yourhatred | appointment's post

[Curious. Okay. We can call it that.

The mesh, after a few awkward tugs, sits removed on his lap. Law folds it and places it on top of the t-shirt. Reaches for the robe, and is very grateful for its presence suddenly.

... well, it isn't like Itachi hasn't seen him practically naked before anyway. Or cared. And it's not like he's in public and flashing the battle scars adorning his front and back.

Like Halloween, it's a stupid, pointless feeling. He shrugs on the robe and banishes it from his mind.]

No problem. I thought you'd want to know. [Yeah... this has you damn bothered.] Anything else you need me to tell you about the guy?

Any sort of description would be helpful, if you were able to actually lay eyes on him.

[Though if he'd been wearing a mask, Law would have said by now.]

Mmmm... thirties. Black hair - short... not as short as I normally try to wear mine, but very clean cut. Spiky though. No facial hair. Dark eyes when they don't have the Sharingan activated. Average height and build. If I had to compare him to you and your brother... there's enough similarity in things like facial structure, that, yeah, someone could think a distant relation.

[There's a dip in his shoulders as he says this and the tone is... yeah, the Malnosso could have been messing with me that way, but that's how it was.]

Pale though. Maybe he hasn't seen the sun much recently.

[He turns his attention to finishing dressing himself.]

Not much of a talker. He only spoke really to give us orders, or brief us on our next objective, or when we were reporting to him. Pretty taciturn in manner. There... was... something to how he spoke though. Old fashioned speech patterns? It's difficult to put a finger on.

...

...

I saw him fight. I probably saw the most of the three of us with him. The others were long distance fighters. I can do long distance, but well, I saw much more close and mid range action. So, well, fire techniques. He uses the regular gear from your world - kunai, tags, and shuriken - and he also favors wire. Genjutsu. Given how the Third Party started acting in a lot of cases, I'm willing to say he hit them with genjutsu.

Strong guy. Very strong. Not in your range, or in mine, if I had to put a definite marker on his power... which I don't want to do. I have a feeling he never showed all his cards. But.

Strong.

[Not Madara. Or rather, Madara if he was playing the fool, but somehow Itachi doubted it. None of that really matched with the elder Uchiha's style.

The man he described fit a couple of memories he had of clan members, but the problem with this place is that it could take people from any point in time. The Uchiha were an old clan. He can't rule out the possibility that this is someone who was around before he was born.

He thinks this over.]

...I would have to see him for myself, I think. Too many of my clan members share similar appearances and techniques, and we were an old, old clan.

[Law nods again and reaches for the teakettle placed on the nightstand, and pours himself a new cup of tea. He's pleased he has the tremors under control enough not to spill. Pouring tea blind is not an issue... he's using another type of sight after all. And even if that sense was denied him, he'd manage none the less.

More liquid in his system might help dull the migraine.]

If I see him again, I'll tell you. [He doubts he will, though.] I don't know if I can getting him chatting, I'll try, but the Malnosso security forces keep the talk to a minimum as a rule, generally.

...

... you gonna sign up for the missions yourself?

If I hadn't been considering it before, I seem to have little choice now.

[He nods somberly.]

I will look into them at the first opportunity.

[Siiiiiiip. And because he has to ask.]

... if you do come across him out there, what will you do?

[He knows (well he hopes he knows) that Itachi won't threaten or kill the man, or any of that unpleasantness. Pointless. Especially at this stage of the game. So it's more curiosity than any sort of worry in his tone.

The concern is still there. But it's underneath.]

That depends on the situation.

Coming in contact with him may be enough.

[If he's even able to meet him at all.]

Aa...

[... now what do you say to that? Nothing. Because Itachi will do as he will and not saying anything probably better conveys Law's deep sense of unease over the entire matter.

He traces the rim of the teacup. Distraction.]

How was things back here when I was gone?

About as can be expected. No major experiments.

Though it's been quiet enough lately that I worry about the upcoming months.

... [His head bows.] Maes showed me the draft announcement and the list last night. [Trace. Feel the warm steam on his face. Sip.] They're not usually so... impersonal. I will have to ask Miss Raine if they've done this before. She's been here since pretty much the beginning.

... haven't heard much out of Miss Molly or Sir Catherine. Or Mister CJ. Or any of the rest of them. [He assumes this hasn't changed since he's been gone.] Haven't seen the General for practically a year... and the mysterious Miss Rem and ANI have been out of the picture longer.

Something's coming. Yes.

...I don't know most of these names.

[There's a brief shake of his head.]

Keep me informed if you learn of anything.

And... we should both watch for anything out of the ordinary.

No?

[That actually surprises him - surprises him enough his eyes open and he glances over, before immediately slamming shut again. Maes Hughes, okay, he wouldn't expect Itachi to know his name. But the rest... most of the rest get talked about in the locked communications that go out time to time when Albert Silverberg briefs the community.]

