Disclaimer: Still not mine.
Chopper looked up and sneezed. Slightly wet and sore from the pill's aftereffects, he was looking forward to his warm cabinet back at Sunny. At least Law spared him the honour of being the key ring substitute to the man's weapon this time. Or maybe even Law was cold as well.
He sniffed. After the laboratory mess, both of them were soaked wet and the human's clothing was still damp.
Law could remove the droplets from their cloths and Chopper's fur, couldn't he?
Chopper opened his mouth to ask, but stopped at last moment. The strangeness of half-forgotten smell and extraordinary warmth were back. He could feel it again.
"You've got… fever?" he asked accusingly and yes, the smell he just caught was definitely a willow. Chopper strained, trying to squint up at the human despite the temporary paralysis. Law strode through the streets, dodging occassional passerbys and discouraged salesmen taking away their stock. The day was nearing the end and strangely deserted streets were a good gateway to their destination. No response came. Looking further up, Chopper could see first stars straining through the pale twilight.
Law used to spent really lot of time on the deck lately.
"Law." Groused Chopper. It was a long day for both of Reindeer was beginning to feel over the politeness thing. He was a doctor as well, and will be treated like one, alliances be damned.
"What."
"You can remove the virus with your Devil Fruit, right? Just like the water from your clothes. Why won't you?"
"These things are unnecessary. We are almost there."
Indeed, the alley they've been passing through looked vaguely familiar. Chopper felt Law twist slightly while taking a look around before taking a turn and entering the old bar again. The scents were as overwhelming as before.
Law did not hesitate to steal gold with his powers, but refused to use it to improve his health. Talk about priorities. Gratitude aside, Chopper felt a pangs of anger churning in him. They were allies. Even if Law dismissed Chopper's abilities to help, he should at least have decency to share his condition with him. They were supposed to look for each other, doctors or no. They were supposed to set example for hotheads like Zoro or Luffy. Yet here they were, on a mission to save child's life with Law who doesn't have decency to fill him in on the treatment and symptoms. He was making the task entirely reliant on him. Law could hoard all the secrets he wanted, but not competition was fine with Chopper as long as there was no third party to pay the price.
Law had no right to call on and off their deal like that.
Chopper wished he was able to move… But all wishful thinking was brought to a stop as a sudden though hit him.
They were allies right now, but they'll become rivals again after their joint mission. Wasn't that how Law thought of their deal?
Luffy kept saying that Law is a good person, but that didn't change some worrisome tendencies Chopper started to notice during their journey. Mainly, the way Law was so… driven, set on this crazy plan he got Luffy into.
You can't prepare for what you don't expect. The doctor is not to fight unless in last resort. It doesn't take the prevention thing out of the equation still.
Maybe Chopper will stick with Law's definition, after all.
–how draining can using this fruit be?
They found Niis just the way they left her – perched on the table next to the Kevin's bed and glaring at the entrance.
"About time," she groused. "You got what you needed? What's up with him?" Her gaze flitted to the Racoon Law placed on the desk among the bottles and stashes of plants.
"He's fine. Will be better, anyway." Law reached for Racoon's bag and fished out the probe. They decided to carry it in Straw Hat's backpack in case they got attacked again on their way back. None attempts came.
It was kind of suspicious.
"I can't move right now. The aftereffects should wane shortly." Supplied Racoon. He tried to look around and smile in Kevin's direction. The kid was propped against the cushions, empty cup stored at the nightstand on his left. He stared at Law back with good natured curiosity.
Stupid kid.
"In the meantime, I'll be taking over." The clock was ticking. Law took off his now useless disguise. The less scary he looked like, the better. As expected, Niis didn't look convinced, but for once she didn't protest. Small graces.
"Another tea." He handed the probe to her and added some other herbs from the Reindeer's neighbourhood. "And two cups of brew from these for now. Pox is our main concern, I don't want it to get in the way when dealing with the poisoning."
"How are you going to deal with the poisoning?" Enquired Chopper from his place at the table. Niis disappeared behind the curtain again.
"The usual way." Law glanced around the room. He never had the time to take a good look what's inside. "Do you have any den den mushi in here?"
The life of information broker came with it's ups and downs and while Vindi fully acknowledged that some complications may arise, she was the firm believer of the line where things get too messy to let yourself be dragged into. Now, slightly raspy and still not quite out of breath, she watched the hastily summoned emergency henchmen safeguarding the room they've been in. The overenthusiastic efforts of breaking into the lab resulted in one room totally sunken and two neighbouring ones being damaged.
They won't return to the full output quota for months. Not that she cared.
For all it's proclaimed might the Triad seemed to be cutting corners on health and safety. Ironic, considering the proportion of funds drawn from the drug business.
"This place's toast." She announced to noone in particular. Mr Snarl on her left grunted and tapped away at still ringing den den mushi. The thing's been going off for about a quarter now. and the poor snail seemed getting worn out by it. The central wanted answers and wanted it now.
