A/N: Hey guys! Nearly a week past the planned upload date, apologies for that, but if that wasn't enough this chapter is also a rather short one. Unfortunately with Midterms fast approaching I couldn't put as much focus into the story, school and a social life but after the midterms you can expect the Straw Hat wolf to return back with a vengeance...for a few more chapters. Just going to let all of you know now that after I conclude the Loguetown arc, the Straw Hat Wolf will be put on hiatus while I work on another project, assuming school doesn't completely kill me during Finals semester. I'd like to emphasize on the fact that this story will be on Hiatus not discontinued. After the new project reaches the end of its first major arc I plan on cycling back to the Straw Hat Wolf for the entirety of the Alabasta Arc, meaning I place this project back on hiatus before Skypiea. That's all I wanted to say so I hope you continue to enjoy the Straw Hat Wolf as well as the next fanfiction I plan on uploading soon.
To Loguetown!
A Danger In The Distance
Sabo stared intently at Zoro who glared at his captain in annoyance. The wolfman just grinned cheekily and chuckled as Sabo hummed to himself, appraising his younger brother's first mate critically. A few more moments pass like this before Sabo snaps his fingers with a grin plastered on his face.
"You're right, Lu!" Luffy smiled smugly as Sabo praised him. "He is a dark skinned, green haired Ace!"
Under different circumstances, Zoro might have been amused or happy to hear that. However, since the correlation between himself and the mysterious eldest brother of Luffy was "angry at the world, permanent resting bitch face, runs on instinct instead of actually thinking, and quick tempered" the swordsman wasn't exactly thrilled over the comparison.
While the two brothers, who honestly looked like they could pass as genuine blood-related siblings, laughed at the swordsman's expense, Usopp just stared at the crew's cook with pity. Not that Sanji was able to see him. Zoro huffed and went back to downing sake like there was no tomorrow. The action did little to dissuade the brothers from laughing, perhaps even making it worse. The groans of pain coming from Sanji as he regained consciousness just added fuel to the fire.
From her table closer to the heart of the village, Nami shook her head in exasperation. She had a sneaking suspicion that her fiance would end up becoming like this whenever his brothers were around. The navigator thanked her lucky stars that Luffy wasn't so immature that he'd keep being childish and happy-go-lucky with their new family. It wasn't exactly subtle that Luffy saw Zoro, Sanji and Usopp as his brothers as well but he at least put his duties and role as captain first when it came to them. Nami couldn't help but smile however as Usopp excitedly asked to hear more about the infamous Ace.
'Between Ace and Sabo, I'll deal with Sabo anyday.' Nami mused as she recalled all the stories Luffy shared regarding the hotheaded eldest brother. 'Speaking of Ace…' Nami frowned as she thought back to the conversation between Luffy and Jimbei earlier.
FLASHBACK
"Hmmm….A devil fruit that not only cancels out the powers of other devil fruit users but weakens them as well." Jimbei was troubled by the news Luffy shared with him. The wolfman shared the fishman's sentiment. "Ace has very little chance of coming out on top of a fight against the devil fruit himself but for the user to be Teach of all people as well."
"Is the guy really that much of a threat?" Luffy was aware that Teach was the one to scar his father but Shanks couldn't have been an emperor when he'd gotten it. The wolfman also reasoned there could have been more to the story, was it a duel or was Shanks fighting multiple opponents at the time? Was he protecting someone? There was too much Luffy didn't know.
Jimbei's grave expression told Luffy that while Mihawk didn't go into detail, he wasn't exaggerating the threat Teach posed either. "Teach is meticulous, Luffy." The whaleshark fishman didn't seem to be recalling pleasant memories as he talked about the former Whitebeard Pirate. "Meticulous, patient, and very intelligent. The long chains of events he plans for…I'm pained to say it but I doubt even Whitebeard himself could perform such feats."
"The one flaw Teach has however would be in combat." The rotund pirate was a master at planning from the shadows but a straight up combatant? That was where he was outclassed by others. "He isn't pathetic enough to be bested by just about anyone, he has lived most of his life as a pirate in the New World after all."
"It's only amongst the combatants of the New World that he falls far down in the ladder." That was troubling. If Teach's combat capabilities only began to fall in rankings when it came to the New World then Ace was in a lot of trouble. Luffy knew his brother was strong, and with a near indomitable spirit to boot.
