A little eight-year-old Cassidy looked to the side of her, right where a redhead was sitting. He smiled warmly at her and brought the palm of his hand towards the youngest's brown strands, touching her hair with affection.
Her eyes remained fixed on that smile that the man gave her and she couldn't help but form one with her lips. It was clear that she didn't know him, but she felt as if that redhead was her closest friend. She raised her hand to rest it on the man's, who widened his smile. Cassidy parted her lips, ready to speak.
But the words didn't come out. She felt thousands of feelings in her chest, but she couldn't express them. She felt that she could not speak, just when the man spoke.
"You are identical to your mother, daughter," he finally expressed, giving her one of his radiant smiles.
Cassidy frowned.
The brunette opened her eyes quickly and stood up abruptly, feeling her breathing quicken. She rested her hand on her chest and tried to stay calm. She looked around her cabin and looked at Nami, who was sleeping peacefully.
She rubbed her eyes tiredly and grabbed her blanket, placing it over her shoulders. She began to walk out of the cabin until she reached the deck of the ship. She looked up at the sky, which was only illuminated by moonlight and a few stars.
She rested her elbows on the deck and enjoyed the sea, then let out a big sigh.
"Who are you, redhead?" she murmured to herself, closing her eyes tightly.
Several days ago, Cassidy couldn't stop dreaming about that red-haired man, whose face was totally unknown to her.
Over and over again, that man told her that he was her father, but they were just dreams.
She took a deep breathe and let out a big sigh instantly, rubbing her arm.
"Cass, hey, Cass," the aforementioned turned around, finding her crew's cook approaching her cautiously.
"Ah. . . Sanji," she whispered, somewhat confused.
"Why are you not asleep?" she furrowed her eyebrows.
"I have to be on guard, what about you?" he ran her thumb over Cassidy's cheek.
"It's too late and it's cold, baby."
"I know, it's just. . ." she sighed, looking down.
She mentally hesitated whether to tell him about her dreams. It doesn't matter, it's nothing.
"Honey, you know you can tell me anything," Sanji kissed the tip of her nose, and then went back to caressing his girlfriend's cheek with a smile.
"I was having strange. . . dreams," the brunette confessed.
"About a man who claims to be my father, it's completely crazy because I don't even remember his face, just that he was a pirate."
Sanji kept his gaze fixed on Cass's eyes, listening to her carefully.
"Sanji, what if my father is a horrible and profiteering pirate? Maybe someone evil and with a very bad reputation, that is, his reputation is already bad for being a pirate, but by evil I mean him as a person, will he be someone with a good heart? Because I would hate him if he was a. . ."
Cassidy's words were interrupted by Sanji's hand, which was placed on her lips, silencing her.
"Cass, honey. You don't have to get frustrated thinking that. Whether your father is good or not, that will not change the fact that you are his daughter, because unfortunately, we cannot choose our parents," the shine in his eyes faded and the caresses on Cassidy's skin stopped.
"I'm sorry, I. . . I didn't want you to remember your father, if you had problems with him I didn't want you to remember him. I'm sorry, San─" the blonde pressed her lips against Cass's thin ones, kissing her slowly.
The brunette let out a small gasp of surprise, but reciprocated, resting her hands on Sanji's, which were still on her cheeks.
"My only father is Zeff, there is no other man I can call that way," Sanji replied, whispering against his girlfriend's lips.
"Still, I am very sorry that. . ."
"Cass, you don't have to apologize. You don't even know, it's okay, honey," she gave him a sweet smile, one that was reciprocated.
"Smile more, I love when your eyes shine because of your smile. By the way. . . Have I told you that I love your eyes?" he fleetingly kissed her lips.
"Oh, only a million times. . ." she joked in a whisper.
"No, seriously. I could spend hours telling you how much I love your beautiful blue eyes. They were the first thing I noticed about you at Baratie," said the blonde.
"Omitting your flattery, because you make me sick, could you shut up and kiss me? With respect, obviously," he gave her a thumbs up, and she smiled mockingly.
Sanji hugged Cassidy's waist with a smile and kissed her passionately, feeling the flutter in his stomach, one that he couldn't help every time she hugged him, smiled at him, or just looked at him. His Cass made him the weakest man in the ocean, every time she approached he couldn't help but he felt great nerves and it was clearly the first time something like this had happened to him.
Cassidy looked at him, with those penetrating blue eyes that he loved and he couldn't help but think that she is and would always be the only woman in his life, the only one who could make him feel this in love.
