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52 - Coast - Luffy x f!soulmate!reader

Chapter 52

Taglist: @mystic60 , @louisechec , @pinksh1t , @vexis-world , @sleepykittycx , @sweeneyblue1 , @sukiraterhouse , @cndy-l0v3, @aceandconfused

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“U-Usopp, wait a second!” My pleading voice dies across the vacant area, nothing to echo off.

The rocky capes hold a stark contrast of nothingness, bordering the city of Water 7 like the thickened frame of an artwork in the museum – Something to contrast the business inside.

“Please, you have to think this through!”

The Sniper doesn’t respond, limping forward with shoulders that heave, joints creaking with every wobbling step. His tanned skin is battered, blemished with aching violet, crimson winding down his arms and face in drying, clotted trails.

Usopp was in bad shape, on a war path – driven by his self-claimed insufficiency to belong as a member of the Straw Hat crew. It was hard to watch, but so much harder to stop.

I knew how he felt, speaking from experience; my own bottled emotions that reflected his in kind. However, Usopp was in a much worse state than I. He’d reached that self-destructive level of hopelessness, and believed there was only one way to fix it; By putting himself in immense danger.

The looming structure of The Franky House was enough to make my knees buckle. Goofy, patch-worked design choices – Green and yellow paint, blue tiled roof, goggled windows, claw-like machinery, all topped off by the crescent moon jutting at its peak – Like a quilt handed down through generations, this was the place where a band of thieves were said to have lived… Money hungry, grievance-causing, and infamous bounty hunters. They had already beaten Usopp half to death once, and we were headed straight for them a second time.

I couldn’t believe my eyes, Usopp’s actions were inconceivable. If I was spooked by the thought of being captured by bounty hunters (known to seek out prized-pirates in order to earn a quick buck), how wasn’t Usopp terrified by the notion of marching toward the bandits domain, especially after all he’d been through? Even without his lack of courage in question, his physical state was in poor condition. He shouldn't have been able to move with the state that Nami and I had discovered him in.

The Sniper was effectively out of his mind, and as much as I sympathized, empathized– Or felt whatever other emotional connections I harbored with his plight, I feared for the repercussions of what his current actions would lead to.

My back had been turned for only a handful of moments those few hours back when Usopp vanished in Dock 1. It didn’t take me very long to notice that he was gone. Initially I’d believed he’d been diverted by some amazing gadget, or drawn in by a shipwright and their awe-inspiring work (as the boy had been nerding out during our walk amongst the workers). Eventually, once I spoke with a shipwright – Then two, then five – I’d begun to learn that my theory was incorrect. Not a single one of those men had noticed The Sniper in the immediate area. The only ones who had, had seen him with me.

Easily distressed, I thought the worst; Our run-ins with old enemies making themselves known as I searched like a madwoman through the Dock. I’d called his name, searched as far as I could – To no avail.

The dread that sank my chest to my stomach became fully realized once I raced back to Luffy and Nami, aiming to relay the little information I knew so that we might all search together. Even so, Usopp’s disappearance would be temporarily overshadowed by more terrible news.

Kaku returned with his assessment of the ship, all while I was panicking to find my missing friend.

The message was simple, imparted to us with a significance that couldn’t be measured;

Our boat couldn’t be fixed.

The Going Merry had set its final course.

Stumbling into the clearing with disregard to the others, it had caught me off guard when I heard it at first. The blonde-haired Kaku had to repeat himself multiple times for it to stick, even for the others. Bombarded by my friend and soulmate that his words couldn’t possibly be true, the two accused him of feeding us false information about our vessel.

Their rebuttal wouldn’t last. He had no reason to lie. After all, what would he gain? We had money… He could’ve easily taken it and left us to turbulent seas and stormy waters – According to him and his comrades, even the slightest of currents would lead to our demise if we continued to sail.

It was the keel; ‘The backbone of every ship,’ Galley-La had called it. Once the keel was out of order, so was the rest, as it held everything in place. Ours was in one of the worst states that Kaku had ever seen, and to that end, there was no point in patching up something that was already too much of a lost cause.

Only once Icebarg himself confirmed this did Luffy cease berating the workers, out of respect for the man who had shown such hospitality. I could sense Luffy’s denial, his rejection of the facts, the evidence, entirely. The Going Merry had been fine, and suddenly now she wasn’t? Since when? It didn’t make any sense.

But… It did make sense, if you thought about it.

Deep down in Luffy’s soul, I think he knew it, too. I think we all knew, we just didn’t want to admit it; Never entertained the thought in the first place.

The Going Merry was old, even I knew this. In her wizened years, our ship had taken on damage that rivaled the durability of even the youngest ships. She had sailed for a lifetime prior to its gifting to the Straw Hats, and then sailed another whilst with us on our travels, keeping us safe for all of the hardships her body had faced.

We’d seen it first hand… The weathered grooves that were always so hard to clean when we swept, the rough landings we’d endured from Skypiea to Navarone– Hell, right when we’d arrived at this very island, Zoro had gone to raise the sails and the mast had splintered under such a simple, commonplace action.

There wasn’t any way to deny it, not anymore. We’d come here for the help of a shipwright, and we got it.

They spoke with kind words, and sympathetic gazes:

“No amount of money could ever fix her.”

The Going Merry wasn’t able to function any longer,

And everything was going to shit.

Luffy and Nami had the two briefcases that were previously in Usopp’s possession by the time I’d returned, a suspicious sight that had my pulse skyrocketing – A kind shipwright had noticed them and returned them dutifully, having overheard the thieving-predicament earlier on. By that time, I could finally gather myself, reeling with despair that piled higher and higher with the manifestation of another crucial issue, I blubbered my concerns to them with a stone in my throat.

The situation escalated to the extremes. Nami interrogated our whereabouts; Where Usopp and I had gone in the past ten minutes, who we’d talked to, when I’d last seen him… My answers were less than satisfactory. Then, Luffy upped the ante, popping the two trunks open in his suspicions of how weightless they felt in his grasp.

Stunned, my wide-eyed soulmate dropped the open cases to the ground with a loud clatter.

Both cases were empty.

Like I said, everything was going to shit.

Now completely losing it with more at stake, combined with a crowd that was there to watch the ordeal unfold, the Mayor orchestrated a swift search that luckily yielded an eyewitness; A man had seen a few of the Franky Family prowling the back alleys of Dock 1.

“Luffy, wait! Where are you going?!” Nami shrieked as The Captain hurtled over the fences that gated off Dock 1 from the people, racing towards the city with a hand covering his hat.

He didn’t seem to hear her whatsoever. “Usopp– Money! Just wait, I’ll come get you!”

Just like that, our group was split into not two, but three parts – Luffy immediately taking off into Water 7, a frantic spur in his step.

This left Nami and I on our own to actually formulate some kind of plan. (Really, who knew what Luffy would get up to without somebody to watch him? He was probably running around like a maniac as we speak.)

Having boarded the Yagara to cover more ground, Nami and I desperately scoured the canals of Water 7. She begged the beast to go faster, ensuring our navigation through the streets whilst I kept a keen eye, the two of us trading our speculations on The Sniper's whereabouts and working towards determining what to do next. It wasn’t likely that the bandits would take both the money and Usopp, they didn’t have a reason to take our friend – Yet that was a problem itself, meaning our time frame was shortened by the possibility that the Franky Family wound up using the money for themselves. Out of all our propositions, this one had the most backing; We needed to find Usopp, to see if he knew where the thieves had stolen off to. He was our best chance at retrieving the two-million berries – Even still, my mind wandered. What if he hadn’t been able to thwart the Franky Family? What if they’d taken him, against our predictions?

Simultaneously, Nami had instructed me to track down Luffy via our soulmate bond; It was no use. He was far off by then, and while I could sense the general direction, I wouldn’t be able to pinpoint him in this maze of infrastructure. He was scrambling for options, just like we were. His lack of presence made me uneasy– The thought of encountering our enemies without him being there was daunting.

It was pure luck when we came upon the small crowd, huddled around an obscured figure who lay limply against the back walls of the scarcely populated area. There wasn’t much traffic, and following the instincts that lurched at the glint of a familiar eyepiece, Nami swerved into a stop. We sprayed everyone in the vicinity due to the force of the Yagara wrenching backwards. Some of the crowd complained; We ignored them.

“Usopp– Hey, say something!”

“O-Oh god, Usopp!”

Broken, and battered. Splayed out like a starfish left to dry in the hot sun, Usopp laid limp – He wasn’t moving.

“Hey! Are you alright?” Kneeling beside our injured friend, Nami fitfully reached her palms to cup his face, the blood staining her pale skin as tears bubbled in her eyes. “Open your eyes!”

Tracing my sights over his body had me sick to my stomach, the burning of my waterline a signal that I was not far behind The Navigator. My fingers quiver as they reach forward, not sure where to place them – Every inch of him was marred, like somebody had beaten the hell out of him, and then some.

I wrap my fingers around his hand, and he shows no sign of answering our combined efforts.

The group around us couldn’t contain their morbid curiosity, murmuring amongst each other, considering their own bravery, and whether or not they should ask the questions that sat impatiently on the tips of their tongues.

“E-Excuse me, are you guys pirates, by any chance?” A man ventured to finally speak up, uncertain in his approach.

“Shut up!” Whipping around with a snarl, Nami snapped at the unwanted company, shifting to cradle The Sniper and all his wounds. “Stop staring and mind your own business!”

Noting the redheads' viciousness, the crowd steps back with a chorus of gasps. They stay quiet after that.

Throughout the commotion, Usopp has begun to heave in his wakefulness, though each one pries from his lips, thick as smoke – Burning his lungs, straining with the slightest movement and wincing when his mouth fails to operate. I can’t do much else than wait, staring at him through the blur of devastated tears.

