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“Find everything you were looking for?”
Luffy grins brightly at the cashier. “Yeah!” He exclaims. Nami had given Luffy a little bit of money to spend - “You’re in debt with me now, Luffy!” - and Luffy had been planning to just buy some meat with it. But then he’d seen a little cotton candy booth nearby, and just this morning Chopper was talking about wanting cotton candy.
So of course, here he is.
“Aw, cotton candy, how sweet. That’ll be 20 beli.” The cashier smiles. “You buying this for a special someone?”
Luffy nods eagerly, placing the money on the counter. “Yeah! ‘m buying it for my friend!”
“Ah.” Luffy tilts his head to the side as the cashier adopts a faint frown. “Well, you’ll find someone someday.”
“What do you mean?” Luffy asks, furrowing his brows.
“I mean a girlfriend- or boyfriend, I suppose,” the cashier carries on musingly. Luffy frowns, narrowing his eyes at them.
“Why?”
“Oh, I just don’t want to see a happy young man like yourself missing out. You’ll find someone special to make you happy someday.”
Luffy frowns even deeper. “I already have people to make me happy!” He insists. The cashier just laughs.
“You’ll understand once you find them,” they say, as if they’re trying to be reassuring, as if it’s a great piece of wisdom. They sound like they’re trying to impersonate Rayleigh when he’s actually giving good advice.
Luffy’s friends are amazing. Every single one of them - Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, Robin, Franky, Brook, Jinbe - they’re awesome, and no one could ever replace them. The fact that this cashier thinks anyone could is complete bullshit.
Done with this, Luffy glares at them, snatches the cotton candy, and leaves.
-
“Chopper!”
Chopper spins his head around, gasping as he catches sight of Luffy- or, rather, what he holds in his hands. “Cotton candy?!” Chopper gasps excitedly. Luffy nods and hands it to Chopper, and Chopper happily takes a bite out of it. “Where did you find this?” Chopper exclaims through a mouthful of the best treat on the planet.
“Just over there!” Luffy gestures behind him. Chopper cranes his neck to see if he can find the stall, but is unsuccessful. Heedless of Chopper’s endeavors, Luffy quickly swings Chopper onto his shoulders, and starts walking. Chopper starts rambling about his day, and Luffy laughs and chimes in at all the right spots, and it’s good. After a few minutes, a comfortable silence falls between them. And then-
“You’re the best doctor, y’know?” Luffy says out of the blue, and Chopper almost chokes on his cotton candy. Luffy glances up at him, eyes just barely visible from underneath the brim of his hat.
Cheeks hot, Chopper says, “Stop complimenting me, bastard!” Luffy just lets out a laugh, bouncing him a bit on his shoulders.
“It’s true!” Mortifyingly, Luffy goes on, “You always make me feel better after a fight, and you’re also so funny and the best to play hide ‘n seek with! You’re so cool! Sabo always used to tell me that I needed to get a great doctor and he’d be thrilled because I’ve found the best out there!”
Chopper sniffles through his final bite of cotton candy. He squirms a bit on top of Luffy’s shoulders, silently asking to be put down, and Luffy obliges. As soon as Chopper’s hooves hit the ground, he turns and launches himself at Luffy’s chest. “It doesn’t make me happy that you think that,” he mumbles into Luffy’s chest through his tears. Luffy chuckles and pulls Chopper close.
“You are, though! You’re the best, and I’m so glad we found you!” Luffy leans back, and though he’s smiling, something glints in his eye. “You’re the best,” Luffy insists intensely.
Chopper brings an arm up to swipe at his eyes, and nods. “Mm! And you’re the best captain!”
“Shishishi!” Luffy hugs Chopper close again. And they keep walking, just like that.
-
“JINBE!”
Jinbe glances up, a small grin coming across his lips as he catches sight of his captain. “Hi, Luff- oof!” Jinbe’s greeting is cut off as Luffy launches himself into Jinbe’s arms. Thankfully, Jinbe’s managed to get used to this particular tendency of Luffy’s, and he doesn’t end up knocking anything out of Jinbe’s hands. Jinbe’s glad- Nami entrusted him with shopping for a new planter-box for her garden, and he really doesn’t want to piss her off. If there’s one thing he’s learned in the couple of weeks he’s been officially with his new crew, it’s that making Nami angry is a capital-B bad idea.
