In Their Eyes

It was a lot harder to move around with a crowd of twenty people, who looked like they were starved for months. But after taking a few back streets and paying off a few curious guards, we were able to reach a safe part of town.

I did a nighttime run for cooking supplies while Ace started to count out berri to give everyone. Returning to the mangrove clearing, I started on a stew pot—nothing complicated, just some hearty soup to put some meat on their bones.

Leana, the half mink, helped me hand out food. She seemed to have a permanent smile on her face and endless energy for helping people. Though I had to keep an eye on her, Leana's mind was still in shock, and it would take some time before the full impact of the events dawned on her.

Cal, the dark-skinned warrior, was almost the exact opposite. Cal was brash and secluded, and even with her missing on, I still got the sense I was sitting next to a loin. However, Cal seemed to have a softer side when it came to children, as my last crewmate Evos stuck to her side like glue.

Evos hadn't said a word the entire time, and he seemed to have trouble using his spoon. Moving over, I sat in front of the child, locking eyes with him, "Can you talk?"

Evos nodded, but he still didn't open his mouth, "Do you not want to talk?" Evos nodded again, and I looked at Cal, hoping for an explanation. "It's a medical condition. It gives him the shakes and makes him stutter."

Evos averted his eyes as his cheeks lit up like a Christmas light, "Well, he can fix the stuttering with practice, but I can heal his nervous system."

"You're a doctor and a cook. What else can you do?" Leana seemed to appear from nowhere with eyes that seemed to sparkle. "Well, I'm a pretty accomplished musician, smith, and alchemist. Though I had a lot of help from my devil fruit."

"Y-y-ou h-ave -a de-devil, f-fruit?" Evos looked at me with a new light in his eyes that brought out the grey specks in his brow pupils. Deciding actions were better than words, I grew a third eye in the middle of my forehead and winked at Evos.

The only one who jumped was Leana, who grabbed Cal, her ears sticking and tail sticking straight up. Pushing Leana off her, Cal squinted at my third eye, "So you can grow a third eye, that's lame. Can it at least shoot lasers?"

Getting rid of the eye, I couldn't help but feel a little hurt. "No, my power isn't to grow a third eye," I answered exasperatedly. "I can control my body, and anyone else's on a whim. That involves growing extra body parts, or even regrowing new ones."

Cal flinched, and for the first time, I could see hesitation and worry in her eyes. "Then you can fix Evos stutter and Cal's arm." Leana broke the tension by saying what everyone was thinking.

"Yes, I can do that as your captain. I can't help but heal my subordinates with their permission." Evos nodded adamantly, but when I looked over at Cal, she was biting her lip.

Even without knowing her for long, It was wrong to see the woman so unsure. "It's okay if you don't want to heal scars of the past." I lifted my shirt showing the numerous scars marring my body, "Sometimes the pain serves as a reminder."

Cal started at the mosaic of scar tissue before looking away, and I thought I saw the slightest blush. Even though Cal was well into her forties, she was still attractive, having that allure of an older woman.

Turning back to Evos, I held out my hand, "I can start now if you'd like." Evos nodded, and he grabbed my hand without hesitation. He then yawned before collapsing into my arms, Cal reached forward, but she stopped when she saw when Evos was only sleeping.

"Don't worry. This should only take me a few minutes." Laying Evos on the ground, I made sure I cushioned his head before I started. The poor guy had Parkinson's though I'd never heard of it being so progressive.

There were several ways to treat the disease, I could edit his genetic code, but one mistake could have unseen effects, so I chose the other route. I used stem cells and matured them into brain cells while also creating a gland that would constantly replace dying or old cells.

Tying it all up with a red ribbon, I left my little experiment returning to my own body. Sighing, I popped a pill filling up my reserves. "Well, did it work?" I smiled at Cal and nodded, "The little guy should wake up in the morning talking like a pro."

Leana jumped on me, nuzzling her head into my chest, "Captain is so kind." Sitting up with the mink in my lap, I took a chance and rubbed her head. Leana stiffened before she visibly melted, her tail wagging slowly behind her.

Smirking, Cal pulled Evos closer to her, and I felt a pang of jealousy as the kid received the infamous lap pillow. But I was a man, and I had steel nerves. Besides, I had Leana and her bosom.

In the morning, we gave everyone enough berri for whatever they might need and sent them along their way. I told Cal, Leana, and Evos to find an inn to stay in as Ace and I made the trek back to Shakky's.

Unfortunately, nothing could have prepared us for the wrath of Rayleigh, who exploded after hearing we left him out of a slave bust. However, we were able to stave him off by promising an expensive bottle of sake.

"I told you we should have invited him." Ace rolled his eyes as I scored yet another one over him.