Title: Seafaring Heartless: Exit North Blue
Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece. It belongs to Eiichiro Oda. The following story is a work of fanfiction only.
Summery: Law had to admit that when one considered the state of the world and that he didn't have the temperament to sit on his heels as a civilian, piracy was by far a better option than joining the marines. Pirates may be considered evil by the majority, but Law had met quite a few of the world's navy who were corrupt to the core and putting up a very thick facade. He reasoned that if he was going to manipulate and scheme his way into that goal, at least he was going to be honest enough to admit it.
Genre: Adventure
Rating: T, If you can handle the original Manga and/or Anime (subs or Funimation dub) you've probably got nothing to worry about as I intend to write this at about the same level.
Pairings: I do not intend to write any pairings at this time.
Author's Note: I don't usually give long notes at the beginning of my stories, however, I felt like this one needed a bit of an introduction.
One of the things I absolutely love about One Piece (aside from the great plot and characters) is the fact that the majority of the secondary characters, while having fixed personalities, are left with just enough back story to develop a limited understanding of their history while remaining ambiguous enough that people like me can theorize endlessly about what their actual back story might be.
The following story is derived from several of my theories about Trafalgar Law and his crew. If you haven't already guessed there will be some OCs. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to write a story about a pirate crew when we know the names of only the captain and four of its members, without creating a few OCs for them to interact with (especially when that crew has at least nine members). I have done my best to give them distinct personalities and to use the physical descriptions of the crew members we have actually seen (eg. Ban, the man with the mustache, and the guy with the bow tie), and hope that the readers will forgive me for making up personalities. That being said I try to always keep things within the context of the canon, (to the point that after I read about Cora-san I completely revise the first few chapters) so if anyone finds anything that directly contradicts the canon please, please, please let me know so that I can fix it.
One more thing: This story starts well before Law even enters the Grand Line, before he even meets the majority of those who call him captain. It is meant to catalog his journey from his very first crew member until just before they cross Reverse Mt.
Chapter One
Law's Beginning: The Spy On Krocylea
Far to the north on an average sized island in the sea known as North Blue, a chilling wind pulled a few orange leaves off a rather large oak and sent them swirling through the early morning air in a long spiral, until they eventually scuttled across the ground past a set of black boots belonging to a sailor. Eventually, the leaves settled to the ground among others of varying shades of yellow, brown and red, but the boots, and the sailor who wore them, continued to move up the long path with a soft crunch of gravel and drying foliage. The trail wound around a rather large hill until it crossed the top where it overlooked the town and docks below. It then continued on until it joined a winding road that lead to the gate of a rather large compound that rose in the distance. The boots stopped at the crest of the rise and the sailor turned to take in the view of the settlement below.
It was a rather large sprawling town, built in a grid-style layout with a small town square in the center for public gatherings and festivals, and a wide road that led from there to the docks. This road gave the public an easy view of any vessels that might put in without their having to run the risk of being in the way of any ships' men as they went about their work. A scuffed black toe tapped out the wearer's frustration as a gloved hand shoved itself into the pocket of a long, charcoal gray, wool coat, the other tightening its grip on the strings of a large brown rucksack holding what seemed to be the man's every possession, the hilt of a Nadochi sticking out from the top. The black spotted, white furred winter hat turned with the head as shadowed eyes scanned the view eventually settling on the docks, and one small plain ship that was leaving port.
"And so we begin," the strong voice of a man in his early twenties whispered, as the hand was removed from the pocket and a finger lifted to scratch a dark goatee. "Oh, well, about time all the pieces fell into place." In his mind he could still hear the voices echoing from the past that had spurred this project into motion. A conversation he was never meant to know of overheard when he was still a boy hating the world.
"That island nation will never bow to us, Young Master. Think of the family and their history."
"Oh but there is away. That Lord's sister is engaged to one who I think will be our Ally."
" Yes, if he were to be folded into our plans . . ."
"Take Dressrosa for our own, and leave North Blue operations in that man's hands . . . It will take considerable time though"
"When the time comes that throne will be held from Krocylea."
