Chapter 7

"You're not even human"


Law shifted, trying to find the most comfortable position as he slowly leaned against a tree, his legs stretched out and his body slumping little. The wind tousled his dark hair before he put his hat back on. It was a nice, sunny day, with breeze just cool enough to calm any nerves.

It was the calm before the storm.

Law played several scenarios in his mind, trying to come up with one solution after another. He had gotten pretty good at imagining crisis as the years passed by. Still, battles and wars hardly ever came out exactly as guessed, and Law didn't want to tempt fate.

"You're gonna end up killing yourself with your mind, Trafalgar"

"Yeah, you think too much, Torao!"

Law hummed and sat up straight, recognizing the presence of the men in front of him. Looked like having a nice, quiet anxiety time wasn't even allowed with these two around.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were with your crews" he asked. Luffy and Kidd sat on the ground near him, all of them staring at the vast horizon just visible from their spot.

Kidd scoffed "I didn't really need to talk much. Killer would be able to handle everything, anyway"

Luffy nodded, taking out meat out of nowhere and getting a big bite out of it "My crew promised we would have a party after this. That's enough for me"

Law blinked at what he knew was deliberate nonchalance but didn't comment further.

Luffy still had something to say, though.

"Chopper and the others told me to thank you beforehand" Luffy said in between chewing. Law wasn't sure who the Strawhat was talking to until dark brown eyes met his.

"What for?" if anything, it was him who should thank the younger captain. This alliance was one of the best things that had happened to Law, and it would be impossible without the rubber kid.

"For patching me up! Shishishi!"

Law rolled Kikoku in his hands, confused. He hadn't patched Luffy up recently, so just what was he referring to—oh, right. Luffy did say 'in advance', didn't he?

"You sound so confident that I'll save your asses if things go wrong" Law pulled his legs, switching into cross-legs position. Kidd snorted next to him.

"Of course!" Luffy beamed, smiling up at his allies and, like it was the most obvious thing in the world, added " 'cause you're a doctor!"

Law frowned, disbelief marring his face at the reason (which he believed didn't make any sense). Luffy laughed heartily and Kidd snickered, apparently amused and clearly enjoying the doctor's suffering.

Eventually, a smirk made its way to Law's face, and he let himself—just this once—relax, momentarily forgetting what's to come.


Law looked around. He had to do something. Anything. Or else the boy was going to—

"SHOOT HIM!"

Shit.

Saint Rosward gestured for the cadets to fire at the boy. Not so surprisingly, no one immediately moved. No sane person would just follow an order like that so willingly, at least no one present. After half a minute of yelling and being ignored, Saint Rosward finally focused the order at one personnel, the one who just had the luck to be standing the closest to the world noble.

"Hey, you, shoot him!" Saint Rosward spat, eyes bulging out of their sockets "Hurry!"

The personnel—with slicked-back blond hair, black shades and a scar on his left eye—visibly panicked at the order, his body going ramrod straight, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead.

"I—uh, me..?" he dumbly pointed at himself. Law felt bad for the guy who clearly had moral justice drilled into his head.

"Yes, you! Are you deaf?! Kill that boy this instant!" the world noble commanded again, by now his face was flushed crimson by wrath.

The personnel spluttered, opening and closing his mouth a couple of times, but no sound came out. After what seemed like an internal debate, he finally turned to the boy and adjusted the rifle in his hands. He slowly raised the weapon, its end pointed at the boy who could do nothing but stare in horror.

The personnel's whole body was trembling.

And Law felt like bursting into a laugh.

Was this it? The so-called justice? The thing that brought so many innocent lives through the mud and down the gutter?

So this was the marines? The self-proclaimed protector of justice and order of the world? Who wagged its tail and licked the bare feet of the world nobles?

Disgusting.

It all looked like too much of a bad joke that Law couldn't help but let out a soft, amused breath, inaudible to anyone but himself.

And everyone waited. Waited for the inevitable moment when the personnel finally pull the trigger. For the moment the bullet fly and hit the boy. For the blood to splatter on the ground and the last breath of an innocent citizen corrupted by the government.

From the corner of his eyes, Law could see Smoker gritting his teeth and growling. The guy could actually draw the line of his impulsive actions, huh? But of course. If he wanted to keep being a marine, he shouldn't mess with the world nobles, no matter what situation he was put in.

