Wow I really do take my time between chapters. Gosh, I said I wouldn't apologise for it, to myself, but I can't hinder myself from doing that. I am so sorry that it takes such time, I wish I had more time to write, I really do. But between writing 4 different stories, and preparing to move to Canada, and my horses, I don't have as much time as I wish for. So I guess it will take as long until next chapter, hopefully you will survive.
Anyway, I am super pleased with the chapter! It was one of the most fun chapters I have written, ever I think, hope you like it as well. And well it is a bit short, but I didn't wish to include the rescuing of Vegapunk in this one! Instead I wanted to focus on Smoker and Aokijis, friendship, with a bit of Vegapunk in it! I will give you more memories later on, but I started with something fun.
I know that Smoker and Aokiji is waaaay ooc here, but I wanted to have them in a certain way when they are with each other, like they were still young, and acted that way, most of the time. and I think it worked out well!
You will get a Smoker and Ace scene sometime during this arc. I have things planned besides Vegapunk, you will see.
I also loved Garp and Sengoku, especially Sengoku!
And I made Vegapunk super smart, but such a geek, and not a fighter. I don't see him like this in the original, I just liked it here.
Also liked my Smoker and Tashigi. I don't include her to much in the story, mostly because I don't like her to much, but Smoker trust her so yeah.
And the lat memory takes place 18 years ago. Smoker is 14, Aokiji 21, and Vegapunk, well not sure, but closer to Smoker's age. It's the same year Sengoku dies. And Smoker has gone on mission with Akainu and Kizaru in the past. Back then there was nothing wrong with them, at least not to anyone's knowledge.
You will also get more of CP9, but to be honest I am not 100 % sure in which way. Well we got to see.
Anyway, I think that was all. Thank you for reading and reviewing.
Enjoy!
Smoker stared at the documents, as he expected them to be an illusion, and to disappear any second. If the situation had been different, or rather information had been different, he would have reflected more over the fact that the Blue Gentleman had showed himself. The other man's reason was logical, and Smoker was pleased, more than he probably should, seeing that the information came from a criminal. However, if they could help him find his friend, he didn't care at the moment. For a second he blinked, as he came to that conclusion, wondering when he changed as much as he had, it was mostly likely the brats fault. Smoker sighed, but stopped thinking of it, knowing it wouldn't help him at the moment. He needed to concentrate on the information he had received, figure out what to do with it. What he wished to do was obvious, he wished to free his friend, he just didn't know how. He had to few men to be able to storm the place, and arrest everyone there, it would only result in all of them dying. He was almost sure he didn't had enough money to buy his friends freedom, not even if he took from the Marines. He knew that if he chose that way, someone would easily outbid him. Meaning his only option was to free Vegapunk somehow, and sneak off with him.
Smoker sighed once more, stealth wasn't his strong side, not even if he turned into smoke, or maybe less then, seeing people easily spotted him. If he knew the layout of the building, and that wherever they held Vegapunk, had some windows, well then maybe he could sneak in then, but that was a lot of ifs. Maybe he could ask the brat for help, knowing that Ace owned him a few for helping his brother, not that Smoker would hold it against him. But Ace would most likely help him anyway, but the fire user was even less stealthy than he was, and Smoker had no desire to make Ace ask Whitebeard for help. Smoker doubted that the old man would just give Vegapunk up once they have saved him, and the Gentleman was right, Vegapunk would be best of with the marines, if Smoker could just rescue him.
He studied the documents once more, the little he knew wouldn't help him. He wished that the Gentleman had collected more information, but Smoker could understand why he didn't risk it. One of the few things he could understand about the other man. If Smoker was in his shoes, he wouldn't have risked it either, he wasn't even pleased now, knowing that he would need to do something to collect more information. He reached for the bottle, needing a drink for once, or rather taking one for once. He felt some sort of hopelessness, more than usual, seeing it was a friend he needed to save. Even if Vegapunk hadn't been the genus he was, he wouldn't wish to leave him in the hands on an enemy, not knowing what they will do to him. And yet, he couldn't think of a solid plan to save the other man, the only person in the base he could trust was Tashigi, and she wouldn't be much of a help, if it had been the old days, it had been different...
