"Captain RuRu You say? Never heard of him-yoi." Marcos relaxed voice rang through the silence.
Domino felt a cool breeze rush over her body bringing her to the sharp realization that she could feel. She tried to moved but instead only a feeble groan came across.
"I thought you would since he was hanging around your territory." A lighter voice asked back. Domino once again tried to move only to feel numbness spread her body and another silent groan.
"Doesn't matter now Ada he's dead Captain made sure of it." A light formal voice flushed through her ears. She knew the voice but couldn't recognize it as small red blotches began to form around her eyes as if it was day.
"Gator, you really need to understand that, what happened back on the ship wasn't something we should strive for." Adaline's now noticeable light voice stated.
"That doesn't matter, We really need to focus on what to do next. Even if she does wake up we're still stuck." A deeper disgruntled voice stated. The fear and numbness beginning to surround Domino.
Adaline sighed "As of right now we are in the best situation with the circumstances. All we can do is wait till she wakes up."
"She should wake up? Right?" Adaline's voice cracked for a second.
"Of course she will, I am not some random island doctor-yoi." Marcos audible quirky speech filled with pride. Repeated through her head. She wanted to smile, she wanted to move but she was just stuck. She tried once again to open her eyes or move anything but once again a louder more audible groan of pain was heard.
"Domino?" Adalines light voice filled with hope.
Domino gave a light nod trying to open her eyes but fighting the numbness to do so. The only thing she could feel was the tightness around her wrists loosen.
Quickly Domino shot her eyes open her right hand catching the jaw bone of whoever stood over her. She heard another sounds of shuffling feet before feeling pain rush through her arm and pulled in it to her chest groaning. "Oh flipping fuck." She mumbled looking at her wrist and blinking away the blurry bits.
Quickly she looked up and looked for whoever she hit to see Marco on the ground trying to get back up wiping a small trickle of blood from his lips before it quickly disappeared in a rush of blues. He stayed sitting on the soft sandy grass and leaned his arms over his knees. "Haki-yoi?" He asked as a a blurry figure moved to help him before he shook his head and stood up dusting his pants off his light blue shirt ruffled as he did so. "To bad you're injured, or I'd have to return the favor-yoi." He smiled at her.
Domino let out a relaxed sighed and leaned back down realizing that she laid under a small awning that blocked the sun but still very much outside. "If I had known it was you birdy I would have punched harder." She teased back before she could focus on anything else a blur of red flashed before her eyes and pain filled her whole body as Adaline squeezed her.
"I'm so glad you're okay girl. Like I really am. I need you to know that this almost dying stuff needs to stop, I just can't take it!" She cried rubbing her head on Domino's shoulders who now was internally screaming from her body burning in pain. Instead she smiled "At ease Ada." She lightly soothed before she pulled away nodding and motioning to the other voices.
Domino blinked a bit before looking over at Gator who's green ascot was loosely tied around his neck as his clothes where charred especially bad at his legs. She tried not to show emotion when she realized he no longer had his left leg.
Quickly she shot her eyes to the next person who was none other than Avery, however wrapped around his bald head was bandages covering his right eye. She then dared herself to look at Adaline who gave a soft smile uninjured. She made a face at the woman who didn't even have a sling around her shoulder.
Adaline let out a soft smile.
"You sure did take your time waking up Captain." Avery spoke his voice stern and his arms crossed. Gator now frowned watching Domino look at the leg that was no longer there and shrugged "Yeah way to worry us." He stated before nodding towards his leg "I guess I gotta get a new nickname now, huh?" He asked as Adaline rolled her eyes "Your current one doesn't have a leg to stand on does it?" She asked as Avery, Thatch and even some people in the background snickered.
Avery then pointed at Adaline "Eye see what you did there!" He shouted before the others all now hollered in laughter. It was a type of pained and force laughter that made someone sad to hear but happy to know that they tried to cheer her up.
Domino however couldn't move, she couldn't speak she was stuck in this one painful moment trying to take in a breath. The others noticed it as Marco moved over to her unwrapping a stethoscope from around his neck and holding it out to her.
