The Dealers A Politician, Figures
"I know who we need" Zoro said from the couch.
Everyone turned to him, including Ben who posed the question; "Who?"
"Sanji, you ani't going to like this, but we need to get Nami. She has the best set of skills, and lays low enough not to trigger any alarms."
"As long as I don't have to speak to her" Sanji said
Shanks shook his head "Well you won't have too much. But Zoro, what if she fails, we can't just let her die, I can't go in there nor any of my crew, Luffy and Ace are dead, we can't blow there cover. That leaves you, alone. And there is no way you could take on both of them if things go south."
Zoro sighed back into the couch "I'm still willing to go, even without Nami-"
"We know Zoro, but it's not just about if things go south, what about if you do get them to let Franky and Robin go. What would happen then?" Ben took a puff of his smoke stick.
"Screw politics!" Luffy shouted "We need action, we can't dance around this, those are my friends lives that we are talking about! If Akainu wants a war I'll give him one!" Luffy stood and started to walk towards the door.
"Again Luffy, this isn't war" Shanks stood and grabbed Luffy's shoulder "You need a plan for this delicate situation, this could affect a lot more than just your friends."
"My friends are my only concern" Luffy shook Shanks' hand off of him and walked away, out of the house.
"That boy…" Shanks let the sentence die in his mouth as he sat back down a small smile falling into place.
"He sounds like Roger." Ben said taking another puff.
"So what's our plan now?" Shanks asked grabbing Ben's hand which hand been placed on his shoulder. Brushing it gently.
"Zoro, go get Nami and anybody else from the old crew that you can find, Ace, try and get Luffy to give us 24 hours, as for you two" Ben looked between Usopp and Sanji "You two will come with us and hide out with us. Regroup here as soon as you can."
"Got it" Ace said jogging out the door
"Sounds good to me." Zoro said standing up "Oi usopp you gonna be okay?" Zoro looked towards his silent sons who rose to his feet.
"U'uh yeah, I mean I should be, these people are trust worthy enough, I think, so yeah I'll be fine" Usopp sprayed out in a fear of words. Which made Zoro smile and pull him into a warm embrace, then Zoro let him go and turned to Sanji, who had glazed over eyes.
"Sanji, you okay?"
Sanji cracked a sick smile and didn't respond.
"We will give you two some space" Shanks said leading Usopp and Ben out of the house.
"Thanks" Zoro turned back to thank them, then dropped to one knee In front of Sanji and grabbed his hand. "What's wrong?"
Sanji took his hand away sharply and stood up, walking to the other side of the couch and lighting a cigarette. "I'm fine"
"No you're not" Zoro stated plainly as he stood up.
"Of course im not. But I'm fine" Sanji said out sarcasticly.
"Look, just go with Shanks, this will all turn out for the better, I promi-"
"STOP MAKING EMPTY PROMISES, stop lying, stop trying to hold all these things up Zoro! Be a realist for five seconds and look at everything!" Sanji burst out both his arms on the couch, gripping the leather hard. "Ace nearly died, Luffy is hell bent on saving his friends, which is suicidal, I'm going to get killed by Akainu's assassin's, and your leading the mother of my child into a death trap, so that what I have to live for can all die together, except!" He breathed hard and his tears started dripping down his face to the floor. "Except for my poor boy, who will be taken in by whatever the fuck a Yonko is, and grow up around crime, which will lead to his probably death by a murderer! So don't make one more fucking promise of normality. That's over!" Sanji closed his eyes in his rage "And another thing Y-" Sanji started, but Zoro quickly hopped the couch, grabbing Sanji's waist with one hand, and smashing their lips together startling Sanji.
As he opened his eyes, he just saw Zoro. They parted for breath and stared into each other's eyes. For a few seconds it was just that. Then Zoro spoke up, his warm breath hitting Sanji's chin. "I am not making empty promises. I am just telling you what I'm doing. And one of those things is not dying. Another is not letting anybody else die. Can you trust me?"
Sanji didn't speak. He just collapsed into Zoro, and nodded into the crook of his neck.
