Disclaimer: All respective characters and settings belong to their respective franchises.
A starry night sky.
A forest.
A campsite.
Expectant eyes peered through the darkness outside the clearing, the crickets making his ears burn. Huddled within a thick underbrush, he steadied his breathing, waiting for the opportunity to strike. He licked his lips before biting down, mouth pressed into a thin line, a lone drop of sweat out of all the others tickling his forehead. The air tonight was chilly in spite of the fire, the perspiration making it apparent. His stomach rumbled, affecting his concentration.
Desperation was seeping out of every pore as he took stock of the scene before him, where a lone stag was grazing. He sized up the animal, ensuring that it was alone.
Just as one lone thought raced through his mind.
Food…
And, he would get it. With a war cry, he leapt out of the bushes and pounced, grabbing onto the animal's rear. "Gotcha!" Grinning widely, he beamed at his success, his mouth salivating at the feast he was about to enjoy.
His celebration was cut short when, from his grip, he felt the animal's muscles stir familiarly, and the stag sprang mightily onto its hind legs. The boy's wide smile was now twisted into a grimace, tightening his grasp with fistfuls of the beast's fur as it began to buck wildly in a desperate bid to throw him off. The animal mewed and cried - not out of fear, but out of indignation. This was the third time this week it had to deal with this brat, and the fourth day that the lad had been forced to subsist on nothing but roots and mushrooms from tracking it throughout the forest, having lost quite a bit of weight. Yet, starvation had only served to sharpen his senses, the adrenaline rushing through his veins, fueling his remaining reserves of energy.
The stress of enduring these days of hardship would have worn down a lesser man, but the lad, the child, was not the typical crop. The stag bucked once more before it finally went into a full-out run, heading deeper into the woods, the trickles of light from the fire fading with each throng of trees they passed. The boy laughed, feeling the wind kicking against his face as they only seemed to pick up speed. Finally, after what seemed like forever, the stag slowed to a stop before bucking once more and letting out the loudest of cries to the star-studded skies.
Unbeknownst to him, this was precisely the moment the boy decided to strike, scaling up the stag's back after pulling out a sharpened twig from the waist of his pants. With all his remaining strength, he snaked an arm around the beast's neck and, with a determined yell, plunged the weapon into its throat. His face scrunched tightly from the exertion, he kept digging the wooden stake deeper and deeper, the blood spewing free from the wound and caking his hand clasped around the weapon.
Minutes passed, and the boy did not loosen his grip in fear that this would all have been for naught, the stag gradually slowing in movement, sluggishly waddling for every passing instant as its life was ebbing away. With one final gurgle, it broke stride and stumbled, falling on its side along with the boy, and still, he refused to let go until exhaustion won out and he rolled onto his back.
Lying on his eagle spread, his chest rose and fell. Releasing his grip around the wooden stake, he let it slide from his grasp with a squelch. He stared up listlessly at the sky for a few minutes, before the gravity of what he had just done sank in.
He now had food.
Exhaling a breath, he let out a whoop of joy and cried out, "I did it!"
After days of tireless effort, he finally accomplished what he had set his mind on - securing an immediate food source. He sat up, snapping his head toward the game he had successfully killed. He had been growing weary of weeks filled with only wild boar to sate his hunger, so he was nothing but overjoyed that venison would now be on the menu.
He weakly got to his feet, his knees still wobbly from the experience, but the euphoria caused him to ignore whatever aches and pains were plaguing his ravaged body for his more pressing hunger. With a wobbly gait, he circled around the carcass until he stood facing the animal's head, staring back at him with lifeless eyes before he hunkered down and grabbed a foreleg. With a long, sustained grunt, he pulled, believing that he was strong enough to make the trip back to his campsite. With gritted teeth, he kept pulling, the veins on his head and neck showing with how scrawny his figure now was, and in the span of a moment, released his hold without keenly noticing, the excursion having crested his hunger and depriving him of energy.
Soon after, as he found himself listlessly staring at the sky once more, unconsciousness claimed him.
When he next awoke, he stared up at the sky once more, it still being dark out, his thoughts murky as his hunger pang only seemed to worsen, which might have been what had caused him to stir.
"Ah, you're awake."
"Eh?" The boy snapped his head left and right from hearing the words, then groggily sat up. The first thing that came to his field of sight after his eyes adjusted was the still roaring fire of his campsite, though it looked like it was burning much brighter than the paltry kindling it was earlier, and his mouth watered as soon as he caught whiff of an enticing smell. Nestled by the flames were skewers of what was plainly meat, giving off a delectable sizzle as they cooked.
"Food!" His hunger spurring him on, he scrambled for one of the skewers and wasted no time in scything the succulent meat wholesale across his mouth. He repeated this with another, and then another, his cheeks ballooning as his body welcomed the nourishment the animal provided.