Smoker suddenly took his eyes of the glass, Aokiji was back. He had been without the man for so many years that he had completely forgotten that he was alive. He was still fucking pissed at the taller one, but he could see pass that if he could help him save Vegapunk. Smoker leaned back, staring at the ceiling, Aokiji wasn't a magician that could solve every problem, but with him by his side, Smoker felt a bit more hopeful, he just hoped that the other one would be willing to help. Well if not, Smoker would just need to convince him, and compared to Ace, he had no problem holding things against Aokiji, seeing that the asshole made him believe he was dead for all those years. All he needed to do now, was reach out to the other one, making Smoker sigh again. Aokiji hadn't given him a number, clearly not trusting the Marines, and that meant that Smoker would need to reach out to Ace, something that really wasn't a problem, he just hopped that the brat didn't wished to know the reason, knowing he couldn't tell him.
"So, you want me to contact Luffy and ask him; to ask Robin, to tell Aokiji to contact you?" Ace asked and Smoker sighed.
"That was what I asked, yes"
"Why don't you contact himself?"
"Because he didn't gave me a number, not trusting the Marines"
"Huh, he is a smart man, not trusting the Marines" Ace commented and Smoker sighed, sometimes he wished to tell the kid to fuck off, but he didn't. He had come to the conclusion he didn't wish to exclude Ace from his life, even if it didn't hinder him from getting irritated at the kid.
"Can you help me or not brat?"
"Oh, of course I can help you. But why do you need to contact him?"
"Personal reasons" Smoker stated, making it clear that he didn't wish to talk about it.
"And here I thought we could talk to each other, about anything" Ace clearly tried to sound hurt, but failing miserable, Smoker wished he could glare at the kid, not finding it amusing, but seeing they talked over the phone, that wasn't possible.
"Cut the bullshit, if you get annoyed and don't wish to help me, just say that instead"
"Smoker…" Ace started, in a softer voice. "I was joking, you asked for my help, and I will help you, will do whenever I can. And you have all the right to keep things private, it's not like I tell you everything"
Despite not wishing to chare everything with the brat, he couldn't hinder himself from wondering what Ace kept from him, but he didn't ask.
"I only want one thing in return"
"What?"
"Take me out for dinner" Smoker heard how cocky the younger one was and he sighed.
"Cocky brat" he muttered, but he couldn't hinder a small smile from showing on his lips. If he was honest, he wasn't against the idea of going out to dinner with Ace, not as much as he should at least. "I will see when I can arrange that"
"Yes" Ace almost shouted in his air, and Smoker sighed, sometimes Ace was so ridicules childish, but he didn't comment on it. "Let me know when you are available. And I will call Luffy right away. Take care old man!"
"You to shitty brat, and me careful"
"Always am" Ace answered before he hang up. Smoker had been on the brink to answer that, it was the biggest lie. He just shook his head as he returned to some documents, hoping Aokiji would contact him soon, knowing he didn't have too much time before the auction.
Smoker placed himself on the bench, hidden by the shadows. He was more worried than he let on, not knowing the outskirt of the town all too well. There was nothing really left there, except ruins of old industries, mines, castles and other things. Even when he was young, and the city was still functioning, it had been abounded, more or less. The castle ruins were the only place where people worked, the rest was avoided, except the few ones living out here. The ones out here weren't a gang, or even a community, like the neutral zones, no it was only crazy lonely people living out here. Crazier than many who lived in the town, but in another way. They were really crazy, often due to sickness, or trauma, and he had heard rumours of what happened to people out here, he didn't know if it was true or not, seeing no one investigated. However; he had no desire to find out if it was true or not, and wished to leave as fast as he could. He understood why Aokiji chose this place, seeing it was less likely that someone followed you out here, or eavesdropped, yet he was on his guard.
"Hi" Aokiji said as he placed himself next to Smoker. Even if he had met his friend a few times, he had a hard time coming to terms with his return. But he pushed all his feelings away, knowing this was about Vegapunk, not him.
