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A palpable tension thickened the air aboard Eustass' ship. For all their efforts, none of the search parties had turned up anything of interest, nor was there a single clue indicating the captain's whereabouts. It was impossible for someone to disappear so completely without a trace...impossible, except for the very best assassins and bounty hunters, several of whom Law knew to be members of Doflamingo's extended family.
While Law did not ignore the other possibilities responsible for Eustass' disappearance, he remained firmly convinced that Doflamingo was to blame. This was retribution for Eustass' rudeness before, for the captain's presumption to keep and own what rightfully belonged to another. Only in Doflamingo's twisted mind would such rationalizations make sense. But Law had learned long ago that despite his madness, his former master was cunning and clever beyond all expectation, as wily as a fox. Even if he targeted Eustass directly, Law was his intended goal.
"What makes you think I know more than anyone else?" Law replied.
"Don't be cute. You told me as much this morning when you said Doflamingo'd taken an interest in the captain. I know that prick's got his fingers all up in this."
"And I share your suspicions. But beyond that, I know nothing more than anyone else." Law shook his head; he already felt stupid and careless for allowing Eustass to slip through their fingers. If he'd heeded his paranoia earlier, the man might still be missing but his abductors would have significantly less lead time on them. "I was sleeping for most of this afternoon. If I'd been involved, I can assure you that I would not have spent my time so idly. I also would have worked to establish a more tangible alibi."
"Y'know what I think?" Killer began, and Law inwardly groaned; he had no time nor patience to waste on more of the man's persecutory flights of fancy. Of course every event could be twisted so that Law shared the blame, and Killer was so blinded by their mutual dislike that he'd quickly adhere to any explanation which left Law responsible. "I think you knew Doflamingo was going to strike. You had warning; he practically sent you and Kid a fucking advanced notice. Why else would you be up and about at the crack of dawn?"
"That is purely coincidental - "
"Oh, is it now? Really?" He took an imposing step towards Law, who refused to give an inch. "Who were you calling when Bonney and I came across you, huh?"
Law steadied himself, swallowing thickly. He didn't appreciate such conjecture, particularly when it was plausible enough to cast a shadow on his honesty, and especially when it was utterly untrue. "I as much as answered that question when you found me. I was speaking to my crewmates - and I wouldn't be admitting that if I had any other choice."
"There was no crime involved at all. I merely spoke to my nakama, and it was hardly about Eustass. As if you hadn't noticed, we have a much greater enemy here - "
"And I'll thank you so much for bringing that enemy upon us!"
"You may thank your thick-headed, brainless captain for bringing this upon himself!" Law snapped. "This has less to do with me than it does Eustass' juvenile temper, which Doflamingo knew of and deliberately exploited. I wasn't lying about that conversation they had - nor how it ended. He all but declared war upon Doflamingo, and over what? Some petty provocations that he could've just as easily ignored."
"Trust me," Killer growled, his antagonism butting up against the reality that was Eustass. "What you might see as petty couldn't be further from the truth where Kid is concerned."
"Meaning what?"
"Meaning that everything Doflamingo did to you that you just brush away like it's nothing? I know you're probably not dying to have a deep heart-to-heart with anybody about it, but choking it all down like it never happened won't make it disappear. I've been watching it eat a hole in Kid ever since he found out."
Killer behaved as though Law had no idea the depth of the captain's feelings, which - after the previous night - couldn't be further from the truth. "And Doflamingo knew exactly where to press in order to make that wound bigger, I know." Law sighed, a heavy weight settling in his chest. He was tired, his nerves frayed as though they'd been sharpened across sandstone, and now he had to defend himself against Killer's unending interrogations. "I may not appreciate them but if you think I'm ignorant of Eustass' feelings, then you haven't been watching as closely as you imagine."
A church bell tolled from the shoreline, announcing it to be four o'clock in the morning. Its sound was muffled by the perpetual morning fog that blanketed Calico each day, the same fog that hindered their search efforts and undoubtedly had made Eustass' abduction that much easier. Law felt each ring like a heavy, dull weight. "Bickering amongst ourselves will not return the captain any quicker."
"And neither will ignoring your involvement."
"If you're so convinced that I am responsible, then lock me in chains and throw me in the brig. But doing so will solve nothing, beyond assuaging your own petty grievances." Honestly, Law wondered what he was expecting. After their conversation this morning, which could've almost been called friendly...Law wasn't sure. In Eustass' absence, their mutual dislike rekindled quickly. Without his captain, Killer was like an unsheathed blade - hungry for blood and uncaring for whom he sliced in order to sate that appetite.
While he was loath to compromise with such irrational antagonism, there were few other choices. Like when they'd lost Eustass before, Law found himself one of the few voices of moderation and reason in the face of desperate panic. "What can I possibly say to convince you that I had no part in this?"
Killer gave a snort before pacing several steps away. Every muscle in his lean frame crackled with nervous tension, and while Law's dislike remained unchanging, he found it colored by pity. It was a shame to see such naked dependence coming from a grown and otherwise rational man. At length, Killer answered, "There's nothing you can say to fix this. Just find him. That'll convince me."