'That won't save him against Teach though.' At Luffy's grimace, Jimbei smiled wryly as he had a pretty good guess on what went through the fellow captain's head.
"Well, Ace does have a knack for having things work out in the end." Jimbei's jest prompted a snort from Luffy in response. The fishman wasn't wrong but at the same time luck tended to run out when you least wished it too.
"Best to keep an eye out for him anyway. No sense in risking that hothead losing more than his pride." Luffy grumbled, knowing even if he beat Ace to the ground the prideful bastard would end up chasing Teach anyway. Jimbei nodded his head in resignation before turning back to the navigator who'd silently stood by her lover's side.
Nami just stared impassively as Jimbei bowed before her again.
"I'm sorry for Arlong, once again, Nami." Jimbei apologized, guilt heavy in his eyes. "Perhaps in another life things could have been different."
"Perhaps." Nami agreed, she was willing to say that under different circumstances…yes she may have actually been friends with Arlong.
Jimbei smiled sadly at her one more time before turning back to Luffy and shaking his hand. "I suppose I'll see you in the New World."
The wolfman grinned in return, "Hopefully as my helmsman."
"I look forward to it." Jimbei laughed as he jumped into the sea.
FLASHBACK
Nami was broken out of her memories when Koala unceremoniously dropped into the seat next to her carrying a whole crate of beers. The navigator blinked as her fellow orangette offered her a beer.
"So I've heard a LOT about your boyfriend." Koala smirked evilly as she saw Luffy stiffen from the corner of her eye. "And I'm sure he's shared some…leverage about mine?" Now Sabo was the one to stiffen, white as a sheet.
Nami's confusion evaporated immediately and the Straw Hat's navigator now sported an equally conniving look.
"So many juicy bits, so little time."
Usopp and Zoro couldn't help but burst out in laughter as the brothers looked like their whole worlds came crashing down. Their respective girlfriends giggling together as they whispered more and more details their boyfriends probably wished were never brought up again.
"We've lost any chance of reputations as badasses haven't we?" Sabo knew the answer but he just asked for the heck of it.
"Yup…Nami knows about Sabrina by the way." Luffy replied, praying to God Sabo didn't respond with a similarly dreadful memory.
"That's fair…Split." Sabo decided not to mention the fact that Koala also knew about Lucy. The idea that she knew about the split incident seemed to already put the wolfman in a state of crippling despair.
In an attempt to take his captain's mind off the death of his street cred, Usopp decided to ask him how he'd describe Sabo. After he and Zoro had their fun laughing their asses off, of course.
"Hey Luffy, you described Ace but how'd you describe Sabo?"
"Huh? Oh uh…" Luffy snapped out of his gloom and turned to Sabo with squinting eyes, the blonde just smiled back with a raised brow. The blonde brother was curious to hear it. "Responsible, Rational and…well" Luffy grinned cheekily. "If Zoro is Ace then Sabo is Sanji. Shishishishi!"
"Hmmm…Take away Sanji's obsession with treating all women as queens…Yeah, they are the same! Hahahahaha!" Usopp agreed with a thumbs up, ignoring the scowl Zoro was sending their Captain's way. He was responsible…wasn't he?
While Zoro was huffing and denying the notion he wasn't responsible or rational, Sabo turned his attention to the swirly eyebrowed cook his brother had compared him to. Honestly, he couldn't exactly be mad or amused…well that was a lie, he was amused at the cook's position. That amusement turned into surprise though when he realized something.
"Is he…asleep?"
The Straw Hats all collectively snapped to their cook who, had indeed, fallen asleep.
"What the heck?" Usopp crouched next to the cook and scratched the back of his head trying to figure out how Sanji managed to fall asleep like that.
"100 Belli says his old man forced him to train in a similar situation." Zoro actually pulled out about 100 Belli from his pocket and placed it on the table.
"Bet." Luffy pulled out the same amount. "I say it was punishment for when a patron did the same thing as Koala did."
Sabo shook his head in exasperation as his brother and Green Ace shook on it. The revolutionary returned to gazing back on the cook who Koala had shoved into a tree after he decided to flirt with her. Sanji's head just hung limply downwards, his forehead touching the soft grass, as his legs rested against the ground as well. His arms were locked to his sides as they, along with his stomach region, were the sections of his body still in the tree.