"Hi"
"You wished to speak with me? Is everything alright?"
Smoker didn't answer, he just handed over the documents, in case someone actually would eavesdrop on them. If someone had captured him, caring the documents, he would had set fire to them, not risking someone else to see them. But he felt it was easier to give Aokiji all the information this way.
"He's alive" it wasn't really a question, no, it was rather a statement. Smoker could hear how relived Aokiji sounded. It had been the three of them back in the days, and even if Aokiji knew that Smoker was alive, he had just as little information about Vegapunk as Smoker did, maybe even less, seeing he disappeared before Vegapunk did.
"For now" Smoker glanced at the taller man, who met his eyes.
"What are you going to do?"
"I am unsure, I hoped you would have some ideas" Smoker admitted, having no problem doing so.
"I can't work with the marines, I don't trust them"
"Even if the marines wasn't corrupt, I don't have enough men to do something"
"I would say you and me are even fewer"
"You could beat all of my soldiers with ease, sadly they aren't what they used to be" Smoker sighed, resulting in in a pat on the back from Aokiji.
"All the good men died a long time ago" Smoker only nodded to that, it was painfully true. "You are alive at least"
"Fighting a losing battle. That's why I need your help to save Vegapunk, we can't leave him, not knowing who will buy him" Smoker looked at Aokiji, who felt silence, most likely thinking it over, and Smoker gave him some time. He knew that he asked a lot, even if he felt like Aokiji owned him, he asked him to risk his life, hoping they could save their friend. Smoker had no back up, no plan, barely any information, yet he would try to save Vegapunk, but he knew he needed help, and Aokiji was the best. However, he couldn't force the other one to risk his life.
"Well let's save Vegapunk, again" Aokiji said with a small smile and Smoker nodded.
"Just like old days!"
"What did you do this time?" Smoker asked in a tired voice, as he grabbed Vegapunk, hiding him behind him, as the tall, bony man, looked confused.
"Nothing, I just pointed out ways that the casinos are scamming them, and how they could work around the system" Smoker sighed, before he shook his head, Vegapunk would never change, not seeing how sharing some information could be hurtful. He didn't share something important at least, he knew better than that, he really was the smartest man Smoker knew, and the Marines was lucky to have him. However; if he would survive long enough to help them win.
"Where is Aokiji?" knowing the friends rarely came to save him on their own.
"Dealing with the rest of them" Smoker answered, just as he knocked the first man, coming towards them, unconscious.
"You could improve your swing by…" Vegapunk started.
"I swear to God, if you continue that sentence, I will let you deal with them on your own" Smoker informed the other one, who stayed silent. He knew Vegapunk meant well, but he didn't need his help, at least not now, and especially not by having the other one give him numbers, when he fought.
"Did I miss all the fun?" Aokiji asked, just as Smoker stopped the last one. Smoker turned towards Aokiji, and was surprised to see him bleeding from his head.
"You are hurt!" Vegapunk sounded devastated as he walked over.
"Arararar, well would you look at that" Aokiji looked at his bloody fingers, after he touched the wound.
"Don't do that! The wound will get infected. Don't you know anything?!" Vegapunk schooled him, and Aokiji met Smoker's eyes when the man laughed, something that didn't seem to bother Vegapunk, as he continued schooling Aokiji.
"Let's return, before Akainu gets pissed" Smoker looked at his friends.
"Pretty sure he already is. I am not sure he can be anything but pissed" Aokiji said with a smile, showing exactly what he thought of their admiral.
"He is going to tear me to pieces" Vegapunk gave them a worried look.
"Most likely, one of this days, but he, we, still needs you, so he won't risk that" Smoker calmed the other one.
"You don't know that"
"No, I can be wrong. He will end you, in a sea of magma. Do you wont to grab some popcorn on the way?" Smoker looked at Aokiji who nodded.
"Well sure, even if he doesn't melts him, it will be funny to see him, even trying to talk to Akainu" Aokiji smiled once more.
"I can talk to him!" Vegapunk protested, making the other two look at each other, before the laughed.