“Hello, Luffy,” Jinbe tries again, readjusting so one of his arms is supporting Luffy’s weight. It’s far from necessary, but Jinbe does appreciate not having a Luffy-sized weight hanging from his neck. Oblivious to this, Luffy tilts his head up and beams at Jinbe.
“Hi, Jinbe!”
Shaking his head and smiling, Jinbe continues walking towards the next store on his list. “What’ve you been up to today?” They’d just caught sight of the island earlier that day, and as soon as it was in range, Luffy had launched himself to it. Jinbe was mildly startled, but given the lack of concern or surprise from the rest of the crew, he gathered that it’s a fairly normal occurrence.
Luffy shrugs. “Nothin’ much. I just saw Chopper- I gave him cotton candy!”
Jinbe chuckles, “I’m sure he loved that.”
“Shishishishi!” They fall into a companionable silence, Luffy still hanging off of Jinbe as he walks. Then, out of the blue: “I’m really glad you’re here, Jinbe.”
Jinbe blinks. Luffy continues, “I wasn’t worried when you stayed behind to protect your crew- you’re Jinbe! Of course you were fine! But I’m so excited you’re here now!” He tilts his head from where it was resting against Jinbe’s chest, and grins brightly. “You’re super smart and good at steering! You’re the best helmsman! And I missed you!”
Luffy leans his head against Jinbe’s chest again, and says, “I’m just really glad you’re here.” Jinbe lets out a breath, and carefully wraps his arms around Luffy. He ignores the telltale signs of tears stinging at the backs of his eyes.
“I’m glad I’m here, too,” Jinbe states levelly. He swallows. “I will strive to be the absolute best crewmate I can be for you.”
“Shishishishi, you already are!”
Jinbe’s smile widens.
-
Sanji’s just about to finish up paying for the food in his cart when he glimpses something out of the corner of his eyes. He sighs, and reaches for another thing of pre-cooked meat - in addition to the fifteen containers of raw meat he already has, then holds it out to the side. “Add this on, please,” Sanji says dryly, then adds on, “Here you go, Luffy, don’t take anything from the cart.”
“Shishishishi!” Predictably, the meat gets snatched from his hand nigh-instantly, and by the time Sanji actually looks to the side, it’s already been eaten. Sanji’s ridiculous captain grins unrepentantly at him. “Thanks, Sanji!”
Sanji just rolls his eyes. He nods politely to the cashier as they hand him his change. Their eyes have gone wide, focused completely on Luffy. There’s a minute shake to their hands, and so Sanji is quick to grab the now-bagged food and drag Luffy away from the stall. Luffy goes along with him easily, simply adjusting so that the hand that Sanji grabbed his wrist with is now wrapped in Luffy’s own hand. Sanji sighs internally, but allows it.
“Whatcha get?” Luffy asks. Sanji hums.
“Mostly a bunch of non-perishables - our next planned island is a few weeks’ journey away, so I wanted to be prepared. I got some crocodile meat, though, because I know you like that.”
“Yeah! Mmmm, crocodile meat….” Luffy closes his eyes, and starts salivating. Sanji snorts and nudges him.
“It hasn’t even been made yet, don’t get too excited.”
Luffy grins up at him. “I already know it’s gonna be the best, though! Sanji’s food is the best!” And it’s not as if Luffy doesn’t compliment Sanji’s food on at least a weekly basis, but Sanji still can’t help but flush slightly at the praise.
Mortifyingly, though, Luffy doesn’t just stop there. “I’m so glad Sanji’s my cook! I remember always hoping when I was a kid to get an amazing cook to make me amazing food, and now I have because I have you!” Luffy pauses for a moment, then adds on, “You can also do that super cool thing where you can light your foot on fire, and your dream is super super awesome! Sanji’s the coolest!”
