Prompt: Petting Part I
Set: East Blue Saga
Summary: Every Straw Hat has their own unique way of showing their tiny mouse affection.
Sanji was the very first one to ever pet me, and it's changed over time. At first, it was more hesitant and cautious, like how most people pet me when first seeing me. But now, it's completely different. His hand always sits in the middle of my head, his fingers just barely resting behind my ears. He flexes his hand to prompt movement and his fingers always lightly scratch and rub behind my ears.
He also pets and scratches my back when it's morning and I'm having trouble waking up. There's no better feeling to wake up to then having your back scratched; it puts me in a good mood for almost the whole day.
It's a feeling I've grown to love over time and one that I hope will always stay with me throughout this journey.
Nami always tends to go for my ears. She starts on my head and always works her way up to them. She rubs them with her fingers, like she's testing the texture of my fur. Her touch isn't exactly gentle but it's sincere.
It always reminds me of the thoughtful and generous Nami I met back in Cocoyashi Village; someone who may seem rough and uncaring on the outside, but truly has a heart of gold on the inside. It sounds like a rare feeling, but it always feels just as amazing every time she pets me.
Luffy is kind of a mix between rough and gentle. Well, it actually varies depending on his mood. He's also the one who likes to pick me up and throw me around the most. He's like a kid the most in that regard; always wanting to throw things smaller than him. Luckily, if he does toss me it's to get me out of danger. When I'm not in danger, he tosses me a few feet into the air like we're celebrating, and then follows it with a hug.
Luffy is a good hugger, and being tossed up and down out of joy is a lot more fun than being tossed by an enemy. At least I know that Luffy (or any of my crewmates) will always be there to catch me.
Usopp always pets me like a pet. Whenever I'm around, he reaches out and gives me a quick pet, like it's his obligation. But that's not to say I don't like it. It's like he's always reminding me that my crewmates care about me. It's always short and sweet, rubbing my head a few times, maybe with a scratch behind an ear every now and then.
He also gives me chin scratches on rare occasions, which I appreciate immensely. Usopp's the only one who is always able to find my sweet spot right off the bat, probably because he pets me so often.
If I'm ever having a rough day, Usopp is always the Straw Hat I go to for some good old-fashioned pets and scratches. Sometimes, it's the normal thing that makes me feel the most wanted.
Zoro is never one to show genuine emotion, always putting on a tough guy act. But I've seen glimpses of those few times when he takes off his mask, probably more than the others.
Having swordsman's hands, they're rough and callous, but his petting isn't as bad as you think. Whenever Zoro pets me, it's always quick and slightly rough; he presses down firmly on my head and his hand makes a few quick movements, and that's it. It kinda reminds me of when older siblings ruffle their younger sibling's hair, showing that they care despite their outward personality.
But when I think about it, that's always how Zoro shows he cares; by doing small, subtle gestures that may seem insignificant, but actually mean a lot.
Once the main story reaches Thriller Bark, we'll have Part 2 of this, featuring the crewmates that joined on the Grand Line