"How can you be so cheerful so early in the morning Luffy?" Came a grumble.

Luffy glanced up at the new voice. "Oh! Uthopp!"

"Hey! What did I tell you?! If you want anymore food, get away from Robin-chan right now! Go sit at the table!"

Luffy knew the threat was real and did as told. He plopped down next to Usopp with an amiable good morning. Usopp quietly echoed him and requested food as well. Luffy took time with his plate so that they could eat together, though Sanji would get him more. He was quickly distracted as he watched Usopp try to tame the thick mass of curls on his head as he waited. Luffy couldn't help himself as he grabbed a few chunks dangling in front of Usopp's eyes and stretched them out. He chuckled as they bounced back into Usopp's face. "Hey Usopp, your hair is like my gomu gomu power!"

"Hey, hey. That's not a toy." Usopp batted his hands away and Luffy pouted when Usopp stole his fun by binding them behind his head. The pair turned their attention to breakfast when Sanji placed an identical plate and cup before Usopp. "Thanks Sanji. It looks great!"

"Hey Sanji! I want more!" Luffy clapped a stretched hand on the cook's shoulder as he made to walk away and presented the plate with his other outstretched arm.

Sanji took the plate and kept walking. "Coming up."

There wasn't a whole lot of talk going on in the kitchen with Robin content to read, Sanji's back was to the room, and Usopp visually didn't look awake enough to chat much. After Sanji gave it back, Luffy assented to dig into his plate for the time being and enjoy the camaraderie. Short pauses were fine, but Luffy wasn't one to let it continue. Usopp was the more talkative of the three in the room and thus Luffy latched onto him for some conversation.

Usopp was like that though. He was chatty and naturally open with people. It was one of the many reasons Luffy liked him. Usopp wasn't up to do anything like Zoro, but when it came to games on the ship, Luffy almost always headed to Usopp. He was just fun to be around and his love of play gave away his childhood innocence. Another thing that Luffy liked about Usopp. He didn't mind if Usopp was often too chicken to want to do the dangerous stuff. Luffy had seen his village and could tell that Usopp had never been through hard times as he had. He actually preferred Usopp that way; Usopp wouldn't be Usopp without his sheltered, small-town air about him. That just made Usopp that much more fun to watch as he changed. Luffy couldn't believe his eyes when he saw Usopp after two years. He looked so cool! Luffy was even more amazed with his new weaponry and attacks whenever they were unveiled. He was so impressed with Usopp's progress since he joined the crew.

"I misjudged you Luffy!"

Luffy paused in his eating and briefly glanced at his friend.

"Not everyone can tolerate following someone like you forever...I'd never keep sailing if it meant leaving a wounded comrade behind!"

"Have it your way then! If you don't like how I do things, you can pack up and -"

Luffy put his fork down and grabbed his coffee. He took a gulp and purposely burned his mouth on it as if trying to burn the words from his mouth.

"I'm sorry. It just slipped out..."

It would forever be one of the biggest blunders of his life and probably the stupidest thing he'd ever said. That black mark would be there to remind Luffy of his shortfalls as captain and as a teaching tool to think before he spoke.

"That's what you want, isn't it? Anyone who can't pull their own weight gets cut loose and left behind. If you're going to do that to Merry, do it to me too! To tell the truth, I've known that I could never be as incredible as you guys. Where you're headed, I'll be nothing but a burden! You don't need weak comrades, right?"

Luffy was more angry at Usopp for thinking he mattered so little at that point after all their time together. The words he spoke that time didn't hurt as much as watching Usopp try to get up and walk out that door.

"It's too late to back out now. Usopp's not stupid enough to bet his life because he's overreaction. We wouldn't be here if talking it over could fix it."

Usopp was a bragger. It was compensation for his being a normal human. Luffy knew this, but it hadn't made him value Usopp any less. He had so many skills that his lack of physical prowess was never an issue. He provided amazing long-distance attacks when no one else could fight. There really was no one else on the ship that could do such attacks and no one was a match for Usopp if pitted against him. Plus, even though Franky was now here, Usopp still had so many interesting inventions. He also was the only one who could talk to Franky about the ship and understand what was going on.

