Hey guys, (I really should make a creative nicknames for you readers)
I finally made it within my projected schedule! Thank you long weekends! Haha! So as previously stated, this is the March update (Finally up to date (￣^￣)) and I'll probably be taking a hiatus for the month of April just given how busy of a time of year it is for me. I probably wouldn't be able to even write! (T~T) -sigh- life sometimes is a pain, right? Anyway, I think the story's finally picking up. A lot of things are going into play so try to keep up and if any of you are theorists, let me know what you think is happening! Use the Easter eggs of hints laid out throughout the stories to see if you can figure out what is going on! I'm excited to hear what you guys think. As always, I LOVE reviews!
Happy Easter! Please my chappie filled with Easter egg hints!
Now onto the reviews: There was only 4 this time :(
StarliteOracle: I'm glad that you loved this chapter. What was your favourite part?
lilnightmare17: I will do my best (｀^´*)9
DamnBlackHeart: Hello there, new reviewer! I'm glad you enjoy the story and the OC, most people tell me that they didn't like Charlotte to begin with. Haha... When I was creating her, I did think of what quirks will fit into the OP world since soo many of them seem to have special quirks of their own, but then most of her quirks developed on their own when I was writing. I think most of them developed and remained in the story because they were interesting. Thanks for letting me know about the pacing, btw. I'm constantly worried about that so it's reassuring to hear some feedback about it. Thanks again!
Lucy Jacob: I didn't notice it until you said it! In terms of page numbers, it was about the same with the other chapters so I thought it was okay, but then I found out that it was indeed shorter in terms of words. I'm so sorry about that! Hopefully this chapter will be better. It is longer in terms of word counts compared to the other ones. Nice guess, btw, Charlotte's is just imitating what she remembered from her mother even if she didn't realize it on a conscious level at times. I think my point with that is to show the contrast of a life that Charlotte could have been living if her life hadn't turn out the way it did. How normal she could have been. Ahaha, I guess in this ark, an underlying lesson would be how things can be so easily changed like a delicate balance scale being easily tipped in one way or another. Though, since we're on the topic of her life, her past and the reasons why her life fell into the spiral that it is in might be coming up soon. If you want to, you can try to figure out which event tilted the scale for her life to become abnormal if you want. There's hints laid out in specific chapters here and there.
Disclaimer: I do not own OP, just the OCs
Chapter 25.
"You're not going to bed?" Law chided lightly as Charlotte returned from the stairwells, the twins now missing from her arms. They had ended staying until late at Grebbon's and before they knew it the twins were trying to stay over at the submarine. Specifically, in Charlotte's tiny, tiny, room of one hammock. Of course, that didn't go well with Grebbon or Law, though the latter wasn't as active in voicing his distaste. In the end, Law had ordered Charlotte to take the twins back to their house. The only problem with that, as the twins brought up, was that Charlotte didn't know where the twins lived. With that the twins thought they were going to win, until Charlotte managed to find their home in five minutes flat.
"Is there any reason for me to?" Law frowned as Charlotte instantly got back to work, clearing the table. Law had made everyone dinner since the children said they had to eat before bed. "I didn't know you could cook. It is suspicious at how fast they fell asleep though." She didn't even pause for a moment, flawlessly transitioning into the act of keeping herself busy. It was almost like she couldn't stand being still.
"Are you implying something, Miss Charlotte?" Law quested as Charlotte placed the plates into the sink and started the water.
"No, not at all. Not, at all." Charlotte chided lightly, her attention focused on washing the dishes before her. She flinched immediately as she felt the plate give way under her hands, her face paling slightly. She broke it!
Law watched the scene before him with calculative eyes, trying to understand the change in the girl before him. Charlotte had been very, very active ever since they arrived on the island. No, that wasn't it. The bags under her eyes were there a few nights prior to their arrival. "How about you?" Charlotte hummed instantly in response. The lack of sleep didn't seem to be affecting her reaction, yet. It should be soon, given how many days its been. Its almost been close to an week now. "You found their home rather quickly."
Charlotte laughed much to Law's surprise. She seemed almost at ease, something Law wouldn't associated to someone who was constantly running around. Actually, this was probably the lull of her day. She wasn't doing several things as once, or planning ahead. She was simply washing dishes—cleaning up after a bunch of kids like a mother would. A mother would?
Law blinked. His awareness of his surroundings suddenly highlighted as if he hadn't really noticed how normal it was. Here they were two adults, one male and one female, along with two kids. They returned together, ate dinner together, the adults put the kids to sleep while the adults stayed up longer. It was regular family routine. It was like they decided to play house: Law and Charlotte were the married couple of the two twins. It was almost like they were a family. A regular, normal family.
"I'm usually doesn't take very long to get my job done." Except for the fact that they both were notorious in their own criminalistics fields: Law was one rookies in the Worst Generation and Charlotte was one of the fastest hunters. Not to mention, Charlotte was like Zoro, making a name for herself in the field of piracy now too.
"You were the first one to break my streak." Charlotte's tone of voice brought Law out of his thoughts. It wasn't filled with malice or any other negative emotions. She had said it with a little chuckle as if she had grown to accept the fact. As if she didn't mind the fact that Law as the one who had broken her 100% capture rate. "The funny thing was I actually had captured you on time. It was just everything else that made everything difficult." She continued, her brows furrowing together, but her tone remained light. "If I had known you were going to escape, I would probably have done something more drastic." She laughed.
"Drastic?" Law quirked. He couldn't help but be intrigued. This was the first time that he was hearing about Charlotte's inner thoughts and feelings of her only failed capture of all things.
"I don't know." Charlotte replied lightly with a shrug. "Probably break your knees or something so you couldn't walk away." Yep, they were far from normal.
"You forget, I'm a doctor. I could easily fix that." Law didn't even miss a beat. Her words weren't surprising to the dark doctor.
Charlotte hummed in thought. "True, but with seastone cuffs and no arms I believe that would be a challenge."
"Lopping off my arms now too?" Law smirked. "Would you get a good price for just a torso?" He vaguely remembers Charlotte claiming that she didn't want to have to kill Law otherwise her payout would be lower.
Charlotte chuckled at that. "Probably not." She admitted and Law found himself smirking as well. The morbidity of their conversation not affecting either one of them at all. "I would have thought of something else. I'm tend to have better ideas during than after."
"What about before?" Law pressed, his silver eyes glinting calculative-like and cautious.
"What do you mean?"
Law leaned back against the open archway dividing the kitchen from the living room, his arms crossed but eyes focused on the back of the woman still trying to do the dishes. His stormy eyes watching for any signs telling him that he should pull back and not ask the questions that has been nagging at his mind. He didn't want to make a mistake and force their relationship to go back. Their relationship had gotten a lot better than since they met. Charlotte didn't seem to hate him anymore, but that was all he knew. He didn't know what she thought of him now. Did she see him as her captain? That wasn't the only mysterious that pertained to Charlotte. Aside from what he knew from their adventures together, he knew nothing about Charlotte. He thought he did; he held pride in his people reading skills. Then they came here and met the natives, and like always, Charlotte proved him wrong; showed something outside his realm of understanding of her. It was these blanks in his understanding that piqued the doctor's curiosity.
"You weren't this active in searching for your heart back when it was still on the sub. If you had been you'd probably find it within the first five hours on board."