"Good. Now lets get to work."
…
~17 hours later~
"Oi, I know you're in there, come on out." Zoro banged on the door again. Finally hearing the stomping click distinctive to heels. The door opened and a very Pissed Nami stood over Zoro, steaming.
"Zoro" She said angry, then took a deep breath. "What are you doing here, I thought you weren't to contact me again, so that nobody could track us down and I don't know, maybe kill my kid!" she spat.
"Look." Zoro started weakly "the crew is the reason I am here. We need to go pick up your son from school early. Get you gear, brook and Vivi are waiting in the car for us.
Nami looked over to a black van in the middle of the street, in broad daylight, then back to Zoro. "Inconspicuous isn't in your vocabulary is it?" she said turning around and walking back into the house. "Give me a minute"
…
"Usopp?" a very confused Chopper said entering a hotel room full of strangers
"Hey!" the still slightly nervous Usopp said back "How is it going?"
Nami and zoro walked the rest of the way in, making room for Vivi, Brook, Jonny and Yosaku to also enter the room, and close the door behind themselves.
Zoro looked around the room, besides the six he brought and Usopp he only spotted Ben and "Hey Yasopp"
"Zoro" The man smiled back "Long time, Shanks and the others are in the next room over by the way" Yasopp finished pointing what would be right from outside the door.
"Thanks." Zoro said back, then gestured for his party to follow.
"Let's catch up, soon. I wanna talk"
"Yeah sure" Zoro left the room awkwardly and quickly.
"Okay Chopper, these are nice men, stay here and play with Usopp" Nami said then hugged him
"Okay" Chopper said still confused hugging back. With that Nami got up and followed the others to the next room.
…
Everybody sat around a central table, the bed that had previously been in the middle of the room and leaned up against the wall, occupying the room was Shanks, Ace, Luffy, Vivi, Brook, Sanji, Zoro, Johnny, and Yosaku.
"So, this everyone?" Shanks asked Zoro
"Ya."
"Okay, let's get started then. Down by the docks, as im sure you all know Robin and franky and their family are being held hostage by Trafalgar Law and Estuss Kid. Two newer but very deadly rookies. They have been hired by Akainu to kill them."
"Why don't they then?" Nami asked, concealing her emotions.
"They got word that Zoro might try to save them, so they are waiting to kill him too."
"These people aren't stupid" Brook off handily said "Wouldn't they be expecting Zoro to gather up the troops and attack?"
"Yes" Shanks said dully
"So we are walking straight into a trap?" Johnny asked worriedly
"That about sums it up" Nami said bitterly
A short silence fell onto the group. Only to be disturbed by Luffy
"its Robin and Franky. Anybody here mind dying trying to save them?" he asked quietly, and deadly serious
Another silence
"Then what are you all bitching about it being a trap." He asked out his eyes shaded.
"Oi Luffy, stop" Ace turned to his brother.
"Whats the plan?" Vivi asked trying to refocus the group.
Shanks looked around his eyes landing on Nami "These rookies just want chaos, they don't care who paid them to do what, and they have no alliances. We are hoping to convince them to let the family go, maybe even to cause a little chaos with Akainu."
"Well that's why Im here, why are the others here?" Nami said calmly
"Extraction" Zoro started "Ace, Luffy and Sanji won't be coming, but everyone else is there to help out in case they try to kill us. To get Robin and Franky and their family out of here." he turned to look at the rest of them "I'm not expecting you to give your lives or anything, if it comes to worst case, then I'll distract them long enough for all of you to escape."
"I'm coming" Luffy announced not looking at anyone.
"Luffy you ca-" Shanks started but was interrupted by Sanji
"I'm coming too"
"Look guy's" Shanks rubbed one of his tempal's
"I don't care who comes, but if I die, I want a guarantee that if I die, my Son will be taken under your wing, and put through a good college and live a normal life" Nami added into the conversation
"What if I live Nami, I can raise Chopper" Sanji barked to Nami
"I don't give a shit" Nami barked back
"Enough!" Shanks shouted "Look, Sanji, Luffy, I understand, but remember you two are still dead, that's the only advantage you guys have right now. Think of your son Sanji.