Never again did Luffy want to fight a crew mate over such a misunderstanding. It scarred him greatly to think his crew thought themselves inferior to him just because of his brute strength. Usopp's apology did a lot in mending bridges and Luffy tried hard to blot that one instance from his memory. It was only quiet, thoughtful times such as these when it snuck up on him.

"Hey, hey. What are you doing? Can't you see it's still hot? Geez...I know that Sanji's coffee is good, but I'm not going to steal it from you."

"Heh. Sorry." He pasted on a bigger smile than he felt at that second. Luffy pushed the memory away again and locked it up. That wasn't who Usopp was and Luffy knew it. He could tell that Usopp didn't think that anymore by the way his shoulders had straightened and he bragged a little less.

Sometimes, when he had private times like this morning, Luffy would reflect back on their duel and he would marvel at how well Usopp had set up the initial attack sequence. He tried to turn that clash of emotions into a positive thing. He tried to use it as a stepping stone into the mind of Usopp and to become closer to him. He mentally hoped that Usopp no longer felt that way and Luffy pushed him whenever he could. He wanted Usopp to revel in his abilities and surpass his talented father. Given time, Luffy knew that Usopp's natural skills and brains would aid him in the title of great warrior of the sea that he sought. Luffy looked forward to it with all his heart.

"Hey Luffy, what did you do to yourself?"

Luffy blinked and looked to Usopp. "Huh?"

Usopp's fork pointed at his chest. "There. Your scar is scratched. See?"

He had forgotten all about it. Luffy looked to his chest, seeing the thin marks now that some of the redness on the scar was gone. "Oh yea. It itched."

Usopp's brow went up. "Itched?" He looked away to the stove area. "Hey Chopper. Can you look at this?"

Had he been so entranced that he didn't hear the cute pounding noise of Chopper's hooves? Luffy turned to face the bar stools and found Chopper sitting next to Robin. "Yo Chopper!" Chopper swiveled in the seat and quickly made his way over upon seeing the injury. Luffy watched the tiny doctor do a basic exam, still trying to eat in the process. If this was going to proceed where he though, Luffy needed to hurry.

Chopper gave a small sigh and looked at Luffy. "It's not serious, but I still want to apply some ointment and bandage it to help heal it quicker. You don't want it getting infected."

"Can't it wait till after breakfast?" Considering how many times he'd been cut, stabbed, impaled, blown up, thrown into the ocean to drown, punched, strangled, poisoned, and etc, a few measly scratches like this were nothing. But Luffy knew he shouldn't question their amazing doctor, even at the cost of breakfast.

Chopper gave him a look. "These have already been around for a while. You should have woken me up and told me sooner."

These are nothing...really."

"Take your plate with you Luffy and I'll have another one ready for when you come back."

Luffy one-upped Sanji and dumped the remaining contents in his mouth. He grabbed the cup to enjoy in the clinic and stood. "Ok...letsh go."

It was a short walk to the infirmary door at the back of the dining hall. Luffy slurped his coffee as he plopped on the bed in the small room. He tried to keep both arms out of the way as Chopper started in on the initial clean-up. Chopper didn't make much small talk and Luffy tried not to tap his foot against the silence. "Sorry to make you work during breakfast Chopper." Slurp.

"It's fine."

Luffy's head tilted a bit at the even tone. Usually Chopper was one for idle chit-chat and would look at him when they talked. Those big adorable eyes seemed quite fixated on such a puny injury. "I'm fine! I've been hurt worse than this and come out on top!" He smiled as if to prove his health.

Chopper sighed quietly and walked to put the bloodied gauze in the trash. He remained facing the desk for a breath. "I'm not worried about those scratches Luffy. As you said, you've had worse. What concerns me more is hearing about your scar 'itching' as you mentioned." Chopper turned, eyes serious. "You never mentioned it to me before..."

Luffy set the now empty cup on the bed, trying to figure out why Chopper was so serious. "What's the big deal about my scar itching? You're too serious Chopper! Don't worry!" He tried to reassure with a bigger smile and leaned forward on his knees a little.

Chopper grabbed the ointment and bandages before crossing the room again. "Do you feel itchy anywhere else?"

