Author Note: I love Law. That's it. So you get a chapter from his perspective. Also I figured I couldn't do so much damage without having a semi realistic response to their wounds Xb I can easily say that the story that's inspired me the most with what life on the Polar Tang would be like is called "Shambles" by moonlit nocturne on this site. Kinda dark but worth a read if looking for a long haul LawxOC romance with amazing writing:) ((I guess I can't be one to talk on darkness? I don't think this fic is dark? Maybe I'm wrong? Someone please comment and explain what angst even is I don't get it.)). All I know is that as much as I love Law, I'm not sure i could write a whole fic for him. Mainly cause that would require me to research medical surgery lingo and I ain't that invested Xb. I should probably be more invested in researching swordsmanship... OH WELL!
To be honest the direction of this chapter was mostly inspired by Sabo. I watched Stampede last night and towards the end at some point Sabo is like "Luffy's friend seems to have a good idea." and Law let's no time pass before clarifying "I am not his friend."
But I mean, cmon. Let's be honest. "Greatest rival" is just code for "friend I don't really know we just throw down all the time"
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Trafalgar D. Water Law believed in luck, but he never counted on it. Sure, sometimes he included it as a factor in his plans, but always with counter options and the acknowledgement that Lady Luck is a fickle woman, and he a wary man.
But then,
"Oi Tra-guy! We need your help! We got a really badly injured navy lady on our boat, and Chopper says she needs surgery!"
There was Mugiwara.
Mugiwara doesn't follow the rules. He's got this obnoxious deal with Lady Luck and General Fate that they can screw him over for a bit but they always let him slide into home plate after some stupid impossible home run hit.
"Mugiwara-ya, I'm not helping some Navy lady." I state, bland, as I hold the Den Den Mushi in my hand while sitting in the dining hall. Crew members eating dinner all stop their chewing as they listen in with interest. I'd tell them to mind their own business but this doesn't seem like a sensitive topic.
"Whaaa?! But she'll die!" Luffy whines over the line. I roll my eyes and hold back the numerous one liners I could drop about the benefits of a dead marine. That would be insensitive of me.
"Good. One less enemy," I settle on.
"Tra-guy! That's meeeean! Oi! Get your submarine up here right now you jerk!"
"What will I gain from this exchange?" It's a dangerous question. Every time I ask it I am positive there is nothing this ridiculous crew can offer me. Then they come up with some stupid yet compelling reason and it irks me greatly that I asked in the first place. This, was going to be one of those times. I can feel it.
"Ah, well-" Luffy's voice dips away from the Den Den Mushi, words muffled as he talks to his crew. "guys what can we offer him? No, no.. oh! Try-guy! Sanji says he just made a fresh batch of Pita Bread! How bout that, huh?"
A vein pops above my eye.
For once I don't regret asking the gain in exchange question.
"Good bye Mugiwara."
"WAI-"
!clank!
Silence reigns over the dining hall and I look up to see my whole crew staring at me.
"What?" I shrug my shoulders and turn back to my omelet.
"That was a bit cold Captain." Bepo suggests timidly.
"We aren't an alliance anymore Bepo. Technically I should haul ass to rise to the surface with guns blazing right now."
"Then why don't you?"
"Because I'm eating food and I don't feel like it." I grumble around a stuffed mouth, huffing at all the difficult questions.
"Captaaain.." Penguin's voice has a teasing accusing tone to it.
"Because there's still a few more common enemies we have to take out before it's our time to face each other." I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose as I swallow my omelet, not caring to go into the detailed mind graphs and battle plans I have set out for the next two-three years over an early breakfast.
"No, no. I'm pretty sure that's not it." Sachi hums confidently.
"Oh? And what do you suggest my reasons are? Claiming to know my own thoughts better than me?"
"Yup!"
"Do tell."
"You liiiike them. As frieeeeeends. And you don't wanna huuuuurt them. Cause you liiiiike them."
My vein pops again, the second time in five minutes. Mugiwara... I growl in my thoughts. I can't tell if I want tea, coffee, or a shot of hard liquor to escape the headache this stupid pirate always brings.
"That's disgusting. You're worse than his brother."
PuraPuraPuraPura ca-cha!
"For the last time I am not he-"
"We'll give you an IOU. Next time you need back up." Roronoa Zoro's voice is gruff and unwilling on the other end. "this is stupid. why do I have to talk to him?"
"cause you guys get each other! Your moody quiet types!"
"I'm not moody!"
"and you're the one who let Tashigi-chan drag herself half way through the forest!"
"That's not my fault!"
"YES IT IS!" the entire crew whispers fiercely at the swordsman
"whatever. Alright look. Law."
"Roronoa, with your idiot of a captain, I don't need an IOU for tight spots. I could call anytime anywhere and he'd show up regardless of how stupid it was for your crew's agenda."
