A New Life

by solwolf

Summary:

Inspired by James Camerons Avatar and The Storm by TheFatRat

 

N13 has been rescued from the Sabaody Auction house by Rayleigh, who enlists the Red-Haired Pirates help in getting her to safety. But what none of them realize is N13 isn't a normal human, even by the Grand Line's standards. She's the result of a human experiment by a scientist under Vegapunk. But slowly she learns what freedom is, and that includes jealousy, heartbreak, and that sometimes your past will catch up to you and attempt to destroy you.

Chapter 1: Chance of Escape

Summary:

N13 has just been freed from the Sabaody Auction House, but when she meets the man, and two members of his crew, who are to help her find somewhere safe to live, she isn't quite sure what to think. Especially when they react to her revealing she's not familiar with the outside world.

N13 stretched out, only to come to a sudden stop when she encountered something soft underneath her and another soft thing surrounding her. Groggily, she propped herself up and looked at the blanket over her in confusion. Where had this come from?
Slowly sitting up, she rubbed her eye, but stopped when she didn’t feel the bite of metal around her wrist. Lifting both wrists up, she looked at the bare skin, almost with fascination. She hadn’t seen them bare in…well, ever.
Her hands flew to her throat, but that was bare as well. The collar was gone! How? Yet, she felt relieved rather than worried.
Slowly, her mind drifted back together and she remembered the blonde man with a flash. He had taken her from the auction house! He had brought her to a place he called a bar, and led her to this room here.
There was a creak, and she flew back against the wall, fingers splayed, but the black-haired woman opening the door stopped in surprise when she spotted N13. The air tasted bitter in an instant, though a curious, mint-like taste cut through after a moment.
“I didn’t think you’d be awake yet,” the woman mused, watching her. “It’s alright. You don’t have to be afraid here.” Closing the door behind her, she brought over a bowl and a glass of water.
The air tasted of water, but something else. Bland, soft, and almost sweet. N13 eyed the woman warily; the mint taste had come from her.
The woman sat down in a chair along the curved wall, sitting almost directly across from her. “I just thought you might want something to eat.”
N13 glanced at the food, but didn’t move.
“I promise it’s safe,” the woman said.
Not moving her eyes off her, N13 grabbed the water first. She downed it quickly, then asked, “Who are you?” The clear taste erased the last of the grogginess in her head.
The woman smiled. “My name’s Shakky. My husband, Rayleigh, was the one who brought you here.”
N13 let her shoulders drop a little. He never mentioned a wife, but then again, all he said was he was taking her to safety.
“He’s in the main room of the bar, talking to some friends,” Shakky continued. “When you’re up for it, I have a change of clothes for you. When you’re dressed you can join them.”
N13 flicked her gaze to the door Shakky had come through, then to the bowl of food, then back to Shakky. “How can I trust you?” No one had been kind to her until the marine who helped her get away, but that’s how she ended up on a slaver. And after that, Rayleigh had been the only one to actually care.
Shakky tipped her head thoughtfully. “You trusted Ray enough to follow him here.” She didn’t look away.
That was true. And if he had wanted to bring her back to the auction house, or gotten rid of her, there were plenty of opportunities to do so. He had even told her to rest back here for a while and she hadn’t hesitated despite there being only one way in and out.
N13 grabbed the bowl but didn’t recognize what was in it. Sticky looking, it reminded her of goopy rice.
“Have you not seen porridge before?” Shakky asked.
N13 shook her head. She hadn’t eaten much non-liquid food, actually. Mostly drinks or through IVs. But she didn’t want to tell Shakky that. She couldn’t stop her stomach from growling as the steam hit her face.
“I thought you could use something easy to eat. I don’t know what you’ve been through, but eating too much can make you sick, so I stuck with something simple,” Shakky explained.
N13 ate slowly, but it was surprisingly good. When she was done, Shakky smiled and handed her a bundle of clothing before leaving the room with the empty bowl and glass.
Confused, N13 looked at the clothing. A simple pair of black pants, a dark shirt with a tall neck but short sleeves, and a pair of slippers. It had no adornments of any kind, but was much better looking than her own threadbare lab clothing. And clean, she thought after a sniff.
Quickly putting the clothes on, she was surprised they fit. The one thing the scientist had complained about was getting her clothes specially ordered due to her height. The shirt fit weirdly, but mostly because of the collar. But thankfully, it covered her tattoo. She wasn’t used to wearing something without sleeves though.
The slippers fit too, but she paused before opening the door, pulling her braid over her shoulder. She sensed Rayleigh below, his haki shimmering softly. Alongside him were three others, and she could sense Shakki, a soft wave, on the same floor as her. The other three were distinct; one felt almost like fire and salt, another made her think of wind and wood, while the third reminded her of steel or iron.
The hallway was empty as she stepped out. There were three other doors up here. One she could see was a bathroom, and the other two were closed. One opened and Shakky stepped out, startling her. “Oh, are you ready to go down?”
N13 nodded. “Where am I?” She had never seen curved walls before, and the fading sunlight shining through the windows almost hurt her eyes. It cut through the glass, sending it glaring across the walls and in her face.
“This is my bar,” Shakky said, leading her down a set of curving stairs. N13 trailed her fingers along the wood as Shakky talked. “Ray is a ship coater, but helps sometimes when he doesn’t have a job to do.”
A ship coater? N13 almost asked when a thick, ashy smell rose as a door below opened. The air now tasted of some kind of spirits, ash, smoke, and cedar. It was almost cloying, but she bit back her cough.
Rayleigh waited until they reached the bottom of the stairs and smiled. “I thought I heard you. Come out here. I want to introduce you to the men who will help you leave.” Shakky smiled at him, then disappeared through a different door as Rayleigh led N13 to a large, open room. The tastes from earlier were thicker here.
A semi-circular room, two booths on either side of the front door, and a semi-circle counter took up a lot of space. Tall chairs sat along the counters edge. It took her a second to spot the source of the taste, then she stopped.
Three men sat in the far booth, two facing her. A tall man with long black hair, a cigarette in his lips and a long silver weapon sitting against his side, and a shorter dark blonde man with a headband across his forehead. In the next moment, the third man turned and she was shocked by the brilliant red hair and dark eyes that contrasted with the bright golden straw hat he wore.
“Is this the girl, Rayleigh?” he asked. His voice was higher than she would’ve expected, and he merely sounded curious. His haki signature was the fire and salt she felt. With one hand on his hat, he tipped his head over the back of the booth to look at her, grinning.
“Yeah,” Rayleigh said as he joined them. He waved N13 over. “Come on, they might be pirates, but they won’t hurt you.”
Pirates? N13 struggled to think, but she wasn’t familiar with the word. She’d heard it a few times, tossed around by the marines who brought her here, but they never explained what it meant. She took a few steps closer, a hand on the bandaged end of her braid.
The three strangers exchanged a look, then Shanks sat straight and cocked his head. “Rayleigh’s right, we won’t hurt you. Come on.” He scooted over and N13 sat down hesitantly. “I’m Shanks. That’s Benn and Yasopp.” He gestured to the other men. “Rayleigh explained you needed to get somewhere safe and thought we might help.”
Up close, she thought he couldn’t be more than, what, 19? 20? Not much older than her. He smiled while he talked, and N13 released her braid some. The taste of cedar came from him. He had a light stubble, but she could see it was just a shade darker than his hair.
“You may have to leave soon though,” Rayleigh told him, crossing his arms. “We ended up running from a Celestial Dragon.”
The shorter man, Yasopp, laughed. “How’d you manage to get away?” The taste of spirits was stronger from him, though all three men almost reeked of it. The wind and wood haki signature was weaker than the other two men’s, but not by much. A short, silver weapon was tucked into his waistband; it looked like a short version of the other mans weapon.
The last man, Benn, just shook his head and took a long drag on his cigarette; that explained the ashy, smokey taste in the air. His haki almost made her shudder; steel and iron, though it didn’t feel threatening. His gaze flicked to her briefly.
Rayleigh leaned back in his chair. “It was easy. I broke the ropes we had, then we jumped off the bridge heading into Grove 60 and swam to the roots. After that we just ran here as fast as we could. I couldn’t risk escaping sooner, unfortunately.” The two older men stared at him in surprise.
Shanks grinned and looked at N13. “Impressive. Ray’s a good swimmer, I’m surprised you could keep up.”
N13 shrugged, a little uncomfortable at the praise, but said nothing.
“You’ll have to excuse the captain,” Yasopp said, leaning forward. “He’s easily impressed.”
“I am not!” Shanks retorted hotly.
Benn cracked a grin as Yasopp and Rayleigh laughed. “No, you are. All most of us had to do was just show our skills once before you were almost begging us to join you.” His voice was much deeper than the other two and N13 got the feeling he didn’t speak much.
She stifled a giggle as Shanks’ face turned nearly as red as his hair. He looked at his lap, determined not to meet any of their eyes.
“So what’s your name?” Yasopp asked, distracting her.
N13 hesitated, not missing the look on Rayleigh’s face. Despite the tightness around his eyes, he stayed quiet. Understanding why, she reluctantly said, “I’m called N13.”
The three men went quiet. The air turned sour with anger.
Shanks glanced at her, but looked at Rayleigh, his eyes hard. “‘Called’?”
N13 kept herself from flinching back at the minor shot of haki he released. Yasopp was tense, but just watched her.
Rayleigh shook his head. “I can explain later.” N13 shot him a grateful look. He had guessed, correctly, about her origins and didn’t want to explain it herself.
“Where do you think we should take her?” Benn asked, his eyes on her, but directing his question at Rayleigh.
Rayleigh paused, then sighed. “Somewhere the Navy or World Government can’t find her.”
There was an intake of breath from Yasopp and Shanks; the sour taste grew stronger, and a hint of spice was present now.
N13 glanced at them; both men looked furious, but the look in Shanks’ eyes was almost terrifying. He looked dangerous.
“Are you sure we shouldn’t leave tonight then?” Benn asked after a few moments, appearing almost calm but for the white knuckles around his weapon. His steely gaze was still fixed on her.
Shanks glared at him. “We need to wait until the repairs are finished, Benn. By that time, it might be midnight already. I’d rather wait until first light before we leave.” He said it like a suggestion, but it sounded more like an order.
Benn exchanged a look with Yasopp, who shrugged, then took another drag on the last of his cigarette. “That makes sense, especially since Snake wasn’t too confident docking earlier. He won’t want to move out in the dark.” He discarded the stub in a little dish in front of him.
Feeling confused, N13 just watched them chat back and forth about navigating and maps, but could make no sense of it. Benn didn’t say much, but never removed his hand from his weapon. Yasopp and Shanks were much more animated, and Rayleigh just grinned and shook his head.
She hardly noticed when Shanks nudged her. “Quiet, aren’t you?”
“Can you blame her?” Yasopp muttered, earning a shove from Benn.
“Give her time,” Benn rebuked lightly. Yasopp tried to shove him back, but the larger man didn’t budge at all.
Rayleigh’s chuckle caught her attention. “Sorry, I’m afraid this is what you’ll be dealing with until they can find somewhere safe for you.”
N13 cast a glance at the three men. “But where will I go?”
Shanks leaned back, one arm thrown over the back of the booth. “Where are you from originally?”
A bolt of haki shot out, and everyone turned to Rayleigh. “You won’t find where she’s from.” He gave N13 a sympathetic glance before continuing, “But she can’t stay where she could easily be found.”
N13 wrapped a hand around her braid.
Shanks looked at her for a few moments, then shrugged. “You could always stay with us.” If he was bothered by the haki, he didn’t show it.
“And her become a pirate?” Shakky’s voice called over. She walked over a moment later and set down four tankards in front of the men, and a glass in front of N13. “Would you want to do that?” Shakky asked her. Benn, Yasopp, and Rayleigh all took drinks immediately, but Shanks didn’t move.
N13 hesitated as the three men waited quietly, then sighed. “I’m not really sure what a pirate is, honestly.”
Shanks looked stunned, his eyes widening. “Really?” When she nodded, he cocked his head. “Pirates are people who sail the seas, looking for treasure usually. We don’t live by any rules but our own and we just explore where we want.”
The corner of N13’s mouth twitched up as she saw Benn and Yassop’s amused expressions, but kept her focus on Shanks.
“It means taking a lot of risks along the way, but it just adds to the fun,” he finished. She felt as if there were much more he wanted to say, but kept it short on purpose.
“You say fun, but it’s not as much fun when the Navy won’t stop chasing you for three days,” Benn muttered, lighting another cigarette. A fresh taste of ash and smoke filled the air around the booth.
Rayleigh laughed. “Shanks has an idealistic view of the world, but he’s been a pirate all his life.”
“All his life?” N13 couldn’t imagine that. Any of it, but if it was dangerous, how had he been surviving this long?
Shanks nodded, downing some of his drink; a bitter taste spread through the air and N13 tried not to wrinkle her nose. “Rayleigh and our captain raised me on their ship.”
So Rayleigh was a pirate too?
Shakky interrupted them. “If your crew, and her, are going to leave before full morning, maybe you should head out now while it’s getting dark.”
“Shakky’s right,” Rayleigh said, glancing out a small window above a door behind him. The sunlight had faded to almost nothing now. “We just got out. I don’t want anyone to go back.”
The three younger pirates finished their drinks quickly and N13 retreated to the bar as they gathered in front of the door. Shanks watched her, his face unreadable. “I know Rayleigh asked us to take you away from here, but do you want to?” His hand rested on a sword she hadn’t noticed before, tucked into the sash around his waist.
N13 bit her lip, thinking, her hand twisting around her braid lightly.
She couldn’t remember when she was free, having been given to the World Government when she was an infant. She had only ever known metal walls, iron bars, needles and test and nights of pain. It wasn’t until she was nearly 15 that they discarded her when the experiment failed, and a sympathetic marine took her away instead of following the order given.
That was the first time she remembered seeing the outside, seeing the sky and stars in person instead of a book.
But it sounded as though Shanks and his companions lived a life completely different from that. No rules? Running from marines? Risking their lives?
But then again…could they accept her if they knew what she was?
Shanks’ gaze met hers and he smiled encouragingly, hooking a thumb into his sash and tipping his hat back.
Just because she left with them didn’t mean she had to reveal anything, though. She could stay long enough to find somewhere that was safe, wherever that was, and mention nothing about her past.
She met Benn’s gaze and he tilted his head, his expression unreadable, his weapon across his shoulders.
“If you don’t want to go with them, I can find some other way to get you out,” Rayleigh said quietly from the side. “I know these three look rough, but I couldn’t find anyone I trusted more to help you if I tried.”
Yasopp crossed his arms, but grinned.
“How long might it take to find me somewhere safe?” she asked.
Shanks paused, not taking his eyes off her, then shrugged. “It could be months, it could be a year, it could be ten years. It’s hard to tell where could be safe for you.” His eyes softened. “But I promise, we won’t leave you somewhere that would be bad for you.”
N13 closed her eyes briefly, and nodded. “Okay. But…”
The air tasted almost sweet as they waited for her to continue.
She had to tell them at least this, “I’ve never seen the outside world before. Not outside of a cage.”
The rush of haki that surged from Shanks almost made her vision spark before Benn’s hand clamped down on his shoulder. The red-head's eyes were narrowed, the fury visible. The sour taste came back, almost overwhelming now.
“Shanks.” The haki disappeared as Rayleigh said his name quietly. “I’ll explain what I know before you leave. Stay here for a bit. Let Benn and Yasopp take her back to your ship.”
His shoulders nearly trembling, Shanks gave him a curt nod and sat down heavily in the booth. He stared at the table and N13 saw his fist clench on his leg.
Benn gave a quiet sigh. “Come on, we’ll take you there now.” He motioned for N13 to follow.
She had barely taken a step when Rayleigh’s hand stopped her. Turning, she saw him holding out a thick hat.
“Hide your hair. Even with your neck covered, they could recognize you by your braid alone,” he explained, low enough the others wouldn’t hear.
N13 nodded and quickly stuffed her hair under the thick hat, though leaving her braid hanging down her back, before following at Benn’s heels. Yasopp followed at her heels.
As the door closed, though, she couldn’t help but taste the almost overwhelming dark, bitter spice of rage coming from the bar.

Chapter 2: Fears

Summary:

Now aboard the Crescent Moon Gally, N13 encounters her first real problem: Hongo.

Notes:

A panic attack relating to doctors/hospital memories is described about midway through. If this is triggering, just skip ahead.

N13 watched the men walking across the deck warily from her spot near the fantail. Three days out from Sabaody and she still wasn’t sure if this was a good idea or not.
The men here were much rougher than she could’ve guessed, though they were kind to her. But amongst each other – they insulted, swore, even got physical sometimes. While it hadn’t terrified her, she had avoided the two men involved for a few hours. Limejuice, a skinny man wearing a skull-logo hat, and Punch, a somewhat larger man, had just ended their scuffle in a laughing heap while a red-furred monkey named Monster leaped about. It was weird.
She hadn’t seen people be so rough, yet not, with one another before. The scientists watching her had been cool and collected, their voices soft compared to the harsh ones she heard now. Even when on the slaver and Navy ships, no one talked like this crew did.
Yasopp tended to stick with her if he wasn’t in the crow’s nest, where he kept an eye out for anything of interest. He told her about his son back in the East Blue, introduced her to most of the crew, and showed her around the ship so she wouldn’t get lost.
She had seen everywhere but the captain's cabin, which was understandable, and the surgery, which she avoided. Yasopp had quickly caught on to that and didn’t push it.
If he wasn’t around, Benn or Shanks were there to point out different aspects of the crew. She preferred Shanks though, if she were being honest with herself. Benn was almost too quiet sometimes and Shanks’ friendly, outgoing nature was easier to get along with.
N13 didn’t want to admit it, but Benn was almost intimidating.
She glanced at the first mate; he was leaning against the railing on the opposite side of the ship as her and Shanks. Occasionally, he looked at them, but mostly watched the crew. His gun leaned against his shoulder as usual.
“Captain, ship on the horizon!” Yasopp’s voice rang out, making N13 jump, and Shanks looked up from the map he was showing her. A bright taste saturated the air, reminding her of lemons. It contrasted with the general subtle wood, sea-salt, and sharp iron tastes from the rest of the ship. There was a sense of expectation in the air as many of the crew either looked at Yasopp, Shanks, or looked in the direction Yasopp had pointed.
Shanks leaped up and she watched him quickly scramble up the ropes leading to the crow’s nest; the ratlines, he called them. After a few minutes, he came back down and grabbed up the maps. “Can you fight?” His eyes were bright with excitement and his gaze kept flicking to a growing dot in the distance.
N13 blinked at the question. “Um, no. I’ve never had to do anything like that.” A sharp, metallic taste wove through the air; her own fear, she realized after a moment. It was rare she could taste it from herself.
He looked at her thoughtfully, then turned around. “Benn, get her below for now.” Without another word, he raced back up the ratlines.
Benn said nothing as N13 followed at his heels through the door leading below the quarterdeck, the taste of iron and ash following in his wake. She tried to push her fear down, but it was difficult. She knew there would’ve been danger, but hadn’t expected it so soon. Never having touched a weapon before, she wasn’t sure where to start. She stumbled to a stop, barely keeping herself from walking into Benn as he halted.
They were outside the door leading to the crew's quarters. Benn nudged it open. “Hide down there. Captain explained you’ve got observation haki, so don’t come out until all you can sense is this crew, alright?” His scratched voice was loud in here, the taste of ash thick this close to him. Once again, he had another cigarette.
N13 nodded.
He watched her for a moment, then sighed. “Starting tomorrow, I’m teaching you to fight,” he muttered. He walked outside before she could respond. A subtle taste of cloves followed him out, fading completely when the door shut. N13 blinked in confusion; that wasn’t a taste she was familiar with.
She hesitated, then when a distant boom sounded, she nearly flew down the stairs. Most of the crew were above deck, though she spotted a few people laying in hammocks; the previous watch, getting some sleep. Ducking into a corner just to the left side of the stairs, she closed her eyes and stretched out her haki.
Immediately she sensed the crew, already familiar enough to understand they weren’t enemies. Further out, a group of haki signatures, mostly weak, were growing closer by the second. Nausea filled her stomach as she sensed the murderous intent from some of the larger sparks.
The metallic taste of fear grew as she sensed the other ship growing closer. When it was almost there, she snapped her eyes open as the crew that had been asleep shot up the stairs; she hadn’t heard anyone come get them, too focused on the marines. One of them slowed down before reaching the stairs, however.
Hongo, tall with blonde hair and the only crew member she’d barely seen since boarding, slowly approached when he spotted her. She didn’t know his role in the crew, but his presence was somehow unsettling.
“Are you okay?” he asked, kneeling. There was a taste, something familiar, emanating from him, and she clenched her braid tighter unconsciously, but she couldn’t place what it was.
She nodded once. “Shanks told me to hide down here until they were gone.”
Hongo glanced up the stairs, then sat by her. “I’ll stay here then.”
She eyed him warily. “Why?” He was keeping a careful distance between them.
“Right now, you’re a guest on the crew,” he said, shrugging. “I can tell you’re scared, and while they don’t stand a chance against us, it’s not right for you to be hiding down here alone and not know what’s going on.” He leaned back against the wall, watching her.
N13 blinked. How could he tell she was scared? She was usually so good at keeping that hidden.
Hongo smiled. “I’m serious. I remember the first fight we encountered after I joined. I was so terrified I hid in the surgery for almost half a day after the fight ended.”
N13 froze. Surgery? Gripping her braid so tight it hurt, she cringed away automatically. She couldn’t help it. The taste came to her in that second; disinfectant, the tang of surgical steel, medicine. Just like the lab. Like the doctors.
Hongo’s eyes widened, but he didn’t move. “What’s wrong?”
N13 tried to keep herself from panicking, but memories rushed through her head against her will. She shut her eyes tight, as if that could stop them. Her haki retreated, leaving her blind to everything outside.
Scalpels ripping into her skin. Her skull on fire. The ever-present beep of monitors. Needles in her arms.
“Shit.” The hissed word barely registered with her, but the taste of the labs faded after a moment. She tried to turn off the memories, but failed. Her heart thudded in her chest; blood roared in her ears. There wasn’t enough air in her chest, leaving her almost dizzy.
Electrodes on her skin. Xray machines in use. The taste of sleeping-medicine. Straps around her limbs.
A hand encircled her wrist and she bit back a scream, her heart now painful in her chest. She jerked, but the hand didn’t release her. It was tight enough to grip her, but not to hurt. This made her pause and she dared to look up. Shanks’ dark eyes were fixed on her. The taste of cedar was strong now, tempered with the harsh tang of steel. Her breathing slowed; had she been hyperventilating? As the blood stopped rushing in her ears, she realized he was speaking softly.
“It’s alright. You’re safe here.” He kneeled and carefully grabbed her other hand. “No one’s going to hurt you.” As her breathing grew quiet, he gave her a small smile. “See, you’re fine here.”
N13 blinked a few times and he slowly released her. “Shanks?” Her voice shook badly, and she closed her eyes again. Crap.
Movement; the cedar smell got a little stronger. “I’m right here.” A pause. “Can I ask what happened?”
She had a damn panic attack, that’s what happened. But she tried to breathe slowly before she answered. “I…just…” She couldn’t force the words out. Her throat was tight. They felt trapped and she couldn’t force them out. She pulled her legs tighter, not caring that they were hurting.
“Was it something about Hongo?” he asked.
She nodded, not trusting her voice.
A brief pause. “Rayleigh explained a few things he guessed about you, and I think I know why. Do you mind if I ask about something?” A hint of spice, but it was overpowered by a faint sweet taste.
No, she didn’t to speak about it. She wanted to forget it, lock the memories away to never see again. Her grip tightened on her braid.
“I won’t ask for anything specific, okay? Nod or shake your head if you can’t speak.” He spoke slowly.
N13 nodded, her chest tightening.
“Did you have a bad experience with doctors before?”
A nod.
“Is it related to your tattoo?” The spice grew stronger for a heartbeat, then faded quickly.
A nod.
Shanks paused, and said nothing for several heartbeats. “Are you feeling better now?” he asked quietly.
She didn’t respond immediately. Her heartbeat slowed, but the memories threatened to leak through.
“Do you need some more time?” he asked.
A nod.
“Do you want me to leave?”
A shake.
“Okay. Is it alright if I sit next to you?” He sounded hesitant, as if he didn’t want to leave.
A nod.
She heard him move, then there was a warm presence next to her. The taste of cedar and steel was almost overwhelming now, but it was helping ground her. Now that he was closer, there was another taste, harsher and metallic, but not like steel. She tried to ignore that, knowing immediately what it was.
It was several minutes before N13 could unclench her hands from her braid; internally, she winced. That was going to leave a bruise. Opening her eyes, she saw Shanks close, but keeping at least half a foot between them. There was a cut on his cheek, and blood splattered his clothes. How long had she panicked? Warily, she cast out her haki and felt only the crew. The fight was already over? She cast out her haki further but met nothing else.
Shanks tilted his head. “Are you okay now?” The question brought her attention back.
N13 nodded. “I’m sorry…” she whispered. Her knees tight against her chest, she could barely bring herself to look at him.
He frowned. “For what? You didn’t do anything. I should’ve thought about Hongo being down here and sent you to the mess or my cabin.”
She only blinked in response. Since it was the captain's cabin, she figured no one else was allowed there. But she’d remember the mess for the next time she might have to hide.
“I’m serious. Rayleigh explained you may be…not okay with anything related to doctors.” He glanced at her hands; she had clenched them around her braid again. “I didn’t think about that when I asked Benn to take you down here. I knew Hongo was asleep.” His eyes were hard, but she knew he wasn’t angry at her.
N13 rested her forehead on her knees for a second, then turned to look at him. The metallic taste of her own fear faded until it was gone.
“The crew is going to come down here soon. Why don’t we go to the mess?” He stood and held his hand out.
N13 hesitated, then heard someone walking down the steps. Instinctively, she tensed.
“Hongo, wait there,” Shanks called out. The footsteps stopped and a faint taste of sterile tools reached her.
She froze and internally cursed at herself. Hongo had done nothing wrong, she shouldn’t react like to him. He had spoken to her for all of 30 seconds! It was just the taste that got to her. She flinched as her grip tightened, then forced herself to release one hand. She took Shanks’ offered hand gingerly, letting him help her up.
He grinned. “Come on. You can wait in the mess for now, okay? We’ll figure something out.”
N13 wanted to hesitate, but he was pulling her along before she could.
As they passed the stairs, the lab taste reached her again and she shuddered, but berated herself. She knew that wasn’t fair. As they entered the mess, she glanced behind her; no one was following. Lucky Roux was already banging around the kitchen, but he ignored them.
The air in here tasted of fire, smoke from a stove, spices, and an earthy essence she always associated with vegetables. Eyeing the pot that Roux had just put on, she guessed that’s what he was cooking.
She waited until Shanks let her go. “Shanks?” One hand kept a hold on her braid, the other gripped her arm.
“Hm?” He turned to her, tilting his hat up.
“Can you tell Hongo it wasn’t personal?” Although she couldn't confront him directly, she felt terrible about her instinctive response.
Shanks nodded. “Of course, though I don’t think he would’ve thought it was. Just hang out here for now, okay? I have to get back up there and see what damage they caused.”
Nodding, N13 sat near the corner, out of sight of the door but where she could watch Roux, as Shanks bounded out of the mess.
Watching the crew's chef deal with food, she couldn’t help but feel guilty. She had done nothing to help so far, and all she had done was have a bad panic attack caused by something that she couldn’t have warned them about.
How could she explain that she could taste emotions? Or that her haki abilities also let her taste the “flavor” of people? Even the scientists hadn’t known that. No one here would be able to understand that.
Gripping her braid again, she looked at the bandage still wrapped around the end. It still stung. She could feel the bruise under her hands, and already she was overwhelmed. What would it be like when she took the bandage off and had nothing blocking the already strong taste in the air?
Glancing towards the crew’s quarters, she felt another pang of guilt. If she got hurt, how could she make herself get help here?

Chapter 3: New Clothes and A Name

Summary:

Shanks sends N13 shopping, Yasopp as her escort. After arriving back at the ship and changing however, she gets an unusual reaction from Shanks. But afterwards, an unexpected, and harsh, conversation results in a new name: Aria.

N13's muscles screamed in protest as she sank against the rail, her head drooping forward. She was used to physical activity, it had been a part of her tests to be as physically fit as possible, but this was something else entirely.
Sweat trickled down her neck and braid; she still wore her hair stuffed into the hat Rayleigh gave her, but she felt awkward without it. None of the crew had seen her hair aside from her braid yet, which was darker than her real hair.
And she could feel it was a tangled mess by now.
Benn cracked a grin and slung his rifle over his shoulders, leaning back some. “I didn’t say we were done yet.” He hadn’t broken a sweat and didn’t seem to be winded at all. And all of this while he had another cigarette!
A flicker of irritation coursed through N13’s body, but she forced her eyes shut, pressing her forehead against her knee. The sword in her hand was heavy, not literally, but because she had been using it for an hour straight. She was barely out of breath, but she wasn’t used to the movement this required.
It had only been a week, and she was no better than when she started. Benn usually practiced with her, though sometimes the others helped. Shanks in particular seemed to enjoy showing her how to move the sword effortlessly, but she wasn’t sure if she liked it.
But training with him was a lot less taxing, at least.
“Give her a break Benn. You guys have been at it for almost two hours now,” Shanks called from the quarterdeck. She hadn’t known he was watching, but she wasn’t surprised.
But two hours? That explained why this was a little taxing then. Usually she took periodic breaks, and she had never gone more than maybe an hour between exercises before.
The air tasted heavily of sweat, salt, and the now almost comfortably familiar smoke and ash of Benn’s cigarettes; she seriously couldn’t understand how he always had one. He should have lung cancer by now, she thought.
She looked up in time to see Benn cock his head at her, then shrug, his lips curled into a self-satisfied smirk. N13 ignored him, focusing instead on her breath.
“Alright, you’ve got a point. We’re almost to port anyway,” he said, joining the captain.
N13 looked over the rail at the approaching land. She could see several ships in port, though none were pirates or Navy. Several buildings stretched up behind the ships, maybe two stories, but she couldn’t make anything else out. The island had been spotted the day before and she was both eager and scared to see her first place since being free, not including a dark Sabaody.
A small mountain rose behind the town, growing larger as they got closer. She could see the shore from here, and what she thought might be a forest. She had never seen so many shades of green before, not even in her brief glimpse of Sabaody.
“Excited?” Yasopp jumped down next to her, startling her. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.” His grin was almost infectious, but her heart was pounding a little too hard to reciprocate it.
Biting her tongue against a retort but shooting him a glare, she didn’t stand until they were nearly docked. She stood against the railing with Yasopp as the rest of the crew left the ship. A handful were staying behind, but most were already gone. The thick tastes she had grown accustomed to faded as they left.
Almost unconsciously, she watched Hongo head into town alone. A pang of guilt shot through her, but she shook it off.
Relaxing a little, she watched them chat amongst themselves as they split up at the end of the dock. Most went into town, though a few headed down the beach. She almost envied the ease they had with each other.
Shanks smirked as he walked up to her and Yasopp. “Yasopp, take her into town, will you? While we’re here, she can get something else to wear.”
N13’s cheeks burned. The clothes she had worn the first couple of days were dirty from helping in the kitchen a few nights ago, and she’d had to borrow a set from Benn. She hated it, but he was the only one with clothes tall enough for her that wouldn’t swamp her frame entirely. A borrowed scarf was wrapped around her neck; Shanks wouldn’t let her around anyone without her tattoo covered.
She still didn’t understand his reaction to it, but he had looked angry enough she didn’t question him.
Yasopp grinned. “You’re right, she needs her own gear.” He took the pouch Shanks handed him, then turned to N13, noticing her hesitation. He gave her a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, this town’s small. Stick with me, and you’ll be fine.”
Not nearly as confident as him, N13 just nodded and stayed at his heels.
The town wasn’t that big, like he said, but everything here was unfamiliar. The market air buzzed with life, a blend of scents and tastes—sweaty bodies, fresh produce, and the musk of animals—swirling around her in a heady, overwhelming mix. Market stalls outside certain shops were mostly of fruits or veggies, Yasopp pointed out a small butcher's shop where Roux was already inside getting meat for their stores, and a weapons store she eyed curiously.
She tasted the nerve-wracking lab tastes outside an apothecary, signaling Hongo had recently gone inside. Limejuice and Snake were chatting outside a small technical looking shop, but she didn’t see the rest of the crew.
The clothing shop was small, but she felt a weight life from her shoulders when she spotted clothing for tall people; she wasn’t sure how easy they would be to find. Yasopp waited outside.
“Can I help you?” A woman came around a cabinet a second later, the click of a door behind her.
N13 tasted the sweetness of honey from the woman and relaxed. “I’m looking for clothes that could fit me and noticed you have a tall section.”
The woman eyed her critically, then nodded. “Come with me.”
Following the woman through the small selection of tall clothes, she picked out a few simple shirts, a couple pairs of long pants, and a few pairs of shorts. This would be plenty. But the only problem was her tattoo now. None of the shirts had tall necks, resting either below her collarbone or just above.
“Um, I hate to ask, but do you sell scarves or something?” She asked after she had picked out the rest of her clothes. The fabrics were softer than she had ever felt, and everything was much finer than what she had been wearing so far. These were all simple, but she already liked them.
The woman tilted her head, frowning. “This is a summer island, dear; we don’t carry many things like scarves or gloves.”
“I have a scar on my neck I’d like to keep hidden,” N13 explained with a grimace. She wasn’t sure what the woman meant by summer island, but said nothing and made a mental note to ask Yasopp later.
The woman smiled. “If it’s small, we have a selection of wide chokers over here. They should be big enough to hide it.” She led N13 to a small glass cabinet where strips of fabric were laid out carefully. On top, there was a small bust of a neck, where a simple lace thing wrapped around neck was displayed. “Some of these are a little thin, but the two types on this end should be wide enough.”
The two kinds pointed out where of something woven and leather. N13 picked through the leather ones, noticing some tied and some had a button or two. She liked the feeling of the leather, but she wondered if it would be a good idea. While she wasn’t familiar with a lot of things, she knew leather could be freezing if it was too cold or burning if it was too hot.
The woven ones were soft, but almost itchy. They had more designs though, and she kind of liked them.
“Pick one of each,” the woman suggested.
N13 deliberated for just a moment, then grabbed a dark leather one and a bright blue silky fabric, then followed the woman to the counter. She didn’t seem to mind that N13 wasn’t that familiar with money and helped her sort out the correct amount. In the end, it hardly costed anything, at least that’s what N13 thought, and she joined Yasopp outside shortly afterwards.
“Find enough?” he asked, noticing her bag.
“Enough that I shouldn’t have to borrow from Benn anymore,” she grumbled.
Yasopp snorted. “Not like you could’ve borrowed from anyone else. Come on, we can stop by a few other places. I saw you looking at the weapon shop.”
“How long will we stay here?” she asked.
He shrugged. “A day, maybe two.”
Walking down the street, he stopped at a few stalls where he picked out some leather thongs, a small pouch, and a few things he said were for his pistols. N13 grabbed a couple of thin ones for herself, thinking to tie her hair eventually and a wide one to wrap around the end of her braid.
Most of the people were friendly enough, chatting for a moment as the pair looked at their wares. Eventually, they found themselves at the weapons shop.
Her head almost spinning from the tastes outside surrounding her, she followed Yasopp inside, blinking against the sudden gloom. When the outside tastes faded, her shoulders dropped in relief.
A man called out from behind the counter, “Welcome. Anything in particular we’re looking for?”
Yasopp paused, then turned to N13. “I know you’ve been practicing with a sword the past week, but you don’t have to get one if you would prefer something else.”
N13 nodded, her gaze flicking around the shop. Yasopp had showed her the general weapons the crew used, but most of these were like nothing she could’ve guessed at. Long blades, short daggers, rifles, pistols, and a multitude of others all piled together or hanging from the walls. The air tasted of steel, iron, a heady type of wood, oil, and gunpowder.
Yasopp immediately went for the pistols, chatting with the shopkeeper about the different types he saw.
N13’s fingers brushed lightly over the weapons on display, her eyes wide. The heavy wooden ones with tapered ends and the brutal-looking hammers made her step back, but she lingered over the daggers, staves, and short swords.
A staff caught her eye and she carefully picked it up. It looked short, but she doubted some of the crew would consider it that. A curved blade at one end, and on the other end a thick knob of wood. It was surprisingly light. She stood it up against her side and the bladed end nearly reached her brow.
“That’s a glaive,” the shopkeeper said from somewhere behind her. “Those are difficult to handle, but I’ve seen some people manage it.”
Yasopp joined her. “We don’t have anyone on the crew that could help you with that, though Limejuice uses a staff,” he said. “And you’d have to keep the blade clean, but that’s true for any weapon.”
N13 tried to think of how she’d watched Limejuice the other day when he sparred with Shanks, but didn’t think using this would be anything like that. “It would keep people at a distance though.”
Yasopp nodded thoughtfully, then shrugged. “As long as you don’t kill any of us with it, no one would complain if you brought that back.”
In the end, she picked the glaive and a dagger, as well as a blade-cleaning kit, then followed Yasopp back outside; the money pouch was considerably lighter now. Shanks met them in front of a larger building with a sign that read ‘Tavern’.
“Glad you found something,” he remarked, seeing her new weapons. “But that’s a tricky weapon. Whitebeard uses something similar, though a lot bigger.”
“Whitebeard?” N13 hadn’t heard the name before, but the way he said it made her think they were important.
Shanks nodded. “One of the four Yonko’s in the New World. He’s powerful, said to be the strongest man in the world.” He jerked his head towards the door. “Most of the crew is inside already. Yasopp, why don’t you join them and I’ll take her back to the ship for now.”
Yasopp gave N13 a smile before darting inside. The taste of his excitement was more bitter than lemon, but unmistakable. The taste of spirits came through the open door briefly and N13 mentally sighed. It seemed like the entire crew drank whenever they could. She had certainly noticed it in the almost two weeks she had been with them.
Shanks didn’t say anything until they were almost to the ship, where they could see Benn and Bonk on guard on the quarterdeck; Monster was slinging about the rigging above them. “Why don’t you go change, then come back to the bar with us?” She could only describe the look on his face as hopeful and she smiled.
“Maybe. I don’t like spirits, but I would like to get to know everyone better,” she said. He grinned widely. “Should I leave my glaive on the ship?”
Shanks looked at her weapon and nodded once. “I would, at least until you know how to use it. But keep your dagger on you. I’ll wait here.”
Quickly, she dashed up the gangplank and slipped inside, feeling the two men on the ship watching her. She went to the crew's quarters, glad it was empty, and quickly changed into a tight fitting dark blue shirt and pair of black shorts that reached halfway to her knees.
She hadn’t worn shorts since she was little and missed them. Tugging her shirt over her head, she was a little surprised when it barely came to her midriff. She hadn’t meant to get a short shirt like this, but rather liked the tight fit. The neck was snug too, rising just above her collarbone, but she wished it were higher.
She felt awkward showing so much skin. Her arms almost to her shoulders were bare, as were her legs, stomach area, and…
N13 ran her fingers over the scarf covering her neck, the fabric rough against her skin. Shanks’ order to keep her tattoo hidden echoed in her head, but she undid the scarf quickly. It was far too hot for it and she couldn’t wear it forever.
Using the mirror at the end of the room, she put on the leather choker and adjusted it until she was satisfied her tattoo was covered. The leather was snug against her skin, and the buttons didn’t itch thankfully. Before she moved however, she looked at herself. It was the first time she had seen herself since leaving the labs almost three years ago.
Her skin was darkening in places, but the freckles across her nose stood out more. Her hair was still stuffed under the hat and she contemplated taking it off. She had yet to remove it since Sabaody, but decided to leave it on until she could comb her hair properly. Her pale violet eyes, almost silver in the dim area, already looked happier though.
Her mouth twitched up at that, but she didn’t let herself get caught up in those thoughts.
Turning away from the mirror, she folded up Benn’s clothes, but paused. She wasn’t sure where he slept, as she’d been sleeping on deck where the stairs led from the main deck to the quarterdeck.
Shanks had been uncomfortable with that, but relented when she said she would rather be where she could see the sky. And it hadn’t rained, so he hadn’t pushed going below, especially after her reaction to Hongo.
Finally she just left them stacked on a barrel near the stairs, stuck her dagger into the loop around her waist, leaned her glaive just inside the mess and tied her bag with remaining clothes to it, then went back outside.
N13 wasn’t prepared for Shanks’ reaction though and stopped when she reached the dock, holding her braid as he openly gaped at her. “Is something wrong?”
Shanks' eyes widened, his face turning crimson. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words seemed to stick, emerging in a stammer. A taste almost like honey, though more warm, swelled out from him. “Yeah, it’s just…that looks good on you.” A burst of laughter came from behind her and she tasted something bright from the ship.
Benn’s hand came down on her shoulder, making her jump. “Ignore him,” the older man drawled. “We just didn’t expect you to wear something like that.” She hadn’t noticed him walk up behind her, the taste of ash weaker than usual; a brief glance told her he was missing a cigarette for once.
“Not that we expected clothes like before, it’s just that’s so…” Shanks’ face was getting redder by the second.
The laughter got louder and Benn chuckled. “It’s a lot different from what you’ve been wearing before N-” He stopped himself, his fist curled at his side. “Dang it!”
N13 and Shanks stared at him, both surprised by the brief outburst.
“Sorry, but do you have a different name we could use?” He stepped back, a hand behind his head. He was gripping his rifle tightly, his expression carefully controlled.
N13 blinked in confusion.
“He’s…got a point. We should’ve thought of something else before we left Sabaody,” Shanks, his face no longer red, looked at the ship. Sourness rose from him.
N13 wasn’t exactly bothered by it, but she wished she understood why it bugged them so much. “I don’t being called-”
“No.” Shanks snapped his eyes to hers. “That wasn’t even a name, alright?” Haki sparked around them. Spice rose briefly, then faded.
She looked at Benn, who looked calm as usual but again, except for the white knuckles around his rifle. She remembered him reacting like that in Sabaody, but never thought it was just because of her tattoo.
“He’s right. That wasn’t a name,” Benn growled. “And besides us, only Yasopp knew it. You can pick your own.”
N13 tightened her grip, wincing as she accidentally squeezed the fading bruise. Names were something alien to her, something other people had. None of the others in the labs had them, and she never learned the names of the doctors or scientists.
“Hm,” Shanks hummed, cocking his head at her. “Names usually reflect a person, but we don’t know you yet.” She had spoken very little to most of the crew, preferring to listen for the time being, so that was no surprise.
“Aria.” Benn’s suggestion was hesitant, and when they both faced him, he shrugged. “I heard her humming along to the crew the other day, and yesterday when she was reading at the bow. She’s got a good voice.”
N13 stared at him. How had he noticed that? She could sing, she just didn’t know any songs by heart and had been punished for it sometimes. Even then she knew that wasn’t fair, but she never complained. And her humming was always involuntary. But she hadn’t realized she had done it here, not when she hadn’t used her voice for almost two years before meeting Rayleigh.
Shanks watched him curiously, but spoke to N13. “Would that be alright?”
N13 shrugged, unease flickering through her mind. “It doesn’t matter to me. I’m used to being called whatever.”
From the annoyed look on Shanks’ face, she knew he didn’t like that response, but he said nothing.
“The crew’s already asked about your name, and we’ve refused to tell them what Rayleigh explained to us,” Benn told her. “They won’t say anything, but a few of them have already guessed you were a slave before.”
N13 sighed and nodded. “They aren’t correct, but I don’t want them asking.” Benn’s eyes widened slightly and he looked at Shanks, who gave a tense nod. “I’m fine with it.”
Shanks tipped his hat back a little, his eyes almost hard. “You’ll have to be more than fine with it, Aria. You’re free now. You shouldn’t be called by that…” He closed his eyes and turned around, not bothering to finish his sentence.
N13, no, Aria, watched him in confusion. She already felt a little better having a name, though she wasn’t sure why. “Shanks, why does that bother you so much?” Now that she thought about it, he always seemed more bothered than anyone else by that.
He didn’t answer her, just laced his hands on his head.
Benn spoke instead. “Captain here grew up a pirate, as you heard Rayleigh say, and to Shanks, being a slave is one of the worst things that can happen to someone. But whatever you’ve been through has been worse, though I don’t know everything Rayleigh told him.” He shot a look towards Shanks. “Whatever that number designation means, that’s not you.”
Aria blinked in shock. How much had Rayleigh guessed? Then told Shanks?
Shanks spoke, but he didn’t turn around. “Aria, I don’t want to hear you ever call yourself by that again, alright?” Without waiting for a response, he stalked off down the road in a wave of spice and sourness.
Aria watched him, confused, but didn’t follow.
Benn nudged her. “Stay on the ship with me and Bonk for now. Let him cool off.” Another taste of cloves followed him as he headed back to the ship.
She watched after Shanks. He was past the tavern now, but she could feel his haki from here, still taste the spice of his rage. She wanted to go after him, ask him to explain what Rayleigh told him, try to understand why her designation made him so mad.
With a sigh, Aria turned back to the ship and joined the other two. Going after Shanks wouldn’t help right now.

