Desires of Men ~SEQUEL TO THE LIFE I LIVE~

What Are You Running From?

It was with a clear mind that Summer awoke from the confines of sleep, and she realized her situation as soon as her violet eyes had opened. Her internal clock told her it was morning, and was perhaps encroaching on the definition of afternoon. It was no surprise that she'd awoken in her Captain's room, as the events from before came to mind quite quickly. The very endearing scent, and the warmth against her body, all made her realize one very alarming thing.

Trafalgar Law was cuddling her.

He shifted, his arm brushing up against her exposed hip. Her skin tingled, and the urge to tense became unbearable. But, knowing him, he'd probably wake up as soon as she moved even a single muscle. Even without looking at him she was certain he wasn't wearing a shirt, since he had been without one when she'd fallen asleep.

He sighed, though she wasn't sure if he was conscious at that point or not, but his breath tickled her ear, setting her face to be tomato red no doubt. She gulped, trying to think of what to do. Obviously she had to get out of there.

...Or did she?

Frowning, she was struck but how odd the thought was. Why...why was she even so freaked out about it? Self-analyzing, Summer sorted through her thoughts. She'd certainly been through a lot; escaping the prison, winding up on the submarine, being forcibly enlisted into the crew, her eventual self-acceptance that she was a Heart Pirate. Images of her nakama and all the islands they'd visited, all their adventures...she smiled. Meeting Kat, which made her frown once again, being captured by Kidd, then by Viper, held captive once more in the lab...

Being rescued by her family...

She even had fond memories of the Captain, somehow. Despite his teasing and sadistic tendencies, he was still fiercely loyal to those who served under him. Sumer remembered how they'd went after Reid and Liam without hesitation, all due to Law's concern of his men. Analytical and cold at times, there was more to him than what the papers said.

Summer was sure there was a sad past hidden somewhere in him. The strongest of people came from the darkest of paths, as she'd come to discover. Sometimes in the moments he thought no one was watching, she saw true sadness and anger in his eyes. It'd always perplexed her of its origin, but she'd never asked out of curtesy. Her eyes lowered onto the black comforter.

'What are you running from?' She thought. Directed to the both of them, actually.

She was the one who came to him, troubled by a nightmare-stricken mind with no one besides him in her thoughts for comfort. There had to be something to that...It wasn't his fault she was currently curled up with the Dark Doctor.

In retrospect, being surrounded by the tattooed arms of the Heart Pirates Captain wasn't so bad, or surprising to say the least. It was becoming very clear to her now that he held onto some kind of feeling for her. What is was remained a mystery. Shachi and Penguin would sooner become celibate than her asking Law that question though.

"Your thoughts are quite loud, child. It makes it difficult to rest." Nemesis spoke up then, surprising her slightly. She smiled apologetically, despite herself.

'Sorry...just have a lot on my mind I guess.'

"Regarding your Captain?"

'Yeah...I just don't know if I should want this or not.' Even more surprising, Nemesis seemed to chuckle. Summer couldn't remember a single time she'd heard her laugh, but there she went.

"Love is a complicated ideal." She admitted. Summer had always been used to her dismissive opinion of love, and anything to do with trust, but she seemed genuinely amused. "The decision is ultimately yours, but I believe, in this circumstance, it would be wise to venture into the unknown. The grandest of treasures are often hidden by that which we cannot understand." It all sounded like some riddle, and Summer raised a brow.