Chapter Text
The rain falls in sheets, heavy and relentless, each drop shattering against the stone plaza below with the finality of a life extinguished. It is more storm than weather, a wrathful fury pouring from the heavens, as if the sky itself mourns what is about to unfold. The massive crowd gathered in Mariejois’ Grand Execution Square is eerily still, a sea of rain-soaked cloaks and umbrellas pressed shoulder to shoulder, motionless. No one cheers. No one jeers. They simply wait, their breaths drowned out by the roar of the deluge.
High above them, the execution platform looms. Black stone and shining steel rise into the storm like a monument to cruelty, torches flickering wildly in the gale. At its center, framed by sputtering firelight, stands Monkey D. Luffy.
Chains bind his arms behind his back, thick Sea Prism Stone manacles that glint dully in the rain. They force his shoulders forward, dragging at him, but he doesn’t waver. His battered straw hat hangs around his neck, its frayed edges dripping with rainwater. A deep gash runs along his cheek, blood mixing with the rain to form thin crimson rivers down his face.
And still, Luffy grins.
It is the kind of smile that defies the storm, that reaches out past the crowd’s silence and into their very souls. It is too big, too bright, too alive for someone staring down the blade of death. He tilts his head back, letting the rain pour over his face, and scans the crowd.
He knows what he won’t see.
No familiar faces. No wide, worried eyes or clenched fists. He’d made sure of it. His crew, his family—they weren’t here. They would be coming. They would be fighting, clawing their way to him, desperate to save him. But they wouldn’t make it. He gave himself up in the dead of night, slipping away with no fanfare, no goodbyes.
Because if they’d been there, they would’ve fought to the death.
And he wouldn’t let that happen.
Above him, Fleet Admiral Sakazuki strides forward, his boots clanging against the platform with deliberate, echoing finality. The scarlet coat draped over his shoulders snaps and flutters in the wind like a war flag, immaculate even in the storm. He looms over Luffy, his face twisted in a sneer of molten hatred.
“Monkey D. Luffy,” he begins, his voice amplified to cut through the howling wind. “The Pirate King. The great criminal. The fool.”
Lightning rips across the sky, bathing the square in stark white. The harsh lines of Sakazuki’s face are etched into sharp relief—the clenched jaw, the searing hatred in his eyes. He doesn’t turn to face the crowd, but his voice carries.
“This man has brought nothing but chaos and destruction to the world. He has corrupted the seas with his lawlessness, inspired a generation of criminals, and endangered the balance of peace we have worked so hard to build.”
His hand gestures toward Luffy, dismissive, almost disdainful. “He is no king. He is no hero. He is a plague, and justice will prevail today.”
The crowd remains silent, the air heavy and suffocating. Rain drums against the stone and steel, a deafening, relentless rhythm.
Luffy shifts slightly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd once more. Searching. Hoping, even now, to see them, even when he made sure that wouldn't be true.
He doesn’t.
But then—movement. A faint tremor ripples through the crowd, too small for the spectators to notice. Luffy’s head tilts, his grin widening ever so slightly. His heart pounds—not with fear, but with the thrill of knowing his friends are near.
The tremor grows. It becomes a roar.
From the west, there is an explosion, fiery and brilliant, scattering rubble across the square. Marines shout, panic rippling through their ranks as figures burst through the smoke.
A massive, hulking figure surges forward—Jinbe, his blue skin gleaming in the rain, his fists already smashing through ranks of soldiers. Behind him, Zoro and Sanji leap into the fray, Zoro’s swords flashing with deadly precision while Sanji’s flames ignite despite the rain. The plaza erupts into chaos.
From the east, another blast. The Heart Pirates pour in, led by Trafalgar Law, his sword cutting through Marines with surgical precision. Bepo charges alongside him, a white blur of fury. He thinks he sees Shanks jolly roger approaching from the horizon.
The crowd panics, scattering as more allies arrive. The revolutionary forces, led by Sabo and Koala, crash into the square, their movements a blur of fire and martial skill. Bartolomeo, Cavendish, Sai, and countless others from the Grand Fleet surge forward, their battle cries echoing through the storm.
Nami, Usopp, and Franky are farther back, firing projectiles and creating chaos. Chopper transforms into his massive, horned form, tearing through ranks to clear a path.
Robin is nowhere to be seen, but Luffy knows better than to think she isn’t there. Somewhere in the shadows, she is moving with quiet precision, striking where it matters most.
