The Change: It had been the three of them since they first met, and their bond was close to nigh unbreakable. So it came as no surprise that they were fiercely protective over each other, especially after a particularly trying event.
Genre: Friendship/Hurt/Comfort
Warning(s): can be seen as a threesome pairing; mentions of rape; AU setting (modern world); focuses mainly on Luffy, Zoro, and Danni, but Ace and Sabo make an appearance
Note(s): This is a bit of a vent, but it's also been a brief idea floating through my head. I've been meaning to do something sweet(ish) with these three, and this seemed like a good way to try and break through my writing block.
POSSESS
Danni shivered, huddling further in the shadows of the disgusting alley she was currently crouched in. Her eyes were wide and glassy, dry despite the evidence of tear tracks down her cheeks through the dirt and grime caked on her face. Her bottom lip was raw and bleeding having bitten through it hours ago, and her hair was a tangled mess of dirty locks.
Her shirt was ripped, showing her bra and the bruises on her arms and the teeth marks on her upper chest and collar bone. Her skirt was torn slightly and covered in mud and blood, which was also down her inner thighs in dried and crusting lines. Her stockings had long since pooled to her ankles, and finger shaped bruises covered her thighs. She shivered and hugged herself tighter, clenching her eyes shut and trying to get rid of the images playing over and over in her mind.
His face leered down at her and his teeth bit into her skin and his hands were bruising her thighs in his too tight grip, and his-his-his!
She made a muffled whimper, eyes snapping open as she clutched her head, fingers tangling in her hair. She rocked back and forth slightly, knowing with a distant sort of detachment that she should get up, move, and probably go to the hospital or the police or something, but she couldn't. Shame and disgust and self loathing curled in her stomach and dry heaved, choking on air as she tried to breath.
Tears were blurring her vision again and she tried to even her breathing, but she couldn't and all she wanted to do was curl up in a ball and disappear from the world. Maybe then what had happened to her would vanish and she could pretend it was all a terrible, terrible nightmare. Her body throbbed in pain as if telling her 'no. you will never forget. it will stay with you forever. no one will love you. touch you. care for you. no one.'
Danni let out a noise similar to that of a wounded animal, and she missed the soft footsteps approaching her crouched form. "...Danni?" a soft voice asked tentatively. Her head snapped up, eyes wide and she flinched back, her back hitting the wall with a solid thump. Wide, dark eyes stared back at her, confusion and worry swimming in their depths, and her bottom lip trembled as her tears spilled over.
"...Luffy," she whispered back, voice cracking slightly and hoarse. The younger man's brow furrowed and his lips weren't stretched in their usual face cracking grin, instead turned down in a deeply worried and slightly distressed frown. The dark haired boy took in his best friend's appearance, and his face grew darker as his mind connected the dots on just what exactly happened. He eyed the blood and bruises on her thighs, and the bite marks on her upper chest and collar bone and felt the beginnings of a bloodthirsty rage boiling inside of him.
But he forced it back. It wasn't the time for him to let that rage consume him. Danni came first. He'd take her to his place and get her cleaned up first. Ace would probably explode once he realized what happened first and then join Sabo in trying to mother-hen her. He wouldn't let them. Danni was his. He would take care of her. Him and Zoro.
"Danni," he repeated, still in that soft voice that was uncharacteristic of him. He peered at her seriously, as he slowly extended a hand out to her. She flinched back, huddling into herself further and staring at the hand with wide, fearful eyes, and Luffy had to hide his own flinch at the fear in his best friend's eyes. She shouldn't be afraid of him. "Danni, it's me. Luffy," he continued quietly, trying to keep his voice steady, and not let her know of the rage that was growing inside him.
"I'm not gonna hurt you. I'd never hurt you," he said solemnly, conviction and steely promise lacing the words. She stared at him warily, before slowly the fear began to melt away from her eyes and she tentatively reached out and gripped his outstretched hand. He smiled at her, eyes crinkling at the edges and he carefully pulled her up with him as he stood. Her legs trembled as she stood, the grip on his hand tightening. She tried to take a step forward, but her legs failed her and she stumbled. Luffy automatically pulled her against him to balance her, and she tensed.
He froze and was about to let go of her, when she relaxed and buried her head in his neck. It was a bit awkward since she was taller than him, but he kept his arms around her. They stood like that for a few minutes, before Luffy pulled her onto his back; her clinging to him like a lifeline, head still burrowed in his neck, and began to make his way home.
Danni trembled as she inhaled her friend's scent, her mind slowly beginning to realize that she was in safe hands and no one could hurt her anymore. Her body sagged, and she couldn't stop as the tears flowed again and she sobbed openly into Luffy's neck, grip tightening around him. He stayed silent, but his firm, strong, but still so gentle grip grounded her and reminded her that she was safe.