Notes:

I love Shanks, and writing his younger self developing a crush was fun!

Chapter 4: Secret of the Braid

Summary:

Finally getting to explore an island, though she considers it more forced because of the excitable red-haired captain, Aria's much more relaxed around the crew. But not enough to let them see her take care of the braid she's been keeping the truth about secret.

“Aria, you coming?”
Aria looked to see Shanks waiting on the beach and suppressed a sigh. Since Teal Town, he had been sticking around her more often. He was lucky she liked him, she reflected, or she would’ve said something by now.
Footsteps bounded up the gangplank and he walked over to where she sat in front of the mast. “You haven’t explored the islands yet. Come with us.” His eyes were bright, the lemony taste of his excitement thick. She’d quickly learned which taste belonged to certain people, and Shanks was usually the strongest when it came to excitement.
She eyed the jungle across the beach. “Shouldn’t we worry about getting lost?”
Shanks laughed, a hand on his hat as he grinned at her. “Benn has a map, and Snake has a piece of my vivre card. I can follow either of them back.” That was no surprise. Benn seemed to be a keeper of sorts when they were off-ship, and sometimes even on-ship.
He didn’t seemed to thrilled with that though.
Resisting rolling her eyes, she stood. “Alright, I’ll come this time.” Perhaps she could find a good place to clean her hair at last. She had combed it a month ago, but never got a chance to clean it properly. It was currently stuffed in her hat, like usual, her braid hung to her knees.
And Shanks’ enthusiasm was a little infectious this time.
The last island had been uninhabited, as had the one before that. And she stayed on the ship both times, preferring to practice her glaive with whoever stayed to watch the ship with her. But she had to admit, she was curious to see one finally. She’d have to leave the ship eventually, why not start getting used to that now?
Grinning widely, Shanks grabbed her arm and almost dragged her off the ship. She pulled herself free as they reached the beach, her face burning, and fell into the group heading into the jungle.
Yasopp fell into step with her as they walked. “I see he got you to come with us.” His eyes flashed with amusement and there was a taste of sorrel around him. Definitely amused.
Aria snorted. “More like forced.” She rubbed her arm where Shanks had grabbed her, thankful she had long sleeves on today. Her glaive hung across her back and her dagger at her waist. She watched as some of the crew hacked at the vines and undergrowth in their way when it got thick.
Yasopp laughed, his shoulders shaking. “He was like that with the rest of us too at first. You’ll get used to it, and he’ll eventually stop dragging you off.”
Aria gave a theatric groan but looked around as they entered the trees. “I didn’t expect a jungle to be so much thicker than a forest.” She knew jungles only existed on summer islands, something Yasopp had explained the day after they left Teal Town, but this was the first one she had seen.
“They usually are,” Yasopp said. “Hopefully we find something to hunt today.”
Aria hummed in agreement. The meat stores were a little low, and Roux was getting a little concerned they would have to ration it if they didn’t get to a market or find something to hunt soon. Some of the crew fished daily, but they didn’t always catch anything.
The sound of rushing water greeted them after an hour, and before long, they saw the source. A gigantic waterfall, taller than the ship, fell from the cliff above into a dark, clear pool below. The air here tasted almost sweet, with an almond aftertaste.
The sun, midway to its highest point already, cast thin rays of light over the area. The water sparkled where the falls met the pool. Water-speckled rocks lined the edges of the pool, while there was a shadow behind the falls where there may have been a ledge. Lichen coated some rocks in a thin, green sheen.
“Fresh water. We should refill our stores while we’re here.” Yasopp kneeled and peered below the surface. “Looks clean.”
The others needed no more encouragement to top off their flasks or waterskins. Aria filled her own, then took a drink. The water was chilly despite the humid air, but it felt good. Movement caught her eye and she watched as Shanks scaled a ledge to the side of the falls and sit on the edge.
He seemed at ease up there, his hat tipped back. Benn yelled up at him to come back down and Aria stifled a laugh at the annoyed look on Shanks’ face.
“Aria, you doing okay?” Limejuice’s voice sounded behind her. Turning, she saw him and Bonk walking up to her. As usual, Monster was perched on Bonk’s shoulders. She’d been hanging with them for a few days, trying to get to know the rest of the crew better.
Despite looking for somewhere safe to live, she didn’t want to leave without making at least a few friends of her own. She knew they wouldn’t have left her alone anyway, but it was fun getting to know some of them. She knew these two were more of skill and muscle, alternating between the more physical duties aboard the ship and fighters, rather than handle things like Shanks, Benn, Roux, and Yasopp did.
She smiled. “Yeah. I didn’t expect to come, but Shanks wouldn’t let me stay behind.”
Monkey chattered loudly and leaped onto her shoulders. His tail curled around her neck and she felt him pick at her hat.
Bonk laughed at them. “Next time stay out of sight.”
Limejuice chuckled. “That won’t work. He’ll just find her with his observation haki and drag her off.”
Aria scratched Monster’s ear and shook her head with a smile. He was probably right, but maybe if she was fast enough, she could tell Benn she was staying behind before Shanks could get to her. Despite Shanks being the captain, Benn usually ran things like who was on the watch and chore rotations.
Walking with them, she looked back at the waterfall. If she got the chance, she would come back and wash her hair here. Listening to the crew's chatter absentmindedly, her gaze flicked from each flower, tree, the lianas, colorful birds, and whatever else she saw. She would’ve never guessed a place like this could be more than just brown and green.
The crew stopped in a large clearing around midday, near the waterfall. They had backtracked a bit when the jungle proved too dense to continue forward. Shanks decided they would stop for lunch, then they could head back to the beach. The crew scattered, setting up stones in a circle or clearing spots to sit.
Offering to gather wood, Aria and Limejuice headed for the edge close to the path that led back to the beach. Before she had an armload, however, Aria paused. Her hand automatically snaked to her dagger. Something was watching them, her haki buzzing in her ears. She stretched it out but couldn’t recognize whatever it was.
“Aria?” She barely heard Limejuice as she stepped into the trees.
Something snuffled quietly and she tensed, a hand braced on a thick sapling. Something ahead of her snapped a twig.
There was a loud squeal and she leaped to the side before something big came charging through the undergrowth. Whatever it was, it was huge! She got a glimpse of small eyes, dark fur, and gleaming teeth. Landing in a thick bush, she jerked herself free quickly and grabbed her fallen glaive.
Shouts rose behind her, and she scrambled to her feet, feeling her sleeve rip. Jumping over a fallen tree, she jerked herself to a stop as she watched Shanks calmly pull his sword and cut down the creature in a single move. She gave an involuntary shudder; she had never seen him look calm about something like this before. And it was almost terrifying. Most of the crew had scattered towards the edges of the clearing.
The boar fell with a resounding thud, its nose barely an inch from his legs. A cloud of dust rose briefly, and she saw a shadow sheath their sword before the dust settled and she saw Shanks gazing down at the boar almost curiously.
The silence that followed was deafening, and she walked forward on trembling legs.
“Are you okay?” Shanks gazed at her briefly, then looked around. The rest of the crew made a ragged circle around the creature, muttering amongst themselves. The creature had attacked so quickly that hardly anyone had time to react aside from getting out of the way.
After a moment, Aria realized that she and Shanks were the only ones to react, though Benn seemed completely unaffected.
She nodded. “I sensed it just before it charged.” Her heart slowed and she forced her breath to slow down. It had startled her, but she was a little glad she hadn’t faced it. Practicing amongst the crew was one thing, but she didn’t think she could’ve faced that thing as calmly or cleanly as he did.
Limejuice nodded. “I noticed her stop, but I’ve never seen a boar move that fast before. There was no warning.”
A boar? She’d heard of them before, but thought they were small, fanged creatures. This thing was longer than her, and despite being dead, its shoulders reached Bonk’s head even with it splayed out. Two tusks on each side of its snout curved outwards. Its pelt was thick, a dark brown color that blended easily into the trees. Its feet were cloven hooves, each one the size of her hand.
“Well, we have meat now,” someone said.
After a pause, the crew broke out in laughter. Aria leaned back, her shoulders almost slumped, hand still around her dagger. She turned as someone nudged her, though.
“You’re bleeding.” Limejuice nodded at her arm and she glanced down.
A slice through her sleeve, no longer than her palm, was leaking red into her pale blue shirt. The spot was already the size of her palm.
“Want me to get Hongo?” he asked, tilting his head.
Aria’s heart raced, and she clenched her fists in her pocket where he couldn’t see. “No, it’s okay. It’s not that deep.” She couldn’t even feel it. “But I’ll go wash it in the pool for now.” Shanks was the only one who knew she avoided Hongo, but she didn’t want anyone else to find out. She still felt guilty, but despite trying, she had yet to talk to him.
Listening to Shanks give orders to some of them to cut up the boar, she made her way to the pool and sat down on a smooth rock at the edge. Gritting her teeth, for now the cut stung, she dipped one hand into the water and poured a few handfuls of water over it, holding her arm out so she wouldn’t drip any blood over her pants.
Dirt crunched behind her just before Shanks sat on her other side, just out of the corner of her eye. “Limejuice said you got hurt. Need some help?”
Aria shook her head, pressing down on the cut. “I’ve got it. It’s not much more than a graze.”
He chuckled. “But you need it wrapped, or you’ll have no choice about Hongo looking at it.” He pulled out a roll of bandages from the pouch around his waist. After she rolled her sleeve up, he quickly wrapped her arm, then replaced the bandages. “You sensed it before it charged?”
She nodded. “I could feel something watching us when I was getting the wood. I thought it missed me, but I didn’t expect the tusk. I should’ve been paying better attention so I would’ve sensed it sooner.”
Shanks cocked his head. “Even I didn’t know it was close, and your observation is almost as good as mine. It’s alright.”
Rolling down her sleeve, she grimaced when she noticed the blood around the rip. “That’s never going to come out…”
Shanks leaned back, laughing. “It will. Just wash it immediately. Do you want to stay here and do that while we get the fire going?”
“Not here. I’ll move to the other side of the pool to do that.” It would give her a little more privacy. She didn’t want to go topless around the crew; she might know much about the world yet, but a girl, even one with no chest, walking topless around a bunch of men? Not a good idea.
Shanks stood, giving her a small smile. “I’ll tell the crew to keep away for a while, okay?”
Aria waited until he was nearly back to the crew, then made her way to the narrow ledge she saw leading under the falls. She was surprised to find a secluded cave where a small pool had formed. It was deep enough she could submerge herself and wash her hair even.
Stepping inside, she cast her haki out. Sensing no animals close by and the crew were all in the clearing. Shanks’ fire and salt spark was brighter than everyone else's, though she recognized each of the others easily.
She undressed completely and, setting her pants to the side along with her glaive and dagger, stepped into the chilly water with her underclothes and shirt. Working quickly, her teeth almost chattering from the water and cave’s darkness, she scrubbed all three garments then laid them out to dry. They may not dry completely here in the dark cave, where the light shined only enough to cast hazy ripple reflections on the wall, but it would be enough to wear until she got back to the ship.
Removing her hat, she groaned. Her hair was tangled again. She may have to ditch the hat and just work out something different with her hair. It’s not that she didn’t want the crew seeing it, but it tended to be unruly and was a pain to deal with. It tangled every chance she got but she hated the idea of tying it up dirty.
Painfully, she combed through it with her fingers slowly. Avoiding her braid, or where it started, she painstakingly worked through it until her hair was smooth. She knew it had least been an hour, but paused when she moved to her braid, sending out her haki.
No one had moved from the clearing.
Quickly, she undid the hair, automatically checking the skin of the strange tether attached to her skull. The synthetic skin, hardly noticeable compared to the skin on the rest of her body, felt smooth and the bruise had healed finally where she had worried it for days. The end of the tether was sore, but it had been since they removed the needle from the tip. Carefully washing it, she quickly braided hair back around it. Without the leather thong wrapped around the end, the taste of stone and water was strong, while the almond-sweetness from outside drifted through the entrance.
A brisk wind blew into the cave, making her shiver, but she didn’t move until the braid was back in place. Giving her hair a final comb-through, she perched on the edge of the pool and stretched out. The wind might be cold, but it felt good after the stuffy air of the forest. Goosebumps rose over her arms, but she rubbing them until her skin was almost pink.
Keeping an eye on the crew, she lounged next to the pool until her clothes were merely damp. Several times, someone reached out with their own haki but Aria nudged back, letting them know she was okay. It was Shanks mostly, but sometimes another person.
She was just putting on her damp shirt when footsteps sounded outside the cave. A taste of currant filtered through the opening. Quickly, she grabbed her glaive and backed up against the wall, but relaxed when Shanks peered around the corner. Sticking the glaive into the holster she had around her shoulders, she glared at him. “I was just about to head back.”
Shanks leaned on the side of the entrance as she approached, giving her a sheepish smile. “Sorry. You were taking a while and I didn’t sense your haki respond again.” The currant disappeared, being replaced with a subtle salty taste she recognized as his embarrassment.
Crap, she hadn’t been paying attention. “Sorry.” She stuffed the hat over her head, but didn’t bother stuffing her hair up this time. Unruly was one thing, a tangled mess was another.
Shanks said nothing as they walked back to the fire the crew had built, but most of them were gone. Bonk was chasing Monster around the edge of the jungle in some sort of game, Yasopp was cleaning his pistol, and Benn was reclining against a log someone had dragged over, his rifle across his lap.
Aria sat down close to the fire as Shanks handed her a small bento box. “Thanks. I hadn’t noticed how late it got.” Rice and fish, simple but she preferred that.
“I’m surprised to see you with your hair down,” Shanks remarked as she ate. “I was starting to think maybe you cut it off or something.”
Aria raised an eyebrow. “My hairs just difficult to deal with. I was waiting until I could wash it before trying something.” Eating the last bite, she set down the box and looked around. “Everyone exploring?”
“Most of the crew went back to the ship, and the rest are on the beach,” Benn called over, his head tipped back. “Shanks didn’t want to leave before you got back, and I didn’t want him here alone.”
“Hey!” Yasopp shot him a glare. “You forget I’m here?”
“And us!” Bonk called from where he was trying to get Monster down from a tree.
Aria grinned but bit back a laugh.
Shanks gave Benn a feigned hurt expression. “I could’ve gotten back on my own just fine.”
Benn snorted but didn’t comment.
Bonk joined them at the fire, Monster at his heels. “I didn’t know you had more hair than the braid, Aria, or that it was so red.”
Aria shrugged as Monster came over and chittered as he pawed through the drying strands. “I’ve been trying to decide what to do with it, but had to wait until I could wash it.” Now that it was clean, it was almost twice as dark as Shanks’, though she knew it would lighten up as it dried.
“Explains why you took so long,” Yasopp grumbled, though he didn’t seem annoyed.
Monster lifted her braid, chattering curiously, but dropped it when Aria flinched. He ran back to Bonk, his eyes wide.
“Sorry Monster, you just pulled my hair a little,” Aria called to him. Actually, his sharp nails nicked under her braid, but she wouldn’t tell him that. The monkey relaxed across Bonk’s shoulder, looking relieved. A hint of cloves mixed with a much stronger leafy taste floated around the fire briefly.
“Do you want to head back to the ship?” Shanks asked after a few minutes.
Aria moved her gaze from the fire to him. “Do we have to?”
He shrugged. “Eventually, but we can stay here for a while if you want.”
Yasopp gave a strange snort, earning a glare from Shanks, but kept cleaning his pistol; he had a second one pulled out now.
Aria reclined back on her hands, watching the stars appear. She had been learning the constellations from Snake lately and was proud to recognize a few of them; the Ships Compass, Mermaid’s Fin, Island Whale, and Fallow Falls. She thought she recognized a few more, but wasn’t sure. Slowly, a half moon rose above the trees.
She didn’t think she’d ever tired of this, seeing the sky, but jerked when something touched her hair, looking to the side with wild eyes.
Shanks held his hands up, his eyes wide. “Sorry! I just…I have an idea. Can I try something?” His cheeks were pink and a faint red was creeping up his neck.
Aria watched him for a moment. “Why?”
He shrugged, his cheeks getting darker. “You said you weren’t sure what to do with it, and I thought maybe braiding it would help. You’ve already got one, why not have more?”
Aria felt Yasopp staring at them, though he had moved over by Benn and the fire blocked her view of them, and a slow burn spread across her cheeks. “Um, I guess.” She sat up and pulled out the thin thongs she had been keeping in her pocket. “Use these.”
Shanks took them, but Aria had to almost fight to keep still when he moved behind her, and the urge to flee grew worse when he started moving her hair. The scientists had insisted she keep it short growing up, but she started throwing fits about it when she turned thirteen. Since then, she hadn’t allowed anyone to touch it.
Partially because her braid was sensitive, but mostly because people touching her usually led to some test being performed, being dragged to a new room, thrown in her room, or anything that ended up hurting. When Shanks had grabbed her earlier that had been fine, because she had seen it coming and he was right in front of her. But sitting behind her, his presence was unnerving.
Her mind flashed back to the labs, the doctors who would grab her arms from behind, but she fought the memories back. It was difficult, but the taste of cedar from behind helped.
She trusted Shanks and knew he wouldn’t hurt her. Focusing on her braid to keep her mind from wandering, she pulled the end into her lap. She wrapped the thick leather thong she had in her other pocket around it while Shanks worked with the rest of her hair. It muffled the surrounding taste, but that just meant she was less likely to be overwhelmed.
Immediately the familiar woodsy, ash, smoke, and cedar taste were smothered and she let out a quiet breath. While she was getting used to it, sometimes it was still too much.
The sun had set completely when he was finished. He moved to her side, smiling. “Does that feel better?”
Aria ran her hands over the thick braids, each one smooth and almost flat against her head. Four braids on either side of her head, all leading behind her ears instead of straight down. “I didn’t think you’d be able to braid that well.” Using a spare thong, she loosely tied them together in a large bundle.
Shanks shrugged. “I learned from someone on my old crew.”
Aria smiled but stood up then. “We should head back down to the beach now.”
“No, we’re camping out here because you two took so long,” Benn called over, his head still tipped back. “We’re not walking through a jungle at night. The rest of the crew will be fine until morning.” He sounded annoyed and Aria couldn’t resist a grin. It took a lot for him to voice it.
There was a pleasant bitter taste as Shanks pouted, but Aria laughed and nudged him, sitting back down. “It won’t hurt to sleep here for the night, will it?”
Yasopp joined them, long since done cleaning his guns. “Someone will have to stay up for a while, make sure the fire doesn’t go out, but we should be fine.” His eyes traveled over her braids, then flicked to Shanks. A grin tugged at the corner of his lips but he said nothing about that as he moved away and found a spot to stretch out on. “I suggest one of you two, since neither of you helped cut up the boar.” Just beyond him, Bonk was already asleep with Monster draped across him.
“I drove away the leopard though!” Shanks retorted indignantly.
Benn snorted from his spot. “No, you just pissed it off and I had to scare it off.”
Aria shook her head, smiling. “I don’t mind staying up.” When Shanks’ brow lowered, she shook her head. “Get some rest. I’ll sleep tomorrow.”
“If you’re sure…” He waited a moment, but then moved to a spot a little further away to lie down. He watched Aria for a moment, then leaned his hat forward and it wasn’t long before the deep even movements of his chest said he was asleep.
Aria waited a few minutes to make sure, then moved to the far end of the log where Benn sat. She could see most of the clearing from here. Aside from her and Benn, the others were asleep and she tipped her head back to look at the stars again.
“I’m surprised you let him do that.” Benn’s voice was quiet and she turned to him. One eye was cracked as he looked at her from the other end of the log. “Never thought you’d let anyone touch you.”
Aria rubbed her arm self-consciously. “I didn’t have any idea what to do with my hair and I knew he wouldn’t hurt me.” She wasn’t surprised he had noticed her avoidance to people touching her; he was probably the most perceptive of the crew next to Shanks.
Benn said nothing for a moment, then closed his eye. “If you get tired, wake me and I’ll take over.”
“Sure.” She gazed around the clearing, stretching out her haki, but there was nothing. Sighing, she ran her hands over the braids again. They really were nicely done, but her cheeks burned as she thought about how long he had taken.
Shanks murmured in his sleep and she watched him. She wasn’t sure why, but he seemed to be different around her since Teal Town. He wasn’t any friendlier with her than the rest of the crew, but he was around her more often than any of them.
He rolled over in his sleep and she wondered if she should ask him about it. It was probably nothing, but she found it weird, especially after the look Yasopp gave them earlier.
With a sigh, she closed her eyes and cast out her observation haki to keep watch.

Chapter 5: Forced Confrontation

Summary:

Shanks isn't happy with Aria's constant injuries. He doesn't hesitate to patch her up, but makes her promise to try and talk to Hongo when they next make port. neither of them know that a storm forces her to interact with him and, strangely, she manages to stay steady with someone else's help.

Notes:

Slavery, and a Slaver Ship, is mentioned in this chapter.

