whirlybirdwhat:

Hanahaki au drabble series, in which Luffy is in love with the sea.

Ao3

chapter 22 - graveside flowers - mihawk

Mihawk saw the boy choke on saltwater and blossoms before, on a restaurant at the sea. It is an entirely different experience to see him choke on blood and thorns in the middle of a war.

He wonders, sometimes, if Shanks’ bet will live to see the throne he claims.

(When Shanks is drunk on his shoulder, mumbling about little boys and deadly fruits, my faults, andwish I didn’ts, he doesn’t think he will.)

Monkey D. Luffy is young and dying, a supernova burning out in a series of fleeting moments.

Yet –

He is powerful, earning the loyalty of a thousand men who will be dead come sundown and of men more powerful than Luffy will ever live to be. Dangerous, the ability to sway the tides when the ocean hates your soul. Deadly, the ability to draw dying men to the side of a dyng boy.

(Children of the sea do not go down easy – they will fight, and when they rally like a tsunami… Smart souls know to stay out of the way.)

Mihawk is intrigued even as he aims to cut Straw Hat down. It’s a perfect hit, arcing through the air, and only the stronger folks would be able to -

Ah.

A dodge.

The boy dodgedit. Had he unlocked observation haki?

There’s coughing ringing out from the battlefield.

Ah.

(So many surprising observations from this tiny, tiny child.)

He didn’t. He had only stumbled from the flowers that tore him apart from the inside, the love that killed him daily.

Mihawk does not take another chance.

(He does not wish to challenge the sea.)

He will leave Shanks’s bet to his own fate, and leave flowers at the grave when the time comes.

(Luffy stumbles across the battlefield, his path clear by the petals in his wake. His fingers are cut by the many times he has fallen, and there is more blood on him from his chest than the sailors he has cast away and killed.

He breathes in smoke and debris and ash, and breath out petals and thorns, and vines. Every breath is choked yet still - still Mihawk hears him cry out in a wave of conqueror’s will.

ACE! YOU’RE THE ONLY BROTHER I HAVE LEFT!

An impossibility, Straw Hat is. Perhaps there will be no grave flowers after all.)

–

Graveside flowers: The tradition of placing flowers on graves is said to have originated with the Ancient Greeks, who placed them on the graves of warriors. If the flowers took root, it is said the dead warrior found peace at last.

tight knit boys

Ace thinks about his legacy, sometimes.

How Ace has no choice in who he grows up to be. How it’s always been decided that he’s a sin. How he’s the son of the Pirate King, the Devil, and that’s all that matters about Ace.

Ace is the son of the pirate king, and Ace is hated.

Anything and everything bad about the world, people associate with him. Blame on him.

Ace hates hates hates it.

(But he knows it’s true.)

He lives as if he doesn’t know this, as if he has a place in this world, as if he’s not a blot on humanity. He runs with the wind, laughs with his brothers. He fights, laughs, loves.

(He hates.)

But, sometimes, all he can think about is this cursed destiny of his.

About how he was born to live and die a sin.

-

(Or: Ace is insecure and down on himself, but his brothers love him so, so much, and will never let him doubt how much they love him.)

Link

oriigami:

[Wano manga spoilers- After the liberation of Wano, someone who is not Kyoshirou comes to see Orochi in his cell. A very self-indulgent post-canon alternate ending. Read it on AO3 here.]

Something is breaking.

Something is breaking, his ears ringing with a grating sound like the rubbing edges of broken glass, and he can’t tell if it’s inside his head or outside of it. He was right he was right he was right, and he doesn’t know whether to laugh or scream or both, because he was right.

He’s not even sure what happened. It was all so impossibly fast, twenty years of triumph brought to ash in a single night. How did it happen? How did it happen? He’d been so careful, he’d known, he’d known their every movement and every plan, he’d had Kanjurou-

His strength is sapping, seeping out through the cold seastone locked around his wrists, and it’s all he can do to keep from slumping boneless to the floor.

The sheer indignity of it all- imprisoned in his own castle, the castle that always should have been his by right, dank stone pressing against his back, left alone with nothing but his thoughts and the breaking inside his head. How dare they? How dare they visit such injustice upon him- upon the rightful shougun of Wano-

Laughter, low, darkly amused and deeply familiar, and he jerks his head up against the draining weakness in his veins.

Keep reading

(Hey guys, so I’ve not been working on prompts recently so this is the last one I have - there will be more eventually, but I’ve been obsessed with a couple larger projects so I don’t know how long it’ll take. Thanks!)

“Zoro!”

Zoro cracks his eyes open, sighting his captain on his special seat, twisting his head around unnaturally far to look at him. Sighing, Zoro forces himself up and walks towards Luffy – he knows when Luffy wants to talk to him.

“What’s up, Luffy?”

Luffy laughs, pointing out at the horizon. “Look! It’s so pretty!” He says, utterly delighted, and Zoro relaxes, the corners of his lips turning up as he turns his eyes towards the horizon.

It’s twilight, and the sky is utterly filled with color, reds and oranges and purples and blues all creating a gorgeous display, reflecting off the waves and dazzling them with their beauty. Zoro’s never really taken the time to appreciate the sunset – training is more important, after all, and after dinner is one of his favorite times to do so (even if he was planning on using that time to nap today), but he’s glad Luffy called his attention to this.

It really is beautiful.

Luffy laughs, turning back to the horizon and leaning forward excitedly, and something in Zoro just relaxes at the bright, happy, familiarlaugh.

(He’d been without it for far too long.

It’s nice to hear it again.)

“What’re you guys doing?”

Nami comes up alongside them, but doesn’t await an answer, instead leaning against the railing on the other side of Zoro, small smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she watches the sunset.

“You really have to ask?” Zoro snarks anyway, because messing with Nami is fun, and Nami huffs, elbowing him in the side.

Luffy laughs, then, and says, “Come sit with me!”

Zoro begins climbing, unquestioning, while Nami blinks in seeming confusion beside him. She says, “Isn’t that your special seat?”

“Yeah! So come up here!”

Zoro snorts at the rapid flickering of emotions across her face before she settles on resigned acceptance (with a small, pleased smile for good measure) as he finishes climbing, settling on his captain’s right side. Nami sighs, then, climbing up with ease and plopping down on the other side of Luffy.

“Shishishishi!”

Luffy wraps an arm around each of their shoulders, bringing them closer with a laugh. Zoro grins, then, snickering at Nami’s exasperated scolding of Luffy for, “…surprised me! We could’ve fallen off!”

