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gypsypendragon · 5 months

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Pieces of the Heart:

1: Cold

The Heart Pirates never had a problem with their captain’s obsessive need for staying under radar; subterfuge; hiding. (Not that anybody threw that word around; they were pirates after all and had pride to defend.) Regardless of the reason the Polar Tang spent probably more time below the water’s surface than above it. Besides their poor furred navigator, who was always usually the one to propel the Tang topside before their Captain brought it up himself, none of them ever really complained. The portholes were always filled with underwater views that never got old, or the neat patterns the rays of light would make across the walls and floor of the Tang as water disrupted them. It was calm underwater. Storms would rage above them with untamed fury yet always the Tang remained steady and at ease deep in her underwater refuge.

If there was one thing anyone would probably complain about it would be the temperature the deeper they dove. Those deep, icy waters out of reach of the sun’s warming rays embraced the Tang eagerly the further they went; easily cooling the metal and lowering the temperature inside. Granted, it never lasted long, hence the silence regarding the matter. The sealed space, numerous bodies, and engines pumping out heat would easily warm the air until it got hot, which is when Bepo would start begging for fresh air. There was a very small window though, when the metal halls and walls of the Tang were cold. It was only ever at most a day, maybe two, and it was never paid much mind.

Now, most of the crew had been gathered in North Blue, so their tolerance for a chilly temperature was higher than most. Some even preferred it much like Bepo, but regardless of the tolerance, wet and cold air did not usually mix well.

The first time the initial diving temperature decided it was done being ignored was just before the Heart Pirates had left North Blue. Law choosing to sail for once over his usual orders to dive let the crew enjoy the rare instance of using their deck. With their jolly roger high over their heads proudly pulling them through the water many chose to lounge around in the sun. A few were partially working, checking the sails and ropes casually as they wandered the Tang’s surface, while the rest were off playing games with one another. Law had even been baited out of his precious library to soak in a little sun of his own; courtesy of a pushy Penguin and Shachi who held no regard for their captain’s personal space. They themselves were engaged in a rather loud game of some kind with Bepo and Uni which involved someone shouting a word and then all throwing some ridiculous pose.

Law watched with a subtle fondness as he rested against the railing of the deck. Golden eyes slid lazily across his crew taking in their faces one by one and their antics. Still not quite sure how he’d amassed such an, odd, bunch of nakama, but quietly glad to have them nonetheless. The sun was warm, the breeze off the ocean cool, and clouds floated lazily above them. It was calming and Law could feel himself relaxing involuntarily, only to jolt back into alertness when there were shouts and a harsh lurch to the Tang.

Not sure when exactly he seemed to have drifted off, but Law jumped to his feet unsteadily as the Tang worked to right itself in the water. A massive wave of sea water rushed over the left side of the Tang and washed across the deck. The icy wave knocked a few of the crew off their feet as it swept passed their legs and Law braced for the exhaustion that slammed into him the moment the water drenched him. He felt arms catch him as his legs gave out before he was hauled back up by Clione and Hakugan. They kept a tight hold on him until the sea water was gone and the Tang was steady again.

Shouts persisted, however; and Law saw why. Their ship had been nearly run into by another. The hull of the pirate ship was smashed up against the side of the Tang which must have caused the wave, and already their attackers were launching off the side of the ship. The Heart Pirates were caught off guard, weapons stored safely down below, unthought of in their longing of prescious surface air. Bepo, thank goodness, and a few of the others who were well versed in martial arts managed to keep the few eager pirates from advancing any farther than where they dropped on the deck.

Recovered from the sudden sea water bath he had taken, Law summoned his room. The blue sheen stretched across the Tang until Law found what he was looking for. He only had a few coins in his pocket, but it was better than nothing.

“Penguin! Shachi!” He shouted instantly drawing their attention.