Law shifted a bit to get a better look at the personnel currently holding the weapon against the kid. Poor guy, he looked miserable. Law wondered if the guy would break down after this incident. Would he question his moral and justice? Would he despise himself?

Would he regret it?

Before Law could mull over it further, he heard shocked gasps of breath. Law looked up just in time to see the personnel lowering the rifle, his hands limp beside his body. He was looking at the ground, pulling his hat down low, and Law could've sworn he saw tears pooling on his eyes.

"…I… I can't do it"

Law blinked.

Well, would you look at that. There was still hope for the marines, after all.

Hope that was slowly diminishing, Law mused sadly, because the officer was as good as dead now.

Saint Rosward didn't do anything for a moment, and Law knew it was because the guy was trying to comprehend the situation at hand. Did a human just defy him?

"..I see" the noble finally said. He was calm, though. Too calm.

Saint Rosward rummaged through one of his big pockets and fished out a golden gun decorated in colorful jewels. He pointed it at the personnel who dared to disregard his order.

"Then you die first"

BAM BAM

BAM


Drip

Drip

Blood trickled down, slow and steady. A small, crimson puddle formed on the ground.

The blond personnel slowly opened his eyes, confused. He was sure he would die. The moment he said no to the celestial dragon, his death was pretty much already crafted in stone.

But the one shot was not him. Neither was the blood his.

He pulled up his cap, his breath caught in his throat when he saw the scene.

Right in front of him, a white-haired man was standing, hands stretched out wide as if the man was using his own body as a shield.

But the blood was not his, either. Looking a bit farther up, the personnel realized it belonged to the last person he thought it would.

A certain troublemaker rookie who was too arrogant for his own good.

"…Trafalgar?"


Smoker cursed as he immediately forced his legs to move when the gun was pointed at his friend. He knew he shouldn't do this. That going against the world noble was practically the worst mistake a person—let alone a marine—could make. But he couldn't help it. Not when his humanity was on the line.

He had tried to hold himself. To stay rooted on the spot he was standing at even when a boy—an innocent citizen—was about to be killed. He had told himself that it was what he would have to endure. That it was part of being a marine. He almost even tried to lie to himself that not doing anything was the right thing to do.

But Smoker had a conscience of a circle with a thousand corners. So when he saw his friend—Cancer—lowered the rifle, he knew that all of this was wrong. And before he knew it, he was already standing in front of Cancer, ready to take the fall for his friend.

But the bullets never came.

Instead, they flew to random spots in the sky, but not before grazing—or more like making holes—on the hand of the person who hijacked its trajectory.

Smoker's cigarette fell from his mouth. He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the very Trafalgar Law standing right in front of the noble, one hand still holding a rifle and another hand on the mouth of the noble's gun, successfully tilting it upward and letting the bullets go astray.

Cancer's trembling voice calling the teen's name was the only confirmation that what he was seeing was true.

Smoker was about to say something to get out of this situation (no matter how hopeless it seemed like, he had to try), before Trafalgar beat him to it.

"…I apologize" the teen said, his head a bit lowered and for a second Smoker wondered whom he was directing the apology to, before he realized it must have been spoken to the noble.

"Wha—"

Trafalgar cut the noble's sentence short "You don't have to dirty your hands on these peo—lowly humans, Sir" the teen said, his voice monotone and almost indifferent. Slowly, he let go of the gun and turned around, his back to the noble.

Trafalgar lingered his eyes on Smoker and Cancer, expression flat but there was something flashing in his eyes that Smoker couldn't quite decipher.

Then the tattooed teen faced the boy—who seemed to be on the verge of fainting—and raised his rifle.

Smoker's eyes widened.

"I'll get rid of him for you" Trafalgar said again, his hands steady, eyes aiming for the target.

And then he fired.

And again. And again. And again.

And the boy went limp.


Smoke trailed from the mouth of the rifle. Trafalgar glanced at the world noble, silent and seemingly waiting for further order.

Saint Rosward was speechless for a few seconds before a wicked, satisfied grin crept onto his face, "Hah. So there is someone competent" he approved, looking at the dead, bleeding body, before fixing his gaze on Trafalgar.

