izzywolf: Thank you!
Pinkypi: Thank you. Yeah, getting so little feedback and views when I first posted some of it in 2018 were discouraging, so it was put on hiatus for over a year. But I finally finished and do wish it had caught on, but it doesn't look that way. :(
Luffy laid on the deck of the broken Merry as it carried them away from Enies Lobby. There was the crew and multiple others on deck, maneuvering the Merry through the waves and away from the place Robin almost lost her freedom at.
Her head was in Zoro's lap as Chopper gave her an ice pack to hold on her head. There was nothing he could do about it at the moment, as no one was safe still. He had to be carried by Usopp to Luffy to help her as best as he could.
It would be better if Luffy was normal as she could heal the wounds on the others from their respective fights. Everyone was tired. Chopper the most, since he could barely move. Luffy was having trouble keeping her eyes open with the harsh sunlight shining down on them. Zoro noticed this and rested his bandana over her eyes, blocking the sun.
"YOW! So you two are a couple?" Franky said loudly. Zoro glared at him. He still hadn't forgiven Franky for kidnapping and injuring his lover.
"What does it look like you idiot," Sanji snapped, not at all happy with what happened either, even if they had unwantingly become allies. Luffy picked up her hand and waved it back and forth. Just let it go, it meant.
"Aw, you're still mad about what happened? I apologized," Franky replied.
"Only because she scared you," Robin said darkly, having been filled in on what had happened while she was gone. "You're the reason she was wearing a gasmask the whole time." She wasn't happy with what had happened to Luffy. But at least she wasn't beaten while being incapacitated.
Nami was walking around the ship, questioning how the Going Merry had gotten there. The last time they saw her, she was docked and stuck in the storm. Now she was suddenly here? And whose voice was that?
As they finally got out of the reach of the marines, they all heard a crack. Then, the front of the Merry snapped in half, jolting everyone. Luffy winced as the sharp action hurt her head. She tried taking the bandana off of her eyes to see, but the sudden light hurt really bad. Zoro put his hand over Luffy's eyes.
"The hull just broke off. We're gonna have to get off soon," he said sadly. Luffy frowned. This had been her home with Zoro. Their special room that Luffy had designed. The place she played with Ace at.
It wasn't long before everyone aboard had to evacuate the broken ship. Zoro carried Luffy in his arms, still keeping his bandana over her eyes. Part of her didn't want to see it. didn't want to see the Merry at her last minutes, but she deserved to be said goodbye to by everyone.
The crew stood on a long boat, watching as Robin lit the Going Merry on fire and stepped back to the boat with the others. A ship full of their allies was behind them, and some of the crew couldn't help but wish they were not there and this was a more private funeral.
No one said anything, but Nami, Chopper and Usopp were all sobbing. Luffy wore her blank and unreadable face, which was matched with Zoro's sunglasses she's created on. She was in his arms for comfort for both of them. Even if they didn't give it away, this was hard for them to watch as well. Their home and meeting place was going to be burned to nothing.
No one thought of what they were going to do now. They were all just recalling their favorite memories of the ship. Luffy thought of that first kiss she and Zoro had had. When she fell asleep against him in the crowsnest that night. She finally shed tears and turned away from the burning ship, burying her face in Zoro's chest. His arms tightened around her.
Zoro couldn't help but be annoyed with strangers crying on the ship behind them. They didn't know the Merry. And he had deduced that "tough Franky" was a complete crybaby. The ship slowly burned to nothing, and it then started to snow. Like the universe was crying while still trying to comfort them.
The ride back to Water 7 was a quiet one, besides the sniffling from some of the crew members, thinking about their now non-existent home. Zoro and Luffy both napped, along with Chopper next to them. Luffy had Zoro's bandana tied around her head and covering her eyes. She still had the headache.
She did wake up when someone near started laughing loudly. But she kept the bandana on, hiding her red eyes and absorbing her tears. She didn't like crying in front of other people, so she hid her tears. Able to keep her lower lip from wobbling and the sniffling silent.
Robin was the one who noticed, and walked to the younger and took her hand. "Would you like to go inside with me?" she asked softly. Luffy nodded and stood up slowly, not waking Zoro. She wouldn't take the bandana off and just followed with Robin as she led her around others by holding her hand.
The two went into the vacant bathroom, whereupon Luffy fell apart, sobbing silently and sniffling uncontrollably. Robin knelt down and hugged her, rubbing circles on her back. Luffy was surprised when Robin began to sing a soft song she'd remembered from being a child.
