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Luffy somehow manages to float back to Dawn Island. He doesn’t know how he gets there or what direction he even really goes in. He simply trusts the waves to carry him home. The first place he goes is Party’s Bar. It’s closed, but when the woman behind the counter sees Luffy’s face, suddenly she doesn't care about whether or not they’re open. Only that her son is here and alive .
The look on Makino’s face is a sight to behold and the simple image of someone from his past, something real and tangible, was so overwhelming that Luffy wants to cry. Shanks had told him goodbyes should never be sad, he said nothing of reunions. So, Luffy lets the tears fall. Lets Makino wrap him within her arms, still able to encompass him in that warmth that he knew so well. That he remembers now.
“Luffy, it’s really you. You’re here. Alive and well and—” Makino cut off, tears choking her words. Strangled by some emotion she couldn’t name outside of relief. “We missed you so much.”
And Luffy had missed them, too. Even before he remembered, it was like part of him was missing. As if he didn’t get to say a proper goodbye. When he finally did remember, it felt like a piece of his soul had been carved out to make room for the pangs of loss he felt. Part of that had filled in, here in Makino’s arms.
“It’s me.” He whispers into her chest, still refusing to let go of her warmth. His voice is muffled but neither one of them cares enough to pull apart. “I don’t remember what happened after I disappeared, or even how I disappeared. It took me four years to even remember home. Here.”
“Dadan saw you. She saw you get taken and then watched them drag your body away. You were dead, Luffy. Dadan wouldn’t have lied. Not about this.” Makino’s words are thick and wet and Luffy can’t help but squeeze her tighter, if only to reassure her that he is here. “Ace found your hat in a dumpster. He wouldn’t let go of it for two months. Almost took it with him before he decided that it should only go on adventures with you.”
“Ace,” Luffy tastes the name on his tongue, matches it with the dark hair and freckles that live at the edge of his memory. “Ace was my brother. My older brother.”
Makino looks sad, but smiles as she nods at him. “And your other brother was Sabo. You three were troublemakers, let me tell you.”
Luffy smiles and the images of his brothers clear up just a bit in his mind. He can remember their hair, their eyes, Sabo’s death. He mourned his brother twice, can almost remember the first time. Luffy shakes his head and changes the subject. He has already mourned Sabo more than he would approve of.
“So Ace set sail?”
“Two years ago, when he turned seventeen. He said something about a promise that you would be disappointed if he broke.”
Luffy can’t help his laughter. Of course Ace would be thinking of Luffy. Of course he would only be selfish with permission from others. Luffy has never been happier that Ace is still Ace.
“He’s right, shishishishi.” Luffy finally pulls out of Makino’s hold, just far enough to see her eyes, wet and red. “Do you know where he left my hat?”
Makino’s face goes uncharacteristically dark at the question and she looks away from Luffy’s face as if it pains her to see. “Yes, I’ll…I can take you there.”
‘There’ is the cliff that Luffy would sit on with his brothers to watch the sunrise. ‘There’ is two piles of dirt, each with a shoddy wooden cross stuck into the ground at their heads. Two bodiless graves for two dead brothers. On the left cross hung Luffy’s hat. It sways in an invisible breeze and it suddenly hits Luffy that he is looking at his own grave. It doesn't have the same sense of foreboding or terror that Luffy thought it would. Something inside of him knows there are worse things than death, that the release from life is nothing to be afraid of.
Luffy strides forward to grab his hat, only stopping to gently pat Sabo’s cross. He would be proud of them both, Luffy thinks, if not incredibly anxious. The thought gets a laugh out of Luffy as he turns back around. Before leaving, he grabs his own cross and tears it from the ground, tossing it into the rocky waters below. A grave for a living man seems like a bad omen and Luffy knows he didn’t deserve to lie next to his brother. He can’t remember why, but Luffy knows he was a monster. If not for his name (as Pops had attested to many times before) then for something else. Luffy just can’t remember what.
He puts the straw hat on his head and heads back into the forest where Makino was waiting, unable to even look at the graves. She smiles when she sees Luffy in his familiar hat and, right now, that’s enough for him. He smiles back, ignoring how it feels tight against his skin. Ignoring how her eyes catch on his neck, the scars there shining in the sun. Ignores the way her smile faults for a moment. They walk back to town together and Luffy does everything he can to make her smile.
The first thing Dadan does when she sees Luffy is wrap him in a bone-crushing hug. It doesn’t last long before she pulls away and smacks Luffy upside the head for not coming back sooner. It feels like another part of Luffy’s soul has returned and he can’t help but smile as he explains what happened.
(What he can remember, anyway. It always felt so unsatisfying to tell others. He disappeared but cannot remember why. He was gone for three years but cannot remember where. Cannot remember what happened. He was saved by the Whitebeard Pirates but cannot remember how. He barely even remembers his own home, the memories still filling in with every story he hears about himself.)
Dadan takes Luffy to the treehouse he lived in with Sabo and Ace. She says that Ace stayed there until he sailed off. It feels so dark and cold, nothing like the sparse memories Luffy holds dear. Nothing like the warmth he shared with his brothers.
“Does your grandfather know?” Dadan asks as they head back to the small village. Luffy thinks he may be able to make his way to and from the treehouse by himself now, from memory alone. It makes a rush go through Luffy’s whole body. “He hasn’t visited since Ace set off. No one to visit, I suppose.”
“No,” Luffy admits. “But I don’t want him to know yet. Seems cruel to tell him I’m alive when I can’t even remember his face.”
Dadan hesitates, like she doesn’t agree, but nods anyway. On their way back, Dadan makes them stop at the bandits’ base. She comes out with a small picture. It has him when he was young, straw hat hanging around his neck, standing next to Ace and Sabo. Luffy almost wants to cry. The fuzzy pictures in his head are nothing compared to the picture in his hands. An older man stands behind them, a hand ruffling each of his brother’s heads. His grandfather, Luffy guesses. It feels like something should be unlocked in his brain, but it’s still blank. From the look in the man’s eyes, though, he loved all three of them. Luffy doesn’t doubt that.
“Sorry Dadan. Nothing.”
She smiles at him and tells him to keep the picture anyway. Just in case it sparks something. Luffy smiles back and accepts.
The next year is slow. Luffy is glad he could relearn his past, remember his own history through the stories people tell, but he’s bored. He wants to sail. Wants the adventure he was promised on the sea. But he can’t leave until he is seventeen. That was the promise he made with his brothers. A promise he intends to keep.
It doesn’t matter that Luffy feels suffocated, no matter how much he loves his family. It doesn’t matter that Luffy gets uneasy every time he nears Goa for seemingly no reason at all. It doesn’t matter that Luffy has no one to do his one hundred spars against except himself and the trees. It doesn’t matter.
