Author's Note: Hey everyone! Welcome to Chapter 9 :) I'm telling ya'll, it has been a battle to get this one done and uploaded. On top of extra long work hours and wedding planning, the internet decided to die on me *slams head against the wall* But no worries, I'm back and have a really fun chapter for ya'll, one that sets up a new arc of sorts ;)
To too addicted to fiction: I'm glad you liked the twist! Law is always cool XD Honestly, it got me in the feels just writing that scene lol. Thank you so much for the sweet review, it always makes me happy to read your comments! I hope you enjoy the new chapter!
To Deyinel: Aw, you're so sweet to me *blushes* It really was a fun chapter to write so I'm glad you enjoyed it so much! Poor Sabo...he had a rough time of it, but now they're all on the same page and will face things together from now on :) Oh yeah, I totally agree, Crocus is a much better person to be checking up on the boys than the previous clinic employees. Smoker is starting to step up to the plate and really attempt to create trust. Hopefully it goes smoothly for him ;) There is no specific law forbidding humans from learning their language, just using translators *cough* LOOP HOLE *cough* As for Law, yeah...he's been through it and will definitely be causing trouble in the future, poor Smoker. I'm so glad you're enjoying my story so far and I'll see you next time!
To kronisfujo: I'm so glad you're enjoying it so far! Gotta love cute ASL XD
To eneriarribas: Here's an update for you! I'm glad you're enjoying my story! It always makes me happy to know readers enjoy my work :)
To BlueHeartNina: You're very welcome!
WARNINGS:
- Domestic fluff
- ASL being adorable
- Luffy is a precious cinnamon roll
- Taking care of children is hard work
Smoker woke up early the following morning and simply laid in his new bed, staring at the ceiling. It was quiet throughout the house and a glance out the still-curtainless window revealed that the first of G8's two suns was starting to peek over the distant hills.
It was still hard to believe that this whole house was his.
To be honest, Smoker hadn't been sure what to expect on G8. He'd heard rumors about it, of course, but nothing that would suggest his new CO would give him a house and a decent position. It was almost too good to be true.
'Makes me think he's hiding something…' Smoker mused as he swung his legs off the bed and stifled a yawn. He'd have time to poke around Navarone once he finished getting everything unpacked and the boys settled.
He walked into the bathroom attached to his bedroom and quickly took care of his daily routine (grateful for the warmth of the hot water). Once his hair was brushed and his face was clean shaven, Smoker threw on some black slacks and a simple green shirt with the Alliance's logo on the front pocket. Satisfied with how he looked, he moved back out into the room and began to work on unpacking whatever Tashigi and Jessica had purchased for him.
It didn't take long to put the lamps and nightstands together, but the wooden chest took some time.
Smoker huffed when he finally finished and situated the chest at the end of his bed. All in all, the room was starting to look…homey. Not that he had much experience in what constituted 'homey', but he figured if he was comfortable in the room, it was homey.
The last piece of furniture, aside from the dresser, to put together was a simple desk that Smoker intended to place on the wall opposite his bed. But he'd deal with that later.
'I need to see what food we have…the boys will definitely be hungry when they wake up.'
Luffy yawned when he woke and whined softly, stretching out his back. For a few seconds, he thought he was back at Dadan's, but when he opened his eyes and saw the unfamiliar room, he remembered that they weren't on Earth anymore.
Mr. Smokey had taken them away and now they were on a different planet.
The little boy sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes before looking to his left to where his brothers were still sleeping. Luffy considered waking them up but ultimately decided against it. Neither of his brothers had gotten much rest over the past few days and he didn't want to bother them.
Luffy threw off his covers and scanned the room for his hat, smiling to himself when he located it. Mr. Smokey had hung it on one of the posts at the end of his new bed. Snagging the hat and placing it on his head, the small boy padded as quietly as he could towards the door, his ears picking up sounds of someone else moving in the other room.
Peeking around the door, he walked cautiously into the living room, making his way around the still full boxes of stuff.
'This really is a nice house…' The boy thought while he searched for Mr. Smokey. Everything looked brand new and the furniture had to be comfy.
Luffy made a mental note to try out the couch when he got a chance before trotting around the bar so he could see into the kitchen. As he suspected, Mr. Smokey was there and appeared to be cooking something on the stove-stop, something that smelled really nice. Luffy swallowed instinctively, wondering if that was their breakfast.
When he stepped beyond the threshold of the kitchen, the large alien noticed him.
"Oh, good morning, Luffy. I didn't expect you to the first one up." Mr. Smokey said something to him before motioning towards the food with his head, "I'm just finishing up some eggs. I bet you're hungry…"
Luffy had no idea what the alien said but was very interested in what he was cooking so he wasted no time trotting up to Mr. Smokey and pulling on his pants.
