So, this is going well. One more chapter after this for this island, then we can move onto Orange town and Buggy! Also, trying not to make the fights all one hit wins. I think not using Rubber or Haki helps, but rubber is such a big part of his fighting style, I hope no one minds if he slips up here and there uvu'
Chapter 4: Restraint is difficult
"So, I heard Helmeppo's a terrible liar." Luffy stated, casually ambling towards the bound swordsman, Onigiri in hand.
"Well I heard he had a Strawhat wearing idiot to execute." Zoro responded dryly, not bothering to try and scare his fellow supposed dead-man... walking, for lack of better term.
"Yeah! But he got his face bruised when I heard he was planning to execute a swordsman in a few days." The 'Strawhat wearing idiot' stopped in front of his most trusted companion, picking at the knot of the cloth napkin in his hands, freeing the food.
There was a stretch of silence, before Zoro scoffed, shaking his head with a peeved expression. What, did he think Luffy was lying? Or did he think the Pirate was just here to dangle food and a death sentence in front of his face?
"I should have figured the daddy's boy wouldn't keep his word. Not like I trusted the guy to begin with." That surprised Luffy. He remembered a lot more… yelling between them in the past. "So, what? You gonna untie me? I guess the little girl told you what happened…"
He looked mildly embarrassed to his well-acquainted eye, and Luffy laughed, making the man's ears flush red. "Oh, shut up you damned Pirate!" His protest only made the younger (far, far older) man laugh harder, before he forced it down to a light snickering.
"I know everything," He confirmed with a casual wave of his free hand, looking down at the rice balls. He could see some of the little sugar crystals glimmering in the sunlight. "Which is why I can't untie you."
It seemed Zoro expected that. As he should have, seeing as him staying there was the only thing keeping that little girl and her mother safe. He runs off and they're as good as dead. "So, why are you here then?"
"Well~" The Pirate dragged out the word, staring up at the base. He could see the top of the statue being lifted already; was he late? "Untying you is a part of my schedule today, but not until Morgan's taken care of."
"Your schedule- what you're going to take care of Morgan? You're going to fight a Marine Captain?" The very thought seemed to amuse him as he looked Luffy from toes to head. All he could see was a skinny little teenager. "Good luck brat; there's a pretty damn good reason Morgan's feared in this town."
Picking up one of the rice balls, Luffy held it up for Zoro, stating that it was from the little girl earlier, before continuing conversation. Zoro's valiant attempt to not eat the offering lasted all of three seconds. Luffy considered it admirable, seeing as he himself probably would have finished it off before it even stopped at his mouth - and maybe taken the hand too, after this long without food!
"They're only scared of him because he's scary looking and lacks mercy." If the man showed any mercy whatsoever, Luffy doubted people would be scared of him at all. It's not like he was on the same level as most other Captains, seeing as those men at least earned the position. "I'm stronger than him of my bad days, and I'm not scared of the merciless." Akainu flashed briefly in his thoughts before he banished his image. Not was not the time to start thinking about the Admiral.
"I'm going to take him down, get your swords, untie you, get you something to eat, and by the time we leave, you'll be my first mate!" He grinned broadly as he stated the last fact; he wasn't going anywhere without his first mate, even if it meant being days late to any other event he'd been through before.
Zoro reflexively swallowed too fast, coughing before he gave his well thought out response. "To hell with that! I'm not going to be some pirate! I've got a goal of my own, and I'm not gonna let you get in my way."
Luffy tilted his head at Zoro's glowering face, shaking out the napkin before stuffing it in his pocket. "Unless you want to be a Marine someday, I don't see how being a Pirate would get in the way." He told the man honestly. "If you're looking for something, or someone, we're bound to find it eventually."
Zoro frowned, wondering what exactly this kid's own dream was. It was obvious he had one, just by the way he talked. He also wondered what kind of Captain he would be if he didn't think being part of someone else's crew shouldn't get in the way of anyone's aspiration. Pirates weren't exactly well known for having dreams and this kid's carefree attitude fit 'reckless traveler' far better than 'menacing pirate'.