"Slow down, Luffy," the voice said with a laugh, a figure tending to the fire.
"Hm?" Pulling away from his feast, the boy named Luffy looked up to peer over the fire at the man skewering more meat from the butchered stag.
Oh, it was the funny talking man, Luffy thought to himself. Para…something.
"Paradox, my boy," the man said with a chuckle, as if having read the lad's thoughts. The boy swallowed the meat he was chewing and frowned petulantly at the correction, before brandishing the skewer in front of him.
"Hey, you hungry old man?" Luffy asked, and the man shook his head with that ever cryptic chuckle.
"No, I've already eaten," Paradox said politely, inclining his head at what was left of the stag. "You can have the rest, though I would recommend you save for the future. You still have the jerky I had you make, correct?"
"I ate it all," Luffy answered, gulping down the refused meat in one swipe of his mouth. "Say, old man."
"Yes?" Paradox responded, propping another skewer by the fire to cook. He was sitting on a log, the flames from the pit casting him in an orange glow, revealing a clean white coat draped down next to him, now only in his dress shirt and brown vest, his white pantaloons spotless despite the loamy and muddy soil.
"Are you gonna tell me what that thingy is you wear on your arm?" Luffy asked bluntly, pointing to the metal gauntlet resting above the white coat.
Paradox glanced up, and with a smile, answered, "Why, that's my Chrononavigator."
"Chro-Chrooo-" Luffy said, struggling to pronounce the; at least to him, complicated word. "It's a mystery glove."
Paradox chuckled once more. "No, Luffy, Chrononavigator. Work on saying it. One thing at a time, dear boy."
Luffy nodded, then rubbed his hands together when Paradox handed him another freshly cooked skewer, licking his lips. After biting into the piece at the top end, Luffy asked, "Hey, old man, why are you so smart?"
"I study, I learn," Paradox shrugged. "Why? Do you wish to be smart as well?"
Luffy shook his head as he kept eating, never stopping even when his mouth was at full capacity. "Not really."
"Oh? And why not?" Paradox asked in a knowing tone.
"'Cuz it's boring," Luffy answered simply with an impassive glint in his eye. "If I was smart, stuff just wouldn't be fun."
"So, you like to be surprised then?" Paradox asked.
"Not really," Luffy said, a response which many would have taken as odd given the flow of their conversation, but to Paradox, it was like parlaying with just a very forward student. He had always been fond of that kind. "I don't like it when Ace or Sabo surprise me with pranks."
"Ah. Well, Luffy, that's them simply expressing how much they care about you," Paradox explained gently. "Plus, it was funny when Sabo tricked you with that mud mask."
"Don't laugh!" Luffy snapped, trembling with anger from the memory of Sabo wearing a mud mask, and becoming interested in having one too. This naturally got him in trouble with Dadan, which resulted in him not being able to eat for two whole days.
"Luffy."
"Hm?" Luffy stopped midway in grabbing the next skewer Paradox was handing to him, their gazes meeting.
"Have you been following what I told you?"
Luffy blinked once, then smiled, nodding. "I haven't touched it." He lifted up his left forearm for the man to see it wrapped with bandages. "Just like you made me promise."
Paradox smiled. "Good. Until you learn proper control, you won't need to use it until the time is right."
"Right," Luffy nodded, then bit into the venison. "Can't you just take it off?"
Paradox shook his head. "My efforts would be just as in vain as yours, my boy. It's bonded to your DNA, so it would be like tearing off your own skin."
Luffy stared blankly at Paradox. "You keep talking funny."
The scientist only laughed.
It had been a year. A year after Paradox came along, and things in Luffy's life took a rather strange turn.
Since he found…it.
A year ago…
"Well, brat, you ready for an awesome summer with your grandpa?"
A very large, well built and imposing man, dressed in a contrasting shirt with flower designs and denim jeans stood over a very annoyed Luffy, who was looking anywhere else but the elderly gentleman before him. Making a face, the seven year old answered, "No."
The beaming man's left eyebrow twitched, and a cry of pain soon echoed throughout the outskirts of the nearby village, with some of the residents knowing who was up to the usual noise.
"Luffy," the old man growled slowly as he waved the clenched fist which he used to admonish the petulant lad, "I'm gonna ask you again, and you better answer differently. Do you want to spend an awesome summer with your grandpa?"
Luffy sniffled, both hands holding the fresh red bump on his head. "SHITTY OLD MAN!" He yelled at his grandfather at the top of his lungs, which earned him a solid kick that sent him flying and he slammed against a tree.