As they turned to him he tossed the coins, the gold shimmering in the air and catching their eyes before Law’s fingers flexed. Instantly the coins were replaced by a number of their crew’s weapons. The duo easily picked theirs out as they caught the small arsenal before quickly shouting for others. One coin Law kept to himself and soon Kikokou was back in Law’s possession. With some of them armed now a few of the crew broke away to run back into the Tang and retrieve the rest of the weapons. Law, thoroughly angered that this unrecognizable crew had the gall to attack them so blatantly, turned his powers on the trespassers. Body parts were removed before the rival crew even realized what was happening and shouts of attack turned to terror.

The attack, though surprising, was weak. As soon as enough of them were armed, and Law had his eyes set on completely dismantling the enemy, the tides of battle turned quickly. One Room later and Law had dismantled not only the crew, first mate, and captain, but the ship. Only satisfied when the pirate ship began to sink an irate Law reappeared on the deck of the Tang as his crew finished off the last of the pretentious crew that had dared to disrupt their rare time outside.

“Everyone back in the Tang!” Law ordered, “Bepo send us under!”

The Mink nodded quickly, “Aye, Captain!” Before taking off into the Tang.

The crew followed after the pair of them as the rival ship sank into the waves. The hatches sealed as headcounts were finished and the familiar sensation of the Polar Tang taking them back to the calm safety of underwater washed through the ship.

Though victorious, they had all still been caught off guard, and some wore the evidence. Penguin had obtained a sizable gash in his forearm, Uni a decent nick to the side, and a few others sported an injury just a bit too big for a band aid. They worked together stashing the weapons back, finding their captain’s precious coins (even if he wouldnt admit to such a frivolous, pointless hobby), and then one by one returning to the infirmary and their captain.

Penguin sat still as Law worked on his arm easily, but he eyed Law’s soaked pants and the bottom of his hoodie, “You should change, Law.”

Gold eyes flicked up to him only momentarily before he returned to the wrap on penguin’s arm, “I will after I’ve checked everyone.”

Shachi, ever near Penguin, shared a look with the older man before Law let Penguin’s arm go.

“Besides, you’re one to talk.” Law leaned back in the chair he occupied as he raised an eyebrow at the duo, “You’re both soaking wet.”

In truth most, if not all, of the crew was soaked from at least the thighs down. Law told them to do the same thing, the hypocrite, but they stubbornly refused to until he did as well. The ever obvious battle of wills persisted through the three most stubborn Heart Pirates even as Law checked through the rest of the crew. He told them all the same thing, and some hesitated, while others blatantly sided with the defiant duo.

“Maybe we should have changed when the Captain told us to.” Clione sighed as he lingered outside the infirmary hallway with the ever growing crowd, “My legs are getting cold!”

“You can go if you want to.” Shachi huffed before turning just enough so Law and he caught each other’s attention, “I’m going to wait until our doctor listens to his own advice!”

Ikkaku shifted on the seat awkwardly as Law’s grip tightened just a little around her calf as he finished her injury. She stood, carefully, as golden eyes looked up at her with clear scrutinizing question. She briefly ducked into her shoulders as she grimaced before trotting out of the infirmary and toward the section of the hall Penguin and Shachi had amassed their nearly mutinous followers.

“Sorry, captain!” She said quickly as she darted out.

Law sighed heavily as his head dipped down; if they were any other group he’d be concerned Penguin and Shachi would be able to full blown mutiny for real and take his whole crew with them. There was far too much trust in the duo though, for that to ever be even a metaphorical concern.

The crew dispersed slowly, especially since the hall before the infirmary door was getting a tad crowded, to go check on their navigator or make sure all the weapons were stored safely. An unspoken agreement of waiting to hear until their hypocritical captain finally changed his clothes spreading between them all. Law allowed himself to dare believe those who left were giving in to the chill setting into their wet clothes, and were off to change finally. Bepo appeared a little while later wondering what the crowded hall was for just as Law finished checking the last crew mate.

“Must be nice not getting cold.” Ikkaku sighed as her shoulders shook for a moment with a slight chill, “Captain hasnt even moved despite the chill in the Tang right now.”

“Maybe his legs are frozen that way.” Clione joked, getting a laugh out of the few around them.

Bepo suddenly grabbed Ikkaku and nuzzled up to her face rubbing his cheek, “If you’re cold I can help!”

