Archive of Our Own

“Luffy the village told us to avoid those woods,” Sabo was fretting because he always fretted. “They said there are vicious beasts, that they are haunted and still messed up with sentient trees from when Big Mom ruled this land.”

“I know! You can’t tell me something like that, and not expect me to go exploring in there!” It was really rather obvious, you couldn’t say there was something that cool just out there not far away, and not have him go explore it. “It might kill me in there! A tree might just walk right up to me and kill me! How cool is that?”

“He gets this from you,” Sabo was pointing at Ace who was leaning against the wall, almost asleep. “Aren’t you going to say anything?”

“Don’t get dead. And if you come home crying, I will laugh at you.”

“ACCCCCEEEEE! I haven’t cried in years,” Luffy scowled at his older brother. “You just help Sabo ferment revolution, I’m going to go have fun.”

“I’d love it, if you’d help me hand out flyers, Ace,” Sabo looked so earnest.

“Yeah, we all agreed it was your turn to pick where we’d live for a while, doesn’t mean we’re helping you with your cause.”

“The overthrowing of a corrupt government is something that everyone should care about, and Whole Cake Island is ripe for the task what with the family overthrowing Big Mom’s tyrannical rule and -“

Luffy tuned out, because Sabo tended to get a little obsessed once he started going. He put together a backpack of food and started to slide out the door. “Wait!” Sabo called, “here where this so we can identify your corpse.” A flame red cape was thrown on his shoulders.

“Sabo! I won’t die, you are so stupid. Go make people say the world government is bad, and let Ace dream about that pirate he fell in love with while we were sailing.”

“Ace did what?” Sabo screeched.

“LUFFFFY!” Ace looked super awake now.

“My bad, bye,” Luffy bolted out of the house, cape fluttering behind him, which was actually pretty cool. He ran through the village which was really nice and they had been cool about him eating a couple houses by accident and now made sure he had plenty of food. He stopped at a chocolate shop. “Hey Pudding, I’m off to explore the woods! Can I have some snacks?”

“That’s a really bad idea, Luffy. Even since Mama…left, the woods have been really unstable, and they say something moved in. Something really bad.”

“I know! And I wanna see what it is, it will be fun. So snacks?”

“I bet if you asked, Katakuri would go with you.”

“Nah, when I mentioned it during our fight yesterday, he said he was too busy with work to play today.” Luffy tried not to pout. When they had arrived, they hadn’t exactly been welcomed, no one was ever thrilled at first when the first commander of the revolutionary army showed up. But then he was mean to Sabo, which meant of course that Luffy had to kick his ass. He got beat to hell and back, of course, because Katakuri was huge and had observation haki that was insane, but Luffy kept getting back up and eventually in fourth gear landed a hit on the guy. Which had made him laugh, and say they were welcome, so long as every few days, Luffy came over to spar.

Ace had been thrilled that Luffy had play dates. Luffy had tried to punch him for calling them play dates. Stupid fire making Ace difficult to touch. But sometimes Katakuri had to do the whole I’m in charge thing since he was older and in charge, and couldn’t come out to play. 

“What about Brulee? You could at least take a mirror, so you can have a quick exit?”

“That’s cheating, Pudding, can’t be an adventure if you have an easy exit.” Pudding was nice but super girly and didn’t really get adventuring. She did get chocolate though. Which was awesome. “Snacks.”

“Of course, Luffy,” she said and brought over a whole tray of cookies. 

“Shishishi, thanks Pudding!” He held open his bag and she put in the box of cookies. “I find anything cookable in there, I’ll bring it back to you.”

“There used to be this special cocoa that grew in there, I used to love working with, when the forest was under Mama’s control. If you found it, that would be wonderful. I would make you the most amazing cake!”

“On it, bye!” He had no idea what cocoa looked like but he would just bring a bunch of stuff back, something would have to be right.

He waved to a few people as he went through town. And maybe he rocketed himself up to a palace window to check, but Katakuri was busy with people. They better not make him miss his Merienda time, or Luffy’d kick their asses later. He shot back down, and headed to the woods.

Standing on the edge of them, Luffy laughed, delighted. The woods looked somehow both cheerful and menacing at the same time. “Let’s go!” he shouted to himself and ran into the woods. He ran around for a bit and was disappointed they seemed like normal woods. Only when he stopped in a small clearing, and started to go down the left path, the trees moved and blocked the way.

“Not that way,” a voice called. “We don’t want you to go that way.”

“Who said that?” He looked around. “Was it a person or a tree? Heard some of the trees can talk in here.”

“It was me! Down here!” Luffy looked down at a yellow flower. “Hello, we don’t know you, are you here to play?”

“Sure am!”

He heard a chorus of cheers all around him and the flowers and trees began to sing to him. That was neat. It was very jaunty, like some of the songs they heard from those pirates they had met last time on the sea. But more about plants than mermaids. Luffy sat and listened to the song and clapped in appreciation. “That was great.”

“Thanks! The last people to come here, didn’t like our songs.”

“Oh yeah, that’s stupid, it’s a free show what’s not to like?”

“Exactly. We tried to crush them beneath our might, but they were strong, and didn’t die like we hoped. Now we all live together hating each other. But now you’ll live here forever to balance out how shitty they are!”

“Sorry, I’m just here for a visit, have to get home to my brothers, but I’ll definitely come back lots, it’s fun in here.”

The flower bared its teeth, which were really pointy. “Oh, you are never leaving.”

Luffy looked around and all the paths were gone. “Now we’re having fun,” he grinned at the flower. “This is the best.” He couldn’t remember which way he had come but that didn’t matter. He ate a few cookies and looked at a tree. “Hey, is it cool if I punch you?”

“What, no!” A face appeared on the tree. “Why would you think that is okay?”

“Well, you can make a path for me, or I can punch you!”

“That’s just rude!” The tree crossed its arms. 

“Make him a path,” the flower called. “And let him find what he finds.”

A very narrow path appeared and Luffy knew it wasn’t going to be leading out at all. He giggled and ran down the path, excited for what he’d find.

The monkeys that could look and fight like him were unexpected.

Even more unexpected was in the next clearing he stumbled into there was a green wolf, dozing in the sunbeams peeking through the trees. “Wow!” The thing looked massive, and he didn’t know wolves came in green. Luffy went and sat in front of it. He opened his bag and ate some of his snacks. The wolf must have smelled the food because it opened its eyes. Well, eye, the other one had a scar, and didn’t seem to open anymore. “Hello!” Luffy gave a wave. “You’re huge. And green. I’m Luffy. You can have a cookie.” He held it out and the wolf stared at him. “Don’t you like cookies?”

“No, I don’t.”

“You can talk, that is so cool. What’s your name? Do you live here, are you the thing the cheerful but creepy flower tried to kill?” He watched as the wolf stood up and stretched a bit. It was massive. Luffy stood too, and their heads were about equal height. “Wow, you are so cool.” The wolf blew a breath into his face, which was gross smelling, so that was less cool, but still giant green wolf super cool. Only giant green wolf was walking away from him. No fair.

Luffy ran and jumped onto its back. He had ridden a dinosaur once, it was almost like that. The wolf went very still.

There was a growl, maybe it didn’t like to be ridden like a dinosaur. “What the fuck are you doing?”

“I didn’t want you to go away. We’re going to be friends!”

“Like fuck we are.” There was another growl and the wolf dropped, tried to roll to dislodge Luffy, but Luffy just stretched his limbs and club. “What the fuck?”

“I ate the Gum Gum Fruit! I’m rubber!” Luffy giggled. “I’m Luffy.”

“You already said that.”

“Yeah, but you didn’t share your name.”

There was a huff and the wolf started walking again. He didn’t say anything and Luffy rambled about everything he saw and the adventures he and his brothers had had over the years. He didn’t even realize that they had reached the edge of the forest until the wolf grunted and lay down. “Get off, and go home. The woods are dangerous, even if you have a devil fruit.”

