Hi guys. I want to take this chance to thank all of you who left a review with kind words and support. I'm really grateful that you understand the lack of update on this. I'm doing my best to keep working on my fan fiction. As I said before, at the moment, it's just a struggle keeping up with DOING fan fiction at all. To be honest, it's not too fun anymore. I've grown to prefer one shots and short stories. Other than that, being in full time employment has taken almost all of my free time. I work in a very demanding job and hope you understand that life can get in the way of leisure. As I've said before though, there's no way I'm abandoning these fic even if it takes me years to complete them (which it already has).
On another note, I'd like to get some feedback from people. Considering a lot of you left signed reviews on the note, I'd really appreciate it if you could send me a PM or an anonymous review. You see, the original ending of this fic written five years ago, to be blunt, doesn't fit how it's changed and I'm working on a new ending idea, however, I'd like some feedback on where YOU guys think this is going. How do you think this fic is going to end? What do you think is going to happen next? It may give me a boost in ideas for advancing towards the ending of this fic. Thanks in advance!
Dark Truth
Chapter 15: Silent Language
Luffy's ragged breath rattled across the deck in heavy pants. His chest heaved with wet gasps and he choked out gurgling coughs, expelling the sea water from his lungs. He unconsciously licked his dry lips, a salty taste lingering there mingled with blood from a cut lip. His crew watched his struggled breaths with satisfaction as they encircled him. They silently admired their work – the fresh puckered burns littered across Luffy's skin and clean cuts dribbling blood from his rubber body.
Sanji stepped forward and with a long sweep of his muscled legs he drove his foot into his captain's gut. He watched as the boy's body was propelled back and bounced off of the outer galley wall, crashing to the deck in a heap. He smirked as he heard another choking cough. Luffy was struggling to breathe; his neck was swollen from the earlier 'hanging'.
Their satisfaction died as Luffy pushed himself back up. His limbs trembled as he staggered to his feet before a wave of dizziness fell him to one knee. He breathed deep and slow, trying to steady his wavering vision. They'd given him something – a shot. It made his body heavy and his head foggy. They spoke to him, but the words sounded jumbled and slow. Who were they? Where was he? Was this Sunny-Go? It felt… wrong. He blinked groggily as he strained to comprehend what was happening. Was this a dream? Funny, dreams'd never hurt before…
They were talking again and he gave the same answer he'd been giving for what felt like hours. He couldn't even make out what they were saying but he just kept answering the same.
"My nakama will come for me… they'll help me… they'll come."
His voice was weak and his throat burned, but his spirit remained strong. He knew his nakama would come for him. They'd help him get away from these people, whoever they were, and then they could go on to the next island. Chopper would probably fuss for a while about his injuries, but that was fine. Chopper always made him feel better after a fight. Was this a fight? Why was he fighting? His nakama were probably close by. They would come; he couldn't even remember why they were coming, but they were and that's all that mattered. He knew he could count on them to get him out of the messes he got himself into.
He was yanked roughly from his thoughts as a strong hand ripped at his hair and pulled him face to face with his attacker. Luffy's eyes widened as he took in the snarling face of his swordsman, his first mate.
"Zoro…" the name spilled from his lips breathlessly and he swallowed thickly as his stomach lurched.
"Are you that much of a fool, or do you finally understand,
Captain?!" Zoro spat "We are your 'nakama'. Nobody is coming to save you!"
Luffy's breath caught in his throat as a wave of unfamiliar terror crept along the length of his spine. Zoro was here but he was hurting him and the rest of his crew… were they also…? Somewhere inside of him he knew it couldn't be true. They would never hurt him. Right now though as his vision swam and his head ached with the effort to piece his thoughts together, the only thing he could feel was panic. His nakama were right here. They'd done this to him! Why? His mind couldn't find the answers. Where was he? Why was he here? Why were they doing this?
The crew above him smirked and readied their weapons, delighted at his sudden change in attitude. Nami was the first to act as she swung out her climatact, striking Luffy under the chin which sent him teetering back in unsteady legs. She didn't let up and used the stick to slam him back to the ground, digging it into his throat. Luffy coughed and grabbed it with both hands to alleviate the pressure. He struggled and it didn't make sense. Nami was strong, but she wasn't thisstrong! The navigator glanced at Franky and nodded. He moved forward, picking up the sea-soaked rope they'd used to hang Luffy. In one swift movement he dropped to one knee and looped it around the young captain's throat, pulling it taut. Luffy's eyes bulged with panic as he struggled to fight off the pair. Deprived of oxygen, his struggles slowly wasted until he fell limp. Franky released him and Nami stepped back, stooping low to grab one of her captain's rubbery arms with a sneer.
