Chapter 15
A familiar sign
Nami learned that moles ran in the family the first time her mother lovingly stroked the ones on her arms. Lying in bed one lazy day, Bellemere told her that her parents must have had a lot of moles because her back was full of constellations form with them. At first she disliked the idea, aware that it was one more fact that separated her from her real family.
That unpleasant feeling had disappeared a long time ago, but when she recognized the same mole that Luffy had on his neck on the old marine who threw the boy at Ace and her, the envy stirred in her stomach again, although it wasn't the moment for those things.
Silence embraced everyone when the old man shot them with his gaze.
"Have you adopted another?"
The question to Nami reminded her of those dead hours comparing moles in her room, surrounded by the smell of tangerines and a growling stomach. He was surprised to feel a pang of discomfort in his head as he thought about it.
"I don't need anyone to adopt me. I already have a family, sir. My sister is waiting for me at home." She declared with her chin as high as she could manage. "I came to save Ace."
The man raised his eyebrows at the outburst of boldness and leaned over her to examine her from end to end. His eyes tickled her skin as they lingered on the dark bruises that obscured her face here and there. They had begun to turn green with the touch of color of age, as if they dated the abuse by date and time in the eyes of the old marine.
"The thing about fighting for lost causes runs in the family, apparently. I like it. You will be a good marine."
Her cheeks boiled at such a vision of the future.
"You will never see me with a seagull sewn to my clothes." the voice was low in two tones, icy. "Marines are the same scum as pirates."
Her words devoured the sound of the room until silence took over the unexpected gathering of fugitives, jailers, and prisoners.
For a moment Nami wondered if she had gone too far, if she had to wait for a slap to the face or a kick to the ribs.
Whatever those words were answered, they never got it, interrupted by the clatter of dozens of footsteps on the marble floor. Nami felt the rain freeze on her skin.
"Vice Admiral Garp" the voice came low intimidated by the tall figure of the man with dog ears at the door of the room. "We had no news of his arrival."
"I also had no news that my grandson had been arrested, and in this small, narrow hallway we find ourselves nonetheless. One more day surrounded by incompetent, don't you think, official?
Nami shifted in discomfort while one of Luffy's hands crawled up her shirt to make her retreat towards him and Ace, like an octopus protecting its treasure.
She narrowed her gaze to focus on Ace's swollen face and Luffy's possessiveness and anxiety.
"You haven't told me that your grandfather was a vice admiral."
Ace snorted.
"You don't talk much about the family either" the reply came out less accusatory than it might have been understood between the hoarse voice and the dried blood on the boy's lips.
"We didn't know who the boy was, we just arrested the only suspect in the king's murder."
The old man growled and Nami began to value the true meaning of the canine cap over the web of gray hair.
"So you're telling me, Captain, that you beat up suspects instead of looking for the guilty? With what evidence do you accuse the boy? Have you done anything more than smash his face?"
The tension could be felt among the golden decorations of the palace, which called with tinkling light to fill empty pockets.
"I... Sir."
"Didn't you hear me?! Show me the evidence of his guilt immediately!"
Luffy's arms tightened around his two prey after his grandfather's outburst.
"There are two witnesses who accused him."
The old man's shoulders contracted at the possibility, but instead of softening, he grew the anger.
"And what have they said? Why are you showing this fucking show?"
The officer hesitated as he glanced back over his shoulder at his companions. One of the men lying on the ground, unconscious, stirred and the officer pointed a finger at him.
"I don't know, sir, he is one of the witnesses, if you need it, you could ask him. The transfer order to Impel Down has already been processed, I don't…"
"So, let me clarify," Garp interrupted the speech in a voice that predicted nothing beyond a bleak winter, "one of the two witnesses, who have not discussed their testimony with the naval officers, was torturing my grandson to make him confess before you put him on a ship and imprison him for his entire life?"
The man's mouth twisted as two of his companions backed away under the threat of his voice.
"We didn't know he was his grandson. The other boy snuck into the barracks this morning, sir" added one of the recruits, pointing to Luffy's outstretched arms as if that were enough of an accusation. "And he went with the girl. One of the prisoners recognized her as the Cat Burglar. He told us she works for Arlong."
Nami's mouth froze full of empty words and clearly insufficient excuses as the old man twisted his neck to fix the deadliest gaze he has on the two accused. Luffy swallowed and Ace squirmed in his brother's arms.
"My grandchildren the only thing they were trying to do was free their unjustly imprisoned brother. If there is anything else you would like information about, we will be happy to assist you at home, where I will take them to treat the wounds of the minor whom you have tortured to obtain a tainted confession."
One of the marines cleared his throat and the vice admiral squinted towards the sound with the slowness of a beast facing its prey.
"I will keep them under surveillance and at your disposal in case you find anything more than the testimonial evidence of the subject lying on the ground. I want the file of this case tomorrow at eight at the door of my house. Is it clear?"
The cadets and officers stood at attention in unison at the question.
"Yes sir."
"Perfect" the man agreed.
Nami, who had remained silent until then, withdrawn into herself, was startled when the old man leaned over Luffy, Ace and her and lifted them off the ground as if they were made of cotton instead of blood and flesh.
"Now, if you don't mind, I have two idiots to talk to and an injured person to take care of. I'll wait for you tomorrow at my house."
Luffy withdrew his suffocating hug from Ace, resentful of the squeeze, and focused on hugging her as if she were a raft in the middle of the waves while Nami felt herself adrift in an unexpected storm.
I write in the office and I have been full of work, and I was also very involved in another fandom.
Don't worry, I'm not going to abandon it, I already have the idea of the end of this story in my head, but writing is another story hahaha
I hope you enjoyed the story :)