Charlotte paused for a moment, lowering the plate into the sink, her arms resting against the edge of the skin. Her lips quivered, shifting from open to close as she tried to figure out what to say back. The reason was obvious. She knew why. There was a big difference between where her heart is and where it was. And who it was with. "There was no rush. It wasn't like my heart was moving or in a constant environment where it wouldn't be safe." Charlotte spoke quietly, her mind preoccupied with the greatest change: her heart was now open to Aceteon.
So she does know the dangers of having her heart not with her. Law noted, nodding. He had doubt it every single time she ran head first into trouble. He had thought she thought she was invincible now that her heart wasn't attached to her. His eyes snapped open though when the underlying meaning of the message sank in and he found himself subtly staring at the woman, his eyes wide and silently asking: she thought it was safe on the ship with him?
Since when did she grow so trusting of him to not do anything? Was it after their time together on Kukonda Island? Or perhaps with her hunting kouhais? No, she was almost always like that. She was willing to leave her heart with him to begin with; choosing to not be apart of the crew rather than having her heart. She also said the same thing last time he asked her why she didn't return for her heart first. From the start, she never thought that he would use it against her and each time he proved her wrong, he also proved her right. He never went as far as to actually use the heart to the point that she would die. She knew that he wouldn't and because of that she thought it was safe? It didn't matter that he crushed it from time to time so long that she was still alive, she was fine with it. She knew from the start that he had no intention of using it to kill her. Wasn't Charlotte supposed to be the one who sucked at reading the other person's thought between the two? She thought Bepo was a really hairy person!
Glancing at the huntress again, Law's eyes narrowed. What exactly did he know about Charlotte? The one that he had gotten to know throughout these last few months wasn't this perceptive. She was a girl who was never cautious in her movements; she jumped into any dangers she sees first simply because going around and along with Law's plan was too 'tedious' as she would say. But the Charlotte standing before him was talking about knowing his own moves before he did. Which one was the real Charlotte?
Crack.
Law's gaze fell into a blank stare as Charlotte twitched as she broke another plate, paused, and shyly hid the remains in the bubbly water at bottom of the sink, then grabbed the next plate, pretending as if nothing happened. Law fell a sigh escape his lips when another break resonated across the quiet kitchen and here he was doubting exactly what kind of skills she had when she couldn't even wash a single plate.
Crack.
Crack.
Crack.
"What I find surprising is how of all the things you are capable of doing, you can't wash a plate without breaking it." Law sighed, his breath rolling against Charlotte's cheek causing her to tense into his… chest?
W-wasn't he by the dinning table? Charlotte thought as she jolted forward, away from his chest, only to realized that she was already pressed against the kitchen counter. She was stuck between the counter and Law. She couldn't even turn back to send him a questioning or warning glare. Nor could she escape from the sides either, his arms were already blocking off the exit, wrapping around her sides and following her arms into the bubbly sink. W-what? She flushed, mind jumping towards her conversation with Baako. This was far too close for comfort.
"Hold still." Law ordered, his tone slightly annoyed. His hands fell over Charlotte's, slowly guiding one hand to hold the plate still while the other made circular movements with the sponge. "Learn." He ordered against her ear, his chin sitting over her right shoulder.
Charlotte gulped thickly, feeling her face reddening with every moment that his stubble tickled her neck or his hot breath against her suddenly too sensitive ear or warmth pressed against her back, or really anything. It was as if her body had become hypersensitive the moment he had stepped into her little personal space. She could feel every inch of their body pressed together as if their clothes didn't even really play a part in the separation at all. It was as if they were—Charlotte squeezed her eyes shut and gulped thickly. Her mind had jumped too far, replaying what Baako said with the now added addition of what she could feel.
Calm down! Charlotte chanted mentally. She hated where her mind was taking her. Normally she wouldn't mind that her mind played out several steps forward into a scenario. It helped in battles. But, in these cases—cases where she didn't know and hadn't confronted Law about the whole naked thing and what's to become of it—she didn't like it. Calm down! She couldn't even hide her embarrassment now. Her scarf laid useless against the chair's back. She had taken it off when they started eating dinner, not wanting to get the precious thing dirty, but man, was she regretting it now.
Law, on the other hand, didn't even have to look to the side to know that the girl trapped in his arms was embarrassed. He could feel the heat radiating off her skin against his cheek and strangely enough, he found himself smirking at the fact that he could make her flustered. Perhaps it was the fact that it proved to Law that he still had some control over the girl that caused the doctor to continue his ministrations. It was probably that. After a long day of not knowing, not being in control, and of self-doubting, finally regaining some of that control he was so used to, helped calm the meticulous captain. Still, that didn't explain why he enjoyed adding oil to the flame growing on Charlotte's face. "Oi, you can't learn if you don't open your eyes." Law teased, his smug smirk clear in the tone of his voice. He knew it she could hear that tone well and knew that she would respond favourable.
She didn't disappoint.
Her platinum eyes snapped open and Law, like before, was able to predict her movements. There would be the delinquent flame that burned within her eyes that warned him that he had about half a second before she would attack him if he didn't stop within that half a second. However, he wasn't going to let her ruin his fun just yet. Before Charlotte could jab her elbow into his gut, Law tightened his arms against hers, pinning her arms to her side and took a step closer to her, securing one of his legs in between hers, successfully pinning her tighter towards the counter and forcing her on tip toes. Law grinned at his work. He tilted his head towards hers, ready to breath into her ear another command but she spoke first.
"L-Law…"
The doctor's eyes widened slightly and his paused, mouth hovering just above her ear, goatee probably brushing against her cheek, He hadn't expected that. That tone. For such a wanton mewl to escape her lips. For her to call for his name with such a voice. For what that voice did to him.
Swallowing thickly, Law took a half step back and returned his attention back to the forgotten plate held limply in Charlotte's still hands. "Wash." He ordered, not even bothering to mask the husky tone in his voice. He wasn't going to explain it to her even if she was to ask. Nor was he going to apologize. Law wasn't one to do that and he wasn't going to start just now.
He hadn't meant for this play to go that far. In fact, he hadn't planned for her reaction at all. He wasn't thinking twice about her reaction when he walked up behind her to teach her how to clean properly. It was the ease of teaching that was simply on his mind as he started; it was easier to teach someone how to do things like this by guiding them. Then when she reacted, Law couldn't help but smirk. It wasn't everyday that he got a flustered Charlotte.
Latte and Fuzzy Hat are Mom and Dad of this submarine!
His smirk dropped. They didn't have any actual romantic ties nor was Law in any interest to create any.
His heart stopped when he saw how cute the look on your face was.
Law did not have any special interest beyond curiosity for the huntress. His curiosity for her simply extended to the fact that she was mysterious. Nothing more. Or at least that was what Law convinced himself.
Charlotte, on the other hand, was chewing the inside of her cheek, trying to redirect her flustered anger away from breaking the plate in her hands or using it as a weapon to slaughter Law for the stupid various reasons. Charlotte wasn't deaf to her own voice. She wasn't planning on sounding like that. She just wanted to let him know that she it was tight and she couldn't breathe with him pressed up against her like that. But she could barely squeeze out Law's name and when it did… Charlotte tucked her chin down, still wishing for a scarf, but settling for finding Rike after to patch up the hole that'll probably be the inside of her cheek. Any squabble she hears from the nurse will be on Law for his stupid and perverted ideas! What was he trying to do by pressing himself to her anyway?!
Wait, pressed up…?!
Charlotte's face blew up into another stream of red fury and her brows knotted closer this time. I'm going to freaking kill you, Perverted Captain. She hissed mentally.
Whoosh!
Charlotte blinked, anger momentarily forgotten when the plate in her hand quickly vanished.
