The Change: Anonymous asked: okok but like what about an AU where everything is the same except when Luffy and Zoro meet Danni she's younger than them? Like between 10-15 and she figures she's going to die anyway so why not go be a pirate? it would be interesting
Anonymous asked: Hello, can i request the continuation of YoungerDanni - not full question
Genre: Adventure/Friendship/Angst
Warning (s): endangerment of a minor; sick!Danni; child!Danni; no care of one's own life; alteration of some canon events; feral behavior; screwing with character backstories that don't coincide with canon or Danni!Canon
Note(s): prompt came from tumblr; Danni is 11 and thus six years younger than Luffy as a reference point
O
Camie shielded the smaller girl with her body to prevent her from being hit by the disgusting man in front of them. Danni hadn't stopped coughing up blood since they had gotten kidnapped, and the mermaid noticed worriedly that the eleven-year old's cheeks had flushed a sickly red. She had quickly gotten attached to the frail looking girl that was a member of Luffy-chin's crew, and it hurt to see her looking so weak and deathly.
She couldn't do much (it was her fault the girl was even in the auction house in the first place -), but she could at least make sure Danni wasn't hurt even further.
O
Rayleigh peered down at the girl that had come in with Camie-chan, blood smeared around her mouth and down her chin, large stains on the hoodie indicating it had been going on for a while. The girl (she couldn't be more than ten-) was running a worryingly high fever and was barely conscious as it was, dark eyes dazed and bleary (they also seemed to flicker into another color occasionally - but that was stupid-).
The sound of a gunshot going off and the ensuing tidal wave of sheer fury had the girl pitching forward, eyes wild and chest heaving as she tried to take in air. Rayleigh caught her easily, cradling her close and telling her, "Focus on me."
She sucked in a huge gulp of air eyes flickering frantically, before they focused on him with unerringly clarity, "Ray-jiji?"
And oh -
He would not be the one telling Benn Beckmann that his little girl had nearly been auctioned off into slavery.
O
Shakky observed the young girl that had come in with the Mugiwara Crew, a concerned crease to her brow. She had felt Luffy's rage from all the way over in her bar, and wouldn't be surprised if everyone had felt that unforgiving fury. She hadn't entirely understood it at the time - but seeing Danni, pale faced and flushed pink with blood stains on her shirt, tucked against her captain's side and the swordsman's arm wrapped firmly around her shoulders - she understood his rage.
It wasn't just Camie and Hachi Luffy had been furious for - it had been his baby crewmate who was obviously afflicted with some kind of illness that had sparked most of his anger.
O
Beast rumbled lowly as it woke from its slumber, golden eyes sliding open into thin slits. Something had disturbed its slumber - (Zorononononononoplease- Brook! - packfriendsnakama - they're leaving me - nonononono- UsoppbrotherfriendfamilygonegoNEGONEGONE - SANJI-FRANKY-NAMI-CHOPPER- GONEGONEGONEGON-)
It rushed forward, fury overcoming its being. She was young - younger than she should be to experience such emotional pain - still a cub. Whatever had caused her such pain to the point it was threatening to break her mind would pay.
It roared.
O
Benn felt a horror clog his throat when he saw the figure stumble out of the forests of Predator Island. It may have been years since he had seen his child, but he would recognize her anywhere - but here and now - she - she was drenched in old blood and had the head of the tiger that stalked the forests sitting on her head like it belonged there.
The man was moving before he even registered it, sprinting across the beach and falling to his knees in front of his daughter - his child. "Danni," he breathed, reaching out to her with trembling hands. His little girl looked at him, eyes burning gold and face marred by gaping gashes across the left side. Her nostrils flared as if taking in his scent - and -
Her eyes faded back too brown and she mumbled, "Dad-?"
He choked back a sob and simply caught her as her eyes rolled back in her head and she fell forward into her arms.
O
Shanks curled his fingers in Danni's hair, the girl curled in his lap and resting her head on his shoulder, nose pressed against his throat. He had initially wanted to scream and rage when he found out that Luffy had asked her to join his crew. She was six years younger than Anchor, and he wanted so desperately to throttle the rubber boy and demand to know what the hell he was thinking but-
Patricia was dead (had been for years - Danni had been alone - they hadn't -) and he could read between the lines - she had gotten sick, just like her mother. There was no guarantee that she wouldn't have made it past three years - and she had always looked towards the sea. Luffy had just arrived at the most opportune time for her to be able to live whatever time left she had as she wanted to do.