“Oh, no…” Nami despairs, her teeth grit – infuriated. “Usopp– Was it the Franky Family who did this to you?”

A hard, scraping gasp, and then another…

“It… It was…” It’s difficult to hear his pained whispers, but the confirmation is certain. Nami and I hadn’t ever considered that they’d perform the baseless torment such as this.

Tears dribble from his eyes and snot drools from his crooked nose. Usopp sniffles, bracing himself as the syllables choke and his mouth falters.

I bite my lip, squeezing his hand. He still doesn’t reciprocate.

“B-Because I’m… I’m weak… They… They took… All the money…”

I squeeze again, less this time. The point of view, so painstakingly similar to my own, automatically has me opening my mouth to deny it, just as I’d taught myself to do in light of promises to my soulmate.

A sob, and then his tears stream like rivers. “You guys…”

Jaw tight, streaks lining the fresh blood that’s caked to his face, Usopp inevitably opens his eyes to look at us.

“How… How will I face the others?”

No amount of words could describe the agony of that moment.

Nami says nothing. I say nothing. Mouth gaping, the practiced-consolations turn to ash in my mouth.

It hits, and it hits hard. The resounding question was pinching and pulling, stapling the walls of my throat together. It was a horrific concoction of despondency and delinquency – Piercing together the comprehension of his forlorn words, resurging emotions that were meant to be locked away – Incredulous that, for some reason, we could relate our woes.

“...We were about to… to have Merry repaired…” With a whimper, The Sniper tilts his head back, avoidant of our eyes once again. He attempts to shout his words, with nothing but a hoarse yelp emitted. “I’m… so ashamed… D-Dammit!”

His wailing turns my saliva to acid; Burning my palate, all the way down to my belly.

There’s no comfort in the comparison bridged between Usopp and myself. Instead, a nausea sits in its place, threatening to endure the longer I stare at his demoralized expression… With it, there’s a guilt that’s driving the stake further into my throbbing chest.

Not long ago I’d been in Usopp’s shoes, hadn’t I? I’d remained in that desolate environment, ruled over by a vicious psyche, for months– Years. At my lowest points, I’d been lucky to have support, to have my inner turmoil reconciled by my friends' reassurances, and come to the beginnings of self-repair.

By doing so – I mean, by indulging my focus on fixing my unrest, to better myself – Had I been neglecting those who had helped me get there?

I was so focused on my own grievances, that I’d completely disregarded somebody else’s – Usopp’s – Who’s fears were alike to mine, so much so, that the disgruntled utterances of his mouth had birthed a visceral, trained reaction.

My friend– A best friend, who’d always been there for me and not the other way around. He’d done so much for me, only to find out I could’ve returned the favor… Could’ve been doing the same for him.

But I hadn’t been. I’d been too focused on myself. Even now, I was enveloped by self-remorse – Guilt.

It smothers me up, and the acid floods my veins. It keeps me locked in place, useless.

Had I really been so self-absorbed, all this time?

“...I understand.” Nami comforts, her breath hitching. “Don’t worry about the money. We’ll get it back together.”

Here, she thinks quietly to herself. I can see the inner workings of her mind flickering in the depths of her brown eyes; Debating, considering…

I still can’t figure out what to say, if there’s anything else I could possibly say in the presence of Nami’s calm– I’m grateful for it. She’d always been good at comforting people in a way I couldn’t quite manage. Here, going so far as to put away her obsession over money for the sake of her friend, is a prime example of her skill.

It stands tall, a model for everything that I was supposed to be doing. What had I done? What could I do? I was too shell-shocked to help, and that in itself was vexing.

Everything, everyone – All today, had brought out the worst of me within mere hours – Why was I so often reminded of things I’d been working to bury? Why couldn’t I cope with these experiences that were so kindred to memories that still plagued my very existence? Why couldn’t they just go away?

That ‘steadily mounting unease’ from last chapter had officially collapsed, just as I’d forecasted. The freeze-response was in full throttle, and I couldn’t escape myself for the sake of others if I tried.

No matter how I tried, no matter how much I had fought to work on myself, nothing had changed, had it?

Deadweight.

“We should move him…” The Navigator shifts, nudging me to follow her lead. I do so, monotonously shouldering underneath one of his arms. “Usopp, stay here just for a while. I’m gonna go back to the ship to get some help, Chopper’ll have you fixed up good as new in no time.”

She’s not calm, I realize – That doesn’t make it better, or worse either. There’s a nervous edge in Nami’s tone, a greyish-maroon tinge around her eyes.

“And don’t worry about the stolen money, all right? I heard their hideout isn’t far from here. We’ll crush them and that’ll be the end of it!” The redhead makes an effort to confirm that Usopp isn’t too disquieted by his self-proclaimed faults; He doesn’t respond, slumped and frowning against the cold-bricks.

Next, she rushes to address me, harried by the invisible timer that ticked away the seconds. “You should stay with him until I come back. Chopper taught you some medical stuff back at the ship, right? Do whatever you can, I’ll hurry and be back soon–”

I nod, the movement unregistered to myself, puppetted by practiced movements in an uninhabited body.

The recognition of her commands are delayed, though eventually understood; How could I help Usopp? I couldn’t even notice when my friends were faced with analogous troubles… Disregarding that on its own, there was the recollection that I carried no medical materials on my person – Combing through the tangled wrinkles of my brain yielded no results on how to use those medical materials in the first place, anyways.

Either way, I can’t argue. Nami’s already moving towards the Yagara to pursue her plans.

“Hey! The show’s over!” Nami berates the onlookers, eyes blazing with determined fury. They all move from her path, wary of her wrath. “Get lost!”

It’s quiet. Usopp’s fallen quiet, and everyone is looking at us. Without Nami to serve as guard dog, I faintly grasp the situation that the two of us, alone, are faced with.

I focus on The Sniper, a seriously wounded and likely incapacitated crewmate, feeling unfortunate for him to the degree that he’s been left with the only person of our group who has little to no fighting skill – Me, myself and I.

Although I don’t know how to face him, or how to speak, in time I would force myself to recalibrate. Usopp was hurting, and I needed to help.

I wasn’t making enough progress, that much was clear. Whatever medical practices Chopper had recited couldn’t be conjured, as each concept summoned yielded a head-on collision with another – A backed-up highway that piled on more and more until the columns groaned from the building pressure.

I breathe, the shuddering column of my airway a grounding force. With one of Usopp’s hands in my own, I’ve been zoning out, staring at him as teardrops roll.

Ivory meows inside of the satchel at my back, and I snap from my daze.

Some of the crowd has dissipated. It allows for an unobstructed view of the canal, and something clicks. The ocean.

I needed a cloth. My fingers fumble at my skirt, contemplating.

“I-I’m sorry, I…” Reaching lamely towards a kind-looking couple, appearing more concerned than some of the others, I take a gamble – Feeling like a beggar in the streets. “I need… Do you have a knife I could borrow? P-Please, I’ll… I’ll give it back right after but– But he’s hurt, and I–”

“Here,” The hilt lands in my open palm assuredly, “I’m not sure what you need it for, but if it helps at all–”

Rrrriiiiip–

The thin strip is cut from the cloth of my skirt faster than the man can finish.

Crying over the outfit would be a wasted effort. At that moment, I didn’t have anything else available in order to tend to support other than this. That’s the only thing that mattered. I could always get another outfit – But we could never find another Usopp.

“Th-Thank you,” I blubber, barely handing the knife back to its owner once I’ve stumbled towards the water, soaking the cloth.

Ivory sits before Usopp, somehow leaving my backpack when I hadn’t noticed, pawing at The Sniper’s leg. It’s an almost human endeavor to gain attention. The tanned boy had been the one to make each and every one of Ivory’s necessities, including his toys, and the kitten seemed curiously aware of this fact – His ‘toymaker’ wasn’t responding.

Gently lifting a listless arm from the ground, I gingerly swipe at a small gash, awaiting a sign of discomfort. Usopp doesn’t show any such signs, anxiety seizing my entire being as I ponder whether he might’ve passed out.

“U-Usopp… Please wake up.” I whisper, dabbing at the scraped off surface of his skin cautiously. It looked like it stung. “I’m sorry… I-I’m so, so sorry.”

The apology has more than one meaning, ones that I wasn’t sure he’d know – I’m sorry this happened – I’m sorry you’ve felt like this – I’m sorry I didn’t realize – I’m sorry for being a bad friend – I’m sorry for not being there.

Cleaning his wounds like a deliberately trained machine, his lack of retort leaves my mind to wander further; If I’d been more attentive, if I hadn’t turned my back for those few moments, would this still have happened? Would the money have been stolen? Would Usopp have been safe?

My mind embarks to unburden itself, twisting and turning about the ‘what ifs’ and the ‘if only’s.’ It only serves to worsen my state of mind.

Slowly but surely, the wiping of his flesh reveals fresh splotches that darken and yellow in reverence to the light, and I fear I might actually throw up, because–

Oh, god… Usopp still didn’t know.

The Merry.

The Going Merry couldn’t be fixed… And Usopp would be ruined.

With poor timing, The Sniper randomly shifts away from the drenched fabric. I glance down, momentarily baffled by the myriad of crimson that's stained the intricate stitching, then glance at him – Alarm bells ringing whilst Usopp is dragging himself to a stand.

“W-Wait, what are you… Usopp, we still have to wait for–”

“We need the money…” Usopp rasps, a vehemence in his tone that I’d never heard before. “I need to get it back…”

We wound up at the Franky Family’s place; Located nearby, just as Nami had mentioned.

“You’re already too hurt, Usopp!” I screech at his back, “You can’t fight all of them, please– J-Just wait!”

Usopp trudged forwards, never once sparing any sign of surrender. This had been the drill ever since we left that empty back-alley – My endeavors to end the ordeal met with nothing but silence, along with the dark spots seeping into the cloth on his back.