Krocylea, one of a group of eight islands together considered part of one of the 170 countries belonging to the world government. All of them ruled by a governor excepting only Neritm, at the center, which held the king's throne. Krocylea was on the northern most fringe. Law had heard sailors joke that it was the last truly habitable island before they hit the iced seas. He had traveled further north himself, and there were other islands there, but he had to admit he wouldn't want to call any of them home.
Home, there was that word again. It had been a long time since he had anything that could be called a home. Perhaps he might have called the island that at one point but there were too many factors, too many plans, and a goal he had to achieve, would achieve at any cost. Krocylea was only the first step on a chess board for which the pieces had finally been set. Now he had six months. He could not stay longer than that. He wasn't sure he could even manage to stay that long. He prayed the other had remembered to maintain his position and that his original back story still held up.
The ship disappeared into the overcast horizon and he turned his gray eyes to peer down at the back of the gloved hand holding the rucksack. There were things about him, things he had done, if they learned about them even those he called friends here might be tempted to drive him out of town. But he had to see this thing through, and with the way things stood now, the uncertainty of his future, he might as well be fourteen again stepping onto the island's docks for the very first time. He could remember that stage of his life easily enough . . .
Many years past . . .
The trample of worker's boots sounded as sailors ran back and forth across the deck furling sails and casting mooring lines before raising a ramp from the dock for their passengers to disembark. One pair waited for the others to pass before a fourteen year old Trafalgar Law slowly and carefully led a much taller woman to the edge of the ramp keeping a tight hold of her hand the entire time. "Here, Leana-san, step up and then I'm going to turn and you put your hands on my shoulders okay?" and true to his world the boy very carefully supported the woman as she gingerly took the first step onto the ramp, before guiding her hands to settle onto the shoulders of his rumpled, black suit jacket. "Let me know if I'm going too fast," he stated forcing confidence into his voice he didn't have as he scanned the crowd below for the face his fellow passenger had described to him. It had been a force of luck or an act of God, if one believed in those sorts of things, that had led them to each other. The blind woman without help and the boy without a friend. Each had discovered something of value in the other's company during the duration of the voyage. She a pair of eyes to guide her, and he a lack of the abuse that usually followed a boy alone in the world. Believing he belonged to the woman the sailors had treated him with kindness and pity rather that the usual attitude that he was a useless child in the way.
"Melaena? Is that you?" a booming voice rang out as Law's feet touched the gray planks of the dock. Law felt Leana-san's hands start on his shoulders as her head swung around with an affirmative answer issuing from her smiling lips. Carefully he turned so that the two of them could face the speaker. Law found himself looking at a man of average height, broad shoulders, dressed in a charcoal colored business suit, with flecks of gray at the temples of his short black hair. The man's hazel eyes seemed to take everything in at a single glace, and Law felt himself instinctively straightening his posture as the gentleman took a step forward to take the woman's arm. "It is fortunate you contacted me. My brother was such a worthless fellow, dying like that and leaving you stranded." But this was said with a smile that implied no ill will was meant to the deceased at all and the words were some sort of inside joke Law would never understand.
"And who is this young man?" Law felt the man's eye's land on him with a weighted gaze. He tried not to shift his feet uncomfortable. This civilian was nothing compared to the pirate Doflamingo, or so he tried to tell himself.
"His name is Law," Leana-san answered for him, "Tiberius, he has been a great help to me. In addition to guiding me and running my errands he seems to have some medical knowledge and was able to ease my headaches."
"My father was a doctor," Law managed to murmur by way of explanation." and Leana-san squeezed his shoulders with her hands, no doubt in an attempt to be comforting.
"More than that, I've managed to get out of him that he has no living relation and as a kindness to repay his kindness I had hoped you might be able to find a place for him somewhere." It was more than Law had thought he deserved but he made no protest. The truth was he had a promise to keep and based on everything he knew this island seemed the best place to start. He was going to need to find a way to start a life here of some kind and the more reputable he could make that the better his chances of success.
Tiberius's lips twisted in a sort of smile and Law tried not to flinch. "The son of a physician, huh? As you know I am a physician myself. Should he show any promise I might choose to take him as an apprentice. Come, you'll stay with us until I know what to do with you. I hope you're the useful sort."
