Chapter Text
Chapter 5 -6415 words
Law woke up an hour later, feeling sore all over. His eyes fluttered open, only to close immediately as the bright light assaulted his vision. He decided to categorize his injuries first. He would recognize the bed he was in even if he lay in it again after 10 years. It was the infirmary bed on The Thousand Sunny, but he had no idea how he had ended up in here again.
His whole body felt stiff, almost as if he needed to oil his every joint. Something pressed on his face, a mask probably, going by the strap around his head, and he tried to raise his hand to remove it, but something kept his limb down. A groan rumbled out of his throat, and he tried once again to open his eyes, this time opening them slowly so as to adapt to the light. He swallowed with a grimace before turning to the side, where Penguin was staring at him quietly, eyes tracking his every move. There was concern in his gaze, and a certain tired slouch in his shoulders that told Law his subordinate hadn't slept in a while.
"That's creepy." He croaked out, immediately breaking out in a fit of coughs.
He twisted on his side as agony shot through his very being, making tears suddenly appear in his eyes. He blinked them back, taking in a few calming breaths just as Penguin quietly propped him up, making sure that the surgeon had regained his breath before lowering the mask. Law didn't even have the energy to protest as his crewmate basically spoon-fed him a few sips of water before laying him back down and fixing the mask in its place again.
"Thanks.." The murmured word was answered by a small smile, and a ruffle to his hair.
"Sleep, we'll be here." Penguin's voice was soothing, as comforting as the hand on his head. As out of character for Penguin as it was, it was also relaxing, and the surgeon quietly fell back asleep.
It felt good to rest after he had gotten Law stabilized for sure. It had been a tough few hours, and Chopper sighed as he recalled his apprehension when they checked the vomit, almost collapsing with relief when he saw the weird purplish tint that Sanji had mentioned. Law had been completely out by that time, his features relaxed as he slumbered, totally unaware of the sobbing polar bear on his legs.
With Penguin's and Shachi's help, Chopper had also pumped Law's stomach, making sure that no traces of poison remained in his system so he'd be on the way to recovery as quick as possible. Once they were done, Law's subordinates had requested a rag, quietly wiping away the sweat from their captain's skin as they worked to make him as comfortable as possible.
Chopper had then adjusted the medication he was pumping in Law's system, leaving only saline to keep the surgeon hydrated and a light pain killer, just enough to dim the pain. He had left the breathing mask on, as after taking a quick listen to his lungs, the reindeer could still hear a faint wheezing sound.
It felt relieving to hear the heart monitor beeping in a steady rhythm, and to not see a tube going down his friend's throat, and Chopper felt all the adrenaline of the last few days leave him completely, leaving only bone-deep weariness behind.
"Go rest Chopper, you've done more than enough, we'll stay with him." Shachi offered a small smile and a slight shove, his gratitude showing in his eyes.
"Get me if something else happens." Chopper couldn't help but yawn mid-sentence, his exhaustion claiming him as he staggered out of the room, only to be met by two, fully anxious crews staring him down where he stood.
"He'll be fine, he just needs to rest." He reassured them, unconsciously smiling as they all let loose a sigh of relief, the tension in the air pushed back for the time being.
The young doctor just smiled before heading to the boys' room, collapsing onto his bunk and falling asleep instantly.
Sanji, as usual, was in the kitchen. This was his ground, there was no challenging him in anything that had to do with food. It felt good to be back here, surrounded by his ingredients and pots as he prepared food for the three crews. Of course, now that Law's crew was here, he just had to sample them his food, even if they never asked for it.
Even as his hands worked on the food, his mind was more on Law. He had been scared, petrified even, that he wouldn't make it in time. He had felt his lungs seize at the prospect that stopping to take a breath would result in arriving only to find Law's corpse in the infirmary bed. He knew that the others were right behind him, but Luffy was right, Sanji was the fastest on his legs, and so he got to the ship about 15 minutes before them.
Not much, but all the time in the world when someone was on death's doorstep.
His relief when he had found both Law alive and his crew was non-explainable, and he had been glad to tell them what they needed to do, even if he felt as if his lungs were about to burst. He scooted out just as Chopper burst into action, a smile pulling at his sweat soaked cheeks as he disappeared in the shower, not paying attention to anyone or anything.