And then, he hears it.
“LUFFY!”
Nami’s voice cuts through the chaos, raw and desperate. She’s running, her eyes wild with panic, but she’s too far. They all are.
Luffy laughs. It’s loud, bright, and utterly fearless, even as Sakazuki snarls and turns to bark orders at his soldiers.
The priest steps forward, clutching his tome, his voice trembling as he asks, “Do you have any last words?”
Luffy’s grin widens, impossibly bright. “The One Piece…” he says, slow, deliberate, savoring every syllable. “…is still out there to be found.”
The priest stumbles back, and the crowd gasps. Sakazuki’s face contorts in rage, and he barks a single, sharp command.
The executioner steps forward, his blade gleaming in the storm’s light.
The chaos below intensifies. The Straw Hats and their allies tear through the Marines, desperate to reach him. Sabo’s flames roar to life, carving a path. Zoro’s swords clash against a Marine officer’s, his movements frenzied, furious.
“LUFFY!”
They are close. So close.
But not close enough.
The executioner raises the blade.
“STOP!” Nami’s scream echoes through the square, broken and raw.
Lightning flashes, painting the scene in stark, blinding white.
The blade falls.
Luffy’s body crumples forward, the grin never leaving his face.
And the storm breaks.
The rain pours harder, drowning out the screams of his friends, his allies, as the Pirate King dies.
The clearing near the Goa Forest was usually quiet, peaceful even, filled with the sounds of rustling leaves and distant birdsong. But today, it was anything but.
“Oi, Ace! I don’t need your help!” Luffy’s voice rang out, sharp and indignant, as he slapped away the older boy’s hand. His small fists clenched at his sides, trembling with frustration.
Ace, who had just stopped him from climbing a precariously balanced pile of logs, sighed heavily. “You were gonna fall, dumbass,” he muttered, crossing his arms. His freckled face was set in a scowl, but his eyes held something Luffy couldn’t quite place. Something soft.
“I wasn’t gonna fall!” Luffy shot back, his face scrunching up in anger. “I’ve climbed way harder stuff than that! I don’t need you acting like—like Makino!”
Ace flinched slightly, his expression hardening.
“Makino doesn’t let me do anything fun either,” Luffy continued, glaring up at Ace. “She’s always, ‘Don’t touch that, Luffy,’ or ‘You’ll get hurt, Luffy.’ Now you’re doing it too, and it’s stupid!”
“I’m not Makino,” Ace said, his voice quieter now but still firm. “I’m your brother. It’s different.”
“No, it’s the same!” Luffy stomped his foot, the motion kicking up a puff of dirt. He turned away from Ace, his shoulders hunched.
Nearby, Sabo watched the exchange with a furrowed brow. The blonde boy had been sitting on a fallen log, carving something with a knife, but now his hands were still.
“You could let him climb,” Sabo said, his tone careful, neutral. “It’s not that high, Ace. He’s done worse.”
Ace shot him a look that could’ve burned a hole through solid steel. “And what happens when he falls and cracks his head open?”
“I wouldn’t crack my head open!” Luffy interjected, spinning back around. “I’m strong! I’m gonna be Pirate King, remember? Pirate Kings don’t get hurt by stupid stuff like that!”
Ace opened his mouth to argue, but Sabo cut in, standing up and tucking his knife into his belt. “He’s not wrong,” Sabo said with a shrug, though his eyes lingered on Luffy, a flicker of something unreadable passing through them. “You were pretty reckless when we were kids too, Ace.”
“We are kids,” Luffy said, rolling his eyes.
Ace gritted his teeth, his hands curling into fists. His gaze darted toward Luffy, and for a moment, his usual confidence faltered. “Just… be careful,” he muttered finally, his voice stiff. “Alright?”
Luffy groaned, throwing his hands up in exasperation. “You’re being weird! Both of you! You’re acting like I’m- like I'm not made of rubber or something!”
Ace looked away, jaw tightening. Sabo’s smile didn’t reach his eyes.
“And you’re not just weird with me,” Luffy added, pointing an accusing finger at Sabo. “You’re weird with Ace too!”
Sabo blinked. “What?”
“Yeah! You’re always watching him, like, all the time now!” Luffy scrunched up his nose. “It’s creepy!”
Sabo laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m just looking out for him. That’s what brothers do.”
“You weren’t like that before,” Luffy said, narrowing his eyes. “Before, you just let Ace do whatever, and he always got into trouble and got mad when I laughed at him.”
