WaterChestnut

Nami steadied herself and took a few deep breaths. She was standing outside the club with Kuroobi. She was nervous, and his annoyed glare wasn't helping.

"You brought this on yourself, cat." His tone was both annoyed and bored.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" She stared up at him to return his glare. The Fishman towered over her and crossed his arms.

"It's your fault the last job went south. All you had to do was lose your tail before you stashed all our belli."

Nami grimaced. She prided herself on being the best thief around. She always took different, tangled routes to reveal and lose pursuers. She remembered that night. She swore no one was behind her. Whoever followed her back to the safe house, waited for her to leave, and cleaned out her stash was going to pay. She spent months planning that job, and the payout would've guaranteed her sister's freedom. She could pay off Nojiko's "debt" to Arlong with interest.

Arlong was mad when he found out about the loss, but not as mad as he could have been. He benefited either way. Either with the belli or knowing Nami was still stuck under his thumb. She tried to feel grateful that he agreed not to punish Nojiko as he tended to do when Nami upset him, but it wasn't like him to be merciful. And what she had agreed to do to make up for the losses all but terrified her.

Arlong called it kindness to let her do this instead of punishing her sister, but this kind of job was more dangerous than anything she had ever done. She preferred quick jobs and easy targets, but she was determined. Her recent setback meant she needed something big if she and Nojiko had any chance of freedom.. even if it meant fucking over the King of Dressrosa.

Kuroobi reached to grab her shoulder and push her inside. She batted his webbed hand away before he could touch her, and she huffed past him.

Club Pica was crowded for a weeknight. Nami couldn't help but think she could make a killing here snatching wallets and jewelry on any other occasion. The DJ switched on a bass heavy track as Kuroobi led Nami to a stone stairwell to the right of the bar. Two guards in suits waved them toward a room at the end of the hallway, and Nami didn't miss the guns holstered under their jackets.

The sight didn't phase her as much as it should have. Being around thugs wasn't new to her. She was alert, perceptive, and she had a plan. She would use every trick at her disposal to make sure it worked. She had to.

*****

Law lounged casually on a large leather chair, his nodachi leaning against his side. One hand idly grazed the hilt while the other rested softly on the oversized arm rest.

The room felt drastically different than the rest of Club Pica. The walls were wooden with large fabric inlays. Gold trimmed glass pendent lights hung from the ceiling, making it well lit but still feel moody. At the center of the room sat a large, decadent wooden table. Smaller wooden chairs were set around it, with what can only be described as a throne at the head of the table. There was enough space in the rectangular room for a few chairs and couches to line the perimeter.

Law's seat gave him a perfect view of the entrance. The king, Donquixote Doflamingo, and his "family" already present, he watched carefully as several fishmen entered the room. It wasn't clear why either party would be willing to enter into such an alliance. On the surface, they both had the chance to make a lot of money. But this gang's leader, Arlong, wasn't shy about his distaste for humans. It was a risk he was surprised either party would take.

Arlong took a seat at the opposite end of the table, staring down the room.

"Shall we begin then?" Doflamingo smiled wide at the fishmen as a man in a suit that Law recognized as Officer Vergo, a policeman working for the family, entered and stood next to the door.

"Almost." Arlong's lips curled upwards with a faint hint of a smirk. He looked to the door as his final subordinates entered.

To everyone's surprise, the Fishman that entered was accompanied by a human woman. Law's brow furrowed. She wasn't just some woman. She was stunning. Long amber hair bounced softly across her silky skin with each click of her heels. She wore a low cut, light blue top with black x patterns down the front. It hugged her small waist but ended before the start of her light gray mini-skirt. She brushed passed Vergo before pushing Kuroobi out of the way and took the seat to the left of Arlong.

The room was silent as Arlong let out a low chuckle. "Now we can begin."

Law watched the redhead idly scan the room. She didn't act like arm candy, and why would someone who hates humans keep her for that anyway? He could tell by the way she carried herself that she wasn't a slave or servant. Although she seemed to have no love for the fishmen, it was clear she knew them well. What was painfully unclear was why.

Law wasn't sure how long he'd been lost in thought before the woman caught his eyes with hers. Large brown orbs bore into him and he forced himself to hold her gaze. Before their staring contest could continue, a loud laugh stole their attention.

Arlong growled but their was a hint of mirth in his eyes. "Alright. Final offer. 10% and I'll loan you one of my people as a sign of good faith." Arlong gestured to the young woman beside him.

"One of your people?" Doflamingo smiled wide. "Interesting. Where is she hiding her gills?"

Arlong snorted, "I assure you, Nami here is 100% human."

"This is a waste of time." Vergo said calmly. "The king can have any woman he wants. Certainly better than fishmen scraps."

Nami laughed and threw him a viscous grin. "I'm no one's whore, and that includes everyone from the mightiest kings," she nodded to Doflamingo, "to the filthiest pigs." She gestured toward Vergo.

Vergo's jaw ticked.

"A little fire in you, kitten?" Doflamingo chuckled as he raised his brow. "Tell me, what use would I have for Arlong's pet?"

Nami smiled back and held her head high. "I'm a procurer of unattainable things."

"Despite her flaws, this little cat is the best thief in all the seas. But she's not necessary for most of my business, which is why I'm generously offering to share her time with you."

Doflamingo studied her cautiously while Vergo snorted. "A fishman's pet thief is still hardly an incentive."

Nami smirked as she stood from her chair and sauntered towards Doflamingo. "I'm no one's pet," she mused. She pulled something from her cleavage and tossed it on the table in front of him as she stated, "In Arlong's gang, I'm an officer." She glanced over her shoulder at Vergo, watching him lose his temper as he slowly realized the item on the table was a policeman's badge. His badge.

She followed it up by tossing his handcuffs next to it casually, giving the king a quick wink before gliding back to her seat.

Doflamingo let out a genuine laugh. "Oh kitten, you are something else aren't you." She batted her eyelashes and smiled back at him triumphantly. He paused to consider it, but let out another laugh as he looked at Arlong. "At the very least she'll be amusing."

"So... Do we have a deal?" Arlong rumbled.

Doflamingo looked at Nami when he answered. Law knew that look. Gears were turning, forming an unknown plan of his own.

"Deal."