Exposed
It was too bright outside. The sun was glaring down on Law as he walked around town. Since it was his second day off, Law thought he would go out again. He had made a bad choice. The sun was too hot and the wind too cold. It was October, after all. He met Luffy around the area and they walked together.
"Hey, do you have to check up on that Pirate? If you do, can I come along?" Luffy stopped and looked at Law.
"I do have to see how he is holding up. If you want to come with me, then I won't stop you." Law turned his course to the Pirate ship that belonged to the Kid Pirates. Luffy followed close behind.
On the deck of the ship, the other Pirates of the crew nodded to Law with a smile and glared at Luffy. What is their problem? The two made it to the Captain's quarters. Yelling and crashing could be heard from the other side of the door. I hope I didn't come at bad time.
Opening the door, Law was shocked. Kid was throwing stuff around the room. The stitches were surely being ripped back open. The once pure white bandages were dark red with blood. The sight got on his nerves and pissed him off.
"Kid-ya! What do you think you are doing?!" Killer and Kid both turned to the doctor. They both looked shocked to see him there. The look on Law's face made them both shrink back just a bit. "You're messing up my work! Do you want to stay longer on this island?! If you don't, the don't move around and throw things!" Law's voice lowered to a menacing and deadly degree. "Now I have to re-stitch the ones you've opened."
Kid set down the chair that he was about to throw. "What brings you here, Doc?" He sounded a little uneasy.
"I was coming to see how my patient was doing. It seems that he is disobeying my warnings." Law looked to Killer. He shrunk back again. "And you were letting him. I told you that if he wanted to leave in a week, that he was to move in short bursts. Not this." He motioned to the room that was now destroyed.
"Sorry, Law. I tried to stop him, but he wouldn't let me get near him." He just noticed Luffy. "Don't tell me that that is Straw Hat." The way Killer's voice sounded made him seem annoyed,
Kid looked behind Law to see the boy who was whistling and swaying back and forth. "What is he doing here? I thought he was on the Grandline."
Luffy seemed to remember Kid from somewhere. "Oh, hey Kid. What brings you to my island?" Kid and Killer's jaws dropped. Luffy couldn't be serious.
"Your island?"
"Yeah. I bought it after some time. Made a home here. I don't rule it. I just own it." Luffy seemed to be bored with the conversation if him swaying was anything to go by. Law had already known that Luffy owned it. He was the one who saved it and was born and raised on it.
"So, you retired from being a Pirate? Did you ever find the One Piece?" Luffy nodded. Kid's jaw dropped once again. "How does no one else know? Where did you put it?"
"I can't tell you where it is. That's a secret." Luffy looked at Law. "I didn't tell the world because it seemed irrelevant at the time. Everyone would come after me and I would put my friends in danger." The confession was aimed mostly at Law than his own friends.
"Luffy-ya, maybe you should go wait outside. I can handle myself." Law could feel the tension rising in the room. Luffy shook his head.
"What would I do if you got hurt while I was gone? Or worse?" He didn't elaborate because Law already knew what he meant.
"Fine. I do need you to go and get Shachi. He's working at the clinic today." Luffy left after that. It left Law alone with Kid and Killer who looked suspiciously at him. "What?"
"What did he mean by 'or worse'?" Killer asked. Law shrugged.
"There are worse things that getting hurt, you know." Law instructed Kid to sit on the bed. He removed the bandages to reveal the damaged that the brute had caused to the healing wounds.
"You idiot. I have to remove the stitches from some of the wounds and redo them." Law waited for Shachi and Luffy to arrive. He was surprised when Luffy was the only one to return. "Where's Shachi?"
Placing the bag on the side of the bed, Luffy told him. "Shachi was busy and had a lot of people from the neighboring towns there. He gave me this bag and told me to tell you that he is sorry he couldn't be here."
Law just nodded and opened the bag. Luffy stayed a good distance away due to Killer blocking his path. Law didn't use any anesthesia and took joy in Kid's pain. Serves him right for messing up my work. It felt like he was running on autopilot. Clean here, stitch there, dab here, wipe there. It was a calming ritual for him since he was a doctor.
