Chapter Text
My last client dropped the berry on the table and I didn’t touch it. I wasn’t supposed to. Instead, I waited until the door closed and abruptly stood pulling on my robe with a sharp flourish over the wall behind me, and went to the adjoining bathroom to clean myself up. I took my time with that, knowing there would be more clients, new clients, and tourists to serve. If I took too long to clean up, Genevieve Lawrence, the best madam in the city, would send one of the men up to collect me.
I heard the bedroom door open and close once more in less than 30 seconds. I knew it was one of her men who had been watching the exchange in the walls. He came to take the money down to Genevieve. What he didn’t see was when I flourished my robe I stole half the tip for me from the top. If there was no tip, the madam would think I did a shoddy job or would think I stole it. Which I did but if I left a little to go to my tab she never noticed.
A tab she put in place when she bought me. The slave trade was illegal under the world government law. It was seen as vile, cruel, and immoral. That didn’t stop the fact that I saw just as many marines as pirates in my bed the past two years. I saw just as many noble and rich men, just as many religious officials as I did bounty hunters, mercenaries, or assassins. I cleaned up, slipped back out, and checked the wall to make sure I wasn’t being watched through the holes.
Some of the men liked to watch more than just the act. When I was sure no one was watching, I knelt to the floor, nudging my bed to the side just enough so I could lift the loose floorboard with my nail. I pulled out a small box with several “personal” items in it. No one would look twice at it. A diary, a book, or maps, a deck of cards, and a picture of an old forgotten island where a girl once dreamed of a soft home and a warm bed. It no longer existed.
I pulled out the deck of cards sliding it open. I pulled the deck from the box lifting the top three cards and slid the berry into the hollowed out center of the cards. Laughter echoed from the main floor making my heart thump. I checked the time, sliding the cards back into place and closing the floorboard.
A roar came up from down below and I knew one of the girls or multiple were dancing on stage and the men and women below were drunk enough that the night would be long. Long was the only way to describe the moments that passed as I tried to force my mind to be blank for hours on end. I stood nudging the bed back into place and went to the mirror in the corner leaning in close just as the door opened.
“Genevieve wants to know what’s taking so long?” Rath grunted from the door and I turned pulling the pin from my red curls and letting them cascade down my back. “He had a lot to drink, he was sticky. I was cleaning it off. He ruined my outfit for the night,” I said flatly as I dropped the blue silk robe to the floor and walked towards my clothes. The new silk skirt and top were still draped casually over the velvet chaise lounge.
Rath paused mouth open as he wanted to speak but stopped himself as he leaned on the door. I felt his gaze drag over me, my skin, my body. My body was just a vessel right now, until I could get free, get out, and become something. Do something other than this. I had nowhere to go back to but I wasn’t going to die here, I wasn’t going to live on my back.
I slid the gold skirt over my thighs as I bent. “Gen-Genevieve will,” I heard the rasp in his voice as he spoke. I slid the skirt up until it stopped at my hips, hanging low enough just to tantalize men when I bent over. “Will…want to add the extra cleaning to your tab,” he finished in a breath. I slid the dark blue and gold-trimmed lace under the skirt before sliding on the matching bra. Covering it with the draping gold fabric that exposed my midriff.
More cheers floated up from the stairs to the main floor. I waited for them to die down as I faced the mirror. Looking at a face I didn’t know and touched up the smudged lipstick under my bottom lip, sliding my feet into the gold sandals. “When does she not,” I hummed, patting his chest as I walked by making my way to the stairs. He shuddered as I passed. I slipped quietly down the steps, my feet not making a sound as I slipped down them and into the main floor. I left Rath behind.
The main floor was packed, three girls just took the stage and several were working the floor as I slipped out to join them. I ignored most of the glances and stepped slightly out of the way. From hands. I smiled, threw flirty glances like I was taught but if I kept it quick most men didn’t take notice of me. I scanned the room slowly, the chain wrapped around my thigh slid over my skin making goosebumps crawl over my skin. A constant touch on my skin scraping my thigh.
I watched one of the waitresses slip by with a tray. Most girls got to rotate between serving and running the club and offering their services for the night. I was rarely afforded those opportunities because as much money as I drew in Genevieve didn’t trust me after trying to run away too many times. I went down the hall to the quieter rooms, the less rowdy men who just wanted to play cards and have lucky company. Those watching the dancers were easier marks which is why Genevieve preferred me in there.
