Disclaimer: One Piece doesn't belong to me, nor does the dialogue here for the most part. All rights to Eiichiro Oda.
Notes: Dialogue if familiar is from Anime/Manga otherwise its paraphrased or purely made up. See "Gnat" for notes on Law's characterization.
Rated for the language, they are pirates and the manga and anime itself is full of it. Un-cut version on AO3 because I am paranoid—and even if I have read language worse than the uncut version on FFnet I don't want to get banned for such a silly reason.
A note: So sorry. I had a busy last however many months and finally got around to watching the Marineford bits/aftermath that applied to this. I think everything is right now. Enjoy.
-Also I will eventually get around to edit/tweeking the other parts of AOI/Gnat to match what is changing in canon…
SPOILERS: Marineford and beyond (YES EVEN THE NEWEST STUFF)—you were warned.
Inside the darkened control room it was silent but the movement of his crew navigating the sub through the debris riddled water. Occasionally an echoing thunk or wailing scrape resonated throughout the hull when the submarine hit something. The sounds were familiar, yet in this place at this time, it put everyone on edge. They had to be careful with how much ice was clogging the ocean, but it was a familiar hazard as nearly the whole crew had been born and raised in the North Blue where ice was a fact of life. However, this situation could prove to be far more dangerous than any they had found themselves in before.
Law pulled Kikoku from its sheath until he could see a sliver of the blade; it was unnaturally bright in the dim lighting. The act wasn't exactly a nervous tick, but something he found himself doing almost as a ritual when he knew he was walking into an uneven fight that was not in his favor. The almost instinctual desire to check his claws before he fought. The cursed blade hummed in agreement, or perhaps approval of the action.
"Sencho, we have found a place that isn't frozen over. We should be able to go up." Jean Bart rumbled, eyes flicking over to the softly trilling screen to his side.
Snapping the blade back into its sheath, he looked at his newest crewman. The ex-captain, ex-slave, had integrated himself seamlessly into the Heart Pirates. He had lent his hand to the steering of the submarine leaving more familiar hands free to work the more complex portions of the machinery. Not that he wasn't learning those also, but it would take time to become competent much less working the entire bridge on his own.
As distasteful as it was, going to the auction house had ultimately been a good decision, even with the complications that had arisen during and after.
"Surface." He ordered shortly before bracing himself for the transition from the relative calm to the chaos above.
Law surveyed the destruction that was once Marineford with an outwardly calm eye that only just hid the inner turmoil he was feeling. He held his nodachi in hand as he strode to the front of the deck so he could see the battlefield better. If he had to sum it up in one word he would pick from the many things this was, he would pick pandemonium. Chaos alone was too trite a word and failed to convey the sure hellish quality that the battlefield displayed. Ice and the broken bits of ships and buildings filled the water while fire and lava spotted the land intermingled with the bodies of the fallen. Smoke filled the air in a stifling miasma that smelled strongly of blood and death. Marineford was a pile of ruins of both flesh and stone.
Glorious. Law thought his teeth flashing in a lightning fast half-smile that disappeared into a grimace. Horrifically beautiful in the same way that a half rotted corpse is that instant it is first blown apart with explosives.
Looking upward, Law caught sight of the one he was here to retrieve, the man that he was risking prematurely running into Joker for. Because, this hellhole was exactly the sort of place Joker would make sure he was on hand, Shichibukai or not. This was the kind of thing Joker found the most pleasure in, a place he could play with anyone and there were a lot of interesting characters running around for him to manipulate with none the wiser of his games. A puppet master who held all the strings figuratively and literally, thanks to his devil fruit.
Memories of Sabaody came to the front of his thoughts in flickers, the highlights, things that had broken through the haze of apathy that defined most of his daily existence.
…laughing eyes becoming something Other. Something primal that caught the attention of the frustrated beast, made it stop in its agitated pacing, and Look. To Look and see something that was Kin.
…A rubber fist smashing into a Tenryuubito's fish-bowl helmet and through to the smirking face and sending the petulant man-child through the human auction house seating forming an impressive crater in the wake of his passing.
…"What's with the bear?" Asked so innocently, yet with genuine curiosity, not a hint of judgment or malice, no fear, one could almost believe that those same guileless eyes had only moments before been those of a monster.
…A boy with a smile that marked him as the letter at the center of his name, he was a D. And D's were were important.
...To the now tiny captain that had just used a giant's fist against their common enemy. "What's with that look? You're awfully small Straw Hat-ya?"
…An open smile that spread across a youthful face one that was true and honest, while he boasted to that annoyance Kidd.
…"I'm gonna be the one to find One Piece!"
…Looking at his newest crewmember over his shoulder, "half your thanks belong to Straw Hat-ya."
