I'm so, so sorry for such a late update. You guys have been so patient and encouraging and I'm so grateful for all of you guys! Hopefully you'll be satisfied with this chapter.
Like I said before, I've no intention of abandoning this fic, so rest assured that no matter how long between updates there WILL be updates. Eventually. Sometime.
Also, if you are so inclined, please check out my new story The Mark of the Scarlet Pimpernel. It's a ZorroxScarlet Pimpernel crossover and I'd love it if you guys looked at it.
Also, also, a quick poll. How would you guys feel about romance in this? Nothing too bold- especially nothing that would take away from this being Smoker's story above all else. Just, like, there, but kept in the background. And what ships are you guys into? I haven't decided on whether or not I'm gonna add in relationships. I'm just gauging the audience.
Smoker caught up to the Straw Hats at the docks. Their ship itself had already raised anchor and was holding half a mile offshore, waiting for the Captain and the rest of the crew to board. Straw Hat stood at the edge of the pier, flanked by Black Leg and Roronoa.
"Hey! Straw Hat, stay right where you are!" Smoker shouted. He knew Straw Hat heard him, but the bastard just turned to grin at him. Straw Hat had a look in his eye that Smoker knew all too well. "Oh no you don't." He snarled. "Don't you even think about getting away from me Straw Hat!" Smoker warned.
The pirate's grin widened and he wound his rubbery limbs around Black Leg and Roronoa. He then flung out his other arm and launched them out to sea towards their ship. Black Leg squawked indignantly, but Roronoa just grimaced and tightened his hold on the rubberman, resigned to his fate.
"I need to talk to you dammit!" Smoker shouted, but it was too late. Straw Hat and his crew were already specks on the horizon.
Smoker's shoulders dropped as defeat and exhaustion sank in. He had failed. Again.
No.
He wasn't defeated yet. He'd regroup, figure out another way. He had to. Sure, it would be harder without the Straw Hats, but perhaps things were better this way. At least now he wouldn't have to lower himself to allying with pirates to accomplish his goals- as vague as those goals were.
But damn this was one hell of a setback.
"Smoker, sir!" It was Tashigi, emerging from a street a bit farther down with two more marines behind her.
Smoker turned to her, annoyed. Couldn't she see he was a bit busy at the moment? "What-" He felt a sudden tug on the back of his shirt, steadily growing stronger. Then with a snap he was hurtling backwards over the water, his eyes locked on Tashigi's horrified gaze.
The wind whistled past his ears as he tried to remain conscious despite the speed he was traveling. He knew he was fighting a losing battle even as his vision began to fade at the edges.
All too soon the back of Smoker's head became intimately familiar with the wood railing of a ship as it threatened to split his skull in two. The impact finally caused Smoker to succumb to his exhaustion and injuries, but not before he felt a large pair of hands pull him up onto the ship in a surprisingly gentle manner.
That was the last thing Smoker was aware of for a while.
He came to slowly, then all at once, his mind snapping to awareness when it registered the unfamiliar surroundings.
He sat up. He had been laid on a surprisingly plush- if not slightly girly- bed. He had been stripped of his boots and his jitte, both of which he could see resting in the corner. Light streamed in from a porthole he could see out of the corner of his eye, and he turned to it. From what he could tell the storm had been over for quite some time, the sky bright and cloudless.
"Yeah, you've been asleep for a long time. Usopp thought you'd never wake up!"
The voice startled Smoker, and he jumped, spinning to look the Straw Hat captain in the eye.
The boy had been quiet while Smoker had taken stock of his surroundings, to which Smoker was attributing his failure to notice Straw Hat in the room earlier. Straw Hat was looking at him, wide and curious. He was sitting backwards in a chair, one arm slung around the back while the other pushed his hat farther onto his head.
He didn't seem hostile.
But Straw Hat never seemed any of the things he was, and Smoker had learned to be cautious around the pirate many years ago. Only fools thought they knew the mind of Monkey D. Luffy.
"How long was I out?" Smoker asked warily. He leaned forward and grunted as his joints popped and protested.
Straw Hat shrugged. "Only about a day. It's a good thing you woke up when you did, cause we'll be heading to the Grand Line soon!" He said eagerly.
Smoker frowned. It did not take a day and a half to get to the entrance to the Grand Line from Loguetown. Something was up.
"Ah, but you must have been really tired. You slept through all the other fun stuff." Straw Hat continued.
