Chapter 7: I'll be There
-A year ago I was a worker for Al and Co. while taking care of my son Richie. To protect my son from the violence and corruption that had taken his mother I joined the Longleg Preservation Committee, Kudo began and SWORD listened intently.
-I worked in the field, spoke out against Longarm supremacy and generally did what I could for the community. My reputation grew and it wasn't long before I became a target, but the company, where all members of the LPC worked, would protect me. But one day, right after the company building was finished, the director started to change…
-Describe the director at the time, please, Koby ask
-He was a large man with striking eyes, kind towards his workers.
-Really? Kudo's description went directly against the thin man covering his eyes with bangs that Smoker had met. Unless…
-Tell me, were there any notable changes in the director's personality at the time?
-W-well, yes. He was humble and calm until out of the blue he started to have mood swings and spend humongous amounts of money on unnecessary crap to show off his wealth, obviously to the detriment of our salaries.
Koby's face turned pale as he realized what Kudo was describing.
-Koby, do you have anything to add? Smoker asked.
-Y-yes, I've read about this in a book. All the changes that the director's gone through line up with the side effects of Lovey-Dovey addiction! We've been wondering why the director would ally himself with the mafia, but here we've got the answer! He's one of their customers.
Before Kudo could, he broke down and started to cry.
-I-I see. So t-that's why he did what he did. For you see, eventually the Von Sally's were fed up with me, so they sent me a warning. If I wanted to keep the life that I had, I would shut up. I was too hard-headed and… they… they t-took Richie. Six months ago I found him lying still with a soot mark on his forehead, like all other victims of the Von Sally's.
Helmeppo walked forward and comforted the sobbing Kudo.
-I went to rally my coworkers but the director promptly called me into his office and fired me with no explanation. I was left on this island all alone, with no job, no community and no family. I tried to drown myself, but I was too furious to die. I trained to take revenge, but soon fell to the bottle...
Smoker sat, sweating bullets and grinding his teeth after hearing Kudo's story.
-That…that sick bastard… This was six months ago? That lines up perfectly… Not only did Al Duck help smuggle the weapons, but he covered up the murders for them… Kudo, I promise you that I'll take down Al and Co. as well as the mafioso that pull their strings!
East Blue, Loguetown, 20 years ago…
-M-mister, I'm really, really hung…
-Get away, if I have some street kid hanging around I'll scare away the real customers, the merchant dismissed, not even turning to look at the bruised street kid, dressed in dirty clothes with pale shaggy hair.
-B-but…
-Get lost!
The facade of desperation on the boy's face twisted into a grim smile. Smoker flew up on a pillar of smoke to headbutt the merchant while three other street urchins rushed in and grabbed as many wares as they could.
-Robbery! Catch the brats! The merchant shouted out as the crew scattered, Smoker taking the high road over the rooftops.
-Man,what an asshole! Dossal, the oldest, roughest member of the group, complimented Smoker.
-Happy to do the job. But, Liggett, what happened to the food you stole?
-He ate it, R.J bluntly stated. R.J was mostly neutral about basically all matters in life, but he took it as a matter of personal pride that no one knew his actual name.
-Awwww, don't tell them that, Liggett was new to life on the streets, so he ended up making a fool of himself most of the time.
-Go easy on the guy, he had to run for a staggering fifteen minutes to get here, Smoker chuckled.
-And only ten of those were dedicated to eating, R.J added.
-And you're dumb! Dossal came in with an equally effective, if less clever, joke.
-G-guys, I'm sorry… Liggett looked into the ground.
-Come on, we're just messing around! You know we love you, so hit us with your best comeback! The trio said, perfectly synchronized.
-Ehm, ehh, Smoker, you…
Their conversation was interrupted by a shadow stretching out through the small alleyway. An adult man with long blonde hair dressed in a fine coat stood blocking the exit. Smoker reached for his spiked bat.
-No, no! Listen, I'm not here to hurt you. My name is Philips, and I'm just like you; I live on the street. I saw what you did at the market, and I have a proposal.
Smoker eyed Philips up and down, trying to understand what he was getting at.
-Let's team up! I've found an old shack at the outskirts of town where I have food and beds. You get cover, and someone to protect you from more… ill-willing adults, and we help each other steal. What do you say?
The crew circled up to discuss.
-We follow to check whether or not he's lying, and in that case, we turn tail, Dossal proposed.
-An house is an unrefusable offer, Smoker added.
-W-well, what if he's one of those kidnapers that sell off street children?
-In that case he'd just gather some other kidnappers and overwhelm us. I've got first-hand experience, R.J added.
-O-oh, okay. Wait, you've got WHAT!?
Walking a few steps behind at all times, the gang followed Philips out into the streets at night, carefully observing their surroundings. After skulking through the shadows of streetlights they reached a blend of house and rubble; their standards were cardboard boxes and alleyways, so the crew reacted in awe.
-Welcome to the place I like to call home!
While his friends happily wandered in, Smoker hesitated at the door.
-What is it? Are you scared? Philips looked down on Smoker.
- I don't like talking about it, Smoker turned away his gaze, but Philips crouched down to look into his eyes.
-Come on, whatever it is, it can't be weirder than what I experience on a day-to-day basis.
