Our Alpha (One Piece Fanfic)

5. A Gathering of Many Personas

        "We're back!" The small group of young girls call out, arms full of shopping bags while I follow after them gloomily.

    After the whole fiasco with Fawkes that morning, Smoker sent the girls and me out for some shopping and to cool my head while he and the boys get started on the renovations. In that time, I get to be acquainted with Nami's friends, Vivi, Koala and Camie. All three of them are students of One Piece University (OPU) and share the same classes most of the time with Nami. I actually thought that it was going to be a nice relaxing time shopping with other women.

    Honestly, it was just going to be a short trip to buy a few pieces of lingerie... until Nami found out that I only have three pairs of clothing, including the one I'm wearing. I could still remember the girls' horror-stricken faces as if I mauled their puppy right in front of them. 

    Nami was adamant that I need to buy a closet worth of clothes AT LEAST! Of course, I argued. Not because I don't have the money (I bought a mansion ffs). Being as old as I am, I would obviously have my own way of gaining wealth without exposing myself to the public. Just like any other ancient being. I just never had the need to buy so much stuff before since I was always on the run. And I don't know whether I can stay here long enough to wear everything.

    Clearly, I underestimated a modern woman's love for clothes and shopping.

    So now here we are, back home with a small mountain of shopping bags (Nami and the girls still insisted that it wasn't enough) and hundreds of berries gone from my account.

    I set down the shopping bags I carried with the others near the high archway where my door was supposed to be. The girls have already left to whine to the boys about how strict I was during shopping.

    I sense someone walking towards me and I turn to greet them. Smoker approaches me with Fawkes on his shoulder.

    "I see that you had a fruitful time," his brown eyes stare at the small mountain of shopping bags incredulously. I sigh.

    "Trust me, it's not by choice," I grumble. I raise my gaze to stare at Fawkes.

    "Are you calm now, Hellbird?" Fawkes squawks, flapping his wings as if ruffled by the name. He jumps down from his perch on the police officer's shoulder to land on my outstretched arm before making his way to his normal spot on my shoulder. The falcon pushes his beak to nudge my cheeks softly, cooing in apology.

    "Sigh... I'm sorry too, for not giving you any attention for the past three days," I gently pat his feathered chest. I look at the white-haired officer standing quietly in front of me.

    "Sorry about the chaos earlier. Didn't think you guys would come a day early. Nami told me about it during our time out. Thank you," I give a small nod of appreciation. Smoker only waves his gloved hand, huffing out smoke from his two cigars.

    "No problem. Though, you did surprise them. They've been scared of going anywhere near Fawkes since then," he chuckles. I let out a small scoff of amusement before turning my gaze towards my mansion.

     "I didn't get the chance to greet the boys before. Can you introduce me?" With a grunt, Smoker leads me towards a group of unfamiliar men.

    One of them, a large man with brightly coloured blue hair with large blue stars tattooed on his forearms, raises his head when he heard us approaching. He pushes his sunglasses to rest on his forehead, dark eyes on the two of us.