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Chapter Text

Shanks

Shanks recognized a D when he saw one. He had the boy’s young and flickering soul even if it wasn’t fully developed. Gol D. Roger had ignited an inferno within Shanks' soul and opened his eyes. The fire that Roger had sparked within him never died down, even after his death. Shanks had molded the borrowed hellfire to his needs. It became his strength. It also let him feel the supernatural with clarity. 

Shanks hadn’t expected to find a six year old D , but he supposed that even devils had to be children at some point. It was unheard of to see a devil outside of the New World. Devils were one in a billion, and they were lured to the call of chaos and power. Yet, he stood before one in the East Blue. 

Luffy sounded like Roger when he talked about his dreams. Even the boy’s hellfire blazed with the same passion. He was an easy boy to bet on. It was no surprise that Luffy wanted to be the King of Pirates. Shanks had told him tales of piracy and Luffy knew he belonged out there even if the devil didn’t know what the New World was yet.

Luffy soaked up every word Shanks offered to him, and Shanks hoped the boy wasn’t impressionable enough to be influenced by pirates less honorable than Shanks. Although he couldn’t be sure that the child would become a good man, Shanks knew the fire favored Luffy even after the sea rejected him. 

The sea denied many souls, but it had never stopped any of them from becoming pirates. It certainly wouldn’t stop Luffy. Luffy belonged in the sky anyway. Shanks had always felt more in tune with the sea — it was why he had never been tempted to eat a devil fruit despite coming across so many, he would never abandon the sea and her gentle embrace — but it was different for D’s. Shanks had seen many of them give into the call of devil fruits without a second thought. Devil fruits had come from devils after all, and it was natural for the two to come together. 

Although Roger had never possessed a devil fruit, he had never truly belonged to the sea either. People who were made of fire never wanted to feel smothered underwater. The late Pirate King was hellfire, starlight, and the molten core of the earth. Shanks thought Luffy would be the same one day. 

The problem was Luffy had answered the call of the Gum Gum Fruit, a devil fruit that technically didn’t exist in any record. Shanks knew what- who the devil fruit really was. Roger had spoken of him often to his crew and even Whitebeard. Joyboy would not call out to just anyone. If Luffy had been drawn to the purple devil fruit, it wasn’t because of any ordinary curiosity or childlike wonder. The fruit had chosen its wielder. Although Shanks couldn’t claim to understand Joyboy or the myths surrounding him, he knew that it meant the seas would shake with change.

Luffy may have been a devil, but the thing inside him was not.

Who decided devils and gods were opposites? That they were not one in the same? That devils weren’t gods or gods’ wills? Humans would try to understand everything they saw for the peace of their own minds, but the labels they had placed on devils and gods couldn’t even begin to describe the truth.

Luffy would be the entity to purge any hate from his sight by sheer force of will. Only someone as bright as that boy could shine bright enough to cast no shadow (for how can the sun itself have shadows?). To look upon him would mean to be blessed. To reject his kindness would be to incur his wrath. The gods are kind and they do forgive, but only after man has taken the punishment deserved to them. He would be the one to bring life to barren soils and corresponding growth. He would not purge, for all things can be salvaged no matter how damaged. He would save, and saviors would be repaid not because it is demanded, but because while gratitude is the opposite of guilt and it must be felt all the same. 

Luffy

“Take me, take me, take me.” 

The devil fruit had been calling Luffy. It wasn't a voice he heard, but rather a feeling that overwhelmed his mind and soul, as if the knowledge was implanted directly into his consciousness. It was a truth that he couldn't deny, and he didn't even try to resist it. There was no reason to. 

“We were one once. We should be one again,” said the insistent fruit. 

There was no ignoring it even as he tried to focus on what was happening in the bar around him. The instant truth displayed before him was undeniable. The devil fruit was a part of him as much as his own name. It was the limb he had been born missing. 

“We were strong. We were free,” it whispered with longing.

Luffy stared at the chest that sat innocently on the bar. No one else paid it any attention even as Luffy felt it beckon him. Why would they? The fruit did not call to them. It did not want them. Just the same, Luffy would never want any fruit that was not a part of him.

“Joy, we belong together.”

The fruit was beautiful. The purple swirling pattern wasn’t something Luffy had seen before, but it was familiar to him. He had made it. The design was the same as the one on his soul and his bones. The fruit belonged with him. Luffy didn’t know what that meant yet he picked it up. “Take me,” the fruit sang under his fingers — laughing with joy. Its voice was his own, as were the emotions. 

“I’m so happy to have found you. We won’t be alone anymore.”

He ate the devil fruit. It tasted like life. 

Something warm and familiar curled in Luffy’s chest like an old friend was greeting him. The fire in him flickered with more heat than he’d ever felt and more brightly than he thought possible. Flames swirled in the same pattern that had been on the fruit. It settled in his soul, clicking into the place where it belonged. Everything had gone exactly as it should have. The devil fruit and the dreams had been delivered to the right child at the right moment. Fate had willed it to be — for the world would suffer fissures if things were misaligned at that moment. The planets had decided it. 

Luffy felt complete for the first time in (eight hundred) years.

“Thank you, Joy.”

Shanks

Although the Sea King that threatened Luffy was smaller than the beasts that dwelled in the Grand Line, it was certainly big enough to swallow grown men whole. Shanks had no sympathy for the bandit that was crushed between those jaws. The man had put Luffy in danger. He deserved to have his life ended with the crunch of his bones. The sea was dyed red, nearly black, with blood and gore as his flesh was consumed by the beast. The Sea King’s beady eyes turned to the child still in the water. It lunged forward with its maw wide and teeth snapping.

Shanks was not the strongest man in the world, nor was he capable of cutting a Sea King in half, nor was he a haki master (he would be those things eventually, but not quite yet). Still, he would not allow a single hair on Luffy’s head to be harmed. The strength Shanks held was enough to keep Luffy safe. The haki he could muster in defense of the child was more than effective in forcing the Sea King to surrender. Shanks was thankful for his Conqueror’s haki. It wasn’t enough to save his arm, but Luffy was worth the sacrifice. 

“Anchor, it’s just an arm,” Shanks assured the boy as he struggled to keep them both afloat. His injured arm was barely attached. He knew there was no saving it from amputation. Doc would have his ass.

Luffy sobbed. The little devil was too guilty over the ordeal, but Shanks couldn’t calm him down until they were safe on the shore. Luffy clung to Shanks, weak with seawater and emotion. Shanks cursed whichever God had given a child a trial so difficult.

“Captain!” Lucky Roo called from the shore. He and half the crew, reliable as always, had already arrived. Ben had drug Doc half into the water in his rush to get the medic close. Yassop had a pistol in his hand and… he was looking at Luffy.

“We’re alright!” It was a lie, but Shanks wouldn’t let Luffy panic anymore. He followed his sniper’s gaze down to the child.

Luffy had his teeth in Shanks' injury. Blood was washed away quickly with salt water, but Luffy dug his teeth in deep and tasted what he could. Shanks knew what devils ate. He didn’t expect his little devil to have the same appetite. Still, he didn’t pull the crying child off of him. There was no saving the arm. Luffy couldn’t make it any worse.

Of course, his crew had tried to pull Luffy away the second they were in the shallows. Shanks had kept them back with a glare.

“Anchor. We’re okay now. You can let go.” Shanks grit his teeth as the blood loss caught up to him. If he didn’t get Luffy to release him, he would faint and he wouldn’t be able to help the kid. Shanks sank to his knees in the sand. 

Luffy’s grip loosened slowly. His jaw finally released Shanks’ flesh. Luffy scrambled back as soon as he saw the meat he’d chewed through.

“Sorry, I’m sorry,” he cried.

Shanks grabbed him with his good arm and kept him in a tight hug as Doc rushed forward with a tourniquet and medication to prepare for an emergency amputation. It was the most panic Shanks had ever seen on the man’s face. If he weren’t in so much pain, he would’ve teased Doc for worrying.

“Don’t worry Luffy. That Sea King did more damage than your baby teeth.” 

“I’m sorry.” Luffy’s face was buried in Shanks’ chest as he sobbed. “You bled for me. You gave your arm for me. It’s mine. It’s mine .”

“‘Course it is kid.” Shanks didn’t know what age devils started to eat flesh, but Luffy’s eyes were red even if his hellfire wasn’t at the surface of his soul. Shanks wondered. If Luffy was already indulging in devil customs, he could have been in danger. Most people didn’t take cannibalism kindly. He was tempted to swipe Luffy up and take him on the Red Force. A pirate ship was no place for children, but for devils? Devils thrived in the New World. Luffy was too small to defend himself if someone found out his nature. 

Shanks passed out in the sand with Luffy still sobbing over him. Doc was cursing. Shanks dreamt of open seas.

Shanks groaned when he woke. He felt hungover which wasn’t unusual, but the pain was new. He sat up and promptly fell back with only one arm supporting him. Oh right.

“Doc? Ben?” Shanks called. His crew was next to him the instant he spoke their names.

“You’re up. Good.” Ben stared him down despite the relief in his voice. Doc was already taking Shanks’ temperature. “It’s been a full day.”

“How’s Anchor?” Shanks demanded. He didn’t bother pushing Doc away. He felt like shit.

“He’s… asleep,” Ben said carefully.

“What happened? After I passed out.”

Doc paused his exam to look at Shanks flatly. “He kept trying to bite you.”

“No one hurt him.” It wasn’t a question. There would be hell to pay if anyone hurt a panicked child for Shanks.

“Of course not,” Benn scoffed. “We- I had to give him your arm to calm him down. He… it was like watching an animal. He ate it down to the bones. But he passed out right after so he’s sleeping upstairs.”

It should have been sickening. Shanks only felt relief. Luffy was okay. 

“It’s incredibly abnormal,” Doc took over. “Devils aren’t even supposed to crave flesh until their souls bloom. Anchor isn’t old enough for that. Yet here we are.”

“As long as he’s okay it doesn’t matter.” Shanks sits up again. He’s prepared for the offset of his balance. It’s just an arm, he told himself again. He doesn’t regret sacrificing it for Luffy, however it was going to take getting used to. If Luffy had been called to by the devil fruit, he was worth more than an arm. “I’m gonna give him my hat.”

“You-“ Doc began. His jaw was stuck open. 

Ben nodded once. If he was surprised Shanks would give away the hat he’d had since he was a child (the hat his captain had since he was a child), he didn’t let it show. 

“You should explain everything to him,” Doc said after a shake of his head. “I doubt he has anyone else around who can.”

“You’d think Garp would’ve done it.” Shanks groaned. He didn’t really do the talking thing. 

“Garp?” Doc asked.

“You didn’t hear his full name? Monkey D. Luffy. He’s gotta be Garp’s grandson or nephew or something. I’ve never heard of two devils in one family but I guess it’s possible.”

Doc sighed heavily. “Why the hell is he even in the East? Devils aren’t meant to be in places like this.”

Shanks scowled. “It’s not his fault.”

“I know that. Just an observation.” Doc raised his hands placatingly. Shanks was more defensive over devils than the usual pirate given his history with them. He didn’t stand for slander against them. “He definitely needs as much help as he can get.”

The tension in Shanks’ body left as rapidly as it came. Very few people in the East knew anything about devil fruits, let alone actual devils. It meant he had to explain as much as he could to Luffy. Shanks doubted the six year old would understand all of it. Hell, Shanks didn’t understand all of it. He had borrowed hellfire, but he was still human underneath the flames. Luffy’s devil fruit was another matter entirely. Shanks decided it was best Luffy didn’t know the full extent of his devil fruit until he was much older.

“I’ll talk to him,” Shanks said. 

“Beneath us was nothing now to be seen but a black tempest, till looking East between the clouds and the waves, we saw a cataract of blood mixed with fire, and not many stones’ throw from us appeared and sunk again the scaly fold of a monstrous serpent. At last to the East, distant about three degrees, appeared a fiery crest above the waves; slowly it reared like a ridge of golden rocks, till we discovered two globes of crimson fire, from which the sea fled away in clouds of smoke; and now we saw it was the head of Leviathan. His forehead was divided into streaks of green and purple, like those on a tiger’s forehead; soon we saw his mouth and red gills hang just above the raging foam, tinging the black deeps with beams of blood”

-William Blake, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell [34]

Chapter Text

Koby

Koby should not have been a witness. The crew had pulled a lone barrel out of the sea and been convinced it had booze or something valuable inside. Koby did not want to open it, but his three crewmates weren’t going to let him sneak off. Koby would inevitably take the blame if Alvida thought they were trying to steal from her. Koby didn’t care. He just didn’t want them to open it. It felt wrong, which didn’t make sense. It was just a barrel. 

Then a person burst out of it. It was a man, or a boy maybe. He stretched his arms over his head with a noisy groan. Koby pushed himself away and fell on his ass with his hands over his head. His crewmates lunged with their weapons aimed for the stranger. The room got very hot. Koby looked up between his arms as the stowaway leapt forward and tackled two of the men at once. The third was kicked by an abnormally long leg, and when he hit the deck he groaned but didn’t get back up. 

The scent of blood filled the air. Koby had to lean around the barrel if he wanted to see. He almost didn’t look. He could hear something wet and dripping. By the time he worked up the courage to move, everything was quiet. His crewmates were bleeding profusely from bite wounds. Their blood soaked the floorboards in red. Koby knew he would be the one forced to mop the mess.

The stowaway was gone.

“Hey, is there any food here?”

Koby shrieked. He flung himself away from the speaker before he whipped around to face him. The teen was short, but still far taller than Koby. He wore a red vest and a straw hat. He wouldn’t have been that remarkable if he weren’t covered in blood. The red looked black in the dim lighting. It coated his mouth and tailed down his throat, stained his already red vest. The teen cocked his head to the side as Koby shook.

“You- you-“ Koby didn’t know what he was trying to say. He couldn’t fight. He couldn’t outrun this boy who had struck down three grown pirates so easily. Koby hadn’t even seen it happen. The men were still breathing, but it was only because the boy allowed it. He had offered them mercy.

“Food?” the boy said again with more persistence.

Koby wanted the boy’s attention away from him. His instinct told him that it was dangerous to have his interest, just as it was dangerous to have a predator notice him. Koby didn’t want to test how much mercy the stowaway had, nor how much patience. He pointed in the direction of the stores where all their stolen food lay.

“Cool! Thanks!” The boy bound towards the crates pointed out to him. He casually wiped the blood on his chin away with the back of his hand. “I’m Monkey D. Luffy. Nice to meet you.”

Then Luffy ate every piece of food in their stores. Koby couldn’t find the strength in his legs to run away.  

***

Luffy had inspired Koby. Or, maybe Luffy’s craziness was contagious. Koby couldn’t explain why he finally dared to stand up to Alvida. Luffy had shown he was strong and willing to back Koby up. It didn’t mean Koby wasn’t still terrified of Alvida and Luffy. He had called Alvida a hag regardless. He was weak, but he refused to be a coward too.

Luffy had given Koby something. A spark of hope in his chest. He’d reignited the dream Koby thought he’d put to rest. Luffy had said he’d rather die than give up and Koby felt his sentiment in his soul. Although Luffy was only one man he had uprooted Koby’s life and transformed his destiny. Luffy had given Koby his freedom back. Koby wasn’t going to waste it. He’d be the best damn marine the world had ever seen and he’d stand at the same level as the Pirate King.

Koby would do everything he could to meet Luffy at the top. One day they would meet on a sun kissed hill and respect each other for how far they’d come. The East Blue produced weak men, but it also made determined, stubborn people willing to crawl their way up. Koby would prove it. He owed it to himself.

Zoro 

In hindsight, it’s obvious when it started. The East Blue’s Shells Town. Specifically, the 153rd Branch’s dusty courtyard where Zoro was crucified. It was impossible to imagine if the base had ever been new when all he saw was brown coated stones and neglected pathways. The events that led him there were unbelievably stupid , but it was a matter of pride. There was a young girl’s life being held over him. A month in a courtyard without food or water was nothing if it meant he could leave this shitty town and Axe-Hand Morgan behind him once it was over.  

Rika didn’t deserve to get caught in the middle of Zoro’s neverending conflicts. He found fights in every town he went to, but they rarely involved children. He had never had a reason to surrender before. He wasn’t a hero but he wasn’t a heartless bastard. 

Rika knew the risks and still brought him food and water. She was kind. Watching the spoiled blonde marine order his men to throw her over the branch’s wall made his blood boil. People have died from much lesser falls, but Zoro couldn’t help her as he was. By some miracle (or fate or curse or coincidence), there was someone to catch Rika on the other side. 

Zoro’s life changed when he looked Monkey D. Luffy in the eye. He wouldn’t notice it until much later into knowing the Captain, but Luffy was contagious. His willpower, his strength, his stubbornness, and his attitude all infected the people around him. He was no hero, yet he stood like one. Although Zoro practiced self-discipline as a swordsman, Luffy had more control over his life. Luffy didn’t need anyone to urge towards his goals because he was always heading in the right direction. Zoro wanted to be the Greatest Swordsman in the World. He’d been looking for the right path for years, but directions were never his strong suit. If Luffy was strong enough to be wholly dedicated to his cause, then Zoro could respect him. 

“If I bring you your sword, you have to join my crew. Or you can stay here and be executed.” Luffy had placed an ultimatum at Zoro’s feet and grinned. 

“What are you, the son of the devil?” Zoro had sighed. He was crucified and he didn’t have many options. He was literally and figuratively trapped. After every sunset, Zoro had been left with nothing but his own thoughts and the night sky. Watching the moon had led to revelations. Sacrificing himself for Rika’s sake was the most fulfilling thing he’d done in years. His life had turned into bounty after bounty where there was little to look forward to besides his next drink. It wasn’t how he had imagined his life. Zoro’s pride had prevented him from admitting he was lost. Yet, a boy in a straw hat had come before him and spoke of dreams. The sun had come to offer the moon deliverance. 

“You’re right though. I can’t die here.  I’ll be a pirate, but let me tell you one thing. I’m going to fulfill my ambition and become the World’s Greatest Swordsman. If I can’t do that, then you’ll have to accept responsibility.”

“The World’s Greatest Swordsman,” Luffy repeated. He looked through Zoro. “That sounds perfect. The Pirate King won’t have any less on his crew.”

When Koby was threatened by Helmeppo minutes later, Zoro froze. Luffy did not. Luffy charged the blonde without regard to his own safety. Axe-Hand Morgan lunged with the intent to stab Luffy in the back. Zoro didn’t remember his body moving. There was no universe where he would let Luffy die trying to save someone else. All three of Zoro’s swords caught the axe above Luffy’s head.

Above the earth, the sky went dark. The moon passed over the body of the sun. The light was blotted from the sky save for a sliver of golden shine. A solar eclipse. The moon Zoro had been looking towards for nights on end had come to see him off. Zoro felt determination to be the best spark with vigor in his chest. With the sun and moon converged, Zoro and Luffy tore down the marines. When the eclipse passed there was no longer a tyrant standing. 

The people of Shells Town had cheered for them. They had been saved from a marine that loomed over their town. The fear they had held had been dispelled by Luffy, a man who wandered in by chance. It felt like fate. They didn’t even realize they were watching a future legend recruit his first mate. 

If Luffy was choosing him as his right hand and right-wing, then Zoro would be the most vicious first mate the Grand Line had ever seen. 

·· ─────── · ☼  · ─────── · ·

It was after fighting (freeing?) the marines that they sat to eat. Zoro didn’t know how Luffy had a bigger appetite than him. He learned to stop being surprised by anything Luffy managed. Luffy inhaled half of the bar’s stock of food before he sighed.

“Too bad no one died,” Luffy said with a hint of disappointment. “I’m so hungry. I’ll just have to get some blood.”

“Hu- why-“ Koby’s eyes widened as he pointed at Luffy in accusation. “So you did bite those guys on Alvida’s ship! What’s up with that?!”

“People taste good.” Luffy shrugged as if implying cannibalism wasn’t a taboo subject. “And I get all sick if I don’t eat pe-“

“What?!” Koby interrupts. 

Zoro was finishing a tankard of beer as he listened. He cleared his throat as he sat it on the table. He’d heard rumors from other bounty hunters. Pirates with D. in their name were worth a lot more than the average three million berri. Zoro was told they were born monsters. He hadn’t believed any of those stories before Monkey D. Luffy. 

“You have to?” Zoro asked. He knew Luffy wasn’t one to lie. There was something in his chest telling him that Luffy wouldn’t be greedy for flesh. Although Luffy was a glutton for other foods, he didn’t kill any marines at the base even if he likely would’ve been thanked if he killed Axe-Hand Morgan. Luffy hadn’t inflicted any lethal injuries and he would go hungry for it. 

“Hm? Yeah, weren’t you listening? I get sick if I don’t.” 

Zoro sighed as he took one of the empty glasses from the table to bring it closer to him. Without unsheathing his sword all the way, he cut into his wrist. He was careful not to make a wound deep enough to need stitches. Then, he let himself bleed over the glass patiently. 

“Oh! Thanks Zoro!” Luffy cheered. His eyes lit up brightly. “You’re the best!”

“You-!“ Koby sputtered. “You’re just gonna do that?!”

“I’ve got some to spare.” Zoro shrugged. If blood was all Luffy needed then Zoro would shed plenty. Although it was insane to devote himself to a captain he just met, Zoro couldn’t deny the instant faith he had for Luffy. Zoro wanted someone to drive him forward. He needed to lay down his pride and admit that he didn’t know where he was going in his journey to be the best. Committing himself to Luffy would bring him the goals he dreamed of. The eclipse had been an omen of that.

“That’s not the problem!”

Koby’s hysteria was enough to convince the navy that he was not friends with the pirates they asked to leave their town. 

·· ─────── · ☼  · ─────── · ·

The dinghy was tiny. Zoro didn’t need luxury, but he did need space. Luffy was noisy and clingy and Zoro couldn’t escape him. It would take getting used to before he was completely familiar with the natural disaster that was his captain.

Zoro’s earring clinked as he shifted into a more comfortable position. He wore three earrings just as he weilded three swords. The number had never failed him. If he had his things in threes then he was complete. He prayed in threes, if he prayed at all. He gave gifts in threes. If he heard someone repeat themselves three times, he listened. He was raised that men should know three things above all — how to concentrate, how to discipline one’s self, and how to avoid discriminating against others. It was also their third day out at sea that he and Luffy ran out of food. 

“Hey, Zoro,” Luffy called. He was bored to death and he was making it Zoro’s problem. The heat didn’t help. The blazing sun made them miserable all day but the cold nights weren’t a problem. Luffy ran hot . It meant he was a melted, hungry, and bored puddle during the day. “Why’d you become a Pirate Hunter?”

“I never called myself a Pirate Hunter.” Zoro didn’t hate the title, as it was accurate, but he didn’t want to be the World’s Best Pirate Hunter. There was another title he wanted. “I set sail to find someone.”

“A certain someone? Or just anyone?”

“I need to find the world’s best swordsman so I can challenge him,” Zoro continued. “But I haven’t found him yet, and it’s not like I can find my way back to my village. Bounty hunting just makes money.”

“Oh. So you’re just lost.”

“Wh- I’m not lost !” Zoro hissed back.

“You totally are!” Luffy grinned, glad that he had gotten Zoro riled up. “That’s okay though! We’ll get a navigator to get us to the Grand Line. Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!”

Zoro huffed. He couldn’t argue that he would steer them in the right direction. It’s not his fault that the islands moved. But Luffy wasn’t much better at sea faring than he was. He didn’t even have a plan to get to the Grand Line. 

Finding a navigator was all good in theory, but it’s not like they were going to fall on top of one. Right?

“In truth, I would not have been so humble while I lived, because of the great desire to excel, that my heart was fixed on.

Here the debt is paid for such pride : and I would still not be here, if it were not that, having power to sin.” 

-Dante Alighieri, " Purgatorio" , Canto XI. The Vanity of Fame

“All these and more came flocking; but with looks

Down cast and damp, yet such wherein appear'd

Obscure some glimpse of joy, to have found their chief

Not in despair, to have found themselves not lost

In loss itself; which on his countenance cast

Like doubtful hue: but he his wonted pride

Soon recollecting, with high words, that bore

Semblance of worth, not substance, gently rais'd

Their fainting courage, and dispeled their fears.

Then strait commands that at the warlike sound

Of Trumpets loud and Clarions be upreard

His mighty Standard; that proud honour claim'd

Azazel as his right”

-John Milton, "Paradise Lost"

Chapter Text

Nami

Luffy found Nami by falling on top of her.

She hadn’t meant to get tied up with Luffy and Zoro in Orange Town, but Buggy was a bastard she hadn’t been prepared for. She had wanted his map of the Grand Line but his devil fruit made him a difficult man to run from. Buggy had one of the highest bounties in the East Blue after all. Although he was dangerous, he had the biggest hoard of treasures.

Throwing the boy in the straw hat under the rug had been an improvised but surprisingly effective plan. For whatever reason, the clown seemed particularly interested in Luffy. 

“Hey! That’s Roger’s fire isn’t it?” Luffy cocked his head as he looked at the clown. 

“That red-haired bastard,” Buggy grumbled. He glared daggers into the hat on Luffy’s head. “He’s still causing me trouble after all these years. Why the hell did he give that hat to someone like you?”

“Dunno. We made a promise.” Luffy was smiling. Buggy was pissed. 

Watching two devil fruit users fight hurt Nami’s head so she focused on what she did best instead. Stealing. Nami had to be greedy to survive. She was only ten when Bell-mere died in front of her. The fishmen had treated her like a pet since. It was sink or swim for all of Cocoyasi under Arlong’s dictatorship, and Nami was going to buy back their freedom no matter how long it took. Arlong was the first monster she met but he was far from the last. Nami robbed every bastard pirate and nobleman she could for eight years. It had nearly cost her her life a dozen times over, but very rarely did she leave empty-handed. Her hopes and dreams were buried in the tangerine orchid on Cocoyashi. Like hell she was going to die before she had the pleasure of turning in one hundred million beri. 

For all the trouble Luffy was worth, he was useful. Nami relied on stealth to work. She wasn’t built to fight. Luffy and Zoro, however, were monsters. She had seen Zoro lift that cage with Luffy in it ( how had he been strong enough to do that after being stabbed?) and she saw his swordsmanship, not to mention the fact that he had a building collapse on him and he had stood up largely unharmed. The renowned Pirate Hunter’s reputation was grounded in truth. On the other hand, Luffy was an idiot. He had no bounty, no grand ship, and a one-man crew, but he declared he would be the Pirate King without any doubts. Nami didn’t know how he could be so confident when he was barely a pirate, but he never faltered. He beat the Buggy Pirates into the dirt. Despite every survival instinct she had, Nami had helped and caught a ride on their dinghy. 

Luffy and Zoro were both strong and Nami planned to use that until she got a chance to ditch them and head back to Arlong with enough money to pay off all her debt. 

“There’s something wrong with both of you. Like in the head.” Nami was exhausted. The two small boats weren’t big enough for all three of them, but the boys didn’t mind giving Nami the cabin (she had demanded it and they hadn’t bothered to fight her). She was still trying to wrap her head around the two insane pirates who wanted her to join them. What kind of pirates couldn’t navigate at all ?! They’d have to trust their route to her completely. 

Luffy laughed. “That’s why we need Nami.”

Zoro was less eccentric, or perhaps his healing wounds were slowing him down. He still looked between the two of them with curiosity. Zoro hadn’t been with Luffy for very long, but he knew Luffy better than Nami. 

“Why are you following him?” Nami asked the swordsman.

“You’ll see,” was Zoro’s answer. 

“That’s not an answer!” Nami would have punched him if she were close enough. Men were infuriating. 

“I couldn’t explain it if I wanted to.” Zoro shook his head as if he were disappointed in himself. Nami didn’t understand him in the least. How could you dedicate yourself to a life of crime without a good reason?

“Yeah! Zoro’s stupid!” Luffy announced.

“Oi!”

The dinghy rocked dangerously as the pair erupted into a pitiful fistfight. Nami sighed. She was going to lose her mind.

“Accursed be you, [ Greed ], ancient she-wolf, who, to satisfy your endless hunger, take more prey than any other beast!

O Heaven, by whose circling, it appears to be believed, conditions down here are altered,

when will one come by whose actions [Greed] will vanish?”

-Dante Alighieri, Purgatorio, CANTO XX: Examples of Poverty and Liberality

Zoro

A normal person would have hesitated to drag corpses back to their captain. Zoro felt like a cat bringing dead birds to his owner’s doorstep, or a hunting dog retrieving game. He tried not to dwell on it. His first thought upon seeing two corpses was Luffy. Luffy hadn’t killed them. The men were two of Buggy’s crew that Zoro had fought. They had been hit with debris from one of the collapsing buildings. Zoro was no doctor, but he knew head wounds led to death quickly when untreated. 

“What the hell am I doing?” Zoro muttered to himself as he lifted a corpse over one shoulder and grabbed the other by the ankle. He started to brainstorm ways to hide his captain’s meal. 

Luffy needed to eat. Zoro didn’t know the last time Luffy had a proper meal, but Luffy had asked him for blood two days in a row. They had run out of food days ago and Zoro guessed that Luffy used food to hold over his cravings for flesh. It was only a matter of time before Luffy got desperately hungry. Zoro couldn’t let that happen. Zoro had been starved in a marine courtyard just days ago and Luffy had been the one to relieve him of that hunger. Zoro would repay the favor for as long as he lived. 

Luffy came to Zoro. He must have sniffed out the bodies or the blood. It made things easier for Zoro. He didn’t have to make an effort to avoid Nami or the clowns that way. The mayor was still around somewhere too. If someone went around screaming they’d have to leave and Luffy wouldn’t have time to eat.

“Oh! Thanks, Zoro!” Luffy called as he slingshot himself towards Zoro.

“Shush!” Zoro shouted. He dropped both corpses and a cloud of dust flew into the air. “Do you want the whole town to hear?”

“Shishi, sorry.” Luffy’s voice wasn’t any quieter. He knelt in the road beside the two deceased pirates with a grin, uncaring that he was getting covered in dirt. “Nami’s bringing her boat around. She said she’s got food and stuff.”

“Nami?”

“She’s gonna be our navigator!” Luffy announced. He lifted the arm of the closest body and dug his teeth in. Blood and flesh squelched as he tore a chunk out of the corpse. His eyes gleamed red under the sun as he smiled with a mouth full of gore. Zoro pretended not to shudder. He was more desensitized than the average person. He’d decapitated men to bring their heads in for bounty after all. Still, It was different to watch Luffy eat a person the same way he ate a roasted pig. 

“Don’t make a mess. You don’t have any other clothes.” Zoro wiped the sweat off his brow. His side still ached from the shallow knife wound Buggy had given him, and hauling two grown men hadn’t helped the pain. “How often do you need to eat like this?”

“Depends,” Luffy hummed around another bite. Blood spattered back over the sluggishly bleeding wounds. “If I get hurt then I need to eat to heal myself. Otherwise, it’s usually a month. But if someone’s giving me blood then I can make it for two months!”

Zoro nodded. He filed that information away with every other danger that his captain faced. Zoro had to keep him out of the sea, away from anything sharp, and ensure he ate a body every two months. Simple.

“How often do you need blood then?”

“Like every two weeks.” Luffy shrugged as he moved on to punch his hand into the dead man’s chest. Zoro sighed at the mess. He would have to drag Luffy into the sea to wash off the blood. Luffy fished around the abdominal cavity before yanking the liver out with a sickening noise. “Ahha!”

“I’m sure we’ll come across enough dead people for that work,” Zoro thought aloud. “If not, we can make some.”

Luffy shoved the entire liver into his mouth to swallow down before he responded. “I won’t hurt someone just because I’m hungry.”

“You could starve that way.”

“Yeah but- hm.” Luffy paused as he tried to find his words. His hand dived back into the open chest cavity to search for his next organ of choice. He popped the heart free from the veins holding it in place. “It’s different if they accidentally die. I don’t want to hurt anyone important to me.”

Zoro nodded. Murder was a slippery slope. He imagined it was even harder for Luffy who had a good reason to kill people. If he hurt someone innocent, it could progress into hurting anyone close by when he wanted a meal. Luffy already had an insatiable appetite for regular food. Losing control of his craving for flesh was guaranteed to end poorly. 

“You won’t,” Zoro said confidently. As long as he was around, he wouldn’t let Luffy go hungry. Although Luffy didn’t want to kill anyone to satiate himself, Zoro had no qualms about it. Luffy was worth a million lives. 

Buggy’s Intermission

Apparently Buggy had been in the East Blue for too long because he was too rusty to fight off a rubbery teenager, a directionless swordsman, and a crafty cat burglar. He’d be damned if he ever let Shanks hear about it. 

Shanks sure knew how to pick ‘em. Despite Buggy’s resentment at the sight of a familiar straw hat, he knew what it meant for the boy who wore it. He doubted that Shanks would be careless with something as important as that damned hat. If Shanks had really given Luffy that hat (and he would’ve had to, because Shanks wouldn’t have let that hat go while he was still breathing), then Luffy was going to end up a very big problem for Buggy in the future. 

Shanks never made bets that didn’t follow through. 

Buggy had seen men like Luffy before — men with fire in their blood and hell in their breath. Gol D. Roger was just the one he had known the best. 

Buggy had closed himself off from the Grand Line and all associated monsters yet it was impossible to forget the things he’d seen growing up on Roger’s ship, but he’d done his best to ignore it all for years. Buggy was proof of what happens when you spend too much time around devils. His own soul had taken a spark from Roger’s and used it to fuel his Will. He had thought he had lost most of it when his captain died, but he had felt it again. Strawhat was the first pirate to give him a challenge in years. 

Buggy couldn’t ignore the gifted flame anymore. Strawhat’s soul was an ember in comparison to Roger’s inferno, but devils could grow at incredible rates. Buggy was pissed at the kid. He couldn’t get him out of his mind. He wondered if Shanks had experienced the same thing. 

Buggy didn’t take big risks (he had learned that from Shanks, not from Roger. The last Pirate King took risk after risk and it had made him a legend. Shanks did take big risks if he had the strength to back it up), but he had enough faith in devils to head for the Grand Line once and it hadn’t disappointed him. He would take his crew to the Grand Line and suck up as much devilish luck as he could when Strawhat was around. Buggy was sure he had enough of Roger left in him to take advantage of whatever hell Luffy would surely unleash in the Grandline.

“If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite.

For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things through narrow chinks of his cavern.”

-William Blake, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell

Chapter Text

“I said: ‘O, father, what voices are these,’ and as I asked, there was a third voice saying:

‘Love those who have shown you hatred.’

And the good master said: ‘This circle scourges the sin of Envy,

and so the cords of the whip are made of Love.

The curb or bit is of the opposite sound: I think you will hear it, I believe,

before you reach the Pass of Forgiveness.”

-Dante Alighieri, "Purgatorio", Canto XIII The Second Terrace: The Voices in the Air

Usopp

The trio of pirates that sought a ship were the most interesting thing to happen to Syrup in years. Before that, Usopp had made up much more entertaining stories and lies to fight off the dreary time. Sue him. The only thing getting him through life was his motto of ‘fake it till you make it’ even if it didn’t fool any of the locals anymore. Usopp would’ve been thoroughly satisfied if they had just stolen a ship and left, as it would’ve been enough of a story to hold him over for ages, but things ended up far scarier than he was prepared for. 

The Great Captain Usopp had been impressed by Luffy’s genuine laughter and bravery. Only the children in Syrup were interested in hearing Usopp talk, but Luffy had come along and asked for more and more. Eventually, Luffy realized Usopp was a liar (probably from the first moment Usopp had aimed his slingshot at him in defense of Syrup and been unable to fire), but Luffy wanted to hear his stories all the same. 

“You’re Yassop’s son?!” Luffy exclaimed. 

Usopp had not been expecting Luffy to know his dad. Luffy had actually met Yassop. Usopp couldn’t claim the same. His father had always been a pirate and he hadn’t given it up for Banchina even if they did marry. Usopp knew his mother had received letters from Yassop, but Usopp had not. Why would Yassop write to a child he’d never met? Usopp only had stories that his mother told and the curses the townspeople sent their way. The farmers said pirates were lazy, good-for-nothing criminals. The nannies feared that pirates would take women as slaves if they ever sailed too close to their shores. The mayor warned their police force that pirates would plunder their village and kill hundreds if they were unprepared for a raid. Usopp knew pirates weren’t always good men (he hoped his father was a good man and that he would be one too). 

