Rely

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

The rumours were a disappointment, Law decided as he looked at the sight in front of him. A country devil fruit users couldn't reach, it had been advertised as, and he'd thought that it might be an interesting place to see. Maybe some of its fortifications could be added to the Tang somehow to give them an extra defence against Doflamingo, because there was no such thing as too many when that monster was involved, he'd thought.

It was, he thought in disdain, completely hyped up. The country – more like a small town or large village – had no huge defences, no solid kairoseki walls or some other, unknown, way to keep a devil fruit user out. All it had was a moat. That might keep some out – it was, admittedly, too far to jump – but Law knew of several devil fruit users that would merely find it a minor inconvenience, himself included.

Forming a Room large enough to span the moat, and then teleporting himself and Shachi – who had accompanied him in case it truly had been devil fruit user proof – would be exhausting, that was true, but it was possible. He flexed his hand, readying himself to use his powers and prove how ridiculous the claim had been, when Shachi grabbed hold of his arm and stopped him.

"Wait a minute," the ginger said, and Law stilled, because maybe there was something he'd missed after all. Shachi walked to the water's edge and studied it intently, before grinning and jumping straight in. "I thought so!" he crowed triumphantly.

The water only came up to his thighs, and as he waded around, heading forwards several paces through the water, it didn't get any deeper.

"So that's how the inhabitants get in," Law observed, unimpressed and not sure why Shachi was so pleased. "That doesn't help."

"What, because you're going to be draining all your stamina teleporting across?" Shachi demanded, arms crossed in front of his chest firmly and scowling. "I think not."

"And you have another idea?" Law asked sarcastically, before taking a cautionary step back as a grin spread over Shachi's face, suddenly regretting the question.

"Yes," the ginger said. "Yes, I do." He pulled himself back out of the moat, his trousers sopping wet, and grabbed hold of Law. "Get on my back."

"You can't be serious!" Law protested. "I'm taller than you!" He eyed the water dubiously, not keen on the idea at all.

"I won't drop you," Shachi grumbled. "Stop complaining and get on or I'll just throw you over my shoulder."

The problem was that the ginger would do exactly that, and the hold he had on Law was perfect for doing it. Law still didn't like the idea one bit, and flexed his hand again, determined to Room away before Shachi carried through with his threat.

Shachi's grip tightened and Law's attention was brought back to him. His head was bowed slightly, his hat now casting his face in shadow and rendering it completely unreadable. Worse, his hand was shaking almost imperceptively, and Law felt a sudden chill.

He was acting like he didn't trust Shachi. While it was true he was taller than the ginger, Shachi had picked him up on occasion and had never dropped him. Why was this so different? Was the water so intimidating to his subconsciousness that it overrode his trust in his nakama?

With a sigh he dropped his hand and manoeuvred himself around Shachi's grip to stand behind the other, arms draped over his shoulders.

"If you drop me you'll be playing hide and seek with your limbs once we get back," he threatened. Shachi laughed, suddenly bright and open again.

"Whatever you say, Captain," he grinned, shifting his weight before extending his arms behind him. "Hup." Law jumped, wrapping his long legs around Shachi's waist and feeling the ginger's hands catch his weight securely. He clung on as Shachi shifted, bouncing him up and down slightly to balance him properly. "Ready?"

"No," Law said bluntly, resting his head against Shachi's hat – no he was not burying his face to try and pretend they weren't about to jump into a moat – and Shachi laughed again before he jumped.

Law heard the water splash around below him and tensed, clutching tighter as some stray droplets reached his feet and ankles. There was a harsh rasping sound.

"Breathe!" Shachi gasped and Law released his grip suddenly, realising he'd been throttling him. "Thanks." Law repositioned his arms around Shachi's shoulders, hands locking together at the ginger's sternum, rather than his throat. "I got you, it's okay." There was a pregnant pause as Shachi waded further through the moat, the liquid sloshing around his legs. "Honestly you could stand to gain a little more weight. I'm sure you're too light."

Having no reply to that, Law let out a noncommittal grunt before slowly raising his head to look at their surroundings. Shachi moved fast, even through water, and they were already more than half way across. He'd felt no weakening in his nakama's grip, and gradually began to relax as the residual paranoia faded away.

When they got closer there was someone on the shoreline, watching them. Law's muscles tensed again, one hand flexing in anticipation of a fight. If these people were so against devil fruit users getting onto their island, what would they try to do to Shachi, who was blatantly helping one through their defences? From the flexing of the muscles in his back, Shachi was also preparing himself for a confrontation, even as he reached the edge of the moat and turned around so Law could slide off his back and onto solid ground.

As Shachi clambered out, Law turned to face their audience, hand extended and ready to form a Room in the blink of an eye.

The man was smiling.

"Welcome!" he said cheerfully. "Come on in!"

Law eyed him dubiously. Surely the man wasn't so dense that he hadn't realised Law was a devil fruit user. In what other situation would a shorter man be carrying a perfectly healthy, taller, man through their moat?

Shachi came up next to him, crossing his arms and deciding to clear the air, judging by the way he jerked a thumb towards Law's chest.

"The rumours say you guys don't like devil fruit users," he said bluntly. "What's with the friendly welcome?" The man laughed.

"Rumours are rumours," he replied, still with a smile on his face. "What we hate is the pride of a devil fruit user. You'd be surprised how many would never let anyone carry them through water." Thinking of the sound of the water immediately below him, with nothing except Shachi's arms between him and it, Law wasn't surprised at all. "Your companion there is the first one in a long time that didn't try to cross on his own powers."

"What would you have done if I did?" Law wanted to know. Rumours usually had their basis in fact, and if this settlement was truly defensible against devil fruit users then. The man laughed again and kept walking, through the large gates that opened at their approach. As he passed through them, Law felt ill and stumbled, Shachi catching his elbow to support him.

"Do you still want to come in?" the man asked, gesturing at their surroundings. "This is a kairoseki mine. Your powers won't work in here."

Law narrowed his eyes. His question had been answered – how did the settlement keep devil fruit users out – and it was nothing he could utilise to increase his defences against Doflamingo. In that sense, his mission was complete and it was time to leave. However, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being tested in some way, and his pride rebelled at getting so far only to be bested by a man with a permanent smile.

"It would be a shame not to go sightseeing while we're here," he said out loud, matching the man's smile with a smirk of his own. Shachi's grip on his elbow tightened, although whether it was in emotional support or in preparation to drag him out, he wasn't sure. "Are you going to arrange a guide or should we find our own way around?" The man laughed again, and behind his smirk Law wanted nothing more than to take the man apart and watch him lose the aggravating know-it-all sense of superiority he was oozing, but regrettably that wasn't possible.

"I'll give you a tour!" the man promised them, and turned to lead them around the place.

Law followed, keeping the nausea of the kairoseki away from his expression to keep up appearances. Pride of a devil fruit user indeed. Shachi walked by his side, one hand still gripping his elbow in silent support, and Law's smirk briefly slipped into a genuine smile.

What was a kairoseki mine when he had his nakama with him.

I saw a picture of Shachi carrying Law through a lake and couldn't resist. As for a kairoseki mine, well, according to my recollections, One Piece wikia and google, Oda hasn't yet revealed where kairoseki comes from so... random areas of high concentration of the stuff? Seems legit, right?

Thanks for reading!
Tsari