"Keh!" The old man marched up to the lad, incensed. He then stooped down so that they were close to eye level. "Since when has my cute little grandson ever been this unruly? Did that Shanks bastard fill your head with pirate nonsense again?"
Luffy, through the tears welling in his eyes, glared hatefully at the old man. "Shanks is not a bastard! You're the bastard!" He flinched from a sharp pain on his forehead. His grandfather had flicked him, hard enough to leave a red welt. "Stop hitting me!"
"YOU HIT ME FIRST, BRAT!" His grandfather snapped back, a vein pulsing on his forehead, circling back to the root of why the man was beati-disciplining his grandson. The boy had the absolute nerve to bash him on the head with an oar, waking him up from his sleep after a night of binging.
Hearing that, a proud grin came to Luffy's face, drawing another fist to come down on his head. "Tch, who do you take after?" The old man stood up and fished out a flask from his pocket. "Alright, for today, I'm gonna want you to go up and down the mountain."
"Why?"
"Training, you dumbass! Training!" The man snapped, smacking the boy on the head this time. "It's all part of building up your endurance. A good marine should be able to weather through anything. Rain, shine, taking a piss, you need to be tough shit to survive out there." He lifted his flask and unscrewed the cap, then lifted it up to his mouth for a swig.
Luffy growled. "Marine, my ass! I'm gonna be a pirate!"
"You son of a…!" The man began, drawing back his fist once more when he breathed in sharply and said, "A pirate, you say? Why on earth do you even want to be a criminal?"
"Pirates aren't criminals!" Luffy retorted.
"Yes, they are," the man told him more calmly. "There's a reason why pirates are as feared as they are. They're bandits of the seas, they pillage, they loot, they terrorize and do whatever they please to those who can't fight back. It's why we marines exist, to put a stop to scoundrels like that wherever they may be skulking about." He took care to neglect in saying what the marine's other reason for existing was, but the boy could stand to not know that. For now, at least.
Luffy raised a brow questioningly, forgetting the physical pain he was in from his grandfather's tender ministrations. "Huh?"
"I'm telling you that not all pirates are like that Shanks brat," the grandfather stated begrudgingly. "One of these days, you might run into one that'll wipe that smile off your face."
Luffy scoffed, turning away from his grandfather with a pout of his lips. The man sighed, and grabbed his petulant grandson by the crook of his shirt. "Come on, let's get you started so I can catch up on my drinking."
Later…
Luffy puffed and wheezed, his tongue sticking out in exhaustion. He had been running up and down the mountain per his grandfather's instruction for who knows how long, with a large boulder tied behind his back for extra strain. "Stupid old man, stupid training, stupid marines," he chanted deliriously, breathing heavily. With gritted teeth, he had staggered his foot over a particularly veiny outgrowth, with his flip-flop brushing against the bark that nearly tripped him over had he not wasted the last of his energy to catch himself. He scaled up a few more paces when he felt that he was back on stable ground and adjusted his footing. He was thankful that he at least had experience scrabbling up this mountain, in contrast to his first few attempts, which were less than enviable.
Part of him wondered why his grandfather was even putting him up to this, or why he was supposed to be a marine, when he could be a pirate. Maybe if he was a pirate, he wouldn't have to deal with even half the nonsense his grandfather was putting him through. If he was a pirate, he bet he could do whatever he wanted without anyone to order him around. If he was a pirate, he wouldn't have to listen to his shitty old man of a grandpa.
He slumped back when his body could no longer sustain the weight, but the boulder on his back landed on the ground first, making him lean against it in an awkward position, his feet elevating off the ground. He kept panting, a powerful thirst now afflicting him, and without even a bottle or canteen on hand. To his knowledge, the river was still over the next creek, which was a twenty minute walk from where he was.
"Oh my, are you alright, lad?"
Luffy perked up, then whipped his head about. "Err, over here," a man said, peeking out from the boy's right. "Sorry, sorry, didn't mean to startle you."
Luffy blinked, his eyes tracing the man blankly as he walked a few more paces up front. "You didn't."
"Ah, my mistake then," the man said with a smile. He was dressed really funny, with a long white coat that went down to his knees, both hands buried in the pockets. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah," Luffy answered simply. "What are you doing here, mister?"
"Who, me?" The man gestured to himself, eyes twinkling at the question. "Just enjoying a relaxing stroll in the forest, what with me being on break and all. You?"
"Training," Luffy grumbled, his lips pouting out. "My stupid grandpa says I have to run up and down this dumb mountain."
"Really?" The man said with genuine interest, never losing his smile in spite of seeing the deplorable state the boy was in. "Well, it sounds to me your grandfather has his priorities in order. How are you feeling?"
"Lousy," Luffy pouted. "Do you have any water, mister?"
