Chapter 37: Joining the Marines
On the returning Marine warship - Medical Bay
The air in the sick bay smelled of antiseptic. Rosinante lay quietly in the bed, wrapped in bandages, his breathing shallow but steady.
At his bedside, young Law was slumped over, fast asleep, his small hands still clutching the corner of the blanket. Tear tracks stained his face, his long eyelashes trembling.
Roy stood silently at the door, his gaze soft. He gently closed the door, not wanting to disturb them. He turned and walked to the bow of the ship, the cold, salty wind hitting his face.
"Ooh~ what a touching scene~"
A lazy voice drawled from behind him. Kizaru had appeared, his hands in his pockets, his shoulders slumped in their usual slacker pose.
Roy didn't turn. "Law has eaten the Op-Op Fruit."
Kizaru raised an eyebrow, a lazy smile on his face. "Ooh~ how troublesome~ That makes the brat a walking 5,000,000,000 Beri target. He'll have to be careful~"
"Which is why," Roy's voice was low and firm, "he must come back with us to the Marines."
Kizaru shrugged, as if he couldn't care less. "Maa, that sounds like a conversation for you and Fleet Admiral Sengoku... I don't want to get involved~"
As he spoke, he dissolved into a shower of golden light and was gone. He'd clearly gone to slack off somewhere else.
Roy watched him go and sighed.
Just then—"Buru-buru-buru..."
The Den Den Mushi in his pocket rang.
Roy picked it up. "Hello."
"Roy..."
It was Sengoku's voice, but it was hoarse and weary... and was that... gratitude?
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku," Roy replied, his voice respectful.
There was a long pause on the other end. Then, Sengoku took a deep, shaky breath, his voice low and sincere. "Thank you... for saving Rosinante."
Roy paused, then shook his head. "You don't need to thank me, Fleet Admiral. I was just doing my duty."
"No..." Sengoku's voice was tight with emotion. "That kid... he's... he's very important to me."
Roy was silent, just listening.
Finally, Sengoku cleared his throat. "I've been briefed on the Op-Op Fruit situation."
"Yes." Roy's brow furrowed. "Law has eaten it. His ability... it makes him a target for everyone."
Another long silence. Then, a deep sigh. "Bring him back to Marineford. I will personally arrange for his protection."
"Understood."
When the first ray of sunlight streamed through the porthole, Rosinante slowly opened his eyes.
He felt the soft mattress beneath him and the bandages wrapped around his body. He was alive.
He slowly turned his head and saw the small figure at his bedside. Young Law was fast asleep, his face half-buried in the blanket, one small hand still gripping the sheets, as if afraid he'd wake up and this would all be gone.
Rosinante smiled, his heart aching. "This kid... has he been here the whole time?"
As if sensing he was awake, Law's eyelashes fluttered. He slowly opened his eyes.
When he saw Rosinante looking back at him, his golden eyes went wide, and he burst into tears.
"Cora-san—!"
Law launched himself into Rosinante's arms, holding on with all his might, sobbing with relief and terror. "I thought... I thought you weren't going to wake up...!"
"Hiss! Oww-ow-ow—" Rosinante gasped, but he smiled and weakly patted Law's head. "Easy, brat... I'm still in rough shape, you know."
Law immediately pulled back, frantically wiping his tears, his face flushed with joy.
Around noon, the door to the sick bay opened. Roy was leaning against the doorframe, holding two trays of hot food.
"Looks like you're recovering well, Rosinante."
Both of them turned. Rosinante immediately tried to sit up. "Rear Admiral Roy—"
"Don't move," Roy said, bringing the food over. "Lunch."
The trays were piled high with quality Marine food, the hot broth smelling delicious.
"Thank you..." Rosinante said, looking embarrassed. "If it wasn't for you... we..."
Roy pulled up a chair. "I was just doing my job."
The room was quiet for a moment. Law just stared at Roy, his eyes wide with awe. This... this is the man who made even Doflamingo run away... He's the one who saved Cora-san.
After a moment, Rosinante finally asked, "I heard... you let Doflamingo go?"
Roy glanced at him and nodded. "Mmm. In exchange for all his family's resources and intelligence."
Rosinante's expression was complicated. "I understand your reasoning... It's just... that man, he'll..."
Roy held up a hand. "I know. But some things can't be solved all at once."
Rosinante sighed. "Yeah... No matter what, he's still my brother. As much as I hate him..."
Roy looked at Law. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku has already made the arrangements. Law will be coming with us to Marineford to receive systematic training."
Rosinante smiled and looked at Law.
"I have no objections," he said, his voice firm. "What about you, kid?"
Law's small fists were clenched, his eyes burning. "I have to get stronger! Strong enough... so that I never lose anyone important to me again!"
Roy looked at the boy's fierce determination and nodded. "Good."
That afternoon, Rosinante was sitting up in bed, looking out the porthole at the vast, blue ocean, a look of profound relief on his face. Law stood beside him, also staring at the sea.
At the bow, Roy stood alone.
"The rest of the road... is up to you," he thought, a small smile on his face. "But... as long as I'm here, I won't let you get hurt so easily again."
The warship sailed steadily toward Marineford.
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