Luffy could tell sometimes that Robin acted like a mother with her. Like how she often treated Chopper. "It's okay to cry, Luffy. No one would think you're weak." Luffy nodded her head, taking Zoro's bandana off and rubbing her red eyes.
She looked even younger when she cried, her wide eyes shiny and wet. Her headache had finally gone. She rubbed her nose on her arm and created her writing tools, slowly. She was still off from the battle. What do we do now?
"We'll have to get another ship. We saved the treasure from Skypiea from the Merry. Surely we have enough for another ship," Robin said calmly, sitting against the wall, suddenly looking much older. "Thank goodness we saved the treasure." Luffy looked down. They had moved their belongings from the Going Merry onto this galley-la ship, which was convenient.
Luffy nodded finally, and sat down next to Robin, laying her head against the wall, looking up at the ceiling and wondering what kind of ship they'd get.
Zoro woke up to the chatter of the Franky Family, sharing their experiences from the battle they'd fled from. The first thing he noticed was the lack of Luffy in his lap. The bandana was still gone, so she still had it. He yawned and got up to look for her.
"So, why is Luffy mute?" Franky asked as he walked up next to Zoro. He just glared at him and didn't answer. "C'mon, we're all friends now. I apologized to her already, and we all fought together."
Zoro still didn't reply. He was having a hard time not decking the cyborg in the face, even if it wouldn't hurt him. He just turned away from him and walked away, knowing it was probably a bit immature to give the silent treatment at his age, but he was still angry. He didn't know when it would fade, and the cyborg was right. They'd all fought together and he helped out with saving Robin, as they helped him get free as well.
This ship was much bigger than the Going Merry had been, so he got lost a few times, becoming more and more frustrated. He finally found the room Luffy and the captain we're in. The first room in the hallway Zoro had walked down twice.
Before Luffy knew he was in there, she didn't have the bandana on anymore, and her eyes and nose were red from crying. Zoro looked at her sadly, knowing what she was crying about and why. She had a lot of good memories on that ship. And he had a feeling she probably felt like she wasn't worthy to cry about it since she hadn't been there long.
Zoro walked up to her, and sat right next to her, then pulling her to him and into his lap, kissing her shoulder. "We'll make new memories," he said simply. Luffy nodded slightly, putting the ice pack back on her forehead. "Besides, we could have our own room built, with no cannon in it and a real window. Won't need three thick blankets anymore."
"I wonder what kind of ship it will be," Robin mused quietly, and the couple had all but forgotten she was there.
"Hopefully something as original and fun looking as the Merry was. Even though it seemed a bit silly."
The Merry was perfect, even if she was very hurt, Luffy wrote on her board slowly.
"I agree," Robin said.
I bet our next ship will be bigger with all the treasure we have. It'll be even bigger for me and Chopper. I don't know how his size doesn't bother him.
Zoro wrapped his arms around Luffy and rested his jaw on her head. "Are you still not liking being small?" he asked. Luffy gave a non-committed shrug. She didn't hate it, but it was just inconvenient sometimes. Especially now that she lived in the human world, where things weren't sized just for her kind. "I like that you're small," Zoro commented.
Robin seemed to understand the situation and left the room with a smile to Luffy. "You're perfect," the pirate whispered in his lover's ear. Luffy wrapped her arms around Zoro's that were around her waist. She snuggled back into his chest a little more while Zoro gently kissed the junction between her neck and shoulder from behind.
Are you mad at me for laughing at your fight? Luffy asked on the board, though she had a feeling she knew the answer. Zoro chuckled and shook his head.
"Nah, it was pretty stupid. Who wants a giraffe devil fruit?" Zoro scoffed. "Though he was a strong opponent, he wasn't the most frightening. I bet your bounty is gonna be huge after showing off your powers like that. You killed one CP9 member and then mortally wounded another, not to mention you killed their leader. I think we'll probably all have bounties after this mess."
Don't you already have a bounty?
"Yeah, but I want it to be bigger," the swordsman replied. "How is your head feeling?" he asked worriedly. Luffy replied that she was feeling better being in dim light.
You know what I want on a new ship? I want a big bathtub so we can share one, Luffy wrote with a small smile. She had a feeling but didn't see Zoro blush lightly. After seeing Luffy so badass before, Zoro had been itching to kiss her breath away, and maybe do more. But, Zoro wasn't one for public displays of affection around anyone but their crew. Maybe later.
"That would be nice. I wonder how water would feel with a certain activity," Zoro whispered huskily into Luffy's ear, making her blush as well. Zoro chuckled. "We can have a room for us that isn't freezing at night, too. And maybe we can get a better lock to make sure no one can come in, even if there isn't a cement wall keeping anyone out." Luffy nodded her head. A nice good lock would be appreciated. Especially so they could make sure there was no chance of someone walking in on their activities or staying naked afterwards. That had been a mess.
