13 • Pao-Lin • [Voice/Action]

[wildkotetsu]

[To be completely honest... Kotetsu was miserable. When something hits him, it hits him hard, carries over like a cloud above him. After becoming a monster, possibly hurting people he was supposed to protect... after failing Nami and an innocent little girl, failing to help Sanji when he needed someone—they'd lost so many people, and he knew that it... it was really hurting not just him, but everyone else. And there was nothing about it he could do. There was no rescuing to be done. No buildings to smash through, people to grab in the nick of time.

He was too busy being in need of rescue himself, anyway. The routine was the same: smile where he could, be content to appease the audience of Luceti. Go to the Seventh Heaven and work, work, work where he was needed. And then... sign up for missions. Keep on doing that. He's already planning to go on another one when he comes across a painful discovery.]

[Voice]

... I, uh. Dunno if anyone knew—

[A pause.]

Pao-Lin's gone home. But.... But it's good that she did. I know it sucks to lose people here, even if you know it's a good thing... but I just wanted to say that she has a future to look forward to. She's—she's a great hero back home. She protects people. I'll bet she'll be at the top of the charts in no time; heck, she already outdoes oldtimers like me, she's such a natural...

[He stops himself as he trails off, realizing he probably won't stop talking if he keeps it up for too long.]

... I just wanted to let anyone know who doesn't.

And sorry if I worried any of you, back there. I've been resting and I'm feeling a lot better now, so I'm okay.

[Private // Tony Stark]

Oi, I just wanted you to know I'm still working on it. I'll be goin' on another mission, but I, uh. Wanted to talk to you before then.

[And with that, he goes back to the Seventh Heaven to help out. When he's in the kitchen... he really likes that he can be distant and quiet. And, even if it seems funny to imagine for someone like him, solemn and thoughtful. Of course, going back outside will illicit a happy little smile that says otherwise. Everything's fiiiine. Don't worry so much. It'll be okay.



Except he's starting to visit the bar more—once a night is okay. One drink is okay. He sits at the bar, observing the ugly scar lingering on his forearm, on his wrist, where the infection—and a gunshot—had marred his flesh good and well. Under his collar is the scar from another biter. A reminder of the moment he's lost faith in himself.

... Okay. For tonight? He'll go ahead and drink a little more than he should.

Just tonight.]

Comments

[mikangirl]

I can understand that. [She won't stay too long, then. Maybe just enough for a drink of her own.]

I hadn't seen you for a while. [Well. Going home would be a part of that, but...] How's your hand?

[wildkotetsu]

Oh, it's just fine...!

[He holds it up and flexes it, not commenting on how it never really closes into a normal fist and trembles at the effort; it's still... a work in progress. Yeah. He grabs his drink and quickly gulps it, as if to buy himself a few seconds to think up a less troubling reply.]

I, uh—heard you went home... Was it okay?

[mikangirl]

It was okay. I wasn't there very long. [She smiles wryly at that; not much humour to it.] We finally made it to the second half of the Grand Line. It's... interesting.

[Well. That sounded lame.

She pours herself a new glass from the bottle, and then quietly asks.] You doing okay?

[wildkotetsu]

Aaah, that's good! Interesting is better than nothin', right?

[His smile wavers. Was the fluster to his face a giveaway? Maybe the fact that he's drinking beyond the usual glass. He goes for something that's half life, half truth—]

I'm doing just fine... Just hoping everyone else is okay.

[mikangirl]

You mean back home, or here?

[wildkotetsu]

... Both.

Definitely... both.

[He won't elaborate too much on home, but...]

... A lot of people got hurt from that virus outbreak. They're still hurting, y'know...?

[mikangirl]

[...Nami's eyes drop to Kotetsu's hand again, and she drains half her glass. She doesn't want to think about the draft, schooling her expression to blankness.]

They'll get over it.

[...that sounded harsher than she intended. She shakes her head a fraction, and tries to soften it.] People in Luceti are resilient. All you can do is be there for them until they find their feet again.