"As always, your demands are so practical." Of course the bastard would be easily convinced by that. But pulling Eustass from the ether was an impossible task; painted into such a tight corner and without any other way to demonstrate his innocence, Law knew he would be considered guilty until he proved otherwise without a shadow of doubt. Despite everything that'd happened, he was quickly relegated to the role of scheming hostage and antagonist as soon as it fit Killer's preconceived narratives.
He practically expected the man to take this as an opportunity to rid the crew - and Eustass, in his absence - of Law's poisonous influence once and for all. Perhaps he ultimately would; Law was not naive enough to expect that the captain would be found quickly. As the search dragged out, blame would increasingly be heaped at his feet. In lieu of any other perpetrator, Killer would exploit the link between himself and Doflamingo until Law was guilty by association. In fact...Law wondered if that was not the shichibukai's intent after all, to drive a wedge between any alliance Law could hope to forge with his master's crew. Continued isolation was one of Doflamingo's favored tools in controlling others; he was an expert at sowing dissent amongst nakama. While Law could hardly call himself a companion of anyone on Eustass' ship, it'd been a long time since he was considered wholly an outsider. Becoming a suspect in the captain's disappearance now all but assured that any friendships he could've hoped to make would sunder, leaving him as vulnerable as he'd been on the auction block at Sabaody.
Law felt that potential isolation open up like a yawning crevasse. How strange...he was used to standing apart from others. It was surprising that this increased distance bothered him at all. And just as quickly, Law resented them all for the weakness this pathetic sentimentality brought on; undoubtedly, this was, on some level, another of Doflamingo's lessons - a cautionary tale of the vulnerabilities one suffered when their guard was lowered for such foolish, indulgent reasons. With Doflamingo bearing down upon him, Law knew such emotions were simply in reaction to a known and dangerous threat. He needed Eustass and his nakama for protection if nothing else - he could not hope to convince Killer of it, but it was within Law's best interests that the captain be found, and quickly. The man was still the best barrier between himself and his former master, and Doflamingo, realizing this, had destroyed that source of protection before it could be used against him.
It wasn't long after that Killer corralled them all - Law, Wire, and leaders of the search effort - into the captain's now-vacant study to reconnoiter; it was imperative that things not spin out of control even as the first stirrings of panic began to spread throughout Eustass' nakama. Judging by Killer's behavior earlier, it was as bad, if not worse, as when the captain had fallen down that trap-shaft and left the rest of them to find him. Except in that instance, Law had not even cared if Eustass survived the fall...all he'd cared about was his own skin. He longed for that same distanced perspective. Doflamingo's involvement had left him twisted up with worry...there were few captors more sadistically creative than his former master, and Law wouldn't wish that man's attention on anyone - even his sworn enemy, which Eustass remained despite everything between them.
Dawn would be prickling the sky before long, and their only advantage then would be the added light and visibility, though Law knew it would hardly aid in their search. The captain was no longer in Calico, of that much he was certain. Wire passed out steaming mugs of coffee, so bitterly strong that it made Law's tongue and jaw ache. There would be no rest until Eustass was found, or at least his trail located. These were Killer's orders, but Law followed them as though they'd been his own.
"Let's be realistic about this," Killer began. He'd spread a large, unmarked grid across Eustass' desk and used the captain's tattered map of the New World to base his coordinates from. A stylized wood carving of their ship identified their current location in Calico. "There's no chance of Kid still being in this town, not after the way we ransacked the damn place."
Several search parties were still out, having rented smaller vessels for an exhaustive survey of the island's coastline. Law didn't expect them to find much, and said so. "Whoever has taken him likely stowed him on a ship and left straight away yesterday morning. That means they've got almost a day's lead on us."
Killer took a drafting compass and drew an enormous circle around Calico, the distance traversable by even the fastest of ships. It was an imposing radius. A heavy weight of despair fell across Law's shoulders; it would be impossible to search such an area with a single ship alone, and each hour that ticked by added to the lead Eustass' captor had on them.
Their first mate seemed equally distraught. It was pointless to rush off in search of Eustass without a lead for where to go, yet no one on Calico had seen nor heard anything suspicious in the hours of Eustass' abduction. It was like he'd simply disappeared. Killer shook his head, "This is the work of a professional."
"But is it a common bounty hunter working for the Marine reward," Law speculated aloud. "Or something more personal?" He directed his question to Killer, the only one who knew of Doflamingo's unexpected gift to the captain. They were deluding themselves to hope that anyone else was behind this disappearance. Law knew the shichibukai himself would not bother with such a tawdry chore, he'd delegate it to one of his underlings. There was a vast number of assassins, pirates, bounty hunters, and devil's fruit users in Doflamingo's employ; any one of them could've been dispatched to obtain Eustass.
Even with Eustass missing, Law knew the captain had never been the intended target - he was simply collateral damage. Why would Doflamingo take the captain but not bother to abduct Law as well? It was likely only luck that'd spared him a similar fate...if he hadn't spent over an hour speaking with Penguin and his crew, and then another with Killer and Bonney...perhaps he would be in shackles as well, thrown into the hold of a ship bound for his former master. The two of them together could entertain the shichibukai until he grew bored...but now Eustass alone would suffer that fate, unless they could intercept his captor's ship before it reached its destination. An unlikely chance given the lead they had, and even more impossible without a sure means of finding the captain -
Law sat up, inadvertently startling Wire as the tall man began to doze off. Killer noticed as well, "You got something to say?"