"You're going to break it if you hold it that tightly." Law sighed, taking another step back, allowing Charlotte enough space to turn around and face him, but not enough for her to do anything aggressive against him.
Law's silver eyes darkened slightly at the flustered sight of the female as she spun around, purple hair spiraling around before softly settling. He hadn't fully digested the full extent of how much he had an effect on her earlier with her facing forward and him never really looking at Charlotte, but now that she was turned around, facing him, he couldn't help himself but to drink up the sight before him. Charlotte's face was still slightly warm and her platinum eyes were slightly unfocused, making her glaring death threats that normally promised Hell look nothing more than a cute attempt. Her chest was rising and falling rapidly as if she had trouble keeping the air from escaping through her partially separated pouted lips. "Were you not learning when I showed you?" Her cheeks grew hotter in anger and Law's eyes only darkened.
She looked really delicious.
"What?" He took a step forward and her back. He grinned. A harmless tease was allowed, right? It would be amusing to watch her reactions. Research purposes on getting to know Charlotte better, he reasoned with himself. He leaned in when her back hit the counter again, but that didn't stop the huntress from trying to increase the distance between them. Unfortunately, Law was having too much fun to stop there. He continued his stretch, following her lead until she was unable to do anything else. He had he pinned and trapped against the counter again. He paused next to her ear, whispering huskily into it. "Have nothing to say?" He chuckled when Charlotte's breath hitched. She really was sensitive.
It was quiet for a moment with Law waiting patiently for Charlotte's response, the same domineering grin on his face. Law's movements weren't because he was attractive to the huntress. That wasn't the reason why he was doing this. He merely found something interesting and amusing to play with. Attraction had nothing to do with this. Definitely. Not. Law agreed, attention slightly too distracted to hear the subtle sound of water being disturbed.
"…Yeah…" Charlotte breathed after a moment's pause. Her voice so quiet that Law almost didn't hear it. He hummed in response. "I broke a plate."
In half a second Law's had pushed away from the counter, skidding to a stop a few feet away from Charlotte and the counter. His slightly widened eyes narrowed, his body tensed, his hair standing on ends, and blood boiling though his veins. His right hand was facing down already like it often does when he was about to call on his abilities. Every instinct in his body were telling him to be careful, to be on edge of the monster before him. Scowling, Law expected to see a large rip in his black hoodie and the pink scratch across his chest from where Charlotte had slashed at him with the broken china piece. But there was nothing there. His clothes were perfectly fine. His eyes lifted towards the huntress standing there as if she hadn't just threatened her captain. She wasn't brandishing a weapon either. Nothing evident of an attack beside the faint dark aura surrounding the girl. Law clicked his tongue and Charlotte expected him to scold her for the trick she just pulled, but Law… was scolding himself instead. "I always forget that you get much more dangerous when pushed into a corner." Law grinned, forcing his body to relax. Charlotte really over with her emotions. Was her intent to kill always this destructive? Never had he met anyone who's killing intent was strong enough to cause images of their attacks to appear.
Law frowned after Charlotte turned around. His grey eyes dropping towards his tensed hands. A small blue ring was almost visible underneath it. He had almost activated his room and called for his nodachi… against his subordinate. His other hand was already formed into the shape of wielding his signature long sword. He was willing to draw his sword against his own crewmate. No, he didn't think of her as a crewmate at the time. Just a very, very dangerous threat that needed to be dealt with. What was I doing? Law scolded mentally. Within that second that her killing aura reached him, Law's fight-or-flight response went into full drive and the only thought on his mind was to end Charlotte. The scary part was that he wasn't sure if he could. That killing intent was unlike any that he felt form her previously. The only time he felt something similar was that time he found her lingering outside the holding cell with those strange crazed eyes.
Charlotte was silent as she turned around, her hand lightly dropping the jagged piece of broken china she had grabbed earlier. Her eyes hidden under the shadow of her hair and her lips pulled into a tight line. "You owe Kora and Kozu new plates." Charlotte said nonchalantly after a stretched silence. She picked up the rest of the broken pieces, placing each large jagged pieces down next to her on a towel, all within a second's reach.
"Why should I be the one to replace something you broke?"
"A captain's responsible for their subordinates, isn't that right, Captain?" Charlotte punctuated the title with the sound of broken china clinging.
Law scowled at the tone behind the word, but his need to address it right at that very moment faded when the sound of new set of china breaking reached his ears. "Move." Law ordered and was pleasantly surprised to not be refuted with a rebuttal. Charlotte moved away easily as he stepped forward. Lifting a towel to Charlotte, Law spoke again. "You dry, and I'll wash or else I won't have enough plates to give them."
Nodding, Charlotte grabbed the towel. The rest of the time passed on in silence except for the sound of running water and cutlery striking against cutlery. Even as Law finished first, shutting off the water and walking away from the sink, Charlotte kept working in silence. It wasn't until Charlotte finished that her emotions finally settled down and their aphasiac silence finally died.
Spinning around as she placed the final dishes on the dish rack. Charlotte stopped when her back was against the skin, her attention focused on the doctor before her. The plates completely stacked to her right. Towel pressed between her palm and the counter's edge. A smirk on her perfectly smug hunter mask. Any embarrassment or murderous intent from their previous encounter schooled away. "Now, what was it that you wanted to ask me?" There was a reason why Law followed Charlotte back to the twin's place.
The corners of Law's lip twitched up. So she wasn't going to talk about what just happened, huh? Law questioned, but went along with the flow nevertheless. "Reading people's mind now, are you, Descendent of Cephenrene?" Law poised as he leaned back against the sofa in the living across from the open kitchen. Certainly there was more than just the one reason, but Charlotte should have known that if she was truly who she says she is. "Rather, fake descendent of Cephenrene?"
"I don't know wha—"
"As if I'd fall for such a weak lie. You never once got what I was planning. Not even when I told you."
"Maybe I'm just bad with following orders?" Charlotte suggested, letting her head hang by her shoulders. It wasn't a lie. She was expertly bad at following orders after all. Then again it she tries her hardest not to follow orders. Sighing, Charlotte lifted her head, meeting Law's cold stare with a weak smile. "You got me. I'm not related to Cephenrene." There was no point in lying. At least not to someone who already known the truth.
"If I could pick out that lie, how do you think the mind readers would react to it?" Law hummed, leaning against the chair back. He reached forward, playing with the red scarf that Charlotte had regrettably taken off.
"'People believe what they want to believe, right?'" Law turned towards Charlotte, raising a brow at her as she snatched the scarf out of his hands and expertly placed it around her neck in one fell swoop. Since when did she become psychologically inclined? "The answer should have been clear. I'm not related to Cephenrene. Kozu caught on immediately. He's a good kid. He knew to play along immediately." Law's lips drew down slightly. So the brat was able to accommodate to her again without as much as a word. "Grebbon, on the other hand," Charlotte's mouth curved down. "He shouldn't have fallen for that lie, should he?"
"You said Grebbon was acting strange. What do you mean by it?"
"Granny was too. They were there when the heart was brought back to us." Charlotte's eyes widen in shock. "They knew when you came into the store, asking for a heart, it was that heart you were talking about. That's why I believe that heart is yours. But for some reason, Granny avoided telling you it. She told you about a replacement heart instead. Then she got really weird after you left. She made me take you to Grebbon's and Grebbon was acting strangely too when I got there. He stopped working on other's heart just to make yours in time for the festival. It's like they won't allow you to be heartless during the festival." Kora mumbled, her small face scrunched together in deep thought.