Law blinked his thoughts returning to the present. He wouldn't be here if he hadn't appropriated that den den mushi from the marines and heard about the break in at Impel Down. Even so, they had arrived toward the end of the battle, missing out on everything that had lead up to this. Portgas D. Ace and Whitebeard were both dead on the battlefield, Blackbeard had apparently gone rouge after stealing Whitebeard's devil fruit power giving him two, and Luffy was close to death's door himself from the look of it.
It would be a shame for the kid to die. He's got something…interesting. There is something more to him…that smile of his. Law's own smile dropped for a rare moment his teeth grinding together as he tore his thoughts away from the unwelcome recollection, he couldn't afford to loose any fraction of control at this time. He's a much more interesting rival for the final prize than that red haired magnetic-psychotic bastard. Not to mention those other of our so-called Supernova's.
Law yelled out to what appeared to be half a floating clown holding two very bloody pirates. He was almost insulted when the blue-haired half-of-a-man had the nerve to question him and call him a brat to his face—a very unwelcome reminder of Vergo's preferred address for him back in the "good old" days. He found his anger spiking when the fool hesitated on getting Straw Hat and the ex-Shichibukai on board his submarine, especially as the marine's took notice to their arrival. And of course, being the marines, they started taking pot shots at Law's submarine and the floating clown. Thankfully, their aim sucked.
Curse them and you, you stupid clown. Every second counts when a patient is in as serious condition as Straw Hat-ya. Also, if Joker notices us on top of the marines…That thought was more terrifying then the thought of the Admirals deciding he was a threat. Well if he notices then we wont be worrying about the marines for too much longer…or anything else ever again.
The arguing was getting annoying and was wasting too much of their precious time. The marines were closing in and the longer his crew sat here the more chance there was of getting noticed by the more dangerous enemies in the area.
A wave of enormous concussive force rippled over him and Law found himself drenched in seawater, as a cannon shot got far too close for comfort. The aim of the marine's usually sucked, that didn't mean one of the incompetent fools wouldn't get lucky with the sure amount of cannon fire they were letting off. His crew was in a state of near panic but loyally staying on deck awaiting Law's orders, even if they were running around like headless chickens. They were his idiots come better or worse and he was getting irritated at getting attacked from all sides.
They are getting to close with their shots. Soon we will be in accurate range of their guns. Frost take it! Drop them down already you fool clown! His left hand tightened on his sword. Crap! They have us nearly surrounded, damn good thing we can go down otherwise we would be utterly fucked right now.
There was no warning before the world shattered around them. It was like everything was screaming and trembling, the air, the ocean, and the ground of Marineford shuddered and quaked. Law's submarine pitched and the howls of cannonballs could be vaguely heard under the sound of the protesting world. None of the artillery hit the submarine, as the marine's own ships were also being bucked about violently messing up their trajectory.
Whitebeard? No, it cannot be him…he's dead according to the Marine den den mushi we have…so how? Law's free hand was white-knuckled as he held onto the safety rail, if he fell into the water now he was a dead man regardless of his weakness to the water. None of his crew would be able to not only dive into the churning water and pull him back on board before they were overtaken or he sunk beyond reach. Over the pitching world he could just barely make out other ships as they succumbed to the tremor, sinking to the depths.
That shock wave is going to continue outwards and affect every island and ship it reaches. It will create tsunamis and drown any in its path…is this why then they considered Whitebeard the strongest? The ability to destroy islands and then have that destruction ripple outward to all that surround it? Perhaps even all the way across a sea? Will the whole Grand Line feel this tremor and suffer its aftereffects?
Law resettled his footing while grinding his teeth watching as the ocean shattered. Water was wrenched in all directions, as the seafloor was rent by the giant shockwave. His crew screamed as they scrambled to gain purchase and not fall overboard into the churning waves. Even as the tremor passed Law felt no comfort.
No. No. No.
Kizaru showing up and taking a shot at the floating man was both a blessing and a curse. It was a very good motivator, however it was also one of the things Law had feared occurring. Because now, the admiral was now paying far too much attention to Law and his crew.
Crap! Fighting an admiral was not on my list of things to do today! Drop them you fool! He felt himself snarl out to the clown, watching the unfolding events tensely.
In answer to his pleas, the blue-haired pirate dropped Luffy and Jinbei in favor of avoiding a direct hit from Kizaru. Law's attention was soon divided between the falling pirates and the admiral. At his back he could hear Bepo call on his newest and tallest crewman to catch them. The clown apparently thought the admiral more a threat than Law.
As it was in a number of ways very much true, Law found he couldn't take offense in that regard. Besides, there were other things to worry about at the moment than his wounded pride.
"Dive!" Law ordered knowing that they were cutting it very close.