Needless to say, he had been more than relieved when the news of Law recovering reached his ears.
It had been the good part of three hours when Law shifted again, groaning at the stabs of pain that travelled through him each time he moved. However now it was dimmed, slightly tolerable, and he didn't find it as hard to open his eyes again, only to be met with the sight of Penguin snoozing on the chair next to him. His head fell on his chest, small snores escaping with every breath, and one hand was extended so that it just grazed Law's own, as if anchoring himself to his captain. The surgeon huffed out a laugh, his subordinates were always over-protective of him whenever he managed to get himself hurt.
"He hasn't slept since we got the news." Shachi's voice piped up from next to the door, almost making Law jump as he had not seen his other crewmate.
"You didn't need to worry so much." Law's voice was gravelly, and he winced.
"When we arrived you were on a vent and half dead captain, we had all the need to worry. We had to remove the vent knowing you could very well die, and you were sobbing and wheezing while throwing up whatever was poisoning you." Shachi was aware he was nearly glaring, but he couldn't help it. His concern just had to bleed through his words.
"Throwing up?" The confusion was clear in the surgeon's eyes, and Shachi saw his brows furrow together.
"What do you remember last Law?" Shachi's voice was quiet, but alarm was clear in his tone.
"Drinking at the bar, going out, then passing out." Law shook his head, almost dislodging the mask as he struggled to remember, "It's a big black blank after that up until now."
"Chopper can fill those blanks better than us, but maybe the memories will come to you, Chopper said you were conscious for some while, even talking." Shachi shrugged, looking as if he still couldn't believe that Law was on his way to recovery.
"CAPTAAIIINNN!" Bepo suddenly launched in the room, his bulky frame barely passing through the door as he practically flew to the surgeon's bed.
Penguin shot up, still disoriented and clearly half asleep as his head whipped around, half open eyes finally stopping to rest on Law, who had a barely contained grimace on his face. Bepo's shout had startled him, and his sudden movement had jarred every tube going in and out of him, along with setting every nerve on fire. The sharp sting from his most private parts alerted the surgeon that he had a catheter in place, something which just increased his embarrassment as he felt cold sweat break out on his forehead. He took in a deep breath, attempting to ride through the waves of pain that were assaulting every inch of his being.
"...aw?...Law!" Penguin's voice brought him back to the infirmary, and the surgeon let loose a groan as he sat up, his joints screaming against his movement.
"I'm fine Penguin." Law's voice was still somewhat rough, and the surgeon cleared his throat as he calmed his racing heart.
Chopper burst in at that very moment, his fuzzy face slightly pinched in worry as he saw the surgeon's back rise and fall in an erratic pattern. The breathing mask was completely fogged over, and Law was almost completely curled into himself, only Bepo's restraining paws keeping him from ripping the IVs. The wheezing was back, and Chopper frowned. His lungs should have cleared up by now. The polar bear was frowning slightly, a pout visible on his furry face as he comforted his captain as best as he could.
"Law? The pain is expected, it should clear up in a few hours, want me to give you a bigger dose?" Chopper hopped on the bed, his small frame not disturbing any wires.
"No, I'm fine. I'll just sleep it off." The surgeon straightened up again, taking a deep breath as he ran his hand through his dark, short strands. He ignored the waves of dizziness going through him, but Shachi noticed that something was off the second that he saw his captain sway slightly from where he was seated.
"Chopper, check his blood-pressure will you?" Law's head snapped up sharply at the request, grey eyes narrowing at his subordinate's observation. Shachi just raised his eye-brows, not phased in the slightest by his captain's weak glare. "You're light-headed, you're swaying sitting up."
Law didn't even try to bring up an argument, knowing that anything he did would be futile in the end. They'd have their own way with him while they could. He ducked his head, regulating his breathing in hopes of chasing away the light-headedness that was threatening to swallow him whole.
"Your pressure's way below normal, no wonder you're feeling light-headed. It's a normal side-effect of emetics though, it should wear off within a few hours as well." Chopper was all business, checking tubes and temperatures and pupil response just as Penguin suddenly made his presence known again.