"Possibly," Law started, his sluggish, tired mind clicking back into gear. The most effective means of tracking anyone was the vivre card; it was how Doflamingo and Law's crew had managed to follow him all this time. But Eustass had never mentioned the card nor said anything to indicate that he knew of its powers. "Does the captain have a vivre card, by any chance?"
"A what?"
Several confused faces turned in Law's direction, but Heat seemed familiar. He shook his head, "Not that I know of. That's an old magic, I haven't heard anyone speak of vivre cards for many years."
"It's not that old." Law was surprised; perhaps being a rival of Basil Hawkins had left him familiar with some of the more old fashioned methods and magics. Or perhaps vivre cards were simply rare in South Blue - it would account for why no one on Eustass' ship seemed to know what he was talking about. "It's also called a bibliocard. It is made using the fingernail of the one you hope to find once they're separated from you. The paper will always point towards the path that person has chosen, like a log pose set to a person, rather than a place."
He neglected to mention that most reputable makers would never deal with cards commissioned by third parties, even in emergency scenarios. It was a gamble, but Law counted on his previous business with Garnet to work in their favor. Then again, she hadn't had a charitable thing to say about cards made against their owner's knowledge. In their current situation, Law could only hope to persuade her.
"So lemme get this straight," Killer said, his tone dismissive. "You make a piece of paper. From a fingernail. And it...what? Acts like some sorta homing beacon?"
"It's precisely that simple."
Killer crossed his arms, giving a scoffing laugh. "That makes no fucking sense."
"It's true," Heat added. "I had one made, once. It was a long time ago. I gave it away in pieces to all of my friends." He shrugged, looking as solemn as ever. "None of them ever came to find me. I wonder if any of them are still alive. Maybe my paper burned up ages ago."
Law felt his curiosity piqued, but sadly no time to indulge it. Either way, he was grateful that someone believed him. Otherwise they were back to square one, and Law had no other ideas for how to find someone so utterly missing. If Doflamingo were responsible, he could've contacted the man using the den-den mushi that'd been sent to Eustass before, had the captain not already utterly destroyed it….
"But you still need a fingernail," Killer persisted. "Where're you gonna find one with Kid gone, huh?"
"Let me search our quarters. I'm certain I can find some trimmings, he keeps them short enough these days."
"Yeah, I guess we've got you and your tender skin to thank for that one." Killer snorted, as disbelieving as ever. But he shook his head, resigned and with no good alternatives of his own, "Fine - go find what you can, and see if you can get something made. Though I doubt there's anyone around here who'd know what the hell you're talking about, if none of us have ever heard a whisper of it."
"Yes, you're certainly the authority on everything after all," Law snapped, his temper getting the best of him. His nerves were as short as everyone's and he didn't have the patience to deal with such unrelenting and biased skepticism at a time like this.
"Heat." Killer jerked his head in the man's direction, "You go with him and keep an eye on things. I wanna know if this's just some bullshit tale meant to keep us busy." He turned to Law, glare hidden but undeniable. "There's no reason for you to give a damn what happens to Kid, and if this is just another way to keep us spinning our wheels instead of searching, you know how I'll make you pay for it."
Law got to his feet stiffly. "As always, your personality is such a delight."
He left, not waiting to see if Heat followed. It was somewhat reassuring that Killer still refused to trust him. At least someone on Eustass' crew remembered who Law was. He was beginning to wonder if the bastard enjoyed treating him like a slave; Killer had certainly managed to maintain the appropriate attitude for far longer than his captain had.
Law rolled his shoulders to ease their tension, marching purposefully towards the captain's quarters. Let Killer and the rest waste their precious time trying to come up with ways to find him. If they were so ungrateful for his suggestions, Law had half a mind to ignore the potential that a vivre card promised. He could simply sit back and watch Eustass' hapless crew flail about until their captain's demise was all but certain; after all, what did Law care what happened to the bastard?
Perhaps he should include himself amongst those who'd forgotten his true standing within the crew. Perhaps he should see Eustass' disappearance for what it truly was: a gift, albeit one from a man he hated more than the captain himself. Hadn't he insisted for long enough that he'd very much like to see Eustass and Doflamingo bring each other to ruin? If his most violent, hateful dreams could become reality, Law knew he was witnessing them now. Let the captain face Doflamingo; let the shichibukai play with him until he tired of this new distraction. And then, like a child who had lost interest in a now-tattered butterfly, he could tear the limbs and wings from Eustass one by one until the captain was nothing.
A subtle rage was trembling through Law's tendons and fibers by the time he reached their quarters. The bed was made with freshly-laundered linens - someone on the crew had seen fit to get everything thoroughly cleaned while they were moored. All part of the full ship's resupply. Law stood in the doorway, a rush of conflicting emotions making him feel weak and sick; it'd been hours since he'd eaten anything and the strong coffee was sitting poorly in his stomach.
Along with the laundry service, someone had cleaned their quarters from top to bottom, and Law felt his heart sink. Of all the times to count on Eustass' messiness...Law had been certain one or two nail clippings would be hiding among the floorboards, but they'd been swept and mopped, leaving no trace of Eustass behind. Whoever they'd commissioned to clean the ship had done an admirable job, much to Law's chagrin. They'd nearly cleaned away the captain's very scent...Law felt oddly betrayed, as though he'd been robbed of something vile and was left longing in its absence.