He began to follow his crew below deck but turned at Kizaru's voice and swore seeing the flash of light gathering in a blinding starburst at the tip of the man's finger.
Oh. His eyes widened seeing the gathering attack. Screw me.
Law hissed a oath through his teeth knowing that there was no way in hell he could live through the laser's impact if he didn't manage to dodge. And even if he did dodge his submarine would likely be unable to submerge effectively after taking the brunt of the blow, stranding the entirety of the Heart Pirates here to their deaths.
"THAT'S ENOUUUUUGH!"
Law felt the air in his lungs still for a moment and the beam of light faded as Kizaru turned his attention to the battlefield. It wasn't Haki, but the yell had still managed to freeze every single person on the battlefield, forcing them all to an unnatural silence. There was such emotion behind it that it had brought them to pause. Eyes flicking to the side and tracking the sound to its source Law could barely make out the man, boy, behind the cry.
There was a young pink-haired marine standing before Akainu in all his molten rocky glory. They were distant, but he could just make them out standing on the ice, and as most of the battlefields attention was on them it wasn't hard to locate them in the distance. The kids words echoed across the battlefield, quiet but the words were still clear.
That kid has balls of steel…and is also a complete moron. Law thought listening to the kid actually yell at the admiral about the waste of lives in the face of the marine victory, it was astounding that somehow the acoustics of the battle field made it possible to hear the boy speak. Does he think that that crazy asshole of an admiral will leave him alive after blatant insubordination?
Akainu's glowing fist was drawn back in a molten mass of death ready to reduce the young marine to charred hamburger before a flash of red and steel stopped it in its tracks.
Holy crap! That is one of the Yonko. Red-haired Shanks. Law's lips drew back into a grimace. One arm and incredibly tacky pants or not that man is not one to underestimate. After all, not a single person here noticed his arrival just now. He has their complete and undivided attention now…and with that…
"Get them inside! Hurry!" Law snarled taking advantage of the distraction and running for below deck himself.
Law paused at the door as his crew rushed down into the belly of the sub, though he wanted to go tend to his patients there was a distinct part of him that was unwilling to leave at this moment. He saw that Ben Beckman was holding Kizaru at gunpoint and the Red Force was docking at the ice shore, making Shank's intentions very clear. He found himself unable to follow his crew below deck even as his submarine drew away from the battlefield.
This is history in the making, two Yonko have come to the Marine's seat of power. One has fallen, the other…what is that? His eyes narrowed as he looked back at the sky. The half-a-clown again…what the?
His fantastic eye hand coordination honed from years of surgery and swordsmanship combined with his sharp reflexes allowed him to catch the object that streaked in his direction.
Monkey D. Luffy's hat?
The straw was rough under his fingers; small burns dotted the brim and a set of three gashes neatly sewn together on the top. It would be so easy for him to crush the hat in his hand it was terribly delicate physically. His hands were made to bring creation and destruction in equal parts. It would be easy.
But it means so much as a symbol for all of its fragility. An entire crew follows this hat and the boy…young man that wears it.
He looked up to see a wall of ice approaching with intent behind it meaning that Aokiji had not forgotten them. Law felt his eye twitch in irritation.
Dratted admirals and their overpowered Logia abilities.
He ducked inside at Bepo's request, slamming the door closed just as the submarine sunk below the surface of the ocean. They could outrun the ice. The majority of the crew grew up in the frozen North Blue. They knew ice. They could escape.
Probably.
Why be a pirate if there is no risk? He thought picking up speed. It is risk that makes life so…interesting.
Straw hat cradled in his hand, he sprinted down the hallway, descending deeper into his submarines belly to the operating room. Straw Hat was not in good condition from what he had seen and Bepo had thought he might already be dead according to his chatter on their way down. That was not a good sign especially considering Bepo, for all he seemed like a timid and weak individual, was very perceptive and had a number of instincts and senses that Law didn't have. A keen sense of smell for example.
Joker. He thought with deep anger as he recalled of the old but still festering wound he had begun to treat but was nowhere near healed yet. You will get what is coming to you. I will be seeing to it personally, it's what he wanted also. Making it a two for one deal.
The bright light of the operating theater was perfect to see exactly what he was doing and everything was arranged to facilitate his abilities. Both the mundane that were honed by practice and those brought to him by his devil fruit.
The operation would be one of the most complex he had ever been involved in. The sure amount of damage the younger captain had accumulated and fought through was impressive and somewhat alarming.
He is definitely worth keeping alive, if for nothing else he has a remarkable amount of durability. Shame I likely won't have long to study it extensively. Well, if he does die it will make for an enlightening autopsy at least—maybe even a few usable organs. He thought pulling on gloves.