Agreed. I will. On both things.

[And perhaps it admits to too much. Perhaps it doesn't. Maybe he said it before, last night and just doesn't remember. It can be taken as friendship, or of the things he does not dare utter yet and maybe never will - of the most dangerous thing on the sea.

Things probably never to be returned.

But he wants it said. If he disappears in the next second and all trace of him is erased, he wants Itachi to know at least this.]

I missed you, you know? I was thinking of you out there.

[Something about Itachi's posture stiffens, as though this comment has caught him unaware. He relaxes again soon enough.]

Did you not have much other company? I assure you I ran into no harm while you were gone.

I wasn't alone. [Blind men both are we this morning. Law didn't see that - he sensed it. Katara had been taken aback as well. And had basically the same response as just now.] I had decent company that month... well as decent as things allowed... aside from the Malnosso. Who are fucking assholes. [Putting it mildly, but how often do you hear vulgar language from him?] But even if things had been great, I would have still thought of you. And everyone else important to me.

...Hn.

[Damn this situation.]

I am... grateful for your thoughts. I would tell you they were unnecessary, but I doubt that would matter.

[Law raises his head slightly at that '... Hn.' and then lets it fall. Unnecessary. That word. Such a key word in their relationship.

Unnecessary.

Is what he feels unnecessary? Maybe. Probably. And right now? It's another thing that hurts. He may as well admit it to himself at least. Face that truth. Trafalgar Law has fallen in love, no matter how slight (is it slight? not really)... and it tastes bitter, the real thing.

He wonders if it will ever taste sweet.]

Nope. Wouldn't matter at all.

[Itachi nods and turns toward the door.]

...I will return shortly with water. Is there anything else you might want?

Some food. Please? [Blood sugar is low after all, and he knows getting something in his system can only help, start things getting on the mend. At least stop the tremors.

Although it will likely whet his appetite into something more ravenous sooner or later - his Devil Fruit demands his body's energy and he has to feed that as well, not to mention replenish his natural stores.]

[Itachi nods. He always keeps some fish around nowadays. Mostly for his cat, he would claim.

He'd already prepared some not long before, all he needed to do was heat it up. It had been a given that it would be needed soon.

To the kitchen he goes, but he won't be long.]

[In the meantime Law is going to drain that kettle and shiver. Try to open his eyes.

In more respects in one. This is no longer safe and probably has long past any notion of that. This will hurt both of them, eventually. And it will hurt the people around them.

Law knows that in the end, the blame falls squarely on him. And he smells the winds beginning to change.

Selfish some would call it. Selfish. But it's not just love at play, it's friendship, honor, and loyalty. Unspoken promises on a beach. And the desire to see a moment of peace pass through his friend's eyes.

Pirates are selfish people. He could just imagine what Itachi would say and do if he could hear his thoughts. Shinobi are not a selfish people.

(But his is a people that is naturally the antithesis of shinobi, anyway. Itachi's people will sacrifice the one or the few for the many, the good of the whole. Never mind they are dear.

His is a people that can and will go to war against the world for one man. One woman.

Simply because they are dear.)

Two sides of the same coin.

Maybe Trafalgar Law would have made a good ninja. But Trafalgar Law is a pirate.

And so he sits and shivers and waits for Itachi to return.]

[When Itachi returns it's with rice, salmon, and seaweed - cooked well and easy on the stomach. This, along with a glass of water, is set down on the bedside table where Law can easily get to it.

Then he stops, watching his friend closely, and without a word turns back to the closet to retrieve an extra blanket.]

When you have regained some strength, you are free to use my shower.

Thank you.

[It's all he can do not to attack the plate on sight (or rather, smell). Yes, this is just enough to kick start the process of mending... and he is going to be ravenous very soon.

Instead he picks up the chopsticks, and eats slowly. Carefully. He really doesn't want to throw this all up.]

... I'm just that smelly, huh? Ouch.

[Tease. Tease. TEASE. He can't resist a little self depreciating humor to dispel the earlier tension.]

Kidding, Itachi. It's very much appreciated.

[There's that faint smile again.]

The warm water will do you good.

[He pauses.]

Is there anyone that should be alerted to your whereabouts?

[Hmm...]

Nobody's going to be actively looking for me... yet, I think. I think they expect me to sleep half the day. The clinic will be calling for me later to at least update me on what's going on with the injured from the draft.

Maes might start looking this afternoon, but I think he'll call on the journals before trying to gather any search parties. And [COUGH] I better answer that one myself. Probably better that way.

[And there's that slow teasing Law smile.]

Unless you want to risk him deciding you need a wife and going on a hellbent mission to shackle you in the bonds of holy matrimony, that is.

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