I braced my hand on the entryway, eyes roaming the more relaxed room with low hums of conversation when a flash caught my eye. A man at the end of the hall along with two others just appeared. The chairs that were seated in the back unnoticed by others were just gone and they replaced them. I tilted my head watching them as they spoke in low hushed tones. “This definitely wasn’t a mission for Bepo,” a red-haired man muttered to another. I could only see them from behind.
All of them had their hands tucked into their pockets, completely covered. They looked ridged heads down. Most men who came in here relaxed, wanting to draw a woman to them easily because they knew they didn’t have to work for it. They only had to negotiate with the madam. I tilted my head toward the men playing poker. I should go inside, I should go pick a man to get paid. If I didn’t make enough I would know by the morning. Genevieve would make sure I knew, and I knew the pain that would follow.
Something about the way the man in the middle stood, carried himself, was different. The three of them backed into the hall as I ducked into a small corridor that led to a bathroom. “We need the office, I need that information the madam is trading,” the dark-haired middle one grunted lowly between them. “How do we know which one is the madam?” Another murmured. “We could ask one of the girls?” The redhead added. “Stop thinking with your dick,” the man I’m assuming was the leader growled.
They wanted to break into Genevieve’s office? Why? I stayed tucked in the shadows listening. “I didn’t mean like that,” the red-haired man mumbled sheepishly, his cheeks turning red too. “Just look for the woman who is running the girls. There are women here looking for company. You’re looking for the woman pulling girls over pairing them with men, checking in on girls,” the man rumbled, “keep your tattoos covered we can’t have anyone knowing we were here,” he murmured and they nodded as the other two split off into the center room.
The dark-haired man looked down toward the gambling room, the back exit, and some closets with cleaning as I watched him from behind the small curtain. What did he want from Genevieve’s office? What files and information could he possibly need? Was he a rival brothel owner? Should I tell Genevieve? If she found out I knew and I did nothing and something happened…
“You are a quiet young woman, I’m not used to being snuck up on,” the low voice murmured behind me and I blinked. The man who was in the hall was gone now, but I could feel him behind me where I had been backed against a row of extra chairs. They sat in the hall now. How did he do that? Without me seeing him. My heart leapt in my throat and I turned to look over my shoulder up at him.
I froze, pulse thrumming in my neck as I stared up into cool gray eyes. They were narrowed, heavy-lidded, and slitted looking down at me. An air of exhaustion and quiet intensity burned behind them. Dark tufts of hair poked out from under his hat. It matched the dark hair that clung to his sharp jaw. His high cheekbones and angular features gave him a rough, dangerous, and dark look. There was an intense intelligence in his gaze as he stared down at me. It was my life or Genevieve.
“I know where the office is, I can take you there,” the words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. His brows arched and he leaned his shoulder against the wall. “No love lost between you and the madam?” He asked roughly. I stared up at him and lifted my arm bearing my wrist and the small tattoo of a conscript G with an arrow through it. “None of the girls here are here because they share a love for
Genevieve. We are all servants paying our debts,” I murmured my voice low.
He blinked at me, his lips pressing into a thin line as he searched my face. “I’ll help you find her office, if you get me out of here,” I bargained. It was a long shot, a ludicrous long shot. I had no idea who this man was or what he would do once we left but, there was a nervous energy in my chest that if I didn’t go now, I would be here forever. “I could find it on my own,” he countered, “and I can help you find it faster, or be a hindrance,” I challenged.
He leaned in close and my stance wavered. His voice was low as his breath ghosted over my ear, “Not if I kill you,”. My heart thumped erratically, wrong move Fallon, my head screamed. “But I’m nothing if not efficient, show me and I’ll get you out of here,” he rumbled and I nodded checking the hall before stepping out of the shadows. He was behind me and the chairs were replaced without a word and I blinked up at him. I took a step back and he grabbed my shoulder. “How did you do that?” I mumbled and he snorted a soft almost laugh. “Magic, let’s go,”.
