To FireArrowAce: Poor Luffy indeed. But they say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger... I swear Garp lives by that literally.
To rion-rion: Thank you. I can have the tendency to go OOC so... yeah...
To Sehri: Thanks!
The scene changed again. Zoro helped Tashigi up, neither commenting on it as they were too shocked at the previous scene. No one was quite able to grasp how the happy-go-lucky boy they all knew was the same person as the solemn little boy they saw now.
Luffy was still injured, the gash on his forehead all bandaged up, sitting at the edge of a cliff, staring out into the sea.
Sabo instsntly recognised the area, "This is Dawn Island! That's Fusha Village!" He pointed to a small village to Luffy's left.
It was peaceful. Too peaceful. This wasn't the Luffy that they knew and loved. This Luffy was too quiet, too sad, too confused.
Garp had walked up behind him. "Luffy, you okay?" He asked with a softness in his voice that no one had heard before.
Luffy remained silent, seemingly deep in thought.
After staying behind to watch Luffy for a while, Garp had sighed sadly, before turning and walking away.
"It's not your fault, Jii-chan."
Garp had stopped in his tracks and turned around, spluttering, "W-what?"
"What does he mean?" Jozu, who barely spoke, asked.
"You didn't know it would happen. Stop feeling bad." The smaller boy said.
"Mugiwara-ya can be surprisingly perceptive at times." Law spoke up, remebering how Luffy had dragged him to a corner to talk.
"But I left!" Garp had protested. "If I didn't leave -"
"They would have waited. They were bad. They didn't tell you. You are not them. You didn't know. You are not bad."
"Well.. he's blunt as usual." Bege rolled his eyes. He still remembered the time Luffy had asked his son if he was him.
"Even with his poor vocabulary, he still knows what to say to make people feel better." Nami smiled.
Garp sat down beside Luffy, in an attempt to get close, but the tension so thick that it required more than three swords to slice through it. Everyone wondered what Luffy had been thinking about so intently.
Eventually, Luffy broke the silence, "Ne. Jii-chan. Are there others?"
"Everyone else on that island was - " Garp tried to answer, but was cut off.
"I know. Are there others?" Luffy had turned around to face Garp.
"... what does he even mean if he doesn't clarify it?" Crocodile muttered.
Somehow, only Garp, Dragon and Sabo knew.
"I don't know... the only ones that I know of are Nico Robin from Ohara and another kid with a spotted hat from Flevance. Roci-kun refused to reveal his name." Garp had replied sadly.
"Eh?" Both Law and Robin wondered, though only Robin voiced out her thoughts, "Why did Luffy want to know that?"
Luffy stayed silent for some time, before standing up, eyes shadowed.
"Jii-chan. I will find them and make them my nakama." The small boy said with conviction in his voice, smiling slightly, "I won't let them get hurt again!"
His eyes sparkled, like small pieces of broken glass. Everyone could read what he really meant, If I can't help myself, I'll help other people!
"Luffy-senpai is so awesome!" Bartomelo cheered, tears streaming down his face..
Robin had tears in her eyes. Even though Luffy hadn't even met her, he wanted to do everything to help her.
Garp had let out a forced laugh. If Luffy was going to try, he would help too.
"Well, then I better train you to become a strong marine!" Garp declared.
"Shitty gramps, he just saw his home annihilated by marines and you wanted to make him one?!" Sabo screeched.
"Are you stupid?!" Sengoku sighed.
"He has no reason to join!" Nami yelled.
"Shitty old man!" Sanji flared up.
"Not SUPER at all!" Franky pouted.
Robin was restraining the Strawhats from attacking Garp. Similarly, Ivankov grabbed Sabo's arm while Law tried to stop Sengoku.
Dragon and Marco didn't say anything, but they let out a sigh. How brainless was Garp?
Brook was staring at Garp.
Shanks and Benn were standing coolly, acting like the mature adult they were, but theycwere inwardly seething.
"What?! I don't wanna be a marine!" Luffy stuck out his tongue childishly.
"Damn right!" Zoro growled.
"What!? I'll just have to beat it into you! Fist of Love!" Garp had yelled.
This time, no one could stop Sabo from flaring, "Shitty Gramps! You'll kill him! You're using Haki!"
It wasn't until Smoker jabbed his jutte hard into were Sabo's ribs were that he stopped, grumbling weakly in Ivankov's grip.
Though everyone else had to admit that it was cute. Here was Haki Improved Flaming Overprotective Brother Version 2.0.
Luffy had ended up running around with Garp chasing him like two headless chickens.
Eventually, Garp caught Luffy, and carried him back to Fusha Village, with Luffy demanding that Garp tell him more about Ohara and Flevance.
Somehow, seeing a small bit of the Luffy thry knew in the small boy put everyone at ease.
