A.N: I wanted to write something for New Years' and came up with this (very short) one shot. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece
Fireworks
Koala could hear the fireworks go off. She really hated those things. They were pretty of course, she'd seen them, but she hated all the sound they made. They sounded like gunshots and small explosions; they brought back horrible memories from her childhood. That was also the reason she had locked herself away in the basement, wishing to block the noise. Not a good idea, for the basement brought back things she had wished to forget, too.
"Koala-chan?" she looked up from where she was sitting, seeing one of the few members in the HQ that were younger than her.
"Sabo-kun?" she said as she faced the fourteen year old boy "What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you" the blonde said "What are you doing here all alone? Let's go see the fireworks!"
"I'd rather not" she said, looking away.
"Why not?" Sabo asked "They're cool."
"They're pretty" Koala admitted "But I don't like the noise they make."
"So you're afraid of the explosions?" Sabo asked. Unlike Koala had expected there was no sign of mockery in his voice.
"Yeah well, sort of..." she mumbled, ashamed that Sabo had found out. Going closer, Sabo said: "I used to get nervous about the explosions too, you know."
"Eh?"
"Shortly before I joined the Revolution Army, I set sail from my home island on my own on a fishing boat" Sabo told "But my boat was shot at when I had barely left the harbor."
"Why?"
"Beats me" Sabo said, shrugging "Well, it was the government's ship and I did raise a pirate flag, so I suppose that has something to do with it."
"So... how come the explosions no longer make you nervous?" she asked.
"I just forced myself to handle them; I guess" Sabo said with a shrug "After Dragon said that if I don't get over my fears they'll really bite me in the ass someday, that is."
"I suppose a fear for explosions would be a real disadvantage in a fight" Koala agreed.
"Yeah, it would" Sabo said "So c'mon, let's go outside."
"Huh? But-"
"It'll be fine" Sabo interrupted "I'll be with you."
Hesitantly, Koala followed Sabo outside. After all it would cause lot of trouble if she couldn't fight properly if there were explosions around.
Next year when the fireworks came, Koala had already gotten used to the explosions with Sabo's help and was now able to enjoy their colorful beauty.
A.N: Happy New Year!
