Okay, finally another chapter of our favourite Scarlet super-hero for you guys.
Sorry for the delay but that since going to University, I've developed that terrible pesky virus called a social life (I know, terrible, isn't it?) and that, essay work coupled with a fair share of my own lack of focus on things and general life issues cropping up has led to a long delay in not only updating any of my stories but also not replying to the some of the awesome people who message me (you know who you amazing people are if you read this).
But, now the next chapter is done and I'm ready to post it...
But before we begin, YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS!
It's shameless promotion time!
Say, do you like Fairy Tail?
Do you like Avatar: The Last Airbender, one of the greatest TV shows on the planet?
Have you ever wondered what would happen if these universes happened to collide?
No?
Neither have I.
But my Uni friend Pelthain has and he just so happens to have recently written a crossover about it called "An Avatar In Fiore". He's new to writing fan-fiction and also new to anime but his stuff is really good and I and he would appreciate it if you could check it out. We're probably going to even work together on a thing at some point.
So if you like either of the aforementioned things or just fancy reading something, check him out at the link below and thank you very much:
Also, another Uni friend of mine (RoystonDA) has been writing a Star Wars fan-fic based around an old film series he tried to make with a few friends. With new characters and new adventures in store, all Star Wars fans who love some good Jedi and Sith conflict would be insane to pass up this good a read. Again, thanks for taking a look.
For those of you read Search the Wind, yes. Yes this is an edited message of that and no, no I'm not ashamed of that.
Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this new chapter.
Chapter 4: Duality Principle Act 4
Usopp P.O.V
A large amount of dust has made itself happily at home inside my basement. I stifle back a cough at how solid the air is as I open the door.
Plunging into the thick tangle of cobwebs and dust, I shut the door behind me. Something brushes against my head and I almost jump out of my skin. Just the light switch though. I take a quick moment to shove my heart back down my throat into my chest before flicking it on.
As the light flares on, flies race out of the woodwork, drawn to the new source of light. I shiver as one zooms right past my ear. I've decided now though.
I'm going, I have to keep going.
Each wooden stair creaks, groaning under my weight. I move as quietly as possible, don't want my family to know what I'm doing.
Uncle Heracles would kill me.
The rest of the basement is just as dusty as the staircase. Stacks of shelves rise up on all sides, tools strewn about here and there. In the dull light, I spot exactly what I need and reach over to grab it.
Goggles, check.
Bunsen burner, check.
Vice to hold vial, check.
Flask, check.
Microscope, check.
I smile, dropping each item on the table to the side.
A long time ago, the basement was used a lot more regularly.
Back when I was a kid, my Dad had his own little workshop down here. He was obsessed with building things. One day, he'd fix up a new door for the kitchen, the next he'd start tinkering with some old record player and making model airplanes.
Sadly, as I got older, so did Dad.
I've never really asked why he just gave it all up like he did but I'm guessing it was just bad time management. This is still the best place for my experiment though, nice and out of the way.
Plus, it has all the tools I'll need to make this work.
I slip out the Pop Green vial from my pocket. I open the vial and carefully lower the vial towards a sample dish. A simple green droplet falls onto the dish, exactly what I need to start this experiment. I grab myself a stool: rusted and broken as it may be, it still lets me sit down level with the device. I lean forwards, pressing my eye to the lenses. Particles bounce left and right.
It's…simply fascinating.
I reach into my other pocket and take out my tape recorder. With a click, it starts recording.
"Pop Green experimentation: Journal Entry number one," I say into the tape recorder. "I've been studying the sample and running it by my uncle's notes as well as adding the research of other experts into the equation. Now, theoretically, Pop Green does indeed contain certain stimulants that are present within the body. When they were last exposed to someone, they say he spent a few days without sleep, surviving only on the energy of the chemical itself. Of course, drinking it wasn't exactly a sensible plan considering all of his hair fell out and spent the next year in physical therapy to get over it…but I'm not going to drink it at all."
I pause for dramatic effect.
"I'm going to smoke it!"
"Okay, that sounds stupid, but it's a good idea. You see, a huge dose overworked the average human body. It kept it going at almost super-human levels but the crash afterwards caused a lot of strain. If I only have a small gaseous dose of the product instead of drinking it, the effects should differ greatly…not only that but, and this is purely theoretical mind you, it might function as some kind of performance enhancer…yeah, I know that's just a cleaner word for steroid but if this works well enough, then my projected output levels, they'd make me…like, I don't know, Superman or something."
A terrible overstatement but I'm not really one for words…and right now, I'm about to make history.
"Alright, here goes nothing. Will feedback with more reports in Journal entry two. Wish me luck." Clicking the record button once again to shut off the tape recorder, I put it to one side on the desk. Good thing my dad had an old thing like that lying around. It'll allow me to record my experiments without being too suspicious by using something like a camcorder.
Plus, I doubt anyone nowadays knows how to properly work one of those.
Slowly, I turn to my equipment and start setting up.
I take the Pop Green and pour into a vial for the experiment. I leave enough space for some gas to brew and I put a stopper on top of the vial. Then, I place the vial into the vice's grip. Adjusting the vice, I leave the Pop Green sitting over the unlit Bunsen burner. To remedy this, I hook up the Bunsen burner into a gas tap. I reach into my pocket and grab a match. With a simple scrape along the edge, a bright flame bursts into life, flickering gently in the darkness. I click the goggles into piece over my eyes and watch calmly as the Pop Green begins to dissipate into a wispy cloud of green air.
A smile comes to my lips as I observe it swirling in beautiful grace. When the whole vial becomes swamped in the gas, I switch off the gas and grab a pair of gloves. Slipping them on, I grab hold of the vial of Pop Green. My hand starts trembling, a smile passes my lips.
It looks so beautiful…and it's here!
My moment, the moment I become a great scientist.
The moment I unlock the secrets behind genetic mutation are staring me straight in the face.
Not even the other guys have thought to do this before, what a ripoff, right? They keep injecting it into bodies, distilling it in an attempt to utilise its properties. They say it could be the greatest steroid ever created if we just worked out how to use it without corroding the body and working it to an early grave. But no-one figured out how to make it effectively work…
Until now!
Until me!
I can make it work, I know I can…I just need to test it.
The warmth of the vial passes through me as I grab hold of the vial's lid. It comes off with a gentle pop. I inhale the steaming gas from the Pop Green, sucking it into my nostrils. The smell tickles my nostrils. Small doses in gaseous form, that's what I need. It'll increase my strength, intelligence…my…my…
Then, my head starts swimming, my brain starts tingling.
I feel I'm going to be sick.
I try to breathe but find it can't.
Something is stopping me from and…
I…
My head…
The floor…
Why can't…
My…
Smash…
I feel just…
Glass all over the…
Pop…Green
Kaya…Luffy…Scarlet…
Hero…
I want to be a Hero…
Luffy P.O.V
This is bad. There's no way I can look at this that isn't bad. Two against one. Ricochet and Buggy both gunning for the Scarlet Wind. I know I felt really proud at having to face my first super-villain a week ago but having to face two so soon? Someone out there in the Dawn City crime racket really wants me dead. I mean, doesn't the big crime boss know anything about dramatic timing? The villain team-ups are for way later on, not for your super hero's fourth big throw-down.
"Okay, so who's first?" I ask. The clown and the blonde look to one another.
"First?"
"Yeah, I mean who I am fighting first? Who gets first dibs at taking down the Scarlet Wind?" I clarify, glancing between them. The two burst out in unified laughter.
"What? Did you expect us to take turns?" Buggy inquires.
"Sort of…" I squeak in reply. The two laugh again.
"Nice try kid, but me and…whatever he's calling himself are taking you down!" Ricochet growls, slamming his fist into his other hand.
"So you're fine with sharing the glory for defeating Dawn City's number one superhero?" I query. I have to keep trying to split them up. Divide and conquer and all that. I think I've learned my lesson from Predator to be careful about the people I take on. Separating these two idiots to deal with one at a time works so much better than fighting them both at once. At my words, laughter is in the air once more.
