Justice and Piracy (a Zoro love story)

Justice and Piracy (a Zoro love story) : Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen,
"Medic."

I held my arm as blood trickled down to my elbow. I hoped it wouldn't stain Luffy's shirt though the red on red would have been hard to see. I managed to stop my nosebleed before the waiter skulked forward.

"I'll get the bill, and send me the cost of damages too." Smoker ordered and his assistant nodded and she took the waiter to one side.

"Shit. You don't look great," he motioned at me and lit a new cigar. "Just sit tight, alright?"

I wondered what he meant by that and in the same moment he leaned forward and scooped me off the table holding me in his arms like you might a small child. A nervous cry left my lips as I felt the ground move away from underneath me, my stomach twisted into a knot.

"What? Where are we going? Wait! My bag!" I called frantically, and he pulled the duffle bag from under the table and looped it over his shoulder.

He ignored my protests and we left the restaurant, all eyes on us until we met with the busy hustle of bodies outside. I held the fur trim of his open white jacket, it wasn't the usual Marine standard, but nothing much was about this captain. I sat awkwardly in his embrace, uncomfortable as he pressed me against the iron of his chest.

"Can you let me down?" I asked, I didn't want to have to resort to my abilities, he might chase after me and this city was no place for a fight. If Zoro and Luffy would rather bow out gracefully than he had to be strong.

"I'm just taking you to the pier, I'll get my ship's medic to check you over," he said in a low gruff voice, he looked down at me then and at my upturned face before a blush crept in over his cheeks. His mouth pressed into a thin line. The light pink looked odd on this overly masculine marine and despite myself I found myself laughing. I covered my mouth to stifle the sound but he noticed, of course.

It reminded me of a long time ago, when I was on the war council upon my home Island of 'Sin Acre'. I was once told by a dear friend that I held a strange bewitching quality, that getting too close to me was dangerous, that I was easy to love. At the time I didn't understand. He said that even amongst the most beautiful of woman I would consume all attention. That it was as if he had no choice in the matter, that I was a seductress with every word and motion.

"What if I told you that I was a pirate?" I teased, my voice was still light from my laughter.

"This is a pirate town." He scoffed, "You get shot by a marine?"

"Maybe." I smiled, "Almost got my head smashed in, too."

He rolled his eyes and the tide of people parted to let us pass. The roar of waves almost audible amongst the chatter. A puff of white smoke left his lips and vaporised in the air, I turned my head into his coat so not to inhale it. I didn't want to admit it, but it made my eyes water a little.

"I haven't seen you on the wanted posters." He joked, "If I do I'll be sure to pick you up."

"Is that a threat or an invitation?" I hedged, he didn't find it funny, in fact it made the pink a shade darker upon his cheekbones.

When we got to the pier he sat me down on a rough square of lumber and called for a doctor to climb down from a large marine vessel bobbing alone in the water. A young brown-haired soldier, average in both looks and size met with us and asked that I remove Luffy's shirt. I pulled it over my head and the two men boggled at the white silk of my low cut top beneath. I would feel self conscious had this not been a recurring reaction to my usual attire.

The doctor sheepishly unravelled my bandages and swabbed away the blood, his equipment spread evenly over a thick blue cloth at his side. With a few snips he removed Choppers stitches and began sewing his own into my arm, I felt the pull of skin but the pain didn't bother me.

Smoker was a statue, serious as he watched. I thought I might like this man had I been a marine in another life and although I could count the days I'd spent with the straw-hats on only one hand it was with them that my allegiance laid.

"You should give up on being a Pirate. It's too dangerous for a woman like you." He told me then.

"I'm stronger than you think." I didn't let the comment annoy me, even though my powers returned to me I still remembered the powerlessness I'd felt over the past two years.

My shoulders squared, I could take him. He looked me in the eyes and I stared back with an icy gaze, within them I recalled my days of war and calculated his strength to mine. I was yet to meet another devilsfruit that could trump my glassy abilities.

The doctor bound my shoulder in bandages again and gave me a minor once over, for my benefit or his, I couldn't tell. Smoker ushered him away with an annoyed wave of his hand and he glanced back one last time before leaving.

"You're going to be pretty annoyed that you let me go." I warned as I collected my bag and dusted myself down, ready to leave myself. My voice was double edged but cheery. I was going to get away with this.

"Probably." He said, and I wasn't sure if it was for the same reasons that I meant. That shook me a little.

"I'm Yuki, Umino Yuki." I introduced, though the time for introductions was long gone.

"Smoker." He said and he inclined his head, "I look forward to chasing you, pirate Umino Yuki."