No matter how often I called, or begged, or screamed – Usopp never answered, and he never stopped. There was no convincing him.

He would hurt himself, evidently. In that crumpled state, what the hell would he be able to do against all those opponents? He’d lost to them already, out in the openness of the city – This was their home, the place where all of them lived, not just the five-or-so that Usopp had encountered prior. The threat was greater, and we needed back up.

Our friends. They would be here to assist just as Nami intended… Of course, Usopp refused the idea, ignoring each and every mention of them whilst ceaselessly marching on.

I was out of options, near to tears for the second time today. Frustrated by my inability to do something more, fast approaching the Franky House (we were so close, only twenty feet from the main entrance); Imagining what would happen when those doors eventually opened was terrifying.

There were so many indecisions, too many reasons to stall; It felt like we had swapped rolls, for once. One of us was listing reason after reason to not continue, whilst the other turned a deaf ear.

If Usopp opened those doors – If he challenged The Franky Family for the money – I didn’t know what I would do. My natural deterrence toward fighting grappled with the notion that I undoubtedly owed Usopp for what was occurring, a pop-up quiz sneaking into my brain relentlessly.

How many people waited on the other side of the door?

Would I be forced to use the weapon that I was already conflicted to wield?

We didn’t know their values, their ways of living… What if the bandits killed people? What if I was at risk of dying?

What about my pledge to stay alive – For Luffy, for the others – In the circumstance of combating new enemies?

And then, conversely, what if Usopp was at that same risk of death? It was more likely, considering the state of his wounds…

What then? Who was I supposed to choose? Usopp, or myself?

Was that selfish? No… No, it couldn’t be. Luffy told me not to get myself involved in the fights I couldn’t win. Right?

But, at the same time, I’d been training recently – Was it really a valid excuse to say that I wouldn’t fight because my soulmate said so? What kind of friend was that?

Shit. This dilemma was getting worse the longer I dwelled over it. I needed to do something – I wasn’t about to sit back and watch either of us meet God.

“Hold on, Usopp!” Surging forward, my hand claws at his arm to wrest backward, the nails biting unceremoniously. I wince at the unintended aggression, worse when it causes the boy to stop in his tracks. Maybe I’d been too assertive about this…

The Sniper’s muscles are taut beneath my fingers, and I lessen my hold, lost for words. The sensation of dry-mouth worsens still, Usopp refocusing his gaze to my own. For the first time, his eyes subject me to a feeling not unlike disdain, pupils sunken and small, bound by his bloodshot eyes.

The person staring back at me, hellbent and hardened, is not the Usopp that I know and love.

His eyes, his expression; It’s as if Usopp had resorted to numbness so that he might cope with the suffering endured, though he was driven by it all the same.

“Please… Let’s just wait for everybody to get here.” A gentle approach was necessary. Without physically releasing Usopp from my hold, I desperately implore the boy to hear my request, softened in the wailing wind. “The others won’t be upset about you losing the money. Even if they were, then we can all get it back together, right? W-We can’t do this by ourselv–”

Face gaunt, unappreciative of my entreaty, Usopp doesn’t want to hear the rest;

“We need that money back.”

It’s the first words he’s spoken since we began moving. In what had felt like hours, all sense of sorrow is gone from his tone – The words are final, inarguable.

His piercing stare never lifts.

“Um… I-I know we do,” Unsure of whether or not Usopp had heard me in his unsettled state, an unspoken tension clogs the conversation, limiting its beneficial potential. For the first time in a long time, I feel awkward speaking with The Sniper. “But, just hear me out. Having the others here could help out a ton, i-if we just–”

“I’m not waiting.” Another interruption. “You can either fight with me… Or you can stay out here. That’s your choice, so take your pick.”

Usopp’s assertion is coarse, like diving head-first on roller blades for the cement to gnaw your skin.

My heart sags, gripped by anxiety, biting my lip at the uncharacteristic strictness of Usopp’s suggested ultimatum – Characterized by the war in my mind – He was going to make me choose.

“Listen to me…” I hush, contemplating whether or not the influence of Usopp’s emotions had conquered his system – I knew that feeling all too well as per past events – If I could salvage him from stubbornness, make him see reason, maybe we could come back from this cliff’s edge. Nevertheless, I couldn’t manage to disguise the urgency. “I-I understand. I understand so much that it hurts. Really, I-I promise I do, but… You can’t go in there, please, Usopp. We just have to wait– Just– Just wait for everyone else. The others are stronger than we are, and those bandits already hurt you, I don’t want you to–”

“I’m not asking for your pity, so don’t bother.” The Sniper snaps, just as that of a crocodile’s maw on a squirrel's tail. The sharpness of its teeth leaves me stunned. “Are you with me, or not?”

He’s not in his right mind. I remind myself of this fact, and I know it well – It’s personal. Relatable.

If I couldn’t convince him otherwise, I would be responsible for whatever occurs next– I had to make a choice.

“I-I…” Don’t know what else to say. I feel like an idiot.

The quizzing repeats–

What the hell do I do? Do I fight?

If I tried, I would only be a hindrance; I barely had enough knowledge to defend myself.

What about Usopp? What happens if he goes in there alone?

–Usopp takes my lack of response as an answer in itself, twitchy while he redirects, sights set back onto the Franky House.

“Fine… But, I’m not waiting a second longer. I can’t face the others like this.” Disregarding the concern I’ve shown over his well-being, Usopp turns his back on me once again. “We need that money, for Merry. And because I’m the one that lost it… Now I have to get it back.”

No matter how he pronounces them, there’s no masking the already-wilting fragility of those claims. Usopp blamed himself – And in his shoes, I likely would have done the same – He blamed himself on the money being stolen, and the prospect of us not being able to save our home.

…Although, he didn’t know the truth, did he.

Usopp wouldn’t be to blame at all.

The Going Merry could not be fixed in the first place.

I mull over this aspect of his determination for a loaded, arduous moment – Speculate if I should be the one to tell him such an agonizing truth in the midst of his breakdown, or if there was another member of our crew better suited to it – Usopp loved the Merry, slaved over its well being, doted on its damages and break-downs…

Would it be cruel to extend that knowledge to him? Or was it a means of mercy?

Usopp was at his lowest. To extend the knowledge that the most important token he’d attributed to the Straw Hats travels – Gifted by those closest to him on his old island – Would no longer embark on any more of our adventures… I didn't know if that would be the right decision to make, or the entirely wrong one.

The Sniper was hurting – Parallel in that he was out of his mind… Was it right to tell him now? To kick him while he’s down?

Coincidentally, however, what else could stop him? He wasn’t listening– Not to sympathies, or cares… Was this the proverbial kick in the ass that he’d need to conceive the mistake he was bound to make? This was dangerous, and yet he paid the danger no mind, putting himself at great risk.

I ascertain on my own behalf… I don’t know what else to do.

“Th-The Merry…”

With a gut-wrenching distress, I inhale the salty air, trepidating the 50/50 shot of a bad reaction.

“...The Merry can’t be fixed, Usopp.”

The dust settles. It’s as if the very world itself is holding its breath, baring witness to the entire ordeal.

Usopp halts, his foot hovering in the air. The sweat beads over my brow; It’s a pregnant pause that holds still, and braces.

The Sniper doesn’t make a sound.

I take that as motivation to continue– To further explain the reasoning behind such a fundamental profession.

“...Even if we had the money,” Examining his figure with bated breath, he’s been rendered statue-like, and I can’t begin to guess where his thoughts have circled. “We can’t fix her. She’s too… Broken.”

My hands grow fidgety, whispering words replaced by billowing gales that tussle my hair and rake at our clothes.

Quiet. The waves crash at the rocks in the distance.

The atmosphere fractures. I spot The Snipers shoulders twitch.

“...What the hell are you talking about?”

His tone is low, catching me off guard – full of warning. The disappointment that rings in my ears like alarm bells isn’t a sound that’s suited to Usopp. It’s not that of the petty or cranky responses he’d give any other day… It hitches my breath, rattles my bones in how dead-serious he appears.

“Is that your plan? Was that seriously your best way to convince me?” Usopp snarls; An unkempt, disheveled stare has me stepping away for a second. “You thought making up stupid lies was gonna work? That’s what you think will get me to wait for the others– To hurt my feelings, to scare me so much that I’ll be too upset to even try? It is, isn’t it– That’s exactly what you’re trying to do right now.”

That wasn’t what I had meant.

The Sniper was lashing out. He’d misinterpreted my claims as nothing but an inhumane method of persuasion.

Usopp’s bottom lip quivers, eyes glossing. He doesn’t want to believe me – My eyes burn in tandem.

It wasn’t what I meant.

Overwhelmed in the spotlight of accusation, bewildered at the prospect of Usopp believing that I’d purposefully attempted to hurt him, each word is like a blow to the ribs. “N-No, Usopp– I wasn’t–” My mind jumps to assumptions, a lapse in logic as I straight panicked; Did he really believe I’d do that? “I-I would never do that– I was just… It’s the truth. Just, I-I’m not… Lying, Usopp, I’m sorry. I know The Merry means a lot to you, and–”

“You know what?” Throat shuddering, Usopp swallows down the tears, glowering with so much ire that mine start pouring down my face in his stead. “Do whatever you want– Maybe you might be fine with just sitting back and letting the others do the work, but I’m not!”

“U-Usopp, I didn’t–”

I make more effort to save this swiftly spiraling conversation – The Sniper refuses to let up.

“I’m not going to fall behind like some useless stowaway while everyone else gets stronger!”

It takes a moment to set in.

But it starts with the tiniest crack, layered in the deepest cavity of my chest. A delicate crack that pinches, bursts into a hairline fracture – It punctures, spreading like spiderwebs over a glass heart.

Useless.

It wasn’t the exact word that I’d been avoiding – worthless – the one that Luffy had me swear to never label myself under… Yet it was related, swamping my consciousness just the same as its insinuating cousin.