Incompetent fools.
Vindi looked over her shoulder as a tall, scrawny kid with an impressing collection of freckles squelched through the water puddles to her. A messenger.
"Got something for me?" She turned to face him. She was greeted by outstretched hand.
"No respect these days." Grumbled Vindi, watching the kid blend into the crowd of busy workers. "Let's hope it was worth it."
"Background check?" Mr Snarl glanced at the papers over her shoulder. Lines of text wrapped around the set of three small pictures.
"Yes. Our salesman has a secret." Vindi glanced took the pictures out and inspected them closer. "I had a hunch he's up to something." It pays to listen to your gut.
"We are going back, then?"
"I think so. The trade day is over, but I have his address."
She glanced down again at the pictures.
Ian Novotesky. Maurice and Niis Draughts.
The dead, the apprentice and the missing one.
She shoved the papers into her bag. She owed somebody a visit. And this time, she was going to make sure that noone will mess it up.
Law sipped at his tea with a self-consciously scornful expression. Getting a den den mushi from Niis was a feat he hoped to manage without. While apparently warming up to her guests' presence, the former smuggler was still suspicious of any attempts communicating with the outside. Two mafia raids and one water splash later Law expected at least some recognition for his trouble.
He was not used to problematic patients.
He glanced around the room, taking in the mess of the notes and tea cups lying on the nearest table. The first stage of treatment was complete. The blonde kid finished his drink and was making faces at him over the brim of the mug.
Right.
The rest of the treatment and doctors' return should take no longer than two hours. This would be just before the sunset. Sunny will wait for them near the bay. The Navigator was sceptical, but didn't press for the reason for their late arrival.
Now for the difficult part.
"You know how my powers work, don't you?" Niis offered a one-shouldered shrug. "Heard the rumours." Law nodded. Gleefully fanned and encouraged gossips Law took on himself to spread over the seas. It paid to have some advertisement.
Apparently, the strategy could backfire as well.
"With this," Law nodded at sword Niis insisted him to leave by the entrance, "I can cut and separate living beings into pieces. It helps during the surgery to find all off the things I need to remove from patient's body. It poses no danger to the patient who is put together at the end with no visible aftereffects."
"And you want me not to freak out." Finished Niis. She leant back in her place on kid's bed, retrieving brat's empty cup absentmindedly. The kid stopped making faces and tried to grasp at the end of her scarf, missing by centimetres. The attempt went unnoticed. "You treated this illness before this way?"
Law grit his teeth. "Yes. This one and many others."
"He's telling the truth." Spoke Racoon from his table. Law glared at him. He has forgotten about the reindeer, who was still sprawled uselessly over the nigh desk. The reindeer's feet were dangling limply over the edge.
"I have seen him doing this before. It looked scary, but he helped a lot of children bac-"
"Isn't it about time your paralysis wore off?" Cut in Law. He needed no interference, let alone anyone meddling with what he and his crew attained through the years of voyage. Law would not need shady reputation where he was going. His crew, on the other hand, did.
Punk Hazard was supposed to stay a secret.
"The pill's aftereffects last from about thirty minutes to one full hour." The Racoon seemed to be taken aback by the sudden question. He squinted in Law's general direction, despite awkward position he has been left in. "It should wear off any moment now." A slightly reproachful tone lined his next words. "And you really shouldn't scare people like that. I really thought you kil-"
"Alright, alright," sighed Niis, cutting off any retort Law found himself halfway forming through. "Just do it. Quick, preferably. Heard we're all in a rush."
Law shot one last glare at unrepentant Racoon and walked over to pick up his weapon. The cool of the hilt felt soothing, welcoming.
He turned and walked back to the bed, glancing down at the kid, then back at his guardian and still incapacitated colleague. "I prefer to work in privacy." He stated. Some rules had to be settled.
"Look, I said you can treat the kid but that doesn't mean I'm leaving him for the process."
"A ship needs one captain," ground Law. "Same goes for surgeries. I don't need your elbows all over the place."
"Right." Niis threw her hands up in a mock of surrender. She still gave Law a sceptical look. "Go ahead. Just make it quick. I'm not sure how will he react to you messing up with his limbs."
"This is my concern." Law watched as Niis gathered Straw Hat's still immobile doctor and disappeared behind the curtain.
He turned to the kid, who was watching him closely with the expression reserved for child explorers and shell-shocked officers of justice.
The clink of porcelain and whistle of teapot came from the other side of the curtain. Somewhere on the other side of the curtain, the den den mushi rang.
Law sighed. One stop from Punk Hazard, he was hoping to not have to do this again. He crouched by the bed and reached up for his hat. Fluffy hair, his damn.
"Hi, Kevin." He started. "My name is Law and I would like to take a look at you and these white spots. Do they hurt?"