The Life I Live

Self-Denial and Coffee

        After resting for another day, she was back on her feet. Walking was still a bit of a chore, she still had to keep her ankle wrapped, but Summer could live with her stiff movements. She walked behind the two engineers as they gave her a tour of the sub.

        "This is where the crew sleeps, and over there," The one with the penguin hat said, pointing across the hall." There, is the bathrooms."

        "Come one, we'll show you the kitchen." They eagerly guided her through, their attitude towards her much different from the first time they had met.

*Flashback*

        "Penguin, Shachi, this is Summer-ya, our new crewmember. I want you to take her around the submarine." Law could see the fear in their eyes and began to second guess his decision. Summer looked at them in confusion.

        "Uh, what's their problem?" They looked at her in complete terror, not speaking and shaking slightly. Law smirked when he realized the cause.

        "It may be the fact that they were the ones who…"

        "No, Captain! Don't tell her! She'll kill us!" The one wearing sunglasses pleaded, clasping his hands together. "Don't tell her we knocked her unconscious in the kitchen storage!" Penguin smacked his head with his fist.

        "Idiot! Now she knows!" They looked at her, now both on their knees, begging.

        "Please don't kill us!" They cried in unison. Summer could feel Law's calculating gaze studying her, but she ignored it.

        She raised an eyebrow. "So that was what hit me. You guys thought I was a marine, right?" They nodded cautiously. "Well, you were only trying to protect your nakama. So no harm done. Though I will have a bit of a headache for awhile." She admitted, rubbing the back of her head.

        She just about lost her balance as two bodies launched at her and two pairs of arms wrapped around her waist.

        "Thank you!" They kept saying. They kept rambling on about how she was 'the most kind intruder they've ever had.' She gave a very confused look up at Law, who just stood there wearing that damned smirk of his. He walked away casually, leaving her to deal with the two emotional engineers.

*End flashback*

        "This is the kitchen, and where you'll be working with Casper." They led her into the mess deck and into the kitchen behind it. It was quite large, fully equipped to serve a large crew. What's more, it was spotless. Not something she would have expected from the kitchen of a pirate crew.

        "Watch yourself around Casper. The old cook is as tough as rock." Shachi whispered in her ear. Penguin leaned in on the other side as well.

        "We've never seen him smile. Not even once!" She smiled a little and gently shoved them away.

        "He can't be that bad, can he?" They nodded their heads.

        "Wait till you meet him. Then you'll see." She gave them doubtful looks and followed when they began walking back outside.

        "Well, that's just about it. It's a little confusing at first but you get used to it quickly." Penguin said. She smiled sadly.

        "I don't think I'll be around long enough to know." She admitted quietly. They stopped and looked at her.

        "What do you mean?"