Soon enough they were being herded towards a carriage where they were left to wait as Tiberius directed the porter in the arrangements of their bags.
Not long after, the man had climbed into the driver's seat and with the flick of a whip the whole vehicle started moving. "It's not mine you understand," Tiberius called over his shoulder his voice taking the lecturing tone Law would soon come to expect, "I don't keep more than a saddle horse usually, and Master Baringer of the inn has the use of that for his delivery boy, so long as the horse is in it stall when I want it for visiting the country. No, this carriage fine as it is, pity you can't see it properly Melaena I'll describe it to you later, this carriage belongs to the governor. That's his house, you can just see its peak above the rise there, Boy." Law looked in the indicated direction and could make out the peak of a red tiled roof rising above what seemed to be a line of trees on top of a plateau perhaps a mile away from the town. He would have been content to sit and look at the buildings and people that now surrounded him as they drove through the square, but Tiberius had continued in his explanation of the carriage.
"He likes my company you see. He went through a rather nasty bout of pneumonia a few years ago which I nursed him out of. We've been quite close ever since and when I told him of your coming he insisted on doing something to ease your travel, Meleana. He unfortunately couldn't spare the driver, or perhaps I should say the poor man's head cold wouldn't spare him, but as it is I think this worked out for the best. We can maintain our own timetable this way. Not far now." And indeed they had gone perhaps five blocks southwest of the square when he pulled on the reigns bringing the horse to a stop outside a three story, gray town house with a brown roof, that had been squeezed into the middle of a row among other houses of the same style (albeit different colors) in what seemed to be a rather prosperous if not high class neighborhood. There was a small sign hanging over the door advertising a physician and apothecary and in the window of the door below was a small sign that said quite plainly 'closed.'
A second latter Tiberius was springing from the driver's seat and moving to open the carriage door while Law helped Leana-san to turn properly so she could be lifted down to the pavement. Two seconds later the door to the premises was opened and a young woman of about eighteen years was running down the steps and wiping her hands on her apron, a welcoming grin spread wide across her round face, brown braid bouncing with each step.
"Ah, Rebecca, Just in time!" Tiberius boomed as he lifted Leana-san from her seat and held her until he was quite sure her feet were firmly on the pavement. Law was left to scramble out, rather awkwardly, on his own. "Is lunch ready?"
"It will be in about fifteen minutes."
"Alright, Melaena? Rebecca is my neighbor's daughter. I've hired her to help with the cooking, and general upkeep of the place. I'm afraid I've been a bachelor too long to be much good at that sort of thing. She's going to help you into the house now. Boy, come here and help me with the luggage."
Law barely had time to turn before a suitcase was thrust into his arms, and just enough time to shout "Leana-san, remember to count the steps!" over his shoulder before another was added on top of it. Grunting with the weight Law staggered slightly, but managed to make the few feet between the carriage and the house and the three steps up to the still open door without dropping anything.
One inside he found himself in what seemed to be a small apothecary shop, and hearing the women's voices turned directly right to find himself in a small, but well equipped, kitchen where he deposited everything on the scrubbed wooden table hoping it would be out of the way until he knew where it belonged. There were two doors leading off the back of the kitchen. After poking his head around one to see it lead to a small hallway containing a set of stairs and what appeared to be a half bath beneath them, Law turned into the other room, a general living area, where the maid Rebecca was settling Leana-san into a rocking chair next to an open window where she could feel the sun and hear the birds sing in the small yard beyond.
Once he knew where things belonged it didn't take long to get everything settled and put away. Leana-san hadn't brought very much with her to begin with, while Law had only what he could carry in his pockets, and while Tiberius was busy moving some of the heavier pieces of furniture into areas where they would be least likely to be tripped over, Law headed back into the kitchen with the intention of helping Rebecca serve lunch. He had been told to be useful after all. She set him to peeling and cutting up an assortment of fruit she had placed out on the counter while she busied herself with pulling bread from the oven and slicing it into perfectly even pieces. Law had just finished adding apple wedges to a plate when he saw it. Pushed to the back of the counter where he had almost missed it was a strange fruit with and oddly swirled patterned skin. He knew what it was immediately. just as he knew it was necessary to hide that knowledge for as long as possible. And so to cover any potential future slip he asked.