Luffy then thought about that person and whatever had happened to him during the fight against the CP9. Well, she wouldn't bring it up or Zoro would tease him mercilessly. And she didn't like when her family fought, even if that was literally all Zoro and Sanji's relationship was. Zoro would mock him for somehow turning into a soapy doll… thing.
Luffy stood up slowly, making sure to be gentle and not hurt her head. I want to take a shower. Do you think there are showers on this ship?
"I don't see why there wouldn't be," Zoro replied. "Let's go ask someone," he offered, and the two walked through the interior of the ship, holding hands, until they came across a Galley La employee. "Hey, are there showers on this ship?" Zoro asked bluntly, losing the loving tone in his voice for anyone but Luffy.
"Yeah," the man said, looking at Zoro and Luffy's hand holding strangely, as he led them to the nearest bathroom. The two would have thought all of their allies would have known of Zoro and Luffy's relationship. And that she wasn't a child, which Zoro cleared up immediately on the train ride to Enies Lobby.
The bathroom they ended up in was huge. Compared to the Going Merry, this ship was massive. Zoro and Luffy walked into the bathroom and locked the large door behind them. Luffy slowly stripped off her bloody dress and walked right into the water. She didn't care that Zoro was staring at her from behind. He soon followed after her, though he unwrapped his bandages slowly before walking into the bath with his partner.
They both knew it wasn't the time to be intimate, though it would make them feel easier after the stress of what they both just went through, with multiple near death experiences. Luffy waded over to Zoro, middle of her chest underwater since she was so short. Zoro sat down against the edge of the tub and easily accepted Luffy crawling into his lap and straddling him as she leaned her chest against his, her head resting on his shoulder.
It was intimate, but not that way. He doodled circles on her smooth back with his calloused fingertips. She eventually fell asleep, tired from everything, both physically and emotionally. Zoro hoped they could do this again in whatever ship they got next.
It was a miracle that the money was still on the Merry. Even though no one had been on it, Zoro was thinking everything would go to shit even more, and that they lost all of the money. Luffy could only make so much of one thing, so creating hundred of millions of berris would have taken way too long. She could add some more to their already valuable stash of money.
Zoro didn't say it, or express it, but he was just as upset about the death of the Going Merry as the others were. He tried not to think about it by looking at all of the tiny marks on Luffy. Light freckles on her bare shoulders he had never noticed before. He ran his hands gently down her body, mapping every slight curve and dip that he hadn't had the chance to do before now.
He definitely wanted a large bath on their new ship. That was now a requirement for him. No doubt Nami would enjoy one, too. Zoro was happy that Luffy was still wearing the locket, which now had a bit of clay wrapped around the locket part to keep the photo inside safe from the water. Zoro had his own as well. He would have been upset if he lost it in the battle.
Luffy woke up once the water got too cold and she started shivering. She created them both some towels and they got out of the water and dried off. Zoro would need to go back to Chopper, but only because Luffy commanded him to wear the bandages he always took off too early. They were both not covered in blood anymore, thankfully. Seeing Luffy in blood again had made Zoro uncomfortable and upset, remembering when he had been responsible for her being covered in blood.
She created herself a new dress and shoes, making Zoro his own clothes as well. He couldn't get over how convenient her abilities were. When they walked out of the bath house, some people looked at them strangely, but there was no reason to. They didn't have sex in the bath or anything.
By the time they went outside, Luffy's headache had dulled greatly, though it was still hurting slightly. Though, she could handle the light better. They found the crew all sitting together, mostly feeling pretty down after the recent loss of the Going Merry. Luffy noticed that many of her fellow crewmates had their clothes ripped in some way.
Luffy went up to them and created new outfits for them each, since seeing blood on their clothes wasn't the best thing. Luffy made Nami a dress, something she hadn't worn in awhile. Luffy didn't like how the guys were treating her for her choice of clothing, so she made something that would make them leave her alone.
Nami said nothing of the dress longer than what she usually wore, and thanked her friend. She made Sanji and Usopp replicas of their own clothes. Usopp still had his confidence-boosting mask on. Robin had washed off the blood from her face and hands, and her clothes were relatively intact.
The others on the ship watched her with her powers in awe. Zoro watched them all with hawk eyes, which they could feel his stare boring into their bodies. No one would mess with her, and not just because Zoro was there to kill them if they tried. No, they heard of what she had done to Blueno and Lucci. So, they either respected her greatly, or were downright terrified of her.
