Chapter 10: The Oddest Party
Though tired and on his guard, Marco couldn't help feeling smug about the situation. After two days of negotiations, he had worn the Marines and World Government out. He and Sengoku had reached the consensus that Mani Lala would not be under the thumb of the Celestial Dragons any more, but become Whitebeard territory. Though conditions had been made on both sides, Marco felt he had had the better end of the deal. Mani Lala would continue to grow bananas, on a smaller scale, allowing them to bring back the island close to its original form. The noble shitheads would have exclusivity on two third of the banana production, but the people of Mani Lala would be the one fixing the price.
Finally, the unjust and extended debt would be forfeited. It was one of the sore spots of the deal. Marco wished he could have made the World Government pay back what the people of Mani Lala had been forced to give, but it hadn't worked out. For people with more money than the rest of the world, the nobles were desperately clinging to their gold. Sengoku had also been moving his agenda here. Mani Lala would no longer owe anything to them, but in exchange the whole story should stay quiet. There would be no article about the deal, no books written giving testimony of the years of cruel exploitation, of how the Marine had helped the nobles oppress and extort the people of Mani Lala…
Well, it was a loss, but he knew it was still the best they could have wished for without further bloodbaths. Mani Lala's people were tired of the conflict and wanted their peace. A few months ago, it might have been a different story.
So here he was, in a well-kept garden behind the Marine's HQ, escorted by a Vice-Admiral, waiting for Sengoku to finish piecing together the contract with a delegation of Celestial Dragons. The pricks had refused to be in the same room as him, forcing him to exit the building each time the Fleet Admiral had to talk to them. It had made the negotiation excruciatingly slow, as he had to talk to them a lot. Thankfully, the garden was nice and peaceful, and the Vice-Admiral he had been tailed with was better company than expected, considering he was a marine and all.
It must have been an hour since they had settled near a pond, listening to the running water of a small cascade in comfortable silence. Marco was as relaxed as he could be on enemy territory, and the thought made him chuckle lightly.
"You seem to be in good spirit." Commented Vice-Admiral Issho.
"Well, can you blame me yoi? It's not every day that pirates and low status civilians make the World Government bend their head."
The blind man didn't respond immediately and Marco wondered if he was going to.
"I do not blame you." He said at last. "As a marine, I am not allowed to express to you, or anyone, that I am glad pirates successfully changed the course of things for the people of Mani Lala."
For someone who wasn't supposed to give out his opinion, the marine had been quite obvious throughout the time they had spent together on how he felt about the World Government's corruption. Now that the negotiation was drawing to a close, he was more than transparent.
"I see, then I won't ask yoi." Marco answered playfully, bringing a small smile to Issho's lips. "Though I wouldn't say pirates were the one to make the change yoi. We added our number when they asked for help. They were pretty much acting the change by themselves, and just needed a bit of backup yoi."
Issho hummed in assent.
They fell back to their previous companionable silence and Marco wondered how much longer the Fleet Admiral intended to keep them waiting. As he thought it, Issho's den den mushi started ringing. The man answered.
"Yes?"
"Issho," the voice of Sengoku replied, "sorry for the delay, but I am forced to postpone the negotiation. We've reached some… technicality. I still have some details to work out with the Celestial Dragons. Marco the Phoenix, we'll meet tomorrow morning to finalise the deal."
"Alright yoi, see you tomorrow, Fleet Admiral."
"Issho, could you make sure Mr Phoenix gets back safely to where he sleeps." Which meant, can you make sure he leaves Marine Ford for the night, as they all knew he was staying in Sabaody during the negotiation.
"Of course, Fleet Admiral."
"Thank you."
The call ended. Marco hoped he wasn't in for another round of negotiation tomorrow. He had been so convinced things were settling. Sengoku seemed satisfied. What technicality could have changed his mind?
"I wouldn't worry if I were you."
Marco looked at the blind man, who didn't appear in a hurry to leave.
"The Fleet Admiral wants the whole affair dealt with as much as you do."
Marco remained silent, wishing to see where the other was going with his explanation.
"He knows he has reached the best deal he could for the Marine and the people of Mani Lala. He also has other issues, more important and pressing than a supply of bananas, to work out."
"The Revolutionary Army yoi?"
Issho didn't answer directly, but his pause was telling enough.