“Screw them.” Luffy finalizes. “You have me now, and the crew. Who cares what they said? None of us thinks that about you.”

He was wrong. Apparently, one of them did.

Everything I worked for seems to crumble. To be reproached by one of the people whom I’d laid my faith into – Believed that he would never think of me in this way, going so far as to indicate that I was a nothing but a useless stowaway – It’s more than enough to resign to silence.

And as we stand before each other, wordless, I’m just uncertain of everything that’s led up to this point.

All I wanted to do was help Usopp– To stop him from getting hurt, or worse. Yet all I’ve done was make things worse.

It’s just like before– Just like before–

“Can’t you do anything right?”

Fuck.

I can’t revert back to before – I can’t. I can’t let it get to me.

Easier said than done; Bordering hysteria, the expression of a disdainful father flicker over The Sniper's face – Why was he looking at me like that?

He looked like he hated me… Like all the rest – Like he wanted to leave.

My throat tightens. It feels as if I’m back in that dingy room again, the striped walls like iron bars.

“Suit yourself… I’m going to get that money back, and fix Merry– With or without you!”

I hear his words, although I don’t assume this realm of being, practically incorporeal as I’ve honed onto the emotions that were newly buried, ones I’d sworn to remain there for the rest of my life. Resilient as ever, they’d clawed their way out like zombies from the grave, dirt beneath their broken fingernails.

With arms that can barely pull back the rubber of his slingshot, Usopp snarls.

Aiming a gunpowder star at the doors of the Franky Family house, he releases the ammo with reckless abandon.

Ka-BOOM!

The building shudders, and the wooden doors smash to bits.

—

A heaving breath grates against my windpipe, vocal chords reacting with the combined strain that came with having to lug a limp body opposite from the apparent danger. For the second time today, Usopp lost against the opponent.

The strangled retch of my throat fills the gaps between each avalanching sob. Visions of Usopp’s brutal defeat replay in my head, held against my will from afar to watch on – It was some sick form of entertainment for the bandits, who took great pleasure in delivering a reckoning by order of their leader.

“Too bad for Straw Hat Luffy…” The man, a towering figure that brought about an aura of foreboding, pierced Usopp through the eyeholes of his sinister mask.

Though gaudy, the orange and blue get-up was worn with reason – A bassist voice ensuring that the man wasn’t one to be screwed with, comparable to the rolling grumble of an engine – He was the leader of the Franky Family.

We were in his domain, for the time being. In other words, we played by his rules.

“He’s got himself a useless underling who can’t even handle the simple task of guarding a little money… Such a shame.” Belittling The Sniper for his failed attempts at retrieving the suitcases, the man’s bare foot sweeps up, striking Usopp beneath the chin.

With an arrogant scoff, the impact sends him reeling. I struggle against my entrapment, calling my friend’s name, but the man behind me never loosens his grip.

The Sniper tumbles, soon to be surrounded by the rest of the Franky Family cronies.

Their leader turns his back, money in hand, and heads for the door.

My face is soaked, briny tears wetting my face. You might’ve thought I’d dunked my head straight into the ocean.

I readjust my grip under Usopp’s arms, sweaty hands slipping against his bloodied flesh, grunting feebly. The progress I’d made cleaning him up prior had been for nothing.

“Go on, take your little weakling friend and get out of here!”

Mocking and ridiculing from the demolished entrance of their hideout, our enemies tossed us out onto the dusty ground once they’d had their fill; Me first, then Usopp. He was like nothing but a used-up doll, cast aside for a better one.

I could make out the stamped shoe-marks that those thugs left behind, their soles printed on Usopp’s overalls. One only knew the plethora of injuries that lay hidden from sight.

“You’re lucky you didn’t get the same treatment as he did, little girl! You better hurry up before we change our minds.”

Forced to drag Usopp away, threats and sneers thrown about as we went – he was heavy, and I was scared.

However, I feared even more for the consequences of disobeying their insulting orders – Wary of the odds of them acting on their remarks – What else were they willing to do? Where did the depths of their depravity end?

“Yeah– Buzz off before we bust up that pretty face of yours, too!”

Despite all of the venom that Usopp had spat at me prior, I couldn’t just leave him to their cruelty. He was still my friend… Wasn’t he?

With my birdseye view of his head sagging, chin dipping towards his collarbone, the conflict that burdened my aching body raged on. The men had only struck me once – Or twice, I couldn’t recall – It didn’t matter, the invisible wounds had festered…

Still, I would never forgive myself if I chose to leave Usopp behind.

I blamed myself. I blamed the Franky Family.

I should’ve done more. I shouldn’t have been so weak.

“And be sure to let your little boyfriend know about all that money you guys so generously handed over! Our Bro sure appreciates it!”

Luffy would be disappointed to learn about the way I thought of myself right now.

I dug my teeth into my lip, unable to resist bawling my eyes out. The slightest thought of my soulmate rising the tides behind my eyes; Longing for his appearance most of all, pining for everything that was him and came with him. If only he was here, then all this would never have happened. I needed him here.

Shhrrrk…

With another slide of Usopp’s body against the gravel, a shallow divot sends me tumbling onto my back as I lose my footing. Squeezing my eyes shut, the breath punches from my lungs as I wheeze, and they pop back open at the strike that lights up my tailbone.

A writhing yowl emits from under my back, Ivory squirming away from the probability of getting squashed under my weight. His cries rung loud in my ears.

Between the loss of air and the uncontrollable wails that ripped from my throat, I couldn’t get enough airflow. My head spun.

The kitten tapped at my face, sliding his cheek against mine in concern.

Usopp fell on my legs, and in the haze of my skull, the only tell that The Sniper remained amongst the living was that of his body heat. I couldn’t give up until we were beyond the bandits reach – hadn’t been able to stop and feel his pulse, nor discern his respiratory rate, as Chopper had once taught me in the quiet days back on The Merry.

Even now, I was terrified that the men would see how I’d fallen in my task, and come after us once more.

I don’t know what to do. The goals are there, they’re necessary, and yet I can’t fathom how I’d be able to muster up any sort of ability that would allow me to drag Usopp all the way back to The Going Merry – Look at how well it was going so far.

I wanted to shut down, to call it quits on this abominable day, and give up. Nothing could be worse than this.

The dirt and dust pasted to my sweaty skin, itching my exposed thighs. A torn sleeve tickles my arm; My outfit was in shambles on top of everything… I suppose that was no fault other than my own. I’d ripped the skirt earlier, hadn’t I? Yeah… For Usopp. What about the sleeve?

Squinting at the cloudless sky, tears gliding warmly from the corner of my eye to my hairline, grieving all that there was to grieve, I lay there unmoving.

I needed to get up, I needed to get Usopp the medical attention that he required. My fingers tightened into fists at my sides, tenacity unwilling to grace my soul with its vigor.

Mrrreow!

Whiskers twitching along with his nose, Ivory perks his little ears – Then, he bolts.

“I– W-Wait,” I croak, froglike, having torn my voicebox apart. “I-Ivory!”

Craning my back, uncomfortably twisting my torso to discern where the kitten has run off to, I’m nearing a heart attack when I figure he’s sprinting towards the entrance to the city. The last thing I needed on this damned island was for him to be stolen.

I spy his tiny white body gunning it towards the city–

An immediate double-take has my (e/c) eyes bulging from the sockets.

Four figures saunter forward through the blur of heat that simmers off the rocks in the sunlight.

“...Luffy?” His name breathes life into the link we share, an electric jolt that both shocks and soothes.

Lo-and-behold; A blonde clad in black, a green headed man with three swords at his hip, a brown-furred creature whose pink hat sticks out like a sore-thumb, and a figure clad in red, his straw hat’s pallor glaring in the broad expanse of land.

Ivory speeds towards the latter, zooming two whirling loops around Luffy’s legs, belting the loudest cries before booking it back towards me – As if leading the way for a rescue party.

Hiking onto my arms for a better look, the confirmation that I’m not totally hallucinating comes in a violent shimmer of energy once we lock eyes. It punctuates the end of all this needless suffering – Luffy was finally here, and so were the others.

My bottom lip trembles, and the misty-eyed blur takes full-force. I glide my hand over Ivory’s silky head when he returns, his self-satisfied purrs comforting under my quaking fingers, rewarding him with the soft praise of ‘good boy’ under my breath.

By the time they reach us, Chopper kneels to gauge Usopp’s state of health – Which is poor, judging by The Doctor’s discomposure. He’s in his ‘human’ form, fingers adeptly prodding and searching.

The others stand motionless, no reaction portrayed. I glance from Luffy, to Chopper, to Sanji, to Zoro, and repeat the motion warily. It’s almost uncanny.

The spark of outrage has been lit, I can feel it in the tremor of my bones. It’s so intense that eventually I can’t manage to look at any of them, the gravity of the situation heavy enough to tilt my gaze toward the fallen victim.

“Is he breathing, Chopper?” Luffy takes the initiative, a grave edge to his tone that rasps tenuously – My soulmate was incredibly upset. I could sense the fervency burning through our bond like a dry twig.

Sanji, whilst puffing a cigarette between his lips, sheds the black vest from his back. Wordlessly, he offers it to me, nodding to my tattered skirt. I take it to rest over my lap, its silky threads sheening in the sunlight. Thankful, I nearly whisper my appreciation, throat hoarse. “…Thank you.”

“He’s unconscious, but…” Chopper verifies, which is another major source of relief. “Yes, he’s breathing. He’ll be okay. I can save him.” It sounded as if he were attempting to convince himself that everything would be alright in the end, even though he’d been the one to give the evaluation.

Stoic, the reindeer is less than pleased, his voice warbling with ire. In fact, I think it was the angriest I’d seen Chopper thus far…

“What happened?” Coming off as accusatory, I unwillingly flinch at Zoro’s inquiry.