Before they came to the beach they, along with Garp, came across Sanji. The moment the blonde cook's eyes landed on Koala they had turned into hearts and he made a beeline towards her with a typhoon for legs! That coupled with the "Mellorine!" had apparently been enough to push Koala out of her usual sweet, cute, cheeky demeanor and straight into cruel calculating combatant. The young revolutionary had given the cook a black eye, busted lip, and knocked out a few teeth as well before shoving him through the tree. While Sabo wasn't sure if he should have felt proud of Koala or sorry for Sanji, Garp shuddered and mumbled something about brother's having similar tastes and a strange sense of de ja vu.
'Wonder what the old man meant by that…'
The majority of the village had turned in for the night. Well, to be more accurate most of the village had passed out and were now sprawled out all over the place. By the tree the lovely Koala had shoved him into, Sanji continued sleeping. Zoro and Usopp had decided to sleep by the tree as well just for the heck of it. Dr. Nako wasn't pleased that Zoro wasn't going to sleep in the infirmary but the old doctor wasn't about to deny the man who could wipe the floor with fishmen like nothing.
Before the two had gone to sleep however, Usopp had convinced Zoro to join him in a childish and immature endeavor. With a lot of stifled laughs, the pair had left a little present for Sanji when the cook woke up.
Despite the immaturity of it, even Nami had a bit of a giggling fit when she saw what the two idiots had been up to. She wished Koala had stuck around to see it but unfortunately the two revolutionaries had to leave and meet with her father-in-law. It was quite a shock to learn who her husband-to-be's blood father was but after everything else? She got over the shock after a day.
Speaking of fathers, her own was currently being helped stay upright by her older sister. Genzo hadn't warmed up to Luffy completely but the old sheriff was in the mood for a drink so he had the wolfman sit down and take quite a few shots with him. While the sheriff was completely plastered, Luffy wasn't even tipsy and just leaned against one of the houses, staring off into the starry sky with another beer in hand.
"Need help?" Nami offered, seeing Genzo beginning to recite some butchered pledge of sorts which was both amusing and concerning. The navigator was sure "May the useless navy rot in the depths" wasn't in any pledge of allegiance.
Nojiko just shook her head. "Nah, I got our old man." The bluenette gave her little sister a salacious smile. "You two little lovebirds just tie the knot tight, alright? Get it really…deep."
Luffy spat out his beer and had a coughing fit as Nami turned blood red in embarrassment.
"Nojiko!" The young orangette's reprimand was met with laughter as the older sister took Genzo into his house, the man singing Old McDonald but with "bang bang bang, bang bang bang, shhhh!" instead of "eyay eyay yo!"
"Just make sure to use protection!" Nami truly wanted nothing more than to bury herself six feet under to hide away from her embarrassment. Luffy was trying to get back to enjoying the night sky but…well his mind wandered to other things. The wolfman's eyes left the stars and zeroed in on his navigator's dangerously enticing figure. So enraptured by temptation, Luffy failed to realize he'd sprouted his wolf ears and tail again, the latter wagging excitedly.
Nami just stared at her fiance who had zero idea of how he was affecting her right now. The orangette's embarrassment faded rather quickly as her own pair of eyes drank the delicious sight that was her husband-to-be. The navigator bit her lip when her eyes landed on his exposed six pack, the rock hard abs that just screamed for her to trail her fingers on.
'Gods, Luffy would destroy me.' Nami suddenly froze as images of just how such scenarios in their bed could play out short circuited her brain…until desire took over. With a sultry smile, Nami made her way to Luffy, swaying her charms to their most deadly potential. The shift in her lover's eyes just made her feel the need, the desire to be wrecked, strengthened.
"I think the big bad wolf wants his little orange riding hood." Luffy's eyes stared deep into Namo's as she teased him, egged him on. The wolf would have his feast, and he would have it now.
Luffy was ecstatic and to say he was eager would be the understatement of the decade. Unfortunately that horniness came to a screeching halt as soon as he remembered who his wife-to-be was…or more specifically her tastes.
His despair was nothing compared to the wolf within though. Why, you ask? Because it turns out when it came to sex, Luffy had no reservations about how rough he treated his love. Much to the wolf's dismay his host even seemed to revel in breaking in his mate. The wolf had always been one for domination, the term, the word itself, holding a special place in its heart…Yeah that word has been ruined.
Sabo kept Koala in the corner of his eye, quietly offering her the chance to speak about what was going on in her head. The blonde knew her enough that while she was quite the vocal individual, she had moments where she preferred the silence. It seemed tonight was one of those moments and so Sabo kept the majority of his focus elsewhere.