Ace shot Sabo a sharp glance, as if to say Keep it together.
“Maybe we’re just trying to be better brothers,” Sabo said lightly, though his tone wavered.
“Well, stop it! You’re ruining all the fun!” Luffy huffed, plopping down on the ground with a scowl. “I can take care of myself. I don’t need you two acting all… all weird! It’s annoying!”
Ace crouched down in front of him, his expression unusually serious. “Luffy.”
Luffy didn’t look at him.
“Listen to me,” Ace said, his voice low but insistent. “You’re strong. I know that. But that doesn’t mean you don’t need people looking out for you. Got it?”
Luffy finally turned to glare at him. “Why are you talking like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like you’re gonna disappear or something!”
Ace froze. Sabo’s smile dropped entirely.
“Don’t say stuff like that,” Luffy muttered, his anger softening into something smaller, quieter. “It’s dumb. You’re not gonna disappear. You’re always gonna be here. Both of you.”
Ace swallowed hard, his jaw working as if he were chewing over words that refused to come out.
“Yeah,” Sabo said softly, stepping closer. “We’re always gonna be here, Luffy.”
For a moment, the three of them sat in silence, the distant sound of the wind rustling through the trees filling the space between them.
Luffy didn’t notice the way Ace’s fists clenched, or the way Sabo’s shoulders tensed. He didn’t notice the shared glance between them, heavy with unspoken understanding.
But he did notice that they were still acting weird.
And it was really starting to piss him off.
-
It had been a long, long day.
Luffy lay sprawled on the ground outside their treehouse, his arms flung wide, the damp forest floor cool against his skin. The sunlight filtered through the canopy above, dappling the ground with patches of gold. Somewhere in the distance, the faint hum of insects and the rustling of leaves carried on like everything was normal.
But nothing felt normal.
Ace and Sabo were gone.
They’d left early that morning without saying where they were going, and now the sun was sinking low in the sky, bathing the forest in warm, fading light. It had been hours, nearly the whole day, and Luffy had waited and waited until his stomach was a tight, knotted mess.
At first, he told himself they’d come back soon. They always did. But as the minutes stretched into hours, worry began to gnaw at him, sharp and insistent.
What if they weren’t coming back?
The thought hit him like a punch to the gut. He’d snapped at them so much the past week, yelling at Ace for being too overprotective and calling Sabo creepy for acting strange. He thought about the way Ace had looked at him that last time—the quiet, serious look that never meant anything good.
What if they’d left because of him?
The knot in his stomach tightened until he thought he might be sick. He’d tried to keep busy, climbing trees and chasing a monkey around the clearing, but his heart wasn’t in it. Every time he stopped moving, the thoughts came rushing back.
They’re gone.
They left because you were mad at them.
You’re going to be alone again.
He pressed his palms to his eyes, trying to stop the burning tears that threatened to spill over. He wasn’t going to cry. He wasn’t a baby. But the lump in his throat was getting harder and harder to swallow.
By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in fiery reds and oranges, he couldn’t hold it in anymore.
They’re gone.
He curled up on his side, fists clenched against the ground, and sobbed until his chest ached.
-
Luffy didn’t know how long he cried, but when he finally looked up, his face sticky with tears, the clearing was awash in the cool silver glow of moonlight. His eyes were swollen, and his throat felt raw, but his mind was clearer now.
They wouldn’t leave him. Not for good.
Would they?
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps crunching through the underbrush. Luffy bolted upright, hope blooming in his chest, and before he could even see their faces, he was yelling.
“Where were you?!”
Ace and Sabo froze at the edge of the clearing, their faces half-lit by the moonlight. They looked exhausted—mud streaked on their clothes, scratches on their arms, and Sabo’s shirt was torn near the hem. Ace was the first to step forward, his usual scowl replaced by something softer, almost guilty.
“Luffy, I—”
“You left!” Luffy shouted, his voice cracking. “You were gone all day! I thought you—” His voice broke, and he rubbed furiously at his eyes. “I thought you left because you didn’t wanna be my brothers anymore!”
Ace’s eyes widened, and in an instant, he was crouching in front of Luffy, his hands gripping the younger boy’s shoulders.
“We’d never leave you,” Ace said firmly, his voice rough but steady. “You hear me? Never.”
Sabo crouched beside them, his usual easy grin missing, replaced by something far more serious. “Luffy, we just had something we needed to do. That’s all. It wasn’t about you.”