"Lie down Law, you won't do anyone a favour if you collapse sideways and off the bed." Penguin's voice sounded so resigned that it actually struck a chord in the usually stoic captain. For the first time since he woke up, the surgeon turned to gaze at his subordinate, his friend, and was startled by the sheer tiredness in Penguin's expression. It wasn't just physical tiredness. There was relief in the tight lines beside his eyes, but worry still remained, pinching the skin together and furrowing the young man's brow. He seemed strung up, as if afraid of the time that his captain will not be under his watchful gaze.
It then struck Law that his three friends all showed the same expressions. Tired, yet relieved. He couldn't help but wonder if the whole crew was worried. Maybe not to this extent, but maybe he did steal a piece of their hearts as well. Who knew? Bepo surely seemed devastated, curling up on the floor next to his head. Shachi seemed to have kept his head, yet Law could see the seams of his mask ripping one by one, exposing the raw anxiety and relief beneath.
"Law?" Shachi's voice brought him out of his reverie, and the surgeon blinked, suddenly feeling woozy.
"Yeah?" The grey gaze wasn't as sharp as usual, the pain-killers making him droopier as they oozed into his system.
"Why don't you drink something, then sleep? Sanji will cook you something in the mean time, maybe you'll get some energy back." Chopper gently pulled down the mask, making sure to not injure the surgeon with the elastic strap. A comfortable quiet had descended in the infirmary, and Law let the water trickle down his throat before he lay down, his every nerve protesting the movement. He didn't even bother with the mask, knowing that Chopper would adjust it as he saw fit.
"Try to not die in your sleep captain." Penguin's voice was lighter than before, and a hint of a smile twisted his lips.
"Go sleep, Penguin." His order was but a murmur, sleep already claiming its hold on him. He tried to stay awake a bit more, drink in the peaceful atmosphere, but his eyes fluttered close before he could even try and keep them open.
The deck of the Thousand Sunny had never been as filled as it was that day. Of Kidd’s crew there were only Kidd and Killer, the others going to sleep once assured that the surgeon would be okay. After all, a day of walking in streets under the blazing sun was rather tiring. Despite it being the middle of the night, both the Straw-hats and the Heart Pirates were all wide awake, scattered around the deck. The submarine was all but empty, every soul in it had taken a place on the other ship, anxiously waiting for news on their captain.
To pass the time, the straw hats had taken to telling their allies how everything had happened, going as far as to say how worried they were, and how they did all they could to get the cure that Law needed. The tension around the ship had gradually disappeared, leaving only a light and friendly atmosphere as the two pirate crews exchanged stories. Even though they all had different characters, they still got along, their laughter filling the dark night as the morning hours passed by slowly.
The Heart Pirates demanded to know what had happened to Saiko, and nobody could deny that some were disappointed that he was not dead, or at least mutilated, for what he had done to their captain. Luffy couldn’t help but smile at the dark looks. Looks like Law had found a pretty loyal crew as well.
It was truly extraordinary, how despite them all being enemies in the end, when one of them had been attacked they joined together to avenge him. Despite the fact that once they left the island they would all be rivals again, for now they were joined by a single cause.
Needless to say, most of the Heart Pirates were smitten with both Nami and Nico Robin, and their friends were busy trying to stop all the nose bleeds that occurred once the orange-headed girl decided to remain in only her bikini top. Kidd and Killer of course, were not affected. And there definitely wasn’t a reddish tint to Kidd’s usually pale cheeks. It was just because of the alcohol they were passing about.
When Chopper came out and assured them that Law had definitely taken a turn for the better, everyone was relieved, even though the furry doctor had already told them that the surgeon was on his way to recovery a while back. It seemed as if now it was more real, more solidified. The fact that he was awake for more than five minutes and actually lucid seemed to be just what everyone needed to gather their wits again.
Nobody was surprised when Shachi and Penguin didn’t even budge from the infirmary, their watchful eyes never leaving the still form of their captain. One by one, those left on the deck dropped to sleep, not caring that they were out in the open with no look-outs or whatsoever. Nobody noticed when everyone appeared to gravitate towards each other, making sure that one limb touched another, as if to physically assure themselves that they were all still there, still alive, still competing to get to the mysterious treasure at the end.
