Ameliorate ✦ One Piece

49

Akira's back leaned against the wood of the wall behind her, knees raised as she sat on the floor and propped up the papers she leaned against her thighs, using some of Nami's writing tools which she'd been kind enough to lend her as Akira worked on some of her writing.

She could see the flurry of movement across the deck every so often, Zoro's swords slashing through the air at imaginary opponents as the swordsman trained. She didn't' mind it though. Aside from an occasional sound here and there, he was mostly quiet. And she found it entertaining, glancing over at him every once in a while, and watching him move.

Zoro's presence on the deck didn't bother her. Usopp's though...

"Fish! Fish! Big Fish!" The sudden onslaught of volume and yells had Akira throwing her head back against the wood behind her. "Oh! She's huge!"

"I thought fishing was a quiet activity?"

"Get up here!" Usopp either didn't hear her or simply ignored her question as he kept screaming at the fish he apparently caught. "She's biting!"

With a groan of annoyance, she pushed off of the floor, her things in hand and ready to be carried elsewhere in search of another quiet spot to work. Zoro on the other hand didn't even sheathe his sword as he started up the steps leading to Usopp's position. For a moment Akira debated reminding him he couldn't kill their sharpshooter. But when Usopp screamed with dramatic excitement again she simply turned around and wordlessly headed into the lounge instead.

It wasn't empty in there either. Not that it ever was with Mr. 9 tied up and sulking in the corner, quietly glaring at everything and everyone while Sanji simply ignored him as he worked on sharpening his knives. "Hello, lovely." The cook greeted her with a big smile. "Do you need anything? I can make something if you're hungry," he started to offer immediately. "Whatever you want, it's yours."

"Thank you." Akira smiled back at him as she moved over to the kitchen island, setting her papers down before jumping up into one of the seats. "I'm just looking for some peace and quiet to work," she explained.

"Ah, writing down our great adventure with Laboon?" He asked in a knowing tone as he rounded the counter and came up beside her, his chest brushing against her back as she felt him lean closer to look over her shoulder.

"What are you doing?" Akira spun around in her seat to look at him with wide eyes, making surprise show in his expression too as he looked down at her.

"Reading what you-" He started to explain as if it was the most obvious thing. And it was. It was also the thing that got him a smack on the chest and a very scolding look in response.

"You're not supposed to read it before it's finished!" Akira's appalled exclamation had him stepping back with his hands in the air, showing surrender while simultaneously laughing and earning himself another glare. "Not until I'm sure it's all good and well written and-"

"I doubt you could ever write something that isn't perfect." His compliment finally managed to change her expression to a smile as she shook her head at him while he walked back to his original spot opposite to her.

"Writing." A scoff from Mr. 9 had the both of them looking to the prisoner. "Lots of good will it do when your stories are dissolving at the bottom of the ocean."

Sanji straightened up instantly, ready to talk back to the assassin only for Akira to beat him to it. "Careful," she tutted at the man as she rose from her seat and made her way over to his spot on the floor. "The only reason you're up and talking is because Sanji thinks it's important to feed you." She kneeled down in front of him. "If it were up to me you'd still be out cold," Akira didn't miss the way his eyes warily trailed her hand as she brough it up to straighten the crown on his head, "and we wouldn't have to deal with you."