Koala knew the offer was there and she was thankful for it, but she was more thankful that Sabo kept his silence. Arlong was gone. One of the people she wanted most to see the day of equality amongst all become reality. Fate is rarely willing to abide by what we wish for though, and one of her dreams was turned to ash.
'Jimbei…' The young revolutionary could not help but purse her lips as the Knight of the Sea came to mind. If she was this affected by Arlong's death, she could scarcely imagine how the warlord was dealing with it. 'Especially since he was the executioner…'
As Koala continued gazing off into the distance, Sabo directed them towards the agreed upon location. Truth be told, Sabo wasn't expecting to see his little brother any time soon. Just two years after he and Ace left, even less so. The brothers' reunion was only possible because his father, his adoptive father, had business to attend to in the East. Dragon never said it but Sabo knew he was meeting someone. For what purpose however, Sabo could only speculate.
"It can't be about weapons." Koala suddenly said. She too had an inkling that Dragon came to the East to meet someone and knew that Sabo was likely trying to piece together what the purpose of the meeting could be. "And it's certainly not an informant. Travelling here all the way from the end of Paradise? In person no less?!" Koala shook her head. The risk was too great, far too many things could go wrong.
"To be honest, I haven't the faintest idea either." Sabo confessed with frustration etched on his face clear as day. "Nothing worth the risk comes to mind, especially since that one is around these waters."
There was a very large threat looming around the East as well. Dragon was powerful, dare Sabo says, even stronger than Garp and powerful enough to cost Luffy an arm even if the wolfman went all out. Unfortunately the person lurking around is not only a powerhouse as well, but a genius in battle as well.
'Of all the times to come to the East, now is definitely the fucking worst.' Sabo and Koala both shared this sentiment as the agreed upon island was becoming ever closer.
"You think your brother could beat-"
"Not without awakening completely." Sabo was loath to admit it but unless the full powers of Luffy's devil fruit were active, the wolfman stood little chance against that one. "Both of them have devil fruits that have the power to destroy the world…I'd say that one's devil fruit has the upper hand against Luffy's though."
Koala nodded in agreement before replying, "I'm not surprised. Both of them originated from myths but it's a battle between a beast and a goddess. Your brother's beast may be a God Killer but I wouldn't pit it against that Goddess and expect it to win." Koala and Sabo both disembarked their ship and landed on the sandy beach with a thud. "The beast could definitely win but the odds would certainly be stacked against it."
Sabo sighed before deciding to change the topic, this subject was basically done and destined to become circulatory anyway and the idea that someone could actually toy with his brother was unsettling. "Gramps did us one hell of a favor." The blonde smirked as his grandfather had gone and abused his power and reputation yet again to make sure the majority of marines in the area would be partying instead of keeping watch. "It's great that Sengoku wouldn't really think it strange that Gramps would pull something like that…it isn't exactly something to boast about either."
Koala's giggling elevated Sabo's own spirits. A happy, cheerful Koala is the only Koala Sabo wants to see. The blonde stretched as he and his companion made their way to the center of the island. Supposedly there was a clearing in the forest with a large central tree that was home to thousands of fireflies. It was also where Dragon met up with whoever was important enough to risk coming here.
Koala gasped as the pair made it into the clearing. It was…breathtaking. Nature at its finest. The grass was green and vibrant, the night sky clear and generous in showing the treasures it held, the massive tree was full of life as well, and swayed with the cool winds.
Sabo wasn't a romantic but even he could tell that was the atmosphere this jewel of nature was meant to exude. Seeing how Koala's state of emotions were, Sabo knew he was on the money. But while Koala was entranced, he wanted to know why Dragon had met the V.I.P here. Was it a lover? The notion was ludicrous. Not only was it stupid to risk so much for such a trivial matter…This was freaking Monkey D. Dragon! The guy's love was work and his dream! Where the heck would he even meet someone to date?!
'I guess he did have Luffy so he clearly had someone in the past.'
Did this mean Luffy was gonna have a stepmom? Well it would be more like he was getting the stepmom considering how Luffy viewed Dragon. Sabo grimaced as he recalled the way Luffy adamantly refused to acknowledge Dragon as his father when the two had first met.
'Lu's relationship with Dragon has definitely become better but it's certainly not familial.'
