Chapter 19: Desert Heat
A pillar of smoke climbed high into the sky as the pirates and runaway Princess continued their journey through the desert."You've got to admit you were showing off a bit back there." Sabo grumbled as Ace grinned.
Ace knew he had shit eating grin on his face. "Jealous little brother?" He teased as he pushed his hat up to look at his brother. "Besides they obviously were working for Crocodile."
"Jealous? Of what? You turning into the human torch and burning everything away?" He inquired sounding annoyed. "Or the fact you still pass out in the middle of a fight?"Just a few moments ago their group had come in contact with a bunch of bandits. After sailing up the coast to the next town they had found another village turned to dust because of no rainfall. Ace had contacted Deuce and the others who had discreetly gone further up the coast to gather intel for their former captain. "Just remember we're here to support Luffy, not to outshine or outdo him in any way." Sabo reminded his brother.
Ace groaned. He really hated it when Sabo would go all big brother on him when he was the eldest, not Sabo! "Damn it! I know that!" He growled at his twin. The sweltering heat was annoying not too harsh for Ace but he understood why his brother was getting upset. Sabo always did react badly when overheated.
The two brothers turned to rejoin everyone who was riding or walking ahead of them when they noticed Luffy stop walking. Ussop was the first to notice him trailing behind them. "Hey is there something wrong Luffy?"
The blue haired princess looked over at him from her perch on eyelashes back; the camel friend of Choppers. "Luffy?"
Luffy crossed his arm over his chest. With his head down he began speaking. "I quit."
"Huh?!" Everyone yelled out at him including his brothers who came up behind him.
"What do you mean you quit!?" Vivi asked her voice on the edge of panic.
Ussop groaned. "We've got a lot to do, and it's hot. There's no time for your crap!" The sniper sounded a bit annoyed with his captains antics.
"We plan on stopping the rebels in this kingdom." He stated rather than asking.
"Well obviously." Sanji agreed.
"Where is he going with this?" Sabo asked gaining a shrug from his brother.
"Which is boring." Luffy stated the obvious.
"Wait, what!?" Sanji yelled gaining a grin from Zoro who seemed to know what Luffy was up to.
"Vivi, listen. I want to kick Crocodile's ass, okay?" His two brothers grinned, thinking it was gonna be Luffy wanting to go off on his own to fight. "If we stop the people starting the rebellion, do you think that's going to stop Crocodile?"
"I don't understand." She said, her eyes showing fear; fear of Luffy leaving, of failing to get her country the help it needs and failing to save everyone.
"I understand." Zoro stated as he laid his hand on his hip.
"It's an interesting point." Sanji agreed taking a puff from his cigarette.
"Even though it's Luffy pointing this out." Ussop muttered quietly.
Luffy continued as he felt his brother's come up next to him, watching him. "Vivi, you're hoping that we can all come outta this with no one dying, right?"
"Well," she began feeling unsure for a second. "Yes."
"Not one of us. Not one of the citizens. You're living a dream world!" Luffy finished sounding quite sure about his words.
Suddenly the princess jumped from the camels back. She approached Luffy looking all pissed. "Oh is that so? Tell me, do you think I'm wrong?" Luffy looked at her unimpressed. "What is wrong with not wanting people to die?"
Luffy looked at her angrily but held that anger back, reminding himself she was his friend. "Death happens." Both Ace and Sabo looked away with their hats covering their eyes. They knew this all too well and the fact that their baby brother had to remind people of this was the sad part of their life.
Suddenly the princess punched Luffy, sending him flying backwards. Both brothers knew he could've stopped it or even dodged it; which meant that this punch was intentionally landing on him. "Shut your mouth! You say that one more time and they'll be the last words you ever speak!" Vivi screamed her pale fist throbbing from hitting him. The group on the other hand were less than impressed with Luffy acting all weak. "The royal and rebel armies and people of this kingdoms are all innocent of wrong doing! So why do any of them have to die?"Ussop made to stop the two from fighting when Sanji grabbed his shoulder and shook his head at his friend.
Luffy stood up, his hat having fallen off of his head by now, causing his curly hair to get into his eyes. He looked at Vivi. He could see her point, but it was a mute action. "If nobody needs to die," he began as he rushed at her and pulled his punch as he hit her in the face with his fist. "then why are you out here risking your life?"
"Luffy!" Ussop yelled.
"Hey! Stop!" Sanji yelled not liking to see a beautiful woman hit.
Vivi flipped Luffy and jumped onto his chest and began wailing on his face. "Just one look at this kingdom and even we can tell." Luffy began speaking even throughout the hitting.
"Tell what!?" She yelled as she continued to hit him.
"What needs to be done most!" Luffy continued. "As if putting your life on the line would be enough out here!" Luffy was beginning to sound equally upset with Vivi the way she seemed to be with him.
Through tears, Vivi questioned. "Then tell me what I should be putting on the line?! I don't have anything else to sacrifice! I don't have anything else worth putting on the line other than the life of some stupid princess!" Luffy suddenly grasped her fist with his hand, stopping her pitiful punches.
"We put all of our lives on the time together! We're friends, right?" She looked at him with wide tear filled eyes. "We're here to help you!" Vivi lost it. Since arriving she'd been trying so hard to act tough and strong so the others couldn't see how pitiful she was, but Luffy saw it! He always saw through his friend's walls no matter how thick they made them. "Whoa, I guess you can cry. Sorry." Luffy said trying to joke and get her tears to stop. "I know you wanna beat Crocodile more than even I do, but we're friends and we're in this together. So you're not alone."
Sabo smirked. So that's what he was trying to do. He looked over at Ace who was looking up and away. "Hey, are you okay Ace?"
"Shut it." Ace grouched as he wiped his eyes. "There's dust in my eyes." He obviously lied.
Sabo rolled his eyes at the obvious lie. "Now let's go find this Crocodile." Luffy said as he dusted off his strawhat and placed it back on his head.
Clearing his throat Ace spoke with a wide grin. "Luffy," this caused the strawhat captain to look at his brother. "I'm all for sticking together and all, but 'Bo has Revolutionary contacts that could be useful in this instance." Luffy's eyes widened. "How about we go into the nearest rebel camp and see if we can stall any heavy war between the rebels and the royal army?"
Sabo gave an equally happy grin to this as Ace had. "I might not actually be able to sanction anything officially but it would stall their leadership with paperwork for two or three days."
Vivi clasped her hands together in prayer. "Please?" She begged Luffy. It might be the distraction they needed.
"I like that idea Ace," Luffy agreed. "Take Nami or Ussop, they can write the official paperwork." He used air quotes on the word official. "Plus, they're one of the few outside of the revs or Whitebeards that could sneak into the rebels without raising any suspicion."
"You know," Ussop began as he spoke to the others. "when he actually uses his brain he makes a lot of sense." The group of friends all nodded in agreement.
M-Angel: This week has been so stressful. I am so sorry that I didn't get a chapter out until now.
Kharaki Taken - I saw that on a Facebook meme and I thought I'd integrate it into the story because I could see that happening.