Notes: I honestly can't believe these secretary candidates are canon!

Chapter 9

There were times in Paulie's life where he began to seriously question what exactly he'd been placed on this earth for. In those moments, he looked back over the series of events that had led him to where he was and worried about whether or not he'd made the right choices in life. He was frittering his life away with no real greater purpose than building some ships and making it through another day. In the darkest times, he even began to question whether ship building was really as worthy a profession as he'd always thought it was. Maybe he should have dedicated himself to the church after all, like his mother had always wanted for him. Perhaps then he'd have found peace.

Now and then, he also had some doubts about the man he'd chosen above God to follow come hell or high water. But never as much as in that moment he sat beside him, staring dumbfounded at a yagara bull dressed in a suit as Iceburg asked the seahorse for more details about his professional experience.

"Well, thank you for your time," Iceburg replied, closing the door over behind him.

"A yagara!" Paulie exclaimed. "It was a fucking yagara!"

Bob the Yagara's papers had been thrown on the reject pile so quickly Iceburg didn't even have the chance to argue against it. And if Paulie had given him the chance, he might have. He seemed to have had a soft spot for him.

"God, it's like you're some sort of freak magnet," Paulie grumbled, brushing over the papers one by one and tossing the majority straight on top of Bob's. "Pretty much all of these secretary candidates were Goddamn nuts."

"Bob was cute though," Iceburg said.

"Don't even start." Paulie fumed silently and leafed through the rather thin stack of candidates that had shown any potential. He rested a bit on one of the résumé's. "Call me crazy, but I'm pretty sure the most qualified for the job was that little girl."

He read her papers back over, shaking his head.

"A ten-year-old girl, that's not much older than Chimney. Jesus Christ, can you imagine hiring Chimney as your assistant?"

Iceburg laughed a little. "Sofia did have the best education of any of them. And the fact that she did all the administration at her Grandfather's business means she has the most relevant experience of all the candidates too."

He paused in thought.

"Could you hand me over her papers Paulie?"

"Sure."

He passed them to Iceburg and he slid on his glasses and inspected the papers thoroughly.

"Yes, I don't really think there's much reason to deliberate over it any longer."

"Is that it decided then?" Paulie asked.

"Yes, well, it might be a little odd, but we both agree she's the best candidate," Iceburg replied. "All that's left is to get in contact with her references and if that's all fine then I'd say that's the decision made. I'll try calling them now."

Paulie waited as he made the calls and everything seemed to check out.

"I guess we have a new secretary," Iceburg announced.

"God, it feels more like we've just agreed to adopt a daughter." He pulled out a cigar. "I'm going out for a smoke. What a fucking day."

He stood out in a shaded patch at the side of the headquarters with his cigar. Even in the relative cool of the shade it was an unpleasant day for smoking, too hot and too dry, and it stifled the taste. If he wasn't hooked, it'd be an easier time to stop. A smoke in the midday heat of the hot season was often more uncomfortable for him than it was satisfying.

He spotted Lulu walking across the front garden and waved. Lulu came rushing over.

"Paulie, I need to know," Lulu begged, tugging at Paulie's arm. "Tell me Mr Iceburg's going to hire that woman in the stockings to be his new secretary. I think I'm in love."

"Oh hell no!" Paulie fumed, trying to shirk him off. "And how'd you even know about that?"

"I mean, the interview room is on the ground floor," he started. "So, uh maybe I was just passing the front of headquarters and accidently saw in. Or maybe I spotted her through the window and peeped for the rest of the interview. I almost thought she was going to give Mr Iceburg a lap dance. Would've been pretty sexy."

"Oh my God! The less said about that the better," he scolded, bright red.

He lugged Lulu off him, and he looked a little crushed.

"If you can believe it, this kid's going to get the job," he moved on. "A sweet mannered kid and a little genius but like, she's just ten, isn't that kind of strange she was the most qualified one for the post? I'd get suspicious she was planted or something, but God, honestly all the applicants were odd…"

"Just a crazy world I guess, isn't it?" Lulu replied.

"And getting crazier."

Paulie sighed. He stubbed his cigar out in a tray he'd brought with him. It hadn't been a good smoke anyway.

