Seas of Convergence (Trafalgar Law x OC)

A Subtle Warning

"Lily! I brought you a flower—squee!" Marie exclaimed, her voice bubbling with excitement as she thrust a delicate bloom into my hands. The sun cast a warm glow on her face, illuminating her sparkling eyes.

"I heard it's called a lily too! Isn't it funny—two Lilies—squee!"

I couldn't help but smile at her infectious enthusiasm. "Another Lily, huh? Here I thought I was your favorite, but you went and found another one!"

Marie's cheeks flushed, her eyes widening with a mix of surprise and panic. "Wh—no! I didn't mean it like that, no...no—squee!"

I chuckled, enjoying her flustered reaction. "Relax! I'm just teasing you." Gently, I tucked the flower behind my ear and glanced at my reflection in a nearby window. "What do you think? It looks pretty good, right? I like it. Thank you, Marie. Now...has Aunt Elise been feeling any better?"

Her face brightened, the worry melting away. "Yes! She says your cooking works like magic—squee!"

A warm feeling washed over me. "I'm glad to hear that. Here." I reached into my shopping bags, pulling out some carefully packaged food. "Make sure to give this to her, alright? And there's a cake in here for you—for being such a good girl. Just be careful on your way home!"

Marie nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling with delight as she waved goodbye and dashed off, her laughter trailing behind like a melody. I watched her go, my heart swelling with affection, before resuming my path, the flower a bright reminder of the joy we shared.

I jolt awake, drenched in a cold sweat, my heart pounding like a drum. The nightmares cling to me, ghostly echoes of my past, familiar memories turned into haunting visions that refused to fade. Who could have guessed that my recollections would morph into these tormenting dreams? With each breath, my anger ignites, fueled by the relentless reminder of Kurohana's tragic destruction.

It was early morning, and from Monet and Caesar's voices drifting down the corridor, I overheard them discussing yesterday's intruder—the samurai. Law had "handled it," they said, and now the man was locked away in one of the lab's empty rooms.

I thought back to my brief exchange with Law the day before. He'd caught me browsing documents on the Revolutionary Army, and there had been a look in his eyes, something I couldn't quite interpret. Was it a warning, as if to say, "I'm watching you—don't try anything"? Or had I somehow sparked his curiosity? I wasn't sure which unnerved me more. Here, I had no allies. Or so I thought.

I glanced down at the cold metal cuffs locked around my wrists as I stirred yet another toxic mixture for Caesar, my hands working from memory while my mind wandered. If I couldn't escape just yet, I at least needed to find out where they kept the key. Someday, I would get out of here. And when that day came, I would be ready.

Nearby, Monet was scribbling notes for Caesar, who was rattling on with his usual rant, sneering about how his brilliance "far surpassed Vegapunk's." His cackling laughter grated on my nerves, and as I watched them, absorbed in their own importance, I realized it was my chance to slip away unnoticed.

I'd promised not to cause trouble, yes, but a little exploration—if careful—wouldn't hurt. Besides, I had a new goal: find the keys.

The lab stretched on endlessly, its sterile corridors looping into a confusing maze. I had spent weeks here, yet parts of it still felt foreign. My heels clicked against the floors, the sound echoing around me, amplifying the solitude that crept into my bones.

Finally, I stumbled upon a storage room. Caesar and Monet had mentioned that the cuffs were kept here—though I didn't know exactly where. With any luck, I might find the keys, too.

I glanced around cautiously, slipping past the prying eyes of the Den Den Mushi cameras as I crept inside. Rows of shelves lined the walls, cluttered with cuffs, vials of toxins, and rare herbs. My heart skipped as I spotted three small keys lying nearby. I didn't know if any of them were meant for my cuffs, and I couldn't risk testing them just yet. Not with Caesar and Monet around. And Law... Law was as detached as ever. Why he'd willingly come here remained a mystery, one I hadn't dared to probe.

Just as my fingers hovered over the keys, a shadow fell across the doorway. I froze, glancing up to find Trafalgar Law leaning casually against the frame, his expression unreadable—a blend of amusement, seriousness, and maybe even a smirk. Was that even possible?

"Lily-ya," he murmured, his voice low yet calm, "what are you doing?"

There was no avoiding it. If he was friend or foe, this was the moment I'd find out.

"I thought the look I gave you yesterday would've conveyed my message. Guess I was wrong?"

He shrugged. "I don't particularly care what you're up to. But you're terrible at sneaking around. In fact, I'd say in a few minutes, Monet-ya will show up to check on you."

I shoved the keys into my pocket and stood up abruptly, ready to make my exit. But as I moved to walk past him, Law shifted, blocking my way with an almost casual ease.

"Tell me, Lily-ya," he said, his tone calm but laced with meaning, "did it ever cross your mind why they'd mention the location of the cuffs—and maybe even the keys—right when you were around?"

His words lingered, heavy with implication, before he turned and walked away without another word.

I stood there, realization dawning. It had been a setup—a way to bait me into trouble, to give them a reason to tighten their grip or worse. He'd warned me.

Realizing that the keys were probably decoys, I carefully put them back on the shelf. Instead, I grabbed a few vials of toxins, deciding they might still be useful.

As I stepped out into the hallway, I nearly collided with Monet—just as Law had predicted. They must have staged it all, pretending to be busy earlier and waiting for me to take the bait.

Feigning innocence, I held up the toxins with a calm smile. "I found these—Caesar needed them, right?"

Monet nodded approvingly, her suspicions momentarily satisfied, and we walked back together.

But now I knew one thing for certain. Trafalgar Law was, if nothing else, a potential ally.