Even with this setback, he refused to give up so easily. Once Heat joined him, they both hunkered down, searching the very corners of the room and the cracks in its floorboards for anything that could've gotten trapped and left behind. For all their efforts, they still turned up nothing and Law was on the verge of panic when Heat suggested investigating the hotel room they'd recently stayed at. They'd checked out only a short time earlier, leaving the chance that their rooms might not yet be fully cleaned. If there was nothing to find, Law had no idea where to look next - other than to start picking through the engine rooms in the hope that the bastard had broken a nail while at work. Of all the times he could curse the captain for good grooming, of all things….
He and Heat checked in at the front desk, its attendant remembering them easily - with Heat in tow, they were difficult to forget. "You'll have to excuse my carelessness," Law began, his composure kept on a tight leash. "But I regret that I've left something behind from our stay earlier."
"You're welcome to look through this if you like." The attendant pulled out a basket heaped with abandoned goods - small toy animals, clothing, a piece of jewelry. Of course, none of it was what Law needed.
"I'm afraid the item was rather small, and might have been overlooked. Was the larger room on the third floor cleaned yet?"
"I think they're going over that one right now - you can run up and see if they got what you're missing, though."
Law gave a nod of thanks, taking the stairs two at a time until he was once again outside the room he'd shared with the captain. It was propped open, and inside, a maid was making her way through a cleaning regimen to prepare the room for new guests. Fortunately, they'd caught her early in her rounds; she'd only just started changing the sheets and linens and while on any other day, Law would've been embarrassed by the evidence they'd left behind, he currently had no time to waste on such petty things.
He explained their predicament, claiming he'd lost an important token instead of something as odd as a fingernail clipping. While the maid seemed bemused, she did not interfere and even lent them brooms as Law scoured the main room and Heat took the bath.
The captain had hardly stayed here more than a day, and their findings were proportionally slim - it wasn't until Heat dumped out the trash bin to search inside that he found three tiny clippings, hardly more than shavings. "Should this be enough?"
"We have little choice one way or the other," Law said, shaking his head. He had no idea what the minimum requirements were for something like this. In commissioning his recent vivre card, Garnet had taken no more than a single nail's clipping, but that had been larger than all three they'd found combined. Even if they were small, Law was determined to make things work. Sometimes, even when the conditions were not ideal, a recipe could be followed when appropriate substitutions were made, and Law could only hope that this would be the case if their ingredients were found lacking. "Come on, let us find if there is a card maker who's even open this early."
They excused themselves; Law took a last glance around the room - they'd hardly stayed for more than a full day, but it'd been an eventful one. Law was sad to leave, especially with the captain's whereabouts unknown. It felt like he was leaving something behind in that empty room...but if he had, he knew it would be swept up and disposed of in short order.
He and Heat paused again at the front desk, confirming with its attendant that they'd found their missing item and inquiring about potential card manufacturers. Though he already knew of Garnet - and indeed, they were directed towards her a second time - Law feigned ignorance. Admitting his familiarity would only raise more questions, particularly from Killer, whose suspicions were already on high alert. Law's previous business had nothing to do with their current predicament, and he'd already seen how eager Killer was to cast him as the enemy. With that man in charge of the crew with Eustass absent...Law knew it was prudent to stay silent in such matters. He'd forgotten how awkward it was to tread so carefully amongst supposed-allies.
Sunlight was breaking through the fog layer as they reemerged onto the street. A moment's hopelessness swelled over him, but it was fleeting. Even if it was appropriate, despair in this instance would serve no purpose. Law fell into step beside Heat as the man navigated towards Garnet's shop, using directions given to them by the hotel's front desk. Law let the man lead the way, lest he inadvertently betray his familiarity with her shop. A thick stream of smoke was issuing from the chimney in her small hut as they arrived, either for heat or to cook her morning's breakfast. The door was locked but Law knocked solidly; a hurried shuffling on the other side answered them and the door swung open moments later.
Garnet looked as polished as she had upon their first meeting even given the early hour. She greeted them with a thick shawl wrapped around her shoulders and a frown upon her face; she fixed Law with a quizzical stare, "It is far too early for you to be returning."
And Law froze. He could sense Heat stiffen perceptibly beside him and strove to recover before the situation was made worse, "I'm sorry, have we met? I believe you must have confused me for someone else."
Garnet's eyes flicked from his face to his companion's, her gaze shrewd. As she'd demonstrated during their previous interaction, her ability to grasp the unsaid details of a situation was as quick as ever. "Ah. You may be correct. My apologies." Her eyes narrowed, as if to make the act more convincing, "Though you do look quite familiar…"
"We're wanted men; it's an occupational hazard," Heat interjected.
"And why should I wish to do business with criminals?"
"We're wanted," Heat repeated. "That hardly makes us criminals."
"So you say." But she stepped aside to allow their entrance all the same.
"I should've expected you to see all those details already," Law chided, though he wondered if he was pushing his luck. "After all, doesn't your sign advertise a speciality in prognostication?"