The ruckus of lunch could be dimly heard from the infirmary when Law stirred again, awareness returning to him slowly. He shifted slightly, relief washing over him when he noticed that the nerve-wrecking pain was gone. The surgeon didn’t open his eyes, instead carefully cataloguing his own body, trying to pin-point if he was still in pain and where he still had tubes going in and out of him. The uncomfortable tug at his own private region was gone, making Law sigh in relief at the fact that he no longer had to rely on a tube to urinate. The IV needle was still in his arm, but the bulky mask was gone, instead replaced by a nasal cannula that he could feel snaking behind his ears. The beeping of a heart monitor reached his ears, an annoying sound, yet probably a reassurance to his crew.
He shifted again, causing the sheet to rustle slightly. A small sound, but enough to catch the attention of whoever was with him, as there was suddenly something on his shoulder, keeping him still. Apparently, they had taken his repetitive shifting as an attempt to get away from the pain that was plaguing him when he last woke up, and Law couldn’t help but groan a bit on the inside. Was he doomed to be coddled in the weeks that were yet to come?
Grey eyes fluttered open, taking in the now familiar infirmary before they came to rest on Bepo, whose paw rested on the surgeon’s shoulder. His furry face was pinched in worry, and Law smiled slightly, reaching up a hand to pet his first mate in an attempt to reassure him that he was indeed fine, before he sat up. Bepo protested at first, his over-protectiveness shining through his beady eyes, but quickly shut up when Law raised his arms above his head and stretched, causing his bones to crack and break the steady rhythm that was in the background.
“Captain?” His voice was small, almost hesitant.
“I’m fine Bepo. Whatever it was is gone, I’m not even in pain anymore.” Law smiled, letting the polar bear smother him in a teary hug before he gently pushed him back, the need to breathe becoming too great to ignore.
“Law?” Chopper suddenly entered, eyes lighting up when he saw Law sitting up with no hints of a grimace. “I’ll remove the pain killers if you’re not in pain, then just do a check-up before Sanji brings you some food.”
“Can’t I wash first?” A tone of annoyance accompanied the surgeon’s voice, and Law winced slightly as he ran a hand through his locks, feeling the grease that stuck to his hair.
“You’ve been out for days, eat first, or you’ll collapse in the showers. I have no intention of having you back here with a head injury just because your body was too low on energy.” Chopper’s voice was strict, and Law frowned, despising the fact that he had to content with the smell of his own sweat for a few more hours.
“Where are Shachi and Penguin?” Law didn’t even flinch as Chopper pulled out the needles, pushing a wad of cotton to the small wound left behind. The annoying tube around his ears went next, and Law pulled in a breath, relieved that his body didn’t decide to hack up a lung this time.
“They’re both sleeping, Sanji dragged them away when they wouldn’t leave your side.”
The thermometer under his tongue made it difficult to respond, so Law just thanked the heavens that his subordinates were finally resting. He didn’t react much when Chopper shined the bright light in his eyes, or when the young doctor pressed down on his torso slightly. He couldn’t help but smirk in amusement as Chopper went through every check-up known to man, even going as far as to take his blood. To make sure there is no traces of the poison, he’d said.
Once Chopper was finished, he handed the surgeon his clothes, turning his back as Law removed the covers and slid in his jeans and sweat-shirt as if they were a second skin. Law then stood up, swaying a little as he got used to a vertical position once again. Bepo immediately slid a hand on the surgeon’s lower back, making sure that his captain was completely steady before letting go.
“Your pressure is still a bit low, but a little food will help you get your bearings back as well.” Chopper was cautious, watching Law even as he stripped the sheets of the infirmary bed.
The surgeon quickly crossed from the infirmary to the galley, where Sanji greeted him with a plate of soup.
“See if you stomach that, then I’ll give you something else.” The cook was considerate, and Law thanked him before sitting down, nearly melting in the chair. He wasn’t stupid, he knew that if he ate too fast he would just throw it up again, so he took his time, letting his thoughts wander as he downed the whole bowl. The feeling of something in his stomach was glorious after having gone for so long without anything but poison, and Sanji soon put a plate of onigiri in front of him, not even giving the surgeon time to ask before he sauntered back to the kitchen. Law simply devoured the dish, feeling the strength return to his limbs.
Bepo remained on the sofa, just watching his captain eating. It was a simple task, but it proved that he was still alive, and for that the polar bear was immensely grateful.
“Thanks Sanji.” The chair scraped as the surgeon stood up, handing the plate to the chef before escaping to the showers. He couldn’t help but smirk when he saw the change of clothes resting on the railing, and quickly stepped under the hot water. As the liquid washed away his sweat and dirt, Law couldn’t help but think.