"I need to check some things-yoi." He stated as Domino looked at him the shock and pain still on her face before she focused on his blue eyes and blinked.
She hummed pulling herself from the swirling mix of emotions and pain as he gave a quick smirk and leaned in placing the tool on her bandaged chest. He held out his hand and leaned his hand on her chest close enough if he slide down he would be grabbing her at any moment.
Domino gave him a side eyes and smiled "Watch your hands." She spoke before Marco pulled them back and looked at them in awe. "Why do they do tricks-yoi?" He asked her with a smile before going serious.
"Stay still-yoi." He stated then hummed again. Domino tried to lean up and look at what he was doing before Marco absent mindlessly pushed her head back and growled.
Domino held out her hands and leaned forward again as Marco pulled back raising an eyebrow. "Do I need to strap you down again-yoi?" He asked her with a light playful smile.
Domino gave a smirk "Only if you screw me." She smiled to see a pale faced Marco and heard Adaline gasp.
Marco looked away trying to hide his smile. Domino went wide eyed and giggled "Ha, I win." She teased before Marco touched a spot on her leg sending her whirling in pain. She quickly leaned over taking quick breaths and pushing him away. "Well clearly she's okay. Now stay still-yoi." He spoke sternly.
Domino bit down on her lips in pain and looked over at Adaline who gave her big wide eyes. "Domino listen to him." She stated before moving to pace a bit.
Domino groaned as Marco touched another spot on her leg once again he nodded. And then wrapped the cords around his neck and shrugged. "Should I list whats broken or whats not?" He asked with a look as Domino sighed "Everything, everything is broken." She mumbled to Marco nodding.
"Right everything is broken, I pronounce you with dead-yoi." He teased at her who now gave him a genuine smile.
"Your left wrist, two ribs, one punctured your lung, and your left leg is also broke." Avery hummed cutting Marco off who looked at him with a small glare before Domino groaned. "Well it beats what could of happened." She then smiled and looked over to Marco who pulled away to look at her.
"Thank You." She spoke honestly focusing only on Marco.
He smiled and placed his hand on her leg one more time leaving it lightly before moving back to cross his legs in the sand and placed his head on his fist. While he seemed relaxed, he stood ready for anything. In truth he wouldn't have guessed she would have woken up so soon. But the strain she was putting her body in would catch up to her and he wanted to make sure he was right there for her. As the doctor of course.
"You're lucky, to have my skills for such a small price-yoi." He teased.
Domino gave a light smile and nodded giving a small two finger salute to which Marco nodded. Then she looked at Adaline still grasping her situation.
"Great, where are we?" She asked again confused as Adaline rolled her eyes "I swear girl Your response times are terrible. Look, we're on an Island in Whitebeards territory. Our ship is gone, and your men are tired, I'm glad really, really glad you're awake but I need you to snap back a little quicker." She spoke as if she was talking down to a child as Domino watched her like one.
Adaline pointed at the two lieutenants who sat grim faces then swiveled back towards Domino. "We need to discuss what is going on like now." She stated as the others nodded.
However Domino stared at the white bandages that covered her whole torso she started to push on it when Marco coughed. Domino looked down at him as he held out his hands "Please don't undo those, I won't replace them-yoi." His relaxed voice holding a hint on concern.
Domino smiled and looked back at all of them wincing as she now saw how covered she was. "Do I have any skin left?" She asked as Marco shrugged "I did tried to find some, but no all gone-yoi." Sending her teasing smile.
"Captain, attention please." Adaline clapped sending loud sounds echoing through Domino's ears causing her to rush her hands to her head only to send a look in pain at moving her arms. Marco sighed and covered his face as Adaline turned between the two.
"Sorry but come on focus, focus. We need to go over this you have a bunch of marines on a beach in the middle of the new world. Get it together." Adaline lightly yelled pacing back and forth kicking up sand as she did so.
Marco only sent a glare at the sand being flung in his face before standing up and moving to lean against Domino's table sighing as Avery watched him with a keen eye.