Koala slowly began going down the same thought train Sabo was and now sported a confused expression. Their confusion only heightened when they realized something. Someone was humming. The voice was unforgettable to the two by now…but there was no way it was possible. Sabo and Koala shared looks showing just how absurd the idea seemed before they made their way to the other side of the tree…and found exactly what they thought wasn't possible.
Dragon was humming…Like a man who'd just come home from a date!
"Close your mouths. You'll end up catching flies if you don't." Dragon smirked as the sound of dropped jaws snapped back up. He had yet to open his eyes and that was intentional. He wanted to keep the memory of her still fresh and he knew once he opened his eyes again, that memory, that image would begin to fade. "You must be wondering why I'm in such a good mood. You must have also figured out that this isn't exactly my scene to put it lightly."
"Understatement of the century." Sabo deadpanned with crossed arms and a disapproving expression etched on his features. "You came all the way to the East for a date?"
Dragon wasn't even annoyed with his right hand man's tone, he just laughed heartily, like the other men of the Monkey D. Family. "Heavens no, my boy." Dragon smirked, knowing Sabo's impatience was beginning to show. Koala was no different if the disappointed sounds she was making was anything to go by. "Well, it wasn't a date but we did flirt around."
"Not what I wanted to hear, old man." Sabo wasn't interested in the slightest about his adoptive father's love life, even Koala didn't seem that interested. Goes to show just how absurd the notion of Dragon having a love life was. "Who'd you meet and why?"
"My wife, she gave me some information on the movements of the Celestials as well as what the marines are-"
"WIFE?!" Dragon's explanation was cut short as both Sabo and Koala screamed the word that took a bit of time to register in their heads. "You're married?!"
Now, Dragon opened his eyes and blinked at the two blankly before frowning. "What? You thought Luffy was born out of wedlock?"
"Wait a minute…" Koala was trembling as the rather blunt message Dragon was unraveling in her mind. Like most things though, it became clearer to Sabo sooner than it did for her.
"She's alive?!" Sabo had gone his whole life since he met Luffy thinking his little brother's birth mother was dead! Hell, even Luffy said so! The guy believed his biological mother died giving birth to him!
Dragon was unaware of this fact and just gave Sabo a dull look. "Yes. She is alive and well. She is a —"
Silence met Dragon's declaration with both Sabo and Koala completely dumbfounded with what they just heard.
"Wait… so Luffy's a —?!"
Dragon opened his mouth to respond to their yelling before his eyes popped wide open as he realized…he fucked up.
"Ah…forgot I wasn't supposed to mention that." Silence. "Let's forget about that little tidbit shall we?"
"Are you freaking kidding me old man?!" Sabo exploded with shark teeth while Koala just contemplated her life so far.
"It's Garp's blood, I swear!" Dragon was leaps and bounds more intelligent than his father but the man's blood still runned through his veins. Monkey D. blood ran through his veins. Slip ups like these were unfortunately inevitable. Dragon just thanked his lucky stars slip ups like these were few and very, very far between.
"Ugh." Zoro groans, scrunching up his face before stretching with a soundless yawn. The swordsman smacked his lips as he blinked away the remaining vestiges of slumber. It isn't long before the smell of breakfast reaches his nostrils and with a happy smile Zoro gets up…and immediately regrets it as he leans against the tree for support.
'Okay! Definitely drank a lot more than I realized last night.' The swordsman was suddenly assaulted by a wave of nausea but since this was a very common occurrence it didn't take long for the swordsman to regain his bearings. With a huff, Zoro left Usopp and Sanji, who'd gotten himself out of the tree at some point in the night, to continue sleeping. Zoro had a laugh or at least tried to when he saw Sanji still had the gift he and Usopp gave him last night but the hangover was being a bitch.
'Please let there be bacon.' The swordsman's wish was answered as low and behold, Steve the bartender was working the stove. The riot leader glanced behind him to check who'd entered and grinned when it turned out to be Zoro.
"Come to claim your plunder, blood of Bacchus?" The man's jest caused Zoro to pause in his stride. Coming to claim plunder was probably a joke based on him being a pirate but 'blood of Bacchus'? Who the heck was Bacchus?
Without turning back to Zoro, Steve gestured to the side of the bar where a pretty large sack rested. "You've bankrupted the whole village after that display last night. Never thought a guy could drink so much in my life! Hahaha!" Laughing heartily, Steve plated up a serving of scrambled eggs, toast, and bacon. "Here, this one's on the house."