Tentative to return his gaze, I clutch Sanji’s vest to pacify my apprehension.

Although The Swordsman's regard is steely, I’m eased to find that he harbors no form of resentment. I would’ve hated to see any hint of contempt on his face, not only as his trainee, but also in more considerable ways – We often interacted like brother and sister, and that was only solidified with every training session. The green-haired man had practically taken me under his wing over the last couple of weeks.

As annoying as he could be, Zoro had grown on me in ways that were irreversible. So, out of everyone, he was probably most aware that this predicament was out of my league… As little comfort as it might’ve provided.

“I… I, um…” Trailing off, Usopp’s mutilated face causes me to grimace. If only I could’ve done more. “I-I tried to stop him from going, I tried… But I didn’t… I-It wasn’t–” Regret swims in my vision. I avert my eyes to the ground, unable to look at The Sniper’s crooked nose any longer. “I-It wasn’t enough… They took the money, and…”

I bite my lip and peel away at the skin, metallic regret flooding my tastebuds. The outcome of this event had instilled everything that I couldn’t measure up to – Ruminating, obsessing over my flaws.

“I-I’m… I’m sorry.” Involuntarily whimpering the lamentation, I’m not quite sure who the apology is meant for… Usopp, for obvious reasons – Also Chopper, for not retaining his lessons when it matters most – Zoro, for failing to uphold our training – Sanji, for something as simple as having to sacrifice his coat – And, for Luffy, who I could never amount to, who I wouldn’t deserve for as long as I remained the way that I was.

Zoro gruffs, annoyed. He shifts his swords to the side and furrows his brow in exasperation. “The hell are you talkin’ about? Sorry for what?”

“The only ones who should be sorry are the people who work under the Franky Family. A lady like yourself can only do so much, but you did what you could.” The Chef lights a new cigarette. “That’s all that matters.”

“He’s right.” Chopper affirms, and as he stands, I spot the blooded patch of my (f/c) skirt poking out of his pocket. “You did your best.”

Given no chance to respond, something shades over my head, the scratchy material cupping the back of my scalp, pushed to cover my eyes as Luffy walks onward.

“Just wait out here a bit, both of you.” The Captain commands more-so than offers, gruffing the unspoken promise of a swift return. “They’re the ones who are gonna be sorry.”

The pressure of his palm lingers, until it slips from place. Leftover tingles work to shiver the negativity from my body, like a full-on relapse.

Lifting the brim of the Straw Hat with newfound repose, I understood; I would get my comfort soon. For now, avenging Usopp took utmost priority, and I was meant to watch over him until the group was finished taking their dues.

Luffy’s crew follows dutifully – Zoro tying back his bandana, Sanji smoking nonchalantly in the breeze, Chopper huffing steam from his nose… Even Ivory trots at the boys heels, as if excited to contribute even in his small size – Luffy leads the charge with knuckles cracking and a vein sticking from his forehead, zeroed in on the neon-paint of the bandits hideout.

“We’re gonna go level that stupid house to the ground.” Luffy growls, and that’s the last I hear from him as he leaves the premises.

The Franky Family was toast… He was pissed.

There’s only so much I can perceive from where I’m located, far enough where I can’t make-out any conversation that might be made. Despite this, it’s relatively easy to find out when the battle begins.

They approach the door, and with an absurd sensation of deja-vu, I watch Luffy’s arm reel back into an elongated stretch. It reels back, further and further, and I wonder if he’s aiming to bring down the house all at once… That wasn’t really The Captain’s way of doing things, though.

An unfortunate soul happens to open the door just as the boy releases his punch – a jetted-attack that knocks away both man and door, which swings straight off its hinges, previously repaired from the one-man onslaught that Usopp had incurred beforehand.

It’s this action in particular that brings about the building's demolition.

With the door gone, there’s nothing blocking the five from waltzing straight inside, where I lose sight of them – Including Ivory. Though I’m a bit unnerved by the idea of him joining the fray, I was certain he’d be safe amongst the four and their protective tendencies.

Unlike the last time, there’s no laughter, or jeering; Muffled noise echoes from the inside of the structure, yet I’m unsure of what exactly it entails.

I’m certain that Luffy’s wrath reflected in the bond means that he’s enacting his goals – There’s no pain, aside from the tenderness of my knuckles, and no danger being signalled – Pure adrenaline guiding his torrential bombardment. I lay my faith in him and wait as patiently as I’m able, analyzing for some kind of development.

In the meantime, antsy and incapable of sitting still with nerves as my only company, I’ve just managed to lay Usopp’s head in my lap, where both our faces can be shielded by the sun via Luffy’s hat.

Boom– Boom, boom–

The cannon-fire is unmistakable, but there’s not much else than a fading smoke that alludes to their usage.

The battle is ramping up, escalating in short phases that garner the walls to brittle – The explosions widen in range, or backfire entirely, bursting at the seams – From the doors, the windows–

The ground shudders, and that’s all it takes – The entirety of the Franky House erupts with the firepower of an enormous bomb. The noise hurts my ears, the shockwave slapping my body after a breath.

The building ruptures, splitting apart; A collection of plaster, metal beams, and ashen wood collapses to the ground. The acrid scent of gunpowder and burning paint singes my nostrils, even from the distance I’m sat.

I’m too enamoured by the sight of the dismantling to really care.

In such a short time, my crewmates, my soulmate, had taken down an entire group of well-established bounty hunters, bulldozing their home alongside them. Luffy had a monstrous amount of strength, inhuman – I don’t know how I hadn’t grown used to seeing his strength, but witnessing it combined with the others was almost impossible to comprehend – Astonishing beyond belief.

I mean… Four people, against at least fifty others? And they kicked ass.

Wtf? How the hell was I supposed to catch up to that?

The first to show face is Chopper, reverted to his normal, shortened figure. The Doctor clomps over at high speed, readying to treat his damaged patient with a clenched jaw and an apprehensive gaze.

“I need help moving him, quickly.” Chopper sets down his blue medicine sack, the white cross-marking matching that of his hat, wasting no time as he grabs one of Usopp’s arms.

I obey the orders, and maneuver so that Usopp lies flat on the ground, albeit a tad stiff with my taut muscles and scabbing scuffs.

“Were you able to administer treatment earlier?” The Doctor inquires, already reaching for his custom-made salves, at the same time acquiring multiple rolls of clean-bandages, including a bottle of alcohol to clean the wounds appropriately – An imperative step that was required before anything else could get done. Healing required sterility.

“Um…” I grapple to answer him, hesitant to reveal my pitiful methods of care. “No, I, uh… I-I’m sorry. I didn’t have any first aid, so I tried to clean him up a bit, but…”

“Oh, right.” Chopper nods curtly, dabbing a cotton swab atop the jar, studiously taking up one of Usopp’s hands. “I forgot we didn’t pack any medical supplies in your bag, cus’ with Ivory you wouldn’t have had any room.”

“Yeah… Right. I-I guess…”

“Well, it’s good that you managed to clean some of his wounds, before he…” Chopper pauses, looks at the swab, and then back at me. His words dangle precariously in the air – Overcome with emotion, he decides to switch topics. “A-Actually, I could probably use some more water before I start cleaning the larger injuries. Would you mind grabbing some for me really quick? I’ll need some help wrapping him up after that, too.”

The closest water source is an outcove that resides next to the remains of the bandits home. Given a directive, I follow it tirelessly, unsure of what else to do with myself.

On my way there, a new trouble forms in the cognizance that I’ve left Sanji’s overshirt back with Usopp and Chopper, hurried by the sense to redeem myself. The ripped skirt, I register, is much shorter now – A detail that’s made clearer now that all sources of danger have been eliminated – And I tug at the frayed ends with each step, which are causing it to ride further up my legs.

In the end, I resorted to planting one half of the fabric to the side of my leg with white knuckles, wobbling towards the water – Like a penguin, or something.

Perched at the peak of the crescent moon, now blackened with smog and smut, my soulmate maintains a steadfast position, one that stares out upon the sea's horizon. My sights are glued to his figure while I move, eerily silent and eerily still, as Luffy had never stood so quiet for so long.

He’s… Resolute, yet reserved, I think, even after reigning hellfire throughout the duration of the fight.

It did make sense… Luffy was goofy, joyful and carefree for about ninety percent of his interactions. The other ten percent rose to the surface whenever a perceived threat arose to harm those closest to him, so his fury had been rightfully placed.

It was the quiet that alerted my radar that something different was going on. It wasn’t unheard of for Luffy to take a moment of quiet in moments of unrest, although it had never been so tranquil. Melancholy hushed the typically hectic undertones of our connection, the essence of my soulmate otherwise peeking through no matter the circumstance; It felt like reflection, profound and unknown.

Wrapped around his shoulders sits Ivory, who assumes the position in a way that’s somehow regal, having managed to mimic Luffy’s aura completely – Happy as a clam. It was jarring, considering the two were at odds with each other so often recently.

Luffy’s black hair whips in the wind, the straw of his hat scraping my back as if the two were permanently attached even from afar. I wanted to know what he was thinking.

Approaching the area, I take note that The Captain’s right and left hands are lounging around the rubble. Whatever they’d been discussing is cut short, as Sanji shifts to a stand and steps nearer;

“Here, let me.” Extending a hand, the other tucked into the pocket of his trousers, The Chef insists on taking the flask in my hand. “I can take over. Take some more time to rest, I’ll help Chopper instead.”

Embarrassingly, I remember that his overcoat has been left in the area I’ve just parted from – Though it probably wouldn’t have done much for me without any sleeves to wrap around my waist. Regardless, I take him up on the offer, placing the flask in his waiting hand. “Yeah, uh… Sure, thanks. Sorry, I left your vest over there.”

