Chapter 42
The kid walked around the deck looking for something to entertain himself without disturbing anyone. It was still daylight, so everyone was busy with the ship's tasks.
Suddenly, he saw Mina, who seemed to be sleeping. He approached her, but before he could touch her, Law stopped him and gave him a silence signal with his finger.
-Let her rest.
-Why doesn't she sleep in a bed? - asked the kid innocently - We should at least take the book off her face, right? Miss could choke!
The child was right. Honestly, Law always thought her sleeping habits were quite uncomfortable. She always fell asleep with a book on her face, just like Doflamingo. Law pouted at the comparison, it was unpleasant that she had so many oddities equal to the bastard's.
He raised his hand, ready to wrench that book off her face, but before he could, Mina reacted and grabbed his wrist. The book fell to the ground, revealing her still sleepy face.
-What time is it?
-It's 5 in the afternoon, what's with that "What time is it?" question!?
-Ahhhhh - she sighed annoyed and got up from the lounger - What difference does it make? I'm the one doing the night watches... How annoying.
The boy and Law smirked and looked at each other like accomplices. They found it fun to tease her. Normally, she always kept a poker face, but now she seemed to be off guard.
-Miss Mina... Can we play with ball? - asked Eskel with starry eyes.
Oddly, the adorable looks worked perfectly on Law, but not on Mina. It was as if the revolutionary had a shield against cute things.
-What's so fun about playing with a one-armed person? - she asked while yawning.
-Pffff. Boring~ - Law replied as he smirked to annoy her, something that apparently worked, because he received a glare. Mina grabbed the ball and threw it straight into the sea. Then, she looked at Law with a grin.
-Aren't you going to look for the ball, captain? Maybe we're lucky and you never come back~
Law dropped a bead of sweat.
-You want to kill me, right?
As both adults went about their business, Eskel looked at them in confusion.
-Are they angry again?
-No - Shachi answered suddenly, catching up with the boy - Mom and Dad are flirting again. They're so cheeky, even in front of a child~
They both turned to see Shachi and glared at him.
-Oi, Who the hell are you calling mom and dad? - asked Law annoyed.
-Let's go, kid - Shachi said as he picked up the child in his arms and ran away from the place - It's time to let the adults do adult things~
Shachi fled the scene quickly. When those two got angry at the same time, they were terrifying.
-A week later-
Eustass Kid looked at the boy who was staring at him, and then at Law and the revolutionary.
-Fuck, the war just ended. Isn't it too early to go around procreating?
-Are you dumb or what? - Law asked with a frown - Does he seem like a newborn to you?
Kid looked surprised.
-Then... since when the hell have you kept your kid as a secret!?
-Why the hell would we keep the kid as a secret? - Mina asked.
-Isn't this your love-child or something like that? - Kid asked, tilting his head.
Mina and Law went blank for a second. Immediately, they both punched the redhead in the head.
-I know it's too much to ask you to use that piece of pink trash you have for a brain - Law said as he let Kid complain about the blow - But I assure you that once you discover it, a new world of possibilities will open up for you, Eustass-ya.
-Bastards... - Kid insulted them while stroking his head.
-You're stupid, Kid... - Killer looked at him sideways.
-Agggg ... Can you tell me again why the hell did you come to my ship?
-I need you to do me a favor. Who made your mechanical arm prosthesis? - Mina asked him.
-Your conceited asses may not believe it, but the truth is that I'M AN ENGINEER - Kid answered annoyed - Who the hell do you think has done it? OF COURSE ME!
-Ohhhh - Law clapped - You're not as stupid as I thought you were, Eustass-ya.
Law turned to speak to Eskel.
-You see Eskel-ya? Sometimes, even reading books doesn't free you from being completely ignorant - he pointed to Kid - He's an example of what I just told you.
-I WILL KILL YOU, TRAFALGAR.
-Eustass - Mina interrupted - I need you to make me one of those.
-Why the hell would I do YOU a favor?
-Do it for the old days, Eustass~ - she smirked - I'll pay you.