A slight blush and pleased smile have creeped onto her cheeks though, happiness shining through at her captain’s attention.

(It had been a long two years, without Zoro’s family by his side. He’d had a purpose, sure, and knew everyone was (relatively) safe, but it was still lonely.

He’d gone a long time without having his captain at his side.

Never again.)

“Hey, remember when we met?” Luffy asks, completely out of the blue. Zoro snorts.

“You mean when you came up to me when I was locked up, made fun of me, and then blackmailed me to get me to join you?”

Nami turns her head and cocks an eyebrow at them as Luffy bursts out into laughter. “You mean to tell me that Luffy – our dumbass, can’t-lie-to-save-his-life captain – blackmailed you?”

“Well, when you say it like that, it sounds a lot worse,” Zoro mutters, looking off to the side. Nami snickers, reaching across Luffy and nudging Zoro in the side teasingly. Zoro then levels a look on Nami, saying flatly, “At least I didn’t decide leaving the crew, ‘to protect us’-” Zoro adds in air-quotes, “-was a good idea.”

“Hey! Wait- That’s-”

Nami cuts herself off and flushes, bowing her head slightly, and Zoro smirks. “It seemed like a good idea at the time,” Nami finally decides on, and Zoro snorts at the utterly unsuccessful attempt at defending herself.

Victory.

Luffy laughs brightly, wrapping an arm around each of them. “I’m glad those things happened, though!” Nami and Zoro both raise their eyebrows at their captain, who continues, beaming, “I like having you in my crew just the way you are!”

Well-

That’s-

Namiblushes, turning her head away from their beaming captain while Zoro sighs fondly, pushing Luffy’s hat down over his eyes and saying, “Aye, Captain.” Luffy laughs as if he didn’t just complement them like it’s the easiest thing in the world.

(Seriously,whydoes this still surprise him sometimes? Luffy’s always been like this.

Giving praise joyfully; giving love freely; giving hope with ease.

His captain, always happy and joyful, sharing his freedom with those he loves.

How lucky he was, to find this captain of his.)

Luffy’s laughs soften, just a bit, and Zoro side-eyes him, watching his beaming smile soften into something more gentle, more private. He says, quiet, “I’m glad we’re back together again. I missed you guys.”

Nami shakes her head, smiling fondly and leaning her head on Luffy’s shoulder, throwing one of arms around his waist. She says, “We missed you too, captain.”

(There’s no mention of the loss that still swallows their captain whole sometimes, no mention of the scar that paints his chest red and that he grips at any mention of his brother’s killer; no mention of the war that had almost killed him.

Almosttaken him from them.

All that’s there is love, and joy, and pure happiness at being together again.)

Zoro, never having been one for words, simply leans just a little bit closer to his captain, nudges an arm against Nami’s, resting near his waist, and they sit, quiet and content.

They stay, simply happy sitting next to each other and watching the sunset again together (being together) for the first time in two years.

law&lami + hearth

“Law?”

Law turns slightly, smiling warmly at his sister as he sets the poker to the side, the fire crackling warmly in the hearth. Lami, small and shivering, comes over and sits next to him. He wraps an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close and letting his warmth and the warmth of the fire soothe her.

“How’re you feeling?” He asks softly, absentmindedly rubbing circles into her shoulder with his thumb. She shrugs against his side, nuzzling closer to him and mumbling into his chest.

“Better, I guess.”

Law hums in response, grabbing a stick by his side and carefully sticking one end into the fire. Lami giggles as he brings the now-lit stick up, waving it around and drawing designs in the air in front of her. Law smiles and teasingly brings it close to her face, taking care not to put her at risk but making her shrink back, laughing and shoving against him with newfound energy to get him to stop.

Mission accomplished, Law tosses the stick in the fire and wraps his other arm around his little sister, stroking her hair gently. The little sigh she lets out as she snuggles closer to him causes his heart to warm and clench in the same moment.

(She’s shaking still – it’s slight, but it’s still there.

The white spots on her skin have never looked brighter than in the bright light of the flames.)

His little sister, his sweet, loving, preciouslittle sister, has been getting steadily worse and worse, and he doesn’t know what to do. Their parents have been working nonstop since the signs first started appearing, but the hints of desperation starting to shine on their faces as Lami edges closer and closer to becoming bedridden make a pit form in Law’s stomach.

They haven’t found a cure yet, and Lami shakes against Law’s side.

(Law’s starting to feel it too; the shakes, the pain, the slow realization that he’s dying.

It doesn’t fill him with fear like the thought of his little sister dying does.)

“…Law?” A whisper, quiet and hesitant, against his side.

“Yeah?”

“Am I going to die?” Law takes care to notjerk his head over to look at her, but his stroking of her hair stops for a moment, before he resumes his motions, stiffer than before.

He says, calmly, as reassuringly as he can with tears pricking at the corners of his eyes, “Of course not. Mom and Dad will find the cure, and you’ll be back and driving me nuts again in no time.”

No response. Law glances at his sister out of the corners of his eyes, seeing Lami stare into the fire, biting her lip.

Tears are slowly rolling down her cheeks.

Law quickly pulls her closer, practically lifting her into his lap and hushes her, gently brushing her tears away. Lami chokes out, “But…what if they don’t?”

“They will. Trust me.”

It sickens him that it tastes like a lie.

(She can’t die. She can’t.)

Lami nods slightly, burying her face into his chest. Law ignores the growing wet spot and holds his sister close, fighting against the tears pricking at the backs of his eyes.

She whispers, “I’m scared, Law.” Law shushes her, rubbing her back and laying his head on hers, but doesn’t respond.

A single tear trails down his cheek.

(He’s scared too.)

They sit, the dying hearth cooling in front of them, and hold each other close, as if it’s the last time they’ll ever be able to.

(It is.)

Robin smiles softly, giggling as laughs and cheers fill the air. Rain is pouring down all around them, drenching them, but no thunder and lightning roar, and the sea is as calm as it ever is in the New World.

Because of that, instead of retreating inside like normal people would, the Robin and her crewmates are all outside, rain plastering their hair against their skulls and smiles brighter than the sun.

As soon as the rain had hit, Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper had gasped in joy, running onto the grass and running around, getting soaked instantly and giggling all the way. They had soon decided, since the deck was well and truly soaked at that point, to lay in the grass and make “Rain Angels,” according to her precious captain. Franky had belted out a laugh before joining them.

The splashes he caused with his limbs caused many a giggle from the four currently sprawled over the grass.