"Only when you are in your laboratory, talking about work, any other time, you just freeze" Smoker smiled, often founding it funny. Maybe he shouldn't, seeing how scared Vegapunk was of Akainu, but seeing that their leader hadn't done anything to the scientist, it was funny, at least for now. If he would try to do something towards him, well Smoker didn't wish to think about that now, not sure what he would do.
"I do not! Can we just return, without talking to him? I mean I have so much work to do" Vegapunk excused himself.
"Maybe it's for the best. Caesar was using your lab when we left" Aokiji informed Vegapunk who got mad at once.
"If that punk has done anything to my experiment again, I will kill him! Slow and painful!" the tall man declared as he almost ran back to the base, with the other two, following him.
Smoker studied the maps, wishing to prepare as well as he could, before heading off, meeting Aokiji. He already knew everything he could about the area, surrounding the action house, however he knew how important it was to know which way to flee, when everything went to hell. Because he knew it would, always did, even back in the days, and then things wasn't even that bad.
"Smoker-San?" Smoker looked up, surprised seeing Tashigi standing there, he hadn't even heard her enter. "I am sorry Sir, you didn't answer when I knocked, and I was worried something may have happened"
Smoker looked at the door, as he didn't trusted her words, he trusted her, he was just surprised he hadn't heard anything.
"Do you need any help?" the young woman looked at the maps, and Smoker met her eyes.
"No" he hadn't told her anything, but he knew he needed to, in case something happened. He had just avoided it, and he took a deep breath. "I am heading out, on a mission, alone!"
He saw that she was on the brink of interrupting him, but he just raised his hand, hindering her. He couldn't tell her about Aokiji, in case someone heard, and he couldn't tell her about the mission either.
"I can't inform you on the details, just know that you are in charge until I return, and if I wouldn't to return, well this shitty job is yours"
Tashigi just stared at him, not surprising, seeing what he just told her. She was his right hand, and in theory, she was to take over if something happened to him, he had just never informed her that something may happen.
"But sir…"
"You are a good soldier Tashigi, one of the few I trust, and I know that the Marines will be in good hands, if something happens" he placed a hand on her shoulder. Tashigi blinked a few times before she hugged him, and it took him a few seconds before he hugged her back.
"Be careful, we need you!"
"I will be as careful as I can" Smoker told her, not making any promises.
"Good luck Sir, call if you need anything!" she saluted him, before she left the room, and he smiled once more. He hated himself for doing this to her, knowing that she wasn't prepared for the job, it wasn't her fault, she was a good soldier, it was just that nothing could really prepare you for the job he did. He sighed, before he collected his things, and headed out.
"A Devil Fruit that give you X-Ray vision, would be more than helpful" Aokiji muttered as they looked at the building, without seeing much.
"I have heard rumours about one out there, but who knows. And you can't have two anyway"
"But it would have been really helpful"
"You stated the same thing, every time we used to do a mission together"
"It's still true" Aokiji smiled and Smoker shook his head, sometimes it felt like no time had passed. "Makes you miss the old days, don't you? You and me on a mission, often to save this idiot"
Aokiji glared at the building, but Smoker didn't answer.
"Oh come on, admit you have missed me" Aokiji poked him and Smoker turned towards him with dark eyes.
"Never said I didn't miss you. Of course I did, you idiot! I missed both of you, every day. It doesn't change the fact that I am pissed at you for making me believe you were dead for ten years!" Smoker snapped at him and Aokiji rubbed his neck.
"I thought you would see past that, understanding my reasons"
"You really are an idiot, can't remember you were back then" Smoker turned towards the building once more. "Of course I understand your reasons, they are logic, but you could have given me any sign, something only I would understand, letting me know you were alive, instead you let me believe you were dead. Then you waltz in like nothing has changed, like I saw you yesterday. Yeaz you are the worst. Did you really thought I would be okay with that?"
"I hoped you would in time"
"In time, well maybe, but you have only been back for two months, and this is the first time seeing you since we defeated the Vinsmoke's"
"I thought I should give you some space, and I can't exactly walk to the base, see you whenever I feel like it"
"Well without hearing anything from you, it could have been like you were dead all over. And you could make your way to the base, if the shitty brat can, so can you" Smoker glared at him, not even caring that he told Aokiji that Ace came and went sometimes.