The man didn't answer immediately, a hand coming up to his chin in thought. "Water, you say? Why, I did see a river by the creek over there. Want me to get you some?"
Luffy nodded his head vigorously, his tongue out in eagerness for the chance to relieve his thirst. With a chuckle, the man departed in the direction of the river, leaving a still bound Luffy to wait, when the man was back no sooner than he left, waving a canteen full of the coveted liquid in front of the bound lad's face. The boy's eyes lit up intensely and his hands snatched the container from the man's grasp. He quickly unscrewed the cap and thrust the mouth of the canteen to his own, sucking the water inside greedily. When he was done, he shook the canteen for what could be left, and when he could feel only a few measly droplets rapping against his tongue, he breathed out a sigh of satisfaction, running a forearm over his mouth.
His body relaxing, he let the canteen drop to the ground, lips parted into a euphoric smile. "That's better," Luffy declared. "Thanks, mister."
"You're welcome," the man said back. He then seemed to pull a paper bag from out of nowhere and dug a hand into it before bringing out a small red sphere. "Gumball?"
Luffy, knowing what gum was from Big Sister Makino giving him some once, nodded eagerly, reaching out with his hands for the treat. When the man placed it on his palm, he quickly stuffed it into his mouth, chewing gleefully as the sweetness soon spread throughout his tongue.
The man chuckled at seeing this, though his smiling expression did shift slightly. "I say, hasn't anyone ever cautioned you in accepting things from strangers?"
Luffy, chewing vigorously, stopped to think, then met the man's eyes and said, "Yeah, but you don't look like a stranger, old man. You dress funny, but you don't seem like a bad guy."
To this, the man laughed. It wasn't a mocking sort of laughter, but more of astonishment. "I see, then introductions might be well in order. My name is Paradox."
Luffy, hearing this, opened his mouth and tried to pronounce the odd name. "Para…Para…"
"Paradox, my good boy," the man repeated patiently. "Now, what is your name?"
At this, Luffy perked up, finding that task to be much easier. "Monkey D. Luffy."
"Well, Luffy, it is a pleasure to meet you," Paradox said amiably, putting his hand forward, which Luffy instinctively took to shake.
The man was a complete stranger, but he felt like he could trust him, not sensing any ill intent. He seemed friendly enough, unlike his grandpa, but Big Sister Makino also said that he shouldn't trust people who were too friendly with him.
"Hey, old man, you gonna help untie me?"
Paradox seemed to take this into consideration before doing so, with some notable difficulty for how tight the knot was. When it was finally undone, Luffy pushed himself off of the boulder in one breath and turned around to face the offending weight. He then raised his right foot, and kicked the large stone back down the mountain. He made a face, sticking his tongue at it in resentment, not caring one bit that his grandfather might get mad and bea-discipline him again for the infraction.
Luffy heard Paradox chuckle again and turned to regard the funny looking man. Taking in his full appearance, there was a pronounced gentlemanly air about him, his hair neat and barbered, and his frame wiry but well postured. Luffy didn't really care though. What he did care about, was…
"You got any food?" he asked, followed by the telltale rumbling of his stomach, chewing the gum idly in his mouth.
Paradox blinked. Definitely a cut from Benjamin. "If you want food, might I suggest that tree over there? It could use a little culling with how abundant its crop is."
Luffy kept staring at the odd man blankly. "Mister, you talk funny."
Paradox snorted. "Oh, I beg your pardon. I tend to go on a tangent when I get a bit peckish, you see." He shifted his sights to his right where the tree stood. "Perhaps a snack is in order?"
Luffy's expression didn't waver despite the prospect of food, remarking flatly, "Funny talking old man." Paradox snickered.
The two approached a nearby apple tree that was indeed teeming with green apples. Luffy agilely clambered up the tree, the water having replenished enough of his energy. He nestled himself on a branching trunk and reached for the nearest fruit, plucked it, and bit down with gusto. He devoured the apple with a ferocity of a wild hyena, and he repeated this until he was sated for the moment.
Patting his stomach, he relaxed against the tree and only then remembered the man, who was leaning against the main trunk from down below in silence. "Hey, mister," Luffy called down to net his attention, "you want one?"
Paradox tilted his head, smiling at the offer. "Why, yes, I would like an apple, Luffy. Thank you."
With a nod, Luffy balanced himself on the branch once more, reached for another apple, plucked it, and dropped it down for Paradox to catch easily without looking. Luffy plucked himself another one and the two ate at a more languid pace. When he was done, Luffy looked down to check if the man wanted another, when he found the bottom of the tree deserted, with Paradox nowhere to be seen.
Luffy blinked, darting his eyes searchingly. "Eh? Where'd he go?"