"You skeptics always interpret such things so literally," Garnet answered. She crossed to her chair, set at a small side table where a steaming mug of tea rested. "Peering beyond the veil is a fuzzy business. Possibly because the future has yet to be decided."
"Fortunately, we're not here to consult the future. Nor the moon and stars - we simply need a small service, one which we were told you can provide."Law took a seat as well, on a low, fluffy couch tucked into one corner. Heat joined him as well, the room agreeably warm from a small fire burning in a low stove.
"And what would that be?"
"The creation of a vivre card," Law replied, and noted the way Garnet's expression darkened. It wasn't surprising; she'd had strong feelings about the card when he'd been there only a day prior. He only hoped that she wouldn't give his earlier visit away - the last thing he needed was to draw additional suspicion to himself, particularly when Killer was already operating on high alert.
But for the moment, his fears remained unfounded; Garnet merely raised a single eyebrow in question, "Oh?"
"Yes. This may be a bit of an orthodox request, however."
"How so?"
Heat took over, for which Law was grateful - he doubted Garnet would be particularly amenable to the request had it come from him. "Our captain has been abducted. We have no way of knowing who's taken him, or why - or where they may have gone with him."
"And you expect a vivre card will help you in this matter?"
"I know they can lead one unfailingly to the person they belong to," Heat replied.
She clicked her tongue, regarding her tea for a moment before confirming this. "They can. But in that statement you have already identified the conflict facing me - they will indeed lead you to the one you seek, but it is he to whom the card belongs that must initiate its creation."
Law expected this sort of argument, and was prepared to launch a counter-offensive before Heat interrupted him: "Our captain belongs to us. We are his nakama, and belong to him." His head tilted to one side, dreadlocks drooping like ropes of spanish moss. "This request is made because of that bond, and the devotion behind it."
"How am I to be certain that you're speaking the truth? Without your captain to confirm or contradict what you have to say, I have little reason to believe you."
"By that logic, you have just as little reason to doubt us," Law interjected.
"Except I know the power of a vivre card," Garnet said, with disdainful authority. "It may seem like a scrap of paper, only useful to keep those you care about close at hand...but anyone who has had that power abused will understand my concerns." She pinned him with a critical stare, as though daring him to contradict her words. Law kept silent; he didn't want to spread that knowledge around and she knew it. This was likely just a waste of time; Garnet was too familiar with his situation to be even passingly sympathetic to their predicament. Law seethed, feeling useless - they would be better off leaving immediately instead of wasting even more time on a worthless errand….
However, Heat was not so easily dissuaded. "What can we do, then, to convince you of our sincerity?"
Garnet shifted, her expression pinched as though the question was a stupid one, "I doubt very much that you can convince me."
"I do not mean to be presumptuous. But you are welcome to interview every man on our crew if you require it; they will all confirm what we have said. In this matter, finding our captain is too important for any one of us to lie, and you may ask as many questions as you must in order to see that we're not lying."
Garnet was silent for a long moment, considering what Heat had said. Law was grateful that they'd come together; for as much as it put his own best interests in danger, having an outside advocate was vastly more important. Had Killer come along...he would've resorted to threats and violence to see the card made. In contrast, Heat's silent and harrowed petition was far more effective.
Even Garnet seemed swayed, "Tell me then...without the card, what are your alternatives? Pretend, if you will, that there is no one on this island who could make the card - in any case. How would you find this captain whom you so need to find?"
It was like being back in that stuffy conference room, and Law's higher thinking was just as sluggish and uncreative as it had been earlier. Truly, this had been his best idea; there were few alternatives. "Our opponents have at least a day's lead on us...without sure direction, we dare not leave Calico. It is too risky. If we set off in an incorrect direction, Eustass will be taken even further from us. He could be trapped with the enemy for even longer if any mistakes we make have to be corrected. Everything costs time."
"It sounds to me as though you already have an idea of who is behind this," Garnet murmured. She seemed to remember her manners and rose, returning from the fireplace with two mugs of tea.
"We do know." Heat nodded, accepting his tea and dosing it liberally with cream. "Donquixote Doflamingo. It is as much as certain."
The name gave their hostess pause. "A dangerous man to cross." Her eyes flicked to Law, as if silently confirming for herself the identity of that shadow she'd seen following at his footsteps. Law left his face an impenetrable mask; if anything, knowing their enemy's identity would only make gaining her assistance that much more difficult. Perhaps Heat had divulged such information hoping that it would lend credence to their desperation, but Law knew that in all things, Garnet was a calculating business woman. She would not quickly involve herself in affairs which could just as easily return to haunt her.
"You can see why we have few choices," Heat said. "If you're unwilling to assist us, we'll be forced to use rudimentary methods - questioning the townsfolk, sending out scouting parties - our nakama are already busy doing these things. We may be forced to hire mercenary assistants in order to track whatever vessel stole our captain - although it was done so secretly that I doubt even the best trackers would know where or what to look for."
"A truly bleak situation in which you find yourselves."
Law smiled, a sudden spike of murderous frustration driving at his heart. "Do you enjoy seeing us flounder, my lady?"
"Enjoy? Not particularly." She returned to her seat, a line of conflicted consternation drawing itself vertically between her brows. "Though I do find it rather unsettling that you are so unprepared for this sort of attack."