"Arararar, look at you, inviting gang members to the base" Aokiji tried to joke and Smoker just sighed, feeling like they wouldn't get any further with this conversation at the moment.
"Let's focus on the mission"
"Which of the ways would you prefer?" Aokiji studied the different way they could enter the buildings.
"Can't be sure, seeing I have no idea how it looks inside, and I can't know how well prepared this gang are"
"Neither can I. I have managed to collect some information, from the old Revo files. They first mentioned them back when Akainu took over, but it's nothing more than a notice. They had popped up over the years, but nothing certain, only rumours. I am not sure if it's the same group, what they do, or anything. I don't know why the Revos didn't collected more information, maybe they couldn't"
"Helpful" Smoker muttered.
"Maybe they are a bunch of old people, easy to fight off"
"You don't believe that"
"No, I don't, I just tried to be positive"
"Don't, it won't help us"
"Always so practical, have you ever laughed on the battlefield?" Aokiji looked at him and Smoker sighed.
"No, because it isn't a laughing matter"
"You sound so much like Garp! It's easy to see how much he raised you, sometimes at least"
"Rather him than Sengoku, seeing how you and Rosinante turned out" Smoker bit back, making Aokiji laugh.
"Classic Garp"
"Can we focus! And if you answer classic Garp, I will push you off the roof"
"Yes sir" Aokiji saluted him, as well as he could from where they were laying. "So back to which way we should enter"
"This will be just like when we sneaked into the palace, do you remember?" Aokiji turned towards Smoker who sighed once more.
"How could I forgot, it was our first mission, and we got caught by the guards"
"And we had to be rescued by Sengoku and Garp" Aokiji laughed.
"Garp was furious"
"Sengoku wasn't, and it was all Vegapunk's fault"
"Most things back then was"
Smoker looked at the older man, standing next to him. He didn't know him, only of him, but from the look of him, it seemed like the rumours was exaggerated. Everyone often told him what a great soldier Kuzan was, how he, together with Akainu and Kizaru, was the best, except from Sengoku and Garp. But the man standing next to him, just looked lazy, and like he didn't cared about anything, acting like everything was a joke.
"What are you waiting for?" Kuzan asked, making Smoker look at him.
"It's the royal palace, we can't break in!"
"Why not, it's just a building?"
"That the royal family lives in. It's against the law to break in there"
"It's against the law to break in, anywhere you know" Kuzan pointed out, Smoker glared at him, the man was right, but yet, it was different breaking into a normal house, and the palace. "Well we can always return and say we failed, they may be a bit pissed, but we can go back to sleep"
"No! We can't go back; I will not fail at this!" Smoker told him, and Kuzan gave him a small smile.
"Then we need to continue, or do you just wish to stand here, hoping he will get out on his own" For a second Smoker wondered if that was possible. He didn't really know Vegapunk and what he could do, he had just been set on the task to find him, and bring him back.
"Fine" Smoker whispered, being far from fine, but he pushed on, followed by the older man.
Smoker had to admit that Kuzan's powers were very handy, at least here, when he could freeze the water in the catacombs, making it possible to walk on top of it. Smoker was pleased that he didn't need to walk in the cold water, not knowing what could lurk there. True he could hover above, using his own powers, but that was more tiresome than effective.
"Where do you think we are?"
"How should I know? It's not like they have marked which rooms are above"
"A shame, would have been helpful. Or if you had a Devil fruit that gave you X-Ray vision"
"Doesn't matter if you found one, because you already has one, and you can't have two"
"But it would have been really helpful!"
"Well if you can be helpful when you are dead, go ahead and try to find one" Smoker coldly answered, resulting in silence from the other man, for a few seconds.
"Arararar, who knows you could be so sassy" he said with a laugh, as he stopped. "Shall we try here? Or walk a bit further?"
Smoker thought about it, there was no way of knowing where they would enter the palace, ideally would be the prison cells, but he had no idea where they were.