"Ne, Sanji-kun, you said you could cook anything, right?" she asked, a coy smile curling its way onto her face.
"Of course, Nami-san." The chef replied, plucking a cigarette from his shirt pocket before placing it between his lips. "How would you like it prepared?"
"I think that you should roast it," Robin started as she stepped forward to glance at the unconscious teen. "Well done."
"Hm?" Nami replied, eyebrows raising and looking more than pleased. "That sounds delicious, Robin."
Sanji nodded once and grabbed Luffy's arm from Nami. He dragged the motionless teen into the galley and over to the oven. He opened the oven door, held Luffy's hand inside and slammed it closed again before twisting some of the dials, setting the heat on its highest level.
It took a couple of minutes before the oven's heat started to penetrate the young captain's rubber skin, but after a moment Luffy started to show signs of waking. He twitched and groaned softly as his hand began to sting from the intense heat. Had he been a normal human, he would probably have been screaming in agony by now, but as it were, he was only just starting to feel real pain.
Heavy eyelids dragged open to reveal clouded dark eyes as he slowly came to. Shaking his head softly, it was obvious he was trying to piece together where he was and what was happening. Luffy grunted as the stinging in his hand grew fiercer and he tried to pull his arm away from whatever was hurting him. Still groggy from the drugs Chopper had given him, it took a few seconds before he realised his arm was trapped. The memories rushed back at him like a slap to the face and his head twisted around sharply to see his arm trapped in the oven and the door held firmly closed by Sanji's powerful foot. His eyes darted from one person to the next in barely veiled panic as he desperately searched for a way to get free.
Luffy clenched his fist and hissed in pain as he tried to pull his arm free again but Sanji stood his ground, one long, muscled leg strained with his foot against the oven, keeping the door closed. Luffy cursed, his arm stretching as he tried to pull it free.
"Ah-ah," Sanji muttered in a sing-song voice. "Nami-san and Robin-chan are hungry. A good captain wouldn't let his crew go hungry and eat all of the food for himself, right?"
Beads of sweat prickled on Luffy's face as he turned his attention to Sanji instead. He clumsily kicked out the cooks standing leg from under him before kicking again with his other leg, slamming his attack into Sanji's crotch. Sanji cursed and groaned as his hands clutched his throbbing groin. Searing blue eyes glared daggers Luffy's way. Luffy hardly noticed though as he finally managed to tear his hand from the oven. He scrambled to his feet and made a frantic attempt to escape the galley, but that was quickly cut short by Zoro. Twin blades pierced forward, barely missing the tiring rubber boy as he stumbled to dodge. He grunted softly as the swords edge sliced through his top and left a shallow, bleeding cut.
Luffy narrowed his eyes at his first mate, trying to ignore the stinging throb pulsating throughout his hand and wrist. He held the limb close to him, cradled against his chest as he resisted the urge to try and blow on the blistered skin in attempt to cool it down. Chopper could help him with that when all of this was over.
They stood face to face now; Captain and First Mate. The swordsman shifted his stance for another attack and Luffy held back a grunt of pain as he forced both hands into a fist. He favoured his right hand over his left in battle, but with it blistered and red, he would have to make do with his left. Perhaps he wouldn't have to fight? Zoro had always been so strong of mind, surely he could reach him if he tried…? As if reading his mind, the swordsman's lips curled into a sneer.
"Did that hurt, Captain?"
"You're not Zoro." Luffy muttered back, though his voice wavered slightly. These… people were acting more and more like his nakama, but something still didn't feel right. His crew were the strongest, the most loyal. They would never do this. That's why he had to stay strong for them. He hadn't missed the slight limp to 'Sanji's' walk from his attack moments earlier. He'd hurt him, but he wasn't glad for it. He'd only hurt Sanji's body, not whatever was controlling him. There had to be something controlling them after all. There had to be… they wouldn't do this…
"I thought we cleared that little issue up?" Robin sighed. "You think you're so good that your crew wouldn't turn against you? I did it before, didn't I?"