Aria took a step back, swinging the bladed end of her glaive down. The marine recoiled, blood seeping through fingers over his face. His visible eye blazed and he clumsily swung his sabre. She knocked him away with the glaive’s knobbed end before he could land a hit.
He crashed back as a shout rose behind her, the words indistinct in the sounds of the battle. Turning, she neatly jumped back to the Scarlet Storm just as the ship started pulling away.
Running footsteps sounded, then nothing, and she moved out of the way as someone landed just behind her, letting out a loud laugh. “I always forget how fun fighting them is!”
Aria grinned at the large man as she faced him. “You haven’t fought enough to know how annoying they are, Gab.” A fresh taste of citrus came from him. Above them, the sun beat down and made the air almost stifling were it not for the breeze.
Gab grinned back. “How could they be annoying when they can’t even beat us?” Still grinning, he joined Bonk and Monster near the bow. The other two looked excited and there was blood in Monster's fur, but he didn’t look bothered. Maybe it wasn’t his; he certainly wasn’t acting hurt.
Aria watched him for a moment. Gab, the newest crewmember, did not lack enthusiasm, that was for sure. He’d been with them only a month now, and only been in three fights, but she wondered how long the excitement would last for him. Even halfway across the ship's length, the citrus-excitement from him was strong, completely blotting out most of the other tastes.
More of a fighter, he had quickly fallen into the routine of the ship and was one of the first to help with any heavy lifting. Roux especially had been happy with his help in the ports when they bought new supplies. But he quickly attached himself to Aria after he heard her humming one morning.
“Why is it you’re always bleeding after every fight?” She turned at Shanks’ voice. The captain was standing behind her with his arms crossed, a slightly annoyed look on his face as his eyes looked at something just above her eyes. “Seriously. You’ve got a cut on your head.” A sour taste exploded out, a subtle taste of cloves that she still couldn’t identify under it.
Aria touched a spot above her brow, surprised when she spotted blood on her fingers. “I didn’t realize it. I’m fine, I swear.” She hadn’t tasted it, or at least that it was coming from her. But this was so common now that she wasn’t bothered.
His brows lowered, and he made an annoyed sound through his nose before grabbing her arm. She didn’t resist as he pulled her to a back corner of the fantail. “Stay,” he ordered before leaving.
Aria didn’t protest, knowing he would track her down and possibly bring Hongo. Almost a year and a half later and she had yet to not nearly panic when he came near. He never complained, but she knew it was bugging him by this point. Especially when she managed to get hurt in every fight lately.
Whether it was because of her, or the fact he was a doctor, she wasn’t sure. But it didn’t matter. She never missed the war in his eyes when he spotted her with a wound, obviously torn between wanting to help her but knowing how she would react if he got anywhere near her.
Shanks quickly reappeared with a small kit in his hands. “You’re lucky he’s started keeping these kits ready for you, or this would be more difficult.” He forced her to sit on the rail and she closed her eyes when the taste of sterile cloth puffed out from the kit. A small amount like this no longer sent her heart racing thankfully.
Aria didn’t flinch at the sting of the peroxide-soaked cotton ball this time, nor when he wiped the blood away. She waited until he had fixed a bandage over the cut, then opened her eyes when the kit snapped closed. Her hands were clenched in her lap; the only sign that she still had some issues.
Shanks leaned against the rail next to her, his eyes narrowed. “Seriously. Even though you've improved, you still get cut every time. How is that?” He tilted his hat back, looking at her from the corner of his eye and crossing his arms.
Shrugging, Aria pulled out a piece of cloth and wiped the blood from her glaive. “You know I have a much harder time using my observation to dodge than anyone else on the crew. And I got surrounded by at least four marines early on.” At his glare, she shook her head. “Seriously, I was fine. I didn’t even know I had a cut until you said something.”
Groaning, he tipped his head back, one hand on his hat. “Aria, please. At least try to be careful next time? I know you’ve still got issues with the surgery, but the last thing I want to do is force you there.” The sourness faded to his usual cedar taste.
She winced. “Really, I am sorry.” She grabbed her braid, twisting her fingers around it. A habit by now, she was trying to break herself of it, but it still happened when she felt nervous or guilty.
Shanks let out a long breath. “I know, and you’re good at fighting now. Just…I really don’t enjoy having to patch you up every time.” Despite his light-hearted words, she observed the unease in his shoulders as they fell, and didn’t miss the taste of cloves that echoed his words.
“You don’t have to, you know,” she pointed out. “I can do it myself if someone gets me a kit.” The mirror in the crew’s quarters was sufficient for her to see any facial wounds, and most of the cuts she got were on her arms or legs. She already had two scars from where she had patched herself up months ago.
“You could get it yourself if you tried,” he mumbled, glaring at the deck.
She didn’t think she was meant to hear that though and ignored it.
Turning to her, he frowned. “At the next port, which we’ll get to in a week, try talking to Hongo off the ship. See if that makes a difference.”
Her hand froze around her braid. Closing her eyes, she forced her breath to stay even. A steady metallic taste rose, but faded as she got her heart under control.
“Sorry, I just think you need to at least try, so if you need his help in the future, you don’t panic again,” Shanks explained quietly. When she looked at him, he was giving her a small smile.
Aria sighed but relented. “Okay. I can try at least.” It was a bad idea, but she also knew Shanks was right. If she got really hurt and was forced into the surgery, it would be a lot better for everyone if she didn’t freak out.
Shanks nudged her playfully and smiled. “Now that you’re patched up, take the watch in the crow’s nest, okay?” He joined Snake at the helm and was quickly lost in a conversation about their course.
Tucking the rag away and slinging her glaive across her back, she made her way into the crow’s nest. She had gotten used to climbing the ratlines, and had helped with almost every duty on the ship by now. But when the rest of the crew realized how good her observation haki was, she was unofficially made the crews scout when at sea.
Settling herself against the mast, she closed her eyes and let her haki stretch out as she kept watch.
~~~
“Aria, get Shanks! We need more hands out here!” Benn’s voice was weak against the raging wind, but she caught most of what he said. Drenched, her minor braids almost like a wet weight on her head, shivering, and desperately wishing the storm would end, she slowly made her way down the mast-line.
The temporary netting against the mast served as a more secure way to move up and down in storms, but it still fluttered wildly where it wasn’t as secure against the wood. Her heart in her throat, Aria clung to it every time a wave crashed over the ship, or the wind threatened to pull her away. Her fingers ached as she reached the deck and she flexed them in an effort to bring back blood flow.
She braced herself against a box as the ship lurched before moving. A second later, the ship lurched and sent her skidding. Pain exploded in her temple as she hit the deck, warm blood trickling down her forehead. The sharp taste of metal mixed with the storm's salt.
Before she could move, someone was picking her up, slinging her arm across their shoulders. “Yasopp, take charge for now!” It was Benn. There was a bang, a muffled curse, and the rain disappeared. The hallway? She stumbled; another mumbled curse shot out. Another bang as a door opened.
“Shanks, you need to get out there!” Why was Benn bringing her to Shanks’ cabin? She groaned at the pain in her head. Her legs shook and she tried to keep her grip on Benn’s coat.
“What happened?” The captain’s voice was loud, making her ears ring.
“She slipped, but I couldn’t take her to the surgery. Grab Hongo, then take a few people outside to help.” Benn rarely ordered Shanks, but when he did, it was only in times like this.
Aria flinched at Hongo’s name, but the motion made a swell of nausea rise through her stomach. Her legs gave out, but she felt Benn catch her before she hit the floor.
“Right.” Surefooted footsteps dashed away as the ship moved, and the cedar smell faded instantly. She was barely aware of Benn laying her down, her head pounding.
The door opened a few heartbeats later and the taste of medicine flooded the room.
“Benn, I’ll need your help.” Hongo.
“Just tell me what I need to do.” A creak and Aria felt someone cradle her head in their lap.
A hiss from Hongo made her jerk. “That’s going to need stitches…” A tense pause. “Just…try to hold her steady.”
She felt Benn lift her, laying her head against his shoulder and an arm around her chest. “I wish she’d be okay with the surgery enough for this…” he grumbled quietly.
Hongo sighed. “I wish she’d be okay enough with me for this.” The taste of peroxide and cotton; she jerked as it touched her forehead. “Damn! I’ll work fast.” It wasn’t just the taste and smell, it was the stinging it brought.
She drifted in and out of consciousness, twitching at almost every touch. When the taste of metal reached her, she jerked violently and internally cursed. Although she was somewhat conscious, she felt awful that she couldn't even attempt to manage her reactions. It felt like her mind was swimming through fog; aware of what was there, but nothing substantial enough to grab or work with.
“Fuck…” Benn’s arms tightened. “Will you be able to do this?”
The taste of metal lessened slightly as Hongo leaned back. “I’m not sure. I know she trust Shanks, but I know he’s not good enough to handle this.” The pain in his voice was palpable.
Benn shifted her again, laying her head in his lap. “Let me try.”
A taste of something cold, like ice, filled the air. Without an answer, she knew Hongo had handed Benn the needle and thread before backing off and sitting somewhere to the side.
Mentally she braced herself, but the jerk she gave when Benn started the stitches wasn’t nearly as bad.
Strange.
“I think you should help her until she gets used to me,” Hongo said after several heartbeats. The tug of the needle stopped and she let out a quiet whimper.
Benn chuckled. “I’d much rather her get used to you.” His hand sat on her shoulder and she couldn’t tell if it was him trembling or herself.
The taste of medical supplies faded as Hongo packed up his kit. “Can you stay with her for now? She shouldn’t be left alone with a concussion like that, and she seems a lot more comfortable with you.”
Benn asked, “How long?”
Hongo hummed for a second. “Give her an hour to wake up before having me come back, or three hours once she’s awake. Unfortunately, I’ll have to check her regardless, but I would much rather face her awake than not.” She couldn’t miss the pain in his voice as he spoke, and a fresh wave of guilt washed over her.
Aria felt Benn shift her onto the bed before he got up; from the feel, he had propped her up some. “If you see Shanks, let him know.”
“Of course.” The door closed and the medical taste faded almost completely; now it was just from the work on her forehead, which she could handle easily.
She wasn’t sure how long it had been when she opened a bleary eye. The ship was still rocking in the storm, thunder crashing outside and a flash of lightning light up the room briefly. Her back had the uncomfortable feeling of being half dry and her braids were digging into it.
A tired voice called out, “Aria?” She flicked her gaze to see Benn sitting against the wall across the small room. When her gaze met his, he quietly moved to the edge of the bed.
“Benn.” Her voice cracked and she tried to lift her head, but at the pain that shot through it, she closed her eyes with a groan. She twitched her hand.
The bed creaked and he laid his hand on hers, stilling it. “Easy, try not to move. You hit your head.”
Slowly, the memory trickled through her mind and she gave a quiet groan. “I should’ve been more careful.”
A small huff. “Yes, but you can’t always predict what the ship will do in a storm. I’m just glad you weren’t by the rails.”
A wave of exhaustion hit her out of nowhere and she felt her mind being pulled into it almost immediately.
Benn’s voice turned sharp, jerking her to awareness. “Don’t fall asleep. You need to stay awake for a little while, alright?”
She wanted to nod, let him know she understood, but just twitched her hand. She could see his outline, barely, from the thin light through the windows.
He squeezed her arm, just enough to keep her awake. “Try to talk or something, that might help.”
“About what?” she asked tiredly.
“Tell me how you got to Sabaody.” Benn suggested, surprising her.
Shanks had been the curious one, asking about her occasionally, and sometimes Yasopp did, and she always deflected the questions. But Benn never had.
Outside of teaching her the duties in the beginning and training her how to use a few different weapons, he rarely spoke to her. Once she came back with the glaive, he had her work with the others more often, until she didn’t need the practice anymore. After that, she only talked to him in small snippets, like in the jungle or when he told her the duties she had for the day.
Not that they avoided one another, just he was the first mate and his duties kept him busy.
“Why would you want to know that?” She heard herself ask.
Benn propped his ankle over his knee and shrugged. “Talking will keep you awake, and I’m curious.”
Maybe he just never had the chance to ask before, then. After a moment, he squeezed her arm again and she sighed. “I was aboard a slaver before Sabaody.”
She didn’t miss the way he tensed, and wasn’t surprised at the anger she saw in his eyes or the sour taste that filled the cabin.
“It was either that or kill me,” she explained tiredly as thunder boomed and lightning lit up the room again.
“Kill you? Why would they have done that?” Anger simmered under his words. His grip made her wince and he removed his hand.
Aria closed her eyes briefly. “I was…discarded-,” If she had the strength, she would’ve spat the word, “-from where I can from. The marine given that task couldn’t bring himself to do it, so he snuck me aboard a ship at Punk Hazard. I don’t think he knew what kind of ship it was. I think he meant to send me somewhere I could’ve escaped.”
There was a sharp intake of breath and the air filled with spice under the sourness; it was harsher than when it came from Shanks and she winced. His hand came back down on hers and it faded.
“The people in charge found me, but decided to take me with them. I’m glad they did, because otherwise I would’ve been thrown back to the doctors.” She curled her free around her braid. “I was 14 then.”
“14?!” Benn hissed and she felt the spice come back stronger, almost gagging her. “How long were you with them?” His eyes blazed in the darkness, bright steel surrounded by a dark form.
Struggling to speak against the taste in the air, she sighed. “Three years. They knew they couldn’t just sell me anywhere, so they kept me until they reached Sabaody. I was there for barely a night when Rayleigh rescued me.”
A strong taste of clove shot through the air as the spice faded. Benn’s hand tightened around hers. “Can I ask…how old were you when you were on Punk Hazard?”
She bit back her groan, knowing she was about to be overwhelmed with taste the moment she said it. “I don’t know,” she said. “I was an infant when I arrived.”
His eyes closed and though his expression didn’t change, the wave of spice, clove, and a bitter kind of sour rage almost knocked her out. He turned away after a moment, but she could see his fist clenched on his knee.
“What did Rayleigh tell Shanks?” She had wondered this before, but never asked.
It was several minutes before Benn responded; she was almost asleep when his voice jolted her awake. “He recognized your tattoo as a sign you were a human experiment, and warned us that you had probably never been free before. He didn’t know anything concrete, but Rayleigh’s smart. He might’ve guessed more than what he said, but if he had, I’m glad he didn’t tell us.”
He guessed more than she expected.
“It explains why you weren’t eager to take a new name, though,” Benn said quietly after a heartbeat.
There was a knock on the door a second later, then a wave of medical smells breezed into the room as Hongo came in. “Sorry. I heard Aria was awake.” His gaze flicked from Benn to hers and she forced herself not to flinch. “Do you think I could check your head?” His expression wary, he stopped just inside the room.
Her heart thudded, but she clenched her fist around her braid, wincing. “Um.” It was obvious he needed to, but she wasn’t sure she could. Even though she was awake, talking with Benn had brought back some very unpleasant memories.
“Aria?” Benn’s voice was soft and she looked at him. “I know what happened the last time Hongo spoke with you, but unfortunately there’s no one else who can check your head.”
She hesitated, her eyes wide.
Benn exchanged a glance with Hongo, then helped her sit up before she could protest; her head spun, but he kept a firm hand on her shoulder. “If it makes it better, I can sit right here.” He moved until he was behind her, an arm loosely around her waist. “I’m sorry, but he really does need to make sure you’re fine.” In any other circumstance, she wouldn’t laughed at the awkward look on his face.
Breathing through her nose, she gritted her teeth and flicked her gaze to Hongo for the first time. She even avoided looking at him directly usually, but she forced herself to stay still. Down her back, she can feel her braids just barely drying. Thunder boomed again, though it was more faded before, and it was a little longer until lightning flashed; the storm was ending.
Taking her stillness as permission, Hongo set to work. His hands were quick and light, and she bit her tongue as the urge to jerk away rose. The sharp scent of medical supplies filled the air, overwhelming her. She covered the end of her braid to block some of the taste, trying not to flinch away from every touch.
The tastes were muffled more as Benn’s hand wrapped over hers after a moment, almost making her jump. The taste of ash and iron were overwhelming now, but it almost completely blocked out the others in the room. Unsure of what to make of that, she just focused on breathing and the slowly lessening rocking motion of the ship.
Hongo hesitated for a moment, a penlight in his hand. “I need to check your eyes. Is that okay?”
She blinked and kept as still as she could while he used it.
Stepping back, he quickly packed away the supplies he brought. “I think you’ll be okay, but stay below for the next day. You can sleep if you want now, but let…Benn know if you experience any dizziness.” He looked at Benn, who nodded, then left the room.
Benn let go of her and the taste of the room rushed back; cedar, faint medicine, sterile tools, and the general woody taste of the ship. “Do you think you can make it down to the crew's quarters or the mess okay?”
Aria tried to stand but the world spun and she felt Benn catch her as she fell back, setting her back on the bed. She leaned over carefully, hands on her head.
“I’m guessing not.” He glanced at the door, then back at her, giving her an odd look. “Can you wait here for a minute?”
Aria gave a small nod and he left, leaving the door cracked. Looking at it, Aria blinked a few times as she realized what had just happened.

Chapter 6: An Unexpected Reaction

Summary:

Aria has confused three people now, but no one is more confused than herself. But because of her tiredness and lack of experience, she accidentally puts herself in a new position with Shanks that she isn't sure of.

Before long, the sound of footsteps and the taste of rain leaked through the crack. A second later, Shanks appeared, his hat dark from the amount of rain and water dripping into his eyes. “Benn just asked if you could stay in here for now. Not like I mind, but I wanted to make sure you were okay.” He gave her a strange look, not unlike Benn’s.
“I hit my head, but I got dizzy when I stood. I didn’t know he was going to ask that though.” She really didn’t. She would’ve guessed Benn would’ve helped her down the stairs if nothing else.
Shanks slowly sat down in the chair next to the bed, his eyes not leaving her. “He also mentioned that you allowed Hongo to examine you.”
Aria closed her eyes and nodded.
A sigh. “I really want to ask what helped, but the storm's ending and the watch is changing to let the rest of us sleep.” Not surprising, giving how worn he sounded. He might barely 21, but if she hadn’t known him, she would’ve guessed someone twice that age was speaking now.
She mused for a moment; if she couldn’t walk, and apparently she was staying in here until the dizziness passed, was Shanks intending on sleeping with her in his bed? It wouldn’t bother her, but she knew that people rarely did that, not including those who had sex.
Shanks let out a small groan. “Okay, I don’t mind at all, actually. I can sleep in your hammock below. But…I do need to change.” She opened her eyes and saw him giving her a crooked smile, though his cheeks were reddening. “Do you mind turning around while I did that? Then you can try to sleep for a while in here and I can bring you something dry later.” A sweetish taste, with a bitter edge, was present for a heartbeat.
Aria nodded, feeling a slight headache coming on, and brought her knees to her chest, burying her face. While this was definitely a pirate crew, they had all respected modesty around her. Not that she was bugged by naked bodies, but it was nice in a way. She never corrected anyone, but never complained or said something if she saw something they thought she shouldn’t.
There was the sound of wet fabric moving, then a drawer from the narrow dresser she noticed, then a groan of frustration. “Ok, this is going to bug me. Please tell me how you managed to let Hongo look at you?” There was a pleading note to his voice now; curious and annoyed in one.
Not looking up, she answered, “Um, I’m not really sure. Benn was in here when it happened though.” She had barely paid attention to him honestly, aware of him keeping his arm around her, and when he grabbed her hand, but that was it.
A scoff. “But even when I showed up, it took almost an hour to get you to realize I was there.”
An hour? Her guilt intensified. It was irrational, but she couldn’t help it.
“Benn was in here, and it took Hongo…I think Benn said fifteen minutes, and not once did you fight.” The bed creaked. “I know you were meant to talk to Hongo at the next port, but that? I almost don’t want to believe him.” Shanks touched her arm, his voice softening. “Do you really not know how you managed it?”
Aria turned her head a little, then raised it when she saw Shanks was dressed in his usual white button-up, leaving his chest half exposed as always, and a pair of tropical pants. “I really don’t know.” She glanced away, biting her lip. She had an idea, but explaining it felt impossible.
She wasn’t prepared when Shanks reached up and ran his thumb over the bandage on her head, but she didn’t flinch. His hand was surprisingly soft.
“Hongo said something…” He paused, his eyes on hers, then looked away and dropped his hand. “He said Benn held you.” The back of his neck went red.
More like he had kept her from moving and his hand smothered the end of her braid, cutting off most of the taste in the air. “He was keeping me from jerking away, that’s all.”
The back of his neck grew redder, almost blending into his hair. “But it wasn’t until he held your hand that apparently you stopped shaking.” A faint peppery taste touched the air.
She had been shaking? She hadn’t noticed, too focused on trying to breathe and not taste anything around her.
“Do you like Benn?” Shanks asked softly, still not looking at her. His gaze was fixed on the window, his fists clenched tightly on his knees. “Even with me, you’ve never been that…” His voice trailed off, and Aria could taste the sharp tang of pepper and something bitter in the air.
She couldn’t help the giggle that escaped as his words sunk in, making his head whip around to look at her, his eyes wide as he took in her grin. “Shanks, it’s not like that.” Benn was… He was the first mate of the crew, too old for her, too…serious. And she had no desire to be more than friends. “Yeah, he helped me, but it’s… I don’t know if I can explain what helped.”
His face broke into a wide grin, his cheeks going pink. A sweet taste, making her think of honey but almost smokey, flooded out but quickly faded. After a heartbeat, he cocked his head and his grin faded. “So you know what helped?”
Aria paused, biting her lip. She had explained some of her past, just a little, to Benn, but this was something else entirely. It bordered on the scientists she wanted to forget, the experiments she was subjected to.
Shanks took off his hat, setting it on the dresser. “Is it difficult to explain?”
Aria nodded. “It’s…complicated.” And brought up painful memories, but she thought he guessed that from the look on his face.
“Ok. Well, do you think you’ll be okay if Hongo has to take a look at you again?” He leaned back on his hands, watching her. His hair was no longer dripping, but it was still dark from the rain.
Aria paused, but shook her head. Immediately, the world spun and she felt herself tip sideways.
“Aria!” Shanks caught her and she found herself looking up at him. His eyes were wide. “Are you sure I shouldn’t go get him?” His eyes flicked to the door and back. His arm was around her shoulders, holding her to his chest.
She tried not to freeze, but wasn’t entirely successfully. Her fist clenched painfully around her braid as a result. “No, no. I just…need some sleep.” She hoped Shanks wouldn’t notice her shiver at the mention of Hongo. She wasn’t sure if she could stay still again.
He frowned, then helped her sit up. “Aria…would you be okay if I stayed in here then? You looked like you were about to be sick.” The smokey-sweet taste rose again, but quickly faded below the cedar and clove.
She jolted and twisted her braid, flinching. “Um, like…in the room or the bed?”
He laughed and moved to the chair. “The floor. Unless…” He gave her a smirk. “You would want me in the bed with you?” His voice curled up at the end and he rose an eyebrow.
Aria stared at him for a second then closed her eyes briefly. She wasn’t that familiar with flirting, but she immediately knew that’s what he was doing. “I don’t care either way, actually, but I do want to sleep.” Exhaustion was creeping through her head again, fighting with the growing headache. She barely noticed his shocked look as she stripped her shirt, then her pants. Sitting in just her underclothes, she finally noticed the look on his face. “What?”
His eyes widened in shock, his cheeks flushing to match the color of his hair. “Just… didn’t expect that.” His voice was higher than usual, almost squeaking.
Aria tilted her head. If she hadn’t been so tired, she would’ve laughed. He had never sounded like that before. “I’ve seen you go with women at a few bars though. How is this different?” How could she not miss him occasionally kissing someone in a bar, then leaving with them? It wasn’t every time, but usually. And he was drunk each time too, and never subtle.
“Y-Yeah…but you’re my crewmate,” he stammered. He turned around and tossed over his shoulder. “Just, lay down I guess.”
Crewmate? She still hadn’t officially joined the crew, however. They had stopped at quite a few places, but either they weren’t safe enough or uninhabited. She still wanted to find somewhere to live if she could…but she couldn’t deny being aboard this ship was fun. And she would miss being here.
The corner of her lip twitching up, she quickly sank into his bed and backed against the wall, pulling a blanket over her.
Aria wasn’t bothered by the situation. Growing up in a lab with other kids, she was used to shared sleeping spaces and seeing each other constantly, clothes or not. The younger ones often climbed into bed with the older kids for comfort.
It was maybe the only time something good happened, and Aria hadn’t been left out of that. But she couldn’t bring herself to explain that to him, at least not yet. It wasn’t until the slaver that she kept herself dressed around others, and by the time she met Rayleigh and the Red-Haired Pirates, she rarely thought about it.
But she wouldn’t have done this if she weren’t comfortable with him. And after a year and a half with him, he was probably the only one she could be comfortable with like this. If she hadn’t been so tired, maybe she would’ve thought more about saying something first, but a light fog drifted through her head and made thinking difficult.
Shanks turned around after a minute, then gingerly sat on the edge of the bed. “Do you really not mind sharing a bed with me?” When she shrugged tiredly, he slowly laid down next to her, perched almost on the edge. “Sorry. Just didn’t expect you to be okay with that.” He propped himself up on one arm, watching her.
Aria watched him for a minute before responding. “Sometime I can try to explain, but not now.” Her voice sounded fuzzy in her own ears now.
Shanks sighed and put his arm under his head. “Please do, because I am very confused right now.” His hand reached out again and she felt his thumb run over the bandage again. “I’m glad you’re okay though.” He didn’t take his eyes off her.
Closing her eyes, she felt her muscles relax under his touch. “Thanks.”
She felt him lean forward and almost froze when his lips touched her forehead. “Of course. Try to rest, okay?” He moved back, but his hand stayed, his thumb carefully brushing across the bandage.
Despite the fog in her mind, Aria couldn’t ignore the thoughts crowding in now. Shanks seemed to like her… a lot. She trusted him more than anyone on the crew, but this was new territory.
Her mind drifted to the kids she grew up with. They shared beds, played, ate, and talked together—almost everything. But this felt different...
He had asked if she liked Benn. And wouldn’t meet her eyes. His touch was different from before, and he had kissed her forehead. She could feel him only a few inches away now, and she knew he was watching her. His hand was still, but he hadn’t removed it.
A quiet sigh broke her thoughts as his hand disappeared. She listened as he settled himself onto the bed next to her, and forced herself not to react when his arm draped over her side. She stayed still as he moved closer, then felt his face against her forehead, just barely avoiding the bandage.
An unpleasant thought creeped through her head. Maybe she shouldn’t have said it was okay for him to stay in here. She had the feeling that maybe this meant something else to him than it did to her, but it was too late to say anything. With an internal sigh, she tried to quiet her mind and sleep.

Notes:

Yes, yes, she got down to her underclothes with Shanks. But I tried to make it make sense (let me know if it doesn't!)

Chapter 7: Discovered

Summary:

During a skirmish against three Navy ships, Aria is holding her own until a strange marine, dressed all in black, notices the tattoo on her neck.

Benn lowered the muzzle of his rifle and looked at Shanks over his shoulder. “Captain, you need to decide soon what we’re doing.” There was a warning note in his voice.
Aria flicked her gaze from the ship steadily approaching from behind to the two ahead. A distant boom sounded and she grimaced as salt water splashed up a foot away. “They’re in range now.”
Damn. They were really going to chase a bounty-less pirate this hard? Her glaive sat heavy in her hands, her fingers aching from holding it for the last hour. Maybe they shouldn’t have attacked that base the day before…
Without warning, Shanks leaped onto the fantail's railing, his sword arched back. He crouched for a second, then unleashed a powerful slash that split the waves. The ship behind them groaned and split in half, the faint screams of marines barely audible as Shanks stepped back onto the deck. “Snake, get us in between the other two. We won’t be able to outrun them.”
“So what’s the plan?” Benn asked, sitting the end of his rifle on his shoulder. Aria watched him flex a hand around the smooth wooden stock, then looked towards the two Navy ships that were now quickening their speed.
Casting out her haki, she encountered nothing of major concern. All marines, all wanting to attack, but nothing specific. She pulled it back and watched Shanks.
He didn’t answer for a moment, gazing at the two Navy ships approaching on either side. When they were almost touching the Scarlet Storm, he motioned for Yasopp, who ran over. As the sniper reached them, Shanks turned to his first mate. “Benn, take a group to one ship. Yasopp, take the other.”
Benn’s hand was nearly white around his rifle now.
Yasopp glanced at the smaller of the two ships. “Sinking or just damage?”
Aria almost shivered when Shanks responded coldly, “Sink.”
Yeah, they really shouldn’t have attacked the base. Killing the man keeping the food from the nearby town would’ve been enough. Taking out the entire base just pissed off the Navy.
The two men split, calling out names.
Yasopp, Limejuice, Roux, Snake, and Hongo went right. Speed and range.
Shanks took Snake’s spot at the helm.
Benn, Aria, Gab, and Bonk and Monster went left. Muscle and heavy hitters.
Aria leaped over the rails, Gab on her heels, and immediately ducked. An air blade, a new ability Gab had practiced over the past year, shot forward. Dashing up the stairs to her left, Aria swung out with practiced movements, sending marines flying.
“Aria, watch out!” Benn’s voice was almost lost in the din, but she moved left as a large marine came rushing towards her with a glaive larger than her own. The blade sunk into the deck where her feet had been a second before.
Whirling the wooden knob out, she didn’t flinch at the splay of blood as it connected with his face. He backed off, but raised his glaive and struck out. His nose was broken, and she guessed he was missing a few teeth now, considering the blood running down his chin.
Blocking a blow, she twitched her blade forward, forcing him to back away. Another twitch, a duck. Another swipe, a dodge. Steadily, she drove him to the opposite side of the deck. Screams sounded from around her; all from marines.
Gab’s laugh sounded just before another air blade rushed out over her head. Benn’s rifle went off nearby. Monster’s screeches rose and faded as he chased someone.
Aria hissed as the marines glaive caught her cheek and swung low. His legs were knocked out from under him and he hit the deck hard. Aria sunk her blade into his chest and glanced to the side.
She hadn’t taken one step when she tasted something half-familiar.
The surrounding tastes were mostly blood, gunpowder, sweat, and all manners of fear and anger. But under that… She stiffened as a marine in a black suit ran at Bonk from behind. Growling, she leaped over the quarterdecks railing. The marine stumbled back as she landed in front of him.
Bonk glanced back but immediately left her to go after someone else, yelling a challenge as Monster joined him.
This close to the black-suited marine, she felt a wave of rage build up and slashed out. The acrid taste of sterile metal, cleaned-too-much sheets, and the unique fear-taste of children radiated from him.
He wasn’t a marine; he was a scientist!
A gun flashed out, but she knocked it away without hesitation. A second gun was sent flying across the deck. He grabbed a sword, but then his eyes went wide.
Aria swung forward, but missed as he calmly stepped back. The taste of citrus exploded around her. Confused, she followed his gaze and immediately her hand flew to her neck. The marine that cut her cheek hadn’t just hit there.
Her choker was missing.
And he recognized her tattoo!
She froze for half a heartbeat, her eyes on his. The metallic taste of her own fear blotted out everything else. She took a step back, panic swelling in her chest. He knew where she was from.
And that she wasn’t meant to be here.
The scientist's eyes narrowed as a grin stretched across his face. Swinging out, she attempted to block, but he backhanded the glaive away with an armament covered fist. She stumbled, unbalanced as the glaives movement sent the wooden knob into her side, and a blinding pain shot across the back of her head a second later.
Her knees hit the deck before she blinked away the stars. A dark chuckle sounded to her right. “No idea how you escaped, but you’re done-”
Footsteps, a heavy thud, the taste of ash and iron.
“Aria, back to the ship!” Benn barked as he raised his rifle at an advancing marine. The scientist was a bloody mess to the side. The taste of tobacco and smoke temporarily filled the air before gunpowder rose above it.
Aria tried to rise, but saw stars again. The blow, probably from the heavy sword’s hilt, had stunned her. She wasn't hurt badly, but enough to realize that Benn had saved her from being severely injured.
Maybe worse.
A snarl, then someone hauled her roughly up by the arm. Benn’s gun went off again and her ears rang. “Shanks!” She felt more than heard his shout.
“I’ve got her!” Red hair flashed in her sparking vision as Shanks grabbed her and led her swiftly back to their ship. Stumbling, she barely managed to leap over the rails, landing painfully on her knees again. White dots danced across her vision, she stumbled a few more steps with Shanks half supporting her, then sank against the wall.
Shanks knelt in front of her, his eyes flicking over her. “You alright?” His eyes narrowed as he noticed her bare neck, but he said nothing about that. An overpowering taste of cloves blossomed out, mingled with something sour.
Aria nodded. “Just stunned. Give me a minute.” She noted the lack of marines on the ship and let out a long breath. A pulse of pain shot through her head but she ignored it.
Shanks paused, then stood in front of her as the battles continued. Cloves again, but occasional burst of citrus, gunpowder, spice from the marines, and a few touches of what she could only describe as joy; it had no nameable taste.
When she could see without dots shooting in front of her eyes, she stood but leaned against the wall. Shanks turned his head towards her. “Can you make it inside okay?” Could she get to her bag and get a new choker?
Aria nodded and stepped inside the hallway, though she kept her hand on the wall for safety. Walking across the crew’s quarters was nerve-racking, but she made it without falling and went back above deck once her tattoo was covered.
Yasopp’s group was back, the ship on the right sinking. Aria joined them as the rest of Benn’s group leaped back over. Strangely, their ship wasn’t sinking yet. She watched as Benn whispered something to Shanks, then watched as the captain shouted, “Snake, get us away from the ships.” Benn stepped back, but she didn’t miss the look he shot her.
The crew waited wordlessly as the distance between their ship and the remaining Navy one. When it was a fair distance away, Shanks let loose another wave-splitting blow. The ship exploded in the water as he stepped back down.
“Where to, Captain?” Snake called down from the helm.
Shanks looked at the crew, then grinned. “Head for Ebi Island! We deserve to celebrate after taking down three ships!”
The crew, aside from Aria and Benn, cheered. Aria just sighed and sank against the wall again. She loved being here, but the parties were growing a little frequent. Not that she wanted to complain, but did they have to celebrate every time they took out a Navy ship?
She let out a soft groan as pain pulsed through her head.
Benn sat down beside her. “You alright?”
Aria gave him a small smile. “Yeah. He just stunned me for a minute.” She reached behind her head to where the scientist had struck and her hand came back bloody. “Well, that might explain why it’s still hurting.”
Hongo was making his way through the crew, sending a couple of people to the surgery but treating most on the deck. When he walked by, she noticed him pause. After a second, he exchanged a look with Benn.
Benn nodded and stood, holding his hand out to Aria. “He’ll have to look at that.”
Biting back a groan, Aria took his hand with her unbloodied one.
Shanks appeared in that second. “Get hurt again?” he asked her, his gaze flicking from her bloodied hand to the one in Benn’s, then back to her face. A subtle taste of burnt pepper floated around for a couple of heartbeats before being lost under the taste of metal and salt.
“Head wound,” Hongo said immediately. “Would be alright if we use your cabin again?”
Shanks nodded. “Of course. What are the other injuries?”
Hongo paused, looking around the deck. “Bonk has a nasty cut; I sent him to the surgery. I think Yasopp broke his fingers, don’t ask me how, and sent him there as well.” He paused, his gaze flicking to Shanks and Benn. “But aside from those two, she’s the only other one that needs immediate treatment. Everyone else is just minor cuts or bruises. Those can wait.”
Shanks nodded. “Glad it wasn’t worse. After you’ve dealt with those, get some rest.”
Hongo waited until Benn had led Aria to Shanks’ cabin, then set his kit down on the table as she sat in the chair. “What happened?”
“A scientist was aboard the ship,” she started and Benn let out a hiss. Hongo shot him a confused look, then nodded for her to continue. “And he hit me on the back of the head with a sword hilt, I think.”
Hongo gave her a sympathetic look. “Just hold still while I look at it.” His words were more of a formality; they knew she wouldn’t move until he was done. And Benn was there in case she did, though he hadn’t needed to hold her still for a few months now.
Being hurt often had one advantage: she now no longer panicked when Hongo was around, but only when Benn was there too. She couldn’t understand it. But no one complained, except the one time Shanks was there instead and she had gotten so nervous that he gave up and fetched Benn.
She knew that still stung him, but she had no answer as to why Benn made the difference.
Aria closed her eyes, feeling his gaze on her, and gripped the tip of her braid. The leather pouch, for that’s more what this was now, was stuffed with cotton currently and she could barely taste anything with her hand covering it.
Shanks once asked about it, but she never gave an answer.
She winced as he touched where the hilt hit her. “Aria, you’ll have to undo your braid.”
“Which one?” she asked. She knew it couldn’t be the main one. This was too far to the side and too far down, but she wasn’t sure which one he meant.
“The red bead,” he stated.
Aria barely hesitated, but quickly undid the braid in question, as well as the surrounding three, and quickly covered the tip of her braid again. The four beads sat in her other hand; red, white and blue, carved bone, and a bright yellow stone with a hole in it. She started adding them a few months ago. Each one was from a different island.
Her shoulder ached after a while, but she didn’t move until Hongo stepped back. He let out a sigh. “It looks worse than what it is. One of your beads must’ve been in-between the hilt and your head, as there’s only a minor wound. It will hurt for a while though.”
Aria figured as much.
“Also, don’t put your braids back in for now. Wait until it’s healed.” Hongo glanced at Benn, then packed up his kit. Without another word, he left and a heartbeat later, the door to the surgery closed.
Aria let out a slow breath, then undid the rest of her braids.
Benn watched silently until she had the last of the beads in her pocket. “A scientist?”
Quick footsteps, then Shanks slid in the room and shut the door. “Benn, explain.” Spice shot through the air, cutting through the sour taste filling the room.
Aria watched as Benn gave her a long look before turning to Shanks. “She recognized, on some level, the man who hit her. I don’t know how, but he said something into a small transponder snail on his wrist before I killed him.”
The spice grew stronger and she nearly gagged. Even with her braid muffled, it was almost unbearable.
“He was a scientist, but that’s all I could tell,” she said wearily. Both men snapped their eyes to her. “I can’t explain how I know, but he saw my tattoo and recognized it.”
An angry snort from Shanks made her wince. “You always know more than you let on though. And you’ve never explained how.”
Ignoring the pang of guilt, she continued, “If Benn hadn’t stopped him, I think he meant to kill me.” That blow alone would have, if had hit it further to the left.
Shanks’ shoulders dropped and he shot a look at Benn; again, there was a burnt pepper taste but it was almost lost under clove. “Aria, I think you should get the tattoo covered up with something else.”
Benn raised an eyebrow, then looked at her. “That’s probably a good idea. The next port is almost a city. You could get it there. That way, if you lose your choker, no one will notice it.”
“After that, I’m fine with that idea,” she said. Running her fingers through her hair, she took a thong and loosely tied it up.
Benn stood and looked at Shanks. “I’ll make sure the rest of the crew is okay and set the next watch.”
When the door closed, Shanks wrapped his arms around her. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
Aria didn’t protest when he planted a kiss on her forehead, but leaned back. “I didn’t expect to see a scientist there.”
Sitting on the bed, Shanks watched her. “How do you always recognize the most dangerous people, Aria? I’m serious.” His gaze bore into her, dark and almost searching.
Knotting her fingers around her braid, she didn’t meet his eyes.
After a few minutes, he groaned and fell back. “Eventually I’ll need an answer, Aria. I’m serious! I use both observation and conqueror’s haki, and I can’t always tell who the worst opponent is. You barely use your observation in a fight, yet every time you always end up facing them.”
Aria rested one foot on the chair and leaned her cheek on it, her gaze on him. “I just pay attention better without it.” Not entirely true. Her observation was good for a distance, and she was a little better at using it to dodge, but it was the taste that always let her know more than anything else.
Shanks didn’t respond, just stared at the ceiling. A light coffee taste, which she’d come to understand was unique to him, wafted over. That taste only appeared when he pouted about something.
She watched him for another heartbeat, then inwardly sighed. What could she say that could pacify him for the moment without delving into her past? Releasing the end of her braid, she undid the pouch and breathed in.
The coffee became stronger, clove, vinegar, and she covered her braids tip when she tasted ginger.
She stepped over to the bed and sat next to him. “It’s not that I don’t want to explain, Shanks.”
He didn’t look at her, but grabbed her hand after a second. “Is it related to your past?”
“Yeah.” The word dropped through the air like a stone.
He sat up and looked at her, his expression unreadable. “I’ll stop asking then, but next time tell me or Benn to handle them.” When she arched an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitched up. “At least try to, okay?” The ginger faded and his usual cedar came back.
Biting back her response, she just nodded. She couldn’t promise that, not in the middle of a fight at least, but she could try.
She stood when he leaned forward, dodging another attempt at a kiss.
“Oh, come on,” he grinned. “At least once?”
Aria rolled her eyes. She regretted sleeping with him the night she got her brow scar, as he seemed to have taken that as a sign that maybe she liked him the same way, but she found it cute he kept trying to entice her back. Aria never teased him though; she didn’t want to lead him on with something false.
He grabbed her and pulled her to him, but just kissed her forehead with an exaggerated groan. “Fine. Go get some rest. I want you on midnight watch tonight, alright? Since you refuse to use observation in a fight, at least keep an eye out for the island or more marines.”
Shaking her head, she left his cabin and passed Benn on the stairs to the crew's quarters. As she passed, though, she paused for a moment. Looking back up the stairs, he had already disappeared. But she was surprised at the burnt taste he left in his wake.
She’d only tasted it from Shanks, but there was no one else around close enough for her to detect it and the captain was still in his cabin. Shrugging, she pushed it from her mind.

Chapter 8: Jealous Yonko

Summary:

Aria's covered her tattoo from Punk Hazard and the crew notices after the announcement of Shanks' new status. But there's something going on between the new Yonko and the first mate and Aria isn't sure what to do.

Aria watched the crew move around the fire and leaned back against the crate. Occasionally there was a hiss or a crack as a log fell, sparks flew, or someone tossed a new branch into the blaze, but mostly they just moved around it.
Her drink sat untouched beside her, her braid in her lap. Limejuice and Yasopp were completely wasted after a few more minutes, both passed out near the fire lights' edge. Roux had convinced Bonk to spar with him; considering their movements, both of them were probably drunk too. Snake was nowhere to be seen; maybe watching the ship with Hongo and the handful of new members they had picked up in the town that morning?
Benn was stretched out a few feet away, grinning as he watched the others.
Aria looked around and spotted Shanks and Gab playing some sort of game with his sword. Whatever they were meant to be doing, she was pretty sure Gab was winning. A subtle burst of coffee reached her as the sword dropped and Shanks’ face fell, making Gab laughed.
Movement in the sand caught her attention and she tipped her head back as Monster leaped onto the crate she was leaning on. He cooed for a second, then leaped down beside her. His eyes zeroed in on her drink.
She moved it away before he could grab it. “You know it makes you sick.”
Monster chattered, sounding entirely like a toddler with a toy taken away, and raced off to join Bonk, who was now sprawled out on the far side of the fire. There was a shout as Monster pounced on him. Roux was nowhere to be seen, but she heard his laugh from where Shanks and Gab were. Another burst of coffee; Shanks lost another round, she guessed.
“Not letting him take it? If he did, then at least someone would drink it,” Benn drawled, his voice warm.
Aria snorted. “As long as it's not someone that’ll get sick from it.” Benn suddenly got up, sat next to her, then reached over her lap and grabbed it. Gasping, she shoved him away as he leaned back with it, and gave a half-hearted whine, “Benn! Stop it!”
Benn only grabbed someone else’s drink when he’d had too much, which wasn’t often. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen him drink this much.
He downed it one go, making Aria wondering how much he had been drunk already tonight, and flung an arm around her shoulders. “Seriously, you hardly drank any of this! And it’s the good stuff too.” He said, grinning at her. His cheeks were pink now. A taste of clove surrounded her, but it was almost immediately swamped with something warm and tart.
“Ugh, and wake up with a hangover on top of a sore neck? No thanks,” she retorted, wrinkling her nose at the thought of how much that would hurt. Her fingers carefully brushed over the fresh tattoo along her neck; a simple bird in flight, completely black with wingtips shaped like music notes. She wasn’t sure why Benn suggested it, but she liked it.
It made her think of flying free; appropriate, given her past.
Benn leaned his head back on the crate for a minute, then looked at her. “One drink won’t give you a hangover, hun.” Another small taste of clove.
She playfully shoved him again, but instead of moving away, he just tightened his arm around her. She sighed and slipped under it before he could accidentally hit her neck. “Maybe not, but I don’t want to risk it tonight.”
He just hummed in response, letting his arm drop to his lap.
Aria watched him for a moment, then looked as Shanks dropped beside her, a mug in hand.
“Not drinking?” he asked. A dark pink line crossed his cheekbones and nose.
Benn held up the empty mug with one finger. “She let me have it.”
Aria couldn’t help but laugh at Shanks’ face; he was caught somewhere between a pout and annoyance. “I did not! He stole it.”
The captain's face brightened and he left for a second, then came back with an unopened bottle of sake. “Then have this.” Benn made a grab for it, but Shanks drew his hand back. “Hey, this is for her.”
Aria shook her head, smiling at them both. “I’m not drinking tonight, Shanks. I already told Benn, I don’t want a hangover on top of a sore neck.”
“One drink won’t give you a hangover,” he said, echoing Benn’s words. She froze as a sly grin crossed his face. “But if you don’t want to drink…”
“Nope.” She stood and immediately sat on Benn’s other side. “Not trying that tonight.” She knew exactly where he was leading and refused to let him even voice the idea.
Benn looked at her, then at Shanks. “Try what?”
Shanks rolled his eyes, still grinning. “She still won’t let me kiss her.” He shot her a playful look accompanied by a taste of warm lemon.
Aria was surprised at the strong peppery-burnt taste that followed his words, but almost immediately it disappeared as Benn arched an eyebrow at her. “He’s tried before?”
An unsettling feeling in her stomach. She nodded, giving him a weak smile. “A few times.” Her gaze shot to Shanks, who was giving Benn a strange look. It was gone when Benn turned back to him though.
Shanks stood and abruptly went back to where Roux and Gab had been joined by Monster. A sour, bitter taste followed him. Benn watched him, his brow furrowed, but said nothing.
Aria sighed, leaning back against the crate as her gaze fell on the unopened bottle Shanks had left beside her.
Benn’s hand gently encircled her arm and he murmured, “You don’t want him to.” Not a question.
She looked and saw his gaze flicking back and forth between her and Shanks. When it stopped on her, she leaned back and looked at the stars as she answered, “I made a mistake a year ago and he’s been trying since then.”
“What mistake?” Benn asked.
“Remember the storm where I got a concussion?” she asked, tilting her head towards him. When Benn nodded, she explained, “I ended up sleeping with him.” A blast of burnt-pepper and he glared, but she narrowed her eyes. “Not like that. We just shared the bed, that’s all.” She remembered waking up with them both under the blanket, his arms around her and her head on his chest.
Nothing between them had been the same since.
Benn looked back at Shanks. “Have you told him you aren’t interested?”
She blinked. “Well, did you expect him to listen?” She had, but Shanks hadn’t taken her seriously. “I’ve just not let him do anything since then, but he still tries occasionally.” Benn looked at her. “And no, that night hasn’t been repeated.”
No, it hadn’t, but she didn’t mention the few parties they had on the beach where she had woken up, well before everyone else, with Shanks’ arm over her and his nose against her neck. Once, he even had his leg over hers.
Aria had no clue what the burnt, peppery taste indicated, but she had the feeling she would taste it again if she mentioned that.
Benn sighed and leaned his head back briefly. “Yeah, he’s damned persistent when he wants to be,” he grumbled, grabbing a nearby bottle.
Aria traced the constellations for a few minutes, then looked down at the bottle with a frown. She hated when Shanks or Benn got serious, or at least Shanks, at a party. It tended to kill the mood and she didn’t want to deal with whatever was going between them tonight.
Without giving herself a chance to think, she grabbed the bottle and her dagger. The cork came out easily and she took a long draught of the sweet sake; one of Shanks’ favorites, from his personal store. It was strong, the taste almost knocking her back.
Benn grinned as she leaned back again. “Glad you decided to change your mind.” His bottle was already half empty.
Crooking one knee, the sake in her hand, she watched the fire with Benn and took an occasional drink and she passed out.

