Summary

Luffy swore to himself that he wouldn't cry before his crew. He was their captain, their leader, he was supposed to stand in front of them with strength. But he soon realized how hard that was once he saw them again for the first time in two years. With the weight of Ace's death weighing down on his shoulders, Luffy learns to lean on his crew for not only fights, but for emotional comfort as well.

(Nakamaship, Dark Themes, Trauma)

ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO EIICHIRO ODA! CHARACTERS, WORLD, ALL! I JUST MADE THIS PLOT!

(OOC Warning)

Chapter 1: A Silent Night

The rocking of the ship, the familiar scent of the Thousand Sunny, Luffy stared at the ceiling as he laid in his bunk. His chest was aching more so than ever tonight and kept sleep at bay. He got up in his bed, dropping his head into his hands with a soft sigh, "It was supposed to stop..." The flash of the battlefield shot through his memories once more and Luffy flinched. He bit back the scream, digging his fingers into his hair.

"Are you okay, Luffy?" Zoro spoke out without moving from his bunk beside Luffy.

Luffy took a deep breath, gripping the edge of his shirt as he tried to calm himself. "Yeah, I'm fine..." He glanced at the moonlight spilling into the room and pushed himself off of his bunk. "I'm going to go...and switch with Usopp," he murmured, wandering to the door and opening it with a silent sigh.

Zoro glanced in Luffy's direction as the door creaked shut. His good eye narrowed as Luffy's shadow disappeared from the door's edge as he heard Usopp's snores fill the room once again. "Did he forget that he already swapped with someone...?" Pressing his lips into a thin line, Zoro turned back onto his bed and closed his eyes. He sighed, opening his eyes to stare at the ceiling. He would check up on Luffy later, after his captain has had some time for himself. "Kuina... Scold Ace for me, will you?"

As as he knew Luffy adored his older brother, Zoro couldn't forgive the man for haunting his captain's memories. The weight of grief is heavier than any other responsibility, Zoro became too familiar with that from a young age, but while he had others by his side for comfort, Luffy was alone. He was alone for those two years of training, simply running towards the future while the past chased after him.

But he trusted Luffy, he knew he was strong. Time may be the only thing that can mend the wounds of loss, but Zoro drifted off into a light sleep wondering what else he could do. He wasn't good at comforting others, but he would try his very damn best if it was for Luffy's sake.

— X —

Luffy climbed up the ladder into the Crow's Nest, he nearly jumped when he saw Robin sitting at the windowsill. "Robin!" he exclaimed, shutting the trapdoor to the ladder.

The archeologist looked away from the window, a smile on her face as usual, as Luffy came over to the window. "I'm surprised to see you awake, Luffy. I thought we said I would watch until breakfast after you," she said.

Her words made Luffy freeze. He had completely forgotten that he had done his part of the night watch already, but he quickly recovered and scratched the back of his head with a laugh. "Is that so! Sorry, it must've slipped my mind..." His hand unconsciously reached up to the scar lining his chest as he lowered his gaze with the air falling silent. "I can take over for you if you're tired, Robin. I...don't think I'm going to be able to get back to sleep."

Robin's eyes lingered on Luffy for a moment. She knew this feeling that Luffy was giving off it was something that became familiar to her during her early years as an Ohara survivor.

The feeling of the guilt of survival. It torments a person at every waking moment, but it isn't something they can escape with sleep. All a person can do to move past it is to find comfort, distract themselves, and look towards the future with hope. That's what Robin had to do. She pushed herself past her guilt with the drive to uncover the truth of the Void Century and the Poneglyphs.

So she picked herself up from the edge of the windowsill, lowering her head respectfully as she passed by Luffy. "I'm here if you need me, Luffy," Robin whispered with a faint smile as she locked eyes with her captain for a brief moment before disappearing down the ladder.

Luffy stared after her for a moment, his chest was burning with a fiery pain now. He bit his lip and turned towards the window, taking Robin's spot and pulling his legs to his chest. Then that's when it started. The voices of doubt began to whisper to him once more.

What if you can't protect them '?

"I can...! Rayleigh trained me himself—"

You fell to your knees on the battlefield! What did you sacrifce your lifespan for?! To let him die?!

Luffy shuddered, eyes wide with terror. "No... No! I tried my best— It's different now! I can make things different!" he said frantically, staring at his shaking hands. But then the flash of memories swallowed him, he felt the weight of blood on his hands again, the feeling of the wind stirred by the body falling past him. Luffy's eyes burned, a desperate smile coming over his face. "Ace... Sabo..."

Burying his face into his knees, Luffy held his arms tightly as the memories tormented him. Fighting Byrndi World had made the pain ebb away slightly, Hancock's belief in his growth was comforting, but as he now stands in front of people who looks up towards his strength— Luffy felt lost and doubtful.

What if his two years of training wasn't enough? What if another one of his treasures disappear because of his weakness?

Luffy couldn't bear the thought of losing someone again. So, as dawn cracked on the horizon and the sounds of Sanji beginning touched his Haki, Luffy lowered his legs to the ground and turned towards the window. A beautiful sunrise that he shared many times with Sabo and Ace. One that he shared countless times with his crew before they were separated. Scrubbing his face free from the tears, Luffy took his hat from his shoulders and placed it on his head.

"I won't... I won't let them know."

He knew Zoro would have a hint of what was going on. Robin definitely knew; the archeologist was the most perceptive out of anyone in the crew. But Luffy wouldn't let anyone's belief in him falter. He needed to lock it all away. The burning pain in his chest needed to be kept at bay when he was with his crew.

Laugh. Smile. Joke.

If he couldn't do that... he'd still be the weakling who let his brother die.

A/N

Hello, Seriyasu here! I hope you enjoyed this chapter of When the King Cries. This will incorporate each of the Strawhats (time period is right after they reunite at Saboady after two years) as they support Luffy in his recovery from grieving.

Next Chapter:

Zoro: The One He Begged For

Thanks for reading! I hope to see you next chapter! (Also this was added after I first uploaded this fic so sorry if you see the explanation again next chapter).

:D