All questions about who Bacchus was disappeared as the mouthwatering scent of the humble breakfast reached his sinuses. Sanji was a great cook, even if Zoro would likely never voice it, but something about simple bar food just hit different. It wasn't long before Zoro was scarfing down the modest meal with such gusto that no words were needed for Steve to preen smugly. As the swordsman waited for his second helping, he decided to check just how much he racked up last night
'Probably enough for-Holy shit!' Steve burst out jovially yet again as Zoro practically fell off his seat seeing just how much he scored. 'There must be 57,000 Belli in here! How much did I drink?!'
While the swordsman had his moment, Steve looked towards the bar's entrance where the leader of the village saviors made his entrance. What he saw caused him to become significantly paler. Luffy was covered in scratches and…are those bite marks?! What the heck could pull off something like that to a monster like him?!
"Luffy, what the bloody hell happened to ya lad?!" Steve's scream caused Zoro to turn to his Captain…right as a breeze passed by.
There was silence…and then there was disgust. "Oh God above! You reek of a brothel, man!"
The unexpected declaration knocked Steve into a stupor. Brothel? Why on Earth would Zoro be talking about a-oh. Oh!
Now recognizing the damage on Luffy, Steve just gave him the look. You know the one. The one every dirty uncle gave their nephews knowing it would be cause of uncomfortable embarrassment. "So…there gonna be a little orange blur running around by next year?"
"Unless you can get pregnant orally, no." The smug delivery of the wolfman's retort stumped Steve for a moment before the bartender just erupted in laughter as Zoro screamed for the wolfman to not go into further detail.
"How do you know what a brothel smells like anyway?" Luffy questioned after thanking Steve for the complimentary breakfast.
"One of my targets was a man who worked in one." Zoro shivered as he recalled the memory. The swordsman had no problen with gay people but that guy was just the epitomy of just…no. Just no. "One mark that I can definitely say wasn't worth the trouble."
Luffy was silent for a moment before asking, "So you've never…you know?"
Zoro gave his Captain a 'Are you stupid?' look. "And risk not being able to achieve my dreams because of contracting something for being Sanji? No thanks."
Steve snorted in amusement while Luffy just shook his head with a chuckle. Deep down both Zoro and Luffy knew the cook would never have participated in such affairs. Despite his obsession with 'mellorines', unless the end goal was marriage, Sanji wouldn't take it past exaggerated flirting. Didn't mean they weren't going to take jabs at the cook for his antics though.
"So you and Nami finally tied the knot." Zoro's rhetorical question was responded with a hum of confirmation. Luffy wasn't really in the mood to talk for two reasons. The first being the incredible breakfast and the second being the 2 hour long screaming he had to endure from the butthurt mutt he had inside.
'Want another 2 hours, you little shit?!'
'Ain't nothing about me, that's little. Surprised you already forgot Nami's-'
'Ahhhh! No! Bad! I get it! Just-just shut up already…' Luffy frowned as the wolf began whimpering as if he was living a horrible nightmare. On one hand the captain felt somewhat guilty that the poor pooch had to listen through all that…on the other hand the memories of how he 'broke' his mate fed his ego far too much to really care.
Steve just gave Zoro a look, silently asking why Luffy was making so many different expressions and staring intently at the wall. The swordsman just smirked and swirled his finger at the side of his head thinking Luffy was too caught up with the wolf to notice. He wasn't.
Usopp and Sanji just stared at Zoro whose face was covered in grease…and bits of what Sanji assumed was bacon.
"Nice makeup, Marimo. Women might have some interest in you now." Sanji smiled smugly, lighting up his cigarette calmly, still unaware of what his fellow crewmates had done. The archer and swordsman struggled to keep their blank expressions so as to not give away that anything was wrong. That all went for naught as soon as Luffy exited the bar and saw Sanji.
Luffy was frozen still, unsure of what to say. 'Guess he swung that way after all…' The misunderstanding dissipated as quickly as it came once Luffy noticed Zoro and Usopp practically dying trying to hold in their laughter. Getting annoyed with marimo and long nose, Sanji looked to his captain for answers. The wolfman shook his head with a sigh before pointing to the glass window of the bar where Sanji promptly moved towards, freezing on the spot when he finally found out what the two idiots rolling on the ground, essentially soiling themselves as they laughed their asses off.
