The meal at Q's was normal enough. To any passerby you didn't stand out, both of you in casual sweats and having easy conversation. You talked about books, and music, and dabbled a little in each other's pasts.

His relationship with his father had been as strained like yours, but his father died by his own hand. You admit you raised an eyebrow at that, but if you had been armed on that day during the Moim, you might have done the same. You told the story of your scars and tattoos as he asked about them. When you were dressed all that showed were a few scars, so the topic certainly pulled your mind back into the day's earlier activities.

Some were benign, you'd gotten a few scars just from learning how to fight, and one from falling out of tree that netted you a compound fracture. The one under the Lotus tattoo was from the first time you had to take someone's life to save your own. You talked about the event with a smile on your face, but you could see the frown twitching on Doffy's face.

"Why a lotus tattoo?" He inquires, taking a sip of his drink, the meal long done.

"Ah, it was Robin's idea – she runs the flower shop. Lotuses, Lotusii?" You wave your hand, "They're symbols of rebirth and regeneration. Seemed fitting. Though, once I did that, I realized I liked tattoos. I have more restraint in getting new ones than the doc does."

You sip your drink, looking at him over the rim of the glass. If you weren't already feeling the soreness in your bones from earlier, you really would suggest a second round. "What do you think of flowers?"

He seems to genuinely consider the question. "I have nothing against them. Proper arrangements can be useful for more than just gifts. I didn't make any of the decisions for the garden," he offers, anticipating your next question. "But I can appreciate its beauty."

The conversation continues, and you both laughed when the waitress asked if you wanted any dessert.

Like a proper gentleman, Doflamingo drives you to your house and even walks you to the door. You look at his watch and note the time.

"11:57pm," you muse, your face going red despite your best efforts. "A few minutes longer and you'd no longer need to keep your word, Mr. Donquixote."

"Are you inviting me in, my dear?" The tone in his words makes the heat rush up your neck.

"I am terribly tempted, but I need to be up at 6 to make it to work on time," you admit, running your fingers over his hand lightly before finally letting go entirely. The desire to stay together for just a second longer was obvious from both of you.

He takes your hand in his before you can pull it back completely and brings it up to his lips as he bends low. "Then I will end the day a gentleman, and look forward to our next meeting, my dear." His voice slides over you as his warm lips kiss the back of your hand.

Your hand was hot, your face was hot, your brain was mush, and you were legitimately tired. You couldn't form any words for a moment, and manage only a meek, "Indeed." Before turning away to step into your home.

You feel the storm door move away from you, as his hand grabs your wrist and his other hand slips over your eyes. You had managed to step up onto the threshold, and you could feel his body against yours. There was a rush in your heart. You had no reason to fear him, but you could hear the desire in his voice and the heat in his words as he purrs near your ear.

"It's 12:01, miss (Y/N)." The chill that slips down your back has you, for a brief moment, hoping that it would be a few more hours before you got any sleep. The hand that had been holding your wrist pulls your shirt collar to the side with a rough motion, you get a hand over your mouth just in time to stifle the loud moan caused by hot lips against the crook of your neck.

It was a sweet pain that pushes pleasure into your body and it was going to be an unmistakable mark the next day. His tongue against your skin was the parting pleasure of it all, "Rest well, my dear," and when he lets go of you, you stagger a step forward.

By the time you risk looking over your shoulder he was nearly in the car. You were sure you saw a smile on his face before he shuts the door. 

Despite everything, you did manage to fall asleep easily.

The next morning, you make your way over to Robin's floral shop and help with getting things open and rolling.

"Are you feeling well, you seem to be injured." She asks with an oddly knowing smile and then adds, "Hopefully it's not some seemingly benign injury that turns into a life-threatening terminal illness."

You snort. "I'm fine. I just, uh, used muscles I hadn't used before last night and I'm paying for it today."

Her smile this time was even more knowing. "Seems that they were utilized properly," She muses. "Perhaps well enough to warrant a gift of thanks?"

"Perhaps." You admit. "Is it desperate to send flowers the day after?"

She laughs. "Most people ask me if it's wrong for a lady to send flowers to a man."

"I'd say 'most people aren't me', but honestly, thank fuck for that." You smirk, finishing the last bits of morning inventory. "I've got some time before I have to be at Zoro's, anything you might want me to, uh, pass along?"

"No." Her smile this time was something different. "He came in yesterday and stared at my language board for so long I thought he had died while standing, and then he asked me to dinner this Wednesday."

"D'aww, that's adorable." You were looking forward to teasing him already. After a moment's thought you turn to Robin. "I... think I do want to send some flowers. I can't deliver them though." If you made a delivery to the estate you'd end up missing work for Zoro.

"Nami'll be in shortly, what were you thinking of sending?"

"Something pink. Really, really pink."

"And the message?"

"Hmmm..." you tap your chin thoughtfully. "Can you make Apple Blossoms, Wild roses, and sweat peas work?"

"Oh my."

You blush and smile. "Yesterday went well. Maybe jumping in with both feet will turn out poorly for me in the long run, but I made the choice and I'll see it through."

"You never have been one to mull things overlong." She admits. "I've always been impressed with how well it works out for you."

"Thinking too much causes more problems." You twist your hair and tuck it under the cap for Zoro's delivery service. "Besides, I multi-task, I work and mull at the same time."

You gave Robin the rest of the delivery details, with a nagging feeling she didn't actually need them, and then headed over to Zoro's to work for the day. You used the walk between the two places to check your phone for the first time that day.

Trouble: I hope you slept well.

You smile as you started typing.

(Y/N): Surprisingly so.

(Y/N): Also you'll be receiving a delivery later today, please don't accidentally intimidate the delivery girl.