It especially doesn’t matter that he is relieved to finally be leaving when his birthday rolls around.
“Are you sure you don’t want a bigger boat?” Mayor Woop Slap asks, leaning heavier on his cane than he had when Luffy was young. “The sea is a dangerous place, even the East Blue.”
Luffy just laughs. Makino said Ace left in a boat just like this one, just a small dinghy with a few supplies, and Luffy remembered Sabo setting out much the same. Luffy is simply following tradition.
“I feel like you just returned.” Makino says, wiping tears from her eyes. “And here you go, leaving us again.”
“I’m saying goodbye this time.” Luffy points out, pressing a single kiss to Makino’s cheek before moving on and doing the same to Dadan. Shanks told him once (when he was young) that a farewell to a woman you love should always involve a kiss. “I’ll miss you guys, too.”
He finally pushes off, drifting out into the open sea, letting the waves carry him where he needs to be. Before he gets too far away, he stands on the boat, not bothered by the way it sways in the water. He’s been on enough dinghies to know when they’ll tip.
“I’m going to be the King of Pirates, just watch me,” He calls, waving his arms above his head. He can hear the cheers in response, even if he cannot decipher the words. He knows they support him, always will.
Sitting back down in the boat, Luffy looks over the vast sea before him. Adventure is waiting out there and Luffy is going to find it no matter what.
When Luffy said he wanted adventure he did not mean this.
Koby is used to being observant. It comes with the territory of being on Alvida’s ship. Comes with the woman who will crush your skull for no other reason than ‘I want to’ when she is in a bad mood. So, when the barrel in the storage unit starts moving, Koby notices. When a boy pops out, Koby notices.
He notices the scars that seem to make a lattice over his skin, the rings around his neck and wrists, the burns and slashes that litter his body. Koby notices the way he eats like a starving man, like the next meal is not assured (Koby knows how that feels). Koby especially notices when the boy pauses mid-apple to stare at Koby like he’s taking in every possible detail, inside and out. He notices when the boy nods and continues eating.
“Y-you can’t be here,” Koby warns, trying his best to shoo the boy away before Alvida finds him. Before she kills him the same way she has countless stowaways before.
“Oh, about that,” The boy asks, still chewing on an apple (and did he just eat the core??), “Where is ‘here’?”
“This is Alvida-sama’s ship. If you don’t want to die you should leave before she finds you.” Koby can only watch as the boy finishes off the entire barrel of apples and moves on to one that Koby is pretty sure has oranges in it.
(It does. The weird guy eats them just like apples, peel and all. It almost hurts to watch.)
“Alvida,” he murmurs, still chewing on an orange peel, “Where have I heard that name before?”
“Alvida-sama is a pirate captain with one of the highest bounties in the East Blue.” The boy’s mouth opens in an ‘o’ and he nods. Koby doesn’t really understand but he knows that this boy is in danger. He won’t let anyone else go through what he has. “You should leave while you can.”
“Do you have a dream?” The question seems sudden, but Koby can see the steel in the boy’s brown eyes. They seem to glow gold in the lamp light and suddenly Koby knows he cannot lie to him.
“I want to be a Marine.” He says, forcing his back straight and his eyes forward. Even if it will never happen, Koby still dreams about helping people. About saving others like him.
“Hmm,” the boy looks angry for a moment and Koby is afraid it may be directed toward him. Then confusion overtakes the raven’s face and Koby relaxes just a bit. Maybe if the boy doesn’t even know why he’s angry, he won’t take it out on Koby. “I don’t like Marines. I’m not sure why, but I don’t like ‘em. Maybe it’s because I’m a pirate, shishishishishi.”
Seas , that’s just Koby’s luck. Of course the boy he’s trying to save is also a pirate. He’ll never escape his own personal hell.
“Really?”
“Yup! I’m Monkey D. Luffy and I’m gonna be the King of the Pirates.”
Koby looks up at him, at Luffy, with the intent to tell him it’s impossible. In this great pirate era, rising to the top is a pipe dream. But when he sees the fire in Luffy’s eyes, the strong line of his shoulder, the way his straw hat rests on his head like a crown of gold, Koby thinks that it just might be possible. Maybe for this boy.
“So, how does a Marine hopeful end up as a cabin boy on a pirate ship?” Luffy asks, laying across three of the newly emptied barrels. He’s biting into a banana this time and Koby is relieved to see that he at least peeled it first.
“I was out fishing and I just— I ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Simple as that. A single day destroyed my entire life.”
“Sounds to me like your life is fine.” Luffy’s voice sounded bored and Koby almost yelled back at him but was stopped by the sheer surprise of seeing Luffy eating just the peel of the banana he had finished. “You just gotta get out of here and find a Marine base, right?”
“You don’t know what you’re saying. Alvida-sama is too strong. I can’t stand against her.” Koby’s voice is shaking, he can hear it, can feel it in the tightness of his throat. Even the idea of going up against Alvida is terrifying. Much less the act itself. Koby can barely breathe.
“When a man has a dream, he has to be ready to put his life on the line for it.” Luffy’s voice no longer holds the carefree tone it had throughout the conversation. It sounds sharp and hard like a blade, too blunt to cut anything, but still sharp enough to tear. “And sometimes you have to realize that death is better than servitude.”
And Koby can’t say anything because Luffy is right. Not just because of the confidence, the assuredness that only comes with experience and laces his voice. But also because Koby simply believes him. A lifetime under Alvida would be worse than death. Luffy isn’t telling him to die, he’s telling Koby to fight until the end and be prepared for the outcome of death. It makes Koby feel a bit sturdier than he did before.
And so, Luffy drags Koby out of the pantry and mows through all the food in the kitchen before moving above deck. Alvida sees them and says something that Koby can’t hear over the blood rushing in his ears. Luffy elbows him and gestures toward Alvida.
For the first time in his life, Koby is brave. He calls Alvida a beached whale (which is arguably worse than a regular whale, but Koby assumes Alvida would have taken them as equally insulting) and can only watch as Luffy easily sends her flying into the horizon. He secures them a boat, asks where the nearest Marine base is and which direction they should sail in, and the two of them are off. Koby barely even notices Alvida’s ship disappear into the distance, too distracted by how fast everything had happened. By the time Koby has finally gathered his thoughts enough to realize they are off the ship, it’s nothing but a dot on the sea.
Zoro is tired. Sure, he’s tired of being crucified so a little girl doesn’t have to die, but its more than that. He’s tired of living meal to meal, nothing to look forward to except the next bar he comes across. Zoro is tired of a life of monotony, tired of challenging people who aren’t strong enough to force him to improve. Zoro knows he’ll never be the best swordsman if he doesn’t leave the East Blue and take on bigger prey. He just has to figure out how.
“—he’s a demon who takes down his bounties without mercy.”
