Work Text:
Helmeppo:”you ready, Lieutenant?”
Helmeppo said as he walked into Kobys office.
Koby sat at his desk in silence, staring down at all of the Monkey D. Luffy memorabilia on his desk.
Posters, figurines, copious amounts of pirate treasure that he was gifted by him.
Usually, Koby Would quickly gather all of it and hide it away from anyone who saw, but right now, he didn’t care anymore.
Koby took a deep breath before he slowly started to put everything back into his box.
Helmeppo awkwardly waited for Koby to say something before slowly getting closer.
Koby refused to make eye contact as he took his sweet time cleaning up his desk.
Helmeppo:”Koby…you can’t keep him waiting forever…”
Koby still didn’t respond.
Helmeppo sighed, feeling empathetic for his guilt ridden best friend.
A true moral dilemma. Does Koby do what he’s told and green light luffys capture / execution or does he free Luffy back into the sea?
Koby didn’t wanna talk about it, not since they’ve caught him.
He was stuck In his own head, and he couldn’t seek guidance because not everything was supposed to be taken into account.
Like Koby being madly inlove with Luffy,
For example.
The marines might’ve not been aware of that, but Helmeppo was.
Koby loved Luffy like he loved no one else. He admired him, he worshipped him.
Only to be forced to chose between his career or his soulmate in the end.
Helmeppo:”…I told you this would happen-“
Koby:”just shut up, Helmeppo.”
Normally Helmeppo would rebuttal, but he knew Koby was right.
Helmeppo put his hands behind his back and nodded.
Helmeppo:”whenever you’re ready.”
He said before he turned around and left the room once again.
Koby took a deep breath, filled with dread and anxiety.
He didn’t want to do this.
He didn’t want any of this to happen…
Koby closed his eyes, trying to block out the thoughts of just running away from this to be freed from responsibility.
But he couldn’t run.
Luffy taught him not to.
Koby slowly got up out of his chair and walked towards the door.
The sounds of his marine shoes clacking on the marble floor echoed through the halls as he made his way downstairs to the cellar.
There were marines everywhere, including the fresh cadets whispering to each other as Koby walked passed them with his head held high.
Creating this persona of a tough marine took years to achieve, only for Koby to feel trapped and helpless.
He wanted people to know he was scared, he wanted them to agree and feel empathy towards him, but no.
It just wasn’t good for his reputation.
After all, no one wants a wimp for a lieutenant.
Koby continued to make his way downstairs until he reached the basement.
Koby entered, his eyes greeted by darkness.
A few marines stood a few cells away from Luffys cage, talking to each other before they saw Koby.
Koby walked over to them.
“H-hey Lieutenant…you gonna show this pirate who’s boss or what?”
The others quietly scoffed, but Koby wasn’t laughing.
He just stared at him.
Koby, the likable and well mannered marine wasn’t even cracking a smile.
They stopped their snickers and repositioned their postures to try and match Kobys seriousness.
Koby held his hand out infront of one of the marines.
It took him a few moments to realize that this gesture was Koby demanding to be given the keys.
?:”o-oh, ofcourse..”
The marine reached into his pocket to hand Koby the keys.
Koby:”you’re dismissed.”
?:”..um, sir are you sure? We’re under strict orders by vice admiral Garp to not let you near the fugitive without backup-“
Koby:”are you deaf?”
The Marine quickly shut up and awkwardly looked to his comrades for help.
?:”u-um? No, sir?-“
Koby:”You’re dismissed. Don’t make me tell you again.”
And that’s all they needed to hear.
They keys were put into the palm of Kobys hand before the marines quickly scurried out of the room, leaving Koby alone in the basement.
It was so quiet down here..
Koby took another deep breath before finally walking towards luffys cell.
Nothing could’ve ever prepared him for this sight.
Luffy was on his knees, chained up by his hands and neck.
Koby let out an impulsive gasp before covering his mouth with his hand.
Koby:”what did they do to you…”
Luffy slowly looked up at him.
Luffy:”they took my hat, Koby.”
Koby got closer and sat down on the dusty floor on the opposite side of the metal bars.
Luffy:”where’s my crew..”
Koby:”you’re crews in the other cellar,
They’re locked up together…”
Luffy scoffed.
Luffy:”they’re not together if their captain is missing, are they?”
Koby forced his lips into a weak smile, but before he knew it, he broke down.
Koby covered his face with his hands as he felt the tears burst out of his eyes.
He started to sob, trying his best to be quiet as if Luffy wasn’t sitting right in front of him.
Luffy:”that’s not gonna help, Koby…”
Koby:”P-Please…”
Koby sniffed.
Koby:”P-Please don’t hate me, Luffy…
Please…I’m begging you!”
Luffy took a deep breath.
