Please remember. This fic contains instances of panic attacks, nightmares and mentions of violence. If you're not comfortable with them, prioritize your mental health. Again, I will add warnings before and after each scene so you can skip it. If I missed any of the warnings, pm me and I'll add it in.
Luffy cackles like a hyena while swinging through the trees. Branches and twigs brush past his face as he whips around the jungle, letting his feet guide him to his destination. Calls for his surrender reaches his ears and he mentally scoffs. Morons, the lot of them.
Little did he know, that he was falling right into their clutches.
The dust shifts under his feet as he lands on the ground with his legs splayed apart. Luffy holds the hat in his hand and looks around casually, realizing that he hadn't heard any sounds for quite some while now. With a careless wave of his head, he ambles over the uneven terrain, lamenting the loss of his sack with its mouth-watering meat. No wonder he doesn't like marines.
Quicker than his eyes could follow, a large net envelopes his figure, rendering him immobile. It's rather strange too, since the devil fruit user feels drained and weak. Whenever the heavy net hits a part of his body, it felt as if he was dunked head-first in the Ocean. An even larger man with excessive facial hair saunters up to him, surrounded by smaller men wearing white vests. Luffy immediately dislikes him, for the expression on his face seemed a little too elated and a little too hungry for his own good.
"Monkey D. Luffy," He stated, enunciating each syllable to almost make it sound like an insult, "Who would have guessed that filth like you would've been hidden away in this….quaint little town."
"Shut up," Luffy snaps, already losing interest, "Bear hair!"
The man twitches, and Luffy can see the beginning of a raised vein on his forehead. The neutral expression on the larger man's face crumbles to give way to fury, and he leans down to lift the flailing boy by his spiky hair.
"I am Marine Captain Ryouhei! Better remember that, boy." he snarls, low and animalistic, and buries a knuckled fist in the teen's gut.
Luffy grunts with pain before he realises that a punch had hurt him.
Almost as if reading his mind, The Marine captain brings up his fist and thrusts a chin towards the hefty brass knuckles. "Seastone. A real handy beauty when we need to deal with….trash."
A flurry of punches robs the breath out of Luffy's mouth, making him unable to speak. He clenches his jaw and tries to ride out the utter agony, but a particularly harsh blow to his forehead makes him see white as a hot pulse of pain slams into his head. When he comes too, the net no longer envelopes him, though the drain has yet to have dissipated. He vaguely notices that he is now up-right, with his bare feet dragging to the dirt, the sharp rocks tearing at the tender flesh. A pressure surrounds his upper arm, large like Grandpa's palm yet lacking the roughness and warmth usually with it.
None of anything makes sense to the poor boy, as he desperately tried to regain his footing and gain some semblance of control yet the movement never ceases and Luffy is forced to stumble along. Finally, the surroundings turn familiar and he stands before the huddled crowd of the villagers. He catches Makino's eye once, but he quickly loses track as he fights against the firm grip which restrained him. Suddenly, he is sailing through the sky and the hard ground makes all of his wounds to cry with pain.
The front row is quick to catch him and safely set him down on the ground. Luffy involuntarily relaxes when he sees familiar faces surrounding him.
With rage etched in their faces, The crowd moves as one and surrounds the young boy, as if shielding him from the white-vested men.
"How dare you?!"
"He's just a boy!"
"Is this what-
The Marine captain raises his hand forcefully to silence them and only a few heated mutters precede the drawn-out silence.
"Do you realise," he starts, with a commanding tone, "what you have done? You have willingly harboured a wanted criminal's son!"
"Luffy has nothing to do with that!"
The captain scowls at the interruption. "Nonetheless, that child does not deserve to live." Ryohei smirks and spreads his arms, "I am but a marine, I won't take an innocent life. I will be gracious and allow you all to live if you hand over the boy."
"Screw you! You hypocrite!"
"Get out of Fuusha!"
"So the negotiation has failed," Ryohei states with mock disappointment, "I thought you would be smarter than that."
"MEN! Get me the devil spawn!"
Still reeling from the sudden change of perspective, Luffy holds his aching head and tries to get up but falls back on his knees. He can only see past the legs of the people surrounding him, just enough to make out the grisly Captain and the approaching marines. Filled with gratitude and a protective urge, Luffy tries to wade past the crowd only to be caught by his elbows on both sides by the mayor and Makino.
"Don't be stupid, Luffy-kun. They are greater in number and stronger. You need to get out of here."
A hand is placed on his mouth to stifle his protests. Already disoriented, he can't put up much of a fight.
Unfortunately, a marine lanky spots their escape and directs his hoard towards them. Makino curses under her breath and runs towards the alleyway with the men in tow. She pushes the Mayor towards a corner and shushes him. With Luffy's arm clutched firmly in her palm, she races towards the tree-lines, wanting to use the trees as her cover.
As quick as the relief comes, it leaves as they are surrounded once again. Quick as lightning, Luffy is pulled away from her grasp and Makino is left grasping at empty air. Just like the teen, an arm is secured over her arms and torso, not letting her body move an inch.
"You! Girl! How dare you try to aid a fugitive?!"
Makino struggles against the hands, but it's just a little too strong and a little too tight. She kicks her legs up and the man holding her curses viciously and throws her onto the ground. Upon seeing her, Luffy cries out in protest and weakly reaches for the barmaid.
A pipe smacks hard on the outstretched arm and before Makino, the boy who could be her son is hauled away.
The cage they are kept in is a dark thing, moist and sullen with overuse. Makino pulls her skirt tighter over her form, hoping to steer away from the biting wind. A child huddles near her passed out from exhaustion from searching for her mother.
Makino did not want to tell her that her mother had already been shot dead.
She grits her teeth and swipes at the bandana tied over her head. It's been three days since Luffy was captured. She never saw him, just heard his screams.
It's the dead of the night and everyone around her just huddle together and sleep to conserve their energy. Rations are low and food is freely fed to the children first. Makino tilts back her head to rest on the cold bars, thinking back on the day everything went to hell.
'For the crime of opposing a government official and harbouring a wanted criminal, you all are hereby sentenced to imprisonment. Effective immediately.'
Makino blinks back tears as she remembers the ruthlessness of the attacks. She is exhausted, both mentally and physically and yet, the horrors plaguing her memory denies her any rest.
"Machhan?"
Makino turns her head to the slumbering child, responding to the fond nickname given to the kids in her village. Mentally slapping her cheeks, she arranges a gentle smile on her face and leans forward.
"What is it, Yuu-chan?"
"When….when do we go home?" she whispers, playing with a loose thread on her torn frock, "I wanna see mama."
Makino crushes the horrible feeling in her chest and hugs the girl to her chest, desperately trying not to cry.
"We'll get out," she promises, trying to ignore the second part of the question, "I promise."
Kalon thorn : Thank you :3. Hope you like this chapter too~ I tried to change my style a little, so I am glad that it's working out.
Sayathesouschef : Interesting name btw, I love it. Thank you for your kind words XDXD.
A/N:
This took a bit of time, I honestly thought I could update it earlier but I was busy with my other work.
btw, I am kinda proud of my one-shots so please try to read it, I am sure you guys will love it!
Thank you~
Ask me any questions and please review!