"Guess here is as good as any other place" Smoker looked at the ceiling, hating to admit, that it would have been really helpful if they had marked the room.
"Well let's do this!" Kuzan said and Smoker barely had time to stop him.
"Can we do this without having the palace collapse, killing us or anyone else?"
"Hm good question, I don't know"
"And you still think we should just do it?"
"Well we can go outside again, waiting for him to be free, if he ever will be" Smoker glared at him, before he looked at the ceiling.
"Can you turn the whole you into ice? Like I can do with smoke?"
"Yes" Kuzan answered, sounding a bit puzzled.
"Do you see the cracks between the blocks, I am sure we can use them to access"
"Hm, it seems like it has less chance of killing us, just more exhausting. However, I do prefer life, so let's try"
Smoker looked at the room they had entered, it was clearly a wine cellar, luckily unguarded, even if it wasn't too surprising.
"Can't believe that actually worked" Kuzan stated, as he rubbed his neck, Smoker just glared at him, before he started walking, in hope of finding the cells. Smoker wished he had some indication to go on, but he could only guess, and if Kuzan knew anything, he didn't comment. Smoker hoped that the other one didn't knew anything and kept quiet, because of some stupid reason.
"Are we lost?" Kuzan looked around and Smoker shrugged his shoulders.
"Don't know, since most corridors look the same" Smoker hated to admit it, but he saw no meaning in hiding it.
"Shall I blow up a wall, and see what's behind it?"
"NO!" Smoker more or less shouted before he could think. "No. You don't know who can be on the other side, we don't want to kill someone!"
"Well guess you are right"
"Guess? Why on earth are you even a Marine" Smoker muttered as they continued walking.
"Why are you?" Kuzan just asked and Smoker refused to look at him, or even answer, having no interest in small talk, and he just continued walking.
"Oh look at this" Kuzan stopped, making Smoker do the same, hoping he had found something helpful, but instead it was an armour. "I want to try this!"
Without a warning, Kuzan took of the helmet, violently, resulting in the whole thing collapsing.
"Great" Smoker muttered, knowing that someone must have heard that. Kuzan didn't seem to care as he placed the helmet on top of his head, and hurried after Smoker, who tried to get as far away from the place as he could. "Stop it"
"What?"
"You are whistling, we are trying to do this without getting caught" Smoker glared at the man, just as he walked into a soldier, rounding a corner.
"Too late" Kuzan stated, smiling, and waving at the soldiers, who looked puzzle for a few seconds.
"Stop!" one said, unnecessary since neither Smoker or Kuzan had moved. "You are trespassing"
"You are coming with us" the man handcuffed them, before Smoker could even react and forced them to walk.
"Oh look who it is" Kuzan smiled as they were placed in a cell, seeing Vegapunk already sitting there. The other man blinked a few times, being surprised to see them.
"What are you doing here?"
"Rescuing you" Kuzan said as it was obvious.
"I don't want to criticise your work, but I am sure that you shouldn't get caught, rescuing someone"
"You have Kuzan to thanks for that" Smoker muttered as he sat down on the cold floor, struggling with his cuffs. "What is this?"
"Oh, I made them. Its handcuffs made by seastone, it hinders the power of a devil user. Sengoku asked me to make something that could be helpful against criminals, who has a Devil Fruit" Vegapunk announced, sounding super proud.
"That's really smart" Kuzan looked at his own, before he placed himself on the floor, spreading out as much as he could.
"Smart? It makes it impossible for us to escape. Not that we would have needed to escape, if you just could have been silent. Who the fuck makes so much noise when you are on a stealth mission"
"But the helmet was lit, and I like to whistle" Kuzan smiled, and Smoker had to hinder himself from kicking the other mans' face. Once again he asked himself, how on earth this idiot could be so high praised. Akainu was more responsible, always making a good job, and Smoker had even enjoyed the mission he had been on with him. Kizaro had a more relaxed way, but he still knew what he did, and Smoker even had fun on the mission with the other one. But Kuzan, he was just an idiot, and Smoker really wished to kick him in the face.
