and Lucci waited until you were out of earshot and that no one else was around to continue their discussion. Hattori was still asleep in his little shaded spot. Soft sleepy coos could be heard if you strained your ears.

“I can see why you’re fond of her,” Kaku remarked. “She’s quite the lived woman.”

“I’m not especially fond of her,” Lucci grunted, rolling his eyes. “Don’t you start too.”

“There’s nothing wrong with making friends during a mission. It would be suspicious to live without bonds in a city like Water 7. Just avoid making promises you can’t keep, okay?”

“What makes you think that she’s the type of woman who’d want lovely promises, Kaku?” Lucci replied, just the slightest bit annoyed at the line of pestering. Damn, so Kaku found out that he wasn’t putting up with you; he actually didn’t mind you being around?

“Because women like her find a way of getting under your skin. Or at least that’s what Jabra says.”

“That means I’ll be fine, seeing as Jabra is an idiot,” Lucci scoffed.

“Even broken clocks are right twice a day! Calm down. I’m not about to report your behavior to the chief. Now I’m going back into the water. You’re free to do whatever you want.”

With that, Kaku leapt back into the water as he was about to leap across a rooftop. Lucci watched the water rise and fall with Kaku’s entry and went back to thinking about you. Quite aggravatingly, you were there in quiet moments and he couldn’t quite understand why. He never had this problem before. Women were throwing themselves at him back when he was in his teens. You hadn’t thrown yourself at him at all, but there you were all the same, invading his thoughts.

Hattori had woken up about halfway through Lucci’s rambling one-tracked thoughts and flew to his shoulder to greet him. The sun was no longer high in the sky, so the heat of the day was beginning to die down.

“Why must you like her too?” Lucci asked his loyal pet, who merely cooed and rubbed against his cheek. “That just makes it that much harder to ignore her.”

 

Meanwhile, you were enjoying an ice tea on your roof, wondering if Kalifa would tell you when Rob Lucci’s birthday was. And surely someone would know what Lucci would value as a gift.

Chapter 7: It's Five O'Clock Somewhere

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

Lucci: uh oh

Kalifa would not give up a single scrap of information regarding Galley-La’s workers when you asked her about a shipwright’s birthday. You didn’t even get to say whom you were asking about when she launched into a very brisk and professional explanation of why this was egregiously inappropriate. It would be a violation of privacy, you were not an employee of Galley-La so you had no business asking about employee data, and even asking her about this constituted sexual harassment. You weren’t sure on that last bit, but if you pushed her any further about this or asked plainly if she knew what Rob Lucci would like as a gift, you were definitely sure you would be on the receiving end of a powerful kick to the head. So you apologized for the impertinent question (at least Kalifa accepted it) and sloughed off for the shopping district.

You would have to do this the hard way, which was using your limited knowledge of Lucci to scope out a present that would suit him. Hard was an understatement as everything you saw didn’t scream ‘Lucci’. A watch? He was never late for anything, so why give him a superfluous item. New suspenders? The ones he usually had on didn’t look worn out at all. A new tiny outfit for Hattori? That wasn’t a present for Lucci; it was for his bird. New tools? He borrowed those from work, he didn’t need any for personal use.

“I really don’t know jack about this guy,” you muttered. Honestly, half the reason you asked Kalifa for the birthdate wasn’t because you were going to wait that long to buy him something, it was to learn a factoid about him. You basically only knew that he was very strong, worked as a shipwright at Galley-La, and loved his pigeon. That… was not a lot.

But you were still determined to find something! He deserved a thank you gift for the Franky House incident and for saving you from being either squashed or robbed of your pay.

Fuck the birthday plan! Rob Lucci was going to be presented with something special, even if locating such a thing ran you ragged!! Speaking of ran ragged, that was precisely how your feet felt after walking up and down the alleys of Water 7 enough times to see every storefront three times.

You needed a drink.

“To Blueno’s,” you said to yourself, whistling lightly as you made the hike to Blueno’s Bar, a relatively new establishment that was tended to by a large goateed man with hair styled like bull horns. On your way there, you dodged past two raven-haired sisters with long noses, holding bottles with the hands that they weren’t using to support themselves. Way too young to be swimming in the gutter, you thought to yourself, poor Kiwi and Mozu. But not everyone in Water 7 was well off, sad as it was. Sighing lightly, another couple of blocks got you to Blueno’s, which was about half-full, everyone inside a happy customer. And why not? The man had an excellent selection of drinks and the knowledge of what would suit you best for any occasion.

“Evening, miss,” Blueno greeted you when you sat down at the bar. Your hair was down, your purse at your feet, and your tired eyes screamed that you were begging for some relaxation via alcohol. “What’s got you looking haggard?”

“Wow, thanks,” you muttered, rubbing away the exhaustion in your eyes in vain. “What a way to compliment a young lady.”

“Just telling the truth,” he chuckled, amused at your grumpiness. He kept on drying a beer stein until you looked ready to order something. “Got troubles?”

“I’m trying to find a gift for a guy I know, but it isn’t a guy I know too well,” you explained. Maybe the trusty barkeep would be able to dole out some wisdom for you. Or was that playing into a stereotype?

“Oh? Let me ask this then. Does he appreciate a high quality drink?”

“Well…” You steepled your fingers together and thought hard about Lucci. “I don’t believe he’s an alcoholic or anything, but he has been known to show up here with his workmates.”

“Any man who drinks without losing control of himself likes a nice bottle of something strong. Wine, brandy, scotch, whiskey. Can’t go wrong with something like that.”

Booze! What a great idea!

“Blueno, you may have solved all my problems of the day right there,” you chuckled, the burden on your shoulders lightening already and you didn’t even have a drop of drink yet. “I’ll take a splash of the best of those four spirits you mentioned. Do you sell by the bottle?”

“Yes, miss,” Blueno smirked. “Glad to help. I’ll get a flight going.”

In a few minutes, you had four snifters of booze in front of you. Drinking was something you did casually and you weren’t a newbie to any of these spirits. So on you went with tasting while Lucci captivated your mind. What would be best for him?

The red wine had an excellent body and tasted absolutely delicious, but was a bit generic of a gift. You could get wine anywhere. Not nearly special enough.

Onto the brandy. A strong, heady scent, a hint of sweetness and oaky flavor when you brought it to your lips. A superb contender, surely able to meet Lucci’s high standards.

The scotch was malty with a hint of vanilla from the makers, but just not as good as the brandy. You might get yourself a bottle of this for special occasions though.

Last, the whiskey. The spice blend used in this brand was not to your liking, enough so that you couldn’t finish your small sample. There was obviously someone in Water 7 who enjoyed it, as Blueno was busy filling several tumblers with the stuff for the far side of the bar. On the very, very off-chance that Lucci would someday invite you into his home to have a drink, you did not want this bottle to be what you were offered.

“Blueno, how much for a bottle of both the scotch and the brandy?” you asked, taking a few sips of water.

“Scotch is 1,150 beri. The brandy there is the best I’ve got. 2,800 beri.”

“That’s a lot for some booze, don’t you think!” you snapped back. You grumbled to yourself as you looked inside of your purse, discovering you only had enough cash on hand for the brandy. “He better like it…”

“You have my assurances, miss.”

“Then I’ll just be taking the brandy today.”

“I’ll get it boxed up for you. Will you be back for the scotch tomorrow?” Blueno teased.

“I sure will, so you better not run out tomorrow!” you warned playfully, paying for the fancy brandy and also the flight in which you partook. “Thanks for all your help, Blueno.” Your frustrations at the sticker shock vanished as you held the fancy-looking brandy bottle in your hands. This would surely be exactly what Lucci would go for. Now you just needed a time and a place to give it to him.

“Have a nice evening, be safe getting home.”

You waved at each other as you left the bar and you couldn’t help but whistle to yourself again as you headed uptown for home.

 

Around the corner hid Rob Lucci, who ducked into an alleyway after he found you sashaying away from the bar, a noticeable spring in your step. It actually took him a couple seconds to fully realize it was you. The lull was spent admiring your figure from the back a few paces behind before putting two and two together when your gait registered as familiar to him and finally recognizing whose ass he had been appreciating.

Damn it all, he had just been thinking about you once again, which seemed to have manifested your appearance right in front of him. Luckily, you didn’t seem to have noticed him, as you didn’t stop until you turned a corner and disappeared from view.

“So irritating. I’m acting like a teenager,” he huffed to himself. “She’s just an ordinary woman. She is not getting under my skin.”

Curse Jabra and Kaku for ramming that innocent thought into his head. It was almost like reverse psychology. The harder he tried not to think about you, the more you stuck around. Wasn’t he only supposed to view you as a friend?! Did friends think of each other so frequently?! He didn’t sign up for this!

Shuffling into Blueno’s bar, Lucci sat at an empty table in the corner and asked through Hattori for a glass of the best brandy on the shelf, only to be apologetically told, with a broad grin, by Blueno that he had just sold the last of his stock not five minutes ago.

Of course some blasted drunks in Water 7 had the last of his favorite drink. He highly doubted that whoever purchased the last of it would be able to properly appreciate its body. Whatever.

Lucci settled for some dark ale and lazily drank from the overly large mug. It wasn’t strong enough to get you out of his mind, blast it. So what did Lucci do instead? Said fuck it and actively kept his mind on you. Maybe that way he would grow bored of your face, your body, your smile. Yes, that would work. He would find some aspect of you that he didn’t care for, focus his energy on it until it overwhelmed his positive opinions toward you, and convince himself out of any of his interest in you.

Now that would be… damn, he couldn’t think of anything at the moment. Lucci kept sipping at his ale and thoroughly appraised you as he knew you in that moment.

He wasn’t at all shallow like some men. Your numerous scars didn’t bother him, just as was the case with his own scars. In fact, overall you were rather appealing to look at, empirically so.

So scratch physical irritations.

You were feisty, a trait he found most amusing. You were brave and selfless, too. Well-humored, smart, discreet.

Worst of all, Lucci admittedly didn’t know you well enough to pick up on anything else that could draw his ire. Maybe you never cleaned and had an unkempt home. Or you had sympathies to injustice. Hell, at this point he would take odd eating habits as a vice that was impossible to overlook.

Well, there was only one thing he could do. Lucci then and there decided on going out of his way to greet you around Water 7. Spending more time with you increased the chance of finding an irritating quality of yours that would make him dislike you.

It was a shot in the dark, one he would have to take. Ignoring you sure as hell wasn’t helping and he couldn’t overpower his carnivore brain when it was locked onto a particular subject.

“Troublesome woman,” Lucci muttered to himself, thankful a brawl across the room broke out and drowned out his own quiet, smooth voice.

Jabra or Fukurou had better not catch wind of this or he’d never hear the end of it.

Chapter 8: Rabbit or Kitty?

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

My family always teases me for being careful with what my dog eats, but they're not the ones who are dealing with the GI upset aftermath.

Google it before you let them try it!!!

For a long time, the only real excuse Lucci had for being in your general vicinity was Hattori, but being the healthy bird that he was, going to see a vet every other day for his well-being wasn’t exactly a good excuse. In fact, it would make him seem like some kind of anxious nut who would run off to a doctor as soon as his bird friend would so much as cough.

And yet, it was still the only excuse he had.

Disguising his intent to see you and find a niggling quirk of yours to detest, Lucci walked into your clinic under the pretense of Hattori having a wellness visit. It wasn’t a horrible reason, he reasoned. Hattori had never had a check-up before.

Outside of two people and a large green rabbit… thing… Lucci and Hattori were the only clients in the office. So he sat down next to one of the stationmasters and sea train conductors, Kokoro, who was busy downing a bottle of wine like it was water. The old woman didn’t even notice he was there, or if she did, she didn’t acknowledge him. Which worked for him. The last thing he wanted to do was start a conversation with the perpetually sloshed woman.

The energetic little girl named Chimney was running tight circles around the rabbit Gonbe, who looked rather ill while sitting on the floor of the clinic. His only assumption was that the girl or her grandmother were not paying attention and the rabbit got into something it shouldn’t have. That logic tracked because the old woman wasn’t giving focus to anything else but finding another wine bottle in her jacket. And kids were kids, you couldn’t count on one as young as the one in front of him to properly take care of pets.

After Lucci lost count of the amount of circuits that Chimney had done around Gonbe, you had finally (!) appeared from the back after sending another client and their recently-spayed cat out the door. Lucci nodded at your kind smile of welcoming before you squatted down to Chimney’s level and asked what the matter was with her pet.

“My kitty Gonbe is sick!” she shouted with a tone that didn’t contain a hint of worry. “Sick sick sick!”

“Kitty?” You looked over at Gonbe, who gave a soft and weak ‘nya’ back, his face turning a shade of green to match his fur. “That’s a rabbit, dear. See his ears?”

“Nuh uh, it’s a kitty cat, silly! How’d you get to be an animal doctor if you don’t know what kitties look like, huh?!”

You took a deep steady breath through your nose, knowing that arguing with a kid wasn’t going to get you anywhere and it certainly wasn’t going to help poor Gonbe. “Okay then. When did Gonbe start to feel bad?”

“I shared my dessert with him last night! Lots of candy! But now I think he has a tummy ache because he won’t have breakfast or lunch.”

Yup, that would do it. “Chimney, sweetie, animals like Gonbe can’t have dessert or any kind of sweets. Their stomachs can’t handle the sugar in candy. That’s why Gonbe looks like he’s going to…”

After a couple retching noises, a very colorful pile of vomit decorated your clinic’s lobby. And it stunk to the high heavens. Even the hardened Lucci had to cover his nose at the stench. It was even steaming!

“GONBE, YOU CAN’T THROW UP HERE!” Chimney yelled as Kokoro cackled at the chaos in front of her. “Say sorry! So gross!!”

“That probably felt like a relief to him, but Gonbe needs to stay here for a little bit to feel better, Chimney,” you said kindly as two techs bustled in to clean up the mess. “He needs to get all that bad stuff out of him and some fluids to recover. I doubt that was all of the candy, right?”

“He did eat a lot… is he gonna be okay?” Chimney sniffled, looking over at her beloved pet with a frown that finally showed an understanding of what had occurred because of her choices. “He wanted my candy real bad and I wanted to share and be nice…”

If Gonbe didn’t die getting here, he sure wasn’t going to die now. But he did need a lot of help. Once the mess was cleaned up, you placed a gentle hand on Chimney’s head. “I’ll do my best to get him back to normal. But you have to promise me that you’ll only feed him food for rabbits from now on.”

“Kitties!” Chimney protested, looking up at you with teary eyes. “You already forgot! Dummy!”

Lucci bit back a laugh at the very, very tired look on your face at the little girl’s insistence of Gonbe’s species as well as the unintentional smack at your expertise. Your patience and professionalism astounded yourself.

“The… kitty,” you conceded under your breath before sighing and giving the little girl another smile of assurance. “Gonbe will have to stay overnight. I’ll keep him company and monitor him so he won’t be left alone.”

“But… Gonbe’s always with me!” Chimney again protested, stamping her foot. “Granny, tell her!”

“Gonbe wouldn’t have to be here if you listened to me last night, Chimney,” Kokoro replied, opening another bottle of wine that appeared from her coat. “I said don’t feed Gonbe a sack of candy and you decided not to listen. Now say sorry for being mean and let’s leave the doctor to her work.”

“Oh… alright… sorry I was mean,” Chimney pouted, kicking the floor before pausing. “Lady, do you really promise that Gonbe will be okay?” she whispered. The first time she was ever actually quiet during that whole consultation.

“We’ll do our very best,” you repeated before ruffling her hair. “Do you promise to not let Gonbe have sweets again?”

“I promise,” Chimney swore, hand over her heart. “Only good stuff like fried rice and meat!”

You mustered up a brave look and gave her a thumbs up in return, though you could feel a sweat drop form on the back of your head. “Yeah… that’s right…”

With that, Chimney flew out the door of the clinic and sang you good-bye while Kokoro stumbled to follow her quick-footed granddaughter. You breathed a sigh of relief when they left as your vet techs returned and scooped up Gonbe to take him to the back room for some much needed charcoal treatment and an IV drip.

“Is that typical of pet owners?” Hattori cooed. You looked up, still in a squat from your meeting with Chimney and too mentally exhausted at the moment to commit to standing. Lucci sensed this and offered his hand to you, hoisting you up on your feet in one smooth motion.

“You’d be surprised how many kids want to share their food and end up getting animals sick. Thankfully most animals in Water 7 are semi-aquatic and sturdy. Even rabbits of Gonbe’s size and species are pretty resilient. They could literally eat just about anything and not feel ill. That must have been some candy stash…”

“I believe the girl was insistent on it being a kitty.” Lucci smirked as he watched your head whip up to him, a glint of fire in your eyes from the wisecrack. “Weren’t you listening, coo coo?”

“Oh, don’t you start!” you growled before pausing and dissolving into silent laughter at Lucci’s teasings. Sometimes being a vet was stressful in having to repeat obvious pieces of advice or dealing with negligent owners. Even if they weren’t negligent, as in Chimney's case where she was just a kid who didn’t know better, it could still be mentally taxing. But you wouldn’t have bet that Rob Lucci could bring you back to a sunny disposition. “And weren’t you listening to Kokoro when she said not to be mean?” you teased back, wiping a tear from your eye.

“No. I am not nice,” Hattori cooed.

“Yeah yeah, you’re the meanest man I’ve ever seen,” you replied with a content sigh. “So, what can I do you for, Lucci? How has Hattori been?”

“I came in for a check-up or a wellness visit, however you term it. He hasn’t had one before.”

“Finally, something simple. Let’s go to an examination room and get him looked over. I suspect he’s still in great shape.”

Lucci followed you to an office off to the side, rolling his eyes at the small army of vet techs who stared at the pair of them as they went. If he recalled correctly, this was the same room that Hattori was brought into when he had his nail gun injury. It was a dark day for Lucci, only saved by your skill as an animal doctor.

Had Lucci properly thanked you for that, had he really meant it? Maybe he should say something after Hattori was checked out.

 

Inside the exam room, Lucci took a seat in a chair and looked about the room while you monitored Hattori’s vitals. There was a long exam table, one that was just about his size, which Hattori was placed on as you sat yourself on a wheeled stool and started to inspect his eyes and throat.

Lucci was in a difficult position. He couldn’t talk to you while Hattori was being handled and so couldn’t find a part of you to be annoyed by, as was his primary mission of the day. What happened with that small girl didn’t manage to get a negative reaction out of him either. You were patient, but not to a fault. You were kind, but firm. And the way you laughed didn’t irritate him in the slightest.

Damn. No luck today either. In fact, his fondness for you managed to grow, even after a short time.

“Okay, we’ll just take some blood samples and we’ll be done,” you said, bringing Lucci out of his reverie. “His heart and lungs sound good, his skin is a healthy color, his wings look great, perfect weight, his eyes and reflexes function as they should. You take excellent care of Hattori, Lucci. I hope you are proud about that.”

Lucci merely shrugged and dug into his pocket for a fistful of beri to pay you for your time. After a quick needle poke, Lucci and Hattori were on the way out of your clinic.

Great, now how could he meet you, not make it seem forced, and get his necessary information on you? All you did this time was become more endearing, which wasn’t something Lucci needed. The whole endeavor was turning out to be an exercise in futility.

As fate would have it, you called out for him when he wasn’t even a block away. Turning, he saw you jogging toward him.

“Hey, I forgot to bring it, but I have something I wanted to give you. When you’re free, can you come back down to my clinic?” you asked, slightly out of breath from the run over.

“Sure thing. I’ll see you this time next week,” Hattori squawked. “Good-bye.”

“It’s a date! See you this time next week!” you agreed with a broad grin while Lucci was already turning to walk off. “Be safe walking home!” you added to Lucci’s back when he was a good distance away. One arm up signaled he heard you and you walked back to your clinic with a softer smile, one much more self-satisfied. You could finally give Lucci his brandy from saving you those weeks ago. Even better, your short time that day with Lucci was more than enough to give you the positive energy needed to look after a sick rabbit (or kitty, whatever) for the rest of the night.

 

 

When Lucci was far enough away with no one around, he looked at Hattori with a sly grin. “Well… that worked out splendidly, my friend. Good work.”

Hattori cooed with pleasure and nuzzled Lucci’s cheek. Back home to some peace and quiet. And further plans concerning you.

 

Thankfully, Gonbe made a full recovery after a few more vomiting episodes with some rest and fluids. Chimney gave you a second solemn vow to take better care of her pet while Kokoro paid the entire bill in tiny coins.

You supposed you should be thankful that you weren’t paid in candy.

Chapter 9: An Assassin's Self-Control

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

Much like Oda, I am taking scientific/biological/ecological/etc. liberties with a certain actual real life vegetation in this chapter.

If he can make dinosaurs fly, then I can do what I want with flora.

“It’s here, boss!” Jonathan announced as he entered your office at the start of the day with a small brown box.

“No way, really?” you gasped. “All the way from Jaya?”

“The very same!” your scribe grinned, placing the package on your desk. “Your yagé vine. Let’s hope it does the trick. Your vet techs can’t always be wrapping themselves in gauze when difficult cats come through the door.”

“If I can apply it the way I think I can… then those problem cats will be so high, they won’t even know they’re at the vet,” you grinned back.

For months now, you have been trying to find a solution for the more temperamental cats that came to your clinic for check-ups. Most could be evaluated with proper time and anxiety lessening techniques. But some would just absolutely shred your staff to the point where they threatened to quit. You completely understood them and vowed to come up with a plan of attack. Any calming chew or elixir that you had ordered never did the trick for the worst of the worst. It was like giving a baby aspirin for a migraine.

In your research, you found a particular plant called the yagé vine, which was essentially catnip for jungle cats like leopards and tigers. You wondered if that particular plant could be diluted enough to bring regular house cats into a state that would make them malleable for even the most unseasoned staff. Would it succeed where others failed?

Well, you had to find out!

It took several calls and weeks of letters, but you finally found a jungle in the area with the flora that you were looking for. It cost a princely sum of Beri, but it finally arrived.

So jazzed about your shipment coming in and being able to help your staff (and those edgy animals) that you completely forgot that Lucci was supposed to visit you at noon for his brandy.

As you had a bushel of leaves in your package, this gave you multiple opportunities to create an elixir of sorts. Your first thought after consulting your medical books was to make it into a tea. Then you would dilute the solution further and finally use a small pipette to directly dispense the solution into the angry cat’s mouth.

You hummed to yourself as you started brewing some water and slapping several notes to the effect of “DO NOT DRINK - YOU WILL TRIP BALLS” around your workstation. This may have been a lab area where caution was priority, but lab safety meant stating the obvious in bold letters.

It would be days until you would be ready to test your concoction on willing participants, so you disappeared into your office to catch up on work and notes left behind by your staff.

At noon on the dot, one of your vet techs knocked on your door to say that Rob Lucci had arrived and asked for you. Grinning, you put your box of brandy on your desk and went over to greet him. Almost immediately, you could tell there was a certain kind of air about him today, his eyes darting to the far walls of the clinic. Was he… distracted?

 

Yes, Rob Lucci was distracted. There was a strange yet inviting scent around your clinic that he could pick up on almost a block away. His Leopard Devil Fruit was overtaking his olfactory senses and practically leading him to your door double-time. What was this thing luring him in?

Unsurprisingly, it was even stronger when he stepped inside. He couldn’t pinpoint exactly where it was coming from, but he wasn’t about to storm around looking for it. In the fight to keep composure, he was winning. But just barely. The smell of your clinic made him want to… unwind? When you appeared from out of your office area, the smile you gave upon greeting him swiftly turned into a studious sort of frown when you weren’t greeted back.

“It’s not like you to be unfocused, Rob Lucci,” you said, tilting your head and looking up at him.

“It’s just… you don’t smell that?” Hattori squawked. The bird, unaffected by the smell, merely matched your head tilt while miming Lucci’s speech. “Like… mint and wet grass…”

“Oh, you must have a sensitive nose! I think mine has dulled thanks to my line of work,” you hummed, turning on your heel. “Here, I’ll show you. Follow me.”

Lucci nodded once and followed you to the lab set-up in the rear of the building, the scent only getting stronger with each step. And with each step, you grew more… alluring? He watched your hair bounce, your hips move, and he could even smell your perfume through the thicket of the grassy odors pervading his senses. Why?! What was going on in this damn building?!

He was truly about to run. Really. But then you put a glass container of the yagé vine leaves in Lucci’s ever-so-slightly trembling hands and at once Lucci found the source of his battle of wills. This odd vegetation… what was it? Whatever it was, it was altering his perception of you by the second. Never before had he so wanted to be close to you. Were you always that attractive to him or was this a lustful spell? You didn’t have a secret Devil Fruit, did you?!

“You’re holding a very special kind of plant,” you explained, unaware of Lucci’s powerful urge to pull your body to his and nuzzle your hair. “It’s sort of a variation of catnip, though much more potent. Though the scent alone mimics the effect of catnip, the effects truly come through when the vine and the leaves are consumed by big cats that live in the jungles where the plant is home to, like leopards or tigers, and they have hallucinogenic episodes. What I’m trying to do is create a diluted version to use for animals in our care that are too anxious or temperamental. It should calm them down enough to where they’re nothing but putty in our hands. Or at least that’s the idea.”

Lucci didn’t respond and instead kept looking at the leaves. You could have sworn that his eyes looked a touch dilated. But that could have just as well been a trick of the light.

You weren’t wrong though. Lucci had felt his pulse quicken while holding them so close.

What were the damn odds that you would have something that would affect him on a near primal level?

Coming to see you at your request today was the worst stroke of luck that Lucci had run into that he could conjure up in recent memory.

When your back was turned to point out how exactly you were diluting the yagé vine, Lucci looked around, noticed the two of you were being given privacy, and stuffed two of the leaves into his back pocket. For a man who prided himself on emotional and physical control, he felt a twinge to his ego for stealing from you. On the other hand, the curious nature of his Devil Fruit was taking control of his better judgment. The catnip portion was right, but would his animalistic nature cause him to hallucinate like you said? One way to find out. At any rate, even the smallest distraction to his mind baiting him away from trying not to pounce on you was absolutely necessary in that moment.

Hattori was giving Lucci an odd, almost judgmental look, when you turned back around.

“Fascinating,” Hattori said quickly to make it look like Lucci wasn’t ignoring you the entire time. To him, it seemed like his master was going to slip up and actually start speaking.

“This isn’t what I wanted to show you, of course,” you chuckled, Hattori’s antics tickling your funny bone, especially when it looked like the bird headbutted Lucci’s cheek. “Follow me to my office now and then you’ll have what you came for.”

Not today, thought Lucci, needing to leave this office while the yagé scent still hung in the air. He needed to get a damn grip and that meant hightailing it out of your clinic. If he was left alone with you in your office with the door locked behind him? He could not guarantee his self-control would win out.

Without another word, he quickly vacated your clinic, leaving you holding the box of brandy in your office and wondering what happened to him.

“I’m sorry, ma’am, but Rob Lucci basically ran out of here,” one of your vet techs said apologetically at the office door.

“Eh? He was right behind me!” you replied, putting the brandy back down. “Did he say why?”

“Nope. But he looked like I would if I was going to shit my drawers,” the tech laughed back.

“Well, that would explain why he was looking a bit off today.” You held your chin in thought and frowned. “He should have just said something. I wouldn’t have bothered to bring his gift if he was having stomach issues.”

“You can leave it here for next time then.”

“Not with how much I paid for it. It’s coming home with me. I’ll just try again another time.”

“It’s your gift, ma’am.” The tech sighed heavily and looked over at you, arms folded. “I can’t believe you have a crush on someone so enigmatic and soft-spoken.”

“Crush?” you responded, your face immediately going warm. “Who says… come on now, who says I have a crush?!”

“It’s written all over your face!” the tech teased, her hand quickly covering her mouth to muffle a giggle fit. “We all think so!”

“In-in-insubordination!” you snapped, your face going red hot at the accusations tossed your way. “Sexual harassment even!”

“He’s so sexy, even when running for a toilet!” she squealed.

“Go sort some medication or scrub the floors!”

The tech merely tittered in response, having successfully gotten under your skin for the day, and went off to do some cleaning.

Man, even disrespect from your staff now. You sighed and rubbed at your forehead. You knew that you had half a crush on Rob Lucci, but the childish way others could make you act about it made you admit that it was indeed a full-blown crush. With how much you thought about him, you should have admitted it to yourself much earlier. Curse your desire to keep things professional, but best that you arrived at this conclusion sooner rather than later.

Still, you needed to know where Lucci stood on this issue of dating. That, without a doubt, you couldn’t get a read on. In all your time in the city and for as long as it had been since you first met Lucci, you never heard a single whisper of him being seen with anyone on what could be considered a date.

“I think I need an actual date with him. Oh dear, even getting turned down would help figure out where we are,” you muttered to yourself when your work hours were over.

You packed up your things and headed to your house, intent on spending the evening on the roof of your home with some tea to enjoy the sunset.

 

Meanwhile, Lucci was absolutely tripping balls back in his apartment in full Leopard form, rubbing his face all across the yagé vine leaves. Just this one hit, then he’s off the stuff for good. The judgmental looks from Hattori while on his short bender were more than convincing.

However, even when the drug-like effects wore off hours later and he burned what remained of the vegetation for good measure, he still had a part of him that wanted to hold you close. And he couldn’t convince himself that it was the altered state of his mind saying that. No, even sober he realized that he came to think of you in a very fond manner. That you brought out a side of him that no one else could.

“Damn that woman and her influence reducing me to this. She truly won’t let me be,” he muttered as he threw the ashes into the wind outside. He watched them dance in the night air and sighed deeply to himself as Hattori fluttered onto his shoulder. “It is inevitable that things cannot go on as they are. I’ve put my best foot forward into disliking her, you know. You’ve seen it first hand.”

Hattori cooed and nuzzled Lucci’s cheek.

“There will be a shift, far sooner than I planned. The question is… just how discreet can this young woman be?”

After all, if Lucci finally admitted to you that he wanted your relationship to change, he didn’t need the entirety of Water 7 to know!

Chapter 10: Your Rooftop

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

I genuinely think parts of this chapter would look amazing if it was real/animated

The weather in Water 7 had been so pleasant for a long stretch of time that you found yourself enjoying rooftop sunsets more than you had gotten to recently. There was something about the palette of the sky at that time of evening that made you daydream. With a nice hot cup of tea next to you or a captivating book, it was sheer bliss. That night in particular was a bit warm, like a blanket of heat, so you opted for iced tea instead after changing into shorts and a sleeveless midriff. After about a half hour on your lounging chair, your mind was shifting gears toward a little reward for yourself.

After all, your little elixir ended up paying off in dividends and was successful from the jump (okay, maybe the first cat was high for the entire day, but was that such a bad thing?!) and you thought you deserved a treat.

“Mmm, ice cream would be even better,” you said to yourself as you set your book down. At the mere thought of the sweet dessert with fruit and chocolate chips, you playfully hummed the phrase ‘ice cream sundae’ on your stroll over to your roof hatch. However, a noise made you pause and you strained your ear before taking your first step down on the ladder rung. Was someone knocking on your door?

Shifting gears once more and walking to the edge of your roof, you gasped at the figure about to knock on your door again.

“How’d you know where I live, Rob Lucci?” you called down.

“I asked for directions, I didn’t stalk you, coo coo!” Hattori answered back.

“I didn’t say you did!” you laughed. At once, Rob Lucci hopped from the ground floor below to your roof in one fluid motion. “Oh wow, you Galley-La guys sure are impressive.”

“Paulie would hate seeing you in that,” Lucci remarked upon seeing your ensemble before tearing his gaze away to roll his eyes, Hattori’s wings gesturing to you.

“Luckily it’s just us three here. I won’t tell him if you and Hattori won’t,” you replied with a wink and smile. Even if you had a crush on the guy, you couldn’t help but tease him. He was just too serious sometimes!

