I opened my eyes to a bright light on the ceiling. My eyes weren’t ready for it, and the sudden glare startled me, so I closed them again for a few seconds. When I finally opened them once more, I was met with metal walls, medicines scattered across a table, and various pieces of medical equipment.

I realized I was in the infirmary.

I was covered with a blanket, my head resting on a pillow. Slowly, I tried to sit up—but damn, that was a huge mistake. A sharp pain exploded through my head, and my chest burned as if it were being crushed. I let out a quiet gasp, instinctively clutching at myself.

Curious despite the pain, I managed to sit up halfway and pulled the blanket down slightly. I froze.

I was wearing someone else’s clothes.

Bandages were wrapped tightly around my chest, layered and secured with careful precision. Whatever had happened to me, it clearly wasn’t minor.

A soft snoring sound caught my attention.

I turned my head to the right and saw someone slumped in a chair beside the bed, arms crossed, head tilted forward beneath his spotted hat.

Law.

My captain.

What the hell happened to me?

For a moment, I just stared at him. Seeing Law asleep was… strange. He always looked sharp, alert, calculating—like he never truly rested. Yet here he was, clearly exhausted, dark circles faintly visible beneath his eyes.

I shifted slightly, and the movement sent another wave of pain through my chest.

“—ngh—”

It was barely a sound, but it was enough.

Law stirred, his brows knitting together before his eyes slowly opened. It took a second for him to focus, gray eyes sharpening the moment they landed on me.

“…You’re awake,” he said hoarsely.

Before I could answer, he was on his feet, one gloved hand pressing gently—but firmly—against my shoulder, forcing me back down.

“Don’t move,” he ordered. “Unless you want those stitches torn open.”

“Stitches…?” I murmured, my throat dry.

Law exhaled slowly, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “You collapsed during the fight. Took a direct hit to the chest. Internal bleeding, cracked ribs, and severe exhaustion.” His gaze flicked back to the bandages. “If we’d been any later, you wouldn’t be waking up at all.”

My heart skipped. “…How long was I out?”

“Two days.”

Two days. Damn that's long, everyone was probably worried about me.

I swallowed hard, trying to piece everything together. “These clothes…”

“They’re mine,” he said flatly. “Yours were soaked in blood. I wasn’t about to put them back on you.”

For some reason, that made my face heat up. But nope— he's my captain and he's not even my type! Maybe?

Law turned away, grabbing a clipboard from the nearby table. “You’re alive because you’re stubborn. Don’t waste it by doing something stupid now.”

Despite the pain, a weak smile tugged at my lips, teasing him a bit.

“…You stayed?”

Law usually never waits for a patient to wake up, just goes back to his room and make someone else guard them which usually was Shachi, Penguin, Bepo and probably Ikkaku.

He paused for just a fraction of a second before answering, I swear I saw the corner of his mouth twitch a little.

“Someone had to make sure you didn’t die again.”