"Miss, what is this strange one," as he pointed to the fruit in question.
"That, boy, is a Devil's fruit," Law felt his whole body grow suddenly cold at the tone of the voice booming behind him.. "It's meant for a very prestigious buyer . . . The man paid in advance and soon will send an agent to collect it. You are to leave it alone, understand."
Law frowned, but gave the obligatory, "yes, Sir."
Tiberius shook his head. "I apologize if I was harsh. but the first thing you must learn is that the devil fruits are rare and highly prized. Part of my trade does include their collection and sale though it is not a fact I spread about willy-nilly. When I have such you are to treat it with care like a precious gem. And If I find you have eaten one of mine I will first tan your hide and then set you to work off the cost."
Law nodded more determined than ever to hide the truth from this man's sharp eyes. All that remained was to learn to his own abilities in secret and to remember he couldn't swim.
Law had to admit Leana-san had a knack for getting her way. Tiberius did indeed decide he had talent and took him for apprentice while Leana-san doted on him as only a woman with no children of her own can, yet for the next couple of weeks Law himself was completely miserable. Rebecca gave a pitying sigh every time she saw him, and Rebecca's mother, to whom she had related the story of what she knew of his past - his his lack of home and parents, kept popping over for a visit and declaring in a loud voice what a fine future Law might have if he could only follow Tiberius's fine instruction. Their host piled every book he could find that contained even a reference to medicine on his workshop desk and told Law in no uncertain terms that he was expected to study. The man himself seemed to have a thriving practice and it was very clear why he needed the extra help and why law was being pushed so hard. Yet no matter his prior education on the subject, Tibirius expected Law to do everything in the way he was now being taught. Worse even the older man seemed to be constantly called to the compound on the hill to tend to some matter for the Governor that Law began to suspect had nothing to do with the medical practice whatsoever. It seemed Law's gut instinct to start on this island at least had something to it. It all lead to a rather tense household and Law began looking for a way out. Tiberius left to visit patients, Leana-san was taken out by various ladies of the town on social visits, even Rebecca got to go home at the end of the day, but Law was left in the workshop surrounded by books with a list of questions he was supposed to know the answers to by the end of each day. And with Tiberius a practicing physician, Law wasn't even left with the option of faking sick just for a day of relief.
It was with a reluctant heart that he snuck out one afternoon, but the moment the outside air hit his face he felt infinitely better, and he ran several blocks just for the feeling of the cool air on his skin. Soon enough he began to pay attention to his surroundings for it would do him no good to get lost, and he very quickly realized how large the town actually was. There was the main square; the fish market down by the docks; a produce market on the east side teaming with the fruit, vegetables, and grains the farmers of the surrounding country brought in; and an entire row of houses that seemed devoted just to clothing shops with the proprietors living above them. He passed bakeries, and book stores, and several doctors' offices (scattered throughout town), and had very quickly decided that he would need at least a week to see it all properly, when Law spotted Tiberius stepping out of a townhouse just three houses down from where he currently stood. He quickly ducked down an alley managing only to hear something about a boy's broken leg, before he was well out of reach. Perhaps exploring the city was a bit ambitious with Tiberius so well known. That didn't mean he had to return to the house though.
In his wanderings Law had overheard several farmers wishing they could get their wagons down the footpath from the plateau for the distance was shorter than the main road, and it was this Law decided to explore next. Perhaps if it truly wasn't as far as it looked he might even sneak a peek at the Governor's compound. As he climbed Law could easily see why the farmers had been complaining. There was no way a wagon would fit the trail. The hill was steep and rocky, there was an almost absurd number of switchbacks, and in some places it ran so close to the edge that he was sure that any wagon that tried to pass would fall, but to a young teen who had been confined inside for a number of days the exercise was welcome and he reached the top sooner than expected. Law clambered along the path a bit further until he reached a place where he could easily look down upon the city and the sea below. But rather than the view, he was much more interested in something else. The path wound along until it reached the main road, and soon after that appeared to be a small pond apparently fed by the irrigation runoff of several nearby farms. It wasn't the pond that interested Law though; rather it was the people standing around it.