"You're quite perceptive for a six years old." Charlotte noted, patting the girl's head lightly. She glanced around at the townspeople around them. Kora's thought process must had matured much faster due to the heavy influence of others thoughts on her own. "Is there a reason why they wouldn't want me to be heartless during the festival?"
"Heartless people are considered Dead of Heart. You'll end up in the Undead Forest." Kora explained, "But normally, they don't do anything to prevent a Dead of Heart from leaving."
It made sense why the rest of the Heart Pirates would fall for the lie, but that was because they wouldn't be able to read Charlotte's mind. Grebbon could. He had proved so many times prior. So why was it that he didn't catch on to such an obvious lie?
"Certainly, that is rather odd." Law noted just as the door to their left opened, successfully ending their conversation and bringing their attention onto the newcomer.
"Kora, Kozu, Daddy's home!" The newcomer announced, happily as he bent over to drop off the several heavy-looking bags he had been holstering.
It was then, as he bent over, that Law and Charlotte's initial curiosity became a giant red flag. Who would have thought that the father of Kora and Kozu was none other than a marine? A rear admiral at that.
Quietly, Charlotte inched back until she was by the counter again, her hands ghosting over the several jagged plate shards she had collected. Unlike Law, she wasn't in direct line from the doorway. Law, unfortunately, was unable to arm himself without drawing too much attention to himself. Though that wasn't a problem given his devil fruit ability.
The only problem was that the marine was a lot faster than either of the two expected him to be. Within seconds of glancing up at his missing children, the marine shot forwards, quickly appearing before Law with a dangerous intent in his eyes. "What is a pirate doing at my home?" He asked, his other arm was already drawn back ready to lunge forward, a finger pointed outwards. "Shi—" The attack would have landed too if it wasn't for the fact that the marine had caught sight of a second person in the room. "Tekkai!"
"I guess the rumors are true. You two are working together." The marine said, his voice perfectly fine much to Charlotte's shock. She had expected it to be laced with pain. She had thrown the shards at the marine, they should have pierced into his back. "My name is Ignacio and I must apologize. You'll have to do better than that to hurt me." He smiled, shifting his shoulders and letting the shattered bits of the plates land on the ground. "I've been training in the art of Rokushiki as part of my promotion to Vice Admiral." He explained, before looking slightly apologetic at shock-ridden Charlotte.
Vice Admiral? Charlotte gulped. This was great. Just peachy.
"I'm afraid I'll have to be rough with you, but as a criminal you should understand, no?" He punctuated the last word with a kick.
Charlotte blinked in confusion. The kick was never going to reach her given how far away they we—The chair before her had broke into two. A slicing technique? She corrected, crouching down at the last second. The wall behind her exploded. The cabinets broke, letting the knives, plates, forks, and other kitchen utensils fall towards the huntress.
"Ryankyaku." Ignacio smirked.
"Charlotte!" Law called when Charlotte didn't move, her eyes glued to the clean cut of the soon to be tumbling wall.
"I don't think you have time to be working about others, Trafalgar Law." Ignacio warned from behind the captain.
When did he—? Law's eyes widened and a pained cough escaped him. I've been shot?! Law's question was quickly answered when his eyes landed on the single finger prodding into his shoulder. It wasn't a bullet. But the pain and speed certainly felt like one.
"Law!" Charlotte cried, her eyes widening. There was a sickening squelch sound from the attack just now, meaning that the finger wasn't just poking at him. Her assumption was confirmed when Ignacio pulled his bloody finger back, and blood poured from the wound. Charlotte's eyes narrowed at the fresh blood. Neither the kick or that poke was normal. What exactly was Rokushiki?
"Law!" Charlotte called again when the marine begins to lift his leg. It was the same move as when he cut the kitchen in two.
Gritting his teeth, Law quickly shambled himself with something else. He needed to distance himself from the marine only to be surprised when the marine would appear alongside behind him. The admiral was keeping up with Law's shambles. How?
"You forget, you are at my home and like those at my home, we know exactly what you're thinking to do next." Ignacio explained as he sent Law crashing into the opposite wall with another Ryankyaku. "Where is my family?" He didn't get much of a response though as at the mention of the twins, Charlotte sprang back into action, and bounded off. "Soru." He muttered as he disappeared from behind Law, appearing before Charlotte who had been running out of the kitchen. "You're not get—huh?" Ignacio blinked as the huntress didn't even as much flinched at his appearance. Instead she just twisted to the side as if she had seen him coming. Then it was her turn to disappear. "Does she know Soru too?" He muttered, slightly shock.
Soru was one of the six techniques of Rokushiki which allowed the user to move at extremely high speeds by kicking off the ground at least ten times in a blink of an eye. It shouldn't be available to just anyone, the user had to be trained for it. Not only that, Charlotte's movement was a lot more fluid than what Rokushiki should have allowed them to be. Rokushiki usually involved harsh and sharpened turns since it only worked if they stamp on the same spot multiple times. The marine had intercepted Charlotte's movements and yet she was able to still twist around him and disappear.
"Surprised? Agility is her strong point. In comparison to her, your speed is second tier." Law grunted, pulling himself out of the wall. The wound on his shoulder already treated for curtesy of his ability, though the damages from the kick still needed some work. Soru, as the marine kept calling it, was really just kicking off into one direction after stepping on the same spot many times. Law knew that, he had been able to see the kicks as they happened. Like he had said, Soru was second best to Charlotte's movements and Law took pride in the fact that he could follow Charlotte's movements.
Though one thing he didn't get despite being able to follow her movements was why she had decided to go upstairs. Not only would she get trapped up there, the battle was downstairs. Law scowled. A soon-to-be-vice-admiral rear admiral. Certainly that had to be high on the list of whom he had faced off with.
"What are you still doing? Law, fix the house or something!" Charlotte shouted as she quickly descended the steps, the sleepy twins in her arms.
"Kora! Kozu!" Ignacio shouted over Law's annoyed response at Charlotte's order. "What did you do to them?" He growled, as he appeared before Charlotte. This time the huntress stopped before him, her eyes glaring into his.
"Nothing," She spoke, her volume quiet compared to the roaring father. Her signature red scarf billowing before her. "At least not yet. They're sleeping but they would be dead if you don't get out of my way." Charlotte hissed and the father only stood his ground. Eyes narrowing. Was that a threat just now?
"Why should I trust a pirate?" She didn't seem to mean that she'd kill the two children.
"Because this pirate just saved your kids from their collapsing rooms thanks to your great kick destroying the support beams under their rooms." It was lucky that Charlotte had a gone up with the kids to their rooms, otherwise she'd never know that the twins' bedroom was directly above the kitchen. "Now," Charlotte grunted, hoisting one of the kids higher up. "If you be as kindly as to follow me outside. I think your children would like to grow up with a father." She didn't wait for a response as she stepped between the two males.
"La…tte?" Charlotte paused, glancing down at the sleepy child glancing back up.
Ignacio's eyes widened as a surge of dark energy flooded past him, his native abilities kicking on. "Oi, Bloody Boa!" He called instantly, his fatherly instincts heightened. His children were in danger!
"D-dad?" Kora muttered, glancing passed Charlotte's shoulder to her marine dad. Her face lit up instantly. "What's going on? Ah! The kitchen! And the living room!" She cried while the father's stance fell slightly. His daughter was completely at ease and trusting of the woman before him. But… he shot his eyes towards the huntress. The darkness surrounding her already gone as if it wasn't ever there. Did he imagine it?
