Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece, just the OC(s)
Hi All! I only realized in this chapter post that the formatting (i.e., bold, italicized, line breaks, etc.) I had when I was writing the chapters doesn't stay always. I'm not sure if this was the case for all chapters but I had issues and had to manually redo them all for this chapter. I'm shocked by this because I swear I saw it in the doc manager when I uploaded... anyway, sorry if it has been challenging in understanding the what was happening when and what up to now. It should be fixed in this chapter (please let me know if not! If you also see it in another chapter, please flag to me so I can fix it!)
Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece, just the OC(s)
Chapter 27
Charlotte flipped through the square pane-less window of her old dwelling—a small hut hidden in the tall branches of the mangrove trees on the borderline of Grove 11 and 12. Her mood more than soured. First Law and then Cole. What happened to ask me anything?! And then there's that annoying Old Fart! Speaking off… "Don't you have more fun things to do than follow me?" She quipped, rounding on her two followers: Rike and, surprisingly, Cole. She would have figured that she was the last person he'd want to see given his earlier explosion. "I'm not going to run or anything."
"As if I'd believe that! This was the island that you wanted to be dropped off when you held our Captain. Don't think I forgotten about that!" Cole snapped back instinctively.
Rike dragged a hand down his face. Didn't you come here to apologize? Spotting a heavy stack of old wanted posters, he pivoted the convo quickly. "Are these all your past catches?" Rike asked, picking up a heavy stack of old wanted posters and playing the role of mediator. "Looks like you've been rather busy in the past."
Cole peeked over Rike's shoulder and scoffed. "What happened, Hunter? Lost your skills?" He pulled back quickly, flinching as Charlotte took the bundle. Though rather than slapping Cole with it, she dropped it in the bag with the rest of her belongings. "That's it?" The bag was basically empty.
Charlotte didn't respond and it was then that they really took in her abode. The red duffle bag barely contained anything and yet the home was partially empty. "Did you really live her for five years?"
"Why wouldn't I lie about that?"
There were only the basic necessities. Nothing else. Nothing of comfort in the small hut. "Wasn't there anything you wanted to have for yourself?" Not even a plushie.
"…I… never really thought about it. Ah, I have Spikey!"
But they were the ones who gave Spikey to her. Recently too. They stared at the innocent woman, a strange feeling stirring in the pits of their stomachs. The innocence looking odd and out of place all of the sudden. A twenty-one years old with the innocence and confusion of a child when it came to normalcy. Only when it came to normalcy.
Why do you think Charlotte's littered in scars?
"Char—" The twangs of a secret panel being flung open echoed through the quite space and bright glow reflected off Charlotte's face.
"The hell?! You never said anything about being rich. You royalty or something?" The gold was blinding, barely dwindling as Charlotte threw beris after beris into her bag.
"Did you get all this from hunting?" The large stack of bounties coming into mind. Their jaws smacked the floor when the huntress simply nodded. They were suddenly reminded of Charlotte's reputation as the fastest huntress with the 100% catch rate. "Was there anything left for the others?" It's no wonder she was hated on the island.
"I only go for one person at a time." It wasn't her fault if the other hunters took too long on a hunt, and she was efficient. Plus, weren't the Heart Pirates reaping the benefits of her hunter reputation? Anyone related to Bloody Boa's targets was off-limits. Why else did they think they hadn't come under any attack on the island.
"What about Captain then?"
Charlotte shot Cole a look over her shoulder like he was stupid. "Didn't you just say my skills were lacking?" She threw the rest of her money in the bag and hoisted it over her shoulder with a grunt. "No need to worry. I'm rebelling against your Captain so I'll be staying far, far away."
"Why?"
Charlotte quirked a brow at the response. She'd figured at least one of them would prefer it this way. "Because… I'm frustrated at him! He tells me to ask him directly and when I do, he tells me that it's none of my business! And then he has the gulls to tell me to shut up and just take orders? Who the hell does he think he is? The boss?" Charlotte ranted and the two flinched at the outburst. They didn't think she would actually answer them so honestly or so easily.