Zoro lifts his head to squint at the wall where the voice came from. A shock of pink catches his attention and he puts all his focus into identifying the assholes who came to gawk at the ‘demon swordsman’. He hasn’t seen them before. The kid with pink hair looks like he’s barely keeping himself together. Zoro almost laughs at how he can practically hear his chattering teeth. The other boy is a different story.
The moment Zoro catches his eye, he regrets it. The raven’s gaze feels sharper than Wado Ichimonji’s blade. It cuts into Zoro the way he cuts into his bounties, merciless and clean. Zoro feels like he is being sliced open and left bare to the world. Except, the world is this one boy with dark eyes and a straw hat. Zoro does his best to glare back, his bandana shading his own silver eyes.
(He’s been told before that his eyes are the same color as his blade. That they shine in the sun and reflect all the blood he has spilled. Zoro never cared about the comparisons, but now he knows they are wrong. This boy’s dark eyes are closer to a sword than Zoro has ever seen. Zoro almost wants to let himself be cut.)
“Shishishishi,” The voice is light and airy, the smile on the boy’s face doesn’t fit with the sharpness now hidden in his eyes. Zoro can still see it, has always had an eye for a good blade. “I’m Monkey D. Luffy. I’m gonna be King of the Pirates, you should join my crew!”
What?
“No can do, asshole. I’m pretty busy here, if you couldn’t tell.” Zoro spits, not remembering the last time he let himself get close to someone.
“Oh, come on, you wanna go on an adventure, right?”
Yes. Yes I want adventure and danger. A blade against my throat keeping me from falling, forcing me to climb.
“I made a promise—”
“Zoro-niisan!” A small voice comes from the other side of the wall Luffy and his companion are looking over. He can only watch in horror as Rika climbs over the wall, wrapped bento in hand. “I made you onigiri!”
“Get her out of here.” Zoro turns to Luffy, hoping his instincts on Luffy’s strength are correct. “It’s not safe.”
He knows he’s right when Luffy’s eyes harden, the shadow of his hat becoming darker under the blazing sun. Has it been this hot the whole time? This bright?
“But Zoro needs food. He hasn’t eaten in weeks.” Rika pouts, unwrapping the bento. Zoro can see the way the sharpness in Luffy’s eyes dulls just a bit. The way his body relaxes some. Why does he care if Zoro has eaten or not? It’s not like he even agreed to be on Luffy’s crew. “Here, I made them with sugar because mama said you liked the sweet rum better.”
“You have to leave before—”
“Before what, demon?” Helmeppo is just as ugly as always. Maybe it’s because Zoro hasn’t eaten in a while or maybe the man’s head just looks like a mushroom. Not exactly the top priority at the moment. “This girl is guilty of assisting a guilty person, making her guilty by association. You, throw her over the wall.”
Zoro wants to tear the man’s throat out with his teeth. Without his words, the man is no more powerful than the spoiled child he truly is. Maybe if Zoro shuts him up, no one else will be hurt by him again.
“You will not touch that girl,” Comes Luffy’s voice, saying the exact words running through Zoro’s head. He’s standing before Rika, a pair of bastons held in his hands. Something about the blunt weapons juxtaposed to his sharp teeth, the softness that Zoro knows can show in his eyes compared to the hard wood. It feels unreal and almost ethereal. Zoro wants to stare forever. “Koby, take her home.”
The pink haired boy nods, still shaking but gently grabbing Rika’s arm to lead her back into town.
“But, Zoro-niisan—”
“I’ll make sure he eats, okay?” Luffy turns his head to smile at Rika and Zoro thinks he may have just seen the sun. “So just stay safe until I can get him out of here.”
And so she allows Koby to lead her away, tears still in her eyes, but a small smile on her lips. It lets Zoro relax just a bit, but he can’t let this kid get hurt protecting Zoro. Even if he is powerful, Helmeppo is the son of Axe-Hand Morgan.
“You should go, too. I’ll be fine.”
“I never abandon my Nakama. Plus,” Luffy now turns to focus that smile on Zoro and he doesn’t know if he’ll survive such burning warmth spreading through his veins. “I made that girl a promise.”
“You insolent—” Helmeppo doesn’t have a chance to finish before Luffy’s fist is in his face, punching in his teeth and breaking so violently Zoro can hear it. His arm stretches too far to be natural, forcing Helmeppo back into the gate he had come in through. Luffy turns his glare on the Marines still standing and Zoro watches as they flinch back.
“Do not touch him.”
They all run. It’s a funny sight to see, a whole group of Marines running from some kid who probably isn’t even Zoro’s age yet. But he thinks he can understand. Luffy’s back looks so strong that Zoro can only imagine how his face looks. Murderous intent leaking from his very being and dripping into the dirt below, but never directed at Zoro. He’s half expecting Luffy to turn around with that same glare on his face, but is only greeted with a smile.
“Sorry about that. I can tell you’re strong, but since you’re all tied up I thought I’d give you a hand.” And to have Luffy acknowledge Zoro’s strength? To have him admit that he knows Zoro can handle himself but shouldn’t have to. Zoro feels like he’s drowning. Like he’s melting under the heat of a sun much too close to his body. Like his wings have caught fire and Zoro can’t care less so long as the sun is the last thing he sees before he hits the ground. “Why are you here, anyway? They shouldn’t have been able to catch you.”
“I made a deal. I stay here for a month and they don’t hurt Rika.”
Luffy’s face darkens and he pulls his hat down in front of his eyes, shadowing them so dark that even Zoro cannot see what is swirling within.
“Hey,” Luffy finally says, and Zoro can see the devilish grin on his face. “Wanna take down a Marine base?”
How could Zoro say no to that?
Luffy leaves Shells Town with his first Nakama. He could see the fire behind Zoro’s silver eyes. Luffy knows that his stare unsettles people, has been told a million times and slapped upside the head just as many by Marco because of it. But Zoro hadn’t frozen, hadn’t looked away, hadn’t tried to escape. Zoro had glared right back. Had challenged Luffy.
“So, where are we going, Captain?” Zoro asks as they squeeze together in the too-small dinghy Luffy had stolen from Alvida.
The people of Shells Town didn’t deserve to lose any more than they already had. Not when that Marine had been living over them like some kind of lord. Like he had power over others just because he was a Marine. Luffy can’t even remember why he hates Marines so much. Some deep set resentment running through Luffy’s veins like lightning. Pops had always said it probably had something to do with his Missing Time. That all those strange fears and needs and instincts are results of the three years blacked out of his memory.
“Dunno,” Luffy says instead, leaning into Zoro’s space to stretch out. He would lay on the bowsprit, but he knows from experience that the boat would flip. Probably. Luffy’s never been on a dinghy with someone else before, much less someone like Zoro, made of pure muscle that probably weighs more than twice as much as Luffy soaking wet. Not that he’d admit that, Luffy had already been made fun of more than enough for his height by his Brothers.