"How did you end up here?" Kuzan looked at Vegapunk, who blushed.
"I met some soldiers in the palace park, when I tried to collect an invention of mine, who had flew off. When they confronted me, I pointed out ways they could improve, well everything. I guessed I really made them angry, because they threw me in here"
Smoker just blinked, as he glared at the other man.
"You are as stupid as him" he finally said, making Vegapunk blush even more.
"I am sorry, I didn't mean to. I just have to inform people of things they can improve, like how you can lay more comfortable, if you adjust your arms" he looked at Kuzan, who lazily opened his eyes, and followed the instructions Vegapunk gave him.
"Arararar, it is more comfortable, thank you"
"You are welcome. You know that you could sit more comfortable if…"
"Stop talking, or I will leave you here" Smoker cut him off, making the other one become silent, while Kuzan laughed.
"Leave you here? Do you even have a plan to get out?"
"Not yet" Smoker admitted while Kuzan laughed even more, making Smoker angrier.
"Stop laughing! There must be a way out!" Smoker stood up, turning towards the walls, trying to find something, that could help them get out.
"Unless you find a secret door, we will not get out. Or do you just think a way will magical appear, if you hit the bricks hard enough?" Kuzan asked, laughing once more when he saw how Smoker started hitting the bricks. Smoker knew that a way wouldn't magical present itself, but he had to try. He had no idea what the guards may do to them when they returned, he had heard that the king was a good man, but he may not be, seeing they broke into his home. And if that reached Garp and Sengoku, they would be so disappointed at him. He had failed, not only to collect Vegapunk, but he had also broken the law, and he had lead Kuzan into danger as well, even if the idiot deserved it, he was caught as well, and would be punished too. Smoker should have told him to return, or anything, not making them both break in. He had really failed, not only his follow soldier, and command, but also himself.
"Aokiji" Vegapunk stated, and the older man stopped laughing, looking at Smoker, who had stopped kicking the wall, and instead looked devastated.
"Smoker, oh shit, I am so sorry" Kuzan stood up and walked over. "It's going to be okay"
Smoker didn't even answered him, wondering why he suddenly changed his behaviour.
"Trust me, it will be okay, we will get out of here"
"Mm, sure" Smoker just answered, not believing that.
"I mean it, everything will be okay, nothing to worry about"
"What's wrong with you? Why are you like this all the sudden?"
"All the sudden?" Vegapunk asked, looking puzzled. "Aokiji is almost like this, or most of the time. When he isn't joking around, but it's rare that he does"
"Rare? He has been joking around all day, taking nothing seriously! We are here because he is a fucking joke of a soldier. We got an important mission, and he couldn't take any of it serious!" Smoker almost shouted at the other two.
"Arararar" Kuzan rubbed his neck again. "I think I over did it a bit. I admit I had fun, but maybe I should have thought more about how you felt"
"Over did it? Fucking yes, we are sitting in a prison cell because of you! And it's not what I feel, it's about what the marines stand for, our mission, the ones we save, what we do!"
"You sound so much like Garp, take it easy" Kuzan stated as he sat down next to where Smoker was standing. "Sengoku told me to test you. He said you worked very well with Akainu and Kizaro, but he wanted to know how you worked under pressure, and how well you could lead. I was here to test you, but also help you out if needed. Guess I failed at that part"
Smoker stared at the man for a few minutes.
"That fucking prick"
"Careful, he is your command" Kuzan joked, but Smoker didn't cared at the moment.
"Is this fake as well? Was he ever missing?"
"Oh yes, the mission is real, we needed to save Vegapunk, so maybe I should have helped you a bit more with that"
"Great" Smoker sank down next to Kuzan, glaring at the wall in front of him.
"I am impressed that you didn't hit me"
"I wished to kick you in the face, a few moments ago" Smoker admitted, making the older man smile.
"But you didn't. Most have actually. Akainu almost melted a building over me on our first mission"
"Shame he didn't" Smoker answered, making Kuzan laughed again, but he didn't answer.
"So how long will we be here?" Vegapunk asked.