When Law was finished, he stood back and looked over Kid's torso. It looked fine and back to the way it should've been when he came to check on him. He had taken the bandage off his face because he didn't need it anymore. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you have to stay another week because of what you did."
"What?! That's unfair! It was an accident!" Law rubbed his temples. He didn't want to deal with anyone's whining today.
"Suck it up, Pirate. That is what you get for going against your doctor's orders." His voice was deadly. He hated dealing with Pirates. He had ran away from them for far too long and he was happy to be rid of them. This Pirate was just annoying even though he didn't know what he was.
With no other words, Luffy and Law exited the ship. The sun was setting and Luffy stretched. "I can't understand how you deal with people like him. He just wanted to complain about staying here. I think he might like it here when he can move around better." Law had to agree. The town was really nice. People were friendly and you didn't have to worry about someone stealing from you.
"Goodnight, Luffy-ya. I need to get home. I have work tomorrow." The two went their separate ways to their own houses. Living alone made him feel better at times.
...
It had been about four days since Kid had made a mistake and had to get his stitches redone. Law checked on him everyday to see his progress. Kid hadn't done anything strenuous since Law got angry at him for what he had done. At some point, he had told Kid that he was able to move freely around the ship. It made the other perk up.
Today, Law was to check up on him again. He went alone this time. Kid was out on the deck, watching the sea. "How are you feeling today, Kid-ya?"
Kid jumped when he had heard the other's voice. "I'm fine. I guess."
"That's good. Don't want you to hurt yourself again." Law leaned over the railing on the ship. He looked out to the setting sun over the sea. Breathing in, he could smell the salt in the sea. It smelled great. It smelled like home.
"What are you doing here?" Kid was also leaning against the railing with Law. He was staring at him. Curiosity was evident in his eyes.
"I came to check on you." Law was now watching one of Kid's crew members. They were carrying a bucket of water. That's dangerous for me. I would have to hurry home if I get wet.
"What's wrong, Doc?"
Law turned back to Kid. "I have a name, you know. My name is Trafalgar Law." He sounded annoyed. He liked being called by his name. It made him feel more human.
All of a sudden, a shout sounded a few feet away. The bucket of water that the crew member had been holding fell from his hands and splattered across Law's legs and chest. Kid looked at the other man.
"I...I have to go." Law quickly left the shop with Kid calling after him. He ran from there to his house. At some point, he had started to stumble. He entered his home and collapsed on the floor. He could hear that someone had followed him. Law slammed the door shut.
"Doc, open the door. Are you alright?" Kid asked as Law struggled to strip his clothes.
"Go away! I'm fine! I just need to change my clothes!" Law drug his already fused legs across the floor. "Do NOT enter the house!"
Getting to the bathroom, Law ran a bath. He didn't know if Kid listen to him or no. The sound of the front door opening told him that he hadn't. "Leave! Get out of my house!"
Kid stopped in the doorway of the bathroom. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Law's legs were a tail. A beautiful tail at that. Scales were scattered across his body. It was a beautiful sight to him.
"I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE!" Law shouted as he splashed into the tub. He submerged his entire tail into the water. His expression was a mixture of fear, anger, and pain.
"Y-You're a merman."
"Well duh, Captain Obvious. Now leave my house." Law glared at him as he submerged more of his body into the water. "And don't you dare tell anyone else about this."
"That is why you are so beautiful. It was because you are a merman. I've only ever seen one up close once." Kid got closer which made Law want to move away.
"Get the fuck away from me. I've lived on this island peacefully for over fifty years." Law's glare got more intense as the man got even closer. "I want to be left alone. I will get Luffy-ya after you!"
Kid stopped right by the tub. He reached a hand into the tub and ran it up the tail. Law's face flushed. No one had ever done that to him before. It felt nice but made red flags go up in his head.
"I-I mean it. I...I will get L-Luffy-ya." Kid just grinned at his threat.
"Then go and get him. But I don't see you going anywhere anytime soon." Kid continued to run his hand up and down the tail. It surprised him that the scales were soft. They felt like silk. He just wanted to keep touching the tail.