~~~

Her aching neck woke her. Stifling a groan and cursing herself internally for drinking after all, she cracked one eye open to see the sun high overhead and immediately shut it, the brightness too much. She could feel sand caked into her hair and something hard under her head. The throbbing in her temples matched the rhythm of the waves crashing nearby.
Her mouth fell like cotton, and her skin stung where she had shifted against the sand too much in her sleep.
Aria tried to move to get up, but stopped as something tightened around her waist. Forcing her sticky mind to work, she tried to recall the night before. She remembered Benn stealing her drink after she kept it away from Monster, then Shanks came over, he gave her some sake, then – she groaned softly as her head pounded.
The sake had been harder on her head than she expected. Whatever was under her head moved, and she snapped her eyes open as fingers brushed her forehead. A person had their arm securely wrapped around her waist, with their other arm cradling her head. Sighing, she gingerly removed the arm from her waist and sat up carefully, her movements slow and deliberate.
Looking around, she saw most of the crew were passed out in various spots. Limejuice, Yasopp, Bonk, and Monster were piled together, Gab and Roux were sprawled out where she had last seen them the night before, Shanks was nowhere to be seen, and Benn…
Ignoring her slowly pounding head, she turned and bit her lip. She had expected Shanks to be the one by her, but it had been Benn’s arm over her and under her head. To say that was unexpected was an understatement. She noticed his hair wasn’t tied back for once, and there was still a light pink line across the bridge of his nose. The taste of ash and tobacco was weaker, instead being replaced by a subtle taste of iron and something warm.
But if Benn was here, where was…? Looking around again, she spotted Shanks on the other side of the crate by his straw hat. He was slumped down enough she could see nothing else, but based on the taste of pepper and spice, he was awake.
Her neck throbbed, distracting her, and she nearly gasped at the pain, a hand flying up to press on the tattoo. Yeah, drinking had not been a good idea. She unsteadily rose to her feet and hurried to the trees above the shoreline to relieve herself and clear her head.
She wasn’t sure what to make of waking up with Benn for once. She’d seen him sleep on the beach before, get drunk, but if he was still pink, that meant he had gotten wasted for once. Her waist still felt warm where his arm had been around it.
Steadying herself on a tree as she walked back a few minutes later, she groaned as her head and neck throbbed again and covered her mouth. She promised herself she wouldn’t touch any alcohol for at least a week after this. Yeah, the sake had been good, but it wasn’t worth the hangover.
As she emerged from the trees, she jumped back before she collided with Shanks. He grabbed her arm to steady her. “Are you okay?” His voice was gentle, but the question seemed to echo painfully in her head. Cloves, cedar, something warm and sweet; all these tastes were subtle, but she knew they were coming from him.
Aria almost nodded, but her head and neck both throbbed again, so she spoke instead. “Just a hangover.” A pretty bad one, too.
Shanks’ brows raised. “That’s no surprise. When I woke up, the bottle was empty.”
That explained why her head hurt so badly then. It hadn’t been a small bottle. “Sorry.”
His gaze softened. “Don’t be. But if your head is hurting, maybe go lay down.”
“That might be a good idea,” she admitted. “My neck is worse though.”
Shanks brushed a thumb over the tattoo before she could react and she flinched. He pulled his hand back quickly. “Do you want anything for it?”
She wanted to say no, but another throb and her hand flew to her neck as she groaned.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” he smiled. “I’ll take you back to the ship and get something from Hongo, okay?”
Aria nodded weakly, appreciating the offer. As they made their way back, she kept her gaze on her feet, trying to ignore the dizziness and nausea that came with each step. Mutterings reached her ears and she looked up to see the crew gathered around Snake.
“Finally,” he said as they approached. “Captain, we may have a problem.” He held out a newspaper.
“What is it?” Shanks asked, taking it.
Aria sank against the crate as Shanks read whatever was in the paper and started as Benn touched her arm.
“Sorry,” he murmured. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I saw how you were walking with Shanks just now.”
She tried to smile, but even that hurt. “Yeah, just a hangover.” She wished she could take back drinking the entire bottle of sake.
He helped her up and kept one arm around her waist as she leaned against him, trying to pay attention to everyone else. The sunlight was harsh, but she didn’t want to miss whatever was happening.
Shanks’ brow slowly lowered, but before anyone could ask, he looked at Snake. “This is from this morning?”
Snake nodded and a lingering taste of something sharp, bitter, and astringent touched her. “I brought it as soon as I read it.”
“What is it?” Yasopp asked from where he leaned against Gab.
Aria almost felt sick from as the astringent taste flooded out strongly, then changed to an almost bitter-citrus taste.
“I’ve been made a Yonko.” The words dropped from Shanks’ tongue like stones in water.
The crew was silent for several heartbeats. Limejuice and Bonk’s eyes were wide, Gab seemed a little confused, as if he weren’t fully awake yet, and the others all wore nearly identical looks of shock or disbelief.
Finally, the crew all started talking at once.
Aria cringed back from the sound, and Benn tightened his grip.
“Hey, enough!” Shanks almost barked out. “They now view us as a threat after our attack on the Navy base.” His gaze traveled around the crew, but Aria didn’t miss the deep pepper taste as his eyes lingered on her a second longer than everyone else, and he stopped on Benn. “We all have bounties now.”
Naturally, most of the crew were excited. Aria watched as they passed out the new Wanted posters, but noticed Limejuice holding two. He frowned, then looked around until he spotted her. “Aria?”
The others grew quiet at his tone.
He walked over and handed her the Wanted Poster in his hands. “‘N13’?”
She froze and Benn’s arm tightened to the point it almost hurt. The poster showed her from the last fight, her face almost angry yet like she was enjoying herself. And clear as day, N13 was stark against her neck.
There was no way anyone would miss that.
She knew it was that more than the name that caught Limejuice’s attention. They all saw where her new tattoo was: covering up the number designation.
Yasopp and Shanks stepped forward; the sniper joined Benn and Aria while the captain stood almost in front of her.
“Aria,” Roux called out, “What does that mean?”
Shanks glanced at her over his shoulder. “Do you want to tell them?” Burnt-pepper, spice, cedar, sourness; it flooded from him as their eyes met, his gaze flicking down to Benn’s arm around her briefly.
“It’s a little too…specific to be something like the Captains, or Gab’s, that’s all,” Snake explained, giving her a confused look. While true, she knew he was also thinking about her new tattoo and how it covered her old one.
Aria glanced at Yasopp, who met her gaze evenly, then Benn, whose face was unreadable, then Shanks, who wasn’t looking at her. Trying to stand straighter, she sighed. “Did Shanks, Benn, or Yasopp ever tell you why Rayleigh asked for help getting me away from Sabaody?”
Benn’s arm around her waist loosened some, but he didn’t remove it.
Looks were exchanged, but then Snake shook his head. “No. Only that Rayleigh asked for our help.”
“We thought you were a slave,” Limejuice added, his hand fidgeting with his staff.
Aria paused briefly. “You aren’t…wrong.” The crew straightened up, their eyes either wide in surprise or narrowed in anger. “But there’s more than that.”
“More?” Bonk asked, scratching his head. Monster clung to his back, peeking over his shoulder at her.
Benn whispered, “Are you sure you want to tell them?”
She nodded, though it made her head ache. “I’m from…Punk Hazard.”
Monster just looked confused, but the rest of the crew looked almost murderous.
Yasopp’s hiss made her look at the sniper. “You…were-were a…!” He turned around abruptly, hands laced behind his head. A dark spice flowed from him, almost choking her.
Snake stepped forward and glared at Shanks. “Did you know?” At first, she thought Snake was angry at him, but then she realized that he was just pissed at what her statement meant.
“I did,” Benn stated unexpectantly.
Eight pairs of eyes snapped to him. Sourness mostly, but burnt-pepper again wafted from Shanks.
“I’ve known for a year,” Benn said. “But I never said anything because it wasn’t my secret to tell.” He glanced at her. “Me, Yasopp, and Shanks knew she was from the auction house when we met her, but I know she hasn’t told either of them about her time before that.”
Limejuice stepped forward. “Aria, why didn’t you tell us that’s why we’ve been looking for a safe place for you?”
She didn’t meet anyone's gaze as she answered quietly. “It’s not something I like to talk about.” That was an understatement.
“Explains why it took her so long to talk to Hongo,” someone muttered.
“You know he’ll fly into a rage if he hears this,” came a response.
Shanks waited a few moments, then shook his head. “Things just became more complicated, but knowing where she came from changes nothing.”
“What are we going to do now, Captain?” Yasopp asked.
A tense silence followed his question.
Aria closed her eyes against the pounding in her head, leaning onto Benn more. Once again, he tightened his hold, pressing her firmly against him.
Finally Shanks spoke. “We need to get out to sea for now, then we’ll figure out what to do about this.”
Aria opened her eyes when she heard the crew walk away, muttering amongst themselves. Yasopp stayed by her and Benn as Shanks joined them.
Giving her a sympathetic look, Yasopp said, “I understand why you didn’t say anything, but you know some people may ask about it.” Clove; finally she understood what it meant. Concerned.
“I know they will,” Aria told him. She was surprised no one else had asked before this, but they were sure to now.
Nodding to Shanks, Yasopp followed the others.
Shanks watched after the crew for a moment, then looked at her and Benn. “Aria, are you alright?”
“I just want to sleep,” she said. She wanted to sleep through the hangover, the sick feeling in her chest, the dread coating her throat and brain. She wanted to forget this whole morning. Forget the Wanted poster, the looks on the others faces as they realized what she was.
Shanks looked at Benn this time. “Take her back to the ship, then meet me in my cabin.”
Benn nodded and Aria groaned as he scooped his arms under her, holding her against his chest. She tucked her face into the crook of his neck, trying not to get sick as he hurried over the short stretch of beach to the ship. Her braid hung down for once and she resisted a shudder as a harsh wave of pepper followed them from the beach.

Chapter 9: Caught

Summary:

Aria's settled in well with the crew, but being on a Yonko's crew is proving to be...stressful. Especially when some people think they can try to take him out.

Notes:

This chapter involves someone being drugged.