"Look, the way I see it, this is my fault, so im gonna go solve it"
"Bout time you own up to your actions" Nami scoffed.
"Sanji, Robin and Franky's situation wasn't caused by you" Zoro tried
The arguments started up again, Shanks opened his mouthed, but closed it when Luffy got up and walked through the arguments and opened the door.
He turned back to the room eyes still hidden. "Feel free to join me when you work out your Problems. Im gonna go save lives." Luffy walked out, slamming the door behind him causing silence to fall onto the room. Everybody was looking at the floor. Nami was the first to move.
"Remember our deal" She said to shanks, closing the door after her.
Soon after Brook and Vivi left followed by Zoro, then Sanji got up
"I don't really give a shit about advantages at this point" he said crushing a cigarette under his foot and leaving.
Johnny looked to Yosaku, who looked back and in unison they got up and said "might as well same kids when given the chance" they too left, leaving only Ace and Shanks in the room.
"My father never cared for politics either" Ace commented.
"Neither did Smoker" Shanks smiled
Ace too let a smile creep onto his face. "you know. I think your rubbing off on me."
"How so?"
"Well" Ace said "Before, I would have ran a mad dash and fought Akainu right now, and probably would have died"
"And now?" Shanks looked up
"And now, I think revenge isn't honor. Not when it ends up in a second death."
"Nope, im not rubbing off on you" Shanks said standing up
"Hows that?" Ace looked up at the tall figure
"Cause I'm still gonna go kick his ass, I'm just enjoying the between time" Shanks smiled "Want to come with?"
Ace rubbed his chin in thought. Perhaps he should.
…
Docks- sundown
Zoro looked over a few crates, easily spotting a ship with men moving around on it, but he could only see two men "That's them, let's go" he said back to the group.
…
"Oi, Law can we kill him?" Kidd asked holding a knife in his hand, and standing in front of Franky, who had his arms crossed and eyes trained on Kidd. He was bleeding from almost everywhere.
"No, not till we Kill Zoro"
"Tch" Kidd lunged and Franky cutting Franky's arm deeply, then backing up. Franky barely made a sound, and staggered onto one foot, then regained his footing, re training his eyes on Kidd. "Tough guy aren't you?" Kidd cackled.
"Please stop" Robin shouted holding all her kids to her, their faces looking away from their father.
"Sure, if we can start on your youngest" Kidd laughed staring at Robin, and licking his lips looking briefly at the littlest boy.
"Don't let your eyes wonder Fucker' Franky breathed out, stepping in front of Kidd's view spitting blood onto Kidd's coat.
"Cocky bastard" Kidd spun his knife around in his hand.
Law sat on top of a crate looking at the show and smiled. "You're not the brightest are you Cutty-ya"
Kidd raised his knife lining it up with Franky's jugular "They'll still try to save the kids and woman, it doesn't matter that much if we kill you." He bit out the words and then brought the knife closer inching it slowly.
"Oi, stop right there" Zoro hopped over the edge of the ship Behind Law. Kidd stopped and smiled into Franky's still stern face.
Law turned around, holding his sword casually "So the Calvary arrives. Poetic."
"Yohohohoho, Damn straight" Brook laughed out sword draw moving infront of franky, making Kidd back up a few feet.
"Two heroes come to die?" Law asked out laughing.
"A few more than that" Nami announced as her, Vivi, Johnny and Yosaku walked onto the ship and spread out sideways.
"Look at this Law, the whole gang come to avenge their fallen hero, and save their dying friends"
"Sorry to hear about Straw-hat" Law said sarcastically addressing them all
"We didn't come for a fight" Zoro said his bandanna already on. "Just for our friends"
"Well, we were waiting for one." Kidd said staring down Brook.
"yes you were." Nami said, drawing Kidd's attention "do you know what you were hired for?"
"Murder" Law and Kidd both said
Nami smiled "and what do you want to do?"