[wildkotetsu]

[He almost scoffs. But Kotetsu isn't good at that whole 'scoff like a tough guy and drink' thing, so he just settles for looking undoubtedly tipsy and tired. He brings his glass up to drink, quiet at that for a moment.]

Much more resilient than me.

[Resilience was a good thing, he thinks. Something about 'I'm rubber, you're glue' pops into his head.]

[mikangirl]

[Oh.

Nami winces slightly and looks down at her hands. Now she knows he's at least a little drunk. That was practically a flat admission of not doing okay. Her thoughts go back to that night at the orchard.]

I didn't mean you. You...went through a hell of a lot, Kotetsu.

[If she were honest, she didn't mean it for anyone. It's more like wishful thinking. But she can't take it back now.]

[wildkotetsu]

Aa... Right...

[And he takes another drink. going quiet, almost detached for a moment in how he stares down at the table.

... Man, this burns. Good burn, at least.]

[mikangirl]

...have you talked to Tony Stark since you came back?

[Do you even remember who shot you?]

[wildkotetsu]

[At that, he couldn't stop his gaze from drifting away.

He remembered just enough.]

Yeah... Talked to him about some mission... business... stuff, all that.

[mikangirl]

Yeah?

...what did he-- did he have--

[...there is no way to ask this question that isn't blatant.]

...

...how are things? There?

[Lame. Oh, she used to be so much better at this.]

[wildkotetsu]

[He smiles, but it just feels like his face is stretching unnaturally against what it should be--which is anything but so obviously fake. But... still. Better than nothing.]

It's going alright. He says everything's on schedule. I'm gonna keep getting points and we'll have all the parts he needs in no time.

1/2

[mikangirl]

[...

That. Is painful to see.]

[mikangirl]

[So she takes refuge in being Nami-blunt.]

Don't smile unless you mean it. It makes your face look ghastly.

[wildkotetsu]

[... Ha.... haha......

He looks back down to his glass, smile vanishing quickly.]

Sorry.

[Just... an impulse thing, he guesses.]

[mikangirl]

Don't apologise, either! [She outright scowls, before she drains the last of her glass, winces and leans forward with her head at a tilt as she peers into his face.]

Kotetsu... it's been rough, hasn't it? I just meant you don't need to pretend. That's all.

[wildkotetsu]

[He winces himself, losing his neck as he pulls back. But then he opens an eye and his expression softens.]

... Sor--

I mean. I... Yeah. I get what you're saying.

[Does it mean he'll stop pretending at times? Probably not. But he's getting better, okay? He rubs at his nose, red-cheeked as he looks back to his drink.]

S'been rough for everyone.

[mikangirl]

[Nami watches him a long moment. She isn't sure what to do, and she's not sure she really should do anything, given the circumstances. It's not like he hasn't got every reason. Not like she's half a hair from joining him in that nice little pit he's got going there.

...

Fuck it.]

Did you know they have a drink here named after our old ship?

[wildkotetsu]

[He blinks up, confused at first. But then--]

... A drink, huh?

[mikangirl]

Yeah. It's pretty sweet. Asch invented it and I named it. Won a prize that I never really did get to collect. [Her smile's a little sad.]

Wanna try it out?

[wildkotetsu]

[He's torn between nodding quickly and--well, looking torn about it.

He doesn't want too look too pathetic, but it's probably a little late for that. He rubs the back of his neck, smiling a little.]

... Sure. I wouldn't mind.

[mikangirl]

Okay. Just give me a sec and I'll be right back.

[...and assuming Kotetsu doesn't run screaming out the door while she's gone, she'll come back soon after with a tray with two glasses of something very orange.]

Orange juice, grenadine, tropical fruit juice, rum, and crushed ice. And some ginger ale on top. [And a little fruit boat. Isn't it cute?]

Here. It's sweet going down but it has a fair kick. [She places it on the table in front of him.]

[wildkotetsu]

...

[He raises a brow.

That sounds wonderful...]

Named it yourself, huh?

[He smiles and picks up the glass, contented for the moment despite the obvious heaviness of his thoughts.]