“It’s been awhile since you’ve come around to visit. I was beginning to worry you had moved out or something.” Hitomi mentioned with a small smile, pouring two cups and setting the coffee pot back into the machine. Knowing that they both liked it sweet, she stirred in sugar into both cups. She brought them over to the living room where the blonde sat comfortably. Holding out one for her, Summer accepted it with a grateful smile.
“Thanks. This is just what I need right now.” Hitomi took her seat across from her, sipping at her own coffee. Compared to her neat pencil skirt and dark blue blouse, the blonde looked a little disheveled. Her skinny jeans and t-shirt seemed to be on their second day of wear if the small wrinkles accounted for anything. Her hair was up in a bun to hide the fact that it hadn’t been washed that morning.
“You look rather stressed. Is something the matter?”
Summer gave a small chuckle. It was just like Hitomi, to get straight to the heart of the matter. She supposed her career as a lawyer attributed to that fact. You couldn’t prosecute criminals by beating around the bush.
“I’m close to graduating now, it’s only another month away.” She sighed, setting her cup down on the small coffee table between the chair and the couch. “All I have to do left is finish my thesis for the professor and get all my exams out of the way.”
“I would think graduating would make you very happy. You’ve been anticipating it for so long. Why the sudden anxiety?” Hitomi’s face expressed concern. Behind them in the small hallway, Soma came running out.
“Hitomi, I can’t find my rubiks cube!” He said, running into the room with a scowl. Patting down his unruly hair, Hitomi chuckled.
“Did you check your closet? That’s where you left it last time.” Pouting, he ran off to presumably find his missing toy. His footsteps faded as he left, and the blonde sighed again.
“I used to be so excited for graduating. Like, I’m finally done with my education and I can move on with life. But that’s just the thing…” Her gaze turned thoughtful and she stared off into the room.
“Ah, you’re not sure of what the future holds? Not ready to grow up all the way?” Hitomi guessed, and Summer frowned.
“Well, not that exactly. I can handle growing up, it’s just I’m scared of…“ She couldn’t quite find the right word for it.
“Starting the next phase of life?” Hitomi supplied, seeing her hesitation. Summer nodded, finishing the coffee.
Hitomi sat back in her chair, smoothing down her skirt in the process. “Even though I’m not finished with my education myself, I’ve found that getting past that point where you’re a young adult isn’t as scary as it may seem.”
“Yeah, but you’ve had to take responsibility for awhile now, what with Soma and all.” Hitomi nodded setting her coffee cup on the table as well.
“That may be true, but I’m confident that you’ll make the right choices in life. You’ve got a level head on your shoulders.” Seeing the blonde’s doubt lingering, leaned over and placed her hand on her knee. “You’ll make mistakes, that’s for sure, but I know you. You’ll learn from them and come out better than before.”
“Maybe…” Summer admitted, fiddling with her hands nervously. Hitomi observed the unusual behavior, raising an eyebrow. Summer was always quite skilled at controlling her actions, never one to show her worry in the open.
“There’s something else, isn’t there?” She asked, and Summer pursed her lips.
“Well…yeah.” She was having a hard time looking her in the eyes, and Hitomi’s curiosity grew. “Now that I’m almost out of college…I’ve got to start thinking about seeing people. Dating and all that.”
“Ah, right. How long has it been since you dated again?” Hitomi asked amusedly. Summer rolled her eyes with a shake of her head.
“Over four years. When I was 19, I think. That’s the thing, though. I’m so out of practice with the whole dating thing, it makes me terrified to think about starting to look around again.”
“Would you like something to eat?” Hitomi asked suddenly, rising from her chair.
“Yes, please. Just something small.” The two went towards the kitchen, and Hitomi opened to fridge to browse the contents.
“How about an orange?”
“Sounds great.” She replied, and Hitomi pulled out two of the orange fruits.
There was a few moments of silence as the woman searched for a knife and a cutting board. Summer’s thoughts drifted to the night before at the bar, about how Law had glared at the two for staring at her. Deep in the back of her mind, something wanted to think that he was jealous, or that he felt protective of her. But those were fanciful notions. She wasn’t going to imagine his attraction if it wasn’t there.
“You’re thinking about someone.” Hitomi said, pulling her from her thoughts. With a start, she looked down at the fully peeled orange sitting in front of her. Hitomi was biting from one of the fruits, watching her curiously.
“Sorry, what?” Hitomi grinned.
“You’re certainly deep in thought. I said you’re thinking about someone, aren’t you?” The blonde grinned despite herself.
“Sometimes it sucks that you’re so perceptive.” Summer joked, and they chuckled.
“So, I was right?” Summer placed her elbow on the counter, nibbling at a few orange slices with her head in her hand.
“Yeah, actually.”
“Well, who is he?”
“Do you remember the man I spoke about before? The bartender at The Heart Seat?” Clarity returned to the silver-haired woman’s eyes.