"Can I have some, Mr. Smokey?" He asked, pointing up at the skillet. The alien surprised him by reaching down, plucking him off the ground, and settling him against his hip. Luffy made a sound of wonder when he finally got a good look at the food in question. It appeared to be scrambled eggs but was an odd, bright blue color.
Not that he cared. Food was food.
"What else should we put in here…?" Mr. Smokey mumbled, eyeing Luffy curiously before drawing the boy's attention to a selection of jars and other strange things. "What do you think, kid? Personally, I'm partial to meat."
Luffy sniffed curiously at the first container Mr. Smokey gave him and immediately sneezed. It smelled like pepper! Thinking back to how Dogra made his eggs, Luffy grinned and turned the container over, sprinkling it onto the eggs.
"Good choice, brat. Here, I'll let you handle the seasoning."
His smile widened when the alien took the pepper away and handed him another jar. It was fun to cook with Mr. Smokey! About twenty minutes later, the alien transferred their creation into what looked like a serving bowl and looked it over, seemingly pleased with how it turned out.
"Nice work, little one. Looks good." Luffy giggled happily when Mr. Smokey gently placed him back on the ground and ruffled his hair, knocking his hat onto his back. Did he do a good job? "Why don't you go wake up Ace and Sabo before breakfast gets cold?"
Luffy tilted his head at his brothers' names, unsure what the alien wanted until he pointed at their new bedroom and then back at the eggs. Oh! He wanted him to wake Ace and Sabo up for food! He could do that!
"Ok, I'll be back Mr. Smokey!" He chirped before trotting back across the living room. Luffy glanced back before entering their bedroom to watch the alien place the bowl of eggs onto the table and dig around in a nearby box for something. Figuring it was more stuff for breakfast, the boy shrugged and rushed into the still dark bedroom. "ACE, SABO, WAKE UP! IT'S TIME FOR FOOD!"
Ace was rudely awakened by Luffy's loud voice, which was a familiar occurrence in their little family. Despite his propensity to sleep in, when the boy was up, he was up, and everybody knew it.
He yawned and pushed himself off the soft mattress, only to wince at the pain in his fingers. It was then that he recalled their current situation and his mood immediately soured. That's right, they were at the mercy of the pointy-eared bastard who'd kidnapped and collared them.
"Oh good, you're awake!" Luffy chirped, rushing up to place his hands on Ace's bed, "Me and Mr. Smokey made breakfast and you gotta try it! It's blue and smells amazing -"
"Yeah…give us a minute, okay Lu?" Ace interrupted, sending a smiley Luffy trotting back into the other part of the house. With a sigh, he slowly moved himself to the edge of the bed, gritting his teeth as his stiff and sore joints ached. Frostbite sucked and he completely blamed Smoker for all of it.
"You okay, Ace?" Sabo questioned, having also been woken by Luffy's exclamation. The blonde boy had already exited his bed and was currently making his way towards him.
"S-Sure…I guess." He managed, finally able to stand to his feet, "You don't think we can con some medicine out of Smoker, do you?" Sabo chuckled good naturedly.
"Maybe, we just gotta sick Lu on him." His brother's smile dropped when they started walking towards the door, "He'll probably change our bandages today…put more aloe on the burns. Should help you feel better." Ace nodded, ashamed that he agreed. Though it was uncomfortable and embarrassing to have Smoker see him in such a weak state, he couldn't deny the fact that whatever the alien was putting on the injured areas did help numb the pain.
When the brothers walked out into what they'd determined was the living room, they were immediately met by the smell of food. Across the room, Smoker lifted Luffy up into a chair at the table they were apparently going to eat at.
"Ace, Sabo, good morning." Smoker greeted, making Ace tense up at his name, "Come on, there's plenty to go around." Sabo glanced sideways to him before exhaling sharply and walking up to the alien like he obviously wanted. When the blonde was settled into his chair, Smoker raised an eyebrow at him.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming…" Ace grumbled, doing his best not to limp as he made his way forward. Though he wanted nothing more than to growl and rebel, his and Sabo's conversation the night before was still fresh in his mind. He didn't want to antagonize Smoker too much or risk sabotaging their plan to learn the aliens' language before it even began.
If they were going to succeed, they needed to make Smoker think he owned them.
When Ace stopped in front of the alien, the large male knelt down in front of him with furrowed brows, making him instinctively swallow nervously. Had he already made him mad?