"It wasn't like that! You were… Robin was… protecting me – us!" Luffy stuttered out. This wasn't Robin. It wasn't. "You're not my nakama…" Luffy muttered again, though this time he didn't sound so sure. He struggled to meet their eyes as even those seemed different now too. How could they do these things whilst looking at him with those caring and trusting eyes?
"I mean, seriously, how long did you think we'd put up with all the shit you put us through?!" Usopp suddenly asked, sounding furious. "How many times have you started something and ended up dragging us into it?!"
"You're not…" Luffy ground out, taking in a deep breath and letting it out in a shuddery sigh. "My nakama."
"Not anymore." Franky spat. "I was an idiot for ever even considering following a captain like you."
"Yohoho! We should be grateful we learned sooner rather than later, Franky-san!" Brook added with ever grinning skeletal expression somehow darker. "Unlike these poor fools who've followed him halfway across the world."
"How much exactly did you expect us to tolerate?" Nami asked as she inspected her nails carelessly, digging out dried flakes of blood from beneath them. "How much more money did you have to lose me before I snapped, eh? You think I cared about you more than money? Che."
"I respected you!" Chopper added, tears gathering in his eyes, making Luffy's widen. "Sailing with you has only brought me more pain! I get called a monster wherever we go! People chase me and try to eat me and you just laugh!"
"Chopper…" Luffy whispered as he swallowed back a growing lump in his throat. It wasn't true. "You made new friends! You proved you could fight!"
"He wouldn't have to fight or hurt half as much as he does if you weren't so damn careless." Zoro snorted. He sheathed his swords and folded his arms across his chest as he stood away from Luffy again. It was apparent that words were affecting the boy more than their attacks were. "To think, I follow such a weak and pathetic Captain. I think it's about time we parted ways."
Luffy swallowed hard again, forcing back the fear those words brought on. Without his nakama he was nothing. But he knew! He knew his crew would never abandon him! This was not his crew! The dark haired boy narrowed his eyes, taking a slow deep breath to calm himself.
"You're not my nakama." Luffy uttered, a breathy laugh escaping as a weak smile touched his lips. "Zoro… my Zoro would worry about fighting. Makes you stronger… and… he's the strongest, greatest swordsman."
The figures around him leered darkly, obviously not pleased with that response.
"You just never learn, do you Luffy?" Nami spat as she flicked out her climatact and her fingers tightened round the staff.
Nami gasped awake as she sat bolt upright with her arm outstretched as though reaching for something that wasn't there. She slowly lowered her arm, hugging her fingers clawing the fabric of her shirt in a tight grip. She took a shuddering breath as she realised where she was. It was a dream, yet it had been so real. She reached up to rake a hand through her hair and paused when her fingers brushed the battered straw of Luffy's hat. Gently she pulled it from her head and held it in her hands. When had he…? A soft shuffle beside her answered her question before she could ask it.
She'd eaten breakfast with the crew and come up on deck to tend to her mikan groves in the quiet of the morning. It was a chance for her to gather her thoughts. She didn't feel frightened any longer; the foreboding sense of danger had come from not knowing. As much as she didn't like to, she knew what had happened that night now so what did she have to be afraid of? She was one of the monsters that had been lingering in the darkness after all. She'd sat down to enjoy the sunshine in peace but the combination of morning sun and the layers of exhaustion that had slowly built up had her dozing before she even realised she was falling asleep. That was where Luffy had found her.
Nami didn't startle when she heard the rustle beside her. The hat was a dead giveaway but somehow she knew it was Luffy even without the presence of the familiar accessory. She hesitated to turn and face him, even though she felt his eyes on her. Instead she found great interest in tracing her fingers over the countless repairs she'd made to his precious treasure. It was a source of pride for her – a task she knew was valued highly by her young captain. The hat itself was a marvel to behold. Like its owner it seemed to bounce back from all the damage thrown at it. She had spent hours rebuilding it after the attack on Luffy. It was a welcome distraction from reality. The old straw was cracked and crushed to a point where Nami almost considered it a lost cause. She didn't dare give up on it though. Doing that would feel like giving up on Luffy and with the rubber boy fighting for his life below deck she'd persevered until 'Boshi' was back fighting fit. Luffy's repairs took a bit longer but little by little, like his straw hat, he was piecing himself back together. She was proud of him.
