Operation Code Red! The String of Fate! (Trafalgar Law Fanfiction)

Chapter 23: Snot Nosed Princess

The Straw Hats and Heart Pirates moved onto Barto Club's ship, the Going Luffy, in which they'll be taking them to Zou, where they meet up with the rest of the Heart Pirates. Soon after they went on their ship, Zoro realized that their bounties had gone up from today's newspaper. Bartolomeo threw Law's bounty poster away, but he was nice enough to give Shanna hers since she traveled with the Straw Hats for a while.

"It's gone up!" Shanna giggled excitedly as she showed Law her poster. "It's 320 million now!" Law's brows perked in interest at the picture on the poster. It wasn't the same picture as before, but a snapshot taken some time while she was in the city before all the fighting happened. Looking at the head shot picture of her in the city, and then at the girl now smiling at him, gauze stuck on multiple places on her face, Law could only feel pain in his chest. 

Was it right of him to bring her into all of this? Should he have left her at Swallow Island in the first place? Even now he has doubts as to whether or not he did the right thing. But every time he sees her smile at him, all the hesitation and doubt blow away, and it's like the sky clearing up after a storm.

Law's lips perked into a crooked smirk as he took the poster from her, admiring the way the wind carried her hair in the picture. "Law."

"Hmm?" Law looked up, his smile fading when he saw the uneasy look on Shanna's face. "What's wrong?"

Shanna looked down, suddenly finding the ground very interesting. Her eyes darted left and right as she tried to put together words. Seeing the difficulty she was having, Law took her hand in his, and waited patiently as she mustered out, "I'm sorry for running away. It was...really immature of me."

"What? Was that all you wanted to say?" Law chuckled.

Shanna shook her head. "I-! Do you think it's okay for me to go back like this? I didn't tell anyone, and I just ran. Can I...really be forgiven?"

Law's eyes softened as he pulled her closer. He was sitting on the couch placed on the deck, and Shanna stood in front of him. "Is that what you were worried about?" She nodded weakly at him, her eyes full of worry and guilt. Law patted the seat next to him, and dragged her down to sit at his side. He placed his arm around her shoulders, and laid her head on his shoulder. "They're not mad at you. They're worried sick. If anything they've been mad at me for the past two years."

"Really?" Shanna asked.

"You don't know how hard Jack punched me...." Law groaned as he rubbed his face, still remembering the pain as if it happened yesterday. Shanna snorted out loud, and covered her mouth as she giggled. 

"I can imagine," she laughed. Seeing her smile again, Law's lips too stretched into a grin. 

The Straw Hats came out of the cabin laughing and giggling about their new bounties, though Franky didn't seem very impressed with the number on his bounty. Shanna stood to congratulate them. "How much is your bounty now?" Zoro asked her.

"Three hundred and twenty million," Shanna grinned.

"Oho! Same as me!" Zoro and Shanna raised their fists to bump with each other.

Luffy plopped down next to Law, hooking his elbow on Law's neck as he cheered about their new bounty. The rest of day was a continuation of the banquet in a smaller scale as the Barto Club sailed for Zou.

When night came, most of the crew moved into the cabin while Law, Shanna, Zoro, and Robin sat outside on the deck, enjoying the ocean breeze. Law shared his story with the three of them over some drinks. Zoro and Law both sipped at their beer, while Shanna and Robin had some tea. Zoro listened with a straight face, but his eyes trailed downward as he learned about Law's tragic past. Robin had a very complicated expression as she stared at Law with pity. Shanna, on the other hand, was bawling.