After scaling down the tree, Luffy wagered that the now scarce man simply left out of boredom, a sentiment he shared before descending down the mountain, notably bereft of his boulder, which, naturally, earned him a cannonball sized fist to the face from his grandfather. The following days went more or less the same, even when Luffy was expected to stay inside, since he would still sneak out to play.
This came to a head one day when he suddenly found Paradox waiting for him outside his home, which, to his credit, didn't inspire any feelings of awkwardness since he already knew the man well enough to welcome him inside. Paradox politely declined, telling him, "I'm just here to say goodbye for now, Luffy. I'll be departing on important business."
Luffy pouted at this news, having grown rather fond of the odd man's company. "When are you gonna come back?"
Paradox hummed in thought. "Hm, I estimate it wouldn't take me longer than a fortnight."
"Huh?"
"Two weeks," Paradox simplified for the very simple lad. "Until then, there's…something…"
"What?" Luffy needled curiously after a moment.
Paradox had assumed a thinking pose, nuzzling his chin. "There's…something I want you to do for me. You see, ever since arriving here on Dawn Island, I've never been able to find lodging that well suited me. So, I've been staying in a cave up on the mountain. It should be nearby where we usually convene, so it shouldn't prove too difficult to find. Would you do me the favor of watching over my little hovel until I return?"
Luffy, his face scrunching tightly from the effort of just listening to what the man was saying, nodded. "So, you want me to look after your house?"
Paradox nodded, smiling. "Please do. I would appreciate it greatly, even reward you handsomely."
"Nah, I don't want a reward," Luffy refused with a wave of his hand. "I'll do it because you're my friend."
"Be that as it may, such generosity warrants compensation," Paradox said, watching the boy's trouble in comprehending him with a sympathetic eye. "I will still give you a reward because, as your friend, it would simply serve to show my appreciation."
"Oh," Luffy said, his mouth set in a perfect 'o' shape. He still didn't really need or wanted a reward, but if it was meant to show his friend's appreciation for him, then he couldn't really refuse. It might make the man sad. "Okay, then. When are you gonna leave?"
"Today, of course," Paradox answered, then turned on his heel so that his back was now facing the lad, glancing over his shoulder at him. "Until then, Luffy, this is farewell. Adieu."
"Uh, yeah, a-adoo…" Luffy said noncommittally, staring at the retreating man's form blankly, waving a hand.
Paradox walked until he passed by the treeline leading into the forest, when he spoke while still looking ahead, "Well, hello Vice Admiral. Lovely weather today."
Sitting under the shade of the thick canopy, Luffy's elderly grandfather watched him with hawk-like eyes, his arm slung over a raised knee, dangling his near empty flask. "Stop it," he muttered in a vaguely dangerous intonation.
"Hm?" Paradox blinked after coming to a halt, both hands buried in his coat pockets, his smile ever present.
"I need you to stop seeing my grandson," the imposing elder reiterated, pinning the other man with the cold, merciless stare that had made many a criminal quiver in fear.
"Certainly," Paradox shrugged without protest. "I myself find the arrangement rather…unfitting. Perhaps I should have come at a later date."
"Get. Out. And never show your fucking face around my grandson ever again," Luffy's grandfather threatened under his breath. "Or I might just find myself doing something both of us will regret."
The two fell into a silent stare-off, a light breeze sneaking past between them.
Which soon picked up in intensity.
Paradox was still all smiles, even when a meaty arm was inches away from his face, the far end of it set into an enclosed fist that pointed at a straight line of destruction left by the shockwave of the man's failed assault.
Both men's eyes met up close, embroiled in a silent war, but Paradox did not betray so much as a flinch.
The man's eyes narrowed. "He dodged it? Of course he did."
"Come now, Vice Admiral, this is all unbecoming of a man of your status," Paradox remarked with a genial chuckle. "I'm sure we can discuss this more civilly."
The other man's expression was undaunted, only becoming colder. He withdrew his arm and straightened at his full height, with the top of Paradox's head barely coming up to his abdomen. "Civilly, he says. You certainly weren't so civil about barging into our lives like this. Just what is it you're here for?"
"The fresh air? The scenic ambience?" Paradox listed smoothly.
"Don't be coy," the giant of a man chided. "The air smells like shit, there's a dumping ground right around the corner and no shortage of bad men that'd slit your throat on a Tuesday. So, either come clean or we'll be here all day playing 20 questions."
Paradox tilted his head, then turned to look up at the sky. He could see the morning sun cascading gingerly against the clouds. "Nice, warm weather," he whispered appreciatively. "Wouldn't you say, Garp?"
Garp blinked, then dipped his head with a shake and a sigh. "Fuck my life." He breathed in sharply and said, "Alright, whatever it is with the kid, I ain't gonna be the one to clean up your mess."