At a loss for words, Sanji’s shock-still for a moment. Finally, he decides on just nudging Luffy once again, this time sending Luffy stumbling sideways with a laugh. “Gotta be a good cook to be able to handle your appetite,” Sanji mumbles, his efforts to keep himself from beaming futile.
Luffy just looks up at him, laughs once again, and continues swinging their hands back and forth.
-
“This is such a nice day for sunbathing!”
Nami lets out a relaxed breath and tilts her head back against the chair, closing her eyes. Robin, next to her, chuckles and says, “It truly is. We haven’t had a day like this in a while.”
“Ugh, I know.” Nami opens her eyes and glances over at Robin. She’s also in a deck chair, but her seat-back is upright and she’s got a book in her hands. “If I never see another New World storm again, it’d be too soon.” Robin just nods, and returns to reading her book. Nami lets herself relax, closing her eyes again. It’s a rare peaceful day in their crazy journey, and Nami’s intent on enjoying it.
“GOMU GOMU NO…ROCKET!”
That is, if one absolute insane captain isn’t hell-bent on disturbing it.
Nami groans and opens her eyes. Unfortunately, she hadn’t hallucinated the sound of her captain, and there’s a Luffy-shaped blob in the sky coming closer and closer to the ship. Even more unfortunately- shit-
“Hi, Nami!” Luffy exclaims, and crashes directly into her.
For a moment, Nami only has one thought in her mind: Ouch.
Then:
“ LUFFY!” Nami leaps up to her feet and punches Luffy on the head, sending him (further) into the deck. “What the hell?! That hurt, you asshole!”
“Shishishishi! Sorry Nami! Hi Robin!” Nami’s dick of a captain doesn't look sorry in the least, grinning up at her. Nami sighs and places her hands on her hips, shooting Robin a glare from where she's snickering behind Nami.
“Hello, Luffy,” Robin greets. She gives Luffy a smile before returning to her book, and Nami glares a little darker.
She’s surrounded by assholes, she swears.
Thankfully, her chair wasn't destroyed - somehow - so she readjusts it and sits back down on it with another sigh. She expects Luffy to dash off somewhere to bother Usopp or Franky, as he normally does, but instead he remains sitting on the ground and props his chin up on her chair. Nami resolves to ignore him, closing her eyes yet again.
Unfortunately, Luffy seems content to stay, just staring at Nami. She swears she can feel him looking at her even with her eyes shut. Finally, she snaps her eyes back open and meets his eyes. “ Why are you staring at me , Luffy?!”
Luffy blinks. “Shishishi, sorry!” He laughs. “I was just thinking about how awesome Nami is!” He tilts his head towards Robin, and adds, “And Robin, too!”
Nami shares a bewildered look with Robin. “Ah, is that so?” Nami says weakly, futilely fighting down her blush. Luffy just grins, and goes on.
“Shishi, yeah! Nami is so smart and makes such good maps and always knows exactly where we need to go!” Nami looks away, completely unable to fight down her pleased grin.
“That's my job,” she says, embarrassed, trying to hide the way tears are pricking at the corners of her eyes. Luffy just looks at her, delighted.
He then turns his attention to Robin, saying, “And Robin is also so smart! You know so much about history and your powers are so fun and you're also so funny!” Nami looks over to Robin. She just looks soft, the beginnings of tears shining in her eyes. Nami relates completely. Luffy's smile somehow grows larger, and he exclaims, “I have the coolest crew in the world!”
Unbearable fondness fills Nami’s chest. She reaches out and knocks down the brim of Luffy's hat over his eyes, and teases, “Well, we need some smart ones to keep you in line.” Robin chuckles, saying nothing. A hand sprouts out from Nami's chair to pat Luffy on the cheek. Luffy’s grin grows brighter.
And Nami feels her own growing along with it.
-
“Usopp!”
Usopp glances up, grinning at his captain. “Hi, Luffy,” he greets. Luffy rockets over to sit next to him, and Usopp, used to Luffy’s eccentric qualities, places a hand on top of his paints just in time for Luffy to slam into the table, destabilizing everything except what Usopp protected.
“Whatcha doin’?”
