At least if he was going to die, it would be with a view.

Sure, it was a view of some assholes who were using him as bait to lure out Pops (he wasn't that stupid, even he could guess their game when there was this many troops) and potentially kill his beloved foster father, but it was a pretty damn good view all the same.

The sea was stretched out wide before him. So blue and vast and downright beautiful. It was honestly a stark contrast to the place his wretched father had been executed. Against his better wishes, Ace had visited the execution platform in Loguetown. It had felt appropriate… all things considered. Even if directly afterwards he'd drunk a local bar free of their rum. But for all his hate towards his birth father, he wasn't able to shake the pity as he saw where the man had died.

Off the Grand Line. Surrounded by buildings. The only glimpse of the sea being the slightest sliver of blue between the rooftops.

No pirate deserved to die without the sight of the ocean. Not even him.

It was of no surprise that Roger had run from that place the first chance he got.

His knees were beginning to ache. It wasn't surprising really, given that he'd been shoved down onto this metal scaffolding despite the various scrapes, bruises, and gashes painting his skin. He didn't know how long he'd stay like this either; were they going to get this over and done with or were they putting on a show?

Well… obviously the Fleet Admiral was putting on a show of some sorts. Question was how long he'd drag it out. And when Pops would show his face.

Not wanting to think about that any more than he had to, Ace's gaze flickered to the guards either side of him. They seemed so intimidating with their faces hidden like that. Helmet shielding their eyes and collars practically done up to their chin. Somewhat surprisingly, they weren't as overtly built as he might have thought they'd be. There were no bulging biceps or calf muscles threatening to rip the seams of their uniforms. They still seemed so imposing to him though. So much taller. And bigger. People didn't need larger than life muscles to deal serious damage.

He'd learnt that from her after all.

Yes, he was still thinking about Strauss, even now. And yes Ace knew that he was being an absolute idiot for doing so. As far as his personal connections went, hers was one of the weakest. How long had they known each other for? Weeks? A month or two tops? It was hardly the time he'd spent with his newfound Whitebeard family, let alone the years upon years he'd had with Luffy and Sabo. But… even then… She was the last person to spend any real time with him before he'd finally faced that monster. The last person who talked to him as an equal. Who listened to what he'd had to say.

And she'd been a near complete stranger.

Perhaps that was why. Why he felt so close to her that is. Marco had said that sometimes it was easier to talk to a stranger than it was to talk to a friend. Because a stranger has no preconceptions, nor any history to ruin between them. He hadn't understood that at the time but yeah. He kinda got it now.

When he was surrounded by strangers. And about to die.

He lolled his head backwards, staring blankly towards the sky above. Happily blue, with a thin scattering of clouds here and there.

At least he'd get a good view…

.

Strauss's feet beat against the tiled floor. Even though she was injured and carrying another person, it was still relatively easy to pull away from the rest of the group. Perhaps it was the adrenaline of running from a deadly gas, the sheer euphoria of having her heart back in her body, or just wanting to run… there was no way of knowing. Most likely this was her prior knowledge of the facility coming back to her. That and… because she wasn't looking back. So she just kept running, and the distance between her and the rest of the group just kept increasing.

As she ran from her problems as fast as she'd always done.

"Strauss?"

"Mhm?" She didn't even glance up as she continued on. Running towards where she knew everyone would eventually end up. "What is it?"

"Are you alright?"

The question almost made her trip over her own feet, but she righted herself hopefully quickly enough to mask it. "Look I'm sorry, Captain, but this is hardly the time to talk about those sorta things."

"Then when do we talk about…" Tashigi pursed her lips. Her fingernails digging deeper into Strauss's shoulders in almost subconscious frustration. "Sorry. You're right about that front at least. But then… You just seem so different from the last time we met that I couldn't help but…"

Strauss sighed, an extra weight moving to balance itself on top of the precarious stack of problems she carried around. "Of course I'm different. I lost one of my best friends right before my eyes."

It still haunted her. The smell. The heat. The hiss as magma engulfed fire and extinguished it completely. She never did the old cliche of screaming, but most nights she awoke in a pool of cold sweat.

She'd been so close…

"I know." Adjusting her glasses, somewhat redundantly, Tashigi glanced away. "And I'm sorry. Even for the sake of justice that was… a bit much."

Strauss said nothing. She rounded the corner, her feet practically sliding from sheer momentum.