She squeaked in surprise but graciously accepted as the Mink’s warm fur was a nice break from the chilly air. She rubbed her face back against his and the two detoured off into a nuzzle fight of who gave up first. In the end, unsurprisingly, it was Ikkaku.

Law moved, drawing everyone’s attention as he walked toward the door to glower at everyone who were still in the wet, now cold, boiler suits, “You’re all going to get sick.”

“Well why dont we all go change then?” Penguin challenge before he and Shachi made a dramatic show out of parting for Law to go first.

Their captain shot them a look before rolling his eyes and slinking passed them. As he moved through the halls toward his own room Law was overly aware that everyone was still in their wet clothes and all watching him subtly; for the most part at least. He muttered something under his breath about stubbornness rubbing off before disappearing into his room. As soon as the door shut everyone else ventured off at quicker-than-normal speeds to their own to finally shed their wet, cold, clothes.

The Tang had dove far downward until it had leveled out at their usual, comfort depth. Calm water gently carried it over the ocean floor as the engines rumbled quietly. Heat was already starting to creep out of the engine rooms and into the halls as if it was trying to warm the crew faster than usual. The Heart Pirates reemerged dry, and slowly warming back up, as the chill of the deeper waters slowly edged away; much to Bepo’s distress. They gathered in the galley slowly but surely as the day’s event became the topic of conversation. Law eventually wandered in, gliding through the galley against the smooth walls like a shadow, before slipping into the same spot as always by Shachi and Penguin.

“Damn attack stole the day from us!” Shachi grumbled through a mouth of food, “We still had a whole half a day left of surface time!”

“Nearly washed some of us overboard with that stunt!” Law heard Clione behind them at the other table as the others nodded with his statement, “Almost even sent the captain over!”

There was a chorus of displeased growls at the mention of the possible outcome, and Law sighed. He noted to himself though, that perhaps they would try to surface again a different day to let the crew regain what they felt they were robbed of. He was well aware of how much they valued their dubbed “Deck Days” after all.

“Captain really did them in though!” A hearty laugh followed as others agreed with vigor.

A few “Serves them right!” and “That’s what they get!” followed suit as conversations started to derail into different topics.

“Dont worry about it Law.” Penguin said gently next to him.

Law blinked and squinted at the older man out of the corner of his eye, “I’m not worrying.”

He ignored the slight curve of Penguin’s lips, “They might have got us off guard, but we’re all fine.”

Bepo rubbed his cheek against the top of Law’s head, “We’re strong captain! A little surprise wont knock us over!”

While Law had no doubt in his crew’s abilities, especially to a mediocre crew like that, he was still concerned with how easily it was for them to have been caught unprepared like that. That wouldnt be happening again.

“Strong as we might be…” Law started eyeing them all, “We wont be any good if some of us get sick. Next time any of us get drenched drying off comes first.”

“Of course, of course captain.” Shachi and Penguin both grinned as they each slapped a hand on his shoulder, “Long as you do the same.”

Law looked about to protest; some round-about excuse they were sure. Instead he shut his mouth with a huff, and the two took it as a victory. For now.

“Besides! We’re North Blue pirates, we’re probably immune to a cold by now, captain!” Shachi grinned wide as the others nearby laughed with him.

…

Shachi sneezed, and then cursed.

It hadnt been his first sneeze of the day, it hadnt even been his first sneeze of the hour. He just had to have gone and open his big mouth trying to placate Law after yesterday’s ambush fiasco. He was working in the engine room this week, and he was for once glad to be. Though loud and always ending in oil slick hair and hands Shachi was out of the eyes of Law while in there. While their captain had offered long ago to learn the workings of the engine as well they had all objected, saying he was already the captain and doctor that was enough. It was the one place Law rarely ventured, if ever.

It also meant it was a good spot for hiding when you knew you were coming down with a cold that you were oh so confident about not getting.

Shachi sneezed again, this one catching him off guard, and he smacked his forehead into one of the pipes above him. He groaned with a curse as he rubbed his head.

“Shachi are you okay?” Clione, who had apparently been trapped on engine duty as well this week, slid out from under a mess of machinery to look up at the ginger with curious concern, “You’ve been cursing a lot since you got in here.”