"That sounds like your gettin comfy counting on us. Only fair you pay pack some of that peace of mind."
"TRA-GUY! IF YOU DON'T HELP TASHIGI LADY, WE AREN'T FRIENDS ANYMORE! I HEARD YOU CALL ME STUPID TOO! Yeah I'm stupid but I still have feelings." Luffy sniffs disdainfully after his yells.
A slightly disgruntled sneer pulls at my lips and I lift a hand to massage my forehead as my own crew starts whispering fiercely around me.
"Captain!"
"It's not nice to call your friends stupid!"
"You idiot! Now look what you've done!"
"You're real dense when it comes to common sense Capn! Everyone knows you gotta help a friend out!"
"WE ARE NOT FRIENDS." aaahhhh why are they all like this?! MUGIWARA.
A few beats of silence pass, pregnant with hopeful suspense from all parties involved except for me. Oh for the love of
"FINE. I'll come up. But I expect an IOU from the Straw Hats and a personal IOU from you Roronoa, since it sounds like this is your fault to begin with."
"HUEEH?!"
"That's my offer. Take it or-"
"DONE! Cmon up bread hater!" Sani's voice rings through the snail as Zoro protests heatedly in the background ("it's my IOU! I get to say if I give it or not! Doesn't even make sense cause I'm always with you guys! He basically just got two IOUs!")
"Yay!" A chorus of cheers erupts in the Polar Tang's dining hall and I let out an exasperated groan as Bepo quickly hurries out of the room towards navigation yelling "I'll bring us to the surface! It looks like they're right above us!"
"We'll be there in 10 minutes. Have the patient ready." I grumble before hanging up the line.
Once again, Lady Luck seems ever on the Straw Hats' side.
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10 Minutes Later
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I look down at the Navy Captain, former, from what I've picked up from the Straw Hat crew's rambling the moment I stepped on board. Tashigi lays on the deck, bandaged and clean but extraordinarily pale with breathing shallow and uneven. "There's two of them now." I mutter under my breath as I glance over at Zoro who's standing with arms crossed over his own bandages several feet away, his face unreadable as he watches me. Waiting for a diagnosis?
I look back to my new patient, creating a small room as I scan the damage. Even my eyes widen a bit at, well, the mess.
"Bepo, Penguin. Prepare for trauma surgery, now. Roronoa," I turn to the swordsman and cross my arms for a moment. "Were you hit by the same weapon?"
"Yeah. Chopper fixed me up though." He grunts.
"Whatever the hell you guys fought against rips flesh. You'll need internal stitching."
"I'm fi-"
"Room." I don't wait to argue, transferring the three of us to the surgery room in the Polar Tang. Before I let the room dissolve I scan Roronoa.
"-ne the hell Law!"
"Uni and Penguin should be able to handle your surgery." I state as I start cleaning up and preparing, Penguin looking up from where he just finished inserting an IV into Tashigi at the sound of his name. Bepo doesn't stop working beside him, testing for blood type and going to check our blood bank.
"Should?"
A whir fills the air for a moment as I expand my room again, then bring Chopper down.
"Make him do the surgery." I order the reindeer doctor, and Chopper gives a determined grunt in return, needing no other information as he grows and grabs Zoro in a restraining hug and follows Penguin out the door.
"I'M NOT GIVING YOU ANOTHER IOU FOR THIS!" Zoro's voice echos through the metal hallways but I push the distraction away. I'll figure out what and if I need payment later. Turning towards Tashigi lying on the operating table, my eyes narrow in focus.
"room."
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5 hours later
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"Here." I hand the bag of blood sample vials to the small doctor, my other hand shoved in my pocket. "I thought I saw foreign chemical substances so I tested for poison. They both have something in their system, but it's not lethal and it would take me days to get out. All the reports are in there too. Medicine is your specialty. They'll be fine on that front."
"And on the other fronts?" Nico Robin stands a few feet away, her arms crossed against the chilly wind that's picked up. We stand on the deck of their Sunny, Usopp, Nami, and Luffy also present.
"They'll both be good as long as they get at least two weeks of bedrest, especially the Navy woman." I say, putting my other hand in my other pocket, soaking in the relaxation after what had been an annoying but also satisfying surgery. Tashigi's wounds had been complex, but no complications arose. I quickly saw her shredded insides as a puzzle needing to be put back together, tendons and flesh interlocking and settling together smoothly with my help.
"Phew! Good to hear!" Usopp lets out a relieved sigh and slaps my shoulder in comradery.
I glare at him.
"Ehe, I mean, not that anyone doubted you." He slowly and cautiously removes his hand from my shoulder as he rambles on. "We just thought she might have already lost too much blood to the point of beyond saving." he laughs nervously. I wait till his hand is completely off me before responding.
"She practically did. If it was a normal person I might not have even wasted time on starting the surgery."
"Normal?" Nami asks, tilting her head. I shrug.
