Pass Around
Because when they need, he gives.
Luffy opens one eye, vision hazy with sleep, confused for a moment, before he grimaces at the sun shining into his eyes. His grimace turns into a concerned frown, and then into a bright smile.
He walks away with a happy hum, without his hat on.
.–.–.–.–.–.–.–.
After two years, Zoro doesn't expect everything to go pack into place smoothly. After two years, he doesn't think picking up where they left is easy. After two years, he expects the uncertainty, the strange habits, the changes of appearance.
But as he touches the rim of the straw hat, neatly placed on his head to block the sun from reaching his neck, he realizes that maybe he's forgotten how much they love.
Because when they hesitate, he pushes them forward.
Luffy strides out of the kitchen with a wide yawn, patting his (currently) full stomach in contentment before he smiles slowly. He walks towards the slide* and nearly stumbles over his own feet before he sees something in the corner of his eye; he stops, turns his head and looks closely before he smiles gently.
He returns to the boy's cabin without his hat.
.–.–.–.–.–.–.–.
After two years, she is not weary anymore, but she is uncertain. After two years, she still loves but she is unsure. After two years, she is ecstatic but cautious. After two years, she knows that it isn't the same as before; it's simple as that.
But as Nami opens her eyes and looks at frizzled end of the straw hat on her head to give her company, she remembers that they can learn.
Because when everything changes, he is the constant.
He only half-wakes up with a snort. He is disorientated for a moment as he looks at the horizon with bleary eyes before he feels the warm weight against his shoulder. He's annoyed and frowns as he adjusts the person next to him so that their heads meet, before he lifts his hat and puts it on the other's head.
He falls back asleep with a heavy head leaning against his rubbery temple as the shadow of the straw hat neatly falls over their eyes to protect them from the sun.
.–.–.–.–.–.–.–.
After two years, he is strong, but still the weakest. After two years, he's realized mistakes and regrets them. After two years, he doesn't hesitate but he still fears. After two years, Usopp doesn't think he is able to pretend like nothing happened.
But as he feels the weight of a straw hat on his hair and his captain's head against his temple, he remembers with a fond smile that the choice is not his.
Because if they forget, he reminds them.
He frowns to himself, slightly confused but more worried. His eyes take in the expression and his frown deepens. Then, he smiles and bounds over there.
"C'mon! I'm hungry!" he shouts as he shoves his straw hat on a head, cackling when he's shouted at.
.–.–.–.–.–.–.–.
After two years, he stares and wonders. After two years, he is sceptic. After two years, he stops running and thinks. After two years, he recalls. After two years, he is nostalgic.
But then somebody shoves an old, battered straw hat onto his head, and he also remembers that despite impossibility, he will never stop dreaming.
Because when they're at their lowest, he brings them to their zenith.
He frowns thoughtfully to himself before he grins, bright and wide. He takes the hat off his head before he plops it down where they need it.
"You'll save him," he says. He doesn't wait for an answer as he walks out of the room with a loud laugh.
.–.–.–.–.–.–.–.
After two years, he is not ashamed to be a monster. After two years, he is confident. After two years, he knows how to love so deeply. After two years, he is fully free to dream. But, even after two years, he still remains uncertain of himself and his abilities.
As his hooves gently adjust the hat on his antlers, he remembers that he is always confident in his feelings; and as he feels the pride and joy and security of the hat, he knows he won't fail.
Because when shadows follow, he beats their fears when they cannot.
He laughs as he runs, not even close to panting while his two playmates' breathing deepen from exercise. His eyes trail over the ship, counting each and every head, before they land on one person. He tilts his head, then smiles and jogs over to that spot.
When he runs back, he is hatless.
.–.–.–.–.–.–.–.
After two years, Robin has defeated most of her demons. After two years, she is over the past but never lets herself forget it. After two years, she loves each and every day again like before. After two years, she feels at home again.
As she rubs a loose strand of straw from the hat of her captain with a smile, she gives into temptation and forgets and enjoys every second with simple joy.
Because when they change, he accepts.
Luffy opens his eyes to the orange hue of the setting sun, streaks of purple clouds floating along the sky. His mind is blank as he sits up, but he still looks around the ship to count. He finds a number missing and jumps up from his seat, landing in the middle of the lawn deck.
He opens the lid and hops down. When he climbs back out, he ruffles his unruly black hair as he yawns.
.–.–.–.–.–.–.–.
After two years, he has changed. After two years, he loves unconditionally and without guilt. After two years, he wonders but never regrets it. After two years, he misses sometimes, but could nevr imagine anything better. After two years, he is different.
But as he feels the soft weight pressing against his head, he just closes his eyes and realizes it doesn't matter in the end.
Because when they laugh, he laughs along.
His grin is wide and bright, the laughter and happiness so thick in the air that he can taste it. And somewhere amidst the smiles, the laughs and the cheers, a violin plays a fast tune that makes them jump fro their seats and dance.
He laughs loudly, grasps his hat and stretches his arm to plop it on a head before he takes a deep swing out of his beer.
.–.–.–.–.–.–.–.
After two years, he learns to live in light. After two years, he relearns to live in the light. After two years, he's learned a lot of things. After two years, he has a reason to laugh again.
And as he plays his violin, he laughs harder when a straw hat is placed on his head.
Author note:
Guys, big news: this whole next week, will be with updates, and (hopefully) a lot of them too! (My plan is to update at least one chapter per story—I'll try. I'll also try to include requests—I'll give my best!)
And I'm going to be able to catch up with One Piece (I still haven't finished Fishman Island—stupid website fucks up my computer, got any websites I can watch episodes on, not Youtube?)! Huray! I also want to thank you all for commenting while I everything was on temporary hiatus, sorta.
I have no idea what this is, BTW; it's just pure cutesy nakamaship meant to give you cavities and Luffy being, well, Luffy really. I don't even know anymore.
Thank you for reading and please review!
*: There actually is a slide. No, seriously, there is. Go to the one piece wikia and look up Thousand Sunny, and you'll find all the different floors. There really is a slide; I mean, holy shit, I shouldn't be shocking because of the slide and Franky's personality but it's just...Holy shit. How awesome is that?!