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Holding on to a strap of your backpack with your right hand, you hummed as you swayed in the vast flower field. The large island the crew hand landed on was nice and peaceful, filled with greenery and kind people. And the slope covered in a rainbow of blooms was the perfect place to settle down for a while. Or it would be if not for the entity that had attached himself to your left appendage.
Luffy bounced on his feet slightly as he looked around and grasped your hand with his. This was something he liked to do a lot for whatever reason - attach himself to your person. Wherever you went together, he made sure to hold your hand. You weren’t so sure why he did this but it was nice anyway.
You looked at Luffy and smiled to yourself. He was so wide eyed and boyish as he took in the surroundings. “Why did you follow me today?” you asked him. “Usually you would head to the nearest restaurant.”
Luffy turned to you and grinned. “You’re fun and Sanji said he was gonna make a giant meal today so I’m gonna wait till then!”
Oh? You quirked your lips. Lufffy was notorious for having a bottomless pit where his stomach was supposed to be so this surprised you. You didn’t mind though as you enjoyed being close to Luffy. Before you allowed yourself to dwell on that for too long you pulled him forward until you found a nice spot to sit where he sank down next to you.
Legs out in front of you, you rifled around in your bag and pulled out a new book you had gotten from Robin. Luffy watched as you held the volume up and your eyes sparkled. They always did that when you saw something you liked. He liked that look a lot. He wanted to see you make that expression all the time.
You placed the book in your lap briefly to gaze over the cover. It was part of a series you had been enjoying recently and were grateful Robin had been able to snag a copy at the crew’s last pit stop. You lifted it up to finally start reading the weight of the tome was immediately replaced by Luffy placing his head on your lap while he reached up and placed his beloved hat on your own.
“For safekeeping,” he explained with a grin when you stared at him. His eyes glowed in the sunlight and made your heart squeeze in an odd way. Luffy never gave his hat to anybody except Nami sometimes. It made you feel special right then. You smiled down at him.
Feeling the need to speak, you said, “I’m sorry if I‘m not so entertaining today. All I would like to do is read.”
“That’s okay,” Luffy quipped. “I wanna stay with you anyway.” He yawned and settled his hands over his stomach. “Just gonna sleep a little…”
You smiled and bit your lip as you lowered your book again and leaned against your bag. Luffy was so odd but it was endearing as could be to you.
Time flowed over you as you read through your novel and carried the comforting weight of your friend’s head in your lap. You glanced over the top of your book to check on him. Luffy looked so peaceful and sweet when he was asleep that one would never expect him to be such an excitable ball of chaos when awake. The soft, warm breeze gently mussed his inky locks and his lightly bronzed complexion glowed under the gossamer streams of the sun. Beautiful was the first thing that came to your mind when looking at him. And beautiful the boy was.
You set your book down next to you on the pretty expanse and tilted your face towards the sun. Joining this strange boy and helping him with his dream of becoming King of the Pirates was the best decision you had ever made. All the adventure you had ever dreamed about growing up was now at your fingertips and then some. And it was all because of him offering you a chance at random. Blinking, you lowered your face again to find Luffy wide awake and looking at you.
His expression was blank for a moment before he broke out into his signature grin. “Hey,” he said happily. “What’re you thinking about?” He swished his feet from side to side as he asked this. How very cute. How very Luffy .
His unfiltered and unprovoked joy was contagious and you smiled widely back at him. “Just thinking about how glad I am I joined you.”
Luffy laughed softly. “I’m happy you joined me too. I couldn’t become King of the Pirates without you!”
Joined me , he said. Not us . You bit your lip to prevent your smile from spreading any wider. Luffy was more than a little dense so you weren’t concerned about him guessing your feelings but it didn’t stop you from being a little embarrassed by how obvious you were sometimes. There were times when he would arrange his words in such a way that they took your heart by storm and he had no clue. You ducked your head so your face could be hidden by the shade of his straw hat.
Luffy said your name and pulled you back into focus. “Read some of that book to me,” he asked.
“But Luffy, you don’t even like books.”
“Yeah but I like it when people read me stuff. It’s nice and reminds me of Makino.”
You puffed out a laugh and relented. “Okay, fine. Just for you I’ll start from the beginning so listen carefully!”
“Awesome!” Luffy responded with a laugh and wriggled around so he could settle.
Under the afternoon sunlight, you read a story to the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates until the sky started to bleed from a clear blue to a vibrant orange.
“Time to go,” you said softly as you looked up. Luffy nodded and jumped up as you slipped your book back into your backpack and slung it over your shoulders in preparation to stand up before he suddenly picked you up and put you on your feet.
You gave a little smile and tried to place his hat back on his head but he pushed your hand back and once again settled it down on your own. You looked at him with a bewildered expression but he just grinned at you and grabbed your hand again.
“Come on,” he called as he pulled you along suddenly, practically running. “I’m totally starved!”
He pulled you down the hill and you weaved through the busy town together, the waning light causing the lights to be turned on. Although you knew that they were just lampposts and lanterns, they looked like stars to you at that moment. It was just like Luffy to be able to make even the most mundane things seem magical.
Luffy looked back at you and you couldn’t help but to allow your mouth to split into a smile that rivalled his own. “Okay! Let’s go!” you called.
Your fingers intertwined tightly, tighter, tight as can be.