“What the hell does that mean?” Zoro shoves Luffy away and Luffy can’t help his laugh as the boat shakes.
“I just go where the waves take me. It’s worked out so far.”
Zoro groans as he lays his head back, hanging over the edge of the boat and exposing the long line of his throat. The skin is tan and smooth and Luffy wants to know how often he does this. Exposes his neck to those around him, to someone who could easily grab his swords and slit his throat. Wants to know exactly how much trust Luffy has already managed to build with Zoro. Wants to know how he can earn more.
Nami has never seen bigger idiots before in her life. Of course, anyone who actively chooses to become a pirate can’t be right in the head, but these two are something special. And Nami means that in the worst way possible.
The first time the shorter one (Luffy, apparently is his name) looks at her, she can feel her very soul leave her body. She can barely move, but forces herself to. To lift a hand and cover her already clothed shoulder. She feels too exposed, like Luffy can read her mind, her past. Nami doesn’t want anyone to know about her past. She doesn’t need pity or fear or anything that comes from learning about her connection to Arlong. Luffy then introduces himself and declares that he will become King of the Pirates. Just like every other idiot Arlong had crushed.
(She doesn’t see the way scars wrap around his ankles the same way they do hers. Doesn’t see the brand hidden on his back that almost matches the mark on her shoulder. She doesn’t see the softness in his eyes as he watches her cover her shoulder, a move he knows well.)
“Hey, you should join my crew. You could be our navigator. Shishishishishi.”
And Nami wants to yell and scream. She wants to tear Luffy apart with her bare hands because she is no pirate. She is ruthless and rude, but never cruel. Never takes from those who have nothing to give. She will never become a pirate by choice, not when she can help them instead. Nami knows of injustice. She knows that pirates are not the evil to the Marine’s good. No, in this world, it’s Nami against the entire world, and she’s fine with that. Nami has made it this long, and she will survive longer. She will not fall to the level of pirates and hurt those who have not earned it. She opens her mouth to speak, but can’t even get out a word before the other is talking.
“Oi, quit that, you’re creeping her out.” the taller one chides, gently smacking Luffy upside the head. Luffy at least looks slightly sheepish.
“Sorry, Zoro,” Luffy explains, smile growing until it takes up more than half of his face. “It’s just how I can tell if someone is a good person.”
A good person? Nami is a liar and a thief. She hasn’t told the truth since Bell-mère died protecting her and Nojiko. Not to herself and certainly not to anyone else. Really, Nami doesn’t even know what’s true anymore. She simply follows where the wind takes her and hopes that lies and money can save her and her home. Maybe someday they will.
“She’s a thief, Captain.” Zoro says, pointing at Nami as if he could be referring to anyone else in the barren town they just met in. It reminds Nami that the three of them are surrounded by the bodies of Buggy’s pirates that Luffy and Zoro had taken out in mere seconds.
“And we’re pirates, Zoro.”
Zoro is interesting. For all that he seems responsible and stoic, he readily goes along with Luffy’s hairbrained plans. He carries three swords and refuses to answer Nami when she asks where the third one goes. Even fighting against more than ten pirates, he had only used one sword.
‘Didn’t need to dirty my other swords on these idiots’ He explained when Nami asked.
Yeah, these guys are stupid. But they’re also strong, and Nami needs strong if she wants to survive on the Grand Line. Even if that strength comes from pirates.
The only idiot in a straw hat that Buggy had ever respected was Gol D. Roger. Shanks was an idiot, still is. Only a year ago, he had called Buggy on his private den den mushi (how he even got the number for it, Buggy still has no idea) to gush over some kid he thought was dead. Not that Buggy cared and he definitely doesn’t care now, staring at that stupid fucking hat.
“You’re Shanks’ brat.” Buggy says instead of introducing himself or attacking or doing literally anything else. If Buggy knows one thing, it's that anyone related in any way to Shanks is a pain in the ass.
“You know Shanks?” The kid asks, smile taking up most of his face. “Isn’t he great?”
Buggy wants to die. What the hell did he do in life to deserve this? Even before he struck out on his own and started doing things worthy of this karma, he still had to deal with idiots like this. He just wants to know what to not do anymore. Really, that’s all.
“No, he’s an annoying asshole who doesn’t know when to shut up and it’s obviously genetic.” He groans, reaching up to rub a hand down his face. Buggy really doesn’t want to deal with this.
The kid just laughs, dropping into a fighting stance. He has two long sticks in his hand that look solid enough to do some damage. Of course he has to be Buggy’s fucking weakness. Blades? Cool, he’ll just chop himself wherever you cut. Blunt weapons? Blegh. Not only do you have to actually avoid them, if you get hit they hurt like hell. And they're not even flashy! What the hell is it with idiots in straw hats ruining the peace Buggy had made for himself.
“I don’t wanna fight one of Shanks’ friends, but you hurt the people of this town and I can’t let you do that.” His eyes shine and Buggy feels a shiver go down his spine. It’s like he’s stuck in place. Buggy can’t move a single inch as this kid runs toward him, swinging his weapons and aiming to cause maximum damage. Buggy can see it in his eyes. He won’t make it out of this fight undamaged.
“We’re pirates,” Buggy mumbles, flat on the ground, knocked on his ass by some teenager that he’s pretty sure is Shanks’ kid. All in all, a nightmare. “This is what we do.”
“Not me. I’ll be King of the Pirates and I’ll be free.”
Buggy looks up at the kid and he looks bigger from this angle. Standing over Buggy’s limp body, setting sun behind his back. His silhouette cuts a frightening figure that would scare Buggy more if it didn’t remind him of his old captain. One of the others, Buggy doesn’t know if it’s the green haired boy or the thief girl, calls out to the boy. Apparently Buggy’s crew is coming and they need to get off the island before they arrive. The kid, Luffy, runs off to join his crew and Buggy smiles against his better judgement.
“Yeah, kid. You’re right.”
Usopp has never met a real pirate. Well, that isn’t exactly right. His dad is a pirate, a member of the great Red Haired Shanks’ crew. One of the Emperors of the seas. Usopp is proud of that fact, wants to follow in those footsteps. Wants to become a Great Warrior of the Sea someday, stronger than even his own father. But he can’t tell anyone except Kaya that, lest they laugh in his face and call him delusional. It’s happened enough that Usopp knows not to try anymore.
Oh, and Usopp is a liar. A professional, if he says so himself. He knows lies when he hears them and definitely doesn’t like Klahadore whatsoever. Not because he kicks Usopp off the Manor grounds whenever he catches him and Kaya together. That’s reasonable. No, because Usopp can hear it every time he lies to Kaya. Every time Klahadore tells Kaya he loves her and just wants to protect her. He can hear the smirk, see the way Klahadore’s hand is just a bit too tight on Kaya’s shoulder. Usopp has watched as Klahadore tore up gifts from Kaya, burned them to ashes in the dead of night. But he can’t tell Kaya. He tried to, once, and it almost destroyed the only real friendship Usopp has managed to hang onto. So, he doesn’t bring it up again.