Finally Nami sighed and glanced back at him. His eyes were half lidded as he too had just woken up, startled by Nami's nightmare. He was lying on his back, propped up by his elbows and regarded her with a quiet, patient air. She gazed back at him apprehensively.
"I had a nightmare." Nami finally admitted.
Luffy gave no reply but regarded her sleepily. Nami thumbed the rim of his hat anxiously and bit her lip. His patience was rewarded when she finally continued.
"I was… hurting you." She muttered, voice choked with guilt as tears pricked her eyes.
"Nami…"
She couldn't help the sharp intake of breath at her name from his lips. It was softer than she remembered, somewhat raspy from disuse, lacking the usual lilting excitement she'd always known it to have. She couldn't deny though just how good it was to hear that voice again.
"I don't even know, I mean, is it even a nightmare?" she continued as she palmed at her tears. "Or are they memories?"
Luffy couldn't offer her an answer. He hadn't seen her dream, after all. Even if he had, he didn't know whether he would want to confirm her suspicions. With a wince he pushed himself into a sitting position, sighed softly and regarded Nami with a thoughtful air. Zoro was easy to deal with. The two of them had always shared similar opinions and didn't disagree often. Even when Luffy did stupid things, Zoro never held them against him and followed his decisions without question. Nami was a different story; she was smart, cunning and she worried too much. Luffy adored her, as he did every one of his crew, for being as she was. It balanced them as a team, but right now it made things hard for him. He knew he could tell Zoro he forgave him and that would be the end of it. Nami was different; he needed her to know that what had happened – what she'd done – wasn't her fault. He frowned, his eyebrows furrowing together in concentration. He'd never been good at this sort of thing.
Nami waited anxiously for Luffy to say something – to reassure her. It was selfish, she knew, but she felt as though she were stumbling in the dark. How could he forgive them so easily? Luffy was easy-going, simple and yet brilliant, but a part of her couldn't accept his forgiveness so easily. Her eyes trailed over his body, making mental notes of the healing wounds she could see and those she couldn't, still swathed in bandage. Her eyes widened and her breath caught in her throat as they settled on his hands in his lap. One lay naked, a healing cut here and there, whilst the other was still thickly bandaged a discoloured burn peeking from behind stark white gauze.
"Your hand…" Nami breathed, swallowing thickly. "I… Sanji-kun…"
Luffy blinked at her, shocked by her sudden pallor. She looked as though she might vomit. Confused, he lowered his gaze to his hands, then back to Nami again. His eyebrows lifted at the realisation of what she was referring to.
"Ah," he noised, unsure what else to say. His memories of that night were fragmented, somewhat hazy. He remembered what had caused the burn – the oven – but Nami had seen it before, surely? It was a bit sore, but healing fast and far less gruesome than some of the wounds on his body.
"In my dream…" Nami uttered, eyes fixated on the bandaged limb. "Your hand…"
Luffy shifted uncomfortably at her words. He hadn't even considered the possibility that his crew might actually start to remember what they did to him. His stomach roiled at the prospect, though he tried not to show his discomfort too much. "It doesn't really hurt anymore." He muttered. It sounded weak to his own ears, but he couldn't think of anything else to say.
"I did that." Nami said softly, a resigned conviction in her tone.. "Then, the other things, in the dream…?"
"No." Luffy's denial was firm. He had been unconscious when his hand was burned but he didn't have to see who had done it. That wasn't his crew. "That wasn't Nami, or Sanji – or anyone!"
She looked at Luffy then, brow furrowed and face set with determination. She wanted an answer. She was asking him if what she thought was true. Part of her didn't even want to know, but another part desperately needed it.
"Then whoever I was that night – they did it, didn't they?"
"…mm." Luffy noised, with a reluctant nod. "But it wasn't Nami."
"With my body. That burn right there." She accused, a finger outstretched at the offending appendage. "That was me and Sanji-kun."
Luffy's pout almost made her smile. As much as he didn't want to accuse her there was no way around confirming her accusation. With a soft huff he offered a sulky nod and averted his eyes a moment before turning back to her, silently willing her to understand.