He blinked and straightened to allow Chopper access. "No."

"Do you remember having itchy spots on other places on your body?"

His head tilted. "Not really."

Chopper dabbed some medicine over the cuts before speaking again. "You've been on the ocean and in the sun so much that the humidity and sun has hardened your skin a lot. I could see the lack of epidermis causing an increased discomfort due to the temperature changes or dry air, but we've been on the ocean for a while now."

"I don't understand what you're talking about Chopper! It just itched! That's all!"

Chopper met his gaze unblinking and didn't look away. "I'm a doctor Luffy, not someone who knows the mind. But I know that there's no way it 'just itches'. What's wrong?"

Luffy stared, smile lowering briefly fr a few seconds. "You're too serious Chopper!" He repeated. A foot finally started tapping impatiently. "Hurry up so we can go back and have breakfast!"

Chopper started applying bandages. "I've dealt with patients before who have inflicted their own injures." He insisted. "...Everyone knows how you got this scar Luffy and from where. What's troubling you? You can talk to me in confidence as your doctor that I won't say a word to the others."

The smile left his face as Luffy stared at Chopper in all seriousness as the words sunk in. The air was thick with expectancy, although Luffy didn't want to rehash anything. What would it change?

"I don't mind either. If you cry...It's okay..."

Those words, mere hours old, returned to Luffy and washed over him. He was reminded of his earlier thoughts on the lion this morning concerning his crew. Chopper's concern warmed Luffy's heart immensely and he smiled warmly at him. A hand plopped down on Chopper's ever-present hat and ruffled it a bit. "Thanks Chopper."

Chopper didn't bat his hand away, but his brow furrowed. "Luffy..."

Luffy remained silent, affectionate smile and hand still in place as he stared at the ship's doctor. Chopper suddenly appeared so grown up despite the small size he usually kept to. It was hard to tell his proper age when he kept switching between forms. Luffy mentally admitted that Chopper's vibrant and youthful enthusiasm often made him seem like a child, though Chopper was only a few years younger than he was. Chopper's instinctual concern astounded Luffy. He realized that he didn't give Chopper the full credit as it was due. Chopper's intelligence and abilities far surpassed where Luffy could ever attain in his whole life, let alone in the few years that Chopper did.

Luffy knew that discussing his worries and releasing the pent-up anxieties over the war and Ace would tax his friend and thus he kept quiet. Chopper was a kind soul and worried a lot over his friends, not just because he was a doctor. Chopper kept after someone and tried to help until he felt they were better. Luffy loved that compassion about Chopper. "Sorry to worry you Chopper."

Chopper stepped back and put his things away. "Whenever you need me Luffy, I'll be there."

Luffy chuckled out of happiness at the pure selflessness before him. He stood and stretched. "I have the best crew in the world!" Before Chopper could say anything else, an arm stretched out and grabbed Chopper to deposit him on Luffy's shoulders. His other arm grabbed the cup. "Now...it's time to go finish breakfast!"

The open door caused all attendants, new and old, to look up. The initial people were still there, keeping company to Brook and Zoro. "Morning everyone!" Luffy put Chopper on the ground and turned to Sanji. "Sanji! Where's my plate?"

As if knowing when the door would open, Sanji handed over a steaming heap of food. "Ready as I said it would be." Sanji assured with a grin. Sanji took the cup and turned. "I'll have another cup of coffee for you in a second."

Luffy hooted over the food as if he hadn't already had two plates a short time ago and smelled it. "Thanks Sanji! It smells so good!"

Sanji pushed him lightly in the direction of the table, cup in one hand. "Then go eat it instead of drooling all over my floor."

Luffy took the empty seat between Usopp and Brook. "Itadakimasu!"

"Good morning Luffy-san."

"Goo mahni Bruk."

"Yah! Gross Luffy! Don't spit food on me!"

Luffy turned to Usopp, still chewing. "Sthowi Uthopp."

"I said stop that!"

"Luffy-san, I hope you're feeling well this morning." Luffy looked at Brook with a raised brow, not stopping his eating. "You just came out of Chopper-san's infirmary and you're bandaged. When did you injure yourself?"