Before he could even think to ask, the brat was already headed for the Marine base, casually walking with his hands in his pockets. "Hey, where are you going!?" Did he really have a death wish? There was no way a slip of a boy like him could fight off an entire Marine base alone!
"I already told you!" He called back, grinning over his shoulder. "I'm gonna kick Morgan's ass." The idiot laughed, as though the idea was laughable, and to Zoro, it was. Just not for the same reason. "A Captain like him is no match for the future Pirate King!"
Ah, so that's what it was… "W-wait, what!?"
-.-.-.-.-.-
He didn't want to go through the front door, but not using his rubber powers, he wasn't sure if there was another way. As tempting as it was to rocket up to the top and destroy the statue again, he figured he'd leave something for the villagers to take their stress out on.
So, taking a running start, Luffy burst through the front doors and stormed through the base in search of the stairwell. It'd probably take the man in the Lobby a few minutes to figure out what was going on and call someone down… If he called anyone at all, you never know with these terrified Marines.
Sadly, Luffy had only been in a Marine base a few times in his relatively short lives, and he had no clue where to find the stairs. Thankfully he came across the next best thing.
"Lieutenant Souma!" He was momentarily distressed, knowing he'd had one of those Marines go look for him around town to keep him away from the base, but then he was glad. Glad he had someone here to get directions from.
The man was pale, but he spared the energy to salute Luffy, who waved it off, skidding to a halt in front of the good Marine. "Monkey D. Luffy, hello again. My apologies, but I was unable to-
"Yeah, yeah, whatever, hey, can you help me out? I'm gonna kick Morgan's ass and call gramps down to take a look at the base, but I can't find the stairs." He stayed tense, ready to get running again. "Oh, and Helmeppo's room; I need to get Zoro's swords back."
It seemed Luffy might have to spare a minute waiting for this to register to Souma. "Y-You're going to fight... Morgan? I'm sorry, but I can't allow that, this is Marine business. It might be best for you to-
"Souma, I'll be honest, I don't give a damn about 'Marine business', but it's mine this time too. The attitude in this base is ruining my friend's dream! I can do something, so I'm going to do something!" The man just blinked at the boy, not sure if he was smiling or frowning. "Where're the stairs, Souma?" He repeated, pulling the straw hat on top of his head, thumb rubbing the red ribbon.
"..." The Marine glanced the way Luffy came, seeming in thought. "Knowing you're going to fight the captain means I can't let you by me." Luffy's shoulder slumped slightly. Of course, he was a good Marine, following the rules. But he thought he was a good man too. "So I'll just have to escort you." Good man he was.
Luffy beamed at the Lieutenant's back, hoping with all his being that he wasn't forced to attend the Marineford execution in a few months. "Thank you."
The walk was quiet, the steadiness of the other's steps surprising them. Luffy knew the Marine was angry with and terrified of Morgan, and Souma was starting to think maybe Garp's grandson had taken too many hits to the head for all his fearlessness.
Honestly, he likely wasn't too far off.
When they crossed a door ridiculously labeled 'my room', Luffy tried to keep a mental map of its location so he could find it later. Looks like he'd have to actually hold Zoro's swords over his head again. Sounded like fun… Well, Nami branded fun.
When they reached the door he knew would lead to the roof, Luffy stopped walking a few feet away, Souma coming to a stop when he noticed he wasn't being followed anymore. The Marine's expression was understanding for all the wrong reasons.
Like the three he'd met in the bar, Luffy commit the man's face to memory, the short cropped blond hair and murky grey, heavy lidded eyes burning their place in his mind. He did this a lot towards the end of his previous life, when after Sabo had taken him in. It wasn't something he'd bothered with in his first life, just breezing through life without a care. But now he had people who he could risk if he didn't think and wasn't careful. He wasn't ignorant to his ability to lose, and to lose those he cared about.
