Hello there! Hope everyone is doing well. Well I just wanted to say thank you again for choosing this fanfic to read. Also wanted to add, that the status of humor might change to drama as the story unfolds. I'm still up in the air about how to handle certain parts but we shall see. I hope you all have a fantastic day!
"Oh! The line... The end has reached the docks", Katie exclaimed as she jolted to her feet. It was now much later in the afternoon and the crowd was thinning out. Even Zephyr could spot his wife at the edge of the platform above the registering station, waving frantically with a wide grin. His youngest standing beside her wearing a marine outfit made for toddlers. Both very excited to see him. Even he couldn't explain the warmth he felt just spotting them like this. His body tingled with joy and the man couldn't stop smiling.
Katie had gingerly beamed herself. Their conversation had come to a close. She could see the vice-admiral become solely focused. He wanted to go home. His eyes couldn't tear away from his family's images. The officer continued to gaze upward at the platform where the residents would greet their loved ones after the initial check.
"You should go...", the young woman spoke as she poked his upper arm. The brunette set down her rather large and stuffed duffel bag once more to wait for the twenty or so people to pass.
"I need to be here", he gruffly responded before rubbing his tired eyes and stretching. The butt of the cigar tossed into the ocean with deadly precision. He reluctantly didn't light up another. His wife didn't care for him smoking and the officer was going to respect that.
Katie blinked at his stubbornness. It was well defined, she thought. Tired, wanting to be with his family, yet was forcing himself to stay. For what? Just to ensure the job was done, the brunette asked herself before shaking her head visibly.
"There are no marines left except those on duty. You have a very capable marine captain and his petty officer to handle things if things get out of hand. You also have the residing marines who left to solve the discrepancies with paperwork. Go... Home... You don't want to keep the most important people in your life, waiting." The female continued to keep her voice light and soft in nature. It was obvious the vice-admiral was exhausted and nearing his peak which meant demands were not going to fly over well. She was being bossy but in a jovial manner. Context was everything at this point.
Zephyr's grey eyes shifted to a captain who had over heard the whole ordeal. Smoker nodded as a way of saying for the higher ranking official to go. To Katie's bewilderment, the white haired man managed to keep two cigars clenched between his own teeth without any troubles. The officer wavered despite his tenacity. The husband chuckled and patted the top of Katie's head before saying good-bye with his own black duffel slung over his left shoulder, allowing his white coat of justice to blow in the breeze.
After moving as fast as as a bullet, Katie saw the father wrap his burly arms around his wife and son before falling backwards taking them with him. His laughter permeated the entire cove. The two in his grip were clung tightly as his son squealed and his wife laid an unbelievable amount of kisses on his cheeks. They were over joyed to see him which could only make the brunette smile even more.
Katie turned to Smoker who was leaning against a lamp post near the white canvas cover containing the registry. The open tent allowed viewers to see Tashigi pace back and forth over seeing the process herself. To the White Hunter, the female bowed at the waist ninety degrees out of respect to him. Her hands folded neatly in front and laid delicately upon the fabric of her green and sunflower patterned dress. His brows furrowed a bit but then realized she only meant it as a thank you. One he didn't need but wasn't going to argue unnecessarily about.
The two seemed to have a brief understanding. He didn't want to speak and possibly get this painful procedure over with quickly while she waited patiently at the back of the line. To his surprise, the young woman wasn't floating on cloud nine or fidgeting like a love sick idiot. Though he couldn't help but take notice that she thumbed the documents in her hands. It was obvious Katie was looking forward to something just not desire.
Twenty minutes later, finally she was at the table at the edge of the covered area but before she could hand her papers off to the dark haired office clerk, Smoker stepped in. He wanted to see for himself what was so odd about this young woman. The sudden disruption caused the brunette a few steps back and her eyes to become dilated.
The marine officer was nearly seven foot tall and practically using his presence to exude authority. His defined body was not lacking in any department to say the least. To her great dismay, the Hunter's jacket was open allow the woman to bare witness to one of the most sculpted chests and fantastic abs in the history of mankind.
Katie's cheeks flared with color as she didn't know what to say or do. Her own mind worked against her as her thoughts grew more and more absurdly embarrassing. Sure he was built like her grandfathers but he was much younger, plus he wasn't even related to her! The female's heart wouldn't be able to take it if this was the common norm for the area.
The young woman's chest became painful as her internal organs began hammering away with intense force. The thick scent of his cigars mixed to well with his soft cologne. Men like him shouldn't exist! At least they didn't on her island! Not to mention, why did he have to stand so close..., Katie dreadfully asked herself as he read up on her history.
Smoker on the other hand wasn't even aware of the bashful woman's reaction. He was focused; trying to find discrepancies and mistakes that would ultimately keep her in a short term custody but to his amazement he couldn't find anything. In fact, it was rather well organized with significant contacts for references. If everyone else had been this serious about their travel documents, the transition would have gone much smoother and he wouldn't have to be there.
"Vice-admiral Garp is your grandfather, huh...? You took a three week journey here, it looks like... Your finances are even registered at the local bank. Your invite, is almost indecipherable but that's not your fault." Smoker could recognize Garp's own handwriting. He had seen it so many times before. It was just short of miraculous that he could read as much as he could.
"Do you know where you're going", he asked turning and grabbing the registry upon a clipboard; swiping a pen while handing off her information to the young seamen clerk who sat behind the table. His gruff voice was low, almost easy to listen too. It surprised Katie to the point where she had to shake her head to clear her thoughts and answer.