I nodded and let out a breath, “Give me your hand,” I said reaching behind me. He arched a skeptical brow. “If I’m leading a man through the main floor somewhere who doesn’t look like he wants to fuck me it’s going to look suspicious,” I muttered and the tops of his cheeks turned the faintest hint of pink. Interesting… He cleared his throat and nodded, hesitantly taking my hand. It was surprisingly cold in mine, tattoos were cloned on the back of his hand.
The word death was written across his knuckles, and the back of his hand had a dark black circle with four protruding lines in each direction with a short curved line at the tip making it an incomplete circle around. I tried not to stare too long or think of what I just got myself into. My hand clutched his as I pulled him out into the main floor towards the stairs towards my room. Thankfully that was a back route to Genevieve’s office.
I led him across with a sensual grin plastered to my face. I pulled him toward the stairs as he kept his head down. With me getting a client back-to-back it was unlikely she had another man to cover watching me. Speaking of the witch herself I caught her gaze as I turned to look back at the man. His head was down and my eyes locked with Genevieve’s and I froze. Genevieve smirked, delighted that I got clients back-to-back. That should keep her pleased enough to leave me alone.
When I didn’t move the man glanced back a fraction before sliding an arm around me, hand on the banister not touching me but from the angle it looked like he was pulling me too him. “You’re almost free, come on,” he encouraged roughly and I nodded, plastering the smile to my lips and mustering a fake laugh as I nodded. I grabbed his shirt and pulled him along until we disappeared up the steps. I saw Rath watching from the bottom of the steps, but he was busy keeping tabs on another girl tonight. I disappeared into my room bringing the man.
“Let Rath go to make his outside round and we can go,” I murmured, checking the clock before releasing him and scurrying to my bed pushing it out of the way. “You have this place mapped out well I’m guessing this isn’t your first escape,” he murmured watching me as I lifted the loose floorboard and grabbed the small satchel shoving my things inside. I wanted a little more money but this would have to do for now.
“Eleventh time is the charm right?” I breathed, dropping the floorboard in and double-checking the peep holes as I shoved the bed back into place. He was eyeing everything in the room with that sharp intelligence like he was memorizing it. I grabbed my ruined clothes from earlier while he watched and tossed it over the lamp in front of the peephole. They weren't idiots but if someone came in it could buy a few seconds.
I tied it to my hip and checked the clock looking at him, “let’s go,” I nodded and his attention snapped to me and he nodded. “I hesitantly checked outside the door, the bottom of the steps were empty and I quickly snagged his arm. I pulled him around the squat back halls towards the office. Ducking back quickly when I saw a man posted at the door I cursed. “Mal,” I murmured, keeping pressed against the wall. The man looked between me and then carefully around the corner to Mal.
“Not a fan?” He asked quietly and I shook my head. “Rath can be distracted, Mal will want service,” I murmured, trying to figure out how to distract him. “Alright,” the man paused and held his hand out and whispered, “Room,”. I watched him as he peered around the corner. He mumbled something else but I didn’t hear it. All I heard was Mal gasping on the other side. My eyes widened as I watched Mal drop to the floor gasping as he clutched at his chest. “What are you..” “Sh,” he murmured as Mal struggled, went blue then stopped moving.
I watched with my wide eyes, mouth agape. I sagged and the man behind me snorted darkly. “Never killed a man?” He nudged me forward and I swallowed, shaking my head. “No,” I breathed a bit erratically. “Well he won’t need to be serviced again,” the man muttered as he slipped to the door, turning the handle. “Locked,” he murmured and I pulled a pin holding the sides of my hair from my face out. “I can get it, keep watch,” I whispered, trying to ignore the dead man beside me.
“Full of chaotic little surprises,” He grunted as I knelt and picked the lock. After a few seconds, it clicked free and we both ducked inside. The man rounded the desk and I turned to lock the door back. “What’s your name anyway?” He asked as he searched through desk drawers. “Fallon,” I breathed as he flipped through folders. “What are you looking for?” I asked him. “Information on Joker, Genevieve Lawerence is one of his information runners using this place,” he grunted, grabbing two folders and tucking them under his arm.
