Chapter Text
Law trailed behind Cora, helping the taller carry the crates onto the ketch. Helping by making sure that Cora didn’t fall off the dock.
Well, okay. Law was mostly just shadowing Cora, and Bepo was helping Cora carry the crates. And shadowing to make sure no one fell off the dock, probably just as much for Law’s sake as Cora’s.
But Law was there. Helping.
Even as they ferried the supplies, Law couldn’t bring himself to look up or meet either Bepo or Cora’s gazes.
And they were looking. He could feel it, could feel the quiet concern from Cora and Bepo’s anxious tension. But even so, Law couldn’t bring himself to do more than just follow, feeling more numbed that he had in a long time.
This was happening. It really was.
Maybe the reality of it should have hit sooner, but Law had been trying hard to not think about it. He’d been trying to just... To just enjoy... Whatever it was that he’d found here with Cora and Shyarly and the guys.
It had felt like... Like if Law had let himself think, to dread, then that’s all he’d be able to do. Would waste the time away. Get stuck in a spiral of hurt and anger and fear.
Because Law was afraid. Would he ever tell anyone that? Fuck no. Not even at threat of water boarding.
But he was. Law didn’t want to be left again. He didn’t want to be alone.
And it was stupid. He knew it was, because Cora, at least, was coming back. And he wouldn’t be alone, because he had all the guys and Wolf and the farm and it wasn’t like before, it wasn't like Law was fleeing or leaving everything behind again.
He had a place, had people, his own people. He had a place, somewhere safe. And the spots, the scars, though they likely would never fully heal or disappear, were fading faster than Law could have predicted, even if he still needed to give himself one more once over to be sure everything was disposed of.
Law was practically healed, was no longer at death's door. He was safe, was alive, and there were people who knew and were still around anyway. That had stuck around despite it, despite everything, just for Law.
But... But Law wanted Rosinante and Shyarly too.
He wanted his people, all of them, and it was selfish. Law didn’t want to be selfish, didn’t want to need them.
He was the last. Should have never been put in the position to even be selfish, to have the ability, the luxury of selfishness. He should have been long dead before he was able to be selfish over something like this.
But... But he was. He was alive. And he wanted.
And.. And they didn’t want him.
Didn’t want him going. They were leaving him. And it hurt. It burned, burned in his chest and throat and eyes. Law didn’t want to be selfish. He didn’t want to feel this, this neediness, this possessiveness.
It was scary. It wasn’t like him. It reminded Law of Doffy, of how Doffy treated his people.
But Law wanted.
And it scared him. And it burned. And it hurt. It hurt so bad. Because if he wanted so bad, then why weren’t they the same? Why were they okay with leaving? Why didn’t they want him too?
Law hated it. He hated feeling this way. Hated feeling so selfish, because who was he to feel selfish now of all times? After everything?
And more, why couldn’t the reality of it hit earlier? Before Law was stuck dealing with those knowing looks and the concerned glances that Cora kept giving him.
Even Shachi and Penguin, who normally had no issue picking at Law’s last nerve, were giving him a wider berth than usual. They were sticking closer to Shyarly and Wolf instead of trying to help load the ketch. Which left Law practically alone with Cora, but with neither of them addressing anything, because Bepo was also helping, and doing a much better job than Law was honestly.
It was as that thought struck and with it the sudden inclination to just ditch this and go to Shyarly and the guys too, that he noticed Cora’s posture slumping slightly. The man sent a pleading look to Bepo over Law’s head, and the cub, in turn, blinked up at the man, before slowly setting down the crates in his arms.
Law couldn’t bring himself to look away from Cora, even as Bepo gave him a gentle pat on the back and walked past, the sound of the cabin door closing leaving just the two of them in the silence left behind.
Cora broke first under Law’s gaze, lowering himself down to one knee with a soft sound more apt coming from Wolf than him. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t move or speak for a long moment, and Law felt that unease swell a little more, along with that uncomfortable feeling in his chest, dark and selfish and hurt.
This wasn’t about him. It was about Shyarly. So why was Law being so selfish?
But it didn’t matter. Not really. Because Cora just opened his arms in an offering, and nothing else mattered besides that.