He couldn't exactly see them clearly, but it was easy enough to make out the forms of three boys and one girl all seemingly close to his own age, judging by their size at least. Law watched as the three males seemed to surround the female backing her towards the pond; their shouting was easily audible. "I don' care if the old governor is your grandfather, nobody asked your father to come, and nobody asked him to bring you!"
"I wasn't . . . I didn't mean . . ." the girl stammered anxiously.
"Yeah this island is doing just fine, we don't need anybody new!" A second boy added.
"No . . . that's not . . . Grandpa keeps getting sick, Pa just wants to help!"
"Help? Ha! Take things over and run it his way more likely!" the first jumped back in. "According to my Da' the lot of them need to learn a lesson!"
"I wonder if she can swim!" the owner of the last voice rushed at the girl, but Law was faster. Without quite knowing why and blaming the influence of one he had lost, he had begun moving the moment he realized the danger she was in, with a cry of "leave her alone!" issuing from his lips. His feet carried him forward to place himself between her and the boy at the precise moment the other lad lowered his shoulder intending to barrel his target into the pond at full strength. Law never had a chance. He took the blow in his stomach losing all the air from his lungs. At the same moment his feet left the ground and his opponent's forward momentum carried both of them forwards several steps where the boy stopped suddenly at the bank, and Law was sent plunging into the water.
The pond was deep. Far deeper then he had expected. For a brief moment Law forgot he had eaten the devil fruit. He tried to swim. There was a moment or two where he managed to strike out with his arms and kick with his feet, but a paralysis quickly took over. Unable to move and barely conscious he began to sink, like a hammer, to the bottom. Law never really heard the second splash, or felt the small hands grab hold of his jacket and pull him to the surface though he knew both must have happened. The next thing he was truly aware of was coughing up water onto the muddy bank as a small hand repeatedly struck his back as if trying to pound the offending liquid from his lungs. He'd have to make a point of telling his savior later that that was not the proper way to resuscitate a drowning victim.
"Oh look, now she has to go and play hero!" a mocking voice cackled. Law struggling to catch his breath looked at the girl next to him, the girl who had obviously just saved him, and had to contain his shock. He had clearly overestimated her age. She had to be at least two years younger than him. At least! Way too young to be out here on her own! Though after the life he'd lived he was probably the last person to make that judgement. She was obviously from a well to do family, if her soaked through once elaborate curls didn't point to that, her pale blue waterlogged satin dress did. And not only had she been facing down three boys each easily twice her size, but then she had jumped into a filthy irrigation pond to save him, a perfect stranger. Hadn't he been trying to save her?
"Looks like we didn't have to make her swim after all, she jumped in at the mere suggestion. Hey, Girlie, if we tell you to jump off the ridge will you do that too? Or are you going to run home to Daddy."
"Yeah just because your great uncle's the king . . ." The king? Law mused. The girl was related to the king and they were still willing to yell at her? "That doesn't mean we're going to let you get away with everything!" The lad stepped forwards a nasty smirk on his face.
Law had had it! He didn't know what was going on, or understand what the problem was, but to take it out on a little girl of all things! He could feel the anger welling up inside him as he pushed himself to his feet and in the corner of his mind he could feel himself thinking though every manner of fighting he had ever learned, even though in his fury he was acting more on instinct then actual knowledge, instinct that had been pounded into him via various instructors. "Oi!" he shouted and they all looked at him, "I thought I said leave her alone!" he growled taking a step forward.
"Or what? There's one of you and three of us!" the three boys were laughing now. Something in Law's mind clicked together as his eyes found a long branch on the ground in front of him. His toe slid under it's length kicking it up to his palm and he spun the rod in his hand, testing its balance and finding the perfect grip. At the same time his foot slid back putting him in to a swordsman's stance though he slipped slightly on the muddy bank. It looked odd seen in a young man of fourteen, but it was very clear Law knew what he was doing and intended some harm. Law's eyes narrowed and he took a slash, causing all three to leap back with a yelp as they got out of range. Internally Law seethed. If only he dared use his powers.