"Of course not! I'm just going to betray him as soon as you're out of the way." As Ricochet and Buggy share a look of confusion at the other's words, I feel a smirk tug of my lips. We have a winner.
"What!? How dare you think of betraying me?" Buggy shrieks, a disembodied hand jabbing Bellamy in his shoulder.
"You just said you were planning to betray me too," Ricochet shouts.
"Well my flashy plan was only a contingency if you planned to un-flashily end our new partnership," Buggy retorts.
"I…" The blonde recovers from the verbal assault and quickly assesses the situation. "Right, stop it. This is his fault."
"You're the one turning against me here!" Buggy complains, his phantom hand gripping Ricochet's shirt.
"No, you idiot. He's trying to turn us against each other," Bellamy points out. Buggy's eyes almost pop out of his skull at this revelation.
"He is?"
"Wow, I am so dumb, you guys clearly saw through my deception," I comment, sarcasm dribbling from my mouth.
With the two idiots distracted, I've taken my chance to find some way to create an opening. My stretched hand has already grabbed hold of what I need. As I swing it forwards, I smirk widely and announce "Here's your prize!"
The 'prize' as it turns out is a large all-expenses paid drum which smashes straight into Ricochet's face. A loud clang rings out as the drum makes impact with Bellamy's face. Taking advantage of this distraction, I lash out with a rubber leg, breaking through the skin of the drum. The blow must have injured Ricochet somehow as he lurches backwards, tumbling off the stage and falling into the area below. With one super-villain dealt with for the moment, I turn my attention towards Buggy, who looks surprised at my strike.
"Alright chuckles," I say, smashing my fist into my palm before rounding on Buggy. "Let's see if I can wipe that stupid grin off of your fat face."
I fire off my rubber fist straight at Buggy's stomach…only for the clown's mid-section to slide calmly out of the way.
Buggy smirks, grabbing my stretched out hand and tugging it forwards. Finding myself yanked off my feet, I have no choice but to collide head first with Buggy's disembodied leg. Oddly, the kick lacks the pointed edge I'd expect of a shoe and feels more like being smacked with a blunt bat. I fly across the arena only to be kicked back down to the stage by a sudden strike.
Picking myself up off the ground, I look back to see Ricochet crouching on the floor with a grin on his face.
With a quick step forwards, he's shooting straight towards me. Pushing my hands and feet against the floor, I jump out of the way and Bellamy springs forwards into Buggy's body. The clown's head grunts as his chest is smashed into a nearby wall.
"Hey, watch it blondie! Even though I'm separated from those parts they're still part of my body," he shouts. Ricochet grunts in reply, acknowledging the statement as he tries to pull his spring arms from the cracked wall they've been driven into by the force of his speed. In the brief confusion, I stretch down from my perch atop the stage and grab hold of Buggy's separated head. The clown lets out a yelp of confusion as I pull it towards me.
"Oh, I've always wanted to do this," I mutter with a grin, holding big nose's head in one hand as I place the other against my forehead as if in dramatic shock. "Alas poor Buggy, I knew him well."
"I'M NO SKULL ASSHOLE!' Buggy snaps. 'AND YOU'RE SAYING THE QUOTE WRONG!"
"Careful there Bug-bug," I taunt, tapping the clown's skull. "No need to lose your head…oh wait…" Buggy's teeth grind together at my words and he screams.
"BODY! COME!" Somehow hearing Buggy's command without ears, the parts of Buggy's body-parts fly together once more and form into a headless and footless form that floats nearby. Buggy's body holds out two knives in its hands and gestures to be ready for his attack. At that moment, Ricochet finally breaks free from the wall and springs up from the wall towards me. Spotting him approaching, I leap out of the way towards the stage floor, throwing Buggy's head towards him with all of my strength.
"Heads up!" I cry with a childish chuckle. Ricochet manages to catch the head but, much like before, he fails in slowing his speed and smashes into the roof of the stadium. Taking this weakness for turning in mind, I adjust myself to properly land on the stage, keeping an eye on Buggy's body, which has grown rigid with shock at its master's incapacity. Buggy's connected to his body and he has to command it to move for it to do so.
That could be another helpful hint to beating these too and considering I'm outnumbered, I'd like to get as much as an advantage as I can.
Any weaknesses at all I can figure out will help me to no end.
Taking advantage of its inability to move, I race forwards and grab Buggy's limp body. Quickly, I glance over the body, scanning for any signs of weakness. The clown's gaudy coat flaps in a sudden breeze, revealing the simple striped shirt underneath. His legs sit, limp and footless and…what? I blink and take in the sight once more. Footless? Buggy doesn't have his feet? Where are his feet? Why aren't his feet there? Maybe that's the key to his…
"Spring snipe!" The blow comes at me far too quickly and strikes me straight in the back of my head. I stagger forwards as Ricochet soars overhead. I raise my head quickly enough to see Ricochet on the rebound, bouncing back off of stage to strike me firmly in the chest.
His fist pumps forward on a spring, sending me flying backwards…only to be interrupted by a dismembered arm interrupting my flight striking across the centre of my back. I let out a gasp of air, which is promptly cut off by Buggy's severed hands wrapping around my neck. I open my eyes just enough to see Ricochet advancing towards me once more, the springs on his arms tensing as he prepares to strike.
"Spring pop-loaded barrage," he yelled, springing both fists into my stomach.
The two punches cause my whole belly to ripple. Trapped between Buggy's arm and Ricochet's attack, I feel my insides bouncing back and forth uncontrollably. For a moment, I feel like I'm about to throw up. Swallowing the urge to vomit (and most of the already mentioned puke), I reach up with both legs and kick outwards into Ricochet's face. The blonde thug recoils, blood dribbling from his nose. Quickly adapting to the situation, he reaches up and grabs my legs with his arms.
For a moment, I'm left in surprise as Ricochet, springs backwards at high speed, his spring-like arms unravelling like a snake. I realise what he's doing too late as with a swift tug of his spring-arms, I'm dragged through the air, Buggy's hands still wrapped around my neck. Ricochet flips through the air, lifting me other his head. Half-way through the flip, just as I'm directly over the floor, Ricochet releases me only to fire both of his spring fists into me once more. I hit the floor, making a sizable dent as Ricochet kicks his two spring feet into my back as a follow-up attack.
I try and push myself up quickly off the floor, only for another sudden blow to kick me up off the floor. I glance up, catching Buggy's foot now once more attached to his leg lurking just near my chest. Bastard had added a pointed knife to it. I could feel the cut tracing where the foot had made impact.
"So much for the Scarlet Wind, huh?" I hear Buggy shout as his unattached foot goes to kick me once again. With a quick movement of my hands, I catch the foot (and the blade…OW) and manage to hold it in place, giving me enough time to find my feet. Wincing at the pain in my palm, I lift up the legs and fling them to one side. Buggy's body parts go flying, his feet leaving the ground. The instant they do, I hear a loud shriek as Buggy's head and upper body whisk past my eyes and collide together on the stage. The clown appears more surprised at his sudden reformation rather than injured.
"Big words from the guys who could only fight me whilst tag-teaming together," I growl through a bloodied lip. "You know, Predator is really disapproving of you guys right now." This time, I'm ready for Ricochet as he soars towards me from behind. Giving the super-villain a taste of his own medicine, I flip backwards over him, launching my legs downwards as he soars underneath me.
Tragically torn between his propulsion forwards and my own attack downwards, Ricochet cartwheels along the floor, colliding with the stage. From there, I land on the floor, crouched with my fist touching the floor. My whole body judders for a moment. Ah, that rib isn't doing too well down there. I'll have to snap that back into place later.