Paradox shrugged. "Any news?"
"If you mean from the last meeting, no," Garp groused. "Command's hands are tied."
"So, no changes," Paradox concluded.
Garp ran a hand through his gray hair. "Earth is still officially a colony planet," he responded. "Unofficially, we're still the universe's toilet, and I don't see our situation improving any time soon."
"That's a given," Paradox reasoned, "and an incentive for the Galactic Federation to keep Earth around for longer. Armageddon is simply a matter of referendum for them after all."
Garp idly twirled the flask in his hand, staring at its sheen. "...And we're supposed to be grateful?"
Paradox bowed his head. "It's the best case scenario."
"The very least they could do is be nice and make the transition a hell of a lot quicker," Garp said back with a huff. "We have enough on our plates just putting up with the pricks we have down here."
"Maybe so," Paradox didn't quite disagree. "But in these times, other worlds are hardly faring any better."
"Like we give a shit," Garp opined tersely. "My son certainly didn't. That's why he left."
"And what of you?" Paradox asked him, to which he scoffed.
"I still have my own obligations," Garp reasoned, walking back to where he had sat under the tree. "And pretty soon, Luffy is going to need a guiding hand until he can stand on his own."
"What of the other two?" Paradox ventured, to which Garp heaved out a sigh more tedious than the last. "I see. Well, it's been wonderful speaking with you, Vice Admiral, but I still have other matters to attend to."
"Yeah, yeah," Garp rattled off, motioning for him to leave. "Just don't let me catch you around the little shit."
Paradox chuckled and with a breath, promptly vanished in a pillar of light, leaving Garp alone to his thoughts. He gave a sidelong glance in the direction of his home, where Luffy should be provided he was still-oh, fuck.
He ran off to Makino's again.
The exasperated veteran Marine threw his dead back, wishing to whatever god was listening that his flask was still full.
At Makino's…
Luffy was sitting on a stool in front of the counter, facing Makino, begrudgingly sipping a glass of milk through a straw. He had originally asked for rum, but she simply told him that he was still far too young, which earned him some laughter from the other patrons in the bar. Among those patrons was a man with hair a deep crimson, leaning his back against the counter with his elbows propped to his sides.
"Nahahaha!" The man gave out a hearty belly laugh. "You trying to play at being a grown-up again, Luffy?"
"Shut up!" Luffy snapped back at the man, briefly forgetting his drink. "I am a grown-up, and I'm gonna be a pirate!"
A round of laughter and clapping reverberated against the walls of the building, including that of the redhead, the man slapping down at his knee in glee. "This kid! Gyahahahaha!"
"Hey, Luffy, you want a drink?" One of the men sitting by the tables offered mockingly, lifting up his pint as if for a toast.
"It's good~!" Another teased.
This only served to aggravate the already incensed seven year old. "Fuck all of you!"
"Whoa!"
"Wohoho!"
"Hehe, that's some mouth on 'ya, huh, Luffy?" The redhead remarked sportingly, while Makino simply smacked the boy on the head, much more gently than what he was used to from his grandfather.
Luffy took their bait. "Can I have some?"
Makino was quick to deny him. "No, Luffy, you can't have what they're drinking. You're not old enough."
"Not old enough?" Luffy repeated. "That's dumb. If they get to drink, why can't I?"
All of the men in the bar laughed once more, earning them a glare from the female bartender. "If you drink that, you'll get sick."
"No, I won't!" Luffy insisted.
"Yes, you will," Makino persisted.
"Well, Luffy," the man next to him piped up with a sly grin, "if that's all you want, how about I do you a solid and just give you a sip? Whaddaya say?"
Luffy blinked, processing the man's offer, then his face lit up in excitement. "Really?!"
Makino frowned in disapproval, directing it solely on the redhead, her eyes locking with the corner of his own. His only response was a near apologetic shrug, but this was too good of an opportunity for him to pass up. Grabbing his nearly drained glass, he presented it to the curious lad, who carelessly snatched it with both hands and was about to drain it whole when Makino once again smacked him on the back of his head.
"Just a sip!" Makino permitted strongly, gaze smoldering, followed by another round of laughter from the patrons. Luffy nodded, scratching at the sore spot before lifting the glass to his lips. Watching with anticipation, they all grew quiet as the boy drew his head back, lips pursed against the mouth of the glass.
His eyes widened. No sooner did the liquid touch the tip of his tongue that he reflexively puckered to cut off the flow, buckling forward as he spat out the rum with a pronounced retch.
