Ashes To Ashes | One Piece

𝟏𝟕|Well Deserved Rest

( Alabasta Arc )

Ashe woke to the warm and cozy feeling of a blanket tucked tightly around her and a soft fluffy pillow resting under her head. She shifted slightly. A low hum escaped her chest as she rolled onto her side, mind still hazy with sleep, before a sharp sting suddenly shot through her left hand. She shot up to a sitting position quickly, startling Vivi who sat beside her, before she pulled her bandage wrapped hand close to her chest. The blankets pooled around her waist.

"You're awake!" Vivi cried happily as she wrapped her arms around Ashes wide shoulder "I was so worried! I though you were really sick but the doctor said you were actually just sleeping!"

Ashe let out a gentle hum of appreciation to the hug as she used her uninjured had to pat the girls back softly before she pulled away. Ashe caught sight of herself in a small mirror that hung on the wall over Vivis shoulder. She look rough. Her normally pin straight hair was messy and held back in a low ponytail, her makeup whipped away completely, while she was dressed in a black tank top that most definitely wasn't hers. Ashe shifted in the bed to twist herself slightly so that she could pull the blankets away and put her bare feet on the ground. Her legs were covered with some old black shorts. Once again, not hers. What was left of her normal clothes were folded neatly on a chair with her hat placed on top and rifle leaning against it. Her revolver, still in its leather holster, was draped over the back. Her satchel sat under it.

"How long was I out for?" Ashe groaned, head still slightly foggy as she used her right hand to rub her eyes.

"Almost two days!" Vivi giggled as her brown eyes mapped the many tattoos that covered the older woman arms.

"Two days!" Ashe huffed with a small chuckle "damn. That must be why I'm so hungry"

"Probably." The princess nodded before she stood up and made her way to the door "I'll leave you to get changed. There some spare clothes under what's left of yours"

"Thanks" Ashe nodded before the door shut. She took a moment to glance around the room she was in. Several other beds were lined up under the windows while a couch was seated against the wall either side of the double door. Luffy lay in a bed two down from her own. He snored gently, chest raising and falling with each breath, while his eyes were shut tightly. She guessed he wouldn't be waking up anytime soon.

Ashe, not wanting to take any chances in case she was wrong, quickly shimmied out of the short and pulled on her black socks and jeans before she peeled off the top. She reached for her white shirt but it basically fell apart in her hands. It's probably could even be called white anymore. The elbowss were shredded, some buttons were missing, while more than half was dyed pink from washing the blood out. She dropped it and picked up the spare T-shirt that had been given to her. It was long sleeved and tight, and simple plain black, but it was a bit short and showed off a small bit of her stomach. It was a bit too tight. She shrugged it on anyway before tugging on her boots, lacing them up tightly, and pulling her hair out of the tie. She didn't bother with the revolver or the many straps of the holster, or even her makeup, but she most definitely grabbed her hat. Ashe dusted off a bit off dirt before she put it back on.

The familiar warm feeling spread through her chest as a small grin tugged at her lips. She loved the hat. There was no real backstory behind it but it just felt special to her. Wearing it simply made her feel good.

She stepped away from the bed, but not before grabbing some perfume she had bought few days before and used a good bit, then made her way closer to the door that Vivi had left through. It creaked in it hinges as Ashe shut it behind her. The woman hummed to herself lowly as she walked through the deserted hallway, following the smell food and the sound of chatter, before she finally found the large door that it was coming from.