Opavia vl.2

3.

vitani hummed as she stepped out the bathroom in the oversized shirt and pants. dakota stood excitingly, taking her hand.

"you're out! now noah can help you!" he beamed.

"help me?" she whispered, dakota proceeding to lead her downstairs. she approached the kitchen table, looking down at the bowl of ramen.

"thank you." she murmured as noah took a seat beside her. he worked on her wounds as she ate in silence, watching him work.

"do you know what you're doing?" she hummed after a few moments. he seemed to scowl, concentrating on her arm.

"i'm no professional."

"i can tell." she mused, chuckling softly.

"did you hear about how firefist ace is getting executed?" dakota blurted, vitani choking on her mouthful of noodles

"what?!" she sputtered.

"it was in the newspaper!" noah snapped.

"i didn't see that!" she cried, snatching the paper. "kaya's will."

"you know him?" noah presumed.

"he's my captain's brother and my sister's boyfriend." she sighed. "marinford? is that far?"

"no, it's the next island to the north." noah responded. "is that where you're planning to go?"

"my sister will be there. and my captain." she stood. "i have no choice but to."

"but you haven't healed-"

"i'll be fine." she walked forward, stopping at the creaking of steps outside the front door.

"dad's home!" dakota whispered frantically, noah pushing vitani up the steps.

"my dad can't know you're here, go hide upstairs under noah's bed!" he whispered, vitani disappearing. noah gawked in silence as the door opened, dakota smiling.

"hey father!" he beamed, noah smiling in greeting.

"hello." he yawned, moving forward. He was a tall man with jet black hair in a low bun, shaved cleanly on the sides. He had piercing blue eyes, a "justice" cape draped over his back. "why's the alcohol out?"

"i cut my finger earlier." noah quickly excused. "i forgot to clean it up, my mistake.

"i see you two already ate." he hummed, looking over the remaining ramen inside the bowl.

"yeah just a snack." he hummed. his father turned, taking off his admiral coat.

he tore off the tag reading "Raven" and tossed it in the trash, running a hand over his head. he yawned once more, resting his hand on his head.

"your mother still isn't back i see." he hummed.

"nah." dakota smiled, sitting down. "but that's okay. why do you seem so sad?"

"i'm just stressed. it's a lot going on at work. marines coming from all over, training for the battle ahead of us at Marinford."

"marinford" noah repeated, drawing Raven's attention.

"what's the matter?"

"what battle?" he inquired, raven blinking.

"fire fist ace's execution will be held there in a few days. it's drawing a lot of attention and whitebeard won't sit back in silence when one of his men is being executed. there's rumors that he will declare war over the world government itself."

"what?! just because of a crew member?!" noah gaped.

"ace is more than just a crewmember to him. he looks to him as if he were his own blood. so it'll be no surprise the way whitebeard will act."