"I will take care of the body, Sir. Please go on and enjoy your vacation" Trafalgar offered. Saint Rosward smirked more "Alright, you do that. But be quick, who knows if there would be more fools like that"

And with that, Saint Rosward got on his slave and whipped 'it' to move, followed by his children who looked equally amused and smug. The marines only stood there for a moment, looking lost for words, glancing between the dead boy, Trafalgar, Smoker, and Cancer. The crowd around them still too shocked to move.

Eventually, most of the cadets began to walk and catch up with the world nobles, but not before shooting a disbelieved, disgusted look at Trafalgar. They told the crowds to disperse, and after some persuasion and threats, all of them obeyed.

And then only three people were left, all standing near each other in silent.

Smoker was the first to move, his steps heavy. He raised his fist and, with all his might, delivered a killer punch at Trafalgar, right on the side of the rookie's face. It was strong enough to send the teen flying.

Smoker let out a heavy huff, observing Trafalgar who just stayed there sprawling on the ground. Normal people would have undoubtedly become unconscious after being hit by one of those punches, but Smoker was sure the younger marine was able to stand it.

And he was right, because Trafalgar stirred and slowly stood up, his nose bloody and one side of his face was slowly gaining bluish color.

"You thrice-damned bastard" Smoker growled, eyes flashing in rage "You fucking scum. And there I thought you might actually be a decent human being."

Trafalgar wiped the blood off his face, eyes fixed on the ground, acting as if he didn't hear anything. Smoker's frown deepened and his eyes transformed into slits, "Turns out you're not even human"

Smoker could feel Cancer tensed even more behind him, but that didn't matter. He was too fixated on beating some sense into a certain rookie right now.

The rookie who was treating him like air and just walked toward the dead boy.

Before Trafalgar could touch the body, Smoker grabbed the teen's wrist, using more strength than necessary. Trafalgar raised an eyebrow and, for the first time since the beginning of the incident, looked Smoker in the eye.

"Let go, Smoker" Trafalgar wordlessly threatened. Smoker scoffed.

"And what the hell are you planning on doing? 'Get rid of the body', huh? You wanna dump him somewhere no one could find him? Throw him into an open fire or to the ocean?" Smoker provoked, each word laced with anger, tone raising with each syllable.

"No, I'm not" Trafalgar responded, not fazed with the man's attitude. That only pissed Smoker even more. The white-haired man pulled Trafalgar's hand and aimed another hit at the teen.

This time, Trafalgar dodged, bending his body slightly backward as his face almost brushed with Smoker's fist. With one swift movement, Trafalgar pulled his hand back, pivoted on one leg, and kicked Smoker in the guts with another. Smoker let go of his grasp and doubled over. Not done, Trafalgar landed another kick to the side of his face, right at his jaw, successfully disrupting his balance and sending him falling to the ground.

Trafalgar observed Smoker for a quick moment before switching his attention and crouching next to the boy's body. He fumbled with his pockets before fishing out a metal container. He opened it and picked out the contents. A scalpel and… forceps?

Trafalgar glanced at his left hand. It was still bleeding but at least its trail made it so that it didn't really get in the way. He looked at the tools in his hands, thinking something, before finally reaching for the boy.

He was stopped again, this time by Cancer who looked at him with apprehension.

"And what do you think you're doing?" the scarred man asked. Trafalgar frowned but answered.

"I'm saving him"

Cancer's eyes narrowed "You just shot him"

"Yes, I did. But I didn't kill him. And if you don't let go and let me just do my work now, he is going to die" Trafalgar's voice was low and dangerous, almost hissing.

Cancer hesitated, glancing back and forth between the small body and the rookie. Was the boy really still alive? Was Trafalgar seriously going to save him? Based on the nasty rumors surrounding the rookie, he would most likely stab the scalpel right on the boy's heart to give him a 'fast' and 'peaceful' end.

But Cancer could see it, clear as day, a solid, ice-cold determination on the teen's eyes. Years of living in a hard place, Cancer knew desperation when he saw one. Slowly, Cancer let go of Trafalgar's wrist, but still kept his guard up in case he needed to stop him.

Trafalgar only gave him one last glare before turning to the boy again. He checked for the boy's pulse and sighed softly before moving his hands to start picking out the bullets.