The three boys looked at each other uncertainty and then began to back up. One tripped on an untied bootlace and fall flat on his back.
The abrupt sound of laughter shattered the serious scene. Not the high-pitched childish laughter of the boys, but the deeper, booming, laughter of a full-grown man. "RARGrargrargrargrarg!"
Law swung his head around as the sound of clapping was added to it, and then dropped the branch from his hand completely as his jaw fell open in shock. Approaching from the same footpath he had climbed only minutes earlier was a tall, heavy set, bushy bearded, auburn haired man, with gold-flecked green eyes, a flamboyant shirt belted with a red sash, a black leather sea coat with a long nodochi belted over the back, and shiny black sailor's boots. He was striding towards them at a steady, bowlegged, pace laughing and clapping as he walked, but what baffled Law the most was the question of what the man, obviously a pirate to Law's eyes, was doing there walking in the direction of the compound.
"Very amusing, lad," he chuckled, "Very amusing. But don't you think that's enough? After all if you start a fight with uncertain footing you could hurt someone, and maybe not the person you intend to." Law's eyes went wide as he grasped the full meaning of those words and spinning around he sought out the girl who had pulled him from the water. She was sitting right where he had left her but aside from looking very shocked and wet she didn't seem to be harmed at all. Indeed, unlike the three boys who had taken this stranger's appearance for an excuse to quickly disappear, she didn't seem to be afraid of him in the slightest.
"You are Law," the man remarked looking him over. It wasn't a question. "I've heard enough about you to know who you are on sight, and you," here he looked at the girl, "must be High-Lord Elgar's daughter, Annette. Your nursemaid was looking for you in the town. Seemed to think you'd snuck out, again. Come let's get you home before you catch cold." And with a strong hand he hauled her up and set out to the Governor's compound motioning for Law to follow after as quickly as possible the girl protesting the entire way.
Law had very little awareness of his surroundings during that journey. There was something about the man he was following that demanded his attention. The man in question may have seemed a bit awkward, he was definitely a bit bowlegged when he walked for one thing with a belly like father Christmas, but he radiated a confidence and power that couldn't help but draw the eye. Law also had the distinct impression that this man didn't really care about them, or if Annette caught a cold, he simply wanted a way to amuse himself and the children where the closest thing at hand. That impression grew even greater when, after leaving Annette with her housekeeper, along with a note of some kind, he declared he was now going to escort Law home.
As they walked, Law leading the way, he began to get an entirely new impression. This was a very dangerous man who knew a great deal too much about Law's current host and incidentally Law himself. His opinion was confirmed when he directed Law to take a shortcut back to the house. Law paused before turning around to face him. "If . . .if I may ask, would . . . would you tell me your name?" he managed looking up at the wide smile that only grew wider and turned into a laugh at the question.
"Sure, Squirt, my name's Ryan Beckett," he boomed. Law could feel the blood draining from his face. He knew that name, it had been plastered all over the newspapers for months though no picture had ever been attached, only a crude drawing, and now he was here? The Pirate wanted for that incident. The man only laughed harder. "Your master refers to me as Lord Smith, I don't believe he's figured out the truth and he's never bothered to ask straight out as you just did. That or he's too smart to ask. Let's keep it that way." A heavy hand patted Law's shoulder and the teen tried not to stumble under its weight.
Law took a deep breath, refusing to allow himself to ask what the man was doing on the island, swallowed, and nodded his head, "Yes, Sir." Turning and trying desperately not to break into a run, he lead the rest of the way home. His mind was already beginning to form a third impression. This man, Ryan Beckett, was like a giant spider sitting in the center of a massive web, and a seemingly silken thread had just latched onto him. Law had seen flies in spider webs before. He knew that the harder he struggled the tighter he'd be bound. The only thing to do was sit tight, ride this thing out, and hope he was forgotten.
Bringing home Beckett was less of a disaster than Law originally thought it was going to be, and it saved Law the lecture he might otherwise have gotten for sneaking out. It seemed one of Beckett's men had dropped by the house to inform the physician to expect the man, and though he was as white as a sheet, Tiberius was in complete control of his faculties. Gesturing to the most comfortable chair in the living room he offered drinks, and in a rather composed manner, managed to ask the question that was perhaps the most difficult. "I am to assume that your early arrival means that you did indeed receive my letter?"