This kid, though, is not lying. Usopp can feel the sheer determination in his voice, see it in the daggers that shine in his eyes. It comes after an awkward moment that feels half like what Usopp would expect death to be. After Usopp has lied again, told the pirates that he has eighty thousand men.
“You’re lying.” The boy finally says, frowning as if he had actually been looking forward to fighting Usopp’s crew. “I’m Monkey D. Luffy. This is my crew. I’m gonna be King of the Pirates.”
The girl yells something at Luffy and tries to hit him as he easily evades her punches. Usopp doesn’t really notice. Can only feel the sharp, cold fear climbing up his spine. Usopp knows not all pirates are bad. Knows that his father would never let the Red Haired Pirates hurt his hometown. But the last King of Pirates was rumored to be a demon. Cruel and cold. If this boy, Luffy, is anything like that Usopp has to warn the village.
“I am Captain Usopp. I have killed Sea Kings far and wide. I am known as the most powerful warrior in the East Blue. You’ll have to go through me if you want to harm my village.”
Usopp has gotten out of many tight situations with lies. Even if most of them are too extravagant to be believable, some hold a grain of truth that makes people trust them. Those are the ones that he can tell tales of for hours, creating new details on a whim to entertain children and adults alike.
“You’re lying again.” Luffy states, “We don’t wanna hurt the village, just want some food and water.”
And he’s telling the truth again. Usopp wonders for a moment if he even knows how to lie. If maybe Usopp could teach him. If Luffy would even want to. Usopp almost feels like he has known Luffy for longer than a few minutes.
“Wait,” Luffy speaks again, rubbing at his chin and studying Usopp again. Not the same as before, this gaze only surface level. “You’re Yasopp’s kid!”
“You know my dad?”
“Of course! Shanks is my dad.”
Everything stops. This kid, this scrawny, eerie little thing is Red Haired Shanks’ kid. What the fuck? Usopp’s only solace is that Luffy’s crew doesn’t seem to know either if their faces are anything to go by.
“What the hell, Luffy?” The woman asks, actually managing to grab his vest and shake him as if it would fix whatever is wrong in his head. “You didn’t think that was important to tell us?”
“Not really,” Luffy scratches his head, seemingly unbothered by the violent shaking. “He’s not my father , I don’t know who that is, but he’s my dad. Just not, like, my dad. Y’know?”
“No, Captain, we don't.” The other guy, this one with three swords (and where does the third one even go?), asks.
“Well, there’s also my Pops and my siblings and my brothers. Oh, and Makino. She’s like a mom. And Dadan. Kind of.”
Usopp watches as Luffy’s crew stares at him in disbelief. He can’t really blame them. Even Usopp has no idea what Luffy was saying. Yeah, it was all the truth, but Usopp has absolutely no clue what any of it meant. What even is this kid’s family?
“Oh, also, there’s someone really strong on this island and I wanna fight him.”
Okay, what?
Kaya should have listened to Usopp. Should have heard him out when he said Klahadore was lying. Maybe then Merry wouldn’t have bled out in her arms. Maybe then Usopp wouldn’t have had to risk his life in an attempt to save Kaya from the man she trusted so much. Kaya has always been one to dwell on the past. She revels in Usopp’s stories of adventure, even if she knows they aren’t true. The fact that he comes up with them just for her to enjoy is more than enough for her. But maybe she can start looking toward the future now.
Merry is alive. Klahadore, Kuro, is gone. Kaya doesn’t know if he is dead or alive or something in between, just knows that she no longer needs to worry about him. Because of Usopp and his new friends. Maybe Kaya can begin thinking about her life, about what she wants to make of it.
“I’ll take care of your crew, Usopp.” She promises, looking back at the three boys still hiding in the bushes near the port.
“Good,” Usopp says. He’s trying to hide the tears in his throat and Kaya loves him for it. Loves this boy that told her fantastical stories when she was sick, if only to see her smile. “That’s the job of the First Mate when the Captain isn’t around.”
And now Kaya wants to cry. Instead, she pulls Usopp into a tight hug that she hopes can convey exactly how she feels. When it doesn’t feel like enough, she turns her head and gives him a kiss on the cheek. Kaya doesn’t cry. She swears. She doesn’t cry when the three who had saved her (her friends, her family, her town) invite Usopp to join them. Doesn’t cry when they all sail off into the horizon, sounds of joy ringing from the deck of the Going Merry.
Luffy knows how it feels to go hungry. Doesn’t remember when or why or where, but he knows the feeling. Knows he would only wish it upon his worst enemy. He refuses to let someone go hungry if he can help it. He eats every meal like it’s his last.
Thatch had helped. His brother had assured him he could eat as much as he wants, that no one would steal his food. Luffy doesn’t blame Thatch for Marco being a shit and taking his favorite cut of pork from his plate. Luffy doesn’t really blame Thatch for anything. He had fed Luffy when he needed it most, and for that Luffy will be forever grateful. Maybe that’s why he lets Zoro’s friends on board the Going Merry. Maybe that’s why he gives them fruit to counteract the scurvy. Maybe that’s why, when Luffy sees the cook, Sanji, feed a bunch of pirates who are so very obviously lying about paying for their meals and leaving in peace, something inside of him grows just a bit brighter.
He catches Sanji’s eye and looks. He studies Sanji’s eyes, the way his body moves as he is observed. Watches Sanji’s breathing, rough from a lifetime of cigarettes but strong just the same. Luffy can see fire in his blue eyes, sharp and hot. He can see kindness, but not naïveté. He can see love, deep and strong and proud. Luffy wants this man to join his crew. He wants Sanji as his Nakama.
Sanji hides himself in the kitchen for as long as he can before Zeff kicks him out to wait tables. Sanji doesn’t know who the boy at table four is with the two other men and the beautiful woman, but he does know that he never wants to see him again. Once he is fed, Sanji plans to rid The Baratie of his presence and continue on with his life.
It’s been years since Sanji has felt like this, pried open and known. The last time was on a barren rock in the middle of the ocean, faced with his father’s (his real father, the man who raised him) missing leg, his sacrifice so Sanji could live. Zeff had hugged Sanji close in those final days before pulling away and truly looking. Sanji had let him. Who was he to deny his savior his whole self, body and soul. Sanji owes Zeff his life and has no plans to somehow become indebted to some crazy teenager. Life rarely works out the way you want it to.