"We are quite at your mercy, as you can see," Law replied, spreading his hands out flat and empty - as vacant and useless as their remaining options.
"And we were unprepared because this attack was unprovoked," Heat added, which left Law reeling a bit. Since when was it not provoked? Of course Heat would not know of the den-den mushi the man had sent, but Doflamingo had for all intents and purposes declared war upon Eustass the last time their ships crossed paths. And all over what - as Killer would say, nothing more stupid and foolish than a whore.
But perhaps the rest of Eustass' nakama did not see Law as the agent of that feud - perhaps they saw things much more simply. As a shichibukai, part of Doflamingo's duty to the World Government was poaching pirate crews who made nuisances of themselves. Eustass had certainly done that ever since he'd set foot in the New World's waters, and for some time before then. The recent plunder of a Marine base was only the newest in a long line of crimes he and his crewmates were responsible for; it made sense for them to come under shichibukai attack.
And while ruthless, the shichibukai were not known to be so underhanded. Capturing a rookie captain who'd overstepped his bounds was certainly within their jurisdiction, but abducting one from where he slept? It was practically bizarre; for the first time, Law understood why the majority of Eustass's nakama seemed so blindsided by this attack. Of course he and Killer knew the true motivations behind it...but neither were eager to explain the details, for their own individual reasons. For the first time, Law imagined himself as Heat and the others likely saw him - a blameless bystander in this, just one among many who was devoted to finding Eustass before he came to harm.
He stared at his mug, its contents untouched. A certain tightness had developed in his throat and Law found it difficult to swallow, or even breathe. What was he thinking? Eustass' men were pirates, and unlikely to consider him nakama until he'd earned their respect.
Law was used to standing apart. He'd earned that distance, rather than camaraderie or respect. If Eustass' crewmen knew how responsible he was for the captain's disappearance...they would consider him nothing but constant trouble, the same as what Killer saw in him. But Heat and the others didn't know, and so by default, they recognized him as one of their own - just another crewmate desperate to find their captain. Law had automatically assumed that Heat, Wire, and everyone else on board held him in contempt for bringing this tragedy upon them, just in the same way Killer despised him for endangering his friend. The reality couldn't seem further from the truth: Heat had accompanied him because he genuinely thought Law's suggestion of the vivre card was their best option. He trusted and believed in Law as an equal member of Eustass's crew.
Even with that trust now, however...Law couldn't help but wonder what he and all the rest would think should they ever learn the truth. He'd be ostracised as quickly as he was accepted. Law was surprised to realize how much that bothered him.
His eyes burned and he blinked them rapidly, jerking himself back to reality. He took a thick gulp of tea, loathing how tightly stretched his nerves were at the present. It left him little to rely on when his sentiments got the best of him, and he shoved such maudlin notions into the deepest hole his mind had to offer. They'd distracted him enough; Heat and Garnet had only continued in their negotiations without him and Law listened avidly as he caught up.
"Of course, should you take on this commission, we will see you handsomely rewarded," Heat was saying. If they'd come to discussions of price, that meant Garnet was all but convinced - and said as much.
"It had better be - I may be forced to relocate my business entirely, should my participation in this become known."
Law was unable to resist a small dig at her expense, "I thought craftsmen were eager to show off their wares."
"In many things, yes. But I know enough of Doflamingo to know what is risked by crossing him." She visibly shivered, drawing her shawl tighter about her shoulders. "That man...he has controlled this island passively ever since claiming this quadrant of the New World as his own. The arrogance - " She quivered a second time, but this was from rage. "You are most fortunate that he is your enemy, in that I will do whatever is required in order to undermine him. Now. Once your payment is secured, I will begin. What starting materials will there be to work from?"
Heat produce the few fingernail scraps they'd managed to draw together. He'd secured them in a small paper, folded in quadrants, which he handed to Garnet. Before she could open it, he stood, nodding once to Law, "I'll head back to the ship and let Killer know. We'll get the payment together." He strode to the door, pausing on his way to put a hand on Law's shoulder, which practically made him jump. Heat said, almost as an after thought, "Don't worry. We'll find him."
That wasn't what Law was most worried about, but he took the encouragement for what it was. The same emotion that he'd felt earlier reared up inside him, threatening to choke off his air a second time...but instead he simply gave a murmur of assent, swallowing it down until his face was a steel mask.
He was left alone with Garnet, the door shutting with a gust of cool air. She regarded him keenly; he had a suspicion she'd been analyzing his every response ever since they'd arrived. "It is good to have you alone finally, Trafalgar Law."
"Was my companion so distasteful?"
"On the contrary, I found him quite agreeable. It was a surprise. But you…" she shook her head. "I have never taken very well to agreeably-natured people. Perhaps it was why I felt glad to see you again. I never imagined we would cross paths after yesterday."
"Again, you make me doubt your ability to accurately determine the future."
"Yes. For once, your skepticism is warranted. But then sometimes all of those stars will be aligned in order to tell the story of a certain future, and one of them will suddenly blink out - and everything falls to disarray, leaving me blind and helpless as a child."
"Mmm. Just imagine how we ordinary folk deal with it."
