Chapter Text
Monkey D Luffy wasn’t a god, not by any stretch (heh) of the word.
A bold statement to make, in light of recent revelations- but it was an objective fact. As mind-boggling as the Onigashima battle had been, there was still a distinct difference between being a god, and eating a devil fruit bearing the name of one. (Had there ever been an original, genuine god known as Nika, or had it always been the name given to whoever awoke that one specific fruit? Hell if anyone knew. Maybe the Gorosei knew, but they weren’t about to go and ask them.)
Luffy himself scoffed at the idea, completely disinterested in incarnating whatever figure others could see in him or his devil fruit. His body felt somewhat different now, sure, and he could do really fun stuff with it and the world around him if he went all out. But he didn’t feel any different otherwise. Maybe… hungrier, somehow? Sanji’s gonna have to up his security if I can fun my way through it~
In any case, his entourage sure didn’t treat him like divinity. Even now, none of them were afraid of kicking him in the shins if he stole their food, or calling him an idiot (but was it really an insult if it was true?) or punch him so hard his head hit the floor whenever he did something particularly stupid or reckless. They didn’t kiss the ground his sandaled feet walked on, or recited elated mantras asking for his guidance or mercy. That couldn’t be further from reality.
BUT.
There was something about the way his friends looked at him sometimes. Something that made his hindbrain thrum with something fond, something that fed off of it, satisfying a deep hunger that did not come from his stomach. It felt a little different for each of them. But what they all shared were that peculiar glint in their eyes (or lack thereof), as well as an unshakable loyalty to their captain. One forged in hardship, in pain as well as in joy.
A loyalty rooted so deep in their heart and soul that it could, in truth, be akin to a form of worship.