The redhead frowned, fingers tightening in the grip in the girl's inky locks. He'd be one of the first to admit he saw her and Luffy as one of his own - Danni because she was his first mate's kid, but also because he had had a hand in raising her just as much as her father had - Luffy because the kid had grown on him like a fungus and reminded him of his captain.
It ached.
Danni had become feral somehow in her time on the Island, and while she had moments of returning to her usual self, most of the time she was like a wild animal. The majority of the crew had to stay away from her, lest she attack them, and it was mainly him, Benn, Yasopp, and Lucky Roo she allowed anywhere near her. In the moments of clarity, the girl had explained that she had an animal inside her head, literally - and that it had sensed her distress during Sabaody and had taken over to protect her mind from shattering.
However, in the process she had been in that state for a couple weeks, and it was hard to return too normal.
O
Beast grumbled, but settled back into their mind - it had known the risks, but it was worth it for the protection of themselves. She would never be completely human again - too long spent as more feral animal than preteen - but she was stable again finally. She wasn't completely healed mentally yet - that wouldn't happen until she was back and safe with pack - but she was getting there.
And it was content with that.
O
Brook had been worried about their youngest crewmember - and honestly, it hadn't gone away even after reuniting. He knew what her gold eyes and baby fangs meant - knew what it meant when she pressed her nose to their necks and inhaled - when she prowled the ship at night, restless and wary - when sometimes her face twisted into something feral and animalistic.
She was a member of a family long dead or vanished - had known a few of those members when he had still been whole and sailing the ocean with Yorki. Blair and Dejen had been close friends and had explained a little about their family and the effects of certain things. Danni was by all means too young to have awakened her Beast - but the Sabaody incident had probably awakened it from the emotional trauma the girl had suffered.
So, he was worried but not as worried.
The skeleton could see she was slowly healing the rest of her emotional and mental scars, and took great care in responding correctly to all of her unintentional cues.
O
Franky had been so relieved when Danni had made it back, and proceeded to climb all over him like she had before, childish delight making her face practically glow. He said nothing about the cautious wariness in her eyes or the sudden animalistic habits and behavior she seemed to have gained. He did notice though. Their musician responded in certain ways to Danni that he hadn't before - and seeing the way Danni seemed to mellow out more in response - starting copying the skeleton.
Pressing back when she rubbed cheeks - not looking her directly in the eye when she was angry - curling into her whenever she decided to cuddle - and humming lowly when she started purring.
He didn't understand it intellectually, but it was quickly becoming habit and he often found himself doing those things with the rest of the crew.
O
Robin was the only one aside from Luffy who had witnessed the sudden change in Danni before the two-year separation. The young girl had frozen before her whole countenance had shifted into something wild. Then her lips had parted and a primal roar had echoed around the clearing freezing everything in an instance. Kizaru had looked completely blindsided and Rayleigh had looked - he had actually looked horrified.
But she hadn't been able to contemplate it - had been too slow to react - Kuma had touched and she was gone. (Luffy's terrified face and Danni's petrified look would haunt her dreams for a long time-)
She had looked into what could have possibly caused Danni's sudden change when she was mostly safe with the Revolutionaries. In the process, she had met a woman with reptilian like habits and looks - who had explained what she could about the Ferox Family (and had been horrified when she found out how old Danni was).
So she was mostly prepared for anything when the crew was reunited. (-and had silently prepared for the worst-)
O
Chopper hadn't known what to make of Danni when they had all come back together. His instincts were warring with each other - wanted to run away - predator or keep close - calf - must protect. Ultimately, he made his protective feelings take over and found that Danni seemed to ease better into everything when he expressed those feelings with touch and noises.
Her explanation for her sudden animalistic traits had him bother horrified and elated - horrified because she was only thirteen - but elated because she was no longer sick.