"That leopard freak can whine as much as he wants," Buggy shrill voice calls to me. "Because I'm…" Ricochet's fist crashes out of the stage an inch from Buggy's foot. "I mean WE'RE about to accomplish something that even a professional killer couldn't do: best the Scarlet Wind."
"You know, just for once, I'd like a villain who could realistically assess a fight with me," I mutter under my breath. "Then again, when you scrape the bottom of the barrel…"
"I'LL SHOW YOU BOTTOM OF THE BARREL!" Ricochet yells, springing up out of the floorboards. Buggy smirks as his top half begins levitating once more. Together, the two super-villains charge at me. Getting to ready for a quick retreat to re-think my strategy, a sudden thought enters my head.
I just abandoned Nami to fight these goons. She's going to be so pissed…
Nami P.O.V
Pissed did not begin to describe my current emotional state.
"Let go of me!" I shout, shaking off a police officer's hand from my shoulder.
"Miss, please you have to come with me," he says, pulling me along out of the door. "It's not safe in here." Back within the concert area, sounds of loud crashing fills the air. I only got a picture or two from the fight: one of the two villains and a pretty good one of Scarlet swinging in. Wow, he looked so awesome!
"No, no, I'm with the paper, you can't just pull me…"
Like he was going to listen to that.
"I have pictures that I need to…"
Again, no response. I soon find myself being ushered out of the room into the new plaza. I and my new police escort race through the front door to the concert arena. Outside, screams and sirens fill the air. Flashing blue and red lights dance against the buildings. The police have arrived pretty quickly, already setting up a barricade around the plaza. It hasn't stopped the press getting as close as they can.
Everyone who got out of the concert hall is currently gathered behind one of the lines with those who were injured in the stampede standing around an ambulance. I glance back over my shoulder and watch my new story, a prime picture taking spot, getting further and further away. Something in me snaps and without warning, I kick forwards catching the police officer dragging me on his ass. Not expecting the blow, he buckles just enough for me to slip my arm out of his grasp.
"Miss, please," his voice calls out again, catching hold of my other arm before I can successfully make my break to freedom. "I've already told you that…"
"Listen here officer," I snap back. "That's a nice shiny badge and all but I've got a story waiting in there and I need to take pictures!" The police officer recoils, his face in complete shock. "No offense, but there's only one person in the world who can boss me about and last I checked, I don't think you're my…"
"Nami!?"
Speak of the devil.
Bellemere is strolling over with a small group of her unit behind her. Looks like she was the one who responded to this. Of course, just my luck.
"Mummy dearest!" I shout, wrenching my arm from the officer's loose grip. She does not look pleased.
"What are you doing?"
Okay Nami, stay calm. You can think your way out of a grounding here.
"I was just…"
"She was fighting back and denying my request that she evacuate," the police officer finishes before I have a chance to speak.
"Tattletale," I mutter in dejection. Mummy dearest doesn't take kindly to that either.
"Excuse me!?" Bellemere shrieks, looking absolutely livid now.
"Alright, you're excused," I reply before I can stop myself. I know my fate is sealed the instant the words reach Bellemere's ear. Watching mum get this mad, it's like something out of a werewolf movie. There's the violent shaking, the ominous glare and, of course, the ghostly wail.
"CAR. NOW. GROUNDED," Bellemere thunders and my feet move of their own accord. Before I can think, I'm in the back of her police car, right where the criminals sit. This is where Bellemere usually does her interrogations with the real hardball criminals, keeps the pressure on them until they break…
And now she's going to do that to me…
Sure enough, after a few minutes of silent disgrace, Bellemere's head pops in through the window levelling her fiercest glare in my direction.
"Young lady, do you have any idea how much trouble you are in?"
"I can imagine…" I don't dare raise my voice above a whisper. "Bellemere…I'm sorry, but…I…I wanted to get a story, have Shiki promote me on the paper."
"Oh, well if that's all, I suppose there's no issue."
"Really?"
"No." Like I said, hardball. "Nami, I told you when I got you the job at that paper that you should NEVER trust Shiki. The man is all about business. You'll be promoted one moment and fired the next as long as he no longer needs you. More importantly, however, YOU do not EVER risk your life for some stupid piece of journalism ever again, got it?"
"But Bellemere…"
"Nami, you're a teenager. Before you're a reporter or a photographer for the Grand Line Times you are my little girl and I will not have you try and kill yourself chasing after these…these freaks."
"But…" My response peters out when I see the firm look on Bellemere's face. "Yeah…okay Mum…"
"We'll talk more about this later. First off, I need to sort out what's happening here," she said before turning around. For a moment, she moved to walk away but she stopped and froze in her path, as if she was having some sort of fit. I opened my mouth to say something but Bellemere beat me to the punch, wheeling back around towards the car.
"Where's Luffy?"
"What?"
"Luffy, Genzo said you came here with him on a date."
"Bellemere, it was not a…" I start to rant, only for the situation to suddenly sink in halfway through my sentence.
Luffy.
Where's Luffy?
I didn't see him when I came out of the concert hall.
Bellemere hasn't seen him in the evacuated area.
So that means that…
Oh no…
"Luffy," I say outloud and push myself hard against the car door. It swings open, quick enough to send Bellemere stumbling backwards as I leap out the door and make a mad dash for the concert hall. Luffy. Got to save Luffy. Got to find him.
"No you don't," Bellemere shouts, already anticipating what I'm doing. She lashes out and manages to hold me back.
"Mum, he's in there all alone whilst that super powered brawl is going on, I have to get in there. I have to help!"
"Didn't we just get finished talking about this?" Bellemere responds, grabbing both of my wrists and forcing me to look at her. "You are not going to throw yourself in harms danger for anyone-"
"Well, that's what your buddy does right?" Bellemere looks at a loss.
"What?"
"The Scarlet Wind," I counter. "You let him go about breaking the law and saving people, why won't you let me go in there and help?"
Bellemere opens her mouth to respond, probably another loud shout about me lacking super powers or tight spandex, when she's cut off by an echoing crash from behind me. We wheel round, as do all of the officers in the vicinity.
Above the concert hall, illuminated in the moonlight, shards of the roof come flying off as a shadow emerges from the area. A black spot soars upwards from the destroyed part of the roof, accompanied by screams of awe from the watching public. The spot seems to make contact with one of the shards of roof and then, with an audible pop, the speck in the distance starts to grow closer, rocketing towards us at immense speed.
I feel something grab my hand and panic for a second only to realise it's Bellemere who's grabbed my hand. She shoves me, roughly as well I might add, around the back of the police car. Her lips move as if she's saying something but I can't hear what she says. There's too much screaming and shouting. I assume I understand and remain behind the police car, my head peeking up over the bonnet.
In the centre of the plaza, I can see the spot has now become a visible person…no wait, two visible people and…
My eyes shoot wide open. Oh god.
Is that Scarlet and he's…flying backwards right at…
I crouch down behind the car and close my eyes as I hear the audible smash. A groan escapes from nearby and, finally giving way to curiosity, I scurry round the side of the car and glance around the bumper.
There, body dented into the car and his outfit looking dustier and grimy than I had previously ever seen, is the Scarlet Wind.
My mouth just hangs open.
I can't believe it.
A real-life superhero this close to me.
I'd never seen the city's legend this close up before but…damn, this superhero thing had done a number on him, hadn't it? He was covered in cuts and bruises. Even his straw-hat sat lopsided on his head. Despite that though…wow was he in good shape. I mean, you could see it under the spandex. It was pressed so tightly to his skin, like rubber. This close, you could make out every ripple and…holy crap, how many muscles did this guy have? Good god, it was like staring at one of those old wash boards people used to wash clothes. Was every part of his body so muscular…
No Nami, eyes up! Eyes up! And…wow…
No, no. I was not one of those stupid superhero fangirls who ran around after…
But oh, he was gorgeous! I mean, the muscles and the hair and the…oh, he was…
I'm pretty sure I was just sitting there staring at him like a complete idiot for the longest time but, really, it must have been only a few seconds because Bellemere seems to approach him in slow motion and bark something at me.