“He’s so cool! He sails with Shanks.” Luffy reached up to his hat. He was smiling brighter than the afternoon sun. He sang no curses of evil pirates who stole and slaughtered. He had no cruel stories to share and he had no quarrels with the crew Yassop sailed with. It brought Usopp relief to know someone who had met his father had no reason to fear him. It meant Yasop might have been a good man (that he didn’t leave because he didn’t care, but because he cared too much). “He gave me his treasure. We promised to meet again when I became a great pirate.”

“I-“ Usopp was hesitant to tell the truth. He had a dream that no one took seriously. Usopp was discouraged from pirating his entire life. Why would he want to be like his absent father who hadn’t even been there when his wife passed? He had grown up being told that a father like his wasn’t worth anything. Usopp couldn’t explain it. He ached to prove himself. He was not just a liar and a coward with decent aim. He could be more. He would be more. “I want to be a great warrior of the seas. Just like my dad.”

“Yeah!” Luffy beamed . He didn’t doubt Usopp for a second. He didn’t doubt that being like Yassop meant being brave and good and worth something. “You’ll be amazing!”

Usopp didn’t understand. Although Luffy didn’t know him, he had complete faith in Usopp. The town he grew up in had none (maybe he had never given them a reason to have confidence in him, but he was a child and he shouldn’t have had to earn it). It was refreshing to be believed in for once. Usopp matched Luffy’s grin.

·· ─────── · ☼  · ─────── · ·

“Usopp pirates!” Usopp was bleeding in the dirt as he called to the three children he called crew. He had been kicked, cut, and punched countless times by the captain of the Black Cat Pirates. He was aching all over, he couldn’t move, and he was terrified. None of that mattered. “Protect Kaya! Get away from here. That’s your only job!”

Usopp hoped Ninjin, Piiman, and Tamanegi didn’t do anything stupid. He wanted them to feel brave but he needed them to be safe. That meant making sure they ran with Kaya. Usopp would hold off the Black Cat Pirates for as long as could. He’d die for Kaya, he realized. Although Usopp had always hoped he would be brave in the face of danger, he’d never faced death before. He couldn’t have known if he’d run. Then he watched Khlahadore betray Kaya and threaten her life. Instead of cowardness, Usopp felt a spark of bravery. Luffy had believed he could be a strong warrior. Usopp grabbed that confidence with both hands and made it his own. 

“Even if I am no match for him-“ Usopp’s arms gave out from beneath him when he tried to find his footing. He couldn’t move. Luffy called his name. Usopp’s goggles filled with tears and his nose was dripping with snot. He was weak but he couldn’t lay down and die. Not when there was so much at risk. “-I will protect them! I am Captain of the Usopp Pirates. I am a brave warrior of the Sea. You won’t harm my village!”

Usopp didn’t care if no one in Syrup Village ever believed in him. He ignored every memory of the townspeople cursing him out for raising false alarms, of Ninjin’s mom demanding he keep his pirating stories away from her son, and of the mayor’s disappointment everytime Usopp’s inventions caused property damage. He refused to think of the envy he felt everytime he saw a child with their father, or a fishman was praised for their bravery in harsh weather, or a member of their small police force was awarded for their aim with a gun. Usopp loved his village even if they did not always return the sentiment. Usopp would not let Kuro, the traitorous bastard, lay one finger on an innocent person. The man had lived with Kaya for years. He had pretended to care for her, to support her. He watched her grieve and grow sick because of his own actions. Yet he felt no guilt nor pity. Kuro was a black-hearted and cruel man. He was barely human. Humans, Usopp would argue, felt too much empathy for others to ever condemn a young girl for money. If Kuro was a good example of a human being, then Usopp didn’t want to be one. 

Luffy and Zoro fought like monsters. While Luffy was rubber, he could still be cut, thus Kuro should’ve had the advantage with his ten blades and killing intent. Luffy didn’t let it stop him. He had looked at the plan Kuro had carefully crafted for years and Luffy shook it until it crashed down around them. Usopp had known they were strong (all pirates had to be), but Luffy had something Kuro did not. Luffy felt . Luffy’s heart held a love for freedom and joy. He wanted others to have the same. His first mate kept up with him. Zoro was outnumbered despite his three blades, and any other man would’ve made a fatal mistake at least once. Zoro was too determined to lose. He saw the odds that were stacked against him, and he built his own chances instead. Nami was not a fighter like her crewmates, but she wasn’t a pushover. She helped where she could and she ran when she needed to, and no one thought less of her for it. The three pirates gave Usopp hope. 

Kuro had planned to kill his own crew to keep himself hidden. Luffy shook the notorious pirate after a glare that Usopp was thankful he didn’t see. Kuro had disgraced pirates and Luffy was pissed . Luffy was scary, but so were Nami and Zoro. Usopp didn’t mind. Scary was uself (and Usopp was scared of everything, so being fearful of his crewmates was nothing he couldn’t handle). Luffy was not a pirate out of the horror stories parents told their children. Sure, he was vicious and greedy, but he was still gentle and kind. He was the kind of man Usopp hoped his father was.

Kaya

Kaya noticed a change in Usopp. Anyone would be affected by the ordeal they went through (she finally had the push she needed to become a doctor like she had always dreamed), but Usopp had a fire lit under him. He was antsy even while he was healing from his wounds. Kaya knew he would leave. He needed to. There was no way to become a great pirate without going out to sea.

When Kaya’s parent were alive, they had raised her to be logical. Every decision had to be made with careful consideration and research. There was never a need to be hasty or to settle for less than the best. It made it hard for Kaya to relax or have fun without worry. It was the reason why she enjoyed Usopp’s stories. In fictional tales, she could be a carefree as she could imagine without any concern for what was right or wrong. It was also the reason she never believed Usopp would actually live through the stories he told. Usopp’s desire to become a warrior was impractical, but Luffy didn’t give a damn what was practical. Luffy cared about dreams and hopes and wills. He cared about Usopp. Kaya knew Luffy would be the best thing to ever happen to Usopp. Kaya was grateful to Luffy. The boy had not only saved her, but he believed in Usopp where Kaya had been unable to.

It was easy to give the Strawhats the Going Merry . They would give the ship the adventure she was made for. Kaya found peace of mind knowing Merry would sail them closer to their goals. They deserved her. Kaya had never met a group of more determined people even if they were reckless. Usopp took to the pirates like a sponge, absorbing their tenacity and energy. He had seen people working towards their dreams and decided to follow. As bittersweet as her best friends departure was, it was for the best. Usopp was finally taking a step towards what he desired most in the world.

Usopp would be great .

Usopp

After the fight and Kaya’s gift of the Going Merry, Luffy offered his hand to Usopp and he felt like he could do something for the first time in his life. He had helped them fight and win. He had been a pirate. Luffy told him to get on their ship. Luffy had faith that Usopp would become the warrior he dreamed he would be. 

The Going Merry was a beautiful ship that Usopp loved dearly. Luffy welcomed with enough enthusiasm to make up for Zoro and Nami’s lackluster attitudes. Most nights, Luffy slank down from his own hammock to lay half overtop of Usopp beneath him, but it kept Usopp warm so he didn’t mind. Having a friend like Luffy was life-changing. He had the kids in Syrup that entertained him, but he had never had a friend his own age. Luffy was fun . Usopp didn’t think being a pirate would feel like finding a family. Luffy was like a brother to him who was willing to cause mischief and mayhem. Nami was an older sister with a short temper, but she took care of them. Zoro, for lack of a better description, was like their guard dog. He got into trouble in his own right, but Usopp knew he could rely on him whenever trouble was around. 

Usopp had relied on his eyes his entire life. Ever since he could hold a slingshot he’d be learning to aim. To watch. He knew how the winds breathed and he knew how people moved. He knew how to hit any target, stationary or otherwise. It took some practice to factor in the motion of the sea’s waves for his aim, but after two days as a pirate he had found his aim again. His eyes had quickly taken to watching the horizon as he learned the timing of waves and when they’d strike the ship’s hull and rock them. He had to be aware of the sea’s movement, but gravity was the same. 

Usopp quickly realized Merry herself was… strange. He’d hear a child laugh when they were in the open ocean, or see their silhouette. At first, he chalked up the odd shadows up to his imagination since no one else ever mentioned it. So Usopp pretended not to notice anything odd hoping it would make him feel better (it wouldn’t). The shadows never disappeared, but Usopp realized that they meant him no harm. 

The feelings should’ve been easier to write off. Usopp wasn’t seeing anything out of the corner of his eye, but he couldn’t explain the sudden bursts of fear he’d get after sundown. It was impossible for him to feel someone else’s emotions, right? Usopp had thought he knew the answer. Still, he found himself full of Luffy’s boundless joy, Nami’s irritation, and Zoro’s determination. Usopp had always considered himself empathetic, but not to such an extreme extent. Usopp mistook his crewmates' moods for his own. Perhaps close friends were all like that? The first few days on the ship were the worst. Usopp wondered if it was just because he was away from home, but it was hard to ignore. He’d wake up from dreamless sleep and cling to Luffy until he could breathe through the panic. His captain often murmured reassurances in his sleep as if he could tell Usopp was troubled. Usopp filed away every dream with the rest of the unexplainable things he learned about the crew. 

It wasn’t until much later that Usopp realized he had been feeling Nami’s dreams after sundown, who suffered from nightmares the closer they sailed to Arlong Park. 

“His utmost power with adverse power oppos'd

In dubious Battel on the Plains of Heav'n,

And shook his throne. What though the field be lost?”

-John Milton, " Paradise Lost"

Chapter Text

Yosaku

The first time Yosaku met Zoro, he had laughed in the man’s face. Challenging Hawkeye Mihawk? What a joke. The World’s Greatest Swordsman was more likely to drop dead from old age than ever be defeated by someone else’s blade. Dreams were childish things. He and Johnny lived by being realistic. They went after small bounties and they didn’t push their luck with big name pirates. Maybe they had started bounty hunting to fulfill their own dreams of being protectors of innocent villages, but that was a long time ago. There was nothing to gain if they wound up dead. Zoro was different.

Yosaku and Johnny had both felt Zoro’s passion in a no-name village when he took down a five-million bounty to pay for his lunch. They didn’t know he was the Pirate Hunter until Zoro saved their lives later that day. Yosaku and Johnny had decided to be brave to try and save a kid fending off a five-million beri pirate. It was stupid, but it was the first time they’d taken a job without thinking about the money. It would’ve killed them if Zoro hadn’t stepped in. Watching the Demon of the East wield three swords was like a dream. It seemed impossible for one man to be so strong. 

Yosaku and Johnny had all but begged to be friends with Zoro. They wanted to be like the swordsman with dreams taller than the sky. So Yosaku knew what it felt like to look at someone awe-inspiring. He never expected Zoro to look at someone else that way.

Yosaku had woken up from a brush with scurvy to a crew of pirates that Zoro had joined. Even if Zoro had never explicitly wanted to be a bounty hunter, Yosaku didn’t believe Zoro would switch sides on a whim. Zoro watched Luffy with an attentiveness that he didn’t spare for anything else. In all the time Yosaku had known Zoro, the swordsman had only held an interest for swords and booze. What made a teenager in a straw hat worth Zoro’s loyalty? Luffy was young, loud, and didn’t take anything seriously except for food. He was captain, but his entire crew treated him like an annoying little brother more than a leader. Yosaku didn’t get it. 

Although Luffy was immature, he unnerved Yosaku. He couldn’t explain it, but when Luffy first locked eyes on Yosaku, he felt judged. It continued for the initial hour he’d been awake on their ship. Every move he’d made was watched as if he needed to prove his worth before being accepted. It was foolish. Luffy had already agreed that they could stay onboard (any friends of Zoro’s were friends of his), yet Yosaku couldn’t shake the feeling of being on trial every time he spoke to the crew. The odd feelings were gone quickly and Luffy’s attention was honed in on finding a cook. Luffy’s smile made Yosaku question why he’d felt judged in the first place. 

It wasn’t until later that Yosaku understood. Monkey D. Luffy wanted to fight the biggest and baddest man in sight as soon as he deemed them an enemy. Despite that, he allowed Zoro to duel Mihawk without any question. He’d sent the others after Nami while he stayed behind with Zoro. Luffy had stopped anyone from getting in the way of Zoro’s dream, even himself. He’d gotten his bloodshed out of Don Krieg instead (and the highest bounty in the East did bleed despite his reputation). By the time Luffy was done, his knuckles were split open and the Krieg Pirates were toppled. Yosaku hadn’t seen the entire fight against Don Krieg, but he knew Luffy had judged Krieg unworthy. Krieg — regardless of how large his fleet was or how strong his armor was — didn’t stand a chance after Luffy had made his decision. Zoro’s captain was judge, jury, and executioner.

Yosaku was thankful he had been allowed on the man’s ship after all.

Sanji

Luffy had wanted Sanji to join his crew before he had even tasted his cooking (and then he did taste the food and refused to leave without Sanji even though Sanji threatened him with bodily harm). Luffy was a walking disaster, but he was kind, and kindness was hard to come by. Sanji didn’t think he himself was kind. He was violent and temperamental and he drove every one of his coworkers crazy. Sanji fed starving men because he wouldn’t wish that fate on anyone. It had nothing to do with kindness or care. Zeff had only raised him to be tough and taught him the mastery of cooking. Matters of the heart weren’t a priority. Still, Luffy certainly thought he was kind. Perhaps that would be enough. 

The Baratie brought in all kinds of people from all four seas of the world, but Sanji hadn’t seen anyone like Luffy before. Sanji was younger than most of the chefs at the Baratie and they treated him like he was still the little kid that Zeff had dragged in by the scruff —  they treated him like a foolish dreamer. Luffy had listened to his dream of the All Blue and hadn’t laughed in his face. Luffy was a dreamer too. It didn’t mean Sanji would join his crew, but it tempted him. While Luffy dropped every dish he tried to wash, inhaled every scrap of food in his long reach, and put holes in their ship, he was also a soul that shone. He held passion for adventure and wilted with boredom when he stood in spot for more than thirty seconds. Yet, when Don Krieg appeared Luffy became a man that would win peace for the Baratie. He stretched himself thin (quite literally) to defend a restaurant manned by criminals simply because he wanted to. Luffy was bones and blood and tendons like any other animal or human, but he felt like more. 

Truthfully, watching Zoro fight a Warlord was what pushed Sanji into deciding. He watched Zoro chase his dream and lose , but Zoro didn’t act defeated. He had accepted his defeat with a smile and a promise. Luffy had let Zoro do it. The Captain didn’t rush in and try to save the swordsman even when Mihawk cut him open. Luffy knew it was Zoro’s fight (Zoro’s dream), and he didn’t interfere. Sanji wanted that . He wanted to trust a Captain not to get in his way when his dreams were on the line, and he wanted a crew that he could chase those dreams with. Sanji needed people who could understand him — people who had dreams dug in their hearts no matter how foolish.

Luffy had run to Zoro’s side along with the two other men, Johnny and Yosaku, in preparation to stitch him up as Mihawk left Zoro with nothing but a scar and an acknowledgment. Luffy had been smiling through his concern. There was remorse and passion chiseled into the swordsman’s face (Zoro desired to be more and he would be, but in the meantime, he regretted being so far away from it). He had acted with courage and pride, but in the trench of a scar on his chest, Sanji saw care. He saw ambition that refused to fade with time. Sanji saw himself. 

“I’ll never lose again.” It was an impossible promise for Zoro to make, but Luffy had agreed anyway. Luffy spared a glance at Sanji in the middle of it. The teen looked at Sanji like he was shining. Like he was glad just to see Sanji was not blind (and Sanji had been blind. Blinded by his desire to repay his father figure and blinded by his need to prove he was as human as any other). Luffy was ready to pull Sanji in and push him upwards into grace to satisfy them both. It startled Sanji that Luffy’s intentions, complicated as they were, were so easy to understand. 

Then Luffy pressed his hands on either side of Zoro’s wounded chest. Johnny and Yosaku had still been scrambling to find something to stop the bleeding. Luffy’s hands began to smoke . He pulled them away a moment later as if it was nothing out of the ordinary. Zoro’s wound didn’t look much different, but the tension in his injured body faded considerably. 

“That should help,” Luffy said quietly. “Probably. I haven’t done it in a while.”

Zoro passed out not long after that. Sanji didn’t know if Zoro would remember the strange moment, but he didn’t seem alarmed at the time although he wasn’t completely lucid. Usopp, however, had witnessed the whole thing. The sniper watched with wide eyes before visibly shaking off the sight of whatever Luffy had done. Sanji figured he should get used to the odd Captain if he was going to join the crew (Usopp had done the same). 

It was later, on their way to follow Nami, that Luffy had looked at Sanji under the sun’s rays. It was the same expression of consideration he’d given Sanji on the Baratie’s deck when he’d asked Sanji to be his cook for the dozenth time.

“You have a lot holding you down,” Luffy said. He had recently eaten, which meant his brain was working for once even if Sanji had no idea what he was talking about. Luffy smiled and it blended in with the sunlight. “That’s alright. Most people do.”

“I didn’t leave anything unsaid. As soon as we get my Nami-swan back, everything will be perfect.” Sanji held his cigarette between two fingers as he reassured his new captain. He was starting a new adventure. He couldn’t afford to be chained down by the spirits of his past (even if that past pushed down on him with unrelenting agony that left deep scars, but that had been before he lived in the East). “There’s nothing weighing on me.”

Luffy watched him a moment longer. Sanji felt himself be picked apart by a boy bursting with empathy. He wondered if Luffy felt as full of feelings as Sanji did. There was simply too much to be held in his body. Things like adoration, anger, and passion always came spilling out. Luffy blinked and the thought was gone from Sanji’s head. “Okay. If you’re sure.”

Sanji had a feeling Luffy didn’t believe him. 

“I who had seen this desire, twice, began: ‘O spirits, certain, sometime, of reaching a state of peace,

my limbs have not remained over there, green or ripe in age, but are here, with me, with all their blood and sinews.

I go upwards from here, in order to be blind no longer:

there is a lady there above who wins grace for us, by means of which I bring my mortal body through your world.

But - and may your desires be satisfied quickly, and Heaven house you, which stretches furthest, filled with love”

-Dante Alighieri, Purgatorio , Canto XXVI: The Lustful

Mihawk

Mihawk was a demon made in the East Blue. The Pirate King’s execution had been an explosion of hellfire. It had sparked the souls of many in attendance including but not limited to Hawkeyes. So, Mihawk had taken that new fire and forged himself into a demon. He had made himself the strongest. 

Roronoa’s devil captain was unenthused by Mihawk’s presence, but the boy didn’t intervene. The rookie captain was the one whom Roronoa’s loyalty swarmed, and that loyalty was returned as Luffy clenched his fists with worry through the entire fight. It made Mihawk curious. The devils he knew were stubborn at best and natural disasters at worst, but they always kept things interesting.

“Surpass me! Roronoa Zoro!” Mihawk challenged. Mihawk expected Zoro to promise he’d meet him at the top, or that’d he beat Mihawk or die trying. Instead, he raised his sword and called to his captain as the sun beat down on them all.

“Luffy, can you hear me?” Zoro’s voice was hoarse from the intense pain of his chest wound, but he didn’t quiet. “Sorry for worrying you! You said you need only the best. I swear I’ll never lose again! Is that okay with you, Pirate King?!”

Mihawk grinned as Luffy agreed. Pirate King. Mihawk had personally met the people competing to reach the One Piece. Whitebeard shook apart entire islands, Shanks brought nations to their knees, Big Mom devoured everything in her path, and Kaido was the strongest creature alive. Half of the Seven Warlords were demons themselves. Mihawk turned to the rookie in a familiar straw hat. The top pirates were more monsters than humans, but they weren’t devils.

“You know, reaching the One Piece will be more difficult than surpassing me,” Mihawk said. 

“How would I know? I haven’t done it yet.” The brat stuck his tongue out at him. The kid who would be king was ready to fight until he realized Zoro was alive. Luffy’s fight fled after Mihawk formally acknowledged the swordsman, as if the Warlord had passed a test by doing so. Since becoming a Warlord, he had never passed any of Vice Admiral Garp’s ‘tests’ of character (likely because Mihawk entertained himself by pissing off Garp just to see the devil’s temper flare). Monkey D. Luffy seemed to be just starting out, but he showed promise of becoming yet another major player on the field. Mihawk couldn’t wait to see how he would tilt the earth’s axis.

“You make an interesting team.” Mihawk gestured to the swordsman across the water. Luffy didn’t seem to care what Mihawk’s opinion was either way, but the Warlord spoke regardless. “I look forward to seeing what you become.”

Chapter Text

Nami

Nami had never let herself be angry. Or, at least, not the genuine rage and despair she felt upon Arlong undercutting their deal. She had destroyed herself trying to buy back her village. She made herself a thief and a liar. She’d driven away her entire community to protect them. Her blood, sweat, and tears stained the gold that Arlong had taken from her. Eight years of work — nearly half her life — had all been stolen from her and she hadn’t gotten the chance to fight for it.

Luffy didn’t know anything about Nami’s past. He had decided to walk away from Nojiko when she had offered to explain. Either Luffy wanted to hear it from Nami directly, or he really didn’t care how it had happened. Nami had done everything possible to push the crew away. She had stolen the beloved Merry, she had given them the coldest shoulder, and she had cursed pirates altogether. And yet, Luffy saw her tears and resolved he would destroy the fishman responsible.

“Luffy. Help me.”

Help was a straw hat on her head.

Nami thought they were going to die and she had come to terms with it. Without the treasure she’d spent years gathering, the only choice she had was to fight. Nami would rather die than be a slave to Arlong any longer. Nami wasn’t the only one. Her entire village was prepared to die fighting. Usopp fought as he trembled with fear. Sanji fought even though he barely knew Nami or the crew. Zoro fought as his stitches reopened and threatened to bleed him dry. They were all willing to risk their lives for Cocoyoshi’s freedom. Things would never be the same.

The sky spoke of the end, whether it was the fishmen or the humans’ end was still to be seen. Nami had always been a fantastic navigator, but she’d never understood clouds so clearly. They were an omen of change. The tension that had been brewing over their suffering was spilling over. The clouds hung low, ready to steal any man who wanted to fly off into the sky free. 

Then Sanji dragged Luffy back onto dry land and hell broke loose. Luffy gave twice as much as he got. Everytime Arlong bit into his weak skin, Luffy bit back twice as deep. His brawl sent Arlong through the walls of his own sanctuary. He tore apart the room Nami had been forced to chart maps in. The building that represented years of tyranny crumpled under Luffy’s fury. In the end there was Luffy — standing in the middle of the destruction with a smile on his face, and bone-dry skin despite his dip in the ocean — and the wind whispered to Nami that no one else would ever compare to him. Nobody could ever hope to shine like the sun while they wrought punishment on those who had earned it. He looked like something out of hell — like an angel come to save her. 

“Nami!” Luffy yelled from atop the rubble. “You’re one of us!”

Nami wept as her chest burned. She no longer had to work underneath pirates. She was a pirate. She was a Strawhat and Luffy had given her the same freedom he breathed. 

Luffy was merciful and kind, but he did not hesitate to tear apart a crew that terrorized an innocent village for a decade. Some of the Arlong Pirates escaped. Luffy did not try to chase them down. They had already taken their punishment and thus Luffy would forgive and forget. He made revenge seem easy — as if the slate was wiped clean even for their enemies. Luffy gave second chances and third chances. Nami didn’t know how to do the same. She knew she would resent Arlong for the rest of her life. 

But that was fine. He was dead anyway.

Her captain was kind, but he would never let someone go unpunished if they’d irked him. It did mean that Luffy would accept any enemy's repentance with open arms, but he didn’t hesitate to kill Arlong for refusing to back down. 

“Nami’s free,” Luffy said to her when they were waiting for the party to start. He sounded pleased, even if he was injured, Zoro’s stitches were being redone for the third time, and Sanji and Usopp were nursing their own wounds. 

“Yeah. I am.” Nami was free and she didn’t know what to do with it. She’d spent over half her life as Arlong’s charter. She’d been forced to give him directions that he would do harm with. She’d gouged out that part of herself with a knife to her arm. She wanted, for once, to guide someone just because she could. She wanted to be Luffy’s navigator.

“You’re brave, Nami,” Luffy thought aloud. “I wouldn’t have been able to survive what you did.”

“You would’ve escaped a whole lot easier than I did,” Nami argued. She hadn’t ever felt brave under Arlong. She hadn’t given up of course, but she hadn’t been able to do anything besides make a deal that Arlong never intended to keep. She never brought down Arlong Park with her fists. She wasn’t like Luffy. He was free like the clouds above them and the sea beyond them. He was strong, even when he was bleeding half to death and declaring Nami a Strawhat Pirate. 

Luffy waved his hand aimlessly. “I would’ve tried to fight him and died right away. I couldn’t have beaten him without you guys. But you didn’t budge and you waited for help. That makes you brave.”

Just like that, every troubled thought Nami had vanished. Her doubts and sorrows were gone with Luffy’s wayward thoughts. She had courage for her village and she held her ground for ten years even when she feared she’d die. She hadn’t tried to run with the weight of her hometown on her shoulders. The Strawhats had been able to rescue Cocoyashi and chase out the fishmen because Nami had been brave enough to ask them for help. 

“Thanks, Luffy.” Nami was grinning, but her captain was already halfway across the clearing to steal Usopp’s plate of food. 

She sighed fondly, and wondered if Belle-mere was watching.

Luffy 

Luffy felt much better after tearing Arlong’s throat out with his teeth. He hadn’t been planning to murder the fishman, but Arlong had refused to accept defeat. Arlong was too far gone in his own head to live. The fishman thought he was a righteous savior for the lesser humans. He had believed there would be no consequence to playing with human souls. Arlong couldn’t repent for his actions. Luffy couldn’t stand for it. He wasn’t even hungry, and he had no desire to feast on the fishmen corpses, but he had killed Arlong anyway.

Maybe Luffy was just pissed. Arlong had spoken such vile things about Nami, about using her like she was just a map printing press. The thought of letting him go had made Luffy furious. Even they found marines to turn him in, there was no guarantee Arlong would rot in jail. Arlong couldn’t hurt Nami if he was dead. He couldn’t hurt anyone. It gave Luffy peace of mind he didn’t know he was looking for.

Luffy wasn’t human. He almost forgot when he was surrounded by his crew or villages of humans. It didn’t change anything for him most of the time. He was born a devil and there was nothing else to be said about it. And yet, when he pinned Arlong under the destruction of his paradise and killed him, Luffy felt his soul rage. Whatever made him inhuman was strong when he fought. It demanded something like justice, but not the justice Gramps always talked about. His soul ached to chase out everything that was wrong . Luffy didn’t understand it, nor did he have the words to explain it. He just knew that his soul and mind agreed with each other. Just like they did about his crew. 

The crew had all seen him fight, but they hadn’t asked any questions. Luffy knew they were all smart enough to figure out he wasn’t like them. He wasn’t hiding it, but he was cautious. It was lonely to mask any part of himself (oh, how he missed Ace and Sabo in those moments). If Luffy drove any of his crewmates away because of his soul, he knows he’ll never forget it. He remembered way Koby had looked at him when he’d seen Luffy drink Zoro’s blood- like he was a monster. Luffy didn’t want to be a man like that (a pirate that tried to drown kids in rowboats, or that punched tied up kids with spiked knuckles, or that burned down trash heaps, or a king that left behind a kid who hated them even after they died). Luffy didn’t give a damn what most people thought about him, but he wouldn’t ever let his friends down. They’d be safe even if they decided that sailing under a devil wasn’t what they wanted. They all had a bit of Luffy in them and it would keep any stray devils or demons from getting close. At least, he thought that’s how it worked. Gramps had explained it a few times, but Luffy usually didn’t know what Gramps was talking about until Luffy did it for himself. He had always been like that.

Luffy had made up his mind long before he killed Arlong. He was going to be free. He wasn’t going to hide from anybody, especially not his own crew. 

Luffy would tell them when they felt the need to ask. 

Zoro

Johnny and Yosaku would not be joining the crew. It had been good to see them, but Zoro wasn’t surprised they decided to stay behind. The fight with Arlong had been overwhelming for them. The pair weren’t bad bounty hunters by East Blue standards, but the Grand Line had no mercy for anyone who hesitated. Zoro knew there was another reason they weren’t coming. Johnny and Yosaku never said it, but Zoro knew them well enough to notice. They weren’t just scared of the Grand Line, they were scared of Luffy . They didn’t want to admit that the Captain who had been nothing but kind gave them the creeps. They knew what bloodlust felt like and Luffy had gallons of it when he stood against men like Arlong. 

It should have worried Zoro more than he didn’t share the same reservations as Johnny and Yosaku. Zoro had been dragging corpses to his Captain in Orange Town and in Syrup Village (even if Luffy wasn’t starving in Syrup, there was no point in passing up the bodies of the Black Cat Pirates). The cannibalism and blood lust didn’t bother him. He also had a long list of less explainable things like Luffy’s eyes gleaming red in the dark, odd smoke that helped heal his injuries, and the insane amount of heat that followed him but Luffy had never mentioned any of it so Zoro didn’t ask. He should have asked — should’ve pressed why Luffy needed to eat flesh and blood. Unknowns led to mistakes which Zoro did everything he could to avoid most of the time. But with Luffy, Zoro knew it didn’t really matter. Luffy felt safe. Zoro had dedicated himself to making Luffy the King and he would do it no matter how many bodies he had to lay at his throne. 

Johnny and Yosaku didn’t understand why Zoro was dedicated because they couldn’t feel it. The thing that had drawn Zoro to Luffy didn’t draw in everyone, just a select few that were worthy. The Strawhats were the first place he found a home and a purpose to stay loyal to (something to orbit) even when the crew was just him and Luffy, but he didn’t think it’d change much in him. Zoro was still himself and still wanted to honor his promise of becoming the World’s Greatest Swordsman, but he had abandoned his distaste for pirates within minutes of meeting Luffy and spilt his blood for him because Luffy asked . It usually took more to move him, but at least he wasn’t the only one who felt Luffy’s effects. 

Zoro saw it in Nami, Ussop, and Sanji. Luffy pulled people in and made them subjectively better or worse. Zoro saw it in the strength that they all strived for and achieved. He saw it when they lost their battles and the viscousness that they stood back up with. They all should’ve been dead a dozen times over but Luffy kept them going. It was impossible to ignore that whatever Luffy had was working. No other Captain could replicate his success. None of them were Luffy . Luffy didn’t try to instill fear or demand respect. He let his crew tell him when he was being stupid (which was often) and he let them take over in situations he was weak in (which grew fewer and further in between). He didn’t force Zoro to lay down his pride just like he didn’t expect Nami to give the Captain all the treasure, didn’t demand Usopp to be honest with him, and didn’t get spiteful when Sanji kicked him out of the kitchen again . Other crews might’ve been killed for the disrespect that Strawhats got away with. To Luffy, the details didn’t matter. Zoro learned very quickly that Luffy just trusted them to be ruthless when it came to winning. 

So even if other people were scared of Luffy, Zoro never felt that way. He agreed that Luffy was capable of being scary, but none of that was ever directed at his crew. It was only people who crossed Luffy that had reason to fear him. That in itself wasn’t odd. Zoro could be scary too (most pirates in the East Blue shuddered at his name or the mention of his three-sword style), but Luffy could embody intimidation itself. It was in his gaze that pinned down men like Arlong and it made grown pirates hesitant and rethink when they were targeting. Luffy made people feel like prey when they ensured his wrath. To Zoro, it wasn’t any stranger than everything else Luffy did. 

The night after departing Cocoyashi, there were several strange dreams aboard the Merry. Luffy dreamt of the sun high in the limitless sky. Zoro’s head was stuck somewhere cold and dark and familiar. Nami sailed through a comforting yet raging storm. Usopp lived his tale of being a merciful god. Sanji floated as a star burning bright in the cradle of space. The crew had forgotten their dreams by morning, but the Merry would remember for them. 

Chapter Text

Garp

It began with Monkey D. Garp. His family had lived on Dawn for generations, and no one remembered the Monkeys belonging to another sea or another island. Garp was the first and last child his parents were blessed with. He was a loud infant and his cries kept the neighbors awake and scared all the fish away from the fishermen’s waters. The child was loved regardless. He was raised well, and the Foosha Village instilled a sense of right and wrong while his father beat manners into him for his own good. He was an odd child — he hated swimming and the water in general, but demanded to join his father on fishing trips when he was five, and after his lessons in net making he would eat enough to crash the local economy — but he was looked at with fondness by the locals. 

When Garp turned ten, things began to change. It wasn’t entirely alarming at first, for Garp’s peculiarities had long become normal (the boy had always been loud, proud, and terribly stubborn, although he learned most of that from his father). Still, the hue his irises bled were hard to ignore. Garp had strength that did not belong to a ten-year-old, an unreasonably large appetite, and unexplainable instincts towards people and their intentions.

The fire explained all of it. Garp first summoned flames in the dead of a frozen winter. The cold was brutal that year, and his mother had struggled to light a steady fire in the home's hearth. Garp had wanted to help. The fire came at his call, lighting in his palms and burning what he asked it to. His mother had demanded he never tell a soul about his odd ability, but Garp could not hide something he didn’t understand. Word had spread quickly that the child could light any wood pile, and Garp became the savior of many cold families that winter. 

The fire in the hearths burned until spring. 

Garp learned what devils were soon after. Devils weren’t common in the Blues, but rumors of them were spread far. No one understood where devils came from, or why they were born into normal families, but devils had souls of hellfire and always found their way to the Grand Line. 

Garp had felt drawn to the sea despite his distaste for swimming, but he knew he desired adventure in his life. There was something out there waiting for him. He joined the Marines as a cabin boy when he turned sixteen to search for it.

· · ─────── · ☼  · ─────── · ·

The navy had a distinct hatred towards devils. It was not something they hid, and it was not something Garp let stop him. His passion lay in justice, for all its ugly glory. His soul was not a secret he kept close to his chest, but as a cabin boy, it never came up. When he finally began to fight against dangerous criminals on the Grand Line, his superiors took notice. Most devils were executed as soon as the navy identified them. Garp had known the risks before he was a cabin boy, but he hadn’t given up his plan to protect innocents. Garp’s time in the marines had prevented his execution. Instead, they put him to use. Even the worst pirates were wary of devils, especially ones with haki as strong as Garp’s (although Roger, a devil himself, would never have such self-preservation. The navy was furious their leashed devil was unable to intimidate the Pirate King). 

Very few officers worked with Garp willing. Even when he rocketed to Vice Admiral status by sheer force of will, other marines were cautious or even distrusting of him. Garp had always had a reputation as a reliable man — a man who would never lose — but he usually worked alone. The higher-ups had often partnered him with Sengoku or Tsuru (they were being used as babysitters, Sengoku would complain), and it was amusing that their superiors ever thought Garp would take being monitored seriously. Only one officer followed Garp the Fist from the beginning. Bogard had become loyal to Garp in their early days as marines and the swordsman hadn’t strayed since, but he did little to quell Garp’s tenacious spirit no matter how much the rest of their unit begged him to talk sense into the Vice Admiral. 

The God Valley Incident earned Garp a reputation as more than a devil. They called him the Hero of the Marines as if they could paint him a new career when he was already forty years old. He didn’t give a damn what the World Government thought about him, but it was always clear how they felt about his presence in the navy even if Garp had been nominated for the title of Admiral several times. Garp refused every time. Being an Admiral meant he’d be forced to put up with Nobles and other Upper Ranks in the government. He despised the thought of becoming the Celestial Dragons’ guard dog — of being leashed . 

Garp was satisfied as a man who upheld justice. In his career, he saw plenty of the world, the beauty and atrocities that it held built a great weight on his broad shoulders. Justice demanded to be upheld on his back, yet she never explained herself. 

