It's been a few days since you've been stuck here, doing and rebuilding the galleon you broke due to Hattori dropping multiple deuces on you. Since deuce means two and he dropped more than two, what do you call it than? Would it instead be trois?

You don't really know.

But the people of Water 7 are pretty funny, outside the ones you already know and aren't really from here.

Tilestone, the large bearded foreman, seems really eager for a strength competition with you when he noticed how easily you can carry multiple logs on your shoulder when transporting it for the galleon. He's pretty loud too, which you can understand somewhat since you're not exactly quiet yourself, but his voice seems to boom each time he speaks. He also looks angry all the time, but you think that's just his face. You know plenty of others that look like they're scowling or calm all the time—they should get that checked out you think sometimes but one can't change their face.

Lulu, with glasses on his face and a problem with his hair, you would want to help out. His hair keeps sticking out no matter how many times he fixes it. You think you cutting it would help but he seemed nervous when you offered with Karasu out and near his head that his hair just does that. When you pointed out with brows furrowed that he looks like a unicorn right now with Paulie snorting in the background at that, Lulu merely fixed it only for the spike to end up to the back of his head. You burst out laughing as you pointed that it looks like a mullet now with Lulu merely saying blankly with crossed arms that he wears his bad hair with pride and so you just left him alone after that.

Of course you had Paulie soon yelling at you again about your clothes, your blouse now cleaned, and decided to mess with him by throwing it at him leaving you in your tank top only for him to get more red and smoke come out his ears as he waved his arms and stomped his feet at you. Only for his face to somehow look funnier when you put a hand casually on his shoulder or around him!

He's too funny!

He's a pretty nice guy too, despite his noisy complaints that you just brushed off and decided to tease him instead. After your first day and moving onto the next, he got concerned about which motel you're staying at since some aren't worth the money and can be in pretty bad parts of Water 7. Only to grow even more concerned when you said you slept at your boat.

"What are you? You can't sleep on that boat like that. I don't know how you sleep on it out in sea but a real bed is better," Paulie explained between his cigar, his brows furrowed as he stared down at you. "You have to be in top form if you're going to be helping us around here."

You didn't want to risk the slightest chance of your boat getting destroyed by the CP9 people here, but you explained you heard of the demolition workers here. Paulie shaking his head at you and explaining that you shouldn't sleep out like that, as well as saying your boat won't satisfy them in parts anyways. Kaku adding with a smile that no one would mess with you here either way, you reading through his words that you're already stuck here and their mission is more important than capturing you at the moment.

After only another three days of you sleeping at your boat, Paulie and Kaku pointing out to you which motels are better constantly with Lucci as well during a break while you were alone and walking, the raven head nodding at the one near Blueno's Bar with clear meaning in his eyes—did you finally decide that staying at a motel would be fine. You also had a weird wake up call once on your boat, weird tools around you as you scratched your head in confusion.

You ended up with the one near Blueno's Bar. You know they can't do anything to you, but they may be concerned about your whereabouts or what you may say when it comes to their mission. You still don't really care though. They're just doing information retrieval it seems, so no harm done. You don't think they know that though, which eh. You don't care.

It was quite funny when Paulie was getting so concerned about you sleeping in your boat though, you just jokingly said if he's so concerned that you could just stay with him. He burnt right through his cigar until there was nothing but ash as he stuttered that you shouldn't say things like that to men you barely know, you too busy laughing at his red face to take note of how Lucci's eyes immediately cut to you when you said those words. Kaku huffing through his nose near the raven head man and muttering lowly that inviting (Y/N) to their apartment would be a better idea if we really think she's going to do something. Lucci's eyes on you before moving towards Kaku, and using Hattori to tell him hush before moving back to their work.

The lunch breaks they've taken at Blueno's Bar was interesting, all the different people at once with the loud Tilestone eager for another drink by slamming his mug down and yelling another as the other foremen tried to quiet him down. Lulu elegantly drinking his beer silently only to cause some mayhem by somehow making hair...get out from people's nose?! That was weird when you first saw it, wondering how that worked, with Paulie explaining by you on the table they were sitting on that Lulu's spike on his hair has mysterious powers.