For the first time since being poisoned, he had finally gotten time alone, and he was grateful for it. The fact that he had no recollection of what had happened in the last few days was shocking on its own, but from the worried looks he was continuously getting, he guessed that it had been bad. He had never seen Penguin and Shachi look so worried, except when he had gotten stabbed in the middle of a fight and ended up with a collapsed lung. That had been a bad day, nobody knew if he would make it… Not even himself. Similarly to that day, he had no recollections of what had happened since he had gotten injured till he woke up in his own infirmary. The fact that he had been dangerously close to brain damage with a fever, then suddenly dropped to hypothermic, then could have stopped breathing weighed heavily on his mind, and the surgeon slid down until he was sitting on the cold tile floor, curling himself into a ball as he focused on his breathing. He had died for a few minutes, actually died. His brain tugged at a memory of when he had a similar shock, and flashes of the infirmary that he had just been in ran through his mind. Kidd trying to calm him, Kidd mumbling nonsense at Law to get him to calm down, Kidd leaving the infirmary… Him being left alone… Then it was all blank.
The surgeon roughly shook his head, snapping himself out of his thoughts as he quickly scrubbed himself clean and stepped out from under the cascading water. The spotted hat was a familiar and welcoming weight on his slightly damp and immensely tousled locks. Law sighed, looking at his reflection in the mirror. The shadows under his eyes had darkened even more, making his eyes appear sunken and dead. He had not lost a drastic amount of weight thankfully, but it was still pretty noticeable when he ran his hands along his ribs. No wonder Sanji only gave him a light meal, he’d probably stuff the surgeon full of carbohydrates at supper. He lowered his gaze, stretching gently to loosen up his muscles before he headed to the deck, hoping for some fresh air.
The sea spray was cool and it refreshed the surgeon as he inhaled the salty air. Despite it being his mortal enemy, he loved the ocean. It was an endless abyss of both life and death, hiding unsolved mysteries under its blue waves, hiding many secrets from the world of men.
Who knew just how many corpses were underneath the litres of liquid beneath their very feet...?
Before his brain could continue conjuring up more morbid thoughts, he was suddenly jumped on from behind, someone pulling him backwards until a tight circle of arms and chests and bodies surrounded him. He was about to panic and teleport away before he recognized the white overalls that his whole crew donned, and let loose a grown as they piled on him one by one, smothering the captain with hugs. Figments of speech caught his ear just as he felt his back connect with the deck, his breath whooshing out of him in one quick second.
"Watch his head!"
"Be careful Nigel!"
"Oh will you stop weeping Sam!"
"Jean come on!"
"You're all drama queens.."
"Bepo stop sniffing in my shirt!"
"I'M SORRY!"
"The hell is going on here?" Shachi appeared, still rubbing his eyes to push away the remains of sleep.
"Don't put him in the infirmary again!" Penguin growled, appearing behind Shachi.
"Get off me." Law's voice was but a small growl, his cheeks ignited with colour as his crew pulled back, and Penguin and Shachi promptly pulled him upwards again, the young surgeon dusting himself off as Luffy suddenly appeared out of nowhere, attaching himself to Law's back like an octopus. "STRAW-HAT!"
"We're having a party tonight Traffy! You're all invited!" Luffy's typical laugh followed as he bound off, not giving time to the surgeon to think of an excuse before he went to annoy Usopp.
Law groaned, shying away from his crew's excitement at the prospect of a party. Weariness was catching up with him, and he didn't pay any attention to them as he lay against Bepo, tipping his hat so the blazing sun would not pierce his eyes directly before he succumbed to slumber.
Night came way too quickly. In no time at all, food was practically flowing, Sanji running from one side to the other with trays and drinks. All three crews were full of alcohol, their laughs echoing in the air as for once, they forgot their differences and joined hands, literally, singing and dancing all over the deck. Law couldn't help his small laugh as he saw his friends finally let themselves go, enjoying the rare night of relaxation. Very much like at the bar, Zoro and Nami were drinking along with the others, practically robbing everyone from their money. Luffy, Chopper, Usopp and some members from both Law's crew and Kidd's own crew were causing a ruckus, yelling and shouting and completely acting like six year olds. Not that anyone really minded. The food was mouth watering, as per usual when it came to Sanji, and with a glass of sake to wash it down, Law felt a warm buzz in every fibre of his being as he leaned against the railings. Of course, Chopper had been wary about letting the surgeon drink, but Law paid him no heed, knowing that he needed a drink if he wished to get past everything that had happened... Even if it was a drink that caused everything to happen.