Franky watched from the side, glad he hadn't come across the girl directly, as she could have easily dissolved some part of his body. Being a cyborg, he might have been able to repair himself, but he didn't want to risk it. He cautiously walked forward and close enough for them to talk. Well, Luffy still hadn't said anything the whole time. Franky had a feeling she couldn't talk, or was just completely mute.
"Yow, I'm sorry we kidnapped you," Franky said sincerely. Luffy just started at him with a blank face for a moment before giving him a curt nod and turning back around to sit in front of her friends and start healing the wounds Chopper could not fix. Zoro still hadn't forgiven Franky for hurting his lover. Seeing her, looking lost or dead had been a horrible experience. But, the cyborg watched with interest and awe as wounds were healed. However, Luffy refused to use her powers on anyone besides her crew. It angered some, but she still refused.
The only humans she trusted were those of her new family. The rest can heal at their proper pace. No one was mortally wounded. They could deal with it. The crew didn't push her to use her powers on anyone else either, which Luffy was thankful for.
When they reached Water 7 again, everyone who could, helped the pirates take all they had removed from the Going Merry when they could and carried it to the nearest hotel that wasn't flooded. The city was badly damaged, but the citizens didn't seem hopeless. After all, the storm had been slowly destroying the island city for decades.
When they all reached the hotel, the first thing the seven did was to flop onto the nearest beds and sleep their exhaustion off. After all, Luffy couldn't heal fatigue. Zoro and Luffy ended up on the same bed as Chopper, with Robin and Nami on one bed and Usopp and Sanji on another. Sanji would probably be irritated he was on the same bed as Usopp and not Nami or Robin, but he was much better lately about pushing his affections on the girls. It ceased completely for Luffy, especially after all of the drama surrounding her, Zoro and the cook.
They slept the whole day, even through meals, and Luffy eventually ended up sleeping on top of Zoro. She weighed next to nothing to him, and he didn't even notice her climbing on in her sleepy state.
By the time everyone woke up the next day, Sanji had made a feast for them. A huge one, since there was no doubt Zoro and Luffy would have black holes as stomachs after their respective fights. And that was true, as Luffy sprinted to the food and began shoveling food into her mouth. Sanji had gotten over that by now, as he knew it was not going to stop, no matter how unladylike he saw it.
The crew didn't acknowledge their ship was gone and they were currently homeless. They just enjoyed the food and the high after winning an impressive feat. Zoro couldn't wait for his bounty to be raised, hopefully much higher. He and Robin were the only ones with current bounties. Luffy was looking forward to it too. Though, she knew the other nymphs would be mad at her for using her powers in front of so many humans. Luckily, stories of the nymphs from her home island only circulated that one island. Plus, they could take care of anyone that came after them. Even if not all of them were fighters, they still had the abilities Luffy had. They were a force to be reckoned with when angered.
After the meal was completely gone, the crew fell into a funk. No one was even looking forward to buying a new ship at the moment. They were prepared for Merry to be beyond saving; at least some of them, but it was harder after she was actually gone. They didn't even have anymore of her wood to include in their new ship to have the spirit of the wonderful ship.
Luffy lounged in Zoro's lap with Chopper in hers, everyone very quiet. The day passed very slowly, and they were all quiet. It was evening when there was a loud knocking on the door, startling many of the crew. Zoro didn't stand up, as he had two people in his lap, and just let Robin open it.
Luffy craned her head to see who it was and saw Zambai standing there with some of the rest of the Franky Family, still injured and, for some reason, still wearing their damaged accessories. Luffy and Zoro listened from across the small room while the other pirates asked what was wrong, as Zambai looked worried and uneasy.
"We have a favor to ask!" he exclaimed, bowing his head. Chopper and Luffy stood up and walked to the front door, wondering what the problem and favor was. Honestly, the crew had already done enough for them, hadn't they? They saved Franky, even after what he did to their crewmate.
"What is it?" Robin questioned. When Zambai pulled out a stack of paper, Luffy grinned and ran forward, standing in front of the others so she could see, Chopper doing the same. Zoro stood up and hurried to the door, too. Zambai laid all the papers on the ground outside of their hotel room. Each of them had a bounty.
Not everyone was happy about this. Nami because she didn't want to be a wanted criminal, even though she was a pirate. Poor Chopper's bounty was 50 berris, and classified as a pet. Sanji's was drawn for some reason, and looked nothing like him. Zoro barked out a laugh after seeing it and Luffy turned to look up at him with a stern face. Zoro frowned, but didn't tease him again. Luffy and the others felt pity for him. But, at least he wasn't recognizable. Besides "Sogeking'', Sanji could go shopping in peace still. But at the moment, that wasn't what he was thinking about. No one had said anything about Usopp putting on a mask to help his confidence, though Chopper had been very confused at first.
