~Queen Of The Sea~
14
A New Plan In Action
Luffy was tossed into a cage, bound up and confused.
"What gives!? Why am I in a cage!?" he asks in his aloof confusion.
He had only been half following everything that was happening–
Given that he was under the impression that some kind of plan was at stake. It wasn't until he noticed Rheddii struggling against Nami's pretend embrace that he began to suspect that he might a actually be being duped here–
"Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha~ It's a great day to be a Pirate~!" Buggy said with glee.
Luffy blinked in confusion, trying to assess the situation but still feeling lost.
"Rheddii! Do you know what's going on here!?"
What!?
Nami internally gasped.
This guy knows this girl too!?
She must be a seriously famous pirate or something…
Nami clicked her tongue and gritted her teeth.
I can't let my plan fall apart–!
"Rheddii! Are you okay!?" called Luffy, "Hey! Rheddii!"
Buggy's eye twitches and raises a brow as the captive Pirate in the cage continued to call for the red head in Nami's embrace.
"Hmmn…you know…you're acting rather familiar with my niece here…" he grumbled, "Do you know her or something!? What's going on–"
"What? Of course I know her!" said Luffy, "She's my friend!"
"Your friend!?"
"More than that even– she's my–!"
Before Luffy could finish his declaration Nami swiftly and harshly kicked the bars of the cage to silence him.
"You shut your mouth, you dirty stinking liar!" said Nami as she crushed her arm over Rheddii's mouth so that the girl wouldn't dare speak a word of protest while she continued to spin her tale–
"What did I tell you, Captain Buggy– He's the worst!" said Nami, "Trying to avoid capture I see– by using my poor dear bestie's emotions against her! How could you!"
"WHAT!?" Buggy huffed, " Poor Rheddii really is quite the soft hearted emotional girl– How DARE someone try to take advantage of my Niece like that!? TIME FOR YOU TO PAY–!"
"Say what now!?" Luffy huffed in annoyance and Rheddii couldn't even muster a grunt to fix the situation, shooting glares up at Nami who shot them right back with a grin.
"That's right…" said Nami, "He'll never hurt you again, Rheddii~ Shhh" she whispered softly in her ear, "It's okay bestie…I'm here…and your dear sweet Uncle Buggy is here to protect you…you're safe now…~"
This girl…
…Is a monster!
Rheddii thought to herself.
"Uh…Say…you! Girl!"
"O-Oh uh– Yes Captain Buggy?" Nami blinked as the Clown shifted his attention back to her.
Yes!
Please Uncle Buggy!
Don't be fooled–
You know this girl is lying– right!?
We're not friends–
I don't know her at all–!
"...What do you call yourself?" he asks, making Rheddii, the obvious captive, mentally facepalm.
Of course…
Right over his head…
She whimpered.
"Me? Oh! I'm Nami~" she smiled.
"HA HA~ Then let's have a Welcome party for our new friend, Nami~" Buggy cheered, "My dear sweet precious little niece has found herself her first friend! That's worth celebrating~!"
Everyone cheered in response masking out the sound of Rheddii's huffs and puffs of annoyance and frustration.
Everyone danced merrily and sang.
Playing silly party games and drowning themselves in food and booze.
"What's wrong?" Buggy asked as Nami sat silently while the fools around her partied their hearts out, "We're throwing this party in your honor~ so eat up!" he grinned knocking back a cold mug down his throat.
"Thanks for the party~ Captain Buggy!" Nami grinned enjoying a bite of her food.
I'll just keep my eyes peeled for now….
For a chance to take back that chart…!
"Ahhh~" Buggy let out a satisfied sigh as he emptied out the contents of his mug and smiled, "Really, I should be thanking YOU girl…" he said softly.
"Huh?" Nami blinked, caught by surprise by his sudden softer demeanor.
Thanking me…?
She thought to herself.
…Well that's certainly unexpected…
Why would he do that?
She was almost taken aback when she noticed a wistful expression on his face as he continued.