He shook his head, dispelling the negative thoughts as he let himself just enjoy the life he was living. The gentle rocking of the ship was soothing, and Law gazed at the endless abyss of liquid underneath them, a smile touching his lips as the sea-breeze ruffled the locks that snaked from underneath his fluffy hat. For once, no tension was present in his shoulders, and Law let a breath escape his lungs just before Kidd appeared next to him, some of his fiery hair laying limp around his face.
"Don't expect me to go easy on you when I see you again." Kidd's voice was rough, slightly hoarse as he gargled the alcohol as if it was water. Law smirked, easily recognizing what Kidd was saying.
"Does that mean you're happy to see me back to full health?" The red-head grunted, a huff escaping his parted lips. "Thank you though, for getting me out and saving me." The uncharacteristic gratefulness struck the red-head, and he fumbled for words just as Law ducked his head, kicking himself for having expressed his emotions. Now the red-head had even more ammunition to tease him with.
“It doesn’t make sense for you to die now if I want to fight you for the one piece does it?” Kidd’s tone was that of forced anger, the real tone of relief easily decipherable underneath.
“It doesn’t.” Law’s smirk came as natural as breathing, and he downed his glass to fill in the silence that had descended between them.
“You should take care of yourself better in the New World Law, Luffy’s not always going to be there to save your ass.” The unexpected advice caused the surgeon to really look at Eustass, meeting the blood red eyes that were swimming with relief, but still had traces of panic and fear underneath. He didn’t have much time to muse on it before the red-head spoke up again. “Now come on, let’s go enjoy ourselves while we have the chance.” Law laughed, accepting another glass of sake before mingling with the rest of his crew, for once not caring if Penguin decided to throw a hand around his shoulder for more than a few seconds.
The rest of the night passed in quite a blur, and soon enough all the pirates were scattered around, fast asleep and totally relaxed.
It was past mid-morning when Law first began to stir again. He was laying on his side, head pillowed on Bepo’s outstretched arm. He turned on his back, gazing up at the blue sky before sitting up. Everyone was still scattered around, limbs outstretched and on each other’s faces. He gazed softly at his own crew, knowing that they’d all have killer hangovers when they awoke, and the sun shining directly in their faces would not be welcomed. As he had not drunken much, he was relatively fine standing in the shade, observing everyone until one thing struck him as odd. There were relatively less people on deck than there had been the night before. On further inspection, he realized that Eustass Kidd was gone, along with his crew and his ship. It surprised the surgeon, seeing as he had seen the red-head down several drinks while they were talking. But then again, Kidd was always full of surprises. Law took a breath, wrinkling his nose against the odour of several mixed drinks and even some vomit. He felt completely fine, if only a little fatigued. After casting another look around the deck, he lay back against his first mate and fell asleep again.
Saiko frowned. His head still ached from the knock-out that Luffy had given him, but it was nothing next to what the surgeon had went through, so he was determined to endure it. He was determined to turn his life around, even if he didn’t have much left. He was nearing his 50s after all. Everybody knew who he was, his face had been all over the papers, so he had no hope of getting an official job with the government, but maybe here, they would accept him for who he is. Maybe the shelter would accept him, give him a place to live. He never cared much for money, he didn’t have anyone to send it to, or any way to spend it, so he might as well do voluntary work as far as he had a place to live.
It was a large building, square-like with plain windows and a large, wooden door. The knocker felt as if it was glaring at him, intimidating him, scaring his wrinkled face away. With clenched eyes, he settled his shoulders, raising to his full glory before knocking, the sound reverberating both inwards and outwards. His first instinct was to bolt, run away from possible pitying faces; his pride was too high for that. But then, he fought against that instinct, grounding himself just as the door opened, the hinges creaking only slightly, revealing a huge, busty, woman clad in a flour dusted apron. He forgot his manners then, his jaw dropping to the ground.
“Well? What do ya need?” The woman’s accent was thick, and he shook himself out of his shock.