Rike laughed nervously at the clear hole in the abused wall. "Well… he is the boss."
"Some boss he is! Always giving me shit for not listening to his plans and the moment I do ask he won't tell me." The two piqued at that. Now that does sound strange.
"So, you're rebelling and leaving the crew then?" Rike glared at the older male and the excitement in his voice.
"And let you weigh down my target by protecting your weak asses in the New World? Yeah, right." Charlotte dropped from her tiny tree house, using the bubbles to soften her fall.
"What is the meaning of this?" Charlotte's voice was laced with restrained anger as she glared at the multiple outlaws surrounding them. The pressure in the air so thick it felt like they were wading through water. "My target and his affiliates are off-limits."
"S-Shut up, Boa!" One of the older members of Hound Pets hollered, nervously, his weapon glinting in the sunlight against her neck. "The deal's off now that you've swapped sides."
Huh? Charlotte thought confused while the two Heart Pirates jolted in surprise at the sudden additional headcounts on the ground when they landed. "I'm a hunter first and foremost." Charlotte reminded, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Then explain this!" They threw down a copy of the day's paper. At the side eye Charlotte gave them, the other added with a barking laugh. "Don't worry, we'll let you read it before we attack." The blades against her eased off. "We've waited five years since you broke the system to get back at you. We can give you a minute more."
Charlotte picked up the paper, eyes scanning over the headliner. A separate poster paper fluttered out when she opened the newsprint, claiming her attention first. Platinum eyes widened at the face on the bounty poster, while Rike's face lit up as he read the headline out loud. Cole slumped at the news. "Another Hunter Joins Rank With Pirates: Bloody Boa Now With The Heart Pirates?!"
Charlotte ground her teeth behind her scarf as she stared at the bounty poster that fell out. The bounty poster with her face on it. Her bounty poster of her as a member of the Heart Pirates. Her gaze settled on the many collectors and their weapons, and she lowered her stance. "I am a huntress, and my deal stays."
Law didn't know how to react when he and Bepo rushed back to where the crew was training. Charlotte mentioned something about blindfolds and with her protection no longer applicable, they would be blind sitting ducks. "I thought you all were supposed to be training!" Law barked instead, concern thrown out the window, long forgotten and replaced with embarrassed annoyance. The crew were out in the open partying into the night. They even had a bonfire going.
An arm looped itself around his shoulders and Shachi dangled his weight off his taller Captain, joyous smile on his face and a mug in his other hand. "CAAAPTAIINN!" Shachi slurred and Law wanted to pinch the space between his eyes. They were already drunk and would likely still be drunk when they left for Fishman Island tomorrow. Did he not already warn them that the trek down is dangerous and risky? Only 30% of pirates make it all the way safely!
Shachi pressed a finger between Law's brows, trying to smooth it out. "You'll get wrinkle lines." Shachi said and Law wasn't sure if the other was lucky that he was drunk or if his shades really did protect him from his glares. "Relaax, it's fine! Charlotte already b-beaten the hunters and traders up! You should have seen it! Ahahaha, she looked she really needed to punch something." Penguin nodded next to him, remembering how they ran in a frenzy when they heard from the hunters that she's been beaten and caught. They found her rampaging on a bunch of pirate hunters into dust. The child they had mistakenly kidnapped as Charlotte in Rike's arms.
She did? He brushed the arm off his shoulder, ignoring the "omph" coming from Shachi as he fell to the ground. That would explain why the attacks stopped. He thought, a smile on his face from his crew's protective antics. He knew the rumors to be fake when he heard it; as if the huntress who single-handily broke the system would be outdone by a bunch of hunters who could never best her in all five years. He didn't think she would have wrapped up everything in a single afternoon though. Dang efficient worker. He grinned. "Where is she?" He hadn't spotted her amongst the unruly.
Shachi propped himself up and scanned the area. "Huh? She was just—hic—here. Oh well, she should be around. The party's for her!" Law turned back towards the drunken guy with a questioning glance. He spotted his answer from the wanted poster the others were waving and dancing around as if it was a holy alter. They saw the news too. A party to celebrate her welcoming, huh? That did qualify for a celebration, though not really without the guest of honour.