"Shh, you'll wake your brother." Charlotte murmured with a smile before continuing out the door. "The building's no longer safe." She explained when Kora asked her why they couldn't be sleeping in their own rooms.
"Are you coming?" Law questioned as he walked up next to the frozen marine. Law knew the father wouldn't be stupid enough to try anything, especially when his children were held hostage. Not that they actually were. Law didn't need to go as low as to stoop to holding children hostage to win a battle.
"…Yeah," Ignacio nodded, following them out.
Charlotte was placing her scarf over the twin's body like a blanket as she quickly tended them to sleep. It didn't take as long considering how they were only half awake. "If I had known that their father was part of the marine, I would have thought twice about stay longer to clean up." Charlotte admitted, taking a seat on a giant rock next to the one the twins were sleeping on. Law was leaning against a tree not too far away, his arms crossed and face hidden behind his hat. It was clear to the other two adults that Law was indeed listening and battle ready as well. Actually, all three of them were. They were enemies after all and if it wasn't for the children, they'd probably be still in battle.
"Though it doesn't seem like you are here often." Charlotte continued. He didn't even hold back in his attacks, knowing that his children's rooms were directly above the kitchen. Given his care and fatherly instincts towards his children, Charlotte doubt that he would have done the same if he had known that his children were just above. Which only left one thing: he was probably often away at sea. He said he was in the midst of his training for Vice Admiral too. What was it again? Rokushiki?
"It's just as you think." Charlotte's eyes widened slightly, before nodding to herself. So he also was able to read thoughts from emotions. What a terrifying skill in addition to Rokushiki! "I've been away for a long time. I was only allowed back because I was needed here for the Dead of the Dead. Otherwise, I'd still be in the middle of my training." The father nodded, once again catching onto both pirates' thoughts. "I've only know four of the six techniques of Rokushiki."
He's definitely dangerous. Charlotte concluded. She barely dodged the kick. She wouldn't even have bothered to dodge it either if it wasn't for the fact that the chair before her randomly broke into two. Law had sustained injuries too.
"Though it looks as if I have a long way to go still if a mere pirate is faster than me."
Charlotte grinned at that. "I'll take that as a compliment." She took pride in her ability to move.
"What brings you here to my quaint little town? Shouldn't rookies like you be rushing to go to the New World?" Ignacio asked, his question directed towards the Captain this time.
"We decided to make a pit stop here. It seems like we have some business here we need to attend to first." Law said easily. There was no sense of malice of anything in his words. Law was being honest. It would be more beneficial to tell them of his intentions than for them to draw their own twisted conclusions. They didn't come here looking for a fight. They were just going to get what they need and leave. "We'll leave as soon as we're done here. It shouldn't interfere with your lives too much."
"I see. There's no hope in you telling me what your business here is, is there?" Ignacio tried with an awkward grin. He knew it was a long shot, but he could at least try. He was a marine and these were his sworn enemies.
"That's up to her to disclose." Law jutted his chin towards the cross-legged huntress, looking as if she was on the top of the world with her position on the rock.
So this business is her business. Ignacio thought, shifting his gaze to the woman.
Charlotte tilted her head, smiling innocently and cutely at the Marine. "Not. A. Chance." She spoke happily.
Ignacio sighed, of course. Running a hand through his dirt-brown hair, he spoke dejectedly as if he was struggling with himself. "I won't do anything this time around." Ignacio promised much to Charlotte and Law's surprise. He glanced at his two sleeping children, his tone softening. "It looks like they have grown a liking to you and you've been taking care of them in my stead. I wouldn't want them to have to see you two arrested. However," his voice dropped and despite the smile on his face, the glare in his eyes were promising nothing good. "if you were to bring harm to my peaceful hometown, then I will not hesitate to stop you."
"A peaceful town would be nice." Charlotte agreed, pushing off the rock and onto her feet. She strolled up to the Rear Admiral, her innocent look amplified with the way she stretched her locked hands behind her. She paused before him, their height difference easily noticeable between the two. Normally, this difference would have ticked the huntress off, but she felt nice today. She patted the marine's shoulder lightly. "Don't overdo it. No children should have to grown up without both their parents." It wasn't a threat that she was trying to get across. It was a point. The twins were still innocent, lively. They had a good future before them and Charlotte would hate it if they were to fall into the wrong path, unable to return to the normal lives that they'd once have. A quiet and peaceful life was much better than constantly being on the run chased by the rest of the world.
"Thank you. Perhaps he'll listen now that someone who knows best had said so." A kind voice called from behind them, capturing all their attention.
The figure was a beautifully stunning woman with same pink hair as her children, except hers was more rose-pink hair in nature. The silky pink hair fell in slightly loose tresses around her small heart shaped face before resuming their skinny fishtail braids. Her pink bangs were gently swept to the side making her already small face look even smaller and her even more delicate. She was adorned in a light pink, almost white frilly high-colored top adorned with many necklaces and a giant black shawl that she was barely hanging on her shoulders. Unlike her children, her eyes were a dazzling bottle green-almost emerald shade contrasting with her rather pink lips. She looked really like a gentle beauty type.
Though that wasn't all she looked like to a certain huntress. Charlotte was frozen stiff in her spots, her eyes wide open like she couldn't bare to blink in case the image before her was some cruel illusion. It probably was, Charlotte knew better than to believe the sight before her. But she couldn't help but hope that this before her was reality and she had been awfully, terribly wrong these past fifteen years.
Slowly, Charlotte raised her hand, her body shaking. "Mo—"
"They won't be parentless, but definitely having a father is better than not in my opinion." The woman continued, strolling up towards her husband and clinging to his arm. "My name is Elora. I thank you for taking care of my children when I was away marking the Deadens." She paused, reading their confusion instantly, before immediately continuing, never missing a beat. "Oh, that's what I call the Dead of Hearts. Usually this giant oaf is back to help take care of the twins since I'm often busy during this time of year. I'm the town's Shimigami." She smiled lovingly up at her husband and Charlotte's hands fell at the sight, her face shadowed and tucked away once again.
Of course, she wouldn't be here! Charlotte scolded herself, biting her lower lip, her hands clenched into fists beside her. The colors all wrong too! It's just the features…
"Latte, sweetie, are you okay? It's okay, don't cry. Mommy's here." The gentle and beautiful woman promised, offering the child her best smile. Her baby blue eyes glossing over the large open burn wound Charlotte's back with unease. There was fresh blood everywhere. She need to get her to a doctor fast, but even then, there'll still be an ugly scar. The mother's lips trembled, slightly at the thought of little Latte growing up being discriminated against because of the ugly scar. Still, she forced her lips still, she needed to be strong for Latte.
Despite the situation, the smile behind it was genuine. It wasn't laced with the worry or fear that the mother felt. She knew better than to offer her child a smile like that. What kind of mother would she be if she was to push her own worry to her young one? It was her job as a mom to protect her children. "Mommy will fix everything. Just stay behind me, okay Latte?" She placed a gentle kiss on the teary faced child. "Stay behind me." She murmured, pushing the trembling child behind her as she turned to face their assailant, a pain expression on her face.
Charlotte could vaguely remember her mother leaving her side—her mind too focused on the pain searing through her trembling body—vaguely hear the conversation that took place—her cries too loud for her to hear—vaguely remember anything that happened until all time seem to freeze. Charlotte's teary eyes seem instantly dried as her eyes widened considerably. In that instant, everything—the pain, the tears, the noises—all seem to be insignificant. All of it drowned out by the sound of her mother screaming; the warmth of fresh, red blood, splattering across her face; and the sight of her pale mother, limp on the floor. Shocked blue eyes dull, violet strands array, and pink lips parted in half gasp and half scream.
"MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMYYYYYYY!"
Charlotte tucked her chin in deeper, her hands trembling slightly next to her. There was no mistaking it. She had checked, ran to her mother's side at the moment and held onto her cold, cold body. She was there when it had happened. Witness in frozen shock as her mother's life drain right before her very eyes. There was no mistaking—Charlotte snapped her head up, glancing forward when a pair of soft hands enveloped hers.
It was Ignacio's wife. On her face was a sad yet gentle smile that carried strength and promised troubles away. The same type of smile Charlotte had last received from her mother. Charlotte's eyes flickered with emotions and Elora's eyes only soften. "Thank you for all you've done for Kora and Kozu. I know it must have been hard for you." She pulled the girl into a hug, her hand gently stroking Charlotte's purple tresses. They were just like hers, except violet like her own mother. "I'll tell the twins to stop calling you 'Latte'." She murmured into Charlotte's ears. "I'm sorry for your loss." She whispered just as Ignacio pulled his wife back, screaming about the dangers of hugging a known criminal, but it didn't seem like Elora was having any of it. She only stared back at the shell-shocked Charlotte, offering her a sad and understanding smile.
Jerking her face away, Charlotte reached for her red scarf, throwing it on easily. She had covered half of her face with it as she stalked wordlessly away.
"Ah, I think I may have overdone it." Elora sighed softly. She hadn't meant to hurt the young woman, didn't mean to read into her that painful memory of the past. She couldn't help it. She was the town's Shimigami which meant she was also the town's most skilled reader. She was hypersensitive to everything. "Being the Shimigami has its downsides." She turned her attention to the quiet and handsome doctor watching the scene with skillfully covered emotionless eyes. "Ne, handsome doctor, I think I may have upset her. Could you please look after her?" She asked as Law pushed off the tree, walking wordlessly after Charlotte.
"Don't tell me what to do." Law called back, ignoring Ignacio's shouts of how dare he speak to his wife in such a manner. But Elora remained silent, a small smile on her face. She knew better. She could feel past what he was willing to show and a small smile crept onto her face. Charlotte would be okay.
"Oi, what did you do?" Ignacio asked, his strong arms wrapped around his delicate wife. Even him and his ever dulled native abilities was able to pick up that there was something definitely wrong with the air around them as they left.
Elora didn't respond, instead she reached up, pinching Ignacio's noise, a small pout on her face. Her husband was so dull. He was probably the town's dullest. It was a miracle that he managed to remain from being classified as a Deaden given how insensitive to things he was. "What did you think you were doing coming home so late? The children would have been without adult supervision for two days if it wasn't for Charlotte and Law! You know Kora! She's just like me, she picks up on other's wavelengths way too easily! Ah, no she's worst. She's also too curious. What would happen if she walked up to some strange and weird people?!"
Before Ignacio could offer an excuse, the house next to them finally gave way, tumbling into a heap of rubbles. Ignacio glanced back at his small wife, her cheeks were puffed and her gentle brows pointed down. She's not happy... Ignacio thought, sweating slightly.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO OUR HOUSE?!"
"Shh, honey! You'll wake the kids."
"DON'T YOU DARE USE THE KIDS AS AN GET AWAY! WHERE DO YOU THINK THEY'RE GOING TO STAY NOW?!"
…
"What are you doing?" Law questioned, leaning across the rails as he stared down at the lower back deck of his submarine. Sitting on the deck with the sub's tail with her legs fitted between the rails and dangling off the edge was Charlotte. She looked like a red pole with the way she had rolled herself up in her oversized red scarf. Was everything with this woman overly excessive? The scarf was practically a blanket, covering the full-size adult.
"Stop sulking in the corner." He sighed, coming up next to the silent woman. He shot a worried glance down towards her from the corner of his eyes. He didn't need the town's super abilities to know that something was depressing the woman.
"Could you please look after her?" Elora's words repeated in Law's mind and he found himself frowning. He didn't need her to tell him what to do. He would have done it without her telling him so. He was her captain after all. The safety of his crew was in his hands and under his responsibility.
Pressing elbows against the rails, Law leaned forward, his eyes glossing over the black sea. "I should have known you were here. I always find you staring out at the water." His voice trailed, unsure as to what to say next. He wasn't the talkative time and consolidating a woman as never something he was good at. It wasn't helping that the woman he was trying to help wasn't speaking at all. If this had been one of the guys, then all would be easy, he'd just have to tell them to get over it. It being whatever it was that his subordinates were hung up over. But this wasn't just one of the guys, this was Charlotte and if there was one thing he had learned throughout the three months they've traveled together was he always needed a different way to deal with Charlotte. This was definitely not one of those exceptions.
He just needed a topic. Anything that they had in common would work. The question was, did they have anything in common? Surely, there must be something. But the great genius doctor was drawing a blank. Law scowled, sparing a peek at the frigid Charlotte. She looked so emotionless compared to moments ago. When she first saw Elora, her face was a conglomeration of emotions. They mainly consisted of disbelief, shock, pain, fear and hope. Her eyes were glued to the woman and Charlotte looked so uncertain as she moved. It was like she was scared of breaking the delicate image before her.
In comparison... his eyes focused on the one visible hand gripping the two ends of the scarf together with a death grip. This would have been a lot easier if he knew what was going on the girl's mind. If only he had Kozu's ability. Law blinked. Rolling his head back, the dark doctor pinched the bridge of his nose. Since when was it this hard to start a conversation with the woman? How did he do it in the past?
Images of their past conversation starters replied in his mind.
Charlotte showed up in the infirmary with another superficial wound.
Charlotte was fighting with Cole again and they tumbled into Law. They both lost their dinners.
Charlotte was caught trying to throw laundry into the garbage chute. Lost dinner.
Charlotte disobeyed his order. Lost dinner.
Charlotte got in the way of his plan. Lost dinner and received an earful of scolding.
Charlotte kicked him out of his room to shower.
Charlotte—It had always been Charlotte who initiated their conversations. If one could call their short episodes of him telling Charlotte about her increased chores and lack of dinner could be consider a conversation. Other than that, their only conversations consisted of Law telling the group about their upcoming plans, what they could and cannot do on the next island. Of course, then he wasn't talking to Charlotte personally, but rather the whole Heart Pirates. Though he did make extra emphasis and eye contact with the huntress ever since she shown her dislike and tendencies to ignore his orders. Law sighed. Those could be hardly considered real conversations. Surely, they had to have some actual, real conversation in all the months they spent together. Something in which he had learned something about the woman. He just needed common ground.
He really didn't know anything about Charlotte.
Actually, he had a lot of blanks when it came to Charlotte. A lot more questions than answers.
"…It's not a corner."
Law glanced down, barely catching onto Charlotte's quite words, too busy in his own thoughts on how to start a conversation. "I guess you're right. A circle doesn't have any corners." He sighed, a small fleeting defeated grin adhering to his features. Even now, she was the one helping him initiate the conversation. "Normal people usually sulk in the corner."
"I'm not normal." She muttered, her words starting to become muffled as she leaned against the bar, her eyes struggling between fluttering close to relish in the coolness of the metal pole against her cheek and staying open to watch the glistening water's edge.
"You really love the waters." Law noted, glancing down at the quaint Charlotte. She had settled for somewhere in between. Her limp eyes remained half-lidded, focused on the glistening sea. A small smile crept onto her face at the mention of water.