"I'd say, the timing in which things happened were in favour of Mani Lala Island. The Fleet Admiral must be trying to convince the other party to agree to the therms."
It was some relief. He hoped Sengoku would succeed. Which was odd. It might well be the first time in his life he wished for the success of a marine.
"Well, in that case I don't see any reason to wai – "
Issho's hand went to the hilt of his sword, and Marco's haki perceived what must have alerted the marine. The smell of blood, the light and irregular tapping of footsteps, a ragged breath. Not the presence of an assassin, but a distressed and hurt human.
Both men dropped their guard and rushed towards the person in clear need of help.
Leaving the garden, they reached a road that led to large storing buildings. That's when he saw him. A child, barely a teen, covered in blood, stumbling his way almost unconsciously.
He sped up to stop him just in time. One more step and the kid would have tripped on a lone bucket.
With all the experience of the field doctor he was, his eyes catalogued the wounds that were visible despite the clothes, the most life-threatening being the knife still stuck in his guts. His heart ached as he saw the metal collard around the small neck, but he prevented himself from thinking about it for now.
"Kid, do you hear me, yoi?"
The eyes were open but unfocussed. He swayed on his feet and Marco grabbed him by the shoulders to steady him, which made the child panic, unarticulated sounds dropping from his mouth as he struggled weakly.
"No one is around. Whoever did this is gone, but we shouldn't stay here." Issho had searched the adjacent streets as Marco was looking after the kid.
Marco bent over and gently cradled the hurt and scared boy in his arms.
"It's okay, you're safe, yoi. We'll take care of you, don't worry. Soon you'll feel better, yoi. Trust me, you're safe now…"
Slowly, as he murmured reassuring words and Issho guided them back to the garden, the kid relaxed until his head lolled against Marco's arm.
When they went through the garden entrance, Marco laid down the child in the grass and started working. The blue healing flames of the Phoenix erupted in his left hand. He wasted no time and applied it directly to the base of the blade. It wouldn't mend the wound completely, but it would stop the bleeding and give them time to bring him to an infirmary. With his right hand, he slowly began to pull out the knife.
"Who is he? A slave?"
Issho, who was on his guards, let out a sigh.
"No, not a slave." His tone was bitter. "He is Monkey D. Luffy. Grandson of Monkey D. Garp, and son of Monkey D. Dragon, the leader of the Revolutionary Army."
Holly. Shit.
Marco was speechless. That was some bloodline.
"Then, the article…"
"Was a message for Dragon."
He had read the article during his first night in Sabaody. He had found it weirdly vague and outdated, considering the Kielen victory was already cold news. It had to be hiding something. Turned out he was right.
"So they just got Dragon's kid as a bargaining chip. No wonder Sengoku is in a hurry to end the Mani Lala issue yoi." He mumbled. They owed a great deal to this child, without even knowing it. Marco concentrated harder on his flames.
After ten more minutes of tiering procedure, the blade was out and the wound had stopped bleeding.
"He is out of danger for now, but he needs his wounds cleaned and stitched, and some blood too yoi. We have to bring him to a hospital or infirmary."
"I can carry him safely without disturbing his wounds." Issho said, preventing Marco from taking the kid in his arms. The marine positioned his sword over the unconscious body, and the ground beneath him raised and floated mid-air. This was some nice stretcher indeed. "This way."
And so the oddest procession made its way towards the nearest doctor's office. Marco didn't know if his siblings would believe him when he would tell them what happened. He could already imagine Thatch, Haruta and Ace laughing their ass off.
Soon, they reached a small building with a doctor's plaque. Marco entered first, opening the door to let the dirt stretcher and Vice-Admiral in. He turned and was greeted by a shrill cry of alarm.
"Pirate! Pirate! Someone, help!" A nurse had come to see who was at the door and had obviously recognised the Whitebeard First Commander.
A doctor with a strict haircut rushed into the room, as Issho came forwards to clear the air.
"What is the meaning of this! What are you doing in my – … Vice-Admiral Issho?" The doctor's surprise was short, as she immediately went back to glaring at Marco.
"Sorry for disturbing your clinic doctor, we came upon this young man in desperate needs of assistance. Doctor Marco here did what he could to save him, but didn't have any medical supplies. Can you take care of him?"
