Adaline let out a long and hearty sigh as she slumped against the long ornate pillar. Layers of Ice leaving a chill in the air as the wind caught the icy chips and whisked them through the open compound.
She looked back to the other side of the pillar to see Domino taking in quick and heavy breaths holding Kuzans ice around her arm that was now a dark and red color a gaping wound obvious.
"So, you have a month in a half." Adaline smiled holding out a cool water bottle to Domino who nodded and took it gingerly trying not to disrupt her chilling right arm to much.
"I have to find out if Vegapunk can make me some better protection then these gloves." She mumbled towards the cushioned gloves wrapped around her fist, they at one point were state of the art but now they had patches and worn out parts some exposing her bare busted knuckles.
"Or maybe pick up a Katana again, Like the Admirals used to use, you weren't bad with them if I remember correctly." Adaline hummed and then tilted her head "Or you can pick up sniping like me~" She sang with a happy voice.
Domino scoffed and chugged the water bottle before handing it back to Adaline who sighed at the empty one and held up a piece of ice to the burning floor next to Domino to melt the ice and make more water and hand it back to Domino.
"Please, I like the feeling of punching old Magma dog bare handed." She smirked then tilted her head "But maybe to protect my hands I should huh?" She asked gingerly turning her wrists inspecting her sore and splitting hands before taking the bottle from Adaline with a light hum.
"I don't know Dom, I mean you don't know when an extra weapon might be useful. Hey, what about a dagger?" She asked as Domino gave a light smile leaning her head against the groves of the pillar.
"I used to have a couple of daggers. Back when I was young, young. I was pretty good at throwing em." She smiled remembering her brothers having her toss them and then betting how far or what she would hit.
Adaline smiled and leaned her head back on Domino's shoulder. "I keep trying to use daggers, like that one time with Thatch? But I don't think it sticks." She smiled and then pulled her arm up to show Domino her newly formed muscles.
"But, Trust me girl, I'm going to be the best Marine sniper for you to call a first mate." She smiled as Domino giggled her eyes rolling slightly to glance at Adalines red hair before wincing at her arm.
"I don't really need that, I just need you to be the best Ada in the whole marines." She smiled at her before they both looked at each others worn out and dirty faces and laughed.
Suddenly before them a teenager about 16 or so stood tall his hair spiked and silver/white. And despite his age he a plump cigar in his mouth. "Commodore Domino?" His deep and gruff voice asked.
Domino lazily picked up her right arm forgetting the burning skin she had tried to cover up and looked at him shocked that the ice fell.
"Here, well shit." She mumbled looking at the ice as it melted and then back at the teen. He wore a plan white muscle shirt and a white jacket with green fur around the collar. Adaline chirped up at Domino's distraught look.
"What is it Smoker sir?" She asked him. She was acquainted with the teen, he had gotten into trouble a few times and she was tasked with watching him and his reform. Even though he was taller then her she was still more skilled then him which demanded his respect. She hoped.
The teen looked from Domino who grumbled and struggled to stand up to the cherry red head who's chest bounced as she jumped up. "There's a call for you, just thought you should know." He stated before snapping his head away from the busty Adaline.
Adaline nodded and looked towards Domino to help her. Domino leaned over Adalines shoulder her arm dangling as she moved. "Hey dude." She called out as Adaline groaned and began to walk dragging Domino's body with her.
Smoker turned around glaring at the bleeding woman his stance defiant. Domino nodded a smile on her face as she did so. "Thanks!" She called out as the kid held out his hand and then put both of them back in his pockets and walked off.
Domino smiled lightly as Adaline continued to drag her down the hall. "He's a cute kid. But whys he smoke?" She asked as Adaline scoffed rolling her eyes. "His names smoker girl, you expect him to like eat lollipops?" She retorted before Domino began to giggle to herself. Not a haha funny but a more hysterical giggle that was nearly impossible to stop.