“I know they’re dangerous, that’s what makes it fun!” he pouted a bit. “I didn’t even find cocoa for Pudding!” Luffy slid off and stuck out his tongue. “You’re stupid.”

“So are you.” The wolf started to walk back into the woods. “Roronoa Zoro.”

“Huh?”

“My name.” The wolf was gone and the trees formed an unbreakable line. He could fight his way in, but there was also always tomorrow. Luffy went home and Ace had made dinner, and he told them about the woods. Ace thought it sounded fun, and Sabo fretted a bit, but Luffy reassured him that he had made tons of friends in there, that they had barely tried to kill him. That apparently didn’t reassure Sabo.

Luffy ignored the lectures and knew he was going back tomorrow.

At dawn, he opened the front door, ready to head back in, and stumbled over something on the stoop. He bent down. It smelled bitter. And was big and he had no idea what it was. But it was a plant so, maybe Pudding would know. He went to her shop, which wasn’t open to the public yet, but he could smell the baking, and hear humming. “Pudding!” he shouted.

The door opened. “Yes, Luffy? You found the cocoa! Thank you so much!”

“That’s what this is?” Luffy looked down at it. “It doesn’t look like chocolate.”

“Inside is what is important. Oh, I can’t wait to harvest this. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

“Of course, you’re my friend! I’m going back today, I see anymore, I’ll grab it.” That got him a huge kiss to his cheek. He wiped it away when she wasn’t looking. Girls were nice but their kisses were always so wet. It was better when boys kissed you. He had said that to Ace and Sabo, and Ace had agreed with him, but Sabo felt the exact opposite. He liked Koala’s kisses. He was handed a bunch of cake pops to take with him and that was great.

Luffy marched up to the woods and nodded. “Right, you gonna let me in?” he asked a tree. A path appeared and he walked along, and fought those monkeys, but a couple looked like a blonde guy with funny eyebrows, and a girl with brown hair and big boobs. And a bunch looked like him. They were fun to fight, and he was having a great time. He used his power to stretch his arms and swing through the trees and this time found a river. He decided to follow it for a while and there were weird fish in it. He turned a bend and there was the wolf, drinking from the river. “Hey, Zoro!”

The wolf ignored him.

Luffy didn’t love being ignored. He shot himself across the river. “I said, hey, Zoro.” He clambered up the wolf’s back. “How you doing? Did you drop that cocoa off at my house? How did you know it was my house?” He could stretch out on the wolf’s back, and he did so. “You are comfy.”

The wolf began to walk, but Luffy noticed it was slow enough, that he wouldn’t fall off. “You like me.”

“Shut up. And it was easy to find your house, I followed your scent.”

“That’s a cool trick. How don’t you get lost in the woods?”

“Because they always move. Fixed places, I always get lost, but in a place like this? What gets me lost anywhere else, leads me exactly where I need to be.”

“That makes sense,” Luffy thought it made all the sense in the world. “Are there other green wolves? Do you have a pack? I live with my brothers.”

“You said so yesterday.”

“Wasn’t sure you paid attention. Where are you taking me?”

“Home. To eat you.”

“Okay, sounds fun!” Luffy hummed a little bit. “Wait, did you say you were going to eat me? That doesn’t sound fun.” All the trees began to point and laugh at him. He flipped them off. “I am rubber, I don’t think I’d be very tasty.”

The wolf began to laugh, or Luffy thought it was a laugh, it was a rumble that jostled him on the back of the wolf. He didn’t think the wolf was really going to eat him. And he was pretty comfy. Luffy decided to nap. He was sure he’d be woken up if a wolf began to actually nibble on him.

“Oi, Mosshead, what the fuck did you do?”

“Brought someone home.”

“Why?”

Luffy blinked awake and sat up on Zoro. There was a cottage, in the woods. In stories bad things happened to people at cottages in woods. But he didn’t believe in that sort of thing, and if it was bad, he’d just kick their asses. 

“Shit cook, just thought you’d like someone new to cook -“ the wolf rumbled that laugh and Luffy was about to protest that once again rubber would not be tasty, “for.”

“You’re a cook? I like eating more than almost anything.” Luffy properly looked at the man. “Hey, the monkeys were copying you!”

“Still, for fucks sake,” the man groaned. “I’m Sanji, best chef in the world, at your service.” There was even a bow.

“If you’re the best chef, whatcha doing in the weird woods on Whole Cake Island? You should meet Pudding! She makes the best chocolate stuff. What do you cook?”

“Anything and everything. And I’m hear keeping an eye on that idiot, while he is stuck thanks to being hit with some serious devil fruit powers. Our captain took most of the crew to find answers, let me and the ship’s doctor with him. Can’t go to town much, being as the idiot there is a bit a noticeable.”

Luffy felt the wolf growl a bit and slid on the back of him. He nudged to get the wolf to behave. “You never be mean to people who can cook. They provide meat. Which just so I know, I’m not the meat on the menu today right?” He was pretty sure he wasn’t on the menu. 

“Nah, you look too stringy to cook, need decent fat on a meat to make it tasty.”

“Sanji, he might not realize you are joking. Ignore them. Hello.”

Luffy felt his eyes widen and his grin took over his face. “A raccoon! A talking raccoon!” He watched as it got huge. “A huge talking raccoon! That’s so cool!”

“I’m not a raccoon you jerk. I’m a reindeer, I have ANTLERS!” he roared. Then he was back down to the tiny size. “I’m Chopper.”

“Best doctor in the new world,” Zoro rumbled and Luffy watched the reindeer run up and hug him, and also clearly give a quick exam. “I’m fine Chopper, still thinking normally.”

“If we can call what you do thinking,” the cook muttered. But even as he said that, Luffy could see the concern in his eye and he tossed food to the wolf. “That the cocoa you had needed?”

“Yeah, Pudding was so happy she kissed me. It was a girl kiss, which isn’t as good as a boy kiss, but still was nice. If you brought her some, bet she’d kiss you too.”

“Save us,” Zoro groaned.

“Well now, a beautiful lady who needs rare ingredients, I might just have to meet her.”

“I didn’t say she was beautiful.” She was, Luffy was pretty sure, he didn’t tend to notice that, but he didn’t remember saying that. 

“All women are beautiful, idiot.”

“Hey, how are you sure I’m an idiot?”

“Well, you made friends with the puppy there.”

“Sanji, call me puppy one more time and I don’t care what the captain said, I’ll eat you.”

“Are you sailors?”

“We’re pirates! Aarrgghh, I’ve been practicing, do I sound scary?”

Luffy scooped up the raccoon and squished him because he had loved nothing more in this world than he loved this raccoon.

“Chopper, remember the captain hates pirates, technically she prefers privateers. We have a rule, only rob from other pirates.”

Luffy squinted, because that almost tickled a memory but it was gone. He shrugged. “So feed me!” If there was a cook, there was food. 

Luffy followed Sanji and Chopper into the small cottage but didn’t hear the pad of paws. Zoro was too big to fit in the cottage. But his head rested just a bit in the door. It looked like a story, the type that Koala read to him, said that her friend Robin had given her a book about. It was both funny and kinda sad. When Sanji handed him a plate of the best smelling food ever, he ate it in seconds and then another full plate was given to him. This plate he sat on the floor next to Zoro’s head. 

“Here, puppy,” he said and held out a piece of meat.

“I’m the fucking demon of the East Blue, not puppy.” But the jaws opened and the piece of meat was gone. “I’m the bloody vice captain, of Warlord Mikan. Not a goddamn puppy.” But he was eyeing Luffy’s plate and the tongue was out, just a bit.

“A warlord has a direwolf as their vice captain? That’s so awesome.” He had already shared once which was more than he ever did so he growled at Zoro and protected his plate. “Mine.”

“I am a human, idiot, it was a devil fruit!” There was him growling and fine, Luffy had been raised weird, he could play these games and he hunched over his food and began to growl and snap.

“Chopper is it like a mating ritual or something?” 

