Hey everybody,
I hope everybody is having a great week^^ mine has been busy as usual but I've been able to do somewhat more sport which is great (my body is killing me tbh, but hey I'm glad I can be a little bit more active again^^')
Have fun with the new chapter and see you next week ;-)
Sharry
Chapter 14 - Storm
"Oh, there's something else I wanted to tell you," he muttered with his eyes closed as Law rubbed his hair dry, "you remember when I picked up the stool at Sansan's yesterday?"
"Hmm," Law muttered behind him approvingly.
Rosinante stretched out his legs and leaned against Law's knee. Law sat on the sofa that Rosinante had taken home a few weeks ago with Halhal, the daughter of carpenter Sansan. In front of them were only the walls of glass and behind them a storm, which they had never seen on this island.
"He offered me a job."
"What? Why haven't you told me earlier?"
"You were in your study," he replied, leaning back even further to look up to the other.
"I was just reading."
"You could have done that here as well. Closed door at the study means no access and you read half the night."
Law dropped the towel on Rosinante's face.
"You set up this stupid rule. I never said you shouldn't bother me in the study."
Laughing, he leaned forward and stood up.
"And risk your wrath? Oh no, a week of glaring was enough for me. You're sooo resentful, Law, do you know that?"
The other raised only one eyebrow.
"I've been chasing your brother for 13 years, resentful doesn't even get close to it. But back to topic: Sansan offered you a job, what kind of job?"
"As a loading master," he replied, and walked over to the kitchen, where a small box of dried salty plums was waiting for him. Next to it were his cigarettes.
"What?"
"Yes, Sansan's family is very big in timber trade. His brother runs a wood processing factory further inland, but Sansan moved his carpentry to the port a few years ago when his aunt became too old for it. Sansan has supervised loading and unloading the ships in addition to his normal work, but he doesn't like doing it."
"And he thought of you?" Law also got up and walked over to the window.
"Mrs. Paipai probably told him that I wanted to make myself useful and he mentioned that I had impressed him during the renovations, how I structured everything and worked with the neighbors. He said it was rare for someone to instruct and delegate while at the same time mucking in as well. I also think he was flattered that we took almost all of our furniture from him."
"Well, it's understandable that he can't do two jobs at once," Law agreed. "Loading master is not an easy profession and you have a lot of responsibility. As person in charge does not only need to have a good leadership and work ethic, but also a good sense of negotiation and a calm head even in stressful situations. He has a good eye; he couldn't find somebody better suited than you."
"Thank you for the flowers," Rosinante laughed, walking back to the sofa while Law watched the rain, "but I have absolutely no experience in that field. I've never done honest work and I have no idea about wood."
Law shrugged. "Didn't you have subordinates both as a Marine and in your time as a pirate?"
"Yes, but..."
"And haven't you conducted much of the negotiations in your brother's name, even though you were supposedly mute?"
"But Law, that was…"
"And weren't you the one who fought with every doctor on the Grand Line because you knew you were right and they were wrong?"
"Law, what's your point?" Shaking his head, he lit one of his cigarettes.
The other came over to him again.
"I just think Sansan could not have found a more suitable person in charge. Of course, he will have to guide you at first and teach you what you need to know. But you are sincere, loyal, hard-working, and treat every person with respect. Besides, you are a tough negotiator, and no one will question your authority." Law bent down and stubbed out his cigarette before Rosinante could even take his first draft. "But we had about this. No cigarettes in the house; if you want to smoke, go outside."
"Hey!" he replied, stunned. "It's raining buckets. I could be blown away. I also need one to recover from this morning's shock."
"Your addiction isn't my problem and if you'd needed one so badly you could have smoked during your hours-long bath where I wouldn't have noticed."
Law took away cigarette and lighter and carried them back to the counter.
"So, what do you think?" Rosinante muttered earnestly again, not really mad or in the mood to fight. "Do you think I should accept?"
"You have to decide that," Law replied, sitting down next to him, leaning his head against Rosinante's upper arm. "I think you'd be great for this job, but whether you like it and you really want to do it, I think only you can know that."
Rosinante remained silent and looked at his hand, held tightly by Law, saw the small tattoos on the back of Law's hand and fingers.
"How many days a week are we even talking about?" Law asked.
"Between two and four days, depending on how many ships come a week and if they are on time. But even if I take the job, I would work the first month for free anyway, to show my gratitude for all the furniture that he and his family have given us."
"Sounds to me as if you already know how you will decide."
He did not respond.
"By the way, I also made a decision."
"What?" Now he looked at the other in surprise. "About what?"
"After your suggestion on restructuring the practice, I thought a lot about that and you are right, it is a waste of our resources when Mrs. Paipai, Ninnin, and I are present every day. There are, of course, certain phases when all of us are needed, but it is not good for any of us if we do not also take the necessary breaks. If you're overworked, you make mistakes, and our mistakes can cost lives."
"Listen to you talking. What is your new plan?"
He threw his legs over the armrest to his right so he could slide down a bit and drop his head on Law's, who pushed him away, so that he plumped into Law's lap.
