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A moment of peace.
Finally.
Close your eyes. Take in a deep breath. Feel the sensations around you: the warm temperature, the smell of the fresh sea air, the coolness of the wind blowing through your hair…
Enjoy that? Good.
This is a good moment. A nice moment. A peaceful moment. A rare moment... a very rare moment, in fact. Actually, it’s kind of unbelievable that you are able to enjoy a moment such as this. When was the last time you stopped and took it all in?
Hm… not in a long time, that’s for sure. Certainly not since meeting up with your current companions.
...
A movement from underneath where your hand is resting jolts you back to the present moment. The weight in your lap lifts slightly as the head laying there readjusts, getting comfortable. You look down and can’t help but smile at the sigh of comfort that escapes from the person sleeping there. Your fingers glaze through the mess of soft, spiky hair, stopping every so often to scratch at the scalp. He curls further into your lap, hugging your crossed legs to his face. You continue to smile and stroke your hand across his head, watching the stars above and listening to the sounds of everything going on around you.
Hear the roar of the fire, the creaking of the ship as it is rocked like a baby’s cradle by the floating octopus, the faint hammering coming from Usopp and Chopper fixing the hull of the ship, the chatter between Nami and Sanji, and the fading crackle of fire before it finally extinguishes… wait, what?
“It went out!” Luffy gasps, standing up and watching the place where the flame was only moments before with surprise.
You feel movement on your lap when Zoro sits up, resting his elbow against your knee. “Out of fuel?” he asks groggily, rubbing sleep from his eyes and stretching out sore muscles.
“Hey Usopp, we’re about to make a splashdown!” Sanji suddenly calls out, realising that the sniper and doctor likely wouldn’t have noticed the imminent descent yet.
Standing up and stretching your own arms, you watch as Luffy jumps onto the mast and scales the side of it, reaching up as far as he can to hold a lighter to the belly of the octopus. “You can do it octopus balloon!” he calls out, trying to encourage the flame back into existence.
“You idiot, just hit the deck!” Sanji scolds, though you can’t hold in the chuckle at his efforts. Not until the sudden belly-dropping feeling of free-falling forces a gasp out of you. Zoro cages you to the railing, trying with all his strength to keep you secure against him. Clinging onto his torso, you can feel his muscles tensing while he holds on for dear life. You close your eyes, trying to focus on him to keep the panic of potential impending death at bay. The wind rushes past your ears, your hair flies upwards and you aren’t sure you’ve ever felt so wobbly in your life.
Somehow hearing the squeaks of a certain terrified crewmate over the wind, your eyes shoot open. Quickly you unlatch Zoro from your body and push him out of the way to run to the railing of the Going Merry, sticking out an arm to pull up the panicking sniper and doctor.
Thankfully you weren’t a moment too late as the Going Merry crashes into the sea, the splash creating a wave that surfers would be proud to ride. “Just in the nick of time!” Usopp sighs, thanking you. Chopper transforms back to his small self and nuzzles into your shoulder, until he notices that the octopus has completely deflated and switches into full doctor mode. “There, you should be all better now.”
Once the octopus has been seen to, Luffy snatches them out from Chopper’s examinations, holding them close in a hug before raising them up to the air. “That’s twice you’ve help us now, thanks!” There is no hesitation in his actions before he tosses the octopus into the water with a big splash. The octopus pops up and starts waving one of its tentacles in farewell, the hint of a smile on their face.
All the Straw Hats run to the side of the ship: Chopper hangs onto the railings, Zoro stands nexts to him with his arms crossed, Sanji and Nami are watching from the balcony, while you are with Luffy as he leans over the side. Everyone starts wishing the sea creature a fond farewell.
“Take care!” Chopper calls sweetly. “I hope you make some good friends in the Blue Sea!”
Zoro grins evilly, “Go give all those Grand Line octopuses a throttling!”
“So long seafood ingredient!” Sanji waves.
“Thanks for everything!” Nami shouts cheerily. “Be careful on your way!”
“Take care of yourself!” You call, a kind smile on your face. “Hope you didn’t mind being a balloon for a while!”
Usopp and Robin chuckle as the octopus gives the crew a final wave and disappears into the sea. You turn to Luffy who has his head bowed causing the shadows from his hat to cover his eyes. He stands up suddenly, posing in a power stance, “Okay then… set the sails men! Let’s go to the next island!”
Smiling at his enthusiasm, you turn back to the sea crossing your arms. You can hear Usopp start to complain in the background but tune it out to enjoy the last moment of calm when you feel a presence next to you. “What are you so happy about?” Zoro grumbles, though you can detect a hint of care and concern in his tone.
“Just saying goodbye to a nice, peaceful moment.” You shrug, turning your head to him and smiling warmly. For a moment he watches you in the morning sun before huffing and turning away to look at the sea as well, though you can see a smile creep onto his lips as he does so.
Your ears catch Nami talking about waves which sounds like it could be important so you nudge Zoro, bumping into his shoulder. “Well, onto the next adventure, I guess.” You say, a wry grin on your face as you face each other.
Zoro mirrors your expression and bumps your shoulder in friendly retaliation as you go to join the rest of the crew together.