Kid stared at the bag full of money with bulging eyes.
-Oi oi, Where the hell did you get all this money from!? Don't screw me, I've seen you eat bugs at Impel Down! - Kid looked at her surprised - There's no way this is yours!
-If you continue to draw funds from the Dressrosa national coffers, in the end they will discover you... - Law whispered with a drop of sweat behind his head.
Killer hit his captain on the head.
-Excuse me for his mood, today he hasn't eaten yet - Killer answered instead of the redhead - He will be delighted.
-SINCE WHEN ARE YOU THE ONE WHO GIVES ORDERS!?
-SINCE YOU GOT DRUNK IN THE BAR WITH THAT WOMAN AND LET HER TO STEAL ALL OUR FUCKING MONEY WHILE YOU LOOKED AT HER CHEST - even though he was wearing a mask, you could see Killer stabbing Kid with his gaze - SO STOP FUCKING AROUND AND GO TO DO THE ONLY THING YOU'RE USEFUL AT.
Law and Mina looked at each other uncomfortably as they covered Eskel's ears. Killer having such bad temper was truly a new discovery for both of them.
-Geezz, you don't have to shout - Kid answered snorting.
...
-A couple of days later-
Kid was connecting the arm of the revolutionary.
-Now I'm going to connect the nerves to the mechanism, so you will feel a little cramp.
-Don't warn me for a simple cra...MP - without warning, Kid connected her nerves - Bastard, that was NOT a small cramp.
Kid smirked. It was his little revenge.
-Damn Eustass-ya, you're not just a bunch of leggy muscles, apparently.
-Ha,ha - he answered ironically - Now pay attention. You can't go all day with it. If you wear it too many hours, you will start to get cramps like before. The less you use it, the better.
-I'll keep that in mind.
-Now get the fuck off of my damn ship. Watching Trafalgar for so many hours makes my head ache.
Kid watched as Mina approached his face.
-Am I that handsome to you, or what? - Kid asked while smiling mockingly.
He received a quick kiss from her, causing the pirate to quickly turn red.
-W-WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING, WOMAN!? - Kid asked embarrassed as he pulled her away.
-Feel lucky, Eustass - she winked at him as she left - Not many men have had the same luck as you~
-YOU...! - Kid remained ashamed in silence while cursing her under his breath.
-You're lucky Trafalgar didn't see it - Killer told him.
-Heh, it's not my fault that his woman is tempted by my charms.
-She has given you a peak in the cheek like a brat, not slept with you - Killer replied, mocking him.
-Shut up! If I really wanted, I would have stolen her from that bastard long ago!
-Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say, Captain... - Killer dropped a drop of sweat on his head.
Both pirates looked at the orange-haired boy who was leaving with both adults. Suddenly, the little boy turned to see the redhead.
-Hm? 'The hell are you looking at, dwarf?
The boy gave him the middle finger.
-Wow... Is he really not your secret love-child? - Kid asked as he had a tic in his eyebrow from rage.
-Another week later-
All the pirates looked at Sabo eating with distaste.
-God... It's like seeing Mugiwara... - Penguin said surprised.
-Oi, Sabo-ya - Law caught his attention - If you keep devouring like that, I'm going to charge you, or else I'll be ruined!
-Huh? - The blonde had his mouth full - Whwat's wrowng?
Mina smiled at him. But despite the pretty smile she put on, everyone knew she was threatening him with her gaze.
-Swallow before speaking, stupid walking match~
Sabo immediately swallowed the food.
-Sorry...
She sighed and wiped his face with a napkin.
-You were a nobleman. Were you never taught manners in the marquis house? Even a 5 year old has better manners than you.
Sabo stared at the golden-eyed kid.
-I've been wondering all this time... Is that your secret love-child?
Mina knocked Sabo to the ground, put a foot on his face and gave him a death glare.
-Wow, you dock uninvited and, on top of that, you're being funny! I missed you, chief of staff~
Suddenly, the boy tugged on Mina's sleeve.
-Miss, don't be mean to Mister prince...
Mina sighed and let Sabo go.