"Hmmm…are you hurting, Ace?" The boy just stared up at Smoker. He'd definitely asked a question, but about what? Was he supposed to do something? The alien sighed and reached down to pick him up. "I guess you have no way of telling me…hopefully that'll change eventually."
When he was placed in the chair at one of the ends, Ace's eyes widened. Luffy hadn't been kidding…the eggs really were blue. It also looked like there was some toast on the other side of the table. They all watched Smoker walk around to his chair at the head and sit down. Luffy was practically bouncing in his seat with excitement, but Sabo somehow managed to keep him from throwing himself at the food.
That's right, they had to wait until Smoker said it was okay.
Ace clicked his tongue in annoyance. Being 'good' was hard.
"Go ahead, brats, no need to wait for me." When Smoker motioned towards the food, Luffy immediately attempted to climb on the table, only to be blocked by the alien's large hand, "Whoa there…let's not climb on the brand new table."
Luffy's pout quickly morphed into a grin when Smoker dropped a good helping of eggs onto the boy's plate, prompting him to sit back down.
"Thanks, Mr. Smokey!" The kid exclaimed before grabbing his utensil and digging in.
Ace and Sabo were a bit more civilized with their meal and were able to serve themselves using a big spoon thing provided to them by Smoker. Still, despite how comfortable Luffy was, Ace just couldn't relax, and he bet Sabo felt the same, if his stiff body was any indication.
What they were doing was just too…domestic. It made them look like a-a family or something, which they definitely weren't (at least, their kidnapper wasn't a part of it). Honestly, everything Smoker had done and given them over the past few days had only served to confuse him more.
First and foremost was the bedroom, then the removing of the collars, and now eating together.
They were just his pets, right?
Once the boys finished breakfast, Smoker ushered them back to their room. He still had dishes to do, but that could wait.
As expected, Luffy had eaten almost twice as much as the other two. He was hoping Ace and Sabo would eat more but he supposed it would take a while for them to settle in and become more comfortable with the environment. For now, Smoker was just pleased they'd almost finished their plates and had nibbled on some toast.
Once they entered the boys' bedroom, Smoker stepped over them and headed towards the dresser where their new clothes were still stored in shopping bags. He had no idea if they would like them or not…hopefully they would.
He didn't want to have to go shopping again if he could help it.
"Ne, what's in there?"
"Uh, clothes maybe? I don't really know, Lu."
Behind him, Sabo quietly shushed the youngest when he started to babble and Smoker could feel Ace's stare. The larger raven had tried to hide his limp when he'd emerged from the bedroom, but he'd noticed it right away. Smoker wanted to get his bandages changed and medicine applied sooner rather than later. The poor thing was probably in a lot of pain but desperately tried to hide it.
"Sabo, come here." He said, motioning for the blonde human. Smoker figured it was better to start with Sabo since he would probably pick up what he wanted him to do the fastest. The little thing walked up to him nervously, wringing his hands in front of him. Did he think he was in trouble? He really needed to do something about their current level of communication… "Here, these are yours, they go in here, okay?"
Smoker handed Sabo the first bag of clothes and lightly tapped the middle drawer of the dresser, hoping the kid understood what he was trying to get across. The human blinked for a few seconds before fishing around in the bag and pulling out a pair of shorts. It was then that his eyes lit up in understanding and he began to arrange the clothes in the drawer.
The other two followed Sabo's example (though Luffy required a bit more direction). Soon, all three bags were empty and the drawers were full of children's clothes.
"Did I do it right?"
"You did great, Lu."
Smoker interrupted the boys' quiet conversation by motioning back to the drawers and then to the bathroom.
"Go on…pick what you want to wear today."
He admittedly wasn't entirely sure what he was doing but really wanted the boys to be as independent as possible. His job was demanding and he couldn't stay home to take care of them all the time. Sure, it was fine for now, but eventually Smoker would need to return to work.
When the boys didn't move and looked at him in confusion, Smoker opened up Luffy's drawer and pulled out a set of brown shorts, a pair of underwear, and a bright yellow shirt. He placed it in the small human's arms and pointed at the bathroom, hoping that would help them understand what he wanted them to do. Thankfully, Sabo made a sound of realization and began to whisper to the other two.
"Oh…I think he wants us to go put some clean clothes on."
"Are these brand new too?" Ace muttered, holding up a simple red shirt, "…weird."
Smoker oversaw the boys while they dressed and made sure to introduce them to the other items he'd purchased for them for hygiene and grooming, which they took to quickly. He made a mental note to order more stools to place around the house until they grew a bit bigger.
'Humans really are smarter than the Celestials give them credit for.' Smoker mused as he watched Sabo help Luffy brush out his fluffy, raven locks with the comb he'd given them. He hadn't had to give them much instruction at all. They were young but caught on to things very quickly.