Zoro had scoffed but followed them anyway, and had decided to lean against the railing, watching the chaos with a fond smile tugging at his lips. Sanji, not one to let Zoro outdo him, had quickly wrapped up what he was doing and followed the prior five outside, challenging Zoro to a splashing battle that quickly turned into sparring.

Jinbe, sighing fondly but not even attempting to hide his smile, had gone next, sitting next to the mast and letting the rain wash over him. Brook had laughed joyfully and is now laying with the first four on the grass, creating his interpretation of a Rain Angel.

Unfortunately, bones do not make for very good things to corral water with.

The last to go outside, Nami grabbed two umbrellas, handing Robin one and saying, “I’m not looking to get soaked today, thank you very much.” The fond smile on her lips as she said that, though, had betrayed her happiness, and Robin had simply laughed before walking outside to join her family in the rain.

Somehow, in the two seconds that Robin had taken her eyes off them, the eight boys on the deck had arranged a wrestling tournament, made very…interesting by the slick deck.

Luffy and Usopp, of course, go first, and Luffy charges in with a roar, yelling, “I’M GONNA BEAT YOU, USOPP!”

Usopp, smirking, waits till the last possible second before tilting his body to the side slightly, tripping Luffy and plopping down on top of him. “I win,” he says unnecessarily, and Luffy pouts before launching upwards and tackling him.

“You cheater! You didn’t even try to wrestle me!”

“It’s not cheating, it’s being smart!”

“What’s the difference?!”

“Just because you didn’t think of it doesn’t mean that it’s cheating, Luffy!”

The squabble continues, Luffy and Usopp eventually abandoning words and rolling all around the deck, tearing and biting at each other.

The wrestling tournament seemingly abandoned without Usopp as their self-appointed advisor, Sanji and Zoro returned to their sparring. Brook pulled out his violin from somewhere and is now playing a jaunty tune, matching his tempo to the beats of Sanji and Zoro’s fight, and Jinbe sits next to him, watching the chaos with a small smile adorning his face.

Chopper pads up to Robin and Nami, snuggling into Robin’s side, sighing at the instant warmth. Robin, ignoring the slightly-uncomfortable wet feeling against her ribs, chuckles and wraps an arm around the baby of the crew. Nami, grinning even as she shakes her head, hands a towel over. “Dry off before you get a cold, Chopper,” She advises, and Chopper nods, wrapping the too-large towel around himself three times.

A yell sounds, and the three look up to see the still-squabbling Luffy and Usopp somehow roll right off the edge of the ship.

“You guys deserved that,” Nami mutters, and Robin simply chuckles, patting Chopper’s head in reassurance as he frets over the two’s safety.

Usopp hauls Luffy back on deck, and two seconds later, they’re back to squabbling.

Robin watches her crew’s chaos, utterly fond.

She lovesher family so, somuch.

(Okay so this one isn’t canon - it’s set in Whirly’sHanahaki AU (which I absolutely adore - go check it out!) - but I love it so I wanted to write for it, so here you go!)

Nami stirs slightly, blinking her eyes open and glancing at the time. It reads 2:32 am, and, confused, Nami looks around, trying to find what woke her up.

A knock on the door, quiet and hesitant, sounds through the room.

Nami frowns slightly but rises, switching the lamp on and glancing over quickly to see Robin’s still asleep, padding over to the door. Her crew knows not to bother her when she’s asleep unless there’s a storm – and there isn’t, the air pressure is perfectly fine and there’s no noise coming from outside. Who could be there?

She opens the door, annoyed remark on the tip of her tongue, but immediately softens as she sees her captain, hunched and worn, standing just outside. He seems like he can barely stand, shoulders trembling and legs shaking.

There’s blood and flower petals on his lips; dripping down and pooling on the deck in front of him.

Nami immediately wraps an arm around his shoulders, guiding him inside and closing the door behind her. Robin’s awake at this point, Nami’s sure, but she leaves them be for the time being, and Nami quickly leads Luffy to the bed, where he collapses down. She sits next to him, arm still draped around him, and Luffy immediately leans against her. The relieved sigh he lets out is both reassuring and makes Nami’s heart clench.

“What’s wrong, Luffy?” She asks softly, moving her arm so that she’s rubbing gentle circles into his back. Her captain (sixteen and small, so, so small in this moment) shudders, coughing slightly and spilling few more petals onto the ground. A hand sprouts behind him, joining Nami in rubbing his back as Robin comes to sit on Luffy’s other side.

Luffy whispers, “Memories.” Nami hums, waiting for him to continue. There’s not much her captain would react this strongly to, and a sinking suspicion pools in her gut. She shares a loaded look with Robin over Luffy’s still-trembling shoulders, gut clenching at the agreement in Robin’s eyes.

“Ace was there…he was right there…and I still-” Luffy chokes, but it’s not petals, this time, that catch in his throat – it’s emotion, pure and heartbreaking, and Nami feels her chest ache from how much she wants to take this pain from her captain. She draws him closer, feeling tears soak into her shoulders as he shudders against her.

(She’s never hated herself more than this moment for not being there; for not being there on the worst day of her captain’s life; for not being there when he needed her most.

She’s not sure she’ll ever be able to forgive herself.)

Robin comes closer, gently massaging the back of Luffy’s neck as he continues to sob. Nami wishes, so, so badly she could go back and save Ace; that she could make it so that her captain – her precious, precious captain – doesn’t have even more weighing down his shoulders than the love he has for she who will never return it.

But she can’t.

And that hurts.

All she can do is comfort him, supporting him through his memories; through his pain.

So she sits, holding her captain close, and Luffy cries.

“Where’re we going, Shanks?”

Shanks grins and doesn’t answer, simply hiking the little monkey up higher on his shoulders and walking further into the forest. Luffy whines at the non-answer but quiets, and Shanks can tell he’s taking in the countless birds, and trees, and sounds, among other things that surround them. Luffy’s been into the forest plenty of times, Shanks knows, but there’s a difference between fighting to survive there and being safe, able to simply take in the wondrous nature enveloping them in its warmth.

They just walk, for a while, Luffy chattering about birds and bugs and bushes that he sees that interest him, and Shanks answering his random questions with a laugh and teasing remark. The forest really is beautiful, ground speckled with sunlight and trees tall and bold. It’s a warm day, and the laughter of the little boy on his shoulders just serves to make it all the brighter.

Soon, the little crevice that Shanks has been going for this entire way appears, and Shanks grins before lifting Luffy off of his shoulders, setting him on his own two feet. This is met with a whine, but Shanks just laughs before saying, “We’re almost there, Luffy. I need you to go through that crevice there, can you do that for me?”

