His Firecracker Her Rock

Chapter 4 - Storms brewing

Chapter 4 - Storms brewing

Dawn's plan of leaving with Law the next day ended up not panning out as a large tropical storm suddenly hit the island. A water cyclone prevented the submarine from unmooring and held them captive on the island. Which was very unfortunate considering how awkward things were between Ace and Dawn.

After finishing their meal last night, Dawn decided to take up Law's crewmate Sam's offer of some new clothes. Sam was roughly the same height and weight as Dawn and was more than willing to trade an outfit for her Marine uniform, which Sam wanted to use as a disguise. Seeing as Dawn no longer needed the uniform and wasn't planning any schemes involving disguises she agreed. The only problem? Ace accidentally walked in as Dawn was in between two outfits.

What bothered Dawn most about the interaction wasn't how his nose started bleeding so hard he fell backwards from it, that much she expected, but rather how he made it even. According to him since he had seen her goods, it's only fair she saw his! The sudden shock of seeing all of him made Dawn laugh, which anyone would think embarrassed him greatly and was why he was avoiding her.

"Stop!" Dawn ordered Ace as he started to run out of Luffy's room when she entered. "I'm sorry, okay?"

"What are you sorry for?" Ace pouted. Dawn rubbed her temples as she took a deep breath to stop herself from strangling him.

"I'm sorry for laughing at you-your-you..." Dawn stumbled as she felt her face grow hot from embarrassment. Something she found would happen a lot in Ace's presence.

"Heh, I'm just messing with you," Ace smirked, before taking his seat by Luffy's bed again. "I knew why you laughed, you were surprised, not insulting me,"

"Then why did you make me apologize?!" Dawn shouted out confusingly before she started pacing the space at the foot of Luffy's bed. "And why were you avoiding me all day?!"

"Oh? Did you miss me?" He teased her as he leaned back in his chair and propped his arms behind his head.

"That's not what I meant," Dawn rolled her eyes as she stopped pacing and placed her hands on her hips.

"But it is what you said..." Ace continued to tease her, finding the redness spreading across her cheeks adorable for some reason.

"No, it's not! Stop putting words in my mouth!" She argued back as Ace stood up and stepped in her direction.

"I can always put my-"

"Shut up or I will end you," Dawn threatened, while shooting daggers at him with her eyes. After taking another deep breath she changed the subject the best she could. "Bepo thinks the storm will be letting up soon,"

"So what?" Ace questioned as he scratched his nose.

"Nothing, just I'll be heading out with them-" Dawn started before Ace loudly interrupted her. "Wait, you're not staying till Luffy wakes up?"

"I wasn't planning on it," Dawn admitted while nervously biting her cheek. "Has Luffy ever mentioned me?"

"Not that I recall, no," Ace admitted with furrowed brows, failing to see where she was going with this.

"I'm pretty sure he doesn't remember me," Dawn said with a sullen look, before brushing a piece of Luffy's hair back into place. "Can't blame him he was only two and a half the last time I saw him,"

"And that scares you?" Ace realized out loud as he stood up from his seat and looked at Dawn from the other side of Luffy's bed.

"A bit. Although I'm more scared he won't like me," She answered with a soft laugh.

"He'll definitely like you," Ace said as he subconsciously started leaning forward. "You're smart, pretty, strong, and fun to be around. What's not to like,"

"T-thanks," Dawn stuttered as she felt her face flush, yet again.

"No problem," Ace stated with a grin.

"I still think it's best I'm not here when he wakes up," She shrugged and looked up at him. "A lot has changed, his crewmates were scattered by Kuma, you almost died, and the old geezer we call a grandfather didn't even try to stop it,"

"Then perhaps he'd appreciate a good change amongst all the bad," Ace tried to persuade her. "Just at least stay until you know he'll be okay,"

"Fine, but since Law said he was okay yesterday, I can leave anytime now," she smirked as she started to lean towards him now.

"Shut up," Ace teased by repeating what she said earlier. "You know what I meant,"

"But that's not what you said..." Dawn whispered as the distance between the two got even smaller. Just as their lips were about to meet Luffy woke up with a start, scaring them apart.

"Luffy!" Ace shouted out in surprise as he quickly hugged his best friend. Law lazily strolled in a few seconds later having heard from Dawn that Luffy was awake. "I'll be right back"

"Okay," Luffy said as Ace ran out of the room only to shout after him to bring him back some meat. He quickly ran outside where he was pleasantly surprised to see the storm had finally passed.

"Rayleigh!" Ace shouted as he saw the man approaching the submarine. "Did you see where Dawn went she-"

"She left," Rayleigh interrupted him as he boarded the vessel. "Just sailed off in my ship,"

"What but Luffy just woke up," He said while shaking his head in disbelief. "She didn't even say goodbye..."

"Then go after her," Rayleigh chuckles.

"No way! I'm staying with Luffy till he's all better," Ace says right as Luffy runs past the two yelling something about meat.

"He looks good to me," Rayleigh states as his laughter grew.

A single tear fell from Dawn's eye as she saw the island shrink away into just a tiny speck. She knew which direction to go thanks to the stars that were beginning to appear on the horizon. But it didn't make leaving Luffy again any easier. Dawn decided she needed some time to figure out what she needed to do without anyone else's thoughts. 

The night grew colder and with it, a strong wind finally appeared letting her rest her arms that were screaming for a break. She unfurled the sail, almost falling down at the lurch the ship made as the strong wind took over and guided her towards the town of Bluebell, the closest island on the Grandline to Rusukaina. 

The fact that there was wind again meant she was already halfway there. It also meant she was officially back on the Grand line and out of the Calm belt.