"Good boys." He praised, gently patting Sabo and Luffy on the head (and choosing to ignore the slight flinch from the former). Smoker then took a deep breath and turned to Ace who immediately bristled because he knew what was coming. "Come on, kid…don't make this hard."
Changing Ace's bandages actually wasn't as difficult as it could've been, though he did squirm a lot. Smoker made sure to check over the wounds like Dr. Kobato had taught him and was pleased with how the healing process was coming along. He also changed Sabo's since he was doing Ace's anyway and hoped the medicine would help them feel better.
By the time he was done and the humans were ready to go, Smoker was exhausted.
'Am I going to have to do this every day?' He thought, sinking into the couch. If he had to do all the cooking and cleaning on top of taking care of the humans…there wouldn't be any time for him to actually go to work!
He glanced down at his feet when little Luffy padded up and started to play with the bottom of his pants. Right…kids need stuff to do.
"Let's give these a try…" Smoker mumbled to himself while standing to his feet and retrieving the bags that had the boys' new toys in them. The humans trotted up to him with curious expressions on their faces, though Ace and Sabo hung back a little, caution clear in their movements.
Hopefully someday soon, they'd understand that they had nothing to fear from him.
Since Luffy was closest and the most eager, Smoker pulled out the four-armed stuffed bear and plopped it into his waiting arms. The toy was almost as big as he was so it took a few moments for the kid to turn it around and get a good look at it.
"Wow…Ace, Sabo, look! It's a teddy bear! Is it for me?" The kid appeared excited about the gift and immediately hugged it close to his chest as he babbled happily to the older humans in that strange language of theirs.
"Yeah, that's…really something." Ace examined the bright red bear closely before flashing Smoker a suspicious look. "Why the hell does it look so angry?"
"I don't know, but I like it! Shishishi!"
Seeing Luffy was pleased with the toy, Smoker reached back into the bag and pulled out the puzzle he'd purchased for him. Sabo's eyes lit up when he saw it and he began to poke at the round object when it was placed in his outstretched hands. Ace was last and Smoker took a few seconds to consider which toy to give to him first.
If he gave him the ball right away, things would probably be broken.
'Action figure it is.' Smoker thought before fishing around in Ace's bag and pulling the two figurines out. The store hadn't had a whole set, so he'd settled on Stealth Black and Sparking Red, the two most popular characters from the show. The little human frowned at the toys.
"Are those…?"
"Ah! Hey, those are from that cartoon!" Luffy chirped something and stood on his tip-toes to get a better look at them, "Wow, that's so cool! We gotta play together, Ace."
The boy sighed after a particularly effective pout from Luffy and took the figures into his bandaged hands. At first, Smoker was concerned Ace didn't like them, but when he joined the youngest on the floor and began to play with him, it was clear he'd done something right. The raven tried to put on a rough and aggressive facade, but he was definitely enjoying himself.
…hopefully. Honestly, the kid was hard to read sometimes.
Smoker huffed and moved back into the kitchen to clean up their mess, wondering how long it would take for the boys to tire themselves out. He wanted to be careful since their bodies were still adjusting to the atmosphere and Crocus had recommended lots of rest.
It probably wouldn't take too long.
Five hours later, Smoker collapsed back onto the cough with a shaky exhale. Contrary to what he'd expected, the humans didn't start getting tired until after lunch. Due to their energy level and attention span, Smoker had been forced to give them the remainder of their toys much earlier than he'd intended.
Luffy took to the train quickly and the older two followed suit, chasing it around the house as it moved through the air. Eventually, when they bored of that, Smoker took them out into the backyard and gave them the balls (one of which was promptly kicked at his face by Ace).
'I suppose it was cute though.' He admitted to himself, recalling the game the boys began to play and how they kicked the balls across the yard into make-shift "goals". Perhaps it was a human game of some kind?
Smoker became mildly concerned after they played around for about thirty minutes. Luffy was the first to stumble, followed by Ace. The physical excursion of their game had probably been too much for their fragile bodies to handle in the thinner atmosphere. So, Smoker swiftly ushered them inside and put them down for a nap.
Until their bodies fully adjusted to the new atmosphere, he'd have to make sure they got a lot of rest.
Now that he finally had a moment to himself, Smoker pulled out his tablet, determined to get some work done. The first thing on his list was submitting his report on the Heart Pirates' attack to Vice Admiral Jonathan. At some point in the near future, he hoped to get permission to track their movements around G8. From experience, he knew pirates would only get stronger the longer they remained free.