Luffy, adventurous spirit that he is, instantly agrees, running through the crevice that is more like a tunnel to him. Shanks, however, has to turn sideways and scoot through it. He makes it through quickly enough, thankfully, and smiles at what he sees.

Luffy is standing shock still, looking up in awe. Shanks comes up alongside him and chuckles softly, ruffling his hair gently, causing him to look up at Shanks in wonder. He says, grinning, “Pretty, isn’t it?”

They’ve emerged into an open clearing, sunlight shining through the trees and splashing the ground with gold and warming their faces. There’re birds all around, and all sorts of wild animals creating a spectacle, but that’s not the main attraction; not what Luffy’s been staring at in awe for what must be a couple minutes now.

No, what’s snatched his attention is the tens of pure pink sakura trees, bright and beautiful, surrounding them. They’re everywhere, enveloping them in beauty and rendering them speechless. Even Shanks, who’s seen it before, finds himself awestruck, unable to take his eyes off the gorgeous colors surrounding them.

Luffy nods distractedly in response, a bright smile on his face. He slips a hand into Shanks’, and Shanks laughs, utterly fond, scooping Luffy up so that he’s sat on his shoulders yet again. Luffy rests his small hands on Shanks’ head, and excitedly points out various things as Shanks slowly walks forward, making his way through the sakura grove.

Shanks smiles softly, glancing up at the bright smile Luffy has, leaning forward and exclaiming about everything he sees.

The grove and sunlight may be pretty, but Shanks doesn’t think anything will warm him more than the innocent laughter, joyful and free, of the little boy on his shoulders.

Katakuri’s side is gushing blood, his scarf is removed, baring the worst part of him to the world, and every part of him is battered and bruised.

This is arguably the worst state he’s ever been in.

But, seeing Straw Hat standing across from him, still standing despite the countless hits Katakuri’s bombarded him with, glaring fiercely at him and looking like he can go for five more rounds, willpower battering at Katakuri’s harder than any other he’s faced (other than his mama’s, of course), Katakuri’s never felt more exhilarated.

He’s been stuck at Tottoland for far too long – as the most responsible sibling and the strongest sibling, he’s tasked with staying at home and taking care of everything that his mother and family refuses to. No venturing out into the rest of the New World, no exploring the unknown – more exciting than anythingthat happens at home, no fighting or brawling or even meeting new people. Just the same old monotony, day after day after day.

There’s no other way of saying it - he’s been bored.

But, now, facing down Monkey D. Luffy, Katakuri can finally let loose – can finally be free to fight, and brawl, and be happy in his own skin. There’s no judgement from his opponent, just respect and unending determination to beat him.

It’s the best thing that’s happened to Katakuri in years.

As they launch at each other for the umpteenth time, Katakuri grins, vicious and brutal, but free above all else.

He’s having the time of his life.

He hopes this moment of pure exhilaration never ends.

Rosinante sighs silently, finally slowing to a stop, the rough tree trunk a welcome break from the running as he slides down it, landing heavily in the bark.

Yet another bust.

Yet another burnt down hospital.

(Yet another day of Rosinante’s unwitting kid having to relieve the worst days in his life, because no one will be decent and treat him.)

Law, wan and worn out, had finally fallen asleep sometime during their frantic run from the hospital. He’s snoring quietly against Rosinante’s chest, but his face is twisted, lips pursed so close that they’re white and hand clutching tightly at Rosinante’s coat. Rosinante’s heart clenches at the faint whimper that Law lets out as Rosinante readjusts slightly.

The forest around them is quiet.

Good, Rosinante thinks, glancing down at the kid nestled in his lap. Law needs it to be quiet.

Not that Rosinante couldn’t make it so if it were loud, but Law needs calmness, needs peace in order to recover even a little bit from the ordeals he’s been put through.

(Rosinante takes a deep, calming breath in and lets it out, slow enough that his chest starts to burn.

Anger is not helpful right now.

The hospital got what it deserved, anyway.)

Law whimpers again, louder, and Rosinante brings a hand up, hovering it over Law’s head before hesitantly stroking his hair. Law tenses slightly at the touch, but then relaxes fully, and Rosinante slumps back in relief. He continues stroking at Law’s hair, brushing the matted strands away from his eyes and smoothing it down.

(He’s so, so angry at those who reject helping this kid – Law’s already been through so much; toomuch for a kid his age (or anyone, really). How heartless do you have to be to turn away a small, sick child who so obviously needs help?

Very,Rosinante thinks as he glances at Law, who’s brows have loosened slightly at Rosinante’s ministrations.)

Rosinante firmly tears his thoughts away from those absolute wastesof perfectly good oxygen.

He can’t do anything about the past – about the heartlessness of his fellow humans.

What he can do, however, is make sure to find a doctor for Law – find someone who is willing to treat him.

Because there has to be someone out there willing to do that.

There has to be.

Law hasto live.

Lawwilllive.

Rosinanteswearsit.

He will do absolutely anything to save the child sleeping in his arms.

(Even if it means giving up himself.)

Laying on the ground in front of the Straw Hat Pirates, Aokiji is…curious.

When he had first seen Nico Robin emerge into notoriety again for the first time in a few years, he was resigned to the fact that he had saved a woman destined to be heartless. Destined to be deserted, destined to be alone.

Destined to be cold, dark, condemned.

He expected nothing different than the same old strategy of catching a ride with the strongest group around and then leaving them to crash-and-burn that Nico Robin had stuck to for two decades; that Aokiji’s determined to end right here, right now.

He didn’t expect this.

Monkey D. Luffy. Up-and-coming rookie, with no accolades to his name, other than the defeat of various small-time villains and the weakened Crocodile. A man who has absolutely no chance against a man of Aokiji’s caliber and who Aokiji could defeat (quite literally) in his sleep.

A man who is now standing protectively in front of Nico Robin, glaring at Aokiji with a ferocity that surprises him. He’s got an arm stuck out to the side, keeping Nico Robin behind him, and demanding Aokiji leave her alone.

Aokiji’s mildly shocked. They couldn’t genuinely care about Nico Robin, could they?

All she does is use people. Surely, they’ve realized that.

No, Aokiji realizes as he fends off their attacks with ease and freezes Nico Robin with a casual “hug.” That’s true desperation in the Captain’s voice as he orders his crew to save her from getting crushed. That’s pure joy in the celebrations of said crew after they save her. That’s pure determination in the Captain’s posture as he demands a solo fight against Aokiji.

They do truly care about her.

As Aokiji defeats the Captain with an ease only someone of Aokiji’s strength can achieve, Aokiji considers what may happen, if Nico Robin sticks with this crew for much longer.