"What happened to Haki training?" He probed and the other made farting noise. "Cole got into an argument with Sensei and the lesson was cut short." Law smacked his face with his hand. Leave it to Cole to ruin their rare chance of learning Haki from a willing Charlotte.
Away from the noise and chaos outside, Shakky and Charlotte sat in the empty bar in their usual spots. "So, you're part of the Heart Pirates now?" Shakky asked and Charlotte hummed, gaze focused on the tree stump that the crew decided to use as a starter for the bonfire. She could have sworn there was an actual tree there and not a stump before.
"The tree blew up in a fire one day. It burned away before the firefighters were able to put it out. It was so random." She commented lightly, lips curving when Charlotte jolted at the mention. That's right, she sent a laser to this exact spot when she had the Nikyu Nikyu no Mi.
"Y-yeah, so random." Charlotte coughed awkwardly, avoiding eye contact.
Shakky tapped on her wrists and Charlotte looked at her in question, "Ray called saying you were locked in your own handcuffs."
Ah. Right. She had forgotten about that. "Those things can come off, you know."
Shakky smiled. "In other words, you were pressured in to trading freedom for membership." She rephrased and Charlotte immediately muttered something about her scary intuition.
Charlotte rested her cheek on her palm, suddenly finding something in the distance more interesting. "I wonder if freedom was on the table at that time…" She muttered and Shakky took a drag of her cigarette, waiting for the huntress to delve deeper. Law's updated wanted poster pinned under Charlotte's arm.
"…does he have something on you?" Shakky finally decided to ask, breaking the silence that had settled between them.
Charlotte blinked, eyes refocusing back from the thought that was overtaking her. She stared at the other's calm face for a moment more before an idea came to mind and snarky smile spread across her face. "Does he ever?" She exclaimed, while pulling on the edge of her collar down. "And he's so bossy, always ordering people around like he's some kind of leader or whatever!"
Shakky forgot to correct the huntress that Law was the leader of the crew. Too focused on the hole in Charlotte's chest. The new cancer stick that Shakky was lighting fell from her lips, dropping against the countertop, barely consumed. Charlotte's laughter filled the silent bar. "That's the first I've ever seen you shocked!" The top snapped back up, covering the hole in her chest where her heart should be. She'd be lying if she didn't relish being able to shake the unshakable Shakky.
"H-how the—what in—are you alive?" Shakky stuttered, a million questions running through her mind.
Charlotte's mirthful grin widened so big that her cheeks hurt. Never had she seen the woman at a loss for words either. "His ability." Charlotte summarized, flickering two fingers around in emphasis. The motion now a familiar one. The two words were more than enough to answer any and all questions Shakky had.
"Then this partnership—" Charlotte quirked a brow "—friendship—" Charlotte's brows knotted together "—okay, this relationship is just temporary until you get your heart back?" Shakky fished out her pack of cigarettes again. She didn't know if she was disappointed. She hoped, like Ray did, that she would make some friends. Though friends would be a stretch if, like Charlotte said, freedom wasn't on the negotiation table. Still… Shakky glanced out the window to the party. They seemed to care for her, genuinely.
Shakky paused when there was no response. She lifted her gaze towards the younger one and sighed. She really was too easily expressive. "It's not supposed to be rocket science, Charlotte. Let me guess. You enjoyed your time with them, got to know them, and grown to like them. And the thought of what happens after your whole again never occurred to you." Shakky took a drag of her cigarette, eyes lingering on the telltale look on the huntress face. "When was the last time you really tried to get your heart back?"
Charlotte stared at her empty hands. Her baby-faced wanted poster in the peripherals of her view, blurry but present enough that she knew it was there. "It's scary how intuitive you are." Charlotte finally muttered. She tossed her hair over her shoulder again even though it hadn't fallen over. "Though I guess I should be used to that by now." Charlotte chided herself lightly. She never really thought about it. But could she really be subconsciously not giving it her all?
