The lake is so dark now.
You're having that nightmare again.
Your childhood was spent in a beautiful and welcoming house by a big lake but the home now looks so cold and unapproachable as the darkness closes in around you.
It's night time and there's a dark silhouette of a girl slowly crawling out of the lake's water as your fist pounds on the door of your previous home, trying to escape the ghostly figure but it's no use.
"Please, don't leave me again..."
You had no choice but to leave her, you would have both drown if you went back, neither of you could swim well. Especially not in that horrible lake, there was too many long plants underneath the surface.
This ghostly figure that plagues your every dream is none other than your little sister.
You still hate yourself for that day, your selfish choice that had lead to her dying slowly and painfully in that damn water, the horrible sounds of her gasping desperately for air still ring in your mind whenever you're in a quiet room.
It's the main reason you chose to become a pirate, so there was rarely any silence. You'd like to constantly hear light chatter, the kid's singing, the waves of the ocean, even your captain's crazy laughter.
Anything that covered that deafening silence was always welcome.
But night time was the worst.
When everyone fell asleep, you had no choice but to endure it.
Most of your days were exhausting, your bones would be aching and your movements sluggish because you'd lay awake all night, too scared to fall asleep because you knew she'd be waiting for you on the other side.
Although she doesn't look like your sister anymore, you still know it's her.
Her skin is pale blue, her eyes cloudy, her clothes ripped and worn, her hair wet and scruffy and her body limp as she walks weakly towards you.
Please, just go away!
Her voice is by far the worst thing though, she sounds strained, as if she had been choking and it brings her death back to you in rapid flashes.
"Don't you love me anymore? Is that why you left me in the water?"
You were the one who had suggested playing on the wooden boat that day despite being told that it needs repairs and you were the one who was meant to be sensible, you were the older sister.
You simply didn't understand, the little row boat was still floating on the surface of the lake so you didn't see what the problem was.
Not until you and your sister had paddled it into the centre of the lake anyway, your sister's foot had fell through the wood when she stood up and the small boat quickly began to fill with water, causing it to sink.
You had almost drowned yourself while making it back to land due to your legs getting tangled up in the weeds underneath the water's surface but your sister didn't even have a chance.
Her leg was still stuck in the boat, she was immobilised and due to her panicking and kicking her other leg, she also got caught up in the long weeds.
She was completely terrified and screeching out for you to help before she was pulled under but you were too scared, too selfish to swim back and attempt to retrieve her.
Once out of the water, you ran as fast as you could into the kitchen but your mother was nowhere to be seen and your father was at work so you had just collapsed there and cried until your mother came home.
Her arms full of bags containing food although they were soon dropped when she found out why you were in such a state.
Your sibling was eventually fished out of the water by people who lived nearby and owned boats, they knew your parents and wanted to help but it was much too late for her.
You still remember seeing the body.
The sight that haunts you every night, what was worse is that her eyes were wide open when she died.
"[F/n], please! Don't leave me again! I'm so lonely!"
That horrified voice echoing in your ears as you snap awake, cold sweat pouring down your face as you shoot up, struggling to breathe.
The first thing you notice is your captain stood in the room, watching you with an unreadable expression on his face.
You want to ask him what the hell he's doing in your room but then you realize that this is the crew's lounge area, not your bedroom.
You had thought if you hung out in here, it'd keep you awake.
Seems you were incorrect.
"I-I'm..." You trailed off. Were you really about to apologize for having a nightmare? Or was you going to explain it to him? Quite frankly, you're not even sure. Tears rapidly rolling down your face as you struggle to catch your breath. "I'm...so messed up!"
"Fufufu~!" Despite his airy laughter, Doffy still comes close to your fragile frame and pulls you into a warm and secure hug, the fabric of his pink coat wrapping around you as you cry into his bare chest. "We're all messed up here, my darling~!"
It is a pleasant surprise though, you hadn't thought this man would be so understanding and so affectionate over something as trivial as night terrors.
He loves his crew, his family, as he calls it and you're a member of it but you still hadn't expected him to be so forgiving of your weakened state.
Only the best have a home here and you certainly don't feel like the best right now, you're not sure what he saw in you, why he took you in and trained you to fight personally.
But whatever the reason, you're grateful.
"You've been looking more tired than ever recently, [F/n]." The blonde hums calmly as he settles down on the comfy sofa, pulling you into his lap as his lips gently graze your forehead. "Tell me why."
Many people inside the family have noticed how gentle Doffy was with you, how you seemed to have a special effect on him. Even when things go terribly wrong, he just can't stay angry when you're around, you ease him.
And he wants to ease you too.
"I just...can't sleep peacefully. I have...nightmares."
His chest is warm against your cheek and you can faintly hear his heart beating in your ear, a comforting sound to you though. It reminds you that the man who took you in and cared for you when no one else bothered is alive and here with you.
Your parents grew cold after your sister died, they blamed you and you knew it.
You blamed yourself too.
So you left them in peace, they never came looking for you and you never went back to that house, you were scared of water though. For a long time, you hated it.
And you had forgotten just how much until you were accidentally knocked off a dock one day by a certain pirate, you had panicked and started screaming, kicking your legs around like mad.
Only to be simply scooped out of the ocean by a set of strings that were attached to the clouds, they were so thin that you could barely see them unless the sun shined on them.
The man who had saved you took an interest in you immediately and wanted you to join his crew.
Donquixote Doflamingo, the heavenly demon...
You think the name definitely suits him, he can seem demonic if you do him wrong but if you're good to him, he's definitely good to you.
He's heaven personified...
You feel a small smile tug on his lips against your forehead, as if he can read your exact thoughts about him. His hand gently stroking your lower back as he stares down at you from behind his sunglasses.
"Then stay with me." The blonde calmly requests as his free hand comes up to your face, brushing some of your hair aside to look into your eyes. "I'll make all the nightmares go away."
If anyone else had made such a claim, you wouldn't believe it for a second but Doffy is different.
You can already feel your body beginning to relax against his, a serenity that you haven't felt in so many years washing over you as your eyes fall closed, his pink feathered coat draping around your frame and warming you as his lips gently press against yours.
There's a spark of sorts, something that draws you into him and makes the kiss feel right, as if you were made to be his. He sadly breaks the contact all too soon, burying his face in your hair as a smile spreads across his lips.
"I also have trouble sleeping so you can be my remedy whilst I'm being yours."
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