They’re going to get attacked for her, he knows.

But, it doesn’t seem like they’ll care in the slightest.

They’re determined to not give her up.

Aokiji sighs, leaving the Captain alive (so that he’s not killed by said Captain’s grandfather when he returns to Headquarters – Garp is terrifying enough when he’s notangry, thank you very much), and leaves for Marineford.

Maybe, he was wrong, believing that Nico Robin’s been doomed since he saved her, all those years ago.

Maybe there is a chance Nico Robin could be filled with warmth again, after all.

THIS FIC WAS WRITTEN FOR THE WONDERFUL @whirlybirdwhat BECAUSE GUESS WHAT!!! IT’S HER BIRTHDAY!!! HAVE A GREAT DAY WHIRLY ILU

Summary:

“What day is it?“

Sabo blinks.

That’s…not what he expected his ‘Live in the Moment’ little brother to say.

He glances outside at the rapidly darkening sky, racking his brain for the date he knows he saw just a couple days ago. “Uh…I think it’s the 21st?”

“Why do you even want to know, anyway?” Ace asks simultaneously, and Luffy proceeds to ignore him and gasps in horror, looking at Sabo with something akin to panic.

“Makino’s birthday is in two days!”

-

(Or: ASL plans for celebrating Makino’s birthday and brotherly shenanigans ensue, and Makino gets the love she deserves.)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/27412789

“Alright, that’s all. Dismissed.”

Kaku sighs and stands at Lucci’s words, stretching sore muscles and exiting from the room he and his comrades had been meeting in. They’d been sitting there for fartoo long, ironing out last-minute plans for the operation they’re carrying out tomorrow.

Kaku enters his room and sits heavily on the bed, resting his elbows on his knees and burying his face in his hands.

They’ve been waiting for this day for five years, and Kaku has never been less excited to wake up the next morning.

He should be excited, he knows. He finally gets to go back to Enies Lobby – back home, after all. He should be over the moon.

But he isn’t.

Instead, he’s thinking back on the memories from the past five years; thinking back on the memories he’s made. With Paulie, snarky and sassy but fiercely loyal to those he cares for; with Tilestone, goofy and happy, always willing to crack a joke to make Kaku laugh; with Lulu, a constant, calm presence that never fails to make Kaku relax.

With Iceberg, who saw Kaku and accepted him for all that he is, never wanting him to be any more than himself.

He doesn’t want to betray these people. They’re Kaku’s friends, his family. He wants to stay here and continue snapping back and forth with Paulie, continue goofing off with Tilestone, continue sitting with Lulu and enjoying a nice lunch together. He wants to keep being Iceberg’s friend.

He wants to keep being a part of the Galley-La family.

But, he isn’t allowed to want.

So, he closes his eyes, falls asleep, and dreams of the family he’s about to throw away.

soccersarah01:

whirlybirdwhat:

Hey everyone! Election sucks but pirates good, so I made a happy/soft/gen fic rec for one piece to help everyone destress. All of the following fics are happy, comforting, or just plain soft, and gen! so I hope you all can enjoy them! Take care of yourselves everyone – we aren’t going to know the outcome right this second, so take some time to yourself!

Anyway – fic time!

Straw Hats

Chasing Flowers–taizi - 4721 “It’s an old tradition in our town; on the second week of the second month of the year, you leave flowers for the one you love, for them to follow back to you. By their house, where they work, nooks and corners that are special secrets between just the two of you.” (Luffy’s crew leaves him flowers, and an old innkeeper gets drawn into the chase.) – outsider pov, strawhat fluff, everyone adores their captain

Grateful Day–taizi – 1632 - “Some countries take a day to celebrate all the things they’re grateful for, and they call it Thanksgiving Day.” (In which Robin introduces a new holiday to an ecstatic Luffy, who has about eight things he’s grateful for.) – strawhat fluff, luffy loves his crew.

how much honey can the heart stand–choppersupportsgirls-  4585 – “tender snapshots in the lives of the strawhat pirates and all the quiet ways people can love each other;”  soft strawhat crew

Nah–soomin – 2281 words – “There is no stopping destiny, but good luck getting the pirate king to bend his will for you. In which the Strawhats are meant to fulfill some kind of larger purpose, but none of them could really bring themselves to care.” Reincarnation/time travel au where the strawhat pirates say fuck destiny. Sanji POV. Soft.

Sea Shanties–Milo – 13.4k – “A collection of Luffy oneshots. Summaries of each on the individual chapters themselves.” Examination of Luffy with Zoro, Brook, and Shanks!! Three chapters

stared at the sun and the sun smiled back and called itself pirate king (or: loyalty, on the high seas)–grainjew – 27,425 words – ““What is it about him that turns us all against our deepest principles, just to see him smile brighter?”“I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter, right?” One Piece loyalty content, with a focus on friendship and the Straw Hats, because that’s what I love the most and write the best”. – One shot series about the strawhat pirates, fluff, loyalty content to the max, I reguraly reread ‘but the eternal pose points east (lech l’cha)’

we slept on the ocean last night – origami – 3,113 words– “It starts like this: Luffy can’t sleep alone. (Pirates have nightmares, too. The Strawhats, as always, find a way through.)” Strawhat, Hurt/Comfort, Gen, Really Fucking Soft and platonic intimacy!

ASL:

Bear hag tiger bandit dad mom –whirlybird70 – 1,924 – The ASL brother decide to give Dadan a fathers day card. Chaos ensues. Fluff, gen, ASL Brothers. (yes this is my own fic) 

Come morning, together again –applepie – 4743 words -  “One day, Ace woke up and decided shirts were overrated. Apparently it was contagious, because Luffy soon thought the same. Sabo just hoped he didn’t catch whatever it was that was going around (but he does in the end, and he couldn’t be happier).” , ASL brothers, time travel, ultimately fluffy with a tinnyyyy sprinkle of angst

Let’s start fires for heaven’s sake–soccersarah01 – “Ace, Sabo, and Luffy are brothers. They fight together, they laugh together, they cry together, they swear at each other - anything and everything, they do together. But, in the end, one thing is true: they love each other. Even if they would beat the shit out of each other without hesitation (Or: A collection of all the ficlets I’ve written about these dumb bros.)” – Soft, funny, fluffy ficlets about ASL Bros.