“Just painting.” Usopp uncovers the paints, grimacing at the paint now crusted into his palms. He wipes it off with a towel, and continues, “I always used to do this at home, and Franky recently bought a bunch of paints, so I wanted to try it out again.”
Luffy peers at him. “I haven’t really seen you paint since we met,” Luffy notes. Usopp shrugs.
“We’ve kinda had a lot going on.” Usopp nudges Luffy teasingly, and adds, “No thanks to a certain someone picking fights with the strongest people in the New World.” Luffy snickers.
“They were asking for it! Big Mom was a jerk to Sanji and Fishman Island, and Kaido was also an asshole! They deserved it!”
“Not arguing that,” Usopp laughs. He dips his paintbrush back into the paint, and continues on. Luffy settles in, too, leaning his head against Usopp’s shoulder and seemingly content to just watch.
Usopp continues, for a while. The landscape starts taking shape. He glances at Luffy every so often, and it's incredibly gratifying to see Luffy's eyes grow wider and wider as Usopp carries on. At some point, though, Luffy just starts staring at Usopp. It's not an uncommon occurrence, and so Usopp just raises an eyebrow.
“Luffy? Whatcha thinking about?”
Luffy blinks at Usopp. Usopp gives him a patiently amused look. “Luffy?” Usopp prompts again as all Luffy does is stare at Usopp. “You still there?”
Quickly, Luffy’s face bursts into a huge grin. “Shishishi, yup! I was just thinkin’ about how great Usopp is!” He chirps. Usopp sits up straight, eyes going wide.
It’s not that Luffy doesn’t say that he thinks his crew is the best often- far from it, actually. Usopp is acutely aware that Luffy would do anything for them, and that he thinks that they’re the best people to ever walk this earth, as surreal as the thought seems. It’s not often that Luffy just comes out and says it, though. “Oh, really?” Usopp forces out, voice somewhat thin.
“Yeah!” Oblivious to Usopp’s rapidly rising blush, Luffy carries on. “Usopp is so cool and makes the best art and is the best sniper around! You drew our flag – that’s so awesome! And you haven’t done painting in a while but this-” Luffy gestures at the simple painting that Usopp had been working on- “Is so cool! Usopp’s the best!” Luffy nods, as if he’s made a point, even though it’s only the two of them around.
Unable to force words through the knot lodged in his throat, Usopp just throws his arms around Luffy’s shoulders, pulling him close. Luffy just laughs and goes along with it, wrapping his arms multiple times around Usopp’s chest. “Usopp’s the best!” Luffy repeats, a little quieter, a little more sincere. Usopp hides his helpless smile in Luffy’s shoulder, hugging him a little tighter.
“ You’re the best,” he contests. He leans back, meeting Luffy’s eyes. “What brought this on, huh?” Usopp asks, playfully tugging the brim of Luffy’s hat over his eyes. Luffy goes quiet for a moment, but then just laughs.
“Shishishi! Just needed to make sure you knew!” Luffy tilts his head up so his eyes are visible once again, and there’s a thread of fierceness shining through his normal bright eyes. “Because Usopp’s the best!” He insists.
Usopp lets out a laugh of his own. “I believe you,” he reassures. He throws an arm around Luffy’s shoulder once again, and turns back towards the table. “Now, you wanna try drawing something?”
Luffy nods. “Yeah!”
Before they can launch into that, however, there’s the loud thumping down the stairs that indicates Franky is coming down. Luffy brightens up instantly, and before Usopp can even blink, Luffy’s already launching himself at Franky.
“FRANKY!”
Franky laughs, easily catching Luffy. “Hey there!” Franky greets. He hugs Luffy close for a moment before pulling back and grinning down at him. “What’s up?”
Luffy beams up at him. “You’re awesome, you know, Franky!” Franky blinks, a red flush blooming across his cheeks. Usopp watches on, an amused smile tugging at his lips and heart fond beyond measure. Luffy continues, “You build such cool stuff and you’re so funny and you can do such cool stuff with your hair!”
