Lookout for the Straw Hats!

Chapter 14: I have a love-hate relationship with winter

Waking up in a sweat, my body threw itself forward, startled awake.

...

What the hell was that?

That was some pretty messed up dream I had. Good thing it wasn't real.

...It was just a dream...

...It was so sad though. And frightening... I can't imagine something like that actually happening to someone. Although, in this world, with the people running the World Government, it probably does happen to people.

I reached up to my face and felt tears coming from my eyes. My cheeks were tear stained, so I grabbed a tissue from my bedside table and wiped my face off.

Taking another tissue and wiping the sweat off my forehead, I looked around the room and saw everyone, minus Sanji, fast asleep on the floor.

"What?! You want my autograph because I'm so famous?!"

I'd near pissed myself at the shout, but realized it was just Usopp carrying over his weird antics to his dreams.

Shaking my fist at him like I was a grandpa, I thought with malice, "You're lucky I can't walk other people's dreams at will, Usopp, or I'd be giving you a nightmare right about now for scaring me like that."

Sighing heavily, I threw the blankets off myself and grabbed the lightest one I had, throwing it over my shoulders. Feeling overheated in the crowded room, I put on my fuzzy slippers and went out onto the main deck, needing some fresh air.

Holy cow was it hot in there! I know I'm a complainer about the heat, but jeez! It's all those stupid boys in there that are causing it. And it doesn't help that it smells like Zoro hasn't showered in a week. Stinky guys are not it.

My ears twitched at the sound of Sanji's voice coming from above me. Having totally forgotten he was out here on watch duty; I let my wings out and flew up to check on him. Getting up there, I called to him.

"Hey Sanji. How's it going?"

The cook jumped in his spot and spun around to see me, a shaken look on his face. "Oh! Y/n! I'm okay! But what are you doing up?"

Taking in his appearance, I noticed his cheeks were pink and he was shaking from the freezing temperatures. Without saying anything, I made an extra blanket, threw it over him, and sat down next to him, pulling my blanket closer to me.

"I woke up from a bad dream and got really hot inside, so I thought some fresh air would help me feel better." Not hearing him answer, I let out a breath and closed my eyes, just enjoying the silence.

"I'm sorry, Y/n. Do you wanna talk about it?"

My eyes opened when he said that. Thinking back on it, I had wanted to talk to Nami about the weird dream I'd had on Whiskey Peak, but seeing the condition she's in now, I wouldn't bother her with something so trivial. Should I talk to Sanji about it?

After a moment of thinking, I turned and looked up at him and smiled warmly. "Thanks for offering, Sanji, but I'd rather not think about it again. Can I just keep you company instead? Would that be alright with you?"

Going by unnoticed from his already pink face, a light blush came on the blonde's face, and he looked away quickly and said hurriedly, "It's very cold out right now, so it'd make me happier if you went back inside where it's warm. But that's not up to me. You can stay if you want, Y/n. Just keep the blankets wrapped around you, so that I know you're not too cold." Smiling tiredly, I nodded my head and scootched a bit closer to him, our sides touching. I felt him tense up next to me but said nothing about it.