"Get away from me!"
"Come back flower girl! I just wanna ask you a question!" The man chuckled in his drunken state as he chased you through the field of flowers.
One minute you were relaxing, touching the flowers around you happily, just enjoying the beautiful day; Next thing you knew, a man, that you guessed had been day drinking, came randomly and even though you didn't make eye contact or acknowledge him, he still decided to bother you and attempt to touch you.
Now, you're running away, small wicker basket of wildflowers you had picked for graves you planned to visit a bit later, looped around your wrist.
"Gotcha!" He roughly grabbed your hair, causing you to drop the basket.
"Let go!" He cackled and stepped on your flowers and basket while he fought to pin you down to the ground.
"I just wanted to say hello and then you decided you were better than I am. What's up with that huh? I didn't do anything wrong and you wanna ignore me? That's rude don't you think?" His whiskey scented breath clouded your nostrils as he kept his face close to yours.
"Please, let me go..."
"Ahaha, I like when you say 'please'. I think I wanna hear it more~" You felt a hand on your thigh while the other still had your hair balled up in his palm.
"Say it again. Say 'please'!" You closed your eyes and prayed that he would get bored and go wander off elsewhere to pass out.
You were too far from the village to ask for help. You didn't know what to do. You weren't a fighter nor did you know how to simply defend yourself.
"SAY IT AGAIN!" The sound of a thud then a grunt was heard. The pressure from him on top of you and pulling your hair had released. Your eyes shot open as you averted your frightened gaze from in front of you to above. A tall man had been standing there, looking angrily at the drunken man.
You fixed yourself on your knees and looked to the left of you as you rubbed where he had been pulling your hair.
The man was now passed out.
"Are you alright?" You looked back at the man who saved you. His hand was stretched out to assist you.
You took it shakily before crying softly. He frowned and looked down at the crushed flowers and broken basket.
"I'm sorry for what he did but you're safe now at least." You sniffled and nodded.
"Do you live far from here? I will walk you home."
"I-I can't go home y-yet." He was a bit confused but listened.
You relaxed yourself before looking up at the tall man sadly.
"Would it be too much to come with me somewhere else? It's close by." He thought for a moment and decided he had the time so why not.
"Lead the way." You nodded and grabbed the crushed flowers and broken basket, holding it close to you.
"May I ask your name?" You had stopped crying and had looked up at him while the two of you walked.
"You can call me Ideo."
"It's nice to meet you. My name is (Y/N)."
"(Y/N). That's a nice name."
"Thank you..." You blushed at the strangers words as you continued walking.
"I haven't seen you around the village before, are you visiting?"
"Just passing through is all. Do you live in the village?"
"Yes. I own a flower shop in the village."
"That's pretty neat! Do you make those cool fancy arrangements?"
"I do!" He smiled at your enthusiasm.
"Sounds like something I could never do. I feel like it's one of those skills where you think it's easy but when you try it, you end up eating your words. If I tried it, it would come out crappy." You giggled and shook your head.
"It's definitely a form of art. I'd love to show you some of my arrangements a bit later if you have the time?"
"Yeah, I have all day." You nodded and smiled.
"We're here." He stopped and looked around, confused as there were nothing but trees and flowers.
"Where are we?"
"Well, this is where my parents are buried." You revealed two gravestones that had been surrounded by colorful summer flowers. He felt like an idiot when he had asked.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't know."
"No need to apologize. As you said, you didn't know. I just need a moment."
"Of course."
After about 10 minutes of praying and telling your parents about the day you had and how the stranger saved you, you felt the same gentle breeze you had always felt after speaking with your parents' gravestones.
"I hope to see you soon. Be well." You tapped each stone and placed the flowers in front of them before walking back to Ideo, who had been watching the area for any trouble.
"Come. I will show you around the village."
~
You showed him everything on the way to your house. The bakery, the school, the post office, the coffee shop, everything. He had commented on how quaint the village seemed to him. You agreed.
"I've been told it's like a little gingerbread village cause everyone is so nice and everything is small."
"Yeah, I can definitely see it!"
"And this is my shop." He looked at the small green building. The storefront window had gorgeous arrangements that held flowers he had never even seen before. The colors were vibrant and he could even smell how inviting they were.
"You made those?" He followed behind as you unlocked the stores door.
"I did."
"They're so pretty. I don't know much about flowers but that's about the prettiest bundle of flowers I've ever laid eyes on." Another blush crept on your cheeks and you waved him off.
"You're too sweet!" You locked the door to the store and made sure it said 'closed' on the sign.
"You're closed today?"
"Every weekend. Come upstairs, I'll make us tea and serve some cakes." He seemed to like that.
"Ooh, you live above your store? That's so convenient."
"It is." You invited him in and kept your promise on tea and cakes.
The two of you had spoken about many things. You told him about your life in the village, how you first got interested in flowers and how you lived alone for about 5 years now. You had learned a lot about him and he even told you about a man named Luffy who had changed his life.
His life seemed much more exciting than yours.
"So you're a captain of a pirate crew?!"
"That's right." He seemed so proud.
"I had always been told that pirates were rude, disgusting and disrespectful."
"Do you still feel that way after today?"
"Absolutely not... I'm kind of taken back by all of this. Being told all my life that pirates were just bad news and here you are, proving that statement completely wrong." He smirked, making you look away feeling flustered. He laughed at your reaction.
"You're pretty cute, you know that?" You looked at him then wondered.
"Where is the rest of your crew actually?"
"Hm... well, somewhere on this island, that's for sure."
"Am I keeping you from seeing them?!" You got worried about interfering.
"No it's quite alright! I chose to spend my time with you! Don't worry about it! Although, I guess I should go soon. Even though the tea and cakes are tempting enough to stay." He chuckled. You had a serious face on as you thought hard.
"(Y/N)?"
"Will you take me with you?"
"Huh?" He had been very confused at your question.
"It's just... you're doing so many wonderful things out in the sea and I just can't help but wonder what that's like! You telling me is one thing but actually experiencing all of it is a whole other story, you know? Please take me with you! I won't be a bother! I'll cook and clean! I'll pull my own weight!" He couldn't help but laugh at your words.
It had upset you. Was he laughing at you cause he knew you couldn't actually fight? Did he think you were pathetic? You sighed and sadly looked at your tea.
"Hey hey, don't be upset. I didn't say no!" You perked up immediately and gave him a look of disbelief.
"S-So..."
"So! Welcome to the Ideo pirates!"