Monkey D. Dragon was born on Dawn Island when Garp was twenty-three. The newborn had traces of hellfire in his soul the moment he took his first breath (Garp understood then why his parents had given him the name D although they hadn’t even known he would be a devil. To look upon a devil child and name them was to know that any other name would be blasphemy ). Dragon was a rare second-generation devil and Garp feared what would happen to his son if anyone heard of it. His time as a marine showed him that people could be cruel when they desired knowledge, and the government was always greedy when devils were involved. 

Garp took care that no one knew his child’s name or what lay in his soul. 

Sengoku knew something was odd about Garp’s son. He knew how excited the man had been to learn he would be a father (Sengoku had been prepared for Garp to parade his newborn through every marine headquarters in the area), and yet he did not ever talk about his child to anyone . Most of the newer recruits had no idea Garp was even married, let alone a father. But Sengoku had met Garp’s wife. She had visited Marineford before their son was born, but no one had seen a hair of her since. 

“Senny, about my son-“ Garp began one quiet morning after Garp had returned from his paternity leave. 

Sengoku held up his hand. “If it’s something the navy doesn’t need to know, then I don’t need to know.”

Sengoku refused to be put in a position that forced him to choose between his friend and his duty. Garp kept any and all secrets to himself for the sake of whatever he was protecting. 

“Thanks, Senny.” Garp sighed to himself. He yearned to brag about his family from the rooftops, but it would put them on the radar of the wrong people. “My son’s going to be a good man. A better one than me, I hope.”

With Gol D. Roger came a devil hunt demanded by the World Government. Garp’s reputation meant he was not targeted, but civilians did not have the same protection. Any soul with hellfire was slaughtered for fear of how powerful devils could become. 

Garp could not save every devil from the ordered genocide, but he was able to save one. A baby boy in the South Blue was entrusted to him by a dead man. 

Makino

Oribu Makino had not been expecting visitors. Her mother, Hareta, was still tending the bar and everyone in Foosha should have known that. Makino usually only received one unannounced visitor in the dead of night. Her father. Monkey D. Dragon was elusive by necessity, but he tried to visit every two years or so. The storm outside only confirmed her suspicions, as storms followed Dragon like clockwork. She had flung open the front door expecting her father to be standing on the porch with a hood protecting him from the rain. It was not Dragon. 

“Grandad?” Makino sprouted in surprise. Garp had never shown up in the middle of the night before. Even if he had, he would’ve gone to Party’s Bar to seek out Hareta instead of Makino. Strangest of all was the baby in her grandfather’s arms.

“Makino,” Garp greeted warmly. He tucked the bundled infant in one arm so he could hug his twelve-year-old granddaughter to his other side. “Forgive me for showing up unannounced, but this is important.”

Makino let Garp usher her inside quietly. She didn’t know her grandfather could be quiet. 

“This is your brother.” Garp knelt and held the baby boy in one of his huge hands towards Makino. She could see the tufts of black hair escaped from the blanket he was tucked into.

“What?” Makino asked. 

“Dragon asked me to take him. To keep him safe,” Garp explained. Although Makino didn’t know the details of Dragon’s career, she knew her father was in constant danger. It was why he couldn’t visit more often. “It’s still risky for me to bring him here. People might ask questions. Especially if I came up to your mother and dropped a baby in her arms. Can you explain things to her until it’s safe for me to come back.”

Makino nodded. Garp had never asked anything of her before (other than his insistence that she enlist in the marines when she was old enough). She was confused of course, but if her grandfather was taking the situation seriously then she would too. “What’s his name?” she asked as she reached towards the infant. 

“Monkey D. Luffy.”

The storm outside shook the house. Thunder rattled the air moments after lightning touched the sky to the earth. As she held her half-brother for the very first time, Makino was aware she standing between two devils. Her Grandad was a legend and there was no doubt her brother would become one if he escaped genocide long enough to grow up.

“D? He’s a third generation?” Makino asked. She wasn’t a D. Her father’s devilishness had skipped over her, but she’d heard that was common. Her mother’s side was all human, although the same couldn’t be said for her father’s. 

“All the way through.” Garp reached his finger up for Luffy to grasp in his tiny hand. “Dragon told me… Luffy’s mother was a D as well. He’s a pureblooded devil.”

Makino glanced back down at the bundle in her arms. “Where is his mother now?”

“Executed. She was caught just after Luffy was born.” Garp's words were solemn, but he didn’t let it show in his face. “Dragon doesn’t mean to force this on you and Hareta, but-“

“We can’t trust him with anyone else.” Makino smiled sadly. Makino had experience with devils (even if she wasn’t close to her father, and Garp wasn’t the most forthcoming about his own life), which meant she and Hareta would be the most equipped and trustworthy people to raise Luffy. 

“I’m sorry. This is the best place to hide him. Hareta and you already know what he is. I made sure no one followed me here, but if the navy finds out he’s a devil, they’ll kill him. So, I have to ask you both to raise him for now.”

“Of course I’ll take care of him.” Makino hadn’t hesitated at the notion. This infant was her brother. She would protect him with all she had, even if she paled in comparison to her father and grandfather’s strength. She hoped it wouldn’t come to that. 

“Tell people he’s your cousin. It goes without saying, but keep his devilishness hidden. Even though he’s my grandson, no one will think he’s like me, so you should be safe until he starts showing signs. I’ll teach him how to control it,” Garp assured. He sighed, pondering the chances his family really was cursed. 

“What about…” Makino trailed off with a glance towards Mt. Colubo. Garp had told her to stay away from the mountain. There was a pureblooded devil child there that Garp had also been entrusted with. They had no idea if pureblooded devils were any different than the rest, and they wouldn’t find out until the boys were older. 

“It should be fine. Their circumstances are a bit different. If you and Hareta couldn’t take Luffy, I planned to ask the Bandits to take him too. But he and Ace wouldn’t get along and I’d like them not to kill each other.”

Makino nodded. She knew devils didn’t get along. It was as if the fires in their souls refused to mix. She’d heard plenty about her father and her grandfather's fights. It was the reason pureblooded devils were unheard of. Now there was not one, but two on Dawn Island. 

Makino looked back at the devil in her arms. “We’ll raise him well.”

· · ─────── · ☼  · ─────── · ·

Hareta died within two years of taking in Luffy. Makino, when she was fourteen, was left motherless and with a toddler to raise. She wasn’t alone. All of Foosha was willing to help Makino, especially Mayor Woopslap and his wife. She continued to work in Party’s Bar even when it was taken over by one of the local tavern owners. The man promised to give her ownership as soon as she was an adult, and she intended to hold him to it.

Luffy spent his toddler years being coddled by the village, but every passing day left Makino paranoid that Luffy’s less human features would make an appearance. So, when she was eighteen, she began taking Luffy to the bar while she worked to keep an eye on him. Luffy was a handful, but he kept himself entertained and often talked with the customers. Everyone knew everyone in Foosha, so Makino never feared for Luffy’s safety.

Of course that changed when a pirate ship docked on their shores and brought dreams and a devil fruit to Luffy.

Garp had been furious with Shanks. Not only had the experienced pirate recognized Luffy as a devil, but he had put thoughts of piracy in his grandson’s head. 

“I’m taking him to Dadan,” Garp had decided. 

“Grandad,” Makino protested. “I have raised Luffy for over six years. Don’t you try and-“

“I’m not punishing you, Makino.” Garp suppressed his anger in an attempt not to lash out at his oldest grandchild. “Luffy is old enough that he may… draw unwanted attention. The fact that he was called by a devil fruit tells me that he’ll show signs sooner than later.”

Mainko bit her tongue. Garp was right. Luffy had begun to grow stranger and stranger as he approached his seventh birthday. He was hungry all the time, he had begun to stare through people, and he ran a fever constantly. Not to mention the incident with Shanks. It was only a matter of time before his own hellfire erupted. There would be no hiding it if someone saw. Everyone in the village knew what Garp was. They’d know his grandson was the same and it would start rumors that could spread to the wrong ears, especially if Luffy’s appetite became as monstrous as they expected it to. As much as Makino wanted to trust Foosha, cannibalism was hard to satisfy and even harder to hide. 

“In the mountains, there’s less chance he’ll be identified by visiting pirates and the bandits already know how to handle a brat like him,” Garp continued. “I… I won’t force you to agree, but please think about it.”

Makino sighed. “No. I know you’re right. But he’s still my brother. I worry about him.”

“You and me both.”

“You can take him to the bandits. I’ll visit him as often as I can.” Makino nodded resolutely. She wasn’t a devil, but she stood between them. If she had to, she’d step forward to shield them. “If anyone threatens him, I still have a shotgun.”

Chapter Text

Zoro

“Careful. There’s someone like me here," Luffy warned.

Merry hadn’t even been tied off yet, but everyone was standing and ready to disembark. Luffy was especially fidgety at the prospect of seeing the place the Pirate King was executed. It shouldn’t have surprised anyone. Zoro knew Luffy wanted to pick up Gol D. Roger’s legacy, and there was no better place to do so. If the torch needed to be passed, Luffy would grab it with both hands and never let it go.

“What does that mean?” Usopp asked with cautious panic. Luffy leaped onto the dock without answering and sprinted off. “Wait Luffy! What does that mean?! Luffy?!”

“And he’s gone…” Sanji groaned.

“Any idea what he’s talking about, Zoro?” Nami asked. She had been asking Zoro all types of questions about their Captain since Arlong Park. Perhaps she caught on that Zoro knew something about Luffy’s oddities, but she never asked out right. Zoro wouldn’t have been able to answer much if she did. Although he knew more about Luffy than the others, he couldn’t claim to know everything. Understanding Luffy was like trying to understand navigation. While Zoro wandered his way into the right places, he never knew how he got there or could follow the ever moving streets back the way he came. Maybe Nami would have an easier time with it, but Luffy had yet to mention anything to her and it wasn’t Zoro’s right to do so. 

“Not really,” Zoro said. He could guess that there was a D around (that there was a so-called monster waiting to take a bite out of their crew), although he wasn’t sure how Luffy knew or why he felt the need to address it. Regardless, there was tension in the air of Loguetown. “This place gives me a bad feeling though. Must be what he’s talking about.”

He checked his sword was secure at his hip. His wounded chest still ached, but he would fight the moment trouble showed itself. Luffy knew every time his stitches bled ─ the captain was familiar with the smell of Zoro’s blood even if he hadn’t tasted it in days ─  but he would never ask Zoro to sit on the sidelines. Zoro wouldn’t back down from a fight even if he was torn in half. Luffy was the same. Their similarities, for better or for worse, is why Luffy didn’t need to stop and explain what they were walking into. They trusted one another could handle it. 

Whatever Lougetown held, the Strawhats had no choice but to venture there. Zoro had been missing his swords for far too long. He felt naked, like a defanged predator. He couldn’t enter the Grandline without the strength of his three-sword style. He’d find two worthy swords even if it took him all day and night. 

There was a sword waiting for Zoro in Loguetown. There was also a girl. Tashigi could’ve been Kuina’s twin. She spoke the same as Kuina did, but she was clumsy in a way Kuina never had been. It had stunned Zoro for long enough to get sidetracked around the town while contemplating Tashigi. He had never considered doppplegangers could exist in a sea as small as theirs. 

Zoro didn’t need to be a sword expert to know Sandai Kitestsu was cursed. He could feel it and hear it when he swung the blade through the air. The sword was out for blood. Zoro could supply it. He planned to climb to the top by the skin of his teeth. Bloodshed was inevitable. Either Kitestsu could tell what Zoro had planned or he was just incredibly lucky. Zoro left the shop with two new swords─ one that seethed and one that sang. 

“Oi Moss, do you believe in God?”

The words echoed in Zoro’s head, blocking out the panicked crowd of civilians, pirates, and marines. Lightning had saved their captain’s life. It had dipped from the heavens with the flowing storm to flick away the man that threatened Luffy, and Luffy had stood up to dust himself off like it wasn’t the first time. Had the heavens saved Luffy’s life before? Had God reached down to straighten his straw hat or raise his pirate flag? Could Luffy have the favor of a God in his back pocket without even realizing?

“I’ve never really thought about it,” Zoro confessed. They needed to move. They needed to get their stupidly blessed captain and run before Smoker caught them all. Still, Zoro and Sanji had frozen for a long moment to stare in shock. The entire city had paused with slack jaws to observe the teen that had narrowly avoided death on the Pirate King’s execution platform. Had it been Gol D. Roger’s spirit that saved him?

Luffy was fine. He was laughing and running to escape the disaster he had caused. He slithered through the chaos like he had been born in it. His eyes were alight with joy and something deeper. It was fierce and determined. Whatever he had been looking for on the execution stand, he had found it. The torch was in his hands and he would carry it all the way to Raftel. Zoro would follow.

Do you believe in God?

Rain poured from the sky and wind threatened to flatten the city. Zoro shuddered. Beside him, Sanji did the same. 

“Let’s go!” Luffy called.

Right. Zoro finally moved. 

Luffy

Smoker was strong. Luffy didn’t know how to fight a Logia yet, and it was going to get him arrested. It was super unfair! How the hell is he supposed to fight a guy that can’t be touched? He had to figure it out before-

Bong!

Smoked went flying back when a pipe collided with his face.

“What the-?!” Luffy began. He met the face of his savoir. A familiar tophat and coat held strong in the wind.

“Hey Luffy!” Sabo said brightly. He rested his pipe on one shoulder and yanked Luffy to his feet with his free hand. “Let’s run!”

“Wh-“ Luffy was dragged halfway across Loguetown before he could even process that his brother was there. “Why are you here?!”

“I came to say hi, obviously!” Sabo said. “Dragon had to swing by for something anyway, so I tagged along!”

Luffy groaned. “This is cheating! You can’t just save me!”

“Did you want to die?!” Sabo scolded. They were at the docks now. He hit Luffy with his pipe only for his head to bounce it back. “You’re about to get to the Grandline! You’ve gotta be careful!”

Luffy rubbed the spot on his head that had been hit even though it hadn’t hurt him. “I know that!”

“Introduce me to your crew,” Sabo ordered. 

Luffy perked up. A clumsy slingshot landed everyone back on the Merry that needed to be. Zoro and Sanji both protested the rough treatment that landed them on the deck. An unnatural gust of wind surged the Merry away from the dock and with it, Dragon appeared on the deck. Luffy frowned at his father. His flames roared in a similar symphony to Luffy’s own, but it made Luffy itch to create space between them. Dragon’s presence had always made him antsy, although not as much as Garp’s did. 

The rain and vicious wind died down with Dragon’s gentle hand guiding the storm around the ship.

“Ugh,” Luffy wallowed. “This is a failure now.”

Sabo straightened his top hat. Sabo liked Dragon just fine (he worked with him for Sea’s sake), but he understood why Luffy didn’t want him there. Luffy wasn’t going to be known as Dragon’s Son or Garp’s Grandson — he would be known as the Pirate King. Luffy wasn’t some nepo baby born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He wasn’t going to use his family (or his family connections to the Marines, revolutionaries, and the Whitebeards) to cheat his way up. It wasn’t fun . 

“Apologies,” Dragon said insincerely. “You seemed stuck.”

Nami threw herself behind Sanji when she caught a glimpse of a world-famous face tattoo under a green hood. Sanji’s eyes widened.

“Uh, Luffy? Who are they?” Usopp asked.

“Dragon the Revolutionary.” Sanji’s voice was steadier than his hands. 

“Oh. This is my dad and my big brother.”

“You’re-!”

“Dad?!”

“Brother?!”

“What’s the big deal?” Zoro asked flatly. He received an outcry from the crew and a very rushed explanation of why Dragon’s name was one of the most well-known in all the Seas. 

“Anyway,” Sabo interrupted the calamity with a gentlemanly bow. “My name is Sabo. I’m Luffy’s big brother. I work closely with Dragon. Please forgive our intrusion.”

“Oh my god he’s polite,” Nami gaped.

“No way he’s related to Luffy,” Usopp agreed.

“Thank you for saving our dumbass Captain,” Sanji said. “We appreciate the help.”

“No! Don’t thank them!” Luffy shot up from his wallowing to argue. “They’re not allowed to get involved in my adventure! No more lightning strikes! And no more hitting marines!”

“Did you want to die!” Zoro screeched with the support of his crewmates.

“We just happened to be in town for a mission,” Sabo explained much more calmly. “And we couldn’t stand down and watch that all happen. You’re not strong enough to survive someone like Smoker. But you will be soon!”

Luffy crossed his arms with a huff. He loved Sabo. His older brother would burn down all of Loguetown if it meant Luffy would be safe (and Sabo could , he’d always been strong). Dragon was strong too, but he was less likely to make a fuss even if things went south. He understood the drive to act despite any dangers. It was one thing that all devils had in common. They shared Will if nothing else.

“Ace is throwing a fit, you know?” Sabo continued. “He wanted to come greet you but he couldn’t make it. He had some tedious business to attend to.”

Luffy waved him off. “I’m sure I’ll run into him eventually.”

Sabo smiled fondly. He gathered his rubbery brother in his arms to squeeze him.

“Ah!” Luffy yelped at being hugged half to death. 

“I probably won’t see you for a while, Lu.” Sabo set Luffy back on his own two feet. “You’re going to do great.”

“Duh,” Luffy answered as he straightened his vest. “I’m going to be King.”

“Your dreams haven’t changed,” Dragon stepped forward. Luffy met his father’s gaze with the same intensity. Dragon had never tried to talk Luffy out of being a pirate. A revolutionary couldn’t lecture anyone about their career path after all. Instead, Dragon had told his son to do what felt right.

“I’m going to do whatever I want, Dadgon,” Luffy declared. Luffy knew his father tried to be a hero. He had let go of two lovers and two children to pursue revolution. He was a storm incarnate and storms did not have wants. Luffy was not a hero and he didn’t want to be one. He wanted to be selfish with his life. 

“Good.” Dragon nodded. “We don’t chose our fate but we must see it through. Don’t let anyone take it from you.”

“We promised not to linger,” Sabo interrupted. “Much further and we’ll have trouble getting back to our ship.”

“Right. You have a mountain to cross.” Dragon observed Luffy’s crew one more time. “We’ll see you on the other side.”

“Cool. Now stay out of my adventure!” Luffy demanded. 

“Whatever you say, little brother.” Sabo bowed. “We’ll be too busy with our own work to bother you.”

“We make no promises,” Dragon said instead. “Makino would be furious if something happened to you.”

Luffy began to push Dragon towards the railing’s edge. “Yeah, yeah. Now go!”

“Please look after Luffy for us!” Sabo called to the crew.

As quickly as they had appeared, Dragon and Sabo vanished with the wind. The storm returned with full force, snapping the sails harshly.

“Okay! Next stop, the Grandline!” Luffy called to the sky. His only response was more downpour and a distant roll of thunder.

Chapter Text

Ace

Ace hated his new brother. Garp, the bastard, had dropped the kid off at Dadan’s front door by the scruff of his neck like it was a normal thing to do.

“This is your new brother, Ace,” Garp had introduced. “He’s my grandson, Luffy.”

Ace had spit on him. Luffy made his skin crawl and hellfire flicker at his fingers. The mountains were his . He didn’t like the bandits, but he wouldn’t let another devil waltz in and lay his grubby hands everywhere. Even though Garp visited, he didn’t stay. Two D’s were not supposed to be in close quarters, even if Luffy was a baby who didn’t quite have hellfire of his own (he had it deep in his soul, for it was his soul, but to have it and call it forth were two different things). It was a matter of principle. 

“Don’t kill each other.” Garp clapped his hand on Luffy’s back. The younger boy had calmed down despite Ace’s thorny rejection. Ace sneered at Garp. The old man frowned. “The mountain is big enough for the two of you.”

Ace begged to disagree. Ace itched to be free and he couldn’t do that when he was stuck on a shit island in the middle of the East Blue. He certainly couldn’t do it when a brat like Luffy chased him daily around the forest. Sabo didn’t like him much either.

Then Ace stole from Porchemy. It wasn’t the most money he’d ever taken, but he and Sabo avoided stealing from pirates that would give them trouble. Ace made a mistake but they rushed to move their treasure before Luffy ratted them out. Ace and Sabo knew it wouldn’t be long before the crybaby told Porchemy everything, but as dawn fell no one had come to steal from them.

Luffy hadn’t told Bluejam’s crew anything .

“They’ll kill him,” Sabo said bluntly. They had no doubt that Porchemy would torture Luffy to get their money. Ace groaned.

“We have to go get him.” Ace wasn’t thrilled at the idea, but he wasn’t going to let Garp’s grandson die. He wasn’t going to bring that wrath on himself (and he didn’t want the crybaby to die protecting their treasure. He’d feel too bad about it).

Ace and Sabo had their pipes ready as they approached Bluejam’s hideout. They stopped in the middle of the street when they saw the shack burning . Ace knew it was hellfire. He cursed. If Luffy had found his strength somewhere so public, then he was going to expose them as devils! 

“Shit. You think he’s still in there?” Sabo asked as he took off toward the shack.

“Sabo, wait!” Ace followed close behind, unsure what Sabo would see beyond the flames. If Luffy looked anything less than human then he and Ace were screwed.

Sabo charged through the front door with little regard for the heat. Then he froze.

Ace’s stride stuttered to avoid running him over, but he pushed through. He could already smell the blood. He saw Luffy. He saw-

“Luffy!” Ace shouted.

Porchemy’s body had been torn apart. Entrails spilled over the charred floorboards and blood pooled in a boiling mess. The white of bone showed through the red mess. Ribs stuck upwards where they had been broken open to expose the chest cavity and unmoving lungs. 

Ace had butchered animals before. They always gutted the alligators they hunted and skinned the fish before roasting them. The corpse wasn’t much different (except it was a person and it sort of was a big deal). 

Luffy knelt beside the dead man in pools of melting fat and intestines. The hellfire avoided touching him, even as it erupted from his back to fuel the burning. The heat was still affecting the body. Its skin shriveled as the smell of cooking meat filled the air. It wasn’t burning yet, only because the flames obeyed Luffy’s wishes. 

Luffy looked up at Ace and grinned with a mouthful of blood and flesh. His eyes gleamed red. Sabo vomited. 

“Put your fire out! Are you stupid?!” Ace charged forward. He grabbed Luffy’s shirt and yanked the boy up and away from his feast. It wasn’t Luffy’s fault that his hellfire had burst forth in a moment of pain and panic, but he could’ve avoided the situation easily. “Why didn’t you just tell them where the treasure was? Do you know how much shit we’ll both be in if someone realizes what happened?”

“Sorry, Ace.” Luffy seemed sincere despite the gore covering him. “I didn’t tell them, but they hurt me. It made me hungry.”

Ace glanced around at the dimming flames. Sabo was still staring at the body, at them .

“We need to get out of here.” Ace hauled Luffy toward the door. “Sabo, is there anyone watching?”

Sabo stared.

“Sabo!” Ace called with more force. The blond forced himself to turn around and look out into the street.

“I- no. No, I don’t think so. Everyone is running for water,” Sabo managed to say.

“Good. C’mon. Don’t let anyone see us.” Ace grabbed Sabo in his free hand and he forced both of the boys to run . They knew how to run if nothing else. It was how the kept themselves fed and how they stole the treasure that started the entire mess.

“Ace. Luffy,” Sabo spoke shakily. “What- what’s going on?”

“Shhh,” Ace hissed. He knew his own eyes were red now — reacting to Luffy’s soul burning brightly — but he couldn’t hold back his frustration. “Wait until we’re outta the Terminal.”

“I’m sorry Ace,” Luffy sobbed again. Ace couldn’t even yell at him not to cry.

Ace gritted his teeth and ran until they reached the safety of the forest. They barely made it four yards before Ace exploded.

“What were you thinking?!”

“I didn’t- I didn’t want you to be mad! If I told them where the treasure was, you’d be mad and never talk to me again! I don’t wanna be alone!” Luffy cried.

“You- you want to be my friend?” Ace asked scrutinizingly. All thoughts of gore and devils fled his mind instantly despite the severity of the situation. 

“Yes!” Luffy exclaimed like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“Your life would be better with me in it? You’re glad I’m alive?”

“Yes! I want to be your friend, Ace!” Luffy rubbed the dried blood on his cheeks. He glanced at Sabo. “I’m sorry.”

“I-“ Sabo had the chance to speak while Ace was processing Luffy’s words. “Did you eat that guy? And start that fire?”

Luffy nodded and sniffled.

“I- what- why?”

“I’mma devil,” Luffy answered. “Me and Ace both are.”

“Eating people- it can help us heal,” Ace added as an afterthought. He had never been hurt badly enough to experience the craving, but Garp had warned him it could happen. Ace was a monster, through and through. 

“I’m always hungry now. Gramps said it meant this would happen. The fire. That’s why he brought me to Dadan.”

When his flames erupted when he was Luffy’s age, he had burnt down a quarter of the mountain. He remembered being hungry as the woods burned through the night. He had spent the next day consuming every animal that choked to death on smoke. The first few meals were raw before Ace calmed down enough to pretend to be human and cook the unfortunate beasts. It was no surprise Luffy had lashed out at Porchemy, especially since the pirate had tortured him beforehand. 

“Is Sabo scared now?” Luffy asked. 

Ace glanced at Sabo. He had been avoiding it, but he needed to know if Sabo was going to run screaming about devils. It would be dangerous if people heard rumors of devils in the forest. Garp would probably have to move them to another island. Maybe another sea. Ace didn’t know if he could bear it. He had given Sabo a piece of his soul unknowingly, then he did know and it was everything to share himself with another person. 

“I don’t understand what’s going on. But-“ Sabo clenched his fists. He looked at Ace- at his first friend. Ace felt his soul flare with burning Will . “You’re still my friends.”

Ace startled. He had been waiting for the shock to pass. For Sabo to panic, run, scream, and curse him for living. But he didn’t. Sabo was still the boy they hunted wild beasts with, built a treehouse with, hunted frogs and bugs with, and dreamed of freedom with. He was more than a friend. He was the only family Ace would claim proudly. Ace had sparked Hellfire in Sabo’s soul, and some of his Will with it. Sabo wasn’t a devil and he never would be (would never turn flesh into power or burn from the inside out), but he was pretty damn close to making himself one with sheer determination.

Luffy beamed. They really needed to wash the blood off him soon. “Really, Sabo? We can be friends?”

“Yeah. We’re friends.” Sabo nodded with more resolution. “Even if you are devils, you’re still better than most of the people around here.”

Ace felt like there was more behind Sabo’s words, but he didn’t press. He had an idea. 

“Do you know how people become brothers?”

Sabo

Sabo could handle pressure. He had run away when he was barely ten, and lived in the garbage among street rats and actual rats. He fought off alligators and bears every week. Stress was nothing new. And having two devils as brothers was stressful. 

“Luffy!” Sabo hissed as he snuck around another trash heap. His little brother had disappeared! Again!

Ace wasn’t far behind. He was trying to seek Luffy out the devil-way, whatever that meant. Sabo still didn’t understand how any of it worked, but the details hardly mattered. Especially when Luffy had wandered into the Grey Terminal by himself so late at night. 

It had happened last month too. Luffy became ill about four weeks after they decided to be brothers. He had come down with a fever and couldn’t keep down any food. It had gone on for days. Ace and Sabe were worried enough to talk to Dadan about finding medicine. Yet, when they returned Luffy had disappeared from the treehouse. 

Luffy was sick again. He had left again. Sabo knew what he was likely to find.

“Sabo,” Ace said suddenly. His nose was twitching and his eyes gleamed with a red tint. “This way.”

“What is it?” Sabo scrambled over the scrap littering the ground as he chased after Ace.

“I smell blood. A lot of it.”

Last time, Luffy had returned within the day covered in blood. Sabo had been relieved to see him that he hadn’t even cared.

Ace led Sabo toward the edge of the terminal and the mountain. Most people avoided it due to the beasts, but it was a great dumping ground for the dead. The beasts usually dragged off any corpses before they started to rot or cause disease to spread.

Sabo heard the squelsh of flesh, as if a tiger was tearing into its prey. It meant Luffy had found a body, or maybe a poor soul who had strayed too close to a hungry devil. 

Ace frowned when he finally spotted their brother. Luffy was elbow deep in a dead woman’s chest cavity. He looked like the devil he was. Sabo cringed. There were no flames to hide the body like last time. It was just his baby brother shoving innards in his mouth in the setting sun’s light.

“Again?” Ace asked with a huff as he approached.

Luffy smiled meekly. The blood and gore on his teeth stared Sabo in the face. Luffy turned his face down to hide his gaze. “Sorry.”

“Is it supposed to be like this?” Sabo asked Ace quietly. Devils didn’t need to eat people to survive. It was a tradition, and it could make them stronger, but it wasn’t supposed to be a necessity. Yet Luffy was yet to make it a month without flesh. The incident with Porchemy had ignited Luffy’s fire full force and he couldn’t put out the flames.

“No. I don’t know,” Ace answered. “The Old Man never mentioned anyone needed to… maybe we should ask Makino to call him.”

“I didn’t want to hurt Sabo,” Luffy interrupted. He did not indicate if he had heard his brothers’ words. “I was so hungry and he smelled… sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry for being hungry, Lu.” Sabo took several steps to close the distance between them. The soles of his shoes were coated in congealed blood. “I’d rather see you eat than get sick again.”

“You should start eating more often.” Ace crouched beside his brother and reached to steal the corpse's liver. Luffy smacked him away and shoved the organ in his mouth in one huge bite. Ace scoffed at him. While Ace had told Sabo he’d never needed to eat a person before, he said he was curious about it. 

Luffy frowned. “People don’t die that often.”

“Then we’ll hunt down some pirates, or those bandits that keep trying to cross Dadan. You gotta eat.”

“We’ll have to be careful. If any nobles go missing, people might come looking. Most of the people living in the Terminal don’t have anyone to miss them. They should be easier pickings.” Sabo should’ve been alarmed how easy it was to plan a murder for his brother’s sake. He was selfish and he wanted his brother to be fed regardless of how many bodies it took. “We could look around here every day in case someone has died. Then no bodies would be wasted.”

“Yeah. I guess.” Luffy stroked his finger along a rib to distract himself. “This is stupid. Why do I have to hurt people?”

Ace shrugged. “It’s no different than the tigers.” Ace dipped his fingers in a pool of blood and stuck them in his mouth. His eyes light up red for a moment.

“Do you think blood would be enough? Like a vampire?” Sabo asked as he watched Ace lick his hand clean.

“Those aren’t real!” Ace argued around his fingers.

“Says who?”

“Just-” Sabo interrupted. “If you really don’t want to go, you know, hunting people maybe you should try eating raw animals. Or even…”

Ace cocked his head, eyes narrow in suspicion. Sabo loved his brothers. They’d saved him from loneliness and accepted him as family, different as they may be. Hell, Ace had shared his soul with him. Sabo would do everything in his power to make sure his brothers were safe.

“Why don’t you take some of my blood?”

Luffy paused. A handful of flesh halfway to his mouth slipped and fell onto the corpse with a splat. “Sabo would do that?”

“If that works, I bet Makino would too. Maybe even Dadan,” Ace thought aloud.

“I’ll do whatever we have to.”

In the end, blood donations didn’t completely solve the problem. Luffy still got hungry, but it happened less often and with less intensity. Sabo was just happy he could share apart of himself with his brother. It was easy. Every month or so, he spilt his blood into the same sake cup they’d used to become brothers. Luffy always thanked him with the manners Makino taught them and drank the entire thing before Ace could stick his fingers in to steal a taste (Sabo would let Ace have his own cup anyway). Then Sabo would wrap his arm (something Makino had also taught them) and that’d be that.

Sabo wondered why his brothers were called devils. He’d been raised with stories of religions and holy texts, but those had always described devils and demons as creatures cursed by sins or that had fallen from the heavens. Ace and Luffy weren’t that. Ace and Luffy had been Sabo’s saviors . Sabo used to pray to the God he’d been taught to worship — used to look up at the blue sky and wish to be free from the torment that was his parent’s iron grip on his life — and he had never been heard nor had he found anything close to heaven. Yet, in the filth and sin of the Grey Terminal and the bandit’s territory, he had met two devils drawing in loneliness and looking for brothers.

Devils were supposed to be monsters. Sabo had seen it. He had been paralyzed at the sight of Luffy burning in that shack while he swallowed mouthfuls of human remains. He had seen Ace’s rage and fury hiding in eyes that shone red like the blood from Sabo’s veins. Sabo saw it all and it didn’t change anything. Sabo knew evil well. He slept next to it, ate with it, and loved it. If his brothers were evil, Sabo thought, then he would gladly be evil too. And if this was hell, he was happy to be a sinner. 

Sabo didn’t need God. 

He had his brothers.

Chapter Text

Miss Wednesday

Vivi had made a mistake. She had assumed she was safe in Paradise. Her family had run to Paradise when the first devil was born to save themselves from persecution. Nefertari D. Lili was a monarch who helped found the World Government, but their family had never trusted the foundation. Under the sands of her country laid a piece of that mistrust even if the details had been lost to time. Not every Nefertari was a devil. It was supposedly uncommon for them to occur in the same family. It had skipped her father, but Vivi held the name D. 

So did Monkey D. Luffy. 

The captain spotted her immediately. He knew . As soon as Vivi had been caught his gaze, she knew the boy was no ordinary rookie. Luffy’s soul was something fierce. He had come over the mountain as a beastly storm with the smallest crew she’d ever seen and lived . 

Vivi had spent her entire life hiding the flames in her soul. She never let it flare, never let it spark into another person. Never gave anyone a chance of discovering the truth. Only her father knew everything. Even the most trusted officials, Igaram, Pell, and Chaka were only aware that the family had a secret, but not the magnitude. Vivi had intended to keep it that way. She had assumed that if she came across anyone who recgonized her soul, that she would have to kill them. It took everything Vivi had to keep up her facade of Miss Wednesday. She wasn’t the most dangerous agent in Baroque Works, but she wasn’t helpless. She still hadn’t stood a chance against the Strawhats- against Luffy who knew every secret she held the first time he looked at her.

“What’s wrong, Luffy?” Usopp asked. They were all on the beach after the day finally winded down. Laboon rested just offshore with a pirate flag painted on his forehead (and that was interesting. How on earth had Luffy sparked the soul of a whale ?)

Luffy was staring at Vivi. It was embarrassingly obvious that Luffy’s flames outshone Vivi’s own. For pirates just entering the Grand Line, it didn’t make sense. How did a man like that come out of the East? Was he related to Monkey D. Garp? Despite the government’s attempts to hide the Marine Hero’s family, Dragon had been a navy man before defecting and it hadn’t been a secret that he was a devil although it hadn’t been advertised. If Luffy was related to them- if another family had a lineage of devils then it would change everything she knew. 

“Just be careful.” Luffy’s short warning interrupted Vivi’s spiraling thoughts. 

Would Luffy really say nothing? Was he trying to hide what he was? Why would he use his full name then? It didn’t make any sense. She could feel his crew had sparks of hellfire. Luffy had spread his soul amongst them all. 

The Strawhats gave their captain an odd look for warning them. Vivi didn’t notice any code in Luffy’s words, but perhaps the warning was enough. The swordsman watched the two agents especially close. 

All Vivi could do was ask for a ride on their ship and pray that devils weren’t damned.

·· ─────── · ☼  · ─────── · ·

It wasn’t the devil that brought down Whiskey Peak. Baroque works had been wary of the captain, the D, who threw himself at their shores and accepted their kindness without a doubt. They had been prepared to strike while he was down. They had not anticipated the swordsman to be a demon (even if it was only a moniker and the man was human all the way through). Had he always been so strong? Or had the devil he sailed under given him strength? It was obvious why Mister Seven had once tried to recruit the famous Pirate Hunter. Vivi wondered how different things would be if he had accepted the offer.

It was embarrassing how easy the Millions were defeated. Vivi and Karoo’s own clumsiness defeated them before the Pirate Hunter could try. It kept them out of the following fight with Miss Monday, but it made them easy to find for Mister Five and Miss Valentine. 

Mister Zero had found them out. Vivi couldn’t afford to panic. Even if her undercover operation had been ruined, she still had everything she needed to save her country. She just had to live long enough to do it. She tried to form a plan even while frozen with fear. Step one was to escape with Igaram, who had already been injured. It was impossible for her to win against Mister Five’s devil fruit, so her only chance was to escape before-

“Vivi, you must run. Alabasta needs you,” Igaram ordered. Could she really leave him behind? Igaram had been her hidden guardian since she left Alabasta. He had kept her alive. However, one of them had to make it back or their country would be doomed. 