"What?" I mutter, still feeling dazed.
"Help me get him," Bellemere repeats. Time seems to shift into fast-forward as I spring up to my feet and help my mother pull the dazed hero out of the dent he had made in her police car. I grab onto his arm to move him and can't help but blush as I feel him tensing his muscles at the touch.
Crap, this guy must have been some sort of weight lifter or something.
It didn't make sense considering how thin he was but somehow, this guy was built to perfection. Oh god, my face must have been so red and…my mouth was wet.
Was I drooling? I was drooling? No! No no!
Quickly, I took my free hand and wiped my face. Just in time too because as Bellemere and I wrench Scarlet out of the car wreckage, he turns to me and smirks.
"Anyone get the license plate of that fist?" I can't help it. Despite the imminent terror and my closeness to a superhero that was…well, I've already used the word wow and that seems to work quite nicely, yeah WOW, I let out a giggle. Something warm pulses inside me. Scarlet's smile, however, seems to fade as he looks at me. A small twitch in his cheeks but a noticeable one. I feel my whole body got hot. Was it something I said? Something I did? Did he recognise me? What was…
Sadly, our moment together is interrupted as a long twisted arm comes flying out of nowhere and grabs hold of Scarlet's costume.
I and Bellemere pause for a moment.
Scarlet has no such hesitation.
In a flash, his hands whirl round and push us away just in time as the arm holding him tenses and whips backward, pulling him forwards through the air. I flinch as I bang my back into a lamppost and quickly readjust myself to see Scarlet's plight.
The arm belongs to the blonde spring man who had brought Scarlet out here. He winds back a fist ready to strike Scarlet as he comes close but Scarlet is ready for that. He digs his heels into the ground before reaching the man and then, when he throws a spring loaded punch, Scarlet ducks under it before reaching a hand up, grabbing the man's shaggy blonde hair and pulling his head down to make contact with his knee. The attack hits with an audible snap and the spring man's head lurches backwards, blood flying into the air.
Before he gets a chance to escape, Scarlet grabs hold of the arm he had punched with and then spins around, pulling hard on the arm and throwing the man over his shoulder. As the spring-man goes to hit the ground, Scarlet follows up with a roundhouse kick, sending him cartwheeling over along the floor. I watch the whole fight and can't help but feel the sparking pulse within me growing. He wasn't just strong he was dexterous as well. He seemed to curl around any attack, bending to any angle to get a proper hit.
Sadly, the spring-man wasn't down for long and Scarlet wasn't given much of a respite regardless. Just as he gets ready to strike again, a disembodied hand flies out of nowhere and grabs hold of Scarlet's leg. Before he has a change to react, the hand flies forwards, dragging Scarlet's leg forwards and sending his whole body off balance and crashing to the ground.
I wince as, noticeably, do all of the other officers present. Scarlet moves to stand up, only for the rest of the body to come landing on his chest in the form of…
Wait, is that Professor Buggy? Our old Maths class teacher? What the heck is doing and…what the heck is he wearing? Even in a fight with a spandex wearing superhero those clothes must have looked ridiculous…
"Greetings and salutations sheep of Dawn City," Buggy announces, taking a bow on top of Scarlet's body. "I am Buggy Palazzo…or, as you may know me now as, The Jester, the clown prince of crime!"
"Hate to interrupt you jingles but that's somebody else," Scarlet shouts as he rolls out from under Buggy's legs. Buggy, or Jester, whatever he is now, curses only to steady himself, in mid-air no less, as Scarlet springs to his feet once more.
"You flashy bastard, can't you see I'm busy addressing the good citizens of this city about your upcoming imminent defeat."
Scarlet opens his mouth, most likely planning to let out a witty retort but before he can reply, the spring-man races in and smashes into Scarlet's side, sending him flying to the floor. Scarlet recovers quickly but the spring-man doesn't let up, constantly punching forwards with his spring fists.
Scarlet weaves between each attack with ease, as graceful as a dancer or maybe even a gymnast. It's like poetry in motion watching him fight, each attack and each parried blow flowed with a strange kind of elegance. Scarlet nimbly dodged around each attack, vaulting over the spring-man's arms and swaying with the rhythm of the battle. All the while, Buggy continued to rant on and on about how close he and his new ally were to victory. I and a majority of the police officers in the area simply watch the fight with wide eyes, unwilling to interfere.
Even when Bellemere shouts at them to get moving and start keeping a perimeter around the battle until highly trained reinforcements arrive to deal with the situation, I can still see them watching the fight out of the corner of their eyes. This fight between men with powers so strange and incredible it hardly feels real to be standing so close to it all.
It's clear to them that the audience aren't in any real danger for the moment.
Scarlet is keeping their attention on himself…and he knows it as well.
The quips, his fighting style and fleeting nature, he's trying to keep the focus of these freaks on him instead of on anyone else.
My hearts pounding and my head is swimming but I refocus myself solely on Scarlet, watching him move.
Fighting for the sole purpose of defending the innocent, people you probably will never even meet.
That is what being a hero, being The Scarlet Wind, is all about.
I feel my legs shaking as I watch him.
If only I get a chance to talk to someone this strong and noble.
What kind of wise things would I learn?
Luffy P.O.V
Man this outfit tends to ride up in crotch! I mean, when I placed my order with Bon, I don't think I added extra itching powder near the groin. Just fighting like this, I can feel the lower half of my body just twitching uncomfortably. It's taking all my willpower not to just reach down and give it a good scratch…because, yeah, that's what people want to see in their heroes: ball scratching! Classy…
Ricochet punches forwards once more and this time, Buggy's gotten tired of waiting for his turn.
"Flashy attack," he announces, launching his stumpy legs forwards to kick me from the side. I block one of Buggy's kicks but the other makes contact and the distraction is enough for Ricochet to get in a solid punch sending me soaring backwards.
Before I even hit the ground, I'm sadly met by a layer of glass as I fly through the concert hall window. Shards of glass slash through my skin, once more making a mess of Bon's handiwork. Man, I'm lucky I'm not paying for any of this stuff. I can't think of how much money I'd be forking over every week to fix my costume when this stuff keeps happening. Bon's not going to be pleased I've killed another one of his babies again…but then again, he's never really happy so that's fine.
Quickly, I leap to my feet again, somewhat staggering as I notice the shards of glass decorating the floor. The main lobby is desolate, as to be expected and right behind me is a straight path into the main concert area. Silence rules here…except for a small series of squeaks coming from nearby. Glancing, I take in Buggy's clown-like shoes pacing patiently along in place near the wall. One foot is never off the floor for long. Interesting…
I turn back to the entrance I've just crashed through to see Ricochet approaching. He smirks as he looks at me.
"Looking pretty shabby for a big time super-hero now, aren't we?" he observes with a cackle of glee.
"You think I look bad? Have you looked in a mirror that isn't cracked yet? I'm pretty sure the whole mop for hair thing was popular when you were a kid…but kind of out of fashion now." This hits a nerve. Good.
"Nobody mocks Bellamy the Hyena!" he shouts, preparing to charge at me.
"Aw, but you make it so eaasssssy!~" I whine before his attack. 'Bellamy the Hyena' lets out a scream of rage as he springs forwards at full speed…only to be vaulted over as he continues soaring forwards into the concert stage at the other end of the hall. I let out a wince as I hear a clang of symbols behind me.
"Honestly, when will you guys ever learn not to fall for the whole bull fighter thing?" I comment, walking calmly towards the exit. I've got a small window of time now before Ricochet gets back in the game. If I use that time to take out Buggy, then I should be able to deal with Ricochet no…
The feeling of a knife stabbing into my side ruins this small feeling of victory and I collapse onto my knees, grabbing at the wound as Buggy floats forwards, his hand returning to him with the knife in tow.