“I’m fine.” Shachi grumbled, sniffed as he wiped his nose, “Just been sneezing like crazy lately.”

Clione looked at him for longer than would have been a regular glance which caught Shachi’s attention.

“What?”

“... are you getting sick?”

The tone wasnt accusatory, but sounded more like a desperate need to know.

The ginger squinted behind his shades as he eyed Clione for a second. His nose was uncharacteristically red now that Shachi looked at him, but that could have been contributed to the heat in the room.

“Are you already sick?” Shachi challenged finally.

There was a stiff nod from the man below him, “I had the chills this morning! And my nose wont stop running… I traded chores with Uni this week just to hide in here!”

Shachi laughed suddenly, “That’s the only reason Im not trying to trade with Penguin!”

“If the captain finds out he’s going to be so cross!” Clione groaned as he slid back under the area he had been working on before.

“He’ll definitely give us, especially me, one hell of an earful if he catches us.” Shachi barely finished before he sneezed again, “We gotta keep this under wraps…”

“Agreed…” Responded Clione’s disembodied voice with a tone of distress in it.

Underwraps was fine and dandy the first two days. Clione deteriorated faster than Shachi did though, opting to go without talking on the third day since his voice was scratchy. It drew some attention, but luckily it wasnt questioned too hard.

As odd as that in itself was.

Shachi ran headlong into Law on the third day by accident, but his surprised sputtering was able to bewilder the man enough to allow Shachi escape. Penguin later relayed to him that Law had asked if Shachi was inhaling too many of the engine room’s oils and was suddenly considering if a week of engine room duty was too much at a time. It would have been funny, if Shachi hadnt heard Penguin sniff harder than usual leaving the room again.

It became apparent to Shachi, who was suddenly aware Penguin was also sick, that under wraps was dwindling to impossible. In a hilariously evil twist of events most of the crew had contracted some form of a cold it seemed. They ranged from just the obnoxious sniffles to down right coughs and headaches, and Law was growing more and more suspicious of them all as the hours ticked on. He had been, fortunately, mostly locked away in his library pouring over a rather large amount of information they’d managed to obtain regarding Doflamingo. While usually the crew would try to break him out of it every so often; right now they took it as an ally against the impending discovery. Bepo, bless him, was concerned that all his human nakama were almost all under the weather, but had been persuaded (partially threatened on Penguin and Shachi’s end) to keep it from Law. He was not pleased about it at all, but so far had complied.

They thought they would make it, especially when Clione (who’d been one to have it pretty bad) came out one morning looking and sounding far better than he had been.

The illusion wouldnt last however. An accident in the galley ultimately ended up bringing Law’s full attention to Uni who had dropped a knife. The blade had cut his palm when he’d tried to catch it, and any moment Bepo declared blood was in the air, Law was alert like a hawk. He cornered the taller man in the kitchen intent on attending to the injury, but the Heart Pirates in the area watched with apprehension as the blue sheen of his room spread out no doubt in an attempt to shamble bandages from the infirmary to his hand. It enveloped across the galley and as it slid across the bodies in the area they watched it falter for a moment.

Penguin and Shachi who happened to be in the galley at the time flinched when they watched the sheen shudder for a moment before it extended out of the galley. Uni stood rigid as his captain’s golden eyes stared up at him with a scrutinizing glare.

The entire galley twitched when the word “Scan” left their captain’s lips.

Uni watched with wide eyes as Law’s face contorted into a bizarre mixture of surprise, anger, and exasperation all at the same time. Bandages appeared a few seconds later and Law wordlessly disinfected and wrapped Uni’s hand before he stiffly turned toward where the notorious duo were sitting.

The pair wasted no time scrambling up from the table and making a dart for the door, but with his room still active Law easily summoned them right back to his position. They tripped over each other as they were teleported into the kitchen area landing in a heap on one another.

“Immune to a cold, was it?” Law’s voice slid across the air calmly and everyone else made quick work to vacate as fast as possible; all but poor Uni who was doing his best to meld into the back walls of the kitchen while his captain blocked the only door out.

