: : 7
Once settled in the hotel room, Law opened up his laptop. He logged onto his Tumblr account and looked at the last attachment he'd loaded. The comic strip of Sanji exploring the thrift and grocery store had over a thousand notes already, and there were messages waiting for him in his Inbox. But he felt bad for the humorous strip that was basically a mockery of Sanji's spoiled attitude. It was a lurking feeling in the gut that made him shift uncomfortably as he realized that the world would only know this character as a joke; someone to make fun of, someone no one could feel empathy for.
Law remembered how Dave jumped all over him, licking him happily while Sanji appreciated the attention. Animals have an innate sense of determining character, and apparently, the villainous henchman's was a good one despite who he represented. He charged up his Wacom pad, determined to capture that one scene. He felt that returning question of whose side he fell on.
Was this the sort of thing Sora actually encountered whenever he fought the Vinsmoke family? And what was his attachment to them? Did he see what Law had? Were the other siblings like this? Represented only by their character was supposed to be?
He looked over the empty space in his room, uncomfortable with the still silence around him. Sanji hadn't stayed with him for very long, but he sure took up a lot of space and attention. Law had to admit that he missed that activity. He regretted speaking what he had but it was the truth – his motives had been spurred to reflect positively to Sora.
But was Law doing the right thing? Perhaps in this universe, Sanji wasn't a villain at all. His father must have been behind the whole sent through space and time thing to get rid of whatever Sanji knew. And it felt uncomfortable for Law to acknowledge how alone the younger man must feel right now. Law couldn't imagine feeling that way because he wasn't attached to many because that was his choice. And he wasn't encountering life or death situations.
He set aside his laptop and stared at the television set. He could hear others moving around in their rooms, his stomach gurgling noisily to remind him he hadn't eaten anything in awhile. He wondered if Sanji had. He figured the man must have, lingering in a crowded area with multiple seafood restaurants. He thought that Sanji could use his Raid Suit to sneak around and steal food and while it didn't make Law feel any better, it gave him some assurance that this man was capable of taking care of himself.
But he thought about what he was doing.
I have developed empathy for someone, he told himself. And it is all right to feel that way. Truly, only I have seen this side of him. Plus, in this world, he hasn't caused too much harm…
Law acknowledged that Sanji had saved him from Teach. He recalled that moment of terror when the man reached for him, intending on using him against Stealth Black, but Sanji had saved him. Any other villain would have just allowed the weak to fall and disregarded the rest, but Sanji saved him. Did that make him a villain at all?
Sighing noisily, Law rose up from the bed and pulled out his hoodie from his stuffed bag. Then he grabbed his wallet and hotel keys and headed out.
It took some patience and an uncomfortably long walk in the cold but he found the man sitting near the sea lions. Still unguarded against the cold and still with that expression on his face. Law noticed that everything was closed down for the night as he approached, but there were some people lingering in the area. He made sure to step noisily to let Sanji know he was approaching, and the man looked back at him cautiously, rising with uneasy action with a hand behind his back. Once Sanji saw that it was him, he gave an expression of disgust.
Hands up with surrender, Law said, "I think you should trust me."
"I cannot," Sanji insisted bitterly, looking beyond Law for any sign of others. "I've had much time to consider my situation. Sora sent you to target me and monitor my actions. You send him messages through that tablet thing of yours…"
"Honestly, we don't talk," Law insisted, venturing closer. He sat on the bench because his feet ached. He stretched out his legs with a heavy sigh. "You are the only alien from out of space that I talk to."
"I am no alien," Sanji muttered. "This world, is. All of you scumbags are worthless pieces of shit that aren't worth much consideration, but I must still regard the lot of you as a threat. That's why I was sent here. To let my guard down."
"We still don't know why for sure," Law said tiredly. "Teach is the only person here that is…weird. His involvement is weird. If he was sent here as well, it had to be by the same person from your world. There's a lot of things here that I don't understand. Maybe if we share some ideas, we can figure it out."
"I," Sanji insisted. "I will figure it out. I will have no more involvement with you."
"I am the only one here in this universe that you have to trust that is on your side," Law asserted firmly. "Even if Sora suddenly shows up…it'll be to retrieve you. In the comics, he is often conflicted with what he has to do to you guys. He has some compassion. Weird, unexplained compassion that even none of us fans are fully understanding of."
