Support

Characters: Penguin, Shachi, Law. Rating: K. Warnings: None.

The relationship between a captain and their crew was rarely as clear-cut as it sounded on paper. By definition, a captain was in charge and the crew did whatever they said. Sometimes, a first mate or similar rank existed, to assist the captain where required, but they were still tied to the captain's orders.

Penguin and Shachi were well aware that they hardly fit into such neat boxes. It was difficult to keep Law constantly on that pedestal. Bepo managed it, somehow, and the newest members of the crew also tried their hardest to conform to what they believed the hierarchy should be, but the distinction had long since blurred away into nothing for the two from Swallow Island.

Law was their captain, yes. If he gave an order, they would follow (although some orders demanded questioning and who better to do so than them). But there were times when Law needed supporting as much as anyone else. After all, he was only human, no matter how much he tried to quash his humanity and general mortal requirements (food and sleep were never optional extras, regardless what he sometimes thought). Occasionally he got injured, or sick, and they needed to step up to keep the crew running smoothly. Other times he was just too tired, too stressed, to make decisions, so they'd gently prod him in the right direction with casual remarks he could take cues from. He probably didn't even realise they were doing it half the time, but that suited them just fine. They weren't doing it for recognition.

The first time they'd met him, he'd laid them flat on their back in less than a minute, yes. He'd also been recovering from illness and swaying on his feet. They hadn't noticed it at the time, too busy nursing bruised egos and licking their wounds to draw themselves out of their selfish bubbles they lived in, but in the weeks that had followed it had become obvious. His energy came in fits and starts, improving over time as the white blemishes on his skin faded away, and nightmares were a common visitor if he wasn't curled up with one of them, using Bepo as an all-too willing pillow.

Somewhere along the way, Law had wormed his way into their life as more than just the crazy strong brat that broke them out of the confines of their going-nowhere lives (with no interests other than brawling and no parents to teach them family trades, they'd never had a future). He was their captain, their leader, but as they silently held him together during yet another restless night, he became their brother.

Their younger brother, who tried to face the world by himself but sometimes couldn't quite do it. The one they held up from the shadows, hiding their support even from him, yet unyielding all the same. They weren't strong enough to defend him from the world – no, Law was always the knowledgeable one, the better fighter, the leader – but they were strong enough to hold him up so he could face whatever it was he needed to face.

Even thirteen years later, gearing up to face down his worst nightmare determinedly alone regardless of any and all protests from the crew, they stayed the steady support, dragging the truth of why he was leaving them out (he didn't want to worry about them getting hurt, Doflamingo had taken too much from him already) before putting on the front he needed to see to know that they'd be okay without him. They'd go to Zou, give him the peace of mind he so desperately needed.

The fact that they'd come running the moment he was in trouble was a fact he didn't need to know, but it would take far more than some flamingo with a couple of strings to keep them from protecting him, if the situation demanded it.

(It turned out that while a flamingo couldn't stop them, a mammoth could, but they gritted their teeth and pushed through because Law needed them to be okay when he came back. So they were going to be okay, come hell or high water).

Thanks for reading!
Tsari