Kidd answered first "To kill people" he laughed out
"To tear down the Yonko, and that process starts here" Law brought up his blade a little ways. Causing Zoro to draw all three
"not just the Yonko, you want to rip apart this system and put up a new one." Nami continued, even as Kidd aimed a gun at her.
"Im getting tired of talk" Kidd said, blood hungry
"Why not start with the weakest link, Akainu"
Law scoffed "Nice try red, but if you look, you'll see that right now the weakest link is Shanks, all his protectorates are right here, well accept for the dead ones."
"That is true. But think about it. The Yonko are enemies, but if there is a threat that takes down one of them, I'm sure out of self preservation, they would work together to destroy said threat, that would be you"
Kidd cocked his gun "Law let's just kill them"
"You people don't even know what kind of shit storm your about to start" Nami flinched back a little.
"Please, we are looking forward to the storm, that's what we want" Kidd laughed back
"Everything" Nami said "Everything that you destabilize with our deaths, will come down, onto you!"
"With Luffy already killed by Mihawk, Shanks wont be looking to closely at us." Law smirked bringing his sword all the way up.
"See, we are smarter than you think bitch" Kidd said then pulled the trigger.
*Boom*
Everybody froze, looking at where the bullet had gone. They watched the blood drip, and the recipient of the bullet take a step back. Then look up "Don't you shoot a lady you bastard!" Sanji shouted holding his chest where the bullet had entered.
"Sanji!" Zoro ran across the boat only to be blocked by Law
"where are you going?" Law looked into his eyes
Sanji feel to his knees coughing
"God dammit Sanji" Nami knelled down to help.
"you are dead" Kidd laughed cocking his gun again "how are you still alive, Mihawk killed you." He said half confused half delighted.
"That's the thing about Chaos, you can't trust anything you hear" Luffy said walking onto the ship, hands in his pocket.
"Straw-hat-ya?" Law looked over, leaving enough opening for Zoro to run around him, which Zoro did, and he too knelt down by Sanji
"Oi stay with us."
"Brook, Vivi, get Robin and kids out of here. Johnny Yosaku, Nami, get Sanji and Franky back to Shanks."
Silently Luffy's orders were followed. Zoro stood and went to Luffy's Side, they stared down Law and Kidd.
"We cant let them leave you know" Kidd smiled
"Then stop us" Luffy dared
"You were dead though" Law chimed in
"I don't stay dead long" Luffy responded
"Lets kill them both" Kidd said
"which one do you want Luffy?" Zoro asked placing Wado in his mouth
Law drew up his blade once more, Kidd pulled his knife up and aimed his gun, and Zoro took his stance.
Then luffy Stepped forward, shocking all three, he walked into the middle of the three and spread his arms out looking up reveling his eyes "Your choice"
Kidd and Law looked at each other, then Kidd re aimed his gun at Luffy "Easy Choice" Just as Kidd pulled the trigger Law and Zoro sprung into action but just as Zoro was about to run past Luffy, right in the bright flash of the gun, Luffy stopped him. Zoro looked at Luffy confused then forward.
Law was Facing Kidd, his Sword having deflected the bullet. "Indeed, easy" Law said toward Kidd. "I will not kill myself. I just saved you Life Estuss- ya, don't waste it"
"Tch" Kidd looked at the three men staring him down, then gave in 'Fine, pussy out like a bicth, I'll kill you all later, aint worth my time right now" He walked past them and jumped over to a different ship, and left inside it's cabin.
With that Law turned around and started walking past the other two "You are a mystery Luffy." He said as he started to walk off the ship.
"I owe you one Law" Luffy said not turning back
"Dinner Straw hat, I have many question to ask voer Dinner, that's the payment" Law shouted as he left.
"What the hell just happened?" Zoro sheathed his swords and turned to Luffy
"Politics" Luffy ground out as he turned. "Im hungry" He mentioned as they both left.
TBC
A/N Hi folks! I'm back again with the next snail chapter! Man some weird things developing in the story, and whats this about dinner with Law (hehehe) anyways, here you go, Please review! It really makes it worth writing, but its also fun just to write lol, see ya next time!