O
Sanji had never had physical affection either before finding Zeff or even after Zeff. Joining the Mugiwara crew, Danni had been a very affectionate preteen and he had slowly gotten used to being touched positively, especially since their captain had a tendency to drape himself over anyone within reach. But the separation of two years and the hell he had been put through had put him back at square one.
The first time he had flinched away, Danni had looked at him - and he had desperately wanted to apologize but the words wouldn't come out. He would've had to be utterly unobservant to not notice the changes in their youngest crewmember and the changes in his other crewmates as a result. He had honestly expected her to lash out at him - anything - but -
She had simply approached cautiously, and when he didn't back away, tucked herself under his arm and against his side and began purring lowly.
And that - that was okay.
O
Usopp had stories that he would never speak out loud - stories from his mother before she had died - stories that had been passed down from her mother and her mother before her and so on - tales of their ancestors and the beasts inside their minds. He had always been aware of the animal that lay dormant beneath his psyche - the animal that made him so good at sniping - at running away, but also being able to fight back when threatened.
Danni had always teased at his senses but he had ignored it - but - the two years had brought his inner beast further to the front and with it the understanding of Danni when they were reunited. While she was what they considered an apex predator - she was young and also a part of his flock (that wasn't even taking in the fact that he was a carnivorous bird - it made things easier).
Her fragile state had brought his animal out even further and he found himself giving into his instincts more often - towards Danni and the rest of the crew.
O
Nami hadn't known what to make of the partially feral Danni, but really nothing changed the fact that the younger girl was still family. The redhead took cues from the rest of the crew (especially since Robin was doing it too - it made it easier to do), and found she liked cuddling. It didn't even extend to only Danni anymore (and really puppy piling was becoming a thing for the crew).
Sanji had even calmed down from his overly zealous attempts at flirting (and she had noticed the chef flinching away from touch and that made something in her ache), and discovered the chef was the perfect height to tuck yourself against and relax. Franky was more of a place to perch, but a great space heater when cold. Usopp had the best lap and would never fail to end up preening whoever's hair was occupying that space (there was no other word for what he did).
Danni's precarious state had brought them all closer together, and Nami knew the younger girl was healing because of it.
(-really all of them were healing -)
O
Zoro ignored most of the jokes about him being some kind of beast - it wasn't their fault they didn't realize it was true. The tiger in his mind only rarely rose to the surface - though sometimes it was hard to discern where he began and where the tiger ended. It was simply a fact of his life. His instincts were based on the tiger and he followed them without question.
Danni was to be protected that was a given - he simply ignored the rumbling voice that called cub in the depths of his mind. He never suppressed his instincts, but he also didn't always follow through with what they told him to do. He didn't scent mark his crewmates like the tiger roared to do - didn't always sleep with the others like he wanted to - it was something that he had been taught not to do by Koshiro-sensei when he was younger.
(-that's not what humans do, Zoro-kun-)
But then they were all reunited and Danni - his cub - was more feral than human - Usopp was a little more animal than human now - and the entire crew was beginning to act more instinctual and animalistic. Danni's fragile state made his tiger recoil in horror before surging forward in a protective rage.
He didn't stop his instincts this time.
(-he scent marked Danni - the crew - took naps with more of the crew - puppy piles were becoming a thing even with the girls - it made his tiger pleased - and he himself was-)
O
Luffy didn't want to admit it at first, but being back with Danni had hurt. She brought back the memories of Sabo and wherever one brother was the other soon followed and - well, he wasn't even close to being healed emotionally from - but -
Danni had been damaged herself. He could still hear her roar vibrating through his body with the intensity - her pain and anguish had overlapped and intensified his own - and then she was gone too - and then - and then -
He had felt her on the edges of his conscious those first couple of weeks - feral and wild - not really Danni yet still Danni at the same time - it had helped him occasionally during that time - had unconsciously drawn on some of that feral energy - but it still hadn't helped and -
But their reunion had brought them all together in their fragile states and their youngest member's need for touch and security - for the cues that only some of them had picked up on initially - had brought them closer than ever and -
He found his scars healing little by little.
Danni may have been the youngest out of them all - but it was because of that they could form even closer ties - she was their baby as much as she was a part of the crew.
It was through her that they found the will to become strong enough to protect themselves and each other.
And that - that was what a nakama was for Luffy.
FIN