"We bundle the weekly appointments to three days, on the other three we take turns to visit one of the three neighboring islands and the other stays on call at home and the one who has only gone to one island takes over the background service on the last day."
"Oh wow," Rosinante muttered, pretending to count with his fingers, "that would mean that you would have not one day off, but up to two days a week. Are you okay? Are you sick?"
Law pinched his side.
"I'm not a workaholic, I just do my job diligently. Besides," he said, "you are right about what you said."
Surprised, rather frightened, Rosinante looked up to the other.
"You are right with everything you have said. I didn't pay attention to myself. After you risked your life to save me, I mistreated this life I owe to you."
"But Law..."
"From now on, I'll take better care of myself, Cora-san. I don't want you to be sad because of me. I don't want you to worry about me. You're right, especially as a doctor I should know how important it is to put aside unhealthy habits."
"Oh, that's why you've been in the bathtub for hours... Wait a second, is that the reason why you just stole my cigarette? Because you..."
Almost innocently, Law looked down on him.
"Smoking is unhealthy, Cora-san, and I'm not forcing you to stop, but if I'm already making the effort to take care of myself, trying to have my six hours of sleep - "Seven to eight hours of sleep are healthly." "- I will definitely not get cancer by passive smoking," he said.
"You're so mean," Rosinante muttered, not even trying to sound serious. "But I'm looking forward to having more time together soon."
Law nodded and began stroking Rosinante's hair.
"Ninnin is developing really well. I would not have thought that she would be able to work so independently so quickly, otherwise I would not take this step and of course she must agree first, and we have to see how she manages so many days on her own, but Mrs. Paipai was very enthusiastic; has even offered to accompany Ninnin during her first trips so she won't be totally on her own."
"When did you even talk with Mrs. Paipai about that?"
"While you were still in the bathtub. She called to ask if we were fine. She said that only idiots would not recognize the signs of the storm this morning, but..."
"Did you tell her that we are just such idiots?"
"Are you crazy? Her gaze of disappointment is so bad even your brother would be ashamed of his misbehavior."
Rosinante laughed quietly.
"Maybe I should take her along when I'm going to Impel Down. Perhaps she can do a miracle. Did she say how long the storm will last."
"She said if it still rains at sunset, the storm will remain for another three days, if not, it will be over by tomorrow morning."
"Okay, nice to know, but have you taken a look outside. It's not even afternoon and it's pitch black out there."
"Speaking of afternoon and healthy lifestyle, should we prepare something to eat? I haven't had breakfast and I'm starving."
Loudly sighing, Rosinante sank even deeper into the comfortable cushion.
"But I just got out of the bathtub. After bathing, you should rest."
"Sluggard," Law playfully scolded him, before pushing Rosinante off his legs and straightening up. "Okay, you can stay here. I'll make something for us, but don't complain later if you don't like it."
The other kissed him on the forehead and walked towards the kitchen.
"Spice everything just twice as much as you think would be enough and it's going to be fine."
Comfortable in their warm home, with Law at the kitchen, himself in his cuddly bathrobe and the storm at the door, Rosinante nodded off.
"It stops raining."
"Hmm?" Law looked up from his book.
"Yes, I can even see a few strips of blue sky – I think – so that means that it will be good weather again from tomorrow."
"That's good, I can really do without rushing through such a storm to the practice tomorrow."
"Admit it. You're relieved that Ninnin didn't call, not even to ask a question."
"Well, probably no one dared to call her in this weather."
Rosinante turned away from the glass wall and walked towards Law, who folded his book and laid it aside.
"You go to bed?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, I want to speak to Mr. Sansan early tomorrow morning," Rosinante confirmed, leaning down so Law could kiss him.
"Put on the blue shirt with the white insert on the collar."
"Do you think I'm going to need something like this, need to look fancy?"
Law grinned.
"No, but you'll come to the practice afterwards to ask Ninnin for swimming lessons and to tell me the news about your new work, and I like that shirt on you."
Rosinante huffed in amusement.
"Despite your terrible taste in fashion, almost all of my clothes are the ones you bought me in the beginning. I assumed you like all of them on me."
"A guy wearing pink pajamas with hearts on has no right to criticize my taste in clothes."
"Corazon literally means heart, so I put on what I want and you didn't complain about the underpants with hearts."
"No, I didn't."
He decided to ignore Law's almost nasty grin and walked to the door.
"If you come in later, please leave the light out, otherwise I'll wake up, okay?"
"Excuse me?" Law looked at him surprised and Rosinante sighed again.
"Do you really think that after your story this afternoon, I would ever let you sleep alone in your big, cold bed?"
"Cora-san…"
"You said you can't sleep because you're always cold, but yesterday morning you slept like a baby. My bed is big enough and we used to sleep together often to warm each other. But," he pointed out, "do not try to do anything indecent. I just want to sleep and have an important conversation tomorrow, so don't you dare waking me up."
"Aye, aye," Law smiled, before getting up, coming up to him and pulling him down to kiss him again. "Thank you."
"Love you, little one."
"I love you, too."