"Mm," She hummed, rubbing her cheek against the pole a bit as she did so. "It's relaxing and calming. It's like the waves are calling to me, promising that they can wash away all the problems and worries with a single roll."
Law glanced back at the open waters, listening to the quite roars of the water. It was gentle the way the sea calls for their presence. Like a small pull that you wouldn't notice until you finally reached the destination. The water's lull was tempting and it would have been fine if it wasn't for the fact that the two of them were devil fruit users. The water hates them. The calling was nothing more than the sea's curse trying to drown them, trying to rid the word of their demons. If anything, the water was their greatest weakness which made it their greatest enemy. It wasn't wise to be so attracted to something that could kill you. Especially, not if you wanted to walk into the belly of the beast. Then again, this was Charlotte he was talking about and all Charlotte ever does is run head first into the belly of the beasts.
"You can swim." Law remembered the time that Charlotte had fallen through the ice. He saw her kicking and her hands pressed against the ice's underbelly as she broke the surface. It was rather shocking.
"Yeah… I learned to when I was younger." Charlotte muttered, a small smile crawling onto her face at the memory. "As a child, I spent countless of hours practicing kicks and learning the different ways to swim." She continued. It was a dream of hers, probably the only dream she ever had. "As a child, my dream was to swim with the fishes one day."
Law glanced at Charlotte, slightly surprised to hear her talk about her childhood, her past. It was surprisingly normal. So how did she end up on the wrong side of the justice system?
A small chuckle escaped her lips. It sounded bitter, almost antagonistic in nature. Whatever the laugh was, Law wasn't expecting it nor did it seem to match the smile that was on her face moments ago. "I can't anymore."
Law didn't press on the topic. There was no need for her to elaborate what she meant. She was a devil fruit user.
"Despite that… I… still want to swim." Law glanced down at the girl, quirking a brow. How was she planning on doing that? Her dream was beyond reachable now. She could try all she like, but she'd probably die trying first.
"Miss Charlotte, need I remind you of your curse?" He chided, slightly amused at her mumblings.
Charlotte tried to shake her head, but the pole was in her way and it was too comfortable for the huntress to move away from. Not only that it was her lifeline right now. It was the only thing keeping her upright. Perhaps she was tired. Perhaps she was depressed. Either way, the pole was the only thing keeping her upright at the moment. "I know… I'll sink if I touch water now. It doesn't matter if I can swim or not. I understand that." Charlotte blinked, forcing her eyes open this time. Damn, she was really tired now. Perhaps she should get up and do something to keep her awake. She didn't want to fall asleep now… but the pole was so comfortable and she didn't feel like doing anything. Her body suddenly too heavy. Perhaps sitting down was a mistake. Her eyes ran along the water's edge, yet not really taking in the sight. Her vision blocked instead by another image. She didn't do anything back then either. She didn't do anything to stop or prevent it from happening. In hindsight, there was so much that Charlotte could have done.
Law frowned at the tired woman. It wasn't so much that she was sleepy that was causing the doctor to frown. It would only be natural for her to feel exhausted after so many nights without sleep. It was more of the sadden aura that had filled the air around the small girl that had Law scowling once more. Damn, just when he had gotten her to seem more upbeat too.
"But I'm fine like this too." Charlotte muttered, her eyelids fluttering again, struggling between close and open. This time out of fatigue. The days without sleep finally catching up to her now that she was finally not moving.
"What do you mean?" Law questioned, wondering if she was too sleep deprived for her mind to be functioning properly. He watched her eyes jolt open again, wondering why she was so keen on staying awake. There wasn't a real point in forgoing so much sleep just to be efficient in her work. Especially on this current job, it wasn't as if her heart was capable of moving. It wasn't like her prey would escape her because she went to bed. If anything, her preys would probably be sleeping at the same time. It was equal grounds for both party.
Charlotte reached her arms through the bars, hands out, trying to grab the giant yellow tail of the sub. It wasn't a hard thing to do considering that it was attached to the back of the submarine and she was sitting four bars over. The only reason why the huntress wasn't reaching the tail was because she had chosen to stretch her arms forward into the open sea instead of to the left where the fin rested. Law pondered about whether or not he should let the sleepy individual know or continue to watch her kick her legs and reach forward, trying to hug the air.
"It isn't exactly the same, but the sub is a close second." She smiled, her eyes falling closed as she settled for hugging the pole's before her as a sign of love for the yellow thing she used to call an oven. "We're underwater; the sub's swimming along with the fishes and I get to watch." Law probably didn't know this, but whenever she had free time and they were submerged—which was a lot of the time—Charlotte would find a porthole to sit next and just gaze out of it. She'd watch the fishes that swim next to them. Sometimes, she'd even see a sea king, though those times often involved a battle that ended with sea king meat for dinner.
Law stared at the happy girl incredulously. He hadn't thought of that when he decided to sail in the element of his weakness. He had solely done it for the fact that he could be concealed and get by more easily. After all, what insane person would sail underneath the water's surface, especially if they were a devil fruit user? Law had chosen the sub's design solely for a tactical reason and here Charlotte had enjoyed it because it allowed her a close second to her dream. The question of her survival as a devil fruit user trapped inside water, or the survival advantage of camouflage or anything else didn't factor into her account for her appreciation of the submarine. In fact, she actually enjoyed it for the fact that it allowed her to be trapped in the element trying to killer her without actually killing her.
"…What are you going to do once you get your heart again?" Law questioned carefully. They haven't exactly talked about it ever since they started their race together. He didn't know exactly if the huntress would indeed leave his submarine. Part of him wanted to believe that Charlotte had grown to like being part of his crew, so much so that she wouldn't leave. But the other half was constantly reminding him that the only reason he even managed to get the woman on board was holding her heart hostage.
Now Law had an extra thing to leverage into the favour of her willingly staying onboard. She wouldn't be able to swim with the fishes anymore unless she remained on as a Heart Pirate. But still, those things didn't guarantee that Charlotte would stay on after retrieving her heart. She had lived who knows how many years as a devil fruit user, giving up on her dream of swimming with the fishes. It was pure coincidence that this allowed her to experience a close second, but it was clear that she could live and function without it.
Then there was always that conversation they had a few weeks after Charlotte was forcibly made a member of the Heart Pirates crew. The one where she made her intentions on leaving clear.
"Why haven't you returned to me my heart?" Charlotte quested one day. Law had said if she was to join his crew, she could get her heart back. Wasn't that their agreement?
"…You know exactly why." Law responded nonchalantly, not even bothering to glance up from the book he had been too busy reading to even give Charlotte the time of day enough for a glance.
"Ha…" She laughed though there wasn't any real weight to it. Just a slight mocking tone in recognition of what she already knew. He wasn't going to give her heart back. At least now while she was still bound set on leaving his crew as soon as she does. Law is smarter than I gave him credit for. Charlotte found herself thinking before twisting the thought away, frowning. She really must be sick if she was going to compliment the man. "It appears that I won't be getting that back for a long, long while then." She should be insulting him, calling him terrible names and what not, but instead the huntress found herself smirking and mentally complementing the doctor for his insight.
Charlotte darted her eyes to the side, staring at the dark pool of water before her. The same memory running through her mind. She was so sure back then what she was going to do. She was going to take her heart back and run. Whatever happened to that plan? If she had done it sooner, she wouldn't be stuck in this trouble, wondering what to do. Then again, she probably didn't do it for the same reason why she couldn't decide now. Charlotte had to admit, it had been fun. Much more fun than her boring single life of chasing after her preys.