A deeper part of him, whispered at the fact that that entire thought was a fallacy and the initial in the rival captains name was far more important than any scientific study he conduct. He ignored it in favor of listing of Jinbei's injuries in a somewhat dismissive tone to the men who would be prepping him before moving all his attention back to Straw Hat.
Won't know for sure until we get inside, as that is where the most life-threatening damage is. Anesthesia would just make things worse aside from being a waste they are so out of it right now, might even kill them. No, they can't feel anything this close to death.
He dove into the surgery, leaving the Fishman to his crew to get prepped and stable for later. He was the primary surgeon on board but every crewmember got at least basic triage training and those with any sort of skill got additional instruction.
One such crewman was currently running blood and other tests while he had his hands buried up this his wrists in organs. As they concluded the crewman would yell out the results for Law to mentally catalogue and help him figure out what to do to keep his patient alive.
To list a few of his injuries: multiple contusions, cuts, extensive bruising, broken bones, internal ruptures, evidence of poisoning, oddly elevated hormone levels, and not to mention the burns. Oh hell the burns, burns were annoying. The only upside to those was he would get to break out the maggots and freak out Penguin who was an absolute girl about wiggling things—partly due to the advent head-hazing.
The most amazing thing however was that Luffy was still, impossibly, alive.
Not well mind.
No, not well at all.
Shachi noted that the boy's pulse was stabilizing just as the entire submarine trembled.
Truly astounding…what the hell…oh yes, the ice must have finally gotten close. Well, crap.
Law frowned at the shaking and tilted his head to better hear the Jean Bart over the speaking tubes. Law hissed a reply to Bepo's panicking, doubly distracted at not only keeping his balance but also not causing more damage to the younger pirate. Vaguely Law could hear a voice growl something about descending and locked his legs just as the submarine plummeted downward. The shaking stopped for but an instant before it began again at a different tempo.
Ah hell, what now?
He pulled himself away long enough to order they dive at full speed and snap at the others to get him another bag of F-type blood, before a oozing artery grabbed his attention again.
Of course he has the rarest blood type around. Damn good thing we have some in cold storage.
"Sencho! Shichibukai Jenbei also has F-type blood!"
Law's eyes widened before his face collapsed into a scowl.
Gods curse it! Both of them! What are the odds? I am going to have to restock on my supplies after this. He thought annoyed before narrowing his focus back on the mess of tissue before him.
Straw Hat Monkey D. Luffy was alive but he was not in good shape. As far as Law could tell, the boy could still very well die even if he was for all intents and purposes stable. Of course his body may not have been the largest issue.
He drew back pulling off his gloves tossing them in the biohazard box and getting on a new pair. Even if the Fishman and Straw Hat shared a blood type, mixing their fluids was not a good idea. He could do nothing else for his rival at this point other than have him hooked up to oxygen and I.V.'s. He told his men to move him to one of the recovery wards while he attended his second patient.
Jinbei was an easier treatment and less fun, the damage to his stomach was trivial compared to the string of injuries that Straw Hat had, though the fact he was a Fishman made for a more interesting experience than it would have been if the Shichibukai were human. But after the rubber-man with the wounds that were fatal three times over the Fishman was a bit of an anticlimax. He set some of his crew to the task of wrapping the large shark-man up once he had finished with the meticulous stitching and liberal application of burn ointment. Especially around the stomach wound and on the Fishman's hands. If the tissue continued to die they would have to bring out the maggots.
He must have attempted to block Akainu with his bare hands; the fact that he still has hands indicates just how strong he is. No devil fruit but he took on a Logia and is still in, mostly, one piece.
A sharp whistle cut through the air in a series of three crisp trills.
So they were ascending then.
Law knew there was nothing else to be done for his "guests" so he decided to see where they had managed to escape. He carefully pealed off one glove so it was inside out and used it to remove his second so he mineralized the amount of blood and fluids he got on his skin and disposed of them as he had the first set. He scrubbed his hands under near-scalding water then snagged a clean, though somewhat stained towel, to dry his hands with. Chlorine bleach was banned from general usage after a mishap with Penguin and a bottle of ammonia. Why he had the two at the same time and got in his head to mix them together was anyone's guess, but the result had been some rather toxic fumes. Towels and other whites were cleaned with a safer disinfectant derived from a Grand Line recipe that did nothing to take out colored stains but was wonders for killing bacteria—leading Law to question why it was still called "bleach" at all. Law locked the chemical bleach away for use for emergencies and made sure he was the only one who knew the combination, he still wasn't entirely sure Penguin hadn't been attempting to make a bomb after all. As an upside the treatment for the chlorine gas had made for an interesting afternoon and some new notes for his personal records.