-Oh, okay, well…I used to live a normal life, until one day a strange fruit washed up on the shore. I took a bite, and then my body started to…do that thing you saw at the market. My parents kicked me out, and no orphanage wanted me and… Smoker started to ugly cry and with a gentle movement Philips wiped his tears.
-Sometimes people refuse to understand you, and in those cases you gotta fend for yourself. But, come on, I'll show you around. You don't have to worry anymore.
Everyone had a chance to enjoy a warm bath while Philips cooked up a large feast with a large cooked goose. When all the plates shone like the sun Philips brought out a small iron box.
-Now, let's have a little after-meal snack, he opened it to reveal that it was full of cigarettes with a golden like sheen, drawing the children in.
-If you want to, go right ahead, but it's fine if you don't! All eager to prove themselves to be grown up, the crew jumped at the cigarettes and lighters. Smoker took one deep breath before coughing nearly all of it up.
A numbing sensation filled Smoker's mouth before spreading down through his body, relaxing every muscle. Unable to stand up, he slacked back in his chair and took another breath, the numb fog wiping away all his worries and fears. For an hour that felt like five minutes, Smoker was at peace.
Days became weeks, and weeks became months. Philips and the crew became reliant on each other, the crew stealing food in exchange for shelter and cigarettes. For the once starving, desperate children it was paradise. All until one day…
-So, where is the after meal snack? Ligett happily asked after a hearty meal.
-Oh, sorry children, but I'm all out, Philips shrugged in response.
-W-what? Dossal started to sweat in distress.
-No, no, there has to be more, right!? Ligett shouted in despair. Philips contemplated for a few seconds.
-Smoker, you have that strange power, right?.. You could probably steal some more…
Smoker's friends turned to stare at him.
-W-where can I find them?
Philips led them to a concrete warehouse lying hidden in the bay.
-Okay, rush in there, grab the cigarettes and then escape? The crew nodded and with a screeching war cry they rushed through the door. They were met by armed gangsters that Philip hadn't mentioned.
-What the hell is going on!? One of them screamed as he unloaded his magazine straight through Smoker's gas body. With a swing of his bat Smoker bashed in his face while his companions brutally overwhelmed the other one.
Their frenzied rushdown was interrupted as they noticed the cigarettes on the table. Smoker's hand stretched out, shaking with desire.
-Hey, don't get in my way! Dossal smashed Smoker in the face and started grabbing handfuls of cigarettes.
-You…you asshole! Smoker kicked back while R.J and Ligett wrestled for the box. As the drug's effect took over, Smoker's memory turned into a dark, violent haze. flash of steel. A bloodied bat. The swinging of a chair.
The pulling of a trigger.
Smoker awoke, surrounded by his friends bodies, his hand clutching tight onto a cigarette, it's golden sheen hidden under red stains. Smoker stumbled out of the warehouse hugging the cigarette box to meet Philips.
-Oh god, what happened!? He said, his voice dripping with sympathy. Smoker tried to explain, but his throat was clogged by tears. His tears were absorbed by Philips coat as he planted his face into it, unable to face the world. Absorbed by the soft coat and the rush of emotion, Smoker didn't notice a syringe piercing his arm.
-W- what's happening? Smoker awoke, shivering in a pitch black room.
-Ah, you awoke! The guard laughed.
-Saw what you did to your friends, you sick freak. Had to call in a special pair of seastone cuffs just to keep ya down, bwahahaha!
Smoker felt the world start to spin as he understood what was happening. He had been left to die by a man violating his trust. Exhausted, he couldn't scream or cry; all he could do was suffer in silence as the pain of withdrawal engulfed him.
-Hey, a voice echoed through Smoker's cell for the first time in four months. Standing on the other side of the bars, bathing in light, was a tall, lean man with long, curly hair, dressed in an marine uniform
-I'm a vice admiral of the Navy, and I've come to help you. With an effortless kick, Kuzan scattered the iron bars into shards of ice, melting away. He kneeled to look Smoker in the eye and handed over a box of cigars. Smoker turned away his head in desperation.
-No, no, these are medical cigars that can help cure your addiction, Kuzan clarified while lighting a cigar and handing it over to Smoker. Hesitating, Smoker breathed in.
It didn't make Smoker feel good. The harmful world around him, the screams in his head to let it all go, they were still there, but for just a second, they weren't out to get him.
-I'll give you these and let you get back on your feet. Promise me that you'll join the Navy and give them back eh?
For the first time in a year of darkness, Smoker saw hope in Kuzans eyes. For the first time in his life, someone cared for Smoker.
-I promise on my life…
-You don't have to. Your life is your own, so…just promise me on these cigars, Kuzan begged.
-Okay. I promise you on this box of cigars that I'll protect everyone that lays their trust in me, and that I'll help them no matter what anyone says to me. When I've done that, I'll give you back this box! Every other time Smoker had opened himself up, he'd been manipulated or brushed aside.
In a calming voice, Kuzan responded.
-I'll be there to take them.
(Revolutionary voice): Imagine a chapter that is ALL BACKSTORY. Since Smoker will probably get a canonical backstory, I decided to make this one extra dark since it doesn't really matter anyways.
P.S Smoker's friends are all named after cigarette brands, I'm not that weird, okay?