Beckett smiled and gave a small chuckle. "Indeed. Imagine how pleased I was to find that the devil fruit, which I had many men in multiple countries searching for, had finally been found. I hope you haven't eaten it yourself If that were the case I'd have to turn to plan B. I don't particularly like plan B, but the only acceptable solution would be to kill you and start the search all over again. Perhaps I'd get lucky and the fruit would re-appear in your kitchen." His chuckle was even louder this time and Law felt his blood grow cold. It wasn't the idea of death that disturbed him; rather it was the matter-of-fact way this man had mentioned killing someone. It was just something he would do. To him a life was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
"Lord Smith," Tiberius started forward, "I assure you that is not the case . . ." Beckett held up a hand and the man stopped.
"Surly by now you can tell when I jest. Bring me the fruit."
In minutes Tiberius had produced the fruit in question and Beckett held it proudly in one hand. "Yes," he whispered to himself, "Yes, the Kumo Kumo no mi, model wolf . . . Do you know what I could do with this? It may very well turn the tide in my favor -" His eyes suddenly locked on Law and the boy seemed to feel the web tightening.
"Tell me lad, if you were given a devil fruit and the promise you could use it for revenge, who would you go after? Hmmmm? An old bully, your school master perhaps?"
Law had no clue where this mode of questioning was leading but he didn't miss a beat. He had made a promise after all, to himself and to the dead. "Donquixote Doflamingo." it was a brash statement considering how far the pirate's empire had grown in the short time since that incident, how far it would grow considering Law currently had no way of stopping it, a fourteen year-old boy on a backwater island in North Blue, but it was also the truth.
At this Beckett threw his head back and roared with laughter, "Well, the kid has spunk! Perhaps you're not so weak after all, just lack the proper guidance! I think I'm beginning to come up with plan C, and I do think I like plan C." He continued to chuckle and Law had the distinct feeling he had just made some kind of mistake.
There was a squeak of a door hinge and all three looked to the back of the room where the door connecting the hall was slowly swinging open. A delicate hand wrapped around the edge. The frail form of Leane-san followed the hand, her dark hair hanging loose and slightly messed as if she had just woken from a nap. She walked in with the hesitant step of someone who knew exactly where they were going, but couldn't see if there were any obstacles in the way. "I hope I am not intruding," she spoke softly, "but I heard voices and laughter and thought I might invite myself to the fun?"
"Of course madam," Beckett chuckled, "sit down. Our conversation concerns your son after all."
"Forgive me sir, but you are mistaken." Leane-san corrected. "Law is not my son." she made her way over to the rocking chair under the window and sitting so that she was looking towards the sound Beckett's voice. Law knew she was trying for eye contact, but in reality her gaze was approximately a foot to the right of where the man actually sat. "Though he has become dear to me in his kindness."
"Never fear dear lady," the smile the woman couldn't see sent another wave of chills down Law's spine, "we were just discussing Law's hopes for the future, and I think I might be able to further his dream. Squirt, go stand by the good woman. Having you stand in the middle of the room like you are makes conversation awkward."
Law had very little choice and so he did as he was told without arguing. He feared more than anything that this was about to be the end of all his plans, yet at the same time he found himself blooming with hope. The moment he reached her side, however, Leane-san seemed to sense something was wrong and she reached out a hand for his shoulder. "Law, you're soaking wet!" she exclaimed as her hands felt around the collar of his coat. "Go change." And using the same hand she reached around and gently pushed him towards the door she had just entered.
Beckett gave another chuckle in what Law could only suppose was triumph. "Ah, as I thought, you are blind." He declared stating the obvious.
Law felt a surge of protective anger and he answered not bothering to think of the danger doing so might bring. "Even blind she sees more than most adults!"
Leane-san's hand nudged him towards the door again, her calm voice cutting through the tension in the air like a knife through butter. "Law, go change your clothes."
