LET ME PROTECT YOU [Ace X fem! reader]

Chapter 18 // The Whitemustache Pirates

You don't remember falling asleep, but as you wake up with puffy eyes and your little sister curled up beside you, you were quickly reminded of the events that unfolded yesterday.

Although relief washes over you, your stomach still drops at the thought of you leaving your home. You quickly realise you made the right decision when you decided to tell Mila everything right away yesterday. If you prolonged speaking to her any further, you know you would've never gotten a single word out over your hammering heart or the ocean of guilt boiling under your shivering skin.

With a heavy sigh, you take once last glance at Mila's calm expression before you silently sneak out of bed and down to the bathroom. You rinse your dry throat with some fresh water and splash your face awake. With another deep breath you let the sink run as you face your messy reflection. On top of your tired shoulders, crumpled into a bad posture, is a collapsing head struggling to keep itself from falling over. It's clear that you're fighting just to stay afoot right now and to keep the heavy eyebags rested on your mellow face from dragging your eyes and the rest of your body even further down. At the same time, harsh streaks of your messy hair are painting a rusty frame around your face, making it look like you just emerged from a storm. Where that storm might've come from is a mystery as the weather outside this morning is as quiet as an island surrounded by unforeseen sea weather can be.

Despite your shabby appearance, a tiny spark glistening in the corner of your eye that you've never seen before catches your attention. Although it doesn't take up much space, it shines brighter than the gloomy mood covering your whole face and it lights up the dark room like a beacon shining a ray of hope through the dense fog on the spiky shore. Your eyes are glued to your glowing reflection and you can't help but wonder when this flicker appeared. Was it here yesterday too and if so maybe Mila noticed it? Is it even possible to notice it? Could other people distinguish it from first glance like you did or are you just going crazy?

A soft scrambling and quick steps from the other room yanks out of your thoughts and away from the mirror. You peek your head out the bathroom and see your sister standing in the middle of the other room upright and fully dressed. You send a questioning glare her way as she readies herself to walk about the door.

"So are we gonna go visit that ship, or no?" She grins, but it doesn't seem like her eyes are quite following.

You softly smile back at her and grab your jacket. "What are you waiting for? Let's go!"

♠

Although you hadn't quite made up your mind if it was a good idea, you still asked Whitebeard—on your visit yesterday—if it was possible for Mila get a look around the Moby Dick sometime. You knew that she would love to be immersed in this whole new universe of adventures and exploration, but you still weren't sure if a pirate ship is the best place for a child to be. Especially after your own impression of this alcohol loving crew.

Either way, it was impossible for you to hide your excitement when Whitebeard gladly offered a tour of the ship the first thing tomorrow. After all, maybe showing Mila around could help her understand your decision better, or at least make her feel more comfortable knowing the place you're staying at. However, you must admit that even though you knew she would enjoy every second of a visit like this, you were still quite nervous to have a free roaming Mila on a ship you're supposed to respect.

Your worries quickly fade, though, as the trip to the Moby Dick is offputtingly silent. The gingerly humming usually accompanying Mila isn't echoing through the alleyways and her happy skips are replaced with careful steps and a tight grip around your hand as she softly munches on the dry bread you sneaked out from C.H. cafeteria. Her bleak mood is even starting to affect you. Your feet already feel impossible to move and are getting heavier each time you put one in front of the other.