Franky’s face has gone pure red. Usopp understands completely. Luffy, oblivious to the effect he’s having on his crew, proceeds to point to a robot that Franky had just been showing them that morning. He exclaims, “You made a flamethrowing robot! That’s so cool!”
Luffy wraps his arms a few more times around Franky, pulling them as tightly together as he can. “I have the best shipwright!” He says happily. Franky’s face goes through a rapid series of emotions, eventually settling on what can only be described as love.
“And I have the best captain!” Franky replies. He lifts Luffy up, then, and starts spinning them in circles. Luffy laughs, and laughs, and laughs.
And Usopp grins, and grins, and grins.
-
“Hmmm, what song should I play next?”
Brook hums to himself, mindlessly plucking the strings on his violin as he runs through songs in his head. It’s become a habit of his to come up to the garden sometimes, just to sing and play. Of course, he’s not always able to keep his privacy, but that’s alright- normally, when his crewmates join him, they simply come to listen and spend time with him. He’s always willing to play for his crew. He’s been left alone for today up until now, but it’s no surprise when he eventually hears the tell-tale flip-flop sounds coming up the stairs towards him.
He’s been hearing an awful lot of chaos and familiar laughter arising across the ship, so it’s only fair that it’s Brook’s turn, now.
“Hello, captain,” Brook greets warmly as Luffy crests the stairs. Luffy beams upon seeing Brook, slingshotting himself over and plopping down right in front of him.
“Hi, Brook!” He says brightly. “Whatcha playing?”
Brook shrugs. “I hadn’t decided yet,” he says. “You have any requests?”
Luffy hums for a moment, thinking. “Something adventure-y!” Brook laughs, deciding on a song quickly and bringing his bow up to the strings.
“Aye-aye, captain.” With that, he starts playing.
Luffy isn’t the most quiet of listeners, but Brook doesn’t mind. He’s enthusiastic and joyful and that’s one of the many reasons why Brook adores having Luffy as his captain. He cheers Brook on and never tires of his music, and Brook loves him for it. Sometimes, Brook can go all day playing for Luffy, and he’ll never get bored. It still amazes Brook, even two years later, that Luffy - their hyperactive captain who can never sit still - can be entertained without end by Brook’s music.
Today, however, Luffy interrupts a few songs in. “Y’know, I’ve always wanted a musician,” Luffy starts casually. Brook blinks - though he has no eyelids! Skull joke! - and Luffy continues. “Ace used to always think it was silly that I wanted a musician more than anything else, but I knew it was important!”
Brook feels a knot forming in his non-existent throat as Luffy looks up at him. Luffy smiles, and says, “Brook always plays music to wake us up and make sure we’re all happy! That’s the musician’s job, and Brook’s the best at it!” As if unable to contain himself anymore, Luffy quickly stands and launches himself at Brook in a hug. “I have the best musician!”
And seas, it’s moments like this where Brook forgets what it’s like to feel lonely.
Brook can’t quite find the words to describe the pure warmth that floods through his non-existent veins, the way his non-existent heart feels more full than ever. Instead, he pulls Luffy as close as he can, and grins so, so wide.
He loves his captain so much.
After a moment, Brook pulls back slightly. Luffy does as well, and when Brook meets his eyes, Luffy’s still grinning widely. Brook could say so many things right now - say how Luffy saved him, that day when he found Brook in the fog and called him his own, say how he’d forgotten how it felt to be alive until Luffy and his crew showed him, how he’d forgotten his love for music until Luffy brought it out again.
Instead, he readjusts his violin, and asks, “Do you want another song, captain?” And Luffy beams.
“Yeah!”
-
Zoro’s working out in the crow’s nest - as he normally does, when the crew is visiting a new island and Zoro’s in charge of keeping watch - when he hears the familiar sound of his captain rocketing himself upwards. Luffy’s head peeks over the edge of the nest within seconds, and Zoro gives him a nod in greeting. Luffy grins back.
“Hi, Zoro!”