Law took it. Of course he did. He all but crumpled forward into Cora-san’s arms, curling his fingers into the feathers hard enough to crumple and bend them. But Cora didn’t mind. Didn’t say anything. Didn’t move to do anything but wrap himself more tightly around Law in response.
And Law was selfish.
“J-Just... Just take me with you.” Law’s voice cracked, and he pressed deeper into the feathers, trying to hide away from the reality of everything.
Cora didn’t move for a second, but then his hand was coming up, cradling the back of Law’s head so gently, and he was not helping, because Law was trying really hard to not start crying like a little kid.
“Oh kiddo...” Cora didn’t sound much better than Law himself, and that was also not helping. If the giant started crying, then Law would too, and they would both be crying over each other.
Cora pulled back a little, and Law did not like that, pressing closer instead.
Cora wouldn’t have it, his hand leaving the back of Law’s head to cup his face, coaxing Law to look at him. It was comical, actually, the difference in size between Law’s face and Cora-san’s hand. It made it all the more real for some reason, and Law was fighting for his life against the tears.
“Hey. Look at me kid.” Cora urged, and Law had to hold onto the tears with the last dregs of his self control when the man gently swiped his thumb across Law’s cheek. “Law?”
Law couldn’t look. He wouldn’t. Because he was not going to cry over this. Because he was better than that, stronger than that. And if Law started crying then he wouldn’t be able to stop, and he absolutely couldn’t start, because this was not about him. He could not, would not.
Because he’d had more than enough time to come to terms with the way his life had changed in these last months.
How Cora had changed his life.
How everything had changed.
He was fine. Law was fine and over it and there was no reason to cry. There was no reason for these feelings to be resurfacing. To be bubbling up in his throat like a lump and making him choke up.
Because it wasn’t about him. This was about Shyarly, and Law didn’t want to be the selfish one and it burned. Burned in his chest and eyes and made him feel so empty and hurt all over again for no reason. No real reason, because it was irrational and they weren’t actually leaving him.
They weren’t dying. Law could and would see them again. It wasn’t like home, wasn’t like how he viewed the family, and he’d gotten attached, and they weren’t dying.
So why. Why did it burn the same way seeing Mom and Dad had?
He couldn’t think about that- Law had to stop, because he didn’t want to cry. He wouldn’t, even if it burned and hurt and ached in his chest and lungs like he was being choked by the lead again.
Because Cora was alive under his hands, solid and stupid and Cora. Not cold or crumpled in a puddle of- of- like Mom and Dad were.
Cora was still- Cora was gently shifting, pulling back- away.
Law startled, fingers gripping tighter into the feathers, unwilling to loosen his trembling grip. Cora, though... Cora just ran his thumb gently along Law’s cheek where the man could still access with Law’s face pressed into the feathers. The action, careful as it was, coaxed Law into relaxing the grip he’d had, though hesitantly.
The feathers were tugged gently out of Law’s trembling fingers, and he bristled, not expecting the tug, or the way Cora slipped the garment off his shoulders and out from between them.
What Law expected even less, though, was the heavy weight of warmth that was then deposited on his own shoulders.
He startled again, more than before, gaze finally jerking up to the man whose arms had come back to cradle Law once more. The arms, bare of feathers or coat.
The coat of sleek black that was rested on Law’s shoulders, far too big and heavy for him. The coat that the man delicately buttoned in place around Law’s collar.
The feathers swamped Law in their mass around him, the coat enveloping him in warmth and something like the prickles of nostalgia at the nape of his neck.
Like a blanket cape mom would pin in place for him, playing Sora with Lami. Like warm mornings dragging blankets out of bed to the table instead of just leaving the warmth to start the day.
It felt safe. And it was what finally triggered the tears to well up and fall in fat, childlike drips.
Law cried. He really tried, really tried not to.
But, for all the guilt and shame, Cora didn’t seem to mind.
The man just pulled Law back into his chest, rubbing his back and murmuring what might have been an apology, might have been a reason for leaving, an explanation, maybe just soft nothings or reassurances, but Law couldn’t tell over the hitching breaths and choked sobs ripping out of his chest without his control.
He didn’t want to cry. Didn’t want this to be the way Cora left. But it hurt, and why did it feel so bad to feel so safe?
