For 5.6 kilometers over bare rock and orange sand, the retrieval team hiked the Mirrored Basin in the blistering heat. The map Law acquired showed that New Kelna, a merchant town was located on the far side of an oasis encampment a day from where the Polar Tang was docked. At the rate the team was going, they'd arrive at the encampment the same time tomorrow, meaning they'd have to camp out in the desert for the night.
It was a long and tedious excursion, in Samira's opinion, one she wanted to end quickly and without issues. But deep in her heart, she knew different. Something was bound to happen. Trouble seemed to follow her wherever she went.
Staring at the captain heading the team, Samira wondered why he chose her to come along with them. She grunted in annoyance and rushed to his side.
The said man peeked at her from the corner of his eye and raised a brow.
"Do you need something, Amunet-ya?"
"I wanted to ask you something," Samira mentioned.
Law snorted.
"I'm amazed that you have the energy to chat."
She honestly was too. At first, the entire team was filled with excitement and oomph. Penguin even brought the tone dial for entertainment, but the further they hiked in the heat, crossing dune after dune, the less energy they had to expend. It was a lot easier for them to remain quiet and focus on walking.
"Why did you bring me along?" Samira asked.
"It sounded like a better idea than leaving you at the sub," he answered.
Samira frowned. She wasn't sure why her stomach was in knots; she knew his tone would be impersonal.
"Who knows the sort of damage I'd cause there," she uttered with a snort.
Law sighed.
"There is no one there to look after your injuries. And having you remain on the sub is a waste of your potential."
Her face heated up. Was he trying to make her feel better? Samira doubted it. Law didn't seem like the type of person to lie to make her feel better.
"How is the pain?"
Samira widened her eyes. Was he asking in concern?
"It hurts like hell," she answered.
Law grunted and shot a glare at her.
"That's because you aren't listening to me. You keep exerting yourself and making the pain worse."
"You aren't my captain," Samira rebutted.
His brow twitched. It was the truth, but she annoyed him when she didn't listen.
"I'm your doctor," Law stated. "And just so you know, if you were on my crew, a comment like that would earn you laundry duty for a month."
Was he serious? Samira groaned.
"That's mean."
Law grinned.
"Then you'd best remain on my good side."
He watched her ease the haversack from her back and yank a bottle of water from the inside, handing it to him.
"For my doctor," Samira uttered. "I can't have him get overheated. Who will take care of me then?"
Law took the bottle from her and averted his head. He was rubbing off on her. Turning his attention to the path ahead, he noticed a wide trench in the distance. He retrieved the map from his bag and took a look at it, groaning.
YOU ARE READING
In Chains
FanfictionMeeting him was a miracle; meeting her was an opportunity. Both thought they were incapable of love, bound in heavy chains that were meant to enslave them forever. How wrong they were.
