Kick The Clock That Was Stopped

"HEY!"

There is silence before five heads lift to look into the canopy of the mangrove trees. The excitement in the air increases tenfold and five different kinds of grins appear on five different kinds of faces. They stumble closer to the railing of Sunny, breathless when they catch a glimpse of a bright grin and an old straw hat. And it is with no little amount of relief and affection and love when Franky states the obvious, happiness and a grin in each word.

"So you're finally here!"

"Hey! Everyone!"

Chopper's voice echoes what all of them feel: "Here they are!"

And then there is a race to Sunny's railing, the world and the marines forgotten (as if they ever mattered to them in the first place); there are tears (of happiness? Of relief?) but the air is full with laughter and love and so many other things that is uniquely them that it doesn't matter.

Five hearts burst with joy when a toothy grin is directed at them, smaller than two years ago but still all the same with the same brightness and vibrancy. There are words shouted out, said aloud—different from the things they want to say, they need to say—but it didn't matter much because amidst all the chaos and whirlwind of emotions, three words ring loud and clear unsaid in the air.

I love you.

.–.–.–.

Later, after nosebleeds and explanations and goodbyes, when the ship is surrounded by one massive bubble, Nami calls into the sky to hear an update of the sails. The answer is positive and she smiles at her captain, brown eyes sparkling merrily.

"Are we ready to set sail, Nami?"

Her smile widens into an almost-grin, her soul singing in euphoria at the fact that she is here and sailing her nakama (she feels giddy just thinking about it) into another adventure. "Yes. Give the order, Sencho."

And then there is silence, all of their eyes trained on their captain; they all wait for a command with quirked lips (although I have no lips—SKULL JOKE!) and wide grins. Their captain takes a purposeful step forward, the sound echoing through the floor boards.

His shoulders and feet are squared, eyes shadowed over by the straw hat but the edge of his lip is clearly in the beginning of a smile (much more bitter than it was before, much more pained but with the same amount of happiness). "Well then..."

Their captain's head suddenly lifts and there is a wide grin on his face (they all release a breath that they've been holding), black eyes sparkling with an incredible intensity that will change the world.

"You guys! There are loads of things I've wanted to talk to you about..." he trails off, seemingly hearing all the unasked questions in the air—but he continue to smile widely because this is a day of happiness and nothing else. "But for now, I'll just say thank you for going along with my selfishness for the past two years!"

The fondness is clear in Sanji's voice when he says, "You're talking as if we've never dealt with your crazy whims before."

Of course we did, you selfish idiot.

"Got that right! You're always like this."

You're our selfish idiot, because we love you.

Their captain just quietly snickers to himself, grin as wide as it was two years ago; and suddenly, everything clicks into place—a shadow of how it should be, compared to two years ago, but that doesn't concern them because it is only a matter of time.

And they sink, slowly below the sea and into the light blue waters. The marines are distant background noise to their ears over the fast beatings of their hearts, grinning and smiling at each other. There is a deep intake of breath and they all know what comes next.

"Unfold the sails!"

"Right!"

Three jumps later and the sails are unfurled after two long years of waiting. A Jolly Roger with a straw hat flutters merrily in the wind for the world to see on a black background. Each of them runs to the front of the ship and wait for the final command.

"SET SAIL!"

"YEAH!"

The whole enthusiasm is shared and fists are raised high into the air, grinning and loving and smiling like fools before Sunny is finally underwater. Gliding in between the currents Sunny sails (or swims?) in between the blue trees, invisible laughter in the air of the ship.

"Let's go, to Fishman Island!"

After two years, their hearts start beating again.

.–.–.–.–.–.–.–.

Author Note:

I'm not too sure about this one. Does it seem sappy? Because it feels a bit sappy.

DOUBLE UPDATE! Yeah baby! I'm beyond that episode already but it wouldn't stop nagging me. I thought about posting it tomorrow but...nah, didn't feel like it; I'd rather get this over with today (well, technically tomorrow is already today for me...oh, whatever).

Thanks to all reviewers so far!

Thank you for reading and please review!