"Rheddii…" he said her name so softly, "...She's had a bit of a rough past." he said to her, "She's…never really had any friends before so…" he chuckled, "Especially none her own age really…her…struggles…kind of make it a bit harder for her to make any." he explains to her and smiles, "...So thanks…for being a friend for her." he hums, "...And thank god you're not a man~ Or I'd have to gut you! HA HA HA~!"
Nami swallowed hard, feeling a cold sweat drop run down her neck.
Is he her uncle?
Or Her dad?
She wondered.
I see…
So that girl…
Rheddii…
She has a hard time making friends huh?
Due to a bad past?
Nami was silent for a while as she thought back to the girl she kinda forced into her hand…
Hold on–
Did he just say that Rheddii was MY AGE!?
No Way!
I THOUGHT SHE WAS LIKE– 13 OR SOMETHING!
Though…with the shock of the petite red head and herself being in the same age pool aside…
Everything else?
Nami could honestly relate to her…
In that sense.
…Now I feel kind of bad…
She groaned as she took a sip of her own mug.
So then…
Buggy is thanking me…
For being her friend?
She pondered.
Feeling a little bit worse for playing them both–
But then she remembers that they're Pirates…
And packs that guilt back down even deeper to forget about–
Crap–!
I just noticed something!
"Say…Captain Buggy~?"
"Hmm~? Yes my dear– what is it?"
"Where's Rheddii now, do you know?" Nami asked, "What I mean is…I haven't seen her for a bit…and I'm worried."
"Hmnh…Oh~ I'm sure she's running around here somewhere~" he chuckled, "That's my niece for you~ She's never been one to sit still for very long! HA HA HA." he snorts, "Ahh…I'm kind of sad though…I figured she would want to hang out with us a little more now that her bestie has joined the crew…" he sighed, "Ahh well…I'm sure she'll turn up sooner or later…" he chuckled.
Hopefully Sooner rather than later!
Nami thought to herself in an eternal panic.
Otherwise I might be totally screwed!
xxx
While The Party was in full swing and Rheddii finally had her chance to make a break for it from Nami… She snuck her way over to Luffy's cage.
"Rheddii! There you are!" the captain beamed while Rheddii worked to shush him so that he didn't pull any attention.
"I brought you some food from the party…" she said to him as she slid some through the bars.
"Ha ha ha~ Awesome! Thank you!" he grinned as he dug in, appreciating the gift, "Much obliged~" he hummed, satisfied, "Say Rheddii? Could you explain what's going on here?" he asked her, "Because I'm confused."
"Really!? Because I was hoping you would be able to provide ME with the explanation!" she states, "Because from my perspective it looks like you were captured and are now Uncle Buggy's Prisoner!"
"Huh? Did you say Uncle…? Luffy blinked before his eyes nearly bulged from his head, "YOU MEAN THAT CLOWN GUY IS YOUR UNCLE!?"
"SHHHHHHH!" she hissed, "Yes, he is, but we don't really have time to get into that right now!" she huffs, "What about that girl who calls herself Nami, huh?" she asked, "The one who captured you? Explain!"
"Oh right…Nami." said Luffy, "Well…she's a Navigator." he states, "And she was in on joining to be part of our crew–"
"YOUR crew– not mine!" Rheddii corrected, "As soon as I have the money to replace the boat you broke I'm taking off again."
"Awe come on– just join MY crew! Why you gotta be such a pain the ass about it?" he grumbled, "Anyway…Like I said, Nami was going to be part of the crew– as navigator but…" he grinned giggling, "...Looks like I got captured instead~ ha ha ha~"
Rheddii sighed.
Yeah…
That…
Sounds about right…
She huffed and sighed once more.
"Well…just hang on a bit longer, okay?" said Rheddii, "She's got Uncle Buggy wrapped around her finger for right now…but…he was wrapped around MINE first!" she smirked, "I'll definitely get us out of this mess!"
To be continued