“I’ll buy some time!” Mister Nine, who had no involvement before that night but was willing to fight for his partner, charged forward. 

Vivi had to watch as Mister Nine took an explosion to the face. She could only run. There was a ship hiding at the docks that she could flee with if Karoo could get her there. If they lived that long. 

Maybe she was damned.

Nami

The crew had barely made it into the Grandline and Luffy and Zoro were already fighting. It left half the town crumbled and Mister Five and Miss Valentine down for the count by sheer coincidence. Honestly, it was a miracle either of them accomplished anything before she joined. How had Luffy not noticed the trap? What kind of island welcomed pirates without ill intentions? Luffy and Zoro deserved what they got.

“What are you idiots doing?!” Nami scolded her captain and swordsman. She knocked the two fools into the dirt with one strong punch each. “You almost lost me a billion berries! We still have bounty hunters to take care of!”

“Ah.” Luffy groaned and rubbed his head. Nami knew his rubber brains weren’t actually hurt. One day she’d figure out how to actually smack her captain equally. “Sorry Nami! Wait? Bounty hunters?”

“Did you hear a damn word I just said?!” Zoro shouted back. Nami rolled her eyes at both of them. Although was thankful Zoro was a big enough distraction for her to sneak through town unnoticed, he really was all muscle and no brains sometimes. She already had to force him save Vivi from Mister Five and he had gotten sidetracked the moment Luffy was awake. It was a miracle he was sober enough to fight off anyone in the first place. 

Nami grabbed them both by the ears, stretching Luffy’s out just because she could.

“Focus! We can’t get a reward if we let the princess die!” Nami didn’t have a full scope of the situation yet, but any chance to make a fortune was a chance she was taking. Luffy and Zoro were clearly stronger than every agent on Whiskey Peak which meant their enemies couldn’t be that dangerous (they were weaker than Arlong by a long shot). 

Luffy was confused as usual.

“I thought she was a bad guy?” he asked when Miss Wednesday’s identity was revealed.

“Who cares?!”

“Haven’t you been paying attention?” Zoro hissed. “The old guy wants us to take the princess home.”

“Hm. Sure!” For whatever reason, Luffy gave into the change with ease, especially when he realized Vivi’s dedication. Nami didn’t know why Luffy agreed (it definitely wasn’t out of the kindness of his heart — Luffy was too selfish to risk his crew over a stranger’s country), but as long she got treasure out of it she didn’t care. 

Nami didn’t account for the fact that Baroque Works’ leader was a Warlord as a dayjob. And that Alabasta was broke. All of her effort went out the window as quickly as those damns Unluckies got their pictures. She wished she’d left Luffy and Zoro to their infighting.

The Strawhats had made their first real enemy on the Grandline and it was none other than Sir Crocodile. The Warlord’s bounty had been much, much higher than Arlong’s when it was active. If a bounty was any indication of a pirate’s skills, then Nami would drown herself in the sea before going anywhere near that man. The damned Unluckies had gotten their pictures and everything. It would be impossible for Nami to sneak out of their radar. 

“We’re doomed,” Nami lamented. 

“This sounds fun! I just gotta kick this guys ass, right?” Luffy grinned brightly, as if he hadn’t declared war on a secret organization of two thousand people. “I’m gonna have to fight all the Warlords to be Pirate King anyway.”

“I’m gonna kill you!” Nami threatened. The only one that she scared was the duck that Luffy and Sanji still wanted to roast over a fire. “At least pretend to be worried! This is more than I can handle!”

“Is she okay?” Vivi asked.

“She’ll get over it,” Luffy laughed. Nami sat in the corner to mourn any chance of peace. She knew she’d have to explain everything to Sanji and Usopp when they woke and that would be yet another fight she’d have to nurse her knuckles after.

Robin

“‘why have you willed yourself to nothingness, through anger?

You have killed yourself in order not to lose me: now you have lost me.

I am she, who mourns, Mother, for your loss, rather than for his.’”

-Dante Alighieri, Purgatorio, Canto XVII: Examples of Anger

Robin has met devils before. Jaguar D. Saul had saved her from the burning of her homeland. While he hadn’t been human, he had died like one. Saul had tainted her even if they hadn’t known each other for long. He had sparked her soul— had cursed a child with the burden of hellfire — and the government deemed her a devil child. She had lived despite it. She had grown with a spark of hellfire borrowed from a dead man and a desire to know . The hellfire hadn’t kept her alive (she had done that herself by looking over her shoulder for twenty years and snapping the necks of anyone that got close), but it had kept her going. 

The first time she heard the name Monkey D. Luffy was from Crocodile. 

“A thirty million bounty just for taking down Arlong? The navy has gone mad.” Crocodile didn’t understand what made a kid from East Blue special. He hadn’t done anything truly noteworthy yet even if he was a devil. The pirates were teamed up with the princess which made them a loose end, but not necessarily a threat in Crocodile’s eyes. Robin knew better. D’s did not do anything half-heartedly. If Luffy wanted to eliminate Baroque Works and the Warlord, then he would succeed or die trying. 

The world government had been struck by those who carried the name D before. It was best to squash devils as quickly as possible before they became monstrous and unstoppable. It had become common practice for the navy to slaughter any D they came across after Gol D. Roger proved how much hell followed them. Robin wished she could say the government would never commit genocide over how a person was born. She knew better. She was the only one who knew everything that happened on Ohara, and she carried that knowledge like a ball and chain. And if she was angry for her lost people- if she was the only one who mourned them, she couldn’t let it out. 

The first time Robin met the Strawhats was after Whiskey Peak. She had gotten much closer to the crew than she thought she would without drawing their attention. It was their Captain who noticed her first. Whatever anxiety he had over the princess had disappeared the instant he caught wind of Robin’s presence. His eyes gleamed red as he whipped around to face her. Robin was reminded suddenly of Saul. His eyes had been the same when he forced her to live. 

The crew before her had already been deemed evil due to their captain. Robin didn’t believe in good and evil. Nothing was ever so cut and dry. If she had faith in anything, it was that devils were forces were forces of nature. No matter where their loyalties lied — whether they were good or evil —they were the opposite of the World Government. Sworn Enemies of God , they were called. Robin knew what side she’d be on. 

“Who are you?” Luffy demanded. He looked at her critically as he stepped in front of his crew. He would be a fool if he didn’t sense her soul and its flames. 

“Miss- Miss All Sunday!” Vivi announced. The devil princess stepped back. Robin had taken an incredible interest in Vivi the moment she sensed her soul. It had been a surprise to learn the Nefertiti family had a devil in their midst, but Robin kept that secret close to her chest. After all, it was her back up plan to reach the ponlygphs was to threaten exposure of the royal family’s lineage. If the government found out, then Crocodile would be publicly ordered to overthrow the royals and he would have no need of Baroque Works in the first place. Whether Crocodile or Alabasta prevailed, Robin would get what she wanted.

“She’s Crocodile's right-hand man! She-“ Vivi looked at Luffy with panic. Knowledge was power, and Nico Robin was very powerful in her position. “She’s dangerous! She’s the one we followed back to Crocodile!”

“So she’s a bad guy?” the captain thought aloud.

“To be accurate,” Robin said, “I allowed you to follow me.”

“So she’s a good guy then?”

“You sold us out to the Boss!” Vivi accused

“That’s right.” Robin had no reason to lie, and it was entertaining the watch the rookies panic.

“Alright so she is bad!”

“Would you knock it off, Luffy!”

The swordsman placed himself beside his Captain. The cook and the sniper had jumped on the offensive, but they weren’t expecting her devil-fruit powers and she had swatted them away easily. She estimated that she could kill four, maybe five of the people in front of her before they realized what had happened. Snapping necks was a common pratice for her yet Robin kept her hands still.

“Now, now. I haven’t been given any orders,” Robin said. She didn’t want to go after the Strawhats, but she needed Crocodile to get her to the poneglyphs and she couldn’t let them get in the way too soon. She twirled the stolen straw hat in her hand before Luffy could notice it was even gone from his head. “I’ve heard a lot about you. Monkey D. Luffy.”

“Give me my hat back!” For a devil, Luffy was certainly childish. Yet, his soul burned bright. Had Saul’s soul been so intense? It must have, but time had lessened her memory. Nostalgia was a cruel mistress.  

Just to be contrary, Robin placed the straw hat over her own cowboy hat. “It’s been a long time since I’ve met any D’s.”

In fact, before Robin recognized Vivi’s soul she hadn’t met a devil since Saul. It was easier to hide herself if no one knew what her soul felt like after all. 

Luffy frowned sharply at her and Vivi froze. Luffy snatched the straw hat back with a long stretch of his arm. Robin allowed it. She wasn’t there to make enemies necessarily, but the attack Robin had carried out on Igaram had turned their opinions against her. None of them had realized that Mister Eight had survived nor could she risk telling them. 

“Get off my ship.”

Robin wanted them to succeed. She had never been dedicated to Crocodile’s cause, although hiding under a Warlord that avoided using his people’s real names was incredibly convenient. Perhaps she had a soft spot for devils even after twenty years. Perhaps she couldn’t stand to see an innocent nation crumble (Robin didn’t know if she still had empathy as she couldn’t afford it if she wanted to live). Regardless of the reason, she had let Vivi follow her back to Crocodile and she had an eternal pose to give them. 

“It’d be foolish to get yourselves wiped out before you even get started,” Robin advised. 

“You don’t decide where this ship goes.”

Luffy refused any help she offered. He was protective of his crew, but Robin had expected that. Devils were possessive and she had fire in her soul to prove it. Even without an eternal pose to guide them, Robin had little doubt that the two devils would get to Alabasta. Not much could stand between a devil and what they wanted except for death.

(By the Gods, Robin hoped they lived. She had already caused Saul’s death. She couldn’t bear to kill any more devils.)

Chapter Text

Ace

“Sabo’s- he’s- he’s dead!” Magra cried as he crested the hill. The forest full of monsters lay silent for the first time. 

“What are you talking about?” Ace asked, anger beginning to boil. He didn’t know who to be mad at, Magra or Sabo or the world. If Sabo was dead, Ace would force his way into hell and drag his brother back to life. Ace had almost lost Luffy in that fire to Bluejam, and Dadan had gotten so hurt to keep him safe. There was no way that fire could’ve taken something else from him. Fire wasn’t supposed to be dangerous. It was the thing that made up his soul. 

“They shot him! The Celestial Dragon! They shot his boat and it-“ Dogra added.

“Sabo isn’t dead,” Ace interrupted. He knew Sabo wasn’t dead. He could feel him. Ace had left a part of his soul in Sabo’s — a small spark of hellfire. Ace could still feel it. Even if he hadn’t been able to, he wouldn’t accept Sabo’s death. His brother was strong even if he was human. And if Sabo was dead when he was worth so much more than Ace, then karam wasn’t real. “I can take you to him.”

“Huh?”

“We know what we saw Ace.”

“You’re wrong!” Ace spit. He grabbed Luffy’s hand (his baby brother was crying). “C’mon Luffy.”

“Is Sabo-“ Luffy stumbled over his tears. For a moment it was real. Sabo was dead and Ace was left alone with Luffy. Ace wanted to weep. Luffy needed Sabo. Ace needed Sabo. Their brother deserved to experience all the freedom and joy in the world before he died. Sabo hadn’t gotten that yet. None of them had.

None of them could die. 

Sabo was alive and he was with a devil. The unfamiliar ship at the docks was bigger than any Ace had ever seen, but he could sense Sabo clear as day. The devil stood out like a beacon to Ace’s soul. He wore a hooded cloak and organized the residents of the Gray Terminal on board the vessel. More people had survived the fire than Ace expected. 

It would have been impossible to sneak around the devil. He had spotted Ace and Luffy the moment their souls flared with possessive fury for their brother. The man stepped away from the vessel and met the brothers half way down the dock.

“Where’s our brother?” Ace demanded with a hiss. Luffy had his chin raised high beside him. “What did you do to him?”

“Give him back!” Luffy added. 

The devil looked down at them with a look of careful consideration. He sighed. Ace braced himself for the usual bullshit adults spouted about them being kids. They never listened even when Ace was polite enough to ask before taking what was his. 

“Luffy. And Ace, I presume?”

Ace stiffened. Whoever this devil was, he was dangerous if he knew who they were. He may not have a chance against someone with hellfire that strong, but he wouldn’t go down without a fight.

“Sabo is on our ship, yes. He was injured while trying to sail away from the island.”

Ace had already known that. The only reason Sabo had been injured in the first place was because he was chasing freedom. Sabo had been the first one of them to actually run towards their dreams. Ace couldn’t be angry at him for such a thing. How could Ace criticize that? He had been trying to run from his own father’s legacy since he knew who the man was. If Sabo had any chance of remaking himself as a parentless man, then Ace would encourage him to take. 

“He’s having trouble remembering who he is.” The man gestured to the vessel. “Come. I’ll take you to him. Your presence might help.”

“Who are you, old guy?” Luffy asked with a tilt of his head.

“My name is Dragon. I’m your father.”

“Huh?” Ace scrambled to follow Dragon down the dock.

“Oh.” Luffy picked his nose.

Dragon sighed. “I have to warn you, Sabo was injured when his boat was shot. My doctors say he should heal fine as long as he avoids infection.”

“Just show us.”

Sabo was wrapped in bandages and gauze over his left side. Ace could smell the burns despite the antiseptic chemicals in the air. Sabo looked small and dead in the full sized cot. 

Ace gritted his teeth. Sabo should have never been hurt in the first place. He should’ve killed his parents before they ever got close to him. He should’ve gone after him. Ace should’ve wrapped Sabo’s soul up tightly with his own flames so that it could never be touched by anyone wishing to harm him. 

“Sabo?” Luffy called as he approached the bed. He wiped the tears welling in his eyes. Ace didn’t bother with his own.

“Sorry, I-“ Sabo hesitated. “Do we know each other?”

Sabo looked at his brothers like they were strangers. It broke Ace’s heart. 

Dragon nudged Ace forward.

Ace couldn’t stop himself from grabbing Sabo’s uninjured hand. He was possessed with the urge to fix everything for Sabo- for the first friend he’d ever had. 

Heat soothed their souls as soon as they touched. The flames Ace had shared recognized him even if Sabo did not.  

“Oh,” Sabo said as his soul flared. Ace watched Sabo’s eyes widen slowly. “Ace?”

Ace forced his hellfire to bind to his brother. He was never losing Sabo again. Not even for a moment. His fire would be stronger enough to sense on the other side of the world. If Ace had to burn down that world to keep his brother alive and free then so be it. 

Dragon

Dragon gave the three brothers privacy as Sabo recovered. The noble-born healed quickly with his brothers’ flames aiding him. Ace and Luffy shared their fire with Sabo diligently after Dragon had explained that strengthening his soul would help his body and mind (although, Luffy had panicked that he would accidentally set Sabo on fire at first). 

Dragon had watched hundreds of comrades die. Before he was a revolutionary, he was a marine and death followed paths closely. It was easy to watch marines die. Dragon had always been separated from the navy as a devil despite Garp’s efforts to integrate devils into the marines. Dragon had never considered marines his brothers in arms. After leaving the marines (after watching the slaughter of devils, the hunt for Ace’s mother, and the razing of Ohara to the ground), it was simple to consider the navy the enemy. Revolutionaries, however, were men, women, and children with choice but to fight for their lives. It was harder to watch them die. 

Dragon was thankful he was able to save Sabo. He been relieved they were able to save so many others at the Gray Terminal, but none of them were his son’s brother. He figured that meant Sabo and Ace were his sons too.

“Boys. We need to set sail soon,” Dragon said. The three brothers had taken over a corner of the infirmary for the day, but there were many injured. The Revolutionaries had to be gone before anyone realized they were there. Dragon had only delayed their departure because of his sons. “You can stay, if you like. I believe Sabo would recover better under the care of our medics.”

“Why the hell would you want us to go with you?!” Ace glared at the older man. Dragon had never seen a child so angry before. If anyone had the right be furious, it was probably Ace. Dragon didn’t know any details about Ace’s life besides he was orphan and a brother. He reminded Dragon of every new recruit who joined the Revolutionaries.

“Is it just because you’re my dad?” Luffy asked curiously. He didn’t share any of Ace’s anger. Luffy was certainly capable of such fury, but it was much slower to build. He was like his father in that way. 

“I want you all to be safe.” Dragon had always wanted his children to be safe. It was why he left Makino on Dawn Island when he started a revolution. It’s why he hid Luffy with her. Fatherly instinct had proven to be strong. He imagined Gol D. Roger had the same feelings when he trusted Garp to hide Ace from the government. “I don’t know what Sabo was running from, but if there’s a chance that you may be in danger then I’d like to help.”

“I’m not going with you,” Luffy said firmly. There was no changing his mind after such a firm declaration. Luffy had learned his stubbornness from his grandfather and brothers, so naturally, he was hard headed than any of them. “The Pirate King can’t sail under anyone else!”

Ace looked between his two brothers. Whatever conflict he faced, Dragon couldn’t guess.

“Sabo?”

“I was ready to leave,” Sabo confessed. “With everything my parents have done… I have to get away from them.”

“Then go.” Luffy reached up to secure the hat on his head. “Ace and I will meet you out there when we’re pirates!”

“Luffy’s right,” Ace said hesitantly. He looked like he would rather grab his brother and never let him go again. Greed was a powerful thing. Dragon understood the urge to keep who you loved as close as possible. He also knew it wasn’t always the best for them. “You should go. I- I should stay and watch out for Luffy.”

“Hey! I’m not a baby!” Luffy protested. “But Ace wants to be a great Pirate and he can’t do that if he sails off with a mystery army.”

“We would miss you, Sabo,” Ace continued as he ignored Luffy. “But you should start your adventure early.”

“Yeah! And you can’t have any regrets! We have to be free, remember. So do whatever you want to.”

Dragon was struck with deja vu as his son spoke. There had once been an infamous pirate who had spoken the same way. Dragon had watched Gol D. Roger’s execution in Loguetown all those years ago. He had never personally met Roger due to his father’s interference. The Navy had wanted Garp and Dragon — the only devils in their ranks — to face Roger. Garp had refused to lead his son into any fight where his nemesis could have appeared. Garp was the Navy’s devil dog, but he threatened to bite the hand that fed him for the sake of his child. Despite Dragon’s eagerness to fight, he hadn’t been anywhere near the older devil’s strength at the time. It was smart that Garp kept him away from the front lines. He still had heard plenty from Garp about the Pirate King. Roger was the freest man in the world and proud of it.

“I see,” Dragon thought aloud. He had given up a lot of things to pursue revolution. He had left Makino and her mother, the marines, and any chance of being a “free” man. In fact, he was the most wanted man in the world. Dragon was what lay between freedom and justice — between Luffy and Garp. He was balance; a storm that brought rain down the earth for the thirsty roots that wept dryly. 

Dragon could not be free, but Luffy sure as hell would be. 

“Then I’ll take Sabo in.” Dragon nodded to the blonde reassuringly. Although the Revolutionary Army wasn’t the safest place for children, it was better than being hunted down (better than being killed by a Celestial or being stuck in a cruel noble household. It was better than being the Navy’s chained dog on a leash and even having a ship called Bulldog — how on the nose could Garp get?). 

“You better visit!” Ace demanded of his brother. “I don’t want to wait until I set sail to see you again!”

Sabo grit his teeth in an attempt to stop himself from crying. Goodbyes were harder when there was no guarantee they’d see each other again. Dragon had said plenty of goodbyes to his children, their mothers, and his own father. The world was dangerous and Dragon’s line of work had never been safe. There was no certainty he’d live through the day, let alone the year. He’d try his damndest to keep Sabo from spending the rest of his life like that.

“I’ll try,” Sabo answered. 

Dragon had to leave Dawn Island — had to return to his fight, his cause, and the war he’d started — but he couldn’t rush the brothers’ goodbye. 

He gave them all the time they needed. 

Chapter Text

Usopp

Little Garden was not fucking little. Usopp had some serious questions for whoever named the prehistoric hellscape. Even the bugs were huge. Nami and Usopp had made the very reasonable and sane decision to stay on the Merry where they weren’t likely to come across quicksand, savage jungle residents, volcanic eruptions, or enormous wildlife. 

Why did Luffy have to smash the pose Miss All Sunday offered to them?! 

“Be my eyes, Usopp!” Luffy called as he bolted into the jungle with Vivi. Usopp wasn’t exactly sure what Luffy meant, but he could watch Merry just fine. It wasn’t likely they would have to fight a storm. The wildlife was a danger, but there was no way any of it could reach Merry , right?

Of course, Usopp hadn’t planned for a dinosaur and a giant. 

Usopp wondered what he did in his past life to deserve such bad luck. Why was being a great pirate so dangerous?! Maybe Nami was a bad luck charm! Whatever the reason, Usopp realized they needed to improve at making their teams when splitting up. He and Nami were not fighters. Leaving the pair alone to watch Merry had been a mistake even if nothing serious had come from it. As much as Usopp adored Nami as a crewmate, he’d rather hide behind Luffy, Zoro, or Sanji. 

Brogy, the giant that had saved them from a T-Rex, was supposedly a great warrior from Elbalf. Usopp wanted to hear about every battle he’d ever fought including the ones he held with Dorry frequently.

“You’ve been fighting for a hundred years?”

“Around that long, yeah.” Brogy was a kind man despite his size. He held only pride for Elbalf and the giants he’d left behind to fight a destined battle (even if he couldn’t remember why the fight had started in the first place). “If either of us were to give up, then we wouldn’t be able to die with honor. That’s a warrior’s pride.”

Usopp… he wanted that. He wanted to be so passionate about something- about his identity as a warrior. If being a warrior meant standing his ground for a hundred years without knowing when or if it would end, then so be it. He watched as Brogy and Dorry prepared for another countless duel. 

“One day, no matter what happens, I want to look back at my life as I die and say ‘I am Usopp, Great Warrior of the Seas!’” He wanted it to be true when he said it. “This is what I was looking for. I want to be a proud man, just like them.”

“You wanna be a giant?” Nami asked flatly.

“Did you listen to a word I just said?!”

“Whatever. I don’t care about this, so I’m leaving.” Nami waved her hand carelessly. 

“You don’t appreciate a battle between men!” Usopp didn’t even crumble when Nami glared at him. In her defense, Usopp didn’t care about her map gibberish either. “If there’s an island full of warriors like them, I’m gonna see it one day.”

Brogy and Dorry weren’t the only reason Usopp dreamed of being a brave man, but it was the first time he met warriors like them. Usopp wondered if his father was anything like them- if he was a good man with compassion rather than a good for nothing pirate like Syrup always said. 

The Baroque agents camped out in the jungle were an unwelcome surprise, but nothing the Great Captain Usopp couldn’t handle. 

Zoro had gotten himself caught with Nami and Vivi, and Sanji was MIA, which left Usopp, Karoo, and Luffy to do all the work (and Usopp would never, ever yell at Sanji and Zoro again if it meant he didn’t have to be on the front lines for every fight). 

Mister Five and Miss Valentine’s dirty tricks had interfered in the giants’ duel, even if the trap had been set for the Strawhats. They mocked what Dorry and Brogy stood for. Usopp felt hatred. It took him back to Syrup when they had fought Kuro on the shore while the man betrayed Kaya and disgraced pirates. Dreams were not something to stomped on. They weren’t to be laughed at. So yes Usopp was angry. 

Luffy, however, was pissed. Usopp hadn’t seen him so furious since he beat Arlong into the dirt. Baroque Works had stepped on Dorry and Brogy’s pride. They’d taken the battle that they’d placed their honor on and crushed it into the dirt beneath their heels. They had been cruel about it. Usopp understood Luffy’s anger like it was his own, but Luffy had been blinded by it. Miss Goldenweek took advantage of Luffy’s carelessness to trap him. Luffy couldn’t get to the others (couldn’t be their captain or their savior). 

Be my eyes, Usopp!

Ah. Usopp finally knew what Luffy meant. Luffy couldn’t always be perfect. He fought up close and personal, especially when he was mad. Luffy was too close to see the bigger picture. But Usopp, their sniper, was always far enough back to take in everything. 

Usopp could see that wax was just wax no matter how much it poured on his crew mates. He saw that Miss Valentine couldn’t aim when she fell even if she was heavy. Mister Five’s explosions were loud and bright but they weren’t powerful enough to blow anyone into pieces.

Usopp saw and Usopp put himself to use. (And Karoo but Usopp was taking credit — the wax melted either way. But if Nami asked who was responsible for burning her clothes, Usopp was blaming the duck). 

Usopp sobbed with relief when Sanji turned up with an eternal pose to Alabasta. He would’ve kissed the man if it wouldn't have ended with a kick to the face.

Sanji was busy arguing with Zoro about dinosaurs anyway. Usopp had a feeling they’d never let go of the competition. 

For we walk by faith, not by sight. -Corinthians 5:7  

Sanji

Sanji wasn’t a fool. He knew there would be consequences for deceiving a man like Crocodile. Sanji also knew Luffy sucked at lying, so he had to pick up the slack. Sanji hadn’t been born a pirate, but he’d be one until the day he died. That meant violence, lies, and free will on the open seas. So, if thinking on his feet and impersonating Mister Three kept his crew safe then Sanji would do it with ease. If Mister Zero thought they were dead then there was no reason to send assassins after them.

And if those bastard Unluckies never made it back to Alabasta then there was nobody to rat them out. 

The log pose had been a bonus prize. Luffy hadn’t wanted an eternal pose from the beautiful Miss All Sunday, but a pose that they stole for themselves was fair game. He even got hugs from Nami and Vivi for his troubles. 

It was too bad Zoro was an idiot otherwise Sanji would’ve enjoyed their trip to Little Garden.

“Mine’s clearly bigger!” Sanji shouted again as he gestured to the dinosaur on the shore.

“Maybe if you count the tail, but that’s not meat is it?!” Zoro hissed. He’d barely stopped bleeding from his ankles and he was already a pain. Next time, Sanji would make him do his own stitches.

“We didn’t bet on the weight!”

“It was implied!”

“Like hell it was!” Sanji prepared to launch himself at the swordsman. “I’ll show you implied when I imply my foot up your ass!”

“That doesn’t even make sense!”

“Would you both knock it off!” Nami’s order made both Sanji and Zoro shudder. Their navigator could freeze hell over with that scalding gaze. “Vivi needs to get to Alabasta! Or do you expect us to wait around for you to kill each other!”

“Sorry Nami-dear!” Sanji sang.

Zoro just sheathed his swords with a huff. Sanji glared. He was not letting it go. 

·· ─────── · ☼  · ─────── · ·

Nami was sick. Sanji didn’t give a damn if the residents of Drum Island tried to send them away. Nami needed a doctor and he would drag one kicking and screaming to save her life. They already had a freak try to take a bite out of Merry (they had all kicked that guy so far out into sea it’d be a miracle if his crew found him before he drowned) and they’d nearly died because Zoro got his hands on the steering (who tried to use clouds for landmarks?!). By whatever luck, they had found an island that was supposed to be full of doctors, yet they weren’t even permitted to dock. Sanji wasn’t going to take it.

The soldiers on the shore had their guns aimed at the entire crew. It was an offense Sanji wouldn’t stand for. He’d broken men’s ribs before for drawing weapons in Baratie. He didn’t see why he should restrain himself. 

Bang!

Vivi gasped as a bullet grazed her arm. The shot had been meant for Luffy who had stepped forward with the intention to force his way inland. The bullet-proof idiot had been pushed aside by the princess. 

Sanji was ready to tear the men responsible apart. The crew had not been aggressive. They hadn’t threatened anyone. They only needed help and these people would attack them! What had Nami done to deserve this? To die from an illness when help was so close? 

“No!” Vivi hugged Luffy to keep him from charging at the armed men. “Not everything can be solved by violence! Nami will die! You’re not fit to be a leader if you aren’t willing to lose your pride.”

It took a long moment for her words to register with Luffy. Whatever was going through Luffy’s head, Sanji didn’t know, but their captain paused. 

“They’re scared,” Usopp breathed behind them. Sanji looked at the men again. They weren’t soldiers like they had assumed. They were ordinary men and boys who shook where they stood but were ready to defend their home from pirates. Sanji sighed.

“I’m sorry.” Luffy knelt in front of the leader, Dalton. It wasn’t something Sanji had ever seen their captain do. Luffy didn’t ask twice and he didn’t beg. He took what he wanted when he wanted it and if it caused trouble, it was somebody else’s problem. And yet… Luffy planted his knees on the deck covered in snow as Vivi gripped her bleeding arm. 

Sanji wondered how far their captain was willing to go. What else would Luffy do for them besides sacrifice his pride? Would he give up a meal to protect his crew? Would he do it for any of them? Did he think so highly of them?

“Please let us come ashore,” Luffy prayed for Nami’s sake. “One of our crewmates is sick. I promise that is the only reason we came here. We won’t cause trouble.”

Dalton raised a hand and the men lowered their weapons. He had the mannerisms of someone formally trained in combat. Whoever he was, he seemed to believe Luffy. He granted them permission.

Sanji retrieved Nami, prepared to carry her as far as he needed to.

Luffy walked ahead as Dalton led them to the town, Bighorn. He glanced back at Vivi and Nami constantly. Sanji knew the ladies would be cared for even if it killed Luffy. Sanji was more than willing to go down with him. 

“For every thing that lives is Holy” 

-William Blake, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell

Chopper

Chopper did not like humans. Well, maybe he did. He wanted to be a doctor to help people after all, but he didn’t trust humans. Humans were cruel. They killed each other and they tormented anyone who was different. Doctor Kureha was kind enough to take Chopper as an apprentice, but she was still human. She was mean and greedy and Chopper loved her dearly. His late father was the only human who wasn’t selfish. 

Hiriluk had died for his kindness. He had been sick and tried to save Chopper the heartbreak of watching him die. He drank poison because he was too kind to tell Chopper that he had risked his life for a mushroom that wouldn’t cure him. He had even walked into King Wapol’s trap for a chance to help his country. Then he had killed himself to ensure his death wouldn’t be his son’s fault, nor would it waste the kingdom’s bullets. Chopper had resigned to never meeting someone else like him. 

Chopper had seen Hiriluk’s kindness kill him. He tried to hate instead, but he couldn’t ignore who he was. He was a doctor and he wanted to help people. But he was also selfish and he didn’t want his kindness to kill him (patients had shot him before and they’d do it again). So he hid with Doctrine instead. He took whatever lessons in medicine he could and resolved to keep himself safe. 

Then he met Luffy.

Luffy had climbed a mountain in a blizzard with his bare hands while carrying two of his friends on his back because he didn’t want them to die. It was a miracle Luffy hadn’t died, let alone made it all the way up the mountain. Kureha said Luffy wasn’t a normal human and that’s why he didn’t suffer hypothermia, but he had still torn his hands to shreds and fainted from exhaustion. Yet, when he woke up he was overjoyed that he had gotten his friends to the treatment they needed.

Luffy had been kind and he had survived it. 

Chopper watched Luffy fight to defend a kingdom that wasn’t his. Luffy had hoisted the flag of a dead man on the castle because he knew it meant something to Chopper. Luffy didn’t care what anybody else said, he would do whatever he wanted. What he wanted happened to be nice too. He was selfish and kind . 

Chopper would be a great doctor. But-

“I can’t join your crew!” Chopper had been running from the relentless pirate all day. Luffy still hadn’t gotten the hint. 

“Why not?” Luffy tilted his head. 

“I’m a reindeer! A blue-nosed reindeer! I’m a monster. I can’t be on a crew!” Chopper snapped. He didn’t understand why Luffy was ignoring it. Chopper wasn’t human. The Strawhat Pirates were. 

“Chopper.”

“Huh?”

“Shut up and come on.”

The reindeer felt something like home in his chest. It curled warmly around his heart with rubber palms and reassured him. Luffy really couldn’t care less if his doctor was a monster. He wanted a monster.

Chopper sobbed.

After Chopper had made it on the Going Merry , he was brave enough to ask about Luffy (although not brave enough to ask Zoro or Nami, they were pretty scary). Chopper would be a bad doctor if he didn’t notice that Luffy wasn’t normal. His body temperature was too high and his eye color fluctuated. Chopper would have assumed it was a disease, but Kureha hadn’t been worried about it. So Chopper had asked Usopp why Luffy seemed different than anyone else he’d come across. 

Usopp had shrugged. “That’s just Luffy.”

Chopper was young, but he wasn’t naive. The other crew either didn’t know what Luffy was or weren’t inclined to share it with their newest addition to the crew. Chopper wasn’t offended. The trickiest thing about medicine was the patients themselves. Chopper conceded to testing all of Luffy’s vitals to set a baseline for their Captain, and Luffy had no complaints other than having to sit still. 

“Any allergies?” Chopper asked.

“Oh, uhhhhh-“ Luffy trailed off as he stared upward. “The sea? Sea stone prism?”

Chopper sighed, “I mean medicine. Or food.”

“Food? Now I’m hungry!”

“I’m almost done, I promise!” Chopper held down Luffy with his hooves to keep him from darting out the door and raiding the kitchen. Luffy ate more than any human Chopper had ever seen, but he didn’t seem to be a glutton. Luffy’s metabolism was just that fast. Chopper had seen humans that gorge themselves (King Wapol had been the worst offender and not just because of his devil fruit). It was strange that humans were so compelled to take things in excess. Reindeer only took what they needed. Gluttony had made Chopper part human. Eating a devil fruit had introduced Chopper to many, many complicated feelings that included wanting more than he would ever need. There was some solace to be found, however, in knowing that everyone needed different things. 

“But Chopper!” Luffy groaned.

“Allergies!” the doctor repeated firmly. 

“I don’t think I have any!” Luffy answered. He groaned with displeasure. “I never even get sick!”

“Okay, okay.” Chopper spun around in his chair to look over his sheet again. He had started files on everyone in the crew, but Luffy was the only one he wanted a thorough exam for. He didn’t trust Luffy to know what he should tell his doctor, so Chopper had to ask the right questions without being insensitive. “You’re rubber, so your body is different from anyone else’s. I need to know everything so that I can treat you properly.”

Luffy frowned, but it lacked any true heat. Chopper had seen that look before and it was frightening — it had been directed at King Wapol and the man hadn’t recovered. “I don’t know much about that stuff. I’ve, like, always been rubber so I wouldn’t know how it’s any different. My body stretches and bounces, but I can still be cut and stuff.”

“Right. Does your skin tear more easily than other people’s?”

Luffy shrugged. “I don’t think it does.”

“I already know your metabolism is super high. You have to eat a lot.”

“Yeah, my meta-bowl has always been like that.”

Chopper didn’t even try to correct his pronunciation. 

“I’ll have to adjust any medication doses for that. Sanji seems pretty on top of the nutrition side of things, so I’ll trust his diet planning.” Chopper made a few notes in Luffy’s chart. He’ll have to estimate an increased dosage based on Luffy’s extreme metabolism, and using Luffy’s food intake would be a helpful starting point. Chopped knew Sanji would figure out how much Luffy needed instead of how much their captain wanted. 

“Sanji’s the best.” Luffy was hungry again, but he was staying put. That was more compliance than Chopper expected.

“He is. I’m going to run a couple of blood tests. I’ll ask you if there’s anything else, but we can be done for-“

Luffy shot out of Chopper’s office like a rocket with a shout for food.

“-now.” Chopper smiled to himself. His Captain was certainly full of fun. 

Luffy’s blood didn’t look different from any other human’s under a microscope. Chopper had expected to see something weird even if it was normal for Luffy, but there was nothing concerning to his trained eyes. 

Maybe Luffy wasn’t as inhuman as Chopper had first thought. 

As soon as Chopper was done in the infirmary, the entire crew was waiting outside for him. He froze like a (rein)deer in headlights.

“Uh, hey guys?”

“Well?” Nami asked. She tapped her foot impatiently. Beside her, Sanji burned through a cigarette and Usopp fiddled with his goggles. He didn’t see Zoro, but he could hear the swordsman shouting something at Luffy in the galley. 