Smoker pulled up the report and proof-read it briefly before sending it off to his CO. He'd had it done for a while but hadn't been given the chance to actually send it. A few minutes later, his tablet dinged softly, alerting him to an incoming message. It was from Jonathan and contained a simple 'thumbs up' icon. Smoker huffed and pressed a button on the side of the tablet that projected the keyboard.
He wanted to ask his new CO if his access for the criminal database on G8 had been approved yet. Just before he could send the message, his tablet rang and displayed Jonathan's name. The Thraul was calling him.
"Good afternoon, Chase!" Jonathan greeted when his face appeared above the tablet, "How are things? Are the little ones settling in well?"
"As well as they can." Smoker replied, glancing up towards their bedroom door. It was cracked open so he could listen for any signs of distress, but so far, all was silent. "To be honest, I wasn't expecting them to have so much energy."
Though they'd only known each other for a short time, Smoker felt like he knew the humans and how they responded to certain situations fairly well. But he supposed this environment was different from where he'd kept them before. On the ship and even on the train, their movements were severely limited and they didn't have the option of roaming around.
Plus, Smoker was changing how he dealt with them. Instead of controlling every aspect of their lives, he was attempting to give them as much freedom as possible (all while making sure they were safe).
It would take some getting used to, for all of them.
"Well they are only nestlings after all." Jonathan said with a chuckle, leaning on his elbows over what had to be his desk, "I imagine they'll adjust quickly. Anyway, I wanted to let you know that I've received your report on the Heart Pirates and will read through it when I get a chance. Also, your access to our criminal database was just approved. I recommend you familiarize yourself with the local troublemakers."
"I will. How are Tashigi and the others? They started today, correct?"
"Yeah, they're getting your offices set up! I've also arranged a tour of our facilities for them." Jonathan stopped for a moment and looked him over with an appraising gaze, "You seem eager to start, Captain. What do you intend to do with your humans when you are away?"
"I'm…not sure yet." He admitted, frowning slightly at the thought. Preferably, he'd like to just leave them at the house, but he didn't feel comfortable with that yet. At the moment, they still required full-time supervision and assistance with daily tasks. "I think it may be a while before I can come in…the boys aren't ready to be left alone."
Also, though it was hard to admit, Smoker was afraid the boys would try to run away. And, as they'd discovered quickly, the world was a dangerous place for such small beings. They couldn't understand their language, were unfamiliar with the basics of society, and would probably end up injured or dead if not found quickly.
"Have you considered hiring a caregiver?"
Smoker blinked at the suggestion and considered it for a moment. His first response was to decline the offer and say that he could handle them on his own, but the truth of the matter was, he couldn't, not if he wanted to keep working.
"I suppose that's an option…but I wouldn't want just anyone." Smoker had no intention of allowing someone he didn't trust anywhere near his humans.
"There are a few different agencies in town…" Jonathan stated while caressing his mustache rhythmically, "I recommend you contact Crocus, he should be able to give you some recommendations."
"I see, thanks for the information."
Jonathan went over a few other pieces of information with him before signing off and leaving Smoker with his thoughts. The more he considered it, the more the idea of a caregiver for the boys appealed to him. But…would he be able to find someone that met his requirements? Figuring it would be good to make a list, Smoker pulled up a blank page on his tablet and began to type:
Caregiver Requirements
1. Willing to work full-time/long hours (morning and night) – FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE
2. Able to cook, clean, and manage medical issues
3. Good with kids
Smoker paused and considered the last few bullet points he wanted to add. Whoever he decided to hire would have to be willing to bend the Alliance's rules just a bit.
4. Willing to teach boys our language
5. Liked by Ace, Sabo, and Luffy*
He stared the last bullet because, out of all the requirements, to him, it was the most important one. If the humans felt uncomfortable or frightened by the person who was supposed to be taking care of them, then the fault would lie with Smoker. The boys had no way of protecting themselves, so it was his job to ensure their safety and well-being.
With that thought in mind, Smoker pulled up the contact information for Laboon and Friends, Crocus' clinic.
Sabo had difficulty falling (and staying) asleep after their impromptu game outside and laid in bed staring at the ceiling. Based on the light outside, he surmised only about thirty minutes had passed. He supposed he did feel a bit more rested and less light-headed.
'I bet it's the atmosphere.' Sabo mused, recalling how their bodies reacted to their chaotic landing on the planet.
Sitting up, the blonde boy glanced to his brothers, both of whom were still asleep. So far, Luffy had been most affected by this new planet, but hopefully it wasn't permanent. The sweet kid had too much energy to burn to be held back by something so ridiculous.