"Seven-fifteen, Capital Boulevard. I... uh... well... It's my first time here, I don't know where that is exactly and grandpa was suppose to meet me here but ultimately let me know he had to work", Katie released a tired sigh as she watched the much taller captain write down her information.
Smoker clenched his cigar between his teeth from annoyance once again. Not directed at the female but in general. This whole reassignment came out of the blue and he would rather get back to his station. To add to his anxiety, the young woman was practically dumped off and left to fend for herself. Marineford was no place for a person to be stumbling about. Not all marines were as good as the company she had met so far.
"Wait a while, Tashigi and I will show you where you need to go. I need to finish up here", he reluctantly ordered. A sharp glare quickly followed as soon as Katie began peddling out her words. No one ever wanted to be the receiver of sympathy and though she didn't see it so much so, he wasn't going to let her have her way either. Smoker's expression was enough to get the brunette to become quiet and complacent.
Defeated, Katie found an empty chair that sat next to the wide wall-less cover used to keep the clerks and other soldiers out of the sun. The brunette had realized her eyes felt a bit heavy. Her shoulders slowly began to lean forward but the young woman was determined to not succumb to her physical needs. On a side thought though, the young woman knew Smoker's task wouldn't be over any time soon. "I guess five minutes wouldn't hurt..."
Garp's granddaughter began to nod off as her ocean colored blue hues closed. It had been a long day and no sleep the night prior because she had been so excited. It all had finally caught up as soon as she was basically given her pass to stay. Relief had washed over the petite granddaughter, causing a domino effect of exhaustion.
With her arms crossed and hands tucked under them, her body nodded with every gentle breath. Long bark colored hair slipped over her shoulder as her pony tail had loosened with supple pink lips slightly parted and long dark lashes teasing her silken skin. Her cheeks were a rosy hue from hours in the sun with tiny freckles kissing her ivory flesh. She was the type to never tan but burn. Because of this, Katie was generally careful but she had been so excited and too distracted this time. Further evidence became visible on her arms as subtle pink began to turn red.
If one would could describe the young woman sleeping in the chair, Smoker would call it innocent. She literally was small and nonthreatening. Not quite like that of a child, but her stature was slightly under Tashigi's and her frame as well. Her assets were full, he couldn't miss that portion of her but that's not what caught his attention. The captain had to give it to her, she still carried herself well despite how she probably physically felt. He could spot all the signs of fatigue. Garp's granddaughter was putting up a good fight until she sat down. All too many times had he been in similar situations.
The captain turned to accomplish his duties but found himself glancing over ever so often. Katie had caught his eye once again. Most would say that wasn't the best place to be but his credit to her was the female stood side by side with one of the strongest and noblest men in the marines for a few hours. Both he and Zephyr's loud outbursts didn't even cause her to flinch.
Katie appeared... comfortable. Of course having Garp for a grandfather, one could only imagine what she was used too. This thought oddly brought him to see a lot of parallels with Tashigi's own personality. She'd fit right in with the marines so why wasn't she one? That was the main antagonizing unanswered question. Every time he thought about it, his gaze would return to her. It was almost unsettling.
His thought process was torn away as his eyes were forced to look at a tall figure making his way down the stone stairs rather slowly from the upper levels of the town. A massive hand covered a yawn. Even tears of sleepiness seemed to develop in the corner of his sharp eyes. The familiar officer nonchalantly took long comfortable strides to the temporary station that was now processing all the gathered information of the new arrivals.
"A...Admiral Aokiji", one seaman exclaimed out of both surprise and and respect. The salutes came forth as the man made his way closer and closer, ultimately stopping the work process until Smoker barked for them to go back to work. Papers and people flew as they double timed it.
Tashigi held up a gloved hand to remind Smoker they had a sleeping guest but before she could even utter a single word, the admiral was behind her. Clicking her heels, she saluted before chasing after the panicked seamen and clerks. Her actions earning an uneven smirk from Kuzan.
"Oh my", the man uttered out of surprise. "A super babe sleeping here", he continued which began an array of worry from the other marines considering they knew who her grandfather was. The admiral crouched, lowering himself easily. He still lorded over the sleeping woman. This was not his intention, though. He just wanted a slightly closer look. She wasn't exotic or outlandish but still quite the beauty. Kuzan felt a shiver go down his spine. The delicate brunette had to be something to be asleep, unaware of her surroundings in a military post and appearing so carefree.
Without hesitating, the admiral swiftly discarded his white officer's coat and placed it like a blanket over her smaller form. Gingerly the female accepted by burying her nose in the collar and muttering the word, "warm", ever so softly. She was still asleep only to stir by curling her toes and legs further under the white material. The admiral heard her sandals hit the solid wood beneath and he was quick to smile. He had an excuse to take another nap.
"Guys just pack everything when you're done...", Aokiji ordered as he stretched out on the dark wooden planks just in front of Katie. The tall admiral then proceeded to pull down his green sleep mask over his eyes and fold his arms behind his head in his trademark fashion.
Smoker didn't care for the antics but his commanding officer was right. They needed to hurry up and finish. The day was coming to a close. He switched gears and began berating anyone who didn't pull enough weight to complete their task at hand. The man didn't see the harm in leaving the duo to catch up on their rest.