Law walked quickly from the room trying desperately to smother his feelings, and the moment the door closed behind him he tore down the hall, up two flights of stairs, and into his own room on the third floor of the town house. Once there he pulled off his wet cloths and pulled fresh from the drawer without bothering to look at what he was putting on. After all if his future was in question he wanted to waste as little time as possible. Once dressed he flew back down the stairs to the ground floor where he paused outside the door to the living room suddenly unsure if he should go in or not. Waiting, he decided, was probably the better plan. Then he could listen and figure out what to do. Carefully, so the floor wouldn't creek, he stepped up to the door and pressed his face to the small crack that had been left between it and the jam. The only person he could see was Beckett, but he trusted he'd be able to determine any trouble from the tone of the other adults' voices.
Tiberius's low rumble on an unintelligible question was quickly overrode by Beckett's laughter. "Rargrargrarg, No, keep the extra money as an advance payment. You are a family man now and you may need the funds. In exchange, when the boy is old enough to sail, a year, maybe two, and when you feel he's safe to practice medicine without a watching eye, he will join one of my "shipping crews". He's going to need to work under others eventually anyway. I'll bring him back to visit occasionally."
"How long will it last?" Leane-san asked softly and Law could hear the worry in her voice.
"Who knows, ten, fifteen years maybe." He shrugged, "The squirt could decide he hates the arrangement in a matter of months. Though there's a look in his eyes that makes me think he already understands the world in a way neither of you ever could." He smiled then, the kind of smile that left no doubt he would not take no for an answer.
"Tiberius what do you think." He heard Leane-san ask. He could hear the uncertainty in her voice and he made the decision himself. "I'll do it!" Law declared throwing the door open and bursting into the room. No one asked him why. The look on his face made it plain he was determined. This development the chance to grow, it could only enhance his odds of success. besides, in a few years he'd be stronger and better able to do what he needed to.
Over the next year Beckett was a frequent visitor popping in every couple of months to check on the boy's progress and studies, always leaving the same day, until the time he declared Law had grown enough to come with him. Law packed a rucksack, wished Leane-san a tearful (on her part) goodbye, shook hands with his Tiberius, and left. His life turned completely upside down at that point. No longer was he a simple town boy apprenticed to be a physician. Now, though still learning medicine, he was flung again into association with the worst type and given an entirely new perspective on what man could be. He was beaten fairly for mistakes, starved with the rest of the crew when supplies ran low, but he began to see, as the pirate lord called Doflamingo once claimed, how a crew could become a family. And Beckett's crew was indeed one made up of pirates.
Law grew up, against his own better judgment, into something of a villain himself. However, when Law took the time to step back and reflect he had to admit that when one considered the state of the world and that he didn't have the temperament to sit on his heels as a civilian, piracy was by far a better option than joining the marines. Pirates may be considered evil by the majority, but Law had met quite a few of the world's navy who were corrupt to the core and putting up a very thick facade. He reasoned that if he was going to manipulate and scheme his way into that goal at least he was going to be honest enough to admit it. Besides, in some ways Law was learning that pirates could be just as good a man as any other, even if Beckett did draw everyone he met into the web of his plans.
Yet, through it all he was very careful not to mention any specifics to those who remained on Krocylea. During his infrequent visits he had learned that the general population of the town had formed the widely accepted opinion that he was off traveling with various merchant vessels and perfecting his medicinal arts under the care of some of North Blue's most prestigious doctors. Law never intended to correct them. Let the people keep their delusions. Ignorance, after all, was bliss.
. . . Present
High above, one of Krocylea's native red tailed hawks issued a cry, the call pulling Law back from his mental musings and into his current task. He gave one last look to the point on the horizon where the ship had disappeared, glanced over the city below where only the earliest of early risers were beginning to stir, then turned around to face the long thin trail's destination, and started striding towards it. The soft crunch of loose gravel gained a distinctly harder packed sound when he stepped onto the road and though he reached the pond soon after, Law was so focused on the destination that he paid no attention to the fact that it now was covered in a very thin sheet of ice. He hadn't been here in some time, and aside from Leane-san who would still be asleep at this hour, the first person he wanted to see lived in the compound up ahead.