“Well, I do appreciate you keeping others out of my business. Speaking of, I didn’t mean to run out so suddenly the other day. I had… another engagement.”

“That’s what I figured and what I told my staff. And relax, I’m not some gossipping busybody,” you assured him, hand over your heart. “Anyway… what can I do you for, Lucci? This part of town is a bit out of your way.”

“You said you had something for me. Is it with you?”

“Oh yeah!” you gasped, clapping your hands once. You never once thought that Lucci would meet you in your neck of the woods for such a thing, but you were glad he did so you could finally have it taken off your hands. “Let’s head down the hatch and I’ll get it taken care of.”

“Hatch?” Lucci asked, eyebrow raised.

“Yeah, hatch!” you repeated. “See, I got tired of hauling out a ladder outside every time I wanted to enjoy the weather on my roof, so I got this installed.” You kicked at the hatch with your foot and turned around to start climbing down. “It’s like a submarine opening. If it rains, nothing will leak because it’s an airtight seal.”

“Right now you’re high up enough that Aqua Laguna can’t reach you,” Lucci noted. “So I assume you ride it out here.”

“Correct, for the time being. Aqua Laguna always gets worse so there will come a time when even I’ll need to find a bunker.” When you reached the floor of your home, Lucci forwent the ladder and leapt down inside, landing right next to you on the stone tile floor. “Welcome to my home, Rob Lucci.”

“Mmm,” was all he said in response as he glanced about your one-floor flat while you fetched whatever it is you wanted to give him.

It was a very cozy little place, bathed in the pale pink light of dusk emanating from the large wall windows. He could see two bedrooms and one bathroom from where he was standing, which was just a few feet from the center of the flat. On the far end was the front door and a sitting area with several bookcases lining the walls of the alcove. The kitchen was near the hatch and there was a large heavy wooden dining table on the other side of the kitchen’s L-shaped counter. From the amount of cabinets and the size of your fridge, he guessed that you had company quite frequently. That didn’t surprise him - that you were popular.

Each bedroom door was open, as was the door to the spacious bathroom that had its own clawfoot tub and separate shower. One bedroom looked to be a tastefully decorated office (did you bring your work home with you?) while the other was the master. Lucci couldn’t help but notice that your bed was king-sized, large enough for him to - No. No no no. He was not going to be thinking of that right now. You had not earned intimacy of that nature.

The inspection was quick enough that you didn’t catch him staring at anything in an untoward fashion when you turned back around with a rectangular box.

“Here. This is a thank you for saving me from the Franky Family. And for fishing me out of the canals when I was dealing with a Yagara bull birth. And probably for many things down the road,” you explained, casting your eyes downward shyly as Lucci opened the box. You glanced up to see Lucci staring at the brandy, clearly surprised by the quality of gift.

“For me, coo coo? How did you know I like brandy?”

“I actually didn't!” you chuckled. “I was advised that classy and mature men often like this kind of drink. And it tasted good to me, so I thought or hoped that you would appreciate it.”

Lucci paused for a few seconds before nodding and stowing the bottle back in its box. “Well… I do appreciate it. Thank you. Though you didn’t have to do such a thing. I wasn’t expecting a token.”

“You don’t have to gift me back or anything. I just wanted to do something to repay you for all your kindness.”

Kindness. That’s a word that Lucci never thought anyone would use to describe him. But he supposed that most of his actions concerning you would be read as such.

“Care for a drink before you go?” you asked. “I have a pitcher of iced tea on the roof and I could spare a glass for you. That or I can bust out the fancy glasses for the brandy.”

“I suppose so,” Lucci said through Hattori, setting the brandy down on the counter. You nodded and opened up one of your cabinets to grab two brandy snifters. “Only a splash for Hattori.”

“Ha, good one!” you laughed while putting the glasses down. You glanced up at Lucci for a smirk or some kind of look of amusement. But he was as stony-faced as always. “Don’t tell me you were serious…”

“What?”

“Oh my, you were…!”

Lucci cocked an eyebrow as you wordlessly, though with a foreboding aura, walked over to the wall where a small step stool sat. You picked it up, walked it in front of him, set it down, climbed onto it so you were eye level with him, and removed the top hat from his head and Hattori from his shoulder. The look you shot him right in his eyes was enough to make even him sweat. Uh oh… he suddenly remembered that you were a veterinarian and unaware that Hattori could drink sips of brandy and be just fine. A thunk on the top of his head via the side of your hand told him that he would not be walking away from this error without a lecture.

“Animals can’t have alcohol, are you insane?!” you snapped, continually administering a knifehand strike to the top of his head. “That goes double for birds!”

“You said it yourself Hattori is in perfect health, karoo!” Hattori flapped about on your counter, hopping up onto the top of Lucci’s hat to watch with high interest at his master being disciplined. “This is unwarranted.”

“Then you’ve just been lucky!” you growled, abandoning karate chopping Lucci’s head and instead tugging at one of his cheeks. “Absolutely not in my presence will Hattori have brandy, you absurdly tall nail driver!”

Crush on the guy in front of you or not, you could not abet this gross negligence. Even if Hattori seemed right as rain!

“Ugh, fine, brandy for just us,” Lucci replied, catching your hand that threatened to pull at his other cheek. “Truce?”

“Truce.” You took a deep cleansing breath and were prepared to jump down from the step stool yourself, but before you could manage it, Lucci’s large hands caught your middle, lifted you into the air and placed you back on the floor. The warm feel of his hands on the bare skin of your sides sent a jolt through you and, unbeknownst to you from being too elated to know Lucci’s touch to notice, Lucci himself. He had waited much too long to feel your skin on his and finally making contact was more of a shock to his system than he had anticipated.

Lucci had indulged in sex from time to time, but only more as a method of physical release than carnal pleasure, much less an emotional connection. Maybe if he did more of the latter, he wouldn’t be feeling like such a virgin schoolboy in the mere presence of you. Bah, you still were as troublesome as ever. At least he saw how affected you were by him and knew that he wasn’t wasting his time. Composing himself, he put his hat back on and Hattori returned to his shoulder.

“I’ll meet you on the roof.” With that, Lucci took the snifters and the brandy box and leapt through the hatch, out of your home.

With him out of sight and waiting for you to climb back up the ladder, you took a second to splash some cold water on your face to gain your own composure back. Have you been that touch-starved that a man’s bare hands on your waist made your knees quake?

Did he realize how you felt? Did he do that on purpose?! You’d do anything to have him grip you like that again, but would he? A man like Lucci would never make such intimate contact like that unless he wanted to, right?

Right?!

Not wanting to keep Rob Lucci waiting any longer, you clambered up the ladder to find the man finishing up pouring you a fifth while sitting on your lounger. You didn’t have another seat, so you found yourself a spot on the edge of the roof.

 

The rooftop drinking was quiet, but a comfortable quiet. The sun had begun its full set into the horizon and its beams were lighting up the billowing sails of three navy vessels crossing the seas, perhaps on their way to Enies Lobby. This marine base was only a relatively short distance by sea train, so seeing marine vessels wasn’t a strange sight. Normally Water 7 was seen as neutral ground as many pirates and merchants alike used Galley-La to buy or repair their ships.

You were so invested in the ocean scenery that you never noticed that Lucci stole many glances at you from your lounger. But how could he not? The scarring on your arm that you so often covered up in long sleeves or coats was proudly on display. He was thankful he was able to have this moment with you in your natural habitat and see you completely at ease. Your hair, loose and free from its usual updo, glittered in the setting sun. You were practically glowing.

Indeed, Lucci could no longer deny to himself that he was immensely physically attracted to you. Your fiery personality and intelligence piqued his interest to where he accepted that you were just his type and that he needed to make a move… and make it tonight. However small.

“I’m so glad I live in Water 7,” you said softly to Lucci, unable to contain the pride you felt for your hometown.

“You’ve lived here your whole life, correct?”

“And I want to keep it that way. Even if it sinks into the sea.”

“It’s a fine city… but enough to sink with it?”

“You’ve only been here for a little bit. But even when it was truly about to die due to economic hardship, I still would have happily kept staying right here. That’s why I’m endlessly grateful to Tom’s Workers who saved us with the Sea Train, the Puffing Tom.” You turned to him and grinned toothily. “I watched it get built when I was a child! They were testing tracks as long as there was daylight.”

“Tom’s Workers?”

“Yes. They were the premier shipbuilding company before Galley-La was formed,” you explained. “Iceberg could tell you all about it since he was one of the shipwrights.”

“Hmm. Maybe one day.”

Lucci finished up his snifter and set it down on the tray table next to the lounger. He then got up and started to walk toward the edge of the roof that he leapt onto not even an hour ago.

“I’ll see you out,” you said, setting your own empty snifter down on the rooftop.

“No need, coo coo. I’ll leave the same way I came up,” Lucci replied while you stood up and walked over to meet him, placing the brandy box in his hand.

“Please don’t forget this. Took me long enough to get it to you,” you joked.

Lucci nodded and caught your hand before you pulled it away. When you didn’t protest, instead looking as though you were anticipating something, he brought the top of your hand to his lips and gave it a gentle kiss.

Your jaw lowered and raised as you tried to get some word out as Lucci kept a firm, yet tender hold of your hand. Any attempt came to be a failure and you completely gave up and clamped your mouth shut as Lucci’s golden eyes swept up your arm and pierced your own. Your cheeks were on fire as Lucci smirked at your trembling self.

The ‘see you around’ went unspoken as Lucci finally let go of your hand, which you slowly clenched and brought to your chest, and hopped off of your home. By the time you had feeling in your legs again and went to the edge of your roof to see where Lucci had gone, he was already out of sight.

Alone again, you reacted to your good fortune like any other reasonable adult would. You snuck into the quiet seclusion of your home, locked doors, drew curtains, and bounced around like a squealing maniac. Victory! Victory for you!!

Now you definitely deserved a decadent dessert!!!

Chapter 11: Have You Heard?

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

Please note that I love some hot goss and I would absolutely have been one of the Water 7 folks speculating

To your embarrassment and Lucci’s vague annoyance, you two were not the only ones enjoying the lovely Water 7 weather last night. You found out from your loyal scribe that you and Lucci were the current hot gossip subject around the city all thanks to one nosy neighbor who spied on your roof and caught the hand kiss. Needless to say, the news was everywhere by the next afternoon.

“It’s nobody’s business,” you groaned as Jonathon brought a strong cup of tea and a small plate of cookies into your office before closing the door behind him. “It’d be a lie to deny it, but I’m not going to brag about it, nor am I going to throw conjecture into the air about what we are now. If anything!”

“Not willing to place a label on this?”

“Ugh… Lucci likes his private life private and this whole thing must be incredibly irritating to him,” you sighed as you sipped your tea.

“Ah, then he shouldn’t have initiated anything so publicly,” Jonathan pointed out, helping himself to one of your treats. “One, people gossip, especially with matters concerning affairs of the heart. Two, You’re well-liked here. Not as much as Mayor Iceburg, but enough that people do want to see you happy. And three, Rob Lucci works for Galley-La, which is not only an enviable position, but one that’s highly visible to the public eye. The way I see it, this wasn’t going to be a secret forever. He can’t have his cake and eat it too. You two are just too high-profile to enjoy privacy while dating.”

“It wouldn’t kill anyone to behave like an adult and mind their own business though,” you also pointed out.

“Agreed and I’m not trying to excuse it, but human nature is a scary beast. Quite the man you chose just to find this all out,” Jonathan chuckled.

“Still, I’d like to keep this all on the down low as much as possible,” you hummed, templing your fingers in deep thought. “Which means killing office gossip before it begins and rebuffing anyone on the streets who wants more detail. Understood?” You looked over at Jonathan, who was helping himself to another one of your cookies. He gave a firm but small nod in return with a knowing smile.

Ah, if there was truly anyone you could count on in your life, it was your scribe. He halted any sort of small talk on this matter in your clinical staff and put up a sign on the front door that you would not be making house calls until further notice.

You closed up shop in the mid-afternoon when it became apparent after just a few hours that the sudden glut of people at your door was not animal related. In short, as you told your staff to relay, you would not be coming out of your office to answer a billion questions about Lucci. Your well-trained techs could tell the difference between a pet with an illness and a gossip hound swearing up and down that their pet got into the trash, neither of which needed your presence. Any other actual animal emergencies could be handled by a sister office, you figured. At least you were caught up on paperwork.

Walking back home through the canals of the city, you couldn’t stop a handful of people from coming up to you and striking up a conversation to satiate their curiosity. All, surprisingly, friendly and non-combative, which you were unprepared for. You were extremely thankful that none of the gossip seemed to be negative or envious. As Jonathan said, the people of Water 7 just seemed to be thrilled that good things were happening to one of their best and brightest.

Politely each time, you refused to give any sort of juicy detail into your and Lucci’s relationship, though even ‘relationship’ seemed a bit of a stretch. He had made a move, but you were unsure what any additional moves would look like. Such was the life of having a crush on a guy who was inscrutable.

“There’s nothing to tell and I wouldn’t tell you if there was, with all the love in the world,” was your go-to line to get people to back off. You promised Lucci that you were discreet and discreet you would be.

At least Lucci wouldn’t be having these same issues. If shipbuilders were one thing, it was laser-focused. No way would they take time out of their day to ask Lucci about his lady friend.

Right?

Regardless, best take the long way home and avoid Galley-La for today. No use in stoking any flames and giving folks ammunition for chattering. But that wouldn’t stop you from enjoying a giant bowl of ramen at your favorite dinner stand that evening. Whispers behind your back or not, you were going to have some noodles.

 

“This is the worst case of sexual harassment I’ve ever seen,” Kalifa said to Iceburg and Paulie as the three of them watched a dozen Galley-La employees surround Lucci to ask about you. What were you like, when did this start, etc. etc. With each question, Lucci pounded away at a nail with increased speed and power, far after it was properly in place.

“A man only has so much patience for pestering,” Paulie agreed.

“Right, I should probably do something about this,” Iceberg said with a roll of his shoulders. Raising his voice, he shouted, “Any man having a conversation that isn’t about ships is getting their pay docked!”

That did the trick.

“It’s like working with a bunch of teenagers,” Paulie muttered before pulling out a fresh cigar from his pocket. “It’s like they’ve never seen two people try out something new.”

“All the same, I’d rather they discuss this off-hours,” Iceburg sighed. “The last thing I need is my crew getting behind in work. Paulie, make sure things are on course.”

“Yes, sir!”

Kalifa and Iceburg watched their young foreman march off and start ordering around his fellow employees and to stop harassing the pigeon freak, which earned him a thump on the head from Lucci.

“Kalifa, what’s on my docket for today?” Iceberg asked, picking a loose thread off his jacket.

“Sir, you have a small mountain of mail to respond to and a dinner meeting with the mayor of a neighboring port,” she replied as she flipped through her papers.

“It never ends…”

 

Lucci was prepared to be harassed further by his fellow Galley-La shipbuilders after the day was through, but to his surprise, they stayed loyal to Iceburg’s and Paulie’s wishes and left him be. Which worked for him. The sun had already set by the time he finished putting away his tools and washing up, so there was nowhere to go but home.

Lucci flipped Hattori a piece of his sandwich that he had left over from lunch and began the familiar trek back to his place. The food stalls that popped up all over the major canals were open for the night and already had bodies in seats ordering food. Normally he wouldn’t mind heading to Blueno’s bar or grabbing something to go, but he didn’t want to spend any more time around the Water 7 folk than he needed to. Especially if it meant he would be accosted by people wanting to hear about you.

And speak of the devil, of course you were plonked in a ramen shop seat not thirty paces directly ahead of him. Taking advantage of the fact that you had yet to notice him, too focused on eating to lift up your head, Lucci ducked into an alleyway, scaled its walls until he finally landed on a roof. Stealthily, he hopped two buildings over until he was directly over the ramen shop that you were patronizing.

With a bit of effort, Lucci was able to overhear a conversation you were having with your seatmate, which was (of course) about him. It seemed to be less of a conversation and more that she was incessantly pestering you.

“Come on, everyone’s been chatting about it. We haven’t heard gossip this good since Franky came back to the city.”

“There’s nothing to tell.”

“That’s not what the word is.”

“Yeah well, the word gets blown out of proportion with each new listener.”

Oh, you were getting quite irritated, he could hear it. But you still weren’t giving up any information.

“Sorry to interrupt you in the middle of your meal, b-”

“Apology acknowledged. If you keep speaking, I’ll assume you don’t mean it.”

“Uh… okay… sorry…”

That shut her up, Lucci smirked. He had no doubts that you wouldn’t be forthcoming about his little flirtation, but to hear it confirmed was a major plus in his book.

“Okay, pay your bill and leave,” what sounded like the stall owner grouched out to the other woman, whom Lucci saw shuffle away from the stall a couple seconds later. “Sorry about that. I hate getting harassed while I’m eating too.”

“It is a terrible nuisance,” you agreed. "Thanks for having my back."

“No problem, always a pleasure to look out for a regular. Have another bowl on the house.”

“How kind! Another bowl would hit the spot…”

It sounded like you had things handled. Sooner or later, things would quiet down as soon as another distraction made itself known to the city’s inhabitants. That was just the way of things to normal people, Lucci reasoned. Then he would be able to pursue you again to less and less fanfare.

He wouldn’t have had nearly this much trouble if the World Government had assigned him to be a Yagara bull taxi driver or if you were a dishwasher. But if you were any different from what you were now, then Lucci had serious doubts that you would have ever piqued his interest. And if he wasn’t in such a physically challenging role of a Galley-La worker, then he wouldn’t be in the condition that he found himself in now.

Indeed, he had a slight but silent grievance with going undercover for so long. Wouldn’t his skill set become dull while being in such a passive role? Without a more direct mission, ones that he went on in the past, what would become of his instinct? Which is why he worked so hard in the shipyard, lifting heavy pieces of lumber and driving each nail with strength, speed and precision. If he wasn’t going to kill anyone, he might as well funnel his martial art talents into his temporary job.

All the same, he missed being an assassin. It’s what he was trained to do for nearly all his life. It’s what he was good at.

Not wishing to overhear any more gossip and unwilling to give you the opportunity to call him a stalker again if he was spotted by your eagle eyes, Lucci silently vacated the area and made it back home.

 

After a long soak in the tub, he took a seat on his favorite armchair and poured himself a chilled glass of brandy. The brandy you had so personally picked out for him.

“Truly troublesome,” he muttered, gazing into the amber liquid inside of his tumbler sloshing against ice cubes. Hattori cooed and sipped from his own tumbler on the shoulder of his armchair. “Now now, didn’t you see the haranguing I received from the good doctor about that?” Lucci smirked at his dear friend. “Pigeons and brandy don’t mix.” Hattori merely squawked at Lucci’s teasing and went on sipping his glass.

The recent memory of you being so vivacious and spirited kept a smirk on Lucci’s face as he continued to relax with his drink. Really, only one thing could redirect his thoughts about you once they were firmly in place.

Purupurupurupuru….. Purupurupurupuru…

Work.

Lucci muttered under his breath and went into a small box hidden away inside his kitchen cabinet.

A small transponder snail was ringing in his hand, one that only contacted him in the wee hours of the morning when he was sure to be alone.

Ca-lick.

“It's Rob Lucci. Talk to me,” Lucci said into the phone, now taking on the appearance of a World Government agent, as he swept shut all the curtains in his small home.

“Lucci, we know you’re undercover now, but we have a high-priority mission for you to complete. Be at the Sea Train in two weeks’ time at midnight. Alone. You’ll be given specs on the way to your destination.”

“Understood.”

“Out.”

Lucci stowed the transponder snail away with a supply of food before returning to his armchair. The rather content smirk he had just moments ago was replaced by a thin smile of bloodlust.

“Nothing like a little diversion, eh, Hattori?”

“Coo.”

Two weeks. He couldn’t wait.

Chapter 12: Work Night

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

It's about to get BLOODY

Later though

You didn’t see too much of Lucci during the day time over the next couple of weeks, but he knocked on your door about twice a week to share a drink with you. Hattori did the talking as usual, but it was nice to spend some additional time with him. He had been so busy at work with the construction and repair of a slew of marine ships that it didn’t shock you when he told you that he was taking a trip out of town that evening.

“I’m only telling you so you have an answer when people irritate you with questions of my whereabouts,” cooed Hattori, who had perched himself on your head the second Lucci walked through your front door. “Not that I want you to see me off.”

“Yeah, I already have plans tonight anyway,” you chuckled. “I won’t be waving a handkerchief at the train station.”

“I don’t know when I’ll be back, but it shouldn’t be too long.”

He was being purposefully cryptic for reasons you couldn’t suss out. You were quite confident that this wasn’t work-related and being unsure of a return date didn’t speak toward a vacation. But if Lucci wanted you to know the details, he would tell you. And no one from Galley-La could spill the beans since Lucci was the same with them as he was with you. Therefore, you chalked it up to a mental health break.

“Whatever it is you’re doing, I hope you stay safe.”

“Don’t worry about me.”

“I never do,” you promised.

When your glasses were empty, you showed Lucci to the door and placed Hattori back on his shoulder. “Watch his back, alright?” you whispered to the bird, who nodded in return.

Your good-bye from Lucci took the form of him tucking a loose lock of hair behind your ear. Once secured, he slowly dragged his fingertip around the shell of your ear, down your jaw, before pulling your chin up so he could look you in the eye. A teasing smile graced his lips, denying you the kiss that you thought it was all building up to, and he brushed your bottom lip with his thumb.

“You’re such a tease,” you murmured, thoroughly enjoying the tactile sensation of Lucci’s hand caressing you so. His knuckle deftly brushed your cheek and you ever so slightly leaned into it.

Lucci merely rolled his eyes and shrugged at your protest, keeping that smart-ass smile on his handsome face.

“Again, safe travels,” you repeated. You quickly caught Lucci’s hand and kissed his palm, giving him a move of your own. “Knowing how wild you can get, just try not to cause an international incident, hmm?” Sarcasm laid heavy in your tone and you never could have guessed just how realistic your facetious request was.

That is certainly the aim, Lucci thought as he lingered in your doorway. But it’s quite fun to go all out.

You had practically pushed him out of your home, despite every fiber of your being wanting him to stay inside so you could ravage him. He knew how to light up your senses, as he had been getting a touch bolder with his physical affection, even if it was just in private. The last time he was over, Lucci straight up gave you a kiss to the crown of your head when you remarked that it felt like an honor for Hattori to like you enough to nest there. You wanted those lips on yours, but one kiss would make you want more and more and the last thing you needed was for Lucci to miss the last train out of Water 7 and therefore miss his trip because you were too busy riding him until the wheels fell off.

So you had to be the adult. And it sometimes really really sucked to be the adult.

 

When Lucci finally left your house, he went straight back to his in order to change into his actual work clothes. As comfortable as it was to be sleeveless all day, he admitted to his own vanity that he much preferred working in suits and ties than suspenders and steel-toed boots. It was hard to dress classy when you worked in a shipyard after all. Lucci gazed at himself in his large Cheval mirror as he adjusted his tie. Hattori was sitting on the nearby bedspread, trying to decide between ties himself.

Hmm… maybe you would prefer him looking this way, too. After all, he looked damn good in a tailored suit.

Lucci shook his head at that thought and picked up a mask to wear on the way to the sea train station. If you were on his mind during work, he was sure to slip up. Even for someone as skilled as himself, one slip up could seriously jeopardize a mission’s success. Or worse, his own well-being. And he couldn’t afford a single slip up. Donning his mask, Lucci let Hattori get a headstart on his own to the train station and locked up his home for the night. On we go.

Ducking through alleyways and across rooftops, thankful that the night was unusually chilly, which kept most people in their homes or bars instead of traversing through the streets and canals, Lucci made his way to the edge of town to the train station. There, Hattori was waiting for him, perched in the shadows of a pillar at the entrance of the main gate. The pigeon fluttered down and took his normal spot on his master’s shoulder.

The train was already waiting for him with two government agents guarding the door, guns at the ready. They were expecting him and gave a small head nod to Lucci as he climbed the steps, then followed in after him.

His solo mission began at midnight, the minute that he boarded the sea train. As expected, there were eight World Government agents already in their seats, not counting the two that greeted him, nor the conductor in the front car. Each man looked at him through identical dark glasses before shifting their attention elsewhere.

Lucci took his seat opposite the highest rank man there. He crossed his arms across his chest, ankle resting lazily on his knee. Every inch the man ready to get down to business.

“What’s the mission?” Lucci asked as soon as the locomotive was in motion, Water 7 shrinking on the horizon.

“Here, sir.”

The liaison handed Lucci a thick binder. Sighing at his homework, Lucci began pouring over the dossiers of his targets as well as the mission specs.

“Essentially, you are taking down a cell of the Beast Pirates who have been traveling with someone going by the alias of Joker. Joker is supplying Kaido with fake devil fruits called SMILEs to build up a Zoan pirate army capable of taking on other Emperors and then the World Government itself.”

“Won’t killing these men bring down Kaido’s wrath upon the World Government?” Lucci asked as he saw the emblem of Joker. The very same jolly roger of the Donquixote Crime Family. A Warlord, hmm? That would explain why Joker wasn’t on his hit list.

So just a squadron of idiot pirates, some of which with Zoan type devil fruits? Simple enough.

“We are merely trying to contain the Beast Pirates to the New World. Otherwise the Marines would be stretched too thin to protect the people. Disrupting the supply chain in this part of the Grand Line is the best course of action. Kaido doesn’t have the same philosophy as Whitebeard; he won’t care if a few dozen of his tens of thousands of subordinates are killed.”

“Very well. When do we arrive?”

“Two hours.”

Lucci spent the meantime reviewing the specs once more. Thirty Beast Pirates in total, avoid messing with the War Lord. Get in, get out. No civilians should be involved, which will cut down on the number of total possible casualties.

Lucci set his binder aside as the final leg of the journey began. Looking out the window, he stared out at the vast seas shrouded in darkness.

The only change he might have would be against the highest rank Beast Pirate in the dossier. He had an ancient Zoan type devil fruit, but unconfirmed of its nature. A “Headliner” so he was called. No matter. Everyone else was no more than cannon fodder. Lucci had heard quite a bit about Kaido’s crew and how they operated. Unlike the Red Hair Pirates, who had a very small but mighty crew, or Big Mom, whose crew was made up of her extended family, the Beast Pirates fought nearly every battle with the strategy of overwhelming the enemy through sheer numbers.

Death by a thousand cuts.

If that was the case, then Lucci would simply have to beat them to the punch.

Chapter 13: Unfair Odds, But For Whom?

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

One kind of hilarious thing about One Piece (and anime in general) is just how much blood one can lose and be 100% A-OK with some rest. Lookin' at you, Zoro.

At last the train rolled to a stop at one the furthest outpost of the sea train from Water 7, San Faldo. This was the island that provided iron to Water 7 and helped save it from economic fallout after it was connected by the sea train nearly a decade ago. There has been a strong connection between the two islands ever since by trade and track.

It was also an island known to host extravagant parties with lavish costumes, which suited Lucci and the World Government’s needs. They could easily blend in with the crowd with masks and locate these Beast Pirates. The sooner they were taken out, the sooner Lucci could return to Water 7 and resume his undercover operations.

“Transponder snails on silent mode, we split up individually and look for the targets. They could be anywhere on San Faldo,” the lead agent said to the group as small transponder snails were passed around. These models would give soft vibrations when someone was being hailed, excellent avoiding detection whilst spying. “If one of you finds the hideout, call in the other agents to assist.”

Help won’t be necessary, Lucci thought to himself as he stowed his transponder snail inside of his breast pocket. All the same, the longer he debated having to carry dead weight around in the form of weak government agents, the more his time would be wasted. So he merely nodded, put on his mask, and exited the train. He had quite a bit of ground to cover on the large iron island.

 

It took a solid three days of searching, but another agent finally happened upon the dockside warehouse where the Beast Pirates were preparing to move several crates of SMILE fruit as well as a bevy of weapons. Guns, axes, spears, maces, all made from the iron obtained in San Faldo. That was likely what kept the pirates on the island for so long. If it was just for the SMILE fruits, the mission would have been a complete bust.

Lucci was only a few blocks away from the warehouse, not far from the Sea Train. The lead government agent had already called the train to dock at the station so they could be quickly escorted out. Ignoring the order to wait for all the agents to arrive as backup, Lucci arrived on location, a full moon high in the sky, midnight fast approaching. Laying flat on the roof, Hattori on his shoulder, Lucci looked down and counted about half of the Beast Pirate forces that were documented in the dossier. Where the other half was located was a mystery. However, the Headliner was no doubt among the ones present at the warehouse.

“Okay, let’s get all these boxes to the ship,” a man who looked less like a man and more like a wall barked at his underlings. “Double-time, the weapons were late, which is making us late.”

“Yessir, Hanafuda sir!” the pirates replied with a rigid salute. The group itself appeared to be a terribly motley crew. Some of them had animal parts growing out of their body, all of which seemed to have a mind of their own. Others had a never-fading wide grin on their face, constantly giggling to themselves. The ones that lacked these smiles or animal parts seemed too dumb to live. Each pirate was truly as grotesque as the last, down to the tacky ensembles.

All those would be easy to take out. This Hanafuda, on the other hand, was a different matter entirely. He looked to be about twenty feet tall, give or take, and six feet wide. He must have been up there in age if his bald spot was anything to go by and there were enough scars on his beefy arms to indicate it was an arduous journey to the upper echelon on the Beast Pirates. Lucci couldn’t guess the nature of the Ancient Zoan fruit that this Hanafuda ate, but the strongest of Kaido’s forces tended to be animals from prehistoric periods.

Regardless, if Lucci waited any longer for the other half of the pirate envoy to show up, he’d lose his numbers advantage and the chance to kill them.

“Wait for me here,” Lucci whispered to Hattori, leaving him on the roof.

Hattori nodded and perched on the edge of the warehouse’s roof as his master leapt down to the ground in the middle of the Beast Pirates.

The sudden and near silent entry of a mysterious man caused the Beast Pirates to jump out of their skin.

“Huh? Who the hell are you?” Hanafuda grunted out, the ground quaking beneath his feet as he turned around to get a good look at Lucci under the moonlight.

“A representative of the World Government. I suggest you hand over those crates,” Lucci replied calmly, arms at his sides.

“Those bastards sent one measly wimp to take on an Emperor’s crew?!” Hanafuda snorted. The pirates all around Lucci started laughing at the brazenness of the government before continuing on with moving their cache. “Head out now before I kill you, son.”

“I was about to say the same thing,” Lucci replied.

“You egotistical runt,” Hanafuda growled. “Go chop his head off, boys!”

At once, three pirates leapt toward Lucci, axes and swords drawn, only to strike air.

“Finger pistol.”

As quick as they appeared in front of Lucci, all three hit the ground, small puncture wounds marking their chests. Lucci was at their right, his pointer finger now dripping with their blood.

“Three down, twenty-seven to go,” Lucci said, bored already. If this is what an Emperor’s crew had in store for him, it puzzled him why the World Government thought Kaido to be such a pain.

“They’re dead?!” one of the half-animal Beast Pirates whimpered. The cat head sticking out of her shoulder seemed to be just as scared as the fruit user.

“Yes… and you’re joining them right now.”

Hanafuda watched in abject shock and horror as, one by one, all of his crew was taken down by powerful martial arts moves. Finger pistols and air blades made mincemeat of his men while their attacks were rendered useless via superhuman speed. Even the attacks that connected were shrugged off like they were nothing.

“Boss, what’s going on?!”

Hanafuda turned around to see the other half of his crew approaching, the ones that he ordered to kill any nosy bastards that were looking for their weapons and SMILE cache.

“There they are,” Lucci sighed, cracking his neck. “Shave.”

Before Hanafuda could tell his remaining men to retreat, Lucci had sped past him and fired enough finger pistols to kill them all where they stood.

“Twenty-nine down.” Lucci wiped off his pointer finger on a handkerchief in his pocket before stowing it and staring down Hanafuda. “One to go.”

