Disclaimer: Still is not mine.
For a moment, the air grew thin. But the heavy feeling in Law's lungs not only due to the smuggler pinning him down to his place or the seastone weapon.
"S-stop it!" The first shock was gone as an familiar voice cut the air. Woman's eyes snapped to the source of unexpected voice. The Racoon was wringing his hands, frantic but frozen between rushing to the bed with his keepsake and coming to Law's aid. As shocked and aching Law was, he could only speculate on Straw Hat's possible success of intervention.
There was none, probably.
"We are doctors! We don't want to hurt you!" was all Racoon was saying and if not for a more urgent troubles Law was experiencing at the moment – that is, something of rectangular dimensions pressing steadily into Law's side – Law would've face palmed at the sheer incompetence.
Stating your weakness to the cornered enemy? How on earth Straw Hats made it past the Grand Line?
Apparently, he wasn't alone in this opinion. The woman's grip on tekkan's handle tightened as she shifted her weight slightly to account for another intruder.
"Stay where you are or I'll gut him!" Tough chance, that one. Tekkan was a defensive weapon, though Law was not going to push to prove this point. He settled for negotiation.
"We came to talk!" Damn it, the Racoon even sounded desperate now. Law took a breath. Carefully.
"While I see this as a surprise to both sides," he shot a warning look at the reindeer, "I think it would be in our best interests to think this through." He studiously ignored the twitch of woman's other hand. "The kid over there," he glanced in the general direction of the brat that stared at them in wide-eyed wonder, "appears to be in need of the medical attention. A treatment, which I can offer you at the reasonable price."
He expected spite, but not the bark of the laughter. The woman threw her head up for a moment, then snapped back down immediately. The pressure of her weapon didn't budge at all.
"Price?" She blew some loose strand of hair off her face. "With the Triads' reward on your head, I will get him treated for years!"
"Really?" A nasty smirk found its way to Law's face. There was little that threw Law off his patience, but somebody trying to make a fool out of him by questioning his competence was one of them. It was impulsive and childish, the rush of anger washed away doubt. "Is that why you keep him bolted away under basement filth? He's not getting any better, by the looks of it. Of course," he added as if on afterthought, "you could always take him to the hospital, but last time I checked there was no cure for this sickness." Another jab at memory, fluttering uselessly in the bog of truth. Law had a vague feeling that his grin was maniacal by now. "Although it didn't stop World Government from helping the sick. For good."
There was no satisfaction in seeing the colour drain from the woman's face, nor the way her expression seemed to harden in wary attempt at stalling. It might've been Law's bad luck to stumble through today's complications, yet at the same time, it could be a stroke of luck that could enable Law to deal with these with a minimal fuss. Encouraged by her reaction, he pressed further. "I have no business in ratting you out to the Marines nor following their line of prejudice. I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty. In fact, I know the way to handle this disease and cure it. I am a doctor."
"So I heard," spat woman and despite himself, Law felt a tiniest prickle of a professional pride. Gossips and backwardness were invaluable helpers for an aspiring, freshly emancipated pirate. In a world of brawn and strength, it paid to do some advertisement. Especially for someone able to carry out multiple disembowelments without much of a fatality.
"If you don't trust me to help, how about my companion? They seem to have made friends already."
Indeed, the kid was sitting in his bed the whole time, eyeing the furry doctor in fascination. The Racoon allowed a nervous grin at the attention, eyes still traveling back and forth between the little patient and his -still half-strangling Law- mother.
Will you look at that, Law felt a vicious thrill. Months, possibly years of being stuck underground with no hope of leaving. No amount of toys scattered across the place is able to sate kid's curiosity. No amount of parent's attention.
He was not alone in this realisation if woman's grasp on a jitte was any indication. The woman's death grip seemed to falter as her eyes flickered over to the kid. At last, she relaxed, with an angry huff. "Alright, then. But you do anything funny," she glared at the Racoon, "you will be prying his innards from the ceiling."
Heartwarming. Law decided not to comment aloud in the face of something rectangular persistently digging into his side. At least he could breath for now, with tekkan's firm, yet considerably gentler pressure over his throat.
"I have never seen anything like this before," admitted Chopper. He put away a hastily collected stethoscope (Law's bag, carried just in case only). The child – Keith, as he introduced himself – followed his movements curiously from under Chopper's oversized hat. His curiosity was a contrast to suspicious guardian of the child, Niis. She kept her stand throughout the examination, watching little doctor with a narrowed eyes. "It looks like a pox, but these white dots don't match any symptoms I heard of. Unless…" he cast a doubtful glance at still watchful guardian. "Doctorine mentioned that some diseases may join and mutate into a new sicknesses…"
"How long is he like that?" asked Law.
Chopper would have felt a whole deal better if he could see the human from his own place.
"What's that got to do with anything?" Niis glowered down at (invisible) doctor still sprawled on the floor. "You either know how to help him or not!"
"Actually, it would've helped us to know how long these sympt-" Chopper never got a chance to finish. And that's where the things went down to hell.