They were almost there.

"But even so-" Strauss had to shift a little as Tashigi wriggled around to face her- "You don't need to this stoic all the time! If you just want to reach out a little to someone, anyone even, y-you know you can just talk to-"

"Talk to a Marine?" She had to scoff despite herself. "As if that's going to happen. I'm sorry Ca… Tashigi… but you know that I can never hang around with any sorts of law enforcement again."

Especially since she was one of the few people in pirate history who had successfully infiltrated not just one, but two Marine facilities without being detected. The first time had gotten her a bounty, and the second… well… Everyone knew about the severity of the second.

Deep down she knew that wasn't Tashigi's fault, if anything it was her own for throwing herself into reckless situations like that, but that didn't stop the distrust. At least that's what she was going to call this… feeling or whatever it was. Since if she stopped to think about it for too long it was going to consume her whole.

That ain't reason enough to be rude, a voice that strangely familiar to her chastised inside her head. Strauss chuckled. The manager kept keeping her in line even after so many years, huh? Sounded like something he'd do.

So she checked herself. And sucked in a breath. "Look, I…"

Words had never been her forte. When it came to dealing with customers there was a safety blanket of politeness over every single syllable, but without that? Just look at what had happened with the kids earlier? No one had understood where she was getting at, and had even seemed to hate her just because she'd given what she'd thought was the objective best option for everyone's survival.

Sanji had understood her though. He always seemed to appreciate her emotions, even if she didn't wear them on her sleeve the same way he did.

The thought actually gave her an inkling of courage. Enough so that she was able to start that sentence again.

"I know I am not the kindest of people. Nor… the most emotive." Even that prompted a wince. "But just… I do appreciate how much you and Smoker have done for me. You guys have risked a lot for just one person and yeah… I wouldn't even be here without you picking me up at Loguetown." Making sure there were no obstacles in front of her, she flicked a quick glance towards Tashigi. "I don't want to ruin your reputation by hanging around with you. It doesn't matter if my captain's a Warlord or whatever… pirates and Marines just don't mix. So yeah." She turned away with a lightly flushed face. "Keeping my distance is the least I can do to repay you."

Left turn… Right bend… Another left…

Tashigi wasn't saying anything. Why wasn't she saying anything? H-had what Strauss said been that stupid? Was what she was doing really that dumb?

The arms around her neck closed in tighter.

"You idiot."

Strauss flinched at the warm breath in her ear. She was so close… And Strauss just… didn't know how to react.

"I just want to make sure that you're alright." Tashigi murmured, her glasses pressing into the side of Strauss's neck. "If you give me a motive like that then… how am I supposed to respond to that?"

"You… weren't supposed to?" What had been meant to sound like a statement instead ended up being a question. So much so that she inwardly cringed at herself and back pedalled, "I mean that I didn't say that for sympathy or anything. You asked why I don't reach out, and I answered you. That's all. It didn't mean to get a response."

Tashigi merely snorted, "I know. But I felt like saying one anyways."

"Then you're more stupid than I thought you were."

It was said without spite, and simultaneously interpreted without it. Which was telling in a way. Strauss had never used to be so rude, even in the days she'd been called 'cold' or 'blunt'. It made her wonder… Her eyes flickered back to Tashigi with no small amount of hesitation. She seemed so… understanding. Compassionate even… but not even those glasses could hide the pity in the captain's eyes. Pity that for the first time in two long and painful years, Strauss found she could actually accept without weakness.

Maybe it was finally time to peel back the surface and stare into the depths of the roiling turmoil burying her heart.

Skidding around a corner, they were finally there. Building R. Right at the end of this one long corridor. And where it sounded as if something big was going on. From the tiny arch that was the only view of the main floor that the tunnel allowed them, they could vaguely make out a tall plume of purple. It shifted menacingly, yet somehow managed to stay in a relatively central location… despite being obviously fluid.

Strauss's eyes narrowed. "Heads up," she hissed to the woman in her arms. "We've got Caesar Clown, dead ahead."

"Wh… what?!" Tashigi began wriggling furiously in an attempt to dislodge herself. "T-then what on earth do you think you're doing?! We can't face him- no offence- he's way too strong for us! So why are you still running?! I insist you put me down this instant!"