As he walked up the stairs to the deck, he felt his lips draw down into a slight frown seeing Bepo doubled over in a familiar slump with a cloud of depression over his head. His eyes flicked over to the invader of his ship his irritation carefully hidden behind apathy.
Shichibukai Boa Hancock. He identified the tall woman easily.
He wasn't all that impressed by the woman leader of the Kuja. Though she showed absolutely no harm from the battle, her beauty was not impressive without the use of her devil fruit to bolster it. Law internally snorted not in the least affected by her synthetic allure. The woman relied so much on her fruit it was a bit of an insult to other users, she was a lot like the majority of the other Supernova in the respect.
Law had eaten a fruit himself, but he didn't count on it as his only weapon, far from it in fact. If anything, Law considered his mind his most useful weapon followed by his hands. His ability to casually slice people and things apart and jumble them together was more of a bonus on top of his more natural gifts.
She nearly overcompensates with her beauty as if she had her self worth smashed at some point. A bit like those hussies that Joker likes to keep around and likes to call his "sisters" or something equally mocking. Law internally cringed; he had been a little brother at one point, along with everything that entailed. Hell knows everyone under that mans command have some sort of psychological issue associated with his care.
Attention returned to the Shichibukai he calmly he informed her and the gathered audience of Straw Hat Luffy's condition.
He was interrupted by what appeared to be a large man dressed as a cheep dockside prostitute. A second look while his crew was busy freaking out changed his opinion as he recalled the individual being present in the battle. Present in the battle and attacking Aokiji, fairly successfully too if the marine broadcast had been accurate.
An Okama. Law was beyond being surprised at the odd people showing up to invade his space today, Straw Hat sure knew how to attract a diverse crowd and strange allies. Well, as long as Okama-ya dosen't start singing show-tunes I suppose…
Regardless. He thought half listening as the largest Okama spoke of Straw Hat. I will need something akin to brain bleach to erase this entire meeting from my memory. I think that one noisy Okama is dressed as a deer, for reasons I sincerely do not want to know or dwell upon.
"…a friend of Straw Hat-boys, sweetie?" The Okama's lilting voice cut through his thoughts.
Law frowned. That sort of question was nearly as unwelcome as the singing would have been. It was also rather presumptuous as far as he was concerned.
"No." He replied shortly leaving little to no room for misunderstanding.
They were not friends. He had known Straw Hat for all of a brief fight at the Auction House and the hours of time with Law's hands buried in the younger pirates insides and covered with his blood. Not really much of a basis for a friendship.
Which begged the question as to why he had bothered to save Straw Hat in the first place, especially at the risk of running into the man Law hated more than anyone else on the planet. Not to mention the majority of the marines including all of their highest ranked members.
"I am not. Nor do I have a debt or obligation to him. Would you prefer I made up a reason for you?" Law quipped with an empty smile, as was custom.
The Okama waved him off commenting about instinct still smiling widely. His smile had a certain falseness about it Law recognized, but it looked to be more from habit than to hide interior motives. Likely the man's personality was one to indulge in excessive smiles and laughter and that his body forgot that there were other emotions to be made. That, or he was using medical means to improve his looks and they were paralyzing his features slowly into a parody of rigor mortis.
Instinct? I suppose it could be called that, if it is the instinct a wolf feels for a dog that is clever enough to protect sheep from the wolf's fangs. In other, less poetic terms, a worthy adversary. Law thought. And of course there is that feral darkness I saw in his eyes…I want to see it again.
He looked over his shoulder, as his crew grew distressed at the approach of a new arrival, though they were less afraid then alarmed. Law could tell they were heavily injured and heavy footed at the sound. Plus they were coming from the belly of Law's own ship.
Looking over his shoulder he saw the large Fishman he had finished treating. Law felt a small thrill that his fame had spread so far that the ex-Shichibukai recognized him on sight. His fame was getting around, and noticed.
"Go back to sleep. You will die otherwise." He commented offhandedly.
Though, I will gladly take another look at your fascinating anatomy if you manage to hurt yourself again. Since I was hardly in the mood to do exploring earlier. He thought giving the large man a quick once over visually. Fishmen are pseudo-mammals, share the same blood as humans, can interbreed with them…and yet so different.
Jinbei thanked him before spouting off some philosophical crap about his heart being unsettled and Law resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
Even with a past as weighed as mine I have never been such a fool as to risk my life for such a thing as an "unsettled heart". Law internally sneered but forced himself to relax as he recalled just who this man was.
Jinbei was an ex-Shichibukai and captain of a renowned pirate crew that had been respected by Whitebeard. Unlike Boa Hancock, he was someone of worth and worthy of respect. Jinbei had also taken on Marine admirals and the combined might of the military after being in Impel Down for who knew how long. After all, not all the damage to the man was from the fight at Marineford and yet he still had gone to battle and been a force to be reckoned with. He was not a man to take lightly, no matter his foolish philosophical musings.