Zoro grinned at his, as his bounty had doubled. Robin's didn't raise as much as someone would think, but she had no problem with that. Finally, came Luffy's poster. She picked it up and stared at it. 200,000,000 berris for her first bounty! She grinned at how scary she looked. It was a photo of her wearing the creepy respirator mask, a deadly look in her eyes. It didn't show how short she was, just her face. If it weren't for her expression, she was irritated it could have been passed off on a child's poster.
Zoro stood behind her and grinned. He wasn't upset with Luffy's bounty being higher than his, just impressed and ecstatic she had been recognized for her strength, and not her appearance. "Gas Mask", as they didn't know what her name was. Luffy jumped onto Zoro's back and stuck the page in front of her, before writing, I look pretty cool.
"I agree," Zoro said with a smirk. Luffy grinned, now wondering what Zambai was so upset about. It's not like there was a bounty for him.
"So, why are you so upset?" Usopp asked. He was happy he was disguised in the wanted poster. "It's not like there's a bounty in here for you."
"Because of this!" Zambai replied, and pulled the final wanted poster out. "Big Bro has a bounty now!" Franky's poster looked pretty badass, too. Only Sanji, Chopper and Nami's didn't look intimidating. Luffy looked at her wanted poster again. She would be putting it up on the wall in their new ship.
Zoro was still mad about what had happened to Luffy from Franky, as was Sanji, so they glared when Zambai said Franky's name. And they knew what he was asking even before he asked. "Why should we care?" Zoro asked in a cold voice. Zambai looked confused. The others might have moved on from what happened, but Zoro would never forget the dead look in Luffy's eyes as her nose and mouth leaked blood. Sanji was also angry that anyone would do such a thing to a lady.
Luffy frowned at Zoro, but had a feeling her telling him to forget about it wouldn't work. And she was surprised that Sanji cared enough to hold a grudge. The man kneeling in front of them had tears in his eyes. "Please, take Big Bro with you! The marines will be after him now!" The two males in the monster trio still looked frosty. Sanji turned to the captain, who had an unreadable look in her eye.
"We need a shipwright," Robin said. "And Franky did fight alongside with us to help get to me and then escape. What matters most is how Luffy feels. I heard about what had happened." the woman turned to Luffy, who also had an unreadable face. Finally she shrugged. Having a shipwright would be good, so the new ship, whatever that might be, wouldn't get in a state like the Merry had been by the time Luffy joined the crew.
Luffy wanted to punch Franky just once, and then it would be fine. I want to punch him once, and then all is forgiven. Zoro barked out a laugh, looking forward to that. Sanji smiled and lit a cigarette. Franky's front of his body may be made of iron, but Luffy's was as hard as titanium.
Robin and Nami cracked a smile as well, and the captain turned back to the Franky Family members. "He's welcome to join. We do have to go ship-shopping, though," the tall woman said pleasantly.
"He didn't tell you already?" Zambai asked, confusing the crew as they hadn't seen Franky since getting off the Galley La ship and parting ways. Based on the pirates' expressions, Zambai told them the news. "Franky-Bro wants to build your crew a new ship. The problem is that we don't have enough money to buy the type of wood he really wants," the man explained. Chopper jumped up and down.
"We have lots of money!" he cheered. "Luffy, Usopp we get a cool new ship from Franky!" Luffy smiled at Chopper with a nod. She wondered how that weirdo would make a ship. What it would look like. Luffy hadn't paid much attention to why Franky had been taken. It hadn't mattered to her, as she was only there to save Robin and support her friends.
"Why don't you go get him?" Robin offered. No one noticed Sanji burning his wanted poster into nothing with his lighter. "I'm sure we have a lot to talk about." Zambai grinned brightly, exposing some of the teeth he was missing from the fight to get Luffy back from the Franky Family just a couple days ago.
The Franky Family ran off to go get their leader. Robin was unsure he would come with them, though, based on what she knew of his past. But, she hoped he'd come along. Then, she would have another adult with her. The thought made her chuckle a bit. She sometimes forgot she was surrounded by teenagers, old as they may be. Now what they needed to do, either to pay Franky for the supplies he wanted, or to buy another ship, they needed to cash the treasure and get it into berri form.
-x-
An hour later, all seven pirates were crammed inside the appraiser's office, going to get their treasure cashed. None of them really wanted to part after everything that had happened. And no one wanted Robin out of their sight, even though she promised she wouldn't leave them again, no matter what. She felt sorry for leaving her crew confused and captainless.