"We can't stop now." Leaning back, Strauss's nose wrinkled as she noticed that they had finally pulled so far ahead that none of the others were in view. Drat. "The fact that he's still out in the open like this means that there must be something, or someone, that's currently taking up his attention."

That someone was hopefully Straw Hat, but at this point Strauss had no hopes of predicting his movement. He was far too unruly for her liking.

"Not to mention," she continued, "that this is probably one of the safest places in the entire facility right now. Which isn't saying much to be honest, but it's the best we've got. And I…" Her nose wrinkled despite herself. "For all that supposed heartlessness that people say I have, I still don't want to let goddamn bastard to be allowed to run free for a single moment longer. Not after what he's done."

Tashigi's face underwent numerous colour changes. So varied and quick that Strauss had a hard time identifying all of them. But the steely resolve that appeared at the end could not be mistaken. Not in a million years.

"No." Her lips tightened into a miniscule line. "Neither do I. So, put me down Valentino."

Strauss did as she was asked, blatantly ignoring the way her back sighed in relief as the tension across her shoulders was lightened.

The moment her toes found purchase on the ground Tashigi was off, sprinting as fast as her legs could possibly carry her towards the vacant gap at the end of the corridor with a hand clutched desperately around the pommel of her katana. Strauss followed hot on her heels. And they inwardly prepared themselves for a fight they both knew deep down they were going to lose but would fight to win either way.

What they did not expect, was someone to run directly towards them.

Nor for that someone to be Monkey D Luffy himself.

Strauss found her legs slowing in pure shock. He wasn't… running away was he? Not from Caesar? No- she shook the doubt away in an instant- there was no way. She'd seen Straw Hat in action before, twice now, and both times she'd been appalled by his lack of basic self preservation. And admiring of his sheer determination.

"Oi!"

She was right. The set of that jaw was by no means a sign of retreat, she just knew it. That was anger, pure and simple. She'd seen it back at the Baratie. She'd seen it more so at Marineford. Which could only mean…

…Oh.

Her feet went still.

Oh no.

Straw Hat's eyes narrowed, never once turning from his path. "Get out the way."

No no no no no no! Her fingers writhed, twitching with gallons of sheer confused emotion. He couldn't… It wasn't part of the plan! It wasn't part of the plan!

Muttering a nonsensical string of curses under her breath, she lunged forwards to once again stuff Tashigi under her arm. Then, despite her better judgement, Strauss continued to run. The opposite way down the corridor to freedom.

Was he an outright idiot!?

Behind the buzz of Tashigi's complaints she heard the sound of skidding. Then a low crunch, as if someone was ripping up the concrete beneath them. She never once dared to look back. Looking back would only cause her to go slower, and that would only allow them both to get caught up in whatever madness Luffy was inflating behind them. It sounded like inflating.

Caesar was saying something. She could hear the high shrill whine of his voice echo around the polished walls… never clear enough to make out actual words. He was too far away, and the rumblings of a facility collapsing in on itself just too loud.

The other voice, however, was loud enough to punch through air itself.

"I DON'T EVER WANNA SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN!"

The ground beneath their feet rumbled as somewhere far far behind them, Straw Hat Luffy pushed himself from the ground like a rocket. Strauss's legs kept pounding, kept moving, even though the rational part of her head tried to tell her that this was illogical. That she didn't need to add to the distance. That she was far enough away for her to be out of any sort of blast radius. But the other part of her… that animalistic instinct that she had counted on for survival for all those long and painful years… it was screaming far louder than any form of sense.

"Gum-gum…"

And it was telling her to run.

"GRIZZLY… MAGNUUUUUUUUUUM!"

Whoosh!

Strauss couldn't breathe. All the air in the corridor… in her very lungs… it ripped away from her without a second thought. She stumbled, and by her side she saw Tashigi do the same, leaving them both with the immense struggle of staying upright.

It was only at that point that she knew it was safe to look back. And she did so with horror plastered clearly over her face.

At the very end of the corridor framed perfectly in the centre of the arch, two pairs of hands grappled furiously with each other. One purple and ever changing. The other bulging and black. Straw Hat was barely visible. A small splotch of red and blue and jubilant gold against the chaos. His arms stretched to larger than life extremes.

For a moment they struggled, neither allowing the other to gain an inch, and Strauss was struck by the shocking idea that Straw Hat wasn't going to be enough. That he wouldn't be able to fulfil Law's expectations for him. And she would be forced to pick up her battered and drained body to in an effort to try and push thro…

Wind rushed past them. So close and so sharp Strauss could practically feel it cut against her cheek. Even though he was all that ways away from her, the ripples of the blow ricocheted through her bones as if she'd been the one who was hit.