“That’s alright. A dirtied vest is nothing compared to the satisfaction of ensuring a lady’s comfort.” With that, Sanji smoothly takes his leave.

Sighing at his back, at odds with my friends accepting my apologies without so much as a soft scolding, a grunt of disapproval summons my attention – Zoro – And I wonder if I’d been too quick to assume. Maybe it was better that they had reacted so leniently.

“Oi, don’t pretend you can’t hear me.” The man sounds vaguely annoyed, but not entirely aggressive. “We gotta talk about somethin.’”

Instinctively, I find my shoulders pulling closer towards myself. “...Am I in trouble?”

“Depends.” The Swordsman snorts, arms crossed. “You still feelin’ sorry for yourself? Cus’ it sure seems like it to me.”

I purse my lips, aware of the answer awaiting me. We’d grown closer with more and more frequent training sessions, and I could determine most of his moods fairly easily at this point.

My admittance is a simple murmur, not ready for him to lay into me. “So… I am in trouble.”

“Jesus, woman.” Zoro huffs, fed up with my self-derogation. “No. But you are being an idiot.”

I frown childishly, brows furrowing with an arm reaching to rub at the other. Okay… Maybe I deserved that, but that was also a little hurtful.

“You don’t have to get so upset over not being able to help out during the fight. \We’ve only been training for a few weeks, you’re not strong enough for that yet.” Zoro, spitting facts, lends his… Advice? Observations? Insight? I dunno, but it’s helping.

“Okay…” I relent, dropping my hand from my arm to the other, tangling my fingers and wringing them anxiously. “Um… Yeah, I guess, but– But still, shouldn’t I have done, like, more? I just feel like Usopp was– Well, he’s really hurting, and I just… Felt like I owed him, and I just kept making everything worse–”

“Why the hell would you owe Usopp anything?” Zoro interjects, cutting me off mid-spiel. “Usopp can choose for himself, and you don’t have the right to blame yourself for the choices that he makes. It was out of your control, so what’s the point in moping about it?”

“I-I’m not moping,” A lie, and Zoro likely knew it. “I just… When Nami and I found him in the city, he told us…”

The Swordsman lifts an inquisitive brow, waiting for me to spit it out – Internally, I debate on whether I should really be sharing Usopp’s circumstances without him being around to hear it himself… It’s settled soon enough.

“He told us that he was afraid to face you guys after losing the money.” I blurt the words roughly, dying to get them off of my pounding chest. That indescribable unworthiness holds me in a chokehold – I needed to be useful to everyone, and I couldn’t be. “A-And I feel so guilty– I-I mean, I know it probably sounds self-centered, but after he said that… I just– I think this whole time, Usopp’s been feeling just like I’ve been feeling, and I never noticed, like, ever… Uh… All I’ve ever done is doubt myself, almost exactly like that– And because I’ve been so focused on myself, I can’t help but wonder that maybe if I’d been paying more attention, then, um… Then maybe none of this would’ve happened? O-Or– Or maybe if I was stronger, or–”

“There are times where you’re going to have to focus on helping yourself in order to help others. By staying out of it, you got to drag Usopp outta there, and both of you survived.” Matter-of-fact, Zoro effortlessly thwarts my doubts, aiming to put them to rest. “I’m not gonna tell you not to push yourself. Just push yourself when it matters.”

If you’d have told me when I first joined the crew that I’d be having regularly scheduled therapy sessions with Zoro – The stiff-shouldered ex-bounty hunter that could fry you under his blazing stare – I would’ve told you that you were crazy. Nevertheless, here we are.

In a literal sense, The Swordsman was referring to my physical inabilities. I did what I could, and that was enough – ‘save your energy for later,’ and I would be able to push myself when it was most dire. This situation in particular was not the case, with them having arrived to deal with our enemies, if only a little late to the party. If I’d chosen to fight, then the both of us could’ve wound up a lot worse; Ultimately, my best option was to wait and depend on the others.

Metaphorically speaking, the same could be said for my mental state, held hostage in a roller coaster that was a constant up and down. Believe it or not, training sessions were a battle of both spirit and strength, and a sizable portion of Zoro’s teachings involved developing a toughened will, which I struggled with immensely. This could be applied to the ‘helping myself first’ section of his speech, as I couldn’t help anybody if I was in the wrong state of mind… People who were upset typically made rash, hasty decisions – Just like Usopp had done today.

His no-nonsense attitude had a resounding, grounding effect that was a vital piece of our lessons together – Student and teacher. The neurons in my mind settle their uproar, coaxed into a docile state as they process the meaning of Zoro’s guidance.

“And stop getting your feelings hurt. Even our idiot Captain said you shouldn’t be worrying about what other people think.”

Head snapping to meet his penetrative gaze, Zoro seems to infiltrate the conversation to its most ingrained source of strife. The suggestion is mind-boggling, not because it was false; Because I intentionally hadn’t mentioned it once.

No stranger to your past issues, he’s sniffed out that there’s something else you haven’t told him – That being Usopp’s antagonism from earlier – After all, to Zoro’s knowledge, that tactic was one that worked best against you.

He wouldn’t pry about the details, though he pondered how low Usopp might’ve stooped to have caused such stirrings in your psyche.

“About the ship…”

Out of nowhere, The Captain speaks.

Authoritatively, the sandy tone declares attention from all the way across the wreckage. The conversation between Zoro and I is left on the backburner without a second thought; There’s something alarmingly subdued in Luffy’s manner of speech, and I get the impression he’s been thinking about the current predicament, regarding our ship, for a lot longer than he’d let on.

“I’ve made a decision.”

Luffy’s husky pitch bids chills to race all about my form. The moment takes precedence over all others – A conclusion to the problem we’ve all wanted answering to;

What were we going to do about The Going Merry?

Seagulls cry out with a lust for the drama, wings flapping, maneuvering to swoop lower as they risk themselves for the chance to hear more – All about the gossip of the land dwellers below pertaining to their worldly problems.

“It’s time to part ways with The Merry… Let’s say goodbye to her here.”

There isn’t a hint of sorrow in the final words of his announcement, merely a stagnancy that sets the orders in stone – Yet, this doesn’t hold up in our tethered wavelength, betraying his facade with a nearly imperceptible tremble.

Finally, his dormancy slips, and a somberness sinks to its final resting point. It drags at him, pulling and prodding to be fed so that it might grow to engulf the rest of his emotions.

He’d never allow that to happen, of course… However, it brings about the recognition that, heedless of Luffy’s resolve, the verdicts sometimes required of a leader could be burdensome for anybody to undertake – Even for someone as unyielding as our Captain was.

I couldn’t fault him for this split-second, waning resolution… Our ship was home, transport, a beloved member of the crew; She was integral to everything that the Straw Hats were. The Captain didn’t want to have to let go of the beloved vessel, but there was no other option. The Going Merry couldn’t be fixed.

Any apprehension I might’ve been holding to this command is swayed by something akin to pity. I knew, in his shoes, I wouldn’t have stood so tall in the shadows of the inevitable… Even then, the least I could do was stand behind him in any way that I was able.

At the end of the day, when you put aside all his toughness, Luffy was still just a boy.

He drops from the crescent’s tip, stretchy arm affixed to the spot above in order to swing forwards, resembling tarzan. It lowkey reminds me of his shenanigans back in Skypiea… If only the mood was reflected similarly, and not so darkened by solemnity.

A puff of soot forms a mushroom cloud under Luffy’s sandals when they stamp at the ground, landing not far ahead of Zoro and I. Having scaled the entire fifty-feet-or-more of the ruins in the span of three seconds, Ivory flees The Captain’s shoulder, ruffled by the steep drop – With a disgruntled yowl he retreats to me, ducking and weaving between my legs with chirping purrs.

“The heck are you whining about?” Luffy grills the kitten’s cowardice disapprovingly. “You were fighting all those guys just fine a while ago, why are you acting like such a baby all of a sudden?”

The animal appears to glare, exposed over his mischievous attempts to garner some affection from you.

“Ivory was fighting?” Appalled by the news, I looked around the trio for confirmation. Ivory was still just a baby. How the hell did a kitten manage to fight?

Zoro shrugs.

Luffy does the same, uttering simply; “Sure. Why?”

Ivory meows – Yes. Yes I did. And I’ll do it again. – Too bad Chopper wasn’t nearby.

“Um, okay. Wait,” Beside myself, I shake my head and close my eyes. “You’re telling me that a kitten helped fight off a bunch of big buff dudes– The same dudes that I literally couldn’t fight earlier?”

Zoro shrugs again, pursing his lips with a considering nod. “Well, when you put it that way…”

“Hang on,” The Captain cackles at long last, his dazzling smile meant to break the depressed haze and draw me in – Though all manner of doing so leaves my system with his next words. “Does that mean you’re weaker than a kitten?”

Zoro grins when I don’t answer, and Luffy is busy laughing at the discovery… My face was red as a beet.

On the bright side, at least Luffy was happy? It’s like everything had never happened…

The switch flipped a little too fast for me to be satisfied, though, and I didn’t really love being the butt of the joke after everything I’d endured. “Ugh… Fml.” I groan, spinning on my heel in order to hide my humiliation, ready to storm toward Chopper and Sanji, away from Luffy’s make-fun-of-(Y/n) session.

Always my escort, Ivory comes along with head held high and tail whipping superiorly.

“Hey, where are you goin?” I hear my soulmate inquire as my once-undaunted stride steadily transforms to an awkward hobble. This damn skirt–

The slap of his sandals closes in momentarily. It’s an easy mission to achieve, my speed significantly downplayed by consistent fidgeting and careful steps.

“We gotta head back to the ship to tell the others, n’ I wanted to talk to you before… Uh,” Befuddled by my odd behavior, the boy catches onto my discomfort without much trouble. “Are you itchy or something? Why are you walking like that?”

Apprehensive, I deliver another firm yank so that the fabric stays put – It fails.