"Those future books you speak about," Sanji grumbled. "They mean nothing to me if they haven't happened, yet."
"But it has, and I already proved it. You guys lost this battle, and you will lose the next. No one knows yet what will happen to you. Perhaps…maybe this is it. You…to protect you, maybe Sora found a way to use this banishment and yet your father sent Teach otherwise."
Sanji scowled at him. But his hand eventually left his back. Law watched him cautiously, noting that the man looked exhausted.
"I got a room at a hotel," he offered. "Come use it. I left the apartment because I don't want that guy tracking me down over there. I'm sure he's watching it, waiting for us to come back."
"I will not go with you."
"Then I'll stay here," Law decided, shivering. "Because I don't think you should be left alone."
"You mean to give away my location!"
"Honestly, Sanji…didn't my reaction to you the first night say anything? I was just as surprised as you, and I'm still surprised. This is…unusual. I…am not – you can read people, right? Can't you see what sort of person I am? I get winded walking up the stairs, I'm not a damn assassin. I'm…a loser," Law ended with a roll of his eyes.
Sanji agreed and Law wasn't sure how to accept that from another person. So he wore a light scowl. "Well…so am I, apparently," Sanji then mumbled awkwardly.
"Then shouldn't losers stick together?"
"No. It is like I am willingly shackling myself for you upon agreeing to that! Here I am, take me, I am ready for you to do what you wish of me," Sanji then said with disgust.
Law stared at him awkwardly, flashes of unnecessary doujinshi scenes crossing over his vision. He ended up blushing with the detail of the sights. This is no time for perverted thoughts! he scolded himself. He damned his easily susceptible fanboy instincts while Sanji gave him a puzzled look, unsure of how to interpret Law's expression.
"Does that idea please you?" he asked suspiciously.
Law struggled to return his mind to here and now, covering his mouth and nose briefly to calm his expression. He shifted on the bench, hands itching to sketch what he saw. He entwined his own fingers together, elbows on knees while he spoke awkwardly.
"Wouldn't it make more sense to keep your enemies close?" he then asked. "You can also monitor me for any suspicious behavior and…might I offer that if I am an agent of…good…? That you may use me in return. Perhaps as a bargaining chip for your freedom or escape."
Sanji tilted his head with consideration. "Are you of any value?"
Law found it difficult to answer that because he was quite certain he wasn't of any at all. But he saw the way Sanji grasped at this concept. Law hoped it wouldn't hurt either of them in the end.
"Maybe," he said slowly. "If it comes down to it, I'm as much a hostage to you as you are to me."
"So I am a hostage!"
"If I can't convince you otherwise, then go ahead and think that because I'm too tired and too new at this to think of anything else," Law snapped impatiently at him. "I'm not a fucking…conspirative person, I draw fan art for shit's sake, I tremble at the thought of answering my own damn cellphone and it terrifies me to think of speaking out loud in public. I'm an ordinary human being whose weapon is a stylus. Honestly, Sanji, in the grand scheme of things – what makes you certain that I stand with confidence amongst people like you?"
Sanji frowned, considering his words. Law waited for his judgment, fiddling with his tattooed fingers.
"Well," Sanji then conceded with a reluctant expression, "your voice did crack while seeking service in the treasure store. And you grew intimidated when a woman addressed you…and you don't have any muscle definition to speak of, and – "
"I am not your enemy," Law insisted, "but…if it comes to be that your character is judged, I'll definitely put in a good word for you."
Sanji scowled. But he ended up sitting down on the other end of the bench, hands clasping his knees. Law shivered, hoping he came to a decision fast, crossing his ankles together while shoving his cold hands into his jeans pockets. Even if the man wasn't modified like his siblings, Sanji still seemed of superhuman ability to withstand the elements because he showed no reaction to the severe chill in the air.
"Teach isn't a character in the series," Law then insisted. "And it's suspicious that none of your actions were reported regularly in the media. There is only one picture of you out there, and that caused us reasonable suspicion that Teach isn't the only one aware that you are here. There is someone else out there monitoring you, Sanji, so doesn't that make you feel like there's a bigger situation than this?"
