Request by MrRedDead
(The Art of Building)
When he first fixed something
It was a toy
He broke
(Only half on accident)
He put it back together
Piece by piece
Until it was whole again
And the feeling of it
(Of making something
With his own two hands)
Gave him the chills
(Next time, it isn't an accident at all)
.
The first time he builds something,
He makes a sailboat
Just a little thing
That won't even stay straight up in the water
(Too top-heavy)
And as he watches it tip
And roll
He decides the next one
Will be perfect
(Chain reaction is an understatement)
.
Soon, he's building furniture
And doors
And toys
But nothing compares to the feeling
Of letting his (second) little sailboat go
And having it drift
Without faltering
Through the roiling water
(When he helps build his first actual ship
He feels like the wood
Is warm to his fingers
And the wind
Almost sounds like whispers
He wouldn't be surprised
If someone told him
Ships had souls)
.
The first time he fixes himself
He tries to convince
His own head
That people are just like ships
They are warm to the touch
Whisper in your ears
And have souls
How hard could it be?
(Very hard, apparently, and painful, too,
But he leaves his hands alone
As much as he can
Because he still wants to be able to feel
Warm wood
And humming metal
Against his fingers)
.
When his friend (almost father) dies
He swears off the feeling
Of warm wood
And the sound
Of whispers
He will not touch
A hammer
Or nail
Or soul
Again
.
Then the boy sweeps in
Like a hurricane
Destroying and ripping
His enemies
He's just glad
He isn't (still) considered one
He swore off the feeling of warmth
And souls
And creating
But this boy is going to be
King of the Pirates
(He can't leave a man
Without a ship
Worthy of his title)
.
He gets the chills
When he builds her
A better feeling
Than ever before
This one's soul is strong
Her wood is burning
And ready to sail
(He doesn't really mind
When he's dragged along
For the ride)
.
When he reads the words
That tell him
His friend (his captain)
Is hurting
His heart breaks a little
But when he sees the letters
And numbers
That tell him his captain
His friend
Is still alive
And trusting them to understand
He's thankful
(Two years is nothing)
.
When he debates making 'modifications'
He knows what will make him stronger
A better fighter
Yet he still hesitates;
He'll never feel
Warm wood
Or humming metal
Against his fingers
As he builds
But he remembers
He's built the best ship in the world
(She'll carry them to the end)
He has done his work in fixing
And building
He has built this life
These friendships
Now he must do his work
In protecting them
With his own two hands
(And metal is stronger than skin)
.
(And if his nakama
Are warm and bright
Enough for him to feel it
Thousands of miles away
In some godforsaken laboratory
He'll be able to feel it
No matter what his hands are made of)
New one-shot will be posted soon: Tend to Grieve
Even when they are gone, he remains. Though, he's not quite the same...