The redhead withdrew the glass before it could fall from the boy's hand, laughing uproariously alongside the other men, heartily amused at the reaction they had expected. Makino immediately attended to Luffy, reaching over the counter to pat him on the back as he coughed and gagged out the terrible taste, feeling the burn in his throat. It was unlike anything he had ever drank or eaten before.
Luffy raised his head, coughing and retching a few more times before glaring daggers at the still laughing man. Opening his mouth to yell at him, the images in front of the boy blurred for an instant, stopping his words short. Makino sighed as she watched Luffy's face start to redden, knowing that she now had a special place in hell for having allowed this. She reached below the counter, bringing out a bottle of milk to refill Luffy's empty glass.
Blinking through the bleariness, Luffy squinted as the redhead's visage was starting to become distorted and fuzzy. Makino placed forward the now full glass of milk, which the intoxicated boy staggered to reach for until his right hand came into contact with something and grabbed hold. Makino wrenched the object out of his hand, for it wasn't the glass, and handed it to the red haired man, who took it and tossed the item to one of the men nearby. The woman then carefully brought the glass of milk to his lips, holding the back of his head to help steady him, allowing Luffy to take measured sips. After he drank enough, Makino gave him another scolding to never do something so foolhardy again before turning her attention to the man. "Shanks, I need to take him home," she said. "Can you watch over the bar?"
All of the men let out whoops and wolf whistles. One of them hollered, "You hitched now, Cap'n?"
The redhead, now known as Shanks, grinned lopsidedly between Makino and the men, who were his trusted crew. "Sure," he agreed smoothly, eyeballing the woman flirtatiously. "Anything for you, beautiful." Another series of laughs followed, with the captain giggling like a madman. Makino shook her head in disapproval, which belied the curling of her lips.
Upon leaving, Makino, with Luffy having fallen asleep in her arms, espied a band of men from the corner of her eye heading for the bar. She maintained her poker face, making sure not to look at them directly as she kept walking at an even pace.
Later…
"He…did…what?!" Garp thundered, standing by the door of his house, his castle. Makino was smiling unflinchingly at him.
"Sorry, I should have actually put my foot down," she apologized with some embarrassment, her hands wound in front of her. Much to her surprise; or lack thereof, Garp bursted out laughing.
"I wish I'd been there to see it!" Garp exclaimed proudly. "He's gonna have his first hangover once he wakes up!"
Makino's expression faltered. "Uh, y-yes," she replied, trailing off with an awkward chuckle.
In the following days that came after, Luffy, who decided from then on to abstain from alcohol, spent his waking hours playing in the forest when his grandfather wasn't diligently beating the ever loving shi-training him. It wasn't until the two weeks of not seeing Paradox were up that it came back to him.
"Ah," he remembered, "I'm supposed to check on the old man's house."
His gaze traveled up the mountain, and without much thought; which was a constant, started on his trek. Along the way, he picked up a stick and idly swang it as a distraction, mindlessly plodding over the loamy terrain. Going into thought, which wasn't often, Luffy traced the spots where he and Paradox would meet in order to place where the cave could be. After about two hours of scouring through the forestry, during which he killed and ate a boar for lunch, he finally found the mouth of what could only be a cavern, camouflaged by a layer of moss and outgrowth.
As if confirming that this was indeed the cave that Paradox had directed him to, there was a sign that was hanging atop the entrance that read, 'This is the cave, Luffy.'
Luffy beamed, thrilled that he had made it, and with time to spare as the sun was still out. He jumped for joy and ran into the cave without thinking until his sights were overtaken by darkness. "Eh? Ah?" Luffy darted his head about. "Hello? Anybody home?" He waited for a response that never came, and was reminded that Paradox hadn't come back yet.
The place didn't seem like it was occupied; the lack of light notwithstanding, so what was he to do?
"…"
He shrugged; might as well go exploring, the pitch black darkness barely an afterthought.
With that decided, Luffy took one step forward.
Only for him to not find any footing.
"Eh?"
The loss of balance failed to register before a sharp, punishing pain came to his forehead from colliding with something hard. "Gyah!"
From there, the boy plummeted along what could only have been a steep slope, crying out in pain for every harrowing tumble.
Down and down, deeper and deeper until his torment finally ended when he landed face first on even ground. Or, as even as it could get. Minutes passed before Luffy groaned, slowly coming to as he was still enveloped in complete and total darkness. Laying down on his stomach, he slowly rolled over on his back and writhed in agony, a familiar stinging seizing his battered body. He gritted his teeth and willed himself to ignore the pain as he sat up, when another jab of pain caught him off guard - coming squarely from his leg.
Taking in a breath sharply, he felt around his leg to assess the damage when he seized up again, his finger coming into contact with moisture, warm and thick. He was bleeding. Fighting back tears, his hands instinctively reached around for anything that could help him. That was when his fingers managed to brush against…something. Becoming hopeful, he felt around searchingly until the tip of his middle finger touched it and he carefully grabbed hold.