It wasn't long before she finally slipped into a somewhat fitful sleep.
xxx
Zoro jolted awake instantly as the sound of the tiny whimper filtered into his ears. He stood instantly and made his way over to Luffy's bed where Danni was currently curled up into a little ball on top of the covers. He sat on the edge of the bed and gathered the older woman into his arms, making quiet shushing noises as he rocked slowly. He wasn't all that startled when Danni's whimpers didn't decrease but instead bled into a scream that had her jolting awake and eyes snapping open, fear evident in them.
The green haired boy simply kept his hold, despite her desperate struggling and rumbled, "It's okay. You're safe, Danni. It's just me, Zoro." He had to repeat the phrases over a few more times before she slowly calmed down, falling limp in his arms and silently crying, eyes closed. Zoro frowned, jaw clenching as he thought about the reason his best friend (so strong. nothing could bring her down. now so brokenshatteredcrackedwhywhyWHY-) was so terrified and plagued by nightmares.
His grip around her tightened and he pulled her tightly against him, burrowing his nose in her neck and practically clinging to her, trying to refrain from storming away and going on a rampage looking for that mother fucking son of a bitch that did this. She clung back just as tightly, seeking comfort from her long time friend as she tried to contain her trembling. She just wanted the stupid nightmares to stop damn it!
The door to the room opened and Danni flinched, huddling closer to Zoro, who murmured soothingly into her ear, "It's just Luffy. You're okay; safe." She relaxed, but didn't make any move to remove herself from Zoro's person. Luffy closed the door behind him and joined the hug, pulling them down so that they were all lying on the bed with Danni in the middle. The two were immensely worried about her, and not just because of the nightmares and the flinching. She hadn't spoken a word since Luffy had found her and she'd said his name.
Danni kept her face buried in Zoro's neck, but was glad for the warmth at her back and the arms wrapped tightly around her waist from both sides. One of Zoro's hands was running through her hair gently, soothingly; Luffy's chin was on her shoulder and he was humming some song Shanks had taught them all as kids. She slowly opened her eyes, something inside of easing a bit as she was surrounded by warmth and safety and love.
"You're safe now, Danni," Zoro muttered quietly, making Luffy's humming pause. "I-we won't let anything like this happen to you ever again, understand?" She inhaled shakily, fingers digging in the swordsman's back. She wanted to believe him, she did believe him, but there was still that nagging guilt and fear that clung to the back of her mind like a stubborn burr, refusing to let go.
Luffy nuzzled her neck and then said seriously, "Your body is yours and no one else's. Your mind is yours and only yours."
Something inside of her eased completely and she relaxed fully for the first time since Luffy had found her in that wretched alley. Her lips trembled, and her voice was hoarse and cracked on the word, but she managed to say, "Okay." Zoro and Luffy exchanged a wide eyed look, before a wide grin split Luffy's face and he nuzzled her neck, arms tightening around her waist.
"Okay!" he chirped happily, flinging a leg over her legs and Zoro's thigh.
"Okay," Zoro rumbled in agreement, tangling his own legs with Danni's and cupping the back of her head, fingers still tangled in her hair.
She smiled ever so slightly and repeated quietly, "Okay."
xxx
Ace slowly and quietly opened his youngest brother's door, peeking around it cautiously. He paused at the sight that greeted him, before a relieved smile wormed its way on his face. Luffy was sprawled out practically on top of Danni and Zoro, a possessive grip on the girl, and snoring away loudly. Zoro was entangled with Danni, who was clinging to him like an octopus, but a peaceful expression on her face in sleep instead of the terror and pain filled one's it had been as of late. The girl was fast asleep, even when surrounded by the combined snoring of the two boys and the knot in Ace's stomach eased.
He carefully closed the door and headed back to the living room where Sabo was waiting for news on any changes. He flopped down on the couch next to his brother, and said, "She'll be fine." Sabo relaxed, leaning back against the couch almost bonelessly.
"That's a relief," he murmured. Ace hummed in agreement.
FIN
FOXGEISHA: Ahm. I'm not entirely happy with this, but whatever. I'm mostly just trying to get back into the ability of writing :/
(IMPORTANT) I've hit a major block for CMH, so that's been placed on temporary hiatus. MD will be updated, however, because it's a way for me to try and get back into the mood for writing Danni, and just writing in general.
On another note, I'm working on the final installment for Switch, but it's a bit slow going. Also, for juliedoo, I haven't forgotten your requests! Heart Pirate!Danni won't happen until after Law shows up in CMH, but actual Mihawk/Danni interaction I have planned out, I just need to get around to writing it.
Reviews are welcome and much appreciated! Also, don't forget to check out the blog for Danni!