Seas of Convergence (Trafalgar Law x OC)

Breaking Free

As I strode ahead, Law trailed behind me, his frustration palpable in the air. Caesar had reluctantly agreed to let him keep an eye on me, but it was glaringly obvious that he had better things to do than play the role of a babysitter.

"If you think this little stunt will uncover my motives, you're barking up the wrong tree," he said coolly, his fingers tightening around the hilt of his sword, a silent threat hanging ominously between us.

I pressed on, my destination veering far from the mechanics Caesar wanted checked. My mind was already set on something else—something that pulsed with defiance, like a drumbeat in my chest.

"I've given up on that idea," I shot back, keeping my tone steady despite the storm brewing inside me. "As you pointed out earlier, it's none of my business anyway." I paused, gathering my thoughts as I drew a breath. "But I had this gut feeling: if I stayed locked up in that lab, I'd be signing my own death warrant. And if you disappeared from that doorway, again, I knew you wouldn't return as an ally to Caesar. You'd come back as his enemy. Given my cuffs and my earlier outburst, it's obvious I'm not keen on allying with him—or anyone else for that matter. I only care about myself."

I voiced those last words with a fierce resolve, trying to convince myself, yet a nagging truth clawed at my insides: even though I was in the dark about this man's true intentions, a part of me didn't want to see him fall, or the children in this lab who were merely subjects to Caesar's whims.

Law didn't respond right away. Instead, he let out an irritated "Tch," clearly annoyed that I was forcing my way into his plans. It didn't take long for him to realize that I had no intention of heading to the mechanics.

"Lily-ya," he said, his voice laced with disbelief, "you weren't even planning on checking the mechanics, were you? You had something else in mind the whole time."

"I never mentioned which lab I worked in—or who I trained under—when I spoke to Caesar. That was intentional," I replied, refusing to answer his question directly, feeling the weight of my words even as they spilled out. "I worked under the one scientist that Caesar despises more than anything: Vegapunk. Five years, before I left." I glanced at Law, hoping he'd grasp the implications of my confession. "That's why I know how to help around here. I'm not just some assistant—I'm a scientist."

Law's eyebrow arched slightly, his gaze narrowing, as if he were trying to piece together this sudden revelation.

"And a few days before I arrived here," I continued, my voice lowering, "my home, Kurohana Isle, was destroyed by some invisible, unknown force. That's why I'm looking for the Revolutionary Army, for answers." I paused, searching for the right words, letting the gravity of my past hang in the air. "I can't stay here, trapped as Caesar's pawn. And I get the sense you're not here out of loyalty to him, either. I'm not asking about your reasons or your past. But here's the thing—I have little combat skills, I'm cuffed, and... I know you must have sacrificed something to be here." My voice softened, the vulnerability creeping in. "So, I'm asking you to let me join you in your plan, for now."

It was hard to get the words out, but I meant them. I'd never bowed my head and asked a man for help—well, only once, for Vegapunk.

Law stood silent, his face a mask of inscrutability, but I could see the calculating look in his eyes as he considered my offer, weighing every angle, every risk. At last, he broke the silence, his voice cool and measured.

"Fine," he said, finally relenting. "But stay out of my way." He glanced at me with a sideways look that held a hint of reluctant acceptance. "Follow me. I think I know where the key to your cuffs is."

There was something almost freeing in his words, a small crack of light breaking through the suffocating walls I'd felt closing in around me.

I couldn't help but smile, a wave of happiness washing over me as I nodded, my eyes sparkling with newfound hope. I quickened my pace to catch up to him, walking side by side. Just before he turned away completely, I caught a glimpse of a faint grin tugging at his lips—like he'd anticipated this moment all along. It didn't matter, though; for the first time in this unsettling place, I felt a taste of freedom stirring in my chest.

As we walked in silence, I started firing questions at him, eager for any scrap of information. His replies were curt, clipped, each one more dismissive than the last. But then, as I rounded a corner, trailing a step behind, he abruptly pressed me against the cold metal wall of the lab. His grip was firm, his voice dropping to a serious, almost menacing whisper.

"Lily-ya," he paused before adding, "I agreed to let you in on my plan," he said, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. "And I'm even generous enough to get you the key to your cuffs. But this curiosity of yours?" He leaned closer, his expression hardening into something fierce. "It'll get you killed. I'm not responsible if that happens. You've been sheltered by Vegapunk, cooped up in a lab. This isn't the same—you're in real danger here. Every one of our lives is at stake. So do as I say and don't ask questions."

I scowled, a spark of defiance igniting within me. I shifted slightly, refusing to let him see that his sudden shift in demeanor had shaken me.

"I get it," I replied, my voice steady and resolute. "I'll keep my questions to a minimum, but don't expect me to follow you blindly. I'm not a fool."

He released me and resumed walking, and as I took a moment to gather myself, I exhaled deeply, not even aware I had been holding my breath. Without a backward glance, he offered a curt nod, fully confident that despite his harsh words and brusque demeanor, I would still choose to follow him. It was infuriating, knowing that he recognized my reliance on him—and that frustration only fueled my determination to prove myself.

As we approached the room where the keys to my cuffs lay, I could sense Law's intensity surging. He gripped his sword with a steely resolve, his demeanor shifting into one of lethal preparedness, ready to confront anyone who dared to stand in his way. A thrill ran through me at the thought of witnessing a warlord in action, his devil fruit powers unleashed in the heat of battle.

Fortunately, with Law at my side, the atmosphere felt charged but manageable. As he unlocked my cuffs, a rush of exhilaration surged within me, washing away the lingering unease of my confinement. I flexed my hands, which still ached from weeks of being bound, and a smile broke across my face—freedom, finally. Law, however, was already moving on, his sense of urgency palpable. He shot me a sharp glare, urging me to keep up, as if my newfound liberty was a fleeting opportunity that I needed to seize without hesitation.