Iceburg and Kalifa would join at times too, him taking an 'extended lunch' he says as Kaku would shake his head good naturedly at the mayor's antics and Paulie freaking out from one of Kalifa's outfits of the day.

Honestly, you think the most surprising thing though is what Lucci drank while on break at the bar.

You remember staring wide eyed and incredulously as Lucci drank a mug of beer that Blueno gave him next to you once at the bar countertop. Lucci noticing your gaze and a brow raising slightly, Hattori than speaking that if you wanted to try as dark eyes glinted. You mildly scowling at him from below your hat and turning away with a huff, merely saying that he just doesn't seem the type to drink beer. Lucci's eyes focusing on you, mug near his mouth as he seemed to analyze the side of your face that was away from him before putting it down. Hattori doing a Coo before saying he has other tastes but this will do for now.

His tone turned odd when he said other tastes, it sounded weird really since he was doing his high voice through Hattori. But, for a moment, his normal voice almost came through.

Of course, the other surprising events was what you observed from Kaku as he worked with you. How the young man felt as he spoke excitedly to you about all the tools and the ships he's built as you would stare with a small smile on your face only to grow when you felt his excitement increase.

You like this Kaku.

You wanted to be close to this Kaku more then the other one. You wanted to observe those smiles, grins, and laughs he would do. And each time he did so, you wondered in the back of your mind if he was just a very good actor or...this truly was what you saw all those years ago.

The true Kaku.

You were aware of masks. Very aware.

Too aware really.

You wore one during CP9, and perhaps you're still wearing one now. You've had a mask so long you don't know which one is really you.

It's a sad feeling.

Not knowing who you are.

The day you decided enough was enough, Kalifa's stare seeming to penetrate along with Blueno's questioning stare along with Kaku's odd smiles and Hattori seeming to fly overhead near you, you managed to corner Lucci who was on break with Kaku from fixing ships.

"Hey, Lucci, wanna have that lunch you promised me?" You asked, wanting to talk to him alone like you asked several days prior when you arrived. "And let's try somewhere else besides at the bar instead."

The top hatted man gave a small nod in reply without the need of Hattori as Kaku rose his gaze from his water bottle with an excited grin.

"Oh, I want to join!" You glanced at him, your face shadowed by your cap as you gave the young man a specific pointed look.

"Ah. I just remembered that my break is over. Perhaps another time?" Kaku backed off, waving it off with a smile as you gave a small smile and a nod.

The both of you began to walk side by side, you leading silently. Immediately when you saw the next alley as they walked, you quickly pulled him in to the darkest part, and stared at his eyes.

"What are you doing here?"

"Wouldn't you want to know, pirate scum."

You said nothing at his statement, and only glanced at the Hattori that was now on your shoulder. You sighed, and muttered out that you're stuck here because of him. Hattori only replying with a proud 'Coo!' and flutter of the wings, and you gritted with your teeth and whispered harshly "You're so annoying." When Hattori pecked your cheek, a tick mark appeared on your head as you whispered obscenities to it which Hattori only replied with coos. During all this, Lucci did nothing but look down at you with his eyes at the interaction of his 'best friend' and ex-partner. When Hattori finally relented and rubbed his pigeon head against your cheek, you let out a smile at the familiar feather like touch and gently petted the bird with the apathetic master.

"I know what kind of job you guys are doing," you began as you continued to pet Hattori who was responding well with your touches, Lucci narrowed his eyes,"So many agents in one place means that this mission is quite important for the World Government. This isn't a simple assassination. Ya'll need something." You turned your gaze from the pigeon to Lucci, your brows furrowed.

"I don't know what exactly you guys need in terms of information, but I know it must be pretty important to send all of you guys. And specifically all of you and where you guys are. It would've ended bad if Fukuro or Kumadori were sent here." Honestly, you couldn't imagine it. It would've ended in chaos and fire if the loud zipper mouth and slow talking haiku poet joined too. "All centered around the Galley La too...Iceburg really placed himself as someone real important and having good information if you guys need it that bad." You concluded, your hand finally leaving Hattori's head who chirped slightly in protest. You sighed slightly, going back to pet his chest as the pigeon chirped happily with closed eyes.