"She has grit." I state, simple. "There's never guarantees of survival after wounds and surgery like that, but if you keep her knocked out and resting long enough her chances are decent."
They all smile at the prognosis, and I let my lips twitch up just a bit in return.
"Welp! Thanks for your help Tra-guy! I'm glad we can still be friends!" Luffy chimes as he throws his arms over his head in a stretch and turns to walk away.
The vein above my eye twitches again.
"We're not-"
"Yeah yeah, not friends. I'll pass your message on to Zoro about his payment." Usopp grins and waves his hand dismissively in the air before he turns to follow Luffy.
"You have a funny way of getting payments. Most people just want berries." Nami giggles with a wink before also leaving.
"I can still demand to raid your treasure stores." I deadpan back, half considering the idea. Maybe I'll room over before I leave..
"Captain! That storm keeps getting closer! We should go!" Bepo yells from the small deck of the Polar Tang, and I look over my shoulder to nod to him before turning back to Chopper and Robin.
"No one would blame you if you did take a small trip to the treasury. I promise to not tell Nami." The archeologist lifts a hand to cover a quiet chuckle, her eyes shut in mirth.
"I think it's fair payment! Good Sake can be hard to find, so it makes sense if you tell Zoro to get you a barrel of your favorite brew in repayment for saving his life." Chopper offers helpfully, sincere.
"Zoro would have been fine with your treatments. Just would have had more scar tissue that could intervene with reaching his goals. His IOU isn't worth a lot if he's some second rate fighter." I counter, turning the soon to end conversation away from my payment methods. "You should look into getting more surgery equipment Chopper-ya."
"Oooh!" The reindeer doctor's eyes light up with excitement at the idea, and he lets out a bubbly laugh as he jumps a little. "Maybe that's what I can use my share of the-"
A hand sprouts from the little doctor's cheek, covering his mouth quickly before he can continue. My eyes flit to Robin, who's own gaze is heavily guarded but twinkles with mystery. There was that. An incredible lack of information on how exactly the two swordsmen got their wounds. Or what the Straw Hats had been up to in general. Zoro said their opponent used a whip. From what I've overheard, they got the wounds at an island, recently at that. There's only so many places nearby. Surely she knows it won't take much time or effort to learn what they were up to. Are they trying to protect the Navy woman?
"Been a while since your guys' name has made a front page headline." I comment, testing to see if I can still get information the easy way. At this point the former Navy Captain's presence on their ship was the biggest mystery. Rather, her willingness to be there. I'd gathered that much as well. She had not been forced to board the boat.
"I'm sure the moment we do anything of note you'll hear about it." Robin responds, ever cryptic. I snort and turn to jump over the rail back to my own sub.
"Very friendly of you." I quip bitingly, placing a hand on the rail.
"I'd tell you my theories, but even she hasn't trusted us with her purposes, so they're simply that. Theories." Robin drives to the point, and glancing over my shoulder I see the same twinkle in her eyes turn from mysterious to knowing. "We can be friends Law."
Her tone is sincere, and speaks for the whole crew. I turn my head back to look at my sub, pausing, before smirking a bit and jumping over the side, landing softly on my deck. I place a hand on top of my hat to readjust it as I stand straight and look up at the Sunny's deck where Robin still stands. Suddenly, Luffy's head pops over the rail next to her and he waves his hands in an eager and heart felt good-bye, a giant grin plastered on his face.
"There's only going to be one Pirate King Nico Robin, and it's going to be me. So take your friendship somewhere else." I yell up at the duo, allowing myself a smug grin in return to Luffy's. His expression freezes a second, before the grin grows wider and just a bit wicked.
"Dam right there's just one, so don't come begging to join our parties when we're at the top and you're number two!" the rubber man yells, excited and eyes glinting with fierce competition and the fire of dreamers. We grin at each other for just a second before I drop my grin to a smirk, shake my head and turn around to walk inside.
"When I'm king I'll make sure to send a barrel of my favorite brew to your consolation party for getting your asses whooped." I throw over my shoulder, not quite satisfied with letting Mugiwara get the last dig. I walk through the door, but just as it's shutting-
"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer Trafalgar Law!" Robin's voice echos down the hall. "Thanks for the distance!"
I spin around, eyes wide then narrow at the assumption, but the door closes before I can retaliate. Shoulders tense and hunched, a let out a quiet huff before turning to walk back to the operation rooms to help with left over clean up.
"Oh they got you good Captain."
"haha! Good job Capn! You practiced your friendship skills!"
a chorus of cheers erupt as I look up in surprise to see the hall crowded with half my crew, all grinning smugly.
The vein pops again.
"All of you can pull double night shift duty on your next round. Get outta here."
and with that we continue on our way, the Polar Tang far below the rough seas starting to brew above, my brushes with Lady Luck and General Fate as the salvation for someone else complete.