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Rouge pushed open the door to the bar, the soft ringing of the bell hanging above the door drowned out by the laughter of the room. A few heads turned at her arrival but quickly returned to their discussions, deeming her uninteresting. Rouge walked over to the counter and chose the least sticky chair before waving to the barmaid. The barmaid gave her a smile and Rouge played with the handle of the knife hidden in her boots as she waited for her arrival.
The bar was full, sailors and workers coming to rest after a hard day's work, and the atmosphere was cheerful. Music was playing on the radio and a few couples were dancing together to the applause of their friends. This place would be more than suitable for the evening and judging by the few furtive glances in her direction, more particularly at her leg exposed by her raised dress, Rouge would not have to pay for a single drink. She could not have hoped for better for her birthday.
Tomorrow, she would set sail again and go where the wind took her, but tonight, she would drink at the princess's expense. Maybe she would have to find a new job soon, there was always a royal family that needed protecting or assassinating depending on the contract. She didn't mind either way, it was not as if her hands were clean.
"What can I get you?" the barmaid asked, making her way towards Rouge among the hands trying to get her attention.
“Your second best rum,” Rouge replied with a confident smile, earning a laugh from the barmaid.
“Coming up right now!” the barmaid said, reaching up to grab a bottle from the top shelf. “Do you need anything else?”
“Not this early in the evening,” Rouge replied with a wink.
The barmaid laughed again and set her rum down in front of Rouge, her hand lingering a little too long on the glass, long enough for Rouge’s fingers to brush against them as she grabbed the glass.
“This one’s on me,” the barmaid murmured, leaning over the counter toward Rouge.
This time it was Rouge’s turn to blush as the barmaid’s breath against her skin made her shiver. She swirled the amber liquid in her glass, watching the barmaid walk away from her with a satisfied smile on her lips. Maybe she’d do more than drink tonight.
To be honest, it had been a long time since she’d spoken to another human being. The days could be lonely on her little boat in the middle of the ocean, the nights even more so. Rouge finished her drink in one go, letting the burning sensation of the alcohol warm her. Scanning the room for her next target, Rouge met his gaze in the middle of the crowd. Gray eyes, like the most beautiful summer storms, staring at her intensely. She didn't know how long he had been there, his ability to hide from her annoyed her to no end. One of these days, she would ask Ray to teach her how he did it.
A brief wave of annoyance washed over her, she definitely wasn't going home with the pretty barmaid tonight. But she wouldn't be bored with him either. Rouge let him approach, eyeing him from the high chair where she sat, legs crossed and a haughty look. But despite her best efforts, she couldn't hide the slight smile on her lips.
"Happy birthday my flower," Roger said, kissing the back of her hand. "You look beautiful as always."
Rouge rolled her eyes in mock exasperation, used to Roger’s consistent flirting. It was harmless and always made her feel more beautiful than she was. Even now, with her tired features and the unhealed cut that stuck out from her bodice all the way to the top of her jaw, Roger found her beautiful. Rouge forced herself not to reach for the hibiscus flower Roger had given her years ago and that she still wore in her hair. Somehow, it still hadn’t faded.
(Much like my burning love for you, Roger would have joked if Rouge had mentioned it to him.)
“What are you doing here?” Rouge asked as Roger sat down next to her, their hands still intertwined on her knee.
“I came for your birthday,” Roger replied easily, stealing his distracted neighbor’s drink.
“Really?” Rouge couldn't help but ask in surprise.
Rouge never thought that someone would come especially for her. She had friends, sure, but none of them had ever made the effort to come see her, not that she had either except for Roger and his crew. For the rest, they made up for lost time when they crossed paths and that was it. A feeling warmer than any alcohol washed over her at the thought.
"Of course, I couldn't leave my favorite girl alone for her twenty-fifth birthday," Roger replied enthusiastically.
"How did you know I'd be alone?" Rouge replied playfully.