Sure, she may have acted like she didn't care about her heart at the time and to a degree she really didn't. As long as she was alive and she could do what she wanted, it didn't matter if it was in her body or tucked away in some wooden chest somewhere only Law knew. But then Law had used it against her. She swore then to get it back after the truce. Once she did, she could finally leave.
Yet, she was still with them. The crew healthy and alive; truce over long ago. The Polar Tang wasn't that big. She should have more than enough time now to have scoured through the place and locate her heart. Yet here she was. Heartless and with her hunt still yet complete.
She should just get it over and done with.
But why did that thought unsettled her?
Shakky watched the woman and her expressive face silently with a fond smile. The conflict in her face something she was happy for as odd as that sounded. Ray was right, she needed to get out and meet people. To meet friends. Even if she haven't realized it yet—she considered them to be her friends.
"I'm going to get some fresh air." Charlotte announced suddenly, slipping out of the bar without another word.
Shakky let her smoke bubble up into the air, never once telling the huntress to stop or commenting on her using the employee-only door. There were enough new and unfamiliar thoughts on the young woman's mind already that she much rather her focus on. That and there were still things—people—she needed to vet.
"What can I get for you, Doctor?" She drew another puff, finding the irony in the situation. The prey chasing after the hunter.
Though it begged the question: could she still hunt him? Charlotte is an emotive and self-serving huntress who hunts who she wants, when she wants, and how she wants. That typically meant people who have wronged her personally or done something awful when she was around to witness it.
Trafalgar Law was not one of those people.
Law scanned the empty bar. "Where is she?"
"You just missed her." Law turned back towards the smiling woman. The daggers behind that smile crystal clear. "I'll help you find her if you answer my question."
"I should have known you were here." He found her sitting on the deck of the sub's tail, legs fitted between rails and dangling off the edge. Her signature scarf covering her shoulders and body like a large blanket instead of its usual position. An empty milk bottle discarded next to her. Her eyes focused on the waters before her. Water gazing. Her usual habit.
"…not exactly rocket science." There were many things that would have led the sub as the best spot to find the huntress. Her heart being the most obvious and instinctive reason. With the crew distracted and Charlotte unhappy with their Captain, she had more than enough reasons—not that she needed any—to reclaim what was rightfully hers. Yet what she said was, "We were supposed to meet here once the coating is done."
"You didn't go after your heart?"
"Was that a mistake?"
Platinum eyes searched grey ones for an answer, waiting patiently with earnest. Her confusion genuine. Law swallowed thickly, pulling his gaze away first. They drifted towards the red handprint on her cheek—an injury. The only injury it seemed. "Your cheek is swollen." He stated the obvious.
He didn't expect her lips to curl into a fond smile then. "It's the only hit that landed." She hummed lightly, gaze blurring slightly, and Law was wondering if she was recalling the slap itself or a memory further away.
"Would you like me to treat it?" He offered, pulling her back from whatever memory took her. He took the chance as she turned to face him fully to get a better look of the hit. A frown tugging on his face. It wasn't a particularly strong hit, but it was a clean one. There were no cut or scraps from shuffling or quirk moves. In other words, she stood there and took it on. Why?
Charlotte pondered at the offer. Her cheek did and still does sting. The mother of the kidnapped child that the hunters mistook for her really did pack a punch. The look of anger and fright in her mother's eyes still clear in Charlotte's mind along with the way she protectively cradled her daughter to her center when they managed to reunite. "No, it's alright." She beamed.
Law blinked at her, staring at the glowing red mark on her cheek for moment more. He leaned over the rail next to her, choosing to stare out at the sea instead of meeting her gaze and the angry mark. "You're still mad at me."
She let her gaze drift back towards the sea. Though neither of their attention was truly focused on the open waters. Charlotte wondered for a moment if she should correct Law that she wasn't refusing treatment to get back at him. Or if she should even validate his observation with any kind of reaction. The answer obvious: the topic of anger hadn't been resolved.