The pirates will not pay and Sanji knows this. Knows they will come back after sleeping and eating to fight, simply because they want to. Sanji knows. All of the chefs know, but none of them will speak against Zeff. Not when there are hungry mouths that need to be fed. Not when Sanji can keep them from feeling the same desperate hunger he did.
He can’t help glancing over at the boy with the straw hat. Can’t help when their eyes catch and he finds a rare sheen of understanding in his eyes. This boy also knows. Knows these pirates will only bring trouble. Knows Sanji has to feed them anyway. Knows how it feels to slowly wither away. To feel your stomach cave in on itself. To feel your strength abandon your body bit by bit. Sanji can see it in the cut of his jaw, the way he eats like he may never get the opportunity again. Like he’s always starving.
(Sanji feels it, too. Can always feel that empty pit in his stomach. It growls every time he sees Zeff’s leg. It snarls every time he sees someone throw out perfectly good food. Snaps at those who waste. Cigarettes calm it down, keep it satiated, but it never really goes away. He’s learned to ignore it, but it is Sanji’s nature to feed. Both himself and others.)
“We should rest, too.” Luffy says, stretching his lithe arms. Zoro can’t bring himself to look away. It’s like his eyes are simply drawn to his Captain. Like he is a light and Zoro is a simple moth looking for warmth. He would gladly burn.
“What? Why?” Their newest crewmate asks. Zoro can see his knees shaking and smirks. Usopp is a coward and a liar, but he’s also someone Luffy chose and Zoro will not doubt his Captain.
“Because we should be well rested when they come back so we can help these people.” Luffy answers as if it’s obvious. And, really, it is. Luffy’s heart is so large and loud that Zoro swears he can hear it when he stands near Luffy. Can feel the vibrations it causes around him. Like it yearns to reach out and help everyone who has ever been hurt.
Usopp groans and Nami follows suit. She had been handy with her bo staff against Buggy’s crew, but she lacked the conviction, the true strength within that it takes to win a life or death fight. Zoro can see it inside of her, the light of life. The will to win. He can tell it dwells somewhere within her, but is shackled down by something. Zoro doesn’t know if she’s holding herself back or if someone else is, but he knows she has the potential to be dangerous. Strong.
Don Krieg has a bounty of seventeen million beri. Nami knows this. She has studied the bounties of every pirate in the East Blue. When she was younger, more naive she had considered becoming a bounty hunter. It was dangerous but quick money. After trying to take down her first bounty, she gave up on that idea. Stealing it was. But Don Krieg’s bounty is only three million beri less than Arlong’s. So close, and yet—
Arlong has Marines in his pockets. Every one filled with a different dirty official. Unlike Nami, who has to pinch every single beri she earns, Arlong can throw money at people and things to make his problems go away. And no matter what kind of bullshit they spit out, everyone can be bought. All of which is to say, Nami has heard countless rants about how Arlong’s true bounty is much higher than his advertised twenty million beri. How he uses his connections to keep his bounty low so nobody ruins his plans. His perfect plans to take over the whole East Blue. Nami doesn’t want to believe it, but she does.
Which is why she doesn’t let hope sneak in beneath her defenses. She doesn’t think about Luffy taking down Arlong the same way he takes down Don Krieg. A single punch to his ugly face before he can even finish his speech.
“Nakama are not pawns.” Luffy yells, his fist bloodied, but not with his own blood. “A captain will give everything they have for their crew. Nakama are what make a pirate crew great.”
And Nami wants to break down right there. To tell Luffy everything. She wants him to protect her from Arlong. But then he turns back to the three of them and the grim expression on his face becomes his usual sunny smile, she can’t. Nami cannot bring herself to be the reason that face never smiles again. So she does what she knows best. She runs. She steals the gold from Don Krieg and the treasure from Luffy and runs. With this, she’ll finally have enough to save her village.
No one else needs to die.
Luffy is scared. It’s not a totally uncommon occurrence. He’s confident enough in his abilities to take down most, but when it comes to Warlords? When it comes to his Nakama putting themselves in danger? Luffy can’t help the way his anxiety grows. Especially when Mihawk slashes across Zoro’s chest. It’s not deep enough to kill, Luffy knows this. But Zoro is crying and it’s Mihawk’s fault and Luffy wants to throttle the man. Would probably survive the subsequent fight as well. However, Zoro doesn’t have that kind of time. The wound isn’t immediately life threatening, but it’s enough to kill Luffy’s First Mate if he doesn’t get some kind of medical attention.
Luffy holds Zoro in his arms, back to the sea. He peels off his vest and presses it to the gash, trying his best to slow the bleeding. Mihawk won’t attack him. Not when wounds to an enemy’s back are a shame upon the swordsman who gave them. Not when Mihawk can clearly see Whitebeard’s Jolly Roger on his back.
“I—I won’t fail again, C-captain. I’ll never—I’ll never lose again.”
“I know.” Is all Luffy says. He believes Zoro. Believes in his dream and his conviction. Knows he is a man of his word. “I expect nothing less from my First Mate.”
Someone finally approaches the two of them to take care of Zoro’s injury. Luffy doesn’t fight, doesn’t even move. Just allows the chefs to carry Zoro away. He knows Nami and Usopp will watch over Zoro, make sure he’s alright.
“Whitebeard’s Son.” Mihawk’s voice feels grating on Luffy’s ears. He knows Zoro had to fight the man for his own honor, for his dream, but Luffy can’t yet forgive the man who almost killed one of his Nakama.
“Mihawk. What are you doing in the East Blue?” Luffy still doesn’t turn around. Doesn’t even want to look Mihawk in the eye. Is afraid of what he might do to the man.
“We got news that someone was making trouble at a Marine Base. I was bored.”
Luffy laughs and it feels wrong in his throat. Sounds more like creaking wood and burning logs than his usual laugh, too much ash and smoke in his lungs.
“Your swordsman has great potential. I hope the next time we duel he will be stronger.” Mihawk finally says. It makes Luffy turn his head to look at Mihawk with fresh eyes. “He’s a good man. Strong and loyal with good instincts. He will grow.”
“Of course he will.” And Luffy’s laugh feels right this time. Like bells and drums and ocean waves. “I’m gonna be the Pirate King. I need the best.”
Mihawk only smirks before sailing away, Zoro’s blood still dripping from his blade.
Sanji doesn’t really know how he ends up joining Luffy’s ragtag little crew. Doesn’t know why Zeff lets him. Sanji still feels like he hasn’t paid his debt, like he never will. Still sees Zeff’s bloody stump in his nightmares. But Monkey D. Luffy is a force to be reckoned with. He keeps refusing Sanji’s refusals (because apparently that’s a thing you can do) with a laugh and at some point Sanji just can’t say no. Not when Luffy looks at him with those eyes and tells him they can find the All Blue together. That they can go on countless adventures as a team, a crew. Nakama.