"Hey, uh, Lulu?" he asked. "Now I've managed to catch you, can we talk about something?"

"What's up?"

"It's pretty serious," Paulie answered. He glanced about for reporters but thankfully the area was quiet. "We should head back in. I've got something inside I need to show you."

"Ok," Lulu answered.

"Is Tilestone about too?"

"Heading up a supply trip actually. Off on the sea train. Gonna be gone a couple of days."

"Crap. That's too long. I was hoping to talk to you both together."

"We can fill him in later," Lulu suggested.

"Yeah, I guess we'll have to. I don't want to keep putting this off. We don't really have the time," he said. "Come on. Let's get this over with."

Paulie brought him up to the guestroom he was staying in.

"Iceburg said you'd be welcome to stay at headquarters too," Paulie explained, pushing open the door. "Tilestone's room is just down the hall and this room's mine for now."

He went to find the envelope he'd hid amongst the rest of his things in a drawer.

"I mean, he put it like it was an offer, but really it's more like an order," he continued. "I think he wants us around at the minute."

Lulu closed the door over to give them privacy to talk. "Is this something to do with that night you spent outside his room?"

"Forgot I told you about that," Paulie said. "But yeah. I didn't want to go around telling everyone, but now Tilestone more or less gets the idea too I might as well fill you in."

He sat down on the end of his bed.

"He's not really been feeling safe since the assassination attempts," he said quietly. "It just kind of eases his mind to know we'll be there for him."

"I feel pretty bad for him," Lulu said, taking a seat in a chair by the window. "It must be kind of tough to deal with something like that."

"Yeah, so if you can stay over, I'm sure he'd really appreciate it."

"Sure, I can do that for him."

"Thanks Lulu."

"Is that what you wanted to talk about?"

"No," Paulie said nervously. "It's this." Paulie handed him over the envelope. "I'm being blackmailed."

Lulu took them out and flipped through the pile, and shook his head.

"If the government sees these then that's it," Paulie explained. "Iceburg pretty much said it himself too."

"You showed these to him?"

"No," Paulie said. "And don't tell him about them. I don't want to give him anything more to worry about. He's got enough on his plate."

"Couldn't we just ask Mr Iceburg to do us a favour and pay the guy off?" Lulu asked, scratching his head. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind helping us out. I mean if it could be a matter of our lives spent in prison, or even maybe our deaths over this…?"

"Oh I'm pretty sure he'd do it to protect us too," Paulie answered. "That's why we won't get him involved."

"How come?"

"A big anonymous hole in company funds wouldn't go unnoticed. And if it ruined the company's reputation, Water Seven wouldn't have anything left holding it up." He fell back on the bed and squinted up at the high ceiling. "And I've been thinking about it too," Paulie scowled. "Even if we paid the guy, there's no guarantee he won't just stab us in the back and sell on those photos for more cash anyway. So it might only be shooting ourselves in the foot for no reason to throw Galley-La money at this. "

"Hmm, this really is serious," Lulu worried. "How long do we have?"

"A few weeks," Paulie replied grimly.

Lulu kept flipping from the first to the last and starting all over again as if looking for some clue.

"Any thoughts?" Paulie asked.

Lulu folded the photographs together and slipped them back into the envelope. He handed them cautiously back over to Paulie. "Let me take a while to think this all over. It's such a shock it's hard to even think right now about what to do."

"Sure, yeah," Paulie replied.

He got up to hide them away again.

"Once we get Tilestone filled in too, the three of us should get together and brainstorm an action plan for what we're going to do about this," he said. "I'm getting antsy as hell just waiting around doing nothing, but it'd be better to know what we're doing before we do it. Don't want to screw things all up more."

He sat back on the bed and dropped his face down into his hands.

"Sorry you're both caught up in all this… those Franky Family guys too... should we fill them in?"

"I don't know yet..." Lulu replied. He got to his feet and walked over to take a sit beside Paulie. "And hey, it's not your fault, it's not like you asked any of us to go to Ennies Lobby. We all went of our own accord."

He put an arm round him.

"We're gonna work this out ok?" he said.

Paulie didn't reply.

"Mind if I ask about something else on my mind Paulie?" Lulu asked. "Unrelated."

"Yeah, alright," Paulie answered with a sigh and uncurled.