Obligated to admit my issue, the level of embarrassment is lethal. “I uh, had to rip my skirt earlier… I-It’s too short now, so it keeps… Like, um…”

“Give her your shirt and then carry her back to the ship when she’s ready!” Sanji, having caught wind of the problem at hand, instructs The Captain from afar. I swear, he could sniff out these situations like a hound. “We need to get Usopp back as soon as we can. Mosshead, get over here and help us carry him.”

“I don’t take orders from second-rate line-cooks.”

“Don’t make me come over there–” The Chef doesn't fully deliver the warning to Zoro’s out-of-pocket ridiculing.

Luffy, matching his right hand's energy, is just as boisterous and stubborn.

“Why does she need my shirt? (Y/n) is having issues with her legs, not her arms. That’s dumb.”

“It’s so she can cover herself– And your shirt doesn’t even have sleeves, you damned imbecile!” Fuming, Sanji’s eyes burn in the dry heat of the rocky cape. “Show some human decency, stop arguing, and do it before I kick your sorry skull in! Do you want some creep to ogle her beautiful body?! Seriously, I can’t believe you of all people landed a soulmate… It should’ve been me!”

Luffy blinks, taken aback by the outburst and altogether uncertain of what to make of it. Meant to remind and ingrain that he needed to be more mindful of these sorts of things – Else another ‘Kyle’ situation might arise, at worst case. Be that as it may, the significance behind the blond’s words is lost on the boy.

“I don’t get it.”

Shuffling slightly, I take the initiative to remove his hat from the place it’s slung around my neck. He takes it happily, eyes scanning mine and awaiting an assist to further his understanding of Sanji’s instructions – Looking to me for whether or not that was actually what I wanted, and not just what the crew thought I wanted.

“It’s not for me to wear, it’s… I’d use it to tie around my waist so that I don’t, um… Flash anybody, o-or something.” Saying it aloud is much worse than I could’ve predicted. I didn’t know a wardrobe mishap could be so mortifying.

Luffy cocks his head to the side, not quite seeing the big picture. To him, accidentally flashing somebody didn’t seem like that big of a deal… Nevertheless, you looked uncomfortable, so his clumsy fingers pry at the first of the buttons on his shirt.

Plucking them apart one by one, gaze swapping between you and the task at hand, the next topic summons easily. “How come you wore that anyways? It feels like you don’t even like it that much.”

“I-I like it…” Frazzled by the bluntness of his tone, personally perceived as him showing dislike for the outfit that I’d chosen to wear – Particularly sensitive after fretting over it this morning (and over his reaction to it) – I withhold a pout of disappointment. “Nami said I should wear it today… I dunno, I thought it was cute.”

The red vest is handed over shortly, and I nearly give myself whiplash when I catch a glimpse of how much tanned skin suddenly shows in my periphery, cranking my head the opposite way… Save for one quick peek. (What? I’m only human, and he is my soulmate… Don’t judge me.)

Avoiding any and all physical contact or otherwise, the recognition that he’s now bare-chested stands at the forethought of my mind. Fiddling with the garb, which is slightly warmed due to his body heat – Though not nearly as warm as my face – I find myself tongue-tied.

“I just… I-I’m uncomfy because it’s ruined, y’know?” I force myself to clear my throat, the silence unbearable. “A-Anyway… I told Nami it was a bad idea. I figured it was gonna get ruined one way or another, I guess. Probs looks like a mess… And it’s super hard to move in, I dunno.”

Rambling under the intense fluster that’s been cast over me, I wrap the vest around my waist in an effort to distract myself; Fingers fumbling with the button when I realize I won’t be able to actually tie it without the sleeves, but fastening a button or two should work just as well; Sorta’ like a pair of jeans.

It works well enough, Luffy maintaining a broader figure than I, so I don’t have to pull or tug to make the fabric fit. It’s loose, but does the job. “Um… Thanks. I’ll give it back when we get back to the ship, after I change and stuff…”

When you do turn back to him, The Captain moves closer in preparation to lift you into his waiting arms – Instead, he halts, taking the moment to thoroughly observe the state of your dress, your lamenting enough for him to pay it some mind.

You were right, it was in rough shape. Torn in some places, threads poking out in some bits, the cloth was dusted with dirt, alongside a spattering of dirtied-crimson that made him uneasy. Reassuring himself, he’s sure the spots aren’t from you, more likely they came from Usopp, after you’d had to carry him so far.

Careful scrutiny leads to the details of your face; Specifically the rawness around your eyes that fades with every minute, persistent in the crevice above your cheekbone where the tears naturally flow into the curves of your skin. Your splotchy cheeks are soaking back into the muscles beneath… The dried tear-streaks haven’t dissipated yet, which ticks him off.

The boy raises a hand to smooth his thumb over the irritated spots absentmindedly, furrowing his brows. You’re looking up at him, perplexed, but not bothered, lashes darkened with moisture. He smiles. Despite the building acknowledgment that you’d been crying for a while before they got there, you were fine now.

“Whaddya mean? You said you liked it, so why does that matter?” Pulling away, Luffy watches as you adjust, departing your dazed-eyed stupor and clumsily reaching to scoop up Bones for easy transport. “Just cus’ it’s dirty doesn’t mean it looks bad. You look pretty in everything you wear.”

You freeze, staring at him with your lips parted. With you being so flummoxed by the truthfulness of Luffy’s statement, his carefree grin widens at the fluctuating sensation of pure elation and dopamine that runs through the bond in rapid spurts. The unseen affiliation between you two skips, jumping around excitedly.

He didn’t know what he’d said to gain it, but Luffy loved this reaction, every single time. The buzzing giddiness that reinvigorated his mind, body and soul – It never got old.

Luffy laughs, the need to enact on all your shared, bubbly energy surging him forward to snatch you up. He slips the backpack from your body onto his – There’s no complaints when his forearm cups the back of your knees, and your deft fingers reach to clasp at the junction where his shoulder and neck connect, surprised, though soon content with the change.

Jostled by the terrain as you lounge in his arms, Luffy sets off back toward the ship, unbothered by the effort of carrying extra cargo. Ivory grumbles in dissatisfaction.

“...Do you really think so?” Bashful, you’re not even looking at him when you ask. Your utterance is no more than a murmur, which throws him off.

It’s not just you being shy. No, he’s put off by the repressed skepticism that’s mixed in between the vowels like poison. Where the heck did that come from? You never reacted like that to his compliments… At least from what he remembered.

In any case, it had drastically dampened your intoxicating mood, and there was no way in hell Luffy was going to let that slide.

“‘Course I do.” Pensively, he dug a little deeper. You did feel a little skewed, abstracted in a way that only Luffy could recognize. Every few steps there was a hitch in the invisible string that was woven between you, as if plucked like a harp just a little too harshly for the melody to sound as gentle as it was meant to be.

The Captain could acknowledge that the day had been fairly stressful for everyone. As for the source of your stress, there were many options to pick from, though for the life of him he couldn’t nitpick what specifically was the subject of your anxiety.

“Hey, you okay? Feels like something’s up.” The examination is meant to be lighthearted, unserious in the sense that Luffy wasn’t probing for anything severe (since it didn’t feel like there was anything major at stake right now); However, he left the opportunity for an open answer if it turned out that was the case after all.

To his disgruntlement, you don’t answer right away. Then, the connection loses its vibrance altogether.

A hollow cavity forms instead. It tears through your torso, ruminating inside of him like an old enemy. Luffy had nearly missed it – Diverted by the temporary solution of proximity that had always nullified your wounds, physical and mental.

Ultimately, something had happened, and it had been much worse than he’d expected… Determining how much worse was his primary concern.

The two of you are fairly ahead of the others, Zoro and Sanji bickering over Usopp’s transfer through the city. This leaves Chopper at his wits end, barking orders to ensure their carelessness didn’t lead to an accident. It fills the space that’s otherwise absent of noise, as you don’t answer for quite some time.

“What happened?” Unconcerned over whether the others overhear your discussion, Luffy pries a second time, possessing a low affinity for patience – And your silence was deafening.

You weren’t going to hold back from telling him anything, that much he knew; He just didn’t like how long you were deliberating over the unknown issue. You thinking too much never turned out well.

“It’s, um… It’s about Usopp.” The confession escapes your mouth with the urgency of an inmate fleeing a prison cell. Luffy doesn’t get why it took so much time to fess up, especially if it was pertinent to one of the crew.

Where you would usually have the buttons of his shirt to fiddle with in the apparent inability to sit still, your nerves have you searching out something else – The pearls on your outfit. A few are already missing, and Luffy wonders if they’d fallen off during the ordeal before, or if you’d been the one to remove them yourself. The behavior raises a red flag.

“What about him?” Eager to know more, Luffy’s curious about the situation, a tad bewildered on how one of your friends could’ve messed with you to this extent.

“I was gonna tell you when we got back, cus’ I talked to Zoro about it a little bit, so, um… I-It’s not anything that serious anymore,” You were downplaying whatever it was that was bothering you – A half-truth, Luffy acknowledged, choosing not to say anything quite yet. “Usopp just… He was really upset… Y’know, about the money. He said he couldn’t face you guys without getting it back first, so…”

Things were slowly coming to make more sense. Luffy got the gist, understanding of his crew members' insistence to retrieve the stolen money; Usopp likely held himself accountable enough to feel at fault, although it was odd that he’d outcast himself in the process. It’s not like they’d be mad about losing the money… Well, maybe Nami would.

You hold your breath here, drawing in courage to continue with your chopped-up story.

