The Marionette

Chapter 22: The Missing Heart Returned

The smell of the salty air and warmth from the sunlight hitting your face disappeared as you entered the darkened submarine, a frown replacing your once content face as the metal door closed behind you. Although the promise of having your heart and weapons back did give you a little boost as you walked through the Polar Tang, but that also meant you had to talk with Law.

Something about talking with Law had you feeling nervous recently, and you weren't sure why. Maybe it was how unpredictable it always ended? It was either you two were at each other's throats or you'd have a relatively normal conversation. You shook away your thoughts as you approached his medical lab, already knowing where to find him as this was his usual spot.

You knocked twice before you heard shuffling following by a click of the door, it swinging open to reveal your captain who leaned his shoulder against the doorframe. "Took you long enough," although he sounded annoyed, there was an amused smirk placed on his lips.

"I don't have an excuse," you replied with a shrug as he backed away to allow you room to enter. At the sound of the door locking behind you, you felt your stomach drop as Law casually walked past you and made his way over to his desk.

"The information?" He wasted no time in prying at your mission, his back leaning against the side of his desk with his arms crossed.

You gulped as you turned to him and tried your best to recall the conversation you had with the two men from earlier. "There's been a recent issue of children going missing from different islands or taken away by a doctor who's claiming they're sick," you began as you leaned forward a little, "a doctor they described perfectly matching that of Caesar Clown."

Law's eyes narrowed, "did they say where he's taking them to?" He asked while turning around and snatching a paper, quickly writing some things down on it.

"They didn't know the exact location... just that it was somewhere in the New World," you sighed while placing both of your hands on either side of your hips. "But it only gets more interesting," you said with a perplexed look, "the marines aren't interested in finding their children. Or at least, that's what it feels like. They mentioned a name I've heard before, Vergo. He's supposedly looking over this matter, but nothings come of it." Once the name Vergo left your lips, Law tensed up and stopped writing, his entire body appearing ridged as he straightened his back and turned to peer at you through the brim of his hat.

"Vergo," you'd never heard Law sound this cold before and his words alone sent a chill down your spine. He closed his eyes and let out a breath of air, "It's not a lot to go off of, but it's enough. Good work," although his appraisal was bland, it was enough to make you smile a little.

"And my weapons and heart?" You shyly asked while holding your hands behind your back and staring at him expectantly.

Law let out a "tsk" while pushing himself off of his desk and took a step forward, your chest tightening as he did so. You watched as he threw a pen in the air and said the words, "shambles!" The pen disappeared and in its place your rifle and sword appeared, adrenaline pumping in your veins as you caught your belongings with open arms.

You've never felt more secure as you carefully sat your weapons down on the medical bed behind you, your confidence slowly rising as you turned to face Law again. Now you had a way of defending yourself without relying on others, and that alone made you feel like your old self again. "Now I just need one more thing," you said while holding up a finger and pointing at your chest with a wide smile.

Law's face remained calm as he slowly took a step forward and revealed your heart, it beating loudly in the palm of his hand as he approached you. The closer he got, the faster it pumped, your eyes tracking every movement as you stayed planted. As he placed a hand on your shoulder, the beating heart only increased and a cocky smirk spread across Law's lips. "Why so nervous?" He asked smugly which caused the palms of your hands to become sweaty, your gaze averting so you were staring past him instead of at him.