"Papers today, you seen them?" Lulu continued.

"God, that interview…" Paulie moaned.

"Not that. There's pictures of you and Mr Iceburg looking pretty close."

Paulie shifted uncomfortably. "Those are out already? That just happened yesterday… "

"Paulie, is there something going on between the two of you?" Lulu said tentatively. "I'm not judging, I just wanted to hear the truth before I go assuming anything."

"Nothing's going on," Paulie answered.

It was kind of a half-truth. Sometimes he wasn't too sure whether there was or whether it was still just one-sided feelings on his part.

"Sorry, I feel bad for getting led on by the rumour mill," Lulu shrugged. "You know, if it were me or Tilestone Mr Iceburg picked to be the Vice President people wouldn't have a second thought I'm sure. It's probably the age difference that's getting people talking."

"Yeah well…" Paulie started.

Lulu was one of his best friends, a man he trusted deeply and whose opinions and advice he always respected. And unlike Tilestone, Lulu was discreet, he wasn't worried about him spreading word round.

"Can I talk about this with you Lulu though?" he asked. "In confidence?"

"Sure Paulie, I'm listening," he replied.

Paulie went very quiet and rubbed his arm nervously. "I've sort of… been having feelings for him to be honest," he said with a shrug.

"Don't really know what to say now," Lulu answered. "I didn't know whether it was just the rumours leading me, but I thought I could sense something had changed between you two. Guess it has then?"

"Nothing's happened yet, not really," he explained going a little red. "I think nearly losing him that brought these feelings up."

Lulu sympathised, and pulled an arm round him again. "You gonna do anything about it?"

"I don't know what to do. I've been hoping it'll go away to be honest," Paulie replied. "But I mean, God, I'm starting to think it's probably been years brewing under the surface so…"

Lulu ruffled his hair and smiled at him.

"But it's just too inappropriate, right?" Paulie added. "Dating your boss… I can't see a way it wouldn't cause some big fuss. Things are bad enough with it being just rumours."

"Would it really get any worse if you actually were together?" Lulu offered.

"Don't know," he replied.

"Got any idea how he feels?" Lulu started.

"I don't really know. Iceburg isn't exactly making it very easy to tell." Paulie smoothed the bed sheets with his hand. "Probably still thinks of me as his pushy young apprentice. I was just turning twenty when he first met me five years ago. I've got no idea if he'd ever be interested in someone a lot younger than him or just find my feelings for him really awkward. No idea really what type of person he'd be interested in…"

He went scarlet when he remembered Franky.

"He is gay though," Lulu said. "So you don't need to worry about that part."

"Well, yeah," he mumbled. "But how'd you know that?"

"I thought everyone knew."

"I didn't," he exclaimed. "I mean I know now, but only since I found out a few days ago."

"Yeah, but you're…" Lulu paused to think. "You're Paulie though."

"What does that mean?"

"You're pretty oblivious about this sort of thing."

Paulie sat and stewed.

"He gives off a gay vibe, I guess, so he's never really had to say it," Lulu pondered. "Well, being bi you get good at sussing other men out."

"You're bisexual?" Paulie asked, surprised.

"Uh, yeah."

"Didn't know that," Paulie replied sheepishly.

"Well, that's exactly what I mean, do you not remember my ex-boyfriend David?"

"David?"

Paulie furrowed his brow and tried to recall. "Oh God, I always thought he was your brother."

"Three years of bringing him along to Galley-La parties and you didn't even realise?" Lulu laughed.

"Alright, ok, so maybe I see what you mean about me being kind of oblivious," he grumbled, embarrassed. He glanced briefly at Lulu. "So you, uh, ever have a thing for him Lulu? Iceburg I mean?"

"Oh no, not Mr Iceburg," he laughed. "Great guy don't get me wrong, but he's not really my type. Also, like you said, crushing on your boss would get pretty damn awkward."

"God, thanks for the sympathy," he huffed.

"Heh, sorry," Lulu replied and gave him a pat on the back.

"If it was you though, what would you do?" Paulie asked.

"Can't really tell you what to do, one way or another," Lulu said. "But you have my support. If you need to talk about anything, I'm here." He grinned a little. "And if you need a wing man, I'm here for you too."