"Go back to the village, Souma; you're men are waiting for you there." Luffy grinned, clapping the man's bicep. "Let me take care of this."
The Pirate strode past the momentarily stunned Marine with a hand on his hat, lifted his knee, and kicked the door in with a crash of metal hitting metal. The handle on the other side getting stuck in the wall was the only reason his entrance wasn't ruined by the door swinging back and slamming in his face.
There were a few yelps from the other end, and he could clearly see Morgan standing over one of his Marines, the man bleeding profusely on the ground. Luffy didn't know if the man was even alive, but he sent a sharp look over to the Marines standing by, making them flinch. "Take your man to the infirmary. Pointless slaughter of your own men isn't something the Marines usually tolerate."
One man was brave enough to duck under the Captain's eye, attempting to lift and carry out one of the base Lieutenant.
"What do you think you're doing?" Morgan's deep tone did little to hide his fury, and that one brave Marine was quickly cowed, leaving his superior to lay face down and bleed out. Luffy could see the Captain's damned ego. "And who the hell are you? Some sort of inspector? You don't look like you have any authority here."
"I'm not a Marine." Luffy told the man bluntly, not bothering to look at him. His eyes were locked on the man on the floor. He couldn't see any movement, breathing or otherwise. "And you don't deserve to be a Marine. More like a Mountain Bandit if you ask me."
Morgan growled, his steel jaw clenching over the cigar he was smoking. Turning to face his Marines, those not holding his monument aloft, Luffy knew he was going to order them to open fire. It was what every Marine did until they found out he wasn't affected by it.
He didn't let Morgan get that far. Before the first word even had a chance to escape his mouth, Luffy's fist was in his gut, the force of the blow knocking Morgan off the roof and over the edge. "You can put that ugly statue down." He bluntly told the Marines, before turning back to that single person who'd tried to follow his order. "Now you can get him to some help… If he's even still alive." He added the last part sadly. He'd never been good at finding shallow breath, so he figured there was hope.
Not wanting to give Morgan a chance to regroup, Luffy quickly jumped over the ledge and dropped to the ground, waving at Zoro who was too far away to even see the color of his hair under the bandana. Good, while he wanted to get closer to impress the man, he didn't want to bring the fight too close and risk hurting a bound man.
The Marine staggered upright, and Luffy remembered something that made him smack his forehead. He might be made of rubber, and the fall wouldn't even make him flinch, but Morgan wasn't quite so lucky. The Base was pretty tall too.
"Take your time; I'm gonna beat you down properly." He grinned, hands twined behind his head.
Irritated, Morgan swung his axe out, swiping at Luffy. He growled, watching the boy hop over the weapon/limb like nothing. "What, you ready already?" He laughed.
"I'll teach you to defy your betters, boy." The larger man staggered upright, body bruised from the fall, but obviously unbroken. Luffy would have been disappointed if a Marine Captain could be taken out by a fall like that.
"I don't have any betters; I'm a free man!" The D. slid his right foot back, fists coming up to chin height. He knew everyone here was slow enough to predict without Observation Haki, but he was finding it harder not to use it on reflex than it was to use it to his advantage. All for the better, he supposed; it would make good control training. Maybe he could work on his Conqueror's Haki down the line, see if he could tone it down not not knock people out with it.
That would be for later though. For now, there was a metal object flying for his head, and he didn't have the means to survive that without Armament. Morgan was yelling something about having his head, but Luffy just snorted and ducked, darting forward under the axe.
It really was a sharp weapon, the air beyond his range rippling as it was cut through, but if you couldn't hit someone with it, what was even the point? The bare hand digging into the underside of his metal jaw was doing far more damage.
The heavy male rose a few inches off of the ground, enough for Luffy to take advantage of, and he twisted, lashing his leg out and catching Morgan in the side, sending him flying. Sadly, he didn't reach the fencing, and he sighed. Morgan was heavier than he'd predicted. SHould have figured with that steel jaw and solid metal axe for a forearm. How did he not get splinters in his arm from that?