Lucci only smirked as he looked down at you.

"It seems being a pirate didn't make you lose your intelligence like I thought." He snidely commented.

You continued with a straight face, something that slightly annoyed the best CP9 agent. Those insults used to work before you recalled. You dropped your hand only for Hattori to quickly grab it with his beak to have you keep going as you let the bird be as your finger was trapped.

"I don't like what you guys are trying to pull. Forcing me to stay here in hopes of capturing me when your mission is finished isn't going to work." You observed with narrowed eyes. "Although...you guys don't really seem to be trying that. You should know, Lucci-Neko, that we're not tied in strength anymore."

But Lucci said something that caught you off guard.

"You could've left. I overheard Paulie talking to Iceburg that you had enough money to pay them back, but instead, you chose to stay. You also chose to entertain us and keep silent. Why?"

You stopped petting Hattori and looked up at him, and then smiled.

"Like you would possibly understand, Lucci-neko." His mouth twitched slightly and he asked what wouldn't he understand. You smiled more softly at him, something that caught him off guard, and then you said:

"I just wanted to spend some time with my comrade. That's all."

Lucci scoffed.

"I've changed my mind. You're still naive. And I would never become such a thing with pirates."

"Too late." You replied with a mild grin. But it quickly disappeared.

"Because of this, however, you're the only one I will allow from CP9 to capture me. Do you understand? I won't let anyone else but you capture me, if you manage to catch me and defeat me of course." You ended confidently.

Lucci only smirked.

"I did not forget. I got your message of that other Cipher Pol weakling you sent in a barrel soon after you left," Lucci commented, his top hat shadowing his eyes as he stared down at you. "The others are aware that you're mine." The assassin said possessively, something you didn't quite catch.

You nodded at him approvingly, and then looked him up and down his frame. Analyzing in your head.

"We're not tied anymore but...You've gotten stronger since the last time I saw you." You commented with a smirk.

Lucci only replied with an "Of course." You then said that the most who has changed was Kaku however, last time you saw him he was still a teen.

"He's really changed. Having all the muscles in the right places, I was surprised when I saw him."

Lucci didn't seem to like how the conversation was going however, as his face darkened.

"You shouldn't be so impressed." Lucci growled out. You blinked and looked up at him, tilting your head as you tried to figure out Lucci's thoughts. He was always sort of hard to understand sometimes.

It was then your Haki sensed incoming people.

"Shit!" You cursed out loud and at Lucci's raise of the eyebrows you quickly explained to him people were coming. You then quickly pushed him against the wall, causing Hattori to ruffle his feathers in surprise before moving to fly overhead.

Lucci lowly growled and asked what you were doing when you suddenly asked how popular he was with the women. Lucci paused.

"What?"

You asked again.

"How popular are you here with woman? Answer quickly."

"...I'm sure even you can gather that the city highly respects the shipwrights of the Galley La." Lucci answered carefully, seeming to try to scrutinize your words. How does he not get it?! "I don't see your questions important enough to why you have me against the wall like this, scum."

"How often are you seen with women? Surely you must've slept with a few here." You said unabashedly. No hint of care in your voice.

At his growled out answer that weakness isn't something he chases after, you leaned up against him and took your cap off, obscuring their faces as you got close to his ear. "They are close Lucci. Pretend. No kissing on the lips." Your breath fanned his ear as you held him with your hands on his broad chest. Lucci smirked, and put his hands on your hips and drew you closer, making you mutter a curse.

Not again!

When the people were turning towards the alley, all they saw was a woman pushing Lucci against the wall, seeming to kiss him. Which of course they weren't, until you suddenly made a surprise noise from your mouth when you felt a familiar bite on your ear. "Oi." You practically felt his smirk as he replied by your ear, seeming to purr. Making you flush slightly and your spine tingle despite yourself.

