Guard

Characters: Bepo, Law, Penguin, Shachi. Rating: K. Warnings: none

Bepo understood the need for secrecy. He also understood that as a rapidly growing polar bear mink, he was not the definition of subtle, regardless where he was or who he was with. Law was afraid of something, of someone spotting them, so there was only so much Bepo could do while they were on shore.

Primarily, his task was guarding the Tang as she was the sort of ship that anyone would take if they thought they could get away with it. Having a large bear mink lounging around on deck discouraged all but the most foolhardy, and Bepo had no problems dealing with those trespassers. They were never prepared for electro, so all it took was a small crackle to clear the Tang's deck of any intruders.

Part of him wished that Law would let him go onto the shore more often. His captain always made a point to bring back anything he thought might be of interest, particularly books on navigation, but there was something about finding them himself that drew Bepo.

"One day," Law would promise him every time. "One day we won't have to hide, and you can spend all the time you want on shore." Bepo understood, but he wished these mysterious pursuers would leave them alone. He didn't like how scared they made Law; his captain hid it well, but fear had a distinctive scent and the mink could detect it easily.

The worst thing about being left behind was when things went wrong. More than once, he'd leapt from the deck when he'd spotted one of his humans in trouble, but he could only see the area around the docks. The one time Shachi had been captured had been one of the rare occasions he'd been asked by Law to disembark. Bepo wished he didn't need his nakama to be in trouble before he could leave the Tang, when subtlety was completely abandoned and Law just wanted to get away.

When Bepo looked at whichever nakama had ended up injured this time, cradled safely in his warm arms, he didn't disagree with the sentiment. Those were also the times he really wished he'd been the one to go ashore. Penguin and Shachi, and yes, Law too, were far too frail, too breakable. Bepo was the sturdy one. Bepo could take the punches and kicks and whatever else the islands' current population threw at his nakama without flinching.

"If something happens to you, there's nothing we can do," Law had admitted when Bepo had brought the topic up once. "We need your strength, Bepo. You're our trump card; it's foolish to reveal it too soon, so bear with it a while longer."

Bepo could never win against Law, and this was no different. He didn't mind the loss too much, however, as Penguin and Shachi always made sure to curl up with him on deck for a while as they sailed away, especially if he'd had to rescue one of them again.

Between their actions and Law's words, it was easy for Bepo to understand even though the shore was so inviting. They trusted him to have their backs, whatever happened. Every time, once they were back and any injuries treated, Bepo would pull them into a tight hug – yes, even Law if his captain was in reach and didn't escape in time – and nuzzled them enthusiastically. They protested, but never tried to escape, because they were safe in Bepo's arms, and Bepo was determined that they would always be safe with him around.

They trusted him to keep them safe – yes, the Tang included – and he wouldn't let them down.

A lot of my early Heart Pirates stories have Bepo on guard duty on the Tang, so I thought I'd show why that's the case (it's not just because he's the hardest one for me to write, I promise). A mink is hardly subtle, and they're trying to keep a low profile because of the threat of Doflamingo.

Thanks for reading!
Tsari