"Oh yea Chopper, what was up with that anyway?"

Instead of the mental sorrow represented by his self-inflicted wound, Luffy smiled at the worry of his crew. He took a big swig of coffee to clear his throat. He momentarily abandoned the meal to clap a hand on Brook's and Usopp's backs. "Man, I really do have the best crew in the world!" Luffy let those seated next to him sputter words of appreciation as he went to dig into his food. Truer words had never been spoken nor wit more heart.

"So long as you're feeling okay Luffy-san. That's the most important thing."

Luffy grinned to Brook around his food, mouth to full to say anything intelligible. He had forgotten that Brook had lost his captain to disease on the seas. But Luffy knew that with Chopper in attendance, they would never have to worry about any random disease taking down anyone.

Luffy eyed Brook a little before paying full attention to his food. The most interesting one on the ship, at least visually, was Brook. What a find he was! Swordsman, musician, afro, Devil Fruit eater, and skeleton. Plus he was so polite and good-natured...maybe because he was so old? Luffy didn't really care how Brook spoke or acted; he was much too happy to finally have his much-desired musician for the ship. It often times wowed Luffy that Brook could play so many instruments. When Luffy tried, upon request to his friend, the noises that came from the violin and guitar were only cringe-worthy. Luffy had his attempt at music and was content to leave it to the expert.

Luffy admired Brook for his past and his current, yet constant fortitude. Luffy knew he had gone through some hard times in his childhood, but he knew he wouldn't be able to take the mental strain that Brook faced until that time that they found him. A crew lost to disease with Brook the sole survivor merely because he couldn't die; stuck on his crew's ship all by himself for years; charged with carrying the crew's last will for fifty years; and then losing his shadow and always worrying about disintegrating before the promise could be fulfilled. Luffy couldn't even handle the scattering of his crew two years ago without outside help! Brook never even had that help until they spotted him. Yes, Brook was one to look up to.

The outside door opened and Luffy watched Franky lumber in under the arch. "Oh Franky! Morning!"

"Morning Luffy. Morning everyone."

Luffy watched Franky's bulk settle itself on the nearby couch. Speaking of visually interesting! Was there any other pirate ship in the whole world that had its own robot-engineer-shipwright?! Talk about a find! Being a cyborg was cool enough, but the two year transformation was almost too much for Luffy to handle. And the beam! There wasn't a sufficient outlet that Luffy had to properly express his excitement. Luffy started getting giddy as the thought merely crossed his mind. Without thinking, a hand reached out and pressed Franky's nose to change his hairstyle.

"Hey Luffy, what are you doing?"

"OHHH! Afro! Bwahahaha!"

"I prefer this one better." Franky's mini-hand came out to press his nose, changing the afro to a huge column of blue hair.

"Ah ha ha ha ha! Do another one!" Next popped up a pair of cat-like ears, followed by a cannon. "Whoa! Leave it like that today! So coooooool!"

Franky smiled and took a plate from Sanji. "Aye aye, captain!"

Luffy couldn't help himself; he abandoned the remnants of his breakfast, full knowing he may hear about it from Sanji, to ogle the blue cannon. He poked at it and peered in the front despite Franky attempting to eat. Franky never said a word, just ate when he could with a congenial smile on his face.

In times like this, Luffy felt like the younger brother basking in his older brother's awesomeness. He certainly acted like it. But Luffy knew Franky didn't mind the attention and fawning. Franky was a really good guy; he was very emotional and took to someone who had a hard life. He had a huge heart and it was a perfect dichotomy for his tough guy exterior. Franky talked like a gangster, but one sob story from any of the people they helped and he was putty. Luffy liked that Franky didn't care that others saw him cry. Or that he wore a speedo. Or that he wasn't human anymore. Franky was cool to look at, cool to talk to, and he was a genius who made Luffy a ship.

It was quite the irony that the pair fought on bad blood, only to become such good friends. Franky's weaponry and brain had turned into Luffy's greatest asset. Franky had both broken their group up and brought it back together again. He had helped heal them with Sunny and mini-Merry as much as Luffy pulled Franky from his despairing past. There would always be mutual respect for that.