“You think this is going to be as easy?” Hanafuda shouted back. “I’ll kill you without trying!” At once, Hanafuda unleashed his full devil fruit form, the Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Model: Stegosaurus.

Fearsome, to be sure, but Lucci wasn’t intimidated. This transformation just gave him more openings for an attack. All he had to do was dodge the spikes on his tail and he could hit his target relentlessly. Cocking his head in bemusement, Lucci watched as Hanafuda grabbed his long tail in his mouth and pulled on it furiously.

“This attack doesn’t have a blind spot! Thagomizer Tornado!”

With impressive speed for a creature of his size, Hanafuda whipped around like a cyclone. He was more akin to a spiked spinning top than a bodily threat.

That is, until his tail spikes started flying out at whistling speeds in all directions.

No matter.

“Iron Body.”

His unstoppable defense had been enough for Hanafuda’s paltry crew just minutes before. But this was different and he should have accounted for it. The tail spikes of the stegosaurus ripped through his clothes and tore his skin open all over his body. Worse, several of the bony spikes embedded themselves up and down the front of his body. The sharp and burning pain was intense, nearly the worst he had felt in his life. But he refused to show signs of weakness to his enemy.

“Damn it,” Lucci muttered, kicking off into a sky walk as soon as Hanafuda’s attack ceased. He needed some distance and to get out of his range of sight. “I underestimated him.”

“Where’d you go? I see blood on the ground, so I know you’re hurt,” Hanafuda muttered. His full Zoan form didn’t lend itself to a great range of vision, so by the time he decided to look up, Lucci’s foot had already come down onto his neck. Hanafuda let out a mighty ‘oof’ and skidded several yards back from the force of the kick.

“Your skin is quite tough, I noticed,” Lucci admitted, yanking the thagomizer spikes out of his leg and shoulder without flinching.

“That’s the power of the dinosaur devil fruits!” Hanafuda laughed. “You’re a fool to think you’ll win! My men might have died, but I won’t go down! Never have, never will!”

A weak spot. I need a weak spot to exploit, Lucci thought quickly. What Hanafuda bragged earlier echoed in his mind. A blind spot. That would do it.

It had to be his eyes. If he could use a finger pistol right into his eyes, then he could blind the pirate and then kick him into the sea while he was disoriented. Once he hit the water, his devil fruit powers would cause him to drown. A bit cheap, but a death was a death. Now he just needed to use his shave ability to get close and avoid another round of attacks. Before I bleed out, that is.

What he could use was some of the government agents that were supposed to be backing him up. A meat shield or two would prove useful at that moment.

“Thagomizer Tornado!” Hanafuda shouted again, restarting his wild attack. “This attack can’t be dodged!”

In the spare seconds he had when the spinning restarted to when the spikes would fly out, Lucci dove behind the weapons shipments, hoping that the island’s strong iron forging would be enough protection. Barely it held together, though the cacophony of bone barreling against iron was enough to deafen him had he not prepared himself. The amount of blood he was losing, he needed to end this with his next two moves.

When the echoing of reverberating metal ceased, Lucci immediately jumped into action and launched himself above Hanafuda, landing at the base of his neck. The last thing Hanafuda saw before hearing the dreaded two words that Lucci used to kill most of his crew was a finger in front of each eye.

Lucci jumped off Hanafuda’s neck to avoid the furious lashings of a man who had lost his eyesight. Before he had a chance to attack Lucci with another tornado, the CP-9 agent had already kicked him in the ribs with just enough power to have him fall right off the docks and into the sea. The Headliner sank like a rock, cursing Lucci with his last breath.

Sensing the battle over, Hattori glided down from his spot at the roof of the warehouse and onto Lucci’s bloody shoulder. Greeting his friend with a tender knuckle graze to his cheek, Lucci picked his transponder snail from his pocket.

However, no one responded to his call. That could only mean one thing.

But before Lucci could properly weigh his options for what to do next, a cold laugh hit the night air.

“Well well well, so much for my escort service!!!”

Lucci looked up and saw a peculiarly dressed man posed in the center of the full moon. He was perched like a bird on top of a mast of a nearby sloop that was docked in the harbor.

He knew exactly who this was.

Joker. Or better known outside of the Underworld as Donquixote Doflamingo.

The grin of the fallen Celestial Dragon widened as he stared down at the heavily wounded Lucci.

“If it isn’t CP-9. What an honor.”

Chapter 14: Mission Complete

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

I think we all know Rob Lucci wouldn't stand a chance against Doflamingo at this point in the story, even with full power.

Best to tread lightly, sir.

Lucci barely had the energy to make the walk back to the Sea Train. Now he had to contend with a Warlord of the Sea? And not just any Warlord, one who had the World Government under his thumb thanks to his birthright status, fallen world noble though he was.

Since they were technically on the same side in this respect, even though he was a pirate and a crime syndicate underworld lord, Doflamingo wasn’t a threat at that moment. But the man who used his string powers to float gently to ground level to meet Lucci face-to-face was anything but predictable. A loose cannon at best and an insane maniac at worst.

Lucci kept his mouth shut and pressed his hand up against his most serious chest wound. He could barely defend himself in his current state. Even if he was at 100%, Lucci had serious doubts if he could even lay a finger on Doflamingo since he worked for the government.

“I step away for a couple hours to indulge in a private tryst with a local beauty and this is what I come back to,” the tall man sighed dramatically as he looked around at the bloody mess on the docks.

Lucci watched carefully as Doflamingo looked around for a spell before grinning as he located the high-value items: the SMILEs and the weapons cache.

“Shame that the World Government saw fit to interrupt my pleasure cruise in Paradise,” Doflamingo hummed. He nudged one of the Beast Pirate bodies with his foot before gingerly stepping over it. “But I suppose I understand why. Not that I needed the protection, but my business partner insisted that I not go alone. Tried to warn him! Now I have to deliver the bad news. To whom should I reference when describing the resulting carnage?”

“I have no quarrel with you. Just your entourage,” Lucci replied evenly. It was so difficult to tell if the man in front of him was truly angry about the loss of men or if he didn’t care at all and was just making small talk.

“Mmm, looks like the quarrel that you did have left you pretty shaken up.” Doflamingo chuckled and raised his hand towards the crate of SMILE fruits and what was left of the weapons after the Headliner’s final attack. “I’ll just take these and let you finish your little mission.”

Lucci was under no command to destroy the fake devil fruits, nor toss the weapons into the sea. Just kill the pirates. So he nodded in return as Doflamingo used his powers to float his cargo above head. But he was curious.

“Why are you here in this part of the world?” Lucci asked. “Why bring your business here?”

Doflamingo glanced over at Lucci and adjusted the feathery pink coat that rested on his shoulders. “I wanted to show them a good time in San Faldo while we got the weapons from the source. I brought the SMILEs along from Dressrosa to hand over to them. It’s not terribly deep, I’m afraid.” With that, he gave a long and rich laugh at the short line of inquisition from the younger man.

“Don’t repeat the lapse in judgment. A request from the World Government and marines.” It was the last part of Lucci’s mission, to however bluntly let Doflamingo know that his activities were being closely monitored, even if no real action was to be taken at that moment.

“Is that so?! Fufufufufufu… very well then, I learned my lesson,” Doflamingo said mockingly. “Stay out of this side of the Red Line and keep my nose clean… for now,” he added, running his tongue along his bottom lip. “Now be a good little boy and run along. The grown-ups have business to discuss.”

Doflamingo pulled a small transponder snail out of his pocket, which had the appearance of a fat man with a cigar, goggles and mustache. Another Beast Pirate? Lucci narrowed his eyes at Doflamingo’s back as he strolled away, not a care in the world. He deeply detested being talked down to, but he had to swallow his pride and accept the taunts, the heckles, the barbs.

All that hardly mattered, a temporarily bruised ego. Lucci had more important things to be concerned about that evening. First and foremost, his wounds. Second, what happened to the other agents. Though he had no answer for the former, he had his suspicions of the latter.

 

As Lucci limped his way back to the Sea Train, he found chilling confirmation as to the status of his back-up.

Every single World Government agent that had been assigned to the San Faldo mission was dead, their bloody bodies littering the station, all while the Sea Train idled on the tracks. This must have been what the second half of the Beast Pirate battalion was taking care of while he was murdering the first half, Lucci surmised.

“Well, this will be a pain to report,” Lucci hissed as he bled his way into the Sea Train. Thankfully, there were first aid kits in each car of the train with just enough collective gauze to hold him together until he could receive actual medical attention. After he ripped off his shirt and started tautly wrapping his wounds in gauze, Lucci pressed the call button on the transponder snail at the front of the main car.

“Name and mission status.”

“Rob Lucci. Mission accomplished. Full casualties on the pirate side. Almost full casualties on our side.”

“Are you the only survivor?”

“Yes.”

“Understood. We’ve already dispatched a crew to clean up the mess. Give us the full report within twelve hours of your return to Water 7. Over and out.”

Lucci nodded and hung up the transponder snail. No sooner did he do this that the Sea Train lurched forward and began its journey back to Water 7. What Lucci needed was immediate medical attention and he wasn’t sure if he could make the four-hour journey back to Enies Lobby to receive it via government doctors. So what were his options?

It didn’t take long for you to roar back into Lucci’s mind. You stitched enough animals together to be able to do human skin, right? So long as you didn’t ask questions or breathe a word about his injuries to anyone, what was the harm?

Out of other reasonable options, Lucci used breathing techniques to lower his heart rate in an effort to slow the bleeding of his wounds.

He was taking a major risk in trusting you to stitch him up. You could jeopardize his entire undercover mission if you poked your nose around or peppered him with questions about what he was doing out of town tonight. Worse, you could get curious and ask Kaku or Kalifa, who wouldn’t hesitate to kill you if you found out a fraction of the truth. However, Lucci admitted to himself as Hattori brought him more gauze when crimson started to seep through the first layer of bandages, he trusted you. Far more than he ever expected to.

And he desperately hoped you wouldn’t let him down now.

Chapter 15: House Call

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

Lucci owes Reader BIG TIME, like damn

“1 am? Wow, I got distracted,” you muttered to yourself as you bookmarked your novel. One more chapter became three more became five more and your 10 pm projected bedtime came and went. Just thinking about how late it was prompted you to unleash a powerful yawn. The evening weather was perfectly warm, like a thick wool blanket, so your pajamas for the evening were your favorite fuzzy short shorts and a well-worn tank top, barefoot and fancy free. Although you had to admit to yourself that you preferred cold nights if only so that you could cuddle in your favorite flannel pajamas and thermal socks. But you certainly had little to complain about tonight. The weather was bound to be just as pleasant tomorrow.

You wanted to use tomorrow, a revered day off, to catch up on chores, run some errands and find a decent fishing spot on Scrap Heap Island. You had been meaning to go out there for ages and fish like you did when you were a child, but life kept getting in the way. A smile bloomed to your face as you remembered climbing up a sturdy piece of lumber and throwing your line out into the sea to catch any fish that could fill you and your dog’s bellies. It would be nice to do that again for the sport of it all instead of doing it while trying to survive. It was all thanks to Tom’s Workers building the Sea Train that such a pastime would even be possible now. And thanks to Iceburg’s continued efforts in shaping Galley-La as the premier shipbuilding and repair company that it was now, Water 7 would continue to be a major economic hotspot where its citizens would only have to worry about Aqua Laguna instead of starving and the giant tidal waves.

Speaking of Galley-La, your mind inevitably fell to Rob Lucci. Without Lucci around town, it meant you were down a distraction and up a few hours’ free time in the evening. You had been spending that extra free time trying new recipes, drinking with friends in local bars or, much like tonight, plowing away at your stack of unopened literature.

All the same, you did miss the stoic object of your affections and hoped he would return soon from… whatever he was doing. And that Hattori was doing okay. To Lucci’s predictions, you were asked from time to time where Lucci had gone and you had to answer that you simply had no clue.

It’s not like you would tell them where he went if you did have half a clue though. It was none of their business one way or the other, right?

Yawning once more, you darkened your home and crawled under your bed covers for the evening. There was a long day ahead of you. Your eyes slid shut and you peacefully fell asleep.

 

What startled you so much two minutes later that you nearly screamed and fell out of bed was a thumping at your front door. Who was knocking at your door at one in the morning?! Whoever it was, they weren’t going away.

Your heart beat out of your chest as you shuffled to the front door, the entity at the other side still pounding away. Taking a shuddering breath that failed to steady your nerves, you looked through the peephole. What you saw was enough to send a gasping shiver down your spine and bodily throw open the door.

A bloodied and haphazardly bandaged Rob Lucci stumbled inside and fell to your floor. Quickly you closed the door behind him, shaking like a leaf as you took in his injuries. Hattori, meanwhile, fluttered to the top of your head and settled into his perch. He cooed worriedly at the sight of his friend and looked between him and you.

“Lucci, what happened?!” you whispered as you knelt to the ground.

Lucci, as usual, said nothing, merely staring back up at you from the floor that he had begun to bleed upon.

“I need to see, wait here,” you muttered as you started to get some lights on in your home, though this only made you gasp again. You had seen the bandages under the moonlight when Lucci entered, but under better lighting, it was far worse than you thought. “Oh my…”

He was covered from the neck down in gauze and tattered clothes with many bandaged spots having already turned crimson. Just how many layers of that stuff did he have on?

Not nearly enough, you surmised. Under the sink of your kitchen you kept a small supply of medical supplies for small incidental injuries like cutting yourself while chopping vegetables or small burns from frying or baking. Lucci needed far more than what you had on hand, but it was better than the soiled bandages he had on now.

Getting to work, you immediately started wrapping over the more severe injuries with thick gauze and adhesive after adjusting Lucci into a sitting position. Lucci said nothing, but followed each of your instructions as they came. Lifting an arm, lifting a leg, sitting up, lying back down. Being a shipwright must mean being able to shake off pain because Lucci didn’t flinch once during these movements.

“This is all I have here, but it should be good for now,” you breathed out as you firmly wrapped up a particularly tender thigh injury. You couldn’t know unless you got a good look, but you bet that it was a puncture injury. What punctured it, you couldn’t begin to fathom. You looked down at Lucci grimacing on the ground and with that you were able to identify which wound was the most grievous. Honestly, you would look pissed too if you had incurred that much damage.

“I’ll help you limp to the hosp-” you started to promise. However, at the mere mention of the hospital, Lucci’s arm shot up and balled up the fabric at top of your shirt and pulled you down to his eye level. He determinedly shook his head, his stone cold eyes piercing you with a ferocity that took you aback. But not enough to make you back down.

“I am absolutely taking you to a hospital! You need sutures and a lot of them by the looks of it!” you hissed. “You are literally bleeding on my tile floor!”

Another firm shake of the head made you sigh heavily. Lucci had absolutely forbid discussion of seeing the inside of an emergency room.

“Well, what the hell else do you want me to do, huh? I don’t have a suture kit at my house. And I don't suppose you plan on telling me how you got to this state?!”

Another shake of the head. But when Lucci looked up at Hattori, who was still sitting on your head, he looked back at you and tilted his head just so.

You took a deep breath and rubbed at your eyes. The sleep that you were so invested in not twenty minutes ago had come creeping back, yet not enough to confuse the intention. “I am not using my vet hospital as a makeshift back-alley clinic. Rob Lucci, you have got to be joking.”

When you opened your eyes, Hattori’s upside-down face occupied your vision.

You had been unaware that pigeons were capable of giving puppy eyes up until that moment.

After a beat, you glanced back down at Lucci, who still had a firm grip on your shirt and with another sharp tug would get an unobstructed view of your tits if he so pleased.

But he had much more pressing concerns at the moment than your rack.

The question is, would you do this for him? He breathed a silent sigh of relief as he saw your defenses crumble into nothing.

“I can’t believe you would use Hattori against me like that.”

You received a short shrug in response.

As you watched the blood slowly start to seep through Lucci’s bandages once more, you made up your mind.

“Fine. You don’t have to tell me what happened. You don’t even have to tell me where you’ve been all this time. But you’re going to have to promise not to work at Galley-La until you’ve healed up because I’m not fixing a popped stitch in the middle of the night. Got it?”

That seemed to be agreeable to Lucci, as he finally released your shirt from his iron-clad grip. Hattori seemed pleased as well, as the pigeon bounced up and down on your head before flitting to Lucci’s shoulder as soon as his friend stood up.

“Don’t strain yourself, but wait by the window on the side of the office where I gave Hattori his last check-up. It might be too obvious if you come in through the door, seeing as you don’t want anyone to know what state you’re in.”

Lucci nodded at that and disappeared into the night as soon as you opened your front door.

“What have I got myself into?” you whispered to yourself as soon as you threw on a few extra layers (like a bra!) to head out yourself.

Just because Lucci wasn’t going to be forthwith about his escapades didn’t mean you weren’t allowed to wonder and worry.

Regardless, his life was in your hands and you weren’t going to let him down now.

On you walked, double-time to your clinic while the rest of the Water 7 was dead asleep.

Chapter 16: The Back-Alley Clinic

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

I make ZERO claim to medical accuracy, so just know that this is DEFINITELY how it works in the One Piece universe and not real life (also please go to a real hospital if you find yourself with multiple wounds and NOT your pal who went to any variation of medical school).

It wasn’t difficult to sneak down to your clinic at this time of night. Anyone who was out and about at these hours were stumbling drunks, which were simple to avoid if you held to corners and bided your time.

Confident that no one saw you on your way, you unlocked the front door of your veterinary center and slid inside, locking the door once again. Next, you shuffled into the exam room and gently opened its large window. Not two seconds later did Lucci clamber inside, at which point you closed the window, drew its thick curtains, and began turning on some lamps.

Hattori glided to the counter next to the sink and settled in while you prepped your makeshift operating room. You didn’t have any assistants with you, so you got right to work. Thankfully this exam room was typically saved for larger animals, so Lucci’s seven-foot frame easily fit on its table.

“Okay, we’re going to make this as quick as possible,” you said while Lucci stripped off his clothes, right down to his underwear without any hesitation or embarrassment. So focused on the task at hand, you didn’t give your eyes the time to linger on his physique. Then again, even if you did have the presence of mind to appreciate Lucci’s body, it was too wrapped up in gauze for a quality appraisal.

Your equipment was sterile, so you put your surgical mask on and got to work sterilizing your hands. Next, gloves. When you turned around, Lucci was down to the bare essentials for modesty, lying down on the long examination table, looking at you expectantly.

“We’ll keep the shallow injuries bandaged after using some salve. After that, we suture the deeper wounds. Do you need local anesthetic?” Lucci shook his head. “Okay then, tough guy, you’ll have to manage if you change your mind.”

Nothing south of the knees was in desperate need of a stitch, so you went about removing the soiled dressings, cleaning the wounds, applying salve, and re-bandaging. All the while, Lucci calmly watched you work in faint interest. Usually he wasn’t in this much of a state to seek out medical attention, so any process of patching him up was quite novel.

“Okay, we have that nasty one up here,” you whispered before gently removing the soiled bandages from Lucci’s thigh. That was enough to get a hiss out of him, but it was when you began cleaning the puncture wound that he leaned back, whipped the leather belt out from the loops of his pants and viciously bit down on it.

He gave you a look that most likely would have shriveled the normal person, but you were woken out of what would have been a peaceful, dead sleep to do him a favor. You didn’t even flinch.

“Hey, you didn’t want the anesthetic,” you reminded him with a raised brow. “And if I stitched this up as it was, it would have dramatically increased the risk of infection. In short, it needed to be cleaned first. So keep biting.”

Lucci merely grunted in response as you finished cleaning before giving him a micro dose of penicillin, what little you could ethically spare. You could have sworn Lucci’s teeth looked particularly sharp and pointed, like a wild animal’s, but when you looked up again, they were normal. How odd. Then again, you didn’t have the best lighting in the room and he had been gnashing down awfully hard on the belt. Just a trick of your eyes!

“Okay, we’ll probably have to do that a couple more times if the chest wound you’re sporting is anything like this. A few centimeters away and you would have bled out from having the femoral artery damaged. You should consider yourself lucky.”

The glare that Lucci shot you plainly read ‘This is lucky?!’

Yes it was, you silently replied back with a smirk under your surgical mask. "Try not to flinch while I sew, dear."

His silent struggles continued as you pierced his skin over and over with your needle, working at a steady pace to close up his wound. Normally you would be singing to yourself while you performed surgery, as that is what you did for animals during their OR sessions. But you had a feeling that Lucci wouldn't take to this habit of yours in a good mood, so you kept it all in your head, making your way through a song as you sutured before finally finishing the job and knotting the thread snugly.

"That wasn't so bad, was it?" you chuckled as Lucci lifted his thigh so that you could wrap bandages over the stitch.

Lucci, as usual, failed to see the humor. But yes, it hurt far worse to receive the injury than it did to repair it. Still hurt though.

 

On you worked, limb by limb, section of the body by section of the body.

“These are dissolvable stitches, by the way, so you won’t need to visit to get them removed. With luck, you won’t have much in terms of scarring, so long as you are careful,” you hummed as you finished stitching up Lucci’s left pectoral muscle. He was sitting up straight, looking down at you as your nimble hands used your forceps, needles, and thread to quickly and efficiently patch up the laceration there. Thankfully the wound wasn’t as deep as the one on his leg, so the pain was much less intense. With a proper bandaging, it certainly hurt less to put weight on it.

“I don’t care about scars,” Hattori said from across the room. Your hands almost fumbled as you rewrapped Lucci’s arm in fresh bandages. It had been so long since you heard Lucci speak (well, speak through Hattori anyway) that you almost forgot he wasn’t totally mute.

And when Lucci turned around so that you could tend to his back wounds, you found out exactly why Lucci was so blasé about the possibility of one or two scars.

You let out a sharp, but soft ‘fuck’ at the state of his skin. Five large burn wounds scarred up and down his back and shoulders. Whatever it was that struck him, you noted, it caused a striking resemblance to the emblem of the World Government. Due to how faded they were, it was clear that these healed up scars were from long ago. Still, you could almost feel the pain yourself.

You considered something as you pressed salve-soaked cotton balls across his superficial back scratches. Whatever it was Lucci was up to earlier tonight, he never once turned tail and ran away from the danger or else his back would have been marked up and down like his front.

As you stitched up a nasty cut on his left forearm, you would definitely instigate a fierce lecture on regard for his own well-being for later. Maybe weeks later. At least after he was fully healed.

Regardless, if a man like him refused to quit fighting, even if he was on the losing side, that much was admirable. As far as you knew. And if only you knew.

Chapter 17: Turning Point

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

I don't think Reader realizes quite what she has unleashed

It took until the sun was about to breach the horizon, but Lucci was fully wrapped and sewn up. And not too shabby, if you did say so yourself. If you didn’t have such a deep well of experience, it would have been mid-morning before you finished. But damn if it didn’t feel like mid-morning to your tired bones and empty stomach.

“That was exhausting,” you wearily muttered as you cleaned up your workstation. While you scrubbed your hands and forearms, you looked down at Hattori, who had decided now was a good time to hop up your arm and back on top of your head. “Don’t give me those pigeon eyes again, young man,” you muttered the bird as he nuzzled the crown of your head in gratitude. “That is my first and final warning.”

Over your shoulder, you could hear Lucci pulling his tattered, bloody clothes back on. It’s not like he could parade around Water 7 half-naked, to be fair.

Honestly, you wanted to applaud yourself for keeping a cool, professional head while being incredibly intimate with Lucci. Sewing him together or not, that was a lot of naked skin you were within breathing distance of. You saw his thighs, his hips, his underwear (black skivvies, packing heat) and didn’t even blink!!

You needed to get back home, take a cold shower and sleep the day away before you began to mentally unpack everything that went on in your clinic over the past handful of hours.

But first, patient after-care. You meticulously started drying your hands as you gave your medical advice spiel, still keeping your eyes off the man behind you.

“Lucci, I’ll come right out and say it. I can’t give you any additional antibiotics. The manufacturing, dosages, and supply in-house are all meant for animal care, not human care, and it’s bad enough I stole penicillin and suture supplies for this little endeavor. You’ll need antibiotics if you notice an infection building. And I don’t know where you’re going to get them, but good luck.

“You can get pain meds from a local pharmacy if you need them. Re-dress your wounds every other day. No work for probably a week at the risk of opening the serious wounds. Additional good luck managing to find an excuse to Kalifa and Iceberg for that. You’re usually in perfect condition.”

You heard a grunt of compliance behind you, meaning that Lucci understood his marching orders and was ready to leave you once more. Turning, you were startled to find Lucci standing directly behind you, gazing down on you with what you could only describe as intense focus and determination.

And it was awfully difficult to meet and sustain that gaze.

“My office window faces the sea, so there’s less of a chance of you getting noticed while leaving,” you whispered with a stutter as Lucci gripped the edges of the counter on either side of your body, locking you between his strong arms. Leaning down, Lucci touched his forehead to yours, still keeping that piercing gaze into your eyes.

As soon as you felt Hattori leave your head, trading head perches, Lucci’s touch receded, leaving you a steaming pile of nerves.

“You can’t keep teasing me like that, especially after the favor I did for you,” you grumbled as you followed Lucci’s smirking self to your office door. “Most would consider it rude.”

Once in your private office, Lucci glanced over his shoulder at you with a visage that perfectly read ‘but you’ll forgive me, won’t you?’.

Bastard. Devilishly handsome bastard. You would.

When you slid up the panel of your large office window, one that gave you a perfect view of the glittering blue sea, you watched Hattori glide through the portal and out of sight.

“Take care of yourself,” you told Lucci as you fell back to lean against the bookcase that bordered the window. “Get right home and go to bed.”

Lucci planned to, but after he made a full report for the government and put in requests for antibiotics and heavy-duty pain medication.

But before all that…

“Thank you.”

He watched you look around for two seconds in confusion at the source of the sound, not realizing that he had just spoken directly to you for the first time. Even such a small movement endeared him to you. And compounding on every fondness he felt for you and the deed you did for him tonight? One that likely saved his life? He could contain himself no longer.

Upon your realization, you looked up at Lucci, who had once again locked your body between his arms.

“Lu-”

His lips pressing against yours halted your words. When you felt his hand gently hold the back of your head? Your eyes slowly slid closed and you fully lost yourself in the moment.

It had been ages since you first thought of this moment, but finally living it?

It was worth every minute.

You didn’t expect Lucci to kiss you in a manner that was so passionate, yet tender. In hindsight and with a frame of reference of the countless animalistic kisses that were to come, this was only because he had just gone through a swift back-alley surgery session and was a bit tender himself. Hence why you used a considerable amount of willpower to not loop your arms around his neck, tackle him onto your desk and pop every stitch you had only just painstakingly put into place. Long, slow and delicious kisses would have to do for now.

And if this would be the first, last, and only bit of physical affection you would ever receive from this enigmatic man? Then you were going to completely soak in the moment before it would inevitably end.

Alas, it came all too soon for you. Lucci gently bit down on your bottom lip and licked along its edge before moving back, admiring how lost in the moment you were. He had to admit, that was far more satisfying than he thought it would be. He had not intended to kiss you for so long or quite so thoroughly, but having had a sampling taste for you now? Undoubtedly he would be back for more. Much more.

After giving your chin a brush with his knuckle, Lucci was out the window and out of sight. Coming back to your senses, you quickly shut your window before having a muted yet energetic celebration of all your successes. Yes, you might have embezzled supplies from your business a tad (you would pay out of pocket for replacements, no worries about that), but you and Lucci finally kissed! And boy, did you kiss!!!

 

Nearly out of breath and spare reserves of energy after your dancing subsided, you refreshed yourself with a glass of water and some deep breaths. Not wanting to walk back home in your pajamas when the sun was coming up and get spotted by neighbors, you threw on some clean scrubs from your office before you retreated home for that cold shower and contemplative study.

After a small pre-breakfast when you were finally clean once more, you crawled under your bed covers and tried to scramble your exhausted brain for any halfway-decent guesses as to how Lucci got to be in his bloody, lacerated state. That much you couldn’t leave for later.

The only thing you could come up with was that he was blind-sided and ganged up on by some vicious maniacs and he barely was able to limp back home to Water 7. But why didn’t he go to a hospital’s emergency room? Surely that would have gotten him better and quicker care. Why you?

There was only one conclusion you could land on in your sleep-deprived state that made logical sense, one that made you absolutely indignant. If it was just so he could skip out on a medical bill, knowing full well your crush on him and your soft heart could never make you say no? Ooh!!! What a conniving bastard!

You had a quick rubout session from your fresh memory of Lucci ravishing your lips before sleeping well into the afternoon. It was the least you could do to reward yourself for saving a life and taking the sting off Lucci taking advantage of your lust for him.

A lecture was indeed due to that tall bastard as soon as he was fully healed! Whenever that would be!

Chapter 18: Setting Things Straight

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

Stupid sexy Lucci

But never let sex appeal/romantic inclinations get in the way of your own respect and standards

The next two weeks went rather quietly. This was almost entirely due to the fact that you were purposefully avoiding walking by Galley-La before work, after work, and in your free time. Why were you doing this when just recently you had a private steamy moment with one of its employees? Simple. If you saw that particular employee working on ships when he was supposed to be on bed rest, your temper and indignation would ignite to the point that you’d rip out every stitch that you so delicately put into him. One by one.

And you couldn’t ask anyone to check and make sure of his absence in the shipyard for you because that would lead to questions of why. Why am I spying on Lucci? Why should I care if he’s working? Why don’t you check yourself? And you didn’t have particularly good answers for any of that.

So in order to keep control over your emotions, mostly the wrath, you kept your head down and focused on work. Thankfully no one in your office noticed the missing bandages and sutures. That or they simply failed to bring it up. Either worked for you. But you still restocked them.

You were finally able to relax and remove dedicated thinking space about Lucci after a few days when you were at Blueno’s bar enjoying a cocktail. Several Galley-La guys walked in, and by the sound of things they were into some gossip about work. Paulie was griping about the extra nail work he was having to handle because Lucci was out sick. All three men waved at you sitting at the bar before grabbing seats in the corner.

“Like I’ve been saying, I’ve never heard that quiet bastard so much as cough. That must be some virus he caught on his trip,” the young man grumbled as several large mugs of ale made it to their table. “Or it better be for all we’re doing to cover.”

“Not a virus,” Lulu replied. “Word is from Kaku that he’s dehydrated from food poisoning and can barely walk. And considering he has an iron stomach, whatever he ate would have killed a weaker man. Let’s give the kid some grace and some bounce back time.”

“Yeah, a few more days and he should be right as rain,” Tilestone thundered. “Let’s drink to his health!”

“Cheers to that! Don’t want to be in his shoes!” Paulie laughed. “To Lucci! Here’s hoping he makes it out stronger than before!”

The men clinked their glasses and you silently raised yours in thanks that Lucci had some brains in that handsome head of his. If he wasn’t going to go to a hospital, at least he was staying home and healing up.

You’d still give him a lecture though.

 

And lecture time came in the late afternoon, two weeks to the day where Lucci last saw you. Your work day ended not too long ago and you decided to make use of the nice weather and remaining daylight to sweep up your roof and beat the sediment out your rugs. Had you known that Lucci was going to jump up to greet you, you probably would have dressed nicer.

“Ah, the sick patient has caught his doctor in rags,” you hummed, glancing over your shoulder at the sound of shoes hitting the floor to see Lucci standing before you, Hattori on his shoulder as always. He was wearing long pants and a dress shirt, presumably to cover up his many bandages. A light breeze touched his long, black hair, fluffing it in the air. His eyes were giving you an appreciative glance up and down, though the rest of his face was as stoic as ever. And it went without saying that he was looking as beautiful as ever. “Hi, Lucci.”

Lucci nodded back at you and glanced around at the various rugs that hung over the edges of your roof.

“Yes, cleaning for my evening,” you answered at his cocked head.