"What are you talking about Straw Hat? And why the hell did you grab me?" Smoker snarled. Perhaps he made a mistake going to the Straw Hats for help. He had forgotten just how irritating they all were, especially the captain.
"Ah." Straw Hat looked aside and scratched his head, contemplating Smoker's questions. "Well, there was this girl and we helped her with her dragon- who ended up bringing a whole bunch of dragons, which was cool- and this fat guy that thought he could live forever. I dunno why. There was also a guy that could cut things, but not like Zoro. It was lots of fun!" He ended with his trademark grin. Smoker could only stare, futilely trying to figure out just what the hell the boy was talking about. He didn't remember anything about dragons in the original timeline- maybe things were already changing?
"And you said you wanted to talk to me, but we had to leave so we couldn't, so I brought you along instead." Straw Hat kept going, as if everything he was saying made perfect sense. "Do you wanna join my crew? 'Cause that'd be awesome. You're really cool." He asked, eyes glittering hopefully.
Smoker spluttered. "I'm not joining your damn crew!" He snapped. He was stooping low enough just allying with the Straw Hats. No damn way was he going to throw away his whole life's beliefs and join them in piracy. He still had his morals, bent as they were.
Straw Hat tugged his hat down and pouted. "I was just asking." He muttered, crossing his arms.
"Whatever." Smoker huffed.
Straw Hat shrugged, already getting over his disappointment. "Ah, it's alright. Maybe later." Before Smoker could tell him that there was no 'maybe' about it, Straw Hat found something else to focus on. "Hey, how'd you do that thing with the smoke earlier? Was it a Devil Fruit? I've never seen one like that before. How does it work?" He asked, leaning forward eagerly.
Smoker stared at Straw Hat. Moments like these were surreal, where it was suddenly driven home that Smoker was truly in the past.
Straw Hat didn't know what a logia was.
It was weird.
He was tempted to lie and keep that advantage for himself. After all, once Straw Hat had begun to understand how logias worked in the first timeline, it hadn't taken long before he had managed to defeat Crocodile. Right now he had the opportunity to cripple Straw Hat in the Grand Line before the pirate became a threat to the government. Before, it wouldn't even have been a question. Even now, he felt himself hesitate.
But.
Sabotaging one's potential ally was a very pirate-like thing to do. Smoker was better than that.
"I ate the Plume-Plume fruit. It's a logia type that allows me to become smoke." He told Straw Hat resignedly.
"Eh? Logia? I've never heard that kind before."
Smoker nodded. "Logia types are very rare. They let their user become an element. It makes logia users extremely hard to hit unless you can use Haki or have something that will work against Devil Fruit users. You should feel lucky I'm the first logia user you've met. Logia fruits are very powerful- so most users aren't as nice as I am." Smoker's mouth twisted into a wry grin as he spoke. His powers helped him kick Straw Hat's ass when they first met in the original timeline. It wasn't an unpleasant memory.
Straw Hat's eyes grew wider with each word. "So you are strong!" He smiled. "I was right!" He said, smacking his fist into his palm triumphantly. Luffy looked at him apologetically. "Zoro thought maybe you weren't 'cause you fell asleep when you hit the ship and then he had to pull you up."
Smoker's forehead ticked in annoyance. Before he got to air his grieves, Luffy interrupted. "What about that weird stick of yours? When I touched the tip I felt all funny. How's it do that?"
Smoker's irritation faded and was replaced with pride. He smirked. His jitte was damn impressive, and he was glad Straw Hat realized it, though the pirate had never acknowledged it Before. "That's my jitte. The end of it is coated with seastone, a material that drains Devil Fruit users of their energy and keeps them from using their power." He wasn't bragging. Much.
Straw Hat appeared to shine in excitement. "So cool!" He whispered, near reverently. Smoker couldn't help but sit up a bit straighter when he heard that. He was cool, even if he had ended up the butt of many jokes in the marines due his to repeated failure to bring down Straw Hat. Not that any of his fellows had succeeded either...
But then Straw Hat was looking at him, confused. "Wait! But wouldn't that sea-stuff hurt you too?"
Smoker mentally snorted at Straw Hat's idiocy and went to explain that that was why the seastone was only on the tip, but something stopped him. In the back of his head, something wasn't quite right. Smoker listened to his instincts.
He looked at Straw Hat again, his mind frantically trying to work out just what was off about this whole scenario. Really, he should have known by now not to underestimate the pirate captain. Going back in time had made in lax.
"You know," he began slowly, "you're asking a lot of questions. And I've got questions of my own you're not letting me get the chance to ask." He said, watching Straw Hat carefully.