Even if they were really annoying.
"I fear for Luffy-kun upon his awakening." The large man rumbled his blue forehead deeply furrowed in concern and tears shimmering at the corners of his eyes.
The name of the younger pirate captain brought Law out of his own musings—he was drifting a lot today, that was not a safe occupation for him. He was glad he did as Boa Hancock ordered Bepo to get her a den den mushi all in the same breath of offering her own kingdom as a place to dock and recover. Safety for Straw Hat anyhow, though by extension as his current caretaker Law and his crew.
Jinbei-ya does pose a point. Fixing Straw Hat-ya's body is something I am more than capable of. But his mind and soul…no, that would not be something I am even remotely able to accomplish. After what has transpired, Jinbei-ya is right to worry for his ally's state of mind. Law thought knowing exactly how dangerous mental imbalance could be first and second hand.
Law was happy to see the Okama leave when Hancocks own ship arrived, even if they were rather noisy about it. He counted his blessings they hadn't decided to put on a full musical or something else equally ridiculous.
He was less joyful at their welcome at Amazon Lily. Though the arrow aimed for his head had missed the less than warm greeting did not amuse him. Law had also been annoyed by his crew's infatuation with the islands inhabitants.
How in the hell did I manage to hire this many hormonal idiots? And then end up in an island full of women? I need a better recruitment policy.
The old hag had been somewhat of a final straw. He played off the dismissal of his abilities apathetically, but his pride had been a bit bruised by the insinuation that the island had more capable doctors, much less better equipment than he had. Straw Hat was his patient and if the boy died not only was he loosing his one half-worthy rival, not to mention very interesting subject, but that would also make him look incompetent. Which was just unacceptable. As for his equipment, he had the best that could be stolen, bought, or bartered for.
Thankfully, he was more than capable to using Hancock's ridiculous infatuation to manipulate her and the pure truth to bow the hag. Jinbei's intervention into the conversation had merely put the final nail in the preverbal coffin.
They were allowed to dock at the islands lone bay, which was a rock-walled beach with very little to its name other than the promised safety from the Sea Kings. There, they were banned from leaving a designated area on top of the cliff that was barely large enough for one man to stretch his legs much less the entirety of Laws crew. They were even screened in so no one could look out onto the island, or for that matter anyone could look at them.
Paranoid bunch of women aren't they? Law thought eyeing the screens emblazed with the Kuja's spiral snake-skull symbol that had greeted his entrance into the outside world for the past fourteen day's. That fear of men is going to bite them in the ass someday. You don't ignore the focus of your fear, you plan and then when the moment is right you strike that fear down.
Law would have liked the chance to look around the island where males were, with one glaring exception, banned from setting foot on. He could only imagine the sort of plants that may be around that could be useful medically. He would have to bespeak some extra on the pretense of treating Straw Hat, so to study at least a few. If he was lucky, something would be in seed form and he could attempt to grow them later in his hydroponics lab. He had to content himself with looking around the sparsely grassed dirt as well as what little he could see over the barriers.
A tingling—an almost electric feeling that was distinctly different than the current to his devil fruit—in his blood made him turn toward his ship with narrowed eyes. A muffled scream the set his teeth on edge was the only warning he got before a sizable portion of his deck exploded in a spray of metal and wood. He twisted out of the way of several bits of shrapnel and narrowly missed getting smashed into by one of his flying crewmembers and then Straw Hat himself as the young pirate captain fell to his knees. The younger captain back arced his back head held at a painful angle and screamed for his brother. Then with inhuman strength and fury barreled his way past and through Law's crew and broke the barriers in a shower of splinters.
Well, fixing that will keep the boy's attention on task and off females I suppose. He eyed the hole in his sub speculatively before turning his gaze to Straw Hat's path of destruction through the wall and out into the forests of the island. Hm, he might kill himself but he did give me a rather nice view to enjoy instead of bare rock and ocean at least.
The boy's screams for Fire Fist Ace were loud and nearly feral in the air. The members of his crew that had been knocked aside and otherwise inadvertent targets of his wayward patient's wrath were pulling themselves off the ground complaining about Straw Hat's uncontrollability. Attempting to restrain the injured teen had not been one of their better ideas.
Jinbei, who had insisted on coming ashore despite his still near critical wounds, turned to Law.
"Should Luffy-kun be allowed to go off like that?" The man asked worriedly looking out into the islands interior.
Eyes flicking to the Fishman, Law huffed before he answered.
"No. As I said before, his wounds will open again given enough stress and he might very well die this time." Law replied bluntly and without inflection.
