"You want to go swimming..?" His brows knit together.

"Yeah. There's a lake at the edge of town. I haven't been there since before my mom passed." You smile softly.

"I can't swim though.." He admits.

"Oh, that's okay. We don't have to swim.. Just walk along the lake. Or we can do something else..." You scratch your cheek looking down and silently scolding yourself.

"I want to go. I don't mind if you swim either. It sounds... Fun." He tells you. You look at him as he rubs his neck. "I'll get ready and meet you in front of your place."

"Alright." You smile before heading inside. You go to your room, searching your drawers for a swim suit. "Oh no... I don't have one..."

"Have one what?" Shanks asks in your doorway. You blink and look over.

"A... Swim suit..." You murmur awkwardly.

"Yes! I'll be right back!" He cheers disappearing.

"What...?" You and Demon say together. You pause and look at him as he peers into the room.

"What's he so excited about?" He asks. You offer him an awkward pout before Shanks reappears with a bunch of of bikinis on hangers. You blush wildly as Demon straightens.

"I got you a bunch! Theres one with skull, flowers, one with stripes." He shows them to you excitedly.

"Why do you have these at ready?" You ask awkwardly.

"Because every time I go out I see something that would look good on you and I just buy it for you!" He gushes.

"... Oh... Okay. Thanks." You smile a bit, picking one you liked. "Im going to try this on." You decide before closing the door and changing into it. You pause looking it over. "It fits good..." You breathe.

"___! I wanna see!" Shanks pleads and you pause, feeling a blush come to your cheeks.

"... Yeah alright...." You manage opening the door shyly. "I'm starting to rethink this though..." You rub your cheek looking down self-consciously.

"You look fine to me." Demon says simply.

"So cute! Oh! You need a ribbon around your neck!" Shanks gushes disappearing. You glance after him before looking to demon.

"Is it really okay?" You ask lightly.

"Of course." He breathes voice sounding gentle. You smile a bit at that, relaxing.

"Thanks Demon." You murmur. He looks away at that. You head back into your room and get dressed over the bathing suit and grabbing a backpack before going back out. "Okay I'm going! Thanks Shanks."

"No problem beautiful." He gushes, putting some towels and snacks into the backpack for you. "Have fun!" He waves you off cheerfully. You grin and go out at that. He chuckles lightly and takes out a camera. "I know what I'm doing today!"

You head out, smiling at Kid who waited outside in a black tanktop and red swim shorts. He offers a nod, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Alright, lets go." He hums tilting his head and starting off. You smile and follow after him quickly.

"Thanks for coming with me. The others would've made me too nervous." You murmur looking down.

"... And you're not nervous around me?" He raises an eyebrow when you look over at him.

"No not really. Even if you are a bit scary at times." You put a knuckle to your lip.

"Thats more of a reason to be nervous." He scoffs looking to the side. You smile at him before looking ahead as you both trail along to the edge of town to the lake. It was a nice little place, usually with more people around too. You could count five others there today- which was fine you didn't want to wear a bathing suit around a crowd.

"The water looks so nice..." You breathe as you walk down the path. You skip slightly, as happy childhood memories with mom pass through your mind.

"Yeah. I haven't been here in a longtime... Think I almost drowned last time." He mutters. You blink mind flickering to the night at the river briefly.

"Yeah. It's scary when you don't want to die..." You murmur zoning out briefly. He pauses glancing at you before reaching for your hand but stopping himself and looking ahead.

"Dont drown okay?" He scratches his cheek looking to the side. You look over at him and relax a bit with a smile.

"That wouldn't be ideal since you dont know how to swim." You agree. His eyes widen slightly at that and he frowns.

"I should probably learn how..." He comments as you both reach the shoreline.

"Mhm! I could teach you if you want?" You hum as you strip down to your bikini, eager to jump in the water. You glance at him to find him bright red.

"W-What are you doing!? There's a changing room over there!" He sputters. You blink and blush in embarrassment.

"Sorry... I was excited..." You manage. He covers his face and sighs.

"Geez..." He grumbles. You tilt your head at him. His Demon was showing all of a sudden. Or maybe this was Kid in his entirety? He peeks at you and pauses. "What?"

"Thats why I'm not nervous around you. You're a good guy." You grin. He pauses in surprise turning pink again but before he can say anything you wade into the water. "This water feels so nice..." You breathe happily rolling onto your back and floating for a moment with your eyes closed.

So weightless, and probably the closest thing to feeling like a bird. Your eyes open to the sky as a few clouds float by. You smile softly before sitting up and looking over at Kid. He watched from the shore quietly.

"Were you serious? About learning to swim?" You ask him. He hesitates but nods slightly. "Then come here." You hold your hand out to him thoughtfully. He visibly swallows, glancing at the water before taking off his shirt and making his way toward you. You couldn't help but blush at his pale muscular torso. 'Dear god I may not be prepared for this...' You think as he grows closer. His eyes were on your extended hand.