Straw Hat squirmed in his chair, looking at Smoker sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, well, I gotta make sure you're not gonna cause trouble with my crew, ya know? I hope you don't mind!" He smiled earnestly.
Smoker blinked. Then he blinked again. This had been a fucking interrogation the whole time. It didn't make sense.
Straw Hat was semi-famous for his air-headedness. To think that he was capable of tricking Smoker into an interrogation. And not only had Smoker fallen for it, he had even bragged at one point! Had Straw Hat's brainlessness been an act this whole time? Had he been playing them all for fools for years?
Straw Hat was still watching him, waiting for a response. He shifted uncomfortably under Smoker's stunned stare.
What had Smoker gotten himself into? He hadn't planned on dealing with a Straw Hat that could be cunning.
"Ah. You're mad." Straw Hat said awkwardly, shifting slightly in his seat.
Smoker focused back on Straw Hat, pulling out of his trance.
"But you shouldn't be!" Straw Hat defended himself. "You were the one who said they wanted to talk! All I did was ask some questions!"
And. He had a point, Smoker conceded. He really couldn't blame Straw Hat for questioning him. Anyone with a brain would've. He just wasn't used to including Straw Hat on that list. But now he had to keep in mind the very real possibility that Straw Hat was a lot smarter, and a lot more clever, than he let on.
Smoker sighed. "You're right. I do need to talk to you." He began. Straw Hat relaxed, and regarded Smoker curiously. Despite all of Smoker's planning, he actually hadn't expected to get this far, and when he had planned for this situation, he hadn't thought much about what he would actually say to Straw Hat. He tended to skip over the details and jump straight to using the Straw Hats to remove the current members of the Gorosei from power.
But now that he was here, what could he say?
Straw Hat ran with all kinds of strange people in Paradise and the New World. He could deal with weird. Smoker might even be able to get away with telling him the truth.
But surely even Straw Hat had limits? And no doubt if Smoker brought up time travel the crew would want to know why he went back, and that...was not something he really wanted to talk about.
Besides! It wasn't as if he was joining the crew, despite what Straw Hat wanted to think. This would just be temporary alliance.
And as an ally he was not under any obligation to share the hows and wherefores with the Straw Hats. They didn't need to know and Smoker didn't owe anyone an explanation.
Straw Hat had been silent this whole time, waiting for Smoker to gather his thoughts, something Smoker was unexpectedly grateful for.
"I used to be a marine Captain." Smoker started. He glanced up at Straw Hat to see his reaction. Pirates in general didn't tolerate marine presence, even that of ex-marines. But to Smoker's surprise Straw Hat didn't comment, though his gaze sharpened as his eyes narrowed fractionally. Taking this as a sign to continue, Smoker kept going. "But the marines aren't what they used to be. Upholding justice- fair, honorable justice- it was all I ever wanted to do. I was my life." Smoker clenched his hand in the fabric of the bedding.
"Was?" Straw Hat asked, brow furrowed.
Smoker nodded despite himself. "Yes. Was. That dream's been destroyed now. The marines have lost sight of their mission- those in charge no longer serve the people, but themselves. No justice can be dealt when people like that are running things." He looked away. "So I left. But leaving changes nothing. I realized the only way to restore the marines is to remove the Gorosei." Smoker turned to look Straw Hat in the eye. He needed to impress on the younger captain just how serious he was. "That's why I need your help."
Straw Hat looked like he wanted to say something, but Smoker wasn't finished. "I'm offering an alliance, nothing more." Smoker clarified. "I'm strong, and can lend a hand in the Grand Line. I can even teach your crew some tricks to help manage the Grand Line easier. In return, your crew will take me through Paradise into the New World, and, when the time comes, help me defeat the Gorosei. After that we can part ways." When Smoker returned his attention to Straw Hat, he was surprised to find the young pirate looking more serious than Smoker had ever had the privilege to witness.
"So, these Goro-guys destroyed your dream and you want our help to kick their ass." Straw Hat said quietly. "Okay." He nodded. Then he lifted his head so his hat no longer shadowed his eyes. "Don't worry! We'll help you!" He said determinedly, smacking his fist into his open hand.
Smoker was taken aback. He hadn't expected Straw Hat to agree so quickly. Did the pirate even know what he was getting into!? He said as much, but Straw Hat just laughed him off.