The feathers tickled Law’s cheeks, catching the tears and filling his senses with the smell of bitter tobacco and something floral but almost like petrichor, and it smelled like Cora and felt like Mom and Dad and reminded him of playing with Lami and everything just hurt so bad-
Law needed to get himself under control. He needed to pull himself together, because he wasn’t a little kid, and this was embarrassing as shit, and would be worse later, thinking back on it. It was just a trip, just a couple months. Law was 13, dammit.
He was not- He was-... He just wanted to cry.
Law had just managed to get himself back under control, to force that urge deep down, back where it belonged, when Cora started talking again, seriously not helping with Law’s endeavors.
“Hold onto this for me.” The giant murmured, stroking the feathers along Law’s spine down so gently. “I know you’ll be just fine, but you keep it safe for me, okay?”
“...Yeah.” Law managed to choke out, desperately trying to not let his voice crack farther. “I’ll- I’ll keep it- keep it safe... For when- for when you get back.”
The hand cupping Law’s face tried again to tilt his face up, and this time Law let himself be guided, looking up to meet Cora’s too soft eyes. And it hurt all over again.
“I’ll leave it all to you then.” Cora murmured, other hand coming up and gently poking Law’s nose. Law went a little cross eyed with the action, blinking, but any annoyance was undercut by the soft smile the man was giving him.
“You’ll be safe? Both of you?” The words scraped their way free, leaving Law feeling hoarse and far too vulnerable.
“...Hey.” Cora coaxed, thumbs rubbing softly over Law’s cheeks, and he couldn’t look away if he wanted to. “We’ll be careful. I’ll need to come back and make sure you and those boys haven’t driven Wolf to drink, yeah?”
The man smiled, joking, trying to lighten Law’s mood, and it was that stupid smile, ditzy and wide and stupid, and Law broke.
He grinned back, the sound he let out halfway between a laugh and a sob, and he was trying so hard to not start bawling again that the smile was wobbly and wet, but wide. God, Cora was so... So perfectly stupid.
Like that, in Cora’s arms, wrapped in feathers, surrounded by the coat that had once been a restraint, and now felt like safety... Grinning like an idiot at his actual idiot... Law felt warm.
It still hurt, still ached deep in his chest, but it had eased a little bit, and the hurt felt less like betrayal and more like homesickness.
But Law felt... Full.
Safe.
“So… What will you do?”
Shyarly looked up from where Wolf was tightening the bolts of her chair, blinking at Shachi. She didn’t immediately respond, just silently turned her gaze to the ketch, where Bepo had just stepped out without Law or Ross-san.
Penguin looked up too as the cub made his way over, his ears tilted back and looking over his shoulder towards the ship even as he trotted over, sidling up next to them.
Wolf looked up too, taking a glance at all of them, one at a time, before huffing and collecting his tools. The old guy patted Bepo’s shoulder as he stood, leaving them to their conversation and a lull of quiet in his wake.
“I don’t know. Not yet.” Shachi’s attention was drawn back to Shyarly, and noted that she too was primarily focused on the quietly rocking boat. “I’ll be back. I know I will.”
No one had anything to say to that, or if they did they didn’t voice it. Shachi found himself unwilling to break the silence with a joke or comment like he usually would. It didn’t feel like the right time or atmosphere.
Shyarly just took a breath and continued, softer and a little more melancholy in her tone. “I will be back. I-... I don't have very many friends.”
...It was a nice feeling, the warmth that the words left in Shachi’s chest. Maybe she didn’t mean it like that, but it was nice to feel that maybe she was including them in that small count.
“Me either.” Shachi murmured after a moment, soft into the easy quiet between the four of them there, facing the ketch. “Just... Just you guys.”
“...Yeah.” Bepo agreed in his usual quiet tone, but he didn’t follow it up with an apology.
It was a comfortable thing, the easy silence between them, only broken up by the creak of the dock with the waves and wind. Comfortable in the way Wolf had given them the space to go off and finish packing the crates before they were loaded, easy in the lack of expectation left between them, the lack of tension.
“...I need to go back.” Shyarly broke the quiet again, but it was her tone that drew Shachi’s eyes back, low and soft and too close to wavering. “There's... You know your uncle?”