Thunder like cannonfire, lightning like being alive – by grainjew – 1,223 words  “Ace and his brothers, stuck inside during a summer thunderstorm.”  Soft, ASL brothers, canon compliant fluff

together is much better–taizi – 1879 – “Luffy says, in his best attempt at a whisper. He’s leaning forward over the middle console with a grin too big for his face. The brightest thing in Ace’s whole life, not that he’d ever say as much out loud. “You ready?” “I can’t believe you talked me into this,” he says by way of answer, and Sabo laughs, and the three of them pile out of the car like a squad of Navy seals.”” Modern Au Soft ASL bros being stupid.

Reach up to me (if you even can)–guiltylights – 1729 – “And when Luffy’s arms retracted back to himself and started shrinking, air hissing every which way, Ace assumed it was because Luffy was going to try another method and thus took the opportunity to dive straight into his little brother’s space in this moment of vulnerability to knock him out with one clean punch—only to skid straight to a stop as the steam cleared and Ace came face to face with a small Luffy staring belligerently right up at him with his little head only barely reaching past Ace’s knees.”Ace and luffy being dumb. Fluff.

Sedimentation–kawaiibooker - 3531 – “First and foremost, Ace is a big brother - not the only one Luffy’s ever had, but the one he has left.” Ace and Luffy bonding in the desert of alabasta, fluff, gen, a little bit of hurt/comfort because Sabo

–

Feel free to add on anymore recs!!! Even if they are your own fic. Stay safe out there everyone, love yall!

fic recs??? this is my CALLING

Straw Hats:

soul shines like gold (lets make it shine like the sun) -whirlybird70-  3003 -(I can’t become pirate king without my crew!Luffy says, and after three years of sailing (after a day in the presence of their captain), the rest of the crew echoes it in turn. People fuse to become strong, so why can’t they fuse to become free?) - super cute, super fluffy, love it to pieces!!! whirly it is a crime you didn’t rec ur own super fluffy fic smh

what’s another night on mars?- genesis_frog - 5109 - “Marriage, to many, is a sacred, romantic vow. A promise between lovers to live together and die together. Whoever said that that love had to be romantic? There are so many kinds of love that exist, and surely, can’t the bond between friends be celebrated eternally?”Luffy has An Idea, or: Five Times the Straw Hats Discussed Getting Married and the One Time They Actually Did - STRAW HATS PLATONIC MARRIAGE FIC. WHAT MORE CAN YOU WANT.

Serendipity and other ordinary miracles- Amazaria - 2126 - "Well then, why didn’t you answer when Usopp was calling you? That’s rude, you know,“ calls Nami, standing next to her tangerine grove, leaves in her ponytail.
“Oh!” Says Luffy; just like that, his grin reappears. “I was thinking.”
“Thinking about what, Captain?” Says one of Robin’s mouth on the mast, and Luffy looks down on the hat he still holds in his hand, the surprisingly sturdy string attached to it dangling in the air.
There’s a pause, as they wait for his answer.
“I was just thinking,” says Luffy, smile still wide and eyes stuck on the part of his hat where Nami’s clumsy first attempts at mending are, “I was just thinking that I’m glad I get to travel with you all.”
(or: in which it’s a sunny afternoon, happiness is well within reach, and Luffy’s doing just fine, even without his brothers by his side.) - super super soft straw hat bonding fic, I love it, go read it

the communal currency of humanity- blueh - 1890 - “How did Luffy get someone like you to join the crew?”
“He blackmailed me.”
Nami’s expression morphs into something that Zoro can’t quiet describe and it takes all of his willpower not to laugh and how perplexed she seems.
“Luffy blackmailed……you.”
“With my swords at a marine base.“
“There are so many things wrong with that sentence.”
also known as: the strawhats exchange stories of their wild captain and their wild adventures - super super fluffy, love it, 10/10

Closest to the Sea, the Sun, the Horizon- Scribblurri - 1989 - Luffy blinks.
“I said, why do you like it so much?” Nami sighs, obviously not pleased at needing to repeat the question.
Luffy blinks again, and tilts his head, water dripping down his dear hat as he does.
“Because I just like it?”
Three people’s hands meet their faces at the same time with a loud smack.
(or: promises, dreams, and memories, all to answer a simple question) - just reread this fic and it made me feel many many emotions yall should read it

ASL:

Stranger Families Than This - missmungoe - 3361 - It was a strange convergence of all of her worlds—her bar, her crew, her boys, all marking different seasons of her life but all of them coming together now, a curiously comfortable collision.
Well—at least up until a certain discovery.
“You got married!?” - guys, this fic, and the series it’s in - they all make me so so soft and I adore this fic (and author, their fics are all freaking AMAZING) 

For the Love of Luffy - Beyond_Kailani - 1418 -  Luffy surprises his brothers and Dadan with one tiny act. - super fluffy and cute and I adore it to pieces

a present that’s a mystery (giving you your history) - midnightluck - 5496 (2 chaps -  “Happy birthday, Sabo,” Koala repeats, and holds out the rest of the stack of papers. “I got you your past.” - super super fluffy asl reunion fic and I adore it - bonus koala + wb pirate + straw hat fluff that’s all amazing

tomorrow is a dream we share (today is beautiful)- oldtune - 2126 -  sabo remembers how it used to be and how it is now. sabo remembers he wouldn’t trade this for the world. - reunion fic & marineford fix-it, just reread it and teared up and I love it sm

Gestures that are (Somewhat) Affectionate - authenticaussie - 872 - The main problem, Sabo thought, as Luffy excitedly continued telling them about the tiger he’d apparently managed to take down by himself, with Luffy eating the rubber fruit isn’t that it’s a stupid power.
He ducked, as Luffy’s wayward limb flew over his head when he described the size of the beast, it’s that he talks with his hands. - dumbass asl fluff, what else more could you want

okay it is 1 am so I am going to stop here, but hmu if you want asl fic recs especially I have so many and I am always willing to share

“Kuma’s back! Help him unload!”

Kuma sighs slightly, watching as his comrades board the ship he had just departed, quickly and efficiently unloading the supplies Kuma had brought back after his mission. He had been away for a couple months this time – it isn’t easy, playing the role of heartless pirate and mixing with the very worst of the world government, but he manages.

He has to. He’s the only one that can.

Sabo pokes his head around the corner, and Kuma’s lips turn into an affectionate smile as Sabo lights up, yelling something over his shoulder before rounding the corner and sprinting towards Kuma. Koala skids around the corner as well, beaming as she catches sight of Kuma.

She catches up to Sabo as he barrels into Kuma, two small bodies colliding with him and throwing their arms around him (or as far around him as they’ll go, anyway).

Kuma chuckles, wrapping an arm around each of them. Fondness floods through him as they nuzzle as close to him as possible, uncaring of the hard, cold metal that now makes up Kuma’s chest.