“Ah, yes. Law was his name, right?” Summer nodded. “You had a thing for him awhile back, if I remember correctly. Did he ask you on a date?” She questioned, and the blonde’s eyes widened. She shook her head frantically.
“No, no! Nothing like that.”
“Well, what about him then?”
Summer sighed deeply, thinking about how to put what she feared together effectively into words. These thing were always so hard to talk about for some reason.
“Well, I met two of his friends yesterday. They’re really…enthusiastic people.” She described. “Anyways, they asked if I was single, and I said yes, which in itself wasn’t the big deal. But some part of me started talking about dating right then and there, right in front of Law! So now, I’m worrying that maybe he thinks I was trying to influence him or something. I don’t want him to feel obligated to date me just because I’m pathetic like that.” Hitomi started laughing, and Summer frowned at her. “What?”
It took a minute for her to calm down, clearing her throat when she was done. “I’m sorry, it’s just…men are oblivious, Summer. Most likely, he probably just thought that you were musing to yourself, or trying to get the attention of another man. Don’t look into it too much, because more than likely he won’t either. Besides, if he does ask you out would you turn him down?”
She squirmed in her seat. “No…” She admitted, looking anywhere but at her.
“Then I don’t see a problem.” Hitomi smiled, finishing off the last of her orange.
Despite Hitomi’s reassuring words, that little spot in the back of her brain continued to buzz. The anxiety wouldn’t leave her alone. There was always the constant question of ‘what if’ in the back of her head.
“Yeah, but…what if he thinks I’m pressuring him to date me? I don’t want him thinking any less of me.” She finished quietly.
“Oh, don’t you worry.” Hitomi laid a hand on her shoulder, smiling encouragingly. “I’m sure things will work out for the best. After all, who would be stupid enough to pass up a lady like you?” The compliment made her blush.
“Thanks, Hitomi. I’m glad I can talk to you about everything.” Summer ate a few more pieces of her orange. “Moving on, has there been anyone that’s caught your eye?”
Hitomi’s eyes shifted away suspiciously, and Summer smirked beside herself.
“There is! I knew it! What’s his name? What’s he like?” She questioned, leaning forwards on the counter. Hitomi held her hands up defensively.
“It’s not as fantastic as you think. I’m not sure what he’s like quite yet, but he’s rather handsome.”
“Tell me.” Summer demanded. Hitomi sighed, giving a small smile.
“But if I tell you, you’ll know who it is.” The blonde pursed her lips.
“That’s not fair at all. I spilled everything, now it’s your turn. What’s his name? What’s he look like?”
Shaking her head with a smirk, and a tiny hint of red coloring her cheeks, she smiled. “His name is Zoro-“
“Oh my God, Zoro!?” Summer beamed, holding her cheeks in her hands. “Aww, that’s so cute!”
“Calm down! I’ve only met him a few times. Once at the bar and a few times at the law firm.”
“The law firm?” She asked in confusion.
“Hn. He works as a security guard there in the mornings. Sometimes…I’ll bump into him.”
“Ok, you have to tell me more about these…’chance meetings.’” Summer indicated with her hands. And the two of them chuckled.
“Found it!” Soma burst into the kitchen triumphantly holding up his solved rubiks cube. The two women gave each other a look.
“Later.” Hitomi promised before directing their attention to the young boy. His cheeky smile helped to brighten Summer’s mood just a little bit. When in times of distress, at least she knew there were people there willing to cheer her up.
“Maybe you can teach me how to solve it? I’m no good at those things.” Summer admitted.
“Fine, but you gotta do it in a specific pattern.” Soma began mixing up the sliders so the colors were randomly distributed on all the sides. His level of concentration was impressive.
“A pattern? I thought it was just all luck.” Hitomi shrugged.
“He’s tried explaining it to me, but I just don’t have the knack for it.” The two women chuckled as Soma began trying to teach them the ways of the rubiks cube. Needless to say, they were both still thoroughly confused.
Corazon’s comments from the day before nagged at him from the back of his mind. The phrase repeated itself over and over again, constantly reminding him of the man’s words. No matter how many times he tried, how many methods he used, it played over and over like a broken record.
‘I’ve got to win a bet, you see, and if she dated either one of you, I’d lose!’
God, sometimes the man could be so frustrating. Somewhere in between his clumsiness and cryptic bits of advice was a cunning mind that analyzed things deeper than people gave him credit for. It was a small wonder no one knew everything there was to the strange bar owner. But Law knew him better than anyone. He’d had years to learn.
And it still surprised him, how he’d ended up working for the mysterious man in the first place. He could remember that day, over a decade ago, like it was yesterday. How loaded he’d been with product and how much he could have made from it, and how convenient the alleyway by the bar had looked.
The whole thing had been a stroke of luck and perfect timing. If the client had actually come at the time they’d promised, he may not be standing there staring out into space behind the bar. If Corazon hadn’t been a smoker. If the young man hadn’t picked that night to sell. If everything hadn’t worked out exactly. The chance had been so small, and so perfectly aligned.