"God," he moaned. "Part of me was hoping you were going to tell me to snap myself out of it."

"Well, whatever will be, will be. Try not to overthink it too much," he began. "Listen to your heart instead. That might make it easier."

"I'm not really all that used to doing that," he frowned. "But thanks for the talk, Lulu."

"No worries," he smiled. "We're friends, I've got your back. If you ever need to talk just say so."

"Thanks, really, it means a lot to have some support on this," he said. "God, it's been a real head trip."

Paulie nervously pushed open the door to Iceburg's office with sweaty palms and found him sitting at his desk engrossed in reading a battered piece of paper. Every now and then he heard him chuckle lightly to himself, and Paulie figured he probably wasn't hard at work. He decided against telling him off about it just yet, he looked tired and in need of a break.

He dropped into the seat at the front of Iceburg's desk.

"What's that you're reading?" he asked curiously.

Iceburg yawned and stretched. "Funny, isn't it? Just after we talked about him yesterday, here's a letter from him today."

"Franky is it?" Paulie asked.

"Yes," Iceburg replied. "Look, he even sent a photo too."

Iceburg passed it his way and Paulie smiled. The whole crew together. He owed them so much.

"It's cute," he replied with a little blush. "Hey, you don't mind making a copy of this for me? I've got some empty frames back home that I need something to put in."

Luffy and the rest of the Straw Hats had definitely earned a place in one of them.

"Of course I don't mind," Iceburg beamed at him.

"Well, how is he? How are they all?" Paulie asked impatiently.

"Franky sounds as lively as ever," Iceburg laughed wearily. "It's incredible though, apparently the island they've reached is one that's been converted to a ship. Can you believe it?" He closed his eyes over for a moment. "I've been struggling to work out if it's even possible and Franky's found proof with his own eyes," he said brightly. "I feel like there's hope for us yet."

"Woah," Paulie exclaimed, sitting forwards in his chair. "That's great news. Think he can work out how to do it?"

"He said he'll catch me back up with anything he can find."

"Incredible."

"I just wish I could write back and thank him for this."

"Try sending a gull with something and see if it can manage to track down the Sunny," Paulie suggested.

"It's worth a try," Iceburg replied. He took another long yawn. "The crew is keeping well. Word is that apparently him and Nico Robin are something of an item now too."

"Nico Robin, huh?"

"Yes, pretty strange turn of events isn't it?" he said. "Tom warned us both years ago how dangerous she was. I didn't realise until I finally met her just how much the government had twisted her story and her life." Iceburg shook his head. "It's scary isn't it? The fear mongering the government is capable of?"

"Hmm yeah," Paulie replied grimly. "I wonder just how many so called dangerous people out there are just normal, decent people who got caught up in something."

"It's fascinating and horrifying the world of power, isn't it?" Iceburg admitted. "That's the complications of politics, I suppose. A couple of rotten people at the top and the whole thing turns to rot."

He took a deep breath.

"Well, I just hope at least that for this city I'll be able to make a positive difference."

"You have already," Paulie encouraged. "A big one too."

He clasped his hands together in his lap.

"You might not realise just how much this city has changed since you became the Mayor. But it's completely different."

"In a good way I hope," Iceburg replied.

"Of course I mean in a good way," Paulie argued. "Jesus Iceburg, would you learn to take a compliment from me?"

"Sorry Paulie," Iceburg laughed a little. "Thank you, it was very kind."

"I wasn't just being kind though, I was being honest." He glanced away. "Anyway, you're looking pretty tired. Do you want to take a nap for a while?"

"Hmm, yes, I think that might be good," Iceburg answered. "I didn't sleep all that well again last night."

"I'll give you ninety minutes. So, an hour and a half," Paulie said. "That's a full sleep cycle so you should wake up from that feeling a bit more refreshed."

"Oh, I didn't know that," Iceburg replied. "Well, you learn something every day."

"Optimum amount of time to have a nap."

"That all sounds very efficient."

Iceburg chuckled. He stretched and got up from his desk, then made his way over to the sofa at the other side of the room and collapsed into it.

"Are you not going to go to your bed?" Paulie asked. "It'd be more comfortable."

"No I'll just nap here."