“I don’t know. Zoro? What are you doing?”

“He started it.” Zoro was growling and this was super fun, he hadn’t fought a wolf in a long time.

Luffy growled low and launched himself at Zoro pushing him back into the clearing. They were tumbling and spinning around. And then the wolf had him pinned.

“What are you doing?”

“Playing! This is fun!” He wiggled out from under the huge paw and threw a fist back well into the forest. “Gum Gum Pistol!” He punched the wolf, who took it well, but made an impressive roar and snapped his jaws close to Luffy.

So Luffy sank his teeth, into the wolf’s scruff. That got a howl. And a whimper.

Whimper was no fun. 

Luffy let go and looked at the wolf who looked upset. “What’s wrong?” Luffy didn’t see it coming and a flaming kick sent him across the clearing.

“Get gone,” Sanji threw his bag at him. “Don’t come into these woods again.”

The raccoon was almost crying as it checked the bite. Luffy felt bad but couldn’t quite understand where it had gone wrong. 

“I’m sorry?” Hesitating on the words didn’t help. He could hear murmurs in the trees, and a very straight and clear path opened up. “Zoro?”

But the wolf didn’t say anything. Didn’t even look at him.

Luffy wasn’t the most observant person on the planet, but he knew to leave. When he got home, he had to convince Ace and Sabo it was fine, that they didn’t have to burn the forest down, it just hadn’t been as fun as the day before.

The next morning, he decided to help Sabo with his work, maybe that would be fun. It wouldn’t but maybe he’d get up the courage to ask Sabo where he had gone wrong. Sabo was always the best at that stuff.

But by lunch he hadn’t figured out how to ask and Sabo suggested they stop by Pudding’s shop. Luffy went in and Pudding was standing at the counter giggling with stupid heart eyes. And Sanji was there, with the same. “Sanji,” Luffy was shocked he was in town. “Is Zoro with you?”

“No,” Sanji glared at him, but then his shoulders slumped a bit. “I came to give this gorgeous woman some edible flowers, ones that don’t sing, from the forest.”

“You are too too kind. I’m not that gorgeous.”

“You cannot ask me to stand here and listen to you disparage your stunning visage. I will not allow it.” Luffy made a face as Sanji bowed and kissed her hand. He waited because he knew that Pudding was about to show and if Sanji made fun, he’d hurt the man, no matter how good his food was. Pudding lifted her bangs and showed the third eye. “Like I said, I will not allow such beauty to be spoken of poorly.”

“Oh,” Pudding passed out. She made an impressive noise when she fell. Sabo went to help her, and Luffy stole a few brownies.

“Look, Luffy, let’s go for a walk,” Sanji said, once he knew Pudding was fine. “Owe you an explanation.”

“Sure,” Luffy took an extra cookie. “Was going to go up to the palace, and bug Katakuri.”

“Hey do you think you could get me into the palace library? He and the captain are not on the best of terms and he refused her. She sailed to Dressrosa to hopefully find answers.”

“Yeah, I could get in, Sabo goes there all the time.” Luffy walked alongside Sanji. “What did I do wrong?”

“We’re all scared. We don’t know this devil fruit. We have no clue where the person who did this is.”

“But until you figure it out, you have a neat wolf friend.”

“Luffy,” there was a sigh and Sanji was lighting a cigarette. “He wasn’t a mink. He was just a regular pain in the ass idiot. Perfectly human. Not giant, no clue why it is such a huge wolf. But he’s human. And we are all really fucking terrified, that the longer this goes on, he might stop being human. That maybe if we don’t find answers in time, he won’t be Zoro anymore, he’ll just be an animal. And then you came in, and treated him only like an animal, and he responded in a similar manner. Scared the shit out of us. You didn’t know human Zoro, so you just thought big puppy.  We saw our fears coming to life.”

“That sucks.” Luffy nodded, “I’m sorry.” He could get why that would scare them. “What is he like? Human Zoro?”

“Smelly, dirty, an idiot,” Sanji laughed, “and a fierce protector, no one more loyal than him.”

“Does he punch people? Maybe he is that huge a wolf, because that is how he thinks of himself as he fights.”

“No, he is a demon when he fights. Literally, when it is bad enough, he seems to call a demon to himself. Why he got the nickname. Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro, Demon of the East Blue.” They were at the palace and the guards easily let them in, waving to Luffy. 

“I used to want to be king of the pirates.” Luffy touched the hat on his head.

“What happened?”

“My brother almost died. Got rescued by the revolutionary army. They came and got us. Turned out my dad works for them too. Sabo believes in the cause. Not so much Ace and me. But we agreed all of us, that we were better if we stuck together, and if one of us couldn’t aim for that dream, then none of us would.”

“You must love each other very much, to give up a dream like that.”

Luffy laughed. “They’re my brothers! It’s easy.” He touched the hat. “This belonged to a pirate you know, the best, bet he is going to be king.”

“Who’s that?”

“Shanks! Did you ever meet him?”

“Yeah a time or two. Good man.”

“Ace and I got arrested, we were only being a little bad. Later Sabo told us it was to send a message to Dragon. Dragon couldn’t send the revolutionary army in to rescue us, no matter how Sabo begged. But there were a lot of pirates there when we made a break for it at Marineford. Bet Dragon got Shanks to send out people.”

“Holy All Blue, you are the brothers from Marineford? The navy insisted we fight on their side. All the warlords called in, fuck that was the death of Whitebeard that fight. It’s when Na, I mean Mikan, declared the new plan. That fight changed the fucking world.”

Luffy shrugged. “Got this scar protecting Ace. Made him stop calling me Crybaby, that was a big deal.” He stumbled into Sanji as the man turned and had stopped. “What?”

“The Summit War, the one where everyone learned the One Piece is real, where Whitebeard the last great pirate died, where power changed hands in the navy because Garp retired, and all you care about is that your brother stopped calling you Crybaby?”

Luffy looked at Sanji in confusion. “I gave up my dream, to be with my brothers. What is there then to care about in this world except them?” He started to walk. “Grandpa retired?” Huh, they should talk to the old man more, if they didn’t know that. Although good shot, Sabo knew and Luffy just hadn’t paid attention.

“Garp is your grandfather, the navy arrested you to draw out the leader of the revolutionary army. Wait, Ace. Fire Fist Ace, the flame of the night?” Sanji was lighting a cigarette. “He is notorious. A pirate who only appears every once in a while and completely messes up everyone’s shit and disappears in the dark a trail of fire the only sign he was ever there?”

“That’s what Ace does when he says he needs space? I’m going to kick his ass.” Luffy was hopping mad now. “How come he gets to be a pirate and I don’t?”

“And your other brother Sabo - he like a prince or something?”

“Nah, he just run’s Dragon’s army and stuff.” Luffy picked his nose. “Library. I’m going to see Katakuri. Do you think Zoro would let me apologize to him?”

“Who the fuck are you?”

“I’m Monkey D. Luffy, and I’m the best little brother there is.”

“Never knew brothers could love like that. Thanks for the directions. And yeah, come by the woods tomorrow. We’ll get the idiot to listen to you.”

“Thanks, Sanji. And you’ll cook for me?”

“Course, never let anyone go hungry.”

“You’re the best.” Luffy wandered through the palace until he reached Katakuri and he realized it was almost merienda time and would have left him alone, but Katakuri invited him to join.

Luffy lay down, head on Katakuri’s thigh and was handed a donut hole the size of his head. He started to eat. Sang along to Katakuri’s donut song. He rested the half eaten food on his stomach. “You’re a pirate with a huge bounty. What’s that like?”

“I don’t think about it much. Anything I have done is to protect my family. Sometimes that meant going out into the world, stealing supplies for Mama’s appetites. Didn’t care about how I got what I needed because it would keep my siblings safe. That sort of behaviour raises a bounty quickly.”

“You were looking out for your family, that’s important.”

“A thing you understand.” Katakuri hummed as he ate another donut, and Luffy worked on his donut hole. “Your name is spoken in the world, more than you realize.”