Domino nodded and rubbed her temples before blinking again "Right, Right what happened?" She asked again to see Adeline's eyes go wide. Domino held her hand up making a face. "Let me rephrase. Have we found...Wait how long have I been out?" She asked the memories rushing back to her all at once. Her eyes scanning across the wide-open sandy beaches. A few palm trees sprung up here and there in rough green patches but for the most part it was bare excluding the white tents that scattered the beach.
Adaline took in a deep breath. "3 days, you've been out 3 days. The Whitebeards were nice enough to allow us to stay but tension is wearing thin. Like, food, water stuff come on." She stated matter of fact.
Domino nodded unable to lift herself up and blinked trying to put away the memories. "Right right, Is everyone here? Avery, Gator, Romeo?" She asked forgetting the blurs when flashes of Romeo being blown across her room filled her eyes. She took a sharp breath and bit down on both of her lips knowing the answer as the group went silent.
Adaline took in a deep breath, looking down "Domino.." She whispered.
Dominos eyes turned towards Adaline who held her eyes closed. "Romeo didn't make it." She spoke softly. Marco felt as Domino grabbed the collar of his shirt and quickly wrinkled it up and gripped it before he heard a soft whimper.
Adaline looked over to see Domino put her arm over her face taking in a sharp breath before quickly she wiped her face before nodding "Okay," She took a deep breath and looked over to Adaline. "other Casualties?"
Adaline nodded crossing her arm and looking over at the other two who's fists were closed and tears silently fell from their faces. "150." She stated sternly looking at Domino who squeezed her eyes tight and her lip trembled.
Marco watched with wide eyes as both woman let the heavy feeling linger in the air. Adaline moved to Domino who held out her hand and shook her head blinking away the tears. "Okay, did you guys manage to get the vault from the sea?" She asked as Adaline nodded pointing to the beach area where charred ship parts were strewn across the beach.
"The Whitebeards helped us pull it out, I would of opened it by now but you're the only one with the newest code." She nodded towards Thatch who gave a light wave as well as other pirates crowded around. Domino could vaguely recognize them from their posters.
But she wasn't concerned with them, even at this moment she could feel Marcos closeness but hardly recognized him in his blue long sleeve shirt, she didn't notice the way his relaxed state seemed to spread to her. Or how he glanced over at her to make sure she wasn't into much pain. Those were the things she wasn't focusing on.
"I don't know whats so important about this vault thing but when an Angel asks, you oblige!" Thatch cheered and then went wide eyed as Domino moved to throw herself off the side to stand before Marco quickly appeared around her shaking his head and pushing her back towards the bed. Domino grumbled and reached out for the edge of the bed.
Only to feel the sharp pains run through her body again. . "I wouldn't move to much Marine-yoi" Marcos relaxed voice rang through her confusion and pain pulling her back to reality. Domino looked at him "You wouldn't I will." She stated before winching as she moved to force herself up however nothing happened once again her body wouldn't move and she felt disappointment flush through her body.
Adaline looked up at Domino's damaged and weary body and a mixture of smiles and fear crossed her face. "Domino.." She whimpered before shaking her head as Domino snapped her eyes towards Adaline who couldn't look at her bandaged friend. What Adaline saw was pure determination flush across her eyes.
"I can't lie down Ada. I'm sorry I can't." She stated sternly biting her lips down to try and move again.
Marco gave her a stern and foreboding look before She sent him a sharp glare back.
Adaline looked on between the twos stare down worried "Domino seriously, like don't move." She motioned and shook her head "You going down again would be the worst thing." She mumbled as Domino groaned again and put her right arm over her face. She was trying not to show the anger that was causing her to grit her teeth. Lying down with Marcos help.
Domino shook her head in disbelief what was she doing? She tried to move her body again. Anything to sit up at least she needed to see her men make sure they were okay. Expect all that happened was more pain. But she couldn't stop. She wouldn't stop. She can't lie down anymore. She did not have the right to lie down and feel so at ease like she did, when her men sat scattered and scared. It wasn't fair.
"That's why I can't lie down anymore." Domino stated before Adaline sighed. Gator shook his head watching the two wills refuse to back down and waved his hand. "Adaline," He spoke softly.