She approached the unconscious kid, her eyes not leaving Marco until she was close to the floating bed of dirt. Then her expression darkened even more, something Marco hadn't thought possible.
"That's Dragon's offspring." It wasn't a question. The disdain in her voice made Marco's blood boil. In the corner of his eyes, he saw Issho tense minutely. "So what?"
"He needs medical care."
Marco was impressed with Issho's self-control.
"Are you sure?"
"He was stabbed."
"Are you sure it's a good idea to treat him?"
This was going nowhere and Marco was sick of it. He didn't let the Vice-Admiral answer.
"It's a doctor's duty to treat any person in need."
She looked furious at the accusation.
"I don't see any person in need right now, but maybe you mistook this place for a vet?"
Issho lost it.
"I will not have this child die on my watch. I order you to lend us on operation room and all the medical supplies we might need!"
The doctor was about to retort but the words never left her throat, as she seemed to remember who she was talking to. It took her a moment before she could swallow her pride and acknowledge the order.
"Clementine, take them to the examination room B."
She spun around and left the poor nurse, who appeared very lost, alone with the angry marine and pirate, and the unconscious child. Seeing the two men turning her way brought her back to reality.
"Th – This way, please."
The room she left them in was small but well kept. Marco found everything he needed quickly and organised it near the examination table. Taking a pair of scissors, he began to chip away at the dirty clothes of his patient. As he peeled off the t-shirt, he stopped dead in his tracks. He almost closed the fabric, when he remembered the marine sitting next to the door was blind.
"Is there a problem?"
For a blind man, Issho was decidedly more observant than most people he knew.
"Nothing, just being careful yoi."
"Hmm, being careful is important. Often, people don't see what is right under their eyes. Well, in some cases it can be a blessing."
"Indeed yoi."
With a growing respect for the marine, Marco continued to remove the clothes, unbuttoning the binding vest, thinking the teen might be glad to get it back. Besides the stabbing wound, some scratches on the arms, legs and chin, he discovered a shard of glass above the thigh, and a thin cut along the neck. He saw no sign of bruises or broken bones, which he found weird considering the state of the clothes.
He didn't know the kid's blood type, so he set him up with a hydrating solution. Then he cleaned the wounds, stitched the ones that needed to be, and bandaged everything. Looking through the cupboards, he spotted some medical garb to dress him. It would do for now.
"There's nothing much I can do for now, we just need to wait for him to wake up yoi."
"Thank you, for what you did. It's not often that I feel grateful for a pirate."
Marco chuckled.
"I could say the same yoi." It steered a question in his mind. "Why didn't you contact the Fleet Admiral? You didn't inform him of the situation, or asked for help yoi."
"Fate placed this boy on our path. Who was I to change its course? You were clearly the best person to take care of this situation. The Fleet Admiral will have his report after this child is brought back to his guardian." He paused, then added on a second thought. "I imagine he would be preferable there than here."
"It would be for the best yoi. If we find a blanket and you make him levitate as earlier, we can go immediately."
Soon enough, they were walking towards a street that could only be where high-ranking marines lived. Issho stopped in front of a building and led them up to a one-storey apartment. They knocked and waited.
"I don't feel anyone inside." Issho said, so Marco took out the key he had found in the kid's pocket and opened the door.
They removed their shoes and set down the sleeping teen on a couch in the living room.
"Do you want some tea? We might as well make ourselves comfortable while we wait for Garp."
Marco burst out laughing at the idea of drinking tea in Garp the Fist's home. Pops would love to hear about it.
"Sure, why not yoi."
The pirate was filling up the kettle as the marine looked for a good tea when they heard some movement from the couch. Both went to the waking boy. His eyes fluttered open lazily before lending on Marco, who had kneeled in front of him. The scrutinising gaze scanned him, then did the same to Issho. Suddenly, his mouth opened in a silent realisation and his hands flew to his head, searching.
"Hat!" The kid screamed, shooting up abruptly. The motion, however, wasn't welcomed by his hurt body and he cringed at the pain, hissing through his teeth.
Marco grabbed the straw hat lying on what remained of the kid's clothes and placed it on the mop of raven hair.
"It's here! Please don't reopen your wounds yoi!"
The kid slowly uncurled and touched the hat gingerly. He looked back at Marco, gratefulness in his eyes.
"Thank you!"
