Death Do Us Part

XXIV

Lovely shivers as a cold breeze brushes past her cheeks in small wisps. She also tried not to look at the buildings below her for fear that she would fall if she glanced down even for a moment.

Luffy's feet held her tightly. He took care not to sink his claws through the material of her bodice to reach her skin and pierce it.

They flew over the city with Luffy scanning the streets below. Nobody was awake at this hour. If they were, they were either insomniacs, whispering amorous words to a lover or spouse, or hosting their own parties for Valentine's Day. The only people who witnessed the pair in flight were the poor roaming the streets. Their eyes widened with both awe and confusion.

From a distance, Lovely and Luffy saw nobles from the ball frantically running through hidden alleyways to avoid being caught in a slight state of undress by their peers. They called for their carriages, draped themselves with spare cloaks, and huddled together to keep warm. People ran to assist them, offering a ride home or warm refreshments to ease their fright at what had occurred earlier.

Another cold wind blows against the pair, causing Luffy's flight to falter. Lovely gasps and hugs herself to steady her heart and shield herself from the cold. She shivers lightly, blowing small, visible puffs of air. She looks up at the small bat that carried her.

"Luffy," she breathes with a small chill. "Wh-where are we...going?"

He didn't respond. He continued to survey the area around them until his gaze locked onto a small section of the city. He dove toward the ground, dropping Lovely off a fair distance from the ground in a small alley beside an inn. He turned back to his true form and grabbed Lovely's wrist, quickly pulling her out of the alley and through the inn's entrance.

Luffy slams a bag of money on the front desk. "I'd like a room for two."

His demanding tone surprised Lovely. She had never seen or heard him so irate before. The closest thing she'd ever witnessed were the times he defended her or showed concern when she accidentally pricked her finger on a needle. This seemed to be more than that. An anger that ran deeper as if it spanned years.

What exactly happened after she ran away from Sabo? How did they fight? Does she even dare to ask?

The innkeeper hands Luffy a key and gives him directions to their room. Luffy grips the key in one hand and Lovely's hand in the other. He stomps up the wooden stairs leading to the second floor while Lovely barely stumbles up behind him. Once they reach their room, Luffy unlocks the door and roughly opens it. He brings Lovely into the room first, letting her steady herself on the back of a chair before closing the door and locking it from the inside.

He shut the curtains in the room and turned to face her. His scarlet eyes burned fiercely with a mix of worry and rage.

Lovely steps back a bit, frightened by the sight.

He strides to her and grasps her cheeks roughly.

"Ah!!" Lovely exclaims, placing her hands atop his and trying to loosen the bruising grip he had on her. "Luffy!"

"Are you alright?!" he breathes, examining her face. "Were you frightened?! Did he do anything to you?! Are you hurt anywhere?!"

"Luffy!"

His hands moved to her torso, gripping her waist and looking around her. "I didn't hurt you when I took you out of there, did I?! I tried to be as gentle as possible, but I didn't want you to fall, either!"

"Luffy!!"

His hands reached for her skirts, pulling them up to her knees. "Your legs!! Are they broken or scraped?! You ran outside, and I heard you fall down the stairs, and-"