"You said nothing about biting." He breathed as you felt his lips on your ear again, feeling his tongue licking it as he bit it harshly. You tightened your hold on his white tank top, to possibly make him stop.

AND THOSE PEOPLE WERE STILL THERE!

Your cheeks were aflame as your eyes were narrowed. What kind of people watch two people kiss in a dark alleyway?! What kind of fetish is that?! They were supposed to leave!

"They aren't going away." You harshly whispered to his ear.

"Let them enjoy the show then." He replied with an ever growing smirk. "It's not as if you aren't used to this."

Your eyes narrowed as your face flushed from a mix of anger and embarrassment.

"I would rather not have perverts watching us, even if we are pretending." You growled in his ear. He moved his head back slightly to face you, his face only a few centimeters away from your own. A smirk on his face. "W-why are you making that face, bastard?"

"Oh? Then perhaps we can show them how far we'll go." When the top assassin began to lean in to your lips, you immediately moved your head away. Causing Lucci to only get your ear again, making him growl and bite you harder, which made you release a grunt of pain and surprise. His breath on your ear once more as you tightened your hand on his tank top, his top hat brushing your head. "You know better than to run, scum."

When the people seemed to get the hint, you immediately backed away and started rubbing your ear with pained noises and curses.

"Ow! Ow! Ow! Jeez! Freakin-cat in heat. Doesn't know how to control himself."

You then went all fours in despair, depressing cloud forming over you as you thought in your mind that you have crazy men kissing you everywhere. During this, Lucci had an amused smirk on his face, until he decided it was time to point out an observation.

"You smell of other men." At your rose eyebrow when you looked up at him from the ground after putting your cap back on he clarified you smelled like different scented men. Two, he recognizes as Kaku and Paulie. There are more that he smells however. You immediately jumped up from the ground and asked with impressed eyes "Woah, your nose got stronger too huh?" Lucci didn't share your enthusiasm as he looked at you with dark eyes and wanting you to answer the question.

"I usually hang around Kaku, who puts his arms around my shoulder sometimes when we're having fun." Lucci's eyes turned to a glare as you continued. "And sometimes I like to jump Paulie to surprise him from time to time. Mostly cause it's hilarious." You smiled, but then quickly lost it as you gazed up at Lucci. "If you're smelling more then two people then...sorry. But I'm not telling."

Lucci didn't really appreciate your answer.

"Say who." He practically demanded.

You rose an eyebrow at him.

You weren't idiotic enough to say any names. You couldn't say Mihawk's name, for he was a Warlord and isn't supposed to be hinted that he's possibly allies with Shanks. And Shanks...well...

You blushed at the thought of his lips on your forehead once more, and then quickly remembering Mihawk's charming kiss to your hand. Which made you darker in red then before. Lucci took this the wrong way.

A hissing snarl.

"Did you manage to find a lover?" He asked with slitted eyes. "Those rumors. Do they have an ounce of truth?"

"No!" You yelled with a blush on your face before looking confused. "Rumors...?"

Still oblivious, Lucci thought as he relaxed his tight jaw, eyes back to his normal dark orbs that were dilated as he said quietly it's unimportant. Only more foolish.

"It's just that...," You began softly, whispering,"I visited the person who saved me that day before I came here." You answered truthfully.

Lucci said nothing as he looked at your soft smile and eyes with adoration, he only growled in agitation.

Hattori pecked you on your face after flying back to you with a coo.

"Idiot~ Idiot~!"

"Hey! I just gave you pets!"

"Coo~! (Y/N)!"

"Don't say my name so cutely after just pecking me, stupid bird."

Lucci watched impassively, before staring out at the entrance of the alley to watch for any passerby's with crossed arms.

"Hattori only speaks the truth, scum. Despite your intelligence, he has twice the wit compared to you."

Your mouth dropped, before scowling with multiple ticks on your face. Growing more once you spotted the side of his lips moved slightly up.

"WHAT THE HECK DID YOU JUST SAY?!"

"Your memory is worse as well," Lucci stated blandly, making you fist a hand against his tank top in anger