Because no one else was around, no spying neighbors or pedestrians below hungry for gossip fodder, he strode right up to you and put his hand at the small of your back. Smirking at feeling you shiver in delight the second he made contact with you, Lucci gestured for you to head down the roof hatch and into your apartment.

“What?” you murmured as his knuckles slowly ran up and down the small of your back. As delightful as the sensation was, you couldn’t help but feel a little trepidation in your guts about it. Or better yet, why Lucci was doing it. “Need something else from me?”

A dangerous question to ask, to a degree that you were not yet aware of. Those two weeks away from you had only made Lucci more addicted to the thought of having you all to himself. What he wouldn’t give to be trapped in a room with you, shut away from his responsibilities as a member of CP-9 and wholly devoted to indulging in pleasure. A novel desire for him. But a desire nonetheless.

“Perhaps,” he whispered into your ear before nibbling it. His wandering hand moved under your loose shirt to grasp your round hip and squeeze it firmly. “Lend me a hand?”

Is this what being under the influence of an incubus felt like? You supposed so. It felt like you were under a haze of lust as Lucci guided you down your ladder to the privacy of your home. Just the two of you (not counting Hattori, who merely glided to your couch to curl up and go into nap mode), you could hardly contain yourself.

“Having less than pure thoughts?” Lucci teased with a smirk as he began to strip off his shirt, unbuttoning it achingly slow. “I never would have guessed. You’ve always been so professional around me.”

You were screwed to your spot on the floor as his shirt fluttered to the ground as your brain short-circuited. But honestly? You just wanted him to keep talking!! His voice was smooth like a fine bourbon and just as delicious. No wonder he used Hattori to speak if his normal voice was this sexy!!

“I hate to disappoint you, but I’m only looking to get these bandages off and make sure everything looks right,” Lucci continued as he dropped his pants to the ground and gingerly stepped out of them. “Just trying to set proper expectations.”

Lucci standing in your home in nothing but his underwear should have gotten you to strip down too. Hell, not a long time ago it certainly would have! But that little remark? That got your attitude to rear its head.

So your earlier jolt of trepidation did have a reason to exist! All these small touches, the kisses, the closeness… all calculated!

Just because you were lusting after someone didn’t mean that that particular someone could… use you!!! Lucci couldn’t just wink at you with a cute smile and expect you to follow at heel like some lovesick teenager!!

Alright! Lecture time!

“Asshole? You can’t keep baiting me like this,” you said firmly. “It’s like you think you can just flirt a little bit and earn the right to my silence and compliance to do…” You gestured indignantly at his nearly naked body. “... whatever it is you need!”

Lucci raised an eyebrow at you, a little surprised at this outburst. Normally you were quite thrilled to see him in some state of undress or mode of intimacy.

“I thought you enjoyed our casual arrangement.”

“What ‘arrangement’?” you scoffed. “What, the one where you just realize that you owe me and think your past and future debts can be paid with a micro-dose of physical affection? An embrace in exchange for chasing Paulie away from you? A kiss means I don’t talk to anyone about your misadventures when it comes time to patch you up?”

“Is that what you think?” Lucci asked quietly. “That I’m taking advantage of you?”

“What other conclusion am I supposed to come to?” you grumbled, sullenly hugging your arms. “People don’t like having their emotions played with. Damn it… should have realized…”

You knew of people who treated others like this, who considered relationships were all about tallying up gives and takes. Maybe that’s why Lucci had so few friends, considering you never saw him fraternize with people outside of work. Having a large circle of friends and having the mindset of people owing you or having an obligation to repay a debt for a selfless deed would be tiring. Was that what he was really like, something you would have only discovered by spending time with him? You thought Lucci was a touch more considerate than that. Your conversations with him (well, through Hattori) were always intelligent and stimulating, never surface-level or non-committal.

Were you just a fool? It wasn’t worth crying over, but you couldn’t help but feel a heavy wave of disappointment.

Lucci lightly sighed at your melancholy countenance. Such trivial emotions in his own mind… but he supposed he had been rather transactional in his physical attention toward you. And you weren’t someone who could be all give and no take, that much he knew about you. However, a serious relationship, one that a woman of your maturity often looked for, wasn’t something that matched well with his undercover work.

But you had affected him in a way that he couldn’t easily brush off as nothing. Indeed, if you were any other person, he wouldn’t think twice about ending it here and never speaking to you again.

So he had to compromise for the sake of your satisfaction and for the sake of his interest in you. For however long he was in Water 7, he would keep his personal and professional life separate. You and his work, either as a shipwright or an assassin, would never cross.

But first things first.

“Let’s talk about this instead of getting frustrated,” Lucci offered. “But after you unbandage me.”

“Whatever,” you huffed. At least this would get him out of your hair for now. You went over to your wall cabinet to fetch medical scissors to cut Lucci’s bandages off. “Look, I’ll do this for you tonight, but I’m in no mood to continue a conversation with you. Try again tomorrow,” you warned him as you snipped away at Lucci’s gauze, starting at his arms.

“I suppose that’s fair,” Lucci acknowledged. “My apologies for bothering you then.”

“Begrudgingly accepted. Onto the torso.”

As you removed the layers of bandages, Lucci noted that all of his injuries had disappeared, not leaving so much as a scar as a memory of that night’s mission. That may have been due to his quick healing factor as a Devil Fruit user, but it was also a testament to your skill in medicine. And because you were a veterinarian, it was just as well that you were the one to heal him, considering his Zoan powers.

 

When you were finished cutting bandages and doing a quick physical exam skin check, you stepped away from Lucci and cupped the side of your face to shield yourself from Lucci’s practically naked self. He was just in his underwear, after all, and this time around you weren’t in full-on doctor mode getting him stitched together.

“Put your clothes back on… please,” you muttered, face growing hotter by the second in embarrassment and want.

“Well I’d hate to act improperly again,” he replied sarcastically, smirking when he heard you swallow back a snappy remark. He quite liked your fiery spirit, even if it meant you were cross with him. But he did much prefer your normally good-humored self.

He swiftly began to re-dress and, when finished, reveled in the sensation of having his full range of motion again. It felt like it had been ages since he was on his base level of lethality.

And you were to thank for that.

“Done,” he announced to you so you could relax again.

At once you put your hand down and gave him a once over. Stupid, sexy Lucci. But you wouldn’t let his sexy self win every battle just because his exquisite looks made your insides melt. You had standards, damn it!

“Well then, I suppose you and Hattori will be off,” you said shortly. Hattori woke up from his short nap on the couch when his name was heard and flew over to Lucci’s shoulder. “Stay safe.”

It looked like you were still displeased with him. Just as well. He’d try to talk to you tomorrow like you suggested.

“Meet me at Galley-La when you get off work. We can have a private conversation and come to an understanding. Is that amenable to you?” Lucci asked softly.

You closed your eyes and tilted your head from side to side, taking into consideration this suggestion. Well… it did sound sensible to you. What you two needed was an “all on the table” one-on-one. If he really wanted your companionship, more than a friendship, then this was his last chance to really give an effort towards that end!! None of this ‘friends with benefits’ or secret tryst stuff! And if that wasn’t up Lucci’s alley, then that was fine for you. Better end it early before you got in too deep with feelings. Less than ideal? Sure. But fine.

You took a deep breath and finally opened your eyes to find Lucci waiting for your answer.

“That sounds more than fair. I’ll meet you tomorrow in front of the shipyards in the late afternoon, Rob Lucci,” you said firmly, holding out your hand for him to shake in agreement.

An amused chuckle fell from his lips as he returned the handshake.

“So formal, aren’t we?”

“You are dealing with a woman, not a girl,” you reminded him as you also mimicked this action with Hattori, who stuck his wing out at you in anticipation. “I like to be professional.”

“Very well then. Since I don’t professionally kiss, I’ll leave you be.”

Ah! You supposed a kiss good-bye would give mixed messages. You nodded back in agreement and, to at least be polite, showed Lucci to the door.

“I do mean be safe,” you said softly. “I don’t think Iceberg would give you more time off work if you ran into a knife ten times on your way home.”

“One would hope he’d be lenient with sick days should I get stabbed,” Lucci replied flatly, which earned a giggle out of you. He missed that sound, a feeling that faintly surprised him.

“I’ve been my own boss for years now, so I couldn’t say what other bosses would do. But I certainly would let you skip work.” You gently punched Lucci’s arm and received a tiny smile in return. “Okay, really now. Be off.”

Lucci gave you a nod good-bye and headed home.

He really dug himself into the ground when it came to you. An assassin shouldn’t care so much about what a regular citizen thinks, especially when he is undercover. And yet… you brought that out of him.

And tomorrow he would confirm that, yes, he did want to keep seeing you.

In as calm and as subtle of a way as possible.

Chapter 19: Staking His Claim

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

Paulie just had his Eric Andre Show "we'll be right back" moment.

“You are in an intense mood today,” your scribe Jonathan noted as you furiously sorted through your inbox and its sizable stack of documents, working each item at a pace so rapid that he felt like he would miss its completion if he so much as blinked. “Are you feeling okay? Is this about… you know… him?”

Him. Aka Lucci.

Before you could look up and instruct him to close the door for privacy, you heard the door latch softly click shut.

Anything you said to your scribe would be kept in the strictest confidence. The man was like a lockbox when it came to secrets, personal or professional. Sure, you’d never tell him everything that went on between you and Lucci, but you knew you could trust him enough to summarize your current relationship status, or lack thereof.

“It is. I am to assume we are hashing out what we are to each other. I’m not one to do something casual,” you confessed, finally putting down your pen and looking up at your co-worker and friend. “So I’m a bit pumped for it. And nervous.”

“Between you and me, he’d be a fool to cut ties with you. You’re quite the catch.”

“Ah, you’re just saying that because you’re my scribe.”

“And scribes tell the truth,” Jonathan replied with a soft smile. “No matter how it turns out, know that you’re worth it.”

“Mmmm… knowing my worth is precisely why I’m in this situation,” you sighed, templing your fingers together, elbows on your desk. “But the sooner I rip off the bandage, the better. At least we’ll have an understanding.”

“That’s the spirit. Now allow me to take those papers to the files.”

“You’re a doll.”

 

When your clinic finally closed for the day, you made your way down to Galley-La and to Lucci. On the walk over, you went through dozens of possible conversations and scenarios, wondering which one Lucci would finally land on. Breaking up and committing were the only two outcomes, but any path to those outcomes was fraught with peril. Would he find a cruel bone in his body to hurt you? Would he give a ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ excuse? The agony of waiting! But wait… there was a worse option than rejection.

You grimaced suddenly at the intrusive thought of Lucci loudly proclaiming his affections for you in public through Hattori… in song. At once the cringe set in mid-gait, your body stopped moving, frozen stiff, your eyes wide with horror, nose scrunched up in disgust. Abject public embarrassment!! A small child passing by you in that moment thought your visage of existential dread was reserved for him and ran off sobbing for his mother. Not that you noticed, you were too busy trying to get that nightmare out of your imagination. You’d be the one doing the rejecting at that point!

When the shipyards finally came into view and you could hear men shouting at each other just to be heard over the din of galleons being hammered together, you managed to pull yourself together. As the day was winding to a close, but not quite quitting time, you stood alongside the spectator fence and tried to spot Lucci amongst the shipwrights. The viewing area was bereft of locals, as all the good entertainment of the day had long since passed.

It shouldn’t have been difficult to find a stupidly tall handsome man with a top hat and pigeon on his shoulder, but Galley-La employed many unique-looking individuals. Hand over your eyes to block out the high sun, you failed to see hide nor hair of him.

“Looking for someone?” a familiar voice said to your left. You turned your head and just outside of your peripheral vision was Rob Lucci, perched on a fence post and staring at you. Your heart leapt out of your chest at his sudden appearance, enough where you jumped back nearly a foot, hair standing on end.

“Damn you move quick… and quiet,” you muttered as Lucci hopped off the fence post and walked up to you. “Has anyone told you that you’d make a good librarian?”

“You’d be the first,” Hattori squawked. “Keeping well, coo coo?”

“I’m doing fine, thank you. And you?”

“Dodging Paulie for the past twenty minutes.”

“Is he being more of an ass than usual?” A nod in return. “Thankfully the day’s almost done, dear. But I’m not here for small talk.” You cleared your throat, swallowing back your nervousness. “Say… how about we cut to the chase and get everything out in the open, hmm? Between us?”

“All business today, are we?”

“You know me so well,” you smirked.

“Let’s step over here for a minute then.”

Lucci guided you a few yards away from the fence along the edge of the nearby canal, just far enough where curious ears or prying eyes wouldn’t be able to keep track of the conversation. He’d still have to talk through Hattori (a pain since he much preferred to speak with you normally) to keep undercover.

Unfortunately for Lucci, a certain foreman was on the hunt for him up and down Galley-La, trying to catch him before the clock ran out for the day. Paulie was raring for a fight, as it had been ages since their last physical confrontation (he gave Lucci an earful every other day, though this was just because he had a naturally loud and gruff voice).

When he finally came to the shipyard’s fence, checking to see if Lucci had snuck out early, which would have been unlike him, Paulie saw you take a deep breath and begin speaking to Lucci. What?? Cutting work to talk to his woman?! Well if that don’t beat all!

“Damn it, you slacker!” Paulie growled to himself. Ignoring how seriously you looked in that moment, he leapt over the fence and stomped over to the pair of you. “I’ll show you!”

 

“Lucci, I’d like to go first. Just to rip the bandage off, so to speak,” you said firmly. “I hope you appreciate my bravery in this moment, by the way.”

“I do,” he replied, his face as emotionless as ever.

“Well, here it is, Rob Lucci. Truth be told, I’ve really enjoyed the time we’ve spent together these past few months. I find you to be sharply intelligent, responsible and dependable. Not to mention very handsome.”

“Thank you.”

“And I think there must be something about me that you like or you’d never trust me as much as you do. But I think we’ve come to a crossroads. I know a lot of people like to keep things casual, no strings attached, but that has never been me. I’d love to develop and mature and grow, but you’re going to have to meet me halfway, Lucci, and make a call. It’s now or never if you like me enough to keep seeing me.” Your half of the conversation complete, you gave Lucci a soft smile and nodded. “Okay. I’ll accept whatever you tell me.”

Before Lucci could even muster together a response, one he had been thinking about since he left your company yesterday, Paulie was already storming up to the two of you.

“There you are, Lucci!” he shouted across the way.

Lucci looked up from his tête-à-tête with you to see Paulie grabbing a Galley-La rope out of his jacket sleeve.

“Iceberg didn’t give you the rest of the day off! You’re going to work until the whistle blows and not a second sooner.”

“Relax, Paulie, he’s just with me,” you groused back. It was irritating enough that your heart-on-the-sleeve moment was interrupted, but interrupted by Paulie was on another level of headache-inducing.

“I don’t listen to mini-skirt wearing hussies!” Paulie snapped back. Yes, you were wearing a skirt, but you’d hardly call a pencil skirt to be in the mini category. Rude. “Lucci, get back in that shipyard and drive some nails if you know what’s good for you.”

“By the time I make it back to the fence, the day is over, coo!” Hattori called back.

“We don’t pay you to slack off, bastard!” Paulie’s rope was now fully out of his sleeve, ready to whip over to its intended target. “We don’t pay you to flirt either!”

“I’ll come in two minutes early tomorrow, how’s that? And apologize to her for that remark, Paulie.”

“Maybe if she dressed more respectably, I’d consider it! Now get over here before I hog-tie you and make it happen!”

“All right, that’s enough, you two,” you interjected, stepping between the men, arms up in a calming gesture. The tiff was causing a small crowd to gather and attention was beginning to turn onto you. Which you didn’t need. “There’s no need for hostil-”

Unfortunately for you, you decided to play referee the half-second after Paulie unleashed his rope. Instead of wrapping around Lucci’s middle, it caught your forearm and wrist. And because Paulie always kept the rope taut from force of habit, it wasn’t long before you felt the quality of the Galley-La ropes personally. Your arm was yanked forward, not enough to launch you forward, but enough that your steps faltered. You let out a sharp hiss and a visible wince of pain.

And all of this happened in front of Rob Lucci.

While Paulie was half-apologizing for the mistake and half-blaming you for getting in the way of a quarrel between men, Lucci lost his grip on his self-control. That lost grip was then transferred to the section of Paulie’s rope that was just ahead of your forearm. And then he tugged.

The foreman had a fraction of a second to understand the error of his ways before his face was sent careening forward right into the sole of Lucci’s steel-toed boot.

As soon as Paulie’s face finally dislodged itself from Lucci’s boot, its mouth unleashed a deluge of swears and threats so potent that it caused passersby to blush.

But Lucci wasn’t paying him any mind. Instead he was much more focused on delicately unwrapping the rope from around your arm to examine the damaged skin beneath. Unfortunately, the area was quite warm and tender thanks to the rope burn sustained from the accident.

“I’m fine, I just need to put ointment on it,” you whispered as Lucci’s gaze came up to your face, which was feeling very warm. On fire, even. Your heart at the very least was beating out of your chest, not only because of Lucci’s fingers on your skin, but because there were many witnesses to this act of tenderness. “Thank you…”

“You need some medicine,” Hattori surmised before glancing down at Paulie, who was still on the ground, a blindingly red, boot-shaped mark on the middle of his furious face. “And now you need to apologize twice for your despicable behavior, coo!! Iceberg will hear about this!!”

“It was an accident, you jerk,” Paulie muttered as he gently touched his nose, only to yelp in pain. “You’re in trouble if this is busted!”

Ignoring Paulie, you looked up at Lucci and titled your head in feigned concern. “Are you okay, Lucci? You must have seriously hurt your foot when it ran into something so hard and pig-headed.”

That earned a peel of snickers from the spectators while Paulie merely blushed in embarrassment at the crack to his character. Damn it all, he owed you big, didn’t he?

Lucci smirked at your remark, as he always did when you said something clever to him.

“I’ll live. Now come on.”

Lucci held your hand in his as he led you away from the crowd, all whispering amongst themselves. Were you two official now? Paulie’s grumbles soon receded after the spectators shuffled him back to Galley-La so his employer and co-workers could deal with him.

“Where are we going?” you asked quietly after Lucci led you down several streets, hand still holding yours.

“A pharmacy for that salve you were talking about,” Hattori squawked back. “I’ll pay, coo-coo!”

“Oh… okay then…”

Publicly holding hands counted as a declaration for you, though you still wanted to hear him say it. Oh well, you thought as you held his hand back, maybe that could wait an hour or two…

Chapter 20: His Privilege

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

Let's hear it for Reader

As promised, Lucci took you to the local pharmacy (still without letting go of your hand) to see to your rope injury. He finally released you from his hold in order to pick out and purchase some gauze and wound salve.

“What a pain, coo-coo,” Hattori said when the two of you left the pharmacy, armed with your first aid goods. Lucci was rolling his eyes, face turned toward the heavens as if asking the powers that be to bless him with an end to his troubles with the foreman. “All because Paulie couldn’t spare patience.”

“As if he had any to spare to begin with,” you joked. “I’ll just go home and apply the salve. Thank you for… for looking out for me, Lucci,” you finished with a whisper as Lucci’s electric gaze turned to you.

“Of course I did. It was my fault it happened, coo!” Hattori replied. The pigeon spread his wings and bobbed on Lucci’s shoulder as his master shrugged. “I should have put him in his place sooner.”

“No, that might have just gotten you in trouble with Iceberg,” you tutted. “My skin will heal and Paulie may have learned a bit of humility. So it all works out.”

“Not many people would be so level-headed about this,” Hattori noted.

“I’m not most people,” you said with a smirk. “Am I?”

With a smirk to match, Lucci took your hand once more and led you to a secluded spot in that sector of Water 7. After a few turns, you and he found yourselves in a corridor between tall brick buildings. You recognized the area from repeated visits from childhood to the present day. High enough in the city to avoid most of the torrential waves, the many reinforced buildings were used to house materials used for fixing up Water 7 after Aqua Laguna. As that annual event was still a couple months away, the area was currently abandoned. It would be some time before citizens would head over here to grab tar, metal sheets, wood, rope and nails to seal up their home for the evening’s storms.

Why did Lucci bring you here? It made perfect sense to you; Lucci probably just wanted the privacy to speak to you without having to go through the rigamarole of speaking via Hattori. That also worked, as you much preferred his natural voice.

Finding a small alcove of a storage building inside the corridor, Lucci sat you down on the stoop of its stone steps to take a look at your wound. It was still angry with irritation and you winced when Lucci began examining it with his fingertips. Hattori flitted off somewhere to stretch his wings, leaving the two of you truly alone.

“I don’t think it will scar, but the skin will take some time to heal back to normal,” Lucci surmised as he went into the paper sack he received from the pharmacist.

“I don’t care about scars,” you shrugged as you watched Lucci grab the jar of salve and balance it on his knee, his long legs tented from sitting on the steps. You leaned back against the wooden door behind you and extended your arm for treatment.

He paused before opening the jar and looked into your eyes. It was word-for-word what he said to you when you were stitching him up not so long ago. And he knew this to be true when recalling the massive amount of scarring your upper arm possessed. Though it was from being reckless and the hubris of youth, at least you went into the injury with good intentions.

If you were going to get a scar, let it at least be from doing something worthwhile, Lucci thought. Countering Paulie and his idiotic ways hardly counted. He had to contend with that daily.

“Admirable, but I’d prefer you not getting between us again.”

“Yeah, I’d rather not get… roped into anything,” you said with a sly grin at your wordplay.

Lucci merely clicked his tongue before applying the ointment to your skin’s affected areas.

“I didn’t intend to make a pun until the opportunity presented itself so nicely, I promise,” you giggled. “But I do mean that I won’t be a mediator between you and Paulie again. At least anywhere near Galley-La when he’s in work mode. I’d hate to worry you.”

“Mmm… I’m not a fan of the notion,” Lucci confessed before wrapping the gauze around your wrist and forearm. “It goes against my sensibilities.”

“What notion?” you asked as Lucci knotted the bandages firmly in place. Releasing your arm, you took it back to your chest and examined his work. Stellar, which surprised you. Maybe Lucci was used to bandaging himself with minor injuries? But it was all appreciated.

“You know the one, especially considering our mutual arrangement,” he replied evenly as the two of you stood up.

You looked up at Lucci and instantly felt the air between the two of you shift into a heady one. He was taken by you and he could no longer ignore the pressing need he had to be near you. So long as he had his undercover mission in Water 7, you were now part of that cover. And having the cover of a partner had its benefits.

“Mutual… so you mean…?”

“I’d sooner drive my head through a wall than deny myself your company. And to answer your question, I detest the notion of my foreman so brazenly marking up your body…”

He was looming over you, stepping forward so that you retreated until your back bumped into the wall of the alcove. That fiery look in Lucci’s eyes had returned, similar to the one you saw earlier in the day when he witnessed your injury at the hands of Paulie. But this time, the fire was burning exclusively for you. You had half a second to blink before Lucci laced his fingers with yours and pinned you against the wall.

“You see, that privilege now belongs to me,” he purred before bending down and closing the gap to kiss you.

Gone was the worry of hurting Lucci, of popping a stitch or further injuring his bruised skin. You really did miss kissing him. And it appeared that the feeling was very mutual, as Lucci wasted no time in absolutely ravaging your lips. The unbridled passion that he unleashed quickly overwhelmed you and it wasn’t long before you were gasping for air. His tongue left your mouth after thoroughly exploring it and searched for its next target that would leave you moaning for him. He noted how your hips bucked with pleasure whenever he dragged his tongue up your neck, how your hands squeezed his when he traced along your ear.

“Falling apart a little early, are we?” Lucci growled into your ear as his hands finally let yours go to travel up and down your sides. “Shame you aren’t wearing an actual mini skirt. Would make things much easier, hmm?”

“You maniac,” you panted as Lucci untucked your shirt from your skirt and raised the fabric up enough to expose your bra. “You’re lucky we’re alone…”

It was a testament to Rob Lucci’s pure sexual energy that you allowed this for even a second. But the two of you were isolated, he just confessed that he did want to be an item, and it had been ages since you last had physical contact with him as such. And to do something so lewd in public was quite thrilling…

“These marks will be hidden,” Lucci promised as he pulled your bra up to expose your breasts to the cool afternoon air.

With a yelp of surprise falling out of you, he supported your ass on one forearm and lifted you up so that his mouth could enjoy the fruits of his labor, not caring that you accidentally knocked his hat off. When Lucci’s mouth descended upon your nipple, you had no choice but to wrap your legs around his waist for balance and cover your mouth with both hands to keep the noise level down.

Lucci meanwhile was indulging in a feeling he never allowed himself to partake in, for lust was just as effective a motivator as violence or power. He never liked to lose control, but no person had ever made him want to lose it more than you. Your mind, your charm, your body… they were like drugs. Your breast fit perfectly in his hand as he firmly kneaded it while suckling on your tit, all the while you wriggled in his hold. He could smell your fervent desire, feel your clit throbbing against him. You were getting so wet and he had, frankly, barely begun to touch you. What he wouldn’t give to have you locked in a bedroom with him where you two wouldn’t be interrupted, by someone from Water 7 or the World Government.

But having you orgasm here and now simply wouldn’t be for the best. One scream of completion, no matter how well muffled, was still too close to be overheard. So he changed course.

Your hips would do nicely.

Lucci lifted his arm up a few inches until your round hips were within biting distance, lowered his head and nipped and sucked at the unblemished skin until he was sure you would have enough love marks to last you a week or two.

When Lucci finally put your feet back on the ground, he had to jump forward to catch you, as your knees were knocking together furiously from getting so worked up in such a short space of time that you were sure to fall right over.

“You sure are a fiend,” you murmured as you focused on gaining your composure back.

“And I had no idea you were such an exhibitionist,” he replied.

You paused from your task of straightening your clothes to look over at Lucci, your eyes slightly bugged out. “Oh no, you’re right… and that was really hot… maybe I am a pervert…”

“Only half of one,” Lucci smirked, only to get lightly shoved back.

“Then we’re two halves of a huge pervert. You’re the one who initiated,” you smirked back.

“I suppose you have a point. I…” He cleared his throat and bent down to put his hat back on, idly wondering if Hattori would be missing for long enough to have an excuse to throw caution to the wind and fuck you up against the wall. “I lost my cool there… when it came to you. Both with Paulie and just now. Seems like the start of a bad habit.”

“Well, I suppose no harm done in the short- or long-term,” you considered as your hair and clothes were once again unmussed. “However, we shouldn’t risk alleyway fucking since we’d be begging to be caught, that much is certain. Let’s keep PDA reserved going forward.”

“Deal.”

You nodded and picked up the pharmacy bag with the leftover ointment and gauze. “Now that we have all that settled and out in the open… I’m going to go back home and… finish,” you whispered, slightly embarrassed to admit it. But if anyone could hear it without flinching, it was your new boyfriend and the reason for your predicament.

“We’ll see each other later.”

“Don’t be a stranger, Rob Lucci.”

With a firm smile, as 95% of this day had gone completely your way, you walked off for home with a spring in your step.

And yes, you had one hell of a finish when you got there.

Chapter 21: What Was Once A Solo Expedition

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

I've been quite blessed my whole life where so many OP characters have had the opposite. But at least some had their luck turned around, Reader included.

In the two weeks leading up to Aqua Laguna, you partook in your little traditions. One, you worked part-time, only taking emergency clients and busting out paperwork. Thanks to your loyal scribe Jonathan, you were able to work even less than usual. Two, in the hours that were normally spent seeing to animals and answering house calls, you stocked up on food, supplies, and window protection from the torrential downpours that came with the heavy waves of the annual storm. Jonathan took care of the arrangements to protect your line of clinics from the winds and rain. You were so thankful you gave him a raise on the spot.

As was also tradition, the waves were climbing to higher and higher altitudes, reaching businesses and areas normally untouched. You calculated that there were about three years left following this Aqua Laguna before you too would be seeking shelter with other citizens of Water 7, so you wanted to enjoy them while they lasted. Then you’d be spending a considerably longer amount of time battening down the hatches to protect your livelihood.

Soon you wouldn’t be able to flitter hours away at your third and favorite pre-Aqua Laguna tradition: sea fishing from Scrap Heap Island.

Yes, although not what you would call an island (it was just washed-up and wrecked remains of abandoned ships connected to Water 7 by a stone bridge), it was often frequented by people looking to take a swim, children searching the scraps for hidden treasure, or by people like you. People who were looking to find a decent spot to cast a line into the sea.

Thanks to the swirling currents and changing water temperatures from Aqua Laguna, the fish population boomed around this time before receding once more when the waves began to build.

It wasn’t always a pastime for you, but time heals most wounds.

You woke up on your fishing day bright and early, meaning to get to your perch before the sun got too high. After a quick and light breakfast, you dressed sparsely in a midriff, shorts and sandals. Into your office closet found your fishing rod in mint condition as well as a tackle box with your favorite hooks, shaped like tiny Yagara bulls with silly grins. They always made you snicker because you only took them out a few times a year, so the novelty never wore off.

Whistling to yourself, you packed a picnic basket full of non-fishing supplies and tools, slung your trusty rod across your shoulders and grabbed your tackle box. You would have to stop by a bait shop on the way, of course. Maybe you’d get lucky and you’d catch enough to have dinner right on Scrap Heap Island. You weren’t able to do so last year, having only caught miniscule fish, only good for baiting larger ones. Dinner was in town that night.

After picking up a bucket of bait, you headed straight for the bridge to Scrap Heap Island and walked along the shoreline. You had used some of your limited free time a couple weeks ago to select the perfect fishing perch. The morning sun had just begun to warm up the area as you found your perch once more, as there was a unique landmark nearby that you had mentally used for a checkpoint.

“There you are, Lion Head,” you whispered, greeting the abandoned masthead in front of you.

It looked adorable sitting there, a cute smile causing a similar one to grow on your lips. The head of a young lion with its mane looking like sunflower petals. It faced the open sea, as if yearning to sail upon its blue sparkling waters and participate in adventures all its own.

“You’ll sail one day. Maybe Iceberg will set you to sea when he finds a crew worthy of sailing a ship you’ll adorn,” you mused. “After all, you’re the one who is admiring the sea more than anyone. Hope you stay safe during Aqua Laguna coming up! Stay strong. Okay, Lion Head?”

It didn’t respond, as ships to the best of your knowledge weren’t alive, but your eyes thought they saw the masthead creak as if it was nodding back at you.

If you wondered too much about that, you wouldn’t have any time in your day left to fish! So you walked a few paces down the shore to find your fishing spot.

It was the remnants of a galleon, snapped clear in two down the middle of the boat. What storm caused this to happen, you didn’t want to know. And that is why you didn’t dare sail on the Grand Line! The Sea Train was more than enough excitement for you.

The front half, the bow, laid down on its side while the stern, the back half, was tilted in a way that its keel provided a seat facing the ocean, high enough where you could launch your line far enough into the sea to grab open sea fish and not ones milling about near the shallow waters of the shore.

You scaled a broken ship railing that was leaning against the stern like a ladder and climbed toward your cherished seat.

“What a lovely calm day for a fishing expedition,” you hummed as you wrangled your supplies.

First, you took your sledgehammer and nail and installed a bracket into the side of the keel. That way you didn’t have to grip the fishing rod for the entire expedition. It wasn’t the neatest job, but your boyfriend was the nail driver, not you. So it would suffice for a few hours.

Next, you inspected your rod for faults, tested the reel, and finally got your lure and bait together. Some delicious fat worms wriggled as you wrapped them around your hook while your Yagura bull lure smiled up at you.

“And… launch!!” you shouted as you wound up your arm and flung the rod forward, watching as the lure sailed through the air and landed in the sea. “A success. And now we wait.”

You set your sandals off to the side (who fishes with shoes on?) and opened up your picnic box to unpack a few items. A book for reading while you waited for the line to tug, signaling a possible catch; a pillow to give your rear a softer spot than the heavy lumbar of a keel; a wide-brimmed straw hat to keep the sun out of your eyes when it rose farther into the cloudless sky; a small snack of fruit to chew on while reading and waiting for lunch.