Conqueror's haki. Not the unintentional tsunami that she'd felt back then, when the pressure waves destroyed everything in its wake without rhyme or reason. It seemed as if Straw Hat's training had really paid off those past few years. No, now the swell was controlled. The intensity was more poised. The sheer emotion was honed into a single deadly point.

"SHUT-"

And that current emotion was fury.

"-UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP!"

Ka-BOOOOM!

…

The pressure faded as quickly as it had appeared. Strauss sucked in lungful after lungful of sweet delicious air as her body seemed to finally catch up with itself. She spat out a globule of phlegm. She hadn't realised just how tired she was before that moment… how heavy each limb was beginning to feel. It ached. Every movement as strained as if she was wading through treacle.

Grunting, she forced herself to straighten. Now was not the time for her to crumple into a heap. Not when people were relying on her to stay calm and have a level head.

Raising her chin she stared ahead. Directly toward the massive Caesar Clown shaped hole in the wall opposite her.

Especially since her Captain needed to know about this.

"He did what?!"

Law staggered, only barely avoiding falling flat on his face thanks to the tension of the thick rope he hoisted over his shoulder. But still. He had not been expected to be startled by such… downright foolish news!

"There's no way…" He resisted the urge to drop the rope and pace. Pacing consumed energy, and he had precious little of that right now. Especially when he was currently lugging a metal cart roughly the weight of a small whale towards building R. "I know he's an idiot but even I thought he would…"

Next to him, Strauss just sighed. He wasn't all that surprised that she'd managed to find him in this massive facility. The moment that Smoker had run (or rather evaporated) off earlier, he'd had a sneaking suspicion that he'd see his crewmate sooner rather than later. Especially once White Chase told her the general direction he'd come from.

Unlike Straw Hat… Strauss actually had working brain cells.

"Honour his promises?" She completed his empty words from earlier, readjusting her grip around the cord. "You're not the only one."

The rope was thick. Thicker than his forearm even. Strauss could barely get a firm grasp on the thing, but she was still struggling along without complaint all the same. Although she did seem to be favouring her non dominant side currently, which lead to the suspicion that at some point in between them seeing each other she had damaged that arm. At the very least dislocated a shoulder. But he paid that no mind.

They had both gone into this situation knowing that they would probably be injured. It was inevitable for an operation this large scale. It wasn't as if he was in any better state than she was. So instead of feeling any form of compassion or sympathy for his obviously struggling crewmate, Law just hoped that she would be able to fulfil her duty before keeling over and dying.

A tad heartless, sure. He hadn't gotten this far by being kind.

Which was why he was far more annoyed that Straw Hat, that utter idiot, had completely ignored his plan! Law ground his teeth so roughly they almost turned to dust. Just he wait! Once Law had rounded the next corner (a tricksy effort with a cart this size) he'd give that damn child a piece of his mind! Gggggnh!

He was vaguely aware of Strauss arching a knowing eyebrow in his direction. So he shot a far more terse one back. She snorted, and turned back towards where they were heading.

Wait. A stray thought began mulling its way through Law's head. Perhaps this would be a good time to… Yes. It just might be. It would be far easier to twist her tired and frustrated words later on for his own gain.

"Hey, Strauss-ya?"

"Mm?"

"What…" He was going to have to choose his words carefully. Very carefully even. "What do you remember of the deal we made at Sabaody- I know-" he added at her outright incredulous expression- "that it is a foolish and redundant question. But humour me."

She furrowed her brow tighter, "Our deal was that you would take me to Marineford on the condition that I become a member of your crew."

A moment passed, only punctuated by the sound of laboured breathing.

"Until?" Law was eventually forced to prompt.

"Until…" Was it just him, or did her jaw seem to tense a bit. "We next encounter the Straw Hat pirate crew." She rounded on him, "Why are you bringing it up now though? Of all times!"

"I merely wanted to know what you thought. And it isn't…" He grunted and swallowed a stray bead of sweat that had been rude enough to trickle down his forehead. Delightful. "It isn't as if we've got anything better to do."

