Over the years Makino had grown used to the way Luffy could see into her soul. At first she had wondered if it had been something all kids could do, use their instincts to determine a person's worth. Because that's what it had felt like the first time Luffy had opened his eyes. She could still remember how her breath had caught and the knowing look Garp had sent her, like he was waiting for some signal that she was deemed unworthy. But Luffy had smiled and reached out to her and it was only when she looked away that she saw the relief in Garp's eyes. That memory had kept her up at night for weeks on end, and even now she awoke in the middle of the night, gasping and wondering at the power in that tiny gaze.
Tonight was such a night, and she found herself at the beach, the soft sand under her feet buffering any sharp shells she may run across. The waves lapped against the shore in a soft melody, the moon low on the sky and wind soft on her face. Something else she had grown used to was seeing Luffy out at sea. The first time she had panicked because he was so, so young and she couldn't understand how he managed to get to the beach, how he could swim in the waves and never be pulled far from the bay. No matter what she did, how much she tried, Luffy always found his way out and to the ocean, more comfortable in the waters than in his own bed.
Eventually she gave up and took his tiny hand in her own, leading him out hesitantly and unsure. He was only four, and she couldn't help but worry as she watched him stumble into the water, a wide smile on his face, never afraid of the dark water cradling him. She stayed up for a few nights, keeping an eye on him and making sure he really didn't get pulled out. At first, she had stayed in the water with him, afraid he would be taken away and drowned, but really all she did was make herself cold and tired. After all, how long had Luffy been sneaking away without her knowing to sleep in the sea?
Now she was content to watch from the shore, more confident in the cradle of water that held him afloat as he slept. And sometimes, she swore she saw gentle fingers on his cheek. When she had finally asked Luffy why he preferred to sleep in the sea, he had looked at her with a grin and a simple answer, one that put all the impossible pieces into place.
Because now as she sat on the sand, watching Luffy in the shallow waters of the beach, being cradled as he slept, his words rang clear in her head. 'Mom likes to rock me to sleep'.
And honestly, Makino didn't have an answer for that, not when she could see the action done so clearly by the waves. Luffy never dipped below, never strayed far, and his skin never pruned or dried out from the salty waters, even hours after being in.
Time passed and Makino saw the first rays of light breach the horizon, the sunlight striking through clouds and lightning the sea up in a blaze of gold. Slowly she stood and waded in, used to the chill of the sea as she carefully lifted Luffy into her arms. Water dripped off him slowly, as if unwilling to let go and he opened his eyes with a yawn. He shot Makino a blinding smile and snuggled into her chest, a muffled good morning causing a smile to tug at her mouth. As she stepped out, the sea began to churn more violently (but never hindering her) before it eased back into the calmness it held moments before. Luffy shifted in her arms and looked at the retreating water longingly, his tiny hand reaching out for the final sea spray that crashes against her side.
"I will." Luffy's voice was soft and high, tinged with the longing his eyes held. Makino looked at him and was suddenly unsure.
"Luffy?" She watched as his gaze returned to her and he wiggled in her arms once more, a smile on his face as she walked them home.
"Grampa is coming!"
She didn't ask how he knew, simply smiled and nodded, pinching a cheek and ruffling his dark hair. "Then we better get ready!"
xxx
Luffy had been right of course, and now Makino sat on a stool in her bar with tired eyes and a hand holding her head. Luffy was outside, playing with the bugs he found and she could hear his occasional squeal as something surprised him or made him laugh.
Garp saw next to her heavily, his shoulders hunched forward and his weight supported by the counter of the bar. He turned to her, eyes unsurprised at the news she had given him. Makino almost felt cheated, like maybe he should have told her more about Luffy. But then again, what would have changed?
"I figured something like that would happen one day." Garp's voice was low and his eyes were squeezed shut as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
Makino frowned at his words, a part of her still upset that there was more to Luffy that she didn't know.
Garp straightened and took a swing of sake, eyes forward and refusing to look at her as he continued. "After all, he was born from the sea."
The words confirmed what Makino had figured out months ago, but she still found them impossible to believe.
"How?" She couldn't keep the disbelief out of her voice, her eyes trailing to the door of the bar as if she could see past it to Luffy.
"Who knows. The sea gave him to my son, for all we know, Luffy could be his own god." Garp took another swing of the sake she had offered him and Makino was tempted to grab one for herself.
"Don't think too hard about it I'd say. His mom will protect him, and heavens help anyone who would hurt the child of the sea." Garp bellowed out a laugh, but Makino couldn't quite share his enthusiasm.
xxx
Makino watched as the six year old ran towards her at full speed, a wide smile on his face and sea salt in his hair. She had grown used to his constant state of dampness after all these years and never once has she scolded him, even if he did drip water everywhere. After all, who was she to scold a child of the sea for such a thing?
"Maaakkkiinnooo!" His voice was high and loud, filled with excitement as he nearly ran into her.
She laughed at his antics, sweeping his wet hair back and rubbing the dried salt away from under his eyes. His smile never left, instead it grew impossibly wider as he pointed towards the shore.
"Makino! Adventure is coming!" Luffy was practically vibrating where he stood, unable to contain his joy.
"Oh is it?" She ruffled his hair and allowed herself to be led down to the docks, laughing at the enthusiasm held in Luffy's tiny body. The day was hot and the sun high in the sky as they nearly ran down, Makino unable to hold in her own laugh at the boy's antics. Once there, Luffy stood at the edge and bounced on the balls of his feet, his eyes searching the horizon. Makino smiled and settled herself on a nearby bench under the tree, far enough away to not be chilled by the sea breeze but close enough to see the excited boy as he pointed a ship out on the horizon.
Waves crashed heavily against the docks and she stared as Luffy tilted his head and listened to the crash. She never asked what he heard, or how he knew, but in all these years the ocean had never led him astray. Once before, Makino had worried herself sick, thinking the people Luffy met would harm him, but it was all for naught. Garp had been right when he had laughed at any that dared harm the sea child.
Now she was content to watch, even as more shady characters landed on their shores. Either they would come to fear Luffy if they came with ill will, or they would laugh at what he represented. She knew he was too young to understand why some people asked for him for safe travels, but one day he would realize what it was, and knew his heart was too pure to give anything but that. So as a ship with a jolly roger approached with red stripes down one eye and swords crossed in the same color, she didn't fear.