"..would be nice if I could do this in a proper room.." Cancer heard the teen mumbled, but the man focused on the boy instead. Now that Cancer looked closer, two of the four bullets only grazed the kid, one on the cheek and one around the right upper arm. One bullet was lodged on the right shoulder and another one close to the heart—a little bit too close for comfort—but Cancer knew none of them was fatal.

Not long, there was already four bullets laid on the ground next to the boy—who was, thankfully, alive—and Trafalgar was already rolling out the bandage (was he seriously carrying those around?) and wrapping it around the kid. Trafalgar moved slowly as he tried to avoid his blood from dripping on the boy, angling his arm in weird ways to that purpose.

Cancer could only stare through the whole procedure, surprised that Trafalgar Law—the troublemaker rookie who cared about others as much as he cared about dirt on the side of the road—was actually moving with so much subtlety and care that Cancer couldn't help but gape at the sight.

And so did Smoker, who hadn't so much as blinked since he could move again and approached them.

"It's done" Trafalgar informed, a soft sigh escaping his lips. "Still need to bring him to a hospital, though" he added, taking out a small water bottle and briskly pouring the content on his bleeding palm. He was about to slip his arms under the body to lift the boy up, but Smoker beat him to it.

"Lemme carry him" the white-haired man said, a new cigar already in his mouth.

Trafalgar gave him an unreadable look and just nodded.


Law touched his left cheek and winced. If there were a mirror nearby, he was sure he could see a large, nasty bruise on his face. It was swollen, too.

He inwardly cursed as he remembered accepting the blow from Smoker earlier. He hadn't bothered to dodge, or at least angle his head to the side to lessen the damage.

Because he deserved it.

As a pirate in two previous past lives, Law had done a lot of morally questionable deeds to reach his goals. He was not a good guy. But he did still have standards. He always avoided too much damage if he could help it, and as a doctor, he hated killing, especially women and children.

Therefore, it had actually been a relief when Smoker punched him, because that meant he didn't have to beat himself up for shooting an innocent kid.

"So the rumor is true, huh" a gruff voice next to him said. Law looked to his side to see Smoker taking a seat next to him, Cancer on the other side of the man. They were on Groove 30, resting on a wooden bench near the hospital where they had dropped off the boy. They had also tracked down the boy's parents, informing them about what happened. It wasn't a pretty conversation, but they went through with it.

None of them had any intention to heed the noble's previous order to quickly head to Groove 1. In fact, they had deliberately decided to forget about it.

Law raised an eyebrow in inquiry. He wasn't sure which rumor Smoker was referring to, because when it came to him, there were a lot. Smoker took a puff of his cigar before settling his eyes on the rookie "you're a doctor" he stated. Law frowned at the accusing tone the man used.

"I am. A surgeon, to be precise" Law affirmed. At the answer, the other two men looked at a distance, seemingly trying to process this new discovery. All this time, there had never been a chance for Law to show off his skills as a doctor, so he didn't blame the two for being surprised.

"But the others are wrong, though" Cancer pointed out "like how you always bring poison in those pockets and suspicious metal box, or that you are a heartless bastard who needs to be taken down a peg or fifty"

Law snorted. Maybe he should start listening to the rumors, after all. Just for the amusement.

And there was the silence again. It was a bit awkward, considering what just happened minutes ago, and the fact that they weren't friends, yet sitting next to each other (not sitting close, but still) like old pals.

It was Smoker who break the silence "Care to explain what happened?" there was a hint of exasperation in his tone, and from his expression, Law was sure the guy at least had a clue about the answer. On the other hand, Cancer looked completely curious, even though his eyes were hidden by his black shades.

"There's not much to it" Law started, crossing one leg on top of another "I despise the celestial dragons, so I went against them since I had the chance"

Smoker snorted, as if not believing Law's reasoning "yeah, right. And you're willing to get hurt for it"

Law cocked his brows. "You mean this?" he raised his left hand that was wrapped in bandages "The bullets only grazed my palm and fingers. Do you really think I would let the bastard make holes on my hand?"

"Then why didn't you just, I don't know, avoid the bullets completely?" Cancer asked, because he was sure as hell Law could do it.

"It was important for the bastard to be surprised enough to be caught off-guard, or else he would point the gun at me next" Law rested his hand on his knees again "and blood seemed to do the trick"

The two men narrowed their eyes.