Nami and Robin sat on the couch, across from the man who was handling all of their gold and jewelry from an adventure Luffy hadn't been around for. The nymph sat next to Zoro, snacking on some candy she made and was sharing with Chopper. Zoro and Sanji's presence was enough to make sure the man didn't cheat them out of any money. Especially adding the cold stare he was getting from Nami, who would know if he lied or tried to scam them.
As it was taking quite a long time, Luffy had made a chess board that they were taking turns playing. Luffy was not good at it at all, which surprised some of her crew. Zoro and Sanji got into an argument, because why wouldn't they, and were now arguing about cheating, like children were. Luffy sighed at it, but didn't try to stop them, even if they were making a scene. Plus, she was in the middle of a game with Usopp, and kept her concentration mostly on that.
The others all jumped when Nami slammed her sandaled foot on the table in front of them. No one had been listening to the two women and the appraiser, so they didn't know why Nami was so angry all of the sudden.
"Oh? Is that right? You see, I think you are lying. Now, did you see all of the wanted pirates behind me? Even the smallest girl had a bounty of over 200 million," Nami said in a threatening voice. Luffy stood up and walked around the side of the couch, forming her arm into a blade and giving the scammer a deadly look. Zoro smirked at this.
Apparently, the man was withholding 200 million berris, and the crew left with three cases containing 300 millions berris. Zoro and Sanji were the ones carrying the cases, Luffy sitting on Zoro's shoulders.
"Should we really be walking around with this?" Usopp asked nervously.
"It's not like anyone here hates us, you know? Even the Franky Family, who tried to mug Luffy and Zoro, are now allies. And in our debt," the navigator said in a cocky voice. Robin chuckled. "We owe them as well, Nami."
Nami shrugged. "Yes, they helped, but they only got to help save Franky because we let them on Rocketman before we left to go after you," she pointed out.
The group were heading to the shipyard. They didn't know much about CP9 other than they had pretended to be Galley La Company shipwrights. Before Robin left, they had only come into contact with them during the fights. So, with their foremen being gone, the pirates were surprised that it was functioning so smoothly. Paulie was working, having healed remarkably fast.
Then, they saw Franky arguing with Iceberg, who they were also surprised to see out and about. "I would help you with it, it looks like a magnificent ship, but it's just too expensive," the mayor said placatingly.
"Oi, Franky!" Usopp called. He had talked with Franky the most after they escaped Enies Lobby. "300 million enough for that ship?" the sniper asked with a cheeky grin. Franky grinned back, and struck a pose that had most of the crew rolling their eyes.
Fifteen minutes later, Franky was counting money and asking the pirates what kinds of features they wanted on the ship. Robin said that the design could be a surprise, which startled those that had been sailing with her longest. She didn't usually like surprises. But, the others had some requests.
"Private bedroom for me and Luffy," Zoro said in a bored tone, Luffy leaning against his side.
"A large bathroom with a big bathtub," Nami requested. Usopp asked for a work station place somewhere in the ship so he could make his inventions and not bother the others by doing so in the galley, where Sanji always got mad at him for using while painting or using things that smelled too strongly.
"A good infirmary," Chopper requested. Sanji requested a kitchen with certain appliances, and a bigger refrigerator.
"Some sort of gym would be nice. Where I lift my weights. Anything you want?" Zoro asked, looking down at Luffy. She put a finger on her chin, trying to think of something special she would want.
A display case for stolen weapons. A few of the members chuckled. Franky had learned not to question anything Luffy did as she had a rabid guard dog with her at all times. And, he didn't want her to dissolve him like she had Blueno. Are we just going to ignore that Franky hasn't accepted being in the crew yet?
Franky looked suddenly uncomfortable. "I will gladly build you my dream ship, but I can't leave this place," he replied.
"So, you're just gonna let yourself get taken by marines? And everything we've done, your 'bros' will have been for nothing?" Zoro asked in a hard voice. Franky frowned deeply. Both Zoro and Luffy were looking at Franky in the same expression. A blank mask. Something they were both good at wearing.
"I have reasons I need to stay here. No marines will get me. I'm too super for that," Franky said, though there wasn't much emotion where it usually would have been in what he said.
You're running away from the possibility of the unknown? You just want to stay in some town where most of them despise you, and you'll leave your family to take the brunt of the force from the marines to try and catch you? Isn't that selfish? To your family and yourself? Luffy wrote. It left Franky unable to form a good reply. You don't like the concept of starting over and sailing on YOUR own dream ship? That's what you just called it, right?