“But you didn’t tell me,” Luffy said, his voice trembling. “You just left.”
Ace’s grip on his shoulders tightened for a moment before he let go, sitting back on his heels. “I know. I’m sorry,” he said, the words coming out awkward, like they didn’t fit right in his mouth. “We didn’t mean to make you worry.”
Luffy sniffed, his tears slowing but not stopping. “Promise you won’t do it again.”
Ace hesitated, glancing at Sabo, who gave him a small, almost imperceptible nod. “I promise,” Ace said finally, his voice quiet but resolute.
Sabo nodded. “We’ll tell you next time. Okay?”
Luffy stared at them for a long moment, his tears finally stopping as he took a deep, shaky breath. “Okay.”
-
The next day, Luffy overheard it.
He was crouched outside the window of a rundown tavern in the Gray Terminal, eavesdropping on a group of thugs who were laughing over stolen bottles of booze. Luffy wasn’t paying much attention—he’d only stopped because he was bored and curious, and maybe hoping they had food he could grab—but one sentence caught his attention and made him freeze.
“Did you hear? Someone offed the king last night.”
“What? No way.”
“Yeah, for real. They found him slumped over in his stupid gold throne, dead as a doornail. Poison, probably. Serves the bastard right.”
Luffy frowned, the words rolling around in his head as he tried to piece them together. He didn’t understand politics much, but he knew the king was supposed to be important. Something to do with.. taxes... he thinks...
The thugs kept talking, their voices low and conspiratorial.
“About time someone did it. Bet the nobles are shitting themselves now.”
“Think it was the revolutionaries?”
“Dunno. But whoever it was, they knew what they were doing.”
Luffy tilted his head, his frown deepening. Something about it felt strange, like a puzzle piece he couldn’t quite fit into place.
He shook his head, pushing the thought aside. It didn’t matter. He had more important things to think about.
Like making sure Ace and Sabo never left him behind again.
-
Luffy crouched low behind a dense patch of underbrush, his small hands gripping the gnarled roots of a tree for balance. His bare toes dug into the damp earth as he leaned forward, squinting through the leaves. Ahead of him, Ace and Sabo sat by a small, crackling fire, their voices low and serious.
Luffy grinned to himself, his chest puffing up with pride. He’d been tailing them for almost an hour without getting caught. Not bad, right? Ace was always going on and on about how important it was to be sneaky, how a real pirate couldn’t afford to be stupid and get captured. And Sabo had backed him up, which made it worse, because Luffy couldn’t argue with both of them at once.
Well, he’d show them. He’d get so good at sneaking they’d have to admit he didn’t need their dumb lessons anymore.
He wriggled closer, trying to keep his breathing quiet, though he wasn’t sure if it really mattered. They seemed too wrapped up in their conversation to notice him.
“I still don’t get how she managed it,” Ace was saying, his arms crossed over his chest. He was sitting cross-legged on a fallen log, his face half-lit by the firelight. “Arlong’s no small fry. A guy like that doesn’t go down easy, no matter what.”
Sabo shrugged, poking at the fire with a stick. “Maybe he simply underestimated her.”
Her? Luffy tilted his head, his curiosity piqued. He inched closer, trying to catch more of what they were saying.
“Yeah, but…” Ace trailed off, frowning. “Do you really think she’s here? I mean, the East Blue’s pretty big. What are the odds?”
Sabo sighed, tossing the stick into the fire. “The timing matches up. And if it is her, we need to be careful. She’s not exactly—”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ace interrupted, his tone sharper now.
“I just mean,” Sabo said, his voice steady but quieter, “if she’s here, we need to figure out what she’s planning. She might not want to see us.”
Luffy frowned, his chin resting on the back of his hand. They were being weird again, talking about people he didn’t know and things he didn’t care about. Who even was Arlong? And who was this she they were so worried about?
He wrinkled his nose. Boring.
His legs were starting to cramp from crouching for so long, and the fire was making him sleepy. If they weren’t going to say anything interesting, he might as well go do something fun.
With a quiet huff, Luffy turned and crept away, his steps clumsy but soft enough not to draw attention. He’d get back to practicing sneaking later. Right now, he wanted to climb something. Or maybe wrestle a monkey.
He didn’t notice Ace glance over his shoulder, his sharp eyes scanning the edge of the clearing before turning back to Sabo.
“Did you hear something?”
Sabo shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “I know what you're thinking, firefly. If that was Luffy he wouldn’t have sat still for that long.”