Sabo silently slipped out of bed and padded towards where he'd left the book of spaceships Smoker had given him. Honestly, it had come as a surprise to have the alien give him something that was so obviously designed to further his learning. He'd expected to be treated as a pet and nothing more…to have to learn more about their language and culture without Smoker realizing.
Slipping the large book under his arm, Sabo peeked out of their slightly open door to see what the alien was up to. Smoker was seated on the couch talking with someone, their face displayed in the air via hologram. He didn't recognize the female as any of the aliens they'd met so far and Smoker seemed very invested in their conversation, jotting down notes and having what appeared to be a serious conversation.
"-how much I'm willing to pay. I can't go any higher."
"I see, I'll make a note of it. Would you prefer to conduct the interviews in person? We can send our people anywhere you'd prefer."
"Send them to my office in Navarone, I can be there with the humans in a few hours. Let me know how many candidates are interested."
"Of course and thank you again for your interest in our services."
Sabo slipped back into their bedroom when Smoker ended the call and wondered what he'd been talking about. It was hard (and sometimes scary) to have no understanding of what their kidnapper had planned for them.
'But as long as we're together, we can survive anything.' He determined, clutching the book to his chest. Sabo returned to his bed and opened up to the page he'd left off on. Right now, he couldn't understand any of the words, but the pictures were quite detailed.
Hopefully, he'd learn something useful, after all, the majority of their plan's success rested on him.
Later that day, Smoker closed down his tablet and prepared himself for the task ahead: bringing the boys to Navarone for their meeting with potential caregivers. The company Crocus recommended specialized in 'pet-sitting' and had very good reviews. Honestly, Smoker had originally considered looking into actual baby-sitters or nanny's, but Crocus advised against it. More than likely, they would refuse based on the human's status.
So far, the company representative had informed him about four interested parties. Hopefully one of them would be a good fit.
Thankfully, the boys were up and awake, so it wouldn't take long to get them ready and make the relatively short walk to the base. Luffy was currently resting against his side, watching him work with those big, curious eyes of his. When he shut down the criminal database, the little one glanced up at him, as if to ask, 'why'd you turn it off?'.
Sabo and Ace were chattering quietly to themselves on the rug not far away, engrossed in their examination of the pictures in Sabo's book.
"See here, I think this is the cockpit…"
"Ah yeah, you're probably right. Where's the weapons storage?"
Smoker wondered what they were talking about.
"Why do you want to know that?"
"So I can hit Smoker with one of those stun gun things…you know, retribution and stuff. OH, or maybe a laser sword or something! That'd be epic." Ace had a particularly devious smirk on his face, which made him raise an eyebrow. That didn't bode well.
"…uh, okay, but shouldn't we be thinking about how the ship works before we think about antagonizing him?"
"Yeah…I guess so."
Smoker looked down at his lap when Luffy clambered over his thighs and began to make himself comfortable against his chest. He reached down and slowly scratched along the boy's scalp, drawing a quiet, keening sound and content smile from him. Smoker couldn't help but return Luffy's smile with his own and move his fingers under the kid's chin, scratching gently as he went. The child raised his chin in response and giggled softly at the attention.
The little human really was cute, wasn't he?
His smile fell when he recalled his exploratory dive into the criminal database. Luffy had no idea what he was looking at (probably just interested in the lights and scrolling symbols), but it had revealed a dangerous picture of what Smoker would have to work through during his time on G8.
Despite Navarone's presence, there were quite a few groups that utilized their ports (both space and ocean access) to smuggle goods and cause problems for the citizens. While Smoker was confident he could neutralize most of the smaller groups without much trouble, the more notorious ones would require a lot of planning to take on.
The first criminal organization that came to mind in that category was Baroque Works, the shadow syndicate that veiled itself in secrecy and, to this day, no one had managed to discover who held the title of boss, Mr. 0. According to the database, Baroque Works agents had been spotted around town for the past few years, no doubt creating secret hubs where they could complete their nefarious deeds in secret.
Smoker sighed and brushed Luffy's hair back. If he had anything to say about it, this town would become a safe place for children like his boys to grow up without having to worry about unsavory characters or pirates.
"Come on, brats." He said, placing Luffy on the rug and gaining the older kids' attention, "It's time to go."
When he walked into their bedroom and returned with their collars, Sabo visibly drooped and Ace bristled. They had definitely enjoyed not having to wear them. Thankfully, they didn't fight him when he put them on, though Ace gave him his best glare.
Smoker wished he could just explain why they had to wear them, that if they didn't, there would be serious consequences. That he was following the rules to protect them.
'Someday.' He determined, motioning with his head for the boys to put their shoes on. It would take time, but he was looking forward to hearing their thoughts and building trust between them with conversation and words, not just actions.
