said as he fanned himself before taking a sip of his drink. "Than I'll finish my work at 1200."

"Thats...tomorrow, Iceburg-san."

"Perfect!" Iceburg put a thumbs up in answer.

"It's going to be really lively for the next few days I feel." Kaku commented with a casual smile as you laughed at Kalifa's exasperated face due to the mayor of Water 7, hammer in hand and him having to stop you from hammering the board again from your loss of control as the foremen complained they deserve a drink too with Iceburg being stubborn in sharing—the young man's hand on yours. "Careful (Y/N)-san. Try to keep from using this when you are laughing like that, okay?"

"Awww, okay," you answered, recovered from your laughter and relaxed due to how Kaku seemed patient with you. And just how he feels in general. He really...loves being a shipwright. You than turned towards Lucci who still stood nearby after Paulie moved to yelling at the foremen to watch their eyes, cocking a brow at the agent. "Don't you got work too?"

Lucci's eyes met yours, Hattori doing a coo as he puffed his feathery chest out.

"Don't worry about me, Miss (Y/N)." You bristled. "I'm not like the mayor when it comes to my work."

That totally has a double meaning but you don't care!

"I said to stop with the Miss...! It's weird!"

Lucci tilted his head a tad as your eyes narrowed at him as Hattori spoke through him in his high voice.

"How so? Used to another epithet?"

Urgh! He's going to drive you crazy!

"Come on you two," Kaku said calmly with a nervous smile as you tried to keep your scowl back at Lucci who's eyes gleamed in amusement. "We all have to work together so let's get along. It's only for a short while."

You huffed, turning your back towards Lucci and focusing on your work as you hammered away. You can't really treat Lucci like you usually do anyways so you really do have to relax like Kaku said. They're all respected here and you don't really want to be involved in whatever they're trying to accomplish. Although you really want to just treat and talk to them like back than...well, not quite back than.

You glanced at Kaku.

You want to get to know more of this Kaku.

And...You turned back to your work with your face shadowed from your cap. It's been awhile.

"Sorry, Kaku. I guess I still smell something bad around here and I'm in a bad mood cause of it."

"What are you smelling this time, (Y/N)-san?" Kaku decided to humor you with an interested smile as you felt Lucci's gaze on your tank top covered back.

You smirked.

"Wet fur. You guys don't keep a wet cat around here right? They really stink up the place and earn the name of pussycat instead."

If you suddenly felt the surge of energy of a cry for blood, you ignored it and your smirk just grew. Just as it grew when you side glanced at Kaku when he said you have an interesting nose with Lucci adding with a slightly colder tone that you need to be more careful with your dirty words.

Ha! That's what you get.

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Edited 05/20/21

Combined the Old Friend...?, Dark Justice Returned, and Old Partners and New Acquaintances a tad. While of course adding all the extra details!

With Galley La and the others!

I feel like since the old partners haven't seen each other in so long, I need to lengthen their moments together after all the years away. Also, there needs to be extra moments with the two side pairings here~ ^/////^ So expect a lot more moments in this arc! This is just the beginning!

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FANART CORNER!!

@RoseTran / @Jo-he3 / @Jo_he3

@MrsLulu25

@Kenz_artland

@Sloth_607

For those who drew NSFW art... 👀 I sadly can't show it!!! ;A;

Wattpad doesn't allow it even if the book is mature, which Strong is not but my Strong AU's book is. I strongly recommend if you're that curious to see, to join the Strong Discord Server!

https://discord.gg/UgxsNwr

HOPE YOU GUYS ENJOYED THE CHAPTER!!! >//////<