“What?” Chopper asked. 

“Is Luffy… healthy?” Usopp’s words were chosen delicately.

“I can’t give out medical information.” Chopper frowned to himself. Perhaps the crew didn’t know as much about their captain as Chopper had thought. Other than Luffy’s rubber body, unnatural resistance to hypothermia, and his appetite, there wasn’t anything odd about him medically speaking.

“C’mon!” Nami’s voice was torn between pleading and anger. “You’ve gotta give us something! The mystery is killing me.”

“Is there a reason you’re worried about Luffy?” Luffy hadn’t told Chopper about any medical concerns, but the crew might have noticed something their captain didn’t. 

The trio clammed up as soon as Chopper spoke.

“Well-“

“It’s not like-“

“Of course not but-“

Chopper held up a hoof to stop their panic. He couldn’t give them any details about Luffy regardless of their excuses. “Luffy is perfectly healthy. That’s all I can really say.”

Usopp deflated. “Boring.”

“Nobody asked you!” Chopper snapped at him. The sniper reeled back, ready to argue. 

Sanji sighed around a mouthful of smoke. “You’re a good doctor, Chopper.”

“O- I- Shut up! That doesn’t make me happy or anything!”

A clatter in the kitchen made Sanji bristle. He shot off towards the galley door with a rage. “What the hell are you doing to my kitchen?! Moss for brains, you were supposed to keep him out of the pantry!”

Nami and Usopp both collapsed against the rail.

“I guess Luffy’s just Luffy,” Usopp said.

“I don’t get how one person can be so strong.” Nami’s head banged against the wood behind her. “Maybe we’ll never know.”

“He could be an alien.” Usopp sat up as potential stories began to flow. “Or a robot made by the government. Or-“

“That doesn’t make sense. We met his dad, remember?”

“Oh yeah.” Usopp huffed. “Maybe his dad is actually-!”

“Stop making stuff up,” Nami scolded with a punch to Usopp’s arm. “Luffy is Luffy.”

Usopp rubbed the new bruise dramatically. “You’re right, but c’mon. You’re the one who said-“

“I know what I said! I’m allowed to be curious!”

“But I’m not allowed to theorize?!”

“No!” Nami hit the sniper again for good measure. 

“You’re such a hypocrite!”

“You bet I am!”

Chopper laughed at their antics. He really was surrounded by humanity.

“‘A power flows down, into the water, and into the tree we have left behind, from the Eternal Will, the cause of my wasting.

All these people who weep and sing, purify themselves again, through hunger and thirst, for having followed Gluttony to excess.

The perfume that rises from the fruit, and from the spray that spreads over the leaves, kindles, in us, the desire to eat and drink.

And our pain is not merely renewed the once as we circle this road:

'I say pain, but ought to say solace, since that desire leads us to the tree which led Christ to say ‘Eli’, when he freed us with his blood.’”

-Dante Alighieri, Purgatorio , Canto XXIII: Forese Donati

Chapter Text

Nami

Nami hadn’t thought about Luffy’s past since they ran into his dad and brother back in Loguetown. She knew in the back of his mind Luffy had another brother, but she had long forgotten that information until the man was saving their asses from Captain Smoker in the streets of Nanohana. It was lucky Ace found them at all given how large Alabasta was. Nami was thankful they didn’t have to fend off Smoker (the marine was out of their league and Nami wasn’t afraid to say it. She’d ask both of Luffy’s brothers to keep Smoker away from them whether it was in Loguetown or Nanohana). They had lost Luffy somewhere on the way to the Merry . Their captain could certainly fend for himself but Usopp screeched they couldn’t leave without him. The amount of noise coming from town meant he was likely on the way with his brother.

“Whew!” Chopper collapsed with exhaustion on the deck. “I didn’t know Luffy had a brother.”

“I guess you weren’t with us when we met the rest of his family, huh?” Sanji commented. He rolled up the sleeves of his outfit as he caught his breath. Usopp was really starting to hate running.

“His dad and other brother saved us from Smoker the first time we ran into him,” Nami explained. Loguetown felt like ages ago, but it hadn’t even been a month since they entered the Grandline. “It seems like his whole family is full of crazy men.”

Zoro shrugged. “We didn’t get to see any of them really fight. I’m looking forward to it. If they’re stronger than Luffy then they must be impressive.”

“I can’t imagine anyone stronger than Luffy,” Chopper confessed. Nami’s instinct was to agree with Chopper. As childish as their captain could be, Nami hadn’t seen him lose once. 

“You haven’t heard the great stories of the monsters on the Grandline!” Usopp sat up despite the heat that bore down on them. He had stories to tell. “There are men with bounties over a billion berri! My brave armies have fought them before and we barely escaped with our lives!”

“Really?!” Chopper’s eyes lit up as Usopp led into an epic tall tale.

“Indeed! We were up against a chicken man who was over thirteen feet tall! He had enslaved an entire kingdom of innocent people!”

Usopp passed the time as they awaited Luffy and Ace. It was spectacular to watch the pair fight their way back to them. Even Ace’s boat, the Striker, was uniquely fierce. Ace took down Baroque ships like he were swatting flies. It became clear where the name Fire Fist originated from. 

“Everyone! This is Ace!” Luffy introduced as his brother landed on the ship.

Vivi was more tense than they’d ever seen her. She was constantly anxious for her country, but she had moments of panic that didn’t seem explainable. It happened around Luffy frequently. Although Nami had tried to ask, Vivi had redirected the conversation everytime. 

Ace bowed. “Thank you all for watching out for my brother. I know he can be a handful. I hope he hasn’t caused much trouble.”

“Oh it’s nothing,” the crew waved off bashfully. 

“Are you joining us?” Chopper asked. 

Nami would have loved to have someone as strong as Ace with them if they ended up fighting against Crocodile. Of course, it couldn’t be that simple.

“Ace is already on a crew,” Luffy said. He waved off the notion even though he had obviously asked Ace to join himself. 

It was then that Ace turned to show off the broad expanse of his back. The tattoo was a broad declaration of his pride as a Whitebeard pirate. He wasn’t just any Whitebeard pirate, he was the Second Division Commander . Admittedly, Nami didn’t know exactly what that meant but it sounded like a big deal. What the hell was an Emperor of the Sea anyway?

“I’m looking for a traitor,” Ace explained. His eyes grew dark as he spoke. Nami couldn’t help but see Luffy in the expression. It was the same gaze her captain wore when he got serious. Had Luffy learned it from his brother? Or was it genetic? “A man named Blackbeard. He was in my division so he’s my responsibility. He committed the worst sin a pirate can. He killed one of our crewmates.”

Nami looked at the Strawhat pirates. She knew they weren’t an ordinary crew, but she couldn’t imagine betraying them, nor being betrayed. Perhaps she took for granted that she had found such a great crew after her experiences with Arlong. It took strong bonds to become strong, but perhaps there was another way to conquer the Grandline — a way that involved backstabbing. She shuddered. 

·· ─────── · ☼  · ─────── · ·

Ace

“You’ve already caught a lot of attention in the New World, you know.”

The lighthearted reunion between Ace and Luffy on the deck of the Going Merry paused at the seriousness in Ace’s tone. Even Vivi became rigid, but Ace could guess why. He hadn’t expected to find a devil princess sailing with his little brother. He didn’t enjoy being so close to a unfamiliar devil, but if Luffy let her on his ship then she must not be a threat.

“Huh? Oh, you mean going after Crocodile? I didn’t think anyone knew about that,” Luffy answered. Ace thought going after a Warlord with seven people was more stupid than it was dangerous. Crocodile was the biggest pushover of the Warlords (he didn’t even have much haki if the rumors were to be believed). Ace was sure Luffy could figure out how to take him out. 

“That’s not what I mean, Lu.” Ace wasn’t a mother-hen. He didn’t need to be with his little brother. Luffy had grown up in the most vicious forest of the East Blue with little supervision. So, if Luffy got himself hurt fighting a Warlord, he’d get back up and try again just like when he fought tiger lords. 

“What does he mean, Luffy?” Usopp interrupted.

“Huh? I don’t kno- Oh, I go by my full name!” Luffy explained. Plenty of pirates were only known by their monikers. Ace’s first wanted poster had simply called him ‘Fire Fist Ace’ and no moniker had ever spoken of D . There were still people that knew what Ace was. The Whitebeards all knew. Experience with devils was hard to forget, and it meant a seasoned pirate in the New World could identify devils with ease. Advertising his condition on a bounty poster ensured everyone who’d heard rumors of D’s would know Luffy was one. 

“It hasn’t caused too much trouble,” Zoro chimed in. 

“The Grand Line is different,” Ace warned. “People know what it means-“

“I’m not hiding, Ace.” The maturity in Luffy’s voice surprised them all. Ace had only heard it a few times in his life. 

“At least you told your crew. It’d be a pain to hide it from them too.” Ace glanced at the Strawhat Pirates who held no fear toward their Captain. He found it odd. Even Deuce couldn’t stomach all of Ace’s habits and bloodlust. For Luffy to have a crew full of people who didn’t flinch at their conversation… “You did tell them, didn’t you?“

“It didn’t really come up.” Luffy’s eyes were gleaming with a challenge. Ace’s eyes roared brightly in retaliation. The heat in the air weighed heavily. 

“Really?” Vivi blurted with an accusatory finger pointed in Luffy’s direction. “Why would you lie to them?!”

“You-!” Ace began. 

“Don’t yell at me!” Luffy warned both other devils.

“How could you not explain it?!” Ace shouted back. “You hadn’t shared your fire with them. You can’t hide that!”

“It’s all the-“ Usopp lifted both hands and wiggled his fingers, “-spooky stuff right?”

“Does it matter? It’s Luffy .” Zoro hadn’t even sat up in his chair. Ace stared at the swordsman and wondered. Ah. He did know about Luffy.

With great effort, Ace simmered down. Luffy would do what he wanted and he sure as hell wouldn’t regret any of it. Ace wouldn’t have made the same decisions, but he had no right to chastise Luffy. 

“You realized something was weird and never asked?” Ace asked the crew. 

“We thought it was a sensitive subject,” Nami confessed.

“Like Mosshead said, it doesn’t really matter,” Sanji added. “We all realized Luffy wasn’t exactly normal when we met him. The other stuff wasn’t all that shocking.”

“I’m really confused,” Chopper said.

“You haven’t been a part of the crew long enough to notice,” Usopp began, “but Luffy has some traits that aren’t… human, I guess.”

“Well obviously!” Chopper yelled. He jumped up with exaggerated arm waves as he ranted. “What kind of doctor do you think I am?! Of course I’d notice that! His body temperature would kill a normal person! He heals faster than ane patient I’ve ever seen! I’m not completely oblivious!”

Ace sighed. His little brother had found a pretty great crew.

“If we’re gonna talk about this, can we eat?” Luffy asked with excitement. “Can we, Sanji?!”

“Yeah yeah.” The cook finished the last of his cigarette with a long sigh. “We can talk in the kitchen.”

And they did. Ace was shit at explaining things, but he had done it before. Luffy never had, and his own understanding of D’s was foggy at best. The crew had sat at their table while Sanji started food preparations and they had listened.

“D’s aren’t really, uh, human.”

“We kinda guessed that,” Nami said. They didn’t know exactly what Luffy was, but they knew it wasn’t quite human. There were rumors in all the seas about demons and devils and odd monsters in the Grand Line. “It’s the details we need more clarification on.”

“Well it-“ Ace paused. “We’re devils. There aren’t many of us left. And we only had Gramps to teach us. It’s not a science.”

“So you don’t know much about the effects it has on your bodies?” Chopper asked. The devoted doctor has a notebook and pen in hand, ready to note any details. 

“Nah. We’ve been wiped out over the past thirty years along with any information. The navy has been putting targets on our backs since the Pirate King was around. Nowadays there’s no one who remembers where D’s come from.”

Luffy had already tuned out his brother’s boring explanation, but his crew listened dutifully. Princess Vivi listened carefully to the conversation without any of her own input from the furthest corner of the galley.

“I can tell you what I know though, since Luffy doesn’t know anything.”

“Hey, that’s not true! I remember a bit of what Gramps told us!” Luffy argued.

“Oh yeah? What did the Old Man tell us then?”

“Uh- He said not to tell anyone our full name and that we’re made of fire. And…”

The room waited in silence for Luffy to continue. When he didn’t, they all shrieked, “That’s it?!”

“Huh. I guess so,” Luffy answered. “Shanks was the one who told me I wasn’t crazy, but everything else he told me was too hard to follow.”

“We’re not made of hellfire. Our souls are, or like, our essences. It makes us… different . Like physically and mentally. And! The most important part is that it can corrupt the people around you if you don’t reel it in!”

Luffy had abandoned the table to try and steal the meat Sanji was frying. The cook was doing a decent job of fending him off until Ace’s words got his attention again.

“Oh yeah! I did remember that!” Luffy jumped back into his seat. “After I infected Zoro, I realized what was happening!”

“Infected?!” Usopp jumped up and began patting himself down. “It’s a disease?! Are we gonna become devils?!”

“Ah no,” Ace interrupted. “You don’t become devils. It’s more like Luffy lit a spark in you guys. Gave you some of his own hellfire. You won’t have the same control over it that we do, and you won’t be able to spread it to other people, but it’s in there.”

“A spark,” Nami said aloud. She put a hand over her heart. “Yeah. I understand that.”

“Wait,” Ace turned to Luffy. “So you did know what you were doing and you didn’t try to stop it?”

“Huh? Oh.” Luffy thought for a moment. “Yeah.”

Ace nearly keeled over to die. “Do you know how much trouble you’re gonna cause?”

Luffy shrugged. “Yeah, I know. But our fire’s meant to spread. It knows what to do and who to help. It wouldn’t spark in anyone who was a bad person.”

Ace scoffed. “We’re pirates. We’re all bad people.” He downed the drink Sanji had set in front of him. 

Luffy smiled. “You think your crew is made of bad people?”

Ace set his empty drink on the table harshly. “I told you who I was hunting down here and why. Blackbeard killed one of our crewmates in cold blood.”

“You said Blackbeard is a devil.”

“He is.”

“Then it’s not your fault. It’s his own fire that overwhelmed him.” Luffy was still smiling like it was the simplest thing in the world. “My fire is… hm, it feels like a promise. I know that it’s a risk to let it burn, but I think it will come back to help me in the end.”

Ace wanted to groan. Hellfire couldn’t be managed based on feelings . That kind of thinking led to disaster. 

“I’m done talking about my crew,” Ace said. 

“But wait!” Luffy scrambled to sit up straight. “How did you even put up with that Blackbeard guy when he was on your crew? Gramps always said we’d probably kill another devil if we met one.”

“I have a lot of practice putting up with other D’s because I grew up with you .” Ace conked Luffy on the head for good measure. He gestured to Vivi. “How do you put up with her?”

Vivi went still under Ace’s gaze. 

“What?” Nami asked.

“Ah. That was a secret, huh?” Ace scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. Obviously the crew hadn’t noticed, but Ace had wondered if Luffy had let it slip.

Vivi cleared her throat. “Yes. It is.”

“What?” Nami repeated. She turned to the princess with prying eyes, yet they lacked real hostility.  “What are you talking about?”

“My full name is Nefertari D. Vivi.”

“You’re a devil too?!” Usopp exclaimed. “Why the hell didn’t you say anything, Luffy?!”

Luffy shrugged. “Didn’t seem important.”

The entire crew yelled their complaints at him. 

“Is that why you were so tense around her when we met? I thought it was because you let a stranger onboard,” Zoro asked.

“Yeah. It’s been a while since I met a devil I didn’t know. It took a minute to get used to it.”

“Devils usually don't get along?” Nami asked.

“Devils are super terminal!” Luffy said proudly.

“ Territorial . Devils are territorial, ” Ace corrected with a hiss. As a little kid, he had done his damnedest to keep Luffy and Garp away from him (he never scared either of them off, nor did he get away from them, but the discomfort he felt around them faded when he finally accepted Luffy was a brother and not a threat). “We don’t tolerate each other for long. It’s like always having a predator right behind you.”

Luffy shrugged. “Yeah I guess. Most of the time it doesn’t bother me.” He tilted his head as a thought hit him. “My dad and Gramps piss me off though! Their hellfire makes me want to strangle them!”

“That’s because they're so much stronger than you,” Ace teased. 

“Is that why you guys don’t sail together?” Usopp asked. “Because you’re both devils?”

“Nah. That’s because we have different goals.” Ace leaned back in his chair with a grin. “I think you guys should still join Whitebeard.”

“No thanks,” Luffy answered flatly. “You could join my crew though. It’d be a lot of fun!”

Ace chuckled at the thought. The two of them on the same crew? The Grand Line wouldn’t stand a chance. It’s a shame it wouldn’t work. Ace had to make Whitebeard the king and he couldn’t do that on someone else’s crew.

“I’d be happy that Luffy will keep us safe from any other devils, but he didn’t even tell us we had one onboard,” Usopp sighed in despair.

“Vivi’s fire isn’t very strong,” Luffy said. “I knew she couldn’t hurt any of you. It’d be different if we ran into someone as strong as Ace. I wouldn’t let them get close. You guys are mine.”

“It was my duty as a royal to hide my devilishness.” Vivi crossed her arms in front of her. She forced herself to look at the crew as she contemplated what to say. “There aren’t really any devils in this half of the Grand Line so it’s never been a real threat. Still, I can’t embrace being a devil. Not like you two have.”

Luffy tilted his head as he observed Vivi. “Why? It’s what you are.”

“I won’t be taken seriously as royalty! No one sees us as anything but dangers!” Vivi turned her head away sharply. “I must be able to care for my country without any interference. So no one can know. Although… Doctor Crocus definitely digured it out.”

“Who?”

“The Flower-Guy that was with Laboon,” Zoro answered. 

“Oh yeah! I forgot about him!” Luffy beamed at his brother. “He’s this doctor that lives in a whale! And he has a spark of hellfire! It was really weird though. It felt a lot like yours, but it wasn’t right. It actually felt a lot like Shanks’ fire.”

“They probably sailed under the same devil then,” Ace told Luffy. Crocus held hellfire that belonged the last Pirate King. Of course Luffy would sense its familiarity, even if he hadn’t seen Shanks in years. Ace’s fire was similar enough to his father’s that it was tangible. Ace chose to ignore it. “The Grand Line is full of powerhouses. Who knows if any new devils will show up.”

“Sounds fun.” Luffy grinned. Ace matched his expression. Vivi paled and held her head in her hands. 

“I don’t think we need any more Luffy’s in the world. One is enough for me,” Nami groaned. 

“I agree with that,” Sanji called from the stove. “It’s hard enough to feed one Luffy as it is.”

Ace swiveled to look at the cook, then immediately glared at his brother. He glanced between the two another ten times. Luffy looked away guilty.

“You have been feeding regularly, haven’t you?” Ace whispered, but the crew could still hear clearly. Luffy didn’t look anyone in the eye. “Dumbass.”

“Hey!” Luffy cried. “It’s not easy to find dead people! And Zoro always makes sure I eat!”

“Dead-  Wait?! Zoro?! Have you known this entire time?!” Usopp and Nami screeched in the swordsman’s direction. Zoro met their bewildered gazes with a small smirk. 

“It is easy if you aren’t stupid!” Ace barked at his brother. Memories of feeding Luffy back on Dawn Island sprang to Ace’s mind. He had dragged back dead bodies to his brother dozens of times. “You’re a pirate! You get into fights all the time! You think anyone will notice if a corpse or two goes missing?!”

“Luffy,” Sanji spoke with more seriousness than the cook usually bothered with. “What exactly do you need to be well fed?”

Luffy opened his mouth to answer but Ace cut him off.

“Luffy needs to eat parts of humans. Flesh, blood, or bodily fluids. If he doesn’t he’ll get weaker and weaker until he dies .” Ace was still staring at his brother as he spoke.

“How unusual,” Vivi thought aloud. 

Sanji scoffed as he rolled up his sleeves and grabbed a cup. “Honestly Luffy. You should have said something. It’s my job, you know.”

“I don’t-“ Luffy wrinkled his nose. “I wasn’t worried about it. I’m not going to kill someone just to eat them. And I already said Zoro’s been helping me. He always finds dead people for me.”

Usopp leaned over to whisper to Nami, “Are we ignoring the eating flesh part?”

“No, but I will ignore the body fluids part,” she answered. 

“Dead people?” Sanji turned his suspicious gaze to the swordsmen. He hadn’t accused Zoro of anything, but the question was there. 

“People die all the time. Just gotta know where to look for them.” Zoro wasn’t embarrassed by the confession. “It’s not any different than how animals survive.”

“Have you-“ Sanji began abruptly. Tension built in his shoulders and neck. “You haven’t been desecrating women’s corpses, have you?!”

“A corpse is a corpse, Curly.”

Sanji grit his teeth. He was ready to lunge at the swordsman.

“Our captain would starve if I didn’t bring him every body we came across. We can’t be picky,” Zoro argued. His hand was on his sword, ready to retaliate if the cook tried to start a fight. “Besides, when I’m giving his blood he doesn’t need to eat as often.”

Sanji spun around to the counter and took one of his clean knives in hand. Without a moment of pause, he slit his forearm deeply. Luffy turned around with wide eyes. Sanji held his bleeding arm over the cup in front of him. 

“AH!” Usopp screeched in panic at the sight of Sanji cutting into his own arm. 

“Sanji!” Nami shouted with equal alarm. “What are you doing?!”

“A doctor! We need a doctor!” Remembering he was the doctor, Chopper jumped up and scrambled to grab the first aid kit he kept in the kitchen. “Warn me next time, Sanji!”

“I nearly starved to death when I was a kid,” Sanji said as his blood began to fill the cup. “It was a shipwreck. Me and Zeff- we ended up on a rock in the middle of the sea. Think we were out there for months.”

Luffy tilted his head to the side as he tried to follow Sanji’s point. Sanji carefully set the bloodied knife aside to be cleaned later. 

“We ran out of food. Zeff cut off his leg.” Sanji held out the cup towards Luffy.

“Sanji-“

“We ate it. His leg. He fed me his raw flesh because he wanted me to live. Some kid he barely knew.” Sanji forced the cup into Luffy’s hands while his blood dripped onto the floor. “I remember thinking it was the best thing I’d ever tasted, just because I was so damn hungry.”

Luffy ignored the cup to reach for Sanji’s wound. When he laid his hand over the bloody skin, smoke curled into the air. His flames were comfortably warm as it ate away the pain. It was the same way Luffy had tried to help Zoro when he bleeding out on the Baratie’s deck. Luffy didn’t pull away until the cook stopped bleeding.

“You’re not the only person that’s used cannibalism to keep themselves alive,” Sanji filled the silence. “Don’t think you’re that special. Drink the damn cup.”

“But-“ Luffy opened his mouth to argue.

“If you don’t drink it, I will,” Ace warned.

Luffy growled and he snatched the cup from Sanji’s hands. “No feeding on my crew, Ace! You don’t even need to eat like me!”

“C’mon, just a taste. Your cook smells good.”

“Buy me dinner first.” Sanji bent down for Chopper to fuss over his arm. Whatever Luffy had done had stopped the blood flow, but the little doctor insisted on wrapping it up anyway.

Luffy finally tips his head back to chug the blood offered to him. His eyes gleamed red. “Thanks a lot, Sanji.”

“I’m your chef. It’s my job. So everything and every one you eat gets approved by me from now on!” Sanji demanded. “I don’t trust the idiot swordsman not to skewer the first person in stabbing distance.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?!” Zoro shot up from his seat.

“It means you wouldn’t recognize a good cut of meat if it hit you in the face! Luffy shouldn’t eat just anyone! People are gross! What if you fed him someone who was sick?”

“I’m not a moron-“

“Bullshit!” Sanji interrupted. “And don’t you dare try to feed him any women! They don’t deserve that treatment”

“This means you must have immunity to blood borne illnesses!” Chopper exclaimed. He dove between Sanji and Zoro, breaking up the fight before it started as he scrambled for the notebook he had left on the table. “You never get sick?”

“Uh, this might not be the time for docotor-ing, Chopper,” Usopp muttered. He bravely reached up to pull Zoro back into his seat. 

“I do have to agree with Sanji!” Nami said suddenly.

“Thank you Nami dearest!”

“What are you agreeing with?” Usopp asked.

“Don’t eat women! It’s weird!” Nami declared with a slam of her fists on the tabletop. “That’s the thing perverted serial killers do in cellars!”

“I don’t get it,” Luffy announced.

Ace patted his brother on the back. “You don’t want to know, Lu. Just say yes and nod.”

Luffy nodded to Nami to appease her and Sanji. 

“Seriously though Luffy, if you need to eat- er- drink, then you should. We, uh, we don’t care.” Usopp didn’t look incredibly pleased with the thought of watching Luffy eat any part of a person, but his concern was genuine.

Luffy deflated over the table. The cup in his hand nearly skidded off the table. Ace caught it in midair. Ace swiped his finger along the blood coated sides and stuck it in his mouth while making eye contact with Sanji. He hummed at the taste.

“Oh, I was right!” Ace said. “It is good.”

Luffy made a half-hearted attempt to strangle Ace until he gave up the cup. Sanji snatched it from both of them and put it in the sink to be cleaned while he pretended not to be pleased that his blood was as delicious as his cooking.

“Now you’re just pissing me off on purpose!” Luffy crossed his arms as he pouted at his brother. 

“Hang on,” Zoro interrupted. “You said Ace doesn’t need to feed like you?”

“Other devils don’t need to eat people to live. It’s just me ,” Luffy explained. He didn’t look too happy about it. Zoro took in the information with a nonchalant shrug. 

“Some devils do just for shits and giggles. It’s a tradition for devils to consume human flesh after a fight and to give flesh to another devil as a peace offering. I’ve done it just because it makes a win more satisfying and it helps us heal faster,” Ace added. Vivi was cringing across the table. “But Luffy is the only one I’ve ever heard of that suffers without it. And whatever he’s eating should be given willingly otherwise it’s less fulfilling.”

“What, like, a sacrifice?” Nami wondered aloud. “Why’s that?”

Ace shrugged in time with his brother. “We have no idea.”

“That doesn’t make any sense,” Vivi interrupted. “I’ve never heard of any devil with that condition.”

“Well, I’m telling you it’s a real thing.” Ace frowned at the princess. 

Luffy planted his elbow on the table and leaned against his hand. It squished his cheek awkwardly. “It scares people.”

“What?” Nami asked.

“When I feed.” Feeding itself was never an issue. Luffy needed to eat and that was the end of it. It wasn’t any different from what animals did. But Luffy was thinking of his hometown. He’d nearly given Makino plenty of heart attacks even though she knew everything. Sabo had been terrified the first time he saw Luffy feed. Luffy never wanted someone he cared about to look at him like that again. He didn’t care what other people thought, but his friends were different. The only person who hadn’t run screaming was Shanks . Shanks had given Luffy his flesh like an offering and Luffy had never felt stronger. “I hurt Shanks the first time I got hungry like that. It was an accident. And back when I didn’t know I needed to eat people, I would get real hungry and Sabo was the only person around. I never hurt him, but I thought about it. I don’t want to hurt someone important to me.”

“Oh please.” Zoro was laughing. “You think that’s where they’d draw the line?”

“Just who do you think you’re talking to?!” Nami shouted at him. “We’re your crew!”

“None of us are scared of you, Luffy,” Chopper said much softer. “Even Usopp isn’t scared. And he’s scared of everything!”

“Yeah!” Usopp agreed. Then he realized what Chopper had said and whipped his head toward the doctor. “Hey!”

Luffy fell backward laughing. 

“You did thirst for blood, and with blood I fill you”

― Dante Alighieri, Purgstorio, Canto XII: Many Examples of Pride

Chapter Text

Chopper

Chopper decided he hated sand. It was stuck in his fur and his hooves and it was too damn hot under the sun.

The desert nights weren’t as bad. Chopper didn’t get cold with his fur. It meant his crewmates cuddled up with him, although they also siphoned heat off of Luffy and Ace. Whatever devils were made of, it was warm. 

The doctor still didn’t know how he fit in with the crew. He had book smarts, but he lacked much experience with humans. He’d been on Drum Island his entire life where he’d avoided people when possible. As a result, he was naive and awkward. The crew didn’t mind, but Chopper did. 

“Are pirates always like this?” Chopper asked Zoro during their boiling trip across the desert. The swordsman was as miserable as the rest of them, but he was kind enough to drag a sled for Chopper to rest in.

“Hm?”

“Climbing mountains? Going across deserts?” Chopper hadn’t spent much time on the open sea. He hadn’t considered that pirates might take the adventures inland and out of the ocean’s view. Then again, pirates were usually taking over kingdoms, not saving them. 

“I guess were not like other pirates.” Zoro wiped beads of sweat off his forehead. “Cause of Luffy.”

“I wonder if I made the right choice. Being a pirate.”

“Everyone does,” Zoro assured. Somehow, Chopper doubted that Zoro had ever seriously second guessed his decision. 

“You were the first one to join, right?”

“Yeah. But everyone else jumped on pretty quick.”

“What made you join Luffy?” Chopper asked. 

“Why do you ask?” Zoro wasn’t defensive, but Chopper still cringed. He didn’t want to pry into Zoro’s private life if the swordsman was uncomfortable. 

“I dunno. I just joined but you guys seem so independent. Especially you, Zoro. I didn’t think you were the kind of person to take orders easily. So I just wondered…”

Chopper could be independent (he had been alone for most of his life after all). He wasn’t sure if all pirates were. Doctor Hiriluk said a pirate flag meant freedom, but that wasn’t always true, was it? Wapol had been as cruel as a pirate as he was a king. Chopper had always imagined a captain would have orders and regimes to keep a crew headed in the right direction. Luffy wasn't like that. None of the crew had looked to him for direction further than his vague declaration that they’d help Vivi. None of them seemed like people who wanted a leader. 

“Yeah, you’re right. I’m not. Luffy blackmailed me.” 

“Blackmail?”

“I was going to die if he didn’t help me. He brought my swords, but he said I had to join his crew as payment.” Zoro smiled at the memory. “It was a whole thing. Then I fought with him and a total eclipse happened right above our heads. It felt like a sign. Even if I want to be the Greatest Swordsman, I should follow Luffy. The others are the same. We all have our own goals. And from the outside, we don’t have any teamwork. We’re independent from our Captain.”

“Isn’t that a problem?”

Zoro shrugged. “We’re not kids playing around. As long as we do what we can, then we’ll do fine together. Even if we have our own goals.”

“Ah. Usopp said that too. To do whatever I can.”

Zoro grinned. Chopper hadn’t seen such a carefree expression on his face since they got to Alabasta. “Yeah, but it sounds like a lie when he says it. And we have a common goal at the end of the day.”

“What is it?”

“Making Luffy the king.”

Chopper opened his mouth to agree but was interrupted by Luffy’s shout behind them.

“Shade! There’s shade!”

Chopper cringed as he looked at his captain wind up his arm. “Gum-Gum-“

“Luffy no-!”

“Don’t-!”

It was too late. Luffy sent all three of them careening towards a rocky outcrop in the sand. To their surprise, the sand caved under their weight. At least the cave they fell into was cool and shaded.

“Damnit Luffy,” Zoro groaned.

Chopper agreed with his sentiment. The landing was not soft. It looked like they were in ruins of some kind. Old, cracked pillars littered the area along with other decaying pieces of architecture. 

“Are you alright? What is this place?”

“I don’t know but it’s nice down here!” Luffy basked in the cool air. Chopper rolled his eyes.

“Huh.” Zoro stood as he surveyed the ruins around them. “This stuff is weird.”

Luffy perked up and followed Zoro’s gaze. There was a large, square rock with ancient writing across its front. Luffy tilted his head. 

“That is weird. Did we see this before? I’m getting- what is called- Day la two? Can of moo?” Luffy continued as he tried to find his words. 

“Do you mean Deja Vu?” Chopper asked flatly.

“That can’t be it.” Luffy tapped his chin. “Whatever it’s called, I feel like I’ve seen something like that before!”

“How you possibly-“ Zoro began. Sand fell from above them as it settled. “We should get out of here before we get buried.”

Luffy ignored him as he stared at the strange ruin. Chopper saw his eyes glint an odd color in the dim light.

“Hm. I guess you're right, Zoro.”

Chopper resigned himself to another trip courtesy of Luffy’s rubber limbs. The odd cave was quickly forgotten. 

Smoker

Smoker had no idea why the Strawhats were in Alabasta, but he’d ask after he arrested them. It had been a hit to his pride that the crew escaped him in Loguetown (although it was the Revolutionary Army’s fault for interfering, he found no reason Dragon and his Chief of Staff to even be in the East Blue at all). It was Smoker’s job to bring them in. 

After Fire Fist Ace got in his way, Smoker hadn’t been ready to find the Strawhats again. Most pirates would have run for the hills, yet Strawhat and his sniper ran into him and proceeded to spit their water all over him. 

The chase into Rain Dinners was messy, but it led to an unfortunate hole in the ground. Smoker had his suspicions about Crocodile, but he hadn’t expected such nefarious plans for Alabasta. However the Strawhats ended up helping the princess was a mystery to him. Vivi couldn’t have forced them, nor did she have anything to barter with. Still, Luffy had been willing to slaughter Crocodile in that Sea Stone cage. Vivi hadn’t been able to raise her slashers against the Warlord, yet Luffy hadn’t berated her for it.

“C’mon Vivi. I know you can get us out.” There was little chance that anyone could get them out after a banana gator had swallowed the key. Luffy didn’t seem to give up hope. There was no way Vivi could fight off the banana gators, no could she break the cell.

The transponder snail call gave them more hope. Smoker had an educated guess about who Mr. Prince was. The Strawhats definitely recognized his voice. Smoker resented having to rely on pirates for rescue, but none of his men knew he had been captured and a straggling strawhat pirate was likely the only shot he had at getting free from the Sea Stone prison. 

However, the rescue had come to late. Water had already flood the room when the cell’s door was finally opened. Smoker knew he had no shot of getting somewhere dry. He was doomed to drown under Rain Dinners.

Yet, the pirates saved Smoker’s life. Even though Monkey D Luffy hadn’t been the one to drag him out of the water, he had wasted air to give his first mate the order. Whatever the devil’s intentions were, Smoker couldn’t decipher them. He hadn’t been on the front lines when the first devil massacres took place — he had been young during the Pirate King’s reign — and despite having been born on the Grand Line, he didn’t have much personal experience with devils. When he was stationed in Loguetown, he hardly came across devil fruit users, let alone devils. He certainly hadn’t expected any of them to be kind . 

Pirate Hunter Zoro had saved him from drowning for no good reason. 

“Why?!” Smoker demanded. “Why did you save my life?”

“I was only following my captain’s orders. Don’t bother thanking me.”

Monkey D. Luffy had asked his first mate to save Smoker while he himself was drowing. For what? They had nothing to ask for in return. They had no agreements. There was no common ground between them. Their lives would have gotten that much easier if Smoker was dead. And yet, Smoker breathed air under the Alabastan sun on a rookie pirate captain’s whim. 

“Why?” Smoker thought aloud.

“Don’t try to understand him,” the first mate said. “It’s impossible.”

Marines were surrounding the area as they spoke. The Strawhats were outnumbered. Smoker could have arrested them and put an end to their crazy crew. It would’ve given him a chance to go after Crocodile himself. It would’ve been carrying out the justice he wore on his back. And yet…

“Go.”

The Strawhats looked at him like he was a madman. Except for their captain. Monkey D. Luffy smiled. 

“I like you, Smokey!” the devil said. His laugh echoed as he took his crew and ran to ‘kick Crododile’s ass’ or whatever he was yelling about.

Smoker sighed to himself. He would tell no one what happened, no matter how many times Tashigi demanded answers. 

Crocodile

There was something fucking wrong with Strawhat. A rookie in Paradise was not supposed to have enough ferocity to defeat him. Strawhat Luffy didn’t have haki or sea stone. He had been stabbed, poisoned, dehydrated, and stabbed again without his crew around to save him. Yet, he got back up every time. Strawhat was some kind of a monster (then again, he was Dragon’s child, and there was no way to forget it).