"-severity of symptoms. Stage of the disease. Abridged forecast of condition." Law seemed to be rattling the list off of his head. The words hung in the air. "Background check allows to set the ground for treatment. It wouldn't have been bothered with if not necessary."
"…two years in next month," ground Niis finally. "If you're stalling for time, I sw-"
"Then stalling is a luxury neither of us can afford," cut her off Law. "While I regret to say it, the usual cycle is near its final stage. We are short of time and have no medicine to fight this off at the moment."
Chopper's blood ran cold. He feared this diagnosis. Was Law sure?
"Then what's your deal!? You just said you could help!"
"I-I'm sorry," Chopper looked down. Anywhere but a livid mother or the little boy with a curious eyes and as little time left to sate his curiosity of the world. "Had we a good laboratory here, I'm sure there would be something we could do. Maybe on Sunny…" Chopper's vision blurred.
"Don't give me that laboratory shit! You either know how to help him or not!"
"If we cure him, will you give us this hat back?" spoke Law from his spot on the floor."LAW!" Chopper was incredulous. He jumped off the bed and all but stomped to the other pirate. At the time like this… They had no guarantee. No right.
"This is your hat, doctor." Law fixed him with a levelled stare. "Won't you at least try?"
"We could get the ingredients off the market with no problem. They would require some processing. This, in turn, needs special equipment," continued Law to an outraged silence. "There is a good deal of drugs on the market here. Some of them have their labels still not completely stuck to the surface. There must be a chemistry depot on this island. Maybe even the actual lab."
No arguments. That at least was encouraging.
"I don't think there is need for me to mention that breaking in would involve certain risks. This hat Is a petty price to ask in return. Unless, of course," Law pressed further, looking over at Niis, "you are ready to share with the Triad your problem. They might agree to help you."
Silence. Law stifled a sigh and glanced back at still fuming reindeer for support. He was starting to feel sore already from what felt like hours being sprawled over the floor.
"What's a guarantee that you won't turn round and run?" growled finally Niis. Her eyes kept flicking between the two.
Without a word, Law beckoned at Chopper whose face was frozen in avid expression of rage, shock and incredibility. While they've been arguing, the kid inched closer to the edge of his bed, trying to reach the Racoon. Currently he was straining to try and poke the reindeer in the cheek to coerce some reaction.
This seemed to get him some attention. The Racoon blinked and glanced at the kid, forcing a smile, but still moving away from the poking.
"We need medicine for a start. I know this place already so I'll collect it faster; the Racoon over here will do background study in the meantime. Allergies, drug tolerance and blood types. Law pulled his hat over his eyes and moved to the exit, reaching for Kikoku. "As for my return, he's the all assurance you need. I'm not leaving this island without him and your powers are enough to make mine redundant. It's a win-win for you. Start with Viviscotin," he nodded at the still disgruntled Racoon.
"What?!" Racoon swivelled back to Law. "Are you serious? It's too strong! Who would've treated pox with that?!"
"It's my suggestion." Inadvertently, Law felt his eyes roll. "I'll bring some alternatives as well. On what to use will be decided after the background tests."
With that, he turned and left. A quick glance on his way out gave him the full view of the floor. Law has spent twenty minutes of his life with a tiny dinosaur trying to dig into his ribs.
What a busy day for the Triad, reflected Vindi. First there was a robbery at Filigram Street, then a case of a missing hat and undercover Supernovas running around the place. Forget the junk, this last information could give her millions.
With some proper handling.
"Well?" she titled in her seat, cradling a cup of coffee. Treetugger - a special blend for such a busy day. Better not to ask for ingredients. "What's the outcome?"
"Andy Two Times and Drowsy Henry lead in bids," said Snarl. Earphones on, he was scribbling madly the comparisions of the bidding tables. The sleeping den den mushi was set before him, snoring softly.
"Not bad." Vindi peeked over her assistant's shoulder at the tables. "If this keeps up, we could cover for up to two months' worth of our quota. Who's the highest bidder for now?"
"Nancy Three Words." Snarl's eyes kept tracking the columns and between this and his note taking Vindi wasn't sure how he didn't get a squint yet. She felt a prickle of professional pride swell in her chest at the name, though. Say what you want about the Southerners, but they knew how to suit themselves in the volatile world of information brokers.
"Old Joker, huh?" The coffee scent lingered the air. One room of coffee and two gallons of stress. Sweet memory. Nothing like a black horse of a gang for an aspiring broker to gain experience with.
"Lady Vindi?" She raised her head at the prompt. "The auction is over, we have a last-moment stalemate from our last entrant."
She didn't need to look at the sheets to know the results. She's been watching this family ever since it's foundations. She almost liked them.
What should she do now?
"We don't support monopoly." She put away the glass finally. Not this time, anyway. Joker has enough of a leeway over the Minority Triads right now. There is nothing preventing her from stirring things up a little.
Market above all.
"Call Nancy. Jack is having a good day today."