Dogpile

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

The port town was a lively one, ships sailing in and out frequently and traders advertising their wares loudly and optimistically from the shoreline. The Polar Tang glided in effortlessly, settling in a bay and somehow not standing out like a sore thumb, despite her distinctive colour and shape.

Penguin surveyed the scene with wide eyes.

"So is this the capital of North Blue or something?" he asked, staring at the hustle and bustle. He'd never seen so many people in one place before.

"There's no such thing," Law corrected, reaching for Shachi and nudging his chin until he closed his mouth. "This one just has a large merchant presence, it's nothing to gawp at." Hearing Law's no-nonsense tone sobered Penguin up. A large merchant presence meant a large underworld market. Penguin had no doubts what sort of thing Law would be expecting from them once they disembarked. Beside him, Shachi straightened, steeling himself for another day of pulling information from the shadier society.

Law was first to disembark, as per usual. Penguin and Shachi followed, but not without a hug and a pat on the back from Bepo, once against staying behind on guard duty.

They were attacked the moment their feet touched the docks. Law retreated instantly, a Room forming and teleporting him back onto the gangway. Penguin and Shachi weren't fast enough, finding themselves pinned to the docks as large dark shapes loomed over them.

Something wet dragged itself down Penguin's face, leaving a slimy trail behind and startling a laugh out of him. The creature responded with a rough bark and beside him Shachi started laughing.

"That tickles!" the ginger complained, although his voice was full of mirth and no reproach. "Get off, no, no, no! Hey! My shades! Give them back you menace!" Said menace sat on him, eliciting an oof from the ginger. Penguin gasped as his own attacker copied the movement, leaving him pinned to the ground.

"Penguin! Shachi!" Law shouted, and Penguin saw the blue sheen of a Room go up. Their captain sounded worried, and he realised that maybe it did look a little concerning even as he brought his hands up to ruffle fur.

"Aren't you gorgeous?" he cooed to the Bepo-sized dog. The creature barked, and he heard the one with Shachi mimicking the sound before the wet, slobbery tongue descended again. It tickled and he writhed underneath it.

"Penguin? Shachi?" Law sounded uncertain now, his Room still active but Penguin still not teleported away so Law was thinking. The dogs moved at the sound of his voice, shifting enough that Penguin and Shachi could make their way to their feet again.

"Law, come here!" Penguin called, managing to make his way to his knees. The dog started at the younger teen intently, and Law recoiled.

"No," he retorted stubbornly. "Have you any idea what sort of germs are on those dog's tongues? Absolutely not." He let his Room drop but stood with arms crossed.

The stalemate was broken by Bepo, who in a rare show of defiance padded silently up behind his captain and herded him towards the dogs, who leapt at the chance and bowled him over with an oof.

"Bepo!" Law spluttered, trying to scramble away from the dog pile he found himself imprisoned inside and failing when Penguin and Shachi grabbed hold of him.

"Just pet the puppies," Shachi said, his eyes closed in the absence of his shades. Law immediately Shambled them up from where they were in danger of being crushed and put them in his pocket.

"Don't tell me what to do!" he snapped, but neither human apologised, too caught up in obeying their own instructions. Bepo let out a quiet noise that could have been an apology, but the dog chose that moment to slurp its way down Law's face, to his intense chagrin. "Stop! No!" Arms grabbed him, preventing him from squirming away, and he glowered at his nakama. Penguin guided his hand to the shaggy fur and held it there until Law's fingers began to move unbidden.

Penguin shared a knowing grin with Bepo, who was still watching from the gangplank. They hadn't planned on making Law snuggle with dogs, but it had a far more positive effect on him than their expectations.

"Good dog," Penguin murmured in its ear, giving it a scratch.

Not every island has bad things waiting for them. A literal dog pile sounds good to me.

Thanks for reading!
Tsari