And he was so young . Crocodile had seen his bounty poster, and while it had his age listed as seventeen, it had been a long time since the Warlord has seen a seventeen year old that didn’t work for him. He had forgotten how angry kids could be while exploring the world and themselves. He had been the same in his younger years -- clawed his way up from nothing and forced the older generation out of the way.Teens were foolish, stubborn, and often believed they were invincible. Luffy was a particularly severe case of a teenage manifesto, but he was still just a kid with a straw hat.

Gol D. Roger had been a devil. Crocodile had still watched him die in Loguetown. Devils weren’t invincible. Yet, the rookie Monkey D. Luffy had dredged his way through desert sands, guessed Crocodile’s weakness to water, and used his freshly bloodied knuckles to win. 

Then there was the poneglyph. Nico Robin had lied about its inscription, not that Crocodile could do anything to prove it. Strawhat had stopped to stare at the ancient text before they could even get started with a fight.

“Is this the thing everyone’s trying to find? I’ve seen these before.” The teen tilted his head to the side. Crocodile was so stunned that he didn’t interrupt. “Pluton, huh? At least it’s not anywhere around here.”

“You-” Nico Robin began to ask, injured as she was. “Can you read that?”

“Huh?” Strawhat turned to face her. Whatever line of thought he had vanished quickly. “Of course not.”

“What the hell do you know about Pluton?” Crocodile demanded. If Strawhat had any knowledge about an ancient weapon, then Crocodile would shift his entire plan. Had Vice Admiral Garp let something slip? Surely not. Maybe Dragon left his son secrets to keep? 

“Who cares?”

Monkey D. Luffy smiled like the tomb wasn’t collapsing around them. It was a dark expression. The promise of pain and bloodshed glistened in the devil’s eyes. Crocodile had seen that smile on the face of every devil he’d ever met, yet this rookie was the only one who’d ever pointed it in his direction. He would learn what it meant to piss off a devil first hand.

Whatever Will Strawhat had in his veins- whatever Hell he had in his soul, Crocodile planned to avoid it when he got out of prison. 

(He would get out of prison. He’d sooner swim than let himself die in Impel Down. Even if no one had ever escaped, he’d be the first.)

And if Crocodile ever saw Nico Robin again, he’d kill her.

Vivi

A pirate crew of only five people who were just entering the Grand Line should not have been able to absorb every drop of trouble, but Vivi would soon learn that it was normal for them. The Strawhat’s endless capacity for kindness and forgiveness came with an equally deep chasm of violence. Vivi had never deemed gentleness as a weakness, but the crew knew how to use it as a weapon. 

Luffy was frightening in a way Vivi didn’t understand. He carried the promise of revolution in his dark eyes and it had spread to his crew. All Vivi had done was ask for help in Whiskey Peak and she found the strength she needed to save her country. Luffy hadn’t let her give up once. He even punched her when she refused to risk anyone’s life but her own (and if Luffy’s fist flared with flames when it hit her face, no one mentioned it). Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t have thanked anyone for that, but Luffy knew what she needed to hear. 

The impossibility of Vivi’s life quickly disappeared with the Strawhats after the war. Alabasta was much less violent after the people realized they had a common enemy, but even the calm that settled made Vivi realize how crazy her weeks with the Strawhats had been. She found comfort in the familiarity of her homeland and the lives that had been saved. The heat of the desert didn’t compare to the fire that followed Strawhats. Hellfire wasn’t as cruel as she thought it was. 

Maybe one day Alabasta would know about their royal family’s heritage, but Vivi would keep it close until the day it was safe (if it ever would be). At least her secrets were safe with the newest devil pirate on the Grand Line. She raised her arm high in the air as she watched the next Pirate King sail away.

Robin 

When Robin was about to be buried under Alabasta, she learned Luffy extended his devilish luck to anyone he felt needed it. He refused to leave her for dead even though she had no desire to be saved. She could have dismissed it as Luffy returning the favor for when Robin had dug him out of the sinkhole Crocodile nearly killed him in, but she knew it was more than that. Her soul felt stronger than it had in years.

Luffy saved Robin’s life, so she was going to be his problem for the foreseeable future. She had sought a poneglyph for so long, she didn’t know what to do after finding it. She’d avoided the government for twenty years to protect herself. If she were caught, she would be executed or forced to translate poneglyphs. Neither option was ideal. Robin had carved out spaces for herself to survive in. Whether she hid among civilians or worked as an assassin, she ensured she would never be forced into a position of servitude . She could never allow her knowledge to be misused. Anyone who tried would receive the brunt end of two decades worth of anger. 

Robin was alone after the fall of Baroque Works. It would be a perfect opportunity to reinvent herself again. Perhaps there was a town across the river she could settle down in. But would she be satisfied hiding? A poneglyph had been right in front of her and she yearned to see another. There was more knowledge she needed to accumulate. She needed to know . Why did Monkey D. Luffy seem to recognize the poneglyph? How did he know it spoke of Pluton if he claimed he couldn’t read it?

The last time Robin had been lost, she had listened to a devil urging her to run from a Buster call. Following another devil seemed like a decent solution. 

Robin snuck on the Going Merry for the second time as they ran from Alabasta. 

“Here we may reign secure, and in my choyce

To reign is worth ambition though in Hell:

Better to reign in Hell, then serve in Heav'n.”

-John Milton, Paradise Lost

Chapter Text

Nami

When a devil showed up in Jaya, Nami was worried instantly. The pirate, Teach or something, barely flinched under Luffy’s deadly stare when he entered the bar. Nami felt the air tense like a rope about to snap under tremendous weight. Luffy had tensed the same way he did prior to a fight. Zoro had clearly felt the same, as he grasped the hilt of a sword. Teach wasn’t like the other D’s they’d met. Luffy, Vivi, and Ace hadn’t felt dark .

Luffy had sensed the devil before he entered the bar. The stench of a devil had been all over Jaya, but Luffy had been hoping it was only the traces of someone who had already passed by. Luck wasn’t on his side. The other patrons of the bar felt the sudden tension between the two devils even if they didn’t know the cause. It caused a drastic lull in conversation. 

“Now, now,” the barkeep interrupted with hesitation. “We have rules against fightin’ in here.”

Nami clenched her fists. She had made Luffy promise not to start any trouble, but running across a devil hadn’t been in their plans. If this man was anything like Luffy, they were going to have a major problem.

“I didn’t say anything.” Luffy adjusted his hat without taking his eyes off the devil.

The devil, however, looked away from Luffy to observe Nami and Zoro instead. Luffy’s fists clenched. The devil had a moment of realization and raised both hands in surrender. They were too close, yet neither was willing to back off from the bar. “I ain’t here to cause no trouble.” 

Nami shrunk behind Zoro further. She felt uneasy around such an unfamiliar hellfire. Luffy’s was much more comforting than this devil’s. Luffy’s soul surrounded them with the tenderness of open arms. Their captain was their home, and he shielded them from any elements that might cause them harm. The devil before them was certainly harmful. His soul was sticky with cruel intent. Nami recognized greed that oozed from the gap in his teeth. It was malicious.

“Name’s Marshall D. Teach.”

“Monkey D. Luffy. Don’t touch my crew.”

“Crew? Sailors or pirates?”

“Pirates.”

Teach’s smile was full of holes. “Got a bounty?”

“Thirty million.”

“For a kid like you? You must be using your full name.”

“So what if I am?”

“It’s not a popular choice. That’s all.”  Teach glanced around the tavern before he returned his gaze back to Luffy. “Tell you what, let me get you some real food. I’m a traditionalist, you know. Nothing says goodwill between D’s like a fresh corpse to share.”

Luffy frowned. Nami knew what the devil was implying. Ace had mentioned that devils would share a corpse as if spliting bread. It was a traditionally peace offering. Nami knew he had been better fed since revealing his diet. Sanji was diligent about everyone’s meals, and that included Luffy’s drinks of blood. He didn’t gorge himself needlessly even though everyone on the ship had offered to donate. Luffy didn’t like hurting people that didn’t deserve it. Teach clearly didn’t share the same feeling.

“I’ll pass.”

“Maybe next time.” Teach’s lecherous smile didn’t fade.

Nami prayed there wasn’t a next time.

Zoro

Zoro was going to slaughter Bellamy. The guy was an asshole (which made murder deserved enough) and he put his hands on Luffy. It wasn’t the hardest hit Luffy had ever taken even if it did break the bartop, but Bellamy had struck him with the intent to shame him more than harm him. Zoro would not stand there and let some scumbag rip and tear at his captain’s pride — to disrespect his captain was nothing short of blasphemy . Zoro’s blade was already on Bellamy’s throat. Zoro’s arm tensed, ready to splatter the bastard’s blood all over the floor-

“Zoro.”

Zoro stopped. Luffy could have said ‘Stop. It’s not worth it. I’ll handle this. Don’t interfere’ but he didn’t. Zoro understood anyway. He could have argued and said ‘It’s about your pride. We should knock them down a peg. Why back down from this fight after so many?’ but he didn’t. He wanted to ask how Luffy did it — how he shoved down every flicker of hurt pride, bubbling wrath, sticky greed, and sour envy when there was so much of it living in hellfire. Zoro couldn’t do it without his captain’s guiding light. He would be lost without Luffy. 

(He then realized why religions follow gods blindly. He had never understood how people could believe- trust something like a god. A man in power rarely had good intentions in Zoro’s experience, and yet… There was Luffy with more strength and Will than Zoro had ever seen. And Zoro trusted blindly. This was his own faith.)

“Don’t fight back,” Luffy said. Zoro had agreed easily. 

Zoro thought of Mihawk. The Warlord could’ve slaughtered Zoro when he challenged him to a duel ( would’ve slaughtered him if Mihawk was a prouder man). He could’ve denied Zoro’s challenge altogether, but Mihawk thought he was worth it or perhaps a decent way to pass the time. These men weren’t worth the time. 

When Nami pushed her way outside, Bellamy’s crew didn’t get in the way. Luffy and Zoro dusted themselves off as they got up from the dirt. 

Marshall D. Teach was in the street to watch the entire thing. The devil laughed. Zoro hated it. It was coarse and cruel. It was everything that Luffy’s laughter wasn’t.

“The dreams of pirates will never end!” Teach declared. 

Luffy turned his back to the devil without replying. He might have agreed with anyone else that made such a statement, but he couldn’t when it was Teach speaking. The devil had set off every alarm bell in Luffy’s head. Zoro agreed with his captain’s wariness. The instincts he had built while bounty hunter hadn’t disappeared, and they said Teach was a bad man. If they picked a fight with every bad man they met, they’d never make it to the end of the Grand Line, let alone a sky island. So Zoro turned his back on Teach and followed Luffy and Nami back towards the Merry (although, he could have sworn the docks were the other direction). 

“Zoro shouldn’t get mad over me,” Luffy said. 

Zoro didn’t know how to explain the indignation he had felt when Bellamy opened his mouth. He walked with his wrist on the hilt of Wado, hoping to collect words that would make sense. He wasn’t great at expressing himself when it came to such large emotions.

“I’ll always have your back,” Zoro said simply. Luffy nodded. He would always understand what Zoro meant. 

Robin was headed in their direction, her hands full of shopping bags. She wasn’t meant to be on their side of the island and Zoro wondered if she had gotten lost on her way back to the ship. 

“Robin! Hey!” Luffy called.

“Is something wrong?” Robin asked as she looked over the two injured men and Nami’s tear-streaked face. “I thought there might be trouble.”

“We’re alright,” Luffy assured.

Zoro was still hesitant to trust the ex-assassin on their ship. Still, she had saved Luffy’s life in Alabasta. Despite his reservations, she had been nothing but polite to them all. She had even used her devil fruit to keep Chopper from falling overboard a few times. Robin had found a place for herself amongst them all with her dark humor and overflowing knowledge. So what if she had been an enemy? Nami had robbed them before they took out Arlong, and Vivi had tried to take them out too. Zoro nodded to Robin. Luffy had been right about all their crewmates so far. Zoro had no reason to doubt his instincts. 

“Yeah. We’re fine.”

Nami chewed him out for that all the way back to the ship. 

Later, when Bellamy’s people decided to attack the friends Luffy had made, Zoro was as furious as the rest of the crew. He and Luffy had shown Bellamy mercy and he had taken advantage of it. As much as Zoro’s blades ached to get revenge, Luffy insisted he confront them alone. 

So Zoro sat back, resigned to babysit the South Bird. Luffy would show Bellamy what karma meant. The man would beg for forgiveness before the end of the night.

(And if they learned that Luffy’s bounty had jumped from thirty million to one hundred million, then it was worth Luffy’s trip)

Usopp

Skypiea was beautiful. It took a while for Usopp to be convinced he hadn’t just died, but after realizing he had in fact survived the trip upward, he was eager to explore the White Sea. Of course, the events that followed were terrifying (for others, not the Brave Warrior Usopp). They (Luffy) had picked a fight with God (Enel). 

It was strange that Luffy was put off by Skypeia’s God before even meeting him. Conis’ explanation of her God had been saturated with fear rather than worship. That was enough for Usopp to want to leave and be safe from the omnipotent being, but Luffy had been determined to seek the false god out. He claimed it would be an adventure although the glint in his eyes meant he was looking for a fight. Luffy always went after the strongest enemy he could find. Usopp thought he was more invested than usual. He wasn’t sure if it was excitement or resentment for anyone with the title of God. Usopp doubted Luffy cared much about religion even if he was a devil. Yet, for whatever reason, he was ready to pick a fight. 

Usopp knew Nami found trouble before anyone noticed she had taken the waver too far out. He had felt a jolt down his spine out of nowhere. It was the same feeling that came when he stared down enemies that were out of their league. He didn’t understand. Skypeia had been nothing but peaceful. So why? Why did he tremble as if he- as if Nami had witnessed God strike someone down?

“Um,” Usopp began shakily. “Did anyone else feel that?”

“Huh?” Zoro asked. 

“Something’s wrong.” Robin looked in the direction they had last seen Nami. “Our navigator is on her way back.”

“Ah Robin’s so smart!” Sanji simpered. He had already given her and Nami four exotic flowers each, but he whipped out one more for Robin. 

“I said it first!” Usopp complained, as if it would would convince Sanji to praise him too. Although he didn’t know why Robin agreed, it did make him feel less crazy. 

“I don’t see Nami.” Chopper squinted at the white horizon. “Are you guys sure?”

“Your friend didn’t make it to the Upper Yard, did she?” 

Robin hummed. “I believe she did.”

Although Usopp wasn’t sure where Nami was, he knew she was scared. It made Usopp panic despite the fact that nothing was in front of him. He doubted he noticed anything the others missed (Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji all had better instincts for danger), yet he knew something was wrong. 

Luffy turned his gaze to the white sea. He stared at the spot that Nami would soon appear. He was thoughtful for a moment (or well, as thoughtful as Luffy could be). Usopp knew Luffy had made a decision in that moment.

“We’re definitely kicking that guys ass,” he muttered. Usopp sighed in resignation.

Thus began the disaster that was their first day on Sky Island. 

The crew was separated soon after Nami returned and Skypeia’s military force confronted them. Usopp spent the entire ordeal anxious out of his mind. He knew he would be safe(ish) with Luffy and Sanji. Nami and Chopper had Zoro and Robin to keep them out of harm’s way. Still, the entire day Usopp was overwhelmed with panic, fear, wonder, and excitement that he couldn’t place. The priests were a big enough distraction that he didn’t have time to consider what any of it meant.

At least they got a great bonfire out of the ordeal. 

Usopp wondered, as they danced with wolves around the fire, if Luffy’s soul looked the same. He and Ace had tried to describe it. Hellfire. Usopp still couldn’t grasp the idea. It seemed unfit to compare it to an ordinary bonfire. Usopp had seen hellfire before. It was in Luffy’s eyes when he punched the daylight out of Arlong. It was on the deck of the Baratie when Luffy had kept Zoro from bleeding out with his smoking palms. It was in Luffy’s voice when he cursed Captain Kuro’s name. Usopp couldn’t ignore it now that he’d seen it. He was looking for it now.

Usopp wondered how he lied to himself for long — how he ever thought Luffy was human when even the god they were about to declare war on failed to shine as brightly. Perhaps that's why Luffy wanted to fight so badly. So he could say he had fought God and won. Where devils and gods always meant to fight? Were there even real gods? Or just real devils?

Robin sat at Usopp’s side while they took a break from the exhausting dance. Chopper and Luffy were still going strong with a conga line of wolves. 

“Robin?”

“Yes?” Robin smiled as if she already knew what Usopp was going to ask. 

“How’d you know Nami was in trouble? When she took the waver out here by herself?” Usopp wasn’t sure he wanted to know. If Robin had experienced something similar to him, then he couldn’t have been insane. To have an answer meant there was something going on that he couldn’t explain.

“A hunch,” Robin answered simply. “How did you know?”

“Ah, well-“ Usopp stuttered over himself. It hadn’t been the first time he’d felt danger. Before Arlong Park, he’d had nightmares of fishmen that made no sense. After Zoro’s chest was sliced open, he had phantom pain. “I felt it, I guess. Like I was the one in trouble instead of Nami. Is that what you felt?”

“It wasn’t.” Usopp groaned in defeat before Robin continued, “I didn’t experience any emotions that weren’t my own. It was- perhaps instinctual is the word I’m looking for. Such as when a person is aware of being watched. I was pulled into the line of thinking that our navigator had found danger.”

“Like a sixth sense? That’s crazy, right? People can’t- we must be crazy.”

“It is as crazy as having a devil as a captain.”

“You think Luffy had something to do with it?” Usopp watched Luffy drift far too close to the heat of the bonfire. Their captain looked like he was at home. Then again, he hadn’t flinched at the heat of Alabasta’s deserts either. Surely hell was hotter than any bonfire. It was no wonder Luffy would be drawn to all things warm. Likewise, it was expected that his anger burned hot. Usopp felt it (and that’s what was happening, he felt his crew’s feelings). Despite Luffy’s smile, there was a deep anger boiling. Luffy didn’t agree with any man who used the title of God or King or Captain to instill fear in others. To take advantage of those titles was to disgrace them. Luffy couldn’t stand it.

“I suspect that his soul has had more of an effect on us than we realize,” Robin answered carefully. “I doubt it’s intentional, but our captain brings out the best in people — or the worst depending on where you’re standing.”

“Well, I can’t argue with that,” Usopp muttered. He had seen plenty of people rise to Luffy’s presence, just as he’d seen men go mad against him. It was impossible not to. Luffy was a force of nature that pulled in everyone around him. “Should we mention it?”

“They would have caught on after today,” Robin thought aloud. “I don’t suppose it’s a secret anymore.”

“Luffy definitely didn’t notice. And Zoro probably didn’t either. Those two are morons.”

Robin hid a laugh behind her hand. “Perhaps. There will be a better time to explain things later.”

“Yeah. That’s true. We shouldn’t distract them before we fight God.”

“Ah yes. That will be an interesting feat to add to our resumes. If we live.”

Usopp found himself laughing despite Robin’s morbid sense of humor. 

Sanji

Being struck by lightning once is usually enough to kill a man. Sanji was not going to let Nami take a hit like that. He’d put himself in front of her a hundred times, even if it fried his brain and stopped his heart. He would be whatever Nami needed him to be. If Sanji could be a lightning rod to keep Nami safe, he’d forge the metal needed to conduct it. If Sanji’s ribs were gold, he would dig them out and present them to make her happy. And if he helped Usopp out too, then it was a bonus. 

Enel was supposed to be a God, but the Strawhats did not bend to heaven’s will. There was only one man Sanji was willing to behold with reverence and that was his captain. Enel paled in comparison to Luffy, who shone like the sun on warm spring days after rain dampened the soil. So what if Enel was a God? He didn’t drop everything to help a crewmate when they asked, nor did push people towards the dreams. Luffy did that. It was Luffy, their captain, who approached the title of King or God with every fight and every breath. 

Luffy hadn’t liked the idea of Skypeia’s ‘God’ since he had first heard of him. Luffy had scrunched his nose with distaste as if he could sense the false god’s demand for worship (no man could ever hope to earn the pure praises that gods instilled in others — real devotion was not something that could be bought or forced, it had to grow into being with careful cultivation). Sanji didn’t completely understand Luffy’s instinct to rebel against God, but he didn’t need to. If Luffy wanted to fight, Sanji would bleed. If Luffy wanted food, Sanji would prepare every dish he could consume. If Luffy wanted to be God, Sanji would memorize every hymn and verse. It was all because Luffy had his devotion. 

Luffy had stood face to face with God on a ship in the sky and his arm coated in a gold prison. Sanji panicked that Luffy would be sent back to earth with such a burden. Then, Sanji watched his captain light himself on fire. Luffy’s soul burned through his skin as if it were too large to be contained. He looked like a devil. He looked like Ace. The gold melted off his arm into boiling puddles at his sandals.

Sanji stared at the flames and he wondered if only devils could show their souls on the outside.

· · ─────── · ☼  · ─────── · ·

Falling out of the sky meant Merry could have landed anywhere. They weren’t landlocked, but they were in the second worst circumstance anyone could think of. Surrounded by marines in a rocky hellscape. The marines had forced them to abandon Merry and scatter without warning. 

Despite the unfortunate situation, Sanji did find a bright side. Sanji had started keeping track of Luffy’s dietary needs carefully. He had grilled both Luffy and Zoro over it multiple times. Luffy hadn’t eaten properly since Arlong Park. He hadn’t eaten any of Vivi’s people, even those who perished in the small civil war that had erupted, nor had he found any corpses in Jaya. There had been deaths while fighting in Upper Yard, but there hadn’t been much time between fighting and celebrating and rushing to leave. The most Luffy had consumed in nearly two months was blood — blood that was spilt willing after dinners in the galley. Sanji knew he needed flesh sooner or later.

There was no way to predict where the crew would end up after they escaped the G-8 base. If it was an unpopulated island, or an island of innocent people, then the chances of finding Luffy a meal were slim. They were in a base full of enemies and Sanji would not let the situation go to waste. It wouldn’t be easy of course. Sanji and Luffy ended up impersonating chefs in the kitchens to keep their identities hidden. Sanji could see how much Luffy struggled even as he ‘taste tested’ all the meals. He had become a gluttonous pit that couldn’t be satisfied, but it was Sanji’s job to feed his captain. 

“How much could you eat right now?” Sanji asked. They were going to get chased out of the kitchen before long. Sanji needed to know what to expect afterwards.

“Hm? Oh.” Luffy tapped his chin with his finger. Their captain could be a moron, but Luffy always understood when food involved. Sanji had even seen him do math for food. “One would be enough to keep me going a whole month.”

“That’s not what I asked,” Sanji hissed. He didn’t want Luffy getting by . He wanted Luffy full. Luffy laughed like he knew.

“Then… last time Zoro got me three. I ate all of them at once. But I had already had two that same week.”

Five corpses. Five corpses.

“And that was enough? That’ll make you full ?”

“I could eat forever, Sanji,” Luffy reminded him. If there was one thing that should never be underestimated, it was Luffy’s appetite. Luffy was a glutton. Sanji had seen his captain eat an entire Sea King in one sitting. He could eat an orchard- an entire island if left unsupervised. There was something in Luffy that demanded to eat, eat, and eat. Chopper had theorized it was because of his devil fruit, but Sanji wasn’t convinced. It didn’t make sense for one person to consume so much. Luffy ate as if he were a giant. Whatever urged him to gorge himself couldn’t be quelled by limiting his devil fruit usage.

“Okay. Okay.” Sanji ran a hand through his hair. “We might not get you back to Merry to eat.”

Luffy smiled at Sanji. It was all teeth. His canines were larger than the average man’s, with more sharpness at the points. 

“Thanks Sanji.” Luffy had to keep his voice down to avoid being overheard. 

Zoro had gotten stuck in the jails with Usopp and some guy called Condoriano. Sanji didn’t care who was down there as long as they got an hour uninterrupted by the marines. 

“Get us out!” Usopp hissed in demand. He had impact dials. They’d be loud . 

“Hang on a minute damnit!” Sanji snapped back. They’d managed to avoid being followed, but they were marines headed their way. He only had a moment to think. “Luffy, don’t go anywhere.”

“Huh? Why?”

“What are you doing, cook?” Zoro demanded. 

“This might be the only chance you get to eat without being chased off right away.” Sanji loosened his tie. He tapped the sole of his shoe on the stone floor as he planned. “I’ll find you something.”

“Hah? That’s my job!” Zoro straightened his spine. 

“Like hell it is!” Sanji turned his back on the bars.

It had been Zoro’s job before Sanji knew what needed done. Sanji didn’t know exactly how many corpses Zoro had found and how many corpses he had made to feed Luffy. It didn’t matter. Even if Zoro argued, Sanji wanted to provide for Luffy. Everytime he thought of Marimo's blood coursing through Luffy, he grew incredibly envious. It was Sanji’s job to keep Luffy satiated, not the swordsman’s. Sanji would offer every piece of himself to Luffy if he couldn’t be useful. It was just flesh. 

“Eat-“ Usopp swallowed loudly. “Oh. Yeah. Right. Okay. We’re doing this now?”

“Can you do it?” Zoro asked bluntly.

Could Sanji purposefully kill a man? He had been fighting for as long as he could remember, but he’d never kicked someone with the intent to keep them down for good. Even when it was life and death, Sanji had never killed anyone. But could he? For Luffy who was hungry and hurting? 

“Sanji, I’ll do it,” Luffy interrupted. Luffy had been feeding himself his whole life. He had hid to dig into corpses after sunset when he felt less than human. If Sanji backed down, Luffy would handle it himself. He would bite into the first enemy he found and take what he needed. But Luffy didn’t have to feed himself anymore. Shouldn’t have to. And Sanji remembered what Ace had told them back in Alabasta — whatever Luffy eats should be given willingly. While Sanji doubted he could find anyone willing to be eaten, he was willing to bring corpses for Luffy to feast on and that had to count for something, right?

“No. I’m your chef, remember.” Sanji sucked in his cigarette. “Besides, you’d have the entire base here in five minutes if you fought. So stay here and stay quiet.”

“Okay.” Luffy sat on the floor next to the jail cell. “If it’s important to you, then you can do it.”

Zoro didn’t try to argue thankfully. Sanji wasn’t sure he’d keep up his nerve if he had to explain himself. 

Sanji stalked toward the distant sound of marines approaching. There were half a dozen headed his way. An ambush for sure. He didn’t hear any female voices thankfully. The halls were narrow and dark. It made it easy for Sanji to approach the group of marines without being spotted. He thought of all the cruel men he’d met in his life (and of basement dungeons with dim lights and brothers with violent tendencies). The people in front of him were only men. Were their lives worth more than Luffy’s? More than Enel’s, who they had left for dead without a second thought? No. He could kill them for Luffy. 

Sanji raised his foot. The first man’s head broke open against the wall. The next slammed his back into a corner with an audible crack. Sanji aimed for a sternum, puncturing lungs. Then he brought down his foot on a throat, snapped a neck. He hardly noticed the gunfire until a bullet grazed his cheek. Another stray lodged into a man’s forehead. Sanji planted his heel in the shooter’s nose. 

The hall went silent sans Sanji’s breathing. Six bodies laid at his feet. The entire thing had taken less than five minutes.

Sanji gripped the back of each man’s collar between his two hands. He hauled them with ease, as they were much lighter than the dinosaurs on Little Garden had been. He tried to ignore how limply their heads hung as he drug the six corpses like sacrifices to an altar. 

“Luffy.” Sanji's voice was clearer than he thought it’d be. He thought there would’ve been a change in him, but it felt no different than slaughtering an animal for a meal. His spirit hadn’t changed. Then again, murder was just a physical act. It didn’t change anything- not anymore than the money he had or the clothes he wore. He had killed for a good reason. 

Luffy was smiling when Sanji saw him. It wasn’t his usual carefree grin. There was a darker undertone that appeared at the smell of blood in the air. Sanji wondered if he had looked the same on the Rock when Zeff had presented his leg. He remembered the desperation that he had grabbed the flesh with. He would’ve done anything to fill his aching stomach. 

Sanji dropped the corpses once he was sure they could no longer be seen by any bypassers. 

The only ones who would see were Zoro, Usopp, and-

“Who the hell is that guy anyway?”

“Condoriano!” Usopp called. He was clearly trying not to look at the bodies Luffy was staring down. “He’s a member of the Strawhat Pirates you know!”

Zoro scoffed. “Emergency food.”

The man let out a squeak behind his gag. Sanji shrugged. Zoro must have noticed Luffy’s hunger as well. 

“Hurry up Luffy. We have to get out of here as soon as possible.”

“Thanks Sanji!” Luffy beamed brightly at his chef. That expression made it all worth it.

Sanji retrieved a fresh cigarette as he sat on the floor. Luffy pounced on the feast before him. Sanji flicked his lighter as Luffy dug his fingers into a corpse and tore open the ribcage with a series of pops and cracks.

Condoriano was screaming and crying at the sight. Zoro hissed at him to shut his mouth before a thud resounded from a punch. Usopp looked like he wanted scream the same, but he refrained.

“What dials do you have, Usopp?” Sanji asked. He watched Luffy pick through organs. It’d be good to know which ones he discarded for future reference. 

“Huh?” Usopp blinked. He was green in the face but he wasn’t panicking as much as Sanji thought he would. “Oh. I- the dials- yeah. I have a bunch of them. An impact dial, some flavor dials, a flame dial. Whole bunch of ‘em. I was gonna try to put a couple in Nami’s clima-tact.”

“Speaking of- did either of you see Nami or Robin?” Sanji asked. Luffy ate as messily as Sanji had expected. Fresh blood spattered everything. Luffy’s hands and forearms were soaked with it. He snapped ligaments with practiced ease as he shoved gore into his mouth. He ran his hands along intestines just as a musician ran their fingers across strings.

“Nami’s fine. She’s the reason I got caught in the first place,” Zoro said with gritted teeth. 

“Don’t blame her!” Sanji shouted with a kick at the bars.

“Robin sold me out too,” Usopp explained forlorn. He looked back at Condoriano, although it might have been to avoid the sight of their captain. “She’s impersonating this guy. She’s good at it too.”

“I expect no less from our genius ladies.” Sanji sighed. Nami and Robin were both experts at sneaking around unhindered. They had much more tact than the brutes in the dungeon.

“No clue where Chopper is though,” Usopp thought aloud. “He doesn’t really blend in though.”

“He’ll be fine. He’s smart,” Zoro said.

“Smarter than you.”

“Hey!”

“You weren’t even trying to hide!”

“Why would I?”

Sanji sighed as Zoro and Usopp argued too loudly for their own good. It didn’t drown out the chewing. Luffy punched a hole in the diaphragm to rip out the motionless lungs. He hadn’t touched any of the digestive organs, nor the kidneys or bladder. Sanji was pleased to see his captain’s understanding of anatomy. When eating organs, the most desirable dishes were made with the rich liver. Sanji had also made Ox tongue Goulash and Oxen Tail Stews. Sea King stomachs could make good Tripes, but they had to be cleaned out carefully first. Hearts could be delicious too. Chicken Heart Yakitori. Beef Heart Stew. Stuffed Lamb Hearts. Sanji watched Luffy eat the heart out of a man’s chest like it was a ripe apple. 

The innards of the first corpse were consumed within twenty minutes of Luffy’s scavenging. Only five more bodies to go. 

Sanji’s cigarette was already down to the filter. He sighed and reached for his pack. 

The crew panicked when they saw Luffy stained with blood trapped in a Seastone net. They were surrounded by marines on all sides and Merry was a long jump away. The only thing that had saved them were the ‘hostages’ Chopper had taken.

“Oh my god what happened to you?!” Chopper shouted. 

“Huh? Oh don’t worry! It’s not my blood!” Luffy announced proudly. He had taken a dip in the water at some point but it hadn’t taken the bloodstains out of his clothes or off his hands and mouth. It had washed away the gore thankfully. The ladies didn’t need to see that.

There was a long moment where several expressions flitted across their doctor’s face. 

“Oh.”

Nami had the same realization spread across her face. Then she hid a smile. She had a new plan. Nami’s specialty was escaping sticky situations. Her life as a cat burglar meant she had to be flexible. 

“Don’t let them take us!” Nami screeched with pure terror. She pointed at Luffy with a trembling hand. “He’ll eat us! These evil pirates eat people!”

Ah. Sanji resisted the urge to praise Nami for her ingenious wit and acting skills. The marines had paused at her outrageous cry. 

“That’s right,” Sanji said. He leaned into the image of vicious pirates they were aiming for. It was easy when Nami needed him to play the part. “Your entire ambush team is dead. Just ask your Major Inspector.”

They were murmurs among the crowd. “Is that what happened to Jenkins?”

“The Commander said they were just injured.”

“That can’t be true.”

Chopper finally seemed to catch on to their ruse. He tightened his hold on Nami and the nurse they had roped into the scheme. 

“It’s true! Our captain is a D ! A devil from hell!” Chopper roared. “And he’ll eat you all if you don’t let us sail out of here!”

A little overboard, Sanji thought, but he had the spirit. 

Zoro finally untangled Luffy from the Seastone. Luffy shot up with newfound energy.

“Oh! Sanji! Will you cook someone for me?!” Luffy asked with a grin. The red stains around his mouth helped add to the fear of the marines. 

“Sure, Captain,” Sanji called calmly. It wouldn’t be much different from cooking a cow. “Châteubriand with Béarnaise sauce. Steak au poivre. Filé mingon. Bourguignon. I’ll make whatever you’re craving.” 

“Haha yay! I want all of it!”

“Soon had his crew

Opened into the Hill a spacious wound

And dig'd out ribs of Gold. Let none admire

That riches grow in Hell; that soyle may best

Deserve the precious bane. And here let those

Who boast in mortal things…

Learn how their greatest Monuments of Fame,

And Strength and Art are easily out-done

By Spirits reprobate”

-John Milton, Paradise Lost

Chapter Text

Robin

There was an Admiral in their way. 

It had been a long, long day on Long Long Island. The Foxy Pirates weren’t a threat but they were obnoxious, and oddly entertaining. Robin enjoyed having an “enemy” that wasn’t trying to kill or arrest her for once. It had been fun to watch her new crew play carnival games and teach their captain to roller skate. They were able to watch him outsmart Foxy’s Slow Slow Fruit while boxing as if they were professional athletes instead of pirates. Despite the games, Robin had been worried all day. She assumed that her lifetime of dodging dangerous situations was looming over her, until she saw him . 

Admiral Kuzan Aokiji. The man who had spared her life while Ohara burned. He had returned from her past, and Robin dreaded what he might drag back with him. A buster call echoed in her head both past and future. She ran (would run) from cannons and flames. The earth itself crumbled as Ohara (Eneis Lobby? An island called Egghead?) suffered the brunt of the World Government’s power. She was luck to escape once (Twice? Three times? No it had only been once, she was sure. And Ohara had been the only island to suffer a buster call in decades. Her mind was only playing tricks on her after seeing Kuzan.) The Admiral could bring Robin’s nightmares to life with a simple call. He had let her escape once, out of respect for Saul, but the devil had been dead for twenty years.

Robin knew what Kuzan’s presence meant. Even if he chose not to kill the crew (why, why, why? Where did that Mercy come from? How long would it last?), Robin knew his warnings were true. She would bring ruin to the Strawhat Pirates. It was to easy to imagine her crewmates suffering at the hands of Cipher Pole. She could clearly picture it -- her crew’s silhouettes with the rage of a buster call behind them after a long hard fight. They would try to save her. They would all die for it. Her captain would die for it. 

She couldn’t bear to kill another devil.

Nami

Water Seven was a weird place. The crew hadn’t even made it to the city and they had already seen a frog doing the front crawl, a rabbit that thought it was cat, a strange little girl, and an alcoholic grandmother. Oh, and the Sea Train . With the odd and wonderful introduction to the city, the crew was pointed toward a man named Iceburg by Granny Kokoro. Apparently he could get them the best shipwrights they could ask for. 

“Nami,” Usopp whispered to her. Nami was following the log pose the remaining stretch to Water Seven. “Has Robin said anything to you?”

“About what?” Nami asked. She was tempted to bat Usopp away until she was done.

“She’s worried, but she won’t talk to me about it.”

