Chapter Text
Even though you live in Marineford, as a civilian being summoned directly to the Fleet Admiral's office is a completely exceptional event.
The fact that you are escorted makes you feel like a prisoner of sorts, and not knowing the reason for your summons does not help.
In front of the large closed door, one of the Marines in your escort announces your presence, opening it just enough to let you through before closing the door behind you.
«Y/n, at last we meet. Come closer.»
Comments the man sitting at the desk, Fleet Admiral Sengoku. You are startled to see that inside the room are virtually all of the Navy's highest authorities, Vice Admiral Garp next to Sengoku, the two Admirals Kizaru and Aokiji sitting on a small sofa watching you, one curious, one bored, and last, Admiral Akainu. His back straight in martial posture, standing in front of the Fleet Admiral's desk where you also take a position.
At this point, an idea as to why you've been summoned comes to you, but still you don't understand what all the fuss is about.
«Sir, may I know why I am here?»
You ask finally, without mincing words. Sengoku, immediately takes a newspaper out of the drawer, you suppose that morning's edition you haven't seen yet, showing you the front page.
The headline in huge, lofty letters, announces, "A Secret Lover for Admiral Akainu?" and underneath, occupying the rest of the front page, an innocent picture of you reading quietly sitting between Sakazuki's legs, intent on cleaning up his bonsai pruning tools.
«I still don't understand the problem. Did we do something wrong?»
You comment, while the other sighs.
«Technically no, but you were careless. You see Y/n, getting involved with a Marine Admiral always brings consequences, especially for a civilian like you.»
«Consequences? And what would those be?»
«For one thing, you risk being targeted. Even if you live in Marineford, there's no absolute certainty that someone can't get to you to kidnap or harm you.»
«Pfft, that's crazy! I'm just a gardener!»
«Who is supposedly having an affair with one of the three Admirals. I assure you that many will consider you an easy target to hit Sakazuki. It means that to keep you safe, you will no longer be able to leave Marineford, or walk around the harbor area alone.»
«Oh, is this why you summoned me here? To put me in a sort of cage?»
You answer harshly, crossing your arms.
A chuckle reaches you from the settee, where the other two Admirals are watching.
«Nice temper, miss~ Now I understand why Sakazuki took such an interest in youuu~»
Kizaru comments amused, looking at you with renewed interest.
«Shut up, Borsalino.»
You finally hear Akainu's voice, albeit briefly. It's enough for you to sense all the anger he's trying to hold back, radiating like heat from his body.
«Calm down, let's try to remain civil.»
Sengoku nips the discussion in the bud, immediately restoring order.
«Y/n, no one wants to trap you here. If I've called you so urgently in fact, it's because we've thought of a way to keep you safe, but we need to know what you think before reporters arrive from all over to interview you.»
«Oh... and what is this about?»
For some reason, the heat emanating from Akainu becomes stronger. Sengoku sighs, looks you straight in the eye and says a sentence that you are convinced you will never forget again.
«Y/n, do you want to be Sakazuki's wife?»
***
The first time you had met Akainu, it had been at the end of a long day's work. You knew that when you were done, you were supposed to get your things and leave, but the Admiral's zen garden was the most relaxing place on the whole island, and you had lost track of time reading the book you began on your lunch break.
«What are you doing here?»
You were so focused on reading that the voice caught you off guard. Standing still on his porch, the man in red was squaring you with clenched fists and a cigar in his mouth. You had only glimpsed him once in town, but he was not a man you would forget so easily, so you quickly closed the book by standing up.
«Admiral Akainu, welcome back! I am not an intruder, I am Y/n, I tend the greenery of Marineford's private gardens. Forgive me, I didn't realize it was time for your arrival, I'll take off now...»
The man initially did not move a muscle, merely watching you hastily grab all your tools.
«Wait.»
You had paused, looking at him questioningly.
«You are the gardener, you said?»
«Correct, sir.»
«So you're the one who kept my bonsai trees alive while I wasn't here.»
«Yes, also correct.»
«Hmm, I see.»
He had commented, then disappearing inside the house without a trace of farewell.
Sakazuki, the man of unyielding justice. Apparently, you had also discovered that he was not a great speaker. Nor very good at paying compliments, you knew that his plants were in perfect health thanks to you, a "thank you" might as well have come out of his mouth.