Adaline looked between the small group and shook her head deciding to pace instead. "Fine." She mumbled.
She held a pained face as she did so she started to lean over the bed to a disgruntle Marco who had no choice but to help her sit up. However, he kept a firm hand on her shoulder holding her up. As she looked down taking quick breaths.
"You're to stubborn for your own good Marine-yoi." Marco growled running small circles behind her back trying to help her relax. In reality, he couldn't blame her, he was sure Pop's would more then have done the same. However, he also couldn't condone these hard headed actions.
Marco watched on with worried eyes. He understood the feeling of having people's life in your hands and how she must feel. But it hurt him watching her like this. This wasn't what he was used to seeing. He wanted the smiling captain who's hair was either always tied back or had some kind of foliage inter tangled in it. Not the damaged Marine trying to hold her crew together while forgetting herself.
Adaline shook her head and paced once again. "So you're up now, that's good, now please lets figure this out." She pleaded.
"Thank you, Marco." Domino mumbled before looking to Adaline "Ada, stop. Stop pacing sit down." She stated sternly before Adaline looked down and huffed in the sand.
"Thank you. So, so, much for taking over but I can do it now, you don't need to work yourself up anymore. I'm sorry if I'm distracted or stubborn, but You have to understand that there is a lot going on, and we know how I can be slow sometimes, So I need to walk through these things out loud. I need you to be calm and help. But you need to understand that there are thousands of different scenarios flying around in my head. I can not do this lying down. Now take a deep breath quit reminding me we have scared men on a beach And let me do it my way right now okay?" Domino asked her voice sounding deep but still caring.
Marco was awestruck at how Domino spoke. It was as if she was both consoling Adaline but also scolding her at the same time with a mixture of care.
Adaline closed her eyes and nodded. The crowd all watched each other, most of the pirates had moved off already as Domino continued. "Okay so you got the vault out that's great." She looked up at Thatch who watched the red head taking deep breaths. "Sir would you mind bringing it up here? I would go myself but.." She gave a weak nod to Marco and an even weaker smile.
Thatch looked between the two and nodded "Sure thing Marine!" He cheered and walked off.
Domino nodded as Marco felt her take another ragged breath. If this was a different time he would speak up about her expecting Thatch to do something but he couldn't hold any anger against her. Every time he tried it faded away thus making him angrier but once again it all dissipated with each glance of her crooked tooth smile..
"Adaline I'll give you the combination and then we'll get out the code books and radio into HQ, But first I need to know what the hell happened to my ship. So I need you guys to tell me what is the last thing you saw before the explosion." She stated sternly looking between the three uneasy faces.
Adaline shrugged "I was on deck, helping men clean up and writing a damage report,." She shook her head and then rolled her eyes. "What good does the reports do now?" She asked herself holding her head in her hands.
Avery nodded and shook his head "Romeo and I were with you, you at this point were unconscious from your fight with RuRu. I was scared your ribs had punctured your lungs. Which they did." He stated before Marco nodded.
"Why didn't you try and fix it before the lung collapsed-yoi?" He chimed before Avery looked up at him and nodded "In case you didn't notice we had a much bigger problem at the time?" he asked as Marco 'tcked' and looked away.
Gator looked between the two interested doctors talking to each other and held up his hand like a child with big eyes. Domino rolled her eyes and gave a light playful wave.
"Yes sir?" She asked. Gator sent her a teasing smile and nodded "You're not going to like what I have to say sir." He stated dragging the mood down.
Marco tried to step aside before Domino held him tighter. "Yeah," She nodded.
Gator looked between the faces and sent Domino a glare "Kato, was preparing a long boat saying that you gave him special orders to leave the ship. Knowing how much that was unlikely, I figured something was wrong. I questioned him about it and then he jumped ship, Then boom." He stated holding out his arms in an explosion like motion.
"Boom." They all repeated sadly. Marco watched as Domino held her head down before she ran her broken wrist through her hair and pulled back staring at it in pain and then looking at Marco who sent back a 'well duh' look before rolling his eyes and moving to lean in to pick up her right uninjured hand to show her which one to use.