 

Your midday meal was digesting and your book stowed back in the picnic basket when a familiar sight flitted by your eyes. A white pigeon with a bespoke red tie. If Hattori was around, then…

“If it isn’t Rob Lucci!” you called down below you, where the tall shipwright stood, gazing up at you, his face as unreadable as ever. “Nice to see you! How’d you know I was here?”

At once Lucci swiftly jumped up to where you were seated, using pieces of the galleon strewn about you as platforms to boost himself up to you. Upon landing at your side, he sat, letting his long legs swing over the edge of the keel.

“Asked around town. Paulie, as penance for being an idiot, has taken it upon himself to board up your clinic before the storm. I thought that you’d appreciate hearing the news from anyone but him.”

“Can’t say that you’re wrong,” you admitted. You set down your rod into your makeshift bracket and turned sit side-by-side next to him. “That’s very thoughtful of you. Where’d Hattori fly off to?”

“I imagine he isn’t too far away. In fact, he’s likely getting into a napping position somewhere in the shade.”

“Well, it’s a good day for a nap outside. Not too hot, good breeze, the ocean spray keeping you cool… and it’s a good day for fishing. Which is why you’ve found me out here.”

“Is this a hobby of yours?” Lucci asked when he saw your small collection of items. “You’ve thought of everything. This isn’t even your twelfth time doing this, is it?”

“If you ask me how long I’ve been at it, you’ll make me feel old, Lucci. But sure, by this point it’s a treasured hobby,” you replied. “One I’ve gotten pretty good at.”

“By this point? How do you mean?”

You sighed to yourself, letting unhappy memories overtake you for a second, your countenance shifting from its usual content patience to contemplative silence. How to broach this topic? Lucci had only been in Water 7 for less than two years. He only knew the city during its prosperous period. You had told him that it wasn’t always that way. But even you didn’t like talking about how hard it had been to live here and you would outright say that you still wouldn’t live anywhere else. It took you a minute to form the right words.

“I believe I told you that Water 7 used to be racked with poverty, right?” you asked Lucci quietly.

“You did.”

Lucci looked at your face. You suddenly just looked so… tired. Your memories weighing down upon your shoulders as they curved into a slump.

“And how much of our situation have you learned about from us, directly? Before the Sea Train was up and running?”

Before Lucci answered, his mouth open to respond, he realized why you worded it the way you did. He then closed it and nodded, slouching forward so that your head could more comfortably rest against his shoulder.

“It must have been terrible. No one likes to talk about it at length. They all say what you say. It was difficult.”

“When you don’t eat enough, you get sick. When you can’t afford medicine, you get sick longer. Easier. If you don’t have money for food, you certainly don’t have money to run a business. Many places shuttered. Restaurants, shops, stalls. Even the ones open had to operate on razor thin profit margins with no staff just to keep the lights on.” You gripped your stomach without noticing, the ghostly pangs of missed meals almost two decades ago still fresh in your mind and body. “I… was so hungry. All the time. And my parents were even hungrier because they didn’t want to see me starve.

“I was so desperate that I stole a fishing book out of the library to try and get something out of the ocean that my dad didn’t have to pay a fishmonger for. So I went out with my dog and fished every single day to try and bring something to the table. Anything too small to cook went to him. Anything bigger than my hand, I ran home as fast as I could so no one as desperate as me could steal it away. Not that I could fight back. They never said it… but I think my parents hated themselves that they couldn’t provide enough for me… so much so that I felt the responsibility to provide for them. But they swallowed their pride and we ate together.”

Lucci turned his head and kissed the top of yours. You were even stronger than he thought, and he thought quite highly of you to begin with.

“All this while you were still a child… everyone here left to flounder for scraps.”

“All we had were our shipbuilding yards. Without our knowledge of that industry, the city surely would have been abandoned. By now, it would have been long since submerged under the sea, thanks to years of Aqua Laguna and no one left to build the city up higher and higher.” You gripped the hand that Lucci offered you tightly in your own. “I don’t want to think what would have happened to me.

“Then Tom’s Workers saved everyone. Tom, Iceberg and Cutty Flam. They labored day after day to build a Sea Train, something brand new and innovative. I watched it happen from time to time, hoping they’d find the perfect formula for the track. After years and years, the Puffing Tom was built, the Sea Train connected us to several islands and money started to flow. My parents went back to work, the pantries had food, and I didn’t have to fish to survive anymore.

“That’s why I’ll never curse Tom’s name, as some do. Because he saved my life. He and his shipwrights.”

Lucci nodded and brought your hand, still held firmly in his, up to his mouth to press a kiss into it.

“It’s understandable why lifelong residents here don’t dwell on the past. It’s too painful,” Lucci surmised, feeling your head nod in response on his shoulder.

“Well, now you know my life story,” you replied, finally lifting your head from his shoulder to turn and face him. Your patient smile was back on your face, a sight that Lucci was surprised to feel comforted by. Although he admitted to himself that it shouldn’t. He was very fond of you; it was logical that he should be empathic to someone he was fond of.

“Indeed. I’m glad your future didn’t stay so dark.”

“Mmm… things did turn around and now I can fish for the love of the game and not for survival,” you agreed. “Speaking of pasts, you don’t have to volunteer a single detail of your own if you don’t want to. Trauma can be hard to speak about, so if you had any, I wouldn’t want to pry it out of you.”

As much as you’d like to learn where those scars on Lucci’s back came from, that wasn’t anyone’s story to tell but Lucci’s. And if he didn’t want you knowing about it, it would stay forever shrouded in mystery.

Which was very convenient a notion for the government spy, one he leapt on casually.

“That’s considerate of you.” He leaned forward and accepted the kiss that you gave him. “Maybe one day I’ll tell you,” Lucci offered, knowing full well that day would never come.

“Then I’ll be all ears,” you promised to the false intention. For that, he kissed you once more.

As expected, kissing you was quite addictive to Lucci and he bestowed several more upon you before gazing out to the sea.

“Any luck with catches so far?”

“No, none yet,” you sighed. “I suppose it’s mentally healthy to accept there may not be a catch, whereas when I was a kid it was much more vital to get something on the line.”

“May I join you then?”

“Ah, sure!” you said with a wide grin. “But it may be boring for you.”

“No more boring than driving nails into a ship railing, I’d wager,” he responded back coolly.

“I guess for as many nails as you hit, it would become quite tedious,” you surmised as you swung back over to fully face the ocean and watch your line sway in the breeze, one leg dangling on each side of the keel.

Lucci mimicked you, wrapping his arms around your middle. “For you, I'd wager it’s paperwork.”

“Ugh, don’t remind me,” you muttered. All it took was thinking about the stacks you always had to do, even with your scribe, to make you frown. “I’m not sitting all alone in the middle of Scrap Heap Island to think about work, Rob Lucci.”

“Looks like there isn’t much of a point to think about fishing either,” he smirked. “Not exactly a vast haul to keep your mind occupied.”

“You jerk,” you snorted, giggling as Lucci pulled you closer to his chest, your back snug against his front.

"I've heard that before, woman," Lucci growled as he nuzzled your neck. "And I have an inkling you'd like to me to act improper."

His hands started to move around your stomach, your midriff providing no protection for his strong hands to traverse your visible and oh so tempting skin. You shivered as the tip of his forefinger slipped between the waist band of your shorts and your skin and delicately dragged itself from one side to the other. His other hand disappeared under your shirt and grasped one of your breasts. An involuntary moan left your lips as Lucci’s lips touched your ear, his tongue darting out to lick its shell. “Lucci…”

“I think I’ve found where my attention needs to be… and where your mind likes to wander late at night,” he purred as he felt your thighs tense up in his lap. His forefinger came back around to the button of your shorts, the middle finger joining in on the inside of the fabric. Gripping the button on the other side, Lucci tugged it upward, creating delicious force against your sex. “It looks like you’re craving la petite mort… and I can’t hold back another second."

Chapter 22: Catch of the Day

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

I wrote this with Kinktober in mind, so bless

Your shorts had slid off your ass with a little lift of your hips. One leg found their way out of the bottoms and the other leg had your shorts resting on its knee. This gave Lucci full access to your core, which was clenching madly at the nimble movements. Your shirt and bra were pulled up, exposing your breasts to the cool air from the sea, a familiar position to Lucci, one he was growing more and more fond of. Your clothes were so casual today, much easier to work past compared to professional ensembles you wore to work. Much easier to grasp at your breast and play with it while his other hand caused you to moan out in wanton need.

You wriggled in his hold, his touch overwhelming you but no reprieve coming. You were completely at his mercy. Completely at his disposal. Completely within his control.

“Good girl,” Lucci whispered into your ear before descending upon your neck to press heavy, hot kisses into it. “Would be a shame if you fell off his keel, wouldn’t it?” He removed his hand from your breast for just a few seconds, enough to lick the tips of his fingers before it descended once more to roll and tug at your turgid nipple. “Just take it.”

“Lucci, you-ahh!!” You cried out as Lucci’s long, slim pointer finger entered you, and you gasped as it curled upon its exit. “Aaahhh!!!”

“Hmm?” he smirked as he repeated the action a few more times, studying your face as it changed with how deep he went. You were so damn tight and slick and his cock twitched at the thought of how you could squeeze him into oblivion if he were so much as to slide the tip of his member into you. “What was that, my dear?”

One of your hands shakily covered the one that was busy pleasuring your core and pushed it against you.

“More… please, more!” you begged, tilting your head back to stare up at Lucci’s beautiful face. His pupils were wide, so dark and deep and gorgeous that you were hypnotized.

You didn’t make a conscious choice to kiss him; your body moved via pure lust to initiate a heady kiss, one Lucci returned tenfold.

Lucci could smell your fervent desire, your slick cunt beckoning him to insert another finger, which he did. This brought forth a groan out of you from deep in your throat, one that spurned Lucci to pump his hand faster, plunge his fingers further into you. His two fingers scissored, stretching you out.

He wanted to see what you could take. The last thing he needed was for his cock to snap you in half and for him to then lose a vital piece of his undercover identity.

He also desperately needed to test himself and his self-control. His Zoan half had permanently altered his DNA and he had never tested it out when it came to meaningful sex. Sure, he had rolled around in bed and had his fair share of one-night stands to work off occupational frustrations. But with someone he had a connection with, even if it was manufactured to a certain extent? Accidentally revealing his jaguar Devil Fruit powers would expose his identity, jeopardize his mission and in all likelihood lead to you needing to be killed or, with a faint glimmer of hope for leniency, be taken into permanent World Government custody so you couldn’t spread the word of CP-9 around.

But would you? He wondered idly as he dropped his hand from your breast to keep your legs from swinging shut when you finally came with a yelp and jolt of surprise, rocking your way through the full-body orgasm. You always promised you were discreet and that you wouldn’t go blathering to strangers about his life and matters he wanted kept quiet. Not that he ever wanted to test that loyalty when it came to his Devil Fruit powers, but perhaps you would be able to keep your life if you knew, truly knew, about his real profession.

Of course, I don’t plan on you finding out, Lucci thought, smirking to himself as he began his assault on your core once more, your second orgasm following in the shadow of your first. He valued being able to let loose and relax around you far more, which could only happen if you stayed in the dark. This arrangement was fine just the way it was and he wasn’t favorable to the idea of letting it change.

How else could he listen to your cries and begs of mercy and ignore them to have you come again, tears starting to fall down your cheeks as you were utterly overwhelmed by pleasure? After the third orgasm, Lucci’s fingers finally withdrew from you, your wetness staining the blanket that you were sitting on and the scent of sex heavy in the air.

“Well that was riveting,” Lucci hummed as you collapsed panting against his chest, your own heaving from exertion, your head ringing from the hottest moment of your life thus far. “And marine life didn’t interrupt and bite at your line,” he noted, the bobber of your rod resting undisturbed on the water’s surface.

You couldn’t form words at the moment, so you settled for wiping your eyes clear from the tears you made a few minutes prior.

“M-m-mess,” you mumbled out as Lucci looked down at you, eyebrow cocked.

“Yes, you did make a mess, silly girl,” he whispered, as if tutting you for spilling a tray of food on a freshly cleaned floor. But he gave you a soft smile and kissed the side of your head when you finally found the energy to sit back up and put your bottoms back on and tugged your shirt down. “Good work.”

“You’ve got… excellent technique,” you replied, floundering for a compliment back at Lucci bringing you on several trips to heaven. “I feel spoiled,” you admitted sheepishly as you looked down at what you had been sitting on as a buffer between you and the keel. Before Lucci turned it into a sex rag. “I should just throw this out… it was an old thing anyway.”

“In that case, I need to borrow it.”

Lucci motioned for you to sit up, which you did, and he took it from under you. Quickly it became clear what Lucci’s angle was. Your hand flew to your mouth to hold in a gasp as your boyfriend, without shame or reservations, popped his erection out of his pants without so much as a warning.

“Oh fuck,” you muttered to yourself as Lucci began to masturbate.

Normally he would have preferred to have you suck him off, but perhaps perched on top of a half a galleon’s keel wasn’t the best place to do so. There would be other opportunities for that, your attention to it proved that much.

But that didn’t mean he couldn’t tease you about it.

“Not intimidated, are we?” Lucci purred as he pumped himself, slowly dragging his fist up and down his cock, thick and long. The noise that came out of your throat when you saw it twitch and dribble out pre-cum was nothing short of glorious.

“I don’t know when we’re going to fuck, but… you’ll have to do some prep work on me,” you warned him as you unwaveringly stared at Lucci getting himself off.

“My pleasure,” he chuckled. He watched as you draped your blanket over your front, scooted closer to him, and just about sat in his lap. “Want to join in, my dear?”

“I think it’s only fair… after all, you can’t be doing all the work here…”

With that, Lucci watched you take hold of him. His cock was warm and firm, as was the hand that covered yours. You hadn’t given out too many handjobs in your life, but this one barely started and the experience ranked at the very top of your list. Your boyfriend guided you in rhythm, his breaths becoming rough and shallow as the seconds went by, until you took over. The right pressure, the right movements. And you thought Lucci’s eyes were dark before! Your heart just about stopped when Lucci took your free hand and brought it up to his mouth.

Did his teeth always look sharp? you wondered before your fingers entered his mouth, his tongue wrapping around your slender digits, sucking on their tips. And when he looked you in the eye, his sharp gaze piercing your whole self? You could have come once more.

After a few more strokes, Lucci swore under his breath and came out in three strong spurts, all of which you were able to keep from splattering you with your thoroughly abused blanket. You let it fall to the ground below, content to leave that to pick up and throw away later. For now, Lucci tucked himself away and brought you into his lap for a deep kiss.

“You must be some sort of devil to tempt me so,” he muttered against your lips after a length of time doing nothing but that. “Would you believe I’m usually reserved?”

“Right back at you, Lucci,” you giggled, your chests pressed together in the close embrace. “You’re too sexy for your own good.”

Lucci hummed at the compliment as he kissed your throat. “And you…” His gaze caught your basically abandoned fishing line, its reel rotating wildly as its line began to wear down. “Are missing out on a catch.”

Lucci almost lost balance off the keel from how rapidly you hopped off his lap and yanked the fishing rod out of its bracket.

“It must be huge!” you shouted as you fought to stop the reel from losing any more line. But you didn’t have the strength! Especially not after Lucci had his way with you! “This is the catch of a lifetime!” You stood up for a better position and fought to keep the rod in your hands and your balance on the keel. “If I let go, I lose my fishing rod!”

“But if you keep holding on, you’ll lose your balance once the line goes down,” Lucci pointed out as he stood up as well. “And you’re not hitting the ground without several broken bones.”

“It’s a no-win situation,” you grunted, not desiring to fall off the ship keel. “But I want to win…”

“Then pass it over.”

You looked behind you at Lucci holding out his hand expectantly. “Huh?”

“I’ll bring it in. You bought that fishing line from Galley-La, right? Then it won’t break, no matter how much the beast tugs and swims. I’ll take it from here.”

This was no time for a back-and-forth and you didn’t have any unyielding pride when it came to a fun hobby, so you handed Lucci the fishing rod and carefully maneuvered behind him.

“Okay, go Rob Lucci! Go!” you cheered as Lucci stopped the reel from moving when it was just about out of line without so much as a flinch. Then he began working it back, retrieving lost distance at a quick, steady pace.

You looked out into the distance and saw the white foam from the thrashing fish grow larger and larger with each passing minute. Once Lucci saw a part of the fish’s body emerge from the water, he channeled his martial arts training, stiffened his body, and yanked the fish out of sea in one fell swoop.

“You did it!!!” you yelled with a furious applause as Lucci reeled in an elephant tuna until it was within arm’s reach, your fishing rod straining under the immense weight of the catch. “It’s so big!!! You’re amazing!!”

“It put up quite the fight,” Lucci agreed as your prize flopped in front of them, your fishing rod resting on his shoulder as he turned around to face you. “We should kill it now, stop its suffering.”

“Agreed, but I don’t think the knife that I brought is up to the task,” you sighed, closing your eyes to rack your brain for an idea.

However, Lucci took this opportunity of your distraction to execute a finger pistol and deliver the elephant tuna a killing blow. By the time you opened your eyes to suggest punching it really super hard at the neck, the fish was already dead.

“Looks like we don’t have to worry about that. But cooking it is going to take some time.”

“Right!” you said with determination. “I’ve already got a collection of dry wood below and the makings of a fire pit, so let’s get the flame going so this will cook before dusk.”

 

You never would have guessed that someone as stoic and serious as Rob Lucci would also be adept at getting a roaring fire going to cook a fish on the coast of the blue sea, but he kept surprising you. He just didn’t seem like a ‘roughing it’ guy to you, yet he was the one who got the fire started and found the perfect piece of wood to skewer the fish to get it into a roasting position.

Lucci spent the rest of the evening with you, chatting lightly about the goings-on of the town and getting a warning from you that Aqua Laguna was going to be coming in just the next week and to get shelter plans in place if he didn’t have any already. You only needed to board up your windows to protect from wind damage and didn’t need to tar any door and window openings like other Water 7 citizens.

It was well past sundown when the fish was cooked, but you and Lucci (and Hattori, who flitted down to perch on your head not long after the tuna went over the fire) were able to feast until there was nothing but bones left, with Lucci devouring nearly all of the prized catch. At least it didn’t go to waste.

“I had the best day spending time with you, Lucci,” you said as the two of you stood to gather your things and head back home, the fire of the roast having long since died down. “Thank you for your company.”

“Today was… lovely.” Lucci didn’t not plan to budget his entire day on you, but whenever he thought of leaving, his mind thought better and he stayed. “I’ll see you later, okay?”

“Okay.” You beckoned him down so you could kiss his cheek, Hattori hopping to change his perch to his master’s shoulder. “Be safe getting home. If you get jumped by the Franky Family, I’m not going to stitch you up.”

“I think I could take them,” he smirked back.

“I think you could too, but never underestimate someone you think is beneath you. People get their asses kicked for less.”

“Point considered,” Lucci said before kissing you once more. “You be safe as well. Want me to walk you back?”

“No, if you walk me back, I’m just going to drag you inside and tie you to the bed and I’ve got an early day of shopping tomorrow,” you said matter-of-factly, which is what Lucci liked about you.

“Fair enough. Another time. I’ll bring the rope,” he whispered into your ear, which made you shiver.

Oof, this man was good at flirting.

With the willpower of two hundred men, you walked back home solo, hoping for a day when your threats of bedroom action would become reality.

Which, little did you know, would be days away.

Chapter 23: Mild Distractions

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

Oh, to be Reader in this chapter

As was traditional in Water 7, just about every business outside vendors of supplies to batten down the hatches was closed. Aqua Laguna was not to be taken lightly and preparations for it had been happening for the past week. Yagara Bulls were safely penned away, businesses and homes were tarred, boarded up and waterproofed, and anything not pinned down outside was brought in. Lucci and Kaku had quickly waterproofed their apartments, having taken lower levels to live in due to their mission requiring them to live lowkey and experience everything a regular citizen would, as this was better for blending in.

Didn’t make it any less of a pain in the ass. One Aqua Laguna was bad enough to live through, having had to take shelter with everyone, but having to contend with an unknown number of recurrences in the future was aggravating. At least to Lucci. Kaku, Blueno and Kalifa didn’t seem to mind at all. It helped that Kalifa lived in the upper half of Water 7 and was in a similar situation to you, where she just had to board up windows to protect from the rain and wasn’t in an area prone to flooding.

You told Lucci as much when he popped by your office window the day before the tsunami waves were scheduled to hit. You were the only one in the clinic that afternoon, explaining to your boyfriend that you were only present to get caught up on paperwork since tomorrow there wouldn’t be much to do but stay home and wait out the storm. And you had to leave in an hour anyway because Paulie was due later that evening to board up everything (Iceberg had dragged the man out of Galley-La to apologize to you for the rope incident a couple days following it and you hadn’t seen him since).

“Did you know I was alone here?” you teased Lucci as he got sick of crouching and swung inside of the room.

Hattori flitted around the room before finding a decorative art piece to perch on. He then proceeded to clean the inside of his wing as his master continued his chat with you.

“The front door was locked, yet I could hear you humming,” he replied as he perused through your bookshelves as you put your head back down and continued to speed your way through your stack of work. “It’s been awhile since I’ve seen it. Your office.”

“Well it was just about dawn when you snuck out, so I don’t think you actually got a proper look,” you said, not looking up.

“Have you read all of these books?”

“Yup. A couple of them have my research papers in them. Quite proud of them… due to write a few more,” you responded, distracted by a particularly complicated medicine order form. “So cumbersome…”

Lucci cocked his head to properly read the titles and authors lined up all along the shelves and did, in fact, spot your name eventually. He removed the book, a collection of research papers of which you were one of the four contributors, and read the title aloud.

“‘Back to Basics: Psychology of a Gentle Hand with Training Domestic Pets’,” Lucci said before opening the book to see the date of publication. Three years ago. Before he even met you and when you were barely out of your teens. “How was it received?”

You groaned and leaned back in your office chair until you threatened to tip over, pushing the balls of your palm into your eyes as you recalled the letters you received that year. “Well, as you might imagine, older members of the community stuck in their ways accused me of being soft and spoiling animals. Pain in my ass… but I was just as often praised by pet owners for the results of my methods.”

“So it had a direct beneficial effect. You should be proud.”

At once you released your eye sockets and leaned back into the desk. “We can’t all keep unquestioningly obeying how things have always worked. And soon I hope to be vindicated. Might take ten years. Might take twenty. I just have to be patient.”

“I guess we’ll have to see how things develop,” Lucci nodded before closing the book and putting it back.

“What would have made you a better shipwright, Lucci?” you asked, finally taking focus off your work and looking up at your boyfriend. “A gentle, guiding hand or someone yelling and kicking your ass until you got it right?”

Lucci sighed and thought back to all of his trainers in the World Government who shaped him into the killing machine that he was today. All of them were quite violent, beating him until he got his form correct, which only made his body that much more durable when it came to blows. How else could he perfect Iron Body unless he had someone hit him as hard as they could?

Not that this was the answer you were looking for. So he compromised.

“I thrive under pressure. Meaning I excel when someone is putting me through unrelenting paces. Whereas someone like Kaku would likely prefer a less aggressive mentor.”

“Well, I suppose that the human race isn’t a monolith,” you mused. “No two people learn best the same way.” At a thought, you chuckled. “I once ate at a restaurant floating in the middle of the sea in the East Blue. The Baratie. Apparently the head chef there will kick you through a wall if you prepare food wrong.”

“I imagine that makes employment difficult,” Lucci replied as he sat on your desk once you set aside your very nearly finished paperwork to make room for him. “How was the food?”

“Some of the best I’ve ever tasted! There was some precocious kid living there and working as a chef.” You laughed some more at the memory, still vivid in your mind. “He flirted with me and every woman there until said chef literally kicked him back into the kitchen. Probably his son or something…”

Lucci once more thought back to his training as a child and all the cuts, bruises and broken bones he received while mastering his martial arts. It was mildly amusing to hear that those kinds of regimens extended beyond the World Government. “It seems the results speak for themselves in that restaurant.”

“It seems so. Now you can stay if you want, but the only way I’m going to tie a bow on the work that you are sitting beside is if, and only if, you are the tiniest amount of distracting that’s possible.”

“And what amount am I now?” he grunted, letting a smirk form on his lips as he turned to fully face you, legs spread wide across your desk. He watched your eyes travel up his legs and land at his crotch. He couldn’t say he’d turn down an offer of you sucking him off then and there, but his goal in that moment was purely to fluster you.

And you flustered so easily.

“Sir, please, I’m on the clock,” you giggled when Lucci caught your wrists when you raised your hands in mocking self-defense, only to bring them to his thighs. “This is highly inappropriate.” You gave Lucci’s thighs an appreciative squeeze, which only caused him to slide off the desk and sit in your lap.

“I think that only makes it more fun. Wouldn’t you agree, Doctor?” he whispered as he held your head in his large, rough hands.

He was just so much taller than you. Longer legs, longer torso, larger hands, all existing to make you feel small, but… protected. You longed to envelop yourself into his arms and feel secure, held, wanted.

When Lucci looked down at you, his pelvis pressing into yours as your hands rested on his hips, his silky black hair curtaining his face, you couldn’t speak.

But you had to try.

“You’re beautiful,” you breathed out. “No other word for it.”

Lucci merely continued to smirk before leaning down. “Look who’s talking,” he breathed back before kissing you on the lips. It was short, yet passionate, a kiss that left your head spinning after Lucci got up from the comfortable spot on your lap. That may have been exquisite, but having you sitting on his lap for extended intimacy was much better for his back.

Although Lucci did enjoy the difference in stature between himself and you, being so much taller did come with its own set of challenges.

“I’m afraid I failed you by being distracting,” he sighed as Hattori flew to his shoulder once more.

“Yes, I’m afraid you have a grave moral failing in being sexy,” you replied dramatically as you stood as well, but merely to stretch. “I’ve been sitting forever… but I’m almost done here and then I’m locked up in my house for tomorrow night. You remember where this year’s bunker is, right?”

“I’m well aware, miss.”

“Good!” You grinned wide before caressing Hattori’s cheek, who cooed happily from the attention. “It would suck if you drowned. I guess I’ll see you in a few days. You’ll probably be up to your gills in work at Galley-La and doing repairs in town.”

Lucci nodded and gave you a kiss good-bye before sliding out your office window and heading into town.

A few days? He snorted inwardly at the mere suggestion.

His job as a spy was on hold throughout Aqua Laguna. Even if a most pressing matter came up, the shelter-in-place order superseded all of that.

So as far as Lucci was concerned, he could shelter wherever he wanted. And wait it out doing whatever (or whomever) he wanted.

And what better way to while away the stormy weather than to fuck you into the next morning?

Chapter 24: Lock the Doors, Dim the Lights

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

Please clap.

You always, and you meant always, waited outside as long as possible the night of Aqua Laguna. The last family in the bunkers, you and your parents always spared some time to feel the change in weather, and the horrendous tidal waves that were to come, in your very bones. Your father did this to triple-check that your home was as secure as possible from rising waters and rapid current changes. Your mother did it to remind herself that nature would always win, that safety always came first, and that hubris was far more dangerous than the annual storm.

When you came of age and also found yourself a spot high enough in the city that you didn’t need to bunk with everyone in the lower sectors, you made it a tradition to watch the waves roll in from your rooftop. It was absolutely terrifying each and every time, but you kept a lookout for it regardless. The Grand Line was not meant to be fucked with and only the bravest of sailors dared to step foot on a boat in anything less than calm waters. The further one strayed from an island, the greater the dangers that awaited. That’s why you very rarely left Water 7. And when you did, it was always by sea train.

Aqua Laguna was an annual reminder that your expertise in this world lay with animals, not with navigation, helming a ship or even surviving! Even though you were a strong swimmer, it would take someone inhuman to swim through the seas surrounding you.

“Oh, I can see the change coming,” you hummed to yourself as you saw a curtain of thick rain inch toward you.

Yes, you’d even stay up there until the rain started truly pouring in and tonight was no different. The precipitation from the storms had the ability to change from a slight drizzle to a calm rain to a downpour within minutes. In fact, a small puddle started gathering on the floor of your apartment from the wide-open hatch on your roof as the Aqua Laguna rains started to gain in both volume and power. You did, however, remember to put several towels down to quicken the cleanup! Not to mention the stack of fluffy, brand-new towels you had on the counter and the candles you had lit in every room. You had to fumble around in the dark in your second year of Aqua Laguna in your pitch-black apartment and spent that night moving at a snail’s pace from room to room for the bathroom, the kitchen and your bedroom. Never again.

Thankfully, you were going to stay dry on the roof this time, having the presence of mind to bring an umbrella with you up the ladder to the roof (you weren’t this proactive every year - three years ago you got damn near soaked). And you either strapped down or put away your roof lounging furniture! The first year you moved, the loungers and matching table got blown away to… well, you never found them!!! They could be at Fishman Island after all this time for all you knew!

And with Paulie having gotten your storm shutters nice and tight as well as sealed the underside of your door, you were the most prepared you had been for Aqua Laguna since you first moved up to your apartment. Every year you managed to forget something, which led to either cleanup or restoration the following week. But not this year!! You smirked to yourself and gripped your umbrella tighter as the rain really started coming down. With the wind in the mix, your umbrella was doing less and less to protect you from the elements and your paper thin clothes (you always wore clothes on the verge of being tossed). And in the distance, the first set of Aqua Laguna waves appeared on the horizon. Larger and more terrifying than ever. Which wiped the smirk right off your face.

With that kind of power, considerable damage was going to befall Water 7, especially the lower levels. Cleanup was going to take weeks, you surmised.

“Will they really get much worse than that?” you murmured. It was widely accepted that the waves got worse year after year. But these waves were truly monstrous!! If Iceberg didn’t come up with a solution soon, there wouldn’t be a Water 7 left in the near future.

“I better get inside soon,” you sighed.

However, you didn’t even get to turn around when you heard the familiar sound of two feet landing on the surface of your roof, muffled ever so slightly by the rain.

“Lucci?”

You whipped your head over to see Lucci looming over you, damn near soaking wet. Poor Hattori was also a sopping mess. Unlike his master, the bird didn’t have a black top hat to keep the crown of his head dry. Even then, you doubted Lucci’s trademark hat was providing all that much protection at this rate. It looked like he had been running around outside for the better part of an hour.

“What are you doing here?” you asked, concerned for his well-being. “You and Hattori are bound to catch your death.” You lifted up your umbrella so that you, Lucci and Hattori were shielded from the rain. Lucci stepped even closer to you.

“My sector’s shelter is overcrowded. Found that out a couple hours ago. Then I thought that I’d prefer sheltering away from the rabble. Which brought me here.”

Which brought him to your apartment. “Well…” You felt your face warm at the immediate implications of this situation. You and Lucci would be locked away for a minimum of twelve hours. Together. In an apartment with one bed. “I see… aren’t you bold? Can you imagine if I told you to get lost?” you teased.

“I had a feeling that wouldn’t be the case.”

“Right you are. Let’s uh…. let’s get inside.”

Lucci nodded and let you head down the ladder first, umbrella under your arm. The rain invaded your living space for only a second, as Lucci had jumped down with the hatch wheel in hand and wrenched it close. Hattori immediately flew into your office where there was a radiator to dry him off and keep him warm. The last you saw of the pigeon was him shaking loose the excess water from his feathers and closing the heavy wooden door behind him with one of his little feet. Birds could close doors?

The thought distracted you enough to miss hearing Lucci’s wet clothes smack onto the floor one by one. When your eyes darted back over, your boyfriend was stark naked. You had already seen him nearly naked a couple times, but that had nothing on what you saw before you. The soft glow of the candles you had about the apartment’s rooms gently reflected the light sheen of rain all over his body, his wiry muscles boldly defined from head to toe. This was the hard-earned body of a man who did backbreaking labor day in and day out.