“It is?” Some crumbs sprayed from his mouth and he jammed them back in.

“Strawhat, walks with Fire Fist Ace, and Sabo the flame of the revolution. That his sense of justice is simple and truer than any the navy says it believes in. You brought Doflamingo down.”

“We all did.”

“It was you that brought him down. 

“He was hurting Traffy, Traffy is my friend. And Rebecca too. You don’t hurt my friends.” It was simple. There were rules in this world. He didn’t particularly give a damn about most of the toy people - Sabo had dealt with that issue, but Traffy had said the guy needed taking down, and it had seemed like fun, why not, and it had been his turn to pick their adventure. Only then Doflamingo hurt Traffy a lot, and Luffy had never been so mad before. Gear Four was a hell of a trip. 

“You have a shadow bounty.”

“I do?” Luffy frowned. “Why don’t I have a neat bounty poster then? Sabo does, Ace does!”

“They are concerned how Dragon would react. But it is there Luffy. Waiting.”

“For what?”

“For you.”

Luffy didn’t understand that and just ate more. He yawned. “Katakuri? I’m glad we’re friends.”

“You are always welcome at Whole Cake Island. My friend.”

“Are you ever sad you overthrew your mom?”

“Every day,” Katakuri replied. “She was Mama, but she ate one of my siblings. I had been raised to protect them. And when Jinbe, faced her power without an ounce of fear, in order to leave her and be the helmsman for Warlord Mikan, I knew it was time. That she wouldn’t ever come back to us again.”

“Sanji told me you don’t like Warlord Mikan.”

“Because of her, I killed my mother, Luffy. It causes a few issues for me.”

Luffy could understand that. He climbed and sprawled over top Katakuri. “Going to nap, wake me when it’s time for us to fight.” Katakuri was warm and squishy for how muscled he was. Mochi power was great.

He fell asleep to Katakuri singing the donuts song. Their fight that day in the mirror world was super fun and he felt good as he walked home. When he saw Ace though he remembered. “You pirate!” He went over and kicked Ace’s shin. “No fair!”

“He does what?” Sabo was cooking and looked over. “What does Luffy mean?”

Ace tried to pretend he had fallen asleep but Luffy kicked him again and they started scrapping. Sabo hit them both with his pipe and Ace shook himself like a dog, flushed a bit. “Sometimes when we’re sailing and I take off on my lil ship ‘to scout ahead’ maybe I have a bit of fun. Stir up some shit.”

“We agreed! No one becomes king of the pirates!” Luffy launched himself at Ace who easily dodged it and put him in a headlock. “Ace! We promised.”

“I don’t want to be king,” Ace swore. “I just like being out there, causing mischief. Maybe seeing if I can run into Marco. Because yeah, there is a guy I like.”

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Sabo was sitting down and when Ace let go, Luffy sat next to him. Ace couldn’t quite look at them. “Ace?”

“We made a promise to each other. No hot blue bird is going to change that.” Ace crossed his arms. “We stick together. No matter what. We’re brothers. Not being king, Luff, just having fun. Who wants to be king anyways?”

He did, sometimes late at night, but he never could tell Sabo or Ace that. “Can we meet your bird?”

“You have. At Marineford, the blue bird who took a bunch of hits, gave us time to run.”

“Oh yeah, he looked like a pineapple!” Luffy giggled. “You like a pineapple bird. At least Koala looks like a girl and not a marsupial.”

“He doesn’t look like a pineapple!” Ace tackled him and they were scrapping and Sabo abandoned their dinner to join the fight.

*
Luffy stared at the woods. “I need to apologize to Zoro. Let me in?” The trees crossed their branches and glared at him. “Please?” Eventually a few of them moved and Luffy walked into the woods which it was clear were fucking with him. A lot.

Flowers laughing at him, tons of those freaky mimic monkeys, paths appeared and disappeared. He guessed they really liked Zoro even though they had said they hated him. When a path disappeared yet again, he just shouted. “Fine! You want it this way, fine.” And he just started punching, fists coated in haki, blasting everything out of his way. Eventually he made a path through and thought it was going great. Then he got picked up by a tree who started lecturing him on manners. It was so stupid.

“Let him go,” a low voice said, and Luffy looked over.

“Zoro!” Luffy grinned. “Hi!” The tree dropped him, and it was from pretty high up, good thing he was rubber. He adjust and sat there. Didn’t try to approach Zoro. Zoro didn’t try to approach him. “I’m sorry,” he said after a moment. 

“Why?” Zoro wasn’t sitting, just loomed there, a huge wolf. “Because Sanji yelled at you?”

“Because he told me what everyone is scared of. I’d be scared too. So I’m sorry.” Luffy looked up at Zoro. “Is a wolf what you think of yourself of if you were an animal? Sanji said no, but that doesn’t mean he knows the truth.”

“Tiger honestly,” Zoro replied. He came over, flopped down in front of Luffy. “Been a few weeks now. Brain hasn’t ever stopped feeling like it normally does. Not as worried as everyone else, likely because as dumb as Curly thinks I am.”

“I don’t think you’re stupid.”

“You barely know me.”

“Know enough. So you weren’t mad because I was treating you like an animal?” Luffy frowned. “You were mad though.”

“Nah.”

Now Luffy was confused. “Oh. Okay, then.” He decided to climb onto Zoro. “Wanna go beat up some of the weird monkeys?”

“Aye aye, Captain.”

Luffy shivered a bit at that. There was a thrum in him at being called that. Felt like he was at sea standing on dry land. “Won’t you get in trouble calling someone else captain?”

“Warlord won’t care, she’s barely our captain. It’s a thing. There are plans. Just slightly derailed because giant ass wolf won’t fit on the Sunny.”

“That’s your ship?”

“It is. Great ship, too,” Zoro growled. “Think you can hang on?”

“Yeah, I can,” Luffy laughed. “Let’s Go!” He was so excited he in fact forgot to hang on and fell off as Zoro charged forward. It only made him laugh more and he ran, swung up onto Zoro and soon enough they found plenty of trouble to get into, in the woods and it was so much fun. It was different from fighting next to Ace and Sabo, which was to be expected. And he had fought beside some Mink but they were still almost human. Zoro was a wolf wolf, but it did make him wonder what Zoro fought like as a human. He wondered if Sabo would maybe recognize the name. 

They tore through the woods, causing absurd amounts of chaos until Zoro lead them back to the cottage where Sanji fed them the best food ever and had fudge after that Luffy knew was Pudding. “Pudding makes the best stuff.”

“A goddess with the hands of an angel,” Sanji swooned.

Luffy snorted and laughed because Zoro did at the same time. Chopper giggled at that. Which made Luffy have to squish the raccoon. This time he decided to poke about the cottage a bit which they didn’t seem to mind, and Chopper told him about some of their adventures, and Luffy talked about friends they had made around the world. 

Sanji talked about Fishman Island and Chopper about how they found him to help Nami when she was sick. They freed a whole desert kingdom. He had to have something that would compare.

“I know! We took down Arlong!” Luffy beamed. “He was this jerk fishman holding a whole village hostage, and this woman, she was really nice, got word to the revolutionary army that the navy was turning a blind eye, and that sort of things pisses Dragon off - so he sent the three of us in to fix it. It was brutal, the guy was a tough fight. But the woman who demanded our help said, Arlong hurt her sister Nami, and she was going to free her even if it cost her own life. We understand that devotion. So we brought Arlong Park down on top of Arlong.” Luffy waited for clapping and there was silence. “I clapped for your desert story. Why aren’t you clapping for this?” Luffy thought about their one story. “It isn’t because we hate fishmen, it was because this guy was a jackass and jerk.” 

They were still just looking at him.

But then Zoro craned his head in as far as he could and Luffy changed his mind. Girl kisses weren’t the worst - wolf ones were. “That is so wet and slobbery! Zoro!”

“Thanks.”