Domino blinked and gave an awkward smile. Before turning back to the grim faces. "Adaline, did you survey the crew as well?" She asked as Adaline gave a sad nod and looked up. Her arms resting on her legs as she tried desperately not to get up and pace.
Domino looked at Adaline's eyes, her own becoming hollow. "Adaline what did they say?" She asked. Adaline sniffled shaking her head pushing away the concerned looks. She couldn't stand still. Not when Domino was in so much pain and the men were so uneasy.
"I don't know, I keep getting conflicting reports. And I like can't discern if it is from the change of loyalties or mass confusion but I've asked everyone who's able and The general census is, somehow someone set off the remainder of our gun powder. Long story short Dom, Sabotage." She spoke softly her eyes puffy as Domino took in a sharp and pained breath.
"Adaline are we sure that's what happened?" She asked concerned as Adaline sent her a sharp glare and nodded pacing again. That's the only thing it could be.
"Of course, I'm sure, I've double, triple checked everything." She stated watching as Domino tried desperately to keep her eyes open and her body from slumping back over. The pain was becoming nearly unbearable.
Still Domino looked up before she dropped her head down. To many things running through her head to focus on one subject.
Adaline looked over to see Domino drop her shoulders tear drops falling silently from where she bent over. But quickly she moved her right hand to wipe her face before nodding "Okay," She took a deep breath and looked up at Adaline. "Is Kato alive?" She asked concerned.
Adaline scoffed "Remarkably unscathed, But after what Gator said it makes sense." she added. She didn't want to let Domino know that she was hurt as well but Marco said it was shock and shouldn't last to long.
Domino hardly moved as she spoke. "Do not let Kato leave your sight. Till we get that vault open and contact HQ." Her cold voice slicing through everyone's thoughts with each pronounced syllable.
Avery looked up and scoffed "Do you honestly believe it was Kato? The guys a weasel, but he wouldn't put all of our lives in danger." He shook his head "I don't believe it."
Domino sent sharp eyes to him, "I don't care if you do or not. There are to many things that's happened between him and I for me to trust him. So if making sure he doesn't leave this island gives me a peace of mind that my men are safe then I'll damn well do it." She stated sternly before blinking at him before she sighed "I'm sorry." She stated before swallowing a lump as Avery nodded "No no you're right. You are captain after all." He mumbled.
Gator watched the two and gave a worried look to Avery's one good eye before feeling uneasy at the two who sent glares at each other before Avery turned away and Domino looked towards Adaline with no emotion.
Adaline had a silent conversation with Domino their eyes locked on each other as Adaline nodded and sighed. "Lay down Dom, you never handled pain well. It's your turn to breath." She spoke before Domino groaned and moved to lay down with Marcos help.
He looked down at her genuine smile that appeared when their eyes met before he 'tcked' and looked away moving to lean next to the cot she lay on instead of sitting next to her.
Marco watched as Whitebeard placed the black vault down and swat at Thatch for trying to pose as if he had done it. Domino sighed as Adaline now glanced at Avery who was silent as well.
"Listen, tensions are high and Domino shouldn't have said what she did in that way, and while I don't want to incriminate a fellow Marine we have to admit that anything is on the table." Adaline spoke her softer tone bringing the eyes to focus on her.
Suddenly it was beginning to click in Marcos head why these two were as compatible as they are even though they seemed to be opposites in every way. Domino was honest but sounded uncaring even though Marco was convinced that she was hurting the most. While Adaline had troubles being the leader because she wasn't one by herself, she was a negotiator and thrived better in those situations, which would typically be caused by Domino's honest personality.
"You're right. Let's see whats left in the vault and we'll decide from there." She stated with her cold tone as Adaline nodded rushing over to the sliver handle and moving to hold it before Thatch held out his hand and moved to hold it for her. Before she gave him a sharp look and then held the handle herself.
He was unaware of the tense moments that had been bubbling over among the group and still held out hope to woo Adaline.
But that had failed.