"I've never liked being blinded, Trafalgar Law." She shrugged one shoulder. "Perhaps this will do well to set things right once again."
"Fortunately for us both, the task we require does not rely upon the future."
"Doesn't it? Your view of the world is so simplistic." She rose, carrying the folded paper to the table Law had sat beside just a short time ago. It was clean and empty, a blank canvass for whatever magic she hoped to conjure. She shook the three nail fragments into a small, blue glass dish and considered them.
Law's earlier fears returned. "Will it be enough?"
"It will have to be. Sadly, this will require more work on my behalf, but after all - I will be paid handsomely, isn't that right?"
"I'm certain you could easily extort more, if necessary."
"Aren't you supposed to be bargaining for the other side?" She gave him a quirking, amused smile.
Without being asked, Law rose and joined her, watching as Garnet picked through vials of powders, liquids, and other necessary accoutrement. "The other side," he murmured, thoughtfully. He'd always considered himself an outside element within Eustass' crew. For a long time, they'd returned the sentiment, but somewhere along the line things had changed...as imperceptibly as his feelings toward the captain himself had changed. Law really didn't want to start analyzing all of that. He could've sworn he used to be made of stronger stuff. But as with everything, Eustass had changed that, or at least weakened it - maybe in the man's absence, Law would have time to refortify his defenses; it really was inappropriate to allow such attachments. In the face of an outside threat like Doflamingo, it was easy to cast such stringent rules aside. Easy - but unwise.
Perhaps Garnet could read minds after all, because as she busied herself, she said, "You travel with these men. But they are not your companions."
"No."
"An alliance of convenience?"
"Oh, hardly. Though I appreciate such a generous assumption."
"No," she said, and shook her head - somewhat sadly. "I saw those irons on your wrists when you arrived the other day. They're not yours."
"So obvious?"
"They're not your style. And so tight, ah!" She reached across and attempted to slide a finger beneath one of the fitted cuffs but there was no room. "These aren't meant to be removed, are they?"
"Sadly, no. It is the great irony of this scenario, that I should be seeking the very man who owns my life." Law gave a hopeless smile; he'd long since abandoned humor when it came to his relationship with Eustass. The shackles on his arms simply weren't very funny anymore, even when seen through the most ridiculous of lenses. "Though what sort of prison is it these days - he was always terrible at playing master, if he ever even realized he was one."
"You ought to let Doflamingo rid you of him, in that case." She continued pouring drips and drops of liquid into a mortar stone, along with several pinches of this and that on top of the fingernails they'd supplied. Law had been too out of it the day before to see this part of the ritual.
"Oh, no," Law replied immediately. "And not for the reasons you're probably thinking. I have little pity or mercy for him - for Eustass." He realized they'd never even mentioned his name; perhaps Heat had at some point. Law could feel himself fraying at the seams with every word he spoke, but there was little to do for it. With Doflamingo involved, this was the easy part. Things would get worse before they improved. "But ever since this began, I promised myself that I would see that man dead by my own hand. It's a promise I'm rather attached to. I would feel robbed if someone else took that privilege in my stead." He picked at a loose splinter on the edge of the table, wincing as it was jammed beneath a fingernail. The pain was bracing, for which Law was grateful. "Perhaps that makes me petty."
Garnet halted in her work, fixing him with a stare of disbelief. "That is hardly petty."
"I've seen the damage that can come from holding onto one's grievances too tightly. Sometimes I wonder if that will be my fate in this…." If it were, it was a fate Law was quietly resigned to.
"Petty grievances may have that effect, but yours is something quite different," Garnet said with authority. "If what you say is true, then even I would have a difficult time offering forgiveness - or even anything less!"
"Funny, you've never struck me as the particularly forgiving type."
"Well, I am not prone to vengeance. Isn't that practically the same? Honestly, you split so many hairs that it's small wonder you're a constant source of trouble!" She stood, gathering her mortar and exiting the room. A low, grinding pulse sounded from an adjoining chamber but Law remained at the table, thinking. Once they had the card, they could follow it like a guiding light until they reached Eustass. But what would become of him before then…? It could take days before the card was finished, a fact he'd not mentioned to Killer out of fear that the man would discount this idea from its inception. Eustass had already been at his captor's mercy for nearly a day, and who knew how long it would take them to reach Doflamingo himself….
Law glared at the fireplace, watching the orange coals as they chewed through old, hardened wood. Why was he even worried about Eustass in the first place? It was like Garnet said; perhaps this was all a gift if he looked at it from the correct angle. But no...no, he wanted Eustass to suffer and regret all that he'd done, but Law would take that regret on his own terms. Of all things, he refused to allow Doflamingo to steal his vengeance before he ever had it. And he refused to be treated like a shiny toy for two brats to fight over! That this was still going on, that he was still seen as some sort of prize to be won left Law so furious that he could barely think.
Outrage and anger were better emotions right now; they came on quicker and left Law feeling stronger. Perhaps this was why Killer was parading about with a boulder-sized chip on his shoulder. But being so constantly antagonistic was hardly effective in negotiation; Law knew such tactics would've had little effect in convincing Garnet. He knew that until they faced Doflamingo, their negotiations had hardly even begun.
Garnet returned empty handed. "Now, it is a matter of waiting. I will tend to the card as it is woven but there is little else to do, I'm afraid."
