Characters: Trafalgar Law, Penguin, Heart Pirates, Strawhat Pirates

XLVI

The bonfire crackled to the chatter and laughter of the crews gathered around it. It lit up the large clearing in warm oranges and hid what lay behind the trees line in even deeper darkness. But whatever danger in them was the last thing in the Strawhat and Heart pirates' minds.

"A toast to this alliance," Shachi declared amidst the din, up on his feet and raising a half-empty mug of beer. "For beating the shit out of the monster of Zou."

He grinned to the company's toasts and beamed at the women's general direction. Heads shook and eyes rolled at his eagerness, but their owners shared his sentiments all the same. Shachi threw back his booze. Usopp took to the stage, a skewed story of the day's adventure already half out of his lips.

Law smiled over the rim of his mug; Shachi was not tolerating this competition in the limelight. Soon enough, the pair were twisting the day's tale into increasingly impossible proportions. Bepo left Law's side for a front row seat of their inanity.

The Heart Pirates captain watched the minkman's dark silhouette plop down on the far side of the bonfire, where most of the company now gathered. He swiveled his drink as he listened to the tale. Guffaws chorused at both young men's reenactment of Black Leg's return. The dramatically inflecting voices, the crackling, the cheers, and the jeers melted together after a while, meshing until he understood nothing. The noise was warm and comforting.

A salty wind blew from behind him, bringing with it a rustling and a voice that whispered, "you will never be free."

Law's head snapped back with a start. Deep darkness met him beyond illuminated tree trunks and low lying branches. Nothing moved as the wind died. Gray eyes instinctively searched for a slouched, gaunt figure and pointed grin, impossible as it was for the hated man to be there.

"Captain?" A soft hushed voice brought warmth back into his cold lungs. Law exhaled, slow with relief and reassurance. He turned to its owner. Penguin sat, cheeks brushed a drunken red, on the spot Bepo left. On his lap was a large binder.

"Something the matter?" his first mate continued, peering closer into Law's frantic eyes.

Law broke from the intent gaze and drove the chill from his system. "It's nothing," he said. Penguin's concerned frown snapped back into a smile. He offered him the fresh grilled trout in his free hand.

"Great to have you back, captain," he said for what the addressed guessed was the fiftieth time that day. Law accepted his gift and dug in. "We were so worried when we got the news about Dressrosa." Penguin laughed, then cut himself short; his fingers gripped his binder in strange anticipation. "Which was real funny, you know?" He was still smiling, but he looked to his captain like he was waiting for him to say something.

The fish was tasting less and less palatable as the conversation continued. Law set it down to look his crewmate in the eye, but Penguin looked straight through him. "One day we're in an alliance, and the next you've taken down a country with them. With a hostage to boot. Funny how life works, huh captain? Such luck." His smile faltered for a moment, Law registering in his vision just as fleetingly. Penguin grip relaxed off the binder on his lap. "And it was that country too. What luck." He flipped it open.

"You could talk to me straight, Penguin," Law said.

His first mate picked up the loose folder on top of the papers within and sighed. He threw it into the bonfire before replying.

"Defense plan against Donquixote chasers in Zou," he said. "Won't be needing that anymore." He ripped off the top page of the clipped papers. "Outpost map," he continued, balling up the sheet. "Patrol route, traps, supply depot." Each item he counted off was punctuated by the tear of paper. The crumpled conglomerate of plans was in the fire before its predecessor was ash and embers. Penguin gave Law a sidelong glance; he ripped off a wad of sheets. "Temporary bases should Zou not be ready. Territories of the Four Emperors. News on the Blackbeard pirates. Contingency plan, contingency plan, contingency plan."

"This isn't fair, Penguin," Law said quietly.

Penguin closed his binder and tossed it all into the fire. A chorus of cheers erupted from the other side of the bonfire as Shachi, Usopp, and by then Chopper and Bepo peaked into the climax of their story.

"No captain. It isn't fair at all."