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The constant hum of chatter and laughter was interrupted every so often with the sharp hoots and pointed cackles that scattered among the crew. The air was sticky and tasted of the ale and sweet wine that everyone had helped themselves to. You were restocking soon, so why not? You were all sat together in the lower deck, taking any position of comfort you could find in the crowded living space.
Some of the crew were huddled in hammocks in twos and threes, others perched on spare stools and random barrels. Three of the acrobats sat up on some beams, laughing together and occasionally throwing scraps of food down into Richie’s mouth at the behest of Mohji.
You’d been one of the lucky ones to claim the long bench that had been pushed against the wall. Where it even came from you had no idea, this ship was filled with things you hadn’t expected to find.
Alvida was to your left and kept your attention as you discussed the new abilities she’d obtained after eating that devil fruit she found. Which had you wondering, again, why so many pirates were eating these things. Pirate equals life on the ocean. Ocean equals large expanse of danger water you need to navigate. Did they all just kind of expect to not have to deal with swimming? On a ship? In the literal ocean?
You guessed there were those who didn’t exactly choose to eat a devil fruit on purpose.
You’d perched your legs up in front of you on a stray crate, letting you lean back on the wall as you talked. Your hand carded absentmindedly through Buggy’s hair, his head laid on your lap as he stretched out across the rest of the bench to your right.
He was discussing something or other to Cabaji about the plan for when you would finally reach Loguetown tomorrow. He’d been antsy all day about it, pacing and fidgeting and arguing with the others as he ordered them to do as much prep as they could. Which included egging them on (and taking bets on any winners) as they ran the circus equivalent of combat drills.
Even just watching them, and him, tired you out. That’s when you’d been roped in by him to practice with Cabaji because, as he’d said once, ‘everyone on the crew fights’. At least you’d started off with learning basic blocking with daggers.
You’d told Cabaji if he even thought about pulling out his sword you were cutting his off and Buggy had fallen backwards from the crate he’d been perched atop of as he’d laughed hysterically.
Your muscles ached and you winced as you readjusted yourself, Alvida sending you a wry smirk as she stopped speaking mid-sentence.
“Not what you think,” you retorted, rolling your eyes at her as she laughed. “I got my ass kicked by a unicycle-riding freak thank you very much, I don’t need you giving me shit too.”
“If you want pointers from someone competent, you can always just ask,” she cooed before she cringed back in her seat, making a face towards the floor. You looked to where she stared as a slightly wrinkled apple rolled past your feet across the timber.
“Filthy,” She scoffed.
You snorted into the cup of ale you had raised to your lips, grinning as Buggy shot his arm out without even looking to grab the offending-fruit. He didn’t miss a beat as he yelled about ‘pathetic disguises’, barely pausing as he bit into it. He made a face of a disgust, sticking his tongue out with apple bits attached, before he sent it rolling off again.
“Do you even know how to use daggers?” You joked, turning back to Alvida. “I’ve only ever seen you use that club of yours.”
And holy shit was she a beast with it. You’re glad you’ve never encountered her as an enemy.
“It’s useful to know how to use many weapons,” she said slyly. “Don’t underestimate those looks of yours either.”
You genuinely laughed then, Buggy’s eyes shooting up to you quickly before focusing back on his crew member.
Alvida stood up slowly, dusting off her coat thoroughly as she looked at the bench in disdain.
“If you need me, I’ll be where the red wine is,” she told you, raising her empty glass. You pouted as she walked away, your own cup was slowly getting empty and there was not much you could do to refill it. You didn’t want to move, you were entirely comfortable as is.
You instead turned your focus to Buggy, watching as he easily threw commands at his crew. His face was bright, cheeks rosy under his makeup as he laughed at something Cabaji said. Which, by the look on his face, he hadn’t intended to be funny.
Buggy’s lashes were dark and full, directing your attention to the light that reflected in his eyes that made him all the more breathless to look at as he spoke. They crinkled as he laughed harder.
You looked up to see what had caused it only to find Mohji and Cabaji grappling together, the latter exasperated and annoyed as Mohji sneered in jest. Buggy threw out his arm, his hand flying over to pull at Cabaji’s hair who was none the wiser to his captain’s involvement.
The crew was honestly like a hoard of demented children but you were a part of this hoard of freaks now, and you enjoyed it. It was so vastly different to any social or old family interaction you’d ever had. You loved it.
