Eiichiro Oda owns One Piece and all its awesome characters.
Beneath The Waves
Trafalgar Law quietly wandered the corridors of his submarine, trying to remain calm while he looked for Nami and their six month old son.
There was an awful feeling in his chest, like someone had clutched his heart and was squeezing it tightly. He was sick with worry, but no matter how many times he reassured himself, the same feeling would plague him a few days later.
When he found them in the observation room, Law wondered why he hadn't checked there sooner. Being in his arms, or in his bed, was always Nami's favourite place on his ship, but Law Jr loved the deep blue sea, and the large window in the observation room that allowed him to view it.
Nami was reclining low on the bench in front of the window. Her bare legs were sprawled out across the seat in front. Her head was propped against the glass, with some of her orange locks saturated by its condensation. She had one hand in the pocket of her denim shorts, and she cradled Law Jr to her chest with the other.
Law watched them for a moment, taking in the sight of his beautiful family while they were seemingly sleep-sharing. Nami always slept when their son did, ensuring she was always there when he needed her to be. Law was well aware beforehand of just how altruistic, caring, and protective Nami was, but her attentiveness to their son's welfare still astounded him sometimes. She was possibly the most nurturing pirate he could have ever wished to mother his children.
He remained at the door, slightly envious of their peaceful state. His heart burned with anxiety, though he was grateful that they could rest, blissfully unaware of what troubled him.
Law eventually stepped inside to join them. He approached as quietly as he could, not wanting to rouse either of them of their slumber. Nami didn't react at all to his footsteps, she seemed too be deep in sleep to hear the loud click of his boots against the metal flooring. Law, Jr was wide awake though, and was busy watching the fish swim by the window until Law smoothed his hand over the boys dark hair.
He lifted his head up then. The tiny fingers on one of his hands clutched at a lock of Nami's hair, trying to use it as leverage to get up. Law took him from his mother's arms so he didn't wake her, then remained standing for a moment, enabling his son another look through the tempered glass, and at the brightly coloured fish he'd been watching a moment ago.
The Heart Pirates spent most of their time submerged. Law and Nami learnt early on that being beneath the waves somehow helped settle Law Jr. They figured that the acoustic sounds of the ocean that resonated through the hull of Law's submarine must have somehow sounded similar to the noises of Nami's womb. He was initially a bit of a whinny baby, but now the pair of them barely knew what his cries sounded like.
Law sat down then next to Nami with his back to the window. He held little Law up in front of his face, admiring him lovingly. If her pregnancy cravings for bread made anybody doubt who the boy's father was, then his olive skin, midnight blue hair, and eyes of molten gold, would surely give it away. If that wasn't proof enough, then the scowl their baby boy usually wore on his face was also evidence that he was definitely Law's.
Law Jr stretched out his arms then, trying to tangle his fingers in his fathers sideburns. It always happened when his face got too close to the boy, he was too enthralled with the contrast in colours between the hue of his father's hair, and the shade of skin. Law knew all he had to do was kiss the him, then his goatee would tickle him, and Law Jr would release his grasp.
He tilted his head then and leant in to kiss his son, eliciting a warm giggle from the boy that urged him to do it again. Law Jr quickly released his fathers facial hair to touch his cheek when Law's chin had brushed against him, staring at him eagerly as if he wanted him to do it again.
Law smiled, then laid him down on his lap, intermittently tickling him as he started to undo the press studs on his yellow and black baby grow. Nami had dressed him in a light cotton onesie with the Heart pirates insignia on it. It was a cool enough garment to help him cope with the humidity on board the submarine.
Once that was removed, all that was left was his diaper.
Trafalgar Law picked up his son then, and started to examine him. He was always looking for the slightest pale blemish on the boy's olive skin. He couldn't bare the thought that he might have passed on the deadly amber lead poisoning to his precious flesh and blood.
"He's fine." Nami said while sitting up and affectionately running her hand up his back to soothe him.
"He's perfect." Law corrected her with a teary sigh. Nami wrapped her arms around his waist, then peeked at the boy from beside Law's shoulder.
"He's too perfect." He said, then leant down to place kiss his son's chest, right above where his heart was.
The boy giggled from the affection, obviously tickled by Law's goatee again, and he continued to laugh as Law smiled down at him, before he eventually redressed him.
"You said yourself," Nami began as she pulled herself closer to him so she could mould herself to his back, and rest her head against him. "if he had it, then he would have been born with it."
"But-"
"You would have be able to see it from the moment he was born. That's what you told me."
"But, Nami-ya-" Law began as he turned to face her, pulling their son against his chest.
Nami kissed him before he could finish his sentence.
"If he has it, then either cure him, or stopping worrying yourself sick about it so you can thoroughly enjoy your time with your son." She lectured.
Law simply frowned at her then. She was right, and he knew it. How could he hope to argue with her when she was repeating his own words.
"Alright." He said, then handed the boy over to her, and motioned for her to lie back down as she was before.
When she was settled, Law shuffled down next to her, resting his head on her shoulder, and wrapping an arm around both Nami and Law Jr.
"I love you." Nami said, then kissed them both on the top of their head.
It didn't matter how many times Law used his eyes or his ability to examine their son, Law knew he would constantly worry that somewhere along the line those painful white blemishes would appear on his skin. Law knew he'd always fear for his family, in one way or another. He'd already had one family, and the person he cherished most, ripped from his world. He couldn't endure that again, he wouldn't. He'd make sure of it.
Law knew her captain would want his navigator back someday, but he wished they could remain forever on his submarine. Safe, beneath the waves.
24th Nov 2014