"Shishishi! I don't care if they're strong! I'm gonna be king of the pirates!" Straw Hat stood up, still laughing. "I'm gonna let everybody else know you're awake now, okay? They were real worried." He said brightly. Then he flung open the door and rushed through, slamming it behind him.
Smoker sat quietly for a moment, still taking in the conversation. Suddenly all his plans seemed inadequate and he felt vastly underprepared. Now that he had made it onto the Going Merry, what happens next?
Well, he told himself, he wouldn't figure it out sitting here. And if Straw Hat thought Smoker had any intention of keeping himself locked up and at the pirate's mercy he had another thing coming to him.
With a grunt Smoker dangled his legs over the side of the bed and slowly put pressure on them as he began to stand up. His legs shook as he brought himself to stand at full height. He stumbled towards his jitte, grabbing it just as his legs started to collapse under him and managed to catch himself, leaning on the jitte like a crutch.
Fuck. He had over-exerted himself.
Still, he was committed to his course now, and hobbled to the door. The hinges squeaked as he pushed it open. Now that the door was open he could faintly make out the sounds of the crew drifting down the stairs. Smoker braced himself and dug the tip of his jitte into the first step.
Carefully he pulled himself up onto the step. He did the same thing for the next step, and the one after that, going one step at a time until he was standing triumphantly at the top. It was only then that he allowed a brief respite to catch his breath, letting the peace and quiet re-energize him.
He froze.
Smoker's attention snapped to the scene in front of him, where the Straw Hat crew stood frozen before him on deck, also having been taken by surprise by the other's appearance.
Closest to him were Straw Hat and Black Leg, who was holding a soup bowl out of Straw Hat's reach. Behind them were Roronoa and Longnose, the latter of which was clinging desperately to the first. Smoker met his eyes and the sniper squeaked, ducking further behind the first mate. Finally, the navigator was the farthest from him, standing by the opposite railing.
Straw Hat was the one who broke the tension. "Ah! You're here!" He exclaimed, smiling. He turned to the cook. "See, Sanji? That means he's fine and doesn't need the soup." Straw Hat whined, stretching his arm towards the bowl.
"Then you don't need it either." Griped the cook, planting the sole of his foot on Straw Hat's chest. Straw Hat didn't seem to notice.
"But I'm hungry!" He pouted.
"I made you lunch less than half an hour ago." Black Leg snapped back. "You can wait." Straw Hat grumbled, but relented. "Besides," Black Leg continued, "he's been asleep for an entire day. And-" Black Leg looked Smoker over critically, "he still doesn't seem that healthy to me. He needs to eat." Now that he was no longer being accosted by the captain, Black Leg was free to inspect Smoker. He frowned. "Well don't just stand there shitty bastard! The dining room is that way." He said, pointing to a door on the far side of the deck. When Smoker did nothing but blink at him in surprise, Black Leg scowled. "Fine. I'm taking this back to the kitchen so it doesn't get ruined." He spat, turning sharply on his heel. "Come down if you want to eat." Black Leg walked off.
"Oi, Sanji! Make me a snack! Something with meat!" Straw Hat yelled to the cook's back. Black Leg gave him a slight wave of acknowledgement, but otherwise ignored Straw Hat and his subsequent cheering as he descended to the staircase in what Smoker assumed was the way to the kitchen.
The moment the cook was out of sight, Straw Hat refocused all his attention on Smoker. "Hehe, Sanji worries too much!" He told Smoker, grinning mischievously. He leaned in slightly, as if he were telling Smoker some great secret despite being several feet away and speaking loud enough for everyone to hear. "Don't worry. He seems grumpy, but he's actually really nice. And he's the best cook! So you better like his food or else!"
"I dunno, he seems scarier than Sanji…" Longnose muttered behind Roronoa's back, peaking out to watch Smoker warily.
"Get off me!" Roronoa grumbled, picking up Longnose by his shirt and tossing him towards the navigator. Longnose scrambled to his feet long enough to hide behind the mast. "Why the hell is he still on our ship Luffy?" Roronoa asked, glaring at Smoker.
Smoker bristled. He had never gotten along with Roronoa, but owed him too much for it to not feel like resentment.
Straw Hat brightened. "He's staying. I've decided." he said firmly.
Roronoa grumbled. "I don't think we should trust him," he said, glaring at Smoker, "he's a marine." Behind him Longnose gasped and the navigator, who had been so far been ignoring the group in favor of tracking the wind, suddenly snapped her attention on Smoker, watching him intently. "I don't know what he told you, but it's probably a trap. Marines are like that."