That drew more than just Shachi’s eyes, all of their attention coming back to rest on Shyarly. She didn’t meet any of their eyes, gaze fixed still on the ship. Shachi, though confused and a little more tense than before the non sequitur, stayed quiet.
It felt more like Shyarly was parsing her thoughts for herself through the words, and Shachi wouldn’t be the one to interrupt her.
“I have one of those too.” She continued, blinking hard and quick, and without Ross’s coat laid over her lap, Shachi could see the way she wrung her fingers together, likely without realizing she was doing it. “It’s different, but he’s... He’s like my Penguin, but he’s not-...”
Shyarly cut herself off, swallowing hard enough to be heard between the four of them, but not one of them cut in to interrupt her. “He’s... Not.. A nice person? He’s-”
She stopped, and when it became clear that she either didn’t know what else to say or just wasn’t willing to try again, Penguin finally finished for her. “Complicated?”
Shyarly opened her mouth, but slowly just closed it again, her jaw clenched as she managed a slow, short nod.
“...Yeah.” Penguin filled in, his arms crossing loosely over his chest and leaning sideways a little to tilt and rest against Shyarly without any other comment.
They all stood like that around her for another moment, the quiet filled with the sound of the sea and Wolf grumbling in the distance where he was messing with rearranging the supplies.
“Are...” Bepo started, quiet and not looking at any one of them, just straight forward at the boat. “Are you going to try and fix him?”
“...” That, of all things, broke the easy quiet and blank staring, drawing all of their attention to the cub, Shyarly’s eyes wide and just as surprised as Shachi knew his and Penguin’s were.
Bepo, to his credit, didn’t bristle or back down. He didn’t even flinch, and didn’t start apologizing. He just turned his eyes back to them, to Shyarly, meeting her gaze with a steady one of his own, blue eyes meeting wet black.
“I... I don't think you can fix people, not if they don’t want to be changed.” Then Bepo was breaking the eye contact and turning his eyes back to the ketch, fingers tangling together nervously. “...Does he?”
Shachi could hear his own heart, could hear it in the quiet that followed that question, and it wasn’t like he was nervous as much as aware of everything more than he had been before. He and Penguin shared a surprised look, and Shachi knew he, at least, was impressed by Bepo’s question.
The bear wasn’t much for talking, and Shachi knew he wasn’t stupid, but maybe he was more empathetic and aware than either of them had realized.
Shyarly said nothing for a long moment, but slowly exhaled a trembling breath. When her voice finally came again, she sounded almost fragile, and way more shaky than Shachi had ever heard her.
“I... I don’t know. But he’s mine.”
They let that rest, none having something to say to it, because... Well, what are you supposed to say to that? Apologize? Agree?
So they let it lay, let it sink in. And all three of them turned their gazes forwards onto the ketch again, giving Shyarly that semblance of privacy to collect herself. Shachi was pretty sure she needed it.
It was odd, and really put it into perspective. Shyarly was the calmest presence of all of them, even more so than Ross-san. She was always serene and calm and collected.
And this was important to her.
"We'll be here.” Shachi declared, quiet but firm. He crossed his own arms loosely, straightening his spine determinately. “Just don't take too long, or we’ll have to drag Law along to come find you again.”
No one spoke, but more important than the stunned look Shachi was sure Shyarly was giving him, neither Penguin or Bepo refuted him.
He could already feel the heated flush creeping up his collar, and kept his gaze fixed forward. It was sappy, maybe, but it was true. And if this was important to her, she should know that they would wait for her. Or come for her, if that’s what it took.
Then Shyarly laughed, breathless, light, and giddy. It drew their gazes back, and they were graced with the wet, beaming smile Shyarly had on despite the tears that were gathering in her waterline. She wiped them away, grinning like an idiot between the three of them.
“I’ll hold you to that. Don't leave me behind!”
Rosinante helped Shyarly onto the ketch, offering a balancing hand out and getting her settled. She blinked at Law, who was swamped in Rosi’s coat, but was very carefully holding the hem up over his arms so it wouldn’t drag in the dirt. And Shyarly smiled, that soft thing that made Rosi’s insides warm and Law turn his head with a huff and an embarrassed flush.
Wolf also huffed, though warmer and more amused, and came aboard with a blanket in his arms that he laid over Shyarly’s tail. She blinked down at it, and then up to the man, brow furrowed, but the old man just planted a hand on the top of her head, roughly mussing her hair.