Ace snorted. “Good point.”
They didn’t look toward the underbrush again, their voices dipping back into quiet discussion.
-
The dawn was heavy with mist, the early morning air cool and damp as it clung to the forest clearing. The sea beyond the cliffs was calm, its surface shimmering faintly under the pale pink glow of the rising sun. It should’ve been the perfect morning.
But it wasn’t.
Ace stood by the edge of the clearing, his bag slung over one shoulder, his expression grim. Sabo was a few paces away, leaning against a tree with his arms crossed, his hat tipped low to hide his face. Neither of them had spoken for a long time, the silence between them thick and suffocating.
Luffy stood in the middle, his hands on his hips, glaring at both of them.
“What’s with you two?” he snapped, his voice breaking the quiet like a hammer. “You’re acting like someone died or something.”
Ace didn’t answer. He just stared at the ground, his jaw tight, his fists clenched at his sides.
Sabo sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s not that, Luffy,” he said, his voice careful, too careful. “We just… we’re worried, that’s all.”
“Worried about what?” Luffy demanded, throwing his arms up. “I’m not a kid anymore! I can take care of myself! You literally have a boat and everything! Just leave!”
Ace’s head snapped up, his eyes blazing. “That’s not the point, Luffy.”
“Then what is the point?” Luffy shot back. “You’ve been saying you’re gonna leave and be pirates forever! Isn’t that the whole reason we’ve been working so hard? So we can chase our dreams?”
“It’s different now,” Ace said through gritted teeth, his voice low and strained.
“How?” Luffy challenged, stepping closer. “Tell me how it’s different!”
Neither of them answered.
Luffy’s frustration boiled over, and he stomped his foot, his voice rising. “You’re just making excuses! You’ve been weird ever since—ever since—” He faltered for a moment, the words catching in his throat. “Ever since forever!”
Sabo looked away, guilt flickering across his face. Ace didn’t move, his body rigid, his eyes shadowed.
Luffy clenched his fists, his voice trembling with anger and something else—something raw and aching. “If you don’t go—if you don’t go chase your dreams—I’ll throw myself into the sea!”
Ace’s head jerked up, his face twisting in shock and horror. “Don’t say stuff like that!”
“I mean it!” Luffy shouted, tears prickling at the corners of his eyes. “I’m not gonna sit here and watch you waste everything! We’ve been dreaming about this forever! If you give up now, it’ll all mean nothing!”
Sabo stepped forward, his voice softer but no less urgent. “Luffy, calm down. We’re not giving up.”
“Then what are you doing?” Luffy demanded, his voice cracking.
Ace opened his mouth, then closed it again, his throat working as he struggled to find the words. Finally, he looked away, his shoulders slumping.
Sabo placed a hand on Ace’s shoulder, his expression conflicted. “We’re just… worried about leaving you alone. That’s all. We know you’re strong, but—”
“I don’t need you to protect me!” Luffy yelled, his voice cutting through the misty air. “I’m not some helpless little kid! I’m gonna be Pirate King, remember? I don’t need you holding my hand!”
The words hit them both like a punch. Ace flinched, his jaw tightening, while Sabo’s shoulders sagged.
For a long moment, the only sound was the distant crash of waves against the cliffs.
Then, Ace took a deep, shuddering breath. “You’re right,” he said finally, his voice quiet but steady. “This has always been our dream. We can’t just throw it away.”
Sabo nodded, though his expression was heavy with reluctance. “We’ll go,” he said. “But if you need us—if anything happens—you call find us, okay? No matter what. I don't care if we need to cross 5 seas to get to you."
Luffy rolled his eyes, but a small, triumphant smile tugged at his lips. “Yeah, yeah. Whatever.”
Ace stepped forward, hesitating for just a moment before pulling Luffy into a tight hug. “Take care of yourself, Luffy,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Sabo joined them, his arms wrapping around both of his brothers. “We mean it, Luffy. If you need us…”
Luffy squirmed, laughing despite himself. “You’re so annoying! Just go already!”
They pulled away reluctantly, their faces filled with a mix of pride and regret.
As they turned to leave, Ace glanced over his shoulder one last time. “Don’t do anything stupid while we’re gone, okay?”
Luffy grinned wide and fearless, the way he always did. “Stupid’s my middle name!”
Ace groaned, and Sabo laughed, shaking his head.
They walked away together, their figures disappearing into the mist, and for the first time in years, Luffy felt truly alone.