"Oh yeah, that makes sense. So who you'd think called me?" She asked as Adaline shrugged. Domino smiled "I would say it was a wrong number but, that would be impossible." She laughed to herself once again.
In truth her arm had gone numb once again and she couldn't feel it. So instead of crying and yelling she just laughed continuously until Adaline placed her down in a chair and ran over to close the door. Domino threw her limp arm on the desk and made a face at its blue and red discoloration now seemed to ooze a unmentionable color.
Adaline picked up the mic and handed it to her as she then went to sit on the other side grabbing paperwork from Domino's side and jotting things down. There was no use convincing the stubborn Domino to go to the med bay so she just decided to do something productive while she killed herself.
"Yellow is a color not a greeting hi." Domino stated to the mic her voice sing song and delirious. Suddenly the snails face went wide eyed and inaudible screeching was heard.
Domino looked down at the snail as it's face kept shifting between different eye shapes. She picked up a pen and tossed it at Adaline to watch in suspicion.
Domino picked up the mic again. Taking in a deep breath.
"Hello?" Her cold and curious voice rang out. Suddenly Marco felt a lump in his throat looking between the 3 commanders in the office who formed a semi circle around the poor whimpering marine who held the snail in his hand.
Marco was wide eyed and looked at Thatch's goofy smile. "This was the surprise-yoi?" He asked as Thatch quickly motioned for him to come over and sit.
"Listen, I really need to get to the med bay, who is this?" Domino's voice rang once more, the snail mimicking her annoyed look. The group all motioned for Marco to speak as he grabbed the mic and leaned over the whimpering Marine. "Why the med bay-yoi?" He asked, his face showing one of confusion.
The crowd grew tense as Thatch gasped, "out of all the things you could say that is what you chose? Not hello marine. Or something smooth! GAH! The one moment wasted on a pineapple." He whispered yelled as the snail shifted.
"No, no, no! Why? how are you on this line?" Her voice asked as the snail seemed as if it was looking around. Marco shrugged hitting his stride and leaning back.
"You didn't answer my question, why should I answer yours-yoi." His voice stated as the group of men all nodded their approval.
Domino sighed "A training accident. Weeds versus Magma. You can figure that one out." The snail gave a wide blood chilling smile. Marco went wide eyed throwing out all kinds of teasing or mockery.
"Why would you do that? Are you crazy-yoi your wounds? Those would have taken more then the past 3 months to heal, then you are going to add more. Do you have a death wish woman?!" Marco lost his cool and calm demeanor leaning into the snail. He watched as the snails face smiled as if laughing.
"Possibly. But, that's neither here nor there, you guys made a huge mistake calling, this isn't some game you can drop in and out of using these snails improperly can get you in to some serious shi..." Suddenly a loud thump and Adaline's voice called out.
"AH! Damn-it Dom. You got your blood all over my paperwork!" She shrieked to Domino's groans slowly became a weak whimper.
Quickly Domino shouted with gritted teeth. "Why is your paperwork in my bloods way! Take the call. Take the call,"
They heard shuffling sound before the mic picked up again. "Sorry for this. but your call will be traced if it hasn't already. If it is then we get the fall out so please. Just wait. Trust me, We will find you when the times right." Adalines light voice began to smile as Domino groaned once again.
"Adaline, I can't feel my arm, i'm dying. I'm dying. I think I fucked it up bad. Shit, shit shit." Dominos voice cried out.
"You're not dying your just overreacting like the last time he did this, You're arms a little burned that's...oh, oh god that's actually bad shit. Domino! WHY THE FUCK DO YOU DO THIS TO ME?!"
"To you! YOU WHORE I'M THE ONE DYING!"
"CALL ME A WHORE AND I WILL KILL YOU MYSELF YOU SUICIDAL BITCH!"
"Clank"
Marco looked up at Thatch a whirlwind of emotions going on through his head as he held up his hands to Thatch. "What was that Thatch-yoi?" He asked looking down at the small snail.
