Whimper

Characters: Penguin, Law, Shachi, Bepo. Rating: K. Warnings: None

A muffled whimper jerked Penguin from his slumber, and he looked around blearily. It had been a week since he and Shachi had had their asses handed to them by some scrawny little kid for beating up a weird talking polar bear thing. Subsequently, it had been a little less than a week since the pair of them had up and left their childhood home on Swallow Island to travel in a dingy little boat with the very same kid after being completely and utterly won over by his strength.

That, and the kid didn't even know what charisma he held, but it was pretty damn powerful. Penguin wasn't one to be a follower, and nor was Shachi, but it had taken them less than a day to swear to follow the kid. Considering the kid was his captain now, maybe he should stop calling him kid.

The kid, oops, Law, was currently curled up in the bottom of the boat, clutching at the raggedy cloak he was wearing like a lifeline. He was asleep, but the muffled whimper came again from the swathes of fabric and Penguin sighed, glancing at Shachi, who was taking the night watch. The other teen shrugged, and they both looked at Bepo, who was apparently not a polar bear, but a Mink – whatever that was. The cub was fast asleep in the stern, showing absolutely no signs of stirring whatsoever.

With an irritated yawn, Penguin settled back down to sleep, only for the damn whimpering to continue, and he glowered at the captain from under the safety of his hat. He hadn't signed up to follow this.

The next whimper was almost a word, and it hit Penguin that this wasn't some stupid homesickness, but a nightmare. Well wasn't that just great. Normally he would kick someone brutally awake at that point, so he could get his own nights' sleep, but Law would probably chuck him overboard or something if he tried.

He was not standing for this all night, though. Something had to be done about the noise, and he looked at Shachi again, who did nothing except give another shrug before returning to scanning the waves for anything unwelcome.

Giving a very irritated grumble, Penguin did the only thing he could think of and shuffled over, picking up his kid-captain and getting a bleary golden eye glaring at him as the action woke him. Bepo looked comfy enough, so he lugged the too-light teen over, trying to ignore the ominous blue glow expanding around their boat, and settled them both down with the sleeping cub as a pillow.

"Go back to sleep, Law," he grumbled, pulling the protesting teen so that he was lying with his back flush against Penguin's chest. Law squirmed, but half asleep and tied up in his own cloak, Penguin had the advantage (you'd think his greater size would be enough of one but not with this thirteen-year-old) and eventually he settled back down, although he remained tense.

Satisfied that he'd done what he could, even if his reputation back on Swallow Island would be decimated if they ever found out he was hugging a kid to get him to sleep quietly, Penguin yawned again and easily fell back to sleep.

Law was still there, sleeping peacefully under his cloak and hat, when he woke up several hours later, and he shared a triumphant glance with Shachi, who was more relieved than amused, thankfully.

He didn't really want to have to throw the ginger overboard.

I'm fascinated by their backstory okay. I want to see how Penguin and Shachi turned from ruffians to loyal followers, Oda. Please.

Thanks for reading!
Tsari