“Hi, captain,” Zoro responds, grunting as he adds another ton to his biggest dumbbell. He flips over onto his hands, balancing the dumbbell onto his feet, and starts doing handstand-pushups. Luffy’s staring at him, but Zoro isn’t bothered. He can do what he wants- Zoro just hopes Luffy doesn’t interfere and somehow send one of the weights flying. The last time that happened, when Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper were playing hide-and-seek and Luffy rocketed up here and sent one of the weights flying, Franky was mad at them for days.
Including Zoro, which he thinks is completely unfair, but whatever.
It’s rare that Luffy joins Zoro up here and doesn’t immediately bother him, though, and so the longer Luffy spends not talking, the more curious Zoro gets. Finally, Zoro finishes his repetitions, placing the weight to the side with a sigh and making his way over to where his captain sits. Zoro’s sweaty and disgusting, but Luffy doesn’t care, instantly shifting closer and pressing their shoulders together once Zoro sits down.
“Whatcha up to, Luffy?” Zoro asks, taking a swig of water.
Luffy grins up at Zoro. “Just thinkin’ about how I have the best swordsman!”
Zoro shakes his head fondly. Seems his captain’s in a sentimental mood, today. Ignoring the warmth pooling comfortably in his chest, Zoro readjusts Luffy’s hat so that it’s not shadowing his eyes as much. “Not quite there yet, captain,” Zoro says. He meets Luffy’s grin with his own, throwing his arm over Luffy’s shoulder. “Still got a ways to go, future Pirate King.”
“Shishishi!” Luffy laughs, leaning his head on Zoro’s shoulder.
Zoro leans his head back against the wall, and enjoys the setting sun.
-
“Luffy,” Nami starts. Luffy looks up, mouth full of the delicious meat Sanji made. He cooked up the crocodile meat that he’d mentioned earlier, and it’s amazing. Luffy knew that Sanji would make it great!
“Yeah?” Luffy asks.
Nami glances around at everyone else at the table, before she continues, “Not that we don’t appreciate it, but, uh- what made you want to compliment all of us like this today?”
“And please swallow your food first before explaining,” Sanji adds dryly.
Luffy frowns and swallows. “Some old lady said something and it made me mad,” he says.
Nami’s eyebrows raise. “What’d she say?” She asks. Luffy shakes his head, crossing his arms.
“It’s stupid,” he mumbles petulantly. Robin chuckles, an arm sprouting on Luffy’s shoulder to pat him on the head.
“We believe you,” Robin reassures. “Still, can you tell us anyway?”
Luffy sighs. “She said something about how you guys weren’t enough to make me happy- about how I needed to find a special someone which is stupid because you guys are my favorite people in the world.” Huffing, Luffy continues, “You guys are already the best. Why do I need someone else?”
Everyone’s quiet, for a moment. Luffy glances around, tilting his head in confusion. Nami’s wiping at her eyes- so are Usopp and Chopper and Franky and Brook, too. Zoro, Sanji, Robin, and Jinbe are smiling, though, which is good. “Why are you guys sad?” Luffy asks, looking between his crying friends.
“We’re not.” Sanji’s the one to speak up, a soft smile on his face. “We’re just-” Sanji pauses, swallowing heavily. “You’re one of our favorite people too, Luffy.”
“That woman was stupid,” Zoro says bluntly. “Why would we need anyone else but each other?”
“Yeah!” Chopper chimes in.
Franky, still crying, says, “You’re all pretty super in my book!”
“Yohohoho! Agreed!”
“We don’t need anybody else,” Robin repeats. Nami sniffles and nods.
“You’re a dumbass, but you’re our dumbass,” she says, adopting a watery smile. “And we’re here to stay.”
“Damn right,” Usopp nods.
“I may not have been here for long,” Jinbe adds on, “But you guys are family, and I can’t wait to fully be a part of it.”
Luffy blinks at his crew for a moment, before his frown disappears and he adopts a huge grin. “Shishishi! Stupid Jinbe! You’re already family!” He shoots his arms out and brings everyone into a hug. “I have the best crew in the world!” Luffy exclaims happily.
“Luffy- not across the table, you dumbass! Now we’re all dirty!”
“Shishishishi!”
And Luffy laughs, and laughs, because he really is the luckiest guy on the planet.