Tattoo
Characters- Straw hats. Mainly Nami, Luffy, Zoro, Chopper.
The sunny's deck was living up to its name as it basked it noon's glow. Scattered around above deck was the entirety of the straw-hat crew. It seemed nobody wanted to miss the rare beautiful weather of the new world.
Seated in her lawn chair with a magazine in hand and glasses perched on her brow, Nami absently listened to the conversation going on behind her.
"No, I'm manlier! Only a brave warrior of the sea has as many battle scars as I, the great Usopp!"
"You don't even HAVE any scars Long nose. Ch., sad really, proves you've been a pirate for at least three years now and your still having no fun."
"Shishishi. Zoro has more scars cuz he's actually half zombie….."
"Shut up you rubber idiot!"
Nami smirked and turned the page.
" woooow! So how'd you get your scars! Was it doing really amazing stuff? Does having a scar make you a great pirate?!"
Luffy eyes the reindeer intensely for a moment with a blank face before breaking into a grin.
"A scar on a pirate is proof….that he can survive anything!" He out one hand on his hip while the other finger flew up to his face and pointed below his eye.
"I got this when I had to prove my resolve to shanks. It hurt, but back then…I had thought it was the only way to prove myself." His hand lowered to his chest, fingers brushing softly over the large X. "I got this at Marine Ford….its proof I was there at the battle to save Ace."
Zoro watched with silent respect as he remembered hearing the story about his captains scars the first time. The feeling of respect never wavered; because he knew he'd have done anything he could have himself in those situations.
Zoro gave out a loud Oi and pointed to his own chest beneath the fabric of his top.
" I got this when I lost my first battle to Mihawk…it always burns in a battle when I'm on the edge of losing, it reminds me I can't give up until I've beaten my real opponent.
Then his smirk widened and he pointed to his eye, his voice going low and chilling" And this….I made a promise not to tell until that final battle was won. But, let's just say It's a physical promise and a goal met. It means I've gotten much stronger and closer to winning…and that I've learned much more then i ever thought i could in those two years of hell and survival."
Chopper was starry eyed and grinning up at the two sending mutual grins back down at him. Then little chopper turned his head to see a curious Nami with a sort of surprised look on her face, her head peeking over her shoulder to look at them. She quickly hid her head when chopper glanced at her though.
Intrigued at her reaction, chopper stumbled over to ask what's wrong, finding a very thoughtful look on the others face.
"Aye, Nami…what's with that look…..do you perhaps have a pirates scar?"
Nami turned and gave him a soft smile, he noticed absently the finger she was running over the others hand, before he lifted it and showed him.
" those…- he squinted and looked closely, seeing the remains of burn marks long healed, or perhaps as healed as such intense burns could get.- ..Are burn marks." His eyes widened. How had he never noticed before? He had checked her hands on occasions he was sure…perhaps because Nami wasn't a main fighter and didn't get as injured he hadn't given her hands such consideration and close detailed inspection.
Nami grinned down at the reindeer." I got my pirates scar a long time ago… Protecting a certain runner idiot from buggy cannon. The fuse was lit…I didn't have anything to put it out. I know its small, and only because the situation came about that I got this…but maybe it's because of whom i was protecting, it makes me very proud."
Images of a spark on a small rope and a pair of wide frightened eyes staring at her in shock as her hands flew out to douse the flame, she still felt the heat at her fingertips, but she could never regret it.
Chopper smiled and held her hand softly, while Luffy and Zoro stood behind the mast a little off, listening, proud smiles on each other's face as they walked off to enjoy the sun.