"You wouldn't understand," Franky countered, though not in an insulting way.
I left my entire family and species to come and adventure with who I love. It's worth it to me, and it's fun. I can't talk with anyone but Chopper, and it was unknown and scary, but being a pirate is fun. Probably more so than someone who works in the Underground and is now a wanted man in a town where everyone knows who you are and where you live. Just saying, she finished with a shrug. Zoro placed his hand on hers with a soft smile.
Franky didn't know what to say. "I'll think about it. Happy?"
After you join, though, I get to punch you, Luffy wrote. After what you did, it only makes sense.
"As long as you don't dissolve me," Franky replied, getting a cheeky grin from the tiny teen. He hadn't missed the fact that she said 'species', but he wasn't surprised that she wasn't human. It explained why she never spoke, either.
A little while later, Franky had left with the money, multiple threats from Nami made that he would regret it if he ran off with the money, Zoro and Luffy were walking around town. Just the two of them.
He's coming with us whether he likes it or not, Luffy wrote with a mischievous smile.
"This should be fun. We get our own room, without being super cold. Hope it's a little ways away from the other rooms. Even if you don't make noise, still," Zoro commented, smirking at Luffy's slight blush, though she was smiling, too. "And, the big bathtub…" Zoro hinted, looking around before lightly grabbing Luffy's bottom. She jumped, and glared up at him with pink cheeks.
You're lucky no one's around or you would have just committed a crime.
"Then I guess it's good no one is around. Can't wait to be back in a private place. haven't been able to kiss you in too long," Zoro replied. "Not when strangers are around. I ain't a pedophile." He sounded immensely frustrated with that, hating claiming Luffy was his little sister. He did not like calling someone he had sex with his sister.
Just a couple more days of sharing the room with everyone else, Luffy assured him. Then, a new adventure. Hopefully one with all of us together… Luffy wrote, donning a sad face.
"Robin only tried leaving because she didn't want her crew to suffer, not that we'd ever see it like that. She brought us all together, and we won't let her be leaving anytime soon. Don't worry," Zoro said, in his rare kind voice only reserved for Luffy. She gave a curt nod, and they didn't mention it again. "Wanna go get some food?"
Okay.
The ship was finished in less than a week, which the crew was happy for. They were getting impatient and tired of both the hotel and the city. They'd seen everything there was to see. And the crew was getting irritated with Luffy and Zoro constantly flirting or saying embarrassing things to each other. To say they were all happy when they were told the ship was done was an understatement.
The whole crew practically ran to the shore, where the ship was waiting under a large tarp. It was much bigger than the Merry had been. Almost intimidating to the nymph. She glanced to the side at Chopper, but he just looked excited. She had to remind herself that Chopper had been living in a world with normal sized humans in mind for all places and things. Luffy grew up in a place where everything was sized specifically for the nymphs.
Franky wasn't there to show them the ship, and everyone but Chopper weren't surprised that he had decided not to show up to their departure. That wasn't a big deal, as the pirates would get him to come with them by force if necessary. And it looked like it'd be that way.
For now, they were all just more excited to explore the ship than anything else. Iceberg and a few of his foremen were there, having been working on it day and night. Luffy wasn't the only one slightly bouncing on her toes in excitement. Even though she'd miss Merry a lot, she was looking forward to the new ship, size regardless.
The tarp was pulled off to show a very childish looking ship. Very colorful with a very nonthreatening head, like the Merry's sheep head had been. It Looked like a lion mixed with a sun, or a sunflower. The crew stared in awe, a ladder thrown over the side. They all ran to the ladder besides Robin, who was smiling pleasantly. Luffy was first to step on the new ship, and was amazed that the deck was made of grass, and that there were trees.
It was huge, but she noticed the steps were shorter on the stairs, made for Luffy's short legs. She appreciated that. No one hesitated to explore the ship quickly, Sanji heading straight to the kitchen, Nami to the bath house, Usopp to his work space, Chopper the infirmary and Robin to the library she hadn't asked for but was glad was there. Zoro and Luffy searched for their room. It was at the end of a hallway that had the womens' quarters and the mens' as well. It looked like Luffy and Zoro were the only ones with their own room.
The bed was very big, with blue sheets. A few dressers were around, and a small closet that could easily fit their clothes. There were warm lamps on the table tops, with one on a desk. Luffy leapt onto the bed and rolled around, testing out how it felt. It was a very nice mattress.