Luffy tried to wipe the spit away, but there was so much. “For what?”

“For stopping Arlong.”

“Did you know him?”

“We wanted to, but N - Mikan insisted there was another way to deal with him, but by then, we learned that the revolutionary army had already dealt with him. It made her life better when Arlong was taken down.” The wolf licked him again. And Sanji and Chopper were hugging him and it was nice. Different than his brothers but also not.

“I should go home. Hey, maybe my brothers could come tomorrow! You’ll like them.” 

“Think for right now, perhaps not,” Sanji suggested. “Crew of a warlord and revolutionaries don’t make for the greatest time.”

Luffy shrugged, if they didn’t want more visitors that was fine, so long as he could still come. He went and climbed on Zoro’s back to leave the woods and told him everything he could remember about the fight against Arlong. At the edge of the woods he slid off, hugged Zoro. “You never said, if you weren’t mad at me, why’d you howl like that?”

Zoro was looking at him, and for a moment pressed his nose to Luffy’s throat. Dragged giant teeth gently along skin. “Because if I had been human, I would have wanted to bite back.” The teeth pressed hard but didn’t break skin and then Zoro was gone into the woods.

Luffy walked home in a bit of a daze. Ace was there burning papers. “I’m not leaving,” he said. Burning papers often meant orders for Sabo, which meant orders for all of them.

“I know,” Ace grinned at him, “why do you think I’m burning this before Sabo sees?”

Ace was the best. 

“Hey Ace, your pineapple, do you like it when he kisses you when he’s a bird or only when he is a pineapple?”

“He is not a…why you asking that Luffy?”

“Because a wolf that is usually a human bit me, and I don’t think I liked it, but I think maybe he if was human I would have.” Luffy went into the fridge and found a couple plates of food and began to eat. “Do you know what Roronoa Zoro looks like?”

“The Pirate Hunter, the vice captain of Warlord Mikan? Fuck, Luffy is that what’s going on in the woods? We just thought you were wanting privacy to jerk off. Or meeting a sweetheart. Or you know punch the bastard trees.”

“Oh we punch those and the monkeys together, it’s lots of fun!” Luffy finished one plate and moved onto the next. “What’s Zoro look like? Do you know?”

“One of the files that Sabo always has on his is on that Warlord and her crew. Hang on.” Luffy could hear Ace break into Sabo’s stuff and they’d have to make fun of him later for how easy it was to break into his stuff. Ace brought a folder to the table and opened it. Rifled through some papers, “Here, his old bounty poster and his one since he lost the eye. Rumour swears it was at Marineford, but actual stories say sometime during the two years the warlord and whole crew went missing.”

Luffy took the pictures. The second was really stupid, but also kinda cool, and the first showed why the wolf’s hair was green. He would definitely be okay if this guy wanted to bite him. He looked at the table. “That’s Sanji and Chopper. They’re great. And hey! That’s Robin. What’s Robin doing there, she works with us?”

“A spy who double crossed or triple crossed it is hard to say,” Sabo said as he came in. “She came to us when Cypher Pol tried to claim her. We dealt with them, on the agreement she would feed us intel from a Warlord’s ship. She knew a lot having been Crocodile’s right hand woman.”

“They chose Mikan to replace Crocodile right?” Ace was looking at the files. “A lot in here isn’t adding up.”

“We know.” Sabo sat. “They do what the navy tells them to, but also don’t. Robin gives information that is useful but not. They are pirates but not. Everyone has an eye on them, but they disappeared again, not too long after returning from a two year absence.”

“Oh that’s because Zoro is a big wolf hiding in the woods and they are trying to fix it. He also kisses me and bites and if he was human I would like it. Like how you like that thing Koala does to you that you wish we didn’t know about.” Luffy looked at Zoro. “Do you know how to help Zoro, Sabo?”

“Is it a devil fruit?” Luffy nodded. “Most wear off, or you need the holder of the power to reverse it, or be dead.”

“Or you could kiss him.” Ace snickered. “It’s like those dumb stories right? The fair princess kisses the monster and they are restored to a beautiful prince and happy ever after and all that. The ones Koala reads.”

“I’ve seen you read them too, dumbass,” Sabo began gathering up the papers. “Luffy, this is a warlord’s crew, they are navy people, and we know they cannot be trusted. Now Dragon sent word, we’re making good progress here, but there are reports of stirrings we need to move soon.”

“So much for burning that letter,” Ace muttered. 

“We’re staying,” Luffy stood up. “Zoro needs our help and we’re staying.”

“Luffy, the revolution, the world needs us.”

“Sabo, that is your fight and we tag along, but each time it is supposed to be mine or Ace’s turn to choose the brother’s journey, it scrapes away our time. I know this is your time, but I’m asking. I want to know Zoro gets fixed.”

“Sabo, come on,” Ace cajoled, “Look at Crybaby, if we don’t help he’s gonna have a wolf for a boyfriend, at least let’s get it to the point where it is a swordsman who fights three sword style.”

“Yeah! You don’t want me dating a wolf. Wait three swords, where is the third?” Luffy tried to think about it. “Is the third sword like his dick, does he fight stuff with his dick? How big is his human dick, because his wolf dick is huge!”

“A sword in each hand and one in his mouth. My files don’t say much about his dick.”

“Say much? That means it says something.” Ace leaned forward and Luffy did too. “Share.”

“He’s gay, but mostly focused on becoming the world’s best swordsman,” Sabo shrugged. “Had a few hookups, but not on the crew. Hates sweet food, loves oni giri, and likes naps. Loyal not worth trying to steal away from his crew. Gets lost everywhere. Bit of a joke in the navy but also if you want to scare a recruit you just say, I thought I heard the snick of Wado.”

“Coooool,” Luffy breathed out. “I’m staying until I can see his human form.”

“And I’m staying to help him, Sabo.”

Sabo smiled and held up the letter from Dragon. Ace lit it on fire just like the other letter. “Guess it’s a good thing we didn’t get word to move on then. So what’s the plan, Luffy?”

“I dunno, but we’ll figure it out!” Luffy laughed joyfully. “We always do!”

The next day Sabo went to the royal library to gather information and Ace tagged along to the woods. “Zoro!” Luffy yelled as they tromped through. “Zorrro!”

“I can hear you,” Zoro grumpled and he had blended well into the mossy ground cover. “I was sleeping.”

“Sabo’s file said you like naps, but we decided, we’re going to fix you. We’re the best at fixing stuff. This is Ace. Sabo is the best at sorting stuff out, but Ace is really clever. He thinks I should kiss you. We can try that.” Luffy scowled as Ace fell over laughing. “Or he was just being a jerk. Hang on Zoro.” Luffy dove on top of Ace and started to pummel him. “Ace, you jerk!”

Ace kept laughing though and rolled out of the way. “Zoro, a pleasure to meet you.”

“Stupid manners stuff.” Ace always did that. To impress people. Well he could impress Zoro too. “My dick stretches like the rest of me, so I bet I can get it even bigger than your wolf one, Zoro.” That had to impress him.

“I’d apologize for him, say he was raised in a barn but it was more a lean to than anything. And a treehouse. Then a rag tag army. Delicacy in conversation not his strong suit.” 

“Should have brought Sabo.” Luffy glowered a bit. “Stop being weird.” He looked at Zoro. And he couldn’t help himself, hugged around his next and held tight. “We’re going to get you fixed. Because I really want to see how you fight with three swords.” He let go and kissed Zoro’s muzzle. “Still a wolf.”

“It is technically true love’s kiss that would do that,” Ace helpfully added. 

“I don’t love him, I just thought if he was human he could maybe bite me!” Luffy buried his face against Zoro’s fur. “You can eat him. I won’t mind and won’t tell. Stories always have a big bad wolf that eats family members. So you know, you can eat him.” He could feel Zoro laughing. 

He climbed on Zoro’s back. “Ace should talk to Chopper.” He lay along Zoro as he had every time before and Ace was watching him. “What?”