You had left with no particular impressions of that first meeting, not knowing that you would see him again a few days later for a reason that had nothing to do with gardening.
You had found yourself walking back up to the Marineford offices, holding a box with the Admiral's lunch in it.
«I thought you were the gardener.»
He had commented dryly, without much ado.
«I am. The local delivery man who was supposed to bring it to you today is sick and he asked me for a favor.»
You had replied in return, handing him the box. If he was looking for someone who could respond in kind, you were definitely the person.
«Actually, I almost lost my lunch break over this. Is it a problem if I eat here?»
He had looked at you as if you didn't have all your marbles, squaring you from head to toe.
«What did you say?»
«I can't eat inside the central building, here we are on the top floors now that I'm going back down I won't make it in time. I already have my lunch, I promise I will eat quietly in a corner and leave. Please?"
Perhaps because he had been too startled by the request, he had agreed to let you in. You had settled quietly on a small sofa, while the Admiral had been eating at his desk, not stopping to check the stack of papers he was working on.
«You should rest at least while you eat, it's not good to work so hard.»
You had commented softly, after a few minutes of silence.
«You're just here to eat. Quiet.»
He had replied annoyed, not letting you desist.
«With all due respect sir, I'm saying this for your sake. Even if you're built like a tank, it doesn't mean it won't hurt your body to never give yourself a break, especially at a certain age.»
At least, you had managed to get him to look up from his papers. He looked particularly annoyed, his intense gaze trying to pass you from side to side.
«Weren't you supposed to eat in silence, gardener?»
Although you are generally a relaxed person, the way he had told you made you feel a tinge of annoyance.
«You're right Admiral, I'll shut up. After all, it's not my problem if the Marines loses one of its most valiant men to a heart attack...»
You had replied casually, ignoring him soon after to concentrate on the rest of your lunch. You had not been able to do so for long, however, as the temperature in a few seconds had noticeably risen several degrees. You had heard his heavy footsteps approaching, until the red pants entered your field of vision.
«Out.»
You heard, almost a growl coming from above. You had looked up, seeing him towering in all his glory above your seated figure, looking really huge and above all, furious.
But you, you were the wrong person to be intimidated by those things.
«All right, but there's no need to get so heated. I was just trying to help you.»
«No one asked you, gardener. I suggest you disappear quickly, or else...»
«Or else, what?"
You had replied, arching an eyebrow.
«I don't work for you, I'm a civilian. Second, you can be as loud as you want, but I don't believe in the slightest that a person of justice like you would ever hurt someone who didn't do anything. So exactly what would you like to do to me, Akainu?»
Despite your boldness, for a second you really had doubts that he would melt you there on the spot.
Instead, in an equally absurd move, he had grabbed you by the collar of your shirt like a cat, lifting you up by one hand and throwing you out the door.
«You are ... insufferable!!»
He had snarled, slamming the door so hard that the walls vibrated. Removed from the initial shock, you'd had to stifle giggles as you walked away from the hallway, your butt aching from being dumped on the floor and your neck burning from the brief contact with the furious Admiral.
Look at that, I survived Admiral Akainu's fury, I'm practically invincible! Maybe I shouldn't have made him so angry, I'll give him a gift to make it up to him.
***
Shortly afterwards Akainu had again been shipped off on a ship for two weeks, so you had had plenty of time to look for the right apology gift in good time.
You turned up again in his garden, this time not by accident, as you pretended to finish arranging some hedges that you had already perfectly trimmed three times.
«Oi, gardener!»
You had approached him innocently, as if you had no idea why he had called you.
«Yes, Admiral? Anyway, I'm Y/n, not "gardener", I thought I said that the first time.»
The man had pointed a finger toward the bonsai trees, one in particular now standing out among the others.
«What's that?»
He had asked defensively.
Boy, this man has no idea what it means to relax....
«It's a red bonsai maple. I asked people I know to get it for me, I find it suits you well, don't you?»
The man had huffed, narrowing his gaze.
«Why would you get it?»
«Because I wanted to apologize for being a little too... expansive last time.»
«Oh, yes. Insufferable.»
He had remarked harshly, though you could have sworn you saw the shadow of a smile.
