Summoner in One Piece

The moon hung high over Loguetown, casting long shadows. Alex, feeling a familiar stir of desire after his companions had all succumbed to sleep, decided to venture out. His first thought was the red-light district, hoping to find an untouched beauty, a rare pearl in such a place. He had no luck. Then he sought out any other beauty that might catch his eye, but again, he was met with disappointment. Frustrated, he returned to the inn.

He found the inn's common room quiet, all services closed for the night. As he ascended the stairs, he noticed the inn lady, the owner's wife, tidying up the last few tables. 

"Well, that was fast," she said with a playful glance, not mocking, but undeniably amused. "I figured a man like you would be… occupied longer."

Alex raised an eyebrow. "And what makes you so sure I wasn't?"

She took a slow sip, watching him over the rim of her cup. "Just a feeling. You don't smell like perfume or cheap liquor. You smell like frustration."

He chuckled, stepping closer. "So the innkeeper's wife is a bloodhound now?"

She tilted her head, smile curling. "No. Just a woman who knows when a man comes back unsatisfied."

Alex's eyes narrowed slightly, lips parting in a half-grin. "Is that so? Maybe I just have higher standards."

Her smile didn't fade. "Or maybe you don't have the stamina to keep up with women of the night."

Alex, thinking she was teasing his virility, puffed out his chest a little, a proud, playful glint in his eye. "You don't know my stamina, madam! My lovers often beg me to stop!" This earned him another, more amused chuckle from the inn lady.

As she teased, Alex's gaze lingered on her, on her mature beauty and her playful spirit. He approached her, a mischievous dare in his voice. "Oh? You think so? Perhaps you'd care to find out yourself, if you have the courage?" 

Seeing her blush deepen, her eyes wide with a mix of surprise and a flicker of interest, but no immediate move towards him, he continued, pressing his advantage gently. "Come now, don't tell me Loguetown's finest are all talk." 

He leaned in, his voice a low rumble, the alluring hint of his "Goddess's Consort" blessing subtly at play. He took her hand, his thumb tracing soft circles on her palm, then led her quietly, almost imperceptibly, towards a more private corner of the inn. Her name, he learned, was Elara.

Elara was a whirlwind of sensation, her initial shyness quickly overcome by Alex's insistent, yet tender, passion. 

He started with soft kisses, exploring her lips, then her neck, making her shiver. His hands, gentle yet firm, explored her curves, eliciting soft gasps and growing moans. 

The quiet corner of the inn became their private haven, filled with hushed whispers and increasing passion.

The room was modest, candlelight dancing off the wooden walls, the scent of lavender lingering faintly in the air. She slipped off her robe slowly, not shy, but savoring the moment.

Alex watched her, his eyes roaming the curves she revealed. She was older but experienced, confident, and achingly beautiful.

"You talk a big game," she teased, crawling onto the bed. "Let's see if you live up to it."

He pulled off his shirt, muscles taut beneath moonlight. "You'll be begging me to stop."

She smirked. "Try me."

It was Elara who startled and awakened Alex in the early morning, urging him with a panicked whisper to return to his own room and forget what had happened. Alex, seeing the genuine fear in her eyes, agreed, returned to his room, and snatched a brief nap. As he woke later, Tsunade was there, a knowing smirk on her face. "So, how was your 'fun' with the inn woman last night, Alex?" she teased, before promptly forcing him into another rigorous ninja training session.

The days that followed in Loguetown blurred into a vibrant tapestry of training, exploration, and deepening relationships. Alex and his group truly enjoyed their time here, embracing the unique atmosphere of the town.

Alex became a frequent, discreet visitor to Elara's room in the quiet hours of the night. He learned that her husband was a bartender, often away at sea for days at a time on wealthy cruises. This left Elara with ample nights to be together with Alex. Their illicit rendezvous continued, and many times, Elara's daughter, a curious and observant girl named Lyra, would unknowingly spy on them, hearing muffled sounds or seeing fleeting glimpses of their late-night activities.

One afternoon, as Alex was returning from a solo outing, he found Lyra, a slender and earnest girl, being bullied by a group of crude thugs. She had just finished delivering wine barrels to a local tavern, her small frame struggling with the heavy load, and the goons were harassing her, trying to steal her meager earnings. Without a second thought, Alex stepped in, swiftly and efficiently beating up the thugs, sending them scattering into the alleyways. He saved Lyra, calming her trembling form. "Don't tell your mother about this, Lyra," he instructed gently, seeing the lingering fear in her eyes. "We don't want to add to her worries." Still a bit scared, Lyra nodded, wide-eyed. To distract her and lighten her mood, Alex then took her on a small tour of the town, buying her some sweets and trinkets, before returning her to the inn.