The bathroom was across from them and up a flight of stairs. They both loved it, Zoro grinning the whole time. It was nice and warm inside. The room had a couple small portholes in the wall. Robin hadn't asked for her own captain's quarters, so she was still sharing with Nami. Neither minded. The other men and Chopper shared their own room. None of them had requested their own rooms, and Luffy thought they must have forgotten to ask about it since it was normal for pirates to share their sleeping quarters.
After Luffy unpacked the things they had carried from the hotel to the ship, she and Zoro wandered around some more to explore. There was even an aquarium, and the kitchen and galley was huge! Luffy would probably still opt to sit in Zoro's lap, though there were now enough seats for all of them to sit at at the same time.
Sanji was already cooking up some food, ecstatic with the large oven and stove that were in his new kitchen. Usopp then walked in, looking excited and happy. "So, when are we going to get Franky?" he asked.
"I have an idea about that," Robin said mysteriously when she entered the galley, too.
An hour later, Zoro, Luffy and Chopper had tracked down Franky's scent and were now trying to reason with him to come with them, but he said no sadly. Well, that was their first tactic. The second one was soon put into place as Luffy created a thick rope of cable. Zoro walked up to Franky, like he was going to shake his hand, as if he forgave Franky. "No hard feelings," he said seriously, even if he still held a grudge against the cyborg.
Franky reached out his hand to shake Zoro's, but the young man was too quick and twisted Franky's arm behind him and pushed him to the ground. He knew he couldn't hold Franky down for long, and soon Chopper came, changing into horn point and using his heavy bodyweight to pin him. Luffy then came and wrapped the thick cable around Franky.
"You little shits!" Franky yelled irritably. Luffy then got to work on building a catapult, attracting much attention both from what she was doing and Franky's shouting. Zoro picked him up and tossed him on the cup of the catapult. It was aimed at the beach. Franky, as a cyborg, would be perfectly fine.
"Have a nice flight!" Zoro taunted and released the machine. Franky was then catapulted across town, screaming swear words. Luffy laughed, while Chopper looked worried. He knew Franky was very strong, but what if something went wrong?
Luffy looked over the edge of where they were and saw the fountain running down to the lower levels of the city. She formed a boat, and asked the other two to get on with a grin. This would be fun. Zoro reluctantly got on and Chopper hung onto him for dear life, as the two who could screamed, going down the fountain without a yagara bull to control their speed.
The three were thrown through the air after hitting the pool of water hard and uneven, but Luffy made an inflatable cushion where they landed. Chopper and Zoro were shaking, as it had been very reckless and scary. Luffy laughed at them, causing Zoro to blush.
Let's go to see if Franky is okay. The two followed the nymph as they ran to the place Franky landed.
"I'M GONNA KILL YOU!" he raged, as he had landed in a pile of trash. The others were on the ship, watching and smiling. They had gathered a large crew of the citizens watching from a safe distance.
You can only kill us if you come along, Luffy pointed out. It'll be fun!
Franky glared at her, but didn't dispute that it might be fun.
"Wasn't this your dream ship?" Zoro questioned, pointing to their new ship. "Do you honestly want some other shipwright working on it?" he reasoned. Chopper and Luffy were standing next to him, on either side. Chopper was hiding behind the young man's left leg. "You saw what happened to our previous ship. If the ship got damaged, would you honestly want someone else changing it at all?"
This made Frankhy clearly hesitant about his answer. Then, the pirates who were waiting on the new ship, standing at the railing and watching Franky and his weak protests. "C'mon, be on our crew!" Usopp called. "It would be nice to have someone else who knows how to build something!" Luffy turned and glared up at him. "I meant a technician, not someone who can just form anything they want whenever they want," the teen clarified. Luffy had been on the crew long enough for them to know she wouldn't hurt any of them. Besides Zoro, who seemed to enjoy that. She hadn't even hit Sanji for how he was treating her at first.
Said cook and the navigator were getting irritated with Franky taking so long. "You could at least tell me how to work the ship if you're not going to come," she said in a frosty, irritated voice. "In case you didn't know, we're all wanted pirates now and the marines should be smart enough to know where we went."
People then started yelling at Franky to go be a pirate on his dream ship. The shipwrights who had helped build the ship were smiling, Iceberg petting the top of his mouse's head. The pirates knew they had won when Franky started crying happy tears, while simultaneously cursing out the people who were cheering him to leave, but not in a cruel way, even if they would enjoy not having parts of their city destroyed or people being mugged.
Luffy climbed up on Zoro's shoulders, and Chopper on Luffy's, which quickly and clearly wasn't going to work. Chopper toppled off of the tower and Zoro cursed at trying to keep them balanced. Luffy just laughed.
"I win Zoro," Luffy said to Chopper. The three all climbed up the ladder onto their new ship.