"If you hadn't invented this we could have been out already" Smoker looked at the cuffs.
"Don't worry, I am sure Sengoku and Garp will be done talking with the king soon, and collect us"
"They knew we are here, and what happened?" Smoker almost panicked, hoping he could find a way out of this without them ever knowing.
"I have updated Sengoku the whole time" Kuzan blinked towards Smoker before he closed his eyes and relaxed, waiting for them to be rescued.
"Breaking into the palace, and getting caught! We told you to find Vegapunk, not break any laws, or do anything stupid" Garp shouted at them after he had smacked them both. "And making us save you. You should be ashamed, both of you!"
"It's all my fault" Kuzan admitted, with a smile.
"Why am I not surprised" Garp glared at Sengoku, who also smiled.
"Did you whistle?" he asked Kuzan, like they were gossiping about something.
"I did, also stole a helmet, maybe I should get one permanently"
"I think it would help you, because it looks like Garp wants to hit you again" Sengoku laughed.
"Or you" Kuzan pointed out, making Sengoku laugh even more.
"I think you may be right, he is so boring sometimes. I enjoyed this"
"And to think that you are the leader of the Marines, god help us" Garp muttered as he turned towards Vegapunk. "Are you unharmed?"
"I am, thank you" Vegapunk smiled, and Garp did the same. Vegapunk was one of the few ones he was kind to, seeing that the younger boy would never handle the rougher treatment, and he wasn't meant to be a soldier either.
"And you! If you ever do something like this, I will kick your bony ass out of this town!"
"Yes, sir!" was all Smoker answered, saluting, following Garp as they walked away from the castle.
"How did he manage?" Sengoku asked Kuzan, and Smoker couldn't help himself from listening, wondering what the other one would have said.
"Very well, he didn't punch me ones" Sengoku laughed at those words. "I may have pushed him to break into the castle, saying we would fail otherwise, he is a bit worried to fail you two"
"He could never do that, well unless he changes his ways" Sengoku said in a gentle voice, and Smoker actually felt a bit warm, hearing those words. He really looked up to the two grown-ups, walking around him. "He was very determent on that we shouldn't hurt anyone, I even tried to blow some things up, but he hindered me. He took charge as well as he could, with me there, making it hell for him. So the mistakes he made, was because of me, more than anything else"
"You enjoyed this, didn't you?" Sengoku asked and Kuzan nodded.
"I did, it was fun being on a mission with him. He was actually one of the best ones, I have tested!"
"Hm, I will see if I can send you two on more missions"
"Well maybe ask him first, he didn't punched me this time, but he might do the next time" Kuzan laughed together with Sengoku, before the fleet admiral walked over to Garp and they started talking about something Smoker couldn't hear. Kuzan walked up next to him and Smoker looked at him, actually feeling a bit shy after hearing what the other one said.
"Thank you" he finally said and Kuzan smiled towards him.
"I meant every word, just so you know" Smoker was a bit surprised by it, even if the words were kind, he had thought some of them were to make Kuzan feel a bit better, for acting the way he did.
"Thanks Kuzan" was the only thing Smoker could answer.
"Aokiji" he corrected him "My friends calls me Aokiji"
"It was really fun" Aokiji smiled in the dark.
"It was not! You were the worst, can't say you have become much better over the years. God you and Vegapunk really are the worst"
"I think you may be right, good that we have you than"
"Yes, see where you ended up without me" he answered and Aokiji laughed.
"Well yes, maybe we would have been better off staying with the marines, or taking you with us, when we escaped"
"The Marines had been better off with you two still there" Smoker admitted.
"They are doing great with you there. It's a good thing that you took after Garp" Smoker smiled a small smile, but didn't answer, seeing that a truck just pulled up. Someone, dressed in black and with a mask on just opened the back, and rolled out a cage. Despite that it was dark, and a great distance, both men knew that contrast everywhere.
"Vegapunk" Aokiji stated, even if it was unnecessary, both men stood up, and collected their bags.
"Let's save his stupid ass" Smoker said as he went to the edge of the roof, and jumped down, into the darkness.