I turned back for the door feeling tense that someone might come in, might come back for me. I felt him grab my hand from behind and I paused. “What’s your name?” I asked but I was met with no response. His hand disappeared and I turned around, my mouth falling open. He was gone…in his place was a chair, and in my hand a wad of berry. I ducked my head, my shoulders dropping, and swallowed thickly. Twelfth time would be the charm I guess…
——
I lay in bed replaying the events late into the night. When Mal was found the diamond hall had been shut down. Just before that I had fled to my room, rumpled my clothes and hair, and removed the clothing from the lamp when Rath had come in. I had left the money lying on the bedside, it was double what I normally received, while I lay on the bed. “He was in and out,” Rath had grunted. “The pretty ones are always quick off the mark, I barely dropped my skirt and he was done,” I muttered a little bitterly.
“Aw that’s alright doll, I can pay for a night to make it better, I’ll tell Gen,” he hovered over the bed. I didn’t care or cover my nakedness. My sense of decency had fled after six months here. Rath’s hand skimmed over my shin and I swallowed thickly. I was stupid for believing him. “You are the jewel of this place you know, that red hair, those gray eyes. Perfection when everything here is so dark and dreary, you stand out like the diamond, but we won’t tell Gen I called you that eh? If she gets jealous she will gouge those pretty eyes out” he murmured leaning over me.
I could smell the whisky on him. I closed my eyes and arched myself up halfway to meet him, he would just lie to the madam if I brushed him off. That’s when the screaming started. I rolled over in my bed. The thin fabric of the tiny gown felt even more fragile tonight or maybe that was my own emotions. I shook my head sucking in a shuddering breath. They had closed down the diamond, sent the girls to their rooms after questioning. I had barely gotten a glance since I had been with a customer. The exact customer who had killed Mal.
A doctor they called for deemed it a heart attack. Genevieve had gotten drunk, ranted and raved that the night was ruined, and sent us to bed without dinner. Like we were at fault, like we were naughty children. I rolled again sucking in another shuddering breath like my chest couldn’t expand. When the hand covered my mouth I was so out of it. My scream was muffled as another hand pinned the wrist I had swung to hit him. “Sh, Sh, Sh,” he breathed, bending over me as I stared wide-eyed into the brilliantly intelligent eyes.
I stopped struggling, blinking up at him. A wave of bitter anger and then relief washed over me. “My name is Trafalgar Law. Warlord of the Marines, and Captain of the Heart Pirates. Now let’s go,” he removed his hand and I bolted up. Warlord? Captain of the heart pirates? My god, out of the million possibilities that’s not what I expected. “You left,” I accused and he held up my bag I had re-hidden. How long had he been here? “If you had disappeared as an indentured servant they would come after you for not paying your debts,” he murmured cooly.
“Okay and if I leave now?” I hissed and he tossed something at me smacking me in the face before I could continue. “Put that on let’s go, I have it handled,” he grunted, clearly used to having his orders followed without question. I huffed looking down at the large t-shirt that would swallow me and a pair of loose women’s shorts. I looked at the clothes then him. “I can’t very well take you down the streets in that scrap of fabric or the one you were wearing earlier. Too noticeable, now put that on and let’s go,” he hissed.
I slid out of the bed and grabbed the hem of my gown pulling it up. Law quickly turned away from me, gaze drifting to the door. I didn’t have time to think about my modesty as I tugged the shirt over my head and the shorts on. “How did you even get in here?” I murmured, “Your magic?”. I stumbled as the shorts hung too low, snatching the drawstring to tighten them. My thigh bumped the table sending the lamp toppling.
I covered my mouth as it crashed to the floor and Law let out an annoyed breath. “You are Chaos,” he muttered, sliding an arm under my back and thighs. “W-wait..” I gasped as he threw something on the bed and it went up in flames. “Nobody, no one to look for,” he murmured, “Room,”. I sucked in a breath one moment we were in my room and the next we were two buildings over. I stared up at him wide-eyed before looking back at the building to see it ablaze, far worse than the fire he started on my bed.
“The other girls?” I choked and he set me on my feet carefully. “Already out, some of my crew are putting them on a ship to an island far away, I negotiated with the captain. He is a decent man,” he rumbled. I snapped my head to him, eyes wide. He helped them? “And…Genevieve, or the men?” I asked and he looked down at me head tilting. “Do you care if they die?” He asked. I pressed my lips together thinking.
“No,” I murmured roughly. “There is nothing wrong with that, but if your conscience needs it,” he rolled his head lazily toward the front of the building where Genevieve was yelling at the men to put the fire out, ranting about her investments. “Trust me whatever Joker loses in this place he will take out of them,” he grunted.