(It still shocks him, sometimes, how kind these kids are, how accepting they are of who he’s become. He’s a warlord – part of the system that had taken Koala’s freedom for years; that had ripped Sabo’s identity and childhood away from him. He’s part of the very worst of the world, yet they don’t care.

They only care about the way he would train them, push them harder than he’s ever pushed anyone before; the stories he tells them of his journeys; the way he used to rub their backs gently and provide a shoulder to cry on when their memories (or lack thereof) overwhelmed them.

All Sabo and Koala care about is him.

They accept him, for all he is and for all he’s going to become.

(They love him, even though he will be leaving them, sooner rather than later.))

Sabo leans back first, giving Kuma a bright grin and saying, “Hi, Kuma!”

Kuma laughs fondly, ruffling the teen’s hair and saying, “Hello, Sabo. Been training hard?”

“Been causing trouble, more like,” Koala interjects, leaning away from Kuma and giving Sabo a look.

Sabo rounds on Koala, saying, “Like you haven’t been causing just as much!”

“Excuse me?! I wasn’t the one that broke into a marine base on my own – running through no-man’s-land while at it, might I add – and brought the whole thing crashing down!”

“Itworked, I don’t know what you’re complaining about!”

Kuma lets out a loud laugh, cutting off the two, and they look up at him when he places a hand on each of their heads, steering them towards the entrance to the base. He says, “Well, it sounds like you two have plenty of stories to tell me. Why don’t you tell me about them?”

Koala and Sabo beam, and Kuma smiles softly, secretly, as his two favorite troublemakers start regaling him about the trouble they’ve gotten into. There’s no mention of his newly-metal arms, no mention of the dark circles under his eyes, no mention of his slumped shoulders and slightly-wan smile.

All that’s there is acceptance, and pure, pure happiness to have him back.

Kuma smiles.

He really is lucky.

“Hey, Koala, wanna do something fun?”

Sabo keeps a straight face, but snickers internally at the immediate wariness on his best friend’s face. He’s not even wearing his typical shit-eating grin – she shouldn’t be giving him that I know you’re up to something and I don’t like itface.

(Okay, maybe he should expect this. She knows him too well.)

“‘Fun’ for you is breaking into a castle and punching the king,” Koala says dryly, not even looking up at him and turning a page of her book. “I don’t want anything to do with it.”

“Hey,” Sabo protests, no longer able to keep his grin off of his face. “You like punching bastard rulers as much as I do! You can’t blame me for that!”

Koala sighs long-sufferingly, but Sabo grins in victory as Koala finally puts her book down, turning her full, exasperated attention to him.

“What do you want to do?”

Sabo grins. “You ever heard of a dine-and-dash?”

—————————————————————-

“Icannotbelieve we’re doing this.” Sabo snickers as Koala repeats herself for the third time, running alongside him through the town.

He laughs, “C’mon, it’ll be fun! You’ll see!”

“Seriously, it’s like you were raised by wolves,” Koala adds exasperatedly. “How did you even hear about this anyways?”

Sabo shrugs, grinning innocently at his best friend. “Just thought of it!”

“There’s no way you just thoughtof it!”

“I saw a great, big, richrestauraunt – how could I not think of something like this?!”

“I dunno, normal people don’t normally see a restaurant and think, hey, I should eat in this place and rob it! That’s just stupidity!”

“Since when have I ever been normal or smart?”

Koala sighs in frustration and doesn’t respond, and Sabo takes his victory with grace.

By shoulder-bumping Koala and snickering when she glares at him.

He deftly avoids her stuck-out leg and skids to a stop in front of the largest restaurant in town, and grins at his best friend. “You ready?”

Koala sighs, but Sabo knows her – that spark in her eyes and excited smile tugging at the corners of her lips betray her excitement as his wide grin and impatient jittering betray his. “Let’s get this over with,” she says, and Sabo grins before slipping an arm around her waist and bringing up his fake-noble mannerisms.

They have a restaurant to fuck up.

—————————————————————-

Kuma stands, cross-armed, and stares at the two teenagers, covered in food and sweat, laughing as they run back to the Revolutionary Army’s temporary base before clamming up and standing up straight. They attempt to wipe the grins off their faces, but they can’t quite get rid of Sabo’s slight smirk and Koala’s bright eyes and lingering laughs.

He doesn’t wish to take the smiles off of their faces, but.

“What have you two been doing?” He asks firmly, and the two troublemakers share a mildly guilty grin before Sabo laughs sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.

Sabo says, “We…might have just caused a restaurant to be burnt down? That started with a dine-and-dash?”

Koala elbows him viciously in the side and hisses something like, there are better ways of putting that!  Kuma can’t help but disagree with that, and he stares at the two, deadpan stare causing the both to clam up slightly.

“Just once, can we leave an island without you two causing somesort of trouble?” He asks, slight exasperation threading through his tone, despite himself. The two teens attempt to look repentant, but Kuma sighs, seeing right through them.

(Whatever. They’re happy – and for two kids that have seen the worst that the world has to offer, yet keep throwing themselves at it headfirst for the sake of others, well. Who is he to take this happiness away from them?

Plus, it’s not like it’s his mess to clean up.)

Kuma jerks a hand over his shoulder, saying, “Go get cleaned up.” Sabo and Koala share a surprised look before grinning, yelling thanks over their shoulders as they run past him. Kuma turns and watches them go, lingering echoes of their laughter ringing around him.

It’s nice seeing them this happy, happy smiles and bright eyes all anyone can see if they look at the two kids.

Kuma smiles.

He wishes they’ll always have those smiles on their faces.

“Hack?”

Hack cracks his eyes open, rubbing his eyes and groggily sitting up, peering at the door. Sabo stands in the doorway, looking down and scuffing his feet.

He says, more tentative than Hack has ever heard him be, “Can I stay with you for a little while?”

Hack nods immediately and Sabo’s shoulders slump, relief emanating from his every movement as he slowly pads over and nervously settles on the edge of Hack’s bed. Sabo, ten years old, barely recovered from the hellish recovery from his burns, still reeling from the loss of ten years of his memory, is sitting on the side of his bed, shaking, and Hack doesn’t know how to deal with this.

(One year into their friendship, and the one thing Hack knows about this kid is that he hides. Hides his sadness, hides his emotion, hides wishes, and dreams, and his lack of memories. His fears.

For him to be this blatantly reaching out, this blatantly afraid, whatever happened must be bad.)