There was one final pressing question. "How quickly can this be finished?"
"Quickly enough. There are many ways of making a vivre card. The one you asked of me earlier will take a week, it's true." She noted how his face cracked at the edges; Law had suspected as much. A week's lead, on top of what Doflamingo already had...they'd be better off scheduling Eustass' funerary arrangements than waiting for the card. She must've sensed his despair because she continued, "But one may be completed in as little as twelve hours. It will be unstable, and will not last longer than a single week - seven days, that is all you will have."
"As long as we're able to use it soon, I do not care."
"I was taught this trick a long time ago, it's called a 'hasty card'. They're made for impatient people who pay me lots of money to make them garbage. So even if you had threatened me and forced me to make it, there would be nothing but dust left before long. Either way...for your purposes, it will work." She laughed shortly, amused by her own anecdote. "It's funny, I never expected I would make someone a card intending for it to fall apart in seven days."
"At least you won't have to worry about us abusing it," Law mused. "That is, if any of that concern was justified. Or were you just having us on, to judge our commitment to the one we're looking for?"
"Oh no, that was all quite serious. I mean what I say about the power in these little things - it is so often taken for granted. If I'd been unable to produce your card in a timely manner, I would've said as much at the outset. It is clear how distressing you all find your companion's abduction."
"You really have no idea," Law murmured. He wondered what she would've thought, had Law turned up on her doorstep with Killer accompanying him. There probably would've been much less diplomacy, with a swift progression to death threats before anything else.
Garnet stopped him as Law prepared to leave, "Now, let me take a look at that hand of yours."
Law was surprised, but held out his bandaged hand nonetheless. Of course she would be one of the few who cared - even if the bonds between himself and the rest of Eustass' nakama were strengthening, not a single one had questioned his injury or how it'd come about. Then again, for such a rough-and-tumble group, they were constantly acquiring injuries; Law was left once again to marvel how they got by without a resident doctor amongst their ranks.
Or perhaps they did, he mused bitterly. He wondered if Garnet knew how competent he was at such tasks - but if given the choice, he would take another's assistance in this matter. The salve she'd used before had been quite effective, and she applied it again liberally, before tsk-ing over the state of his fingertips. "You don't spare much time to take care of yourself, do you, Trafalgar Law?"
"Time has been an expensive commodity of late."
"And you'll only ever have two hands," she countered. "Take care that no infection sets into these wounds. Or your companion's return might be the least of your concerns."
For a change, Law did not challenge her assertions. He waited patiently while his fingers were cleaned, dressed, and rebandaged tightly - in fresh, white strips that Law knew would be tarnished before evening. Law knew they'd be left waiting an interminable twelve hours while the card was woven, and excused himself - though given his options, he really would've rather stayed at Garnet's shop. It was unwise in the long run and he knew as much. If he wasn't careful, she'd start attempting to read his future again - or worse, produce that blasted card from the day before that she'd been unable to lecture him about.
He returned to the ship, sharing Garnet's information with the others. Killer ensured that everyone still actively searching could be ready and on board once the card was finished. Time progressed slowly, and even with a solution at hand, Killer was as inconsolable in his captain's absence as ever. Law did his best to stay out of the man's way - Killer was like a bomb waiting to go off; all he required was an ignition source. He found work in the kitchens with Wire, the work simple and repetitive. By the time they'd finished cleaning up from dinner, the wait for Eustass' vivre card was also at an end.
Accompanied by Heat and Killer, Law returned for the third time to that squat little hut - he wondered what Garnet would have to say about the old adage of portentous things coming in unassuming packages.
She opened the door before they'd even had a chance to knock; clearly, she'd been watching the time as closely as they had. "Come in. It's finished."
"Here's your payment," Killer growled, foregoing any introductions. Law wasn't sure exactly how much Garnet had demanded, but it was enough that a small burlap sack was required - it hung heavily and was clearly a small fortune. Money never did seem to make a difference to Eustass or anyone on his crew.
"It's been quite the pleasure doing business with you and yours," Garnet replied. "Although you must forgive me if I hope to never see a one of you again after today."
Heat thanked her profusely before promising, "We won't whisper a word of who supplied this card."
"You'd best not. If anyone associated with that...family." She said the word distastefully; Law could sympathize. "Shows up on my doorstep, I will know whom to blame. And if you find Doflamingo a formidable foe, I would caution you against earning my wrath."
"Yeah, yeah, got it." Killer brushed off her words. "We're so scared. Now where's the card?"
She passed Law a small, velvet box; inside, there was indeed a card. Law started with sudden alarm - a thin wisp of smoke had already begun eating away at one corner. "Is it unfinished?"
"No, it's finished." Garnet crossed her arms, as if daring them to challenge her craftsmanship. "But it was burning even before I had completed it. Wherever that captain of yours has been taken off to, you'd best find him quick."
Law felt the bottom drop out of his stomach in a sick, sinking instant. Perhaps seven days would be more than enough time, if Eustass' card burned to nothing before then.
PS sorry for all these cliffhangers the last couple of chapters, especially after I said I wouldn't use them that often...but they just work really well in this section!
Next chapter, we'll catch up with Kid to see what's happened to him, in case that gives you something to look forward to.