Silver Raven

Past, Present, and Future

"What do you want to know?" I ask while starting to push myself off the table. I grit my teeth as my back protests the movement.

"I wouldn't move yet, Raven-ya," Law says while standing up, ready to catch me in case I fall.

"I'm fine, it's going to take more than that to keep me down," I grimace at the end, not even convincing myself. "Just, let me sit up." He holds out a hand and I take it. He helps me off the table and settle into a couch on the other side of the room. He then takes a seat next to me. As I sink into the cushion my back aches from the pressure. Then the coolness of the leather soothes my sore scab.

"I wish to know everything," he says once I appear to be comfortable.

"It all started when the navy came for my brother. I barely even remember him at all, I was only six. That event started separating my family. I guess I was never fit to be a pirate. I was a kind kid who wasn't particularly strong or smart. I was extremely average. My uncle realized that I wasn't fit for the life of pirates at an early age and told my mother. He tried to convince her that I shouldn't be on a ship at all. I knew I wasn't strong or cruel enough, I knew but I didn't like the alternative. I knew that if I wasn't strong enough to stay with them then they'd leave me on some island and never come back. I'd never get to see them or my brother ever again. So I was determined to fit in, I desperately wanted to stay with my family. 

'That's around when Shira started to develop. I was young enough not to think of the voices in my head as weird. She also helped me become stronger and fit in with the crew. She had control over my body most hours of the day. I rarely ever faced reality." I take in a deep breath, unsure of where I should continue from.

"I thought Hawk said you only had an older sister." Law chimes in.

"The navy, they deemed my brother's devil fruit too powerful and didn't want to release the fact of his existence to the public. So he has no bounty, no official identity at all. Yet, I'd argue that he's the most powerful pirate in all the seas. At least, he would've been. He ate the Splash Splash Fruit." I explain.

Law's eyes widen, "You mean the legendary logia type? The Devil Fruit that turns you into water itself?"

"Ya, the one that isn't supposed to exist. On his 16th birthday they deemed him too powerful and brought half the navy to apprehend him. They ended up making a deal and no fighting actually took place, but I haven't seen him since that day. They say he moved to an island in South Blue and gave up pirating." As I speak those words, I feel hollow inside. "My father began growing more distant over the years, barely recognizing my existence but my mother was enthralled with Shira. 

'Then, one day I randomly woke up in my body during one of Shira's killing sprees. This is when the Armageddon pirates started making a name for themselves in the New World. We were supposed to be aiding the Doflamingo pirates. I suddenly regained consciousness, I was surrounded by dozens on corpses. My hand was emerged in a woman's abdomen and there was a smile on my face. The woman was still screaming. God, she was still alive while my fingers were wrapped around her guts." I can feel a single tear gliding down my cheek, yet my voice doesn't quiver. I've already replayed the scene in my head enough times to where it no longer gives me a complete break down. "After that, I vowed not to let Shira use my body again. During the eight years she had control over me, the World Government thought she was my sister, not me. She had died my hair red with the blood of her enemies. After that, I started getting stronger on my own, not relying on her"

"Your mother didn't like you giving up Shira's power?" Law asks me while gently rubbing my shoulder, trying to comfort me.

"Pretty much, she was always cold towards since that day. That was also when we cut ties with the Doflamingo pirates. I'm not entirely sure what happened that day. Then, when I was 16, I stood up for a prisoner on the ship and that was the last straw for her. I didn't want to fight her and then I ended up over the side of the ship, my stomach cut open. A merchant ship found me and took me with them to Sabaody. I found work there and never left until you showed up." I finish my story and blow a sigh of relief.

Law is quiet for a few minutes longer, his hand still lingering on my shoulder blade. "I suppose it's my turn to share." he gives a small, forced smile. As he tells me the story of his villages disease and his escape, my heart aches for what he's had to go through. As he tells me about the man named Corazon, I try my hardest to hold back my own tears. Through the story, my opinion of Doflamingo goes from disdain to utter hatred. 

"I'm sorry," Is all I mutter as his story catches up to present day. I know those petty words mean nothing in the face of hardship, there's just nothing else to say.

"Don't be, I plan on getting my revenge soon enough." Is Law's reply. It surprises me, I'd never considered getting any type of revenge for my misfortunes. I'm not sure if I ever could, but maybe I could at least understand.

"And this revenge has something to do with harvesting these hearts?" I ask. He nods his head solemnly. "Then, what do you plan on doing once you achieve this revenge?"

"I doubt I'll live past it. But if I did, I'm not sure. I guess I'd have to find a new goal." he looks slightly surprised by the question. He'd obviously never given it much thought.

"You'll live past it, I'll make sure of it." I tell him, determination filling my limbs. He looks taken aback by my vow. "I'll help you, but first I have to ask you for a couple of favors."

He raises an eyebrow at me, "What would those be?"

"The first, I want you to give me some time for me to find my brother. There's something I need to know." I tell him, finally making up my mind.

"And what's the second favor?" he asks, not answering my first request.

"In the meantime, I don't want you to die," I can feel my cheeks heating up as I say something so sincere.

Law looks surprised then begins to chuckle. "As you wish, Raven-ya. But first I have a request of my own."

He leans in closer to me, his hair noticeably messy without his hat on. "What would that be?" I ask, refusing to back away. Without another word, be gently places his lips on mine.

"Come back safely." he whispers as he pulls away, his eyes locked on mine. For a few seconds, I'm speechless. This causes another chuckle to come out the back of his throat. Instead of words, I figure actions speak louder. This time, I lean in and plant my lips on his a bit more forcefully.

Thank you for saving me, for bringing me back to the sea. Thank you for restoring my courage to me. I will repay you one day. Are all the things I want to say to him, but these simple words will never convey how truly I mean them. Instead, I let my lips do the talking.