Aria sat down between Benn and Yasopp, handing them each a mug. “Keep an eye on Arthur. He’s already wasted.” She glanced over her shoulder at the blonde recruit, one of the newest ones. Despite being older than her, he acted like a kid half the time. He annoyed her, but she didn’t want to see him hurt.
A sharp thud filled the air. Benn rose, lighting a cigarette. “Your warning was a little too late.” She watched him break up the almost-fight and smiled. The taste of beer, wheat, sake, and all manner of food swirled around the room. Burst of citrus occasionally floated around, or an undercurrent of bitterness, but most of the tastes were warm and heady.
Setting his drink on the table, she took a drink of her sake and grimaced. It was weak and bitter.
Yasopp nudged her. “Where were you earlier?”
“Helping Roux get the supplies back to the ship,” she told him. “Gab was already drunk and there was glassware.”
Yasopp grinned. “He was already drunk? We’ve been in port three hours!” Shaking his head, he grabbed his drink. “Excited for the South Blue?”
Aria shrugged and took another drink. “I’m a little more nervous about crossing the Calm Belt for the first time.” She knew the tales of ships being sunk in the windless seas. They would have to row across it.
“Don’t worry. With the captain around, the Sea Kings won’t bother us.” His confidence was soothing, but she still felt nervous. They’d met one Sea King a couple months before and she, as well as several of the new recruits, froze on deck as Shanks scared it away.
A bout of raucous laughter came from the bar and she turned to see Shanks with a girl and a few others on the crew. Except for her, they were all drunk, and Aria turned away.
“He better not expect us to drag his drunk ass back to the ship,” Benn grumbled as he sat back down. Grabbing his drink, he kept glancing at the captain.
“Yet you still will,” Aria remarked, earning a half-hearted glare from him.
She sat and watched the crew drink, play games against the locals, laughed when Yasopp won against someone who challenged him to darts, and felt a pleasant buzz after a while. She didn’t enjoy drinking too often anymore, but tonight was nice. In the months since becoming a Yonko, Shanks had been given more challenges as they were chased by the Navy, but earned more respect for each one he left smoking or sinking in the wakes.
Relaxing like this was becoming harder with each port, but more satisfying when they could.
Aria’s eyes narrowed as a man dressed in all black slipped into the bar, his movements too deliberate, too cautious. The way he walked, the way he avoided people, the look on his face as he slowly made his way to the bar. None of it seemed right. Stretching out her haki, she felt nothing overly ominous, but couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling in her gut. She couldn’t taste anything unusual either, but still. Her instincts were rarely wrong.
She carefully nudged Benn and murmured, “Keep an eye on Shanks.” When he turned to her, she flicked her gaze to the man in black, then at Shanks meaningfully to where he was still at the bar.
Benn nodded, his rifle across his back, and moved closer to him as he took a drag on his cigarette.
Aria wanted to smack Shanks. He’d had, what, at least eight attempts on his life in places like this now? The first time they hadn’t expected it, and only Shanks’ conqueror’s haki blasting out alerted them, and the last time, someone had blatantly opened fire on the docks and promptly been silenced by Benn’s gun.
She wouldn’t be surprised if someone dried to drug the captain who had the tendency to drink far too often. Propping her ankles up in the table, she leaned back in her chair and watched as the man disappeared up the stairs after talking with the owner briefly. Tipping her head back, she sighed. Maybe he was just getting a room for the night then. She needed to stop being overly worried.
As the light streaming through the far windows dimmed, some of the crew returned to the ship, passed out where they sat, or a few even retreated elsewhere with someone else. She started as the bartender came over with a mug. “I didn’t order anything.”
“It was sent over by the man at the bar,” he said, walking off already.
Looking over, she spotted Benn, Shanks, and Yasopp either at the bar or near it, and shrugged inwardly. This wasn’t the first time one of them had ordered her something. Sniffing, she couldn’t tell if it was wine or something else, but it was sweet. Maybe mead.
Ugh, it was horribly bitter tasting though. The sweet smell had masked that. It made her think of sour apples under a sugar coating. She drank half, then set it back down. It burned like rum; not her usual choice.
Almost immediately, her stomach churned violently, and the room spun. She blinked rapidly, struggling to focus as a wave of nausea washed over her. The laughter and chatter around her seemed to warp, sounds blending in a confusing haze. Whatever the drink was, it was much stronger than what she usually drank.
A chair scraping made her turn and Benn sat down with her, discarding the cigarette butt in an ashtray. “Ready to head back to the ship? Shanks is,” he paused, glancing behind him, “Preoccupied tonight.”
Aria nodded. “Yeah. Are you staying here?”
He hesitated, eyeing Yasopp, who was already dozing at a nearby table. “I might stick around for a bit.”
She pushed herself up, swaying slightly.
Benn steadied her with a firm grip on her shoulder. His brow furrowed as the taste of cloves grew. “You sure you’re alright?”
“Yeah,” she managed. “Just had too much to drink tonight, that’s all.” Her head throbbed and she closed her eyes briefly.
“I can walk you back,” Benn offered again, his tone more insistent now. “Shanks can handle himself for a few minutes.” The taste of clove, mingled with ash, touched her.
She shook her head weakly. “No, Benn. Keep an eye on Shanks. I’ll manage.” Feeling his eyes following her, she didn’t stop walking until she was out of the bar and halfway to the ship. Knowing there was nobody nearby, she staggered to the side.
Something was very wrong. She tried to think of who might’ve ordered that drink, but couldn’t make her mind focus. Her head pounded and she leaned against the side of a building with a groan.
Her haki hummed softly, but she pulled it back so much it disappeared. A trick she rarely employed, but suppressing her haki like this sometimes kept her from getting sick. She hadn’t done it for months, not since the announcement of the newest Yonko, but she felt like she had no choice right now.
It might drain her for a while, but if it kept her from vomiting, it would be worth it.
Bracing one hand against a barrel, she breathed deeply through her mouth. Her stomach roiled and her legs shook. Maybe she should go back and get Benn after all. But the ship was just visible down the street, and she could see people walking around the dock. If she could make it there, she would be fine.
Tastes slowly faded around her, her heartbeat loud in her ears but sluggish in her chest. The warm night air tasted foul as she breathed in and she leaned over, trying not to vomit.
From the depths of the alley to her right, a whispered urgency pierced the silence, “Quick!” seconds before a person emerged in front of her. Before she could react, something was tied around the bottom half of her face and a bag was thrown over her head.
What was going on? Her mind felt like it was drowning in quicksand now, thoughts slipping through to nothing. Why couldn’t she focus? A shiver licked down her spine, but she couldn’t understand why.
“Sure that’s her?” another voice asked.
She jerked as someone grabbed her braid and pulled, letting out a muffled keen. She wanted to pull herself free, but she could feel some of the synthetic nerves screaming.
“Yes. See the braid?” the first one responded.
Another tug and she tried to lash out, but her movements felt sluggish and weak. Her knuckles hit the barrel and she let out a muffled whine of pain. A chuckle sounded as her legs buckled and she nearly screamed as her braid was pulled. In the hood's darkness, spots of white and red danced across her eyes.
A pause. “Come on, before the Yonko notices.”
Aria tried to kick out, regretting that she left her glaive on the ship for once, but there was a sharp prick in her neck. Pain flared for a split second before everything went silent, her body going limp as darkness consumed her.

~~~

A deep voice rumbled out, the taste of cigars rolling out with it. “She’ll wake up soon, get her in chains before then.”
Something hard clamped around her wrist, and then around her ankles, and she shuddered. It was all she could do. Her mind felt crushed under a giant, smothering weight.
“Quick, get her into the cage,” the deep voice ordered. “The Yonko’s already on our tail.”
Yonko? Shanks? On their tail? What was going on? She struggled to think under the crushing weight, her mind stretching so much it hurt. When that failed, she reached out with her haki, but something hard came down on her shoulders.
She gasped in pain, her face hitting the floor. She tasted blood and her nose was burning. After a second, she spat out a piece of her tooth and hissed at the agony in her jaw.
A grunt. “Told you she would wake soon. Toss her with the others now!”
A hand clamped onto her shoulder. A muted keen of pain rose from her throat. She was yanked to her feet, stumbling forward as she was roughly shoved along. There was a clang, then she was shoved forward harshly.
“Hey!” a voice cried out as she landed heavily on someone’s legs. “Isn’t chaining us enough?!”
“Shut up, pirates,” the deep voice boomed out as an iron door slammed shut. “Enjoy your time aboard the Guardian, everyone. It will be the last ship any of you shits will ever see.”
Aria rolled to the side, moving off whoever she landed on. There was movement, and she hissed as someone ripped off her hood. Blinking against the sudden movement, it took several moments before she could see the bare outline of bars and rough wooden walls, dimly illuminated by slivers of light filtering through the ceiling's cracks.
“Are you alright?” a man asked, bringing her focus to him.
She blinked again as her vision cleared enough to see the man sitting before her.
Blood crusting along his jaw, hair a tangled mass of indeterminate color, clothes scruffy and torn to the point of rags, his hands bound behind his back. His voice was rough, matching his appearance. “Miss?” As her vision adjusted, she saw a few-days-old black eye adorning his face, as well as several cuts.
Rolling to her knees, Aria groaned and tried to sit up, but her hands were bound behind her back. “Where am I?” She felt someone's boot shoot out and keep her from tipping over as the ship rocked. She hissed as she landed on the end of her braid and shifted immediately off it.
“Hell,” came the response from behind her. She turned and saw another man, also with torn and stained clothes, watching her. Dried blood streaked from under his hair along the left side of his face. “You just got thrown onto a brig ship headed for a jail on the Grand Line.” Two other men sat to the side; they too had torn and stained clothes and signs of barely healed wounds.
She groaned and sank against the bars to the side. The air tasted foul, like nothing she could name. She resisted the urge to gag, but a choked sound came from her throat regardless.
The first man exchanged looks with someone, then scooted closer. “Sounds like you got poisoned.”
Poisoned? When? It took her foggy brain a minute before she remembered the drink.
“Just breathe, you’ll be okay before long,” the man said.
“How long have I been here?” she asked, trying to take slow, deep breaths. The fetid air wasn’t helping, but slowly her nausea lessened some.
He shrugged. “No idea. I knew when we docked, then they talked about taking out a pirate crew in the town, but before we knew it, they were yelling at everyone to head out. Maybe a few hours?”
A distant boom, then a splash somewhere outside. The ship rocked and the people in the hold all braced. Looking up, she saw at least four people besides herself. “Who are you?”
“Captain Geral, also known as Alpha Geral to the Navy,” he introduced himself wearily. “These men are what's left of my crew.”
Captain “Alpha” Geral. She recognized the name, but not the man. A pirate from the North Blue, he had been in the Grand Line for all of five months before he was said to have disappeared, potentially dead. She had read the news article a few days ago.
Geral waited as she leaned back. “You’re N13 Aria, aren’t you?”
“Don’t call me that,” she snapped out weakly. After a moment, she shook her head. “Sorry, just ignore the N13.” An ache crept along her shoulder and she tried to shift it, but it just made the pain worse. A trickle of blood ran down her chin.
He shrugged, a resigned look on his face. “I get it. Sometimes our nicknames don’t fit. But you’re one of Red-Hair’s crew, right?” She nodded. Another boom, but fainter. “Guessing he gave chase.”
Aria nodded, then closed her eyes. “Give me a second here.” Stretching out her haki as far as she could, she felt the furious tang of Shanks and Benn. The rest of the crew's presence was even weaker, barely perceptible. After another second, they were gone, and she let out a choked cry, her chest burning from the effort.
Geral’s face was sympathetic as her eyes opened. “They’re gone, aren’t they?”
Her eyes tearing up, she hung her head. She hadn’t cried in a long time, but she couldn’t help it now. “This ship is moving too fast. If I lost Shanks, he won’t be able to find me. My observation is as good as his,” she whispered. Her body ached from the residual poison and her voice scratched through her throat.
She felt Geral press up against her side; trying to offer comfort.
Aria didn’t move away. She couldn’t. Shanks was too far behind them, and the ship was probably out of sight. The Navy had caught her by trickery and drugging, and she was now locked in a ship that she knew she wouldn’t escape from.
Her mind flashed to her now-covered tattoo that marked her as an experiment. What would these people do with her? Kill her? Send her back? Hand her back over to Kaden? She inwardly shuddered.
She’d kill herself before that happened. He would either kill her himself or make her join the groups he used for the more dangerous experiments. If she was lucky, maybe she would get sent to this jail and nowhere else.
All she could now was wait.

Chapter 10: Waiting

Summary:

Aria's time in prison is nothing but a continuous cycle of hunger, pain, and exhaustion.

Notes:

This chapter involves being imprisoned. There is no clear sign of how much time has passed, that is on purpose.

If you wish to skip, there's nothing major you will miss except for the very end.

Aria didn’t move as a hard piece of bread was tossed in the cell. A bucket of water was set inside the door, but she still didn’t move from her spot in the corner. Her arms clutched her legs, forehead resting heavily on her knees, braid coiled around her neck. She listened, every fading footstep echoing her heartbeat.
When it was quiet, she crawled forward and grabbed the bread and water. The rough stones scraped her knees, but the pain barely registered in her numb state. She ripped up the bread the best she could and soaked it before she ate. She had already lost one tooth from the last piece of rock-hard bread, and didn’t want to lose another.
Two sets of footsteps approached from the hall, sending her scrambling back to the corner. They passed by without slowing, the sharp taps echoing. The taste of cold stone overpowered everything, mingling with faint traces of steel and gunpowder.
“Hey, did you hear about Whitebeard the other day?” She tilted her head to listen better.
“You mean about meeting with Red Hair?”
Aria froze. Shanks? She closed her eyes and tried to focus. Desperate for any kind of news, she almost didn’t care what she heard.
“Nothing happened from it, but I heard they met up near Ganster Reef.”
Relief washed over her, her shoulders sagging. Shanks was fine. For now, at least.
“Why? Sounds like they didn’t fight.”
“Red Hair just wanted to talk with them, I guess.”
Their voices faded and she leaned her head back. She remained motionless.
How long ago was that? Ganster Reef was near Sabaody, a journey that could take six months or more. Had it really been that long? Or even longer? The thought twisted her insides, the uncertainty gnawing at her.
She closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks as her shoulders shook with silent sobs. Her throat ached from the tears she tried to suppress, but exhaustion eventually pulled her into a restless sleep.
The clanging of bars jolted her awake, reverberating through the hall. In the distance, another cell creaked open. Some tried to protest, but a dull thud sounded before being followed by a heavy silence. Then the sound of someone being dragged.
Aria stayed in her corner, hardly daring to breathe, but no one appeared. For a moment, the sharp tang of blood overwhelmed the persistent grit of stone dust.
There was only the light of torches down here, so she couldn’t keep track of time. Eat, sleep, and try to stay alive. That’s all she could do.
She tried not to think of how long it might’ve been. She stopped trying to count the pieces of bread she got, the buckets of water. Those were her only interactions with anyone.
“Red-Hair took down another fleet today. He’s been pissy lately.” The words floated thinly through the hall.
“Strange. He’s usually pretty mild-mannered.”
“Thing is, he went after another brig-ship.”
“Another? How many does that make now? Eight?”
“Probably more. He’s been to the New World, and took a couple islands under his protection I guess.”
Aria curled tighter, not even wincing as her skin protested against the bones that threatened to split through in some spots. A cough rattled in her throat, but she swallowed it back. She couldn’t taste anything now.
Another piece of bread and a bucket of water appeared. The days blurred into an endless haze of hunger and thirst, exhaustion and silence.
“You think it’ll be a problem?” She cracked one eye open as the voices got closer.
“No, he attacks Navy bases, but it’s pretty secluded here.”
“Still. He’s maybe two islands away. Think the Commander will order for reinforcements?”
A scoff. “As if! No one but us knows this place is here. We’re fine.”
“I think I’ll keep watch for a few nights. Just in case.”
“Alright, you big baby.”
The voices receded, and Aria let out a quiet breath. The stones were cold under her side, the thin blanket too worn and ratty to help. The faint taste of stone touched her as her braids tip touched the ground.
Rapid footsteps tore through her consciousness, the air thick with the metallic taste of fear.
“Shit shit shit shit shit!” The curses bounced off the walls. “Stupid pirates!”
Aria raised her head, but dropped it when a dull ache spread through her body. She shot up a second later when a gun went off and the sound of steel hitting stone echoed from down the hall.
“Shit, what is this place?” someone asked, the words no more than a whisper.
A few footsteps crunched slowly. “I think it’s a jail. Hey, you awake?”
Someone was down the hall. Aria pulled knees to her chest, her braid around her waist. She wished she could crawl over, try to see what’s happening, but she couldn’t. She didn’t have the strength.
“How many people are here? Any idea?”
They must be talking to someone in a cell, but the response was too faint for her to hear.
“What do we do? We can’t leave these people here.”
A small hum echoed before the answer. “Get one of the officers. I’ll try to see if anyone can answer us.”
“Right.” Footsteps quickly receded; the sound sharp through the air.
Aria waited. Who these people were, they were saving the lives of those here. Maybe she could get them to take her somewhere safe, away from the marines.
She wasn’t sure how long it was when heavy footsteps sounded. “What’s going on.” Not a question; a command.
Her head jerked up. The stone tang overwhelmed everything else, and she inwardly cursed her weakness.
“Pirates. All of them brought in from various places along the Grand Line. No idea how many, and it looks like most of them are starved.”
A hiss. “Damn. Get the captain. And maybe a couple of the others. I’ll start checking the cells.”
Her heart pounded against her ribs, each approaching footstep amplifying her anxiety. She held her breath, muscles tense, as the sound grew nearer.
Muttering was heard after a moment and someone stepped in front of her cell, peering into the opposite one. When they turned, it was clear they didn’t see her at first, but just then she let out a cough that wracked her entire frame.
Benn’s eyes snapped to her, widening in shock. “Aria?”

Chapter 11: Found

Summary:

Aria's been rescued, but she had no idea how long for. Her time in prison took its toll, and no one's happy.

She said nothing, still shuddering from her cough.
A second later, she flinched as Benn shouted down the hallway, “Shanks!”
Her heart thudded painfully for a moment. His shout echoed and made her ears pound.
Footsteps approached swiftly. “Benn? What’s wrong?” Shanks' gruff voice cut through the tension, sounding harsher than she remembered.
“Get this door open. I don’t want to risk deafening anyone by shooting it.” His eyes darted to her, then back to where Shanks was out of her sight. In the dim light, she couldn’t see his expression, but his eyes flashed brightly.
“Can’t you kick it down?” Shanks asked, sounding confused.
“I do that, it’ll hit Aria!” he nearly snarled.
A loud intake of breath, then a pause that seemed to last for an eternity. There was the sound of a sword being unsheathed, then her ears rang as someone broke the lock off in a swift movement.
The door clanged open, and Benn quickly crouched in front of her. His eyes flicked over her thin frame, taking in the toll her imprisonment had taken. She wasn't even sure what he saw. She knew the ragged remains of her clothes hung loosely, holes studded through the once sturdy fabric, and her hair was limp and tangled. But what must she look like to him?
Whatever she looked like caused his jaw to clench and his eyes to harden.
Aria glanced up as Shanks stepped in, the fury in his eyes making her cringe; it was the only thing she could make out in the dim light. He quickly removed his cloak and handed it to Benn. “Cover her in this. Get her back to the ship.” She couldn’t remember ever hearing that kind of authority in his voice; maybe she had just forgotten.
She couldn’t help but gasp in pain as Benn gently lifted her up after wrapping her in Shanks’ thick cloak. It was rough, but she didn’t care. Weak relief flooded her body, and she let out a quiet sob.
Shanks stopped him for a second, laying his hand on her cheek; his hand was rougher than she remembered, but the touch was still soft. “I’m so glad you’re alive.” His eyes blazed again, then he stepped back as Benn carried her down the hall.
She caught glimpses of stone walls, metal brackets holding torches or lanterns with fluttering flames, iron doors. The occasional eyes of other prisoners touched her, but she kept her attention on Benn as a loud clang as steel met iron came from behind him.
“Aria? Can you hear me?” he asked as they ascended a widely curving set of stairs, his eyes darting to her every few seconds.
Laying her head against his shoulder, she nodded a little.
His grip tightened, but he loosened it again when she gasped. “Sorry.” Movement caught her eye as he came out into a large room. Several people stood nearby, but one stepped forward as he came into the room.
“Benn, we heard you shout for the captain, what…” Yasopp’s voice trailed off as he met Aria’s weak gaze, his eyes widening.
“Captain told me to take her back to the ship. Take a few people and get the other cells opened,” Benn ordered. “At least twenty others, maybe more.”
Yasopp disappeared immediately, a few people following quickly.
A low groan rose from her throat and she closed her eyes as they came into a hallway with windows. Afternoon light shone brightly, making her whimper. She couldn’t remember the last time she saw light this bright.
“Tuck your head, it’s brighter outside,” Benn warned softly.
She hid her face in his shoulder, her arms curled against her chest. She knew they were outside when warmth enveloped her. Sighing softly, she tried to focus on that as Benn walked. This was nearly blissful after the cell's chill.
“Aria, what happened?” he asked after a while. When she didn’t respond, she felt him glance down, but never slowed. “We didn’t leave the bar until almost morning, but the men on watch said you never came back. I went back to the bar, but it wasn’t until the owner asked about the drink you left we knew what happened.”
She shivered as a wind blew around them, and he stopped long enough to readjust the cloak. His hand lingered on her cheek for a moment, but she might’ve imagined it.
“We saw the brig-ship leaving and felt your haki fade out. Shanks ordered us to follow, but when we lost your signature completely…” He paused, and she could feel his eyes on her. “We thought you were dead.”
Aria curled herself closer, her throat too tight to speak. Her fingers curled into his shirt, but she relaxed them with a pained whimper.
He quickened his pace. “We’re almost home.”
Home? Her mind struggled to picture that. A foreign place, something that only existed in her dreams anymore. She could hardly remember what the ship looked like after many days of stone walls.
Voices reached her ears after a while, and she heard a few familiar ones. Roux, Gab. Monster’s screech was loud and she flinched.
“Benn, what happened? One of the recruits came rushing out for Shanks, said there were people underground?” She didn’t recognize who spoke.
A curt nod from Benn. “This wasn’t just a base, it was a jail. Yasopp took some of the crew down to release anyone left. Shanks is with them.”
“Who’s that?” another voice asked; Bonk?
“Aria.” Benn’s voice silenced the chatter. “Shanks sent me down with her. Keep an eye on the path. I’ll be in the captain's cabin if you need me.”
Footsteps on the deck, then darkness. Benn paused for a second and knocked once on a door, then she felt light again. Fainter, but enough she saw red through her eyelids. Something soft was under her less than a heartbeat later and the light faded.
As her hand relaxed, she immediately identified Shanks' bed. As the once-familiar cedar scent wafted up, her heart slowed.
“Benn?” Hongo’s voice. “Was anyone hurt?” Aria felt a distant flinch, like an echo in her muscles, but didn’t move.
“No, but we have a problem,” the words were nearly growled. “We found Aria in the underground jail they had here.”
“Ar- what?!” Staggered steps. “Let me fetch my kit.” He rushed back out, but quickly returned and Aria heard the kit open. “Alright, I might need your help. Can you open the curtains?”
“No. She reacted badly to sunlight when I brought her aboveground. There were a few lanterns down there, but they were all dim. I didn’t even see her until she coughed,” Benn reported.
A pause. “Ok. Turn on the lamp then, that should be enough.”
From the right, she heard a sharp click. A shiver ran through her as the cloak was opened.
A sound came from Hongo’s throat she had never heard before; a hiss or a snarl, but angry and pained. “Benn, where’s Roux?”
“Outside.”
“Get him. Tell him she’s starved. He’ll know what to make,” Hongo ordered. No movement for a moment, then Benn’s footsteps pounded out the room.
She didn’t move as she felt his fingers deftly move over her body. Something cold touched her chest in a few spots, fingers pressed lightly to her neck, then she felt him pull her ragged shirt up for a few seconds before returning it.
After a few minutes of this, he sighed. “Aria, can you hear me?” She moved a hand, unable to move her head right now. “Okay. It looks like you’ve not had a lot to eat, but I need you to answer me if you can. Did they do anything else?”
She slitted her eyes open and saw him sitting next to the bed look at her. When she tried to speak, a harsh cough scratched from her throat and she closed her eyes against the pain. Her breath rattled in her chest.
Footsteps again, then Benn’s voice. “Roux knows and he’s already getting something for her. How bad?”
“Malnourished, and I don’t like the sound of that cough, but I think that’s it. No bruises or breaks.” A sigh. “I think once she starts eating she’ll be fine, but I don’t know how she lasted five years in there.”
Five years?! How had it been that long?! She thought he would’ve said months, or maybe that it had been only a year, maybe two. Half-remembered snippets of information filtered through her mind, but it still didn’t add up. Had they really kept her there that long? Had she not spoken in that long?
Aria clenched her fist; immediately someone took it. “Benn?” Her voice cracked and she coughed again.
“Easy, just rest for now.” The bed creaked as he sat down. “Hongo, what do you suggest we do for now? We don’t have a lot of room anymore and I’m not sure she’ll be okay in the surgery.” Had more people joined the crew?
“Knowing Shanks, he’ll give her his cabin for the time being,” Hongo said a bit dryly. “I’ll get her some water for now. Do not leave her alone.”
She gasped as Benn lifted her a moment after Hongo left, but she felt herself back on the bed a second later with the cloak draped over her. It was heavy but warm.
Hongo returned. “Make her drink this slowly. I’ll check with Roux. Also, Shanks is back on deck, but I’ve ordered him to stay outside for now.”
A strangled, choking noise came from Benn. “And he listened?” Aria couldn’t tell if he wanted to laugh, call Hongo a liar, or just refuse to believe him.
Hongo's voice turned brittle after a tense pause. “He destroyed the base in one move the second everyone else was out. If he sees her like this?” He didn’t elaborate and the door closed as he left.
Aria’s eyes fluttered open as Benn lifted her head enough for her to drink. Despite being given water in prison, she made an attempt to drink it greedily, but Benn insisted that she take small sips.
“I’m glad you’re alive,” he murmured after a few minutes, setting the empty glass to the side. “We thought we’d lost you.”
She looked up at him and leaned into his hand when he laid it on her cheek. She wished her braids taste-sense was working, but she couldn’t remember the last time it had. Not like it should, at least. Her braid just hung like a dead weight from her head currently, feeling like only a heavy hunk of hair for once.
It wasn’t long before Hongo returned, a large cup in hand. “Have her drink this. I’m not sure if she could handle solid foods right now.” His gaze flicked over her, then stopped on her face briefly, before he looked at Benn. “Come get me if she needs anything. There were others who were wounded.”
Benn helped her sit up, but she couldn’t help but feel a weak pang of embarrassment as he helped her drink whatever was in the cup. The water had revived her somewhat, but her hands shook too much for her to do much.
When she was done, he pulled her into his lap, startling her. “Do you remember what happened?” With one arm around her, he used his other hand to wrap Shanks' cloak tightly around her before leaning her against his chest.
She closed her eyes for a second, then nodded and tried to speak. “I…was drugged.” Her voice cracked from disuse, but at least her throat didn’t hurt this time.
“I was afraid of that.” Benn visibly sagged as she spoke. “That night in the bar…I don’t think they were after Shanks. I think they were aiming for you.”
That thought had crossed her mind a few times, but when she was never taken from her cell, she slowly stopped thinking about it. “I thought…they would take me back…to Punk Hazard.” She buried her face in his neck. “I never knew…how much time…had passed.”
Her memories were too fragmented to recall even a year's worth, let alone five.
Benn ran his hand down her braid. “I’m not surprised. But now you’re back with us.” He held her to him for another minute, then set her back down on the bed. “Do you want to sleep?”
She nodded tiredly. Her stomach was full, for the first time in years apparently, and she didn’t think she’d be awake much longer anyway.
“Stay awake for just a little longer if you can though. I need to let Shanks know how you are,” Benn told her.
The door opened and shut quickly as Shanks stepped in. “I already know. I had Hongo tell me.”
Aria gasped as she saw his face in the light. Three scars stretched across his left eye. When had that happened?
Shanks sat on the end of the bed, a small, strained smile playing on his lips. “You’ve missed a lot.” His gaze flicked to Benn, his smile fading. “Hongo suggested she stay in here, at least until she’s recovered and can join everyone else. Do you think there’s enough room for another hammock below?”
Benn nodded. “It’ll be tight, but we can manage it. Did you get the others out?”
“Yes. I have a few people take them to the town below. The town won’t know they were all pirates at some point, just that they need help.” Shanks paused for a moment. “Go tell the rest of the crew about Aria’s return, but don’t give them specifics. And they’re not to bother her until Hongo clears her to come out.”
Benn nodded. “He doesn’t want her left alone right now, just so you know.”
Shanks nodded and sat next to her as soon as the door closed, kissing her forehead.
She sank into his touch, relief and tiredness warring within her.
He wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in the side of her neck. “Aria…I’m so sorry.” His voice turned ragged.
“Why?” she whispered, feeling a little lightheaded.
His shoulders shook. “If anything happens to any of the crew, it’s my fault.” She was shocked to hear him sob. The cloak bunched up in his fist. “I should’ve kept chasing them, but their ship was faster than we thought.”
She sighed. “’s not your fault. Didn’t know they’d come after me, not you.” Fog filled her head, tiredness dragged at her mind and her limbs felt like lead.
He looked at her, his eyes a little red now. “Considering your Wanted poster and past though, I should’ve thought about that.” She swayed as he moved back, but he quickly caught her. “Rest for now, okay? We can talk more later.”
She removed his cloak but stopped at the gasp and blast of haki that shot out, feeling like a physical blow. She fell back against the wall with a whimper.
“Shit, I’m sorry!” He helped her lay down properly. “Hongo told me you were bad, I just didn’t expect you were that bad.”
“’S okay Shanks,” Aria mumbled, closing her eyes. She said nothing as he laid down next to her. He wouldn’t let her be alone anytime soon, but she didn’t care. She missed everyone too much.
Shanks’ hand brushed along her tattoo, then her forehead. “I’ve already told Snake where we’re heading for now. The East Blue is the calmest of the seas; we should be able to hide out there for a while.”
Aria opened one eye and looked at him. “So we’ll be safe?”
He smiled. “Yes. But more importantly, you’ll be able to find somewhere safe to stay there.”
She let out a quiet groan. “Shanks. They’ll eventually find me if I stay in one place.”
He frowned. “But you were with us when this happened.”
“I was stupid and didn’t double check who sent me that drink,” she retorted weakly.
Shanks arched an eyebrow. “Yeah, that was kinda stupid.” He grinned when she tried to glare at him. “Seriously though, rest.” His voice softened. “I’ll be right here.”
Closing her eyes again, she listened as he settled himself down next to her. Like he had years ago, though she couldn’t believe it had been that long now, his arm draped over side. She felt his lips on her forehead and sighed.
Nothing had changed with that, at least as far as she could tell, but she didn’t blame him this time. She wished she could tell him how much she missed the ship, and the crew, how much she missed hearing everyone laughing and bickering in the mess, how much she had had gone over those memories in her cell. And especially how much she missed him.

Chapter 12: The East Blue

Summary:

Foosha Village is a nice little town, and it comes with an excitable child who has all but attached himself to Shanks and Aria. But Aria is made uncomfortable by Shanks' remarkand someone else's reaction to it.

Leaning back in her seat, Aria smiled at the little black-haired boy climbing on Shanks’ shoulders. The red-haired man laughed as Luffy begged him for another story.
Makino, the green-haired woman running the bar here in Foosha Village, watched them happily as she poured drinks for the crew. She set a plate of food in front of Aria. “Seems like the captain has a new fan,” Makino said.
“I just hope he doesn’t beg Shanks to take him with us,” Aria remarked lightly. “That kid’s a little pistol.” Boundless energy, even for a seven-year-old, and stubborn. She hadn’t known Luffy long, but that much was clear.
Makino giggled in response and walked off. Behind Aria, the rest of the crew was eating or drinking, and she heard several games being played. Someone talked about the last ship they raided, and someone else was apparently showing off their new gun.
Aria sipped her ale and watched Shanks try to pry Luffy from his back, half listening to everyone else. She wouldn’t be surprised if Luffy joined them on the ship later. He’d only known the pirates for a week, but he was almost glued to Shanks already. He had already tried to climb up the side of the ship several times, each time whoever was closest plucking him off.
“Aria, you going to join us later?” As Limejuice approached, she turned her gaze towards him, noticing his staff in hand. A few of the others behind him grinned and watched them. All their eyes glittered with excitement.
She knew they meant a sparring session on deck. “Sure.” Something that was becoming a regular occurrence as more crewmembers joined.
He cocked his head. “It’ll be a two-on-two. Will that be okay?”
“Who’s sparring?” she asked.
A screech made them look over to see Luffy sitting on Shanks’ shoulders. “Are you guys gonna fight?” The captain winced as Luffy wrapped himself around Shanks’ head.
Giving him a sheepish shrug, Aria looked at the kid. “It’s not fighting. Just practicing.”
“Can I come watch?” he asked, his grin stretching across his face. His eyes shone at the idea, and she couldn’t help but chuckle at his enthusiasm.
Shanks groaned. “Come on, kid, it’ll be dangerous for you. And it won’t be that much fun, anyway.” He shot Aria and Limejuice a heated look, clearly indicating he was against the idea of Luffy being nearby during their session.
Aria turned around and ate her food quietly, avoiding his gaze. Her haki let her know Limejuice joined the others, and Shanks’ flame and salt spark was intently focused on her until Luffy distracted him.
“You’ll never get rid of him now,” Makino sighed quietly, removing the empty plate a moment later.
Something pulled Aria’s braid and she looked down to see Luffy standing by her. “Can I please come watch?”
She resisted her immediate answer of yes. “You’ll have to ask the captain if it’s okay, Luffy. He’s right, it can be dangerous.” As if, but she knew Shanks didn’t want to encourage him too much.
He turned to Shanks. “Pleeeeeeaaaasseeee?” he drew out the word, and Aria bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling. Behind them, Benn chuckled as he drank.
Shanks looked at Luffy, then at Aria, and let out a dramatic groan, his forehead hitting the bar. He turned his head enough to glare at Aria. “Alright, but Aria’s in charge.”
She yelped as Luffy flung himself at her, latching onto her shoulders. “I’m not a tree, Luffy!”
The crew's laughter echoed through the bar as he clung to her.
“Are you going now?” Luffy asked, laying his chin on her shoulder. His arms were around her neck and he kicked his feet slowly.
She glanced at Shanks, who gave her a nod, and stood. “Sure, if the others are ready.”
“We’ll be there in a little while, Aria,” Limejuice called over. “Still figuring out who's sparring today.”
“I’ll come with you to the ship then,” Shanks said, standing up.
Luffy was almost bouncing with excitement now.
Laughter broke out again as Aria carried Luffy out, Shanks right behind them.
Luffy jumped down and ran ahead.
Aria ran a hand through her hair, the beads clacking gently. She’d been adding them back in, one by one, twisting her hair into small braids to hold them. The beads felt heavy, but she was getting used to it.
As her hand lowered, she felt Shanks grab it and twine his fingers with hers. She stifled a sigh, but didn’t remove her hand. He did this a lot when they were alone.
She still wasn’t sure how to feel about it. It had been almost a year since they rescued her, and Shanks had been…not possessive, but protective. He had also become more forthcoming about his desires. He never pushed her, only teased and grabbed her hand like he did now, but still. Sleeping in his bed hadn’t helped, but then again, she hadn’t had much choice; it was there or a hammock in his cabin, and the bed was too comfortable. Hongo had refused to let her join the crew until she was stronger.
Sometimes Shanks joined her, and she’d wake up to his arms around her, or he joined the crew. Those nights she had found a little lonely occasionally, but it was also a pleasant break. Aria knew Shanks meant well, but she hadn’t expected him to treat her like she was made of glass still. She still needed to thank Benn for setting her up on watches Shanks wasn’t on after she rejoined the crew below.
Benn had been a lot more understanding, at least asking her if she was okay with something before assigning her any tasks. And occasionally acted as a buffer between her and Shanks, distracting the captain long enough for Aria to move elsewhere.
“Are you okay?” Shanks asked quietly, breaking her thoughts, as they followed Luffy to the docks. “I saw you wince when he grabbed your hair.”
She cast a sideways look at him. “I’m fine, but he hit me in the back with his knees really hard.” He also pulled a few beads, but that was to be expected.
Shanks chuckled, but was forced to a stop as Luffy came running up.
His eyes were wide and Aria was pretty sure he was literally vibrating with excitement. “Can I go on the ship now?” They had reached the dock. The Scarlet Storm was empty, aside from someone in the crow’s nest.
Shanks let go of Aria and raced after Luffy with a laugh, one hand on his hat, as the boy took off before he could answer. “Wait for us!”
Aria watched them fondly and followed more slowly. By the time she reached the deck, Shanks was being chased by Luffy. She leaned against the rail and watched them for a while.
Back and forth across the ship, whining when Shanks tried to dodge by climbing the ratlines, laughing the entire time as Shanks chased him back and grabbed him up. Aria wasn’t surprised when Luffy finally slowed down.
“I’m tired…” he whined, rubbing his eyes and walking over to Aria.
“I can take you home if you want,” Aria offered. He probably did need a nap after all that running around. And if he took a nap while they sparred, she wouldn’t have to worry about him accidentally getting in the middle somehow. The kid was like a living cannonball; he didn’t stop until something else stopped him first.
He shook his head. “Grandpa’s not home.” He looked at his feet and scuffed one against the deck.
Shanks shot her a concerned look, and knelt by Luffy. “Well, where are you staying now?”
“Under the docks,” Luffy said rather glumly.
Aria tucked her knees under her as she sat by him. “Why there?” The tide rose pretty high, so sometimes he must sleep elsewhere, but he didn’t mention anywhere else. Surely he didn’t sleep there during high-tide?
He shrugged but said nothing else.
She exchanged a worried look with Shanks. “Luffy, how long until your grandpa gets home?”
“Dunno,” was his response.
Aria’s fist clenched against her leg. How long had he been gone? She wanted to ask, but now was not the time.
Shanks picked him up and Luffy clung to his back; she swore the kid had to be part monkey as easily as he did that. “Weeeellll, maybe I can let you sleep in my cabin for an hour.” The feigned cheerfulness made her heart ache for the kid, but he needed cheering up.
And it worked. Better than expected. “Really?!” Luffy’s eyes went wide and Aria pressed her knuckles against her mouth in an effort not to laugh as Shanks staggered. It clearly didn’t matter how tired Luffy was; if he got excited, he was up and running again. If he napped at all, she’d be shocked.
She watched them walk through the door, then turned at the sound of footsteps.
The familiar scent of tobacco announced Benn’s arrival as he asked, “Was that Luffy or Shanks screaming a second ago?” He joined her at the rail. Other crewmembers sat around the deck, all of them grinning.
“Luffy,” Aria told him, “But in his defense, Shanks just offered to let him nap in his cabin.”
Benn’s chuckle was echoed by a few others. “Well, he’ll miss the sparring, but I think the only one who will miss that is him.”
“Maybe we should move off-ship then,” Limejuice commented, handing Aria her glaive; she had forgotten it at the bar. Arthur and Yasopp were behind him. “Don’t want to wake him.”
Aria glanced behind him and bit her lip to hide her grin. “Won’t be a problem.” They turned around to see Shanks, with Luffy perched on his shoulders and very awake. Shanks pretended to be annoyed, but she could sense the underlying fondness in his gaze.
The crew scattered to the edges of the deck as Limejuice motioned for Aria to follow, shaking his head. “I guess we’re staying here then. Partner with me or Yassop?”
She jerked her head at Yasopp. “We’ll make it even. Sniper and Glaive verses Marksman and Staff?”
The three men nodded.
Her grip tightened and a split second later, she met Limejuice’s attack before his staff hit her head. Her haki hummed in her ears and she focused it.
A crack sounded, followed by two more louder ones, and she saw Yasopp climbing the rigging. Arthur yelled something about that not being fair and followed.
Limejuice neatly dodged as she swung her blade wide. He jabbed at her and she covered her arm in armament, grinning at the shocked look on his face. “Where’d you learn to do that?”
She shrugged and swung upwards. He barely dodged and a crack went off above them. Someone laughed. Focusing her haki close to her, she let him get close until she could hook her foot around his ankle. With a quick jerk, he landed on his back with a gasp.
There was a splash, making them turn, and a moment later Arthur climbed back onto the ship. He was soaked, and his hair hung in his eyes. He flopped onto the deck with a groan before hauling himself to his feet.
Yasopp leaped down, landing on Aria’s right. “I think that means we win.” It hadn’t been a long match, but Limejuice and Arthur were panting.
Aria held out her hand to Limejuice.
He grinned and took it, letting her help him up. “Seriously, when did you learn armament?”
She walked to the side as a few others stepped forward to spar; it seemed their match had encouraged the others to do it too. “Not sure really, but I started practicing a few months ago to improve it.”
She had actually learned it in prison; one of the few things she had energy for in the beginning, and sometimes she wondered if that’s what kept her alive so long laying on stones. But she didn’t want to tell him that; it brought up painful memories of stone walls and hardly any food that she didn’t want to remember.
There was a yell and she ducked as Luffy came running over, grabbing his shirt before he went too far forward. She saw he had been trying to grab onto her hair again.
He pouted and looked at her over his shoulder. “Not fair.”
“Completely fair,” she told him. “Like any of us would let you get anywhere close to someone sparring!” If he had kept running, he could’ve ended up in the middle of the two men wrestling on the deck.
His bottom lip stuck out and he crossed his arms.
Shanks grabbed him up. “She’s right Luffy. Even though they aren’t fighting, you could get hurt. We aren’t kids playing in the street.” He held a squirming Luffy and retreated to the quarterdeck, where they could watch without the young boy getting too close.
Yasopp sat down, his eyes on them. “He reminds me of my kid.”
Aria raised her brows. “You have a kid, Yasopp? How old?”
“About Luffy’s age,” he said. “You…ah, it was when you weren’t with us. I went back to Banchina for a little while. But I couldn’t stay. I missed the sea too much and she encouraged me to come back to the crew.” He looked away as he said that.
A lot of the crew didn’t talk much about the five years Aria spent in prison, despite her telling them she was fine with it. Benn, Shanks, and Hongo were the only ones who mentioned things from that period without acting awkward.
But in this case, she didn’t blame him. “Miss him?”
Yasopp grinned. “Yes. I may not be there for him, but I love my kid more than anyone other than my wife.”
There was a cheer from the others and Aria saw Monster screeching and swinging around as Bonk rubbed his head. Gab was laughing. It was clear who won that match.
Aria shook her head and joined Shanks and Luffy as Yasopp and Benn set up targets on the figurehead. Luffy grinned and pulled himself from Shanks’ grasp to jump on her. Catching him easily, she perched him on her hip, giving him a better view of the shoot competition the crew was now having. “Seriously, Luffy, I thought you were tired?”
“I heard everyone come back!” he exclaimed.
Shanks ruffled Luffy’s hair. “When he heard Benn talking to you, I think our argument about coming out or not lasted a whole five seconds.”
“I didn’t want to miss anything!” Luffy grumped, crossing his arms.
Sighing, Aria watched Benn beat Yasopp. When a couple rounds had passed, she felt Luffy go limp and a second later he snored in her ear. She looked and he was deep asleep.
Shanks glanced over. “Finally,” he muttered. After a few heartbeats, his eyes narrowed. “I’ll talk with Makino later about finding Luffy a room somewhere. I don’t like hearing he’s sleeping under the docks.”
“Me neither,” Aria agreed. “And who is his grandpa? I’d like to talk with him about that.”
Shanks gazed at Luffy thoughtfully. “It sounded as if his grandpa’s away a lot. Unless we stay here a while, we’ll probably never meet him.” He motioned for her to follow and led them to his cabin. Benn watched them and cocked his head, but Aria shook her head as they passed and he turned away.
When Luffy was covered up, Shanks sat at his table while Aria perched on the end of the bed. “How long do you think we’ll stay?” she asked quietly.
Shanks hummed but shrugged. “No idea. A few months probably.” His gaze lingered on Luffy briefly, then on her. “I’m glad you felt well enough to spar this time.”
She snorted gently. “I’ve been feeling well enough for months, but this time someone didn’t glare at me hard enough that I had no choice but to say no.”
His lips twitched in a small grin. “Can you blame me?” He got up and joined her, sitting between her and the end of the bed. One hand found hers, and the other settled on her neck. “I can’t help it. Not after how bad you were.”
Aria closed her eyes at his touch. “I know.” She opened her eyes and glared at him. “But I’m a pirate, the same as any of you. I’m stronger than I look.” Even if she still got winded quickly, or tired sooner than anyone else. She turned her head as he leaned forward.
Planting a kiss on her cheek, Shanks sighed. “Aria…”
“You know I don’t have an answer for you, Shanks,” she shot out before he could continue, her voice bordering on harsh. “You know I like you, but can’t that be enough?”
His face fell and she immediately felt guilty. “I just want to know if you feel the same as I do though. That’s all. And you’ve never said yes, but also never said no.”
She stood up and attempted to soften her voice. “I know…and I’m sorry. But I just…”
He tilted his head, not letting go of her hand. “I can wait as long as you need Aria.” His eyes glittered and, not for the first time, she wished she could taste the air surrounding them again.
She hadn’t been able to since being rescued, and while she was worried at first, then scared, now she just felt numb to it. Feeling blind, an entire sense cut off, had been disorientating. It had taken her months to adjust, but even now, she felt cut off. She missed it.
After giving him a long look, she left the room, saying nothing more. He didn’t follow, and she went down to her hammock. Maybe she should sleep for a while. She didn’t see Benn until his arms kept her from running into him.
“Everything okay? You’re usually a lot more observant than that,” he asked as she steadied herself. He was missing a cigarette; no wonder she hadn’t noticed him.
Nodding, she ran a hand through her hair. “Sorry, yeah. I just thought I’d catch some sleep and do the night watch tonight.”
He cocked his head at her, a strange expression on his face. Before she could ask if something was wrong, his lips met hers.
