Maladies

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

Law's ability to sniff out the first whiff of an illness in the crew was legendary within the Heart Pirates. No matter how much they tried to hide it, within an hour of the first symptoms he would be there (and that was if he was distracted elsewhere and they were attempting to hide it). They weren't sure how he did it – surely he wasn't constantly Scanning them, he didn't have the stamina for that – but, somehow, he was always there.

According to Penguin and Shachi, that had always been the case. Law hadn't been particularly friendly to them to begin with, but despite that he'd always ended up hounding them into the infirmary – which grew over time from the basic room of a World Government ship to the complex state of the art room.

Travelling in a fishing boat only meant for short day trips for a solid week had done none of them any good. Law was weakened by his mysterious illness and the water that constantly splashed into the rickety boat, while Penguin and Shachi couldn't shake the onset of colds from their early dunkings. Bepo fared the best, although he couldn't hide his own misery at his damp fur either.

Gaining their own ship was a blessing. In addition to being a submarine – Law's reason for aiming for her specifically – she was well equipped with plenty of indoor space, heating and vital requirements. After their dramatic departure, Law left to explore the ship only to triumphantly return several minutes later, clutching clean clothes. They had the World Government's insignia on them, but while he clearly disapproved, Law made quick work of the two older boys.

Their waterlogged clothes – never quite dry despite their best efforts – were stripped from them by the determined thirteen year old to cries of annoyance, before warm and fluffy towels were dumped on their laps. The boy followed it up by pointedly leaving the clean clothes beside them. They were too big – designed for men, not teenagers – but they were dry.

Unfortunately, the warm towels and fresh clothes were too little, too late.

Law maintained that Shachi was the first to succumb, although the ginger claimed that he and Penguin had felt the full force of the consequences simultaneously. Regardless, Shachi became the first patient in the Polar Tang's infirmary. He squirmed and fought Law as the younger boy attempted to drag him in, his protests about his well being drowned out and contradicted by the alternative coughs and sneezes he was producing.

Penguin went somewhat more quietly, still attempting to escape but resigned after watching Shachi get subdued so easily by Law (who had enlisted Bepo's help, and the mink was scrawny but strong). He didn't like the infirmary – neither of them did. Not after the cold blooded murders they'd committed in that room, in those beds. Still, Law refused to take no for an answer.

None of the children wanted to think about why the beds had restraints built in (and in time those ended up removed), but Law saw the opportunity to keep the two older boys in his crew securely in the infirmary while they shook off the illnesses. Their attempts at claiming perfect health would have been amusing, if Law was in the mood to be amused.

He was more interested in making sure they didn't end up dying from the dunkings, that first time he used the Polar Tang's infirmary. It took another week for them to shake the remnants of the illnesses completely, during which Law never once fell for their attempts to lie about their condition.

Uncanny, Shachi said loudly. Law just told him to be a better patient and get some rest.

Thanks for reading!
Tsari