Hack gently places a hand on Sabo’s shoulder, and the fact that he jumps slightly just shows how out of it he is. “What’s wrong?” He asks, gentle, and Sabo shudders, looking down at the ground and gripping the edge of the bed, the backs of his hands going white from strain.

“I just…” Sabo cuts off, frustration threading through his tone. Hack waits, patient, as Sabo collects his thoughts and continues, “I just…my memories are gone, I know that, but sometimes things just…flash through my brain and I can’t control it and it’s so frustrating.” Hack hums in understanding, and Sabo bites his lip, seeming to want to say something, but not knowing how.

Hack knows the feeling.

“Today was fire,” Sabo whispers, bringing a band up and desperately gripping at the hand Hack has yet to remove from his shoulder. Hack turns his hand over to let Sabo twine his fingers through Hack’s, and he immediately grips tightly at it. “It’s not clear…all I can see is it swallowing me up; swallowing everyone up…and I can’t stop it. I can’t protect-”

Sabo’s voice breaks, and Hack shifts so that he can wrap a gentle arm around Sabo’s shoulder, and Sabo immediately collapses into him, a sob welling out of his throat. Hack hums gently as Sabo shudders against him, heart clenching at the small hands clutching at his shirt.

(He’s too small, too youngto have gone through this much, this early.

Life has a way of destroying the young and only leaving the bold, brave, strongstanding.)

“I can’t promise that these memories won’t haunt you,” Hack says, gentle, and Sabo sniffs, peering up at him through his tear-laden lashes, and Hack wishes, so much, that he could take that pain away from him.

He can’t.

But, there is one thing he can promise.

“And I can’t promise that you won’t go through pain like this again – however much I wish I could. I can, however, promise that you’ll never be alone.” Sabo looks up at him, pulling away slightly, and Hack puts as much compassion into his smile as he can. A small smile peaks through the tears as Hack continues, “You’ll always have us. I can promise that much. We won’t ever let you suffer through this alone.”

Sabo stares into Hack’s eyes for a moment, as if testing him; testing his truthfulness, and there is nothing but honesty in Hack’s heart. Sabo seems to realize that and relaxes fully, leaning back into Hack and gripping his shirt again, but there’s a small smile curving against his ribs, and Hack smiles and counts that as a victory.

“Thanks,” Sabo mumbles into his chest, and Hack chuckles softly, rubbing gently into Sabo’s back.

“Anytime,” He says, and means it. He’ll do anything for those he cares about.

Anything for his family.

grainjew:

3 sentences; otohime

The Celestial Dragon’s ship — Mjosgard, she had learned his name was — crested the tops of the waves. The bubble popped. Sunlight flooded in, and Otohime breathed.

“Get your elbow out of my side.”

“Come on, it’s not thatbad.”

“Your elbow’s sharp, get it awayso I that can sleep-”

Zoro sighs frustratedly but obligingly shifts so that his elbow is no longer stabbing Sanji in the side (though he casually leans his leg up against Sanji’s – an annoying weight that he knowsdrives the cook mad). Sanji responds with a kick to the ankle, but otherwise leaves it be. Zoro grins.

Victory.

These “cuddle-piles,” as Luffy insists on calling them, have been a traditional part of their nighttime routines ever since Nami, shoulder freshly bandaged and eyes bright, had asked if they could spend the night together. One thing had led to another, and, well-

“Luffy, I swear to god, if you don’t stop drooling on my shoulder, I’m going to bite you.”

Luffy, oblivious to his impending doom, continues snoring (and drooling), on Nami’s shoulder. Nami, disappointingly (to Zoro, at least, Luffy probably would appreciate it), does not bite Luffy, instead sighing exasperatedly and shoving him off.

(She lowers him gently to the blanket beside her, though, and lays her head on his chest once he’s settled in Brook’s lap, which really belies the whole annoyance factor.)

Of course, Zoro’s really not any better, but at least he’s not afraid to admit it. Chopper is snoozing against his side, head nestled in the hallow of Zoro’s neck, and Zoro absentmindedly strokes along his back, lulling him to sleep.

(He ignores the subtle weight against his back, the subtle movment of Sanji’s ribs breathing reassuring against Zoro’s spine.)

Brook, of course, plays a lullaby from where he leans against Jinbe’s side, Luffy’s head pillowed in his lap and Nami’s feet tangled with his. The younger members of the crew had been listening intently, bright smiles on their faces, before exhaustion overtook them and they fell asleep, leaning against one crewmate or another.

Zoro quickly scans around, eyes catching on Usopp, Robin, and Franky, right next to him. The younger’s head is pillowed on Franky’s shoulder – one of the only parts of him that is relatively soft. Robin’s by Usopp’s hip, head rested on Usopp’s stomach and hand thrown carelessly over Zoro’s leg.

All in all, they’re a hopeless tangle of limbs and affection, and Zoro wouldn’t have it any other way.

He closes his eyes, Brook’s soothing strumming and Chopper’s soft breathing lulling him to a gentle sleep, surrounded by the love and care of his crewmates.

No,Zoro corrects with his last moments of consciousness.

Hisfamily.

whirlybirdwhat:

happy halloween! final chapter of this spin off series!!! love yall <333

gold - crocodile

ao3

The Crocodile shifts like the tides of a distant sea, far away and dark. He’s there, solid, and then collapsing inward. He’s there, void, and then rising up.

The nature of sand not himself, the gaping hole in his chest, the gaping scar that splits across his face in bloody-not-blood stitches – he is a push and pull, a shove and draw, balance and imbalance.

He shouldn’t exist,is all the truth at its simplicity. He is horror and immeasurable darkness from the depths of the sea, sand before devil fruit and death before living sun.

The Crocodile breathes out smoke made of the ashes of dead souls and rolls the golden hook around his hand.

Gold,the unattainable to ocean depths. Gold,what The Crocodile isn’t.

Gold, what The Crocodile will take from the ends of the earth..

(The Crocodile isn’t like other demons. He isn’t quite ademon, he’s something darker, something more, something from the depths of the sea that shouldn’t walk on land.

Yet.

The sea hates him.

Yet.

Crocodiledoes.)

The Crocodile revels in the unthought of, the unknown, the line between demon and death, and he does not hesitate to strike.

Strawhat does not fall to his hand. Whitebeard does not fall to his hand. Alabasta does not crumble beneath him.

(The little hunger takes what little grip on the surface he has left and sends him back to whence he came.

Monkey D. Luffy, the hunger calls, and its everything The Crocodile has ever hated.

Loss,and being dragged to the origins of the East, where death blossoms and the world begins and ends all at once.)