She stiffened as his hands grabbed her shoulders, holding her tight. He tasted of ash, tobacco, sake, and something else warm and sweet. His hands were rough, but burned through her shirt, as if to sear her skin.
His fingers tightened for a second, then he let go abruptly. In the dim light, his eyes gleamed. “I had to do that at least once,” he whispered. Then, before she could react, or even breathe, he was gone.
She staggered back a step and whipped around, but the door to outside closed with a snap that echoed down to her. Aria hesitated, bring a hand to her lips, but she couldn’t make sense of what just happened. Her skin still burned from where his hands touched, her shoulders aching from his grip.
Part of her begged to find him, ask him what that was about. Another part said to sleep and think it over.
But another part asked if he had heard what her and Shanks just talked about.
I had to do that at least once. That’s what he had said.
Did Benn…like her? But he had never treated her like more than a crewmate before. He spent the night with women enough that the crew teased him about it. Excluding Shanks and Hongo, she didn’t interact when Benn anymore than the rest of the crew.
But he’s always watching out for you, a little voice in the back of her head whispered. Since you came back, he’s always nearby.
That was true. She thought back, but couldn’t remember the last time he hadn’t been nearby. On watches, he joined her. In the mess, he either sat with her or was close by. When she was still being looked at by Hongo, he always sat with her even though she was fine with the ship's doctor now.
Aria took a deep breath, her chest almost aching. She hadn’t taken a breath since he let go of her, she realized. Almost stumbling, her mind reeling, she dropped herself in her hammock and stared at the ceiling. She wasn’t sure how long she stayed that way, but quickly closed her eyes when she heard people coming down the stairs. She had no desire to talk to anyone right now, not until she had thought through what had happened.
Sleep did not come easily for her.

Notes:

I had so much fun writing Luffy in this! Thinking of doing an AU - Canon Divergance series with him as the main character after this!

Chapter 13: He's...What?

Summary:

Benn has been avoiding Aria for months and it's starting to get to her. But it's Hongo's observance that guesses the problem and Aria's not sure how to react.

Aria grunted, hooking one foot around the wheel. Water streamed down her face, her braid a dead weight down her back. She struggled to maintain her balance on the slippery deck. Lightning flashed. Thunder boomed, shaking her to her bones.
Waves crashed against the ship, battering the sides and spilling saltwater over the deck. Her clothes clung to her skin, her cloak soaked enough she would be surprised if it got dry ever again.
Snake shouted something, but she didn’t catch it. A second later, he turned the wheel just as a wave hit the ship. Aria barely kept her footing and gritted her teeth, glancing over at the Navy ship they were almost hitting.
Where were they?
Shanks and Benn hadn’t explained why they wanted to raid this ship. Let alone in the middle of a storm. But no one questioned them, and now Aria was waiting for Benn to get back and take back over with Snake.
He had told them to keep the ship steady, and never let it get too far from the Navy’s. Both men were strong swimmers, but no one wanted them to risk doing that in a storm. Immediately afterwards, he followed Shanks over to the other ship and they disappeared.
Aria had tried to follow them with her haki, but it was madness. There were powerful people aboard the other ship, and while she could easily tease apart Shanks fire-and-salt spark and Benn’s ash-and-iron, the others were strong enough that she had to pull it back before she got sick and overwhelmed.
Gunshots sounded, though thunder drowned them out briefly, and Aria kept darting her gaze from the growing waves to the Navy ship. After what felt like an eternity, two dark shapes vaulted over the rails, water spraying as they landed. Shanks, looking unhurt but breathless, shouted, “Let’s get out of here!” He held something under his arm, but disappeared inside a second later.
Her muscles were screaming, knuckles white around the wheels pegs, legs shaking, by the time Benn reached the helm. He laid his hand on her arm briefly and jerked his head for her to go below. Aria hesitated for half a second. Not looking away, he squeezed her arm lightly, then jerked his head again. She nodded and fled inside.
She must’ve imagined the pained look in his eyes, but forced it from her mind as the ship rocked. She crouched against the wall, bracing herself, until the motion stopped, then stepped forward slowly. Her hand trailed on the wood as a precaution. Her legs shook and water dripping down her face kept making her blink.
Her arm burned from where Benn had touched her. She braced again, her chest tightening. It seared like before, a blaze the rain couldn’t touch. Thunder shook the wood under her; she couldn’t remember a storm being this bad before. A shiver ran down her spine as water trickled down the inside of her cloak, but she didn’t think it was from the rain.
A voice called her name, and she sensed it more than heard it. Looking up, she noticed Shanks was holding his cabin door open, motioning for her to join him.
Bracing herself against the wall as the ship rocked terribly, she met Shanks in the doorway and he pulled her to him. Rainwater dripping from his clothes into a puddle on the floor, and his hat looked like dark wheat. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of a red streak on his forehead, only to sigh in relief as she realized it was just his rain-soaked hair.
She sighed softly but hugged him back. “I’m glad you’re okay.” His clothes hung heavily from him, though she knew hers were too. Her head ached from the weight of her hair.
“Better than Benn, that’s for sure,” he chuckled. “The idiot got shot coming back, but I saw him take your spot at the helm.”
She froze, her breath catching. Benn had been hurt? He hadn’t acted off when he took over for her.
Shanks frowned and stepped back, removing his cloak. “It was a graze. I saw it myself. Otherwise you’d still be up there.”
Relaxing, she noticed the box on his desk. “Is that what you risked your necks for?” It was small and she couldn’t imagine what it held. If it were treasure, it wouldn’t be a lot.
Shanks nodded but his eyes turned hard. “It’s a special devil fruit I heard about a few years ago. I’ve been keeping tabs on it and when I heard it would pass through here, I didn’t want to miss it.” He grabbed a couple of towels and handed one to Aria before using his own to dry his hair.
Aria just wrapped it around her hair, knowing that was where the worst of the rain was collected. “Which one?”
Sinking into his chair, he didn’t look at her. “Gum gum fruit. Turns your body to rubber.” He didn’t elaborate more, however.
Aria almost asked about it, but his expression made her rethink that.
Shanks watched as she removed her cloak, laying it across the second chair. “Was the ship okay while we fetched it?” He sounded exhausted, though he hid it well. Setting the hat on his dresser, he laid the towel over it.
“We lost a barrel that wasn’t secure enough, and someone fell from the rigging, but that’s it. Hongo’s looking at him now,” she reported. “The storm should only last a couple more hours, if we’re lucky. Oh, and Roux managed to make something hot without burning the kitchen down.” One of the younger crewmembers had risked the storm to let her and Snake know shortly before Shanks returned.
He brightened at that. “I’m impressed. I didn’t think he’d risk getting a fire started, but I’m glad. The crew in the mess?”
“Either there or in the quarters,” she said, bracing herself against the wall as the ship rocked again.
They turned as a thud sounded, but it was just Benn joining them. “Snake has our course set. The Navy ship won’t catch us.” He didn’t look at Aria; her heart thudded painfully. “I’ll send out replacements for the ones on deck in an hour.” Without another word, he turned and she saw a red line across his upper arm. Blood trickled down thinly, but then he was out the door.
She watched him disappear down the stairs and jumped as Shanks grabbed her hand. She couldn’t help but cast another look down the hall, but pulled her gaze back to Shanks.
“Did you two have a fight?” he asked, pulling her onto the bed as the ship leaned; one arm around her waist, he braced them against the wall. “I don’t think I’ve seen him say more than two words to you in months.” His brow furrowed and his voice lowered with concern.
She wasn’t surprised he had noticed.
Aria rubbed her hair with the towel as the ship leveled out. “I have no idea what’s going on. I don’t think I’ve done anything.” She knew what happened, but she wasn’t about to tell Shanks about Benn kissing her. The first mate had hardly even looked at her since then, and that was eight months ago! He gave her orders occasionally, told her the duties she had, but outside of that, he never spoke to her.
It stung more than she would’ve ever thought. And whenever she got close to him, she never missed the pained look in his eyes each time before he walked off.
“Want me to talk to him?” Shanks asked, helping her.
She forced back her groan. “No, it’s alright. Maybe he’s just been busy helping you plan this raid.” The last thing she wanted was Shanks confronting him. This was between her and Benn.
Shanks didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t protest. “Go get warm, alright?” The corner of his mouth twitched up. “Do you want to join me here tonight?”
Smiling ruefully, she stood. “No. I’m going to get some sleep below in case I’m needed on watch later.” Part of her admired how Shanks refused to give up.
Since the day Benn had kissed her, she’d kept a careful distance from Shanks while she tried to figure things out. He’d noticed, asked about that a few times, but after a while he slowed down and only asked in moments like this. And it was never more than for her to join him in here at night, or for a kiss when they were alone.
Predicably, he stood and kissed her cheek. “Fine, but you can always change your mind.” The cheer in his voice sounded forced.
Ignoring the somber look in his eyes, Aria made her way down to the mess. Half the crew were already there, and the scent of hot chocolate filled the room. Grabbing a mug from Roux, she went and sat by Hongo.
One good thing about her year of recovery: she had no issues with Hongo now. She still couldn’t go into the surgery, but she hadn’t needed Benn to join her since the last time they spoke.
Not that she thought he would now.
Hongo looked up from his book as she sat down. “Glad to see you were able to help Snake at the helm.” He’d stayed in the surgery, as far as she knew, keeping his tools and medicines from breaking or falling. It wasn’t usually an issue, but she knew in storms he got worried.
“I hope it’s awhile before I have to do that again,” she remarked. “Keeping the ship from moving away like that was more difficult than I expected.”
He hummed in agreement and flipped a page. Glancing at it, she noticed it was about medical experimentation. Suppressing a shudder, she looked around the room.
Yasopp was in a group playing poker, Limejuice was talking with Gab, and Monster was asleep by the stove; he was tucked under the countertop-table where he wouldn’t get stepped on. Bonk must be asleep, she thought. Almost everyone had a drink and as she watched, Roux joined Limejuice and Gab with his own.
Her gaze stopped on Benn, sitting in the corner by himself. He didn’t have a drink, his rifle leaning against his side. When their eyes met, she gave him a tentative smile, but he got up and quickly left the mess. As he passed them, she noticed the tightness of his jaw and the bandage wrapped around his arm.
She didn’t know she’d made a sound of distress until Hongo spoke.
“Get in a fight?” he asked, not looking up from his book. Had he noticed the pained expression Benn just had? Or just guessed from her reaction?
“I have no idea, and Shanks asked me already,” she said a little wistfully, her mind on the look on Benn’s face still.
Hongo glanced up at that. “When was the last time Benn talked to you?”
Had he noticed that too? Who else had?
“Er, the week after we arrived in Foosha,” she admitted quietly, taking a drink. The warmth felt good after the rain outside. It was nothing like where Benn had placed his hand, but it was nice.
His brows rose. “That long ago?” While Aria knew Hongo was glad she no longer needed someone there when he had to treat her, he had once made a comment about how odd it was that Benn was never around anymore. But she hadn’t needed to go to Hongo very often in the last almost-year so it wasn’t a big deal.
“I think he’s mad at me or something,” she admitted before she could stop herself.
Hongo shook his head. “I wouldn’t say that…” When she stared at him, he shrugged. “I don’t think mad is the right word.” His voice caught a little and he didn’t look at her, flipping another page.
Aria took a drink; the warmth in her stomach deepened. He knew something. “Any idea what’s wrong then?”
His gaze flicked around for a second before he answered quietly, “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he’s jealous.”
Aria almost choked on her drink. “Of what?” Bewildered, her mind struggled to think of why Benn, the man good enough to be first mate, would be jealous of her?
He paused. “I’m not sure I should say,” he looked back at his book. “If I’m right, then it’s something you need to work out with him.”
Hongo definitely knew something.
“Me?” What could that mean? Her mind wandered back through anything she’d done, people she’d talked with, but nothing specific came to mind.
Hongo was quiet for a minute, then he shut his book with a sigh. “Aria, how have things been with you and Shanks?” His voice was low, just enough for her alone to hear.
Caught off guard by this question, her mind struggled to think. “What do you mean?”
He turned to her. “The entire crew knows Shanks likes you. He has for a long time.” Her eyes widened; she hadn’t known the crew noticed that much, though it made sense in hindsight. There were no secrets on ships. He watched her for a second, then added when she didn’t respond, “I’m starting to think he’s not the only one.” He gave her a meaningful look.
Aria shut her eyes and laid her head on the table with a groan as she realized what he meant. “That explains a few things,” she muttered. Benn was jealous of Shanks. Because Shanks had her. Even if it wasn’t like Benn thought, no one could ignore how much time she spent with the captain.
Hongo laughed quietly. “I noticed how Benn was with you a while ago, but it wasn’t until now that I’ve gotten an idea of what might be going on.”
She thought about if she should tell him about Benn kissing her, but couldn’t bring herself to. “What should I do then? I miss talking to him.”
Benn wasn’t quite the conversationalist as Shanks was, but her talks with him in the past were always more comfortable. Shanks was a showoff, always enticing her to join him in whatever he was doing. He was fun, and his cheerful attitude was infectious, but sometimes she preferred to relax. Not that Shanks couldn’t, but it wasn’t the same.
Benn used to sit with her when she cleaned her glaive, or helped her practice, or just stood with her on watches. They didn’t always talk. And when they did, it was usually about nothing important. But it felt different from when she talked with Shanks.
Until the day Benn kissed her, he was almost always with her. Now, they only saw each other for brief moments in the mess or on deck.
“You could try talking to him, but you’d have to catch him first,” Hongo suggested. “I saw him head to his hammock, and most people here have theirs around him.”
“I should try right now?” Aria felt a squeeze in her chest.
“It’s worth a shot.” The book opened. “I’ll make sure no one takes your drink.”
Aria was up and already in the crew’s quarters before she realized she was about to take his advice. Benn was stretched out in his hammock near the stairs; the surrounding others were empty. She could see several people asleep in their hammocks further down the room, but none were close enough to hear them if they talked now.
Benn was looking at the ceiling, but even from here he looked too tense. No cigarette, his rifle laying in its spot beneath him, one arm across his chest and the other under his head. She could see his fist were clenched, his ankles crossed.
Aria took a step forward, but before she could say anything, he had rolled over, his back to her. Her eyes watered a second later, but she didn’t move. If Hongo was right, and she knew she couldn’t deny it now, then Benn liked her more than he’d ever let on. But she was already dealing with whatever was going on between her and Shanks.
Did she really want to wake Benn and ask him about that kiss? And what if he admitted he liked her? She had no desire to be caught between two men, especially when she wasn’t sure how to feel about one.
She was still mulling it over when Shanks appeared. “Aria?”
She turned as he came over.
His eyes widened. Grabbing her arm, he led her to the side where they wouldn’t be seen by anyone walking through. “What’s wrong?” His thumb brushed across her cheek, and she saw it glisten as he pulled away. She hadn’t known she was crying. “What happened?”
She resisted glancing at Benn. “Nothing. I’m fine.”
Shanks’ eyes flashed. “No, you’re not.” His eyes darted over his shoulder and he sighed. “Come on.” Grabbing her hand, he led her back up the stairs and to his cabin. “Sit.”
She sat on the corner of the bed as he closed the door.
“Something happened with Benn, but you aren’t telling me.” Not an accusation, just concerned. “I want you up here with me for tonight, okay?” His eyes flashed as lightning lit the room, his expression unreadable.
Aria tried to protest, but just looked down at his glare, staring at her lap.
Shanks sat down next to her. “Aria, I came down there and you were crying. I haven’t seen you cry…well…ever. Not even when we rescued you. If you won’t tell me what happened, I won’t bug you about it. But I’m not going to stand by and watch you be hurt. And I don’t think you want the others seeing you cry either.”
She suddenly leaned forward, her face burying itself in his chest. His arms came up to cradle her, and she cried, her shoulders shaking violently, each breath a struggle amidst her sobs.
There was a hum of haki around them and she felt his fist clench into the soaked fabric of her own cloak. He pulled her tighter to him and she felt his lips on her crown. “Aria, can you please tell me what happened?”
She shook her head but didn’t answer.
He let out an irritated sigh, but then let go. “Get out of these wet clothes and sleep, alright? I don’t want you getting sick, or us sleeping in a wet bed.” He gave her a weak smile, but it faded when she didn’t return it.
When she was curled under a blanket, he sat with her for a moment. “I won’t talk to him. Yet. But if this causes problems, I will literally lock you both in here until you talk.” He tried to make his voice light, but failed.
Aria nodded once.
Shanks rubbed a thumb over the scar on her brow. “I don’t want bad blood on this ship, Aria. I especially don’t want it between my two favorite people.” After another minute, he left, closing the door behind him.
Aria closed her eyes. Shanks’ words were heavy on her mind, but she didn’t know what to do. She wanted to talk to Benn, understand what was going on. But if he never gave her the opportunity, what could she do?

Notes:

I love Shanks, but I have a huge soft spot for Benn. And he's always makes think of someone who can't voice what he wants easily.

Chapter 14: Conflicted

Summary:

Shanks has lost his arm and Aria's concerned. Of course she is. But is now the best time for Hongo to ask her about Benn?

Hongo held out his hand. “Hand me the suture kit and hold him steady.”
Aria didn’t hesitate. Handing the kit to Hongo, she sat to the side and held Shanks’ hand. Aria's eyes narrowed and her lips pressed into a thin line, her knuckles turning white as Shanks' grip tightened around her hand as Hongo sewed up the remaining flesh of his arm. Shanks’ hand was rough in hers, but she could still smell the saltwater even after she had wiped it away.
Shanks' teeth clenched, a low, guttural groan slipping out as he tried to pull away.
Aria's grip tightened, her other hand gently smoothing Shanks’ hair. “Hongo will be done soon,” she murmured, her voice steady despite the ragged breaths tearing from Shanks' throat with every stitch.
Hongo's hands moved with practiced speed, but Aria knew their efforts were limited. The severed arm, though cleanly torn, offered little to work with—just raw muscle, shredded skin, and a torrent of blood.
Shanks let out a sigh, and his grip slackened as Hongo stepped back. Within seconds, he was out; it was a miracle he had woken up when they brought him in and not passed out until now.
The doctor sighed and set the used tools in a little container filled with a cleaning solution he made. “The only thing left is to watch for infection.” A harsh, astringent smell came from the liquid.
Aria's shoulders sagged with relief. “How likely is that to happen?”
“Hard to say,” Hongo replied, rubbing his temple. “The seawater cleaned it pretty well, and we caught him before he landed on the beach, but there wasn’t a lot of skin left. If he gets a fever, we’ll know he has an infection.”
Aria moved her thumb in slow circles on Shanks’ hand. “I still can’t believe he managed to swim back like that.”
Hongo gave a wry snort. “I’m more shocked he swam all the way out there, then swam back with one arm missing, Anchor clinging to him and crying the whole time.”
Poor Luffy. Aria knew he had to have been traumatized by this. Makino and Yasopp had taken him to the bar immediately, trying to keep him from seeing Shanks collapse. The terrified look on the child's face would stay with Aria forever.
She was especially glad he didn’t see her, Hongo, and Benn carry an unconscious Shanks to the ship to be treated.
Shanks stirred, his voice a rough whisper. “Hongo? Aria?” His eyelids fluttered, struggling to focus.
“Want some pain medicine?” Hongo offered immediately.
Shanks managed a weak chuckle. “Rather have some whiskey.”
Aria resisted rolling her eyes, a smile tugging at her lips. “Why is whiskey always the first thing you ask for when you wake up?” she teased lightly.
Shanks gave a pained huff. “Better than water.”
Hongo turned briefly, then held out a couple of small, white pills and a glass of water. “No alcohol yet, captain.”
Shanks let out a whine, but let Aria help him sit up as he took the medicine. When he handed the glass back, he leaned against her. “How’s Luffy?”
“He’s fine,” Aria said. “Makino and Yasopp have him at the bar for now. He wasn’t hurt.” Shanks relaxed against her. “Benn’s outside with the rest of the crew. They’ll keep Luffy busy if he comes back soon.”
His eyes darted to the door. “I’m glad he’s okay.” His head dropped and his eyes closed for several seconds before Aria nudged him awake.
She helped him lie back down. “Sleep, alright?”
Hongo crossed his arms, his expression softening. “She’s right. You need to sleep. You lost a lot of blood.”
Shanks gripped her hand again, though not as roughly as before, his eyes already closing again. “Can you stay?” he asked her.
Aria hesitated, catching Hongo's nod before adjusting her position next to Shanks. “For a while. At least until Hongo kicks me out.” She smiled at that, and Shanks responded with a small grin of his own before he went limp.
Aria watched him as Hongo moved around the surgery, cleaning up and putting things back. The smell of alcohol grew stronger as he cleaned something. Her entire body tensed each time she heard the metallic clink of tools, the sound sending shivers down her spine. She didn’t dare look up until Hongo finished, her heart in her throat.
She made herself focus on the rough feeling of Shanks’ hand in hers, his breathing, even glancing at the bandage that already had a touch of red leaking through.
Shanks’ regular, even breaths told her he was asleep after a few minutes.
“I might need your help keeping him from drinking for a while,” Hongo said after a while.
Aria made a face at that. “You might have to keep all of it off the ship then. You know if there’s any around, he’ll find it. And locking him in his cabin wouldn’t work.”
“You have a point there,” Hongo said, sitting at the small desk in the corner.
Aria kept rubbing Shanks’ hand with her thumb until he completely relaxed. When she knew he wouldn’t wake, she quietly slipped off the bed and flexed her hand a few times.
“I’m surprised you came in here.” Hongo didn’t look up from the notebook he was writing in. “It was one thing to help us get him in here, but you stayed.”
Aria sat against the wall, not wanting to leave just yet. “I thought you might need some help.” True. And while she wasn’t any kind of healer, she knew most of the tools he used. Assisting him for something like this made it easy to ignore where she was. Not to mention she still couldn’t taste anything, which had always made things worse.
Closing her eyes, she dozed for a few minutes when Hongo tapped her arm. Looking up, she quickly stood and followed him to the other side of the room.
“Have you talked to Benn yet?” he asked, darting his eyes to Shanks. The captain was still asleep.
“No,” she said. “I tried to when we got back, but then Luffy ate the fruit and we never had the chance.”
Hongo nodded in understanding. “I just ask because Shanks asked me about it you two the other day.”
Aria froze, her chest tightening.
“He just asked if I knew what happened between you two, that’s all,” he explained. Aria bit her lip and his eyes narrowed. “Aria, I won’t tell him, but can you please explain what happened? Maybe I can help.”
Aria looked over at Shanks, making sure he was asleep, then turned back to Hongo. Maybe he could give her some advice. “The last day he spoke to me, Benn kissed me.”
Hongo blinked, then leaned back and exhaled sharply. “That explains a lot then.”
“He also said ‘I had to do that at least once’,” she finished.
Hongo crossed his arms. “I was right then.”
Aria grabbed the newest tattoo on her arm; the feather sat where Benn had touched her during the storm. It was still red, only finished a day ago. “He walked off before I could say anything, and that’s when he stopped speaking to me.”
Hongo closed his eyes for a few minutes and Aria waited, sensing he had something to say. When he opened his eyes, her grip tightened over the feather. “Just about everyone on the crew believes you are with Shanks.”
She knew that by now. She spent more time with him in the last two months than before and even stayed in his cabin at night occasionally. They never did anything but sleep, but still. No one ever commented on it, except for Yasopp teasing her a few times when they stood on watch together.
He only stopped when Benn glared at him.
“Benn especially.” Hongo’s expression darkened. “But he’s the first mate. If any of the rest of us were interested in you that way, we would’ve asked you by this point. But Benn’s devoted to Shanks and I know he, like most of us, wants the captain happy.”
Aria tilted her head. “But what about himself? He could’ve just said something.” She wished he would. Would he really put his captain before himself? At least for something so personal? Her nails dug into her arm; she could feel little crescents forming.
Hongo shrugged, glancing at Shanks again. “It’s not that easy for him. All of us love the captain, but Benn’s devotion is enough that I have seen him almost give his life for Shanks before. Several times. And it’s obvious how much Shanks care for you, so Benn might believe that by admitting he likes you, there’s a chance it could end with the captain being heartbroken if you would return Benn’s feelings.”
Aria couldn’t help but look at Shanks. She knew he wanted her, more than just occasionally sharing a bed for sleep. He had been clear about that for years. But would he be heartbroken if she didn’t return his affection? She wasn’t sure.
“Benn puts Shanks above himself,” Hongo said, confirming her thoughts. “Unless you outright say something, I don’t believe he’ll ever say anything himself. He’s been like that since I joined a couple of years before you.”
Aria thought about this.
Shanks obviously loved her. She knew he did. Yes, he still took people to bed when they were in port, but he never acted with them the way he did with Aria. With them, he was courteous as always, but made it obvious he was just looking for something physical. With Aria, it went beyond that.
But Aria still hadn’t worked out her feelings about the red-haired man. Love had always been foreign to her. In the labs, love was never mentioned. Even care was strange, except among the children and teens. She only knew it after the crew rescued her. Liking Shanks was one thing, with the flirting and teasing he did, but love was something else.
But Benn? She liked the dark-eyed man. When she first joined, he had been her first friend alongside Shanks and Yasopp. He spent time with her when he could, though his first mate duties sometimes kept him busy, up until she was taken away. After she was rescued, most of her care came from him and Shanks under the directions of Hongo, and after that Benn spent even more time around her. Until the kiss, that is.
She shook her head, her mind just getting more and more tangled, and played with the edge of her shirt. “What should I do?”
Hongo chuckled, leaning against the wall. “That’s up to you to figure out, Aria. I can heal bodies, but the hearts something I can’t help with.” He cocked his head. “Let me ask you this; do you like Shanks?”
“Yes.” She didn’t hesitate with the answer, though she slowly followed up with, “But not in the way he likes me…”
Hongo gave her a sympathetic look. “And Benn?”
She bit her lip, not sure how to respond. She hadn’t thought about this before, so she wasn’t sure what to think now.
Hongo set his hand on her shoulder. “You don’t have to answer it now. Just giving you something to think about.” He walked to his cabinets as Shanks stirred, a pained moan escaping his lips. “Go let the crew know he’s stable, and he isn’t to be bothered by anyone unless it’s necessary.” He paused. “Except for you. I might have you help me if I need it, provided you would be alright in here.”
Aria nodded and ducked out of the room. She hadn’t taken two steps when Benn entered the hall from outside. His blood-stained shirt had been changed, but there was a streak of dried red along his arm still. Smoke drifted up from his recently lit cigarette.
“Captain alright?” he asked.
She nodded. “Hongo said he’s stable, but he doesn’t want anyone bothering him unless it’s necessary.”
Benn gave a nod, but he stepped forward until he was less than an arm’s length away. “Aria…?” His expression was unreadable, but the pain in his eyes made them glimmer in the dim hall. The scent of tobacco drifted forward.
Aria’s heart raced as his hand reached up, hesitating briefly before he gently touched her face. An urge to lean into the touch almost overwhelmed her, but she resisted. His hand seared her skin, just like before.
His thumb brushed across her cheek carefully, leaving a trail of fire, but when he pulled back, it was red. “You may want to clean up. There’s blood on your face.” His gaze lingered on her for another moment, but then his jaw clenched and he abruptly turned and left.
Her heart thudded painfully in her chest. He had wanted to say something more. She knew it. But he didn’t. Her observation told her the rest of the crew were waiting outside, so she couldn’t follow him and ask.
Aria chewed her lip, torn between confronting Benn immediately, dragging him where they could talk in private, or let it drop for now. Eventually, she just went to fetch clean clothes and let her mind linger on the look he gave her. Washing the blood from her face, and the few spots along her arm, her mind raced.
She had to talk to him. Almost her entire being pulled at her to go to him. But she also needed to think about what Hongo said. She couldn’t deny there was something between her and Shanks, but she also couldn’t ignore her reactions whenever Benn interacted with her now.
And after Hongo’s question, “And Benn?”, and after the moment in the hall, she was less sure of things than before.

Chapter 15: Kaden

Summary:

Her past has shown itself in the form of a hated scientist and Aria has no choice but to flee. But she's surprised when Benn comes to her rescue.

The town was quiet, with rain dripping gently from eaves and through gutters. Aria tipped her hood up, then spotting the tavern ahead, she hurried forward. Her boots splashed through puddles, soaking the end of her cloak. The rain clouds hid the twilight sky.
Stepping inside the already filled tavern, she flipped her hood back and gazed around. The rest of the crew were already settled into their various spots. Her jaw tightened as she weaved through the crowd, a chill shaking her to the core. Rain thrummed on the roof softly, the sound muted, and tapped sharply on the windows.
She spotted an empty table in the back corner and hurried over, her cloak dripping a trail of water behind her. She stopped at the bar briefly to grab a warm spiced ale, then sat down and sipped it slowly, her eyes closed.
Laughter echoed around the room, glasses clinked, and the thud of heavy mugs on tables. Stretching out her observation haki, she relaxed as she felt most of the crew were here already. There were some back on the ship, keeping an eye on it, and a few had gone upstairs to the rooms, but most were in the main room.
Leaning back as the warmth from her drink finally spread through her limbs, Aria ran a hand through her hair. The beads clacked together, the braids tight and hanging down in a sodden wave. Her main braid was aching, as it had for weeks, but she couldn’t have Hongo look at it.
A drunken laugh from the bar caught her attention and she looked over to see Shanks with two women hanging around him. An arm around his shoulders, another around his waist, a hand on his lap. Aria turned away before she saw anymore. Yet, from the corner of her, she missed nothing.
She hadn’t been close to him in two years now. Not like she would’ve hung on him like the blonde currently showing off her body subtly was, or giggled at his jokes like the brunette did, but she missed his closeness. Since losing his arm, he had put a large stretch of distance between them and never explained why.
Aria breathed out slowly and took a long drink. The ale burned down her throat, but she didn’t care.
“Bad night?” someone asked.
“None of your business,” she retorted sourly. Her bottle clunked against the table sharply.
A low chuckle sounded, sending shivers down her spine. “Sorry. Just couldn’t help but notice the unhappy look on your face.”
Sensing something was wrong, she turned, but a hand grabbed her braid tightly. She froze; they were gripping near the base. “What do you want?” Clenching a fist around her drink, she inhaled slowly. But whoever was grabbing her was bold.
And strangely aware of where to grab that would cause the most pain. An icy shiver snaked down her spine, her muscles tensing.
“Oh nothing. Just came to see the infamous ‘N13’, miraculously returned to the Red-Haired Pirates,” a cloaked figure blocked her view of the bar, their hand still on her braid. The cloak hid his face well, showed nothing of his outfit but shiny black boots.
Aria forced herself to breathe out slowly. “Who said I ever left?”
The grip tightened; she bit back a groan of pain. “I know the Navy caught you. You were sent to the Guardian Prison. But then Red-Hair attacked the base five years later and everyone registered as alive disappeared, with no bodies in the ruins except for Marines. A year later, you’re spotted on deck during a storm as he raided a Navy ship.”
Aria pulled back her haki but readied herself to flash it out towards someone in the crew. Not Shanks; he was already drunk enough that he would be a hinderance to himself right now. Yasopp might notice, or Limejuice.
She had half a mind to alert Benn, but she wasn’t sure if that was a good idea.
“Careful. If you call for help, I’ll make sure Red-Hair doesn’t leave the bar,” the stranger promised darkly. “You’re going to get up and leave with me, understand?”
“And why would I do that?” Aria hissed softly, one hand tightening around her dagger's hilt under her cloak.
They jerked her braid and she had to bite her tongue to keep from gasping. “I think you’ll find you have little choice.”
There was a loud click and the stranger froze. The tavern went silent as Benn raised his rifle to the stranger's head. “You have no choice but to leave her alone.” Aria hadn’t seen him move, hadn’t even known he was nearby.
A rumbling undercurrent could be felt as the rest of the Red-Haired Pirates stood. Shanks stepped up to Benn’s side, his eyes dark. “You’re outnumbered here. Let her go.” His hand rested lightly on his sword.
Aria hissed in pain as the stranger forced her up by her braid and laid a knife under the base, forcing her between everyone and themselves. “I’m afraid you misunderstand something here. She belongs to me.”
No.
Shanks’ lip curled into the beginnings of a snarl. Benn’s fingers turned white around his gun. Eyes flashed around the room.
It couldn’t be.
The stranger pulled their hood down, and her heart froze in her chest. Ice shot through her veins. Air stilled in her lungs.
It was.
The hood fell back, revealing short dark blue hair and pale brown eyes glinting with a familiar sardonic gleam. She hissed under her breath, Kaden’s grim smile twisting her stomach into knots.
Shanks narrowed his eyes. “She doesn’t belong to anyone.” Haki sparked out but Kaden’s grip tightened.
Aria’s heart thudded in her ears, her nails digging into her palms.
“You’ll find she does, despite having covered up her mark,” Kaden said indolently. “After I heard about her escape, I tried to track her down. It wasn’t until her Wanted poster I realized she had turned pirate with a Yonko.”
Aria bit her tongue as he jerked again on her braid, feeling the knifes sharp edge against her tether.
“But then she got caught by the Navy, treated as a pirate, and I never knew where she was kept until your raid on the Guardian Prison.” Kaden’s words lowered to a snarl. “She was meant to be returned long before that.”
More clicks sounded as others raised their guns, all pointing at Kaden’s face.
He smirked. “Do that, and I’ll cut her now and everyone loses.”
Aria’s eyes widened.
Benn’s gaze flicked from her eyes to the knife under her braid, then to Kaden. “You’d risk your life to recapture an escaped slave, even if it means her dying with you?”
Shanks watched silently, but she saw the fury in his eyes. If it weren’t for the fact there were innocents close by, and she might be killed, he would’ve already used his haki against Kaden. She pleaded with him silently, meeting his gaze, to not react.
Kaden cocked his head. “She’s property of the World Government. Either she comes back with me, or she dies. I’d prefer to bring her back home,” Aria closed her eyes at this, “But I’m fine with losing her if I have no choice.”
Silence.
“Stand down,” Shanks ordered after a short while. Growls echoed as guns were holstered and swords sheathed.
“Good man. But keep in mind, if I find you following us, I’ll tie her to an anchor and toss it overboard.” Kaden’s grip tightened and she let out an involuntary whimper. He shoved her forward, and she moved quickly to avoid stumbling.
Keeping her eyes closed, she let him lead her outside.
The rain had lessened to a light drizzle, trickling down the inside of her cloak. No one was on the street. Aria walked as slowly as she could, but when the knife pressed into her tether, she had no choice but to speed up a little. Puddles sparkled under the nearly full moon, its light breaking through patches in the cloud.
“I must say, I didn’t expect you to be alive,” Kaden said after a while. “I thought you had been discarded along with the others. Imagine my surprise when your face showed up on a Wanted poster, alongside those of a known pirate crew.”
Aria’s jaw hurt as she fought to keep it shut. Her braid ached under his grip and she felt her eyes watering from the pain.
A gun went off from the side, but she didn’t jump. Instead, she pitched herself forward, jerking herself free of Kaden’s grasp as he ducked.
“Run!” someone yelled.
She bolted for the docks, but a wall of black-suited men blocked her way. She turned, her feet skidding in the mud. One knee hit the ground, but she pushed herself forward, almost stumbling, and ran for the trees she could see behind the town.
Dodging between buildings, she emerged into a narrow meadow, a buffer between the town and the forest. The rain eased off into a fine mist; the moonlight grew brighter as clouds cleared.
Rapid footsteps behind her forced her into moving, but when she entered the trees, she made a mad dash for the darker parts of the forest. Cursing herself for the shiny beads adorning her hair, she flipped her hood up but immediately tripped. Her knee hit a rock and she gasped in pain. She scrambled to her feet, but almost immediately hit a low branch. She fell back and wanted to curse out loud.
She could feel wet patches in her clothes that were warmer than the rain, as well as the cold mud that clung to her pants. Her cloak was sodden, the fabric already soaked with rainwater but now had mud along the bottom hem and she saw a branch had ripped through, snagging it to a bush.
There were shouts behind her, bouncing off the trees. Panting, she thought quickly. She could hear the ocean lapping along the shore, but that was too far and the meadow was too open. Dashing through the forest at night was dangerous, especially if she stuck to the dark sections. Or she could sit here. But if she stayed here, she would be caught.
That could not happen!
There was no choice. She ripped off her cloak and ran deeper into the forest. She fared little better as she reached the darkness, but she managed to keep running without tripping. Branches clawed at her clothes, the muddy ground sucking at her boots with each desperate step. Her breath came in ragged gasps.
Glancing behind her, she saw no one and turned just before she collided with a stone wall. She hit it full-speed and felt a sharp, staggering agony across her face as she hit, then fell back. She bit back a cry of pain as she landed on her tailbone.
But she couldn’t hold back a groan as she held her nose, feeling it was definitely broken. Looking up, she saw the crumbling ruins of a house. It was old, probably been here a few decades, but she vaulted over the low river stone-edged shape of a window without hesitation as she heard shouts.
Panting heavily, her heartbeat throbbing painfully in her face, she sank against the wall. Warm blood dripped down her chin, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
“Check over here!” A deep voice boomed from the forest and she groaned as she pulled back her haki, trying to keep herself from being found. Her braid throbbed, an extremely rare occurrence, and she saw spots dance at the edges of her vision.
Twigs snapped, branches fell, footsteps crunched through the dark woods. She planted her other hand over her mouth, trying to muffle the sound of her breathing. Her mind scrambled.
Who had shot at Kaden? Told her to run? Where was the crew? She hadn’t heard any of them leave the tavern.
Footsteps got closer.
She froze against the wall, straining to listen.
They were too close.
Wildly glancing around the inside of the ruined house, she spotted a curved shape partially hidden under a blanket. Using her foot, she slowly and quietly pulled the partially rotted fabric off the shortbow.
Not something she was familiar with, but it would have to do.
Her glaive was on the ship, and she had dropped her dagger in the forest. Looking around quickly, the steps getting closer, she spotted the bottom of a quiver behind a stone leaning against the wall.
As she pulled it free, a burst of joy threatened to escape her lips upon seeing ten arrows tucked inside.
Trying to recall the last time she had seen a bow used, she nocked an arrow and pulled back experimentally. The bow was old, the wood creaking terribly, but the string was good enough for now. As long as she didn’t pull back too far or overuse it, it should let her escape and make a run for the sea.
Someone stopped outside the window and she didn’t hesitate.
Pulling back, she flashed out her haki and the arrow went through his eye neatly. She pulled back her haki immediately as someone’s signature flared nearby. Ducking under the ledge, she panted as quietly as she could and nocked another arrow.
She refused to let them take her back.
More footsteps, then someone stepped into the window opening. She tried to flatten herself against the wall. Blood roared in her ears, heart beating a bruise inside her ribs.
They jumped down and she let the arrow fly, but Benn whirled around and knocked her hand down with the end of his rifle. The arrow quivered between his feet and she went limp with relief.
Her heart thumped loudly in her chest, and she struggled to catch her breath. No wonder she hadn’t heard the rest of the crew; Benn alone was enough to find her. But with her haki suppressed, she couldn’t detect him.
Benn crouched to the side of the window. “Who was that?”
Aria stretched out her haki, but there was no one else near. Several signatures were moving between them and the sea, and more around the town, but they were safe for the moment. “His name’s Kaden.”
Benn watched her silently.
“He was the scientist who…” she closed her eyes, unable to finish.
“Aria…he threatened to kill you, but he had a hand to your braid,” Benn said softly. He reached forward and gentle grabbed the end of her braid where it lay at her feet.
Aria tried to swallow, but her mouth was suddenly dry. No one on the crew knew the truth of her braid. Her heart in her throat, she watched Benn carefully study it for a few seconds.
His eyes flashed as he looked at her again. “You come from Punk Hazard. That means you’re an experiment.” He said the words slowly, his eyes boring into her. It was silent for several heartbeats. “If your braid is cut, will that kill you?”
She couldn’t meet his gaze, choosing to look at the ground. “Not…not directly.” It would just cause immense pain, delirium, and make her wish for death enough she might just fling herself into the sea to make it stop. She’s seen it happen before.
They had killed the kid before he got worse, thankfully. That was shortly before she left.
Benn said nothing, just let her go.
Aria stretched out her haki. “There’s a route clear to the docks, but we might have to swim under them to avoid getting caught.”
He nodded and followed her as she leaped back over the window ledge. She clutched the bow in her hand, with the quiver slung around her side, and didn't hesitate as they ran.
Moving through the quiet forest, they met no one. Aria froze as men ran down the dock, all but invisible in black suits. Benn was a step behind her, but waited patiently until she led them to the water.
It was freezing, and swimming with the bow was difficult, but Aria kept up with him easily. Fear drove her on and she knew that the second she was alone, it would come crashing down on her. But she couldn’t let that happen yet.
Shanks was waiting on the dock as they pulled themselves up. “Good.” Once aboard, he gave the quiet order to push away from the docks. Aria didn’t argue when he sent her and Benn below to change into something dry. Afterwards, they were to meet him in his cabin.
Dashing for the door, Aria noted that the entire crew was ducked down behind the rails, guns out. Yasopp and Arthur stood in the crow’s nest, their guns raised. A spark of affection warmed her chest briefly.
Below, the ship creaked softly, the sound echoing gently. The sound helped sooth her fear. She placed her bow and arrows below her hammock before retrieving a thick black shirt and pants.
She felt Benn’s eyes on her as she changed; she never changed in front of others, not even Shanks now, but they were alone and the crew’s quarters were dim. And he was on the far side of the room.
Footsteps sounded behind her as she tugged her shirt down and she looked to see Benn approaching.
“Hongo’s in the surgery. Stop and have him bandage that before we speak to Shanks,” he said. His eyes lingered on her side.
She knew he had seen the tattoo there, something no one knew she had yet. A crow, its wings spread wide as if in flight, but with music notes tipping each feather. She had it modeled after the bird on her neck.
It wasn’t the only new one, but it was in a spot that no one would see unless she took her shirt off or wore something that just covered her chest.
“Aria…” he started.
“Benn, don’t.” The words came out harsh and she closed her eyes. When he spoke like that, he never said what he meant. And tonight, she could not handle that. Not after earlier. “Every time you try to speak to me, you always hide something. You never say what you really want to say.”
He said nothing, but she felt his gaze on her.
“Either tell me, or don’t,” she said, snapping her eyes open and glaring at him.
He looked away, a hand on his neck.
Aria covered her face with one hand and leaned back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap.”
Benn stepped forward and pulled her close, surprising her. The last time he had gotten this close was when he carried her out of the prison.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she gently leaned against his chest, the familiar scent of tobacco and ash soothing her frayed nerves. She missed this.
His hand trailed down her braid lightly. “It’s understandable after earlier.” A hand curled into her hair briefly and his other hand pressed against the small of her back, sending a warm shiver up her spine. Then he released her and left for the captain's cabin without another word.
Aria watched him, but after another second, pain shooting through her face jolted her into movement. He was right. She needed to have Hongo look at this.
She would try to figure out Benn’s embrace later.
More importantly, for the moment, she had to figure out how to deal with Kaden. He knew which crew she was with. He knew she had been imprisoned. And if she wasn’t careful, he would find her again.
And she didn’t think he would hesitate to kill her next time.

Chapter 16: Unspoken Wounds

Summary:

Aria finally admits a little of her past to Shanks, after he asks, and finally talks to Benn.

Shanks was waiting for her, sitting at his table. Benn leaned against the wall behind him, his eyes closed and arms crossed.
Aria stepped inside and shut the door. “Thanks for sending Benn after me.” Her nose was bandaged, a stiff fabric that was supposed to keep it from moving.
Shanks gave her a curt nod. “I knew he was the better choice.”
Aria blinked at the odd wording.
“But who was that?” Shanks asked, gesturing for her to sit.
Sitting on the corner of his bed, she explained, “Kaden was the one who ran the experiments. His mentor, or at least his boss, was Vegapunk.”
Shanks’ eyes went wide with disbelief. “I didn’t think Vegapunk would do experiments on live humans.”
“He didn’t know,” Aria stated flatly. “But Kaden was the one who decided what experiment was performed on which kid-”
Shanks shot up, the fury distorting his features. “There were more?!” His fist shook against his side.
Benn hadn’t moved, but his eyes met hers. Rage simmered in their depths.
Aria nodded. “There were twenty kids in my group,” she explained. “All of us…” She shut her eyes tightly, fighting against the flood of dark memories. The experiments had left scars deeper than any wound, and even now, she couldn’t bring herself to speak of them.
“Aria, you don’t have to tell us what they did to you,” Benn said quietly. She opened her eyes and saw him watching her. His eyes darted to Shanks, who had sat back down, but went back to her.
Shanks tapped a finger on the table. “He’s right. There’s no need for you to relive those memories.” He stared at her for a minute before continuing. “It makes sense Kaden would recognize you. You don’t exactly blend in, even among pirates.”
From anyone else, she would’ve quickly taken offense. But she knew what he meant. Her hair was almost as distinctive as his.
Benn shifted his gaze to Shanks, and he looked almost…expectant?
“How much of a threat is he to you?” Shanks asked.
“I’d say a big one, considering he was very close to killing me,” Aria muttered. Shanks glared and she sighed. “He’s seen me alive, knows for a fact I’m with your crew, and he even knew where I was when I was imprisoned. He will not hesitate to track me down.” And it sounded like he was already tracking her anyway.