"My sweet, sweet Rouge, even Sengoku is more sociable than you," Roger said, patting her hand, mockingly.
Considering that Sengoku only had one friend and that friend was Monkey D. Garp , there was reason for Rouge to be offended. Rouge raised her head and took the bait thrown by Roger.
"I have plenty of friends," Rouge retorted, her eyes shining with amusement. "Matter of fact, I have a pretty barmaid to flirt with so get out of here!"
"Are you sure?" Roger asked defiantly. "I have a gift for you, a gift worthy of the queen that you are. But I didn't have time to wrap it, I was too eager to see you."
"Maybe I can let myself be convinced," Rouge replied, pretending to think.
"You can think about it on the way," Roger declared, taking her by the waist and carrying her bridal style out of the bar.
“You know I could scream for help and everyone in this bar would attack you to defend me from the scary pirate,” Rouge challenged, wrapping her hands around Roger’s neck.
“What are you waiting for?” Roger retorted, holding her gaze intensely.
Rouge and Roger burst out laughing as they passed through the bar and Roger set Rouge down on the ground, the heels of her boots clicking against the cobblestones. "So, where's my present?" Rouge asked impatiently, nudging Roger playfully.
"We just have to go get it," Roger replied, clearly very proud of himself for some reason.
Roger may have looked adorable with his proud little smile, but he had promised Rouge a present and Rouge would get her damn present. Otherwise, the pretty barmaid was still only a few steps away.
"Careful, I'll end up thinking you don't have a present," Rouge said, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
Roger took her by the shoulders and spun her around, leaving only the medieval castle overlooking the city in her field of vision. The castle was on the side of a cliff and the only way to cross the thick stone walls that protected it was by a drawbridge that only opened to let the royal family pass. But that wasn’t the most interesting thing about this castle. Inside, were jewels that had been given to the royal family by Celestial Dragons centuries ago.
Their presence so close to her had taunted Rouge since she arrived and now it seemed that Roger had the same idea as her.
“How about a new necklace?” Roger offered, as if she could ever say no to such a proposition.
Roger’s smile was positively feral as she took his hand and led him in the direction of the castle, their free laughter echoing through the streets. Yeah, she wouldn’t get bored tonight.
XXX
Roger’s plan to break into the castle was as simple as it was stupid:
- Step 1: Climb the cliff.
- Step 2: Enter the castle through the laundry chute.
- Step 3: There was no step 3.
But to complete step 1, they needed climbing gear. That was why, before robbing the castle, Rouge and Roger robbed a climbing store. Roger, who had won the rock-paper-scissors, was flirting with the vendor who was closing the store as a distraction while Rouge picked the back door. She suppressed the feeling of jealousy and irritation that threatened to take hold of her, as she heard them laughing together as if they had known each other for years.
Rouge took one last look at the street to make sure no one was paying attention to her and entered the store. She grabbed the necessary gear and left just as quickly. She walked past Roger, nodding that she had succeeded, and headed toward their meeting point. The climbing gear was more of a precaution than anything else, considering that neither of them were particularly adept at climbing and were more inclined to improvise.
They were children of the sea, not of the land.
Roger joined her a few minutes later and they began the climb up the cliff, making a race out of it. Every now and then, a ray of light would scan the cliff for intruders and Roger and Rouge would press themselves against the rock face, holding their breath and laughter. When they were almost at the top, a support gave way under Roger's foot and Rouge grabbed his hand at the last second, balancing herself only on the rope tangled around her foot. A sharp pain spread through her shoulder in shock but Rouge ignored it, gritting her teeth.
"If you want to get rid of me, now is the perfect time," Roger joked breathlessly.
Rouge didn't have the energy to laugh, the terror that had invaded her when she had seen Roger fall into the void still made her hands tremble. The few seconds she had imagined losing Roger had shaken her more than she would ever admit.
“You’re an idiot,” Rouge retorted. “Now stop moving or I’ll let you go.”