There were some lines you just didn't cross. Putting the heaviest, over the top, cringey okama makeup? That was pretty up there, especially for someone like Sanji. The village, who'd been blissfully asleep, collectively woke up in fight or flight mode as Sanji chased down the two perpetrators who gave the cook the least sincere apologies Luffy had ever heard, and he grew up with Ace!
Eventually the chase had ended and the crew was preparing to set sail once again…well mainly Luffy and Zoro were preparing the ship to set sail. With the rush of adrenaline, and influence of alcohol completely removed from their systems both Sanji and Usopp had their blessings take full effect. Which means they could now smell what Zoro had to deal with all throughout breakfast.
So strong was the scent that, after congratulating the captain, Usopp immediately locked himself into his workshop, stating the room and the area around it was to be a Luffy free zone. At first the wolfman just shrugged it off with a laugh but it didn't take long to realize the archer hadn't been kidding. Luffy made a mental note to not get on Nami's bad side once that project was finished.
Zoro didn't say anything, he just stared at the aftermath. Luffy glared at his vice captain before huffing and marching off to take another shower in hopes the scent would finally piss off…It did not.
"How'd you manage to get Luffy to look like a hedgehog?" Zoro genuinely wondered how the marksman had pulled that one off. He did not however want the explanation to include being tested on as well. Unfortunately for the marksman, Zoro wasn't as kind as Luffy to being electrocuted. Walking out the tinkerer's workshop charred black and spiky haired, Zoro slammed the door where behind lay the crumpled form of Usopp in a very similar if not worse state.
Sanji, who'd decided to cook something for the newlyweds, just stood by the kitchen door watching Zoro who stared back. The only noise to break the silence between the two was the kitchen door creaking as Sanji closed it ever so slowly.
"Coward."
"What was that, you shitty swordsman?!"
From the village, Luffy sweat dropped as the clash between cook and swordsman got loud enough for even the villagers to hear it. The villagers had insisted on stocking the crew's supplies back up to full which was why Steve stood by Genzo's side holding a crate of venison meat. The last crate to be brought on board actually.
"They're certainly a lively bunch, aren't they?"
"How can they even move right now?"
"I know, right? My head's still pounding from the party last night and those two are already at each other's throats like hangovers don't exist!"
'Well they do have the Wolf's Blessing.' Luffy replied mentally before a thought came to mind. 'Wait does the blessing even do that?'
'Technically yes, but from what I understand, as it is right now, it's simply a glorified 24/7 adrenaline shot.'
'From what you gather? It's your blessing isn't it?' Accepting the crate from Steve with a thankful nod, Luffy mentally interrogated the wolf within.
'It isn't exactly heard of for a devil fruit to only partially awaken, pup.' The wolf snapped back causing Luffy to frown as he ascended the steps to the Going Merry. 'I knew the blessing would affect their stamina and senses as thats the bare minimum it's capable of doing but its more unique gifts? I cannot say for certain they will manifest until I fully awaken.'
'Woah woah woah, gifts? What gifts?' This was new information and it wasn't something Luffy was exactly thrilled to hear. Once given, the blessing cannot be taken away except through death and the wolfman knew a certain swordsman had a distaste for acquiring powers not by his own strength.
The wolf knew this and Luffy could feel the exasperation and eye rolls he was getting. 'Your Vice Captain won't have much to complain considering how the unique gifts are given and that's under the assumption he even manages to get one.' Luffy absentmindedly went through the motions of readying the ship for setting sail as he waited for the wolf to continue. 'Like all things in life, everything worth something, costs something. Zoro won't trigger a unique gift to be bestowed unto him unless he does something that would warrant it. A sacrifice of equal or greater value.'
'What kind of sacrifice?'
'Your Vice Captain, and crew in general, all have their own dreams they aspire to see come to fruition. Unless they plan to set those aside and lay down their lives for you or their fellow crewmates, a gift won't be given.' Luffy frowned deeply at the thought as he pieced the rest together himself. It was a case of loyalty being the most important element, the core element, of a being in a pack. He and his crew were wolves and when a pack member shows their loyalty through unbelievable feats they are rewarded and acknowledged by the alpha. That was how the blessing worked it seemed.
'Don't see how that stops Zoro from getting a power or ability he didn't work for.' Luffy's comment was answered with a tired sigh. The wolf was shaking his head disappointedly, sometimes his host was the sharpest tool in the box, other times he was the dullest.