“Nothing, just thinking about pineapple.” They walked through the woods and Luffy was pleased that Ace hated the stupid monkeys too. Ace and Zoro talked and Luffy didn’t really pay attention, lost in thoughts of wolf zoro carrying a sword in his mouth. It was funny.

Ace loved Chopper as much as Luffy did, and Ace liked anyone who fed him. Luffy got bored of the conversation pretty quickly, and it was clear Zoro did as well and they left them to sort stuff out. “There is a nice view of the water, want to see?”

“Sure,” Luffy agreed and climbed on. “But only if you go fast.” He held tight and Zoro ran. When they were out of the forest they were on a cliff overlooking a small bay that had almost a clear view until the horizon. Luffy went and sat, feet dangling over the edge. “There is so much out there.”

“There is.” Zoro lay down next to him. “You’ve seen a lot.”

“I want to see more.” Luffy dipped the hat over his eyes. “Ace said, and I bet Sabo would do, they don’t want to be king of the pirates anymore. And I don’t think they were pretending, like how I pretend.”

“We’re all pretending,” Zoro said.

“Like what everyone lies?”

“No, our crew, Mikan, she became a Warlord for her own ends, and we’ve lied in every single report, made plans that would have already started, except I got turned into a wolf. We don’t believe in the navy. Fuck the navy. We believe in each other. We’ve all just been waiting, something was missing, but we all felt it that it was coming. She said it was waiting in the shallows, for the right wind. That you couldn’t rush it, some breezes might get you a bit out to sea but push you back. If you wait, eventually your sails will fill.”

Luffy looked out to sea. “What’s your dream, Zoro?”

“To be the best swordsman in the world. I made a promise.”

Luffy leaned against him. “When you are a person are you this good to lean against?”

“Chopper thinks so.” 

“If I set sail tomorrow, to become the king of the pirates, would you leave your captain, set sail with me?”

“Leave the people I have fought beside, bled for, trusted with everything for years, for a rubber guy who is a bit of an idiot that I’ve known for four days?”

“Yup!”

“Yeah, I would,” Zoro rumbled a bit that was a laugh. 

Luffy laughed and wrapped an arm around Zoro. “Good puppy.” Teeth the length of his forearm nipped at him but he didn’t have a drop of fear - knew they wouldn’t break skin. 

There were no answers found that day or the next or the one after. But Luffy didn’t care, it was all an adventure but he knew Sabo was getting restless. They were in Pudding’s shop and she and Sanji were baking together making stupid gooey faces at each other when they felt a rattle. 

“Canon fire?” Sabo looked at Ace. “Go!” He ordered and flicked out his pipe, because sure they felt safe on Whole Cake Island, but they were always ready for a fight. Ace ran to scout it out and Luffy went outside with Sabo. 

Sanji came with them. They watched some cannonballs come in the air and Luffy jumped up to deflect them and was impressed that a kick from Sanji could break them in half. “I need to get Zoro and Chopper if it is a fight!”

“Go,” Sabo called from the ground. “Everyone stay calm, the Charlotte family will take care of you. I know there is a plan, in place, please head to the safety of the castle.” He began moving people quickly. “Luffy, follow Ace.”

Pudding came out on a flying carpet. “Hop on, Luffy!”

“That’s so cool.”

“We thought, when Mama died everything would stop, but once a soul is used to where it is put it doesn’t move on. Makes me wonder if there is an after life.”

“Or Big Mom’s not dead!” Luffy pat the carpet it was nice. He looked over and Pudding’s eyes were shadowed. “You want her to be dead.” There was a small nod. “Then I am sure she is. Katakuri is the best, he took care of it. Big brothers always take care of stuff.”

“Yeah. If I start yelling or calling you names, don’t take it personally okay? When I’m scared my personality changes a bit.”

“Okay.” He heard a shout and saw a wall of flame at the harbour. He pointed. “Think we found Ace.”

“Let’s go!” Charlotte flew him there. “Oh sugar. It’s Oven and Perospero. Amande. They didn’t agree with Katakuri and Compote. They were exiled, oh no no no. Katakuri won’t be able to fight them.”

“He doesn’t have to - he has us! We got this.”

“Luffy they are so strong, you don’t understand. Oven can boil the entire sea.”

“Pudding, I said we got this. Protecting people is what we do. Don’t worry about it. Go tell Katakuri that it is fine, keep the citizens safe, and we will deal with this.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re our friends, Pudding. You make the best chocolate!” Luffy leapt down from the flying carpet and landed next to Ace. “It’s the family that wanted to side with Big Mom.”

“Coup, got it. Shall we go have some fun?” Ace was grinning and ready to pounce. “Bet I take down more than you with your weeny little punches.”

“I’m going to kick all their asses!” Luffy pushed Ace and then looked at the ships in the harbour. Waited. Ace was too. And sure enough a minute later Sabo was next to them. “Well?”

“Going to leave you two in the dust,” Sabo replied. “Citizens are evacuating. Let’s do this.” He swung the pipe a bit. “I’ll take left.”

“I usually take left,” Ace said, “but fine, I’ll take right.”

Weird, Luffy never got point. But he looked ahead and nodded. “Let’s go!” He grabbed some of the dock and ran backward, let himself snap and fly through the air. He landed on the boat. “Hi! I’m Luffy. I’m going to kick your ass today.” Pirates came at him and he just started to punch. He heard the sounds of Ace and Sabo fighting on other ships, it was comforting as it ever was. They were standard pirates, but there were a few holding back, watching, waiting. One of them was kinda creepy. He guessed that was one of the Charlotte’s. None of them looked alike but they all had this aura about them. 

He had a really weird laugh. And shot candy. Luffy dodged around it fairly easily and punched the guy. “Mama will be avenged!” He cried.

“Why, she sounds awful. She ate one of your brothers!” Katakuri had told him that. “People aren’t even that tasty!”

“She was our mother! You have to be loyal!” They all heard a huge crash and dang it, Ace had already torn his ship apart. Fine. Luffy jumped up, “Gum Gum Gatling Gun!” and started punching at the ship. They had sailed close enough to the dock that he was able to balloon and float over there. Katakuri was waiting. “Your brother is a jerk.”

“I know.” Katakuri looked torn. 

“Hey, I told Pudding, we got this. We got this.” Luffy hugged Katakuri’s leg. “You don’t have to fight them.”

“I will protect my family and the people.” 

Luffy saw Katakuri do the thing. The seeing thing. “The bay, on the other side of the woods. This is a distraction, they have a fleet.”

“Sanji went to get Zoro and Chopper. I’ll go, we can get through the woods thanks to Zoro. We’ll deal with that, Ace and Sabo will deal with this.” Luffy jammed his hat on his head. “Use your powers to help them, but don’t worry about fighting your family, mochi man. What friends are for.”

Luffy took off running and Pudding was there to fly him. She said some terrible things and Luffy ignored those. They ran into the others just as they were breaking through the woods. Luffy quickly told them what was happening.

“Who else was exiled Pudding?”

“Daifuku and Galette,” Pudding said. “They are strong, they were high up in the army.”

“Got it, ready? Zoro, get us through the woods.”

Zoro nodded and they started to move. 

“The fact that Zoro is the one leading is never going to fucking make sense to me,” Sanji muttered as he ran. “I saw him get lost regularly on our first ship and it was small.”

“Well you are all scum beneath our shoes and we should just kill you all!” Pudding screeched. She collapsed a little. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, beautiful, battle tension gets to everyone,” Sanji reassured and Luffy sighed when Pudding got those heart eyes and passed out. Luffy decided he wasn’t being near a girl anymore and rolled off the cool flying carpet and onto Zoro.

Sanji immediately took the opportunity to leap onto the carpet and flirt. Chopper actually looked like a reindeer and that was so cool. 

Luffy held tight to Zoro. “Do you know how to fight as a wolf?”