The pair half leaned up over each other to look up at the absolutely furious glare Law was sending down at them accompanied by an arched eyebrow no doubt waiting for an excuse he knew wouldnt help them.

“It’s just a cold!” Penguin started first, “It’s not that big a deal!”

“Yeah besides! I’m almost over mine already!” Shachi’s whine was obvious.

“I warned you that you’d all get sick!” Law started, his tone oddly close to a parent scolding children, “The Tang gets cold as we dive, it takes a day or so for her to warm the halls. You all wanted to sit around in wet clothes like the stubborn idiots you are! You even dragged the rest of the crew into this!”

The duo shot up to their feet as they rounded on Law. Penguin was the first, “Well you wanted to be just ast stubborn! No one was in danger; you could have gotten out of your wet clothes before taking care of us! We’re capable of at least patch work!”

“You especially should have gone first!” Shachi added before Law could get a sound out, “You were soaked in sea water Law! On top of that, used your abilities! Out of all of us you should have taken care of yourself first.”

The two stood almost chest to chest with Law, but none of them gave in to each other. It was a common occurrence when the three most stubborn of the Heart Pirates collided in conflicting views; usually always on the welfare of each other.

“It’s a cold, Law.” Penguin finally said, his voice dropping some of its argumentative edge, “It’s not some big illness. We know youre a doctor and all, but you still worry too much about even the smallest things.”

“Even a simple illness if pushed too hard could become something worse!” Law stated firmly, but the stiffness of his shoulders had disappeared; Penguin was right and he knew so.

He couldnt help it though.

“We’re fine captain!” Shachi added on finally as the tension fizzled away, “To be honest… more surprised at how long it took you to notice anyone was off.”

Penguin slapped Shachi in the head interrupting the ginger’s laugh as Law twitched. That fight had been almost a week ago; Law really hadnt picked up on it. He’d known things were a bit off with some of the crew, but to completely miss such a widespread illness just because he’d become obsessive again with Doflamingo... Law’s fist clenched at his side.

He would need to be far more observant about his crew before they left for the Grand Line. He was not going to let something important slip by his notice again; in the coming, unforgiving seas, that could cost him his nakamas’ lives.

“Everyone’s getting looked at.” Law finally said sighing before he walked passed the duo, “I want to make sure the symptoms arent too bad.”

The duo sighed as they put their hands on their hips, but resigned. They could at least give him that; they did hide it from him for almost a week after all. Shachi looked at Uni who was still in the kitchen and gestured with his hand.

“Come on, let’s at least go get the others.”

…

Law’s exam of the crew yielded, much to his concern, that all but nine of the crew had some varying degree of a cold. Some were almost over their strain, others were just getting into it, and a few were in the middle of some obnoxious symptoms. Law dished out remedies for the worst symptoms but anybody not suffering from those were told to deal with.

They all assumed it was as much of a consequence as he was willing to give them for not telling him.

Though each exam did come with a stern talk of hiding illness, and not listening to him.

What they were all not prepared for, especially Bepo who felt slightly wronged since he had, had nearly nothing to do with the crew’s stunt (though Law refused to believe that at all knowing the Mink could smell when something was wrong), was Law’s orders to leave the Tang submerged until everyone was healthy again. A rapid roll of complaints flooded the common room of the Tang when Law made the announcement a little while after he’d examined everyone.

“Captain, that's cruel!” Ikkaku huffed from the crowd and a number of the others agreed, “Not all of us were sick!”

“But I’m sure you all knew about everyone who was?” Though ending like a question it was stated more as a fact prompting none to try and argue with it; he wasnt wrong after all.

“We cant stay submerged that long!” Clione whined thinking about the engine and the air filters, “The Tang’s gotta go up at some point, and Uni just barely started getting sick!”

The much taller man groaned as what was visible of his face turned a little red. A chorus of objections flooded over the group before Law held his hands up.

“We’ll surface occasionally.” He shot them all a look when they seemed to take his words wrong, “But only to replace the air, and if there is an island nearby when we need supplies.”