He found the stack of towels you placed on the nearby kitchen countertop and began rubbing himself down. The movement of him toweling off his long, thick black hair drew your eyes right to his cock. You had no idea if he was a grower or a shower, but if it was the former, you were in for one hell of a time.

When he was adequately dry, he let the towel rest on his shoulders before turning his gaze to you. The dark look in his eyes as he studied you up and down, focusing on the thin clothes that were stuck to your skin. Your breasts were so tempting when you dressed like this. Even in the dim light he could catch your nipples pointed against the thin fabric. The vision of you looking so captivated, so aroused for him, shouldn’t have had so much power over his mind. It was taking a stunning amount of self-control for him to make it to the bedroom that was just over your shoulder and not just yank you down and drill you into the floor.

“Here… let me help you,” Lucci purred, padding toward you. When he was hovering over you, the towel was removed from his shoulders and dropped into your head.

“Help?” you choked out before he tightly gripped the fabric of your flimsy tank top and ripped it right off your body, exposing your breasts to the air of the apartment that was growing hotter by the minute. Strong pulses were hitting your core over and over, which only got worse (or better?) when Lucci’s thumbs hooked on the waistbands of your pants and underwear. You watched him kneel down as he brought both articles to the ground.

“Did you want to catch a cold?” he asked while your legs stepped out of your shorts, albeit shakily.

There were several scant drops of water on your body from the outside rain, which you would normally be able to hear pounding onto the rooftop. But with your heart beating in your ears, it was muted. All your focus was on Lucci. Lucci’s focus was on one droplet chasing down your hip. When it reached the top of your thigh, he leaned forward and caught the droplet with the tip of his tongue. Achingly slow, his tongue chased the path of the droplet to its source, your belly, while his hands shadowed the backs of your legs.

“Lucci…” you mewled as his tongue dipped inside your navel. Your hands rifled through his damp hair as he nibbled all around your stomach. “Don’t tease… not anymore…”

His hands gripped your ass suddenly and with a passionate force, causing you to gasp and stumble forward. Lucci took advantage of your lack of balance to dip and shift to the side, your middle falling into his shoulder. At once he stood, your body draped over his shoulder as if you weighed nothing.

And he walked right to your bed.

“Fine then… I’d rather not prolong it any further either…”

Lucci’s long legs paced into your bedroom. Through the door, he lightly smacked your ass to alert you he was at the foot of your bed. Was he going to toss you on it? Gently lay you down on your bedspread? Each thought rifling through your mind was more exciting than the last.

With practiced ease thanks to his immense reserve of strength, Lucci flipped you over into his waiting hand and laid your back onto the mattress. The backs of your legs were pressed against his chest while he gripped your ankles. Staring down at you, Lucci pressed a kiss to your left ankle and then your right. Slowly, he repeated these kisses down your legs, kneeling down once he was at your thighs.

“This has been on my mind,” Lucci confessed as he suckled at the soft flesh of your inner thighs. “How you act when you’re driven wild. I’ve been wanting to unravel you for some time now.”

You let out an embarrassingly wanton moan when Lucci’s mouth hovered over your core. His tongue then darted out to take a quick swipe at your clit. Your whole pelvis wriggled at that simple motion, which caused Lucci’s hands to snake under your thighs and grip them at the other side. You tried to test his strength and close them shut with all your might, but they wouldn’t budge.

You were completely at the mercy of his mouth and his whims.

Finally.

Lucci started out slow, savoring the taste of you and your glorious core. There were some days where he could inhale and practically smell your desire, the desire that you fought so hard to conceal from others. Your need to be mature and professional versus your want of claiming his cock all for yourself. Well, you’d be getting that from him tonight at the very least.

As his tongue became more insistent, bolder, he thought back on his previous experience. Yes, he could have just about anyone he wanted from looks alone, but the average citizen of this world rarely piqued his interest. When they did, it was always one-and-done. And he never mixed work and pleasure, which negated any World Government associates.

You were steadily becoming more vocal, volume increasing whenever he gave special attention to your clit, now swollen and positively aching. Even considering his past conquests, half those encounters were just pounding out his urges into the night. He certainly wasn’t trying to make a connection with anyone! Sex was nothing more than horizontal (or sometimes vertical) cardio sessions for all he cared. And he specifically avoided virgins. Nothing wrong with being one, but he simply didn’t have the patience nor empathy to guide a young person through their first time.

So thank fuck you weren’t one. But if he was being honest with himself, that wouldn’t have mattered to him.

This was different. He wanted to make you scream. To see you writhe around. To hear you call his name and beg for more. That you were so close, just please please please!!!

Releasing one of your thighs, Lucci raised his chin to focus on your clit once more, but also to give himself some room to rub against your entrance with his forefinger. He could already feel you slit convulsing as you grew nearer and nearer to orgasm. You were going to be tight enough to snap him in half, weren’t you? Sliding even one finger inside of you confirmed this; you would need some prep work. All the better. It was going to be a long night waiting out Aqua Laguna.

Lucci placed his lips on your clit and sucked down hard, finally enticing you and bringing you over the edge with a hoarse cry. Your body then accepted a second finger as Lucci got up from his kneeling position and joined you on the bed, lying at your side as he continued to scissor and stretch you to accept his cock.

“You’re certainly wet enough,” Lucci chuckled. You looked down under his arm to see his cock at half-mast. It appeared that making you come was enough to wake up his lower half.

“You really do keep yourself under control,” you replied with a shaky smile. “Great technique…”

“I hope I didn’t peak too early in the night,” he chuckled back. “I have a feeling you’ll really be testing my composure. Look.”

You followed Lucci’s line of sight down to where his fingers were sliding in and out and even by the dim light of the candles in your room, you could see just how slick his fingers were. When Lucci saw you bite your bottom lip as he added a third finger, one you desperately needed for preparation, he decided to increase the rate of his hand pumping in and out, studying your face as you gasped, moaned, smiled. Hell, your tongue even flopped out of your mouth with a wrenching groan from the very back of your throat after a few minutes when his long fingers managed to hit your spot deep inside of you.

Even as your hips rode that second orgasm to completion, Lucci kept his fingers inside of you as the base of his palm rubbed against your clit.

“Well? Think you’re ready?” Lucci asked with a smirk. He rolled over and braced his arms on either side of you. So full of pleasure you were barely present. And he hadn’t even truly fucked you yet. “Or would you like to return the favor?”

“Lay down and don’t look too smug,” you finally replied after coming back down to earth.

Lucci didn’t move quick enough for your liking, so you earned a snort of surprise from your boyfriend as you caught his arm and rolled again. His back flat against your bedspread, Lucci had a perfect view of your ass on his chest. Though he could not see what you were doing, it was another half-second before both of your hands started pumping his cock.

“Clever little woman,” Lucci chuckled. No denying that you needed a short break and pleasuring him was a fine way to spend it. At least before he got a chance to truly claim you. He gave both of your ass cheeks a nice pinch, enjoying the perfect form and subtle bounce. Like a peach, he thought to himself. If they were a bit closer, he wouldn’t mind giving them a bite. Maybe that puckered hole tasted exotic too…

Quietly, Lucci stuck his forefinger in his mouth, the same one he used to bring you to completion not too long ago (what a flavor!), and lubed it up well. The squeak that came out of your lips as he experimentally poked inside your ass was enough to make him laugh in return.

“Surprised?” he purred. “I’m guessing you like it. I can feel you drip on my chest, lover.”

In response to his ministrations, Lucci hissed out your name as your mouth came down on his cock. Okay! So your sucking game was elite as well! You got used to his length and girth quickly, coming down farther and farther with each passing minute.

When you made it to his base, you breathed in through your nose and gave a violent humming vibration in the back of your throat. That was enough for Lucci to call for mercy, beg you to stop sucking him off or he was bound to come. It was the moment that you acquiesced, sat up and turned around, looking down at Lucci that he actually felt his heart skip a beat. You smirked and licked the precum from Lucci’s cock that was at the corner of your mouth.

You had finally flustered him.

With that realization settling into his mind, Lucci roughly smacked your ass, giving you a look that was typically reserved for his on-the-job bloodlust. Your response was to scoot yourself down his body and grind on his now fully erect cock.

You were done for.

“My turn.”

Lucci then sat up, wrapped his arm around your neck and brought you in for a passionate kiss. Interesting… turns out his own flavor wasn’t half bad. You shifted so you were sitting in his lap, your back to his front, his cock pressed up against your ass. Your breasts he hadn’t given proper attention for a couple weeks now. It was late at night after you two had a date at a bar when he pulled you into an abandoned alleyway to grope you, having been tempted for the whole date to do so.

Now, there was no chance of being interrupted or spied upon, so his tongue massaged yours as his large hands moved down to roughly knead them.

“Lay down and spread ‘em,” Lucci grunted as he tweaked your nipples. “Are we clear?”

“Crystal… as soon as you get your paws off me,” you teased back.

If it weren’t for you, Lucci wasn’t sure if he’d ever smile and mean it.

He lifted you off his lap with ease and tipped you backward until you were flat on your back. You hooked your own knees on your hands and pulled them up, presenting your soaked cunt to Rob Lucci.

With a few strokes of his cock against your core, Lucci wasted no time pushing the head of his cock into you, earning a breathless quiet moan. Now that wouldn’t do. He wanted to hear you. So he rocked into you. Farther. Harder. And only then did you start crying out like he ached to know.

“Fuck,” he grunted as he went deep and got a tight squeeze in response. “You’re... fuuuck…”

“You’re really big… but I’ve got you,” you whimpered as your arms and legs went around to hug his neck and hips. “I’ve been dreaming about how I… wanted you!” you cried out again as Lucci’s cock brushed against the spot.

Damn it all… he had too. Although his job was always going to be first and foremost in his mind, body and soul, you were starting to take up a concerning amount of room in his heart. He never felt more human and ordinary than when he was with you, a feeling that he both valued and abhorred. It had to be the case. Why else would sex with you end up affecting him so much?

 

After an hour, Lucci was starting to feel his stamina wear out. Not in terms of energy, but in terms of keeping himself from unloading inside of you. You had already come twice more and were shaking like a leaf with overstimulation. But you were only a civilian, after all. You had done splendidly and it was time to show you a touch of mercy.

“I’m… coming,” Lucci muttered into your neck as his hands came down to your thighs to spread them up and out. “Take it.”

“Lu-”

You couldn’t complete his name as the feeling of his cum spurting inside of you overwhelmed you.

Honestly? You saw stars.

Stars that immediately extinguished themselves when Lucci nearly collapsed on top of you. The only thing stopped him from smothering you was that his muscled arms were braced against the mattress on each side of you, leaving just enough room for the two of you to take deep breaths.

You strained your ears against the storms of Aqua Laguna to hear something odd right at your clavicle along with a soft vibration.

Was Lucci… purring? Huh… that was new…

Oh well. You smiled cheerily to yourself and stroked his hair and back, which he seemed to accept.

“You are an animal,” you whispered. “Way to show a girl a good time.”

“I can… barely breathe,” Lucci admitted after a few seconds of panting.

“Let’s get cleaned up… I have candles in the bathroom.”

"I’ll just… give me a minute and I’ll help you.”

“Good idea… not sure how well my legs are going to work.”

After returning from a good wipe down and hydration break, Lucci was asleep the second he hit the pillow on your bed. In another minute, you were too.

Chapter 25: The Morning After

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

Reader made it out alive, y'all. Now Lucci has to do the walk of shame back to his shitty apartment.

Morning.

Morning after another hellish storm surge.

Dawn’s gentle rays peeked through the slats of your bedroom window’s shutters, rousing you from a dreamless sleep. You cracked your eyes open and turned to face the bedroom door that was still ajar from last night. The candles you had laid out to light your dark flat had since been extinguished. Your floors remained dry, a testament to how well the portals into your apartment had been sealed from the winds and rainfall of Aqua Laguna.

Most of all, it was quiet, save for the deep, slow breathing of the man laying at your side. Still dead asleep, flat on his back, with several locks of black hair draped across his face. Gone were the usual stern glances and near perpetual frown. Lucci truly looked relaxed, more than you had ever seen him before. Not on guard, not looking over his shoulder, not busting his back at work or standing straight and rigid at your side.

You smiled softly as you delicately picked up thick locks that were laying across his face, one by one, slowly revealing the exceptionally handsome man. The fact that he didn’t even stir almost made you laugh, but you didn’t want to risk waking him up just yet. Not after he gave you the best sex of your life.

To go over just how thorough Lucci was in pleasuring you would send you into a lustful spiral and you weren’t sure your body was fully rested and fuelled enough to go at it again so soon.

But then again… you gazed down at the rest of his naked body and ran your tongue over your top lip.

You’re fucking gorgeous, you thought as you admired his sleeping form. Oh!! I really am a pervert!

Shaking your head at the idea that you were in the same tier as stupid Paulie (and you really didn’t want to think about Paulie while quite literally in bed with Lucci!!!), you rose as stealth-like as you could and got off the mattress. You needed to air out the apartment and get a good look at your roof and you’d achieve both by opening up your hatch. Even though this would most definitely wake up your boyfriend, the event of which you had been trying to delay, he could just as easily fall back asleep once you were done with your initial post-Agua Laguna inspection.

On the way, you glanced around the floor of your living room and spotted the tattered remains of your old shirt, the one that Lucci’s hands tore apart last evening with no effort. There was never any doubt to his physical power, which is why there was a concern in the back of your head mid-sex that you were going to wind up with bruises on top of bruises the next day. But so far, so good, you noted as you studied your hips and wrists in the shallow glow of sunlight coming through your windows.

Shrugging after having one last inner battle with yourself about disturbing Lucci’s sleep, you quietly grabbed your ladder and leant it against the hatch before clambering up and tugging open the valve. The creaks and grunts of effort from your mouth told you that Lucci was going to rouse soon. Once the hatch door was flipped open, you hoisted your top half over the edge of the opening and glanced around at your roof. Your legs dangled as you propped yourself up on your forearms to observe the outside.

The smell of salty water all around you hit your nose like a freight train. You’d be sweeping for ages just to get the salt off your property once the water dried up. In years prior, you would feel the grit of sea salt under your shoes for months and it would be no different this time around.

But thanks to the fact that your roof was slightly pitched, there weren’t any outstanding puddles on your property. Wet patches, sure, but everything looked to be intact and no worse for wear. You were sure that the lower levels of the city couldn’t say the same thing, but going by the minimal damage, you were safe to hunker down in your apartment for a couple more years - an arrangement you vastly preferred to an overcrowded safe house.

The only benefit to the safe house with other Water 7 citizens is the sense of camaraderie and the social companionship. You were all in the same boat and you often got to chat with people you didn’t see very often. It was thoughtful to be asked about how your life was going, how’s the business, to be told how much they miss your parents, your mentor.

So used to the annual storms were the townsfolk that little kids had a song about Aqua Laguna catching them as they giggled and ran around with blankets and sheets. It wasn’t always like that and you were glad that the younger generation didn’t have to know the hardships that you endured at their age. You got to laugh it off with the other adults and reminisce instead of dread the coming morning.

Even taking all that into account… Lucci was all the companionship you needed or wanted for the stormy evening.

Speaking off Lucci, he was even quieter than you getting up and out of bed, for you squealed in complete surprise when a pair of thick lips began peppering kisses into the backs of your thighs.

“Come back to bed,” the smooth voice of your boyfriend muttered from underneath you. His hands ran up and down your legs, kneading your flesh as his kisses became more insistent.

“In a minute,” you replied, gasping as Lucci dragged his tongue up your leg, from ankle to inner thigh. “Hey now…”

“I wasn’t through with you.”

“Speak for yourself, you animal,” you smirked. You were thankful that the window coverings were still installed because what a sight this would be for anyone to stumble upon! “Not all of us have superhuman stamina.”

“How about I push your limits instead?”

You mulled the thought over in your head and came to the conclusion that, yes, that sounded like a splendid idea. Right at the moment, Lucci gave you a tug just firm enough to loosen the grip your forearms had on the lip of the roof hatch and fall down into his waiting arms.

“What if I beg for mercy?” you purred as Lucci carried your back to bed.

“I’ll stop if you sound pathetic enough.”

“You brute!”

“I’ve been called far worse.”

Lucci set you on the bedspread and slowly sank into your body to give you a kiss deep enough to cause your heart to skip a beat. You moaned as he broke it off, only for him to repeat the action and grind his hips against yours. His hands settled on your hips before gingerly traveling up your rib cage to find your arms. As he kissed you, he guided your arms up over your head to lace his fingers with yours.

“Mmmmm…” You murmured softly to yourself as Lucci broke off the kiss once more to pay better attention to your neck. “What do you want to be called then?”

“I have a few ideas…”

Lucci did have you begging by the time he finally had his fill of you, but that was begging him to come inside of you.

You were on the pill, you took it every single day, Lucci knew that.

The risk was low. And he already did that to you last night.

Was it the wisest idea for him to do this repeatedly, knowing that you could very well wind up pregnant, which would leave a thread of his life behind on the inevitable day his mission in Water 7 ends?

No.

Did he care?

Not particularly.

“Good girl, panting for my cum,” he grinned before unloading inside of you. “Take it.” You mewled at the sensation and bucked your hips, but Lucci gave you no quarter as he rode out his climax. “You begged for this, didn’t you?”

“And you let me have it,” you responded with a cry as you gripped at Lucci’s shoulders.

That he did. Feeling you squeeze around him as he came inside you was absolutely exquisite. And he’d have to do it again sometime.

…. When he wasn’t on the clock.

Chapter 26: Back to the Grind

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

A thousand apologies, oh patient ones.

After the two of you properly calmed down from your fuck sessions, you left Lucci to laze around in your bed as you freshened up in the bathroom and got dressed. You idly wondered how Hattori was doing and how mentally scarred he was from hearing his master plow you a couple rooms over. And you hoped the pigeon wasn’t too put off. Still, it was better than him being in the same room as you, or worse… perched on Lucci’s shoulder while he fucked you raw.

Shuddering at the nightmarish thought, a scenario in which you’d surely dump him on the spot, you opened your office door and looked around for Hattori, who was still snoozing in a makeshift nest made out of a discarded scarf and wool gloves. Well, that’s good - he didn’t seem too put off. Maybe the storm was loud enough to cover up most of the previous night’s activities? Was that relief you felt? You’d much rather revel in that feeling than wondering how Hattori could have opened your closet to find and retrieve these winter clothes, much less arrange them on your desk so he could sleep in comfort.

Tiptoeing over, Hattori didn’t stir, much like his master. His head was tucked into his wing and you gazed for a few seconds at his little body rising and falling gently. He even quietly cooed at each exhale!

You buried a high-pitched squeal at the cute display and, delicately, ran your knuckle down Hattori’s back, his feathers tickling your skin as you did so. This was just firm enough to make him stir and raise his head, looking up at you with two bleary little eyes.

“Coo?”

“Say, who’s hungry?” you whispered to the drowsy bird. “You had a long, long night.”

Food sounded good to the pigeon and he responded by giving himself a good, prolonged stretch, complete with a squeaky yawn, before hopping up your arm to situate himself on the top of your head.

“I’ll take that as a yes?”

“Coo coo!!” Hattori replied with spirit, flapping his wings up and down.

“I had a feeling you might stay the night once or twice, so I have some bird seed and pellets on hand, which keeps very well. I’ll add some berries to the mix too. How does that sound?”

Hattori’s forehead came down to boop yours, which made you laugh.

“I’ll take that as a yes too!”

While you were prepping Hattori’s breakfast, Lucci emerged from your bedroom sporting a serious case of post-rain running/post-sex/post-heavy sleep/post-morning-sex bed hair. Something that needed to be rectified via a long, hot shower. And you appeared to be too busy to mind.

He glanced over at your kitchen nook to see his bird bobbing up and down while studying your hands very carefully measuring out the components of his meal, squawking loudly up at you when the ratios went unfavorably toward the more nutritious and less delicious.

“Who studied diet and nutrition in vet school? That’s right… me!” you growled at the bird nesting on your head. “So pipe down and let me use my kitchen scale in peace.”

Hattori responded by taking some of your more delicate hairs into his beak and viciously yanking them up.

“Ow!!! You’re just as beastly as your master, Hattori…”

Lucci smirked as Hattori sang back to you in a manner that suspiciously sounded like mocking laughter before he finally headed into the bathroom.

Your bathroom was small, perfect for one person to relax and clean themselves. You had a soaking tub against the far wall under a window. A simple sink and toilet were on the right wall. To the left was a shower head with a drain on the floor. No lip on the floor or shower curtain, unlike his apartment that was just a three-quarters bath and a tight fit at that. He could tell that you valued comfort in your home, going so far as to sacrifice a larger office for more room in your bath.

Considering his height, Lucci thanked you silently that he finally had enough room to enjoy himself while bathing.

Turning on the shower full blast as hot as his skin could handle, Lucci went under the head, letting the steaming water cleanse his mind and body.

“This is troublesome,” he muttered to himself as he borrowed your soap, shampoo and conditioner to clean himself off.

Lucci wasn’t supposed to be fucking anyone regularly while undercover in Water 7. Hell, he wasn’t even supposed to be casually dating anyone. It was an unwritten rule never to complicate a mission, one Lucci had always adhered to.

But this wasn’t going to affect his mission. It wasn’t some pathetic romance novel dreck where he would quit being a government agent and be with you forever in Water 7, dealing with Galley-La day in and day out until he was too old and weak to pick up a mallet. This was a good cover, and stress relief, and a respite away from the drudgery of his undercover day job.

Regardless, you were clearly going to be expecting more out of him after how he performed last night and into the morning. Regular dates, spending the night from time to time. Possibly even spending nights at his place.

Ugh. That wasn’t going to happen - he couldn’t explain a transponder snail going off at odd hours, nor his complete lack of homemaking for the years he had been on this damn rock.

“Damn it,” he groaned, realizing you were going to tell him you loved him down the line if he didn’t contrive a reason to stop seeing you (and he couldn’t think of any off the top of his head that wouldn’t be pathetic). Yes, he could easily lie about that and say it back…

Lucci rolled his eyes at the image of you telling him such a thing. And he cringed at the thought of saying it back. But not because he couldn’t imagine saying such drivel. But because that would be the singular lie that he may actually feel a twinge of guilt for allowing you to believe.

Rinsing the shampoo out of his hair and applying the conditioner, he sighed to himself and thought of every single thing he would have to do to keep you happy until his mission came to an end. Watching the white soapy lather circle and dissipate down into the drain below, he knew his chances of making a clean break of the island had a similar fate.

“What a pain… but actions have consequences,” he said to himself with finality. If he didn’t want to accept every minute detail that came with being in a monogamous relationship, even one part of a cover, then he shouldn’t have allowed himself to be tempted by you. Simple as.

 

You were sitting at your dining room table about halfway through breakfast when Lucci appeared out of the bathroom, a white towel tucked into his waist, his thick black hair damp and heavy from his recent shower.

“You looked refreshed, Lucci,” you noted as you dipped the corner of your toast triangle into your runny eggs. “I should shower too… oh! Do you want any breakfast?”

Lucci looked over at Hattori leisurely milling away at his bowl, taking his time to savor the feast inside. Normally he ate whatever his master did for breakfast, so to have something so unique in front of him was a treat. He supposed Hattori wanted this treat to last.

Putting a napkin down in front of his bird so he could wipe the berry juice off his beak, Lucci walked over to you, hunched over and kissed the top of your head.

There may be consequences… but Lucci conceded that not all consequences necessarily had to be negative. Right?

“Don’t worry about me. I’m not hungry.”

“Well, if you change your mind,” you replied, lifting your head up to intercept a kiss to your lips, “I only have eggs, toast and coffee.”

Lucci paused before going over to the fridge and opening the door. “Hmm… maybe in ten minutes. Let me get dressed again.”

“You can keep a fresh pair of clothes here if you want,” you offered when Lucci turned his back to you in order to collect the now-dry articles of clothing that were left on the floor in a heap. Or at least you hoped they were dry. Going by the way that Lucci clicked his tongue in irritation and put the clothes on the back of one of your empty dining room chairs, no such luck. “That way we won’t run into this issue again.”

“That wouldn’t be the worst plan,” he sighed. “I don’t suppose you have men’s clothes here, do you?”

“Even if I did, I doubt they’d be your size,” you pointed out. “Toss them near the radiator or we can put them on the clothes line on the roof.”

“I’ll take the clothes line,” Lucci said after a moment of contemplation. “Only the outer layers are still damp anyway.”

You nodded and cleaned up your spot while Lucci threw on his black underwear after tossing his towel aside. Such a firm ass was awfully nice to look at as he bent down to grab some items out of your fridge to cook himself up some breakfast, having changed his mind for food. Feeling cheeky, you gave his ass a playful pinch as you walked past him to place your plate and mug in the sink. Hearing a playful growl behind your back, you knew you’d be paid back for that in kind. And you very much looked forward to it.

As Lucci ate, you took his clothes up the ladder and onto the roof to hang them on your laundry line, which had been looped up and stowed away from the storms along with all your clothing pins. You kept these items in a large metal box drilled into the storage unit on your roof. It was better than keeping everything in a closet in your home. The storage unit was more or less a shed made of the same material as the facade of your apartment complex. In it were your laundry drying supplies, a step stool, a broom, a carpet beater, your lounge set and umbrella, and a ladder, as well as a spare key to your front door.

“Damn you’ve got some long legs,” you muttered to yourself as you got on your stool to pin Lucci’s trousers to the line. “Bastard…”

On the line it went along with his shirt before you went back down the ladder to see Lucci blowing on his hot cup of coffee, eyes closed in peace.

“Might be dry in an hour,” you informed him. “I’ll check later so you don’t have to be seen in just your skivvies,” you added with a tease.

“That would be preferable to be trotting around nearly in the nude,” Lucci replied evenly, not opening his eyes to acknowledge you.

“I thought so. Now I’m taking a page of your notebook and showering the sex off.”

Lucci heard you pad off to the bathroom and lock the door behind you. Damn.

“Realistically I didn’t need a second shower,” Lucci said to Hattori, who looked at his master’s mug expectantly. Sighing, Lucci poured a splash of his coffee into the bird’s empty food dish so both could enjoy the bitter taste and aroma of the brew. “Make sure you finish that before the lady returns. Caffeine probably isn’t part of her prescribed diet.”

“Coo karoo!!!” Hattori squawked back, indignant that he could also be denied the pleasure that was black coffee.

While waiting for you to come out of the bathroom clean and refreshed, Lucci wanted to keep himself busy. So he went into your master and made the bed, tucking the corners and rearranging the duvet to be neat and orderly, just as he was trained to do as an orphan child in the World Government. Sloppiness led to strict discipline and even though he was separated many times over from his rookie years, they never truly left him. Considering how your bed had looked on his previous visits, impeccably kept, he knew you’d appreciate the effort.

And so you said when you marched into your room wearing towels on your head and body.

“Ah, how unsurprising,” you noted as you went into your armoire and dressers for the day’s ensemble.

“Is it?” he asked as you tossed your towels into the nearby hamper, watching you throw day clothes onto your now-unwrinkled bedspread with dull interest.

“If there’s one person I would have bet money on that they could make beds military style, it would be you.” You tugged on some underwear, then a pair of shorts up your legs in one go and buttoned them. “You’re precise in work. Rarely would that not extend to practices at home.”

“Perceptive.”

“I know.” You grinned broadly at the acknowledgement, not noticing that Lucci was distracted by the way your body bounced as it dressed, one article of clothing at a time. “I pay attention to things, you know?” You whipped on a bra and pulled a baggy tank top down your torso.

“Yes.” Though not as much would be a threat.

You giggled and quickly began braiding your drying hair to protect it from the elements. When finished, you walked up to Lucci and put your hands on his shoulders and looked up at him straight in the eye. Lucci stiffened ever so slightly at the overly serious look on your face. What did he do wrong? Did he do something wrong?

“This rare exception aside, you really need to be wearing clothes around me,” you said with a completely straight face. “I’ll never be able to focus on anything but you. You’re almost too sexy for your own good.”

No longer taken aback by your change in demeanor, Lucci let a chuckle escape his throat.

“Almost? I’m hurt.”

“You’re right,” you sighed as you let go of his shoulders to place your hands on your hips and grimace. “Foolish of me. You are too sexy for your own good. You bastard.”

Just as Lucci was about to tempt you once more and ruin the bedspread he had put time and effort into shaping, there was a cacophonous banging on your front door that caused you to jump out of your skin.The unflappable Lucci merely raised his head toward the source of the din.

“Damn. Can’t believe I’m wishing that Aqua Laguna of all things went on longer,” you grunted, a pout now taking up your features (and even Lucci was a bit put off by having reality slam back into his life once more).

Making sure you were presentable for a visitor and wondering who it could be, you jogged over to your door and absentmindedly tugged on the knob, surprised that it opened with such ease, given that your portals were supposed to be sealed shut to keep the rain and any flooding out (which appeared to have been the case when looking at your pristinely dry floors). The answer for this riddle came at the person who was now standing in front of you.

“Looks like my handiwork came through,” Paulie gruffed out, already halfway into his morning cigar. “How’re the windows?”

“Have to be honest, I wasn’t expecting you, Paulie,” you admitted after a short pause. You were a bit taken aback at the sight of the young man at your door, looking a bit sheepish. “I wasn’t expecting anyone!”

“Yeah well…” He scratched at the back of his head and sighed heavily. “Look, sweetheart, I was a bit of a… okay, a real bastard to you before with the rope thing. And the other things. Fixing up your house wasn’t charity; it was my way of saying sorry. I’m only here because I wanted to make sure it worked and to get it taken down so you can go about your day. Y’know, as a courtesy.”

Your eyebrows raised. You already knew that the preparation was the apology, but you weren’t expecting him to return. In fact, you were completely prepared to spend the better part of the rest of your morning restoring the outside of your home to its former unencumbered glory. What a nice thing for Paulie to do! “Oh! Well then apology accepted. It all worked out, didn’t it?”

“So it would seem.”

Interested in who was at the door, Hattori fluttered over from your countertop and landed on your head.

Paulie was about to step back and get going with your apartment work when he looked up at the bird. “Hey Hattori… Hattori? What are you doing here?” He leaned in and narrowed his eyes. “You’re never anywhere without that mute bastard Rob Lucci.”

At that moment, Lucci had stealthily appeared behind you, still dressed only in his underwear.

Given your own less-than-modest state (at least by Paulie standards), it didn’t take your visitor long to figure out what might have been going on, which is why his face turned to the shade of a ripe tomato in half a second.

“JUST WHAT INDECENT THINGS HAVE YOU TWO BEEN GETTING UP TO, HUH?!”

Hidden from Paulie’s view, Lucci gave your ass a sharp squeeze and you fought to the death to keep your face calm and unbothered.

“What do you mean?” you asked innocently.

“He’s naked!!! In your home!!” Paulie spluttered, hopping back six feet to get a proper distance to accusingly point his finger at you.

“He’s not naked,” you replied with a shrug.

“He might as well be!! And your home was sealed shut last night! That means…” Paulie practically screamed as the cogs in his brain slowly stopped working as he came to his final conclusion!! “You hussy! Spending a natural disaster getting up to trouble with my nail driver!”

“So much for the bastard apology,” Hattori squawked. “Shameful, karoo!!!”

“Do you mind not letting the entire neighborhood know?” you growled. “What are you, my father?”

“He’d be just as pissed as I am!” Paulie hissed. “When I see the two of you next, you’d better be dressed up modestly for once in your damn lives!”

With that, Paulie reached forward and slammed your door shut, Lucci yanking you backward to stop any possible damage to your nose or fingers.

“What a freak,” you muttered, rubbing at your eyes. “Thanks for that, by the way!”