“Pretty sure at this size I just have to ram into things and bite them.” Zoro jumped over the river clearing it easily. “You throw them my way, I’ll make sure they stay down.”

“That will be fun. Neat to fight with different people.” Luffy buried his face in Zoro’s fur for just a moment. He could smell the ocean and there they were at the edge of the woods. And there were half a dozen ships in the bay.

“Oh no,” Pudding whispered.

“There there, my beautiful chocolateir, we have this.” Sanji slid off the carpet and was standing next to Zoro. “Fuck wish we had Nami here to give us orders.”

“Hate agreeing with you,” Zoro growled low and deep. 

Chopper was tiny again. “What do we do?”

Luffy slid off Zoro. “We kick their ass.” 

“Aye aye,” Zoro agreed. 

“You got it,” Sanji tapped a foot and it was on fire that was awesome.

“Got it. Kung Fu point!”

Luffy moved forward and began to fight, and it was hard, there were a lot of them and they didn’t have Ace’s fire, he was used to flame commandment sorta taking care of a lot. But also these guys were strong and fast. And they were taking down the numbers.

Luffy was impressed it was clear that Pudding was scared but she was flying around calling out where people were coming from, helping them avoid ambushes, and Sanji could walk through the sky.

But there were just a lot of numbers for them. “Fourth Gear!” Luffy shouted and turned to bounce man. If he took out ships that would buy them time. 

“What the fuck is that?” Zoro shouted as he charged through a group of pirates. One threw a spear and Zoro whined but kept moving forward.

“It is bounce man. Maximum bounciness.” Luffy bounced a few times on the cliff edge. “I bounce!”

“I cannot believe I want you to bite me.”

“Flirt later, fight now, dumbasses!” Sanji was spinning like a top that was on fire. And Chopper was doing cool punches and kicks. Luffy bounced a few more times until he was well in the air and then he fired at one of the ships, his fists completely breaking through the hull. A man took to the air and he had a stupid genie thing. It wasn’t at all as cool as Koala’s stories.

“Who are you, you aren’t a Charlotte why are you in this fight?”

“Because Katakuri is my friend!” Luffy punched the genie. The fight was going in his favour, because Fourth Gear kicked ass but then he surprised himself enough, that it all went wrong.

“This is our home, you are no one!”

“I’m Luffy, and I’m going to be King of the Pirates!” Luffy shouted for the first time since he had let go of the dream to be with his brothers. He was so shocked he said that out loud, that when he took a cannonball to the gut he didn’t think to deflect it and fell down into the bay. 

Water. 

Oops.

He looked up as his body shrank back to regular size and the sun was blocked out for a moment by some sort of shape. Then there was a giant wolf in the water. All Luffy couldn’t think was how horrible the wet dog scent would be. But the wolf was getting smaller. That was weird. When things got closer they got bigger not smaller. Everything was changing and it wasn’t a paw that grabbed him, it was a hand. 

Luffy met his eye and realized it had the same look, man or wolf. Zoro was a predator no matter what. He was then yanked and they broke the surface.

“Lightning tempo!”

“Mils Fleur!”

“Green star!”

“Hey bros, need a hand?”

Luffy looked and there was a ship right there, and a metal hand, that Zoro grabbed, and then they were on a ship deck. Luffy began to cough.

“Sea water! Weeks of worrying about you and it could have all been solved if you had taken a freaking bath! I hate you, and am tripling your debt!”

“How was I supposed to know that?” 

“Hello, Luffy,” a voice said and a towel was drying him off. “It is nice to see you again.”

“Robin!” Luffy smiled at her. “I missed you. Sabo will be happy to see you.”

He got a hug and he finished drying off. Zoro was bickering with a woman with brown hair and then Sanji and Chopper were there. 

“Warlord, orders?” Sanji asked.

Oh. This was Warlord Mikan. They were sort of against the warlords, but also Zoro liked them, maybe they were shouting a lot, and if Zoro liked them, then they were probably okay. 

“I need to have that meeting with Charlotte Katakuri, and can’t have it if he is usurped. So let’s finish this!” She looked at him. “So you’re Luffy.” There was a glance over his shoulder and he looked at Robin who nodded. “Right, do whatever it is you do.” She walked away and came back with a bundle. “Zoro, get dressed and get to work.”

Luffy couldn’t believe that he hadn’t been paying attention enough to notice that Zoro was naked. He glanced over and well, yeah. He definitely wanted to be bit by human Zoro. “Mine,” he said not even realizing he said it. Zoro was in pants, something around his waist, and hadn’t bothered with a shirt, showing off a huge scar that he hadn’t noticed in all the fur. 

Then there really were three swords. A bandanna was tied over his hair and the swords were drawn. “Hey, Luffy?” That was said around a sword that was in his mouth. He could talk with a sword in his mouth. Zoro was the coolest.

“Yeah?”

“Wanna go play?”

Luffy laughed, “Yeah!” 

“Oh fuck, he found a friend, we’re all doomed,” the warlord said. “Go destroy everyone already! I have business to deal with. A bath. A freaking bath solved it. Unbelievable.”

Luffy barely paid attention to the rest of the fight, mostly watched Zoro who was so hot when he fought. He wanted to bite him so much. When it was all done and they were back on the warlord’s ship, she tried to talk to them but Zoro had just snarled, like he was still a wolf and Luffy found himself dragged up to the crow’s nest where there was a lot of mutual biting as they sailed to the main docks.

After that, Chopper insisted on examining Zoro to make sure he was fine, and the warlord went to have a meeting with Katakuri. Luffy went back to the house and Sabo was packing. “We’re leaving?” Luffy looked at his brothers who were doing that stupid shared look of they knew something he didn’t.

“Luffy,” Sabo stopped his work and sat on the ground. Ace then did too and Luffy noticed the bottle of sake and three cups. He remembered the day they became brothers and he sat as well. Ace poured. “Luffy we’re brothers.”

Luffy drank. “I know that.”

Ace smiled. “Pudding told us what you shouted in the battle.”

“I shout a lot of stuff when I fight.” But he knew what they meant. “Why don’t you two want to be king anymore?”

“Because I believe in the revolutionary army, in bringing down the corruption of the world nobles,” Sabo said. “I believe in that, almost as much as I believe in the two of you.”

“I just want to be free,” Ace said, “I want to stir up shit and have fun and see a king crowned, but I know I’d be a shit pirate king. I want to sail in a new era, but I don’t want to lead it. It used to be because I didn’t think I was worthy of anything, but I know I am because of you two.”

“I think it is time that we all followed our own paths,” Sabo said, and Luffy clutched the small sake cup. “We’re always going to be brothers. But just imagine.” He leaned forward and grinned, “just imagine what happens when we are all chasing our own dreams.”

“The world better look out,” Ace said, “because we’re going to shake it to the core.”

Luffy flung himself at his brothers. Sobbed on them because yeah fine he was a bit of a crybaby when it came to them. 

“Stop that, you idiot, the future king doesn’t cry,” Ace chided but was hugging him tightly. “Now are we going to talk about how you are rubber and should not bruise and yet there are all sorts of bite marks on you?”

“Zoro’s teeth are big and strong like when he was a wolf.”

“Dick still huge?”

“Ace! Don’t ask our little brother about his sex life. Or we’ll ask about your pineapple.”

“He is not a pineapple!”

Luffy couldn’t stop laughing as they rolled around on the ground, fighting like they had since they had all met.

*

“I will miss you, Luffy.” Katakuri was standing at the dock, as the brother’s prepared to leave. “And I do hope that you will return. Fighting you is one of the few challenges I have had in this world.”

“Of course I’ll be back! Can’t go without donut time with my friend.” Luffy looked around Katakuri where his other arm was holding Pudding tightly. “She seems really determined.”

“Let me go, Katakuri, I’m running away to be a pirate. Sanji invited me! They need two cooks if they are going to feed Luffy.” She kicked and squirmed. “I’m going!”