Swinging her arm back and forth, Rouge gathered enough momentum to throw Roger over the stone walls. She hung in the air for a moment, catching her breath. When too much blood rushed to her head, Rouge straightened up, untied the rope at her foot, and let Roger pull her up to his side.
“I won,” Roger boasted.
“It’s still not too late to throw you off the cliff,” Rouge threatened. “And I just saved your life, show me some respect.”
“I knew you couldn’t live without me,” Roger replied smugly.
“Just because I don’t want you dead doesn’t mean I’m in love with you,” Rouge retorted, turning on her heel to head toward the laundry chute.
She had come here for one thing, the jewels, and she wasn’t leaving without them. Roger, who never let Rouge get too far from him, caught up with her in a few strides.
“Don’t worry, my flower. I have enough love for both of us,” Roger exclaimed.
Guards passed by, and Rouge appreciated not having to respond to such a declaration. It wasn’t the first time Roger had left her speechless with his proclamations of undying love, how sincere they were, and how easily Roger offered them. It wasn’t something she was used to.
It wasn’t something she wanted to let herself feel again.
Once the patrol had passed, Rouge and Roger set off again. Rouge let Roger go ahead of her, but just as Roger refused to let her get too far from him, Rouge made sure he was always within reach. After their climb, getting back into the castle through the laundry chute was ridiculously easy. No one was crazy enough to steal from the royal family, especially not by climbing the cliff. No one except two Ds.
Once inside, Rouge and Roger wandered the halls looking for the jewels, snatching the most valuable items along the way. When Roger's back was turned, Rouge pocketed a pocket watch that was lying on a dresser. If Roger didn't piss her off too much by then, it would make a great birthday present. When the patrols grew more numerous, they knew their goal was near.
"So, what have you been up to lately?" Rouge whispered. "It's been a while since I've seen you in the papers."
"I decided to check out the island at the end of the Log Pose," Roger explained. "We had just re-entered the New World but I turned around to come see you. Lodestar will wait."
"Your crew won't be happy," Rouge said amused. "They'll end up resenting me for monopolizing all your attention."
“If you joined my crew, it wouldn’t be a problem anymore,” Roger suggested for at least the tenth time since they met.
“You know what,” Rouge replied, surprising both Roger and herself, “if you find me a crown, I’ll come with you for six months.”
Roger's enthusiasm made Rouge laugh as he spun her around, she loved seeing him so happy. And she was starting to get bored in the Grand Line, she had wanted to go back to the New World for a while.
It wasn't at all to see Roger's bright smile in the middle of the darkness.
But their joy caught the attention of the guards and Roger pushed Rouge into an alcove to avoid being spotted. They stood inches apart, Roger's hands still on Rouge's waist and his fingers brushing the bare skin of her back, sending shivers throughout her body. Roger's eyes reflected all his affection and gratitude for Rouge and where these feelings should have scared her, Rouge found only comfort. Time froze for a moment as Rouge let herself get lost in his gaze.
Rouge breathed heavily, so close to Roger that they shared the same oxygen. Roger licked his lips and Rouge's mouth suddenly felt very dry. Almost unconsciously, and even though she knew it was a bad idea, Rouge stood on her tiptoes.
"Thank you for coming to see me," she breathed, making Roger shiver.
"I'll always come for you," Roger replied softly.
And just when Rouge thought Roger was finally going to end this torture and close the few millimeters that separated them, he stepped back. The cold of the hallway hit her hard. Her hands fell back to her sides aimlessly. Why was she so disappointed?
She was damned if she did and she was damned if she didn't.
"Let's get you a crown," Roger said and this time, his smile was sad.
"I want to bathe in gold," Rouge warned, reflexively falling back into their old habits.
Bickering amicably with Roger was easy and natural, the complete opposite of whatever the hell had happened (or hadn't happened) a few minutes ago. Rouge had never known until that moment how much she wanted to kiss Roger but now that she had realized it, she couldn't think about anything else but the taste of his lips. It made things complicated.