“Of course she’s worried. We just got our asses handed to us by that Admiral who threatened her. She’d be crazy if she wasn’t concerned about it.”

“No, I know that.” Usopp rubbed his eyes. “It’s- she’s really worried. Like, scared.”

“Usopp. I don’t know what kind of empathy stuff you think you have going on-” 

“I didn’t make it up!”

Nami sighed. Usopp had told her that he was attuned to the crews emotions, but she was having a hard time believing it. Usopp made up tall tales all the time. Suddenly becoming an empath made less than having a devil for a captain. Surely if Usopp had some strange ability, then the rest of them would feel something too. No one else had mentioned anything like it.

“Okay. Right. Sure.” Nami was trying to believe him. “Even if Robin is feeling scared, it probably has nothing to do with us. She’s had a hard life apparently. I still have hard days too. She might need some space until this things blows over. It’s totally normal. If you’re really panicking, talk to Luffy about it.”

Usopp slummed with defeat. “I did.”

“And?”

“He said Robin will be fine.”

Nami was hardly one to praise Luffy’s smarts, but he did have a way with people. If he thought Robin would be okay, then he was probably right. There was nothing supernatural about it. 

“Let’s focus on getting Merry fixed up before we try to take on Admirals,” Nami reasoned. They couldn’t do anything about Robin’s complicated past. They could, however, find a shipwright.

Chopper

Robin was gone. Chopper had left her alone for a minute- a second really. He noticed she was on edge in the city. She waved of his worries, and Choper let her reassure him. It was hard to imagine Robin being scared of anything. Robin reminded Chopper so much of Docterine that he relied on her the same. However, Robin had needed help and he had been browsing for books.

Sanji had caught a glimpse of her in the streets, but he claimed she vanished into thin air with a strange figure in a mask. That meant she hadn’t been taken forcefully. Still Chopper worried. What if she had been tricked? Or hypnotized? Or maybe there was a devil fruit that could lure people away?! For all his panic, Sanji assured him that Robin would come back on her own. It was best to wait for her.

They reconversed at the Going Merry . There was little time to rest before Nami came running like a bat from hell. Usopp had been attacked in town and two hundred million berri were gone. The second she mentioned Usopp was hurt, it was a mad scramble. Usopp needed a doctor- where could they find a doctor?- Chopper was a doctor! 

Chopper couldn’t help Robin, but he could get revenge for Usopp by burning Franky’s house to the ground.

The crew had all seen Luffy angry. After all, their captain wasn’t one to hide his feelings. Chopper had seen Luffy rage after Wapol, after Crocodile, after Bellamy, and after Enel. While they had all fought in those battles and been injured, none of them had been beat like Usopp had by the Franky Family. Chopper had treated all his crewmates as patients before. Zoro had suffered more blood loss than a pig in a slaughterhouse. Sanji had been struck by lightning multiple times in Skypeia. Luffy, of course, ended up in the infirmary after every fight for stab wounds, posion, exhaustion, or all three at once. Even Nami, who was more cautious than the others had been bruised and battered plenty. But Usopp? Sure, he’d been bruised, concussed, and even struck by lightning, but he’d never had to suffer any of it alone . Usopp had run back to the men who attacked him. All for money that didn’t even matter. That combined with the fact that the Merry was done for, meant that Luffy was beyond angry. 

Chopper had seen Luffy ignite himself once. When he and Vivi had argued in the desert, Luffy had hit her with a smoking fist. Thus, it wasn’t a total surprise that Luffy’s clenched hands were blazing hot when he stared at the Franky House.

Chopper knelt at Usopp’s side. Their sniper was bloody and unconscious, but alive. Chopper checked his pulse and his breathing as he tried not to cry. Usopp would be alright with treatment, but it was hard to look at him so broken.

“Is he okay?” Luffy asked through gritted teeth.

“He should be. He might have a concussion, but he’s stable.” 

Luffy sighed with the small relief. “Stay with him.”

“But-”

“This is our revenge too, Captain,” Sanji argued. He and Zoro had came along for a fight. While Chopper was a doctor first and foremost, he wasn’t opposed to revenge for Usopp.

“You’ll get caught in it.” Luffy’s hands were burning at his sides. They had gone from smoking, to flaming. Chopper wondered if it was Luffy’s soul eating its way to the outside. If Luffy couldn’t control that hellfire, then it explained why he didn’t fight with it when the crew was around. 

“So what?” Zoro removed his bandana from his arm and tied it over his head. He wasn’t afraid of fire. Why would he be when it was the same fire in his soul? Chopper, however, did not appreciate burnt fur.

“We’re going in. There’s no point in arguing,” Sanji said. He stalked towards the house without waiting. Zoro scoffed and caught up to him, refusing the cook to get ahead.

Luffy turned to Chopper and nodded. Chopper mirrored the movement as he sat with Usopp. Luffy barged into the Franky House with a demand for Franky to show himself.

The flames that soon erupted were beautiful. It reminded Chopper of the cherry blossoms that had erupted on Drum Island during his departure. The fire, however, ate away everything it touched as the Franky Family were knocked unconscious or scrambled to get away.

Usopp

The money was gone. Merry couldn’t be fixed. Usopp didn’t believe it.

Usopp felt everything. Since joining the crew, he had felt Luffy’s fire, Nami’s nightmares, Zoro’s determination, Sanji’s fears and desires, Chopper’s excitement, and Robin’s paranoia. Usopp could feel everyone, but no one could feel him. His fear and insecurities were his and his alone. They built up with every battle and every close call. They exploded in Water Seven. He was drowning in Robin’s terror and isolation. The misery of the crew couldn’t be escaped. He couldn’t force any of it out of his head. Even Merry’s guilt was stuck with him.

“She’s not just a ship!”

“I know that!” Luffy shouted. He had decided they needed a new ship and he hadn’t been willing to dicuss the decision. “I feel Merry! She’s crew! But she’s dying! We can’t force her to carry us!”

Usopp had failed in his latest fight. He had been too weak to carry on. If they were going to throw Merry away, would they dismiss Usopp next? Would he be the only one? He couldn’t stand the fear, but Luffy wasn’t listening . It ended with Usopp’s declaration to leave the Strawhats for good. 

Luffy’s fire had given Usopp a lot of things — warmth, security, empathy, a home — but it hadn’t made him strong. Usopp had to do that on his own. He didn’t think he could do it with the Strawhats. 

“I’m throwing down the gauntlet. Tonight at ten! I challenge you to a fight for Merry! ”

Franky

“‘Hurry! Hurry! Do not let time be wasted, through lack of love, so that labouring to do well may renew grace.’

My guide said: ‘O people, in whom an eager fervour now makes good, perhaps,

the negligence and tardiness shown by you, in being lukewarm at doing good, this one who lives wishes to climb,

if the sun only shines for us again, and indeed I do not lie to you, so tell us where the ascent is nearest.’”

-Dante Alighieri, Purgatorio , Canto XVIII: The Slothful and their Punishment

The Franky House had been burnt to the ground. None of his family were dead, thank the stars, but every man was injured. They had all made the smart choice to run rather than fight back, and they hadn’t left anyone behind in the fire. Franky had only been gone for a day. Perhaps he would have spared his family some pain if he had been there to fight back.

The Strawhats were behind it. 

Franky found them at Dock One. Their captain was some kid with a bounty. Franky had fought pirates before, and he wasn’t hesitant to open fire on Luffy. Apparently, the whole city was after them too, even the Galley-La foremen. Iceberg had been shot by Nico Robin. All of Water Seven was in an uproar that Franky hadn’t seen since Tom was arrested. The Strawhats were more shocked than Franky. He wondered how true the accusations were. If Robin had attempted murder on Iceberg , the man Franky was raised with, then she’d have hell to pay. 

Franky wasn’t able to get ahold of Luffy, but with Aqua Lagoona rolling in he didn’t have time to search the city for the pirates. His only other solution was to kidnap their sniper to bring Luffy to him. 

Franky cried over Ussop’s story about Merry . Usopp was a good guy. Franky almost regretted beating him up and stealing his money, but it’s what he and his family did. If the ship had spoken, then it had taken on the form of a Klabautermann. His story made Franky wonder. He had stolen the Strawhat’s money to buy Atom Wood. He hadn’t thought about shipbuilding since Tom died (since Cutty Flam died). He had grown complacent with his place in the Franky Family and hadn’t strived toward his dream — for that was what the sin of sloth had dimmed in him. Could he be blamed? Tom’s only crime was creation. Tom had taken scrap and made it into dreams (into a pirate ship and sea train). If Spandam hadn’t gotten involved and framed Tom while searching for Pluton, Tom would’ve been pardon. The man Franky loved like a father had been condemned for his dreams. Of course Franky’s desire to create faltered. 

The sea train (Tom’s dream ) had killed Cutty Flam. The Puffing Tom destroyed his body in the middle of the sea despite Cutty’s begging cries to spare his mentor- his father. If not for the abandoned ship that drifted near by, Cutty would’ve died on the tracks. He still prays to the klabautermann that sent it. Alone and dying, Cutty built himself. He built Franky. It was agonizing. He had no instructions, no painkillers, and very little knowledge of human anatomy. Still, he carved into his body of flesh and replaced weakness with metal- drove out Cutty (the boy who had been unable to save his father) and created Franky (the man who could be perfection). He slid plates under his own skin and screwed it to his bones. He replaced his fingers with iron and reattached his severed right hand with a chain. He fixed his organs into a functioning state before nailing a door onto his abdomen. It was a miracle he lived through it all. He combated blood loss with makeshift tourniquets and fought infection with haphazardly made fire. It didn’t fix his decimated bones, but it kept him alive.

When he finally made it back to Water Seven as Franky, he had lost most of the feeling in his limbs. He thanked whatever was watching after him that he couldn’t feel how wrecked his body had become. The doctors willing to treat him prescribed every antibiotic to fight the threat of infection caused by the scrap prostethics he’d shoved into himself. After months of healing, he was able to work again. His flesh had still failed him. Most of his bones had been too broken to repair, so he removed them instead (with supervision of the craziest medical professional he could find in the Underworld). He split his legs at the sides to replace useless bone and muscle with something stronger. He deboned his left arm, removed his shattered radius and ulna, then forced a canon into the shell of his limb. He shoved fire into his lungs and invented Coup De Burst. He no longer recognized his own body.

The human body wasn’t much different from a ship. Each part had a purpose and a place. Dismantling and rebuilding his own body came naturally to Franky. The urge to create was all consuming. It ate and ate at his mind until he had no option to mutilate another part of himself. The process no longer hurt. His flesh was no longer flesh. What covered him was no longer skin. There must have been something human deeper (his heart still pumped blood, his brain still had neurons to fire), but nothing superficial was weak. When the itch to build came along, Franky upgraded himself. His spirit laid in ship building, but ships were dreams and dreams meant death.

When Galley-Law busted in, Franky wasn’t expecting their true intentions. CP9 had been a cautionary tale meant to scare children from becomine pirates. They weren’t supposed to real. They weren’t supposed to know who Cutty Flam was. Franky was ready to take Pluton to his grave before letting Ciphor Pole get ahold of it. He feared what might have happened to Iceberg — the agents would have had to go through him to get to Cutty Flam —  but he didn’t have time to dread. 

Pluton was a counter measure. Franky never excepted he’d have to decided its fate. The poneglyphs were only dangerous if someone could read them, and Nico Robin was that someone. If she translated those ruins and let the World Government or anyone else build Ancient Weapons, then Franky would have to decide if Pluton should be used against them. It was the weight of the world in his hands. Regardless of what he wanted, he had no choice in being apprehended by Rob Lucci. Franky just wished Usopp hadn’t been dragged into his mess.

Sanji

There was very little that Sanji wouldn’t do for Robin. He’d cross hell for any of his crew, but he’d conquer it for a lady in need of help. He didn’t know everything about Robin’s past nor why she was choosing to leave. It didn’t matter to him. He would do everything in his power to bring Robin back safely. 

The decision to jump on the Puffing Tom was easy. The rest of the crew wasn’t going to make it on time. That was fine. Sanji could handle himself and the others had Luffy and Zoro with them. Robin needed him. 

And Usopp apparently. Sanji didn’t know why the hell Usopp was on the Puffing Tom and suddenly friends with Franky, but he was happy to see their sniper safe. He could… feel Usopp. It wasn’t entirely surprising. Their devil captain had made them all different in ways Sanji didn’t fully understand. He’d felt it when he agreed to join the crew, the spark. He felt it on Drum Island when Nami was weakly hanging onto life. He’d felt it in Skypiea when they stood before God and refused to break. Yet, the thing in his chest had never been so prominent. The heat was burning with fury for the state of their crew. It didn’t hurt anymore than his heart already ached. He knew where Robin was at the front of the train. He felt Usopp next to him. He knew the others were getting closer. Sanji didn’t have time to contemplate it. 

The Den Den Mushi was a blessing. He was able to call the Baby Den Den he’d left for Nami. Hearing the truth about Robin didn’t shock him. He had known she needed their help. 

“Sanji,” Luffy said. He spoke with more seriousness than Sanji usually heard. It was hard to believe that he was talking to the same man who would fist fight him over the fridge. Then again, Sanji had seen Luffy burst into flames in the Franky House just hours earlier. “Give them hell.”

Sanji grinned. His captain’s choice of words were perfect. A devil would know Hell intimately, thus his crew should know the same. They knew Hell’s fire. They knew how to bring it to life. 

“You read my mind.” Sanji stood, even with the entire force of Aqua Lagoona raining down. “That settles it. I was willing to fight for Robin even before I knew she lied. Now that you’ve told me how she really feels, I wouldn’t stopped if you begged me.”

“You’ll die, shit-cook,” Zoro added gruffly. “You better wait on the rest of hs before taking on the whole train.”

“Would you wait?” Luffy asked. “If you were there instead of Sanji?”

Sanji heard nothing but the storm whipping around him for a long moment. Zoro sighed. 

“Worried about me, Mosshead?” Sanji taunted. 

“I hope you get killed!” Zoro snapped back. Luffy laughed at the pair of them.

“Go save Robin,” Luffy said.

“That’s the plan.” Sanji didn’t expect much more planning to go into things. The Strawhats didn’t really do plans, and when they did nothing ever went to- well- plan. Sanji took a long drag of his cigarette. It was dying out quickly in the rain. “I don’t know what you’ve done to me, Shitty Captain, but my soul is saying this’ll be easy.”

The snail smiled in a mimic of Luffy’s grin. “Sanji feels like fire.”

“Mm,” Sanji hummed in agreement. He flicked his drenched cigarette into the wind. As expected, he didn’t know exactly what Luffy meant. He understood it regardless. 

“Usopp’s there too,” Luffy said suddenly. Sanji turned to Usopp and Franky. The sniper shook his head and made wild gestures in denial. After his fight with Luffy, he didn’t want to talk to him. 

Sanji gave in. “I don’t know where he is.” He didn’t know if Luffy believed him, but Luffy didn’t call him out. Luffy had always been able to locate his crewmates with unnerving accuracy. 

“He won’t leave Robin behind,” Nami interrupted. “He’ll swim to Eniess Lobby if he has too. I still need to apologize to him. He knew something was wrong with Robin and I didn’t believe him.”

Usopp looked away from Sanji and the snail. 

“I’m sure he’ll forgive you, Nami-swan. I need to get moving,” Sanji said into the transponder. “I’ll save Robin even if it kills me.”

The next cigarette he retrieved lit itself before he could grab his lighter.

Luffy

Luffy did not despair. He didn’t have time. He wasn’t strong enough to take on CP9. He couldn’t fight a hurricane. It wouldn’t stop him from getting Robin back. He’d still become the Pirate King. He just had to crawl his way up yet another mountain barehanded or bury another Warlord under the sand.

Luffy wasn’t alone. He had his crew and they shared his Will. If Luffy had to dig deeper — burn brighter — for them, then he would.

Luffy didn’t want to dictate his crew. They had their dreams and their passions, and to smoother any of that would be cruel. He trusted his crew to do everything they could to move forward with or without his leadership. He didn’t need to give orders often, and when he did his crew was usually on the same page (they burned with the same fire. They burned with the same hell).

Luffy had to trust Sanji and Usopp to give them a leg up while they tried to catch the train. It would be dangerous for Luffy to fight CP9 on a Sea Train. They were surrounded by the ocean that ached to drag him down, down, down . They had better chances of fighting somewhere solid. He doubted Sanji and Usopp would get Robin back before they made it — not because they were weak but because Robin didn’t want to. Luffy needed to talk to her. He needed to know what was keeping her away. If Luffy knew, he would punch it, burn it, or kill it. If that didn’t work, he still had his soul. 

(And if that didn’t work, he still had his crew)

There nothing on earth that would stop Luffy from getting to Robin. 

“Hey Zoro. Cut them. They’re in the way.” 

Zoro grinned. “Sure.” 

Luffy watched Zoro cleave the stray train car in half. 

Luffy needed to get to Usopp too. He… he hadn’t handled the situation well. Losing Merry and failing to protect Usopp and Robin had worn him down to the bone. Luffy had never experienced such a burnt out feeling. Despite it, Usopp was his friend and his crew. Luffy was supposed to be their captain and leader even if he was exhausted. How would Shanks have handled it? How did Luffy need to handle it? It was a problem for later, even as Sniper King and Sanji were forced to board to Rocketman after Robin forced them away.

Enies Lobby was close. 

“I formed them free, and free they must remain.” 

John Milton, Paradise Lost

 "Pillars of Creation" taken by the Hubble Telescope

NASA, ESA and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

Chapter Text

Nami

It wasn’t a shock when Luffy ran ahead as soon as Rocketman landed. None of them could risk a moment of hesitation if they were going to make it to the courthouse in time. Luffy hadn’t given them any orders other than “get Robin back.” He didn’t need to. The crew knew their goal and Luffy trusted them to give it their all. Enies Lobby was trying to smother their flames, but they would know who the Strawhats were by the end of the night. 

Nami clutched her Clima-tact with determination. Usopp had perfected the weapon for her since Alabasta and she wasn’t going to let it go to waste. Robin needed them. Nami couldn’t be a weak link. Usopp and Chopper weren’t fighters either, yet they were charging ahead with the same force as Aqua Lagoona. She summoned stormclouds and lightning at her fingertips. Dozens of marines hit the ground every time she turned her fury towards them. She wondered if the others always felt this strong. 

The Gates of Justice were a curse. If Robin and Franky went through those doors, they’d never be seen again. The only thing standing between them was a few thousand marines and all of CP9. They were impossible odds, but backing off had never been an option. The Strawhat Pirates did not surrender. They did not burn out. They were a force of nature that would be heard. They were Luffy’s crew and Luffy would always free them whether it was from a crucifixion under an eclipse, a rouge pirate crew, a debt, a fishman dictator, a cruel king, or the world itself. Freedom demanded to be seen. Dreams demanded to become reality. 

The crew and the Franky Family were making a dent in the government forces. They didn’t have time to relax, but it was reassuring to hear her crewmates call out attacks no far away. The two large bulls made it much, much easier to catch up to their crazy captain. They didn’t have a way to get across the gap between them and the Tower of Justice yet, but it didn’t stop them from standing on the roof of the courthouse at Luffy’s side. 

“You can’t win, pirates!” Spandam ranted. “Look at this flag! This symbol represents the unity of over one hundred and seventy nations. A power that spans the four seas and the Grandline. This is the world itself.”

It was funny, Nami thought, that Spandam believed his speech would scare them away. They were already standing at the gates of hell. Whatever Grand Line anomaly created an island floating above a pit must have been amazing, Nami thought. They stood too far above the earth and the sea to be comfortable. That was fine though. Nami understood the clouds better anyway. 

“Sniper King.” Luffy spoke as a captain in that moment. It was the same voice that erupted from him when he claimed Nami as crew. It was the voice that couldn’t be ignored by anyone in earshot, friend or foe. The world choked on bated breath as they waited for a collision. Luffy had planted his feet in the ground and he was an unstoppable force and an immovable object. “Shoot down that flag.”

It was a piece of cloth. It was nothing but fibers woven together and dyed with a logo. It was everything the Strawhats were willing to fight for one woman. As cowardly as Usopp could be, his hands were steady as he raised his weapon. He exhaled. A firebird star sailed across the gap, against the wind that threaten to bring it down. As the flag burst into flames that ate away the symbol of the world government, Nami felt her resolve harden. She was unsure if it was something inside her, or a gift from her captain, but she finally understood what sheer Will felt like. Given the stance of her crewmates, they felt it too.

Enies Lobby wouldn’t survive the Strawhats Pirates. 

Robin

“Tell me you want to live!” Luffy screamed (sang, prayed, commanded). His words echoed off the edge of the world and filled a sky that only knew daylight. 

Luffy’s soul burned . 

While Robin had always been able to sense Luffy’s soul, she had never felt it. It sparked at her feet and demanded to stay. It didn’t eat away at her soul, but rather cradled it as if to keep her safe. Robin already carried the hellfire of a dead devil, but Luffy’s flames fit right alongside it. She felt his determination, his posessiveness. She understood, finally, what it meant to be close with devil, and how far they were willing to go. Robin wept with the sorrow of a her people and the wrath of someone who knew too much of the truth. 

She did not want to kill another devil. But maybe she wanted to live more. Robin inhaled. It feuled the fire in her chest before she cried what she knew. She had always been hunted for her knowledge. Nations wanted her as a weapon. The government wanted her mind. The entire world sought what she knew- the truth. Although Luffy wanted to know too, he wasn’t after the truth that had been Robin’s burden. He wanted Robin’s truth. The selfish words she had never dared to speak caught in her throat.

Tell me you want to live.

Had Robin ever asked herself if she wanted to live? She had spent her entire life carrying the knowledge and history of her people that she had never considered surrendering, and yet, she never had anything to live for. She had no family, no friends, and no home. There had never been anything to look forward to besides her obligation of finding the secret of the void century. If Ohara had survived, would she still have the same drive? Was learning her dream? 

The Strawhats had given her a home. They had welcomed her as family far too quickly to be sane. They made her laugh and cry. They reminded her how to dream. 

Yes, Robin thought, learning the truth was her dream. Not because she felt obligated as Ohara’s last survivor, but becuase the world deserved to know. People like the Strawhats — good and kind people — deserved to know what the past had done. They deserved the truth about who had wronged them and who had hidden it. Robin wanted it for the devils that died for dreams and the devils that would kill for them. She wanted the truth in its simplest form, for others to take and shape into whatever future they desired. Robin wanted-

It was an ugly want. It burned around her as if she were being sent to hell for even daring to want something so selfish. However, hell wouldn’t be so bad with the Strawhat Pirates.

“I want to live!”

Franky

The Strawhats were willing to fight thousands marines and Ciphor Pole agents for Nico Robin. Spandam was actually panicked when the pirates got the giants on their side. Their captain had taken on one thousand men on alone . Then, he knocked down Blueno . Franky and Sanji hadn’t been able to take him on the Sea Train together, yet Luffy had done it by himself with an untested fighting technique. 

Watching the Strawhats declare war on the entirety of the World Government for one person lit something in Franky. These people were willing to do anything for each other and their dreams. Franky could do that too. He had already died for Tom. What else could he give? His dreams?

Franky had been entrusted Pluton’s fate and he could decide its end. Robin was not an enemy to be feared even if she could read the Poneglyps. She would never use her knowledge to harm. Franky believed in her within a day of meeting her. Robin had lived through destruction. She had no desire to cause it.

Pluton could die.

After Franky had taken the blueprints off Iceberg’ hands, he hadn’t been able to resist the temptation to read them over and over again. He knew the danger Pluton possessed. It was called the World’s Worst Warship for a reason. Tom had deemed it a monstrosity. No ship should hold the power to decimate entire islands. No man should be permitted to build a fleet of them. The government especially shouldn’t be trusted with them. Not after they killed Tom. Not after they destroyed an entire population for their knowledge of the past. Franky made up his mind while standing at the center of Enies Lobby and staring at a pirate crew full of dreamers.

Pluton’s blueprint went up in flames with one purposeful breath. Its ashes blew away with the wind on top of the worst tower Franky had ever had the misfortune of standing on. He thought the sparking in his chest was from his own fiery breath. He was wrong. Luffy’s hellfire had flared to give Franky’s soul strength when he needed it. 

Pluton burned with the heat of hellfire. 

Then Spandam shoved him off the edge of the balcony. Rude, but whatever.  Franky had fallen and failed a hundred times before. He got back up everytime. It was no different at Enies Lobby and the gates of hell.

Franky would fight with pirates. 

Zoro

The attack came to him when he needed it, without prayers or practice to explain its awakening. Nine Sword Style Asura came with a demonic aura at his back that sucked all the air out of the room. It should have shocked Zoro, but it came naturally to his beck and call even if the freezing devilish energy was nothing he’d conjured before. He had never needed to rely on the hellfire in his chest before his fight Kaku. Zoro had been the Demon of the East for a long time, and it had been enough to get him by. He couldn’t just get by if Robin was going to be rescued. He needed absolute victory. 

Zoro had felt Asura before — or rather a similar enough aura that he could tell it came from the same place. Asura felt like Luffy when he lost his temper against whoever their enemy of the week was, and when he fired up Second Gear for the first time. It felt like the red-hot flare of Sanji’s temper coming from downstairs as the cook’s feet caught fire; the monster Chopper became after giving into desperation and consuming another rumble ball; Nami conjuring illusions in a room of mist; Robin desperately tyring to hold on to the new sparks in her; Franky deciding to fight as hellfire invaded his soul. Zoro didn’t know how he could feel his crewmates as they found their own strength, but he could. None of it compared to Luffy’s aura (was it an aura? Zoro didn’t have a better name for it), but it was a spark Luffy had lit in them and it would continue to rage into infernos. 

The sparks brought the sins forward.

The thing about sins is that they overlap. They grow into each other, strengthen each other, and can be confused with one another. He had always been a proud man (it was why he was so determined to finish out that month of crucifixion, and it was why he would not be shamed by a single scar on his back), but it grew deeper when he had become a Strawhat. At first, he had chalked it up to having something to be proud of. He was the first mate so of course he’d be proud of his captain and their crew. It shouldn’t have overtaken his every thought. He couldn’t be too prideful. If he were, he would want to be Captain or the Pirate King or he would fight off the others’ schemes with more vigor. Instead, he knew the only man who would ever have the title of his Captain or the Pirate King was Luffy. Zoro was more than at peace being his wing and his brutal first mate that lessened his worries. 

The Strawhat Pirates would win. Sins and all.

Chopper

Chopper had never felt further from earth. He supposed it was fair, given Enies Lobby was a floating land mass and reindeer weren’t supposed to be far from the ground. In fact, if it was possible, Chopper would have liked to crawl to the heart of the earth and make a home there. Mother Earth was the source of everything, including medicine and life itself. It would be foolish to ignore Her. She gave them every part of Her, it was only fair to love Her in return. Chopper wanted to be like the earth ー to give everything he could to others. He could only heal, but one day he would have courage and knowledge to offer too.

The rumble balls were supposed to be enough. Chopper wasn’t helpless, but he wasn’t a powerhouse either. Meanwhile Kumadori was a skilled Cipher Pole Agent who’s technique was impeccable. Chopper would lose. He was bloody and beaten. His transformations were already shotty after two rumble balls. Taking a third would mean turning into that . Doing nothing would mean dying. There were no other options, and Chopper couldn’t afford to lose. If he faltered, then the crew would have to pull his weight and he wasn’t sure they’d be able to. Robin’s freedom was on the line.

Chopper used every ounce of energy left to reach for a rumble ball. Taking a deep breath, he cracked it between his teeth. The change was coming quick. Chopper felt the power ready to surge as his consciousness slipped. Monster point took over his body. The only thing he felt after that was bright hot rage. 

It was all he had left to give. 

There was a Buster Call tearing apart the island. The Strawhats had already wrecked ruin, but the navy were going to decimate Enies Lobby on their own. Thankfully, Kokoro had saved them from the flooding, otherwise they all would’ve drowned before they could find a ship to escape. Chopper was still unable to move after his transformation but he cherished having a minute of peace on the abdoned ship’s deck. They were just waiting for Luffy.

Franky stared back at the burning fortress. Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, Robin, Nami, and Kokoro all looked in the same direction. 

Franky had saved Chopper after his monster point transformation. He had also thrown himself in front of Robin to protect her from bullets, and done everything he could to get her to safety. It was still strange to Chopper that the cyborg had been an enemy a day prior. Regardless, the monster had caused enough damage to give some of his crewmates an upper hand. Chopper was thankful it had worked. He hadn’t even considered what he’d do after he was left immobilized. 

“Bastards,” Nami hissed as the landscape fell to ash.

“They’ll wipe this place from the map. No emotion. No mercy. That’s what a Buster Call means.” Robin said as she knelt on the deck. This is what she had feared for the crew. Chopper didn’t think it was all that bad. If this was hell, then he didn’t mind being a sinner. 

Franky turned to the bridge of hesitation with a deep inhale. It was the only thing left standing in the destruction. Franky was the only one of them that had seen Lucci and Luffy. Luffy had told him to go after Robin so that he could fight alone. Franky had listened. 

“That Lucci guy is strong as hell. We’re luck we have Strawhat to hold him back. I know he could’ve kliled me. He’d probably kill all of us if he had half a chance.”

“It’s strange,” Chopper said as he laid flat on his back. “But I think Luffy always knows. Right from the start he can tell who he has to fight- who he has to beat if we’re gonna survive.”

“He has instincts like an animal. Even more than you, Chopper,” Nami thought aloud. Chopper had to agree.

“Does he always feel- you know- hot?” Franky asked. The column Luffy and Lucci were fighting in was burning, not from the Buster Call, but with Hellfire.

“He got you too,” Sanji said as he looked the cyborg up and down. “I thought I felt something weird.”

“It’s a long story.” Nami smiled tiredly. “We’ll have time to explain it later.”

Robin smiled lightly as she brought a hand to her heart. “He finally got through to me as well. I didn’t know it was possible, but Luffy’s touched my soul.”

“Right…” Franky said. He was still lost, but Chopper would be too if he didn’t know Luffy.

A loud boom drew their attention back to the fight at hand. They could only watch one of the hundreds of battle ships shot down the bridge of hesitation. They were surrounded, and now their path to Luffy was caught off. 

Nami spun her Clima-tact in her hands. “They’re coming to take Robin!”

“Look!” Usopp was pointing, but Chopper couldn’t see from his prone position. “Luffy! We made it!”

Ah, Chopper thought, if Luffy was there then they’d be fine.

“We’re all okay!” Franky added.

“All you have to do is beat that guy!” Sanji hollered.

“Don’t give up, Luffy!” Zoro called. When he turned away, he muttered, “Now we just have to hold of these marines.”

It was only moments later that hundreds of marines descended on them. Chopper could only listen to the fight and pray that their monstrous crew would hold out. 

They were the Strawhat Pirates and the whole world would know their names.

Usopp

Usopp felt the moment Luffy’s willpower faltered. He’d never sensed anything like it from Luffy before. It left a blackhole in his chest, prepared to swallow him whole. Luffy did not give up. Usopp was not going to let him. They all needed to run, but leaving Luffy was never going to happen. 

“Luffy! Get up!” Usopp’s voice echoed across the abyss. Luffy was down and bleeding as Lucci stood tall, but he could see Usopp’s face for the first time since they fought back on Water Seven. “I only came here to save Robin! Not for you and your stupid face!”

There wasn’t much Usopp could do, but letting Luffy die wasn’t an option.

“Hey cat guy! I know you hear me!” Usopp clenched his fist. Rob Lucci, CP-9’s most dangerous weapon, glared. “From now on, I’m your oppentent!”

Maybe it was stupid to challenge a man like Rob Lucci. Usopp barely let himself flinch. He didn’t have time to be afraid.

“That’s right! Listen here! I’m a fearsome pirate and the leader of over eight thousand men! I’m the Great Pirate Captain Usopp! I’ve wrecked havoc on countless islands on the Grand Line. If the World Government wants to mess with me, then I’ll crush you with my pinky!” Usopp proclaimed. He would stall and he would fight for as long as he could. “Get up here and fight me! Or are you a scaredy cat?!”

That might have been the wrong thing to say. Lucci approached the edge of destruction.

“Shut up, you idiot.” Luffy was trying to yell, but he was too exhausted to muster up much of his voice. “He’s going to kill you!”

“You shut up!” Usopp retorted. “What are you going to do?! You’re already half dead!”

“He’s mine to fight! I’m gonna kick his ass.”

“Then get up! Show him what you’re made up! Stop bleeding all over the place like you’re about to die! That is not the Luffy I know!” Usopp grit his teeth. Luffy had always seemed invincible. Even if he was hurt, Luffy had always bounced back quick. Usopp had never seen him so close to dying . It was horrifying to witness. “I can still see the sky! I can still see the ocean! This isn’t hell! It isn’t over yet! Why are you trying to make us worry?!”

Lucci had let Usopp monologe for long enough. Usopp was no fool. He knew that if Lucci came at him, he’d die. But if Usopp could give Luffy even a moment of time to get up, then it’d be worth it.

Thankfully, Lucci never got the chance to attack.

“This place isn’t hell. It’s not even close.” Luffy was on his feet! His body smoked and steamed as his irises flickered. Luffy would know what hell really felt like it. Even if Enies Lobby was burning, it was not hell.

“Luffy,” Usopp croaked. He could feel Luffy’s resolve harden once more. Willpower was radiating from his soul and Usopp knew his speech had worked. “Finish him! Then we can leave together!”

“I’m never gonna give up,” Luffy said. “Until I defeat you, I won’t drop to the ground.”

Usopp sighed with relieve. If Luffy was fighting, then they could keep going. 

“Once I take you on, your friends are next,” Lucci taunted. “You’ll spend eternity together in hell.”

The jaguar charged at Luffy, fist ready to pummel him back to the floor. Luffy met him head on even as the impact rattled the compromised foundation.

“I hope we do.”

Usopp cursed. Luffy had won, but he was still in bad shape. His body wouldn’t even move. The escape ship had been blown to hell, and it was a miracle that Sanji had gotten Chopper, Kokoro, and Chimney out of the way before they could get hurt. 

Merry had come back for them, announcing her desire to save them. A ship shouldn’t have been able to weep for them, but she balled her eyes out. Usopp thought he would never see her again, yet she had followed her beloved crew all the way to hell. She even threw down the rope ladder for them.

Robin’s devil fruit was the only reason they could get Luffy out in time. But Luffy… Luffy needed to eat. There were marines everywhere. Injured and dead. They were already dead, so what did it matter? Usopp grabbed the body of a marine and dragged it to the edge of the destroyed bridge. When they all jumped to greet Merry , Usopp took the body with them.

Hauling a corpse up a rope ladder was harder than Usopp expected, but Robin’s extra hands made it much easier.

Luffy tore into the dead man before Usopp even let it go. The squelch of flesh made him want to gag, but he didn’t have time to dwell on it. He was too glad that Luffy was alive. 

“Good thinking,” Sanji said with a nod in Usopp’s direction. The cook was exhausted, but he was still helping Merry along. He didn’t have time to worry about feeding their Captain. 

Franky, to his credit, had only taken ten seconds to freeze before shaking off the sight of Luffy devouring a person. He was busy pondering how Merry got all the way Enies Lobby on her own. Their Captain was too exhausted or too hungry to hold back like he usually did in his crew’s presence. With teeth that were too sharp and fingers that were too brutal, Luffy ate flesh and organs until his strength came back to him. He was still worn out and the strain of the battle didn’t disappear, but he was okay.

Robin had crouched beside Luffy. She was just as tired as the rest of them, but she too was alive. 

“Robin-“ Luffy began with a bright smile and excited tone. “You saved me. Thank-”

Robin cut her off with a disembodied hand.

“Everyone. Thank you.” Robin smiled back. She reached for Luffy’s bloody hands and took both of them in her own grasp. “Thank you, Luffy. Thank you for coming to save me.”

“You don’t have to thank me for that. I’d never leave one of you behind.”

Zoro had tossed the corpse overboard after Luffy’s feast was over. Blood stained the deck and Luffy’s face, but none of the Strawhats could be bothered by either. “Let’s save the sappy stuff until after we’re out of danger.”

Sanji raged. “You heartless bastard! Apologize to Robin!’