So, here he is, trying to convince the green haired idiot that they need to chase after Nami. Not only because she is stunningly beautiful, but because Sanji could feel something inside of her. A debt something like his own.
“Nami is Nakama. We’re going after her.” Luffy says, cutting them both off. Sanji half expects Zoro to keep arguing. Instead, the man huffs and responds with an ‘Aye Captain’ that makes Sanji want to kick him in the face. “Zoro, get some rest. You need to heal.”
This time, Zoro actually looks like he might argue, but a single look from Luffy seems to drain him of whatever fighting spirit he had left. He sighs this time as he heads down into the ship.
“How did you get him to do that?” Sanji finally asks as they sail toward the Conomi Islands.
“Do what?” Luffy doesn’t even look over at Sanji, chewing on some meat bone he pulled out of nowhere. Sanji has a sneaking suspicion he stuffed it in his pants before leaving the Baratie but can’t prove anything.
“Make that idiot listen to everything you say. Like he’s a dog or something.”
“Zoro isn’t my dog,” Luffy hisses, and Sanji actually almost feels bad about saying it when he sees the look of genuine offense on Luffy’s face. “He’s part of my crew and I’m the Captain. I’m just making sure he stays safe.”
“You didn’t seem to be doing that earlier. When he challenged Mihawk to a duel. You both knew he wouldn’t win and you let him fight anyway.” Sanji takes a long drag from his cigarette, ignoring the fountain of blood that flashes through his mind. “Nami-san was worried about him, y’know.”
“I know.” Is all Luffy says for a moment. The silence between the two of them drags on and Sanji can hear Usopp fiddling with something on the other side of the ship, can see Zoro's weird friends across the deck before Luffy speaks again. “I’ll never stop my Nakama from following their dreams.”
“Even if it kills them?”
Luffy is quiet, more quiet than Sanji has seen in their short time together. The look on his face is oddly serene and it doesn’t fit the boisterous image that the boy usually had. Sanji frowns.
“There are worse things than death.”
Sanji just takes another drag of his cigarette, feeling the smoke fill his lungs. He doesn’t bring up the fact that Luffy didn’t answer the question.
Nojiko knows things she wished she didn’t. She knows about Nami’s deal with Arlong. She knows Arlong has no plans to follow through his end of the bargain. She knows that Nami will die in the hell she has created for herself. Nojiko loves Nami. She loves her sister more than anyone else in the world. She just wants Nami to be free. Nojiko doesn’t care if Nami runs away and dooms them all. She doesn’t care if she has to die for her sister. As long as Nami can freely chase her dreams, Nojiko would gladly take a bullet to the chest. But Nami would never accept that.
(Nojiko knows that her sister is too kind for the cruel world they were both born into. Knows that she always will be. Knows that behind the facade made of gold and beri and mikan tree wood, the people of Cocoyasi Village hold too big a place in her heart for Nami to ever consider leaving. Nijoko often wishes her sister were a crueler woman.)
When Nojiko meets the men who claim to be her sister’s Nakama, she believes them. Even if the one in the straw hat unnerves her with his dark gaze and lithe body that seems too long. She believes them because they talk about her like a friend, a person. Not just a map maker or ‘that human’ or some piece of ass. Nojiko believes these people because they believe in her sister. And really, that’s all she needs.
Nami doesn’t want to ask. She doesn’t want to send her friends to their certain dooms, but she cannot think of an alternative. Arlong cheated. He broke their deal with a stupid loophole and Nami wants nothing more than to cave his face in with her bo staff but knows she would die trying. She’ll probably die trying to collect the money anyway. Nami is out of options, so she begs. She cries and yells and grabs onto Luffy’s vest like it’s her lifeline. Probably because it is.
She feels the straw hat land on her head before she hears Luffy speak. His voice is solid like a rock in the middle of Nami’s swirling sea. She doesn’t even think before latching onto the safe haven.
“You never have to beg, Nami. I’d do anything for my Nakama.” And seas, if that isn’t the most reassuring thing Nami has ever heard since she first got into this mess. Since Bell-mère told her daughters that everything would be okay. That she would do anything for them.
Then she went and died. Nami hopes against all hope that history doesn’t repeat itself. She knows herself well enough to know she wouldn’t recover from it.
She watches as Luffy leaves, the others close behind. Luffy’s back is solid, strong. It reminds Nami of Bell-mère’s. The way her mother would effortlessly carry Nami and Nojiko on one shoulder each. Strength that could tear trees out of the ground but were only ever used to lift up children so they could pick mikan from their branches. Nami’s tears come faster as Nami thinks that maybe this time it will be different. Maybe the waves won’t wash her away in their storm this time. Maybe she can survive until a ship comes along to save her.
“Who are you?” Arlong asks, staring at the small boy who had kicked down the doorway to his base. He can feel the power radiating from his small body and wonders how such a small boy can hold so much raw ability. He holds two thick sticks in each hand that remind him of Nami’s bo staff if it had been sawed in half. He wants to laugh. If the boy thinks that will work against his shark teeth, he is dead wrong.
“I’m Monkey D. Luffy. I’m going to be King of the Pirates and I’m going to kill you.” His voice is dark, there’s no other way to describe it. Arlong feels like his vision is narrowing, the edges disappearing into some lightless void. This boy, Luffy, doesn’t just have raw power, he knows how to use it. Arlong has never known when to give up. Has never had to.
“Sure,” Arlong decides to humor the human boy. As if a human could ever defeat a fishman. Who cares if he’s powerful, Arlong is more powerful. Some brat from the East Blue will not take him down. “And why is that?”
“You hurt Nami, my Nakama, which means you die.”
“Oh, the little map maker?” Arlong laughs, loud and long from deep inside of himself. These humans weren’t even here for themselves, but for some stupid revenge plot. How idiotic of them. “How sweet of you, little human.”
The boy goes still and his eyes go blank. It’s almost more disconcerting than the previous glare. When his body starts to shake, the green haired human grabs his shoulders, holding the raven up. How weak. Humans always depending on each other, never able to do anything on their own. It makes Arlong want to gag. Before he can, a loud crash comes from the boy. Arlong looks over to see his fist deep in the marble floors.
“Don’t call me that.” He growls, face the very picture of rage. Arlong can see it burning in his eyes, simmering behind his teeth. He will tear the boy apart with his own anger and pummel the rest of his little crew soon after.
“That’s what you are. Just a weak little human.”
The next fist is incredibly fast and Arlong only just manages to avoid it before it crashes into the pillar behind him, crumbling the stone to dust.
“I said,” He breathes, the rage still there but hidden beneath a layer of ice. “Don’t call me that.”
Luffy doesn’t know what’s happening. All he can see are metal bars, chains on his wrists, ankles, neck. He can’t breathe. He can’t speak. A face is on the other side of the bars, blurry and cold. Luffy can’t see anything past his own hands. Everything hurts. Why does it hurt so much?
