professional enabler

Ginger remained so deeply offended by the idea that her face shifted into careful neutrality. Law had seen that look before often when something she deeply disliked suddenly dared to show itself to her.

In this case, his request was one she hated already.

“You cannot be serious,” she began with a tilt of her mouth. “You expect me to do what exactly?”

Law’s own expression mirrored hers though he was merely annoyed that she was annoyed. In his mind, this plan required her because she could pull it off with the exact grace needed to keep Caesar preoccupied while Law went looking through the rooms of the laboratory for his notes.

“I already told you. Caesar likes the sound of his own voice. All you have to do is play along and let him talk. It’ll give me enough time to find what I need.”

Ginger pouted. “I dislike him immensely.”

“I’m aware.”

“He knows I do not like him.”

Law resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “Half this island knows you hate him.”

Her brow raised at that while she narrowed her eyes at him. “Then why must you torment me by asking me to listen to him prattle on about his grand and ignorant opinions.”

He sighed through his nose while resting Kikoku against the wall by the desk. The privacy of their assigned quarters granted them this moment as he prepared himself to present an argument worthy of her. He didn’t have to, but Law understood Ginger better than most people. He always had, ever since they were children.

He fixed his stare on her before he said, “If he’s experimenting on the children here then I need to know the dosage and the effects before we can help them.” Her face softened at the mention of the children. “He’s suspicious of me already but it seems like he’s trying to impress you because you don’t grovel at his feet.”

“He is absurd and he is narcissistic. Men like that disgust me.”

His mouth threatened to quirk at her assessment. Her tone bordered on being bored which meant Law was getting somewhere.

“You know I wouldn’t force you to do something you didn’t want to.” His tone was flat but the words were true.

Ginger’s eyes softened as she reached out to adjust the collar of his coat, smoothing it down as she normally did when it was just the two of them alone. Her quiet affection always came out in ways he wasn’t wholly prepared for, but nonetheless he accepted without words.

“I know.” Her tone lowered as she wiped off specks of dust from his shoulder. “Which is why I won’t say no to your request but you should know I will complain about it afterward.”

Law raised an eyebrow at that. “When don’t you?”