A number of groans and distressed “But Captain!” rolled around the room as the pirates were finally realizing this was probably Law’s true version of punishment for the stunt. Bepo in particular was absolutely appalled by their captain’s verdict, expressing his extreme distaste for the idea.

“We’re not going to risk getting into a fight when more than half of us are not at our best.” He stated, walking toward the door. Stopping Law glanced back at the grumbling members of his crew, “Next time Penguin and Shachi decide to partake in a stubbornness stunt, maybe not be so eager to join them.”

The duo ruffled at Law’s statement, knowing full well he just put crew wide bullseyes on their faces. As he turned and left Law’s lips twitched into a smirk as he heard defiant outcries from Penguin and Shachi before a chorus of irate crew members descended on them. Hopefully that would make the two stop and think before trying to stubborn their way passed his advice, but even as he walked the halls he knew that was far from likely.

They’d been doing it since he met them, and he was sure they’d be doing it long after.

…

The day Law declared the crew finally cured of the stupid cold that had made it’s rounds was the day he let them finally reclaim the Deck Day they were robbed of. To say they were excited would have been an understatement. The minute the Tang surfaced and settled the doors were thrown open and the entire crew swarmed out onto the deck. Sunlight blasted them instantly as cool sea spray met them and it was like they’d been starved. Most of them began with lying about the deck and simply taking in the sun and the fresh air. Soon enough activities began that involved expelling all the pent up energy that the confined space of the Tang couldnt relieve them of.

Penguin and Shachi took up chasing one another in a ridiculous game of tag that soon swept through the entire crew. After that some of them even chose to spar together on deck, while Penguin and a few of the braver crew mates went as far as taking a plunge into the ocean. Law sat on a high point of the Tang, deciding he was a little less inclined to linger near the railing anymore, as he kept an eye on everyone. They’d forgone the sail for now, letting the Tang linger in the wide empty space they’d surfaced in, allowing any number of activities his crew might want to do. He knew Penguin was going to swim, that was a given, but he’d been surprised how many had gone with the older man.

Bepo, the poor guy, was up on deck simply lying on his stomach letting himself cool. Law had been lenient with their surfacing for air resupply only to allow Bepo time to cool; certainly not wanting to subject the poor Mink to the heated space for longer than absolutely necessary. There was a wrestling match going on between Uni and Hakugan which had drawn a small chorus of cheers from others, and Law couldnt help but allow himself a fond smile.

He’d been cross with them that they’d hidden an illness from him; cross with himself for not realizing for so long. He wasnt dumb though, he knew they’d had a solid point as Shachi and Penguin usually did when they argued with him. He’d have to get these small things under control before they entered the Grand Line; the further they went the less forgiving the margin, for even slight error, would be. They would all have to be as top shape as possible, as often as possible, if they were going to survive.

The captain sighed as he leaned back, golden eyes scanning the horizons quickly, before he returned his attention to his crew. They were all stubborn in their own way, but they were strong.

He was sure they’d all be fine…

A sudden tingling sensation over took his sinuses without warning prompting him to spring upright before Law sneezed. Golden eyes blinked for a moment before he groaned and dropped his face in his hands.

They’d be fine. Eventually.

XX🐠🏴‍☠️XX

This is my first crack at trying to write short one shots for the heart pirates. Ive written fanfiction for a number of other things, but have been a bit intimidated to write for the crew. Figured now was better than never to finally give it a go.

I actually had a cold myself for about a week when I wrote this haha. Feels a bit of a stretch to me, regarding how Law would miss this (and the whole thing with cold and wet clothes is considered a myth), but I figured for a first attempt it was good enough...

Feel free to leave constructive criticism; I'm still trying to figure out the crew dynamics I like the most so I'm open to listening to head canons you guys have. I'm simply writing off my own, so always looking for more to adopt.

#writers on tumblr #one piece fanfiction #heart pirates fanfiction #fanfiction #heart pirates #trafalgar law #ikkaku one piece #shachi one piece #penguin one piece #hakugan one piece #uni one piece #one piece heart pirates #Pieces of the Heart by KC

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