«Well, I'm sorry. It was your office and you could do as you please. Do you like the gift? It needs pruning, but I thought you'd rather do it yourself.»
Akainu had picked up the bright red-leafed seedling, making it look even smaller in his hands, checking it for a long time before speaking again.
«This is ... acceptable.»
He had commented cautiously, hearing you stifle a laugh soon after.
«You're not one who likes to get off balance, are you?»
«And you like to talk a lot, I see.»
«One of us has to, it's called conversation, you know what it is?»
Again, this time more obvious, you had seen a smile curve the corners of his mouth. The people who treated Akainu like this without being intimidated by him could be counted on the tips of the fingers, so your presence, probably intrigued him.
«Well sir, I'm glad it worked out between us. I'll leave you to your privacy, I guess you're tired since you just got back-»
«I only have green tea, but I can offer you a cup if you want.»
This time, it was you who was surprised.
«Admiral Akainu, are you perhaps inviting me to stay?»
«Briefly. Heaven forbid I remain in debt for anything, consider it a thank you for the plant.»
«Well... I don't have to run anywhere, so I think it is doable.»
You had spent a quiet hour. For a while you had talked about your passion for gardening and why he had found you chilling in his garden that day, but for most of the time you had simply been quietly enjoying the tranquility of that place.
Perhaps because of the gift, perhaps because you had shown that you too could appreciate a little genuine silence, amazingly the Admiral had given you permission to go to his garden whenever you pleased, whether he was home or not if you wished a place to read or just to take your undisturbed break.
«Thank you, Mr. Akainu, that is very kind of you!»
The man had huffed, getting up to take away cups and teapot that had been empty for a while.
«Sakazuki. If there's no one around, you can call me that.»
«Oh!...and who is Sakazuki?»
You had asked, leaving him stunned.
«Me, of course. Who did you want it to be?»
«Really? I was convinced that you Admirals all had animal names by some kind of funny coincidence, I didn't think you had real names!»
He had turned abruptly, entering the house by forcefully closing the sliding door behind him. You had never told him, but you were convinced that he had done so only because he was about to burst out laughing, and not because he was irritated by your oversight.
Anyway, since that time, your meetings had become decidedly more frequent. If he was not on a mission at sea, he usually found you immersed in reading by his pond when he returned home, leaving you undisturbed while he tended to the bonsai trees on the veranda.
Sakazuki despite the passage of months had never become particularly talkative, but you didn't care; you spoke for both. On the other hand, over time you had noticed that he preferred to show his appreciation with small gestures, such as making you find a new pillow for you to sit on the porch, or stocking his perpetually empty kitchen with snacks of various kinds to accompany the cups of tea you punctually drank each evening before taking your leave, or again, gently removing the leaves from your hair when after work, a few escaped you.
By the way, you were sure that his hardened features had become more relaxed, at least when he spent time with you. And when he wasn't perpetually furious, you noticed how charming he was. Even though he was much older than you and didn't have the easiest personality in the world, slowly but surely you had come to realize that you were beginning to really like him, to the point where you began to think about what words you could use to figure out whether your interest was one-way or not.
In the end, the only idea your brain had managed to produce had turned out to be as cheesy as it was effective.
One evening cooler than the others, where he had allowed you to sit against his back to warm up, you had gathered enough courage and jumped in.
«Tell me Sakazuki, that thing they say about sailors, that they have a woman in every port- does that apply to Marines, too?»
You had asked casually out of the blue, immediately hearing him stiffen.
«I have no idea what you're talking about. Surely, I can't be a spokesperson for every enlisted Marine.»
«Oh well, of course...»
You had flipped through something like ten pages together, your usual bravado for once eroded by nervousness.
«What if we weren't talking about every Marine, but just one, for example... you?»
You were used by now to feeling the hot flashes he emitted when he was angry or nervous, but they were not comparable to being in contact with his body, separated only by his clothes. The temperature was almost intolerable as sweat glued your shirt to your hot back. You were about to pull away, worried that at that point he would start sweating magma directly on your head, but miraculously, Sakazuki took a deep breath and the hellish heat ceased.
«What nonsense. Such behavior can only be worthy of scum.»
He had said lapidarily, then remained silent again. A few minutes passed that had convinced you it was now a closed issue, when surprisingly, he had spoken again.