"Could you sleep with me today? I swear I don't snore," Cassidy asked and put her hands together in a sign of supplication, making puppy dog eyes followed by a small pout with her lips.
The perfect play.
"I have to stand guard. . ." he laughed deeply.
"Please, let's go, darling, okay? Nothing will happen to us, please, please," she insisted, throwing herself towards him and hanging on his neck like a koala, while he shook her.
"It's okay, it's okay," he smiled, putting his arms around Cassidy's waist so that she could wrap her legs around his torso.
"That's why I love you!' she smiled widely, repeatedly kissing the face of her boyfriend, who sweetened her ears with her loud, but almost silent laugh.
"Why can't I say no to you?" the blonde mocked, laughing at the tickles that the brunette's lips generated on her skin.
"For I love you and because you are the most attractive cook in the East Sea," she joined her lips with Sanji's, who smiled in the middle of the kiss, placing his hand on the archer's neck.
━♡
Cassidy threw the poker cards on the table and with a wide smile looked at Usopp.
"How did you do. . .?" the shooter asked, completely incredulous.
"Trap," she joked.
"You owe me two bottles of liquor, Soppi," she winked.
"I'll play you!" challenged Luffy, who was next to Zoro and Nami, looking forward to the poker game.
"You don't even know how to play poker, Luffy," Nami interrupted, crossing her arms.
"I guess they're all chickens," Cassidy shrugged, shuffling the cards.
"Let's play, pretty," the cook challenged, sitting in the place where Usopp previously sat.
"Oh, no. They're going to start. . ." the swordsman sighed, rolling his eyes.
"If you lose, you make my bed for two months!" the brunette accepted, smiling at him.
"But if he already makes your bed. . ."
"Shh! Shut up, Soppi," the archer complained, dealing the cards.
"I'm warning you, precious. I'm the best at poker," the coom smiled defiantly at her girlfriend.
"We'll see about that, waiter," she looked at her cards and smiled, placing a bill in the center of the table.
"What do you want if you win?" Cassidy crossed her arms.
"Let me think about it. When I win I'll tell you,"the blonde replied.
"Not in your wildest dreams will you win, dear," she mentioned sarcastically.
And suddenly, the kitchen went completely silent, just before Cassidy began to celebrate.
"I beat you! Yoohoo!" she celebrated, starting to jump little. Usopp joined her in moments, sticking his tongue out at Sanji, completely forgetting that a few minutes ago he had also lost his sister.
"You beat me," the blonde stated, lighting a cigarette.
"He let her win," Nami and Zoro stated in a small whisper.
"Cassie, you are the best! Can you teach me how to play?" the captain asked, completely excited.
"Sure!" the brunette accepted, hugging her captain.
She looked over the brunette's shoulder at the cook, who winked at him.
Cassidy frowned.
"Congratulations, pretty."
"Did you let me win?" she abruptly separated from Luffy, who looked at them slightly confused.
"Oops, the winner is angry," Nami murmured, with a mocking smile.
"No, of course not, Cass." Sanji put both hands in his pockets.
"Waiter. . ." she spoke through her teeth, not believing a single word.
Zoro laughed, looking down.
"Did you tell me a waiter?" Sanji narrowed his eyes, approaching his girlfriend.
"Ah, I don't know," she moved her tongue along the inside of her cheeks, looking away.
"Cass," the blonde positioned himself in front of her, remaining centimeters from her face.
"Well, the couple is going to start their fight, we have to leave the kitchen," Usopp joked, pushing his companions out.
Cassidy frowned and was about to amuse her gaze at her companions, when she felt her boyfriend's hand quickly grab her chin, forcing her to look at him.
"I said waiter, you heard correctly," the brunette repeated, knowing what Sanji would ask.
The blonde bit his lower lip and brought his lips closer to Cassidy's, just after taking the cigarette out of his mouth.
"I let you win because I'm a good boyfriend."
"Huh? Fuck you!"
Sanji slammed his lips against her brunette's, interrupting her words completely.
The blonde smiled victoriously and slowly lowered his hands until they reached Cassidy's waist when she reluctantly reciprocated and he began to trace imaginary circles on her delicate skin.
"I'm still angry, waiter," she separated from his lips, releasing a sigh.
"Is that an invitation to kiss you more so that you can relax?" the cook asked with a tiny smile, touching his nose with that of his girlfriend.
"Maybe," she replied, feeling the pressure of his lips again, as he kissed her again
Cassidy's bipolarity is something, the sea had ever seen.
Thank you so much for 100k reads. So a bonus chapter for all you precious people. . . enjoy! <3