I looked back at him, my shoulders sagging as I swallowed thickly, swallowed with relief. “What now?” I breathed, my voice wavering because I never thought I’d get this far. “I’ll take you to the docks with the other girls if you want,” he murmured, holding out his hand. I stared at it then looked back up at those intelligent gray eyes. “I want to join you,” I murmured, the words were out of my mouth again before I could think.
“No,” he said flatly and I folded my arms, “Why not?” I demanded. “I have skills, I’m a fast learner, I can be taught,” I countered before he even argued. “You can go back home, have a normal life. Have what you deserve now,” he said calmly. “I don’t have…I don’t have anywhere to go,” I looked away wrapping my arms around myself with the sleeves of the shirt covering my hands. It had to belong to him, it was so big.
Law sighed, sounding annoyed again as he dry washed his face in his hands. “Please,” I murmured and he peered at me through his fingers. “Fine, fine, let’s go Chaos. I’m sure I can find something for you to do,” he gruffed and reached halfway for me again. “My dumbass crew better behave themselves,” he muttered under his breath as I carefully took his hand. Then we were off again, in thin air.
—-
Law sat across from me on the sub. He slid a bowl in front of me full of rice, vegetables, and meat and set a glass of milk in front of me. “It’s not much, some leftovers,” he said calmly but I couldn't care less. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until he set it in front of me. I slid the bowl toward me trying to pretend I wasn’t starving and had some semblance of decorum. “Relax we’re pirates, just eat,” he mumbled sitting in the chair across from me and leaning back in it.
I leaned over the bowl a bit and took far bigger unladylike bites. “If you’re going to stick around you’re going to answer my questions,” he grunted, watching me again. I nodded as I swallowed a large bite. “Let’s start off with the easy ones, slow down, don't choke, I can get you something else if you’re still hungry” he murmured and I relaxed a little more.
“How old are you Fallon?” He kept his arms behind him hands resting on the back of his head. “Twenty,” it had been so long since someone called me by my real name. The Diamond hall had always called me Rubby because my hair and I hated it. Rath called me Doll though which may have been worse. “How long have you been stuck there? What do you mean you have nowhere to go?” He asked and I took a sip of milk.
“I was taken at fifteen, I had just turned sixteen when I came to the Diamond. The island I'm from was… war-torn due to distrust of the Marines. My family tried to leave before the war broke out. The ship was sunk and I only survived because I was floating on driftwood and found by slavers, along with a few other kids that had been on the top deck” I finished. “You have been in that place for four years?” He asked, leaning forward and I nodded, taking another bite to fill my mouth.
He braced his elbows on the table, “When was the last time you had a real meal?”. I paused looking down at the food and thought. It had been a day since I had more than a piece of fruit. “I got in trouble yesterday so I didn’t get much, and the death tonight she sent us to bed without food,” I murmured calmly. I didn’t want to see his pitied gaze so I kept my eyes on the bowl.
I noticed more about him in the light of the ship. The ship he told me called the Polar Tang, was actually a sub. Unlike most pirates, Law liked to travel mostly underwater. The sub was a bit cool under the water, cold and almost clinical in its cleanliness. I shivered a little and he stood, “wait here,” he murmured opening the door several men stood on the outside looking just as shocked as he was to see them standing there listening.
“Get back to work or our stations you idiots,” he snapped and they scattered. He grumbled, closing the kitchen door, leaving me there for several minutes before returning. He handed me a large fleece blanket and I tucked it over my lap. “Submarines are cold, that’s why my men wear suits a lot. The tech in here is sensitive and the operating theater needs to be kept cold and clean. The mechanics room will be hot though,” he added and my brows furrowed.
“Operating theater?” I asked, pausing in shoving my face. “I’m the Doctor and the captain, I was studying medicine before this,” he gestured to the sub, general piracy. “Why this?” I asked, gesturing to the sub. “We’re talking about you tonight Chaos, we will get to the rest later,” he countered and leaned on the table again keeping a good distance between his hands and the bowl.