“Did I embarrass you?” Lucci whispered as Hattori bounced up and down on your head, highly amused from the situation that just transpired. You could tell he had a smirk on his brow and once you removed your fingers from your eyes, you confirmed it.

“Realistically, Paulie accomplished that swimmingly. You just existed in his eyesight. You’re welcome to hide out on the roof to avoid him, underwear notwithstanding.”

“He doesn’t scare me.”

Lucci’s voice was low, obviously trying to make sure Paulie didn’t hear him speaking in a way that wasn’t through his bird.

“Same here, but he does annoy me.”

He kissed your cheek to try and lift your mood, which it did. Forgoing the roof, Lucci instead decided to help tidy up around the apartment, collecting used candles and straightening bookshelves, just to keep his hands busy until his clothes were fully dry. After a couple more hours, he was able to finally leave your home and get back to work.

“Any more time away and Iceberg will have my head for keeping you away from the shipyard,” you teased as you made sure Lucci had everything he needed. “I’m going to have a busy couple of weeks post-storms with animals, so don’t feel like you have to check up on me.”

“I’ll have the same issue, but with rebuilding Water 7,” Lucci sighed. “It would be irritating to feel like we have to be connected at the hip.”

“That we agree on. I’m glad we have our own space.”

With a final kiss good-bye, Lucci struck out for his own apartment to check for damages, then he would head straight to Galley-La to get work assignments. He had only been gone from his undercover work for 24 hours, yet it felt like it had been a long vacation.

And just like vacations tend to do, he felt his mind falter with each step away from you. Yes, the break was quite diverting, but he needed to re-focus on all aspects of his espionage, even the mundane shipwright chores.

Only 364 days until the next Aqua Laguna…

Chapter 27: Abbreviated Convo

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

I'M STILL ALIVE AND BACK WITH A SHORT CHAPTER, SHOUTING THIS TO YOU LIKE TILESTONE.

Your estimated two weeks away from Lucci easily turned into four with the amount of damage the city sustained from the latest storms and ocean waves. Any time Lucci wasn’t building ships at Galley-La, he was hauling lumber to and fro with his fellow co-workers to repair businesses, docks, signage and homes. Honestly, you saw Tilestone and Kaku just as much as you saw Lucci, as those two were responsible for overseeing rebuilding efforts in your part of the city (at least the part where you worked - where you lived was fixed up within a few afternoons). You even got to share in conversation every once in a while, like today.

“Hello, ma’am!”

You spun around in your office chair to see Kaku smiling brightly in your office window. You honestly were starting to believe that only your employees used the office door! Kaku bent the long brim of his white hat to you and leaned forward, forearms braced on the sill of the window pane.

“Good afternoon, Kaku.” You smiled back, reaching around your chair to place the papers you were shuffling through safely back on your desk. Your office door was wide open, so your vet techs could peek in and giggle at the sight of the young and handsome shipbuilder. “You should know that you’re distracting some of my staff. I certainly hope you’re not making promises to them you can’t keep.”

“Promises? Ah ha ha! Ma’am, you are too kind!”

“Just being funny! But you do have quite the fan club.”

He laughed in good spirits again, missing the fact that you were studying him intently.

Oh Kaku, you thought, was the thought that he was seen as an excellent prospect for a husband that funny? Or was he just being shy at the attention that was usually hidden on the other side of a spectating fence?

“Flirtation wasn’t my intention, of course.” Kaku continued, wiping a tear of mirth away from his round eyes. “Those little ladies have been too kind to us while we’ve been making repairs, so making them smile is a perk of the job.”

“Well you’re helping to fix the roof of the clinic, they’re more than grateful to you so they can keep working and helping out.”

“What about you?” he asked, looking around your office at the stacks of paper that were artfully arranged on your floor. There must have been a litany of order forms and client records, but he sensed there was a method to your madness. “Have the townsfolk been patient with the longer waits? I understand it’s quite common for appointments to be harder to come by.”

“There are always some pushy people, but this is just the way of the world at this time of year. Emergencies happen, but we just triage and go from there.”

“Glad that we have someone as dependable as you for our fair city! We’ll have this roof patched up in a jiffy and we’ll head out to our next sector.”

“Be safe. I don’t want anyone falling off the roof.”

Just as Kaku was about to reverse and head back to work, he remembered something and leaned into your office again. This time with a wider smile and a playful wink, as if he was holding onto a tantalizing secret. Well you didn’t know about tantalizing, but…

“Lucci would do me in for telling you this because he hates gossip, but he’s so darn dour these days. The old man has a real soft spot for you. He’s hankering for this extra work to be done so he can pitch woo.”

“Pitch w…” Now it was your turn to laugh at a preposterous (to you!) idea, especially the thought of Lucci doing anything resembling pitching woo in public where you were concerned. “Kaku, sometimes you talk so old-timey that someday I won’t be able to understand you. But I’ll keep that tidbit between us.”

“I appreciate it, ma’am.”

“KAKU!!!” Tilestone’s booming voice carried all the way down to you and Kaku from the roof of your clinic. “HURRY AND GET UP HERE, THE DAMN GULLS ARE TRYING TO STEAL OUR NAILS!!!”

“Oops, duty calls. Apologies for the interruption to your work. We'll have to set aside time for a true tête-à-tête.” With one more hat brim pull, this time to say good-bye, Kaku leapt up, landing right on the roof to help shoo away the horrible thieving sea gulls. You could hear him tell the birds to hit the road, Jack, and don’t come back no more.

Not that this would do them much good - gulls around port towns like Water 7 were made of sterner stuff. In fact, you often thought they were downright immortal with the amount of punishment they could take year after year out in the elements of Aqua Laguna and come out no worse for wear. Maybe they trained themselves to be so tough. After all, there was always a smorgasbord of sea creatures that washed up in and around Water 7 when the waves finally receded. If seagulls managed to live through the night, they’d have an absolute feast on their hands and it would be finished long before the city’s residents would emerge from their bunkers.

Honestly, if you were the gulls, you wouldn’t be taking any guff from any Water 7 citizen, leaping and fighting and rough-and-tumble Galley-La employees included!

“Do all Galley-La men effortlessly jump so high, or is that just Lucci and Kaku?” you asked yourself as you swung back around to your desk and tried to recall where you left off in your work.

Now that the seas were clear for long-distance transportation, you began reviewing order forms for medications, surgery supplies and scrubs for your staff. It all seemed like one more thing you could hand off to your scribe, but he was already up to his neck in office management and triaging just so you could breeze through patients with more ease. So you kept this work to your own hands.

Speaking of your own hands, you began rubbing and rolling at your wrists and looked at those order forms.

“Ready for signing… well wishes for my carpal tunnel… and fingers… and neck.”

Though your work was surely easier on the body than what Lucci was enduring, you were still sore by the end of the day all the same!

 

The last thing you did before you left for your home at the end of your shift was drop a letter off to the post office. It was an affirmation on your end to a request from the World Government headquarters, asking that a veterinarian drop in to Enies Lobby on the Sea Train in order to conduct an exam for - now surely this was a typo of some sort - an elephant?!

Knowing then what you do now, you wish you could’ve seen the look on Lucci’s face when he was told by Kalifa where you had run off to when he planned to surprise you with a bouquet of flowers the very same morning of your sea train’s departure direct to World Government Headquarters.

Chapter 28: Lecture Time

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

Lucci likes Reader a normal amount.

While you didn’t think you’d be riding alone on the Sea Train all the way to the legendary World Government stronghold, you wouldn’t have guessed that nearly every seat on the train would be occupied by a WG agent. Was this all for your protection? Or something else? The fact that you were body searched and your medical bag rifled through did mean they suspected you had the potential to be a threat. Really no! Only an idiot would storm the stronghold, especially single-handedly. That was suicide - plain and simple.

Attempting to talk to one of the men didn’t provide much elucidation for their overbearing presence. Each just sat on their bench, staring off into the middle distance or looking out the windows to the sea. This led you to believe that all of this was just standard procedure for anyone looking to gain access to the location.

This, however, did not make you any less uncomfortable or the journey any less long. So instead, you opened up your medical bag and re-read your physiology book on pachyderms and other large mammalian species. Was the elephant that you were going to provide a medical exam for really that important? Did they not have someone on staff to care for it? Surely not. Why else would you be on this train? All the same, you had never even seen an elephant in real life, much less touch one, but you did deal with King Yagara Bulls before, so hopefully the elephant in question wouldn’t be that much more difficult.

You smiled to yourself as you recalled how Lucci valiantly came to your aid when the Franky Family gave you trouble that entire day, from your kidnapping to almost not getting paid for your efforts. He even offered to go back to the house with you whenever the Family called upon you again for check-ups or urgent care. Thankfully no longer necessary (the men now knew not to poke the bear, so to speak). Your mind circled back to the Franky Family and you noted that you had yet to meet the leader of said Family, the titular Franky, at least face-to-face. You’ve had to deal with his speedo-wearing self wreaking havoc downtown once a month.

In fact, you vaguely remembered him when he was a shipbuilder with Tom, but at the same time, you had heard he got run over by the Sea Train the same day Tom was taken away by the World Government for building the pirate ship, the Oro Jackson, for Gold Roger, the King of the Pirates. Yet the resemblance was uncanny. Was there a reason that no one mentioned that? You know why you didn’t speak a word of that to anyone. The less the World Government was involved in the goings-on of your city, the better. It was bad enough that you had no choice but to board the Sea Train to go to Enies Lobby. All for a vet appointment!

If you were this nervous, there was no way you’d be able to look your boyfriend in the eye about your plans for the day. He might keep you from going and get both of you into trouble. Or worse, be your escort, cross a line with some secret assassin, prick their temper, and be killed in front of your eyes!!! Everyone in Water 7 knew that the Government was more shady than honest and you couldn’t let anyone fall victim to them on your account or on your watch.

Shaking your head and trying viciously to rid your mind of gruesome details, you focused back on your book and tried to scan the paragraphs for hard-to-spot symptoms to keep an eye out for. Granny Kokoro would always say that civilians who went to Enies Lobby never returned. And you were determined to beat the odds and come back home. Come back to work. Come back to Rob Lucci.

 

Speaking of Rob Lucci, he had his hands full dragging Kalifa off into a private meeting room at Galley-La to have a conversation.

“Presenting lovely flowers and leading me away from prying eyes into a room with a lock. The very definition,” Kalifa sighed before adjusting her glasses, “of sexual harassment.”

Lucci rolled his eyes at this, though he did carefully set the mixed bouquet down on a nearby desk. A man couldn’t be taken seriously conducting an interrogation while holding a sign of affection, now could he? Hattori, meanwhile, fluttered off Lucci’s shoulder to keep the bouquet company as his master turned to face Kalifa.

“Why is she going to Enies Lobby?” Lucci whispered, forgoing using Hattori as his mouthpiece to speak with his CP-9 compatriot. Even though he was at work, he couldn’t sense anyone at the door or near enough that they could hear his true voice.

Kalifa’s body language and voice was completely relaxed, showing no fear or even concern for the man in front of her.

“She? Ah, you mean the veterinarian. Why do you need to know?”

“I’ll repeat myself. Why do they want her?”

“Why is this relevant to you?”

Lucci scoffed. “She tells me everything. It’s one of her flaws… or virtues. I haven’t decided which. And this is the first I’m hearing of it.”

Kalifa responded with an eye roll. “Your girlfriend didn’t want to worry you. That’s the message she passed onto me to go to you if you asked.”

“Worry? I’m not worried. She’s capable and fierce. I just want to know why I’m not meant to worry. Which I’m not.”

“Men. Anyway, I already gave you a perfectly suitable answer.”

“And what was that?”

“That she’s a veterinarian.”

“So they… it’s for… work?”

“What else could it be for?” Kalifa smirked, her vague answers leading her to an intriguing hypothesis. “I see. You assume that the Government thinks she jeopardizes the mission at hand and will deal with her accordingly.”

Lucci paused, his brow furrowing ever so slightly at the accusation. “I did not insinuate that she’s a distraction. Or a danger.”

“But you want to know if she’s in danger, do you not?”

Lucci couldn’t bear to be so vulnerable as to answer that, but the current optics were not in his favor, were they?

“I know she’s not in danger,” he huffed, more confidently than he actually believed.

“Oh? Then why are you accosting me, trying to pump me for information? Again, sexual harassment.”

Lucci would rather stab himself with a finger gun from his own hand than admit to Kalifa of all people that he cared for you an infinitesimal amount. She was one of the other three CP-9 agents undercover in Water 7 and each by now knew of his relationship with you. Blueno had yet to give a signal that he cared of what his co-workers did while being a spy. Kaku reminded him of his work and what was paramount, but otherwise didn’t seem to mind that he found a distraction.

Kalifa? She seemed to revel in the fact that Lucci hadn’t mastered how to speak about you with anyone, civilian or otherwise.

“Accosting seems like an overstatement,” he replied. Best, perhaps, to not protest so much.

“Regardless. She’ll be returning to Water 7 tonight, though late in the evening. You should use this time wisely to decide how to best play a woman’s heart strings while keeping your own unplucked for your sake. And for hers. Do you think Spandam would be pleased if he heard you were becoming too familiar with a civilian, regardless that it’s part of your cover, to the point where you’re having outbursts? That kind of emotional volatility is unlike you, Lucci. This goes without saying, but you may deem your relationship with that woman to be unobstructive to the mission, but our bosses may make a different call if you play your cards wrong at the wrong time.”

Lucci hated to admit it, so he wouldn’t out loud, but Kalifa was right. He was letting his fondness for you get the better of him and his decision-making. This was an embarrassing situation for everyone involved. He could at least trust Kalifa not to tell you that this went down, even though he was certain you’d find it endearing. If Fukurou got wind of this, he’d never hear the end of it.

“What time… do you think she’ll be back?” Lucci gritted out as Hattori flitted back to his shoulder. They had already spent too much time already away from work. The last thing they needed was somebody snooping around and finding them alone together. Like Paulie. Now that was a man who’d spill the beans to you and he’d have a much greater time explaining that away.

“Around ten in the evening,” Kalifa responded as she adjusted her glasses once more. “I’ll put the bouquet in some water for you so it will be fresh upon her arrival. I’ll leave it at the entrance to the shipbuilding area. Good day, Rob Lucci.”

WIth that, Kalifa took the bouquet from its desk and left Lucci alone to ponder his situation.

“It appears I need to play things closer to the vest around others. Even my own team,” Lucci whispered to Hattori, who cooed in agreement. “It looks like you’re allowed to act as you wish.”

Hattori squawked and spread his wings wide, as if bragging that he was still able to be as affectionate around you as possible, a privilege his master now had boundaries on.

“Lucky bird.”

Chapter 29: Bunch of Characters

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

Bro, CP-9 is 80% weirdos. I love them though.

When you finally arrived at Enies Lobby and the Sea Train came to a calm stop, the government agents around you all stood up at once. Not to feel singled out, you shot up to your feet to match them, a sweat drop on your brow. About 80% of the train emptied out, leaving four men as your escort.

“After you, ma’am. We’ll take you to your meeting with Mr. Spandam,” one of the agents said to you.

“Alright then…” You nodded and stepped out into the main aisle. “Lead the way.”

Two of the agents headed you off out of the train compartment while the other two agents brought up the rear. While you were indeed sure that the two men in front of you were assigned to being your detail, the other two behind you seemed like overkill. It’s not like you were going to try anything funny!

But if they assumed you were… that they suspected even the slightest rebellion… you’d have a bullet in the back before you turned around and no witnesses that would testify on your behalf.

You forced yourself to swallow your fear and continued on, gripping your travel bag until your fingers hurt.

It was a long walk until the main tower and you passed by several regimens of Marine soldiers running drills. There were other agents, secretaries, doctors, nurses, chefs, and all manner of low-rank staff doing their utmost to keep this particular stronghold running at the top level. Good gracious, they even had two giants, larger than life itself, on guard duty!! Granted there wasn’t an emergency at this point, so the two didn’t even seem to notice you as you passed through them on your way. You would be maybe the size of a bug in their eyes. And you could be squashed just as easily if neither of you were careful!

 

It took about a half hour, but you finally made it to the tower where this Spandam and his elephant supposedly resided.

In the lobby, the agents that were leading you stopped and sat down on some nearby benches while the two that were on your tail went up the staircase in the back of the spacious stone room.

Before you could even speak, one of the seated agents interrupted your train of thought.

“They’re just seeing if Spandam is ready to receive you or if he’s in a meeting. They won’t be long. Take a load off.”

That made sense. You weren’t in a position to overhear anything from a World Government official meeting. But instead of sitting down and resting your feet, you kept standing. If you sat, you’d likely just be jogging your legs from nerves and you didn’t want to irritate anybody.

About halfway into your wait, you heard two sets of footsteps coming down the stairs where the agents went. You turned to watch them come down, but they weren’t the same two men. These two were very different. In fact, one of them looked like more of a balloon than a human.

“It’s been over two years. Is this making him stronger or weaker? Mmm… weaker, I wager! Yeah, I bet I could kick his ass now!” the shorter one growled. He had a long braid of hair and goatee, and a noticeable scar on his face.

“Cha-pa-pa… he could take ten years off and he would still be stronger. That’s what everyone thinks.”

“Oh!! That’s a damn lie and you know it!! Kumadori wouldn’t say that.”

“If everyone believes a lie, that makes it the truth, doesn’t it?”

“I’m not up for a philosophical… is that a civilian?”

Uh oh… they spotted you.

In the time it took you two blink twice, the two men traversed the room to appear in front of you quick as a flash. They seemed to revel in the fact that you were taken aback. Hell, they even chuckled at the fact that you squeaked in surprise.

“She’s so puny… you haven’t seen a day of combat, have you?” the shorter one gruffed out.

“I’m… um… in… medicine,” you murmured, fighting to get even a word out as the two towered above you. One was nearly Lucci’s height and the other was almost twice as tall as you with a very strange zipper mouth.

“Do you treat those in combat?” the round one asked.

“Animal… medicine,” you corrected.

“OH!!! So this is the one that’s looking after that Spandam’s stupid pet,” the other said with a laugh that nearly sounded like a bark. “The veterinarian from Water 7. Well, doctor, my name is Jabra. I’m the strongest and handsomest man here and don’t you forget it.”

“Currently,” the other man said out of the corner of his zipper mouth. “I’m Fukurou and don’t let Jabra fool you.”

“As long as our comrades are out of our hair, I’m the strongest by a damn long shot!” Jabra snapped at Fukurou. “And I’m the best-looking even if they were here!”

“Pride comes before the fall… cha-pa-pa,” Fukurou chuckled, seeming to enjoy getting a rise out of Jabra. “This one is too pretty for you anyway.”

“Why you…”

“For what it’s worth, I’m already seeing someone,” you pointed out, which seemed to depress Jabra, whose shoulders slumped at the notion of getting shot down before even extending you a compliment. Granted he was already in a relationship, a brand new one with a cafeteria worker named Gatherine, but a hit to the ego was a hit to the ego from someone as attractive as you.

“Oh? Who’s the lucky guy?” Fukurou asked.

“Haha… you don’t know them, I’m quite sure. But it’s not really any of your business, even if you did,” you replied with an easy smile. If Lucci didn’t want you blabbing about him to your fellow Water 7 citizens, he sure didn’t want that happening to World Government employees! “I would have remembered seeing you around town.”

“So if you’re from Water 7, you’re familiar with the Galley-La shipbuilders, right?”

“Everyone is. They’re heroes to us,” you nodded. Not an unusual question.

“Well, between you and me, th-”

“Keep secrets to yourself, you damn loud mouth!” Jabra shouted before tugging Fukurou’s zipper shut so hard it launched the man toward the other side of the room. “We’re a secret cell for a reason! Secrets! How come a civilian can understand that, but you can’t?!”

You couldn’t imagine what Fukurou was about to tell you, so you shrugged and glanced over to the staircase once more to find the two agents coming back down to escort you to Spandam.

“Well it was… nice to meet you,” you said lightly. Jabra was already stomping toward Fukurou, his interest in your existence already forgotten, preferring to stomp on his comrade-in-arms.

You passed by the other two agents on your way to the stairs, who didn’t budge from their benches while you were accosted by Jabra and Fukurou. Well, they certainly weren’t around for your protection!!

 

Up and up and up spiraling stairs you went until you finally came across a long hallway with heavy wooden doors littering the walls. Who knew what kind of wheelings and dealings were going on behind any of those doors!

But one of them could have been a bathroom. Then you definitely didn’t want to get involved in that kind of business.

You held back a snort from the joke inside your head, a firm smile on your lips as the agents pulled open a gigantic set of double doors to reveal a splendidly decorated room the size of your entire apartment with a ceiling height that could comfortably fit… well… an elephant!!

“Mr. Spandam, sir, the veterinarian has arrived to evaluate Funkfreed,” one of your escorts announced. “Ma’am, we’ll be waiting outside until your work is complete.”

With that, the doors closed and you were left alone in the room with a man who was perhaps the wimpiest looking thing you’ve ever seen in your life. The secret agents below correctly guessed that you had never seen combat, but even you thought you could take this Spandam guy in a fight and win without breaking a sweat. Your boyfriend might have even been capable of beating him without throwing a punch!

But his chest swelled in pride as he strolled over to you, clearly enjoying his lofty position in the government. You could smell self-importance a mile away and this guy was reeking of it. Still, the power imbalance was not in your favor at the moment, so you kept smiling until Spandam was within speaking distance of you.

“Good afternoon, miss. I apologize for the wait, but when you’re in my shoes as the leader of… well, you’re not cleared to know about it, but let’s just say I’ve got a lot of lives within my grasp and that means plenty of responsibilities that come up in a moment’s notice.” Spandam had a large smile on his face, his chest swelled with pride as he bragged about his position while you stood by patiently.

“I understand. I have a similar life myself. Triaging means that sometimes people have to wait a little longer.”

“Finally, a like-minded individual,” Spandam laughed. “But on to more important matters. My poor Funkfreed has been feeling out of sorts lately. A bit restless, one could say.”

“I can’t say what’s wrong until I do the examination, but if your gut is saying something is wrong and Funkfreed is acting out of character, then that warrants a look.” You placed your bag down on a small table nearby and got out your flashlight. “Okay, then let’s have Funkfreed brought in.”

“No need, he’s already here.”

You turned around, expecting to see an elephant as promised, but instead Spandam held a long and rather beautiful sword in his hands. The sword itself had a tusk guarding each and there was even an elephant tail attached to its hilt.

This felt like ages ago, but you once made a remark about the Franky Family’s King Yagara Bulls, sarcastically asking if they were invisible before the beasts emerged from the sea, larger than life. So you bit back the sarcastic elephant comment and leaned back against the table.

“Okay, let’s see it.”

Spandam sputtered for a couple of seconds, shocked that you weren’t going to make a comment about his sword, nor the lack of elephant in the room. But perhaps you already had an inkling that he wielded a mighty weapon! Or maybe Fukurou spilled the beans before you got here. He saw the wind bag walking toward the spiral staircases, after all. Regardless!

“Perceptive!! Behold! Come out, Funkfreed!”

Spandam flipped his sword into the air. Before your very eyes, the blade transformed rapidly into an elephant’s head, the tusks of the hand guard expanded to match, and the body and limbs took form. In less than ten seconds, you had a live elephant standing in front of you!

“In case you were wondering, I had my trusty sword combined with a Zoan Devil Fruit that had an elephant model ascribed to it, giving me a powerful weapon,” Spandam explained while you ignored him to begin the physical exam. “It’s quite the tale of how I came upon such a treasure…”

You ran your flashlight up and down Funkfreed’s legs while walking under him, the elephant’s belly not even brushing the top of your head. Everything looked normal to you so far. The skin was evenly colored, nothing raised, red or irritated. No bruises or cuts. Funkfreed’s nails could do with a trim, but that shouldn’t cause his discomfort! And his body didn’t seem to be terribly tense as you gazed up and down his form.

“Hrm…” You sighed heavily as you continued to look for any outward sign of damage as Spandam prattled on. Time for the head, the part you were dreading. Those tusks looked sharp!! He could eat you up in one bite if he wanted! “Let’s do this…”

Funkfreed whined nervously for a beast his size and looked you right in the eye. You looked right back and saw how unsteady he was, which meant you were onto something by heading toward his face. Spandam was right - this good boy is not doing well and you were going to find out why!

“Okay, my sweetheart, can you open your mouth?” you asked quietly, giving his trunk a gentle rub. “I promise I would never do anything to hurt you.” While Funkfreed did calm down at your words and actions, the feel of his skin caused you to frown. The appearance was normal, but actually touching the elephant’s skin felt… off. The texture was definitely wrong. You recalled from your textbooks that a wrinkled and rough appearance is normal. But this section of skin felt dry, almost brittle.

Funkfreed finally allowed you to examine his teeth and you bravely ran your fingers along the bicuspids and molars of the animal, looking for craze lines or other cracks with your flashlight.

“A little bit longer!! Just pretend I’m not here!” you said loudly while your arm and half your head was inside Funkfreed’s mouth. You saw the back of his throat contract just a touch while a moan came from further in and almost caused you to vibrate from the sound waves. That caused you to chuckle - he actually did answer you in his own way.

When you came back out and Funkfreed could close his mouth once more, you grabbed some hand tools out of your bag and went back to the elephant’s white tusks. After a few tests, you were determined that you had your answer.

“Funkfreed, can you please go back to a sword for your master?” you asked sweetly, to which Funkfreed immediately complied and flipped back to Spandam’s hand.

“Eh? You’re meant to examine the elephant, not my sword!” he protested.

“Well, I figure since Funkfreed was a sword first, there’s where the issue lies. When’s the last time you properly oiled or sharpened your sword?”

“Umm…”

“And has it been in its scabbard for long periods of time?”

“You see…”

“While Funkfreed’s skin, teeth and tusks look fine just by appearance, in truth it’s the opposite. Because your sword is in less than perfect shape, Funkfreed’s skin is rough, his teeth are dull with hairline fractures, and his tusks are weak with microscopic chips. I prescribe that you take better care of your weapons. Funkfreed should perk right up after a trip to whatever is Enies Lobby’s version of an armory.”

“What?!” Spandam shouted, his eyes bugging out. “Are you telling me I called you over here and I could have just gone a couple buildings over?!”

“I suspect you won’t make that same mistake twice,” you replied before digging into your bag and pulling out a notepad. “Here’s my bill. Payment is due before I leave, please.”

Spandam, still in disbelief that Funkfreed was feeling poor because of his sword half, slouched so far forward he about snapped in half and weakly took the invoice you handed him.

“Well… at least it’s nothing that can’t be fixed… wait downstairs and you’ll get your pay…”

“And have a pleasant rest of your day,” you finished with a honeyed voice before heading out as instructed.

 

What a long hell of a day, and you weren’t even home yet. Your pay was given to you in cash in the form of a thick envelope and you immediately stowed it away in your medicine bag. You would count it later, but merely weighing the sum in your hand told you that you had more than enough for a lovely vacation somewhere. And honestly, that sounded a treat. You needed to wash the taste of such a stressful Sea Train ride to Enies Lobby with one many times more pleasant.

And maybe Lucci could get some time off work and join you! Maybe you could prevent him from getting stabbed a dozen different times if you were present.

“Our first trip as a couple,” you hummed to yourself as you boarded the Sea Train back to Water 7.

Before you actually stepped into the cabin, you could have sworn you saw Jabra and Fukurou once more on the parapet of one of the nearby buildings. Standing next to them was a pink-haired man with face paint done up like a lion. Though in your esteemed opinion, he reminded you more of a rabbit. They must all be from the same unit, you figured. All three were looking down at you, there was no mistaking it. You hoped if they were gossipping about you, it was complimentary. Not like you’d ever see them again to confirm it, fingers crossed!!

 

As the Sea Train flew down the tracks and back to your home, Jabra turned to Kumadori and cocked his head.

“You think she’s too pretty for me too?”

“Yoyoi!!!! One does not need eyes for that!” Kumadori sang as he struck a pose.

“Grrr, you piece of trash!” Jabra snapped. “I wonder who the lucky bastard is.”

“It could be Lucci, cha-pa-pa,” Fukurou whispered as he unzipped his lip once more. “Wouldn’t that be funny?”

“Yeah right!” Jabra gave a bellowing laugh at the thought of the stone cold Lucci caring enough about someone for a relationship. Or even having the patience to fake it! “If it’s anyone, it’s Kaku. He’s young and personable.”

“Miss Kalifa isn’t one to underestimate. She gets… what she wants!” Kumadori hummed.

“Bottom line… not Jabra,” Fukurou chuckled before getting kicked into another wall, this time by Jabra’s wolf Zoan form.

“Bottom line, not you, you clown!!!” Jabra shouted before launching himself at Fukurou for a scuffle.

“Both of you should commit seppuku for such immaturity!” Kumadori cried out as he hopped off his parapet to separate the two fighting men. “This is no way to behave! Yoyoi!!!”

Chapter 30: Frayed Nerves

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

The fear response is typically fight, flight or freeze. It appears that Reader's is freeze.

You actually managed to get some good quality shut-eye on the train after counting your bountiful pay from the Enies Lobby man named Spandam. As stressful as it was, getting to treat an animal (well… sword animal? Devil Fruits were so odd - thankfully you never encountered users in your day-to-day life!!!) was a special experience, one that you, much like an elephant, would definitely never forget. You’d have to deposit the money at the bank in the morning. Now it was just a matter of getting back into your home safe and sound. The downside of living in such a prized district was that it was often quite the hike to make it towards the ports.

While you had certainly expected that you would be bone tired when the Sea Train finally pulled back into the Water 7 station at nearly midnight, the opposite was true. You hopped off the compartment with some spring in your step and looked around the typically bustling area where travelers were constantly boarding and unboarding, saying good-bye to friends and lovers or embracing to end a long separation.

It was a little spooky being the dark area by yourself and you felt your heart race just a little bit at the thought of there being a stranger around a dark corner, ready to rob you or assault you. And you didn’t have much in the way of protection. Should you be carrying pepper spray? Why didn’t you have mace?!?! Hell, even if you were exhausted, adrenaline would be forcing you to be wide-awake now!

Taking a few deep breaths in and out to steady your nerves, you clutched your satchel with your medical supplies (and money!!) close to your chest and took five steps forward, heart pounding in your ears. You could feel the quick pulse in your neck. A chill go up your spine.

Then you paused. Because you could just feel someone’s presence in this vicinity. And it was… dark. Hungry. Anticipatory. Honestly, the only word you could use to describe yourself in that moment was… prey. Whipping your head around, you tried to ascertain in the dimly lit alcove where the source of your trepidation was, but saw nothing. Or maybe you didn’t want to know. But you were absolutely being watched and you needed to escape.

Just as you were prepared to book it towards the nearest busy market street, which was five blocks away by your estimation, you heard footsteps behind you. But footsteps you… knew? Swallowing, you shifted on your heel and turned around, preparing for the worst.

Just give them the purse and run, you thought to yourself as you turned. Your life is worth more than this.

But when you turned, you were instead met with a lovely bouquet of fresh wildflowers. And a small bird hopped onto the top of your head. But you were completely overstimulated and your body still let out a very short, high-pitched scream.

“Surprise,” Lucci replied calmly, completely unaffected by your outburst. And with that, you practically melted into a puddle of relief as his smooth voice hit your ears.

Actually, you really did melt into a puddle. Your knees completely gave out and your ass hit the ground in quick order, your frayed nerves temporarily robbing your lower body of its ability to function.

Hattori cooed with concern at your state, head hung low, and tugged at a few loose hairs at your forehead to perk you up and snap you back to normal.

“I’ll be fine,” you assured the bird, who bounced up and down in response when your head rose back up. “I just… need a couple of minutes for my heart to not be in my throat… damn near pissed myself... good evening, Lucci, dear...”

“You could sense me,” Lucci murmured as he squatted down to be at your level. “And you were scared.”