Shanks looked at something on his table; papers were scattered there. “One thing that could throw him off, at least for a while, is I’ve been thinking of getting a new ship. I already told Snake our course, and it’ll be a few months until we reach Water 7. We’ve never been there before, so he won’t think of tracking us there. And once we have the new ship, it’ll take the Navy a few weeks, if not longer, to recognize it as ours.”
A new ship? It made sense, considering they could no longer accept new members due to lack of space. And Roux worried a little more often about their food situation anymore. A new ship would mean more room for anything they needed.
“After that, we’re heading to the New World,” Shanks finished.
Benn raised an eyebrow at that. “Think the crew's ready?”
Aria’s breath froze in her chest and Benn shot her a concerned look.
Shanks gave him an absentminded nod, his thoughts clearly elsewhere. “Yes. I’m just concerned about getting to Fishman Island, but as long as the ships coated properly, we should be fine.”
The ship coated…? Aria closed her eyes briefly, her brow furrowed. “We would need to go to Sabaody for that, wouldn’t we?”
Shanks hummed, studying the papers.
Benn shot him another expectant look, but when Shanks didn’t turn around, he laid his hand on the captain's shoulder. “Why don’t I leave you to the designs then.”
Shanks frowned and looked at him. “Sorry. Why don’t you two head down to the mess?” He turned to Aria. “And I want you below deck for the next day, at least. I doubt Kaden would try to attack us directly, but I don’t want to take the chance of him seeing you on deck and giving him the idea.”
Aria nodded and stood. “That’s fine with me. I’ll help Roux in the kitchen tomorrow to keep me busy.” As Shanks turned back to the papers, she left, the door creaking shut behind her as Benn followed.
As she reached the bottom of the stairs, Benn grabbed her shoulder gently. “I’m a little surprised you didn’t stay with him.”
Aria almost let out a bitter laugh, but caught herself in time. “I haven’t stayed with Shanks for two years, Benn. And it was clear he was busy.” Had he not noticed?
He glanced up the stairs briefly. “Two years? Since he lost his arm?” Apparently not.
She nodded. How had he not noticed?
An unknown expression flickered across his face. “Did something happen? I remember you two being…”
“Close?” Aria finished. He nodded and she sighed, her shoulders slumped. “Not anymore. I don’t know what happened. At first I just thought it was because of his arm. That maybe sleeping with someone would hurt it while he healed. But he never invited me back, and rarely joined me wherever we were.”
Benn leaned back, his eyes wide.
Aria’s fingers traced the feather tattoo on her forearm, nails pressing into her skin until it stung. “It hurt at first, but I’m fine now.” Not entirely, but just like adjusting to her missing taste-sense, she grew used to it.
Benn’s silence stretched out, his gaze drifting to the hammocks that hung in the dim room. He looked back at her, his expression unreadable. “Can I ask you something?”
Aria’s heart raced, wary of where this was going. “Sure.”
“When you joined him at night…you just slept, didn’t you.” His voice was soft, more a statement than a question.
She nodded, feeling the weight of his words.
“And you never joined him when we stopped at port,” he continued, his eyes searching hers for confirmation.
Another nod.
“You weren’t…with him. Were you?” Benn asked slowly.
Aria shook her head. “No. I never wanted him like that, Benn.” The only good thing about Shanks giving her space: she had finally sorted through that. She loved him, but as her crewmate, as her captain, as family. But never as something more than a friend.
Benn looked as if he were about to say something, but footsteps down the stairs sounded just then.
They sprang apart, but Aria let out a quiet breath as Hongo appeared. He stopped when he saw them, but said nothing. As he quickly left towards the mess, Aria saw a grin tugging at the corner of his lips.
“I’m guessing seeing us talking means something?” Benn asked, looking after him. He must’ve noticed the grin.
Aria bit her lip, wondering if she should tell him anything about her conversation with Hongo after she helped him take care of Shanks.
Benn waited, watching her silently.
Screw it, she had to say something. Benn was finally talking to her. She had to take advantage of this. “I asked him for some advice. And he helped me figure a few things out.” She still didn’t know how she felt about Benn, but at least she realized how she felt about Shanks.
Benn arched an eyebrow. “Advice for what?”
“I told him about the night you kissed me, Benn.” She made herself say the words before she chickened out.
Pink spread across his cheeks.
“And how you hardly talked to me after that,” she said. When he didn’t say anything, she closed her eyes. “He said you might’ve been jealous.”
A low huff of laughter made her open her eyes.
Benn’s lips were curled into a crooked smile. “I hate that he reads people so easily.” He closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around her. “He was right, and I was ashamed. I thought you were with Shanks, so I had no right to want you. After I kissed you, I honestly kept waiting for him to get mad at me.”
Her cheeks burned and she carefully buried her face in his chest. “For the crew’s first mate, you are incredibly unobservant sometimes.” His chest rumbled from his low chuckle. “I’ve missed you…”
He froze, but then his arms tightened a heartbeat later. “I should’ve not been such an idiot. I knew how much it hurt, not talking to you, but I didn’t know you missed me.”
Aria turned her face up; partially to get pressure off her nose, but also to see him. “Of course I did. And yes, you should’ve not been such an idiot.”
A cough made them turn, Benn’s face growing red and Aria felt her own cheeks burning, to see Hongo leaning against the wall. “Unless you two want to explain…this,” he waved a hand at them, “I suggest you come join me in the mess. Some of them should be down before long.” He grinned as Benn dropped his arms and Aria grabbed Benn’s hand before he moved away.
Benn grumbled something unintelligible, but moved past Hongo before either him or Aria could move.
A small smile spread across Aria’s face. “Thanks Hongo. I just wished I could’ve said something sooner.”
He laughed. “I’m glad you finally took my advice. It was actually nice hearing you two talk finally.”
Her face burned again. “You were listening?!”
“Just a bit. I heard you tell him about us talking and was curious,” he chuckled, crossing his arms.
The door to the outside opened and Aria ducked past Hongo as he laughed again. Opting not to sit somewhere random, she deliberately chose to sit by Benn and briefly leaned against him.
He wrapped his arm around her briefly and whispered, “Interesting tattoo, by the way,” before releasing her. From the look on his face, he knew why there were music notes. As some of the crew members arrived and Roux began preparing the evening meal for the night shift, Aria didn’t move, and ignored the curious looks they got.
Though she wished Hongo wouldn't tease them.

Notes:

It took me ages to get the last scene right!

Chapter 17: New Weapon

Summary:

Waiting for their ship to be finished in the dockyard of Water Seven, Benn tells the crew about Aria's moment with her bow after escaping from Kaden.

Aria's head hit the table with a thud, her groan muffled by her arm. “I give up,” she muttered, her voice thick. The wood felt cool against her flushed skin, a slight comfort.
Benn chuckled, his hand resting lightly on her back. “No one can beat Shanks in a drinking competition, I thought you knew that? Though you lasted than everyone else this time.” He exhaled a stream of smoke, the scent of tobacco mingling with the tavern's many odors.
She groaned again and closed her eyes as the room spun. “I didn’t know he’d join!”
Shanks laughed, his voice booming over the clamor of the tavern. “She’s right, Benn. And she would’ve won had I not joined!” There was a thin line of pink crossing his face, but he was the only one not passed out or looking ill.
Laughter echoed from the crew still standing. Empty mugs were clutched in the fingers of those who were out, while some had fallen to the floor.
Aria sat up and leaned against Benn, blinking to clear her vision. “Next time I’m dropping out if you join,” she said with a lopsided grin. He laid his arm across the back of the seat, touching her shoulder discreetly. She hid her shiver as his fingertips brushed her skin.
Yasopp shook his head. “You know he will. If there’s a drinking competition going on, the Boss always joins.”
Monster startled them by leaping across the table, screeching as Bonk chased him. Benn quickly moved the remains of Aria’s drink before it spilled, downing the rest with a smirk. “You weren’t going to finish it anyway.”
Aria wanted to complain, but didn’t think her mind was coherent enough for that. Shanks let out an irritated grunt, and her gaze shifted to the sight of his drink staining his chest and shirt. She stifled a giggle at the look on his face.
A yell from Bonk told them that Monster had gone out of his reach.
Aria closed her eyes as the room spun slightly. Her tether throbbed painfully, but she tried to ignore that; it was getting worse lately but she didn’t want anyone looking at it. Around them, the sounds of chatter from the rest of the crew filled the large tavern. A few locals were playing against Limejuice in a game of pool, Aria could hear Hongo and someone singing drunkenly in the corner, and Gab was laughing at something some of the younger crewmembers were saying.
“Hey, are you guys the Red-Haired Pirates?” The door had opened, the scent of water-meat drifting inside. Aria didn’t recognize the speaker, but his accent said he was a local.
The crew went quiet, all eyes turning to the newcomer.
Shanks leaned back, his voice betraying a hint of curiosity. “Yes. Do you need something?”
“Yeah, I just found an old bow on a ship down in the scrapyard,” the stranger said.
Aria frowned and looked over. A bow…? The haze in her head thickened, but not enough to distract her.
A tall man with blue hair sauntered over, his broad shoulders casting a shadow over the table. He was even taller than Benn, with goggles perched on his forehead and a metallic nose that glinted in the tavern's dim light. Aria blinked, her curiosity piqued.
He held out the shortbow. “I was looking for some spare parts from the scrapyard and found this in a large room. I figured it was left behind accidentally and asked around. They said it was a pirate ship, and you guys are the only pirates in the city right now.”
Before Aria could react, Benn had the bow in his hands. “It’s Aria’s, thanks.” She reached for it, but Benn held it out of her grasp, shaking his head with a wry smile. “No, I’m not letting you have this until you’re sober. I saw what you did to a man with this without even looking!”
The blue-haired man laughed. “Wherever you got it, it’s a good bow. It’s old, but made of Adam’s Wood.”
There was a shout and suddenly Hongo appeared. “Adam’s Wood?” Despite the pink across his cheeks, it was clear he was sober enough to recognize that. “Aria, where did you find this again?”
Benn answered for her, earning a light shove from Aria. “She found it in the ruins of a house on the last island.”
The stranger shook his head. “Whoever made it must’ve died or something then. They wouldn’t have left it behind. This kind of wood is valuable, and difficult to work with. But it won’t break. And it’s well crafted.”
Shanks smiled. “I’m glad you returned it, then. Why don’t you join us for a while?”
The man shook his head. “Thanks for the offer, but I have materials to find!” With that, he left quickly and the chatter started back up.
Hongo sat next to Yasopp, looking at the bow. “I’d like to know who left that behind.”
Shanks gave Benn and Aria a grin. “Benn, you said something about Aria using this without even looking? I think we’d like to hear more about that.”
Aria resisted the urge to hide her face, glad for the drinking that hid her burning cheeks. “I just reacted, that’s all.”
Benn snorted, a look of disbelief on his face. “Really? That’s not what it looked like.”
“Was that when we drove off Kaden?” Snake asked, joining them. The crew sitting nearby turned to listen.
Benn nodded. “After I shot at him and she ran, I followed her. I couldn’t keep up though.” Aria wished she would’ve seen the aftermath, but all Benn and Shanks knew was Kaden was led away, bleeding but alive.
“I didn’t know that was you,” Aria said. “I thought it was one of the marines!”
Benn chuckled. “You had your haki signature hidden so well, it took me a little while to find you. I found your cloak stuck to a branch, then tried to figure out where you went, but you had already disappeared. When I used my observation, you were completely gone!”
Shanks’ face brightened. “You completely hid your haki signature?”
Aria shrugged. “It’s not the first time. I’ve been able to do that for years now.” She paused, thinking. “Probably since Rayleigh rescued me.”
It was a few minutes before anyone said anything, then everyone laughed.
Shanks leaned back in his seat, his arm slung behind it. “I want to know more about that later, and you have to teach us! But go on, Benn, how’d you figure out where she went?”
“I just kept heading into the forest,” he said with a shrug. “Took me ages to spot the remains of a village, but only one house had enough structure for her to hide without squeezing under the rubble.”
Aria blinked. “There was a village? I just saw the one house.”
“Because you ran into the backside of it,” he teased her lightly. “But I had to hide when a marine came up to the house. He was looking over an old window opening and suddenly he fell back, an arrow neatly pierced through his eye.”
Yasopp’s brows rose. “Impressive. And the marine never saw you, Aria?”
She shook her head. “No. I let out my haki enough to shoot him, but that was it. I sensed someone else nearby, though I had no idea who, and suppressed it before they could spot me.”
Benn took a drag on his cigarette. “Oh, I spotted you alright, and you nearly shot me for it.” The nearby crew laughed and Benn gave her a half-hearted glare before turning to Shanks. “If I hadn’t been quick enough, you might’ve been down a man. Maybe for good.”
Shanks arched an eyebrow. “She came that close to shooting you?” He was grinning, but Aria didn’t miss the concerned look in his eyes.
Aria fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. “He gave me a heart attack and I reacted!” she exclaimed almost defensively.
“It was a good instinct,” Benn said, nudging her lightly. “Just maybe a little more warning next time.”
More laughter.
Yasopp cocked his head. “Maybe you should learn how to use that then. We have a lot of people on the crew who use guns, but an arrow’s silent. And your observation haki is as good as Shanks’, which is good for ranged weapons like that.”
Aria had considered that, but hadn’t had a chance to try her hand at it yet. “I wouldn’t mind learning something new. But I’ll have to get more arrows.” She hadn’t even thought about bringing the bow at first; she had just wanted to have a weapon at the moment.
“How’d you leave that behind on the ship anyway?” Limejuice asked, joining them.
Aria’s brow furrowed, but she shook her head. “I honestly thought I had grabbed it.” Weird.
Shanks eyed the bow critically. “I’ve seen bows used by fighters before, not including those who just hunted. But I’ve never seen a shortbow used before.” He downed the rest of his drink; Aria internally sighed at the fact that he was hardly affected by it. “When the ships ready, we can set up a range for you to practice.”
“When will it be ready?” Hongo asked.
Shanks closed his eyes briefly. “Probably in the next day or so. They got a lot of people working on it, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it was done by tonight.” He looked around; most of the senior members of the crew were sitting at the booth now. “I should tell you now that there’s enough space that instead of hammocks, the senior members of the crew have their own cabins. Well, there’s two singular cabins and a large shared one, then a large space for the rest of the crew.”
Yasopp leaned forward, his elbows on the table. “So how are we going to divide them up?”
The corners of Shanks’ lips twitched up. “That’s between you all. My cabin is at the back of the ship like before, and Roux’s been at the shipyard all day helping get the kitchen set up, including a cabin there for him behind it.”
Limejuice tapped his fingers on the table. “It would make sense for Aria to have her own cabin honestly.”
Aria looked at him, as did the others. “Why? I might’ve been on the crew almost as long as some of you, but I’m not really one of the senior members.” All of them held some sort of command over the lower ranked members of the crew, including her.
Snake gave her a thoughtful look. “Limejuice is right. If for no other reason than the fact you’re still the only female aboard the ship. You should have some privacy.”
Aria felt touched by this, but she resisted the urge to tell them it didn’t matter to her. By this point, she was all but immune to seeing naked men.
“He’s right, Aria,” Benn murmured. “Plus, it will give you a good place besides the ship's armory to store your weapons.”
True, and she would like to keep her bow with her.
“The other one should go to Hongo,” Benn said. “That way, if someone gets hurt while the rest of us are sleeping, he doesn’t wake everyone.”
Aria agreed with this wholeheartedly, having been woken several times by the doctor falling out of his hammock and scrambling towards the surgery in emergencies.
“I might sleep in the surgery though,” Hongo said unexpectantly.
Aria listened to them chat about the new layout, but her head pounded and she couldn’t focus. It would be a miracle if she could wake up before noon the next day. Shanks occasionally made a comment, but after a while she leaned against Benn when the room spun to the point she felt almost nauseous.
Aria grimaced and leaned her head on Benn’s shoulder, vowing to lay off the booze for a while.
Benn's eyes were on her at that, concern etched in his brow. “I don’t think I’ve seen you drink this much in a while. Your head must be killing you.”
She nodded weakly.
Shanks chuckled. “Go rest, Aria. We’ll fetch you when the ship’s ready.”
Aria's steps were unsteady as she made her way to her rented room, Benn a silent shadow at her side. “I could’ve gotten here fine,” she retorted, opening the door. The room was simple; a bed, side table, and a small bathroom. Evening light shone through the narrow window-slot at the top of the back wall.
Benn's hum was noncommittal. “Last time you left the bar drunk, you got caught, remember?”
Fair point.
Aria laid down with a groan, her hand over her eyes.
The bed creaked as Benn sat on the end. “Want me to get some water?”
She nodded once and heard him get up. The sink in the little bathroom turned on for a second, then he was back.
“Here.” He placed the glass on the table next to her. When she drained it, he asked, “Would you mind if I stayed here for now?”
Aria's body tensed, her sluggish mind struggling to keep up. “Not that I mind, but why?” she asked, her voice dripping with tiredness. Walking up the short flight of steps and down the hall had sapped her energy.
“Because you look like you’re about to be sick,” he said.
She certainly felt it. “That might be a good idea, then.” There was movement, then she jerked as he slid between her and the wall.
“Sorry,” he said. She looked over and he was giving her a sheepish smile. “If you want me to move, I can.” He was nearly pressed against the wall, watching her, propped up on his arm.
She didn't object, closing her eyes instead, trying to calm her racing thoughts.
Benn's feelings were no secret anymore, though they kept it between themselves, and if she were honest, she felt the same. But aside from occasionally helping her drunken self get back to the ship, or the couple storms where they worked together hauling on the mainline or tying down equipment, he hadn’t done anything like this.
Benn had always been careful to give her space, respecting some unspoken boundary. Yet, she found comfort in his presence, and lately, a growing desire for more. For the past week, she had silently wished they would cross the line he seemed so determined to maintain. It wasn’t like he didn’t want to leave her alone, she could tell that, but more like he was afraid she might change her mind about Shanks. Like she might change her mind about him.
Not that she would.
Aria could feel him watching her, but before he could say anything, she rolled over a bit until she was pressed against his chest. “I don’t mind.” With one arm around her waist, he smoothly slid the other one under her head, causing her to shift slightly. She made a noise of appreciation as his hand rubbed the small of her back.
They laid like that for several minutes before she felt herself dozing off, only for Benn’s voice to wake her. “Aria? Would you mind if I stayed here until the morning?”
She shook her head against his chest, breathing in the scent of ash and tobacco. “Stay.” The grip around her waist tightened, but soon she was asleep.

Notes:

Yes it took forever for them to get together, but they are now!

Chapter 18: Injury or Illness

Summary:

Kaden's persistance is astounding. But so is the fact that she's been in pain for years and can't tell anyone.

The bow dropped to the ground as Aria staggered, her knees buckling. Her shoulder throbbed, and blood trickled down from a cut on her neck. She sank to the ground, panting heavily.
But she relished the view ahead of her. Kaden running away, three arrows in his shoulder. One of his subordinates was helping him stay upright.
As he disappeared, she tried to stand but stumbled, falling to one knee and groaning at the pain. The bullet in her shoulder sent waves of agony through her body, her right arm hanging limp. She reached for her bow, but spots danced across her vision, forcing her to close her eyes and focus on her breathing. Her observation pulled back, trying to lessen the pain.
“Shit.” The word hissed from somewhere behind her. Running footsteps and someone grabbed her wounded shoulder.
Aria hissed in pain, jerking away. The movement caused her to fall, but firm hands caught her.
“Let’s get you to Hongo.” It was Benn. Of course. His eyes flicked over her face, then settled on the edge of her shirt where blood soaked through.
She didn’t protest as he lifted her up, laying her shortbow on her stomach. Her left arm stretched across his shoulders and she clung to his cloak. When she groaned in pain as her right arm hung down, Benn stopped long enough to rip a piece of cloth from her cloak and made an emergency sling.
She tried to force her breathing to slow down as he ran, her face in his neck. He was speaking, but she didn’t hear it. Blood roared in her ears, her heart raced.
Kaden had caught her off guard while she was hunting, far from the crew. His gunshot had echoed through the sparse woods, a signal the crew couldn’t miss. She had managed to wound him and kill two of his subordinates, but the effort had left her exhausted and injured.
But of course he would track her to an uninhabited island! She couldn’t understand his persistence with this.
“Aria!” Benn’s voice finally broke through the fog of pain. When she looked at him, he sighed. “I thought you passed out. What happened?” His voice softened, but his eyes blazed.
She coughed, spitting up a little blood; falling from the tree, she had cut the inside of her cheek on a broken tooth. “Kaden.”
His grip on her tightened, and she couldn’t hold back the whine of pain that shot through her shoulder. He slowed his pace and readjusted his grip. “Where did you get shot?”
Aria nodded. “Shoulder.”
Ahead of them, the crew was waiting. Shanks’ eyes blazed with barely contained fury as they approached. “What happened?”
“Kaden,” Benn said through gritted teeth. “Where’s Hongo?”
Shanks jerked his head towards the ship. “In the surgery. Where’s Kaden?”
“Running with arrows in his back,” Aria coughed, grimacing. A fresh taste of blood touched her tongue.
A twisted grin spread across Shanks’ face. “Hopefully he backs off for a while.”
Aria gave a low huff. “He hasn’t yet. I doubt he will soon.”
Shanks’ gaze fell on her arm, the makeshift sling already coming loose. “Go see Hongo. That looks bad.”
Benn carried her aboard swiftly and brought her into the surgery.
It was empty.
“Dammit…don’t tell me he’s drunk already,” Benn hissed, setting her down on the table. “Will you be alright while I look for him?”
She shook her head. “He’s asleep in his cabin, but I’m not sure if he’ll be easy to wake.” Using her observation, she could feel his signature below them, but it was heavily muted. Roux was working in the kitchen, a few people were sparring on deck, and a fair amount of the crew on the beach were agitated. “Get him, then go tell Shanks Kaden was on the far side of the island.” At the limits of her observation, she could feel Kaden’s cold signature. He hadn’t left yet.
Benn was off in an instant.
Aria shrugged her cloak off, letting it fall to the table. Groaning as her arm moved, she settled herself more comfortably and waited. Closing her eyes to focus better, she smiled a little as Hongo’s signature suddenly brightened, afraid then angry, and Benn’s furiousness tearing off the ship.
The door opened and Hongo rushed in. “Where were you shot?”
“Right shoulder. Can’t move my right arm very well,” she grunted, pulling her shirt strap down to show him the hole. It was seeping dark red blood. She winced as she moved.
Hongo didn’t hesitate as he got to work, only pausing once to ask, “Will you be alright sitting up?” When she nodded, he carefully used a long pair of tweezers to pull out the bullet. It clunked on the table; seastone.
The pressure in her shoulder eased after than and she breathed a sigh of relief. She may not be a devil fruit user, but seastone bullets hurt a lot more than metal ones. When they had a metal casing, it was even worse.
“You’ve got several more cuts, and I can see your back is bleeding,” Hongo said after he had patched up the hole. “Can you remove your shirt, or do you need help?”
“Might need some help,” she admitted. Hongo tried to help her pull it over her head, but she nearly blacked out from the pain, so he just cut it off.
She closed her eyes as Hongo worked on the rest of her wounds in silence. None of them were as serious as the bullet wound, but there were a lot. She should’ve aimed for something other than a bramble thicket to land on.
She kept herself distracted by focusing her observation on the others.
A large group had gone through the woods, splitting up before they reached her limits, but they were already on their way back. Kaden had left before they got there. Benn was racing back ahead of them. Several others were on the beach, and the ones on the ship had stopped their sparring and taken various positions around the ship.
“I think you have some nerve damage,” Hongo said, jerking her back to the surgery. “You’ll have to keep your arm in a sling for the time being, but as long as your shoulder heals, you should be okay. Might be a little weak, but give yourself enough time and you’ll be back to normal.” He leaned against the table as he removed his gloves, then tossed them in the bin nearby.
Aria resisted the urge to flex her shoulder. “How long until the slings off?” She’d been so busy paying attention to the others, she hadn’t noticed he had put her arm in a far more comfortable sling. She used her free hand to drape the cloak around her, biting her lip against the pain, as Benn came back in.
“By the time we got to where his ship had been, he was too far out for us to shoot.” Benn narrowed his eyes, his knuckles white around his rifle.
Aria gritted her teeth, wincing at a fresh taste of blood again. “I don’t understand how he found me this time.”
Benn shook his head. “We have only a few islands under our flag as of yet, it makes sense that he would check the nearby ones we haven’t protected yet, like here. Next time I’m coming with you.”
Aria took a breath to argue, tell him she could handle herself fine, but stopped at his glare.
“I’m not arguing about this Aria.” He held her gaze for a few seconds, then she dropped hers. She didn’t look up as he gently placed one arm around her waist. His voice softened. “This is the third time he’s shown up, and each time you were alone.”
Aria closed her eyes but leaned into his chest. “Okay, you have a point.”
His lips touched her forehead. “I thought I was almost too late today.”
She nuzzled into his chest briefly. “I’m sorry. I won’t go out alone next time.”
He smiled and leaned against the table. His fingers rubbed small circles into her side and she relaxed against him.
Hongo moved around the surgery, putting away whatever he had gotten out but not used. “I’m going to give you some pain medicine, then I want you to sleep.” He glanced at them over his shoulder briefly. “Benn, I will tell Shanks you aren’t allowed below deck if you keep her awake.”
Benn raised his eyebrow at that, but said nothing.
Aria cracked a small smile, then swallowed the two pills Hongo handed her a moment later. “After this, I would rather sleep anyway.”
Benn gave her a feigned hurt look, but didn’t protest. As Aria stood, he kept an arm around her as they walked. The ship was still mostly empty, most of the crew moving around on the beach. Shanks was on deck; probably giving orders to those on watch.
Hongo followed them down to the cabin area. Aria felt a little bad that Benn had to wake him, but it wasn’t like her injuries could wait this time.
By the time they reached the cabins that the senior officers used, the exhaustion of the fight and the medicine caught up to Aria. Benn ended up half carrying her into their cabin and helping her into bed.
He said nothing when he noticed her shirt was gone, but helped her carefully put on a basic button-up that wouldn’t require her lifting her arm.
Aria closed her eyes as he moved around the small room, then she felt him lay down next to her. She turned to meet his lips and felt his hand trace the bird on her neck. “I really do want to sleep, Benn,” she murmured.
His chuckle sent warm breath against her cheek. “I know, and I agree. You should sleep. I just want you to know that you are the reason I am going grey.”
Aria snorted and opened her eyes, her gaze flicking to the streaks of grey shooting through the black. “Oh please. You’re going grey cuz you’re getting old.”
He growled and kissed her. “You’re lucky you’re hurt, or I’d show you how wrong you are about that.”
Aria grinned, but just laid her hand on his cheek. “When I’m better.”
Benn sat up briefly, turned off the light, and pulled the blanket over her. “You better promise that.” His hand settled on her stomach.
She moved him away with a laugh. “Benn, I really don’t want you banned from down here.” She kissed his cheek and laid her hand on his neck. “But you may want to go before Shanks drags you out. He’s already on deck and pissed.”
She could sense him pacing. He rarely did that.
Benn sighed and kissed her again before getting up. “I’ll join you when I can.” He trailed one hand down the side of her face, then left.
Aria let herself sink into the bed the moment the door was shut and gripped her shoulder, letting out a muted whimper. Sitting up, she reached for the little drawer under the bed and pulled out the little bottle inside. Downing two pills from it, she put it back and made sure it was covered before laying back down. It wasn’t often she took something more than what Hongo gave her, but this time she needed it.
She felt terrible for going out alone, but some of the crew were already drunk and Benn was busy when she left. She might’ve asked Shanks, but he was caught up in a conversation with Snake about their next course. Benn’s own haki touched her briefly when she entered the forest, but she didn’t respond.
Muffling a groan with her pillow, she thought about Benn was probably never going to let her off the ship alone after this. Her partner of two years meant well, and he was probably right to be worried about Kaden, but she knew this would drive her nuts. Maybe she could convince Shanks to have Benn take over his duties for a day, let Shanks have a break and her a breather.
Maybe spend some time with the captain who finally revealed that he had pushed her away because he overheard her conversation with Hongo the day he lost his arm. Knew that Benn wouldn’t have said anything unless he believed Shanks wasn’t interested in Aria, and vice versa. Aria smiled as she recalled that; she had thought Shanks would’ve been mad, but he just said it explained a lot and just felt bad for not realizing it sooner.
A stab of pain went through her tether suddenly and she couldn’t back the gasp of pain. She gripped the blanket in a tight fist until the pain faded, then slumped as it faded to a dull ache. Six years since she had been able to taste things, she had thought for years that maybe being away from the experimentation made her lose it. In the last year, she wondered if her time in prison had somehow caused some sort of damage. It certainly had been hurting like she was hurt for the last few years. Or maybe she was sick with something and just didn’t know it.
Maybe she should have Hongo look at it. He wasn’t a scientist, but if this was a medical issue, he might have some idea of what to do.
A thick haze dropped over her mind as the extra medicine kicked in and she sighed. Finally. The pain from the bullet wasn’t that bad; she’d had far worse in the last couple of years. A broken leg from falling from the rigging, an infection from losing two fingers to a sea beast, a concussion from a fight with a crew that tried to challenge Shanks.
But this stupid tether persisted through it all, and the dull ache barely lessened.
Trying to distract herself, she let her observation range out and knew a lot of the crew were back aboard the ship, preparing to leave. Benn was with Shanks in the captain's cabin, Hongo was asleep again, Roux was in the kitchen, Snake was with Rockstar at the helm. She let her observation keep an eye on them as she drifted off to sleep.
Benn woke her briefly, coming back to sleep until his next watch. She waited until he had slipped into bed with her, then pulled him close. By the time his arm was over her, she was asleep.

Chapter 19: Now They Know

Summary:

The pain affecting her braid has finally blossomed into sickness, but she's resistant to telling anyone where it's coming from.

Aria shivered as the cold cloth was placed across her forehead. Her eyes were closed.
“I don’t understand this.” Hongo’s voice was low, almost a whisper. “The bullet wound healed fairly quickly. I can’t find the source of the infection.”
Aria’s lips parted as if to speak, but she clamped them shut, swallowing hard. A bitter taste filled her mouth as she thought of the secret she kept from Benn, the one about her braid. He knew cutting it was not an option, but he didn’t know any more than that.
Benn’s hand moved gently along her arm. “Just giving her medicine won’t help?”
Hongo sighed. “Not as much as they should. If it’s a wound, it needs to be treated for the infection to be cleared. If it’s an illness, which I don’t think this is, it needs something else entirely.”
Aria tried to think past the burning sensation spreading over her skin. It had started at the base of her tether, creeping downwards over three days until she was too sick to move.
Maybe the bullet wound had just been a catalyst.
Benn let out an irritated sigh, taking her hand and squeezing it gently. “There are hospitals on some islands. Maybe we can take her to one of them. Maybe she needs care that the ship's surgery can’t provide.” Not a blow against Hongo, and Aria knew he would understand that, but she knew it would cause so many more problems than they already dealt with.
The thought of adding to Shanks’ stress made her stomach twist. She could see the exhaustion etched into his features, the lines around his eyes deepening each day. She knew being Yonko had been hard on him, though usually he handled it well. But with the addition of one of his crew being tracked by a scientist intent on killing or capturing them, he had other problems to deal with lately.
The day after Kaden attacked, one of Shanks’ territories had been attacked. It was bad enough that Shanks himself had to take down the attackers. Shortly after, another crew attacked as they left that same island. That hadn’t been so bad. Yasopp’s group defended the Red Force, but it was still an annoyance.
She dozed lightly as she listened to them talk about asking Shanks about stopping at a nearby island until Benn’s voice woke her.
“Aria, I need to ask you something.” Benn’s voice was tense, unsettling her. She knew what he was about to ask. He knew her so well by this point, that she knew he would guess this might be something a little more unusual.
She beat him to it. “It…might be related to my braid.”
Benn’s hand tightened. “I hate to bring that up, but that’s the only place I don’t think Hongo’s checked.”
“Her braid?” Hongo asked. She could imagine his confused expression easily. “Why would that matter?”
Aria took a deep breath before answering. “Do you remember the first time Kaden appeared and he threatened to cut it?”
“Yes…” The chair at the end of the bed scraped as he sat down. “I had wondered why he did that, but never asked.”
Aria hesitated, her heart pounding. Did she really want to reveal this?
Benn spoke after Aria remained silent for a minute, his voice low and steady. “She told me once that there’s something…different about her braid. If it’s cut off, it wouldn’t kill her. Not directly, at least. And she’s never explained.”
A sharp intake of breath. “Aria, are you human?”
She chuckled softly. “Yes, I am human. I’m just…a living experiment.” Her eyes shot opened when Benn’s grip became painful.
Hongo’s eyes squeezed shut, his face a mask of controlled rage. The muscles in his jaw twitched, and his fists clenched at his sides, radiating anger more intense than she had expected.
Benn looked at her. “Aria…he didn’t know that.”
“Aria…where are you from?” Hongo asked in a strained voice.
She glanced at Benn, who sighed and nodded, and said, “Punk Hazard.”
Hongo stood and faced the wall, his fingers laced behind his head. “I’m guessing you knew, Benn?”
“The older members of the crew have known for years,” he admitted.
Hongo spun around, his eyes wide. “Years?!”
Aria tried to sit up, but Benn stopped her. “Hongo, they only knew where I was from. Not even Benn knows what they did to me there.”
Hongo stared at her. “I think I’d like to hear more about this.”
“So would Shanks apparently…” Benn muttered as the door opened and the captain stepped in.
He looked tired, but frowned as he closed the door. “I’m sorry for barging in, but I just heard Hongo yelling and wanted to make sure everything was okay.” He looked at Aria. “Is this somehow related to you being sick?”
She nodded. “Yes,” she whispered.
Shanks sat in the chair while Hongo leaned against the wall. “Then explain.”
Biting back the urge to refuse, she thought. “Benn knows a little. I was brought to Punk Hazard as an infant.”
“An infant?” Shanks’ gaze sharpened and his hand idly rested on Gryphon. “Do you know why?”
Aria shrugged. “No. They never said. But I wasn’t the only kid there.” She tried to sit up again and this time Benn helped her, moving so she was leaning against his chest. “Kaden…he took each kid and tested us. I don’t know how, but whatever result he was looking for determined which experiment we were a part of.”
Hongo crossed his arms, his expression tense. “And you?”
Aria paused, then grabbed the end of her braid. Carefully, she undid some of the strands until they could see the smooth end underneath; aside from the lack of bones, it resembled a finger. “I was meant to be able to talk to the land, or people, using a needle they had at the end of this.”
Hongo looked sick, his face pale. Aria quickly re-braided her tether, her hands shaking slightly. Shanks kept his sharp gaze on her, but his knuckles were white around his swords hilt.
Benn gently took her hand. “How do you mean, ‘talk to the land’?”
“Um, I’m actually not sure,” she said, shaking her head. “It didn’t work with me. That’s why they discarded me.”
Shanks closed his eyes and Hongo looked almost murderous.
“Aria, I’m afraid I might have to look at it then,” Hongo said after a minute. “If you have a wound we can’t find and that’s the only area I haven’t seen, it would make sense the wound is there.”
Aria groaned softly, hating the idea, but she knew he was right. “Fine. Just…I already know where the wound is.”
Shanks leaned back. “And you’ve known for how long?”
Feeling Benn’s glare burning the back of her head, Aria answered, “Two days.” When all three men were glaring, she closed her eyes. “This isn’t something I exactly wanted to reveal, alright?” she retorted weakly.
“Aria, I want Hongo to look at that, okay?” Shanks’ voice was firm but gentle. He met her gaze, his eyes filled with concern. “I understand why you didn’t say anything, but you’ve already got a fever. If this gets much worse, you could die.”
Aria nodded as Benn’s arms tightened around her.
Shanks gave her a significant look, then left.
Benn ran a hand down her side. “It would be better to look at it now. Do you need to undo the whole braid to find the spot?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
Hongo glared at her, though she knew he wasn’t mad at her. “I would like to move you to the surgery, but I doubt you want anyone walking in on us. As long as it’s something I can treat here, I won’t make you move.”
When he left, Aria scooted forward and started working the strands apart.
Benn watched her for a while. When the deeper red of her braid was completely undone, he ran his hand down the tether. “This explains why your braid was always so heavy.”
She fidgeted with some of the strands laying in her lap. “It’s synthetic, but it’s skin, muscle, and nerves.” She paused. “I’d give anything to have it removed…”
“Is that possible?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No. At least, no one in a regular hospital could do it. They would have to be a scientist, or close to it, to understand how to remove it without causing a reaction.” She had expected Benn to be disturbed by the bare tether, but he didn’t seem bothered.
“You said that whatever they wanted you to do didn’t work. But you made it sound like you could do something else,” he commented after a minute.
Aria wasn’t surprised Benn picked up on that. “I used to be able to…I guess I can describe it as ‘tasting’ emotions and people.” He raised an eyebrow and she gave a small smile. “It’s how I knew everyone’s moods so well. Depending on the taste around a person, or in the room, I knew when someone was angry or upset, or just stupid-drunk.”
He laughed at that. “No wonder you always knew when to have me take Shanks back to the ship.” He frowned. “But you said you used to?”
She nodded once. “Yes. I haven’t been able to since…since you rescued me from prison.” His eyes widened. “I haven’t been able to taste anything since then.”
He pulled her close and she relaxed against his shoulder. “I understand why you never said anything, but I wish you would’ve told me.”
Hongo returned with a large medical kit, his expression grim. “You may want to lay down while I do this,” he advised, carefully arranging his tools on the dresser without meeting her eyes. “Benn, I’m going to need you to hold her still.”
Aria waited as Benn shifted around, then laid her head on his leg. Hongo’s sharp intake of breath was barely audible, but Aria heard it. His fingers moved along her tether with a delicate touch, as if afraid to cause more pain.
Benn rubbed her arm as Hongo worked, his gaze fixed on her.
“Aria, do you have blood in this…?” Hongo’s voice trailed off uncertainly
“No. Just skin, muscle, and nerves,” she answered.
There was a hum. “There’s a few cuts, but just under the…base, I guess, is an old wound that I don’t believe ever healed.” The perplexed tone was not something she was used to hearing from him.
She winced as he touched it. Benn’s hand squeezed her arm gently.
“I need to open it to clean it, alright?” Hongo asked. Aria nodded, a quiet gasp escaping her as the scalpel sliced through the sensitive skin. There was a cold trickle through her hair but in the next moment she squeezed her eyes shut at the torrent of tastes that bombarded her.
Smoke, ash, disinfectant, pure alcohol, faint cedar, pine, a mellow warmth, sharp citrus leaking through the door. Her head spun from all the tastes and she wrapped an arm around Benn’s waist, trying not to bolt up.
It took her several heartbeats to relax enough to realize Benn was speaking softly.
“Aria, it’s alright,” he soothed, his hand rubbing down her side. A warm, sweet taste came from him, mixed with ash and smoke and tobacco.
Movement on her tether made her pull her focus to the alcohol and pine tastes behind her. Hongo stepped away after a second. “I think you got that cut in prison, Aria. It was a buildup of stone dust.”
A buildup of stone dust? But how had she not noticed it before?
Hongo must have read her thoughts as he explained, “You said there are nerves, but doesn’t mean you noticed a cut during your time there that got dirty. But without blood, it couldn’t move through your system and make you sick much earlier.”
“But why did it take so long to make me sick then?” she asked, her voice shaking.
She heard Hongo move things back to his kit as he talked. “Not sure. Maybe you got another wound, opened it but your braid prevented it from being drained, or it just took a shock to your system to finally trigger it.” An astringent, antiseptic taste rose out but disappeared as the kit snapped closed.
A wry smile tugged at her lips. Maybe the bullet wound had been the catalyst after all, just as she suspected.
“Get some rest for now. I’ll check on you later. I won’t give Shanks any specifics, but I’ll tell him that we found the problem,” Hongo said. A hint of cloves, and something almost bitter.
Aria sat up with Benn’s help and nodded. “Thanks Hongo.”
He smiled at her, then left, closing the door tightly behind him.
Aria winced as Benn wrapped his arms around her tightly.
He let go after a moment, tilting her chin up to meet his intense gaze. “Aria, next time something happens like this, please tell me.” The taste of cloves blossomed out strongly.
She blinked and laid her face against his neck. “Of course.” She stayed like that for a minute, then sat up to redo her braid.
Benn stopped her. “Let me,” he said, moving behind her and gently taking the strands. “Just try to relax, okay?”
She did more than relax; she woke up when she fell back onto Benn’s chest.
He chuckled and kissed her forehead. “Sleep. I can finish this while you rest, okay?”
She didn’t hesitate to lay down, her back to him as he worked on the braid. She was asleep almost instantly, but heard him chuckle again before she was dragged under.

Chapter 20: Requesting Permission

Summary:

Aria never expected to meet Whitebeard, but some things require permission from another Yonko.

Aria kept her gaze down, forcing her hands still. The taste of wood was thick, with a jumbled mass of tastes reminding her of the labs with its undercurrent of medicine. She never expected to step foot here, but they had almost no choice.
Around them, pirates of another crew sat or stood, watching them. Some were passed out due to Shanks’ haki, but most were watching them.
“And why do you think I would grant this, brat?” The loud voice shook the air, bringing a taste of bitterness with it. A harsh tang of something dark followed.
Aria sensed Shanks’ haki threaten to flare out, though he remained still.
“I ask because of the situation we find ourselves in,” Shanks responded calmly. His usual cedar taste was masked by the bright, cinnamon Aria had come to recognize as… she wouldn’t call it desperation, but something closer to stubbornness. But the respect was clear in his voice; an equal to the man before them.
Aria’s eyes darted up for a second to look at the pirate before them, larger than anyone else on either crew. A white mustache like a crescent moon, and wielding a large kind of glaive-like weapon.
Edward Newgate, also known as Whitebeard. A Yonko.
She tried not to freeze as he turned his gaze on her.
“And you? Why do you wish to seek sanctuary in my territories?” Whitebeard asked her.
She looked up, trying to withstand his overwhelming aura. "My son is in danger," she replied, her voice betraying a hint of worry despite her efforts to remain composed. “While the Red Hair territories are protected, the threat has shown to be persistent enough to track us on our islands.”
Damn that Kaden…
From the corner of her eye, she saw Shanks give her a reassuring look.
White gazed down at her for a moment, then spoke to Shanks. “Are you so weak that you cannot protect your crewmates?” Clove wafted over, but it was immediately overwhelmed by a bitterness she couldn’t name.
The boom of a haki storm sounded out, but it fizzled out quickly as Shanks replied, “It is not a question of weakness. The man has shown no qualms about entering my territories. But we believe he will hesitate to look for them in yours.”
The man standing to Whitebeard’s right spoke up. “How can one person be such a threat?” His taste was warm, almost sweet, with a bright, unfamiliar hint of fire.
Shanks glanced at Aria quickly before speaking. “Let’s just say he has a personal interest in Aria.”
Personal was an understatement. She still couldn’t understand why he was so determined to bring her back to the labs. Especially to the point that he willingly struck a child with an intent to kill.
“And what are you to this threat, Aria?” the man asked.
Aria hesitated, the metallic taste of her own fear rising.
“Marco, that is not something we can share, unfortunately.” Shanks said after a moment. “I am willing to grant any requests you would have of me, however, in return for this favor.”
Whitebeard grinned. “I’m sure I can think of something to ask of you, but I do not understand why you think my territories would be any safer?”
A pause, then Aria said, “No one who attacks your territories, or those in them, does so and succeeds.” She closed her eyes briefly. “Already in Red Hair territory, I have been attacked by this man several times and recently he injured my son.” She fought to keep her voice steady, but was sure she failed at the last word.
Shanks’ jaw clenched, but she knew he would forgive her for mentioning this. It was not something done, admitting weakness to another pirate captain, but this time it was justified.
Marco stepped forward, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern. “How old is he?”
“Enri is barely three,” Aria told him.
An undercurrent of alarm could be felt in the next instant, spreading through the Whitebeard Pirates around them. Clover, spice, sourness, all of it swirled around in a jumble of tastes that threatened to knock her down.
Whitebeard growled, the sound almost making the air vibrate. “He would harm such a young child?” The spice of rage and disbelief was terrifying this close to him, even though there was a fair distance still between them. It overpowered almost everything else, even the taste of the sea.
Aria gave a nod and looked down again. “I wouldn’t care if it was just me being targeted, but I do not want my son hurt again.”
Whitebeard’s expression darkened further, his gaze shifting between Aria and Shanks. Shanks stayed calm, his head high but not saying a word. Aria had her fist clenched against her knees, trying to keep her arms from shaking.
There was movement, and Aria was surprised when Marco sprouted blue flames, like wings. He flew up to Whitebeard’s shoulder and exchanged a few quiet words with him.
She hadn’t known Marco was a devil fruit user, but that explained his nickname of Phoenix. Maybe that's why the taste of fire from him was so different; his flames were mythical.
After a brief exchange, Marco stepped back onto the deck, his expression relaxed. The flames disappeared and he was watching Aria with barely disguised interest.
Whitebeard turned back to Aria, his voice firm yet reassuring. “Very well. You and your son will have sanctuary on one of my islands. Red Hair, you will assist us in a future matter when called upon. This is my condition.”
Shanks nodded and stood. “I appreciate this Whitebeard, and I will gladly assist you in the future.” Vague, but then again, this was an unusual request.
Marco stepped forward. “If you would like, I can come take a look at him.”
Shanks looked at him for a moment. “Our doctor has checked him over, but I don’t think he would mind the help.” He turned, and Aria fell into step behind him, her mind racing. As they walked back to the Red Force, she couldn't help but glance at Marco, who followed closely, his eyes studying her with a mix of interest and sympathy.
The rest of the Red-Haired pirates shifted around nervously as Marco followed them onto their ship, but the blonde man seemed unbothered. She started as he tapped her arm.