Don't get Charlotte wrong, she loved her job as a huntress, she would never forsake it. It was just… she was lonelier then compared to now. Now she actually had people she called friends, people she could fight for or—in Cole's case—with. Now that she had a taste of this, this community, was she really okay with going back to the strictly professional lifestyle she once held? It wasn't like she had any close buddies. There wasn't anyone she could pull pranks with or on. There was definitely no Cole to fight with. That was a plus, but what about everyone else?
What about the sub?
What about swimming with the fishes?
What about Law?
What about Law? Charlotte's brows knitted together, wondering why that became a thought. Law was part of the Heart Pirate. He should be included with everyone else. That was what Charlotte thought. That wasn't the most concerning factor though. The fact that Charlotte wasn't able to immediately tell if life without him was a plus or a negative was. With everything else she could easily tell if life was better, but then as she reached Law, she hesitated then drew back all together. The question remaining unanswered.
Now that Charlotte thought about it, there was many things she had left unfinished with Law too. If she was to leave now, she wouldn't be able to finish them. Not that she really needed to care for those things anyway if she leaves. If? Charlotte paused. When! She corrected without as much vigor as she would like.
Charlotte sighed. She wasn't sure anymore.
Slowly, her eyelids fluttered close, blocking the sea out of view momentarily. Charlotte concentrated on her thoughts.. Why wasn't he doing anything? The question flooded through Charlotte's mind again. He had spent so much effort trying to get me to join his crew in the first place. Shouldn't he be fighting harder to get me to stay on? She pouted.
"Whoever said I'm not." Charlotte's eyes fluttered open at the sudden voice, confusion clear in them. She hadn't answer Law's question yet, she remembered. Also, what was it that Law was talking about? Did they move to a different topic in the moment that she had rested her eyes?
"You spoke out loud." Law added after a moment recognition of Charlotte's confusion. He had found it weird when Charlotte had spoken about him as if he wasn't there, able to hear it. Now he knew why. Charlotte probably meant it as a thought, but in her fatigue she had spoken out loud. Charlotte had grown too used to this island's inhibitors and their ability to read her mind if she was already not caring whether she voices them or not. It didn't matter with the natives here since either way they'd know what she was talking about, but with everyone else… they didn't have that superpower. Charlotte would just be giving them her thoughts then.
I did? Charlotte's brows furrowed together, her closed eyes wrinkling as she squeezed them tighter. She hadn't meant to. She didn't even recognize that she was speaking.
"And now you're forgetting to speak." Law told quietly, watching her facial expression in amusement. A tired Charlotte was rather sloppy compared to the Charlotte he'd been seeing recently. The one who somehow managed to play her emotions into her favour. There was no doubt that if Charlotte needed to, she could probably force her attention to focus for a few moments longer just to give Law great stress in trying to read her emotions again. He sighed, when the 'v' between Charlotte's eyes disappeared and her body went limp against the bars she was half-hugging, half-leaning on. "Now you've fallen asleep." He narrated with a sigh. He bent over to scoop the young huntress from the airy deck. "A hint for the future: if you want to stay up, never rest your eyes."
He wasn't complaining though. Charlotte looked mighty tired. She did still even now. Law frowned slightly at her pale skin and the dark bags underneath her eyes. She'd look better without them. He noted, wondering what was it that made it so important for her stay up all these nights?
Then again, he wasn't one to judge. His bags were far worse.
Cheers resonated around the lone preteen stood in the middle of the worn coliseum. The cheers that once shook the girl to the bone and haunted her dreams were, disturbingly, becoming less and less terrorizing. The cheers were almost something Charlotte was looking forwards towards. The greater their cheers, the less likely she'll have to battle more than once a day. If the crowd liked you, they'll get treated better. Rested up well for the rest of the night so they can fight at their full strength again the next day. If you were really lucky, then they'll wait for you to fully heal before your next battle. All she had to do to was please the crowd.
Charlotte squared her shoulders with the opposite door. The door that her opponent would come out from. A dulled weapon in her hand. They didn't even bother giving them sharpened or proper weapons anymore. It was more entertaining for the masked spectators. It made the battle more barbaric as the contestants tried to cut, bludgeon and kill each other with their dulled weapons. Even better if they managed to get the other guy to bleed. The sword in the twelve-years-old's hands were grotesquely disfigured and completely useless. It was bent in the shape of a question mark. Charlotte would probably have to use it as a hook or get the opponent with a side slash to draw blood with it. She'll have to swing hard enough too. The thing was barely sharp. They really couldn't give her a worse weapon.
"Hold your horses everyone! I know you're excited to see our lovely beast right here. None of us actually thought that this rat would have made it this far. I know, I know! It's shocking at how much she's grown since her first battle. Yes, she was annoying back in those days, constantly wailing and crying out for attention. Such a spoiled brat, she was, wasn't she?" The announcer paused for the crowd to laugh. "Since then, she had grown beautifully into the monster that she is today! Her battles are no longer boring… The announcer riled and Charlotte tilted her head back, releasing a loud puff of air while her fingers rapped against the ripped rag wrapped around the metal hilt.
How many years has it been since she was first introduced into this twisted sport? Four years, wasn't it? Four years of waking up to being dragged out of her grimy, rat infested cell to fight for life in this gross and bloodstained excused of entertainment. In those four years, how many people had died at her hands?
The leather handle on the sword long ago worn out and replaced with another's slave's outfit. That person probably died. Charlotte concluded. The only time the person would have been able to tie a cloth around the handle was in the rink and if you were in the rink, you were fighting. He was probably killed trying to cushion the pain in his hand from when he grabbed the weapon. Blood dripped onto the open coliseum floor. The poorly tied and useless rag stained red. The metal handle already digging into Charlotte's palm.
"...and I promise you that today's battle will be no less!" The announcer continued and Charlotte's ready her stance. The door would be opening soon and she was going to end this quick. "Today's battle will be interesting. Definitely so! I'm sure you all heard about this monster before. Some of you may have even watched his battles before! He too is undefeated in his reign and in his years of serving us, he has never failed to deliver us a great show. People have called him born for this role and after watching his countless battles, I must agree. He knows exactly what it is that we want to see and he isn't shy to do it for us! I present today's battle: Deathbringer Charlotte vs…" The masked audience roared into excitement as the other door finally opened, revealing the contestant that they had all been hoping for since the announcer's title. Their excitement soaring through the roof. Gossips and talk about the fight began as soon as the opponent stepped into the light.
Charlotte's eyes widened as her opponent came into view and her stance faltered. For once in all four years of battle, never had she seen anyone so similar to her. She thought she was the only one. The only one who had been raised in this twisted environment. Her opponent this time was a boy with spiky ashy-black hair. He wasn't much older than she was. Perhaps two years, three max.
"Bloodletter Aceteon!" The child didn't even wait for the bell to finish ringing before darting on forward, a giant grin on his excited face.
Oooooo! A hint into who Aceteon is! How many of you thought prior or just knew out of the bat that he was also a slave gladiator like Charlotte? Not only that, what was with the kitchen scene between Law and Charlotte? I find it funny how Law is in denial about his attraction to Charlotte. I feel like it'd be normal given how attractive Charlotte is in general, but then again, the doctor didn't even respond a bit to Boa. Anyway, we'll see how their relationship develops. I hope you guys didn't find that scene too sudden or too choppy or OOC. (Oh, I effeminately hope not OOC! (๑ó⌓ò๑)) Anyway, I'll leave you guys on that. Don't for get to review and let me know about your theories or how you think the chapter went! I promise I won't bite!
~Airi