He really should tell her. Her ask to understand what the plan and the dangers it entails wasn't unreasonable. In fact, he respected and appreciated her cautiousness and courage to ask. The issue was answering it without drawing additional unwanted, troublesome questions. Had it been anyone else, perhaps, he could have gotten away without answering them. But he doubted that would fly with the huntress. She was oddly good at her job.
She frowned when he didn't provide any more details. "I have other means of finding out. You were the one who told me to ask you." Now it was Charlotte's turn to avoid his gaze. Charlotte was a proficient huntress. That was a proven fact. While how she operated in this field was majority still a mystery to the Hearts, it wouldn't be a hard to believe that she had her means.
Was Joker one of those people? Law wondered. "Will you answer me if I ask you questions?"
Charlotte shuffled until she was facing him. "You're curious about me? Why?"
Law's gaze dropped towards her shoulder. He could think of many mysteries surrounding the woman. For starters, how did that scar get there? Was it related to how she learned Haki? Why does small everyday occurrences seem like wild mysteries to her? Why is someone as strong as her hiding out in Paradise? How did she get to Sabaody Archipelago if she knew nothing about navigation? Why did she eat a Devil Fruit if she wants it gone? There were so many mysterious of the woman and the more he thought of it, the more questions he had and the more ridiculous the questions became.
"You're quite a mystery yourself."
She blinked at the comment, an awkward silence settling between them. Enough for a warm flush to start along Law's cheeks from the stare. Was what he said strange?
"Is that supposed to be a compliment?" She laughed, unfiltered and Law blanched at the comment. His lips tugged into a silent smile after a moment's recovery, relishing the rare bells in her laugh for as long as she allowed it.
"What are you here for? Certainly, you didn't go through all the trouble of finding me when I was trying to avoid you for nothing."
You were avoiding me! He coughed loudly into his fist, awkwardly as if trying to move on from the topic and Charlotte gave him some reprieve. "Don't worry, you're not the only one." His gaze drifted towards the wanted poster trapped underneath her hand. Her wanted poster. Or was she running from Joker?
"You don't like attention." He stated, unsure who he was saying it for. He heard it enough times from her mouth to know that fact by heart. Yet, the words still slip past his lips to hang in the air. The weight of them… he didn't know who would wear them more: Charlotte, who he has put on the map with a target, or him, as her captain and the man who put her there.
"Not much of a bounty poster if the image is so off." He offered reassurance. As much as she didn't like the poster, He, like the others, was proud of the news. Not only did her bounty marked her as a strong asset, but it officiated her as a Heart Pirate.
Charlotte frowned at that. "Yeah, that's the problem."
Law quirked a brow. "The fact that the bounty was of when you were nine?" He would have expected her to be upset that she had a wanted post in general. Not because the image on the poster was a childhood one. If anything, the world would be looking a kid and not an adult.
Charlotte swallowed thickly. She thumbed the finger ridge of her karambit, on edge. Because that is the only look They know.
Shakky waved at the crew headed off. A large sack of beris next to her to pay for the rest of the beverages that the Hearts had consumed the night prior. The amount perfectly matching the beris that she had seen leftover in Charlotte's little hideaway. Shakky pulled the cigarette from her lips, blowing homage to her romantic partner. "Ray, I understand why you wanted her to join a team, she should have some friends her age. But did they really have to be the same people she's hunting?"
"Bounty hunting really doesn't suit her, don't you think?" Rayleigh's voice came back through the den den mushi, a large grin on his face. "Tell me, are they treating her well?"
"Weren't you the one who got her into that line of work?" Smoke rings bubbled into the air filled with his laughter. The answer one they both already knew. She defaulted to one the moment she arrived. It was pure luck that she excelled at it. "They seem to care for her." She answered. "Oh, she doesn't have the cuffs anymore."
A hum. "Did you tell Charlotte that they'll be going to Fishman Island next?" Shakky's lips curled at the question. How could she not have told the marine animal lover? Everything went straight to hell as soon as she said the word 'fish'. "Also, tell me you got the story of why the Marines only have a childhood photo of Charlotte!"
A/N: Stay tuned to some more visual treats on IG (handle in bio) for the upcoming next arc!