Missing Piece

Chapter 38

Law slowed to a stop as he walked past the oddly lit galley. It was long past midnight and too far into the night for anyone to be up. Unless they were him. Which begged the question, who was up this late? "I didn't know you were that worried about our race." He called from the threshold, arms crossed and body resting against the doorframe. His lips slanted up at the lone huntress slaving over some papers. 'Intel' she collected so far. Kora tucked into a ball on the bench next to her, using Charlotte's lap as a pillow and her scarf as a blanket. One of Charlotte's hands rested against the child as if to hold her from rolling off.

She didn't turn to face him, keeping her back towards him. "Aren't you? I noticed you aren't using Bepo and his nose to help you. You must either be cocky or insulting my skills as a hunter."

Law hummed. "Bepo's nose would definitely be helpful." He admitted, watching the moon in the night sky. It really was a shame; having Bepo's nose to bring them to the heart faster would be most preferable. It's dangerous knowing that her defenseless heart could be anywhere, exposed to any dangers. And that brought a frown to his face.

Charlotte turned back to the other, confused. If he understood then, why hadn't he? "Did something happen to Bepo?" She frowned, voice coming out harsher than normal. The papers around her already forgotten in case she needed to pivot and find the bear she hadn't seen all day.

Law chuckled at her behaviour. And she says she's not attached. "The Mink tribe undergoes a transformation under the full moon. It's rather dangerous and harmful for Bepo, so during this time, we're more careful and Bepo stays mostly inside the Polar Tang."

"Ah, so you locked Bepo up too." Charlotte rephrased bluntly. The stress leaving her as she shifted her attention back towards the papers around her. Relaxing now knowing that Bepo is not in any harm. "Guess I wasn't the only prisoner aboard." She frowned. The locals said the full moon lasts three nights here.

"That's not—I don't keep prisoners!" Law groaned frustrated, silently wondering if she still really thought that she was one. "No one's a prisoner here." He repeated with a cough, hoping to get the message through. Regular clothes covered her body; the Heart Pirate's uniform still left unworn. He gave a sideway glance towards her chest. The clothing was loose where the boxed hole remained.

"Mm, or so says the man who held my heart hostage." Charlotte hummed lightly without any real bite in her words. Words that felt empty on her tongue but gave her an escape—an excuse to return her attention to her work. Words that stung the doctor still despite not being the intention.

What is he doing? This was a race, wasn't it? Charlotte's brows knotted together. Law had done absolutely nothing to stop her, hadn't gotten in her way, hadn't even as much as made a comment to annoy her or throw her out of her game like he usually do. Law did absolutely nothing but agree to switching island and watching her hunting skills as if he was genuinely interested. She didn't see him do anything to search on his own either. He admitted to not even relying on Bepo's nose. That was their best bet if anything! If Charlotte gets her heart back, then she may disappear from his crew altogether. After all he's done, even going as far as telling her to hunt him from his ship, just to get her to join, he couldn't be thinking of letting her go.

Charlotte paused, staring blankly at all the notes she had written down. Could he? She felt as if her stomach had suddenly fallen. Maybe he didn't really mean it when he said to it was fine to stay on his crew. Maybe he was waiting for a chance like this to get her off. For her to leave on her own word so he can't say he kicked her out. After all, who wants a murderous monster aboard? The papers around her shrunk, growing tiny until they were gone completely just like everything else. As if the world was empty again. As if she was alone. Again.