An eyebrow arched, perhaps meaning to argue the severity of their situation, then lowered back down with a sharp exhale. So she too wanted a distraction from the pain. That, at least, was a comforting thought. He wasn't the only one drenched in sweat.

Strauss knew why he was asking. That, Law was completely certain of. How could she not, when he was bringing up their deal right after the ending conditions had been met. They'd both known that this was inevitable. And right now, when there was noone around, and their minds were too filled with exhaustion and sheer tension for either of them to lie, was an ideal time to ask.

There was nowhere to hide. Not until the end of the next corridor.

"I will not leave yet," she said after what had seemed like an eternity of straining muscles. "I am too involved in this plan of yours, and it would only complicate things if we had to suddenly deal with a different work dynamic. As for after that…"

Her lips pursed. Pensive.

Law waited. Expressionless. Focused dead ahead just like she was.

"We'll see."

Despite his better judgement he felt his eyes widen to boggling levels. He… had not expected an answer that vague. Neither of them liked vagueness. Their entire relationship was built to avoid vagueness. And it went against what they had initially decided. Which was… So this meant…

"Make no mistake," snapped Strauss, as if sensing the premature celebrations beginning to niggle at his brain, "I am not saying this out of mere civility or loyalty. If I were, then we would never be having this conversation to begin with."

The corner of his lips twitched.

"How-e-ver…" That glare was powerful enough to make Medusa jealous. "Don't also think that this means you have automatically 'won', if that's what you want to call it. I will make up my own mind about my future, and it will be you who I decide is worth associating with or not. Do you understand?"

"Like crystal."

It wasn't worth pushing further. Especially since she was on edge just from the little prodding he'd been doing. But it was alright. He'd gotten the answer he wanted… sort of. At least it wasn't a definite negative.

Still- he couldn't help but think as they continued pulling the great cargo container closer and closer towards the end of the tunnel, the light from the main room finally spilling onto their faces- a maybe wasn't good enough. He wanted certainty. And while he knew he wouldn't be able to convince her…

"Strauss!"

The cart drew up short for a bit as a tall blond figure sprinted forwards away from the crowd. Law's brow furrowed at the interruption.

"You're hurt! You can't be pulling something that… Hang on, lemme-"

"I'm perfectly fine, you damn pretty boy, so let go already. I've brought it this far, a few more metres isn't going to hurt."

Law watched their interaction. Taking note of the obvious worry in the eye of that Straw Hat cook. And an even more careful notice of the slight lift in his crewmate's face. One he hadn't seen in her for quite some time now. Not after… well… that day. He couldn't quite describe it himself. Those sorts of emotions had been foreign for both of them for a while now. Which was just the way he liked it.

"Strauss…!"

"Don't you 'Strauss' me! I can take care of myself you know!"

"I know you can, so let me do this one thing for you!"

"No!"

"WHY?!"

It was ridiculous. For someone as competent as Strauss to have crossed the Grand Line just to chase after something as simple and fleeting as this? He almost felt disgusted. He had thought her above something like that.

…

Fine.

He sighed, and began moving forwards again. Only vaguely aware that Sanji had somehow managed to talk Strauss out of pulling the cart (although they were still exchanging worried barbs) and was yanking on the rope alongside him.

A coerced crewmate was not a good crewmate. Even if Law somehow did manage to talk Strauss into staying on the crew, if it was against her will things would just fall apart. She had to be willing to be there… otherwise how could he expect her to listen to him? So yes, fine, she'd 'won'. He would respect her wishes, no matter how ridiculous he thought them. Even if they went again with his own ideals.

Law just hoped that she would let her logic be carried away by emotion… and make the wrong choice.

A/N

Hello! How is everyone? Wow it feels like it's been a while, although that could just be because I've been super busy recently. Moving house is no joke! ^_^; Especially when your mental state is just: tired. My writing flow has been shaken a little bit (especially since I've been getting inundated with plot bunnies that really want to be written despite how much work already goes into my other fics) but I hope this chapter makes up some of that slack. It's not a very action heavy one, but I felt it was important. Especially now that we're gearing up for the end of Punk Hazard and into... well we'll see :)

Thanks again for reading! I love reading all of your comments (and yes I read all of them! Even if I don't necessarily respond!) and just seeing you guys like the chapters makes such a massive difference to me! So thank you so so so much! I love each and every one of you!

I hope you have a lovely day/night, and that I'll see you again with the next update! Bye for now!