"Oh, how the mighty have fallen," he mumbles happily. "Remember? How you used to look down on me? How everyone used to look down on me!? Well, that was your mistake then, wasn't it? Because now your life rests in my hands. You and everybody will-"
Oh god, he's monologuing! Did no-one teach this guy the dos and don'ts of villains? I mean, they should make an academy for this stuff…well, they shouldn't because then I'd be out of a job pretty quickly but…ah, never mind that train of thought fell flat...and Buggy's still talking? Man, this guy just loves his own voice.
"And so, maybe people will think before they next cross my path, 'if only I'd have walked a mile in Buggy's shoes, then I'd understand how much of a tortured soul, a brewing mind, a fierce lover he was!"
"Walk a mile in your shoes eh?" I say, stretching a hand over towards Buggy's sneakers. The shoes try to escape my elastic grip but I successfully manage to grab hold of them by the back and pull them close to me. "These things? Because these things smell like you look…" Buggy's face twists from his forlorn frown to a complete scowl of rage.
"What the-get off of those!"
"I don't hear a please," I reply, shooting off my other arm out of the room. Grabbing hold of the edge of the shattered window frame, I'm able to pull myself off my knees and soaring back into the main plaza. Onlookers are still gathered watching the fight, police, paramedics…Nami.
I shake my head and refocus on the matter at hand.
"You see Bug-bug," I rant as I start to hold Buggy's feets under my arms. "I've noticed whenever you split off from the floor…your feet never really go anywhere, why is that?" Buggy's face turns pale. His mouth starts flapping.
"I-I-I…"
"You don't know, do you? And I don't know either…let's test this shall we?" I suggest, clumsily throwing Buggy's feet up into the air.
The instant the feet leave my hands, it's as if an invisible string has pulled at Buggy and he is sent flying in the air, hurtling towards his airborne shoes with a girlish scream. I watch his travel and wait impatiently for his landing, arms ready to shoot off with one final finishing blow. As Buggy reaches his shoes, his body parts all appear to snap together as usual, unable to fly off separately and unable to sustain Buggy's own twisted version of suspended flight. Suddenly, all of Buggy's powers seem worthless.
As gravity begins to take effect, Buggy lets off a scream as he starts falling, flailing pathetically in the air. Steadying myself, I pull back my right arm and then, just as Buggy finds himself right above my head, I punch upwards in an uppercut. The blow solidly connects with Buggy's jaw, a loud snapping noise echoing out around the plaza. Buggy goes upwards for a brief moment before gravity once more delivers him back down to the ground, his lip and nose bleeding, his cheeks puffed out and his jaw probably broken. I wince as I look upon his broken form.
I didn't mean to hurt him that much.
Slowly, I find myself approaching the clown to crouch beside him.
His face is as red as his nose.
"Yoh Buggy, you okay?" I ask. A strained groan emerges from behind Buggy's destroyed cheeks and I can't help but feel a little guilty for his current state. "Sorry Bug, didn't mean to hurt you so bad," I comment, scratching the back of my black head. "I thought your powers made you super resilient as well as split you up. If I'd have known that you had a glass jaw, I would have held back like usual."
Buggy's far too dazed to actually understand what I'm saying but I take him slumping down against the floor and snoozing in defeat a sign of his forgiveness. I shake my head at my luck. Man, to think that this guy had some of the more irritating with new powers and yet he was beaten with a single punch. It was unbelievable. Taking a deep breath of relief with the fighting done, I stand up and turn my head towards those watching.
"Hey, can we can a doctor over here?" I shout into the crowd. "He's out like a light so he shouldn't do anyone any…"
I stop speaking again as I feel something sharp stab straight into my back. I let out a gasp of pain and spin around, lashing out with a kick. Ricochet leaps out of the way and cackles as he stretches forwards with another spring arm, cutting my shoulder with another of Buggy's knives. I reach behind me, wrenching the knife out of my back before throwing it towards Ricochet. He dodges out of the way, springing to one side and then bouncing around, keeping his distance. I wince as my shoulder clicks.
Damn, that cuts deep.
I've got to have some sort of healing factor right?
It's the only way to explain how I've not been completely destroyed after all the fights I've been in.
Either that or Bellemere's pain killers are freaking magic elixirs!
My body must be repairing itself at a higher rate…but shit, after all these fights and cowardly stabs in the back, I'm not feeling too hot. I stagger forwards, clutching at my arm. You know what the world needs: a superhero doctor. Someone who professionally fixes you up, asks no questions and has no personal info on you, patches you up for free and then lets you go on your merry way…
Then again, I'd also be nice to be an invulnerable alien who can take bullets like a wall takes an elastic band…but we can't have everything can we.
My mind snaps back to reality as something rips past me through the air. I glance in the direction only to have something race past me on my other side. I look up to follow the direction only for Ricochet to race straight in my direction. Again, I calmly leap up and over him and Ricochet keeps on going, only to rebound off another wall and circle past me again. I watch him as he moves, bouncing from wall to wall, breaking the pavement as he lands to spring off. I let out a tired sigh.
"Bellamy, give it up. You can't win this," I shout. All I get in reply is an obnoxious laugh.
"You're kidding me right? I'm the one that can't win? What about you? All today you've been talking about how we had to team up, how we're not as strong as other villains but even you can't see how strong I am."
I open my mouth to reply only for Ricochet to drop down from above right in front of me. I blink in surprise. How had he gotten there so fast? I hadn't even seen him move. Bellamy laughs and lashes forwards with a spring-loaded fist, hitting me exactly where I had hit Buggy. My whole body lurches. I take a single step backwards.
An audible snap echoes above my head and I suddenly realise that I can feel the wind in my hair a lot more than before.
My expression hardens.
The straw-hat.
Sabo's straw-hat.
He snapped it.
He snapped the cord for Sabo's straw-hat.
My whole body tenses.
Before I can make a move, however, Bellamy disappears once more, nothing but a blur around the area. I'll give him this much, Ricochet was accurate name. Dead-man would have worked just as well right now though.
"You're always dodging out of the way and running like a coward," Bellamy continues with a laugh. "Heck, I've been dominating this battle since it began and every time you break me I keep bouncing back. You, on the other hand, have tried your best but let's face it, you're not up to snuff. Heck, I doubt you even know how to throw a proper punch."
I said nothing. I remained completely still. The wind was swirling around me as Ricochet moved.
"I am the new power here Scarlet and soon, everybody's going to be working for me: Mr Zero, Don Krieg, The Tiger Gang. You're staring at the dawn of a new era and you're too blind to see it. That Jester and his Waxy friend had the right idea. When you get power, you use it and you use it for yourself. That's how we humans survive: survival of the fittest. Look at you though, wearing your little mask, your costume and your stupid straw-hat. Wake up Scarlet! You're all alone in this fight, there are no more heroes anymore!"
I swallow hard. Slowly, my fist lifts into the air. I remain still, staring straight ahead despite Ricochet's speed. He's arrogant. He's going to come at me from the front. He wants me to know it's him who's beating me.
"You asked," I say aloud, cracking my knuckles in one hand. "If I knew how to throw a punch…"
"You're too late Scarlet," Ricochet cries as he springs around. "Say goodbye, once and for all…"
There.
Mustering all my strength and all my speed, I punch in an arc straight down towards the floor. The blow comes just as Bellamy springs forwards in front of me. For an instant, time seems to slow down. I see every expression on Bellamy's face. Pride, victory. Then, as he sees the fist, his face starts to change. There's no time for the look of surprise to set properly in place, however. Before he even realises it, I've hit him straight in the head, burying his body skull first down into the plaza floor. Hard.
You know what makes whips hurt that much as a weapon? Usopp was telling me one time when he was reading a Cat-woman comic he'd borrowed from Kaya. Whips are such an effective weapon because the speed of their attack. You know that crack that a whip gives off? That's not the weapon making contact with the target. That's the whip breaking the sound barrier for the smallest part of a second. In other words, you just made a miniature sonic boom as you strike.