"I-I said stop it!: Law flicked his tail and smacked Kid in the face. The other was stunned for a moment.
The grin spread wider across Kid's face. "You want to be difficult? I can be too." Kid placed both hands on the tail and started to run them up and down it. Law's face darkened by a few shades and he started to squirm.
"S-S-Stop! That f-feels w-weird!" Law was gasping for breath as Kid kept on rubbing his tail. He couldn't believe what was happening. It felt so good but at the same time, very wrong.
"What's wrong, Law? Can't handle a little touching?" He was grinning and it made Law feel uneasy. I need to dry off and get Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, or all three to help me.
Swooshing his tail again, Law was able to knock Kid off of him and across the room. Kid smashed into the wall. As quickly as he could, he climbed out of the tub and quickly dried himself off. He wrapped the towel around his waist and made for the door as fast as he could. "Where are you going?!" Law dashed out of the house and into the night.
...
In town, everyone was asking him questions. He told them that he didn't have the time and needed to know where the monster trio was. They told him that they were all at home. He got strange looks because he was only wearing a towel on his bottom half. With the information on the trio, Law ran toward the house on the hill. Getting there, he banged on the door fervently.
As the door opened, Law could see the redhead almost through the crowd of people. Once the door was open, he quickly darted past the one to open it and into the house. Luffy and Zoro were at the dining room table, eating dinner.
"Hey, Torao. What's wrong?" Luffy looked concerned. Law never visited their house in just a towel. He noticed the scared expression. "It was that Pirate, wasn't it?" His voice turned deadly.
"I-I was...on the sh-ship. S-Somehow...I g-got water on m-me. I w-went home...to soak f-for a bit...and I-I was followed. The C-Captain...came inside a-after I told him to...to go away. He..." Law's face fell. "He started to..." He didn't want to say it. They all seemed to get the memo. "A-And now...he's following."
Sanji pulled Law in for a hug. He noticed that he was shivering. "Let's go and get you some clothes. I think you might have some here from when you like to spend the night." He led Law up the stairs and into the spare bedroom that was made into a room for him.
A knock sounded on the door a few minutes later. "Zoro, can you answer it?" Sanji called.
"Sure." Zoro went to the door and opened it. A red-haired man stood there. He looked out of breath and slightly angry. It didn't faze the green-haired man. "May I help you, sir?"
"I saw the doctor come here. Is he available?" The way Kid spoke made Zoro feel bad for their friend. He moved to block the door to keep the other from entering.
""Well, he just left. He also told us that he was being chased. Mind explaining what you want from him?" Zoro looked increasingly aggravated.
"Zoro, who's at the door?" The voice made the Pirate freeze.
"Just a man, Luffy. He's leaving now." He gave Kid a look that told him to leave or face the consequences of staying and continuing to bother them.
Grumbling, Kid left. Law came down the stairs a moment after the door was shut. His hair was still damp but the good news was that he wasn't changing. It seemed that he only changed when his skin was wet. "Is he gone?" Law knew that it had been Kid.
"Yeah. Just left. Seemed intent on you leaving with him." Zoro went back to the dining table to continue eating. He looked annoyed at Luffy who was eating what seemed to be his third helping of the food.
Sanji turned to Law with a smile. "You can stay here for the time being. Just until they leave." Law nodded. As long as he stayed around his friends, he might be safe. "Zoro or Luffy could even walk around with you so that you aren't always by yourself."
"Yeah. I like that idea," Luffy announced. It was nice that they were considerate of him. "We could be like body guards."
"Well then, it's decided. Luffy and Zoro will accompany you whenever you want them to. I will let the people of the village know to keep an eye out for you." Sanji's smile got bigger as he looked at Law. He felt better to know that they would go through so much to keep him safe.
"Why can't you help to protect him?" Zoro complained to the cook.
"Because I have to work at the Baratie all day," Sanji retorted.
"I appreciate it. I really do." Law smiled at the three. It made the others stare in awe at how genuine it was. I think I'll be safe now. Just maybe.
I hope you like the addition. Please have a great day and I love you all. Tatty-bye!
