Ignite

Chapter Seven: The Orders

A/N: I reread my storyplan and realized I was getting ahead of myself by quite a few chapters! Sorry, you'll have to wait to meet the others~

"But Capta--"

"But nothing. You'll be keeping him," Piatt interrupted via den den mushi.

Kennit sighed, has back resting against the door into Irie's lodgings. Like most marine ships, theirs had individual rooms for the captain. Unfortunately for him, the room currently felt tense to the point he could imagine the floorboards bursting into flame.

"He's a criminal!" Irie snapped. "He deserves imprisonment!"

"He's... complicated," Piatt replied, seeming to have infinite patience. "We can't just throw him into Impel Down. There would be several... powerful figures that would have our heads for such a matter. Until they've been spoken to and the matter settled, you'll be keeping an eye on him. You've already received the sea stone we sent, haven't you?"

Kennit turned his eyes towards the brown paper package he held in his tanned hands. Most likely, Piatt was referring to that. Only minutes before he'd been the one to retrieve it from a delivery bird. Irie, of course, had yet to hear of it.

"What fucking sea stone?" she demanded.

Kennit winced. She really must have been pissed.

"The cuffs," Piatt sighed. "We sent them the instant news of this matter reached us. They should enable you to keep Pin Igneous at least somewhat compliant. Given the circumstances, you can't simply confine him to a cell below deck. He'll have to be fed and given certain freedoms."

"To hell he--"

"Trust me, Skytte. It's for your own good. If word gets out that we mistreated this particular criminal... you'll have wished that you really had been crushed in that tunnel collapse. Understood?"

Silence followed their captain's words. Kennit's lips twisted upwards despite the tense circumstances. Honestly, Irie's stubborn nature would never change.

"It's an order, Lieutenant."

Something akin to a growl escaped Irie's throat and Kennit could hear the distinct sound of something being dragged across the floor. No doubt it was her desk chair, as he imagined she was to the point of throwing things and had decided to seat herself to avoid such embarrassing actions.

"Very well," she spat. "I'll treat the damn criminal like royalty. Happy?"

"Extremely," Piatt retorted. "Report to me once again once you've reached Tropical Peak. Dismissed."

With that, the room behind Kennit's back went silent. He began counting in his head. No doubt he would get a earful if he walked in directly after the end of the conversation, making it far too obvious that he'd been eavesdropping.

"Kennit, get your ass in here!"

He should have known that wouldn't work.

An amused smile on his lips, Kennit tucked the package under one arm before tugging the door open and peering cautiously into the dimly lit room. Irie had dropped herself into her desk chair, fingers impatiently tapping the arms on each side of her. She seemed to be trembling, as if all the built up anger had taken physical manifestation. Mentally, he noted that perhaps it was best if he tip-toed around their conversation for the time being.

"So... I'll take it I don't need to ask what this is?" he commented, holding up the package in his hands.

"Dammit," Irie hissed. "I don't need another asshole in my life."