Jack sat next to Azar. His legs crossed. Hands in his lap. The Vice Admiral's face was deeply pursed into a look of contemplation, eyes shaded deeply with a grimace of pursed lips.
There was a palpable sense of discomfort and stillness to the Grandfather and Grandson. Both breathing deeply. In tune. Perhaps because of living with each other for so many years that now they instinctively did such…
"If you're going to say something sa-" Azar began to say. Before being interrupted by the deep voice of his Adoptive Grandfather.
"Why didn't you listen to me?" He asked coldly. With a distinct lack of emotion that was unlike the man. As if his current lack of such was due to not wanting his emotions to get the better of him. So he cut them off entirely
"I knew this was going to happen one day." His voice croaked. A hitch forming in the back of his throat before being harshly swallowed
"I wanted to keep who you are…What you…" Another swallow of parchness as his mouth began to dry. "Who come from." He corrected himself. "And that blood that runs in your veins…"
"I regretted it from the moment that It began…." His head lowered. And a deep breath of exhaustion. Not of physical exertion but of the mental toll this was all taking on him.
"Regretted what? Me? My being? The very fact that I was born?" Azar asked as tears began to well in his eyes.
"No…God no…That I ever even told you who your father was." He blinked heavily with another sigh releasing from his throat "I should have raised you with no knowledge of it all…Perhaps then…I could've prevented you from becoming….A Pirate!"
The Emotions couldn't be held back anymore. It was a pressure valve ready to explode! Tears flowing down his cheeks, his teeth grit harshly as he spoke
"Why couldn't you have just become a Marine…! I could protect you that way…!" He yelled in a whisper.
"Is this what this is about?!" Azar yelled quietly. Allowing all his emotions out but still keeping his tone low. He knew that if he didn't. The Fleet Admiral would return. And cut short the conversation.
"About your pride as a Marine?!" Azar growled "No! God- No!" He raised his voice and snapped at his grandson. "It was never about that…Even if I wanted you to live up to a greatness like mine…Good Pay. Principle! Discipline..!"
That same old rant. The same Spiel. It made him roll his eyes.
"But…It also meant that you didn't have to cruise through life! But also had guarantees of safety if the rest of the world found out!!" He rose his voice again
25 Years ago. On an Island that no one remembers for anything important. Within a distant corner of the West Blue.
A Woman by the name of Eudora D. Enya was pregnant.
She had been impregnated through a love between her and the notorious man, Gol D. Roger. She was never like the other women on the island. The island always had a more reserved and 'modest' culture. But Enya was a woman with vibrant hair with streaks of golden blonde through out the waving loose curls. Cut short, of course.
It was this same rebelish outlook that had attracted the Future Pirate King. Her knowledge. Her genuineness. Her want for freedom and expression. It had been a shame that she had denied to travel with Roger.
It was because. Despite her want and love for Freedom and Expression. She desired above all, a place to return to. For Roger. That was the Ocean and the Open Blues. But for her. It was Home Island. Because there, she was as free by giving it to herself. Having those that want her to be one thing, and her choosing another. That was her freedom. And gave her the love of the air and exploring the fields of Nature…
On the Journey after the Roger Pirates Disbanded. Roger paid Enya one last visit. Staying with her for an entire month. Enya had nearly begged him for a child so that they could both understand the love of parenthood. And Roger obliged for in his own want. He did not want to leave the world with an heir but one also from his blood
When Roger told Jack of his son. Jack told Muromachi, at the time an Admiral under the Zodiac Color: Aomamushi, he immediately took it to the Fleet Admiral. Whom gave him permission to go on a world spanning hunt for this mother and unborn child to ensure that Rogers blood stopped before it even started.
It was those few words that he regretted ever uttering.
Jack offered himself to lead the hunt for the mother and potential child of the Pirate King. It wasn't even a week later that Roger was executed, and not an hour was waited until the hunt began.
For two years they scoured the seas. For two years they went from island to island. One of the largest mass mobilization on concrete information the world had ever seen. The Past decades had seen similar. But nothing on this scale…
Such mobilizations only happened when the World Government, The Fleet Admiral, Commander in Chief, and the Rokuseiza saw it as a beneficial and needed action. Sometimes, it was something as insignificant as a child unborn…Other times not even world shaking events and terrorism could garner this reaction…
But the World Government was moving up and developing the Person of Interest and the Child's age to have been an infant or toddler. All women with children were questioned. Abused. And scrutinized. But the pregnant women were left alone…
Enya, through sheer force of will. Forced the slowing of the development of her child. It costed her so much energy. She carried the child for two years. And it wasn't until the anniversary of the two year hunt
But…From the Very beginning. Jack knew where the Mother and Child was.
The sound of calm oceans waves brushed against the shore of the island. The heavy footfalls of Jacks shoes against the stone streets echoed in the early morning. It was earlier than any one on the island would reasonably be awake. Just past dawn.
Wind blew through the emerald green grass. Jostling the Lilacs, and Spider Lilies. He spoke not a word. Even his mind was quiet in the moment as he approached the cottage far off from the vila of the islands port.
With his hands loose. The simple open plan cottage came closer and closer. And eventually. A Large hand opened the door. He didn't need his eyes to know what he had already sensed before stepping foot on the island.
The wooden door creaked open. Left unlocked. And inside, laying in a chair in front of a large bay window that allowed the golden crimson morning rays to illuminate her.
Enya laid dead. A only few days old babe in her arms. Swaddled in a cloth.
Slow foot falls strode across the wooden floor, reaching the mother and child in mere moments. The Baby seemed healthy. And the body of Enya hadn't even gone through autolysis. Her body had barely grown cold. Fighting until the last moment that her very spirit knew that she could rest because someone else would ensure her child's safety.
"Coo…Mmmm~" The baby cooed, Jack then noticed that there was a small note tucked into the wrapping. The words 'Eudora D. Azar' across the front.
"Azar huh…Are you Azar, Son?" Jack smiled extending a finger to the infant, who began to smile and laugh as those tiny soft hands wrapped around the old callused digit of the Man "Eaheheh!" Azar cooed again
"Baha! Haha…Yes you are…Don't worry. I'll take good care of you…" Jack holds azar close. Rocking him gently….
Jacks tears continued to stream down his face as he did not face Azar as he was now next him. His fist balled to tight white knuckles. "Damn it! Damn it! Azar…Azar Azar Azar…."
"Azzy…" He whispered the nickname that Azar had for as long as he'd known. Causing him to finally look at him. "Papaw?" Tears began to well in his eyes as well. The two men locking eyes with one another.
"Just say the word…" His voice hitched and cracked "I'll get you out of here, Son."