“I-I told him that it wouldn’t matter– Nami and I both told him that he didn’t need to worry about you guys, or us… But he just, like… He wouldn’t listen.” Your words are mellow, yet constricted. Luffy can sense what you’re going to say before you say it, regret rising to the surface like oil in water. “I tried to get him to stop and wait for you, it just… It wasn’t enough. Zoro said that it wasn’t up to me– That I’m not strong enough yet, a-and that it was Usopp’s choice–”

“Zoro’s right.” Luffy doesn’t let the ‘but’ slip past your lips, not allowing you to go back on yourself. “That was Usopp’s choice, it wasn’t your job to interfere. We talked about this already, with Ice Guy, remember?”

“Yeah, with Aokiji… I remember.” You murmur glumly, staring out at the busy streets of the city as the two of you pass the threshold. “I-I didn’t end up fighting with him, even after he asked… I-It just feels like, because I worried so much about myself, that maybe Usopp wouldn’t be… Um…” Downcast and frustrated, visions of what transpired show a play-by-play in the lights of your eyes; Luffy wishes he could see it for himself.

While you debate over what to say next – That, or whether or not you should say something (it’s unclear to Luffy which is on your mind exactly) – The Captain takes what you said into consideration.

Usopp asked you to help him fight? That was weird, cus’ Usopp was always too scared to fight… Nevermind asking somebody else to join him. Apparently, you’d thought yourself as selfish for denying the invitation, guilty, even though The Captain had been the one to instruct you not to run into danger so haphazardly.

That didn’t feel like the root of the problem, however; Your shared, innate coherence told him so.

Luffy adjusts so that you’re hiked a little higher on his arm, pressed a little closer to his front – Your hand finds its spot at his shoulder once more, and he’s content to find you’re reciprocative of his touch, at the very least. First and foremost, he needed to dissuade the lingering doubts in your mind.

“You haven’t been training long enough to fight off that many guys. It would’ve just made things worse.” Uncharacteristic of the battle-ready Captain, he relents – Typically, he would always encourage others to fight, but you weren’t ready for that kind of battle just yet. The idea of you eventually being capable of fighting excited him; A fleeting dream that was postponed by the number of wounds that you’d sustained in the past, far outweighing his desires. “That’s not your fault. We told you not to do stuff like that.”

Luffy didn’t give a crap about his limits, but he cared about yours – He believed one day you’d be able to fight by his side, but that day wasn’t today.

“I-I know, Zoro said that too. I’m just… Still upset? And I actually didn’t tell Zoro about this part, but Usopp said some stuff, a-and a lot happened…”

“Whaddya mean?” Luffy spots the way your report phases into nothing, and he’s convinced that the statement plants an irrevocable pain that burdens the void in your chest – One he was not keen to recognize. “What’d he say?”

“Just… Don’t be mad, okay? Um… I don’t think he actually meant to say it, I mean, I-I told him about the Merry to try and get him to stop, then it like, set him off o-or something, and…” The excuses rubbed him the wrong way – It sorta set him on edge that you seriously believed Luffy would be upset by whatever it was you were going to tell him. He knew very well the sort of things that made him mad when it was in accordance with you, and if this problem aligned with any of those…

The realization of this fact has him stopping in his tracks. He needs to know exactly what Usopp said to you – Like, right now.

“What did Usopp say? It doesn’t matter if I get mad, just tell me already!” Unbeknownst to himself, his frown has morphed into an all out scowl, aimed indirectly at you, fingers pressing tight into your skin whilst unable to ball them into fists – He couldn’t help it, he was already annoyed.

You’re apprehensive over the smile being gone from his face, displeased with the way this was unfolding in the way you hadn’t wanted. Dithering, your sights flicker between his steely eyes, as if you want to take it all back.

All in all, you don’t want to break your promise – And finally give in.

“He, uh…” Your voice quakes, and a visceral hurt stems from your very core, tearing apart your insides. “Usopp kinda said… He mentioned something– About… A-About being a ‘useless stowaway.’”

Luffy’s head snaps towards yours, eyes like saucers and mouth slackened. To you, it doesn’t even appear that he’s breathing.

Scanning your face once, twice – Then, as per your speculation, a rage steams in his lungs – The Captain’s pupils constrict into dots, seething.

“He called you a what?!”

The commotion draws attention from every angle, the outburst leaving you at a loss for words.

You’d expected him to be angry, but not that angry.

The boy all but drops you back to the ground, barely ensuring you’ve landed on your feet – Out of all of the things that Usopp could have said, it just had to be comparable to the one insult that Luffy would not stand for.

That night you’d sobbed to Luffy on the boat, venting about the worthless views you upheld for yourself, was the night that he’d vowed you to never feel the same way ever again. The Captain had asserted this on the condition that he and his crewmates wouldn’t hold anything against you in a similar manner, and yet here he was, hearing the complete opposite directly from your lips.

“I’ll be right back,” Scanning for the distant forms of those carrying his target, he intends to make it right. “I’m gonna make sure he takes it back, stay right here while I–”

The sound of his arm gradually stretching gains his attention – He’d gotten about ten feet before he’d truly noticed that you’d grabbed him, however. When the limb resisted pulling any further, Luffy glimpses you at the other end.

“Just– Just, wait a sec, Luffy–” It’s a miracle that you’ve held onto him for that long, the boy quite like a bull who’s seen the color red.

“Lemme go,” he blabs, bull-headed. “Usopp needs to apologize!”

“U-Usopp isn’t even awake!” You exasperate, yanking on the limb in a meager effort to pull him back to you – As expected, it doesn’t work, and you huff your frustration. “You can’t just storm over there and–”

“Why not?! He hurt you, so he should–”

“He’s already hurt enough.” Pointing out the obvious, you remind him of the fact that his crewmate was pretty run-down… He’d sorta glazed over that fact in his aggravation. “I just feel like he’s already paid for his mistakes in full… Y’know? Plus– I told you, I don’t think he really meant what he said… I don’t even know if he said it to purposefully hurt me, it was more than likely just, like… A mistake… He was really bad, Luffy.”

You don’t stutter at all in the midst of your beseeching. Rather, your voice is clear, your words concise. What was done still bugged you; Even still, you weren’t resentful about it.

Steadily, your clarification appeases his temper. The Captain’s arm goes slack so that you no longer have to struggle to hold him at bay.

“It’s kinda like what happened with us… When we all played in the Davy Back, and I said all that stuff… I-I mean, at least that’s what I figured.”

Oh, right. That made sense.

Thoughtfully, Luffy builds off of your resolve to form his own conclusion – Reaching a sort of agreement. He couldn’t deny that your argument wasn’t valid… He couldn’t just wave the situation away, either.

“Yeah, you’re probably right.” With unusual curtness, Luffy’s voice lowers into a childish, groaning grumpiness – Rapidly constricting his arm around yours and ripping you forwards.

You go along willingly, and in no time the boy has you back in the air and on the move. He’s murmuring under his breath, cursing Usopp for being so stupid.

Pacified with the knowledge that you’d successfully de-escalated the precarious situation, you’re intent to settle back into normalcy… Luffy, not so much. He’s got one more question before that can happen.

“What he said… Did you believe him?”

You purse your lips, and peer up at him beneath your lashes – Yes – The answer is hard for him to stomach.

“Um… Yeah, I-I did for a while, can’t lie.” You shrug, as if the affliction can be removed so easily.

“You’re not.” Unhesitant, as always.

“Yeah… I know.” You nod, and Luffy feels your eyes hover over his face.

Had he looked down and met them, he would’ve seen your concealed doubts swimming in their depths. There's admiration there, too – It idolizes, reveres – Inadvertently goes against your oaths, ensuring the idea that you are undeserving of the boy that holds you in his arms… Less than.

He is oblivious to it, perceives it as leftover emotions from the discussion at hand.

It’s as if the two of you are muted, stewing in the aftermath. You gaze at him for a while, not like he minds. There’s not much left from his previous grudge, coaxed into a relatively calm state of being, the atmosphere a lull of passive, contemplative thought.

After a while, Luffy feels you shimmy. Believing you’re uncomfortable or something, he arranges for his arms to adjust to your movements. You clamber upwards so that your face might be in proximity with his, and he turns his puzzled expression to determine what it is that you’re doing (again, not that he cares, he just wants to know).

It’s with this movement that your breath tickles his cheek, up until the tingling sensation of your lips contacts his skin.

In a whirlwind of warmth, that wonderful feeling floods his system once more, and the boy's face breaks out into a toothy grin – Closing his eyes, all melty and giggly.

You part from him soon enough, cheeks dusted with the rosy hue of flowers; the color something akin to cotton candy. He laughs again, “What was that for?”

“Um… Nothin’ really.” You divulge, eyes darting about his face and nowhere all at once. “I mean, it’s just weird to see you upset, so…”

Luffy chuckles, having not considered that he’d been that serious over such a broad stretch of time. It’s endearing… You’re endearing, and for once, he’s glad to experience your constant worrying for others.

Reciprocating, The Captain happily leans to paste his lips over your forehead. It’s only natural he return the favor.

“Thanks. I feel a lot better now!” A skip in his step, the boy sets off.

“Mhm.” You hum, tucking your head down and under his.

Luffy spies the soft smile as you go, unaware that you’re just as thankful as he was to you… But for so many things, and more.

—

Tidbit Today!!

This is a featured tidbit from one of the winners of a previously held event!!

Zoro has noticed how poorly (Y/n) handles herself in a battle, and has since taken some consideration to train her, thinking no one else on the crew would be fit to do so.

He starts off fairly brutal, but both come to a mutual understanding of her abilities, and eventually their sessions become something like second nature.

(Y/n) will soon feel more confident than ever while training with Zoro – And has begun sharing things with him that haven’t been told to anyone else, not even Luffy, such as the reasoning behind her desires to become stronger (in regards to becoming worthy of being his soulmate).

Zoro hasn’t shared her concerns with Luffy out of respect for (Y/n) wanting to pursue this on her own, rather than completely relying on The Captain (However, if Luffy ever asked, Zoro would reveal it in a heartbeat).

Chapter 53

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