It felt dusty and grimy. A rock? Hang on. Metal? No…jelly? That was weird.
He squinted, wishing that he could at least see where he was when he paused, feeling something cold latch onto his arm, but the feeling went away just as quickly.
Wait. The rock. Did he drop it? His hands came down on the cave floor, feeling around again when the fingers of his right hand brushed past his left wrist.
He blinked.
"Eh?"
He withdrew both hands and looked down at where they should be. What did he…?
Luffy hovered his right hand over his left wrist with some hesitation before he grabbed hold of…something having indeed latched itself on. It felt almost metallic, cold, and smooth to the touch. What was it? He continued to fiddle around with the object, trying and failing to remove it, the thing plastered on tight.
He tried again, and again. And again, but still, it wouldn't come off.
Bored and realizing it was stuck on tight, he gave up on that task and went back to finding his way around the cave. With the worst of the pain having subsided by now, he began to climb to his feet, pressing his hands down to push himself up. "Nrgh!" His teeth clenching, the pain in his leg began to act up again from the action. Ignoring it, he kept pushing for a while longer when the pain finally proved unbearable, and he fell back down flat on his stomach, returning to square one.
This caused the object on his wrist to land just as hard along with him.
'Beep'
Luffy's eyes cracked open, a twitch to his ear. What was that sound? His senses heightened within the blackness, he shifted around and whipped his gaze about until he found himself staring at…a green wall, then a small glimpse of the roof bearing some stalactites. He…could see now? There was light, traces of it, but still good enough to put a smile to his face. But where was it…?
His eyes traveled downward, following where the light seemed to be coming from, and to his astonishment, he found it to be flashing from a…bracelet? Spying it from the corner of his eye, it certainly resembled one. A mystery bracelet! His face lighting up with interest, he rolled on his back and sat up, disregarding the stinging pain now that he had a distraction. He traced the fingers of his right hand against what appeared to be a flat, circular face where the green glow was emanating from, it being brighter up close.
Pure fascination reflected off of his eyes as he stared at the odd device, wondering what it could be. Studying it, he swung the thing up and down, testing the weight. To his surprise, it didn't feel all that heavy or cumbersome despite its outward bulk. It felt like he wasn't even wearing anything at all. Curiously, he fiddled with it again, when to his alarm, the light faded.
"No, no!"
Was it broken? Could he have broken it? These thoughts were running through his head as he tried to get it to light up again, smacking and slapping the face. He swung it again more vigorously, before slamming it on the ground upon remembering that was what initially garnered a reaction. He kept striking it against the cavern floor when it eventually lit up again.
Relief washing over him, he smiled at his accomplishment. So that's how this thing worked. He just needed to keep smashing it against something hard.
As if it read his mind, there was another reaction from the mystery bracelet. After an additional series of beeps, the circular face rose up, causing Luffy's eyes to shine with wonderment. Bringing it up close, he examined the strange mechanism, brushing his right hand against the face when he felt it…loosen, spinning against his fingers, shortly followed by the appearance of an oddly shaped black spot. His brows furrowed, betraying his confusion. He slowly spun the circular face again, clockwise, counterclockwise, repeating this several times in amusement. Eventually, boredom set in which made him stop and refocus his mind back to escaping. Now that he had a light source, he should be able to find his way through the cave better.
He stood up and gasped, the pain returning. "Damn it!" Luffy cursed, pulling his arms to his chest as he assumed a prone, fetal position.
No sooner than he did, a round of rapid beeps assaulted his ears, followed by an explosively bright flash of green.
He opened his eyes a moment later, peeking to see if the light was still on, and was awash with disappointment when he was once again trapped in darkness. A sigh escaped his lips as he slowly rolled over on his back. Taking in a breath, he stiffened when he picked up a…really odd smell. It was familiar, making his nose wrinkle, like the bog west of his home where he'd go to catch frogs to eat.
Did caves smell like swamps? This one single thought ran through his mind as he allowed himself to just relax, when the familiar stirrings of a hunger pang came knocking. He closed his eyes, wishing more than anything that he had a bite to eat. Pouting, he allowed a small tantrum to pass, beating his arms and legs up and down over his current predicament.
"So lame…" He mumbled to himself in a deeper voice, but he didn't notice, too caught up in being trapped, perhaps never able to get out. He continued to lament his fate when sleep soon laid claim to him.
Paradox sighed once he emerged from the corner, smiling down at Luffy's current form. He shook his head, thankful that he had at least found it.
Or rather, it had found him.
"Definitely a cut from 'ol Benjamin."