“Keep it. I’ve got others, kid.”
Shyarly blinked, then blinked again, harder, and then reached out suddenly wrapping Wolf’s waist in a tight hug that visibly started the older man as much as it did Rosi.
Neither of them moved for a long moment, but Shyarly mumbled a ‘thank you’ into the old man’s shirt, and he finally returned the hug loosely, patting consolingly at her back, face a mix of soft and constipated. Rosinante had to choke back a laugh, clearing his throat and looking away when Wolf turned a glare on him.
Eventually, Shyarly let him pull away, sniffing and wiping her nose on the back of her arm, avoiding their looks. Wolf reached out again, setting his hand on her head, but not messing her hair up again, just resting it there as he turned his gaze up to Rosi.
“Stay safe. Both of you.”
“You as well.” Rosinante smiled softly at the man, his own eyes turning to the other boys that were gathered onto the dock. “Keep them safe for me?”
“Of course.” Wolf agreed gruffly, nodding.
“And make sure they're all there when we leave?” Rosi asked, half joking and all exhausted.
He and Wolf both shared the same look, then turned it onto Law, who stiffened, then frowned, scoffing.
“Yeah, yeah. No teleporting, we’ll stay, I hear you.”
Wolf huffed again, quieter and more amused, and Rosi could feel his own expression go soft again too. He gestured to the deck, starting that way and ushering Law ahead of him. Wolf didn’t move for a moment, straightening Shyarly’s blanket and speaking quietly to her, but Rosinante trusted the man.
Bepo, Penguin, and Shachi looked up at their approach, taking in Law’s new, very big coat that he was carefully keeping the ends gathered up for, away from the ground. Shachi grinned, big and bright, and though he clearly wanted to make a comment, he didn’t. Law gave the other kid a squinted look, warning in his scowl, but also left it be.
They all looked up, taking Rosi in, but Rosi just smiled again, still so soft and easy and happy, and knelt before the group of them.
He pulled Law in close again first, gathering his kid into his arms and giving the boy a tight squeeze when it was reciprocated. Then Rosinante looked up, gesturing for the others too.
The reactions were mixed, surprise, hesitation, perked ears, but all three complied, if slowly in some cases.
Shachi was not that, pouncing forward without pause, getting caught and steadied in Rosi’s arms right along with a stiffening Law. Then Bepo, who cozied up slower but without any real hesitation. And finally Penguin, who did hesitate, but Rosi waved him closer, wrapping all four into a tight, comfortable hug.
They stayed for a couple minutes, long enough for Penguin to slowly relax into the hug and press his face closer with a shuddered breath. And when they finally did pull back, Rosi stopped them, grinning wide.
He reached into Law’s new coat, his coat, the coat that Rosi had cleaned out just for the occasion, barring a few necessities and surprises for Law to come across on his own, and pulled out the things he’d prepared with the help of Karasu and Dragon’s help.
Law blinked as Rosinante pulled out the slips of paper from the inner pocket and held them up between his index and middle finger with a wide smile. It took him a moment to figure out what was what, but when he did, Law’s was the first one that Rosinante pulled free.
Law blinked down at the thing that was placed into his hands, a heart cut out of paper, thicker than the usual pulpy kind, but not cardstock thick, with Rosinante’s loopy writing decorating its face. Law squinted, and Rosi figured the boy would need to take some time to decipher the cursive, but that was okay. Law could actually read it later.
The boy then turned the squinted look onto Rosi himself, frowning lightly, but not displeased.
“What is this..?”
“A letter.” Rosi replied, and it wasn’t even a lie.
“It’s a heart.”
“It is.” Rosi agreed, dryly.
“You cut your letter into a heart.”
“I’m a sap, Law.” And he thought it was funny. But Rosi just raised an eyebrow, and then held the others letters he’d written and cut out from the roll of paper up for the other boys to see. “I wrote one for each of you.”
“...Oh.” Penguin choked up a little, swallowing thickly, and Rosi patted the kid’s hat gently, offering him his.