But he didn’t cry.
Not this time.
The sun hung high in the sky, casting a golden light over the quiet little island Luffy called home. He was perched on a rocky outcrop near the shore, lazily tossing stones into the waves. Each splash sent small ripples across the water, but his mind was elsewhere, drifting with thoughts of Ace and Sabo.
They’d been gone for weeks now, and while he was used to being on his own, it wasn’t the same. The forest was quieter, the treehouse emptier. He missed their voices, their teasing, even their stupid overprotectiveness.
Luffy sighed, leaning back against the warm stone. He was just about to doze off when he heard the distant sound of wood creaking and waves lapping against something large. His eyes snapped open, and he sat up, scanning the horizon.
A small ship was pulling into the cove, its sails rippling in the breeze. Luffy squinted, trying to make out the figures aboard. There were three of them—a red-haired woman, a tall blonde man with a cigarette, and a lanky guy with a long nose.
They didn’t look like Marines, but they didn’t look like pirates either.
Curiosity sparked, and Luffy hopped down from the rocks, jogging toward the shore. By the time the ship had docked, he was standing knee-deep in the surf, grinning up at the newcomers.
“Who are you guys?” he called out, his voice carrying over the waves.
The three figures froze as soon as they saw him.
The red haired woman was the first to move, her hands gripping the railing so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her face was a mix of disbelief and raw emotion, her lips trembling as if she were about to say something but couldn’t find the words.
The blondes cigarette dropped from his mouth, forgotten, as he stared at Luffy like he’d just seen a ghost. His before composed expression was wide open, vulnerable in a way that seemed unnatural on him.
The black haired mans jaw hung slack, his hands shaking slightly as he gripped the edge of the ship.
“Luffy,” the red haired whispered, her voice barely audible.
Luffy tilted his head, confused by their reaction. “Yeah, that’s me. How do you know my name?”
Her breath hitched, and the blonde took a sharp step forward before stopping himself. Longnoses face crumpled, and he turned away, his shoulders trembling.
“You don’t…?” She began, but her voice broke.
Luffy scratched the back of his head, his grin faltering. “Uh, should I know you?”
The question hung in the air like a knife, cutting through the silence.
Her eyes filled with tears, but she quickly wiped them away, forcing a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “No,” she said, her voice tight. “No, I guess not.”
-
They didn’t leave.
Luffy didn’t understand why—they didn’t seem like they were here to fight him or anything, but they also weren’t acting like normal people either. The woman, Nami, kept giving him these weird looks, like she was seeing someone else when she looked at him. The tall guy, Sanji, kept fidgeting with his hands, lighting cigarettes he didn’t smoke. And the long-nosed one, Usopp, barely talked at all, which Luffy figured was weird for someone who seemed like he had a lot to say.
They spent the night on the ship, anchored just off the shore. Luffy had gone back to his treehouse, but he couldn’t stop thinking about them. They were strange, sure, but there was something about them that felt… familiar.
The next morning, they showed up at his treehouse.
“Hey, Luffy,” Nami said, her voice bright and practiced, like she was trying too hard to sound normal. “We were wondering… Do you want to join our crew?”
Luffy blinked at her, his head tilting. “Your crew?”
“Yeah,” Usopp piped up, trying to muster some sort of bravado. “We’re gonna sail the seas, go on adventures, find treasure—pirate stuff!”
Sanji added quickly, “It’ll be fun. You’d like it.”
Luffy frowned, crossing his arms. “I can’t do that. I’m gonna be the captain of my own crew.”
For a moment, all three of them froze. Nami looked like she might cry again, and Usopp shifted uncomfortably, glancing at the ground.
Then Sanji spoke, his voice unusually soft. “You can be the captain.”
Luffy’s eyes widened. “What?”
Nami nodded, forcing a smile. “Yeah. You can be the captain. We’ll just… follow you.”
Luffy stared at them, his brow furrowing as he tried to figure out if they were messing with him. But their faces were serious—too serious for pirates.
Finally, his grin returned, wide and infectious. “Okay! If I’m the captain, then you can join my crew!”
Nami let out a shaky laugh, and Sanji smiled faintly, though his eyes still held that haunted look. Usopp managed a weak chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Great,” Nami said, her voice trembling just slightly. “Then it’s settled.”
Luffy didn’t notice the way they exchanged glances behind his back, their eyes heavy with unspoken grief.
All he knew was that he finally had a crew of his own.