I hope that he's right about that because as my fist makes contact with Bellamy's face, the crack that roars up like thunder from my arm is the stuff that super powered dreams are made of. The rest of Bellamy's body is slower to respond than the head. His arms and legs flail for a moment before falling, like leaves, to the floor. Blood begins to pour out from his lips.
Unlike Buggy, I don't ask for an ambulance.
Instead, I just spit on the floor before Bellamy.
"Yeah," I mutter to myself in anger before walking away "I know how to throw a punch."
I turn around and look to the crowd for reply. The crowd has fallen completely silent. The paramedics rush through noticing the damage has been done but I catch them all giving me the evils as I walk fast. To be fair, I can't exactly blame them.
Tonight, I've gone a bit wilder that usual…either that or fighting those A-class super villains recently must mean I've stepped up my game.
The thought is comforting as I make my way over towards Bellemere. The police captain watches me pensively as I approach, her face blank of expression. I shrug my shoulders and all she can do is let out a sigh, placing a hand on her face.
"Sorry," I mutter.
"You keep making it difficult for me to keep defending you from the other officers when you do things like this."
"I know…I thought they were tougher."
"Well, clearly they weren't," Bellemere moans, more out of exasperation than irritation.
"I know," I growl, starting to get angry at myself in turn. "I'm just trying to help. If I weren't here, those guys would have…"
"I know that but everyone isn't sure about that. They don't know what to think about you."
"But…" The words stop in my throat as I catch a glance of a group of nearby onlookers sneaking back as I move my arms. My arm slumps to my side and I lower my head. "…yeah, I guess I can see why. I mean I did just…" My voice fades out again as I glance back to the site of my victory, the triumph tasting even more sour ever second. My head feels steadily heavier. I drop my gaze to the floor and give a sigh. "Some hero I turned out to be huh?…"
"But you are a hero." I snap up and turn.
Nami is standing not too far away beside Bellemere's police car.
Sabo's strawhat rests firmly in her grip.
She's not looking at me, her eyes instead trained to the floor.
Despite this, her words were like a song to my ear.
All I had ever wanted since I started this whole superhero thing was for someone to see I was trying to do good. If someone knew and someone appreciated it, then all this hassle and all this pain was worth it.
Constantly, it seemed like Nami kept being that person, for both Luffy and Scarlet. Someone who kept reminding me how many people I was making happy.
I must be staring at her because after a while, she give a timid glance (Timid? Since when was Nami timid?) up at me before averting her eyes again.
"I-I found your hat," she explains, presenting the battered hat forwards like a crown. I reach for her, accidently brushing my fingers against hers. As they touch, I feel a spark of energy through them. Nami jolts as well but hands over the hat and quickly takes a step back.
"Y-you did-" She must have heard herself talking because she cleared her throat and spoke again. "You did great."
"Thanks," I reply. For once, any witty retort or comment vanishes from my mind. I've known Nami since…well, forever, but I can't remember a moment when she's ever been more…more amazing. I open my mouth to say more but Bellemere steps between us, placing a hand on Nami's shoulder and giving me an intense stare.
"Scarlet, this is my daughter, Nami." She lingers longer on the word 'daughter' longer than usual and her grip on her little girl noticeably tightens. Well, it's a little redundant for introductions. I already know Na-OH! That's right, not Luffy right now, Scarlet. Scarlet doesn't know Nami. Plus, Scarlet keeps his cool and doesn't start staring at complete strangers because they may or may not make his stomach feel really funny. Stupid mystery feeling.
"Oh, so THIS is the infamous Nami?" I ask, taking a bold step back in horror and lifting a hand to my chest, before bowing low to the floor. "Your reputation proceeds you." Nice save Luffy, nice save. I bet she doesn't even know I know the word reputation. Nami grows noticeably pink and seems to shy behind her mother. Wow, who knew Nami was so modest in front of a celebrity…which I know am, keep reminding yourself that Luffy, don't break character.
You could barely lie to save your skin.
You're Scarlet now.
Let Scarlet lie, let him play his part and don't say anything stupid.
"Infamous?" Nami repeats the word in a squeak.
"Oh yes, your mother has told me so much about you," I tease, ignoring Bellemere's confusion.
"She has?"
"Yep…though I've got to say her words couldn't do justice to your beauty." I manage to catch both Nami and Bellemere off guard with that one. Strangely, the compliment seems to open up Nami a bit more.
"Well…your pictures don't tend to do justice to you either," she comments with a shy smile.
"Yeah, Shiki really needs to get his hands on some better photographers," I mutter. "You did a pretty good article though." She blushes again. I'm so close to laughing at how uncomfortable she looks.
"Y-you read my article?"
"Read it, cut it out, stuck it on my wall," I say with a wink. "You've got a very talented daughter Bellemere…then again, I'm guessing it runs in the family."
"Enough with the flirting Scarlet," the police captain orders but she dons a smile of mild approval at my comment. I shrug in reply.
"Can't we just have a nice talk without all of this drama?"
"No, we can't," Bellemere butt in, still smirking. I open my mouth to make another witty remark but Nami interrupts, practically leaping in front of her mother to speak to me.
"Wait a second Mr Scarlet…Scarlet sir?" Oh Oda, I'm so close to blowing a gasket right now. Did Nami just call me Mr? I feel my lip tremble and bite it to avoid bursting out giggling.
"What's up Nami?"
"I was just wondering if, in the concert hall when you were fighting those creeps you saw a friend of mine." I tilt my head in confusion.
"A friend of yours?"
"Yeah, black hair, dark eyes…" Oh…I can't be this cruel can I?
No, no I can.
"Skinny lanky guy?" I ask and Nami's face bursts into a smile.
"Yeah, you saw Luffy!? Did he make it okay? Is he alright?"
"Nothing to worry about," I reply, waving away her concerns. "I saw him running to the toilets just as the battle started. He must be hiding in there." Nami's face blooms into the happiest grin I've ever seen on her face.
"He's alive? He's okay? Oh that's…" And then, instantly, it's gone. "I'm gonna kill him. I am going to kill him! Making me worry like that and he's perfectly…I'm going to kill-" Bellemere starts laughing, blissfully unaware of my internal groaning. Okay, Scarlet may be having the time of his life but Luffy is so not ready to meet a Nami that looks this angry.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say that you and Luffy were here on a-"
"Bellemere, not now." No, now! What was she gonna say? What did she think we were here on? I open my mouth to inqure the answer…but sirens in the distance silence this thought.
"And that would be my cue to leave," I announce, shooting up an elastic arm towards the roof of the concert building. "Tell Smokey that I'm sorry I have to cancel our little date, things just weren't working between us. We were just two different for it to last."
"I'm sure he'll be heartbroken," Bellemere responds.
"Not as much as I will be," I reply, casting a look towards Nami as I shoot off. She's looking right back at me, staring into my face…at least, I hope she's looking at my face. As I angle myself and lash off with another rubber arm, I can't help but smile at how today turned out. I got to hang out with Nami, save Soul King Brook's life, I beat two, count 'em, TWO supervillains and I ended it all by flirting with my best friend and absolutely embarrassing her in front of her mum. Everything's so…
I almost fall in mid-air as the situation suddenly hits me.
Nami.
I was just flirting with Nami.
I had just been flirting with my best friend.
I was…I was in skin-tight spandex! She could see…
Oh Oda, she could see everything. Everything!
Why did Bon have to design this thing so skin-tight? Bon! He's gonna want to see the damage I've done again. I wonder if he's still up? Probably, I'll have to go there after meeting up with Nami…
Nami…I can't believe I flirted with
Most importantly though, as I swing down into the concert hall bathrooms to change back into my normal clothes, I realise that not only had been flirting with Nami, but all through it my stomach had been bubbling like crazy and I wasn't even hungry this time. Well, slightly less hungry than usual. Something was happening and I couldn't overlook it anymore. This mystery feeling, the one that keeps creeping up between me and Nami, it's not nothing anymore. It feels like something. Something big and happy and scary. But it definitely feels like something.