“No, you are not,” Katakuri’s mouth was covered like always but Luffy could tell he was smiling. “But if Sanji wants to write to you, in a year or so we can rediscuss you running away to a life of piracy.”

“I will write you every day, Pudding,” Sanji called trying to run over but Katakuri shot Mochi at him that launched him back to the Sunny. “Hey asshole, let us have a decent goodbye!”

“You can say goodbye over there, the heart eyes are disgusting.”

Luffy giggled because Katakuri was right there were a bit gross. Zoro walked by carrying supplies to the ship, muscles bulging, shirtless and pants riding low. 

“Your doing heart eyes too, stop that.” Katakuri gave him a thump on the head and that was fair. 

The warlord came over. “So are we all squared away?”

“We are,” Katakuri agreed. “It seems that in a last noble battle, the warlord Mikan died saving our people. Truly tragic. It was a huge explosion, no one could have survived it.”

“Good.” Luffy watched as she took off her hair and orange hair spilled down. “Well that’s a relief, years wearing that. So exhausting.” A rub on her shoulder pulled something off and there was a tattoo. “Call me Nami.”

“Nami? I know that name!” Luffy stared at her.

“You do. You saved my village. Thank you, Luffy. Now get aboard the ship, the winds will be ideal in ten minutes.” She walked away, whistling. “Come on everybody, we sail soon.”

Katakuri gave him a nod and a last bit of mochi to eat before walking away, still carrying Pudding who was shouting her love for Sanji and that she would find a way to get to sea, while Katakuri held tight.

It was so stupid. 

Luffy’s eyes were scanning the deck of the Sunny for Zoro.

“Well, brother, ready?”

Sabo was there, then Ace too. “Koala will be here for me tomorrow, and then we are heading north. Dragon has concerns about the kingdom of Germa he was wants us to look into.”

“I found a skiff, and know the direction Marco was taking his crew. Thought I might head that way.” Ace scratched his jaw a bit. “See if they are interested in a new crew member.”

“Who’s Marco?”

“His pineapple,” Sabo batted his lashes. “That he loves.”

“You love a marsupial so shut up,” Ace shoved Sabo a bit. “And look Luffy fell in love with a man that didn’t even think that a dip in the ocean might solve an issue created by a devil fruit.”

“Koala is just a nickname!” Sabo kicked Ace. “And yeah fair, Luffy did do that.”

“He has three swords! That beats a blue bird, and Koala’s bombs any day!” Luffy glared a bit. “I win. And when I am king, you two are going to have to kneel to me and it will be the best day ever.”

“We look forward to it,” Sabo said and Luffy let Sabo give him a stupid huge hug.

“He can look forward to it. I’m going to put you in a stupid hat and laugh at you.” But then Ace was hugging him too. He felt them both shove a bit, pushing him forward to the ship he had been invited to sail on. 

Luffy didn’t look back because he knew he’d start sobbing. Instead he boarded the Sunny and stood there, awkward, waiting.

“Orders, Captain?” Nami was looking at him. “Tide is perfect and the winds are gathering.”

He looked over and Zoro was smiling at him. “I don’t get it. You’re a warlord? Aren’t you the captain?” Luffy was lost. He had thought to sail with them for a bit until he could convince Zoro to run away with him and start his own crew.

“You heard me, Warlord Mikan died rescuing Whole Cake Island. I’m just Nami, your weather specialist and navigator.”

“I’m confused. Shouldn’t then Zoro be captain?”

“NO!” at least five people yelled.

“I am your vice captain, sir,” Zoro said from where he was leaning against the mast. “We’re your crew.”

“Yeah, but why?”

“I never wanted to be a warlord, I fucking hated pirates thanks to Arlong. But I also hated the Navy since they didn’t save us.” Nami sat on a bench and Chopper sat next to her. “Arlong had me drawing him maps, stealing everything I could for him. I was locked in this one office alone, for weeks on end sometimes. And in there I found old things, he had brought with him from Fishman Island. About a pirate crew who would change the world. They had a fortune teller in Fishman Island that they all believed in. You don’t understand how much they believed in her. I don’t believe in that sort of stuff just happening. But if there was going to be crew that one day could stop the bad pirates and stop the navy, then I would fucking make it happen.” Nami looked up. “Ready the sails!”

Luffy watched the crew move around and Nami kept talking as they began to sail. “The fortune had hints of people and I gathered them, the guards and the pillars of the king. I made myself a warlord, and set connections, spies, fail safes all through the navy. We all agreed we were right together, even Zoro who doesn’t believe in gods or fate or anything.”

“I believe in my swords and perhaps a couple other things.” Luffy thought the way Zoro was looking at him meant that maybe he was one of those things.

“Something was keeping us from finding our leader,” Robin began to fill in, her many hands unfurling a sail. “We could all feel it. Paths meant to cross in certain ways didn’t. So we bided our time, got stronger. It almost happened at Marineford, but didn’t. I don’t think you understand Luffy, how much you’ve changed the world, you and your brothers. But I never thought of you as our captain, because I never thought the three of you would part.”

Luffy heard a noise and looked over. Saw Ace on his skiff, powered by his fire. “Bye, Ace! See you soon!” He waved as furiously as he could and almost fell over the side.

But Zoro caught him. Luffy watched Ace wave and more fire burst from his skiff and he was bouncing across the sea gone. For a moment, Luffy felt cracked in half. No, thirds, missing his brother, but Zoro bit his neck and Luffy began to laugh. 

“I created the warlord, to make that fortune happen. And now that we found you, the warlord died, and what happens next happens next.”

“How can you be so sure it’s me though?” Luffy frowned a bit. “Everyone says they want to be king of the pirates.” He looked at all of them. “How can you decide to follow me just like that?”

“Because our journey lead us here, to this moment, and we can all feel it.” Nami came forward. “Luffy, you took down Arlong, you got put in impel down because you punched a celestial dragon. You defeated one of the strongest warlords. To put it bluntly that is some king shit right there.”

Luffy laughed at that. “So I don’t have to steal Zoro and make a crew?”

“Your crew has been waiting for you, you just have to lead. So where to, Captain?”

“Have you heard of Zou? Traffy said it is an island on an elephant - he was going there and said I should too.”

“It will be hard to find, but I’ll set a course, captain.” Nami looked up. “Jinbe, let’s catch that nor east breeze.”

“Agreed,” Jinbe replied and Luffy had been so focused he hadn’t even noticed the super cool Fishman at the helm. 

“You all really are just going to follow me, because of a fortune and a weird feeling?”

“Why not?” Zoro shrugged. “Luffy, we all have dreams, big ones, impossible ones. We’ve been pretending we didn’t to survive. We’re ready to follow them. Just like you.”

In the sky he could see a swarm of birds, Koala coming for Sabo. 

Luffy nodded a bit. He had something he wanted to do desperately. He moved forward and sat on the head of the Sunny and looked forward. Saw all of everything laid before them, and smiled. 

“Hey, Zoro?”

“Yeah, Captain?”

That was weird that it just was handed to him. But he lived in a world where he was rubber, and his brother was fire, and his friend was made of mochi.

 And Luffy had fallen in love with a wolf. So maybe not so weird.

“I’m going to be king of the pirates.”

“Aye aye,” Zoro agreed. 

Luffy dove off of the head of the Sunny and into Zoro’s arms. The sun was shining and the wind was blowing and it was like one of Koala’s stories, that she learned from Robin. He wrapped around Zoro and bit his shoulder.

Zoro snarled in response which made heat pool in Luffy’s belly. 

“Zou is supposed to have lots of forests, we could play pretend in those woods. In the stories when the person in red goes walking through the woods the big bad wolf eats them up.”

“I thought the wolf was stopped.”

“That’s the boring version of the stories. You should absolutely eat me up.” Luffy giggled as Zoro licked his neck. Bit him. “Stupid that that story doesn’t have a happy ever after. The wolf and the person in red should be happy ever after.”

“Guess we’ll just have to make that happen then,” Zoro said. 

Luffy smiled. “Guess we will.”