Sanji frowned at him. "My father has access to media and other technology where I'm from. He always had a way of manipulating it so that we weren't….and the Marines, they show only what's favorable for Sora. Considering the angles, I would suspect that the Marines had a hand in this as well. Not only to hide the fact that I am here but to make sure my father doesn't find me."
"Or, he knows you're already here and he's behind that mess. I still stand by the theory that he was the one to send Teach."
"The book you gave me," Sanji pulled it out from his inside jacket pocket to produce it, "are the notes of an enemy that had been spying upon me and my family. It's true – the quirks as described of each of us comes from observant action but not interaction. I have spent time considering it – if your books had produced only surface aspects of Germa 66, then these written words only detail what was spoken in those books. This isn't our language – it is a…mimicry of our runes."
Law furrowed his brow. "That newspaper clipping…?"
"It has the imprint of what looks like an address on the back." Sanji gave it to him, and after some closer inspection, Law realized that this wasn't an actual newspaper clipping. It was an altered clip of a panel from the graphic novels. He looked at the back and saw the faint imprint Sanji described.
"Then he's from here," he mumbled thoughtfully, surprised. "Maybe just a similarly obsessed fan taking things too far."
"It does not explain his abilities."
It doesn't, Law agreed quietly, thinking about that chaotic scene. Were there other superhumans living amongst them like Teach? Penguin's observant detail about Teach addressing them as the voice actors that were paid to perform the role made some sense.
"Unless he was modified as well," Sanji then ventured with some uncertainty. "But that would suggest involvement from a plane unlike here."
Was he mentally ill before or after? Law wondered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"But," Sanji added, "for him to know who we are, to be…modified in the way that he was, suggests that another had a hand in it. The Marines are very straightforward and don't fight fire with fire, so I cannot assume that he is one of their agents. He knows of the Vinsmoke modifications and is very familiar with us, expecting to take my abilities from me with the power that he has. Which gives weight to your theory that my father…sent me here for…reasons I'll keep to myself…"
"But this world," he added carefully, "is very advanced in terms of comparable technology. Something my father would be interested in. I have come to the conclusion that I was sent here to scout this world for him."
Law sighed heavily as he realized where this was going.
"The agent was sent here after me to destroy me, but I will rid of him and take in more information of this world to return to my father in order to gain back his approval and trust," Sanji then concluded with confidence, looking more upbeat than he did earlier. He looked over at Law with determination. "You will remain as my hostage, for you are an agent that was to speak of my every move, so if you could inform him of this – "
"I am not a secret agent, you whackadoodle!"
"Let my father know that when I return, I will have more than enough information of this world to share with him! Then, when he arrives, he can conquer it and he won't think any more of my weaknesses!"
Law worked his jaw from side to side with exasperation while Sanji slapped a knee and rose from the bench with a pep in his step.
"Take me to your room! I require rest in order to function at my full capacities," Sanji then ordered. "I have much to do, and I will make you guide me through the things my father will consider interesting. Starting with this technology."
"As your…hostage," Law said slowly, rising from the bench with light relief, "please do consider that I am capable of betraying you. I could lead you in the direction you want, but misguide you so that you may look a fool in your father's eyes for the misinformation that you may give him because of my corruption in those matters."
Sanji stared up at him, and Law had to consider the expression as similar to that of the recent Pikachu meme. He tried not to react humorously to that face but he had to cough.
"You're an alien in my world," Law stressed with some uncertainty, "and you only have me to rely on. You are aware that there are people in the shadows that are already trying to hide you from the public eye, which suggests Marine involvement. You make another scene like you had from the other night, and you will be overwhelmed, therefore, interrupting your plans to gain your father's confidence once more. Any odd situations caused to the public by an alien lifeform will draw Marine attention and you have no idea what they're capable of here. They know your weaknesses and will exploit it.
"So for you to threaten me," Law used his height in an effort to put some intimidation into his words, "is abusing your candid freedom as you have it. So you might want to ruminate over treating me nicely for your own consideration."
Sanji stared up at him with shock. "You…fiend…! How do I know you're not a Marine?"
"…Lack of muscle definition? Fighting ability? Aren't all Marines trained to fight and engage and not run away and die from a simple toss?"
"…Oh…" Confused, Sanji looked down to consider his other options. "But you're persistent!"
