coby watched the coast, huffing cold air and dragging a sack behind him. he eyed the ship in the harbor and the small boat tied next to it, he shook his head and scoffed at the jolly roger that flew. alvida. he wasn't going anywhere near her this time, even if he had to build his own boat.
come to think of it, he really did build his own boat last time but she had destroyed it in the fight with.. well it didn't really matter now. he would need to make a better one, one that wasn't built from literal scraps and could take him to more than one island.
coby grunted when he dropped the bag onto the pier, looking the boats over, actual fishing boats that would be his escape.
he sighed when his home island was out of sight, and he rummaged through his belongings for the black flag he had painstakingly spun and stitched together.
he unwrapped the bundle and smiled back at the grinning jolly roger and familiar strawhat. he knew what a life as a marine had in store for him and he had never entertained the idea of joining his friend out on the sea but he'd do it this time. to make a change. to help the man that had done so much for others.
he carefully refolded it and put it into his pocket. one day he'd proudly fly it, but he needed to get stronger. strong enough to get his attention.
strong enough to make it to goa.