Nami studied his face, the determination mingled with fatigue and pain. Her young, idiot captain had been through hell at the hands of his crew and yet here he was trying to offer her comfort. She felt more tears well in her eyes and through blurry vision she saw Luffy move. Before she could resist his arms were around her as he pulled her gently to his chest in a strong hug. Her cheek pressed against his chest and she could hear his heart beat and smell the antiseptic through the thick bandages beneath his vest. Her body shook with a sob and then another. They came quicker, harsher and Luffy held her, like he always did, as she finally fell apart in his arms.
She didn't know how long she cried for or how many apologies she'd hiccupped out but Luffy never once accepted any of them. She already knew as far as he was concerned no blame belonged to any of his crew. He was selfish, she decided. If he'd just fought back they would be well on their way to the next island by now.
"Or you'd be dead."
The statement was soft, but harsh. It caught her off guard.
"What…?" she sniffed, finally looking up at him.
"It's what they wanted." Luffy continued, though his gaze was lost out at sea as his uninjured hand weaved through her hair in a comforting gesture. "They wanted me to hurt you. Because… Ace said, because they had a bad Captain. I'm not their captain."
Nami realised she's spoken her thoughts aloud and blushed, embarrassed. "You should have tried." She admitted, softly.
"My nakama are strong." Luffy declared, a hint of pride in his soft words. "We don't just… get stopped. Not Zoro, or Sanji, or Brook… or Nami."
"You could have fought back!" Nami insisted.
"If I did, you could have died." Luffy uttered, his eyes narrowing at the horizon. Didn't Nami understand? He couldn't come back from that. "I'm not a doctor, or a swordsman, or a cook." He sighed heavily. "I'm the Captain, so I make the decisions," he continued, his jaw set, eyes distant. "I decided Chopper could heal me and Sanji could cook for me… and Franky and Robin and everyone else could protect me 'til I got better."
"You could have died!" Nami protested.
"It was my decision." Luffy retorted, softly as he finally lowered his gaze to hers. "I didn't die."
"…I know that, dummy." Nami muttered as she chewed her lip and lowered her head to rest on his chest again. Luffy shifted against her weight and she tensed, eyes drifting to the soiled bandages peeking from beneath Luffy's vest. "You need to change your bandages."
"I'm talking to Nami." Luffy replied stubbornly, softly.
"You're being stubborn!" Nami protested as she lifted her head from his chest. As much as she enjoyed the moment of closeness, Luffy's health was more important and the wound on his chest was the worst of all the damage. An infection, even now, could still kill him.
"M'not!" Luffy grumbled back "Nami needs to understand!"
"Nami understands you need to change your bandages!" she hissed back
"No."
"What?"
"No…" Luffy repeated, a little less certain this time.
"Well I'm leaving to find Chopper."
Luffy pushed himself to his feet and winced past the ache in his body to head Nami off at the top of the stairs. Stubbornly he spread his arms to hold each railing and stop her retreat.
"Luffy…" Nami warned, exasperated yet somewhat delighted at Luffy's behaviour.
"Nami's staying."
"I'm going!"
"Staying! It's an order!"
Without warning a myriad of arms sprouted from Nami's body and held her captive. A stray disembodied leg swept her feet from under her and Nami yelped as she crashed rear first to the deck.
"Robiiiin!" she whined, aghast at her fellow she-pirates betrayal. "Luffy needs to change his bandages!"
"Chopper is already on his way," Robin offered back from her seat on the deck below. How long she had been there, Nami had no clue.
"But Robin-!"
"Luffy gave you an order." Robin replied and though Nami couldn't see it she could hear the smile in her crewmates' voice.
Nami huffed and offered Luffy a weak, wounded glare. Luffy paid her no mind and instead relaxed his body and lowered himself to the deck once again, opposite her. Subdued, Nami looked at her young captain to offer up protest and halted as she saw a film of sweat shining on his face and the strain in his body just from his attempt to block her. She squared her jaw and pursed her lips resigned to staying put. They sat together in silence for a few moments and Nami turned her gaze away from Luffy's unwavering stare. She couldn't help the small smile that slipped onto her face.