Penguin accepted the card, carefully like he didn’t want to crease it, and Shachi stepped forward too, if more slowly than he had for the hug. Rosi handed him his card too, placing a hand on the kid’s back with a soft pat and smile. Shachi stepped back next to Penguin after a second, not looking up from the cut paper heart in his hands as Bepo stepped forward.
The cub didn’t immediately take the offered card though, wringing his claws slowly and mumbling something soft. It was only Rosinante’s Observation that let him make out what the kid even said, for how quiet it was.
“Would- Would you- Can we- Um... Garachu..?”
Rosinante could only blink, not knowing if he’d heard wrong or something, but Rosi knew he trusted his Observation, so it couldn’t have been that.
An odd word, not one he’d ever heard before, so maybe mink dialect? Rosi decided in that split moment to just fall back to a safe response, not knowing exactly what was being asked of him, but if it was Bepo, it was probably fine.
“How do you do it?” Rosi asked, tilting his head encouragingly to the boy.
The cub lit right up. It was startling, how quickly the kid’s ears perked up right, his big wet eyes all but going sparkly, and with that reaction, Rosi figured he’d made the right call. Law also froze, eyes wide and locked onto the cub’s excited expression, and it really was very cute. Rosi could feel his heart melting a little in response despite himself and his resolve to leave these boys here.
“Like this.” The cub showed, stepping forward and tilting up to press the side of his face against Rosi’s, rubbing and nuzzling there slowly and repeating the word he had before. “Garachu!”
Rosinante blinked, processing the fluff and proximity the kid had taken, before gently, and far more carefully, reciprocating the action and word, feeling a little self conscious and out of place. But none of that mattered with the bright smile Bepo had on in response.
That was apparently right, and the thing the kid wanted, because he nuzzled one more time, before stepping back with a little smile to join the other boys with his heart in hand now too. Rosi could only blink, still knelt, at the little smudge on the cub’s white fur from the corner of his lipstick, but the cub was glowing, so Rosi decided that it would have to be Wolf’s problem later.
The man in question, took that moment to approach, apparently done with his talk with Shyarly. Rosinante stood up as the man stepped onto the dock, and Rosi could tell the moment the older took in the cards each boy had in hand, taking turns comparing and squinting at their own messages. He could tell, because Wolf’s steps faltered, and then his head whipped sharply to look at Rosinante.
Rosi, much more subtly with the boys right there, and Law already glancing up, raised a finger up over his lips to the man. Wolf was staring at him, eyes wider than before and speechless, and Rosinante took that as an opportunity to pat the man on the back as he turned back to the boat, untying from the dock and tossing the ropes up on board except for the one in hand.
He turned back, one more time, to look over the scene. The four boys, conversing like normal kids, with his kid... Wolf turned, and looking back at him, searching but so damn kind, too...
And Rosinante knew that he was happy.
“Hey.” He called out, one foot already stepped up onto the deck, drawing the boys’ attention, and Rosinante grinned brightly, almost blinding in the joyful feeling bubbling up in his chest as he met Law’s eyes. “I love you, kid!”
Rosi could hear Shyarly go still behind him, but he was focused on the way Law’s eyes widened, surprised, lips parting and light catching his face from the angle of hat, and Rosi knew he meant it.
He grinned, wide, triumphant, giddy, and despite his better judgement, and probably Shyarly’s, Rosinante raised his fingers up into a happy peace sign as he stepped onto the deck and kicked the board up.
Law took that moment to react, but when he did, it didn’t disappoint, the kid throwing his hands up and waving goodbye with his whole body, tears welling back up where Rosi had wiped them away once today already. The other boys all joined in, calling out and waving violently, papers and hands and paws flailing, and Rosinante laughed, bright and delighted and so, so happy.
It was only when Bepo paused, looking back, when Rosi’s Observation pinged, registering the influx, when they were mere meters away from the shore, when Wolf turned his head, noticing the commotion, that Rosi saw them.
A procession of towns people marching down the trail to the docks. People that Rosi recognized, if not by their faces, then by their presences. People Rosinante knew, if only in passing.
The people from the market. The man who ran the bookstore, the woman who manned the desk at the clinic, the construction workers who waved to him and Wolf in town. The woman who had stopped Shachi way back, months ago now, the fisherman that Rosi had been buying breakfast off of, the teenage boy that Penguin had taken to buying the kids their comics from for cheaper. And Rudd, leading the pack to the docks.