"Well, whatever you like," Paulie shrugged. "I'll get back to my office and give you some peace."

"You could stay and work in here."

"Why? I mean, I've got my own place to work now."

"Because I asked you to," Iceburg insisted.

"Um, alright then," Paulie replied, and raised an eyebrow.

It took him a moment to conclude Iceburg probably felt safer napping with him there placed as a guard rather than sleeping in his room alone where he'd been struggling to do so. He just still didn't really like to admit it.

"I'll go get some things to work on and bring them back here," Paulie said at last.

He didn't really have anything to pick up from his office. Instead, he made a beeline for Iceburg's bedroom to find him a blanket and a pillow. If Iceburg was going to insist in napping in his office, Paulie was going to make sure he was comfortable at least.

He brought them back for him.

"Here," Paulie said, passing them to Iceburg. "Got these on my way."

Iceburg's hand rested briefly on his arm. "Thank you Paulie."

Iceburg propped the pillow under his head and pulled the blanket around himself.

"You have a good rest," Paulie said.

He went over to sit back down at Iceburg's desk to scope out the papers they'd been going through earlier.

"I'll get working on drafting up some letters to send to those candidates."

"That would be great, thank you."

He shook Iceburg lightly.

"Didn't really want to wake you, but that's time up for your nap I'm afraid," Paulie said gently. "Wouldn't want you falling behind with your work again."

Iceburg opened his eyes.

"I've finished these letters," Paulie explained. "So I was thinking, I have to go pick up that suit. Didn't your tailor say he'd have it done today?"

Iceburg started to get up. "I'll come with you."

"No, sorry, but you're going to stay here and work now that you're awake."

"Somehow it feels a bit like you've taken over the company already," Iceburg chuckled.

"Get back to work," Paulie complained, though it was a little hard to keep a straight face.

"It looks good on you," the tailor said. "And with the adjustments, the fit's perfect."

"So how much do I owe you?" Paulie asked, fishing for his wallet in his back pocket. He wasn't looking forward to finding out.

"Mr Iceburg's already covered the cost," he replied.

"He shouldn't have done that," Paulie argued.

"He said you'd say that," the tailor smiled. "He told me to say it's a gift for your promotion." He passed Paulie the bag ceremoniously. "You seem to know each other quite well I'd say. You're in love with him aren't you?"

Paulie went speechless.

"He can't be finding this easy to cope with either."

"Thanks for the suit," Paulie frowned.

"You're welcome," he said with a smile.

He considered calling over next to the convent to check up with his mother or going round to catch up with his dad while he was out. But he decided it was probably best to get back to headquarters as soon as possible. The longer he was out, the more chance the press would scope him out and corner him about the interview or about Iceburg. He'd give his mother a call later to check if things were alright on her end. And his dad could wait. He didn't feel like dealing with him just yet. He had something more pressing to do.

Iceburg was sat at his desk scribbling and Paulie was pleased to see he hadn't just rolled over and returned to sleep. He seemed to be getting good at motivating him to be a little more focused. Hopefully his power nap had given him that bit of a boost he needed.

He approached Iceburg's desk, but kept a little more distance from it than usual.

He cleared his throat.

"What are you working on right now?" he asked.

"Hmm, well, I feel like you're going to say I have more important things to be getting on with, but I'm trying to write a coming out speech," Iceburg explained. "I'll probably call a press conference eventually when I have it prepared, but it's a little difficult to know how to approach it."

"So then, what am I going to say now?"

Iceburg glanced up and smiled in defeat. "That I have more important things to be getting on with."

"Got it in one," he said.

"Well, alright then, I concede," Iceburg replied, gathering up his papers. "I'll put it aside for now."

"About that though," Paulie said.

Iceburg put the pile down and looked at him. He slid off his reading glasses.

Paulie swallowed. "Uh, this is really awkward," he stammered. "But I've been thinking. I've been trying to wait until I'm a bit more sure about what I should do, but maybe that's never going to happen."

He crossed his arms tightly to his chest and glanced to the floor.

"I've been talking with Lulu, and it's made me think that maybe I should just talk to you about all this now and get it over with."

"There hasn't been any more trouble has there?" Iceburg asked nervously.

"Oh God," Paulie muttered.

