"Ha, vampires...seriously." You're still trying to wrap your head around Marco's prank, a bored facial expression etching into your features as you mimic him mockingly in the mirror. "We're vampires, stupid~! I'm Marco and I'm a psychotic dumbass yoi~!"

If anyone could see you right now, they'd think you've completely lost your mind. An irritated huff leavings your lips as you dip your hand into your running bath water to check the temperature.

"He's a freak, I don't know about anything else!" 

Finally deciding that the temperature was just right and the water was high enough, you turn off the taps before laying yourself down into the large tub, a soothed sigh escaping your throat. Usually, you're so busy that you only have time for showers, it's been far too long since you've had a nice relaxing bath.

So tranquil...

Your eyes falling closed in peace for a moment before the sound of an owl hooting from outside makes you jump, your orbs shooting toward the bathroom window as you hold your hands over your mouth to stop you from screaming unnecessarily. What Marco said earlier comes back to haunt you once more, your body twitching in annoyance as you try to settle down again.

"Seriously, that man is an idiot..." You mutter under your breath as you take a damp flannel, folding it in half before throwing it over your eyes, your back relaxing against the tub once again. "No wonder why their last maid got spooked..."

You try to think back to what Thatch said, you could have sworn that he gave an explanation but you cannot recall. "It was...something about...a window?" Trying to remember the details causes a sudden sharp pain to erupt throughout your forehead, causing you to spring up as a whimper leaves your throat, your flannel falling from your face and into the water. 

Fuck, that hurt!

You try to recall again but it just causes the pain to worsen, a loud drip catching your attention and halting your attempts. Upon looking down you see another drip of blood falling from your face and into your bath water.

What the hell?

Bringing a hand up to your face, you feel it, blood oozing from your nose into your palm. Your eyes widening as you climb out of the bathtub, your relaxation permanently destroyed, taking some of the toilet paper and holding it to your face, you silently curse Marco. 

"If that idiot hadn't stressed me out, this wouldn't be an issue!" You muffle into the large pile of bloodied toilet paper that you're still smothering against your face, your eyes falling closed in irritation when a knock on your bathroom door reaches your ears.

Great, what now?

"[F/n]?" Sabo's concerned voice calls from behind the wooden barrier, admittedly you begin to worry about him, wondering why he sounds so out of sort. However, he beats you to the punch. "Are you okay?"

Why is he asking that? Surely, he doesn't know I'm bleeding, he couldn't! Could he? Does he have a sixth sense? 

Plucking your towel up from the floor, you carefully wrap it around your torso to protect your modesty before opening the bathroom door, Sabo's eyes widening as he sees your current state. 

"I'm fine, my nose started bleeding is all."

You notice his eyes lingering on the blood for a moment before he gently takes a grip on your hand, politely leading you to your bed. "Sit." Although you don't much care for being spoken to like a dog, you comply, knowing that now isn't the time to argue since you'd probably make the nosebleed worse if you did. 

Sabo takes the paper from your hand, folding it so that he has a cleaner side to work with, his hand taking a soft grip on your chin to hold you still as he presses the fabric to your nose once again, his face blushed for some reason that you can't quite comprehend.

Is he really attracted to me?

"Breathe through your mouth, [F/n]."

Of course you comply, a few minutes of holding that pose leads to you trying to avert your gaze onto anything except the handsome blonde and Sabo staring straight at you, seemingly not feeling uneasy in the slightest since he's far too focused on playing doctor. 

"How did this happen?" His voice seems somewhat stern and his stare is never-ending, your hands gripping nervously at the hem of your shirt as you think of how to answer, it's not exactly appropriate for you, the maid, to say that you were ranting about his stupid brother. 

However a sudden wave comes over you, it's soothing and telling you that you can trust him, that Sabo won't judge or condemn you. Suddenly the truth comes tumbling out of your mouth, the same way your thoughts about his good looks did over breakfast. 

No! Not again!

"I was angry with Marco and..." Your voice sounds like a whisper as you try to stop yourself from speaking further, a thin sheet of sweat beginning to form across your face as Sabo raises a brow, encouraging you to continue. "I-I was saying that it's no surprise that the last maid got scared and I forgot what happened to her...I tried to remember and I got this nosebleed."

A sigh leaving Sabo's lips as his eyes fall closed, his free hand carefully caressing your shoulder, his aura is calming and something about him just screams trustworthy. "It's okay...next time you're unsure about something, just ask me. Please, I don't want you hurting yourself." His voice almost sounds like a plead, the compassion in his tone winning you over immediately and causing you to obediently nod your head. 

"As for our last maid," Sabo starts, you can tell it's difficult for him as his eyes sadden a little. "She...well, it was an accident. A horrible accident." You sense that he's really quite traumatized about the ordeal, his gaze lowering down to your lap, apart of you wants to comfort him but you don't want to discourage him from continuing. "Sh-She...I'm going to tell you the truth but I need you to remain calm, okay?"

He wasn't going to tell me the truth before?

"My little brother, Luffy, he...well, he killed her." Your eyes widen at the information, part of you is hoping that it's a joke of sort, your heart rate seemingly picking up. "It was truly an accident, you see...He isn't like that, naturally! Luffy wouldn't harm a fly!"

His eyes rise to yours and a sense of relaxation takes over you again, your muscles calming slowly as he places the bloody toilet paper down beside you, your nosebleed seemingly finished. "Y-Your..." You can't seem to find any words, you watch attentively as the blonde takes your hands in his, the grip he has on you is strong but also gentle. 

"He didn't mean to, he has had a horrible change recently and...and he's still coping. That's why our father has taken him away." Sabo finishes, his brows furrowing but his eyes harbor a little spark. "I promise you though, I promise you, he won't harm you like that!" 

"Why are you telling me this?" Surely he must know how hard it is for you to trust his words, you barely know him and you know even less about Luffy. You can't help but feel comfortable in his presence though, something about his words rings true, he genuinely seems like a protective sort of person. 

"Because I sense that you'll know when I'm lying." Sabo smiles faintly, his eyes falling closed as he releases your hands and rises to his feet. The loss of contact admittedly leaves you with an empty feeling in your gut but you accept it nonetheless. 

He just put a lot of trust in me...

"If you have any further questions, just come and find me, I'll tell you everything you need to know. Everything." Sabo leaves after this statement, as does his soothing aura. A pout etching itself into your features as you think on what to do, you feel utterly crazy that you'd even consider staying here after what you've just learnt but...the money.

At least if I die here, I won't have to pay bills anymore...ha..ha...so funny, [F/n].