"Then…" The shark-man rose with a smoothness that was somewhat admirable since he was still heavily injured, "I will have to see what can be done."
Law snorted but didn't comment as Jinbei followed Luffy's screams and the exploding trees. Looking down in his hands Law once again observed the infamous straw hat, tuning out the familiar querulous voices of his crew as they told Bepo off about there being only human females on the island. He flipped it over looking at its underside noting the evidence of many battles and varied repairs. It was rather amazing such a delicate hat had survived alongside its owner for so long. Especially considering the evidence of past injury the boy had to go along with his very colorful reputation.
It would seem that Straw Hat-ya and you hat, hide a number of surprises, durability and resistance to great harm regardless of fragile appearance chief among them.
Several loud crashes and screams echoed over the area. For a moment it quieted down until a shattering wail filled the air. Law forced his jaw to unclench, feeling it crack and pop from the strain. Despite himself, he felt a distinct tinge of emotion that he eventually identified as sympathy for the boy. It was startling enough that his grip on the hat tightened and he was forced to set it on his lap or else risk crushing it in his fingers.
Looking out into the forest where the birds were still fleeing from the disturbance. Eyes narrowing he stared blankly out into the foliage.
So ends an era and begins another anew. He thought his lips drawing back into a half-grimace. Not with the death of a king and mocking laugh of a traitor, but the sacrifice of a brother and the hollow howl of a rising star.
Law stood catching the hat before it fell, startling his crew with his sudden movement. He strode over to the edge of the cliff and sat down again, elbows resting on his splayed knees the had dangling form his fingers. He was joined by a number of his crew and Shachi deciding to try and see what could be caught on a fishing line. The screams suddenly tapered off leaving them in a terrible sort of silence that was almost worse than the cries.
Jinbe must have finally gotten through to him…if Straw Hat-ya were bleeding out I would have heard from the Fishman by now. Law thought only half listening to Shachi and Penguin talk.
Penguin suddenly jerked and raised his binoculars to the horizon.
"Sea King!" He exclaimed.
The aforementioned animal suddenly changed direction and started toward the bay. It was thrashing in the water erratically before it stilled.
"What is it fighting?" Shachi yelped.
"I think its dead." Penguin replied with a shiver, "But I can't see what did it."
"Damn this place." One of the other crewmen hissed.
"Scary as hell." Shachi agreed.
Law's attention was on directly below. With a small splash a man rose from the water.
Silvers Rayleigh? What in the ever-loving hell is he doing here? Law thought watching as the first mate of the Pirate King began his ascent up the shear cliff face.
One he got to the top the entire crew of the Heart Pirates was treated to the view of a half clothed, completely wet, somewhat elderly man who could likely break all of them in half with his pinky. It was mentally scaring, but if it was the dripping skin or the man's strength that was worse was as toss up.
"Dark King Rayleigh!" Bepo shrieked.
"Oh shit!"
"AHAHHAHAHHhh!
Law's eyes narrowed, but he did not stand or react visibly to the man in front of him, even if his heart rate skyrocketed.
"Oh, you all were at Sabaody." He commented looking them over and then almost as a non-sequiter added, "Well anyhow, my ship sank in a storm, so I had to swim here."
"Storm? There are no storms in the Calm Belt." Penguin exclaimed.
"That means his ship went down where there are storms...and then swam all the way here…through the Calm Belt…" Shachi continued the thought.
Which is full of Sea Kings. Though judging by that one there...I imagine that Rayleigh just treated them as additions to the workout rather than anything actually threatening. Law thought eyes flicking to the dead fish and back to Rayleigh.
"My breaststroke is pretty good." The Dark King replied wringing out his shirt.
And you apparently like showing off your chest.
"Y-you, you were the one fighting with the Sea King?"
Gods, I don't know why he is here…but if he is here to take us out we are screwed. The submarine is almost fixed but needs a last check and I doubt we could outrun him. And fighting is out of the question. Law thought feeling sweat bead at his temples.
When Rayleigh addressed Law directly he almost jerked his whole body to attention.
"Luffy-kun is here I assume?"
How in the hell did he know that? Law's eyes widened and his fingers tightened on woven straw reminding him of the hat in his hand. Right, very iconic straw hat…but there is still the question of what lead him here in the first place.
"Yes." Law replied dryly. "He woke and decided to get some exercise in the forest."
Rayleigh smiled over his shoulder but the solemn look in his eyes told Law that the Dark King saw right by his sarcasm to the unsaid words.
"I see. Well, I will wait for him here then."
Law nodded vaguely.
We are no longer needed. Straw Hat-ya just needs bed rest at this point…and protection, something that I have a feeling that the Dark King will have no issue providing for some reason.