"Of course I am! In order to target you and retain you for containment, I must know where you are at all costs and protect the public from you. But also," Law added, grabbing his arm once he made to turn away, "in order to understand where I'm coming from, it would make more sense to keep me close so that you know what I'm doing."
Sanji jerked his arm out of his grasp. He gave his head a disgusted shake, hands on his hips while Law shivered violently within this cold chill that blasted them from off the water's surface.
"And they call me a villain," Sanji muttered bitterly, crossing his arms over his chest. "When their agent is as treacherous as they come."
Law wondered if he had taken this too far. But it looked like he won the battle as Sanji gave a grim nod.
"Okay, fine, I accept your conditions," he decided. "It makes more sense sticking with you and using you as a bargaining chip when the time comes. I'm sure the Marines think very highly of you as a…well, they obviously only use your devious brain for things, and not for any physical aspects."
"You'll have to understand that my…fellow agents," Law then suggested, thinking of the ragtag group he'd found affiliation with, "are in the same quandary as I am. You'll treat them as respectfully as you treat me. I am their…captain…"
Sanji looked at him with narrowed eyes. But he gave a grim nod.
Sorry, guys, Law apologized, hoping they somehow heard his telepathic plea.
: :
He spent most of the night sketching out his ideas while Sanji snored noisily from the single bed. Law was eager to continue documenting this strange adventure with his drawings, but he was more reluctant to post them, now. He had to consider that Teach was somehow a Tumblr user himself – spying upon them by somehow identifying Law as the artist posting these modern AU drawings.
He looked over at the prince sleeping on the bed and felt an unwilling "ba-dump" at the sight of him. He scribbled over the face he'd just completed and scowled off to the side.
These feelings are so weird, he thought. I am only feeling these things because he is a basic celebrity in my world. Of course I'd feel weird affection for the little things that he does. It's like looking at a cute animal, or something.
Law felt better thinking that way. He erased the scribbles he'd just finished so that he could examine his drawing with a critical eye. Sanji had referred to his art as "fairy-like". Law had to admit that his style was light and pretty, but he'd toned down his red noses. He gave Sanji a bit more manliness to his features and added some weight to his pouts. The more he reflected on his changing style, the more he realized how reflective his feelings seemed to be with his art subject.
He tried not to think about it like that because that was just…admiration. Overly obsessive fan admiration.
He spent some time coloring and shading the picture then saved it. He had to fight the temptation to post it because he wanted the world to see this side of a villainous minor character.
He had to think about that. Why did he want to show the world this vulnerable side of Stealth Black? To prove he wasn't the character that he was supposed to be? Or to brag that he was lucky enough to meet him?
And this current picture – wasn't it too gay? He had no problems posting that sort of detail but…it confused his own feelings as well. He looked over the sleeping prince on his art pad and on the bed. It felt too intimate to share this picture. He put it away in a folder, deciding against it.
Tapping the stylus against his jaw, Law considered his confusing thoughts. He then opened up his Tumblr account once more and looked over the number of reblogs, notes and messages. All of them were in favor of the posts – he liked looking over the hash tags, the similar expressions of moe for the flighty actions of a demanding villainous prince.
It was hard thinking of Sanji as villainous when a dog found him a suitable human to greet with slobbery kisses and excited whines. Equally as difficult to accept with Sanji laughing and petting him with as much effort as the dog had given him. The image brought a light smile to Law's face, and he opened up a new document on his pad to draw that, too. He ended up posting that one because it didn't seem that personal.
A cheery ding! caught his attention minutes later, and he glanced over to see the Anonymous message posted to his Inbox. The thumbnail profile pic depicted a sunny faced blond woman with anime style cooking emojis flying around her. A quick scan of her page showed Law reblogs of Sora adventure clips, quotes and a single Vinsmoke meme of their transformation styles. A casual fan, it seemed, more interested in Sora than the actual Germa 66 group.
'He seems like he is having so much fun!' the message read. 'Thank you for your depictions, they bring me joy and happiness!'
Something about it held Law's attention. He set the stylus aside and deliberated over an answer. He answered, 'They are only figments of my imagination that I thought were fun and simple to share.'
'Your imagination is quite lively – capturing even that little crook of the left eyebrow he does whenever he has his mind set on something!'