“How was he hurt?” Marco asked.
“He got cut with a sabre,” she said.
He cocked his head. “That’s not that bad.”
Aria grimaced, twisted her braids end in her hand painfully. “He has a scar though, and it scared him more than anything.” It had taken him a whole day just to let anyone but her or Benn approach without shaking. Even now, almost a week later, he still wasn’t back to his usual self.
Marco gave her a sympathetic look. “I can imagine. It’s difficult to raise a kid no matter where you’re at, let alone on a pirate ship.”
She heard the unspoken question that hung between them; why was such a young child on the ship? She didn’t meet his gaze, not wanting to go into that right now.
They were stopped by Benn before reaching the surgery. “Did Whitebeard agree?” His gaze flicked to Marco, obviously wondering why he was there, but he didn’t question it.
Aria nodded and he sighed.
Shanks rested his hand on Gryphon, annoyance flashing across his face briefly. “We owe him a favor in the future, but it’s a fair deal. Is Enri in the surgery?” When Benn nodded, Shanks led them there but stayed outside.
Before Aria stepped inside, he grabbed her shoulder and gave her a somber look. She knew it costs him some pride to ask for help from Whitebeard like this, but he knew better than anyone on the crew what it was like being raised on a pirate ship.
He hadn’t exactly been thrilled when Aria had gotten pregnant, but he never once said she had to leave until Enri had been hurt. Even then, he had merely suggested it, but Aria and Benn had agreed that it was probably the best idea.
Enri was curled up on the table asleep when Aria spotted him. She picked him up carefully, letting the long scar along his arm show. It was still red; the edges puckered. The black line of stitches was dark against his pale skin. He didn’t wake, just rested his head on her shoulder comfortably before snoring. A light taste of apples rose from him.
Hongo spoke up from his desk; he must’ve guessed why Marco was there. “I’m not sure there’s anything more to do, aside from watch for infection.” It had been difficult to stitch the wound, since Enri was scared, but eventually he got it done.
Marco smiled and lifted a hand coated in blue flames. “I can’t promise the scar will go away, but I can heal it as much as I can.” The bright taste grew, with a mellow edge to it.
“You’d heal him even though he’s on a different Yonko’s crew?” Aria couldn’t help asking. Not that she doubted him per se, but the Yonko’s rarely ever dealt with other.
This situation was unique, but still.
And it had taken some serious thought of if talking to Whitebeard was even a good idea, or worth it. They all knew that asking Kaido was out of the question; he didn’t get along with Shanks. Big Mom might’ve helped, since she seemed to be partial to kids, but she would’ve asked for something unreasonable.
Shanks had known Whitebeard since he was an apprentice on Roger’s crew and occasionally met him in the past to share sake. They knew each other and got along usually.
Marco’s gazed rested on Enri. “Rival crew or not, he’s just a kid.” He flicked his gaze to Aria. “While I can’t help every kid I come across, he’ll be living on one of our islands. If we’re going to protect him, and you, I don’t mind helping him now.”
Enri woke up as Marco laid his blue flames against the scar, but he didn’t scream like Aria half-expected. He just watched Marco curiously, his dark eyes flicking from the flames to Marco’s face.
The bright taste grew until it was the only thing around them, the flames seeming to absorb into the skin before fading.
When Marco removed his hand, the line along Enri’s arm was much fainter and healed, though Aria knew the scar would stay forever.
“Thank you Marco,” she said as Enri examined his arm. He touched it curiously and looked confused, but Aria wasn’t surprised. He had seen Aria and Benn get hurt, but they had never been healed that fast, or like this.
Marco grinned. “I’m just glad he wasn’t afraid. Most kids would’ve been.”
“But he’s grown up on a pirate ship so far,” Benn commented. “He’s tougher than most kids would be.”
Aria knew he meant it, but she also knew he was a little biased towards his own son.
Marco turned around as Shanks came in. “I’m guessing you want to know which island to take them to?”
Shanks set the map on the table. “Just tell us which one and we’ll head there immediately.” The cedar taste grew briefly, edged with anise; Aria knew that the further the island, the more likely Kaden might appear before they got there.
Marco studied the map for several minutes, then tapped a small one just beyond Dressrosa. “Ceto Isle. It’s small, not many people visit there. But it’s a nice little island we stop at occasionally to relax, so whoever’s chasing you will think twice about looking there if they suspect you’re in a rival Yonko’s territory.”
Aria leaned against Benn unconsciously. His arm rested around her waist. There was a tart taste emitting from him, though the warmth over it almost hid it.
Marco looked at them. “Would whoever is chasing you be a threat to anyone else?”
“Not on purpose,” she said immediately. “He just wants me, but he won’t hesitate to hurt anyone in the way.” He had proved that many times.
Marco watched Enri reach for Benn. “Will it just be you and Enri?”
“Yes,” Aria said, shooting Benn a pained look. “I’m more concerned about his safety.”
Marco paused for a second. “I hope you understand it may not be possible for the Red Hair Pirates to visit,” he warned softly. “Are you sure you want to separate him from his father so easily?”
Aria froze, watching Marco in surprise.
He leaned back, hands in his pockets. “I guessed he’s the father from how Enri’s acting.”
Aria glanced sideways to see Enri snuggled against Benn’s chest and already half asleep.
Marco continued, “While we already agreed, I just want to make sure you both understand that.”
Aria met his sympathetic gaze. “We already talked over that possibility before we contacted Whitebeard.” It hurt. It hurt every time they thought about it. But they both knew that sometimes you had to make sacrifices. In this case, being apart. Potentially for good.
Marco nodded once, then turned to Shanks. “We’ll send a message when we need that favor.”
Shanks left with him, and Aria and Benn took Enri down to their cabin.
Once alone, Benn wrapped his arms around them both. “I hate this.”
Aria pressed herself into Benn’s side tightly, reaching one arm around him. “I do too.”
They sat like that until Enri woke and climbed down, only to curl up on the bed. While he was happy in his parents' arms, he usually preferred the bed anymore; sometimes theirs, but Aria recalled him once disappearing, only for Shanks to let them know he had made his way into his bed somehow.
Enri knew Benn was his father, but Aria knew he and Shanks were close as well. Another pang of regret, but also another thing that couldn’t be helped.
Aria covered him, her fingers brushing along the scar. “I can’t believe I let Kaden get that close.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” Benn said. “I should’ve been quicker.”
“And if you had, you probably would’ve lost your arm,” Aria retorted softly. She laid her hand on the scar on Benn’s arm; a similar but smaller version of Enri’s. “I can get a Den Den so we can keep in contact though. It won’t be the same as visiting, but we can at least hear your voice.”
Benn smiled a little, but it faded quickly. “I wish we could take Kaden out, then you wouldn’t have to go.”
Aria shifted as Enri stretched out. “I know. I don’t understand how he’s survived my attacks.” She sighed. “But it doesn’t matter. I’ll keep Enri safe.”
Benn suddenly kissed her hard, his hands rough on her arms. When he pulled away, the pain in his eyes was palpable. “And yourself. I can’t lose either of you, understand?”
Aria nodded, her eyes watering. “I promise.”
Benn gave her a long, pained look, then left.
Aria knew he didn’t want to, but needed to talk to Shanks about what they would do after they left her on Ceto Isle. Getting there, stops to make; he would help with all of that before they talked to Snake about their course. His first mate duties kept him busy, but Aria knew he would be back as soon as he was done.
Laying down with Enri, Aria used her observation to watch Benn join Shanks in his cabin. The rest of the crew, all their signatures tense from being near a rival crew, were moving around purposely, but Whitebeard’s crew was already in the distance and soon disappeared from her range. She pulled her haki back with a sigh.
Watching Enri, Aria rubbed her nose as her eyes burned from unshed tears. She didn’t know if this would work. It was all a guess. An educated guess, based on Kaden’s attacks over the previous years, but a guess nonetheless.
She thought about how her life would be once she left the crew, but drew nothing but blanks. She had skills she could use; hunting, cartography, clothier, cook. She’d helped with a good amount of the work around the ship, so making money wouldn’t be an issue.
But she would be alone. She hadn’t been alone since her time in prison, almost eight years now. And before prison, which had been five years, the five or so years before that, she had been with the crew. Three years aboard a slaver, and fourteen in the labs.
She could hardly recall what being alone was like, let alone when it wasn’t something forced on her.
But this time was different, she told herself. You have your son, might be able to call Benn, and you will be free.
Enri rolled closer and she smoothed down the black hair sticking up in places. With black hair and dark grey eyes, he looked just like Benn. The scar along his arm seemed to scream out at her, however, and she sighed.
She and her son would be safe, in the territory of someone that even the marines hesitated to aim at, and on an island that held nothing of immediate interest. Laying down, she wrapped an arm around Enri and closed her eyes.

Notes:

This story is lasting longer than originally intended and the last few chapters I was halfway bullshitting everything. Not my best work.

Chapter 21: A Familiar Face

Summary:

It's been two years since Marineford and Aria's made a life for herself on Ceto Island. She meets a familiar face, or two, but things quickly go south when one finds her.

Notes:

Yeah, I was mostly bullshitting this chapter. I had no idea where to go, unsure of how to end the story, and it turned into a 3-part end that I stretched into 2 chapters and an Epilogue.
But it was fun writing Luffy again!

“Enri, put that down.” Aria glanced over to see her son holding a pistol. A faint taste of gunpower reached her. The stall owner was giving her a nervous look.
He grimaced, but put it down. “But dad said I should learn to shoot.” He whined. A bitter taste, almost reminding her of Shanks strangely, flowed from him and she shook her head. He stuck his lip out and eyed it longingly.
“When you’re older,” Aria said, adjusting the almost two-year-old on her hip. She winced as the little girl pulled on a braid. “Ashlyn, no pulling.” She would’ve normally grabbed her hand to stop her daughter's grabby hands, but her other hand was preoccupied with a basket currently.
She set it down briefly, grabbed a roll of thread and a squishy, wrapped package, and handed the tall owner a handful of berries. Maybe she’d make apple muffins later.
Ashlyn pouted, the taste of almonds thick for a moment, then looked at something behind Aria.
Giving a little huff of relief, Aria turned but stopped as she spotted someone down the street.
Black hair, a familiar scar under his cheek, a straw hat.
She had always hoped to see him again, but never expected to, at least not like this. Half remembered memories floated through her head; a thick forest, a little kid climbing over her and Shanks like a demented monkey, the boy yelling how he would be King of the Pirates.
Aria grinned. “Enri, would you want to meet someone your dad knew when they were little?”
He eyed her suspiciously. “I guess, but why?” She tasted a sharp, citrus flavor for a heartbeat, but she knew he his interest when it faded.
“He’s a pirate.” Those were the magic words, though she almost hated the excitement that lit up her son's face. He still didn’t always understand how dangerous it could get on the sea, despite even Benn agreeing he was a little young yet. The bright, lemon-like taste made her smile, however.
Despite her unease about him wanting to be a pirate now, she was glad he could meet someone she knew aside from Shanks’ crew. And from what she had read about Luffy and his crew, they were good pirates.
As Luffy approached, Aria stepped out from under the awning. “Luffy, I haven’t seen you since Foosha Village!”
The now 20-year-old stopped and looked at her, a wide grin spreading across his face. “Aria? I never thought I’d see you again!” Behind him, a girl with orange hair and a fluffy creature with antlers stood watching.
Aria smiled but dodged him as he lunged forward, clearly intending on hugging her. “You’re not jumping on me again.” He giggled and wound his arm around her several times.
Ashlyn looked a little scared, though interested, and Enri’s grin was as wide as Luffy’s. The bright taste of excitement was thick, though she could detect an undercurrent of mint and ice.
The girl and the creature were joined by a few others; a green-haired swordsman with one eye, a blond man smoking a cigarette, a tall woman with black hair, a…skeleton with an afro? and a blue-haired man who looked strangely familiar. Behind them trailed a tall man with a thick coat and a black-dotted white hat.
She recognized most of them as his crew after a few seconds, though she didn’t remember Trafalgar Law being one of them.
Luffy stopped and let go, taking a step back. “Wait, if you’re here, that means…” He looked around almost wildly, his expression excited yet…almost nervous.
Aria shook her head, stopping him. “Shanks isn’t here, Luffy.” Usopp, almost the spitting image of Yasopp, stared at her. Brook and Law were the only ones to not react like the others, though Law looked interested. There was a warm taste now, almost sweet, coming from the crew.
Aria almost wished he was, but she remembered Luffy and Shanks’ promise.
Luffy frowned. “Why’d you leave if you were with him in Foosha?”
“Because I couldn’t put my kids in danger,” she replied, glancing at Ashlyn, who watched the creature quietly, and Enri, who openly stared at the scar on Luffy’s chest.
Luffy glanced at the kids and chuckled. “That makes sense. Shanks wouldn’t let me join, so I get why he didn’t want them onboard.” Enri darted his eyes over the rest of the pirates.
The orange-haired woman stepped forward. “Who is this, Luffy?”
“Oh, sorry,” he said, turning to his crew. “This is Aria. She was Shanks’ partner.”
Aria swallowed a laugh at the shocked expressions on the other's faces. “No, I just hung around him a lot, Luffy.” There was a chance for that at one point, but she went into different arms.
He frowned and cocked his head, crossing his arms. “Oh, sorry.”
“Why don’t you all come to my house? You can rest while you’re in port,” Aria offered, gesturing for them to follow.
The Straw Hat Pirates brightened at the suggestion. Mentally, she went through the posters she had been collecting and remembered each of their names.
It didn’t take long for them to reach Aria’s house. Modest, something that had clearly been added onto over the years, Aria noticed Nami eyeing the apple orchard behind it with interest. Once inside, Enri sat at the table, and Aria set Ashlyn in the playroom.
Chopper joined her, and Aria sent him a grateful smile. After a brief pause, a gentle, almost creamy taste wafted from the playroom.
The room’s quiet was broken by Luffy’s voice, tinged with curiosity and a hint of anger, drawing everyone's attention. “Why do you have this?” Spice flowed out strongly from the young captain, and Aria blinked in surprise.
Zoro fixed Aria with a serious gaze, clearly sensing his captain’s unease. Aria met his eyes calmly, reminded briefly of Benn’s protective instincts.
It must be a trait of first mates, she mused.
Luffy carefully took Benn’s old rifle down from the shelf and glared at her. Sanji’s jaw clenched and Aria noticed Zoro’s hand tightened around a sword. They wouldn’t recognize it, but they would clearly back up their captain.
Enri’s voice took on a defensive edge, his brow lowered. “That’s my dad's rifle. He left it here when he last visited.” Aria mentally sighed; he looked so much like Benn in that moment.
The Straw Hats looked at him, but Luffy kept his gaze on Aria. After a few heartbeats, he spoke, “’His dads’? So these are Benn’s kids?” When Aria gave a nod, his grin went wider than ever. “That’s awesome!” The spice dissipated, only to be replaced by a tart, icy-sweet taste.
He set the rifle back on the shelf, with great care Aria noticed, and she saw the others watching her with renewed interest. She almost felt overwhelmed by the near-constant changing taste, but ignored it.
She couldn’t blame them for being interested. If she had met someone who had once belonged to a Yonko’s crew, especially if they had kids with one of their most prominent members, she’d be curious too.
Nami sat down at the table, staff on her shoulder. “So you were a member of the Red-Haired Pirates?”
“Yes, though I left them five years ago,” Aria told her, moving to put the groceries up. “Not exactly my choice, but it was safer.” She thanked Sanji quietly when he offered to help.
Frank suddenly smiled. “I remember you now! They stopped at Water Seven years ago and I returned a weapon they had left behind. Do you still have it?” Aria nodded and made a mental note to bring it out later when she saw the excitement on his face.
“Then how is she Benn’s?” Luffy asked, looking at Ashlyn, who was happily playing with Chopper.
Aria paused, choosing her words carefully. “They visited after Marineford.”
The crew fell silent. Sour, bitter, sharp; most of it came from Luffy.
“They asked me to help with what happened,” Aria added quietly. “But I couldn’t leave Enri, nor could I bring him along.”
“You had to protect your son. And I don’t think there was anything you could have done,” Robin said, not unkindly.
Aria shook her head. “Maybe not, but I still wish I could’ve helped.” She internally winced as she recalled the Red-Haired pirates arriving, all with healing injuries and carrying the news of Whitebeard and Ace’s deaths. They’d stayed only a few days; it was barely a month later she learned she was expecting again. Pushing the memories away, she asked, “But what brings you to Ceto Island?”
Luffy grinned broadly. “I just took down DoFlamingo!” A burst of lemon touched the air.
Enri’s eyes lit up with excitement. Lovely; he was probably going to beg for the story later.
Aria paused in her task, momentarily taken aback by Luffy's announcement. She knew the name well—a notorious Warlord whose shadow had loomed over the New World. She’d heard he had been dethroned, but had dismissed it. “You took down DoFlamingo?” she asked, her voice a mix of surprise and admiration.
She remembered hearing about Luffy taking down Crocodile, then the Enies Lobby incident, and of course there was Marineford. Luffy was definitely strong, but she had to admit she didn’t expect him to take down DoFlamingo, at least not yet.
“Yeah!” Luffy exclaimed, his enthusiasm contagious. “It was tough, but we did it!” He gestured to his crew behind him, who nodded in agreement. “After that, we needed a break, so we figured we’d rest for a day or two.”
She could taste Enri’s excitement, so powerful it overrode everything else in the house, and Aria mentally groaned. He was going to be so excited until they left, and the next time Benn called, his father probably wouldn’t get in two words until Enri was done retelling him about it.
Not that the Red-Haired pirates would complain, but still.
Nami chimed in, her tone business-like yet relieved. “Dressrosa was pretty intense. We could all use a breather.” Law looked a little gloomy at that.
Aria nodded understandingly. “Well, you’re welcome to stay as long as you need. It’s good to see you again, Luffy, and meet your crew.”
Luffy beamed, the thrill of victory still evident on his face. “Thanks, Aria! This place looks awesome!”
She chatted with the crew for a while as they settled themselves around the spacious front room. Enri talked with Franky, Robin and Nami were perusing her book collection, and Zoro was asleep against the wall. Sanji just watched her curiously.
Luffy asked her about her time with Shanks, and Usopp joined in when she mentioned Yasopp, and told them about a few things that had happened before she left until Law interrupted her.
“Did you just say Kaden?” He stepped forward, his eyes hard. She was surprised at the bitter-spice taste from him. His fist tightened around his sword, and she saw his shoulders shaking.
The room went quiet. Zoro’s eye opened and watched them curiously; Aria was reminded of Mihawk, a previous Warlord she had met many years ago before Shanks lost his arm. Zoro had the same cold look in his eyes.
Aria frowned. “Yes. He’s a scientist from the World Government. He’s the reason I left the crew, actually.” Her heart thudded dully. She hadn’t thought about Kaden in a while, too busy with her kids and the orchard. He hadn’t found her since she came here and had started to relax. Until now, that is. Why would Law bring him up?
Law's barely concealed agitation was evident in his expression. “I know of him. I used to work with Caeser on Punk Hazard. He mentioned a scientist by that name who used to run the experiments there. He used to work with him before he left.”
Aria leaned against the counter with a sigh. “Yes, that’s the same Kaden.” Memories threatened to crowd her head, but she shoved them away.
Law met her gaze. “His ship is in the harbor.” Aria bolted upright at his words. Metallic fear almost made her choke, but she stopped herself in time with a deep breath.
Enri glanced at Aria and she resisted grabbing him as he unconsciously grabbed the scar on his arm. “Mom?” Chopped touched his arm and led her son over to Ashlyn, then sat with them.
Franky and Sanji had identical angry expressions. Usopp looked concerned. Nami and Zoro just appeared calm, though Aria could sense the first mates' anger was carefully controlled. Luffy’s brow was lowered, a snarl curling the edge of his lips.
Metallic, sharp, bitter, spice; the tastes were overwhelming and it took several heartbeats for Aria to focus.
She pinned Law with her glare, one fist clenched against her side. “How do you know?”
“I saw him once, just before the World Government denounced him and recognized him on the dock,” Law explained. “I was a Warlord for a while. I heard about him running experiments on children, but then he disappeared after one went missing.”
Aria closed her eyes and stretched out her haki.
And Kaden was in the town.
“Aria, is he a threat?” Luffy asked quietly. The other Straw Hats watched him, their expressions tense.
She saw the same fierce determination in Luffy’s eyes that she had once seen in Shanks’. “Yes.”
He had clearly taken on that trait of protecting his friends.
“Do you need our help with him?” Nami asked, his fist around her staff. Zoro’s hand rested idly on his swords, but Aria knew he would draw them in an instant if he thought he needed to. His crew clearly didn’t question him when he got protective.
Aria looked at Luffy. “If he finds out I’m here, he’ll attack the house. But I don’t want you fighting my battles for me.” Not defensive, not angry, but making it clear she would not accept his help.
She caught Enri’s face. He was holding Ashlyn in his lap, watching Aria.
“If he’s as dangerous as you say though, surely you’d need some help,” Franky said.
“She was a member of Shanks’ crew though,” Luffy pointed out with a grin, relaxing. “She was a member for years before they came to Foosha Village; she can handle him if he becomes a problem.”
So much like Shanks. He always had the same confidence in his crew.
“But what if he doesn’t find out you’re here?” Usopp asked.
Aria arched an eyebrow at him. “Oh, he’ll know. I stand out nearly as much as Shanks and Luffy.” She gestured to her hair. Her braid alone was distinct, but the dark red color, a shade or two lighter from all her years outside, stood out. And the beads lacing through all the braids were not something people tended to miss.
Law took a step forward. “Would he still be looking for after all this time though? I heard you tell Luffy it’s been five years since he last found you.”
Aria nodded. “Yes. He made it very clear he wanted to drag me back to Punk Hazard.”
The others stiffened, and Sanji in particular looked angry.
Law’s eyes widened. “So you…”
“Don’t,” Aria said sharply, darting her eyes at her kids. Law nodded and said nothing more. He clearly recognized the significance.
Luffy watched her, a hard grin stretching across his face. “Aria, you should kick his ass before he finds you.”
Nami made a face. “If she can just lie low until he leaves though, she wouldn’t have to risk herself in the first place.” Usopp nodded vigorously in agreement.
Aria snorted. “He’ll figure out I’m here pretty quickly.” Stretching out her observation again, she could sense him getting closer. “He’s already headed this way.” He was probably asking people about her, if they had seen someone with her description. She didn’t think he used haki, but still.
Law crossed his arms. “It sounds like you plan on facing him.”
“Mom, do you have to?” Enri asked, his voice quiet. Sour, sharp, metallic; his fear was strong.
Aria nodded. “He hurt you once Enri, and he’s the reason your dad isn’t here. I’m not risking you again.” Before anyone could ask what she meant, she ducked into her room.
She barely glanced at the wide bed against the wall, or the red stripped Den Den on the bedside table. Benn flashed in her mind and she didn’t want to get distracted. Later she would try to call, and hoped he would answer this time, but now was not the time. And she wanted to get this over quickly, maybe give them some good news.
When she came out with her bow and quiver, Franky stopped her. “Wait, can I see your bow?” A sweet, citrus taste exploded out.
She eyed him warily but handed over her bow.
“Don’t worry, I just want to make an adjustment. I’ve worked with Adam’s Wood and I have an idea.” He was outside before she could say anything.
“He’s just going to strengthen it,” Zoro said, grinning. “If you can fight with that, but you’re facing someone dangerous, you should use every advantage you can get.”
She couldn’t argue with that.
Law shook his head. “Won’t do any good if Kaden arrives before he’s done.”
Aria’s observation hummed suddenly. “He knows where I am.” She could feel his spark brighten. “I don’t know your crew Luffy, but can you guys watch Enri and Ashlyn and make sure they don’t get hurt?”
“Of course,” Brook said, bowing. Chopper narrowed his eyes and Robin joined the kids, speaking softly to them. Nami tightened her grip and stood next to the playrooms doorway.
Franky came back in after another second and handed her the shortbow. “I couldn’t do much, since it was made a long time ago, but now it’ll have more power behind it.”
She looked at the bow and smiled. It was longer now, not much of a shortbow anymore, but it was reinforced. The string had been replaced with a thicker one, and while there was a dip in the middle of the wood for her hand, the edges were thicker and tapered to a thin tip on both ends of the bow. A second string connected the new ends of the bow, meaning she could use it as a longbow as well.
She could put more power behind her shots with this. “Thanks Franky, this will work perfectly. I’ve never been able to kill him for some reason, but maybe this will help.” She didn’t ask how he upgraded this; there would be time for that later.
“You couldn’t kill him because he’s a cyborg,” Law said darkly, making everyone turn. “Not like Franky is, but I’ve heard he’s made modifications to himself over the years.”
“Aria, are you sure you don’t want help?” Usopp asked.
Aria took a deep breath. Gripping the bow, half-remembered lessons came back to her. “Usopp, Yasopp trained me in marksmanship and my observation haki could rival Shanks’ when I was with them.” There was an intake from a few people and his eyes widened. “If I can’t beat him today, I’ll have to keep running. And while I’m sure Shanks would gladly come pick us up, I have two kids to worry about.”
Law growled, “You can’t expect to fight him alone though.”
“I do, and I am,” Aria shot back.
Before anyone could object, she was out the back door. Smiling as she left, she heard Luffy tell them, “She’ll be fine.”

Chapter 22: The Last Fight

Summary:

Kaden is back, and he's changed, but Aria finally gets her chance to take him out and protect her kids.

As soon as Aria burst through the doorway, a shout rang out and a bullet plowed into the doorpost beside her. Inside, the Straw Hats’ shock hit her senses—ice, mint, metallic, ginger, bitter-sweet—all in a heartbeat.
Without hesitation, she sprinted towards the forest, knowing she stood a better chance there and it would reduce the risk to others. Suddenly, a blue transparent dome shimmered around her. Only instinct kept her from knocking Law away.
“He’s a monster,” the black-haired man said. Spice, sourness; he was insulted. “I’m not letting you fight him alone.”
Aria ducked as another bullet shot out. “I’m surprised your captain let you follow me,” she said, keeping her eyes on the forest ahead. “I told you, this is my fight.”
Law shot her an angry look, dodging a bullet; he had good observation, she noted. “Straw Hats not my captain! I’m just traveling with him to get back to my crew. We have an alliance.”
Aria glanced behind her and a chill ran down her spine. Kaden was heading for them. There was no time to ask about that.
Law hadn’t been kidding about Kaden being a cyborg.
His blue hair was longer, and his eyes had a sickly yellow tint like oil. The last time she saw him, his arm wasn’t mechanical. Now, he was taller, and a gun was integrated into his arm. And she was sure she saw metal along his neck, trailing under his shirt. Despite the changes, the sardonic look on his face remained, twisted now into a mask of rage.
“Fine, want to help? Don’t get hit!” Aria snarled at Law as they entered the forest.
It was no effort to climb into the trees then suppress her haki. Aria waited as Kaden appeared below her, his head whipping around wildly. Bright and sweet, she could easily taste his excitement.
The sight of the tether protruding from his skull made her stomach churn. Had he experimented on himself? Perhaps he lacked haki and could taste emotions, just like her.
Movement caught her eye and she spotted Law hiding nearby. He met her gaze but ducked as the blast from a shotgun went out.
Kaden laughed. “I know you’re here Aria.”
Aria shivered at the coldness in his voice. There was a hollow ring to it. His arm wasn’t the only mechanical change he made.
“I finally figured out where you went,” he called out, slowly moving through the undergrowth in a circle. “It took me five fucking years, but I finally realized you weren’t with Red-Hair.” He paused by a briar. “It makes sense you’ve been hiding in the territory of an old Yonko.”
Aria shrank against the trunk as he looked up. Crap.
He aimed and pulled the trigger of his shotgun faster than she expected. He only used one hand to aim; she felt sick.
Aria grunted, biting her tongue to stifle a scream, barely dodging the worst of the blast. Scrambling to her feet, she notched an arrow and flashed her haki out just before shooting. Blood streaked down her arm, her muscles screaming at the movement.
A pained scream rang out. The taste of blood and oil.
She didn’t dare look back. Scaling another tree, this one with a blind, she stopped and ducked down behind the short wall. She pressed a hand against the three bleeding holes in her arm.
Someone walked below; Kaden. “Not going to face me?” A click, then the shotgun went off. Bark flew from a tree nearby.
Aria took a deep breath and stretched out her haki.
Bullets shot through the bottom of the blind.
“Can’t hide from me now!” Kaden shouted as Aria fell, then scrambled to her feet and fled.
The blue dome appeared again and suddenly Aria found herself by Law. She could hear Kaden in the distance, raging. “What…what did you just do?”
“I’m a devil fruit user,” Law explained curtly, not offering more details. “He can sense haki signatures pretty easily.”
Aria glared at him. “Yeah, I guessed that when he just shot me in the back one second after I stopping hiding mine!” She was very lucky her armament was automatic anymore. Her back stung like hell, but that was better than bleeding.
Law glanced at her, then ducked behind a tree as Kaden looked in their direction. “What’s on his head?”
She paused, eyeing Law warily. “It’s…it’s an experiment.”
He shot her a dark look. “Is it the same as yours?” At her shocked expression, he snorted quietly. “I knew the second you said you were from Punk Hazard and pointed out your hair. Your dark braid is synthetic, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Aria hissed, ducking behind a tree as Kaden shot in their direction. She was amazed he hadn’t found them yet.
“What happens if it’s cut?” Law asked.
Aria stared at him. “Nothing good. Why?”
He didn’t look at her, but a glowing sphere appeared in his hand, “Room,” and then the blue dome appeared around them. “Shambles.”
She hissed as he disappeared. A rock dropped where he had been standing.
“Found you!” Kaden’s voice was disturbingly close and Aria was knocked back as the butt of his gun connected with her temple. An arrow was sticking out of his shoulder; the other end poked through his back. Something black leaked out both sides.
The forest spun and it was two heartbeats before she could get up.
And only one more for Kaden to press her against a tree, the shotguns end pressed against her throat.
Aria struggled to move. The tree pressed against her back painfully, the bark scraping against the back of her neck.
“Finally. Five years of searching and I get to finally kill you,” Kaden snarled, his finger posed just in front of the trigger. Strong ginger, burning, rich; he was enjoying this!
Aria growled, but she was pinned too well. “Why?” she choked out. “Why do you want to kill me so bad?”
Kaden pressed the gun against her throat harder. “It’s your fault the experiments were discovered.”
Her fault? Her fingers tightened around her bow. Maybe if she kept him talking, she could figure out how to get out of this. “How?” Black spots darkened the edges of her vision.
“You escaped,” he spat. “Then got caught by the fucking marines!” His brow was lowered, he was panting heavily, and Aria shivered at the mad gleam in his eyes. “They did some digging about your tattoo and found me out.”
“So what?” Aria hissed through her teeth. Her mind raced. He was too close to use her bow. A flash of white at the corner of her vision caught her attention, but she forced herself to keep glaring at Kaden.
Blackness bloomed over her sight as he pressed against her neck harder. “You. Were. Supposed. To. Die.” Kaden snapped out each word slowly. “I kill you, they reinstate me.”
That explained his determination then. The bitter-spice that flowed out was too much; she struggled to stay conscious.
There was another dome – Aria cursed as Law dumped her far enough away that Kaden’s cursing was barely audible. Her free hand flew to her throat and she coughed at the sudden intake of air. “Stop doing that, dammit!”
“You’re welcome,” Law snapped at her. “He was about to kill you. Want your kids missing both their parents?”
Aria glared at him as she took deep breaths but didn’t argue.
“You’ve got a ranged weapon, use it!” Law said, meeting her glare with one of his own. “He’s toying with you!”
Of course he was, Aria wanted to yell out. Instead, she got to her feet and looked around. She knew this spot and grinned. “You just made this easier.” Ignoring the confused look he gave her, she scrambled up the steep incline a few feet behind them. A sweet, tangy taste touched her briefly.
This was her favorite hunting spot, and a place to relax. She kept a special bundle of arrows here but didn’t think she’d have time to get them. The little cave, about ten feet up the incline, was perfectly situated to see the ocean, the forest, and the town.
“What’s so special about this place?” Law asked, joining her a moment later with his ability.
“These.” Aria held out a strange-looking arrow. The straight shaft wasn’t any different from her other arrows, but the end was long, thin, and unusually narrow. There were thin wooden flares instead of feathers along one end. “Cyborg or not, he won’t be able to walk if I can hit him with even one of these.” The tip was coated in a thin poison, something she mixed herself.
Kaden’s gun went off again. He was moving towards the incline. His cursing was loud but indistinct. He must be using haki and an ability like hers to keep following them this well.
Law ducked into the shallow cave. “Whatever you do, do it soon. You’ve been shot twice already.”
Aria flinched as the shotgun went off, rocks raining down from above them. Kaden grinned up at her from the forest edge. She growled at the bitter-citrus taste radiating from him.
Without thinking, she dashed down at an angle, barely dodging another gunshot. Flashing out her haki, she didn’t look behind her as she let loose a regular arrow from the short string.
Kaden screamed and she heard him give chase as she reached the woods.
How many bullets did he have? He shot again, then again, and another time. Aria tried to duck, but the third shot caught her full on the leg and she stumbled.
Hissing through her teeth, she dragged herself behind a wide tree as he stalked forward. She pulled her haki in tightly. There were bullets in her leg; she could feel the smaller pellet-like shapes rub against bone.
“You got tough, I’ll give you that,” Kaden said after a moment. “But I saw you take that hit. You’re no devil fruit user, but even you can’t handle seastone very well.”
Aria pulled out one of the thin arrows and nocked it.
“But maybe I should keep you alive.” A sneer leaked into his voice. “Tell them you’re dead, but use you for new experiments.”
He came into view, his back to her, and she raised the bow.
He whirled around and shot before she could release the arrow.
The world went into sharp focus as she ducked and she gagged as something dripped down her back. Rolling to her feet, she ran in a jagged motion away from him.
Something was wrong.
Something happened.
She had no idea what caused this, but the pain coursing through her body, thudding under the temporary deafness, was white hot.
Every sound was amplified. Her breathing alone almost drowned out anything nearby. Her heartbeat sounded like a slow drum, though she knew it was beating faster than ever. Footsteps crunched under her and behind her, snaps shot through the air like pistols, Kaden’s mad cackle pounded against her ears.
Every smell met her at once. Earth, bark, leaves, the almost overwhelming scent of gunpower, blood, and steel.
But not one taste.
Each footstep sent another jolt of pain through her body. It was never more than the white-hot feeling in her head, however. A muted whimper escaped from her throat.
“Aria!” Law’s shout rang out and she flinched as he appeared in front of her.
She could still hear Kaden close by. What was Law doing?
Law grabbed her arm and pulled her to the side as another shot rang out.
She clapped a hand over her ear at the sound.
Kaden must’ve spotted them, as another shot rang out. Bark chips battered them as a nearby tree exploded.
“I can give you one shot at him,” Law said.
Aria shook her head; a white-hot stab of pain shot down her neck. “He’s mine.”
“And he just did the one thing that could kill you!” Law shot at her.
Kaden’s feet crunched closer.
Unconsciously, she reached behind her but…
Her braid was gone.
A ball of ice formed in her stomach. “Law.”
He looked at her, jerking at her cold tone.
“If something happens,” she started.
He stared at her.
The footsteps stopped. A click sounded.
“Use the blue Den Den in my room. Call the number taped to it.” She finished, pinning him with her glare.
He froze, then nodded.
She knew he understood what she was about to do.
And if this went badly, which she knew it would, she knew Benn would come get the kids. Shanks’ rules about kids onboard be damned.
A dome appeared, then he disappeared.
The ball of ice flooded through her limbs and she ignored the pain to climb into the tree. She didn’t flinch as Kaden shot at where they had stood seconds before. Her leg screamed at her, but the pain radiating from her head was worse.
She knew this forest as well as she knew the Red Force.
Moving to the branches above him as quietly as she could, Aria leaped to the next tree.
Kaden turned beneath her, aiming but he didn’t pull the trigger. He was looking away.
Aria took a slim arrow and nocked it on both strings.
Kaden whirled around, looking for her.
She pulled back, until her arm ached.
A gunshot went off. Not in her direction, but she heard his breathing growing ragged. He was getting pissed.
Aria waited, holding the arrow, her muscles screaming. The pain in her head grew, blotting out sounds.
His eyes met hers and he raised his gun.
She shot just as he did.

Chapter 23: Epilogue

Summary:

Kaden's gone, her kids are safe, and Enri is in so much trouble for scaring his family.

“I don’t understand how you’re awake.”
That’s the first thing Aria heard when she opened her eyes. Law was sitting by her, an incredulous look on his face.
Why was he so surprised? Was something wrong?
“She’s awake already?” A clatter and suddenly Chopper was standing with him. The Straw Hats doctor stared at her.
Aria groaned and sat up before either of them could react. “What…?” Her mind was a little fuzzy, but each breath cleared it a little more. She could smell antiseptic and medicine.
Law’s hand flashed out, trying to get her to lie down before she moved too much. “You shouldn’t be awake yet.” He kept staring at her, his eyes wide.
Aria looked at him, then at Chopper. “What happened? Why shouldn’t I be awake?”
Chopper glanced at Law before answering. “Your wounds were pretty severe. We had you sedated until you were healed better.”
Law continued, “We had to remove multiple bullets, three cracked fibs, at least four fractures, and numerous cuts. Not to mention you needed three blood transfusions from the towns doctors' stores. But you were stable after a day.”
Aria shook her head, then froze. There was no pain. Well, her leg ached something fierce, and her arm was throbbing. But her head was fine. Her hands flew up to where her braid had been.
“It’s gone,” Law stated. “When I came back to look for you, you…” He trailed off, his face uncertain.
Aria knew the man was a doctor, but she understood his unusual reaction. “I was out of my mind?” she offered weakly. She wasn’t sure how to feel about her braid being gone yet. She just felt numb to it. It had been such a part of her for her entire life, but it was something that was forced on her.
He nodded mutely.
She closed her eyes, her fingers lightly curled. The last thing she remembered was laying on the forest floor, blood covering her shoulder, and being so delirious with pain that she tried to shoot Law.
It was no surprise if he was a little shocked. But somehow, she wasn’t surprised he had managed to remove it and keep her both alive and left her feeling so……sane. She knew he was called “The Surgeon of Death”, and if he had worked on Punk Hazard, then he had an idea about experiments.
He glared at her, though it was clear he wasn’t angry. “Sometime I want to hear about what that was, if you wouldn’t mind. I left my Den Den’s number with the other one you had.”
Aria wasn’t surprised he would ask to hear about that and nodded. She may not be a scientist or doctor, but she had that her entire life until now. She knew enough. She laid a hand on her bandaged arm. “Kaden?”
“Dead,” Law said.
Aria couldn’t resist the twisted smile across her face. She couldn’t remember if her arrow had pieced his skull like she intended. All she could recall of that moment was the feeling of buckshot hitting her shoulder and then slamming into the ground.
Chopper climbed onto the bed and started checking the bandages around her arm and shoulder. “You’ve been out for a few days and we were afraid we’d have to get the village doctor to watch you.”
Aria frowned. “Why?” She hadn’t expected the Straw Hats, or Law, to take care of her, but why would they be worried about leaving her with the doctor if she was already bandaged? It sounded as if they intended on staying longer, but something was preventing that.
“Shanks is on his way,” Luffy’s voice sounded out a second before he appeared in the doorway beyond the doctors. His straw hat sat atop his head rather than hang down his back. Aria didn’t recognize the tone in his voice. His eyes were…guarded, possibly. Nervous. Not angry, but like he wasn’t thrilled.
She didn’t think the bombastic little kid she remembered, or the 20-year-old she saw in the village, could ever act like this.
“We have to go,” he said seriously. “I have a promise not to see him until I’m a great pirate. Remember?” He grinned, though it still held a touch of seriousness, and placed his hand on his hat.
Aria nodded numbly. She vaguely remembered the day Shanks gave that hat to Luffy, and she knew he was still looking forward to the day he and Luffy met. She remembered the excitement from Shanks when they saw Luffy’s first bounty, then again when it went up. The papers on Enies Lobby, Alabasta, Marineford, and even one about Luffy stealing Fishman Island from Big Mom were all set away in a drawer.
But it was still too soon.
The young captain may have defeated DoFlamingo, but that didn’t mean he was Shanks’ level.
Yet.
Chopper tapped her arm. “You shouldn’t get up yet, but we’re leaving a crutch here for you in case you have to walk.” He ran a hoof over the stiff binding around her leg. “Your leg is fractured, but this cast can stay on until it’s healed.”
Law leaned a simple wooden crutch against the bed. “Keep off your leg as much as you can. Use this or it could get worse.”
Aria nodded, then paused as her mind caught up to everything they were saying. Shanks was on his way? Benn! Her head shot up. “Wait, Enri and Ashlyn?”
“They’re safe,” Chopper said.
Aria slumped back onto the bed in relief, closing her eyes. Good. She opened one eye and looked at Luffy. “Who called Benn?”
“Enri did,” Law answered her. “When I brought you back. We meant to stay until you could wake up on your own, but by the time we realized where he was, Shanks was on the Den Den telling him they were coming.”
Well, it wasn’t entirely a bad thing, she mused. But she wasn’t exactly going to be happy with this.
“How long ago was that?” Aria asked. “Did anyone else speak to him?”
“Four days ago,” Chopper responded. “And the Red-Haired pirates were seen off the coast on the other side of the island a couple hours ago.”
Of course. Which meant they probably weren’t far off.
“I talked to their first mate briefly,” Law told her. “The man was nearly frantic. I didn’t tell him who I was though. But their doctor knows about…most of your wounds.” She didn’t tell him that Hongo knew about her braid, but it didn’t matter.
Aria sat up again. “Luffy, go. I know you can’t see Shanks again, not yet. Don’t break your promise.” She wasn’t entirely surprised Benn had been frantic; she well remembered his reactions before when she got serious injuries.
Luffy nodded and grinned, the happy, excitable kid she remembered shining through. “Shanks doesn’t know we’re here, though he might guess. But we need to leave immediately.”
Aria gave a nod. “I’ll be fine until Hongo gets here. It was nice seeing you again, Luffy. You and your crew are always welcome here.”
Luffy’s grin grew wider. “Thanks Aria! And just so you know, this island is now under my flag's protection. You won’t have to worry anymore.”
Still grinning, and he and Chopper quickly left. The captain yelled something, and Aria heard the shuffle of many footsteps as the crew departed.
Law stayed for a heartbeat. “Just to warn you, Enri told them you nearly died.” His lips twitched in a small smile as he turned and left.
Aria forced her heart to slow. Oh that kid… She could just imagine the heart attack he gave Benn.
Enri walked into the room a second later. He wouldn’t meet her eyes.
Aria glared at him, but tried to keep her voice from being too harsh. “Enri, hun, what exactly did you tell your dad and uncle?”
He gave her a sheepish look. “Um…that you were hurt really bad.” He looked down at his feet. “And that you almost died.”
Aria groaned but beckoned for him to come closer. He slowly stepped over until he was sitting next to her. “You realize what’s going to happen now, right?” He shook his head, giving her a nervous look. “You’re grounded for scaring your family.” His face fell and she sighed. “I understand why you said that though. Where’s Ashlyn?”
“Sleeping,” he mumbled. “Robin played with her a lot, and Nami. They kept her busy while we waited for you to wake up and she fell asleep a little while ago.”
Aria hugged her son, pressing her face into his hair briefly. “Go sit with her, alright? I imagine it won’t be too long until the others are here,” she paused and stretched out her haki. A familiar, warm glimmer appeared and responded to her nudge a second later. “Give them an hour, and they’ll be here. But I want to talk to them first.”
She had to do damage control now. She couldn’t be mad at Enri; he was scared for his mother, and if it were reversed, she might’ve called Benn had Enri been hurt like she was.
Another nudge of haki alerted her to someone running. “Enri, go to your sister.”
He nodded and fled to Ashlyn’s room.
Sighing, Aria stood, using the crutch Law had left by the bed. Her leg hurt; that was to be expected, but it was manageable. She made her way to the door as quickly as she could, her haki keeping tabs on the worried, furious signature quickly approaching.
When she made it outside, she spotted a familiar figure down the road, hurrying towards her home. His urgency was clear despite his controlled pace. The sunlight caught his silver hair, the gun in his hand gleamed. She couldn’t help but smile as Benn caught sight of her and pounded up the road a second later.
She leaned against the side of her house, her eyes never leaving him as he approached. His arms wrapped around her gently, and she sighed into his chest, feeling a wave of relief. “I’m fine. I just woke up a bit ago.” She breathed in the strong smell of ash and tobacco. Her head spun, but in a good way. There weren’t enough words to describe how much she missed this, or how good it felt to have him here now.
Benn pulled back and glared at her. “I thought I asked you to keep yourself safe?” His voice was rougher than she last heard, at least in person. His gaze ran over her, taking in the bandages and the crutch. “What happened? Enri was crying so much we could hardly understand him.” His rough fingers ran across her arm and settled lightly on her shoulder.
Aria laid a hand on his forearm, over the old scar there. “Kaden.”
He growled and his grip tightened. “That bastard found you?”
Aria nodded. “And if it weren’t for someone alerting me to him in the harbor, it would’ve been a lot worse.” She wouldn’t tell him who. Not yet.
A nudge of strong, but familiar, haki made her turn to see the rest of the Red-Haired pirates down the road. She could make out Hongo and Shanks in front.
Benn’s arm picked her up and she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m making you lay down until Hongo looks at you.” He didn’t hesitate to enter the house, and Aria directed him to the room where she had woken up. Setting her down, he sat on the bed with her. “What happened though? Who bandaged you up? Where were Enri and Ashlyn?”
She opened her mouth to answer, then his hand flew to her head, trailing down her back. “Aria…your braid is gone.” His eyes were wide, the alarm was clear.
Aria placed a finger on his lips. “I’ll tell you, but I’d rather wait until Shanks gets here.”
“Why?” Benn asked curiously.
Aria grinned. “Because I’m sure everyone’s going to want to hear about a certain Anchor.”
Benn grinned. “Luffy was here?”
Aria nodded and wrapped her arms around him. “I can’t wait to tell everyone about what he’s been up to. He left not long ago. But for now, go see Enri and Ashlyn.”
Benn shook his head, still grinning. “If we think, and by we I mean Shanks, think you are keeping anything from us, you’ll never hear the end of it.” He kissed her. “They’re almost here. I’ll see our kids, then tell us everything.”
Aria smiled. “I promise.”

Notes:

This was far longer than planned, the last few chapters were just weird, but I really enjoyed writing this!

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 4 of A New Life (OC, Red-Haired Pirates)