Hallo and welcome back!
As always a huge thank you to Rexica!

Last time Robin and the rest learned that they were sure to run right into a trap should they try to rescue Zoro… now let's see if they get to the right execution site in time!

His time with the G-5 had been pleasant. Half the crew had joined him for drinks, and he'd only been shackled when the meeting point drew close. They had even apologized for the fists meeting his face and stomach and for ripping his clothes to make things more believable.

Not pleasant at all had been his time with the fleet admiral. Who would have thought that the Fucker himself would get him? Real fucking honor, wasn't it? Fucking slimy bastard. Had told him about the trap he had set. About how all his friends were just as fucked as he was. And they were fucked. So very fucked, because there was no way in hell they wouldn't at least try to save him, those fucking idiots.

He pushed away his meal, the last presumably. Sure, nothing special, but not bad either. None of his meals had been after Smoker somehow managed to convince his boss that it wouldn't look good if he was hanged all thin and famished. If he was at his almost best, people would see it as a sign of power of the marines. Fuck, even the admiral thought he'd get out of this alive, and probably pay dearly for it, too.

He felt Sakazuki from a mile away, trudging through the fortified belly of the ship, coming straight for him.

"So, Pirate, want to bet at which execution site they will try to rescue you?" he asked through the thin slit of the seaprism door to his cell. "I'm not quite sure. I'm between Garp and Smoker with your girlfriend. Would have fucking executed the bitch right along with you if they'd let me. Fuck due diligence, it's fucking obvious. Fornicating with a pirate, fucking disgrace to the coat she's wearing."

Yeah, look who's talking, fucking bastard. He didn't say anything to that, didn't have to with the ship rumbling up against the dock. Hoo-fucking-ray, they were there.

"Put out your arms through the hole, pirate, bout time we get your head in that noose," Sakazuki barked, and he followed the order, seaprism cuffs snapping shut around his wrists. They had to be so fucking terrified of him if they used them on a non devilfruit user.

The heavy door opened and revealed a way too fucking happy fleet admiral and about fifty fucking soldiers that really wouldn't be any obstacle at all if he wanted to escape. Fucking coward. He was lead outside, down the ship into a hastily drawn up fort. There was no audience except for marines, but he did see surveillance snails. Fucking livestream, hu? Better give them a good show then.

The platform with the gallow was right in front of them. Didn't waste any fucking time, did they? Just fine with him. Another 10 days with only Sakazuki's company? No thank you. He hadn't been tortured like Robin had feared, but if it wasn't for the constant pull of his healing cuts or the prickling sensation of her artificial skin against his hip, he probably would have gone insane from just that. Such a boring, angry man.

"Look at it. You like it, pirate? Decided death by any form of blade would be too much of an honor for a swordsman, and you don't deserve that, you filthy pirate."

"Yeah, I don't give a shit. Just hurry the fuck up so I don't have to hear your constant yapping anymore, Aka-daken," he quipped back, satisfied to see the steam rise from the marine's shoulders and the cigar burst in his mouth. Fucking loser.

He just walked on, leaving the mouthy fleet admiral behind to simmer while he surveyed his surroundings with Haki, hoping against hope to find no trace of his Nakama whatsoever and especially no trace of Robin. She had more important things to protect than him now. Fuck. Tashigi had assured him, over and over again, that she would find a way to take care of the kid no matter the cost, even though she couldn't possibly take care of it personally now with Akainu officially suspecting a relationship between them. But all her promises and efforts would be completely in vain if his woman decided to try to save him and get her and their kid killed.

He had faith in his Nakama, knew them to be strong, knew they could survive almost everything. Fuck, when they had challenged the world government to save Robin, they had been just kids no where near their current level, and they had survived. But this? Fucking hells. Sakazuki was a whole different level. Powerful, angry and out for blood. Luffy could possibly defeat him at his a-game, but he was bound to get too emotional with Ace and all…

He didn't really worry much about the mock execution sites. They had a fairly good thing going with Fujitora. Kizaru should be fine for Sanji… the third admiral, he had no idea… still, the only thing really bothering him about it was that, though it might not kill his Nakama, their friends in the marines would definitely be done for. Fuck it, he almost hoped to feel them around if only because it meant they wouldn't get anybody else in trouble.

Even if they came, they wouldn't die here. The only strawhat to lose his life today was him, and he was happy to do it if it kept the others safe.

And still, when he climbed the steps up to the noose waiting for him, his legs were heavy and his hands cuffed in front of him sweaty. With a deep breath, he focused on the itching at his hip. They were with him. He'd never thought dying alone would be an issue for him, but fucking hells was he glad he let Robin have her way with that scalpel now.

He was happy to give his life for them, but at the last step for the first time in his life, he realised he wasn't ready. This wasn't like Thriller Bark, where he'd gone with Kuma with no regrets whatsoever. No, looking up at the rope, he realised that there were many things he regretted. Back then, he'd thought it would be worth it if it helped the others to achieve their dreams. Now, he felt like missing out if he couldn't be there to witness Luffy becoming king, Nami finishing her map, Usopp to - oh well, he was plenty brave already, wasn't he? He was proud of him even though he had no play in that… He regretted that he couldn't be there for Robin in the coming months that surely would be hard for her, regretted that he wouldn't be there to meet his child, because fuck all his worries, he'd father the shit out of that brat if life gave him the chance. Fucking shit, this really was harder than he had expected. He clamped down on his emotions, bit back the burn in his throat, and instead cocked a condescending grin towards the red mutt that had to jog up to him after it had taken him way too long to rein in his temper.

"Glad you decided to join us. I ain't got all fucking day," he shot while seizing up the rope. It was too short. Wouldn't break his neck, would slowly suffocate him. Now was that stupidity on their part, not counting that his neck musculature was more developed than average due to his fighting style, or were they just sadistic twats wanting to see him suffer and struggle for minutes? Maybe that's why they had cuffed his hands in the front, wouldn't it be such a fucking pretty picture to show the world? Him clawing at the rope cutting off his airway, crying in desperation and profound panic. Fuck them, he would have become the greatest fucking swordsman in the world. He would not claw, he would not cry. He would stare them down like every other enemy, until his very literal last breath.

His cocky grin didn't leave as they ushered him up the pedestal and secured the noose. And neither when Sakazuki gave his little fucking speech about how their justice would sweep the world from filthy pirates like himself with no mercy. And it didn't leave when they shoved him down and the rough rope dug into his throat. Fuckers really had no idea how to prepare a rope.

It didn't leave him when blackness crept in from the edge of his vision or when his lungs started to burn. He wouldn't give them the satisfaction. If he had to die before reaching his dream, before seeing his Nakama reach their dreams, before meeting his child and seeing it grow up, he would die looking fucking badass, and there was nothing the bastards could do about it.

With as deep a breath he could muster, he suppressed his body's instincts. He wouldn't fucking flail about like a coward afraid of death gods damn it!

It was there, the familiar chill of death. He'd felt it often enough, was more like an old friend now than anything else. His vision was almost gone now, he could hear the murmurs of the crowd of marines, and then there was nothing but the short feeling of weightlessness.

Could have almost sworn to have felt them there at the end…

Show him off like Merry.

Nice of them.

Tehehehe, quite the cliffHanger, right? Get it? Hanger, like…. Never mind.

Did I understand that correctly, last week that was a Nay for devastating, soul-crushing sadness, and a big Aye for fluffy happiness?

Please also tell me what you thought about this chapter, I really hope to hear from you!