Law gaped at the message, heart thundering noisily. This was only a coincidence, he thought. Just one fan appreciating another fan's work – all of us tend to overthink simple things and quirks that are common of fictional characters. This means nothing more than that…
'I just love seeing his happy face! Keep it up! I hope he continues to have fun exploring his new world!' the next message encouraged Law.
His new paranoia seemed to shrill as he looked over the messages. He looked over his art once more, knowing he captured Sanji's expressions as the blond made them. He had willingly drawn these things as they happened and inserted them into his array as a modern AU that was meant to be light and cheery; nothing more than that. But with how weird things were, lately, he felt like this message – whoever sent it – spoke directly to Law, knowing exactly what was happening. Whoever it was…could they track him down personally, knowing Sanji was with him?
He then looked with alarm at the digital clock on the nightstand, and scrambled to save his work and put everything away into the bag.
Another night without sleep!
He shook the man's shoulder to wake him after a frantic shower and dressing in wrinkled clothing. Sanji snorted and slurped, looking at him clumsily as Law adjusted his jacket and found his work lanyard.
"I've got to go to work," Law said hastily as he struggled to put on his socks and shoes, nearly knocking over the nightstand in his clumsiness. Sanji looked at him blearily, rubbing his eyes as he sat up. "So stay here. There's the remote, figure it out. Don't scream for servants, don't bother anybody in those halls, they will report you and the Marines will hear of it and they will attack you. Keep to your damn self! I will send Uber Eats to deliver you food, so don't bother leaving until I come back. Is this clear?"
"Who the hell are you to order me around like this?" Sanji complained on a half whine. "I can take care of myself!"
Then Sanji blinked at him. "Ugh, what's wrong with your face? Did you not sleep at all?"
He looked over Law's shoulder as the taller man crashed against the nightstand again, knocking things over to the floor. "Did you spend the entire night transmitting messages to my father and the Marines? Why not just do that at your real work place? In fact - !"
"I don't have time for this! Bon Clay is going to have my ass, and I don't want him on my ass! Just abide to my commands, Sanji! Also, for fuck's sake, brush your damn teeth. There's a set in the bathroom – for the love of baby Jesus, don't smoke in here, either. Go outside!" Law snatched up his work bag while Sanji looked after him blearily, still trying to wake up enough to absorb this crash of information. Opening the door, Law warned him again, "Stay here! I'll have your food delivered by 1030, and send another by 130. If I need to call you, answer that damn phone right over there. Keep that television volume on low, do NOT order any porn, and don't you dare think of leaving this room until I come back. Stay low, avoid being seen and don't talk to anybody unnecessary. Understand?"
"What am I, a child?" Sanji muttered, yawning. "I'm going back to sleep. I have no interest to leave just yet."
Law hoped that no trouble would come of this, but he didn't have time to continue worrying about it. He shut the door and hurried off, hoping to find either a bus or taxi to make it to work on time.
Bon Clay slithered up to him as he stumbled in, feeling every minute of his lost sleep. Shachi and Bepo looked up at him with interest as Bon Clay practically breathed down the collar of Law's shirt.
"You are late!" he shrilled dramatically. Law fell into his chair and clumsily pulled his headset on. Seeing the long queue of calls, he felt exhausted and frustrated, mind running over and over with the things he'd seen and heard. "You are late, this is unacceptable! These are important customer calls and you are neglecting them, therefore, neglecting me. I cannot stand being neglected! How could you think to be that important that you neglect us all? Are you trying to get yourself fired?"
"Mr Clay," Law began before he activated a call and answered monotonously without logging into his computer first. He hastily did so when the caller immediately ripped into him for a bill he claimed to have paid the month before. Bon Clay whirled in circles behind him, anxious to speak but holding himself back. He gave up and danced away, slapping the chair of another worker and startling him.
Law wiped his eyes and rubbed his face. Bepo carefully placed an energy drink can in front of him, offering with a bright smile on his round face. Shachi snapped his gum, looking at Law skeptically.
Law made a note to remind them of current predicaments, but his mind wasn't at work. It was still on the alien he'd left at the hotel room. He yawned noisily and the caller's vigor snapped viciously to remind him he hadn't muted the speaker.
It was going to be a long day.
Naghi-Tan: That'll get turned around, soon :D