-Feel grateful that the child likes you. Tsk.
-He's pretty cute! But not as cute as Luffy!
-Of course he's better than Mugiwara-ya! The other day... - Law began to tell an anecdote about the boy.
-That's nothing, the other day... - Mina continued speaking.
As they continued to praise the boy, they suddenly fell silent as realize about something at the same time. The whole crew chuckled and looked at them with a smirk.
"Don't we... talk about him as if we were his parents?"
They were both aware of the increasing jokes among the crew about it, but neither of them had taken them seriously until that moment.
Without realizing it, they were educating the kid. And he seemed to have grown fond of both, because they were the ones who invested the most time in him.
"Shit, we're already his parents..." they both thought uneasily.
As Sabo played with the boy, he sighed.
-Seriously, you were so adorable like this kid... Why did you have to grow up? - He whimper.
-What was Mina-chan like when she was younger? - asked Bepo.
Mina froze for a moment.
-We want to hear stories! - The other pirates began to cheer up.
Law looked at Sabo.
-I want to hear that too~
Although Mina wanted to shut up the blonde, he immediately took out a wrinkled photo of his suit and showed it to everyone.
-Why the hell do you have that!? - Mina asked - Who the hell carries old photos inside their pockets!?
Law and the others looked at that spoiled photo.
In it were Mina, Sabo along with Koala, Jack, Inazuma, Ivankov, Kuma and Dragon. Sabo hugged Mina with one arm around her neck. In that photo, she was still a teenager. And, with short hair, she looked like a pretty boy.
-Mina-chan was so cute! - exclaimed Shachi and Bepo.
They looked at the revolutionary again. She was certainly no longer "cute". More of the sexy type. And with a scary gaze...
-Wow... - Shachi looked at Mina - Puberty hit you like a train...
She rolled up her eyes.
Law saw Kuma, who was next to Mina.
-That man... Was he a revolutionary?
-He was my master, since he was the previous General of my division.
Law observed that both Mina and Sabo looked a bit sad at the memory of Kuma. "I guess it was tough having to kill his own nakama..."
The atmosphere became a bit dense as both revolutionaries fell silent. The weight of the pain of war was still too great for both of them.
The kid looked at both revolutionaries innocently.
-Miss and Mister Prince went to war? So cool! Like heroes!
Sabo patted his head with a sad smile.
-We're not heroes, going to war isn't something to be proud of. But still, thank you~
...
Law saw both revolutionaries playing with the boy on the deck of the submarine. The boy was on top of Mina's back.
-Miss, Mister Prince, I'm small and for that reason I'm carried, but you two are adults. Who carries whom?
-Obviously, I would carry him/her - they answered at the same time. They both stared at each other.
Law watched the two revolutionaries argue over who should carry whom.
-You're so annoying! Stop being stubborn!
-Don't you understand? It would hurt my pride as a man!
-Ha? Pride as a man? You've never had such a thing!
Ultimately, Sabo was the one who won the argument, so he carried Mina on his back, but seemed to have a hard time, since Mina was a little taller than him.
-God... It's not as easy as before...
-I told you I'm not 14 anymore! - she sighed - Put me down and I'll carrie you.
-Huh!? No way! I'm the oldest!
-Just for 2 damn years! And that doesn't change the fact that now I'm taller than you!
-Noooooo! - Sabo started to whimper - Why did you have to grow up!?
Law couldn't help but chuckle. The two of them had a goofy personality when they were together.
There was a time when he might have felt jealous of the blonde, but he understood that it had no sense. It was like looking at him and Lamy. Sabo took care of Mina, and she took care of him. And that would never change.
Law, who was taller than both of them, motioned for Mina to get on his back.
-Don't you want to be carried properly?~
She accepted and climbed onto his back.
-Wow, this is quite comfortable...
Everyone looked at that scene that was beginning to be romantic. The atmosphere was good between the two of them.
However, Sabo tried to grab onto Mina while she was still on Law's back, causing both of them to lose their balance.
-I also want! We would be like a tower!
-GET DOWN, IDIOT!