Turning his attention to his crew Law spoke.
"We are leaving. Get the last check over of the breach done so we can submerge and get on with our lives." He ordered.
"Aye sencho!" They replied scrambling to obey.
Rayleigh chuckled.
"You are well respected. That's good, fear is a horrible motivator for a crew." There was a strange approving light in the man's eyes.
Law didn't comment.
"Straw Hat-ya is out of immediate danger as long as he doesn't rip out his stitches. He needs bed rest for an additional two weeks before he is ready for anything strenuous." Law coolly spoke standing at last he was about to turn to follow his crew to the submarine but remembered the hat. "Here."
He casually tossed it over to the older man who caught it easily.
The Dark King just smiled a strange knowing smile and nodded at Law as he turned and left.
Later he lounged in the bowls of his submarine with his feet crossed at the ankle half-listening to Shachi and Penguin bicker with each other and Bepo. The daily ongoing entertainment that he was pretty much guaranteed.
I wonder what the hell the Dark King is planning. He thought. Whatever it is, it involves a D…I'm sure it will cause quite a storm.
He closed his eyes as a short laugh escaped. He leaned further back into the sofa his fingers dancing idly on Kikoku's sheath. The first thing he had done was retrieving it from Straw Hat's half destroyed room where it had been left to anchor a portion of Law's power.
I have a feeling we will meet again…and I can't wait that moment. It promises to be…splendid.
Notes: There are SPOILERS in this if you are not up to date on the manga. You were warned.
First of all: I had to make some assumptions in this chapters (part of the reason it took so long to write was I had to make sure of what I was adding and if it made sense.) There is a number of these and I won't go into them but the biggest was how Law got to Marineford and knew what the hell was happening…because obviously he had no way of knowing what Ace meant to Luffy and thus had no reason to suspect Luffy to be at the battle. There are only two ways I have thought of that that would be possible (I am sure there is others but I had to choose).
A: Law stole a den den mushi from the marines at some point. Concidering he shambled the crap out of a number of them at Sabaody I went with this one.
Option B gets into a little bug of a theory that I have been thinking of since the newest chapter came out…namely that Law is connected with the Revolutionaries and he got told some choice info or was asked to help. Why do I think this? One: Law seems to be a hell of a lot more noble then even I have been portraying him…he doesn't seem to be after revenge but living up to a man who has been fighting his whole life against Donflomingo…holy crap that shocked the hell out of me when that bomb was dropped. Secondly…Law seems to have left Donflamigno's grasp a decade before present…with an incident a year before that being the reason he left. Law is a ROOKIE hence why he is one of the 11 Supernova…that means that his crew is NEW to the world scene. So riddle me this…what the hell was Law DOING during those 8 unaccounted years? Obviously it somehow involved a D considering Law's fascination/trust with/in Luffy is in part due to that letter. And unless there is a new D we are getting introduced to, it is likely one we have already seen. And Dragon is not a bad bet considering...other recent unexpected developments and the recent involvement of revolutionaries in the last couple arcs.
ANESTHESIA
In other news, if Law is not a cruel bastard why the hell did he withhold meds from his patients? Actually that one I got an answer for. He is somewhat cruel but not unnecessarily cruel to potential allies…he is just a pragmatic bastard. Which is not a bad trait for a pirate captain much less one who is also the ship doctor. Medication can't be easy to get as a pirate, is expensive (there is a rather large black market for drugs and meds in the real world and not just for making recreational drugs either), and they are a finite resource that may be needed for his own crew. If his patients are so out of it that he doesn't need to waste a precious resource on them, he isn't going to.
HYDROPONICS
There is no support for this in magna or anime. This is me thinking about what I would do if I had a submarine full of people. Hydroponics, in short, are growing plants in a nutrient-rich water media under plant lights. This results in large crops of veggies and is relatively efficient under certain circumstances. You need a lot of carbon dioxide for it to work but it can be really worth it. I assume the submarine is running on some pretty serious power sources. I can see coal for heating but the power for the engines and lights is coming from something serious—like nuclear but I doubt OP world has gotten there, likely its something Vegapunk invented. Thus lights and air circulation no problem (CO2 courtesy of the pretty good sized crew Law has and the tight quarters of the submarine especially when submerged). This allows Law a way to grow a lot of food in the environment he has and cultivate possible plants for medicines. Also a source of fresh air for when they are underwater. Additionally, Law can further exploit the concept and expand upon it with his power. This will likely be a one shot later.
Oh yes…the comments about show tunes refer to Rocky Horror Picture show. Since Iva is speculated to be based after Frankenfurter.
UNSOLVED MYSTERY OF THE HOUR
Why did Law leave Kikoku, unsheathed, in Luffy's room? I have not the faintest clue.