There wasn't much time until your phone vibrated.

Trouble: I haven't yet repaid you properly, and I'm receiving a gift?

(Y/N): A message, not a gift.

Trouble: You could call and simply tell me.

(Y/N): I could. But some things are better if you sort them out on your own.

Trouble: A puzzle, then.

(Y/N): Close enough. Stop prodding, let me surprise you a little.

Trouble: Very well.

When you got into Zoro's shop you didn't even get the chance to flash your best Cheshire grin at him before his ears were pink. You squealed despite yourself.

"Hey, (Y/N)."

"Hey? 'Hey' is all I get? Not a 'thanks for telling to read the sign, (Y/N)', not a 'got a date with Robin (Y/N)'. No, instead I get 'hey'." You imitate his voice at the end, and watch his whole face go as red as his ears before you start laughing.

"I promise I will keep my teasing to a minimum, I'm really happy for you." You assure him, smacking him on the back and few times and marveling at how it was kind of like smacking a brick wall.

Your phone buzzes again and you look to see an unexpected text.

Robin: Did you lose a pocketknife?

(Y/N): No, I only have a box-cutter and it's in my pocket.

Robin: No worries then.

The exchange with Robin fell out of your mind as you got to work for Zoro. The best part about working for him was catching up with the rest of the city. You made small talk with people as the day went on, even got to see Eustass and Law since they had parts and stock for their respective jobs to be delivered. You lingered at Law's, there hadn't really been time to connect since you used his place.

He played the role of 'over protective father' well, and wasn't terribly pleased to hear that you were getting cozy with an international underworld mob boss. To him it was bad enough you were caught up in as much of Pop's world as you were, but he hadn't even met you until you'd gone to college, so there wasn't much he could do about that.

"Don't worry yourself sick now, doc." You tease. "Historically, I've been safer around gang members than not."

"History doesn't always repeat, (Y/N)-ya." He growls. "If things go bad though, you can still use the clinic."

"Thanks, dad." He throws a freshly emptied box at you, and you laugh.

Around 2pm your phone vibrates with a new text.

Trouble: Seems I will need to make time to visit Miss Robin's shop.

You grin, delighting in the butterflies that seem to happen every time you got a message from him.

(Y/N): Seems so.

Throwing caution to the wind as you had told Robin you were going to; you sent another text.

(Y/N): Any chance we could share a meal tonight?

Trouble: It would have to be at the estate, I don't have enough time today to leave.

(Y/N): I did say I would be back. Dinner's not a bad start.

You hit send before you could reconsider your words and flinch a bit at the implication.

Trouble: Already promising future visits?

(Y/N): ... yes.

You didn't need to explain the weight of a promise from you. You didn't soften it with 'as long as I'm welcome'. Just a terribly complex response tied into three small letters, and it was enough to hopefully get your intentions across.

Even after committing to jumping in with both feet, you found yourself afraid that you would be summarily rejected.

Even if you do get rejected, you'll survive, deep breaths (Y/N).

Trouble: I'll send Lao, when are you done with work?

(Y/N): 4:30 – If I may be greedy, I would appreciate he pick me up from Zoro's, and give me a ride back to my place so I can shower and change real quick.

Trouble: That's hardly greedy. Sore?

(Y/N): After tossing boxes all day, yes, more than I expected.

Trouble: Your honesty is refreshing, my dear.

You scoff.

(Y/N): I can't imagine anyone risking lying to you.

Work picked up for both of you after that, but you could almost hear his bemused chuckle as a reaction to your words. Aside from his family, you doubt he believed the words coming from anyone's mouth until they were proven beyond a doubt.

Lao was neither late, nor early, the old guy pulled up just as you were saying goodbye to Zoro for the day.

"Is it rude for me to ask if I could ride up front with you, Lao?"

"Not at all, young miss." He says, opening the passenger door for you. You appreciate that it's okay, since you didn't want to sit in the backseat and have your mind wander to the things that happened back there.

"If I ask anything rude, Lao, please feel free to let me know," you start, and began peppering the driver with questions as you took an easy ride to your home. You ask how long he's known Doflamingo, if he'd always been the chauffer, and other random questions.

Lao said he met the young master just before he got into modeling, and he wasn't always the chauffer – but he didn't offer what he had been beside that, and you didn't ask. He answers almost everything politely, and with a neutral tone, not unlike his boss.

You offer for him to come inside and have some tea, but he states he had to stay with the limo. You clean up and change and are back in the passenger seat in twenty minutes. This time you asked Lao questions about the family – what foods they liked (Machvise knew better than Lao, since he oversaw most of the cooking), who was his favorite (the young master aside, he had an unsurprising soft spot for Sugar), and other benign questions.

When you got close to the estate, you shifted gears.

"Alright, this next question is super serious Lao, so I'm going to answer it for myself before I ask you."

"Alright young miss, do your worst."

"No wrecking the limo, now."

"I shall do my best." Lao was surprisingly chill once you got him talking.

"Have you ever had to take a life, Lao," You question, you didn't look at him, so if his expression gave him away, you wouldn't rudely see it. "I have."

He was stone cold at the question itself, but when you answered for yourself, the limo swerved just ever so slightly. If you hadn't known how rock steady this guy's when driving, you wouldn't have even noticed it.

"That's quite the question, and statement, miss."

"Sure is." You admit. Your tone is light, but your face is serious. "I know where I am, and I just wanted you understand that. Since you seem to have a soft spot for nice young ladies."

There was some silence as you pulled into the estate proper. Lao parks, gets out, opens your door and offers a hand. When you step out he gives an interesting smile, almost like he was greeting a grandchild home for the holidays.

"The young master said your intuition was impressive, young miss."