After a short walk to Navarone Base, Smoker walked through the heavily defended gates for the first time, nodding to the posted guards when they saluted him. He'd made sure to wear one of his Alliance uniforms so that even if he wasn't technically on duty, the soldiers would know that he belonged there. The guards gazed down at his feet where his three followers were clustered, all of whom were making it somewhat difficult to walk with how close they were to his legs. The soldier to his right grinned fondly down at them, causing the humans to flinch at the sharp set of teeth revealed behind his lips.
"These must be the humans we heard about!" He exclaimed, frightening them again with his loud voice, "Welcome to Navarone, little ones."
"…you know they can't understand you, right?" The other soldier put in with an exacerbated sigh, "They're just humans…not capable of too much."
"Eh, I know, but I'll still talk to them if I want to…they're just so cute! I'm thinking about getting one for my mate's birthday next month."
Smoker tuned out the rest of the soldiers' questions and led the boys further into the base. He'd expected the response, of course, but it still made his stomach churn. It'd only been a short time since the invasion and the announcement of the humans' status, but people had already accepted it as something normal.
'And this is something they'll have to live with for the rest of their lives.'
Unfortunately, the Celestials weren't known to change their minds.
Once inside the base, Smoker questioned a passing lieutenant about the location of his new office and swiftly made his way there with the humans in tow. He could tell they were getting very stressed and it was hard to see the fear on their faces. Perhaps coming to such a populated area so soon after re-locating to G8 wasn't such a good idea.
Thankfully, their section of the building was hidden away behind many twists and turns so there weren't many soldiers lingering around. Smoker stopped at the door to read the engraved Security Office displayed proudly on the door.
"Ne…what is this place?"
"I don't know Lu, sorry." Sabo whispered something to Luffy and pulled him in for a reassuring hug while Ace examined the corridor, searching for threats. "I-I mean, it looks like a military base of some kind…"
Smoker had decided to leave the leashes off in an attempt to maintain the fragile trust he'd managed to build with the humans and he was pleased they hadn't tried to run away. That wouldn't have been a great first impression.
When he pushed the button to the right of the door, it slid open, revealing a well-sized room with lots of windows and a good view of the nearby ocean. There were desks all around the edges that his crew had already started to claim for themselves and, off to the right, was a door with his name on it.
'Captain Chase Smoker, Head Security Officer'.
It had a good ring to it.
The room also held holographic displays for investigations, a weapons rack, some storage containers, and anything else they could need to do their job. It was a nice change from G5 where they had to work with what meager tools they had available to them.
"Sir, you're here!" Smoker turned to greet Tashigi when she emerged from the corner of their new headquarters. The Lalphea appeared to be moving into her desk and had already started to organize everything (as she tended to do). He glanced down when Luffy pulled on his pant leg. The poor kids were huddled around his feet, definitely overwhelmed with everything. "Showing them the new office?"
"Not exactly." He explained, holding up a hand to stop Tashigi from approaching too quickly, "I'm interviewing some potential caregivers for the boys and wanted to do it here." The Lalphea pursed her lips in understanding.
"I see! It's certainly smart to see how they react to them." She peeked down at the little things with hope in her sparkly eyes, "C-Could I…uh…hold one? Just for a second!"
"I don't think that's a good idea right now."
"B-But…" He sighed at her big eyed look.
"Tashigi-"
When she jutted her bottom lip out, he gave him and motioned with his head towards his office.
"Fine, but let's go in there first. I want to make them feel a bit more secure."
Tashigi all but squeaked in excitement and skipped after them, thankfully keeping a respectful distance. Once the boys were inside the smaller room, Smoker flicked the lights on and examined his new space. It was good sized with a few shelves, chairs, and a desk on the far wall. It definitely needed to be organized, but he had time before the candidates arrived.
Smoker instructed Tashigi to sit on the floor while he turned to the humans and ruminated on which one would be best (and least likely to bite her). Ace was quickly eliminated so he looked between Luffy and Sabo.
"I have this, if it helps?" Tashigi put in while pulling a nutrition bar from her uniform pocket. Almost immediately, she had Luffy's attention. The little boy examined the food with curious eyes and tugged on Sabo's shirt, pointing at the bar.
"Look Sabo, it's one of those bars Mr. Smokey gave you!"
"Yeah…I guess it is." Sabo replied, eyeing Tashigi with a little more suspicion. The Lalphea quickly noticed that she had their attention and unwrapped the treat so she could hold it out to them.
"It's all right…I won't hurt you."
