The midday sun poured through the Electromagnetic Barrier, casting a warm glow across the room.
Curled in Rolan's arms was a pink-scaled mermaid, Shirahoshi. He looked down at her sleeping face, delicate and sweet, her long curved eyelashes brushing against rosy cheeks, lips twitching slightly under the soft light. The events of last night still felt surreal. He had actually shared such an intimate moment with a mermaid.
Gently, Rolan brushed his fingers over her soft nose.
Shirahoshi stirred, blinking sleepily at him. "Husband… Husband, good morning."
Her gaze flickered up, then immediately away, cheeks flushed, tail curling in a shy, restless motion. A sudden twinge of discomfort crossed her features, making her lips quiver. Rolan held her close, allowing her body to nestle into his arms, feeling the warmth of her happiness.
Smiling faintly, he pinched her cheek. "It's not morning anymore; it's already midday."
Shirahoshi's eyes widened in panic. "Ah? If we don't get up soon, Robin-jie and the others will find out!" She scrambled upright, only to feel the twinge of last night's exertion ripple through her.
By the time Rolan and Shirahoshi stepped outside, the sun was low on the horizon. Shirahoshi's combat strength was still low, so Rolan refrained from pushing her further.
"Husband, maybe we should go separately," she suggested, nervous about being seen together now that their relationship had deepened.
Rolan flicked her forehead lightly. "Silly. We're husband and wife. There's nothing wrong with being seen together."
Shirahoshi pouted, covering the spot he had flicked. "But… but…" Her mind raced with thoughts of gossip, imagining curious eyes waiting outside. Years in the Hard Shell Tower had left her shy, and the idea of strangers knowing her secret made her want to vanish.
Rolan simply took her hand and guided her forward. "There's no 'but.' Let's go."
The streets remained quiet, and soon they reached the office. Robin sat at her desk, scanning documents, a steaming cup balanced gracefully in her left hand.
"Ro… Robin-jie," Shirahoshi said softly, hesitant to meet Robin's gaze.
Robin looked up, a small smile forming. "Shirahoshi-chan. Did you rest well last night?"
Shirahoshi's face heated immediately. "I… I… I slept… pretty well." Her mind briefly replayed the previous night with Rolan, sending a wave of embarrassment through her. Steam seemed to rise invisibly from her head in exasperation.
Robin's gaze shifted from Rolan to Shirahoshi, understanding immediately. "Rolan, remember to be gentle with Shirahoshi-chan," she said with a hint of amusement.
Shirahoshi quickly interjected, face flushing further. "Ro… Robin-jie, Husband was very gentle with Shirahoshi!" She recalled his strength and careful control, and even that admission left her cheeks aflame. Robin couldn't help but smile at the memory of Rolan's overwhelming power the first time he fought.
"Oh… right. Rolan, here's a newspaper you might want to see," Robin said, extending it to him with one of her grounded arms.
Rolan reached for it, scanning the bold headline:
[Portgas D. Ace, Commander of Whitebeard's Second Division, to be Executed at Marineford!]
"So it's come to this," he murmured. He immediately understood that Marshall D. Teach must have bested Ace and used it as leverage to secure Shichibukai status. Ace, already incredibly strong, had still been defeated. Teach's cunning, ruthlessness, and possible underhanded tactics were obvious.
Robin raised an eyebrow, surprised at his calmness. "Rolan, isn't Ace your disciple? Why aren't you worried?"
Rolan smirked faintly. "Of course, I'm worried."
---
New World, Moby Dick
"Whitebeard! Whitebeard! This is bad!" Marco rushed toward the captain, a newspaper in hand.
Whitebeard's brow furrowed. "Marco… why are you panicking?"
"I… Ace has been captured by the Marines."
Whitebeard sat upright, shock crossing his face. "What did you say?"
Marco handed him the newspaper. Whitebeard's gaze swept the text, darkening with each line: Ace was set to be executed, and Marshall D. Teach had officially become a Shichibukai.
The two events seemed unrelated, yet Whitebeard understood the implications immediately. Ace had confronted Teach, been defeated, and his capture had been used to bargain for Shichibukai status.
Crew members swarmed him, expressions a mix of disbelief and rage.
"Marco, are you saying Ace was captured?" George demanded, eyes wide.
Vista shook his head. "Impossible. Ace is the second-strongest on the ship, second only to you, Whitebeard!"
Ace's strength had always been unmatched by anyone besides Whitebeard. How could he be so easily defeated by the Marines?
One by one, voices rang out:
"Whitebeard, I want to save Ace!"
"Let me go too!"
"We can't watch him be executed!"
"Ace is young, if anyone should face death, it should be us old men!"
Whitebeard scanned the face
s of his sons, seeing determination and fury burning equally in their eyes.
---