He remembered the way the man had startled him, barging through the back alley door in a hurry, as if he knew the young man would be there. He’d almost run, but something about the strange heart-patterned shirt or the way the man had looked at him, as if he were a lost child in need of directions. There had just been…something, that made him pause.
“Oi, I don’t tolerate people loitering back here. It only causes trouble.” He’d said, and Law had mumbled an apology under his breath. But in the next instant, before he’d even had time to react, the man had grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling him close enough to smell the tobacco of his cigarette.
“Listen to me, kid. I know who you run for. I know the type of game you’re playing and trust me. Out here you’re not gonna last much longer. The young ones are the first to go, always.”
His eyes had held fear. Fear because he’d been found out and fear that everything the man was saying was right. He was only fourteen. He wasn’t ready. He wasn’t even willing. But at that point there wasn’t anything to be done. It was all he could do.
For some reason, the man had kept talking. “I can help you. Get out of the drug business. Come work for me and I’ll teach you what you need to get a real job, get you out on your feet. You’ll have food and a place to stay. You’ll be safe. Don’t lose yourself to this madness.”
Law had remained silent, staring in horror at the man still gripping onto his shirt. Eventually, the man let go, seeming to realize what he was doing. After a long sigh, he blew a long drag of his cigarette.
“I’m not gonna call the cops. But if you’re gonna go, then go. Make your choice.”
So he did. He ran.
But it came as a surprise to both of them when he returned the next day.
“Oi, Law! Stop daydreaming and clean those glasses.” He felt something smack the back of his head, and he looked up at Corazon. Shaking his head with a smirk, the man came up beside him and surveyed the bar. “Not much business tonight, huh? Let’s just hope it picks up by 8:00.”
“I’m sure it will. Saturday’s are usually pretty busy.” He mused.
“Mmm.” Corazon nodded, lighting a new cigarette under his hand. The thoughts continued swirling through the young man’s mind. It wasn’t often he asked personal questions, but this time he just couldn’t stop himself. Law looked to him then, curiosity getting the better of him.
“Yesterday you mentioned a bet.” He started, and Corazon gave him an amused glance.
“What about it?”
“What exactly did you wager?” The older man chuckled, ruffling Law’s hair affectionately.
“Do you really want to know?” Raising an eyebrow, he nodded. “Alright then. Bellemere from the Mikan apartments? Her and I made a bet that you and Summer would end up dating. I put down $100 bucks that it would happen by the end of the year.”
Law’s eyes widened. “What!?” He almost shouted, remembering at the last minute that he was still at work and in a public place. Shouting out loud with others around was probably really weird. “Why in the hell-“
“You’ve got to be kidding, Law! That girl’s dropped more hints than you’ve served her drinks. Or haven’t you been paying attention?” Corazon shook his head incredulously.
He remained silent, confused at the statement. He didn’t want to admit that he’d noticed her subtle attempts at flirting, but had intentionally ignored it. Not because he wanted to hurt her, no. It was to protect her, in the end. At least, that’s what he told himself. He could see how she might take his lack of response as disinterest when in fact it was the exact opposite, but it was better for both of them if he remained unattached.
“Don’t tell me you noticed and said nothing?” Corazon read his mind, frowning deeply. “I thought I taught you better than that. The whole time you’ve worked here she’s the only one you actually like talking to. I would have thought that by now-”
“I know what you’re trying to imply. You know exactly why I can’t take that risk.” He spit, narrowing his eyes. Corazon only raised an eyebrow.
“Can’t, or won’t? Are you really gonna use that excuse? It’s been years, Law. You don’t have to keep looking over your shoulder.”
“I’m not having this discussion.” Law said, turning away promptly. Corazon sighed with a low chuckle, patting his shoulder. He may be mad at him, but that didn’t mean they hated each other.
“I’ll say this. Seize the opportunity before it slips away. You only find a woman like her once in a lifetime. If you don’t you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.” He wandered into the back to leave the bartender to his thoughts.
Law sat and brooded over the man’s words. He was loathe to admit it. He was interested. Hell, he’d been interested from the minute she’d first walked in those few years ago. But his past couldn’t be changed and someone like him just couldn’t afford to lose anyone else he held dear. Shachi and Penguin could handle themselves. As much as they were idiots, they were sensible.
But Summer was naive and trusting. Too trusting, in a way. Her view of the world was quite different from his. She knew hope and opportunity. He knew struggle and darkness.
It was anyone he got close to that he worried about. Any danger he put them in would be his fault and his responsibility. He wasn’t sure if he was prepared to put someone like Summer in that position. Of course he would protect her. The question was if he really could.
The most logical decision was to stay away, to keep to himself to keep the collateral damage to a minimum. The less people got attached to him the better. Law was not a good person, as his past suggested. He brought nothing but heartache and pain in the end.
All the same…
He couldn’t stop his chest from aching at the thought of remaining alone, the thought of pushing her away.
ns 15.158.61.8da2