'Unless Zoro or anyone else plans on giving up their dream, they won't be getting a unique ability. They'll only be given a radar of sorts that gives them an idea of where their packmates are as well as thought communication, telepathy, when you finally fully awaken me.'
'And you're only saying this now because?' This information, while admittedly very beneficial later down the line, was something Luffy would have liked knowing about sooner. 'What? I never asked?'
The silence that greeted him spoke volumes. With a heavy sigh, Luffy made a mental note to sit down and talk to the wolf about whatever else he'd failed to inquire about.
Zoro approached Luffy, still sporting spiky hair that was-"Is your hair sparking?"
"... What's taking Nami so long?" The swordsman completely disregarded his captain's question as another spark of static sizzled from between the spikes in his hair.
"Don't know but we're leaving now." Luffy took a quick glance at the sky, squinting as he was blinded by the sun's rays before removing the rope that tied the ship to the docks. While sporting a confused look, Zoro followed his captain's lead and raised the anchor. "Nami explicitly said to get the ship moving by this time and that she'd get here no problem."
"Not worried about your wife having second thoughts Captain?" Zoro smirked as Luffy just rolled his eyes with a chuckle.
"If I did, I never must have had much faith in her to begin with." The swordsman smirked at his captain's confidence and the smirk only widened as the witch herself finally made her appearance on the opposite end of the village. "Looks like she's finished wrapping things up."
Nami took a deep breath as the villagers finally took notice of her. She watched each and every one of them intently. Ingraining each and every one of them in her memories once more. Hee eyes lingering on Genzo and her resolve wavered briefly before she steeled herself once more.
The village was in a state of confusion. The pirates were leaving yet Nami wasn't on the ship? Wasn't she the navigator? Wasn't she romantically involved with the captain? Did she change her mind? Was she staying?
Questions like those floated around the villagers but then, like a bat out of hell, Nami ran towards them faster than they thought possible. The nimble woman weaved through the crowd like a serpent slithering through the undergrowth. In the blink of an eye she had gone from one edge to the other and she was still running.
The villagers' confusion came to an abrupt end as they realized Nami was leaving without saying goodbye!
"W-wait! Nami don't just leave like that!"
"Nami!"
"Hey! Come back!"
Nami didn't come back, she didn't even turn back. She jumped off the port right as waves crashed against the rocks and she landed on the Going Merry. The navigator turned to her village, her home, and put on a cheeky smile as she brought out a few…going-away presents.
"Hang on a minute, isn't that-"
The cat burglar had struck again as she proudly displayed her plunder to her victims. Wallets, purses, even old Fishermen George's necklace pouch were in her possession. The villagers, in a fit of anger and disbelief came to a collective consensus.
"YOU CHEEKY LITTLE THIEF!"
As the woman who would be queen reveled in her victims cries of outrage, her family had zero hesitation in voicing or showing their opinions on her actions.
"Good grief…" Zoro shook his head with a smile while thanking his lucky stars that he'd hidden his score the moment he'd gotten on board.
Sanji was…well he was Sanji. "Ah! How beautifully done, Nami-swan~"
Usopp peaked his head out of his workshop and gave Nami a thumbs up. The gesture would have been more appreciated had the marksman not pinched his nose with laundry clips.
'Well…no take backs now, Luffy. You still sure you made the right choice?'
'Without a shred of doubt.' Luffy mentally responded as he placed his arm around his wife's waist and the two waved goodbye to her village. The villagers, crying and screaming their support for their little fireball to go and achieve her dreams, to go and make the world a smaller place, to make them all…To make Bellemere proud.
Nami's gaze lingered on Genzo, and the old sheriff, misunderstanding the look, just gave her a bright smile and raised one of his dearly departed friend's favorite beers. The navigator was laughing and crying as she waved even harder, knowing that after this she won't be seeing her father any time soon.
"You alright, love?" Luffy asked as he brushed off one of the tears streaking down his mate's face. Nami just took a deep breath and nodded as she turned away from hee village and faced her family, her two older brother figures giving her supportive smiles, her cheeky younger brother grinning by the wheel, ready to adjust course, and of course by her side, Luffy, her husband, her alpha who gazed down on her with those beautiful golden eyes. "So…where to next, my queen?"
Nami wiped the tears off her face one last time before plastering a wide shit eating grin on her face. "Set course for LogueTown! And after we're done there…The Grand Line!"