Every Time I Threaten to Quit, Marco Gives Me a Raise

(Content warning up front: A fluffy, brainless sweet treat, just ordinary, peaceful, everyday Whitebeard Pirates shenanigans. No complicated backstory or plot. The heroine is a genuinely ordinary civilian.) I'm an utterly ordinary nurse. The only things I might be better at than other nurses are being brave and having a sweet tongue. I make it my mission to sweet-talk even the most difficult patients into grinning from ear to ear. One day, the hospital director told me she'd found me a big job. Good pay, easy work, no need to travel back and forth. The contract was for a year, and if I didn't want to continue, I could leave once the year was up. I was just about to say I'd think about it when she slammed a sack of gold coins down in front of me. A whole sack. Thinking about it for even one more second would be disrespectful to the money. I immediately used the coins to buy myself a set of jewelry, then a little villa. Only then did I reluctantly pack my bags and leave with my employer. Just you wait. I'll finish this one job and retire, become a rich local woman with a house of my own, and spend the rest of my life lazing in bed! Then I boarded a huge pirate ship. ? A pirate ship? A PIRATE SHIP??? So this is what they meant by no traveling back and forth?! I immediately turned around to get off, but a pineapple-headed man stopped me. He said, “Then give back the deposit.” Yikes, I couldn't give any of it back. I'd already spent nearly all of it. Damn it. Wait. What did he say? Deposit? That much was only the deposit? It's just a pirate ship, after all. If I'm earning this much, I should expect to suffer a little. Otherwise, I won't feel right about it. [Day One] Marco: “Oh! Miss Nina, you're really skilled!” Are you seriously saying that with a straight face? I missed the vein so badly I didn't even get the needle in. But this patient really is ridiculously tall. I've never seen a vein this easy to find. [Day Ten] Marco: “Nina! Come help me persuade Pops to drink a little less!” ? His own son can't talk him out of it, and he's counting on one caregiver to do it? [Month One] Marco: “Nina!! Stay behind me. Don't be scared.” It's just cannon fire everywhere. I can put up with it for the money. But aren't you their target? If you weren't standing in front of me, they wouldn't even be firing at me! [Year One] I want to quit. I came here to be a nurse, but no one told me I'd be looking after the whole shipful of people. Marco: “Nina, let's go. Time to set sail.” Nina (avoiding his gaze): “Um, Captain Marco... I... haven't finished the captain's medical checkup today.” Marco: “Then I'll stay and help you finish before we leave.” Nina (gritting her teeth): “...Okay.” [Year Two] I can't take it anymore. I'm on call and bandaging people every single day. Nurses can't stay on duty twenty-four hours a day, can they?! I'm quitting right now. I don't even want the rest of my pay! Nina: “Captain Marco... I, um... I don't think I can keep...” Marco: “Nina, this... do you like it? They said girls might like earrings like these...” Hold on. That's a huge gemstone. Marco: “Your work is so hard. This is a gift from me... from all of us.” Nina: “It's my honor to serve the captain!” [Year Three] I think something's not right here. I thought I was waiting for the rest of my pay. Why have I been here longer and longer? Could I take all this money home and live like a rich woman? Nina: “Um, Captain Marco... I...” Marco: “Nina, perfect timing. I was just about to bring this over to you. Would you like to try wearing it?” ? Yikes, this necklace is so shiny it reflects the light. Honestly, staying for one more year wouldn't be so bad. Nina: “I love it! Thank you, Captain Marco~” [Year Five] Marco: “Nina! Will you... stay on the ship this year too?” He slipped another little box into my hand. I'm sure it's another gemstone! Marco: “I... may I put it on you?” Nina (without hesitation): “Thank you, Captain Marco. I love i...?” Wait, why is he suddenly down on one knee? Content warnings: (To be added) 1. The blurb is in first person, but the main text will be in third person. 2. Marco is the love interest. The heroine is an actual ordinary civilian. If you like strong heroines, please take note! 3. The story will definitely include their children, so please take note! 4. Everyday slice-of-life stuff (probably slow-paced). 5. No complicated backstory of any kind, including but not limited to the Navy, the Revolutionary Army, or One Piece. A little self-promotion (spinning in circles): 1. Upcoming: Taking Good Care of Mihawk Today Too, paired with Hawkeye Upcoming: I Have No Idea, I'm Just a Maid, paired with Sanji 2. Completed: Shanks Apologized to Me Again When I Woke Up, paired with Shanks 3. Completed: The Right Way to Flirt Like a Knight, paired with Sanji 4. Completed: One Sentence That Kept Red Hair Thinking for Three Days, paired with Shanks Theme: A good life is something you create for yourself.