“Oh, my sweet little pet. Why did you have to fight? Don’t you know you won’t win? You aren’t even human. You never were. Not with a name like that. Not with a body like that. You’re better off here, my own little pet. If you’d just behave, you would be perfect. But now I have to punish you and you know how I loathe the smell of punishments.”
The pain grows and suddenly Luffy can’t see anything, can’t make a single noise. His throat feels like it should be screaming, but nothing’s coming out. He can only feel the pain coursing through his entire body. Can’t pinpoint a single part of his shaking body. It’s all encompassing.
“Luffy!”
And Luffy can breathe again. He punches a fist into the ground, forcing himself back to the present. He can see Arlong and his ugly smirk and the mark on his arm. The same mark on Nami’s shoulder. The one she had stabbed out of shame. Luffy had wanted to do that more times than he could count to his own back. He is going to kill this man. Slowly. Painfully. He will feel everything Nami felt and more.
“Don’t call me that.” Luffy’s throat still feels raw, even though he hadn’t screamed.
Arlong says something that Luffy doesn’t hear. He can’t quite understand the words leaving Arlong’s mouth. Can’t pin down exactly what he’s saying. Just knows it’s annoying and useless.
“—weak little human.”
“My own little pet.”
“I said,” Luffy takes a deep breath in. He remembers his brothers’ faces, the picture he keeps tucked away inside his hat. He remembers Marco and Thatch and Izou. Remembers Makino and Dadan and Shanks. Remembers Pops. He needs to breathe. Needs to keep his head on his shoulders so he can remove Arlong’s from his. Luffy breathes out. “Don’t call me that.”
Luffy motions toward his crew and they seem to understand, launching themselves into their own battles as Luffy stalks toward his prey. Arlong is cocky. He has some bullshit idea in his head that fishmen are better than humans. An idea he forced into Nami’s head as well. Something about it makes Luffy’s entire body itch. Makes him want to release every single pain unto this man.
“You aren’t even human.”
“I am going to rip your head off of your shoulders while you’re still breathing so you feel every second.” Luffy promises, low enough for only Arlong to hear. He lets his Haki seep out around him, pushes it to cloud around Arlong. Lets it settle in the fishman’s skin, sink into his bones. “You will never hurt anyone ever again, especially my Nakama.”
“Your Nakama?” Arlong laughs but Luffy can feel the force behind it. He’s getting to Arlong. Getting in his head, into his soul. “Nami belongs to me.”
Luffy growls, his soul fighting against every movement. He wants to rip Arlong’s throat out with his teeth. Wants to beat the man until he can’t move and let him watch as Nami walks free before slicing through his neck. He wants to tear into his chest and rip out his heart, hold it in bloody hands and crush it between his fingers. He decides it’s time to stop holding back.
“Nami doesn’t belong to anyone. Especially not you.”
For four years, Luffy trained every day against some of the best of the Whitebeard Pirates. For the past year, Luffy had honed his skills on his own, fixing every fault he could find until he was a weapon all on his own. Luffy had been trained to maim. Luffy had learned to kill. Had yet to put his theory into practice on another humanoid creature. So different from bears and tigers and alligators. Luffy almost hopes Arlong puts up a fight.
He is sorely disappointed.
Even with his sword, Arlong is weak. Nowhere near Pops’ or Shanks’ strength. Nothing close to the level that Luffy had trained for. There is a reason, Luffy muses, that Arlong chose the weakest Sea to conquer. It is the only one he had a chance at.
Arlong manages to chase Luffy up to the top floor, into a room full of paper and a single desk. He can see chains underneath the chair, shackles the perfect size for a young girl. He remembers the scars on Nami’s ankles. Luffy stares at the maps lining the room, remembers what Arlong called Nami. His map maker. This was Nami’s prison. Luffy will burn it to the ground.
He lifts his bastons as Arlong swings down, the Adam Wood easily blocking the large blade. Arlong looks shocked and Luffy takes the opportunity to grab the desk. It’s bolted to the floor but Luffy doesn’t give a shit. He pulls and the bolts groan before finally giving in. Luffy throws the desk out the window. Grabs the maps around the room, proof of Nami’s struggle, her hell, and throws them after, watching as they land in the water below. Watches as the ink bleeds and the maps become nothing more than a blur of black and white.
“What have you done?” Arlong yells, swinging his sword again. Luffy dodges this time, stepping closer to Arlong and delivering a single devastating blow to his chest. Arlong goes flying, following the desk’s path out the window. Luffy can hear the crash he makes as he hits the marble below.
Luffy jumps out, stretching his arm to slow his fall. Arlong is up, but he’s unbalanced. His eyes are unfocused and dull and Luffy doesn’t have any more patience for games. He pounces, pushing Arlong back onto the ground, and presses one of his bastons into his neck. Arlong can barely struggle, his tired body fighting without any hope of winning. Luffy watches as the light still left in Arlong’s eyes begins to dull even more. Watches until it is almost completely gone before lifting the bastons. Doesn’t even give Arlong a chance to breathe before reaching his hand into the man’s mouth and hooking his hand under his palette and pulling. The sick sound of flesh tearing echoes through the open area but Luffy doesn’t give a single shit. Just smiles as the top half of Arlong’s face is ripped from his body.
Blood splashes on Luffy’s face and arms, coats his hands red. All Luffy can see is blood. He’s smiling, the fishman’s head in his hand. Luffy can’t stop staring.
“Captain?” A hand on his shoulder reminds Luffy where he is. Why he killed Arlong. He turns to see Zoro standing behind him, new blood on his bandages. Luffy reaches out to touch, to soothe, but stops when he sees the blood on his own hands. He won’t sully Zoro any more.
“I’m fine.” Is all he says.
Arlong is dead and Nami can’t bring herself to be scared or disgusted by her captain’s actions. Can’t feel any sadness for the death of the man who tortured her for all those years. The people of Cocoyasi Village feel much the same, holding a party for their heroes. Luffy eats the food while proclaiming he is no hero.
For the first time since meeting him, Nami really looks at Luffy. There’s still blood under his fingernails and stained in his shorts. His scars seem to cover every part of his body, and yet he seems to wear them proudly. Nami sees rings around his wrists and neck, assumes they exist on his ankles as well. Recognizes them from looking at her own body. She won’t bring it up, but when he sits next to him at the long table and gently grabs Luffy’s wrist, he seems to understand.
They have to leave soon, lest the Marines come after her crew. Because this group of idiots is hers now, and she is theirs. It feels good to belong because she wants to. To be had and also have. She’s going to the Grand Line with them and she already knows it is the best and worst decision of her life. But how else is she supposed to draw a map of the world?
Plus, someone has to make sure they don’t get lost on their way to their dreams.