He didn’t say this as a way to empathize with your heavy emotions, nor did he say it as a way to be logical and explain away your anxiety. He meant it more as a matter of fact. His assassin aura, even lying in wait for his fake girlfriend, was so natural to him that leaked out even in a low-stakes setting such as this.

But how terribly interesting that you had the wherewithal to know that someone, especially he, was present in the dark. His victims more often than not didn’t know they weren’t alone until they were bleeding out in a dark alleyway or a private room.

 

He knew you were special.

 

But just because he wasn’t a threat didn’t mean he wasn’t exempt from a tongue lashing.

 

“I’m scared of anyone standing around in shadows! Why didn’t you say something?!” you hissed at Lucci. You were on edge and lashing out, but you couldn’t help it! You were freaking out just two minutes ago! “You could have been any sort of… of villain! Genuinely how did you think I'd take this?!”

“Genuinely? Genuinely I didn’t know what to say or do that wouldn’t have led you to taking off sprinting. And then I’d be chasing you and that seemed like a worse decision,” Lucci lied.

Truth be told? It kind of turned him on that you were that frightened, shaking like a leaf. He would have adored stalking you all the way home, only to grab you into his arms at the last second when you were turning the key to your apartment. Then to take you on the floor when you were still in a moment of shock and alarm, not fully comprehending that it was him. The way he simply knew that you would be clinging to him, sublimely tight and tense in all the right places.

A shame that you wouldn’t be receptive to his advances in that moment because he wanted nothing more than to bring you to a secluded place, away from witnesses. And all that shaking, heavy breathing, fast heartbeat, squeaking and screaming? That needed to come from pleasure.

Locking away those fantasies of you mewing pathetically in his head for later consumption, Lucci shook himself back to his controlled state and leaned over to kiss your cheek tenderly. He truly did not care to see you in a state that was less than content. Even if it was by his own actions.

“I’m sorry for frightening you. It wasn’t my intention.”

“What was your intention?” you asked, pleased with the kiss yet still guarding yourself.

Lucci once again presented the bouquet of flowers to you. Not just as a gift, but as a peace offering. “Like I said. A surprise.”

You took the flowers into your arms and examined them before turning up your gaze and studying Lucci’s face. There was some concern etched into his brow, but his golden eyes were unreadable. But that was Lucci for you - practically inscrutable. Lucci definitely wasn’t the type to do grand romantic gestures, nor do things in a way that most would consider to be standard. In fact, you couldn’t name a single thing Lucci had ever done concerning you that you would construe as normal.

The more you thought about it, that’s what you liked so much about him.

But still, you wished he was a little more conventional from time to time.

“It would have surprised me just as much to see you the second I got off the Sea Train,” you said with a heavy breath, trying to expel any leftover dread from your psyche. It didn't work, of course, so you'd have to wait for it to ebb away into nothing. Instead, you took his chin between your thumb and forefinger and glared at him. “I don’t. Like being. Scared. That’s pretty reasonable for most people too, in case you were unawares.”

“We’re not most people,” Lucci pointed out.

“I am when it comes to that,” you replied before attempting to stand. With some effort, you got back on your own two feet. “I desperately need to go home and sit down somewhere comfy.” You recalled yourself climbing out of Funkfreed’s mouth and grimaced. “And take a shower. A long shower.”

“Then come. I’ll take you to your place,” Lucci said calmly, looping your arm under his. “Just lean on me, alright?”

“You’re sweet.” You brought down his face again, this time for a short kiss. When you two parted, you looked him in his eyes again. This time, they looked just a touch softer than before. “Even though you can be intimidating when you don’t mean it.”

Lucci licked the tip of your nose in response, smirking as you squeaked. “Try to reframe it as me being exciting.”

“I’ll try, but no promises!”

The sooner you were home, the better. Lucci thought the exact same thing, but for entirely different reasons.

His lustful side was taking over his mind again and he wasn’t sure he would make it back to his own apartment to act it out.

Chapter 31: It's A Respect Thing

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

Imagine liking someone so much that it changes the way you think about them from ALL angles.

Lucci: ope

The two of you (three, counting Hattori) safely made it back to your apartment. Lucci stiffened as you unlocked the front door, recalling how he wanted to fuck you as you were still frightened senseless in his stalking fantasy. You didn’t seem to notice this and made your way to the bathroom as soon as your belongings were set down on an open countertop.

Rejecting an offer to join you for a hot shower, citing the fact that you looked like you needed to be alone to decompress, Lucci opened the kitchen window the second he heard the bathroom door lock click. Honestly, he needed to be alone to decompress as well. Hattori glided off to stretch his wings and enjoy the pleasant night time flying conditions, leaving Lucci to himself.

Alone for probably a good hour, considering the kind of showers and baths you took to soak and relax, Lucci strutted right for your bedroom and unzipped his pants, shifting his clothes just enough to get access to his cock. The thoughts swimming in his head were already starting to affect him, blessedly not enough for you to notice before you left his sight. Lucci wanted to handle this himself.

Licking his lips, he sat down on your bedspread, closed his eyes and began stroking himself. He began concentrating on that spontaneous kink he had earlier in the evening and let his mind resume its fantasies, free of inhibitions. Yes, you were there, but he had stayed in the shadows, away from your sharp, careful gaze. You had begun muttering to yourself that you were fine, no one was actually there. On you walked, bag clutched to your chest, your pace quickening block after block. Yet Lucci remained on your tail, always watching. Always lying in wait.

You practically sprinted for three blocks, finally coming upon a large crowded street with plenty of vendors and townsfolk. Safe, you would have thought, and slowed back down. Your nerves were still on edge, as you still felt there were eyes constantly on you. This time, they were above.

Lucci slowly started to harden in his grip as he imagined deftly hopping across rooftops, following your tiny body pass street after street, taking a Yagara bull taxi up and down waterways in a failed effort to shake off the stalker sensation. It only became more delicious when you realized you were alone again (right?), it being so late that most of the city had fallen asleep outside of the drunks around the bars. But you were in your home district now, so you should have felt more at ease.

Licking his lips, Lucci pumped hard in intervals as he imagined himself a voyeur in the shadows, watching as your face stiffened once more in fright as you walked toward your home, picking up the pace at every turn. You were so close to the front door that you had your keys in hand, gripped so tight in your hand that your fingernails changed color. At this point, he would be making a bit more noise. Perhaps footsteps a bit louder, just to have you more than aware that it wasn’t your active imagination. That you were truly being followed by someone whose intentions were impure.

And then his presence would be gone in the last leg of your journey. You would think you were safe at last, but still looking over your shoulder, unaware of the fact that Lucci was hiding out on your rooftop, waiting until the second he could hear your front door’s lock shift.

When it did, you let out a small anxious squeak when pushing yourself inside in an effort to lock out whatever villain that may or may not have been behind you. Unfortunately, you weren’t fast enough. Lucci completely overpowered you, stopping the door that you were trying to slam shut in its tracks before swiftly closing it behind him and hitting the lock. The shades of your front room had already been drawn, leaving barely a ray of moonlight to luminate the area, not nearly enough for you to see that it was your boyfriend in front of you.

With each step Lucci took forward, you took one back. God, he could smell the fear on you and the sound of you whimpering, tears surely coming to your eyes, was the sweetest music. Grunting, his cock slowly becoming more sensitive to his movements, Lucci laid down on your bed and imagined himself walking over to a window and yanking the cord to the blinds. You flinched, eyes adjusting to the lessened darkness enough to see that you were no longer in danger. That you knew the man who shoved himself through the portal to your home.

Still shaking like a leaf, Lucci used his Shave ability to appear right in front of you, his mouth coming down on yours and swallowing your shriek. Off came your clothes, ripped clear off your body and down you were taken to the floor. You asked what had gotten into him, that he was scaring you, but still you didn’t move.

He looked down at your face as he began removing his own clothes and there were, in fact, tears streaming down your cheeks. Your mouth was forming the word 'no', your throat too constricted in fear to make a sound.

 

Huh…

 

Lucci significantly slowed in his masturbation before sighing heavily to himself.

You know, he thought as he sat back up and whipped his shirt off, once upon a time, I wouldn’t have given a single shit if you were scared of me or not.

Even in his lewd, violent fantasy, you being even the slightest bit scared of him didn’t do it for him. Even in the fictional realm his mind conjured up, you weren’t supposed to be in a bad way. You shouldn’t not be enjoying yourself.

Hell, were you the first person he had the inclination to be hypothetically considerate towards? What was he becoming?!

“Damn it,” Lucci muttered, screwing his shut eyes even tighter closed. “You’re messing with me…”

“Not yet I’m not,” he heard your sultry voice whisper.

Opening his eyes and lifting his head, he saw you, bare naked and still damp from the bath, leaning on your upper arm against the door jamb, your eyes fixated on the erect cock still held firmly in his grasp.

Lucci whispered your name back as you quietly padded over, overlapping his large hand with your small one.

“Need some help, baby? I'm pretty good at this part and you've done all the... hard... work...”

“Not scared of me anymore?” he grunted while you laid down beside him and began stroking his cock achingly slow, Lucci’s arm falling to his side. “I thought… fuuuck... you wouldn’t be in the mood…”

“Hmm… I wasn’t for the entire walk home and during my shower. But I heard you going to town on yourself after I shut the water off… and I had a change of heart.” You leaned forward and licked Lucci’s ear. “You looked way too needy for me to turn down.”

Lucci turned his head and took your tongue in his mouth, responding to each stroke you gave him, and groaned deep in the back of his throat the second your thumb started small circular ministrations on his tip.

Yes, this is preferable, Lucci decided as he made a grab for your breasts, soft and supple and clean. So ready and willing, so absolutely crazy for me and me alone…

“Come on, be a good boy for me and come,” you cooed as you sped up your motions, enjoying how Lucci’s eyes turned dark, how his full lips mouthed silent words. “I know you want to… come... come... come.”

When he reached his limit from your actions and your lovely, yet commanding voice in his ear, Lucci shot up into a sitting position and sprayed his seed into your hand and onto the floor in two short bursts.

Catching his breath, Lucci collapsed back onto the bed and gazed up at you. You had a most satisfied expression on your face, choosing to wipe off the excess ejaculation onto his pant leg.

“Hey…” he weakly protested.

“I’m not about to wipe you off on myself, lover," you replied lightly.

“Mmm… whatever… ummm… thanks,” Lucci muttered.

A tinge of humiliation ran through his veins as he reflected on how unraveled you made him just minutes ago. Especially after his little fantasy game flickered into nothingness. If he were to ever dominate you in a way that would satisfy his sadistic cravings… it would have to be with your consent, in fiction or reality. Now that was something he could focus on in his free moments. Could he ever convince you to be tied to a bed post while he had his way with you? Signs pointed to a tentative yes if he played his cards right.

“My exquisite pleasure,” you chuckled. You leaned down and gave him a chaste kiss, one he returned instinctually. “You better strip. A man who comes like that is definitely on his way to sleep.”

Acquiescing to this point, Lucci obediently did as you suggested until the two of you were naked in bed together. You rested your head on his chest and listened in. His heart rate was already back to normal, slow and steady, unflappable. When his breathing shifted, signaling he was asleep in your hold, you could only smile to yourself.

How lucky were you?

Chapter 32: Wavelengths

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

All a spy does is lie, right? RIGHT?!

“I missed you,” you confessed while you two rested on the couch together the next afternoon. Lucci had the day off of work and preferred spending it with you. He was in a sitting position, his long legs resting up on the coffee table in front of the couch. Hattori was also occupying a small square of the coffee table, pecking at the lunch that you had placed in front of him. Lucci had a non-fiction book in one hand and busied his other hand playing with your hair while your head was in his lap. That hand only left your hair to lazily flip pages. “I wish you could have gone with me. There were a lot of men I didn’t trust there.”

The thought of Lucci staying undercover at his place of employment? He couldn’t hold back a snort of derision. “I think I would have caused an incident,” he replied, turning a page and smirking at the thought of visiting Enies Lobby only to have his entire cover blown by a lowly cafeteria worker or custodian. “The odds would be, what? Ten thousand to one?”

“Yes. But you would win, I’m sure of it!” you countered sleepily. “Even so, I suppose it really was for the best. You probably would have punched this one guy right in his nose. And between you and me, it looks like someone got there first.”

She had to be speaking of Spandam, Lucci surmised. That was the only guy there with an animal unusual enough to call in outside help. This was priceless.

“My my, he irritates me already,” he responded honestly. “Care to tell me his name? Or is that a government secret?”

“Umm… I’m not sure. I know you wouldn’t tell a soul, but it might be safer if you don’t know. You never can be too careful with those government types. Eyes and ears everywhere.”

“I’m touched you care about my well-being that much,” Lucci hummed as he flipped another page in his book before he went back to carding his fingers through your hair. “But I assure you, not even the World Government would make the mistake to come between us.”

“Come now, Lucci, you can’t challenge the entire world and expect to win?” you teased, flattered at the thought that Lucci would go through that trouble just for you. “All for my sake?”

Lucci only chuckled and brushed your cheek with his thumb. “Bring it on.”

You smiled softly back and closed your eyes as Lucci went back to playing with your hair. “You know… I mean it when I say I have no doubt that you’d succeed...”

He caressed your head just so, and it was slowly but surely causing you to drift to sleep.

 

Lucci silently kept reading, letting you catch up on some much-needed rest. The excitement of the past couple of days fuelled your adrenaline to the point where your sleep wasn’t particularly rejuvenating. It’s not like he could blame you. You just weren’t up to the task of handling monumental levels of stress like he was. And that wasn’t a crime or a sin.

He never noticed how expressive you could be in your sleep and it was interesting enough that he quietly put down his book and studied you.

In the space of thirty minutes, you managed to: yawn, mutter, giggle, grimace, wiggle your toes and flip onto your side and say his name in… horror? Lucci slept so soundly when he spent the night in your apartment that he never noticed this. Or was your current animation a particularly rare occurrence?

Whichever the option, it was enough movement that Hattori was getting invested too. The bird fluttering to land on your knee was the trigger to wake you up, and you did so with a snort.

“Karoo!” Hattori sang as you flipped onto your back once more, the bird gently bouncing to rest on your shins. “Koo?”

Lucci looked back down at your face, which gave him a start.

Your nose was scrunched up in disgust, your eyes half-lidded, your mouth agape. A sweat drop or two beaded on your forehead and down your cheek, and the light from the windows hit your face in a way that covered one side in darkness.

“May I ask what morally repugnant act I committed in your dreams,” your boyfriend asked, completely deadpan, “to earn this ire?”

You sat up and furiously mussed your hair, eyes squeezed shut as if trying to press the remnants of the dream out of your brain. Hattori cocked his neck and landed quietly on the crown of your head when you finally calmed down.

“Oh brother, you were something else!” you signed. You opened your eyes and looked up at Lucci. “It’s like you were replaced!”

“Start from the top. Now I’m quite invested.”

“Okay, you know dreams, you’re always right in the middle of the action. I was walking down the streets of Water 7 like normal and Galley-La is right across the way. I see you working, also like normal, on the ships. Then you see me…” You shudder and continue. “And then you get some big old lover boy look on your face and quite literally skip away from the ship and up to me.”

“Heart eyes?” Lucci asked, finally understanding why the look of horror had populated on your unconscious face.

“Heart eyes… even your mouth was heart-shaped!”

“My word… go on.”

“And then you started singing romantic songs to me, spinning me around in circles, declaring to everyone around about us… I don’t think I’ve ever dreamt about you acting more… unlike yourself.”

“You’ve dreamt about me before?” he teased, leaning in with a handsome smirk. “Before I even had the chance to hold your hand?”

“Don’t make me admit that,” you huffed. Your eyes looked anywhere but Lucci at that moment, for you certainly didn’t want to expound upon some explicitly lurid fantasies before the actual deed occurred. “Stop looking at me like that.”

“You’re cute. And then the dream ended?”

“I think I woke myself up when you got down on a knee,” you sighed. Lucci wasn’t like other men you knew, who would take great offense to the concept of marriage, even when discussing a dream.

Wait, would it be so disgusting to be Mrs. Rob Lucci?! Of course not!!! Just not certainly after such a public proposal… not to mention you two weren’t even close to that level!

But just as you were about to excuse yourself for any negative implication your demeanor would imply, Lucci cut in first.

“If such a thing should happen in the future… I promise it will be a low-key affair,” he chuckled, watching you as you hid a beaming smile. The good thing about being a spy was that he could, in fact, make such sweet empty promises to you and you would eat them up.

Although, even the sweetest, most emptiest of future plans needed convincing action to make them seem plausible. And he had been denying you three words that would keep you on a leash, unquestioning of his actions and motives for years to come.

Hattori fluttered off your head to go back to his lunch. As soon as you were free of his companion, Lucci leaned forward, took your face in his hands, and bestowed upon you a comfortable kiss, one that spoke to how at ease you made him feel, undercover work notwithstanding.

“I love you,” he whispered against your lips when he parted from you. “I should have said it sooner.”

He watched you jump at the words, much like how you jumped when he first spoke to you at your clinic. Then he received many kisses in return for such a simple statement, a promise of his favorite dinner, and a reciprocal declaration.

So you loved him too, eh? Not that he had any doubts. He had been playing the part of the boyfriend damn near perfectly. With that, he had secured a future of stringing you along until, one damn day, his time in Water 7 would be done. And he’d leave you with no regrets.

All he would have to do is not like you any better than he did at this exact moment.

That would be easy.

Right?

Chapter 33: Kinky

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

You smell that? It's the final curve of the story. Work has been whipping my ass lately due to the classic "you're so good at your job, here's more work" conundrum, so I will ALWAYS appreciate how patient y'all are with the chapter waits.

You could have sworn up and down that you went to sleep one night and simply woke up next to your boyfriend of nearly four years - four years!! Where did the time go? Perhaps it was the fact that Aqua Laguna was growing worse every year (clean up had been evolving from a couple of weeks max to months and months) that seemed to make the clock spin ever faster. Or maybe it was the fact that you were busier than ever at work because of that. The demand of Yagura bulls as workhorses increased year after year for material transport. Families also were moving into Water 7 despite the annual natural disaster, which bumped up the demand for veterinary services.

Sensing the impending workload, your scribe Jonathan suggested that you put more resources into training doctors and vet techs, including taking on young interns. And it was true! You wouldn’t be the vet you were without your mentor taking you under her wing. That’s where you were off today - you were making your rounds at the local schoolhouses to introduce young kids to the wonderful world of animal care. Which is probably why you didn’t want to leave the bed.

“Lucci, care to break both my legs?” you muttered as you stared up at the ceiling. You didn’t sleep particularly well that night despite being thoroughly exhausted going into bed. Out of all the dangers you faced in your line of work, somehow forty pairs of eyes staring back at you while you spoke was the most daunting. “Make it quick.”

“It would be a crime to bruise them... intentionally,” Lucci replied as he looked around the bedroom floor for his underwear. “Are children really such a pain point for you?”

“It’s not that I hate kids. I just don’t relate to them. I told you about my childhood, yeah? Kids born today are blessed. I have no good ‘when I was your age’ stories. And kids are really good at picking out something you’re self-conscious about.”

“What are you self-conscious about, my love?”

“I wish I was more like Kaku and Iceburg,” you said after several seconds of consideration. “I’m not the most socially graceful person. I didn’t have many friends before I met you. You could go as far as calling me a loner outside of work hours.” You chuckled with mirth. “Honestly, sometimes I think you’re the only person who really, honestly cares about me.”

“That’s not true,” Lucci replied earnestly, eyebrows knitted with faux concern. “I happen to know that you are well-liked.”

“Hattori and other animals don’t count, baby.”

“Among humans,” he clarified with a smirk. Okay, even if he didn’t truly love you, he did still, after all this time, like you. “Your trust is just difficult to earn. Nothing wrong with that.”

You paused. “I suppose it took us long enough, didn’t it?”

“You really should have broken up with me ages ago, for making you wait so long for monogamy.”

“And lose the best sex of my life?” You yanked the pillow that was underneath your head to the side and tossed it at Lucci’s face. “Forget about it.”

Studying Lucci’s face when the pillow fell back down, it was your turn to smirk as you watched his eyes moved up and to the left, recalling the fond memory of you two fucking in the shower late last night. Hell, that was a good idea, you should reminisce too.

 

Initially you didn’t actually want Rob Lucci to join you in the bathroom that evening. The two of you had a very long day of traveling, having recently returned from a weekend getaway in San Faldo. You had always wanted to enjoy the carnival and wear a costume and you finally convinced Lucci to join you with a sharp tux to match his top hat. (Although you would never learn this, your boyfriend only agreed to go because he was assigned an assassination from the Government and decided to make it a two-for-one trip - you didn’t even notice that you were surrounded by Government agents the whole time)

The weekend itself was nice, although you for once had to complain about Lucci’s physical attention. You didn’t know what got into him during the final night of the trip, but you waited a full forty minutes for him to return to the hotel room with a bottle of wine from a shop down the street. When he returned with said wine, Lucci put down the bottle on an end table before he ravished you with such passion that you forgot to ask what took him so long. Whatever it was, you supposed you were glad it got his blood pumping.

Your train home was delayed several hours, so it was well past ten by the time you and Lucci made it back to your apartment.

“I’ve got an early day of Hell tomorrow, so I should probably kick you out or have you sleep on the couch,” you yawned. “I’m going to shower.”

“Kick me out?” Lucci said with a frown. Hattori, ever his present friend, had already flown to his spare bedroom and closed the door behind him. Even birds had to sleep. “What a warm welcome back.”

“I should really get rid of distractions,” you reasoned. “On the other hand, the less I think about tomorrow, the better… and you really are good at distracting mEEE!!”

You squealed loud as Lucci, already stripped down to nothing, scooped you up onto his shoulder and marched you to the bathroom, having needed no further encouragement. Even he wasn’t sure what had gotten into himself, as he was insatiable for your body over the past few weeks. Well… more than normal. Rarely did you two go long without mindless fucking.

Your clothes were whipped off of your body by needy hands as soon as your bare feet hit the cool tile of your bathroom floor. You stared at Lucci’s back scars while he turned on the shower before he turned around and crashed his lips onto yours. Between the hot water and Lucci’s muscular thigh grinding up between your legs, it didn’t take long for you to perk up.

“I love it when you make those sounds,” you murmured as Lucci’s voice moaned deep against your ear while his hands ran up and down your body. “So desperate, aren’t we?”

“I can’t…” Lucci moved his head back and looked at you dead on. There it was again - every now and then you saw that warm glint in his normally dark eyes. “Why can’t I ever control myself when it comes to you? Why do I break all my rules?” He kissed you again, hard. “Let me in on the secret.”

“Maybe it doesn’t have to be a problem,” you offered gently. “Let your instincts run the show for once.”

“My instincts…” Maybe you had a point. He had always been a ‘think first’ sort of man. And he didn’t want his brain to be in control this time. This moment. It was just you and him for now. “Hold onto me.”

You gasped softly as Lucci lifted you up on his forearms, your legs wrapping around his hips for support. The water from the showerhead danced on your back while Lucci gently lowered you down, sheathing himself completely inside you. Up and down, you bounced on Lucci’s cock, vocalizing your pleasure in his movements, begging him for more. Faster, harder! As if last night wasn’t enough!

Rather than lose his footing on the tile of the floor, Lucci squatted down to a kneeling position, never leaving your precious warmth, before obeying your command. He was able to lift your leg up just enough to give himself access to your entire core and pumped vividly at the sight of your elated face before your arms flung around his neck, your mewling voice in his ear. The spring inside of his belly was coiling tighter, ever tighter.

Normally, Lucci would have the presence of mind to pull out. He didn’t come inside often (or as often as you’d like), even though you were taking care of protection. Every instance of that is a risk and he’d gotten lucky so far.

But he wasn’t using his brain right now. His instinct was telling him to push you down hard when he could no longer hold back. Grabbing your hips, Lucci quietly said your name before thrusting forward and holding you steady as he unloaded everything he had into you.

He waited until he softened once more - the only sounds now audible in the bathroom were two panting lovers and the showerhead reliably running.

You sat back and tried to let Lucci’s cum drain out when his cock finally fell out of you, but you whimpered in pure want as you watched Lucci’s second and third fingers replace his cock and push inside of you once more.

“You’re mine,” he rasped out as the heel of his hand rubbed roughly against your swollen, throbbing clit. If the intense physical stimulation wasn’t enough to bring you over the edge, the absolutely feral look on Lucci’s face certainly did the trick.

“Yours?” you stuttered out, looking up as Lucci’s large body practically enveloped you.

“Mine”.

“... Y… yours!!” Your legs spasmed as the orgasm that Lucci brought you toward shook violently throughout your body. “Yours!!!”

Satisfied with the frazzled state of you, Lucci pulled his fingers out from your core and studied his cum slowly trickling down and out to the floor drain.

“I’d consider you distracted,” he hummed, turning off the shower. “Among other things.”

He took some additional time to actually clean the two of you off before running a towel up and down your body, then carrying you to bed. Although you didn’t immediately fall asleep as he had assumed would happen, you did curl up on him and dug into his warmth.

“Being yours ain’t half-bad, Mr. Rob Lucci,” you whispered with a long yawn following. “Thanks for the effort.”

“Go to sleep, my love.”

 

“I can’t believe you of all people have an honest-to-goodness breeding kink.”

Your voice brought Lucci back down to earth and you could have sworn you got a blush out of him.

“Kink is a… strong word,” he replied with a short cough.

“Whatever you have to tell yourself, sweetheart. Now you should probably get ready for work. There’s three months until the next Aqua Laguna, which probably means good ol’ Iceburg has his mind on it already. And more’s the pity for Galley-La if that’s the case.”

“Shame I won’t be sheltering here this year.”

“I’ll probably just move to higher ground after this one. Say, want to move in together? You and Hattori eat enough of my food and sleep here enough that you practically have.”

Lucci paused. “I’ll think about it.”

“Aww, you prefer Kaku as a roommate?” you teased.

“Would you be jealous if I said yes?”

“Yes!”

Lucci kissed you instead of commenting on your admission. “I’ll see you tomorrow night. Good luck with your lectures.”

You pulled Lucci in for another kiss and sent him off into the living area to look for his clothes.

You really did love that man. That’s why you didn’t at all mind being his.

Chapter 34: The Alabasta Aftermath

Summary:

You were the Number One Veterinarian in all of Water 7 and the connecting islands, who everyone around town went to for the benefit of their beloved animal. Trusted, knowledgeable, discreet. All fine trademarks of someone in medicine.

Rob Lucci didn't have time to form relationships. His mission, whatever it was in that moment, was the most important thing in his life. His fellow CP9 agents stationed in Water 7 were just co-workers. His only friend was Hattori, his pigeon. When the health of his friend was in jeopardy, he finally crossed paths with you.

And it kept happening, well after you saved Hattori's life.

Familiarity is supposed to breed contempt, but it did the opposite for Lucci. He became quite fond of you indeed.

Notes:

Reader: Nothing bad will happen in two weeks, right? Right?!

“No way!!” you excitedly exclaimed while reading the morning paper over breakfast. Lucci looked up from his black coffee to see your face now buried in the middle of the paper after a quick glance at the front page. Hattori, meanwhile, was coughing, a stubborn piece of birdseed stuck in his throat in surprise from your outburst.

“Something earth-shattering?” he asked calmly, sipping at his drink. Hattori hopped from his spot at the table to climb up your arm and sit on your head for a better view of the news. But not before tugging on a loose lock of hair in revenge for the shout. Not that you noticed, too engrossed with the news item.

“Not earth-shattering, but definitely revelatory. Get this - you know the Kingdom of Alabasta, right?”

“I know of it. Did something happen?”

“Hrm… yes and no. It turns out that there was almost a coup and at the center of it all is that Warlord of the Sea - Crocodile! This crime syndicate called Baroque Works that Crocodile is… was president of was behind it all and King Cobra almost got assassinated! Thankfully the Marines were on location there so they came in and stopped the coup and a civil war, all in one day. Some guy named…” You re-read the article to confirm the names, confusion furrowing your brow at the fact that they were rather low-rank marines. “... Smoker and his officer Tashigi were the ones to uncover it all.”

Lucci nodded and put his coffee cup down. Having spent the night at your home, he was sure he missed an intelligence briefing from the World Government. It was a curious sensation to find out about such a large-scale event in such a casual way, like any civilian. He would have to have Kaku fill him in on the minute details.

“You mean how those Warlord pirates have carte blanche to do whatever they want, up to attempting to overthrow a kingdom?”

“I don’t trust this so-called Warlord system,” you grumbled. Hattori glided off your head and fluttered back down onto the table to finish his breakfast, having finished reading the paper himself. “It’s so rife with avenues of abuse… it’s so unnerving to have something like this happen so close to our borders… it’s a short sail from Alabasta to here, Lucci.”

“Agreed, my dear. Pass that over when you’re done, please.”

You nodded and skimmed the rest of the article, not seeing anything unusual. Little did you know, a pirate crew was actually responsible for stopping the takeover of Alabasta. And this Warlord system that you distrusted would be dissolved in as little as two years from now with the revelation that a successful coup did indeed take place over a decade ago at Dressrosa.

After you handed the newspaper over to your boyfriend, you quietly tried to finish the rest of your cooled breakfast in trepidation. What if a gang came to Water 7 that had Warlord protection and took over the shipyard? Galley-La might have some heavy hitters, but they were nothing compared to the power these pirates packed!

You had been feeling quite anxious as of late. In the last couple of months you had quite the difficulty finding your appetite for the day's meals, especially in the morning. Work was a little busier than normal and you had been feeling especially stressed due to the need to take shelter for Aqua Laguna in the next two weeks instead of staying at your home like you had been doing for years now. Maybe the uptick in piracy items in the news lately was to blame for your your current condition as well.

“Damn pirates… they really are more trouble than they’re worth,” you sighed before looking up at your boyfriend. “Lucci, what do you think of pirates? Like, generally? I know you deal with them at work every now and again, but how do you actually feel?”

Lucci, having finished reading about the Alabasta incident while you had your own small worry session, had a faint smile on his lips as he looked up at you. “I’ve never met one in all my time at Water 7 that wasn’t more than a nuisance.”

This was true - he certainly wasn’t going to clue you in that he once avoided being outright killed by one Donquixote Doflamingo and almost bled to death fighting a higher-ranked member of the Beast Pirates.

“I’d believe it - what, with your strength.” You breathed a sigh of relief and smiled back at Lucci. “Thanks for keeping all of us safe, especially Iceburg.”

“He’s the mayor and my boss. An important man to keep alive.”

And he’s also the man holding the blueprints to Pluton. And he’ll slip up sooner or later.

Lucci stood up with his breakfast dishes and put them in the sink before walking over to you and planting a kiss on your head. As he gazed into your eyes, full of love and admiration for him, he had the article of Baroque Works reeling through his mind.

Baroque Works… the organization that used to be a ghost to chase now gone. And all World Government intelligence pointed to Nico Robin being a top member. If Baroque Works was gone, then Nico Robin was on the run, possibly already having found protection. And to follow the current of the Grand Line from Alabasta…

Lucci smirked again and gave you a deep kiss, which surprised you, but happily returned.

There was no doubt about it. His mission at Water 7 was nearly complete. His four years were up!

“What was that for? Not that I’m complaining,” you giggled.

“Just that I… love you,” Lucci whispered with a hesitation that went unnoticed by you. “It’s a shame I’ve got to leave you alone.”

“Right, right, I can’t keep you forever. Have fun at work. And thanks for spending the morning with me. Please say hi to the group for me.”

“Everyone but Paulie.”

This made you laugh brightly, vivaciously.

“Right, everyone but Paulie!”

Lucci made it clear to his fellow CP-9 agents since Day One that he held no fondness for Water 7 or any of its inhabitants. And that definitely included you, he would so firmly tell Kaku and Kalifa.

But maybe… the sound of your laughter would be missed.

If only a touch.