"You said this would be a good surprise,-yoi." He mumbled looking at the small snail with a frown. He then looked up his face now animated. "How was this good? She's dead-yoi." He mumbled.
Thatch looked back and forth at the eyes that glared at him "She's not dead! Just her arm is. So you'll have a one armed marine, most people prefer an unarmed marine anyway sooo." He spewed quickly feeling the giddy nervousness fill his body and cause instant wanting to run.
Marco stared at him blinking in silence before he picked up the snail and moved to walk past Thatch. A huff of silence as he walked. Izo bit down on his lips wide eyed as the other few commanders walked out behind Marco all eyeing Thatch as they left.
"Ouch," Was all he said in response as he walked out. Thatch held out his hands in defense before following the group. "Come on guys, it was a good sentiment." He called out absent mindlessly punching a lingering Marine as they charged him.
Izo rolled his eyes opening the door to the deck and looking back at Thatch who held a timid stance. "I wonder, what the punishment for talking to pirates is?" He asked as Thatch paled walking on deck absently passing by the tide up and gagged Marines.
"I could of killed the Angel!" He called in horror as a passive Whitebeard looked on at the glum faces that came back from the Marine galleon. "Did you find out about Your Marine Marco?" He asked with a bottle in his hand.
Marco nodded and held up the snail. "Yeah, she is dying again. I am beginning to think this is a pattern-yoi." He stated with a mock smile as Whitebeard nodded "Great at least you'll be kept on your toes! now lets go, before more show up and you get smitten with another one." He teased to Marcos rolled eyes.
In reality even though he heard her pain and was worried he felt relaxed. To just hear her voice. He suddenly felt at ease. Marco sighed at that realization. Thatch was right, this was somewhat of a good surprise. Yet he would not let Thatch have the satisfaction of knowing that.
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Adaline paced back and forth in front of the med bay as Garp approached her his tall stature stern and gruff but concerned. "How's she doing?" He asked as Adaline sighed "Well, her arm may be missing a chunk. But they say she'll be fine. But Like I'm worried. You don't think Akainu will let her off the hook for this do you?" She asked her brain going 100 thoughts per minute.
Once the surprise call came from the Whitebeards Domino had no choice but to be admitted into the medical ward as there had been to much damage to just leave it be as she had planned. The problem was that she would no longer be able to fight properly or else lose her arm entirely. And while Domino called for her arm to be removed completely so she could fight more. They turned to Adaline for directions saying the pain was making her delirious.
Garp shook his head "He's not as benevolent as I am!" He laughed before going straight face, "She had a good run, cookie?" He asked holding out a cookie with a smile.
Adaline went wide eyed. "If you're sharing a cookie with me this must be bad sir." She hummed before taking the cookie and taking small nibbles.
Suddenly the large door swung open and out came a towering Akainu his red suit freshly pressed and his baseball cap tilted slightly. He looked at Adaline who stood at attention, trying not to choke on her cookie, and a relaxed cross legged Garp who chomped on cookies. Crumbs collecting in his beard.
"Vice Admiral. Captain." He stated sternly his stance was just as stiff but it looked as if his eyes may have been red. But they couldn't be. So instead it must have been the reflection of his red suit in his eyes. Yeah, That's what it was a reflection.
"Sakazuki," "Admiral sir." They both responded before he gave a nod and walked down the hall his 'justice' jacket swaying as he did so.
Adaline and Garp looked at each other before peering into the wide room to see a smiling and waving Domino. Garp looked back towards Adaline to make a well thought out comment, only to look down in surprise as he noticed she lay unconscious on the floor. Swirls covering her eyes.
Garp then smiled to himself and held up his bag of cookies towards Domino in a nod to her accomplishment before walking off. Finally one of his kids had become a great Marine. Now only to convince his grand-kids Ace, and Luffy!
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