Later that night, after his passionate session with Elara, as Alex was returning to his own room, he found Lyra waiting outside his door. Her face was tear-streaked, and in a quiet, trembling voice, she expressed her love for him, a raw, innocent confession born of gratitude and a child's adoration. Alex, caught off guard, couldn't accept it. 

He knew this path was dangerous, his future uncertain, and he couldn't possibly take on such an innocent, vulnerable attachment. Heartbroken, Lyra went away crying, her small figure retreating into the shadows of the inn corridor. 

Olvia, who had quietly observed part of the scene, approached Alex. "It's common not to find love easily in this world, Alex," she advised softly. "But sometimes, you give love where you can, even if it's just for a moment, while you are here."

That night, unable to shake Lyra's heartbroken face from his mind, Alex returned to her room.

He sighed, then knocked softly.

"…Lyra? It's me."

No answer. But the door creaked open slightly, unlocked. He stepped inside. Lyra sat on the bed, back turned, hugging her knees. Her shoulders trembled, and even in the dim light, he could see the glint of tears along her cheeks.

"…I'm sorry," Alex murmured. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

She didn't reply at first. Just a quiet sniffle. Then she asked, voice trembling:"Why her and not me?"

The question struck deeper than he expected. Her mother… It started as convenience, need. But this girl looked at him like he was something she had dreamed of. Not just wanted. Trusted.

Alex took a step closer. "You're young. I thought I was protecting you. But…"

She turned slowly. Her eyes, though red-rimmed, held something fierce beneath the sorrow.

"I'm not a child, Alex."Silence hung between them. Then hesitantly, he sat beside her. She didn't move away. Her shoulder brushed him. Warm. Trembling.

When she leaned her head against him, he wrapped his arm around her instinctively. Her scent—faint like flowers after a storm—hit him, and for the first time that night, the walls he'd built around himself cracked.

"I've thought about this," she whispered. "So many times. Watching you. Hearing you. I wanted it to be me."

He swallowed hard. "You don't know what you're asking."

"I do," she said, turning to face him, eyes shining with both tears and longing. "I want it. I want you."

Her lips brushed his—tentative, trembling. He almost pulled away. Almost. But he didn't.

Alex kissed her back, slowly at first, testing, careful. But her hands clutched his tunic, desperate, pulling him closer as her body pressed to his. The heat between them surged, years of quiet longing flooding into a single, burning moment.

Their breaths mingled, mouths meeting again and again, the kisses growing deeper, needier.

His hand ran up her arm, then down her side, fingers brushing the curve of her waist. She shivered, not from fear, but anticipation. She guided his hand, emboldened by his touch, and soon the space between them vanished.

Clothes slipped away like mist, tossed aside by shaking hands.

"Are you sure?" he asked, voice hoarse against her neck.

Lyra looked into his eyes—eyes full of conviction, nerves, and desire.

"Yes."

What followed was not rushed, not carnal. It was gentle, breathless, an unspoken promise in every touch. Alex moved slowly, memorizing every gasp, every arch of her back, every whispered plea.

Her body trembled beneath his, but her hands never let go. For that night, the world outside the tavern ceased to exist. No mother. No guilt. No past. Just her. Just him. Entwined in silence and moonlight.

Throughout the week, while Alex navigated his complex personal life, the rest of the group was equally busy. Tsunade, driven by her medical curiosity, spent her days learning about the unique flora, fauna, and medical practices of the One Piece world. She adapted her vast ninja medical knowledge, finding new herbs and resources, and even assisted local doctors in complex cases, fascinating them with her knowledge and expertise. Erza and Olvia, meanwhile, took charge of logistical matters. They visited various merchants, gathering information on local trade routes and valuable commodities, and discreetly continued their trade experiments, selling small portions of their Qin world goods and buying items that could be valuable in Tonryuu.

As their week in Loguetown drew to a close, Olvia informed Alex of two significant developments: both Elara and Lyra were now pregnant. Alex accepted the news with a sober nod. Even though their journey was onward, he would not abandon them. He instructed Olvia to ensure they were left with enough money to raise the children comfortably. Alex personally provided them with two bags of gold coins each, roughly worth 10,000,000 Beli, a substantial sum that would secure their futures.

With all necessary arrangements made, including securing provisions and finalizing their route, it was time to depart. Their next destination was the Virelio Port, renowned for its shipbuilding, where they intended to acquire a proper, seaworthy vessel for their continued adventures.