Wolf watched, wide eyed and open mouthed, as Rudd marched right up to him and the kids, the procession of people at his back coming up to the edge of the shore.
Rosi barely had enough time to feel that creeping sense of unease, when Rudd raised his hands up in the air, and shouted out to their drifting ship.
“FAIR WINDS AND FOLLOWING SEAS! SAFE SAILING, FRIEND!”
Rosinante startled, taking a moment to process the Old Northern in the dialect, and by the time that the words had settled and actually taken root in his mind, the dam of silence between the townsfolk seemed to have broken.
“MAY THE STARS AND THE COMPASS GUIDE YOU WELL!”
“GOOD LUCK!”
“SEAS WITH YOU!”
“MAY YOU HAVE CALM WATERS AND A STEADY COURSE!”
“SAFE TRAVELS!”
“TIGHT LINES AND CALM SEAS!”
Farewells and warm wishes, Oldern dialects mixing in with informal shouts of luck and safety. The fishermen and sailors and people of the sea all throwing in their own version of a blessing or safeguard, and those who had none on hand just shouting their well wishes out for the sea, the sky, and those sailing to hear.
“GOOD LUCK ON THE GRANDLINE!” Rudd called, hands cupped around his mouth and grinning wide enough that Rosi could see it from the distance the ketch had drifted.
He laughed. There wasn’t much else for it. Rosinante laughed, bright and bubbling and joyous. It was stupid. It was so stupid. He was leaving Law, was leaving again, but he was laughing.
He was so... Happy.
This was a good place. He was laughing, because this place was warm and safe and welcoming, and Law would be safe with these people. These were good, kind people, and it was so stupid, because Rosinante had been wary moments ago, and they were good and kind, and Law would be safe with them.
Law would be safe and happy while Rosi was gone, and that's all he could ever have asked. It was more than his own father had gotten, and Rosinante was so, so happy, and it bubbled up and out of him uncontrollably and so very bright.
Shyarly joined in too, for how quiet she was before, her laughter bubbled up just the same, joyous and carrying over the distance.
She raised her arms up, grinning wide enough that her sharp teeth caught the light and made the smile all the more bright. She called back, voice carrying all her elation as she waved excitedly.
“WAIT FOR ME! YOU GUYS WAIT FOR ME!! OR I’LL WAIT FOR YOU, WHATEVER COMES FIRST!!”
Even from the distance, Rosinante could hear Shachi’s laugh, wild and delighted, and could see the boy waving his arms violently, but Rosi’s eyes were drawn to the boy, engulfed in too many black feathers.
Rosi’s wide grin softened despite himself, lips curling into something more gentle around the edges. He raised one hand up, grinning like the idiot he knew himself to be, and gave a high peace sign.
From the corner of his eye and perception, Rosinante knew that Shyarly laughed, and copied the motion, grinning just the same. Even from a distance, he could see the slight jerk and curl of Law’s shoulders, and could almost picture the snort and choked sound the boy made. And then- then Law’s hand went up too, also copying the motion, and Rosi lost it.
Then he was laughing so hard he started crying, and then he was just crying, and so, so glad that they were far enough away that Law couldn’t see him crying.
“I LOVE YOU, KID!” Rosinante called out again, choking back the sob clawing up his throat, and Law- Law started waving just as hard as Shachi next to him, and between the tears, Rosi thought that this might have been the best send off he’d ever gotten.
Hidden between the well wishers and friends, stood a man. He wasn’t different from any of the other townspeople, except in the fact that he was in the employ of the richest man in the town, and that he wasn’t actually acquainted with the giant that had lived in the forest.
The man’s employer, however, had met the giant, and been, in order, humiliated, issued a restraining order, and kept under watch by the peacekeeper and his people who refused to be bought. And more so, while looking for dirt on the giant, the man’s employer had heard talk throughout the Northern Underworld.
“The Grandline?” The man’s baby den-den murmured as he slipped away from the crowd, eyes still fixed on the retreating vessel and the lumbering man visible on the deck.
“Yessir.”
“Wonderful. Keep this quiet. No one needs to know where this tip came from, understand me? I’d hate for my business and your family on this island to be put at risk.”
“Of course sir. Not a soul.”