«I am more than happy if there is only one waiting for me, and it is already here. I wouldn't know what to do with any others.»
You had clutched your book tightly, blushing to the tips of your ears.
«Oh... nice.»
You had managed to say in a whisper, happier than ever. You hadn't demanded anything else from Akainu, you knew how reserved he was, already the fact that he had said those things to you was something huge.
He could take all the time in the world. Or so you thought.
Because about two months after this conversation, you had been called directly to Marineford headquarters by Fleet Admiral Sengoku, where you had been asked that disorienting question.
«Yn, do you want to be Sakazuki's wife?»
***
«The, uh, wife?»
You ask squinting, as if you hadn't heard correctly.
«I know it may sound crazy, but it would be the best thing. Once you're married, you wouldn't have to worry about where you're going, you could leave the island on Marine ships instead of commercial boats, and reporters would be obliged to leave you some degree of confidentiality.»
«This is nonsense. I'm completely against it!»
Sakazuki growls, his fists clenched.
«Involving a civilian in such things is pointless, you should pitch her my idea instead!»
«Your idea? And what would that be?»
You ask, shifting your gaze back and forth from Akainu to Sengoku.
«Sakazuki has proposed that you be moved far away so that your trail would disappear and you could continue your life without any constraints. You would be taken by ship to Garden Island, where you will still be able to continue your work, receiving an already paid-for house to stay in. I suppose the choice depends on what really is between you two...»
You may feel a needle drop as silence falls, despite the room being full.
You take a long breath, finally deciding to come face to face with Akainu.
«I'm going to ask you something first, Sakazuki, and make sure you answer honestly, okay?»
You speak decisively, with your hands on your hips.
«Why did you make such a proposal? If you want me to make a decision, you have to tell me what you think.»
The Admiral just lowers his gaze to you, his jaw contracted.
«What I think is irrelevant. I don't want you to be forced to do something you don't want to do.»
He answers finally, tense. Incredulous you shake your head, smacking a hand on your forehead.
«Damn, getting words out of you is always a disaster! Good thing at least I can understand you a little by now!»
You turn to Sengoku again, all traces of nervousness gone.
«Sir, I accept! I intend to become this man's wife!»
Your direct answer startles the men present, creating a general gasp.
«Y/n, are you sure? Should I accept, the marriage will have to be performed rather quickly, you will have no time for second thoughts.»
«Yes Sengoku, sir, I am sure! I do not accept because you ask me to, but because I love this man!»
You blush as you say it out loud for the first time, but the smile does not leave your lips.
«However... a marriage still comes in two, so...»
You take one of Akainu's gloved hands between yours as the Admiral looks at you with wide eyes.
«Sakazuki, I know you're a reserved person and would probably have preferred to wait much longer before making things official between the two of us, but if the only options are a hastily arranged marriage or never seeing you again, I choose a thousand times to try my luck with marriage. Will you marry me?»
The Admiral grits his teeth, forcefully lowering the visor of his cap over his eyes.
«I should be the one to propose, not the other way around...»
In one motion, he lifts you into his arms princess-style, giving his back to the others present.
"It is decided that this woman will be my wife, so this ridiculous meeting is over, isn't it?»
The tension in the room seems to have dissolved completely, with Garp and Kizaru barely able to contain their laughter.
«Sure. Go ahead.»
Sengoku dismisses you, also sporting a satisfied smirk. Sakazuki takes you outside in a flash, the corridors spinning fast under his long legs.
«Did I embarrass you, Sakazuki? I knew you had a soft heart deep down.»
You tease him, running a hand over his cheek.
«Just to know, where are you taking me?»
«To your home, I have other things to do. That proposal was unseemly, I have to get ready to do things properly.»
«Oooh, we're a bit of control freaks, aren't we?»
He doesn't answer, making an offended expression.
What a difficult man. But maybe that's exactly why he made me fall in love with him.
You think, leaning against his chest. You are convinced that by now the surprises of the day are over, but once you are alone inside the elevator to the ground floor, the Admiral manages to surprise you with one of his rare emotional outbursts.
«Thank you for loving me. I can't wait to see you in your wedding dress, Y/n.»
You feel his warm breath on your face, and a second later his lips are on yours.
Yes, Akainu is a difficult man, but that moment is enough for you to know that everything will be all right.