Knot

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

When Law told them he was going to teach them knotwork, Penguin and Shachi's first reaction was to simultaneously point at the sail, held up by ropes that they had tied.

"Way ahead of you," Shachi scoffed, irritated at the younger teen's lack of observation. "That sail hasn't fallen down yet, has it?"

"No," Law allowed. "But-"

"We have been sailing before, you know," Penguin interrupted. "Fishing was important on Swallow Island." Shachi nodded firmly in agreement and Law sighed.

"I wasn't talking about those knots," he told them, to their confusion. He produced a length of rope from somewhere and brandished it in their face. "If I tied you up right now, would you be able to get out?"

They gaped at him, eyeing the rope nervously.

"Why are you asking?" Penguin asked. "Are you planning on tying us up?"

"Yes," Law said bluntly, and they leapt backwards, away from him. "I want to make sure you two have basic survival skills."

"Since when was being an escape artist a basic survival skill?" Shachi demanded, and Law sighed again, flicking the rope in his hands.

"Since you became pirates," he retorted. "Being captured means torture if you can't get out." A simultaneous chill ran down their spines and they couldn't help the involuntary shiver.

"I suppose you can escape just fine, then," Shachi demanded, hurriedly moving the conversation along. In answer, Law wordlessly held out the rope to him, and then his hands once Shachi took it.

Not to be cowed, and fairly sure it counted as mutiny, the ginger spun him around and secured his hands behind his back with the most complex knot he knew before stepping back triumphantly.

"Get out of that," he challenged, crossing his arms. Law shifted his wrists experimentally and hummed, sounding impressed. Shachi grinned, satisfied, only for his pleased mood to slowly ebb away as Law did some impossible-looking gestures and manoeuvres. It took him less than a minute before the untied rope was in his hands again.

"Not bad," Law said. "We'll have to expand your repertoire a little, too."

"You think I'm going to be capturing people and tying them up?" Shachi spluttered, and Law shrugged.

"No harm in knowing how," he said. "Now, turn around. It's your turn." Shachi didn't move, but Law was once again too fast and too strong for him. Within seconds he was on the ground, swearing and complaining with his hands bound behind him.

"Hey!" Penguin protested, but Law held up a hand to stop him.

"You'll be next," he promised, to the older boy's chagrin.

"What about Bepo?" Shachi demanded, looking at the white fluff ball curled up by the railing, seemingly fast asleep.

"His paws aren't dextrous enough," Law explained. "With his strength and electro he can break ropes anyway."

It made sense, but Shachi still grumbled as he twisted his wrists together, trying to get some purchase to slip the ropes off them like Law had done with such ease.

"This is stupid!" he exploded five minutes later, his wrists still firmly secured together. "What hellish knot did you use?"

"The same one you did," Law replied calmly, kneeling beside him. "Stop, you'll hurt yourself if you keep doing that." Shachi ignored him, despite the pain starting to bloom in his wrists. He wasn't a quitter, and he wasn't going to be so easily bested, dammit! "Stop, Shachi," Law repeated, more firmly. Hands gripped his own, forcing them to still. "Stay back, Penguin," he added as the oldest teen made a move to help Shachi. "Your turn will be in a minute."

Shachi cursed him, trying to move his hands despite Law's restraining grip.

"This is stupid!" he repeated, only to be shushed by Law. "Oh it's easy for you to say, you just used your abilities, didn't you?"

"Pay attention," Law told him, not responding to the accusation. "I'll guide you through it. Tell me if anything hurts." Shachi started to demand to know what he was on about when the cool hands began to coax his own hands into movement. The amount of contortionism required was ridiculous, but Shachi suffered through in silence as his hands twisted in ways they really shouldn't, before the pain got too much for him and a single ow exploded from his lips.

Law immediately stopped the latest manoeuvre, sighing disapprovingly.

"I said to tell me if anything hurt," he scolded. "If your wrists haven't done this before, then they won't be flexible enough yet." Shachi felt the ropes loosen around his complaining wrists. "Try that again." With looser ropes, Shachi's wrists didn't need to flex so far and eventually he found himself free. Law instantly took hold of his freed hands, rubbing them to coax feeling back into them and applying some cool substance to where Shachi had caused enough friction to induce minor rope burns. "We'll keep doing that until you can escape without the handicaps."

Shachi groaned and slumped back onto the deck to watch Penguin getting collared instead.

"No misplaced bravado," Law told Penguin as the older futilely attempted to wriggle out. "These are lessons to help you, not hinder you." Shachi grumbled, pulling his wrapped wrists close to his chest protectively and glaring at his young captain, who returned his look levelly even as he began the task of guiding Penguin's hands out.

Penguin was far more obedient than Shachi, leaving the ginger to grumble again before going to curl up with Bepo. The mink barely shifted, just making enough room for the ginger to sit between his paws.

"Law?" Penguin asked, joining Shachi in leaning against Bepo once he was free again, and gesturing to Law to join them. He didn't. "Are you expecting someone's going to try and capture us?"

The silence was unnerving, but the simple 'yes' their young captain eventually admitted was so much worse.

Young Law's paranoia strikes again, although in his defense escapism is rather a useful ability when you get in as much trouble as they do.

Thanks for reading!
Tsari