MIDAS TOUCH

01

SHADOWS TRACED PATTERNS FOREIGN TO HER SKIN as she raised her glass to her mouth, taking a sip of the vodka as she surveyed her surroundings, twirling the liquid in her glass slowly as she looked at all the Marines in the room. Her fingers tightened around the bow in her left hand as DELILAH RUTH placed her glass on the counter and pulled her hood up.

Pushing a strand of brunette hair behind her ear the archer locked eyes with a green haired man. Hazelnut brown eyes clashed against chocolate brown ones as she watched the man's gaze move down to her lips before tracing the outline of her face. The archer shifted slightly in her seat as the man sitting next to her studied her, she watched as he spoke to the bartender before looking back to her.

An uneasy feeling passed through her entire body as she noticed the man's swords. In the corner of her eye, she noticed a little girl walking out of the kitchen with a plate of brown rice balls "I'd like another glass of your finest vodka." The archer placed some coins on the table as the bartender nodded at her in recognition. 

"I see our local princess is back for her usual late-night activity of staring and stirring trouble," Snorting at the bartender's words the girl felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise as she turned to see a whisk of blonde hair. "Here you are," The screech of two glasses broke her stare as the girl turned back to pick up her drink.

Raising the drink to her mouth she took a sip of the vodka as she allowed the alcohol to burn her taste buds. "Is your friend okay?" Fiddling with the vodka in her glass Delilah pointed with her index finger as she saw the red hair peeking out of the sack on the stool two seats away from her. "Had a long day." The green-haired man looked at her with a mix of curiosity and boredom in his eyes.

Her pinky finger traced invisible patterns on the wood of the counter as she spun her glass around in a circle as they heard a giggle. Glancing to the side Delilah noticed the little girl looking at the two of them. "Hello," The little girl's eyes widened at her words as she looked at the bow in Delilah's hand. Gently placing her bow on the ground, she pushed it to lean against the wooden counter as she locked eyes with the little girl. "Could you tell me what that delicious smell is?"

A small smile made its way to her face as Delilah watched the little girl's face light up. The archer's ears perked as she heard a huff from beside her. "What's this?" Leaning against the counter Delilah used her elbows to support her weight as she watched as the green-haired man looked at her and then at the little girl. "Rice balls for you, for both of you." The girl offered as she held the plate towards them. "Made them yourself?" The girl hummed, feeling proud of his question.

"What's the brown stuff?" The man looked towards the ceiling as Delilah tilted her head to the side admiring his features. "Chocolate.... makes everything taste better." Delilah found herself laughing softly at the girl's response as she locked eyes with the green haired man. "Rika!" The girl turned around as she heard an older woman's voice.

The girl turned around and crashed into a certain blonde Marine that Delilah had been avoiding. "You stupid, stupid girl" Helmeppo said angrily as Delilah watched the little girl, Rika, tremble. "Why don't you watch where you're going?" The archer stood up as she glared at Helmeppo. "Rika, apologize to your guest."

"I-I'm s-sorry" Quickly moving in front of the girl Delilah stood in front of Rika protectively as Helmeppo's eyes narrowed at the sight of her. "No, no, no she doesn't have to apologize. It was a mistake and clearly, she didn't see him, and he didn't see her, so she doesn't need to apologize. She's just a little girl," Helmeppo scoffed as he looked at her from head to toe. 

Standing her ground Delilah folded her arms in front of her arms as she felt a presence behind her. Helmeppo moved closer trying to bridge the distance between them as a hand pushed him away from her. "You dropped my food" Delilah gently moved Rika further back as the green haired man stood in front of the two girls.

Helmeppo's eyes were now on the man in front of her as Delilah realized it was the green haired man. The warmth from the man was gone as the swordsman bent down and ripped a small piece of the crushed chocolate rice ball from the floor and took a bite of it. "Hmm, delicious," He grabbed the other rice ball from the floor and placed it on a plate. "Now you eat it and apologize to both of them," Standing up the swordsman stood protectively in front of Delilah as Helmeppo laughed and took a step closer to the swordsman. "Do you know who I am?" His response was instant. "A shithead Marine with a bad haircut"

Helmeppo's jaw tightened as he took out his sword. "I wouldn't do that," Helmeppo scoffed. "Oh, come on, tough guy. Three swords, I only need one." The swordsman seemed to consider something as he looked at Helmeppo. "Okay, but it's going to hurt," The Marine swung his sword towards the green haired man who gently pushed Delilah away from them.

Delilah faced Rika who hugged her tightly as she locked eyes with an older woman. "Rika. . . darling, I need you to go to the kitchen, okay? Can you do that for me?" Rika nodded hesitantly at Delilah's words. "I'll be right by your side, okay? Go Rika," The said girl raced through the bar and crawled under a table as Delilah kicked a man approaching Rika away.

Three more Marines raced towards the swordsman as one of them pushed Delilah aside, going to grab Rika. Grabbing the man's arm Delilah pulled him to the side as he grew off balance and she kicked the man's knee forcing him to the floor before she pulled at his hair and threw a punch across his face. 

She walked past a row of chairs as she felt an arm grab her wrist. Turning around Delilah grabbed onto the man's wrist and twisted his arm behind his back before grabbing his face and slamming it into a table. "Do not ever think you can touch me again." She whispered into his ear as she let go of his hand and turned around to face the many eyes on her. The room was in chaos within minutes as Delilah pushed herself onto her feet watching the swordsman grab Helmeppo and whisper something to him.

Standing up straighter Delilah heard clapping as such turned to meet the excited gaze of a boy wearing a straw hat and curly black hair. The corners of her lips raised as Delilah curtsied at the applause she received. "That was so cool!" A giggle erupted from her chest as Delilah's cheeks heated up. "Luffy." A pink haired boy scolded the straw hat boy, Luffy, who grinned at Delilah.

Returning the boy's grin Delilah waved goodbye to him as she stood at the entrance of the bar, placing her bow down and tying her shoelaces making sure to slip in the coins she had picked from the green haired man's pocket. Standing up she grabbed her bow as the hood on her head fell down and her brunette curls framed her face.

As she ran a hand through her hair Delilah was unaware of the chocolate brown eyes belonging to a certain green haired man watching her as the lamp on top of her head complimented the color of her skin and the girl turned to the door and pulled it open. The Marines left the room pushing past her as she opened the door for them. Delilah turned to see the swordsman glance her way before whispering something in Helmeppo's ear.

The wind caressed her cheeks and broke her out of her trance as she breathed in the salty air, the sea water tickled her nostrils as she looked at the shadows of the coastline, wishing to be one among the water.

Wishing to be an explorer of the four seas, traveling through the uncharted waters that carried secrets unspoken and tales of dead men untold. The moonlight illuminated the night, and the stars drew patterns on the dark blue blanket of the sky as Delilah started to make her way to her apartment, becoming another lonely soul on the cobblestone pathway.