“A place to live. I’ll work for free.” The practised phrases felt heavy on his tongue, and he let his proud expression fall, revealing how tired he was, how desperate.
“Well, standing out there won’t help. C’mon, we’ll find ya somethin’.” She turned, leaving the door open. Saiko scrambled to follow her, relief filling his being as he took in his home from now on.
There were several people laying around. Some of them were the refugees, there because they needed the food provided and the basic needs such as a blanket or so. Others were like him, desperate for a job or even somewhere to stay. He was startled out of his observations when a broom was handed to him, and the woman pointed to a room. Looks like he wouldn’t be sitting on his ass around here. With a smile still gracing his tired lips, he headed to work.
“You’re not leaving before I check you out!” Chopper’s high voice rang out from the other side of the deck, frowning as a hint of disapproval made it through his tone.
It was past afternoon, and they had all eaten lunch before the captain of the Heart pirates had announced that they were leaving. His crew had been horribly hungover, but after Chopper gave them something for the headaches and they had threw up all the liquor from the night before, they were as good as new. Of course, Chopper was still worried on Law's state of health, even if the surgeon was one of the first to wake up and was clearly back to full health.
“I’m fine Chopper!” Law groaned, hearing his crew stifling laughs and giggles as the reindeer chased the surgeon down, trying to drag him to the infirmary again.
“Humour him Law, you have nothing to hide, do you?” Penguin’s voice rung out, his grin stretching from ear to ear.
“We need to leave, and racoon-ya will surely have me stuck in there for the better part of an hour.” Law grumbled, a frown clearly visible from underneath his head.
“I am not a racoon!” Chopper’s indignant voice became higher in pitch as he stomped his foot.
“Law, let him check you out, come on.” Luffy’s serious voice brought an end to all the arguments. His normal grin was gone, replaced by a sombre expression that didn’t seem fitting on his young face.
Law couldn’t help but sigh, allowing the young doctor to lead him into the infirmary. It turned out that Chopper only wanted to do a basic check up on him, as if to assure himself that he had really done his job well, that Law was completely and utterly cured of the poison that had caused so much havoc. Law watched the little reindeer at work, feeling a warm smile tugging at his lips as he watched the almost fervent determination that drove Chopper. If Chopper had worked like this when he had been poisoned... then Law had no doubt that he would always be in good hands (or hooves) when under the furry doctor's eyes. He was knocked out of his thoughts when Chopper jumped on his lap and suddenly hugged him, his hooves squeezing the surgeon's sides. Law automatically wrapped his arms around the little doctor, unconsciously comforting the both of them.
Half an hour later, the Heart Pirates were standing on their own deck, waving up at their allies. While Law had been recovering, the crew had taken it on themselves to restock their submarine, and for that the surgeon was immensely glad. It saved him a headache after all. Just as his subordinates rushed about the ship to make sure everything was well, Law tipped his hat towards the strawhats, wordlessly thanking them for everything they had done with him. He had talked to Luffy as well, the straw-hat wearer assuring the surgeon that while he was able to, he would do anything so that his friends survive. Law had been rather touched by that declaration, knowing for a fact that the teen had been very serious, even though he had gone off to play with Usopp mere seconds after.
Law was leaning against the wall, letting the gentle rocking of the ship lull him into relaxation before Bepo suddenly appeared, the surgeon's nodachi held against his chest.
"Captain, we're ready to submerge." The surgeon smirked, the hustle bustle of his subordinates sounding like music to his ears.
"Let's leave this island, it is rather poisonous to my sight." Law couldn't help his small chuckle as Penguin's voice echoed from the depths of the corridor.
"DON'T JOKE LIKE THAT!" He sounded frazzled, almost as if he was utterly done with his captain's dark humour.
"BE CAREFUL LAW!" Chopper's high voice reached the submarine clearly, and Law turned, the light hitting his grey eyes so that they shimmered slightly before he smirked at the little doctor, raising one hand in farewell before disappearing in his own vessel.
Bepo closed the door of the submarine, signalling an utterly closed story regarding that island, and quickly went to the navigation room, leaving his captain alone in the corridor.
As a fight broke out and the yells echoed in the metal caverns, the submarine descended into the waters and hightailed it away from the island, symbolically putting everything that had happened behind it and seeking a new adventure.