yourhatred | appointment's post

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.

I will leave that to you, then.

[He looks completely serious when he says this.]

And I will head to the other room for a time, if you would like to have some privacy while you eat.

Good plan.

[Maes can be a terrifying thing, yes.]

Heh, I don't mind... [Privacy? Such a thing rarely exists on a submarine anyway.

Om nom nom. Those chakra levels are starting to rise... then are promptly eaten off by something. Again. And again. And again. Like something's feeding from Law.]

Besides, I'm nearly done anyway.

[He may be eating slowly and carefully and very neatly. But. He's doing it by OP standards.]

Edited 2012-01-26 22:35 (UTC)

In that case, I would advise you to rest some more.

[He retrieves the tea kettle.]

And to let me know if there's anything else you might need.

[The fluctuating chakra levels are noted, and Itachi will continue to monitor him, but he makes no comment on it at the moment.]

Alright. [He drains the last of the water, puts it down on the nightstand.] I'll try for a few more hours.

[He's going to settle down and crawl back under the covers of the bed. It will take a few minutes, but he slowly drifts off.

The next few hours are like the night before. Except Law's slightly more restless in his sleep. Overall, the chakra levels rise, a tide of energy coming in, slowly, choppily, and dip, siphoned away somewhere else, the water returning to the sea. Not quite normal, no. There is something unusual going on. And who knows what the Sharingan can perceive in regards to a Devil Fruit and its powers and its demands from its wielder.

And so Law sleeps and is silent.

Until he jackknifes up with a gasp, blue fire liming his form for a second. His eyes snap open, nearly wild - migraine at now manageable levels and not blinded by it - and he suppresses a grunt of a different kind of pain, because...

Shit.

HUNGRY.]

[Itachi hadn't been in the room, but he is now.

This reaction gets a concerned look for him, though he's been silently concerned for a time.

Much like before, he steps closer and speaks the man's name in the form of a question.]

Law?

[Law doesn't answer right away or lose that air of wildness or disorientation about him. Instead he breathes deeply, closing his eyes, concentrating on slowing his heartrate and ignoring the wretched, gnawing, demanding emptiness clawing at him.

And suddenly he realizes there is someone in the room with him and he has been asked a question.]

Night terror. Just a night terror.

[Not nightmare. That is something different. His eyes open slowly again, and the blue light in them fades.]

Sorry if I scared you.

[For the reaction and not registering your presence when you came in.]

["Scared" is generally too strong a term to use when it comes to Itachi. "Worried" might almost be appropriate.]

Are you going to be alright?

[Relocating him to the clinic likely isn't necessary. This is an issue that deals more with his own personal abilities and/or memories, from what the ninja can tell.]

[He touches his throat. You're familiar with this little tell by now, aren't you, Itachi? It comes up when he is distressed or disturbed.]

Aa... eventually. Physically. [... grimace. Mentally? Yes... he knows damn well he's not alright. But he's learned to live with it.] I'm something called a Devil Fruit user. [And since explanation is needed.] Devil Fruit are said to each contain an incarnation of the Sea Devil, and one bite of the fruit makes you the host of the demon instead of the fruit. And you can make use of its power but there are certain penalties to go along with its abilities. Some common. Some individual.

[It sounds like you have a kind of jinchuriki on your hands, doesn't it?]

If it is a demon... I don't know. I've never felt anything intelligent from what's sealed in me. But one of the prices is my energy to help drive it, especially when its depleted. Why I eat so much. So... right now... it's trying to re-establish itself. Fighting with my body for resources. So I'm going to be run down for a while.

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