… I Carry You On My Back
I've never really given it much thought in the past, at times it's been a really handy resource, I know that for a fact when Luffy is injured or unconscious I need to carry him on my back. I see fathers carrying their sons and daughters on their shoulders walking through the village all the time and they always seemed to enjoy it. I just couldn't put my finger on it? Why is it such an enjoyable thing?
"We need some supplies, make yourselves useful and go down to the village to get them – Talk to Makino, she knows what we need" Dadan told us this morning.
So here we are… walking through the woods of Mt. Corvo, hardly even half way there and Luffy is already giving me a hard time.
"Carry me! Carry me!" He continuously shouted down my ear.
"Why?"
He stopped me in my tracks and smiled cheekily "Being carried by Ace is the best!"
All I could do was blush and look away… it's not like he could remember any of the times he's been carried, he's always unconscious!
"Your face is red… are you embarrassed?" He grinned… god I hated it when he got to me like that. I shook my head violently and walked on.
"No." I replied. "Besides, you've got enough physical energy to run up and down this mountain a million times, why on earth would you want me to carry you?"
He ran up beside me and tugged on my arm "Because its fun, I love being carried by you. It makes me feel special and happy..."
Again, I blushed... I had no idea what was making me feel so… uncomfortable? No, it was something else… I suppose I was taking pride in the fact that my little brother enjoyed being carried by me so much as to go on about it for so long.
I guess I've figured it out, it makes you feel special, to be carried by someone who cares for you deeply.
I wasn't really sure why I was giving into him… but if it would keep him happy, and quiet, carrying him wouldn't be so bad. I lowered myself and just seeing his face light up was pretty satisfying. He jumped onto my back, putting me slightly off balance with the force.
"Happy now?" I said as I looked over my shoulder to see him grinning and nodding his head furiously as a reply. I sighed and walked on.
As I listened to him laugh, play and wriggle about on my back, I just couldn't stop smiling… I felt happier knowing that Luffy was within my reach and with that I could protect him from anything.
I fell in and out of thought, each time I listened to Luffy telling his bogus stories about how he's become stronger or how his powers have evolved. I smiled each time, no matter how irritating or phoney his stories were.
"Quit wriggling around so much… I can't hold you securely like this..." I strengthened my hold on his legs and pulled him higher up my back, he ended up resting his head on my shoulder.
"You tired or something?" I continued walking and waited for him to reply, come to think of it… he had been quiet for some time now.
I turned my head only to find that he'd actually decided to have a nap… I'd seriously kill him if I wasn't so fond of him.
Never the less… I honestly like it when I can carry you on my back.