"And the kid? You shot him to shake the noble, too?" Smoker questioned, almost ridiculed.

"I shot him because there was no other way to get out of that situation, Smoker" Law explained, starting to get annoyed. "I believe you also knew that"

Smoker grunted. Yes, he did know, so did Cancer. It was just upsetting because they didn't have the guts to go through with it.

It was upsetting just how helpless they had felt.

Law got up, dusting his pants and shoving his right hand to his pocket.

"And I'm still a heartless bastard" he informed, referring to the rumor "just for the record, I would've let the officer over there—" Law pointed at Cancer.

"Cancer" Smoker supplied.

"—shoot the - wait, what?" Law whipped his head to the scarred man, disbelief written all over the teen's face. Cancer just tilted his head, wondering what was wrong.

'Cancer'? Really? Law didn't care if it was referring to the zodiac constellation or whatever. But the thing that popped up first in his mind when he heard the name was one of the deadliest illnesses in the world that had taken countless lives (and the one Smoker would most likely suffer from if the man didn't acquire the power of Moku Moku no Mi soon). And some parents actually named their son that? And here Law thought his name was strange.

Law shook his head, dismissing the intrusive thought and trying to steer back to the conversation, "I was saying, I would've let.. Cancer shot down the kid and went on with my day as if nothing was wrong"

The two men stared at him, and for once, Law couldn't guess what they were thinking.

"You wouldn't" Smoker finally spoke up.

"What?"

Brown eyes met amber ones.

"Maybe you would let Cancer pull the trigger…" Smoker got up from the bench "...but you wouldn't go on your day as if there's nothing wrong"

Law stared defiantly "And what basis are you saying that on?"

Smoker walked closer to the teen. Law didn't step back, standing firm and daring the white-haired man to answer.

After a minute, Smoker pointed at him, and Law could see the slightest change of expression on the man – once fierce and sharp, now smoothed into a light, calm, almost somber look.

"You're a doctor"

.

"Cause you're a doctor!"

.

Thump.

Law's heart skipped a beat at the image interlapping with his vision.

For a second there, he could hear—very clearly—the distinct, cheery laugh and the deep, gruff chuckle. His hand instinctively reached the side of his face, just around his ear, willing his sense to hear more.

But the voices were gone, just as fast as it had come.

Law wondered if he could hear it again.

He wanted to hear it again.

The voices he had ever heard in the nightmares were those of horror movies. Or hell. Just screaming and yelling and shrieking that it made him want to go deaf. Or there were the endless thunder striking, the ground breaking under him, the waves consuming everything on its path. Or the voices calling his name with venom and hatred so deep he couldn't recognize them anymore. He was starting to miss the carefree laughter and the stupid banter so much that he felt like was going insane.

"—ith your head?"

Law broke out of his reverie with a slight jolt.

"..what?" he looked at Smoker and Cancer, not really sure who just said what to him.

"Is something wrong with your head?" the white-haired man repeated, eyes narrowed again. Law immediately brought his hand down, somehow feeling like he had just been caught doing something bad.

"No" he answered and cursed himself for sounding out of it.

"You're looking a bit pale" Cancer pointed out, his glasses held by his hand on top of his head, holding Law in scrutiny.

"It's the heat" Law immediately replied and thanked the weather that it was relatively sunny, or else his answer would be a stupid lie.

This time, Cancer also stood up "I'll get us some water—"

"No need"

"Then maybe some ice for your face—"

"I said no need"

Cancer frowned, his eye twitching, wondering just what made the teen so goddamn stubborn.

Law glared back.

Smoker sighed and stepped in between the two.

"Okay, enough. Let's just head off and hope there hasn't been any other civilian at the bitter end of a gun"

Law switched his glare to Smoker "Don't order me around."

Regardless, they reached a mutual understanding and headed to Groove 1.


A/N

Cheers to GolDEin13 for guessing the outcome of this chapter! Here's, um, cookies for you! (—^_^)—OOO

I had half a mind to tweak it a little, but meh, maybe I love cliches after all.

Oh and Cancer is a canon character! You can see how he looks like when he was young from the Wiki page. I don't like using OCs and he looks chill enough so I use him.

Have a nice day!