Two Hearts

I Trust You

"Aisuru-ya,what was 'Project Beloved'?"

"A failure," she yawned, pushing at the top of her pants to indicate the next set of stitches she would allow him to clean.

He helped her get them down far enough to reach the stab wound, then wrung out his sponge. "Clearly." His tone was dry. "Since you're here with me in such a compromising position. What were you supposed to be?"

Aisuru turned her head towards him. "An enforcer for the Navy. I was kidnapped from a small island in the South Blue. That island no longer exists. Rather, my people are gone. I was seven. I... Was trained, shaped, and upgraded all for the purpose of killing. Specifically Warlords who betrayed the government. Warlords like you."

Law knew the feeling all too well. Not the 'killing warlords' part, but being the last of a people. He flipped her over and removed her cami. "I see. And what is it you plan to do?"

"Live." she stared straight up at the ceiling. "That's all I've ever wanted. I conned a guard, and stole a ship. I wanted to know what other kinds of experiments Vegapunk had done, and I got no information from the Pacifista. So I ended up at Punk Hazard." Her mouth twisted in disgust and she pointed to her eye. "It's a camera that records three days worth of whatever it sees. I don't dream anymore, just watch my life all over again. A gift, from Cesar. The one thing he managed to do properly."

He patted her dry, waiting expectantly for her to continue. He tried to withhold judgment until he had all of the information, but it was hard not to feel defensive for his crew.

"I didn't like what he was doing there, but I have no motivation to be a hero. When Vergo told me I didn't have to stay there, I went to Dressrosa with him. I like Doflamingo much less than Cesar, and I find his politics appalling. Of course, the king wanted me for the very reason I had been created. He is how I know about you."

Of course. He could have laughed. Of course.

Aisuru sighed, holding her hand in front of her face and flexed her fingers. "I gave them a lot of grief. I felt kind of bad for making Baby 5 cry, but I didn't want to stay there. I couldn't follow those orders."

"And they were?" He heard himself asking.

She smirked, looking him in the eye. "To bring you back to Doffy."

Law stood, turning his back on her. He took his Nodachi in hand. He didn't feel any uncertainty in his decision. "Aisuru-ya, close your eyes."

"Aye-aye, captain." Her quiet voice dripped with sarcasm and anger, but she didn't argue. "I think it's a bit odd to treat someone if you're going to kill them."

He didn't have an answer for her. He drew his sword. "Room." The blue sphere filled the room. He was somewhat surprised to see that Aisuru was just laying on the bed, with her arms straight down, eyes closed. She wasn't even using her prism-prism powers. She had moved the pillow under her head. Law assumed that she needed the comfort.

"I mean, you could have just let them sell me." She continued, sounding more defeated with every word. "Or, you know, crushed my heart, instead of breaking it."

The words stung, but Trafalgar Law was determined. This was his operating room, and he controlled everything in it. He set to work, taking Aisuru apart one piece at a time. He carefully sorted her by things he had examined and those he would need to examine again.

Aisuru mumbled to herself occasionally, but made no attempt to stop him.

He was careful not to slice the mechanical eye, and spent a moment studying it. The eye was designed quite well, showing no mechanical parts on the outside. Cesar even seemed to have integrated it with Aisuru's natural optic fibers successfully. It was, of course, how she knew exactly what had happened during her fight with the pirate crew.