That, was not the reaction he had expected from a stabbed teenager who had just woken in a room full of strangers.
"Hum, you're welcome yoi…"
"Who are you?"
That was more like it.
"My name is Marco, and this is Vice-Admiral Issho. We found you wandering through a street, half-bleeding to death, and saved you yoi."
"Oh!" The kid looked at himself, then back at the two adults. "Thank you."
"Now we're waiting for your grandfather to come back." Issho added.
"Do you remember anything that happened yoi?"
He made an assenting noise.
"Can you tell us, yoi?"
He raised his shoulders in a noncommittal way, his eyes darting towards the marine.
"If you'll excuse me, I need to use the restroom." Said Issho out of the blue. Before he had left the room, however, he turned towards Marco. "Don't do anything shady while I'm out, pirate!"
Marco would have laughed if it hadn't undermined what the marine had done.
"You're a pirate?" The tone was neutral.
"Yes yoi. I'm known as Marco the Phoenix, First Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates."
Against all expectation, the kid's face lit up with excitement.
"Can you tell me about your adventures?"
"Alright, but first I need you to tell what happened yoi."
He seemed to mull it over.
"You won't tell the marines?"
"Nope, they're my enemy, I see no point in telling them anything yoi." No need to tell as he was pretty sure Issho could hear them anyway.
"I was exploring the abandoned shipyard, and when I came back there was a group of marines. One of them tripped me, and they pushed me around. Henry or something, the one who pushed me, was really mad about my dad. I got away but they tripped me, again! Then Henry took out a knife…" The kid's hand went to his throat, finding it bandaged, before going down to the stabbing wound.
"Why are you scared to tell the marines yoi?"
"I'm not scared!" he answered hurriedly. "I just don't want them to think I tried to escape or something… I don't want them to put the bad stone on me again."
"Seastone yoi?"
"Yeah, that."
So he was a devil-fruit user, maybe it was why he wasn't covered in bruises. Marco had the nasty feeling the kid hadn't just been 'pushed around'.
"I don't like it either, yoi."
"Did you eat a devil-fruit?"
Marco smiled and turned one of his arms into a wing of blue fire.
"As I said, I'm a Phoenix yoi."
"So cooool! I ate one too! The gum gum fruit! I'm a rubber man!" He shot the words like bullets, then grabbed both corners of his mouth and stretched them inhumanly far. The effect was quite comical.
"I see yoi." Marco chuckled, the kid sounded very proud. It was as good as any moment to ask him. "I'm also a doctor yoi. I'm the one who treated your wounds if you were wondering." He paused, trying to find the right words, but the kid seemed to understand where this was going, as he looked down at the medical garb and clutched it.
"Did you tell them?" His voice was subdued.
"Again, I'm a pirate, I don't see why I would say anything to the Marine yoi. And a lot of my siblings are like you, they would kill me if they knew I had outed you yoi."
The kid released the breath he was holding, and it morphed into a yawn. Issho took this as his cue to come back.
"Maybe I should get going with this tea, don't you think? Luffy, do you want some?"
The kid looked at the marine, taken aback.
"Er… Yes please?"
So Marco went back to helping with the kettle. By the time the tea was ready, the kid had already fallen back to sleep, and the two men just sat by him around the table. Once again, they didn't find the need to talk and just enjoyed the companionable silence.
A/N: No cliffhanger this time, sorry for being mean with you last chapter.
I hope Issho wasn't too much out of character, I didn't go back to read the manga and just wrote from memory.
Well done everyone who guessed right, Marco found Luffy (Issho too). You all had good ideas, though.
Now, I have two questions and one announcement for you.
Question one, how do you feel about Luffy being trans in this story? Do you want that to stay low-key? Do you want him to be outed and to experience transphobia from the Marine? I'm already planning a sequel in my head where it would be more central, and was more on the side of Luffy being able to keep it secret for this story, but I'd really like to hear your thoughts.
Second question, should I downgrade this story's rating? I don't think I'll add anything more trash than what happened on the boat. It's mostly going to be verbal and physical violence. What do you think? Is it the appropriate rating?
Now for the announcement, I just posted the first chapter of Defenders Without Fear, by FawnTheFox, translated into French. I know, if you're reading these words, you're probably not in need of a translation, but well…
As always, thank you for reading and everything!
Until next time folks!