Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece or any of its characters.
Chapter 2 – Where's The Fun?
" Stupid Zoro," he pouted as he headed down the street.
His trademark grin was currently gone on vacation and replaced by a pouting frown. Normally, Luffy would be all hyped up by this new town that they had stopped by to replenish their supplies, the smell of adventure waving temptingly in front of his nose. Just looking at the swarming people in the streets and merchants with their fascinating merchandises would have made him shiver, jump and scream in excitement and joy. But today, he wasn't in the mood for an adventure. Especially with the fight that had taken place earlier that same day.
It wasn't his fault that he had broken the dish when it had been his and Zoro's turn to wash the dishes after breakfast. He had been having so much fun watching the soap bubbles skipping over his fingers and trying to pop them, he really wasn't paying attention to the dishes. When Zoro tried to take the dishes from him, claiming that he was too clumsy to handle such trivial things, Luffy rebelled and refused to hand the dish to him. He can handle washing the dishes, thank you very much. Why did Zoro have to insist on treating him like a baby?
It was Zoro who pulled too hard, his monstrous strength too overwhelming for the fragile plate to handle, cracking and shattering right down from the middle. If Zoro hadn't fought with him about who got to wash the dish, the poor plate's demolished remains wouldn't be in the trash can and they wouldn't be boycotted from the beloved kitchen, where the prospect of food and meat cried for his attention.
He whined and begged, even going as far as pulling his infamous puppy eyes, but there was nothing he could do to reform Nami or Sanji's decision on the matter. Fortunately, Sanji didn't let him starve, leaving two inadequate plates of food outside the kitchen door. Still, the others were of no help. Robin seemed slightly amused by the situation, while Usopp and Chopper did try to sneak a few extra pieces of meat for him, but Sanji caught them and they made no further attempts. And Zoro, who downright accused and admonished him for causing the whole mess ... the nerve of that jerk! Luffy absolutely refused to speak to Zoro for the rest of the morning. He didn't bother trying to steal from Zoro's plate, not even once. In his exasperation, Luffy left to go exploring as soon as Going Merry landed, without waiting for the others. He would prove to Zoro he could handle walking to the nearest town all by himself. He didn't need help from anyone else, much less Zoro.
So here he was, wandering down the street, aimlessly weaving between people and stores. Upon seeing dancing puppets in a shop, his eyes widening at the sight, Luffy pressed his face against the window, excitedly and ravenously curious. The dolls all moved to the silent commands of the puppeteer, lightly and cheerfully jiggling and skipping the music playing nearby from an organ grinder in a corner. One of the puppets, a funny looking clown with a nose in resemblance to Usopp, jerked its arm, its tiny wooden hand twitching, as if beckoning Luffy into the store to buy it.
Laughing out loud, Luffy blindly reached out behind for a sleeve. " Come on Zoro!" He giggled in excitement like a little child being offered candy. Or in this case, a toy. " I wanna get a closer look at the puppet. Zoro? Zoro! What's taking you so -?"
Turning around, it was then that Luffy realized that all this time, he had been talking to and reaching for nothing but the air. Scowling, he jammed his beloved straw hat a little harder than he would have liked onto his head. " Like I need that idiot!" he proclaimed loudly, causing bystanders to turn and stare. He continued down the street, gazing at the other stores and feeling forlorn, despite the people beset around him on all sides.
Sure, it was lots of fun to go on adventures and explorations, but it wasn't any fun without someone to share the fun with. Usopp and Chopper always provide a good time. Sanji usually purchase whatever food he wanted, with certain exceptions. Same goes with Nami, though often she included a stricter code of what to buy. Robin ... well, she just let him do whatever.
But none of them are Zoro. Whenever Luffy was with the swordsman, there is an air of security, of comfort and assurance carried by Zoro, that no matter what, everything will be all right. One of his enjoyments traveling with Zoro, is the fact they always, always, one hundred percent guaranteed, get lost. Of course, he would laugh and Zoro would lead them both aimlessly around and round until they miraculously somehow found their way back to the Going Merry, where their remaining crew would yell and lecture them about coming back so late. There was never any disappointment in his adventures with Zoro, whenever and wherever they went.
His little, haphazard stroll took him to, interestingly enough, a glassware store. Maybe if he bought some new dishes, Sanji would allow him back into the kitchen. Smiling gleefully at his brilliant idea, Luffy entered the store, head twisting to find the perfect plate. He trailed from shelf to shelf, carefully examining each plate, cup, bowl and cutlery, trying to pinpoint one that resembled its predecessor.
But what caught his eye, was the ostentatious, highly decorative bowl, made from jade and porcelain. A dragon was carved into its side, following a flamboyant phoenix, who just fluttered out of its scaly reach. Clouds, trees, mountains and faraway birds were etched extravagantly surrounding this elusive dance of cat and mouse. So entranced was Luffy, he couldn't help extending a finger to touch the dragon, one finger stroking its elaborate scales, trailing to its opened mouth -
" Watch it, kid!"
Before Luffy knew it, his hand was snatched away and there was a sudden pain nipping at his finger. To his surprise, the dragon's edged teeth had slitted his rubbery flesh, the ruby droplets trickling down his finger proved it so.
" What were you thinking?" He looked up to a young man, presumably the storekeeper, who had grabbed his hand, and currently looked concerned and annoyed at the same time. " Didn't you see the sign that said Do not touch?" the man snapped, angrily jabbing a thumb towards the crisp white sign, with the words in a bold, loopy print. Luffy only shrugged, which caused him to scowl deeper. " A piece of it could have gotten stuck in your finger and then what? The bowl would be ruined and I would lose business."
He paused in his little rant, peering at Luffy's finger, examining it carefully. Satisfied that nothing pierced into the skin, he pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket, ripping a corner of it and binding it around Luffy's finger. " Geez, kids these days. Are you this much trouble to your family?"
" Most of the time," Luffy truthfully said, watching like a little child as the handkerchief was tightened and wrapped in a tiny bow on his finger.
The man gave him a look, one that simply said are-you-serious-you-have-got-to-be-kidding-me-what-have-i-gotten-myself-into, similar to the look of a certain person that Luffy knows quite well, who happened to use that look very often. " Then, just be more careful next time, won't you? And try not to cause them too much grief."
With another mutter about troublesome kids, the storekeeper ambled off back to the counter, leaving Luffy standing with his finger wrapped up in the handkerchief. He liked that man. He was rather funny.
That's when Luffy noticed a set of plates arranged to the side of the beautifully ornamental bowl, where most people would have casually neglect them in favor of the more elaborate bowl. They were a green hue, like the eyes and hair of a certain swordsman, without any fancy designs or embellishments like its neighbor. In fact, it would appear to be plain and boring (much like the same swordsman) compared to the porcelain bowl.
However, it couldn't be anymore perfect.
" Hey, mister!" The storekeeper turned his head to see Luffy brightly hugging the green plates to his chest, very careful not to drop a single one. " Can I buy this one?"