At Luffy's insistence, Sabo slowly walked with the smallest human towards Tashigi, earning a hissed statement from Ace (which was to be expected…the kid was protective of his companions). The blonde held Luffy's hand tightly in his own and snatched the bar out of Tashigi's hands the second they were in range.
The Lalphea watched in amusement as he took a bite and passed the rest to Luffy.
"Aw, look at them sharing…"
"Do you think Shigi has any more?"
"Maybe, but let's not-"
As soon as little Luffy finished his portion, he trotted right up to Tashigi and held out his hand for more. The Lalphea chuckled sheepishly.
"I'm sorry, little one, but that's all I have." With that, she took a deep breath and slowly reached towards Luffy. The kid, for his part, just watched her move while Sabo tensed and pulled the youngest away from Tashigi, causing her to pout. "Oh no…did I scare them?"
"Yeah, probably. They're skittish around people they don't trust." Smoker explained, inwardly thinking that they were skittish around him too, just to a lesser degree. "I recommend letting them come to you."
"O-Okay, I can do that."
So, while Smoker organized his office and got it presentable, Tashigi sat on the floor, still as a statue. The boys seemed confused by her continued presence, but eventually, her patience paid off.
"She's Mr. Smokey's friend, right?" Luffy chirped with a smile, "I wanna go say hi again."
"What!? No, that's a terrible idea! She could-"
Ace tried to stop him, but the kid slipped out from the elders' protective grasp and padded back up to Tashigi.
"Hello again, little one…" Tashigi cooed, barely able to contain her excitement when Luffy grinned up at her and poked at her pants. Ace and Sabo watched the smallest human like a hawk but didn't make a move to interfere, not even when the kid finally decided to allow Tashigi to pick him up.
Smoker snorted in amusement when his second in command flashed him the brightest smile he'd seen on her in a while and held up Luffy's tiny body, now bundled against her chest.
"Good for you, I guess."
"Well, you get to cuddle with them all the time." Tashigi muttered, "I'm just excited, that's all."
'I wouldn't call it 'all the time''. Smoker thought, recalling how only Luffy seemed to enjoy the physical contact. Still, seeing the boy close with someone besides him was a step in the right direction. Now…if only he could get the other two to relax a little.
"I hate to cut your 'cuddle session' short, but it's about time for the first interview to begin." Smoker stated, prompting Tashigi to place Luffy back on the floor, "You have a tour to get to, right?"
"Yes, and I will keep you updated on all of our preparatory work until you return." Tashigi informed him before standing and saluting respectfully, "I will show in the first applicant as soon as they arrive."
Meanwhile, outside the base…
A young, blue-haired girl shuffled her feet in anticipation, nervousness making her hands shake slightly. She supposed she wouldn't be quite as nervous if she had experience with job interviews, but this was her first one.
'It'll be fine, I can do this.' She told herself, readjusting her bag around her shoulders. In an attempt to impress her possible boss, the girl had brought a few things that would hopefully help her connect to the humans she would be looking after, should everything go well. 'I have been to war meetings and given speeches to large crowds…comparatively, this is much easier…right?'
The blue-haired girl was jerked from her thoughts when a strange, hunched over woman pushed past her, hissing that she get out of her way.
"Goodness…" She whispered to herself, watching the older woman all but force her way into the base. Her eyes widened when she recognized the company emblem on her bag. That female was one of her competitors. Taking a deep breath, the girl smoothed out her dress and began to make her way towards the main entrance.
She needed to get this job. G8 was a surprisingly expensive place to live and she needed employment that offered flexibility and stealth, to a certain degree. Plus, being close to an Alliance Captain definitely had its perks. As the girl walked, the sunlight glinted off her crystal body, displaying rainbows on the ground behind her.
Currently, her skin was smooth, but her kind had the ability to manipulate it at will. Should she need protection, what looked like glass now could quickly morph into a protective shield that even the strongest weapons could not penetrate.
"State your business, citizen." One of the posted guards asked, looking her over with a critical (and admittedly curious) eye. She imagined he hadn't seen many of her kind in this part of the galaxy.
"My name is Vivi Wednesday," She replied, straightening up and brushing a lock of blue hair from her face, "and I am here to see Captain Smoker." Her 'new' name flowed off her tongue easily despite feeling so…unnatural.
Once her identification had been cleared, the guard directed her to the Captain's office, prompting her to bow and slowly walk inside he massive base. It was all very different from Alabasta and she'd be lying if she said she didn't miss home, but this was for her people…for her father.
Vivi's brow furrowed at the thought of her mission. It would be more difficult to gather the information she required with a job, but it was necessary. She would do anything for her people.
'I'm coming for you…Crocodile."