“Anything for you, my flower,” Roger replied.
Roger took Rouge’s hand and Rouge let him do it. His hands were cold in hers. Rouge never wanted to let go of Roger's hand again.
XXX
Rouge didn’t know what she was most excited about, the safe that protected the door or the treasure behind it. It was the first time she had encountered this model but not the first time she had heard of it. It was famous in some circles for its complexity and efficiency. It only made Rouge want to make him reveal all its secrets even more.
Roger stood guard as she set to work but Rouge could feel his gaze on her back. His pride, his silent affection, his need. It was distracting in a way it had never been. But after almost an hour of work and a pile of guards knocked out by Roger, the door opened.
She was that awesome.
“Roger,” Rouge whispered to get his attention but Roger was already at her side.
“After you, my flower. It's your birthday after all,” Roger said as he held the door open for her.
Rouge had to suppress her squeal of joy as she entered the room. If she had thought the halls of the castle were opulent and covered in wealth, it was nothing compared to the mass of gold hidden behind the heavy doors. It almost made Rouge sick, so much wealth and none of it shared with the people. That was something she would have to rectify.
Before inspecting the jewels displayed in a glass case in the center of the room, Rouge stuffed some gold coins and easily re-sellable jewelry into her bag that she planned to anonymously leave at the gates of the hospital and the local orphanage. Only when she was done did Rouge turn her attention to the jewels.
Sadly, she knew she could no longer steal them now that she had planned to distribute the wealth of the country a little more fairly. It would draw attention and blame would be placed on the people she wanted to help. She would also have to put back everything she had stolen from the halls along the way.
(Apart from the watch, it would stay in her pocket.)
As Rouge admired the exquisite quality and craftsmanship of the jewels, Roger slid up behind her and placed a ruby-studded crown on her head, almost reverently. Roger lifted her head with his fingertips, his touch barely a whisper against her skin. The reflection the glass gave her was that of a queen.
"You look divine, the very image of a queen," Roger murmured.
Their eyes met in the reflection and Rouge couldn't look away, mesmerized.
"Thank you, Roger," Rouge replied, not daring to raise her voice, not out of fear but because this moment belonged only to them.
Slowly, Rouge turned back to Roger. Roger grabbed her hand and slipped a gold ring onto each of her fingers, kissing them each time. Rouge could hear everything Roger was saying in the silence that hung between them with each kiss, each look.
(I'll let you ruin me, I'll let you save me, I'm yours, I love you, I'll shower you with all the gold in the world, I'm sorry, please stay, I love you, I love you, I love you. )
It was only when he was done that Rouge finally allowed herself to breathe.
"We better find you some gold too, Gold Roger," Rouge joked.
This time, it was Rouge who hooked a gold bracelet around Roger's wrist, her fingers skimming his forearm to the top of his hand where she slipped three rings on, one gold, one silver, and one copper. Finally, she picked up a flower crafted from gold and colored glass and placed it in the palm of his hand.
(I think I love you, I'd burn the world for you, you're the best person I've ever met, please wait for me, I know I love you.)
Rouge kept her hand around Roger's and Roger tucked a strand of Rouge's hair behind her ear before resting his hand on her cheek.
"You're never as beautiful and radiant as when you're covered in gold," Roger said.
"It's a good thing you're in my life then," Rouge replied.
"Is this your way of telling me that you're finally going to marry me?" Roger joked.
"Let's start by surviving six months on the same ship," Rouge countered. "Who's to say you won't want to throw me overboard in a few weeks?"
"Then your carriage awaits, Your Majesty," Roger said, picking up Rouge again in his arms, but she could hear the slight relief in his voice that he hadn’t ruined things between them.
Roger grabbed their bags full of stolen gold and was about to leave the room when Rouge stopped him at the last moment. She grabbed a crown set with sapphires and placed it on Roger's head. He smiled at her, the crown askew on his head.
“Now we match!”