He took a deep breath.

He met Iceburg in the eyes.

If these were his last few weeks with him, he didn't want to have any regrets.

"Uh, since that night, I think I realised I've been falling in love with you." He shrugged. "Maybe you'll just write me off as some kid with a crush on his teacher. That's alright if you do. Just reject me now and then I can stop wondering if it could ever happen and start to work on getting over it, I guess."

He ran a hand through his hair and waited. He'd never felt a silence so silent.

"That's definitely not what I thought you were going to say," Iceburg finally replied. He took another pause. "Do you want to take some time to think this over? Are you sure this isn't just a reaction to everything that's happened?"

Paulie's teeth clenched. "Look, don't patronise me. I might be younger than you, but I'm not stupid." He stared at the floorboards. "Maybe it just helped me to realise I might have felt this way for a long time now, but it took a while to work it through. But I am serious about this. I know how I feel."

"Then I admit I would also be interested in giving it a try."

Paulie glanced up in surprise and found Iceburg looking awkwardly away.

"You… you would?" Paulie asked.

"I do think that night changed things between us. I've felt it too. But I've been feeling a little conflicted about it myself," Iceburg began. "I wondered whether maybe it would be stepping over a line, so I've held back." Iceburg peered briefly back at him, and laughed a little nervously. "Or I've tried. I hope I didn't cross any boundaries. I've worried a lot about that. I wouldn't ever want to take advantage of my position. It's all felt very complicated."

Paulie watched as he fiddled with the curl at the side of his forehead.

"I'm quite relieved to know it wasn't just me," he admitted. "But I actually thought you'd already rejected me to be honest."

"What?" Paulie blurted out, stepping a little closer to his desk. "When?"

"When you said you wanted to squash the rumours," Iceburg answered.

"Oh, that's not what I meant," Paulie apologised and shook his head.

"What did you mean?"

"I guess what I meant is that something like this is personal," Paulie explained. "If we give this a go I don't feel like I'd be ready to jump in and go public with it from day one."

"Oh, I see. I guess I misunderstood you then."

"Because, I mean, there's no point in making it official until it is," he clarified.

"Yes, it might work, or it might not," Iceburg agreed. "We don't really know yet. And there's no point in telling anyone until we've worked that out."

"That's what I thought." Paulie blushed. "I um, well, I don't exactly have a great deal of relationship experience to be honest," he confessed. "Just a couple of dates with some girls here and there, so I can't really promise I'm going to be great at this."

"That's alright," Iceburg responded. "I've only had the one serious relationship myself. That and a short fling that was honestly quite messy, so I'm not exactly an expert either."

Paulie wondered which one Franky was, and who the other had been. But those were questions he'd maybe find out about later down the line, if Iceburg ever chose to tell him.

"I wouldn't have guessed you hadn't really dated much either," Paulie said.

"I haven't really had the time," he sighed.

There was a long pause.

"And I've always had a little bit of difficulty letting people get close to be honest."

"Guess I feel kind of privileged then," Paulie smiled.

"We can take things slow," Iceburg said.

They met eyes.

"And if you ever feel overwhelmed or like things are going too quickly or if you change your mind, just say Paulie and we can adjust," he said gently. "If we're honest with each other from the get go, I think it's much more likely to work out. And also if it's not working out, then we can just call it. I won't hold anything against you."

"God, that's a relief," Paulie admitted. "I've been running it all through my head that if it didn't, or if I made a move and you weren't interested, you'd fire me over it."

"I'd like to think we'd both be mature enough to just go back to how things were," Iceburg added.

"And you know the same goes to you. If it's too uncomfortable or it's not working for you, just don't be afraid to tell me," Paulie said. "I can take it."

Iceburg nodded back.

"So, this is really happening then?" Paulie said nervously.

"If you want it to," Iceburg replied.

"Um, yeah. I want to try." Paulie approached Iceburg slowly. "So, uh, can I…?" He cleared his throat. "Is it too forward to ask if I can kiss you now?"

"Yes, of course you can," Iceburg smiled, and got up from his seat.

Paulie hesitated a little, then kissed him lightly. It was brief and discreet.

Iceburg took Paulie's hands in his.

Paulie kissed him again but deeper.