Even Chopper turned on Zoro to chew on the swordsman leg.

“Chopper! You’re moving again!”

“Oh. I thought I’d never get better.” Chopper took a second to take in the state of his body before deciding he was fine. Then he switched to strong point and tackled Zoro to the floor. “Now tell Robin you’re sorry!”

Robin chuckled from the sidelines. As an after thought, she crossed her arms in front of her chest. On one of the warships, limbs bloomed on Spandam and clutched. The man’s spine cracked. Robin nodded resolutely. 

“Thanks a lot, Usopp.” Luffy turned to Sniper King. “I feel so much better after a meal like that.”

Usopp had grinned. He could sense Luffy’s complicated emotions as they swirled. Pride. Glee. Joy. Satisfaction. The whole crew was giddy as they sailed away from the small armada.

“I knew you’d come,” Luffy said.

“Sniper King is the one who convinced me!”

“Right.” Luffy would have known Usopp was close the entire time. Usopp’s fire and his spirit were so unique to him that Luffy could’ve picked him out from across the world. Even if no one could feel Usopp the same way their sniper felt them, they could come close. “Thanks, Sniper King.”

Their captain took in his crewmates, safe and mostly unharmed.

“You guys are different.” Luffy lay flat on the deck and shut his eyes. “You have more… me .”

“Hmm, yeah. I lit my feet on fire,” Sanji said. He was at the helm trying to follow Nami’s directions. “Don’t know how that happened.”

“Our Captain has influenced our souls,” Robin explained. “It helped us all immensely today.”

“Is that what that was?” Zoro asked. He was halfway to falling asleep already. He had used the last of his strength to deflect stray canon balls on their way out. “Thought something was weird.”

“Like I’m the weird one,” Sanji hissed. “As if you didn’t turn into an evil coldspot-“

“Oi! Asura isn’t evil!”

“You named it?!” 

“I name all my attacks! And so do you!”

“That’s not an attack, that's a personal demon you’ve got!” Sanji was ready to abandon the helm to punch some sense into the swordsman.

“What’s the difference?” Zoro asked flatly. Sanji seethed, ready to give Zoro a demonstration of his new flaming attacks.

“Woah, woah, I’ve had enough fighting for today,” Usopp interrupted them by stepping between the two men. “You can argue about it later. Maybe when we’re a bit further from the war we just declared.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Sanji waved him off, but he did surrender. 

“You have a demon, Zoro?” Luffy asked. Luffy bound up to Merry’s figurehead and latched his arms around the lamb’s head. Usopp smiled as he thanked their loyal ship for all her hard work.

Zoro shrugged. “Not sure what it was.”

“It doesn’t feel like a demon. More like a- uh- like-“ If Luffy had thought any harder, steam would’ve erupt from his ears. “Like if Zoro and my soul were combined together. Sanji almost feels the same.”

Sanji crushed his cigarette butt under his heel. He couldn’t disagree with Luffy. They had all given themselves to Luffy, why wouldn’t Luffy have given part of himself to them in return?

“You guys are like Usopp now!”

“Huh?” the entire crew asked. Usopp’s eyes were blown wide.

“What?” Luffy asked clulessly as he picked his nose.

“What about me?!” Usopp demanded as he scrambled closer to Luffy.

“Usopp’s been using my fire since, like, forever.” 

Usopp grabbed Luffy’s shoulder and shook him violently. “What does that mean, damnit!”

“What you didn’t notice?” Luffy was calm, as if he wasn’t being shook half to death. “You’ve been doing it since you got on the Merry . It’s in your eyes. And your heart!”

Usopp paused. He thought back to how quickly his aim had adjusted when he went out to sea despite only ever shooting on land. He thought about how quickly he was able to feel what his crewmates were going through even when he hardly knew them. It had been strange, sure, but he had brushed it off.

“That’s been happening since Arlong Park! Why the hell didn’t you say anything?!” Usopp shook Luffy hard enough that his neck whipped around like a rubber band. 

“Since- No way! Usopp got it before the rest of us?!” Zoro barked. 

Usopp was inclined to agree with Zoro’s outcry. Usopp wasn’t the best at anything on the ship. He couldn’t cook, he couldn’t fight, he couldn’t make maps, he didn’t know anything about medicine, he didn’t know any secret languages, and he couldn’t build ships. He could only aim his slingshot.

“Of course he did,” Luffy said easily. Usopp was tempted to believe that it could be that simple. “Usopp wanted strength so got it.”

“Is that how it works?” Nami’s curiosity quickly turned to anger. “Then why the hell don’t I have super cool magic stuff?! You’re holding out on me!”

“Nami does though?” Luffy turned to their navigator with his usual grin. “You can get us anywhere! And you summon lightning! That’s super cool magic stuff!”

“That doesn’t count!” she yelled. 

“Why not?”

“That’s not-”

“Didn’t you make illusions in the middle of you fight, Nami-swan?” Sanji asked sweetly.

“That was the Clima-tact! Not me!”

“I didn’t build it to do that,” Usopp muttered. He had improved the weapon with dials, but he never expected it to be so powerful. It was supposed to summon rain at best, not lightning and mirages and tornados. “That was all you Nami.”

Luffy laughed brightly as the sun peaked out behind the clouds above them. Aqua Lagoona had long ended. Enies Lobby had collapsed in flames and cannon balls. The Strawhats had made it through hell. None of it mattered as long as their captain was smiling.

Usopp laughed. He couldn’t help it. It was just too ridiculous. How could he have thought Luffy doubted him?

“I have also the Bible of Hell, which the world shall have whether they will or no.”

-William Blake, The Marriage of Heaven and Hel l [43]

Chapter Text

Garp

Garp shouldn’t have been proud of Luffy for declaring war on the government, but he was nonetheless. He was at Water 7 on ‘vacation’ to visit family — which meant Sengoku knew what he was up to and he would send reinforcements sooner that later. Bogard had joined him of course, but he’d performed his eternal job as Garp’s damage control by confiscating snails that might capture evidence Garp didn’t want anyone to see or hear. Honestly, without his right-hand man, many of Garp’s secrets would’ve been in the papers decades ago. His bold stunts were far from surprising, although taking a trip to Paradise to congratulate his grandson for causing his first international crisis was a stretch even for him.

All the shit Garp’d hear from the higher-ups would be worth it just for having seen the looks on the Strawhat Pirates faces when he came through a wall and then hit their captain over the head.

“Rise n’ shine!” Garp had already struck Luffy before any of the pirates realized he’d made it into the room. 

“Ow! That hurt!” Luffy cried as he nursed the welt on his head. He deserved it for being so easy to find. Garp hadn’t needed to step foot on Water Seven to feel the epicenter of hellfire that was the Strawhat Pirates. Even if Luffy wasn’t familiar to him, anyone would have followed the trail easily. It was a target to anyone with a sense for hell.

“Is that-“ Franky the cyborg said.

“Garp the Fist,” Nico Robin answered. She was frozen in shock and Garp knew she would have tried to snap his neck if she weren’t so surprised. In fact, most of the people in the room would’ve tried to kill him (and Garp was warmed to see such a loyal crew following his grandson). The hellfire in their souls spoke lengths about the kind of people they were. He recognized them all from the newest bounty posters, and while the swordsman was missing he was approaching.

“What the hell was that for Gramps?!” 

“Gramps?! ” The exclamation was shared by pirates and marines alike. 

“I thought Garp only had a granddaughter?” a marine whispered. 

“This is the first I’ve heard of it,” another muttered. 

“Garp has kids?” someone else asked. “Who the hell would date him?”

Someone (Bogard? Koby? Both?) herded the gawking officers further away from the conversation with mutterings of sensitive information. Garp could only laugh. Every time a rookie marine heard about Garp’s son or his grandsons, they always wore the same shocked expression. It never got old! Bogard and Senny disagreed, of course, but it wasn’t his fault. He had to brag about to family! There was no avoiding it.

“This marine is your grandfather?” Sanji, the chain smoking blonde, dropped his cigarette. His soul was burning hotter than the end of said cigarette. Garp glanced at him and his unique curly eyebrow and decided to ignore it. He didn’t work in the North anyway. Meanwhile, he’d wait for Luffy to get to his feet before hitting him again. 

“Yeah. Don’t fight him no matter what. He’ll probably kill you.” Luffy grumbled as he got to his feet. He knew better than anyone how strong Garp was even when he was trying to be gentle . 

“That fire…” Nami began. Garp wondered if Luffy had ever told them not to fight someone. It was rare that Luffy actively avoided a fight. Eneis Lobby was a prime example of that. 

“Your grandpa’s a devil too?” Chopper took several steps backward. To the inexperienced younings, Garp’s hellfire felt like a vicious inferno. Luffy’s soul wasn’t anything to scoff at, but it was still kindling in comparison to the experienced devil’s own soul. 

“Huh? Yeah.” 

“You never talk about me?!” How did Garp never come up a single time? He grabbed Luffy by the collar of his shirt. “How could you forget about your dear grandfather?!”

The Strawhats quickly decided to stay out of family matters lest they end up choked by an errant grandfather themselves. 

“I heard you ran into your dad in Loguetown.”

Luffy groaned. “Dadgon and Sabo cheated and saved me! Two separate times! It was stupid!”

Garp was reassured Luffy hadn’t changed much since setting sail. Some of Luffy’s naivety had been shed, but his heart was still pure. Garp had feared what the open seas might do to his grandson. The world was crushing, and pirates often got the full brunt of it. Garp had seen strong men crumple under the pressure and morph into monsters. Luffy was much more resilient. His soul was especially beginning to flourish as he traveled closer to the New World.

“Your dad is a piece of work, but he wouldn’t let you die that easily.” Garp sighed. “Your sister’s been worried too.”

“You have a sister?!” Sanji exclaimed.

“Dragon’s the only reason we even made it to Grandline. And Luffy would be dead if he hadn’t stepped in,” Nami mumbled. The navigator was a fierce storm, Garp observed. Her soul flickered with bright static and never quit settled. 

“He struck that clown with lightning,” Sanji added. He paused. “We think. It might’ve been a coincidence.”

“It was not a coincidence!” Nami argued. “No one’s that lucky!”

“Dragon?” Robin stepped forward. “As in Dragon the Revolutionary?”

The devil child was a unique soul in her own right. She burned with two different hellfires, and Garp had to wonder how his grandson managed to do that . Garp had never seen a person with two distinct flames alight, yet Nico Robin clearly held the essence of two devils. 

“Yep,” Luffy answered. “He’s supposed to stay out of my adventures though! I’m still mad at him.”

“Ha!” Garp exclaimed as he was torn from his thoughts. “I’m sure he doesn’t care!”

“If we ever run into Luffy’s family again, I’ll run the other way.” Nami sat on the nearest bed. Chopper jumped up beside her.

“It’s weird, right? For one family to be so crazy strong?”

“Eh,” Sanji shrugged. “I guess not. But usually they're on the same side. The marines have a lot of families that have served for generations.”

“I thought devils weren’t supposed to be genetic?” Nami asked.

“Ah, that’s what they say but, well, I’ve seen quite a few families that have D’s. Luffy should have been able to tell you that. Only he would drag all these people into devilishness and not explain a thing. I don’t know why they put up with you,” Garp sighed. He hadn’t been expecting much else, but it had been nice to imagine. He ignored Bogards mutterance of hypocyte . 

“My crew’s just the best,” Luffy explained. Luffy crossed his arms. He was still upset over the fists of love, but Garp had to hit him a few times on principle. He had a reputation to uphold.

“Well, they must be pretty resilient.” Anyone who brought down Enies Lobby would have to be. Luffy was a damn good judge of character. Garp had never doubted that Luffy would be a great man, even if he wished he would’ve been a great marine instead of a great pirate. Everyone in their family made waves wherever they went for better or for worse. 

“Exactly!” Luffy grinned. His smile hadn’t changed in seventeen years.

“I think I understand why Luffy is the way he is now,” Nami muttered. 

Garp smiled to himself. Even if his family didn’t end up the way he dreamt it, he was proud. His grandsons had all become fine young men. 

“Listen Luffy,” Garp began. “From all the rumors I’ve heard lately, you need to be careful.”

A note of seriousness settled on Luffy’s face that hadn’t been there before. “We won’t go down easy, Gramps.”

“You wouldn’t be my grandson if you did.” Garp stood tall and placed both hands on Luffy’s shoulders. He hadn’t gotten much broader, but he was definitely stronger than he had been last time Garp saw him. “Red-Hair told me-“

“Ah! La la la la la la!” Luffy slammed both palms over his ears. “Don’t tell me anything about Shanks! It’s cheating!”

“I wasn’t going to spoil anything for you!” Garp hit him again for good measure. Garp understood his grandson deeply. He had been just like him as a teen even if his dreams faced a different direction. However, Shanks had some concerning theories about Luffy and his devil fruit that made things complicated. Luffy clearly didn’t want to hear it. “Look! You and your crew have gotten a lot of attention from some very powerful people. Enies Lobby was impressive, but you need to be strong Luffy.”

“I know that-“

“Just because you haven’t lost yet doesn’t mean you won’t. Did you see your new bounty?” Garp asked. It had been one hundred million after Alabatsa, but it hadn’t changed until they challenged the World Government so blatantly. The higher ups had not appreciated it. “They put five hundred million on your head-“

“Really!” Luffy’s excitement shot through the roof, only to be brought back down with a quick fist of love.

“That’s what happens when you declare war, eat marines, and survive a buster call with a D in your name,” Garp scolded. “You’re going to have the entire Grand Line after you.”

“Gramps,” Luffy finally said. He looked Garp in the eye as a man, not as the cry-baby toddler Garp remembered so fondly. Luffy wasn’t naive. He’d grown up on Dawn where a trash heap was the only thing to embrace the unlucky souls of the Grey Terminal. Garp hadn’t been able to protect him from the world. “If I die, then I die. I’m gonna be the freest man alive. No one in the world can stop me.”

Garp sighed. He was afraid Luffy would say that (it was the same thing he had said frequently in his days as a fresh marine recruit, and it was the same thing Dragon had said decades later). Garp squeezed Luffy into a deathly tight hug. One day he would have to hug Luffy for the last time, and he would never know until it was too late. He prayed that he outlived his grandson but there was no guarantee. Luffy didn’t demand to be let go.

Koby

The people of Water Seven were restless. Koby had noticed as soon as they docked. Locals had sighed with relief, but it was quickly followed by eyes of distrust. He knew firsthand that marines were not always a good sign, although he hoped the Hero of the Marines brought them some peace of mind. He was unsure if the residents wanted to protect the Strawhats or if they were frightened of them. 

It was hard to ignore the pirates’ presence. Koby had a shaky handle on the hellfire Luffy had left in him, but even he could feel the epicenter of the crew. Koby had grown since he last saw Luffy. Undoubtedly, Luffy would be stronger too. He was still eager to test himself. 

The Demon of the East had attacked as soon as he spotted the marines surrounding the Strawhats. Koby had hesitated when a cold front that screamed danger charged at them. Zoro had been intimidating when Koby first met him, but he didn’t remember the Pirate Hunter having such an intense presence. Koby thought he had gotten used to the weight of power that a person could have, yet the Strawhats were still a beacon of strength. It was no surprise most of the rookies faltered when Zoro struck at them.

Koby and Helmeppo had been desensitized after Garp’s training drills, and only allowed themselves a moment of panic before countering. Or, well, they tried to fight back. They landed flat on their asses after a pathetic six seconds (that was longer than they usually lasted against Garp at least). Koby had been expecting as much. Luffy had always been stronger than him, and he had only gotten stronger while Koby was playing catch up. 

“No way you’re Koby!” Luffy shouted as he pointed. “You’re way too tall!”

“It’s me!” Koby assured with a smile.

“You-!” Zoro looked Koby up and down. He was much less intimidating with a bewildered expression on his face. Koby couldn’t blame him. Apparently, Luffy had had no idea that Koby had borrowed Hellfire in Shell’s Town despite being the devil responsible. Koby hadn’t known until he met Garp and the marine hero sensed a spark of his grandson residing in Koby’s soul. 

“That reminds me!” Garp announced. He locked onto Luffy. “Fist of Love!”

The resounding exclamation of pain was felt over the entire city.

“What are you doing spreading hellfire all over Paradise?!” Garp scolded as Luffy held his head in pain. “You make my job a lot harder with all these demons running around!”

“Why should I care about your job?!” Luffy snapped back. “Besides, Ace made Sabo a demon and he’s fine.”

“The Revolutionary Cheif of Staff is one of the Navy’s biggest threats!” Garp hissed. “And Ace didn’t make his whole crew into heretics. Are you trying to make an army of demons?”

“Huh?” Koby sputtered before he could take it back. 

“Don’t you know where demons come from?” Garp asked flatly. “They’re humans that end up more hellfire than not.”

“Hah?!” one of the Strawhats shouted. Nami launched at Luffy to strangle him. “Why didn’t you tell us that?!”

“It didn’t come up!” Luffy argued as he choked. Koby didn’t believe that excuse for one minute.

Garp sighed heavily. Koby turned to him. “Is that really all it is?”

“Of course it is.” Garp crossed his arms over his chest (and Koby prayed it meant he was safe from a Fist of Love for asking sensitive questions). “Why do you think they’re so many demons now a days. Gol D. Roger and Rocks D. Xebec. Both of ‘em are responsible for turning all the current Emperors into demons. And Roger corrupted half the people watching his execution. That was before the Navy knew what happened when devils died though.”

“What happens?” Nami asked.

“A huge eruption of power,” Robin answered. “I saw it on Ohara. One of the archeologists there, Clou D. Clover, was a devil. When he was killed, the entire island was overwhelmed by his soul. Of course, all the people who took in that hellfire were killed afterwards, but I imagine it would have created a great number of demons if they had survived. While not every human who absorbs hellfire becomes a demon, all demons have absorbed fire at some point in their life.”

“Exactly. And it can effect anyone nearby, not just the people we pick. It’s why the Navy executes devils when there’s only marines around. Doesn’t stop D’s from spreading fire all over the place when they’re alive. It’s a real pain in the ass,” Garp huffed. “My point is you oughta keep a lid on it.”

“Why should I?” Luffy snapped back. 

“Because it’s more work for me!” Garp brought his fist down on Luffy’s head with astounding speed. Koby winced. 

Franky

Franky hadn’t planned on leaving Water Seven. The Capital of Water had been his home for as long as he could remember, and he had a lot of people there. It was a miracle his family had survived recent events. He couldn’t abdadon them. Yet, he had a bounty on his head. The entire Strawhat crew had earned their own posters, and while Franky wasn’t a pirate, he was still a criminal in the eyes on the World Government. He had technically declared war. 

The marines were willing to pay forty-four million for his head. While it was a fraction of Strawhat’s bounty, Franky’s poster still gave everything away. “Plutonic Cyborg” Franky. It wasn’t just a moniker. Anyone who’d heard rumors of Pluton would know that Franky was involved with the ancient weapon. It made him a target for Ciphor Pole, Emperors, Admirals, or any other smuck who wanted the power of Pluton. The war ship was a weapon with the power of a God. The only blueprint of Pluton was in Franky’s memories, but nothing was impossible. If someone had the right devil fruit or the right leverage, Franky could be stuck between a rock and a hard place. 

And of course, there was the new fire in his chest. Franky may have been more metal than man, but his soul was untampered before Luffy’s influence. He had no reservations about embracing the new willpower hellfire had brought to him. Although, he was curious how to go from this (a soul that simply had more passion and heat) to a full blown demon. Luffy had no helpful explanation to give, and no marine would be willing to give him that information. 

Regardless, Franky had Atom Wood and a dream ship to build. He had wondered if he would ever build a ship as glorious as the late Pirate King’s vessel had been, but he was thankful that his ship of dreams would go to the future Pirate King. It was only fitting that it be sailed by a crew of dreamers. Franky threw himself into creating the Strawhat’s ship and didn’t let himself think about Ancient Weapons or bounties or his anxieties for the future.

Frank learned the hard way that no one says “No” to joining the Strawhat crew (Nico Robin was a scary woman ). 

Usopp

There was a Vice Admiral and an Admiral on the crew’s tail. Usopp didn’t know why Aokiji was with Garp, but the Admiral’s presence was enough to spur the marines into making an effort to arrest them. The Strawhats’ new ship was completed thankfully. It meant they could avoid taking on the Navy so soon. Luffy had been adamant they shouldn’t fight Garp, even if they weren’t recovering from Eneis Lobby. So they were running.

And Usopp… Usopp was on the shore of Water Seven. 

Usopp couldn’t stand the sight of his crew sailing away. As much as he wanted to claim he could be a pirate on his own, he didn’t want to. What was the use in being a brave warrior if it wasn’t for the Strawhats? Nothing was worth losing them. Not his pride nor his life. He just didn’t know how to spit out those words.

“I’m sorry!” Usopp cried across the open sea between them. The pleads for forgiveness began to flow easily. “I’m sorry for being selfish and stubborn! I wish I had never said any of it! You’ve gotta forgive me! Don’t leave me alone! I need you guys! There’s no point without you!”

Luffy had never failed to reach out to his crewmates. Usopp looked up to the stretched arm waiting for him. Taking hold, he was never happier to be sling slotted by familiar hands. Luffy and Usopp were both sobbing with ugly tears. 

“You idiot!” Luffy held Usopp in a hug they didn’t have time for as cannonballs the size of boulders were hurled their way. 

“Usopp!” Chopper cheered.

“You’re morons,” Nami sighed with a bright smile.

Franky shouted for the sails to be furled despite their predicament.

“We can’t go yet. She still needs a name,” their new shipwright announced. 

“That’s right!” Luffy put on his best thinking face.

“It’s gotta be something with Lion in it, right?”

“Oh! Polar Bear Lion!”

“That’s stupid!”

“Tiger Bear Lion!”

“Knock it off!”

“Iceberg thought it was a sun,” Franky confessed. “His vote was the Thousand Sunny . Since we’ll sail a thousand seas.”

“Oh that is a good one!” Luffy bounced in place next to Chopper.

“Better than my ideals I guess.” Zoro crossed his arms. “I thought of Lionel Master.”

“I was gonna suggest Monsieur Sunflower. ”

“My vote was for Hellion of Death .”

“You’re all terrible at naming!” Usopp accused Zoro, Sanji, and Robin. Franky’s own suggestions were just as lame. Thankfully, everyone agreed that Thousand Sunny was appropriate.

Accepting a new ship was difficult after the recent loss of Going Merry , but their late ship had spoken to all of them when she rescued them. She wanted their adventure to continue without her. 

While Usopp had been expecting some odd gadgets to be included in the Sunny , he was not expecting a cola powered machine to launch them into the sky. 

 It was only when they were safe from the Navy that Usopp finally relaxed.

“We’ll give you the tour, Usopp!” Chopper declared. 

“That’s right. He missed all the action,” Nami sighed. “Including Garp.”

“I suppose we should also explain that our Captain has begun transforming us into a legion of demons," Robin thought aloud with a casual tone.

“Yeah that sounds-“ Usopp paused before spinning around to face Robin.  “He’s WHAT?!”

·· ─────── · ☼  · ─────── · ·

Zoro dreamt of sweltering heat and everlasting darkness. Something was holding him down (was it chains? Or a crown?). Zoro reached to his side to grasp his swords but none of the hilts belonged to Wado. He would have panicked if his hand didn’t mold to the swords with practice ease. The blades were not the ones he remembered, but they were still his. 

“Asura,” a voice beckoned. Zoro looked upward to where the sound echoed. He didn’t see anyone in the dark. “I will need you soon.”

The voice was comforting. Zoro had heard it thousands of times. It promised warmth, sanctuary, and light. He’d been waiting to hear that call, hadn’t he? He had sat in that cold hall of hell to wait for the return of the light. Or had Asura been the one to patiently meditate in that place? 

Regardless, Zoro moved. His body ached and his soul burned as he stood. 

“You’ll have to wait for me, I think,” the voice said. “But Joy has found me again.”

Zoro grinned with three mouths. Joy. That’s what was missing. The Sun and Joy weren't anywhere to be found in hell. 

“Then I’ll wait a while longer,” Asura said, “for someone at Joy’s side to call on my soul. Then I will return to you, Nika.”

There was light from above. Asura was blinded yet he didn’t look away with any of his eyes. He had been waiting for the sun after all. The brightness fled as quickly as it appeared. Nika had been pulled away. Asura knew he would be at his God’s side soon. 

Asura sat back on his throne. He could be patient a little while longer. There was no lifetime that he wouldn’t fall into Nika’s side. Joy would find someone who needed Asura’s strength, and their soul would take Asura’s for Nika’s sake. 

Usopp shot up in his bunk. Blankets tangled around his limbs as his flailed for a few panicked moments. He whipped his gaze around the dark room until his eyes found Zoro’s bed.

“Zoro?”

“Huh?” Zoro woke up shivering. He dragged the blanket up further and rubbed his stinging left eye.

“What was that dream?” 

“How the hell would I know?” Zoro sat up with a groan. He looked towards Usopp suspiciously. “You saw it?”

“Felt it,” Usopp corrected. He attempted to keep his voice down, but if Luffy’s snores didn’t wake anyone, then whispers wouldn’t either. The memories of Zoro’s dream made Usopp shudder. Had all the talk of demons brought on the strange feelings? “It was like- like God was staring us down.”

Zoro shrugged. He laid down and rolled onto his other side. “Not scared of any God.”

“Well good for you, but I sure am.”

“T’was just a dream.” Zoro was nearly asleep again already. He itched his left eye half heartedly as the irritation began to fade. 

Usopp huffed and crossed his arms as he fought to smooth out the blankets. “Just a dream my ass.”

“They blasphemed against God, and their parents, the human species, the place, time, and seed of their conception, and of their birth. Then, all together, weeping bitterly, they neared the cursed shore that waits for every one who has no fear of God.” 

- Dante Alighieri, Inferno, Canto III: The souls by the shore of Acheron

Chapter Text

Mihawk

*Eighteen Years Ago (Four years after Gol D. Roger’s execution)

“I almost got you that time,” Shanks panted. His famed sword, Gryphon, stuck from the sand nearby. Mihawk rolled his eyes.

“Sure. If that’s what you want to believe.” Mihawk returned Yoru to her place on his back as Shanks stood. 

There weren’t many men in the world that Mihawk would consider rivals, and even fewer were willing to indulge in duels regularly. There were very few men who could withstand Yoru at full strength ─ in fact, they were islands that couldn’t handle it. Most people took one look at the demon with the eyes of a hawk and ran the other direction. However, Shanks never disappointed. Thus the reason they stood on a deserted land and the Red Force waited off shore a handful of miles away.

Shanks wasn’t strong because he was a demon. He was a demon because he was strong. Any soul could carry a spark of hellfire, but only people with resolve could fuel it until it raged wildly. Only humans willing to go to hell and back became demons ─ humans willing to take the chaos of hellfire and forge into something tangible. It was the descent into hellfire that consumed their soul, and the reascent to earth that gave them the title. Shanks had taken Roger’s fire and modeled it to his soul long before Mihawk had. Still, they were both demons because of the same man. 

“How’s your old man?” Shanks fixed the straw hat on his head with both hands. Mihawk had yet to see the redhead without it. 

“It would’ve made the papers if he was arrested or dead. He’s fine.” 

Shanks nodded. Rayleigh was a tough son of a bitch and Shakky was tougher. 

Mihawk only visited his parents when he crossed the Red Line. Their family’s desire for discretion meant it only happened a few times a year. The last time Mihawk had visited his parents they were caring for the recently freed Hancock sisters. Shakky claimed they were returning the girls to Amazon Lily, but Mihawk wondered if they ever got around to it. He didn’t particularly want any sisters. 

“He wishes you’d visit more.”

Mihawk scoffed. It often felt like Shanks was closer to Rayleigh than he was. 

“I’ve done enough for him.”

“One visit to Loguetown doesn’t mean you can avoid him for the rest of his life.”

“You’re referring to Gold Roger’s execution.” It was the one and only time Mihawk had ever been in Loguetown. It had been four years since then, and Shanks had never bothered to mention it before, but grief was difficult even for men like them. “I was already known as the Marine Hunter then. It felt appropriate to send off the man that caused the government so much turmoil. And it was a favor for my father since he was unable to attend himself.”

When Roger was executed, it was impossible to miss the explosion of fire that erupted. Yet the wooden platform did not burn. Instead, the wisps of fire sought out the crowd. Mihawk hadn’t flinched when one of those found him. He felt it explode in his chest. Strength and heat seared into his soul with intent. Mihawk wondered then if his father had felt the same thing when Roger’s hellfire touched him years prior. It was dark yet it held promises of power. Half of the crowd had left Loguetown with a piece of the Pirate King in them. The execution was intended to discourage pirating. It painfully backfired within the day ─ triggering the Pirate Age and releasing a wave of sparked souls onto the seas. The government had ordered the execution of all devils not long after. The D clan had barely survived. 

“Hm.” Shanks tilted his head back to look up at the sky. The sunset turned the sky red and orange, mocking the color of their souls. “I haven’t heard about any marine takedowns from you lately.”

“They made me an offer that I’m considering taking,” Mihawk confessed. “A Warlord position.”

“Now that sounds fun.” Shanks’ grin was back in place. No doubt he was imagining ample ways to abuse having an acquaintance in such a position. Mihawk would expect no less. 

“It sounds like work.” Mihawk did not take orders from anyone, but Warlords were guaranteed immunities. Mihawk may be willing to put up the navy and the current Warlords for such benefits. However, he wasn’t looking forward to meeting the other demonic Warlords. Most demons Mihawk had met were power hungry bastards, but he wasn’t much different himself. 

“Bit of both maybe. But you’d get that peace and quiet you’re looking forward to in your old age.”

“I’m twenty-three .”

“Exactly. You’re practically ancient-”

Mihawk drew Yoru for a round two. 

Sabo

*Six Years Ago

Sabo missed his brothers everytime he was at sea. He loved the work he did for the Revolutionary Army. Watching people be freed gave him a purpose he didn’t know he needed. He wasn’t quite strong enough to go crossing oceans on his own, but Dragon had been training him every spare moment. It made other recruits jealous to no end. Still, Sabo knew he’d be able to recreate a Dragon’s Claw attack one day. 

When he was a teenager, Sabo had started working officially as a revolutionary. Nothing too dangerous of course. Dragon started him off as a cabin boy on their ships. Then he started helping freed slaves during initial adjustment periods. He didn’t mind the odd jobs. It helped him see the inner workings of the army from every angle.

At age fourteen, one of their North Blue rescue operations went awry. Sabo was guiding refugees to their ships while Dragon and other higher ups fought off the unexpected marine presence. There wasn’t supposed to be a Vice Admiral on the island, but Sabo could feel the wild haki that raged as Dragon held the man back. It was rare that Dragon found an opponent that matched him in combat while in the Blues, and it was even rarer that he needed to fight them. Rescue was always their top priority. 

It was unfortunate that Dragon was busy. The marines had broken through their defenses with their sheer numbers. Sabo held his steel pipe tightly in his gloved hands. He wasn’t the best fighter in the army, but he was the best among the evacuation unit. They were mostly teenagers like him. None of them had gotten the field experience that Sabo had. 

“Keep moving!” someone called ahead. The refugees were starting to panic. The navy presence was cruel on their island. It was likely they’d be arrested or even killed for attempting to flee with the army.

Sabo turned his head to see a child crying. He ran to two older kids who tucked him under their arms. The young boy was short with dark hair and wide eyes. He reminded Sabo of the little brother he’d left behind in the East. He wouldn’t let any harm come to the people in his care. It didn’t matter what he had to do. With his pipe in hand, Sabo ran to meet the marines that charged towards the docks. Some of his fellow revolutionaries joined him, outnumbered as they were. Sabo clashed with the closest marine and felt his bones reverberate. 

“Not a single person escapes!” a marine captain ordered. “Shoot anyone who gets close to those ships!”

Sabo seethed. Anger rushed through him with heat. Cruelty never got easier to see. The platoon of marines had abandoned all of their core values. They did not stand to protect citizens. They instead protected a system that the rich and powerful abused for their own amusement. It made orphans and widows. It left ex-slaves screaming themselves awake from nightmares. It left Fishmen persecuted, and mermaids bought like exotic fish. It was everything Sabo hated. 

The crowd of refugees pushed the children and women to the escape boats first. The men were willing to stay and fight if they had to. Sabo doubted they had any real experience on the front lines. Still, Marines threatened to plow through the army’s line and someone had to push back. Gunshots echoed in the distance followed closely by screams of tortured souls. 

Sabo needed to be stronger. He could train under Dragon, he could spar a hundred times a day, but it didn’t matter if he didn’t wield that practice as a weapon. He fought with every ounce of power he had, and he still needed more . He was resolved to take down the entire government. He couldn’t accomplish that if he failed to protect one island. Sabo grit his teeth and swung at the group of twelve marines trying to overwhelm him. 

Everything exploded in fire. An arch of flames swept through the crowd in front of him. The marines panicked as their uniforms caught fire. Sabo flinched, but he didn’t have time to figure out where the fire had come from. He had been familiar with fire for a long time. He wasn’t afraid to get burned. He lunged as the fire spread. Trees around him began to burn with intense light, but he couldn’t feel any of the heat.

Sabo swung again. His fury made him feel like an animal, fierce and ready to bite. Flames erupted in a circle around him, tearing into the marines. His scars ached. Everything around him was eaten away to ash in an instant. There was nothing left within a half a mile radius. No trees. No houses. No people. Sabo panted as he lowered his pipe. For a brief moment, he wondered if he was in hell. He was very familiar with fire, but that was- 

What was that?

“Sabo! Down!”

The warning was barely fast enough. Sabo ducked as a haki covered fist flew over his head. The Vice Admiral landed in the soot. Orange embers scattered into the air and Sabo flung himself the opposite direction. 

Dragon landed between Sabo and the Vice Admiral within the next second. There was a moment of pause as each party considered the next move. 

“Get back to the ships,” Dragon ordered.

Sabo was unable to do anything but nod. He was breathing in smoke. It shouldn’t have been comforting. He had died to fire once, but fire had also brought back his memories. Hellfire was his brothers, his soul, and now it was all around him. It was hard to remember that it was supposed to be dangerous.

“Making demons now?” the Vice Admiral taunted.

Demons? Is that where the fire had come from? Was there a demon nearby? Despite knowing so many devils, Sabo had little experience with demons. The hellfire did remind him of the first time Luffy awoke his flames. The scent of burning flesh and boiling blood had never left his nose, yet the sight of his baby brother feasting on human flesh had quickly become normal.

“Calm down,” Dragon reassured. “Control the fire, otherwise, you’ll injure the refugees.”

Sabo looked at his hands, pulling off his gloves. He was on fire. Flames clung to his skin before rolling off like water. It kept festering with every breath, yet it wasn’t burning him. It reminded him vividly of when Ace had used his flames to return his memories. Their souls had touched and Sabo had felt where his brother’s spark sat in him. He could never mistake it. This fire was undeniably Ace’s . 

“You- I’m- Me?” Sabo’s jaw on the ground. Dragon was implying that Sabo was the demon responsible. 

Almost everything Sabo knew about hellfire, he’d discovered by accident. Trial and error were his and his brother’s only research technique. It hadn’t given them clear answers. They didn’t know why Luffy needed to eat flesh when other devils didn’t. They didn’t know why Luffy’s flames could soothe minor wounds when Ace’s never had. 

Dragon had been an excellent mentor, yet even he had learned by experience. Sabo wanted to know everything about hell, but there were no books or studies for him to read. The government had destroyed every scrap of knowledge they could while they hunted down devils. Spreading false information was yet another tactic they used to keep the public on their side. But Sabo had an innate need to know . Now he was burning and he-

“Fall back,” Dragon ordered again. 

Right. There was still a Vice Admiral. There were still citizens to evacuate. He turned on his heels and sprinted back to the docks. The fire calmed as he forced himself to focus. It retreated back into his soul and continued to grow there.

At age fourteen, Sabo became a demon.

Shit. He had to tell Ace and Luffy about this!

“I sung of Chaos and Eternal Night,

Taught by the heav’nly Muse to venture down,

The dark descent, and up to reascend.”

-John Milton, Paradise Lost