I bet she's totally embarrassed about the whole thing.
Nami P.O.V
I've never been all that into superheroes. The movies are alright but the comics are stupid and overall, they just seem kind of generic and silly. I'm much more of a real-life drama kind of gal, men and women working with real issues rather than playing around in mech suits and flying through the night dispensing their weird version of justice.
That was before now though.
One conversation.
It's more than most people have with a superhero and it's all it takes to completely hook me. I had thought it was silly when Kaya first told me she liked the Scarlet Wind. I mean, don't get me wrong, he looked attractive. I just don't usually have a thing for guys in masks. I mean, if they have to wear a mask, they've got to have some ugly face to hide right? Some kind of flaw they don't want the world to see.
Now, I think I'm even more hooked that she is because I can barely stand. As Scarlet vanishes, I have to lean against a pole just to stay on my feet.
Celebrity crushes are silly, I said to Usopp. They're just that, a crush and yeah, they still are.
But…wow…
Was he flirting? I think he was…
"No." I jump as Bellemere suddenly makes her announcement.
"What?"
"No," Bellemere repeats, casting me a knowing look. Whatever it is she knows though, I have no idea.
"No what?" I ask.
"No superhero boyfriends," Bellemere replies with a smirk. My cheeks are on fire again.
"I-I don't know what you mean." Wow, usually I'm much better at lying than that. Today I must be off my game.
"Who are you trying to kid? You were crushing from the second you saw him." That's Bellemere for you. You can definitely tell she was a detective before she became a captain. As I hang my head in the shame of the truth, Bellemere pats my head. "It's okay sweetie…but let's not tell Luffy. It'll break his poor heart." Oh great, just when I was feeling calm, there was my heartbeat again.
"What!?" I shriek, cheeks blazing bright once more.
"I'm just saying no poor boy can compare to a superhero."
"I don't like Scarlet!" I insist.
"What about Luffy then?"
"Bellemere!"
"I must admit I never had any idea you had a thing for men in uniform." I find myself completely speechless. Bellemere laughs as my mouth pops open.
"M-mother!" I shout.
"Oh, I'm just teasing, stop having such a soft skin," Bellemere responds with a wink. I fumble with my words and eventually, my hands drop to my side.
"Fine whatever."
"Get in the car sweetheart."
"What?" I look up to Bellemere as she starts walking away.
"Get in the car and stay there," Bellemere repeats. "This is police business and I'm not going to have your 'press instincts' messing with the clean-up."
"Bellemere-" I begin to contest her decision but another glance tells me her decision was final and I did as I was told. Bellemere sighs with relief.
"Good…now I'll have a look around and see if I can find where Luffy is, considering that Smoker's here to deal with clean-up." As Bellemere mentions his name, the police captain lurches out of the crowd with his officers behind him. Bellemere wisely starts walking in the opposite direction from the mad captain but then ignores his shouts when he spots her crossing the plaza. I shake my head at her before slumping down against the car door.
Luffy.
How could I have forgotten he was here? Was a meeting with a real life superhero just too much for me to take? How did I almost forget to ask if he was okay? And was this his idea of a joke? Hiding in the bathroom? What if something had happened to him? Oh, I am definitely killing him when I find him, mark my words. If he isn't dead already…
The thought leaves me somewhat empty inside so I just settle for curling up on the seat and leaning against the wall. Time seems to pass by slower than I could have ever imagined. All the while, I find that I can't think of anything but my stupid idiot best friend.
Was he okay?
Had anything happened to him?
Was my morbid thought from before true?
What would I do if it was?
What would I do without Luffy?
The lack of response in my head is genuinely terrifying.
How much of a hold did this idiot have on my life?
The answer appeared to be growing every day.
After far too long of a delay, I hear a knock at the window. Turning my disinterested head to the knock, I am greeted by a familiar wide grin.
"Hey Nami, cool concert right?"
He's…he's fine. No cuts, no scrapes, just that massive grin on his face. I pause for a moment to take in the situation. He's fine. He's unharmed. He's alive…
Though not for much longer!
I throw the car door open, causing him to stumble back in surprise as I bolt out to glare at him.
"You've got some nerve!"
"I know, I got to see a superhero fight. It was cool, right? What did I-" I crack my knuckles and he falls silent.
"Do you have any idea how worried I was?" I shout. Luffy pauses in thought.
"I'm guessing on a scale of 1-10…this is a bad?"
"Very bad, you idiot!"
"Oh…that bad?"
"You-" I pull back my fist ready to smack it into his smug idiot face…and then right before I swing, Luffy lifts up his finger and gently drags it near my left eye.
"Nami," he says in little more than a whisper. "Why are you crying? I'm fine." Not sure if Luffy's sentence was meant to calm me but it definitely had the opposite effect.
"That's why I'm fucking crying you idiot!" I slam my fist hard onto his chest. Luffy barely reacts. I hit him again and get the same lack of reply. The third time, however, Luffy finally opens his arms as I rush clumsily at him. I end up trapped in his arms, pressed into a tight little hug. It doesn't stop me from hitting his chest though so I do it again and again until the tears start coming stronger and I find myself unable to see because of the blur.
"It's okay Nami." I hear him call softly. "I'm okay, I'm okay."
"You better be idiot," I tell him with a fierce growl. His arms press tightly around me and all at once, the tears just start to disappear. There's a strange lightness that comes with his firm arms holding me and it makes me smile into his chest. Luffy seems to feel my lips twitching because he starts laughing.
"See Nami, you're way better when you smile."
"Don't you think you're getting away with racing off and leaving me behind," I quickly point out, still staring at his shirt. His embrace feels warm and his chest feels surprisingly muscular. Odd really. Luffy always strikes me as quite thin and scrawny so it always shocks me a little that his hugs can be so tight.
"Sorry Nami, I got lost. I went off to get you something to remember the day by and then everything got all crazy and then I really needed a pee so…"
"Wait, what was that?" I snap back into reality "A…a present?"
"Oh yeah, I never did give you it," Luffy starts, completely straying from the subject as he reaches into his school bag. Disappointingly, I'm free of his arms now as he rummages. It takes a short while before he finally withdraws the intended item: a small brown bag.
He passes it to me and then, just like a child on Christmas, starts jumping up and down begging me to open it. I manage to hold back a laugh, still clinging to how angry and worried I was, as I unwrap the package. I don't know what I was expected to see as I opened it but one thing is for sure, Luffy certainly finds a way to keep the surprises coming.
Sitting in the brown paper is a small golden bracelet. Attached the bracelet on one side is a stylised compass. Tiny jewels appear encrusted underneath the compass needle whilst the needle itself shimmers silver. It's subtle and small but the engravings and the small stones make it look beautiful. This compass was made carefully and it must have cost…
"Luffy," I breathe,
"It's called a Log-pose," Luffy explains. "I was going to get you something better for today but I thought you'd like it and it could help you." I look to him with a raised eyebrow.
"Help me? How?"
"Well, the lady I bought it from said that Log-poses help guide people to what they want the most. I figured that next time you lose me like today, you could use it to find me again if you really wanted to."
"Oh, so you think you're what I want the most?" I ask. Despite my reservations on his reasons, however, I still slip on the bracelet. It fits perfectly.
"Well, why not? You're what I want the most." My whole body freezes up. A chill flows through my body and with it, I feel that feeling from before bubbling up inside me.
"W-what?" I stutter.
"Today I remembered how much fun hanging out with my friends, especially you, and I haven't done that a lot" Luffy continues. "I know I've been busy and distracted recently, you had to give me that pep talk the other day because of that...but I want you guys to know that no matter what happens, no matter how life happens, I don't want to lose touch with you guys." He stops for a moment, biting his lip and I find I'm hanging on his every word.