While Luffy's mind wandered to the curiosities of having wood inside of your limb, Morgan stood again, scowl on his face, and eyes bloodshot in rage. Never had he been challenged by someone like this, not since he'd made captaincy. Why was this brat denying his greatness?
"You have no rank, nor status! I am the highest ranking officer in this base, therefore I am- !
Luffy could listen to idiots blabber on all day. Usually it was actually pretty funny! But this man had killed his own men, threatened civilians, executed people for the smallest offense, and his ego was large enough to match his terrible actions. Not to mention how his first mate was currently tied to a post, starving. This man didn't deserve an ear to listen, or attention to be paid.
This time, Luffy moved faster than anyone on the East Blue should, and the muscles in his legs screamed at him for it. His knuckles met with Morgan's sternum, pushing the hot air out of his lungs, and he would be lucky if nothing was broken. The Captain was launched off, rocketing towards the stone wall, and he impacted with a violent crash, indenting and crushing the stone.
Luffy cast a glance about. He'd accidentally taken the fight too close to Zoro with that hit, but he'd see if Morgan could even stand after the strike. At least he seemed to be stronger than Alvida, but Luffy still couldn't hold back the sigh as he ambled back over to stand between where the swordsman and captain were. He never thought he'd look forward to seeing his enemies in the new world. Dolflamingo would be fun...
The Marine Captain eventually found his feet, breathing deeply. Well, he didn't hurt his lungs yet, that was something. What Luffy wasn't expecting was the flintlock pistol that was pulled out of his jacket. He huffed in amusement. No one outside of Dawn Island other than the Red Hair Pirates, Revolutionary One and Two, and Ace knew about his rubber powers, but he was so used to everyone knowing that it was strange to have people aim guns at him again. Guns without Seastone bullets no less.
Luffy's amusement quickly faded when he realized that Morgan didn't know he was rubber, and he was aiming that gun at him, while he stood between him and Zoro, who, while still quite a ways away, was in perfect line for whatever bullets would come out of that gun.
What an ass. Luffy was far from impressed. He wondered if Morgan even knew what he was doing right then, that he wouldn't move even if he didn't have Haki or Rubber powers.
A quick glance over his shoulder told him that Zoro realized the same thing he did, however, instead of being mildly irritated like the Pirate King, the Future world's Greatest swordsman's face was painted with dread. He thought Luffy would dodge, and he himself was completely immobile.
Luffy grinned at Zoro, and the crack of the gun echoed in his ears.
The green haired man watched as the younger's chest recoiled from the force of the bullet, unable to believe that, despite ample time to move -and the boy could certainly move - he'd taken the blow. And it was obvious to him, as silence pervaded, that he'd literally taken a bullet for someone he barely knew. A Pirate took a bullet for a Pirate Hunter.
However, before he could think about it too hard, Luffy's skin started to stretch. Instead of going all the way through in a gory manner, there was a quiet chuckle and the man's back elongated with the bullet, red vest somehow stretching with him.
"Glad I learned how to aim this." His skin snapped back into place, bullet shooting back the way it came, soon lodging itself into Morgan's thigh. The Marine fell to one knee, shocked with his jaw gaping, gun loose in his grasp.
Luffy quickly kicked it away, likely breaking the finger on the trigger, before slamming a fist into Morgan's cheek, laying him flat out on the ground. He had a feeling Helmeppo would show up and try something soon, but he couldn't stop himself from laughing. While he'd had to cheat and use his rubber to keep himself from getting one more hole, not using his power was making this a little more fun.
Morgan was down and almost done, Zoro was fine, Coby wasn't shot… This was going... well.
Luffy dreaded the moment his luck evened out.
This is going to be a... long story pffff- Still haven't left the first island and we're at, like 15000 words. Which is sadly already more than I normally manage to write...