“My ship is all men, besides Ikkaku and now you, will you feel…okay here? I can guarantee you no one…no one will hurt you,” he said calmly and I gripped the bowl tighter. “Yeah, I can handle it,” I nodded determinedly and he gave a small dip of his chin. “I mean no one will intentionally hurt you on my ship. I can’t guarantee one of those clumsy idiots won’t accidentally knock you over,” he mumbled and I snorted. “You’re just as clumsy though you will fit right in,” he added.
“I’m not that clumsy,” I scoffed softly. “I’ll remind you of the lamp in your…the bedroom,” he arched a brow and folded his arms over his chest as I set the bowl aside. “I was…thrown off, I wasn’t expecting you to come back,” I murmured remembering how he left me in the office. His tattooed hands drew back, death written across both, with those back tattoos on both sides. His yellow and black hoodie was pushed up on his forearms exposing the gear-like tattoos on them. He had two gold earrings in each ear and his skin was tanned in the light of the submarine.
“I'm sr…I know, it was part of my plan. If you’re sticking around you will get used to it,” he sighed, pulling his hat off and running his hand through his thick black hair. Law stood grabbing the bowl and turning for the sinks “I can..” “Just sit for a minute,” he muttered, rinsing the bowl and cup, “do you have any injuries or feel okay?” He asked, his voice holding a clinical detached tone and I shook my head. Then I realized he couldn’t see that with his back to me. “I’m fine,” I murmured, feeling a wave of exhaustion washing over me.
“Alright, let’s get you in bed. You will share a dorm with Ikkaku, and a bathroom but you are the only two,” he rumbled facing me as he dried his hands. I nodded and stood holding the blanket, his eyes roamed over me. Not the way men’s eyes normally did. I didn’t feel like he was looking at my body. Not that he could in this big unflattering shirt. I actually liked that it was so big on me. It was comfortable and warm. The look he gave me was clinical and assessing.
He pushed the door open to the kitchen for me, keeping his hand far above my head so I could slip under easily. I followed him down the hall to a door that looked like the others and he knocked roughly. The door swung open and a woman with dark black hair stood there. It was thick and curly, the top half trapped under a beanie. She blew a large bubble with the gum in her mouth and arched a dark brow on her tan face at Law. Her dark eyes blinked at him cooly then turned to me.
I braced myself for the same cool assessment I got when I was the new girl at the Diamond. “Ikkaku, Fallon, Fallon Ikkaku,” Law grunted and a grin broke out over her face. “Hey,” she smiled warmly, pushing the door open, “Come on in,”. I relaxed a little stepping past her into the room that had two bunk beds and a large amount of space. One bed was already made with a brightly colored comforter, tools lying around, and magazines.
I heard Law speaking softly to Ikkaku behind me but I focused on assessing the room. “Yeah yeah Cap I know,” she hummed from behind me, her gum cracking a few minutes later. “Alright, night,” Law grunted and the door closed. I turned on my feet and Ikkaku turned on her heel. Her white boiler suit was unzipped, the top half tied around her hips. A black top was underneath exposing her arms, a tattoo of the Jolly Rodger on her shoulder.
“Hey,” she said again, her voice a little softer and I subconsciously wrapped my arms around myself. I felt the pity coming and tightened my arms around myself. “Let’s get your bed made, I would have made it but I didn’t know if you wanted a top or bottom,” she hummed, grabbing a stack of crisp white bedding that was sitting on a large dresser across from the beds. I stared at the two extra beds trying to decide top or bottom. “Um bottom,” I breathed, setting the blanket down as the two of us made the bed.
Ikkaku chatted aimlessly. I think she was trying to make me comfortable. After getting to the ship, my conversation with Law and the meal I suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion. Like my body finally had a moment to rest. All the adrenaline just evaporated. I nodded along quietly and once the bed was made she turned to me and looked over the clothes I wore. “I have an extra pair of pajamas…” “No, this is perfect for now,” I breathed clutching the fabric in my fingers, “it’s cold.
She nodded and grabbed her things from the other dresser. “I’m going to shower real quick but I’ll turn the light off. If you need anything you can ask any of the guys or the girls showers just down the hall to the left,” she said gently and I nodded, spreading my hands over the cool crisp sheets. She smiled and flipped the large overhead light off. A small lamp sat between our beds. I slipped under the covers and pulled the extra blanket over the top of the comforter. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and everything went quiet.