"I guess what I'm saying is…I need you Nami."
"I need you too," I reply without even thinking.
Luffy grins at me and my stomach decides to flip and start bubbling.
"So if you ever need to find me, then that should hopefully point the way," he says, putting his arms behind his head.
"And if you need to find me?" I ask in turn. He pauses for a moment, rolling his tongue around in his mouth.
"Well…let's just hope you're my north." For some reason, I find it impossible to hold myself back from stepping forwards and wrapping my arms around Luffy, smiling as I pull him tight against me.
"I hope I am too." Luffy's body goes rigid in surprise for a second. Then, his arms come up and hold me in turn. I close my eyes and just bask in the moment.
I need you Nami.
That was what he said.
He needed me.
Not just his friends, not Zoro or Robin or Usopp.
He needed me specifically.
I needed him too.
I didn't realise how much until I started thinking before of how things would be without him.
Not having Luffy in my life isn't a possibility in my mind.
Worse still, the answer as to why has been staring me in the face the whole time. All of the talks we have, the way I'm constantly worried about him, how jealous I get of Hancock (yes, I admit it, I feel jealous of Hancock) and all of the times he makes me feel…well, like this.
How could it have been so obvious all along? Robin was right. Everyone was right. I need to take a step back and face the facts.
I am in love with Monkey D. Luffy, my best friend and I can't deny it anymore.
Luffy P.O.V
Well, Nami seems to like her present…though I don't think we've ever hugged for this long before. It's odd with her clinging to me for no reason really but I hug her back anyway.
I like Nami hugs.
They're strong but not rib-crushingly so…which is good because I genuinely am not sure that my wounds could take another push. The stab wounds have closed up for now but I'm definitely going to have to see to them when I get home. Maybe I'll pop by Bon's on the way back, see if he's in. He can fix my suit…again and I can convince him to give me a bit of a patch-up.
"Luffy?" Nami suddenly says. I jerk out of my daydream to find her looking up at me. Her chocolate eyes are sparkling in the dark, her cherry coloured lips parted. Is…is she blushing? She suddenly looks...
The sound of someone clearing their throat kills the moment and I turn around to see Bellemere watching us with a grin on her face.
"Glad to see you kids are doing okay," she remarks, scratching her cheek. "I just wanted to come and let you know that I might be here for a bit longer. Smoker wants a talk and I need to oversee some clean-up here but, after that, I should be free to give you two a lift home if you're okay with waiting." Crap. If Bellemere's watching me, there's no way I'll be able to sneak off to Bon's.
Plus, if she looks closer and sees the cuts and bruises on me…well, she might put two and two together and my secret identity is wide open.
I don't want anyone close to me learning that little titbit of information just yet.
"Sorry Bellemere, I can't wait," I lie, once more taking a step into Scarlet's shoes. "Makino wants me back as soon as possible so now I know Nami's okay, I better get moving home."
"Are you sure?" Bellemere asks.
"You know Makino won't mind if you're too late," Nami comments, her eyes cast down at the floor. I shake my head.
"Sorry, but I don't want to upset her again. If I'm going to stay in her good books I need to do as she asks. Besides, if I keep being good, she might forget I'm supposed to be grounded."
"What a coincidence," Bellemere observes, looking to Nami. "She's grounded too. Maybe I and Makino should join up in punishing you guys." I flinch. Yeah, I keep forgetting Bellemere's a mum before anything else. Shit.
"No need for that!" I insist, already preparing to start running. "Maybe you two should just have a coffee or something, chill out whilst Nami helps me with my homework. Speaking of which, bye Nami! I'll text you tomorrow and we'll get together some time to do studying." Nami's lips move but I don't hear anything. Assuming it's a hushed goodbye, I keep on shouting as I start running. "Okay then, I'll see you two later, I've got go see if I can catch the next bus home. See ya!"
"Let us know you get home safe if you're going alone," Bellemere insists. Nami just looks at me. She seems…sad. Weird. I'll have to try and cheer up tomorrow when I see her.
Right now, I've got Scarlet stuff to do. I need to swing over to Bon's, see if he's there and get my costume repaired straight away, see if I can get the next one a bit baggier so people can't stare at my groin and get a full picture. After that, I had better home. If he's not there, then man, I'm gonna be so tired when I get back. I might just drop as soon as I get in. These wounds aren't making it any easier to move either. Swinging around town is going to a bitch. Then again, at least I'm done for tonight. No more drama for the rest of the day now.
? P.O.V
"What's happening down here?"
"I thought I smelt something, the Bunsen burner is on down here."
"What? Your old lab stuff? Why is it-oh no!"
"Usopp! Usopp!"
"Come on sweetie, speak to me! Speak to me are you there!?"
"He's not responding."
"Out of the way Bachina, let the boy breath."
"Heracles, he's not-"
"Yes he is, look at his stomach. He's just…is that my pop green there? Good lord, it is."
"What the hell was he doing in here?"
"Whatever it is, we need to get an ambulance. Yasopp?"
"Already on it."
"Don't worry Usopp, you're going to be fine. Just stay with us until help gets here."
"What was that stuff he was using?"
"Research material. It's experimental."
"Oh my…"
"Don't worry Bachina, it's harmless to people."
"Well, we still need to watch him…make sure there are no side effects."
Mum…Heracles…Dad…Kaya…Lu…Luffy…
Lu…lu…la la lu…
Ace P.O.V
The best sound I have heard all day is the sound of my key slipping into the lock on the house opening as I turn the key. Giving a loud sigh, I stumble forwards, pushing the door open roughly with my shoulder. The lights inside the house are all off. With a raised eyebrow, I walk deeper into the house, glancing into the kitchen and into the living room, hoping to see some sign of life.
No-one is there.
I scratch the back of my head nervously.
Okay, Makino shouldn't be home yet since she's doing overtime at the bar today but Luffy should definitely be home and his lack of presence leaves me feeling uneasy.
Even this late at night, Luffy should still be up and about.
"Luffy," I call out. The house is silent in reply however. Screwing up my face in irritation, I stamp up the stairs.
I'm finally starting to agree with Makino, Luffy's disappearances are getting annoying, especially when they're cutting into my brotherly lecturing time.
His room is the last place I can think he'd be and even then, it doesn't seem like Luffy would go to sleep this early so why can't I hear him?
I drum my hand on Luffy's door.
No sound of a reply escapes.
This isn't right.
"Luffy," I call again, tapping my fist against the door once more, before pushing against it with a resigned sigh.
'Luffy, are you in…'
As I step into Luffy's room, my voice dies in my throat.
The scene is like a photograph.
Luffy's window is wide open and the curtains are undrawn. Moonlight filters in through the open space in the wall illuminating the entirety of the room in a pale white light. Like a spotlight, the moonbeams centre on the occupied bed where the form of a teenager is lying flat on his face. Slowly, I begin to make out the shape, more importantly the colour, of the person's clothing lying on the bed. Dark raven hair rests on deep red spandex with ebony highlights. Lying close to his head is a discarded straw-hat and clutched tightly in his fist is a figure eight mask.
It hits me.
All at once, everything makes sense.
The bruising, the lateness, that sense that Luffy was lying earlier, the slipping school grades, the new personality quirks: the pieces fit together like a jigsaw in the shape of the picture I'm looking at right now.
I close my eyes and shake my head, considering I'm dreaming.
I have to be, there's no way...
The image has been burned into my eyelids however.
I can't un-see it and when I open my eyes again, it's all too clear that this is no mirage.
Oddly enough, a small laugh escapes my throat.
The truth can sometimes be so absurd it makes you do that and the truth was something I had never suspected before.
My brother, Monkey D. Luffy, is the Scarlet Wind.
To be continued in Chapter 5: Translation Plane Act 1
Until then I'm Shadowonthewall6 and I hope you've enjoyed this latest chapter.
Please review. Positive criticism is welcome.