He reaches you as the water meets his chest, his fingers drifting over yours. "... Alright. Im here..." He looks at you uneasily. You smile at that, it was different to see him like this.

"Alright. Lets go a bit further." You take his hands moving back until your feet no longer touch the ground. His grip tightens around yours and he becomes a bit rigid. He gazes down at the water with increasing unease. "Hey." You gently tip his chin up making his amber eyes meet yours. "Dont look away from me Kid. I got you and thats all you need to focus on."

"... Okay..." He manages pink dusting his cheeks.

"Just keep your legs moving, one, two, one, two..." You pull him closer, moving further away from the shore. He was still tense, but he kept your gaze, doing as you instructed. After a while he relaxes, keeping up better and better.

"Alright... This isnt so bad." He breathes.

"Then lets go under the water." You tilt your head toward the shore. He pauses at that, seeming uneasy again. "Its the same just hold your breath and pull yourself forward with your arms." You assure. He hesitates again. "I'll be right behind you." You add lightly. With a nod he dives under the water, swimming for the shore. You follow after him, watching him quietly. He had learned quick. Which was kind of disappointing since you wouldn't have minded coming back here again to teach him.

He surfaces with a slight cough, standing on ground again. "I did it." He looks back as you smile.

"Good job- hm?" Your foot catches on something as you move to feel for the ground again. You look down and something pulls you down under the water. You curl up to try and remove the rope quickly. This wasn't good, you hadn't had time to get a breath of air before going down. You feel an arm around your waist and jump slightly, looking over at Kid as he grabs the rope and removes it before swimming up with you.

"Are you okay?" He gasps as you cough for air. He cups your cheek making you look at his worried face. You catch your breath and smile.

"It's a good thing you know how to swim." You manage. He blinks and relaxes with a smile.

"Yeah... Thanks for teaching me." He murmurs. You could feel his heartbeat under your hand, and you become aware that he was holding you against him. It was a realization that brought a very apparent blush to your cheeks. "Hey, you okay-" He seems to notice as well, turning red and slowly releasing you. "S-Sorry..."

"That's okay..." You assure, looking away briefly. "Come on. We should get out now." You add swimming out. He follows after you, helping you layout the towels. You roll onto one with a hum, closing your eyes as you fold your arms behind your head.

"Hey... Can we do this again sometime?" His question surprised you, and you open your eyes, peering at him to find him looking at the water.

"Of course. I like it here. Just tell me when and we'll come here whenever." You tell him. He meets your gaze as you smile at him.

"Alright."

You pause, looking over at the setting sun as you pull on your clothes. "Oops... Did not mean to stay this long." You mutter.

"Eh, I'm sure it'll be fine." He says, pulling on his shirt. You put everything in the backpack and start back with him. The sun disappears as you both leave the park. You shift slightly, looking around the dark. There weren't many streetlights in this area it seemed. You glance at him, carefully reaching over and grabbing his hand quietly.

"Dont be scared Kid. I'll protect you." You exclaim when he looks over at you. He pauses, blinking at you as you avoid his gaze.

"... Sure." He hums looking ahead. You peek at him to find him smirking slightly. Well, that wasnt the reaction you had expected, but at least he didn't seem to mind holding your hand anymore. You smile a bit to yourself, letting your cheek rest against his arm and close your eyes.

"Thanks Kid. Today was a great day." You whisper. He peersat your face before smiling lightly.

"Thank you too." He responds simply. After a while you arrive back home. You straighten and yawn lightly. "Head in. Have a good night ___."

"Yeah... Goodnight Kid." You lean over and kiss his cheek before going inside, leaving him blushing.

"Three times..." He mutters.

You make your way to your room, stopping when Law steps in your path. "So. Did you have fun on your date?" He teases. You stop and turn red.

"What? No... I mean yes! B-But it wasn't a date! I dont think he likes...." You stammer. He raises an eyebrow as you try to get your words together.

"Heh. Calm down. You must be tired." He chuckles, putting a hand on your head. You relax, giving him a pout.

"I am. But I still need to shower. I smell like lake water." You murmur. He chuckles again but sends on your way. After a quick shower and getting dressed for bed, you step into your room, finding it dark. "... Demon?" You hum, blindly feeling for the bed after turning off the light in the bathroom.

His hand finds yours and you relax, crawling into bed with him. You cuddle up to him with a hum, hugging his waist.

"You're always so warm..." You yawn nuzzling his chest. He gives a hum in response, but it's not muffled like usual. Did he take off his mask? Your curiosity wills your hand to trail up to his face, cupping his cheek without hindrance. He pauses but you smile and lean your head up to cuddle his neck at that. "Sleep well."