But Straw Hat was already shaking his head. "Nuh-uh. I asked that already. And he's not a marine, he quit." Straw Hat huffed at his first mate. He turned to Smoker. "Tell him, uh…" Luffy bit his lip. "Umm…?" He puffed out his cheeks as he thought. "Ah… what was your name?" He said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.
Smoker watched as the rest of the crew groaned. Roronoa stepped forward to smack to smack Straw Hat with the hilt of his swords. "You never asked for his name!" Roronoa scolded.
"My name's Smoker." He said before the captain and first mate could get into a fight in the middle of the deck. He tried to look as intimidating as a man could while supporting himself on a makeshift crutch. "But I take it you knew that." He added, seeing Roronoa's unaffected demeanor.
Straw Hat looked at his first mate curiously. "Eh? Zoro you know Smokey?" He asked.
Smoker winced at the return of that cursed nickname. "It's Smoker." He tried to correct and was soundly ignored.
Longnose looked at him sympathetically even as he remained half-hidden behind the mast. "That's not gonna work. Luffy's as stubborn as they come." He commiserated with a mournful look to the sky.
Smoker shifted uneasily. The navigator girl, the cat burglar, was still staring at him with an incomprehensible look. She hadn't spoken a single word since he had arrived on deck.
Roronoa was explaining Smoker's notoriety amongst the marines and the bounty hunters who worked with them to Straw Hat while Smoker limped his way over to the empty lawn chair on the deck. He felt the air rush from his lungs as he tried and failed to seat himself gently into it. "I quit the Marines for no other reasons than my own." He said, breaking through the building tension. He was distantly aware of the cook reemerging, hovering in the doorway. "And I've no intention of returning as they are. I've got plans of my own in the New World, but first I need to get there. Believe it or not there aren't that many ships heading to the Grand Line from Loguetown- most pirates in the East Blue are too cowardly to risk it. I took advantage of an opportunity I saw. Nothing more, nothing less." He told the crew, crossing his arms. "I'm simply seizing my chance when it came. Struck a deal with your captain- I've got knowledge of the Grand Line, and I'm willing to share it provided you take me through. I'm not joining this crew." He said firmly. "Not now, not ever. This is nothing more than a mutually beneficial alliance." Smoker ended succinctly, meeting each of their eyes.
Straw Hat beamed, turning to his first mate. "See, I told you Smokey was cool!" He giggled. His eyes were drawn to Black Leg. "Sanji! Did you bring me meat?!" He shouted, flinging his arm and latching onto the cook. Black Leg spluttered as Straw Hat hurled himself at the teenager. Black Leg scrambled to remove the rubber captain and sent them both tumbling down the stairs in the struggle.
Roronoa gave Smoker another long look before grunting and walking off. He settled down against the railing, shifting his swords to the side as he made himself comfortable, stretching out his legs and closing his eyes. His arms were crossed and a frown affixed on his face. Smoker doubted he was actually planning to sleep.
Longnose, finding the crew's numbers dwindling, broke out into a sweat. "I, uh, hehe, I…" He stuttered, avoiding Smoker's gaze. "I, um,- hey Luffy wait for me!" He suddenly shouted, running as fast as he could after Straw Hat and the cook, slamming the door behind him.
The ship was quiet.
Smoker leaned back, watching the navigator work quietly at her post, checking the compass and reading the sky. She kept her back to him the entire time. Smoker turned his attention to the sea, watching the waves break against the boat.
"I'm sorry." He said quietly.
The navigator- Nami, Bellemere's daughter- stiffened. She glanced back at him briefly before she caught herself. She didn't speak. Smoker reached into his coat and pulled out a cigar. He lit it and took a long drag. He kept his eyes on the water.
"Nezumi was drummed out of the Corps. Dishonorably." She flinched, her shoulders hunched. "I met her once," Smoker continued, "your mother, Bellemere. Just briefly, when I first joined the service. She was a brave woman."
Nami's hand moved to cover her scar. "I know." She whispered, squeezing her eyes shut.
"I-the marines-" Smoker struggled to find the right words. "It shouldn't have happened. I swore an oath to uphold justice when I joined. Every marine does." He let out a heavy breath, watching the smoke tendrils curl and dance in the air as they were blown away in the breeze. "We failed you." He said. His gaze flickered to Roronoa Zoro, and settled on Nami. "I'm sorry for that."
Nami had gone still, eyes downcast. Slowly she nodded. Just once.
Without another word she walked away and stood behind the helm, leaving Smoker alone on the deck with Zoro.