The soft click of Chopper's hooves on the stairs alerted them to his arrival before either Nami or Luffy saw him. He fussed briefly around Luffy, clucking about the soggy bandages and muttering softly to himself as he assessed the general look of his captain. Initial inspection done he asked Luffy to remove his shirt and set to work replacing his bandages. Luffy complied with Chopper's soft demands as the doctor rummaged through his medical bag and lifted his arms so the bandages could be removed. Robin by now had released Nami, content she wasn't about to run, so Nami sat in awkward silence and waited for Chopper to finish his treatment. Luffy never took his eyes from her, grimly studying her discomfort. He had to make it alright – to show her he would be alright.
"It's better, ne Chopper?" he asked, still watching Nami.
"O-Oh! Um, yeah!" Chopper replied, Luffy's question unexpected. "Much better! The stitches are holding well and the skin here has scabbed well."
Nami glanced toward them at Chopper's words, a jumble of emotions tumbling across her face in a matter of moments. The last time she'd seen that wound it had been gaping open when she'd found Luffy on the galley floor. It did look better, but still…
"Luffy heals really fast, Nami!" Chopper exclaimed, a look of delight on his face as he gently inspected the wound. "He's strong!"
Luffy smiled and his expression softened as he turned to look at the top of Choppers hat. He knew he didn't have to worry about Chopper. Luffy made a silent promise to all of them that he would get better. Sanji, Zoro, Usopp and Chopper had heard him loud and clear. Nami didn't hear it very well, but she was a girl and girls had so many things going on in their heads that sometimes they didn't have room for more, which was why Luffy was trying to make her understand. Robin was a girl too, of course; her head was different though because she was an archaeologist and incredibly smart – she had extra room, obviously. Mystery room. Franky and Brook were still new to the crew – he trusted them as much as any other member of the Strawhats but he figured they hadn't been around long enough to hear the silent language his crew often spoke in. He would talk to them too, after he was sure Nami was okay.
"All done! You can put your arms down now, Luffy!"
Chopper's voice startled him and Chopper mistook his thoughtful expression for a pained grimace.
"Are you alright, Luffy?" Chopper asked and raised a hoof to check his temperature.
"Huh? Yeah." Luffy answered. He was tired. He always felt tired lately, even though he was sleeping better, but Chopper and Ace insisted it was because his body was working hard to heal.
He regarded Chopper for a moment, taking in the concerned expression on his furry face. Touch, though accepted and even initiated, was something Luffy was still not entirely comfortable with yet. He reasoned with himself, that it was time to start looking after his crew again and drawing in a slow, calming breath he tugged his doctor into his lap. Chopper squeaked in surprise but didn't fight Luffy's hold as his captain settled him on top of his crossed legs and wrapped his arms loosely around him. If Chopper noticed the tremble in his captain's body he didn't mention it as he beamed with pride and excitement. All thoughts and worries slipped from his mind as he tipped his head back to gaze up at Luffy with admiration.
Content that Chopper was settled, Luffy once again turned his attention to his navigator. He opened his mouth to challenge Nami but froze as she held up a hand to stop him.
"Fifty-three thousand eight hundred and eighty."
Ah?" Luffy noised and blinked, bewildered. He glanced down at Chopper, who in turned looked back at him, just as confused, before returning his questioning gaze to Nami.
"That's how much your medical fees have cost – to date." Nami explained. "So, that's how much you owe me."
Luffy blanched, his jaw dropping, "B-But…" he argued feebly.
"So, I suggest you get better quickly, so we can get some money to pay me back, hm?"
Luffy snapped his mouth closed and blinked once more as slowly understanding washed over him. Of course! Nami's head might have had trouble fitting in what Luffy was trying to tell her, but she spoke money fluently. A smile slipped easily onto his face as he nodded.
"I'm not a monster though, so deducting the total savings we made in food over the past couple weeks, I'd say we're about even." Nami continued. "But of course, your medical treatment is ongoing, so…"
Luffy barked out a soft laugh at that and both Nami's and Chopper's faces lit up at the sound. Nami might not be able to hear their silent language very well sometimes but when she needed to say something, she could speak it loud and clear. She'd heard him. She believed when he promised he was going to be okay.
"I'll give you an extension on the loan until you're on your feet again, ne?" she offered with a soft smile. "I'll give you a special rate on interest too, just to say sorry… even if it wasn't me, okay?"
Luffy nodded eagerly, for once delighted by the debt Nami laid on him.
"Okay."