You huffed humorously as Richie joined the squabble, bouncing and wiggling low beside the men in a way that would have made you nervous if you didn’t know the lion for as long as you had.
One of the acrobats from above threw a block of cheese that landed perfectly on Mohji’s back while he held Cabaji down and you and Buggy cackled loudly as the lion tackled them playfully.
You tilted your head to meet Buggy’s dopey grin as he stared up at you.
“Hey handsome,” you teased.
“I know you are but what am I?” He retorted quickly. You flicked his ear in retaliation. This fucking clown.
“Have you ever seen a lion take a dump in a toilet?”
You stared at him in amused confusion. What? That came out of nowhere.
Oh my god, he was actually waiting for you to answer.
“…No,” you laughed disbelievingly after a moment. “I can’t say I have.”
He giggled hoarsely at your reply, waving his arm over at the grappling men and lion as his hand flew back over to reattach to its end.
“You’re one of the lucky ones,” he mock shuddered in your lap. “Woke up one night for a midnight piss and opened the door to that fat lug squatting over the hole. One of the worst things I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen things.”
“HE’S NOT FAT!” was shouted at you both, the muffled voice coming from under Richie’s stomach. How did Mohji even hear that?
You looked at Buggy with a raised brow.
“So you’re saying I need to keep an eye out when I use the toilet in the middle of the night?”
“Well obviously you’ve gotta knock first,” He snorted. “What, were you raised in a barn?”
“You obviously didn’t knock yourself,” you exasperated with a laugh.
“I was raised on a ship, sweets, we never knocked,” he shot back. “Learnt now though.”
Weirdly enough, it didn’t surprise you too much that the crew learned how to knock on a toilet door because they shared it with a lion.
Richie, you’re a real one.
Buggy disentangled your hand from his hair, ignoring your annoyed whine as he held it close to his chest and played with your fingers.
Whistles and cheers started up across the room and you looked over at the commotion.
Alvida had somehow convinced one of the crew mates to start up a song, a bawdy tune being howled out soon enough by most everyone in the tight space.
You laughed at the words that fell from Alvida’s lips as she sung with her arm around one of the jugglers. Something about a sailor going nine rounds a night and- holy shit, you did not expect that from Alvida of all people.
“I knew she had it in her,” Buggy cackled, his head tilted to watch everyone has they all launched into the next verse together. It was incredibly loud in the enclosed space and even warmer than before. It wasn’t overwhelming, just…nice. You liked this weird pirate domesticity thing they had going on.
You studied him, curling your fingers into his as he laughed at the display before him. Genuine glee shone from him as he piped in a few times just to sing the dirtiest words. You felt your smile turn sappy even before the stupid butterflies swarmed your stomach.
Buggy had lit a brand new flame in you, a new desire, and you would do anything to keep it alight.
He had always intrigued you, from the very first moment you had been hired by him. He’d become a weird friend more than a client and it had showed as you accepted more and more job ops with him. No other individual, marine or pirate crew were able to repeatedly hire your talents as much as he had. It had been dangerous but it had been fun. Over time that had become attraction and now it’s, whatever this feeling was. And it was terrifying. Terrifying and exciting.
You were interested in chasing this new flame, you wanted to see what would happen, what it could become. The call of a new adventure always enticed you and you never could ignore it.
Buggy turned his face back up to you, smile wavering with confused questioning.
“Take a picture if you need to,” he teased. “I know I’m the best looking guy here, but geez!”
There it was, that easy to miss playful dig at himself. The way he said it like it was a joke. He really didn’t believe someone could actually find him to be the best looking guy around.
You removed your hand from his and cupped under his jaw, holding him still as you curled down inwards to kiss the rough stubble on his chin.
“You’re beautiful Buggy,” you said with a gentle smile, pouring your honesty into every word. Take that, you loveable freak.
Your lips curved higher at his stunned silence, completely enamoured with the breathlessness in his face. He blinked a few times before he looked away, his cheeks reddening and eyes shining.
“Obviously,” he muttered, turning the side of his face into your thighs. He pressed a kiss to the bare skin below the hem of your shorts and you scratched under his jaw in response. Naw, the scary clown pirate captain was a big, sappy-hearted softie.
He rolled off the bench and onto all fours suddenly, jumping up in time to belt the next chorus of the song. The crew cheered loudly as he made his way to their center, spinning wildly and stomping in dance.
He easily took to the spotlight in the space they had made for him the moment he’d approached. You watched them all, smiling as you drank the last of your ale.
These people were really starting to feel like home.