Luffy:”you’re acting like I’ll let this happen, Koby!”
Koby peaked at him from in between his fingers.
Luffy:”you really think I’ll let them kill me? that’s the meanest thing you’ve ever said to me!..”
Koby wiped his nose with the sleeve of his uniform, still sniffing.
Koby:”n-no Luffy, you don’t understand… they have everything prepared, everything’s in place, you’ll be dead by tomorrow!”
Luffy shook his head.
Luffy:”things will work out for me, just like they always do, Koby-“
Koby:”snap out of it, you’re done for!”
Luffy:”why are you so sure?-“
Koby:”because I’m the one who’s supposed to kill you!”
Luffy paused.
Luffy:”…what?”
Koby:”They’ve caught on, Luffy…they know.-“
Luffy:”caught on? Caught on to what?”
Koby:”US, LUFFY! They know about US.”
Luffy shook his head and looked down in denial.
Luffy:”no…no, they couldn’t have..you would’ve told me..”
Koby couldn’t bring himself to deny that claim, and that told Luffy everything he needed to know.
Koby slowly shook his head.
Koby:”I’m sorry..”
Luffy:”why would you do this?..why would you…lie?”
Koby:”I didn’t lie! I just didn’t…tell you- you need to understand, I was doing it to protect you!”
Luffy:”protect me?…”
Luffy scoffed, but his eyes were full of betrayal.
Luffy:”you say this as if I need protection..”
Koby:”you’ve always needed protection,Luffy…
you’re reckless…𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙪𝙡𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚-“
Luffy:” don’t tell me what I am.”
Koby:”Luffy, I know you! And you know me so you should know that…I can’t kill you..”
Luffy:”yes you can. Those years of marine training prepared you for this-“
Koby:”no…this…this isn’t what I wanted.”
Luffy shook his head.
Luffy:”kill pirates and push the governments agenda, that’s what you signed up for, right?”
Koby:”that doesn’t mean I wanna kill you.”
Luffy:”I’m a pirate, aren’t I?”
Koby:”you’re also my best friend..”
Luffy:”weren’t you so insistent on thinking of me as more than a friend a few months ago?”
Koby looked at Luffy, he knew he’d bring that up at some point.
Luffy smiled. Koby couldn’t help but chuckle a bit.
Koby:”seriously, Luffy? Right now?…”
Luffy laughed.
Luffy:”it’s a more lighthearted topic than my execution so, you’re welcome..”
Koby shook his head, brushing his pink hair out of his face.
Luffy:”although you act like those two have the same weight”
Koby:”I do not?!”
Luffy:”no, you do! You literally started crying when I told you that I looked forward to getting married”
Koby sighed, embarrassed by the memories of his own actions.
Koby:”..whatever happened to that?”
Luffy shrugged.
Luffy:”this little setback might make me reconsider, Koby.”
Luffy said in a teasing way, but it hit Koby like a brick.
Koby looked down.
Luffy watched as his expression slowly dropped back into one that was definitely about to start crying again.
Luffy:”dude, I told you I’m getting out of here by tomorrow..”
Koby shook his head.
Luffy was always right, things had a funny way of always working out for him.
But this wasn’t one of those instances,
Luffy was going to die tomorrow.
Luffy was gonna die, and Koby will be stuck with that guilt for the rest of his life.
Luffys crew will probably avenge their captain by killing Koby in the future, and he definitely wasn’t going to fight it.
Maybe Koby will be sitting In his office, staring at the letters he’s sent Luffy over the years seconds before zoro would come in and slice his head clean off.
Or maybe sanji would stomp his head into the marble floor he’s worked so hard for until he was nothing but a bloody skull made of exposed skin and bones.
Perhaps usopp would prove himself useful by making some sort of trap for Koby, killing him right when he’d least expect it.
Or maybe nami would just beat him to death.
Luffys crew weren’t killers, but they’d go to the end of the world for their captain.
Koby has actually had dinner with his crew on multiple occasions, they were good people, as expected.
They even approve of their relationship, they provided the type of comfort the marines could never even dare to offer.
Koby looked at Luffy.
Koby:”you’re not only gonna die tomorrow, but you’re gonna be killed.”
Luffy looked off into the distance, although there was nothing there but darkness.
Koby:”infront of thousands of people, you will be executed…and I’ll be there,
Advocating it.”
Luffy:”this is really the person you want to be, Koby?”
Koby looked down.
He shook his head and chuckled.
Koby:”I won’t let you die, Luffy…and if it’s the last thing I do.”
Luffy smiled to himself.
Luffy:”aww, is big bad Koby gonna save a dangerous little pirate like me?”
Koby shook his head and looked up.
Koby:”you made a promise to me, don’t you forget that.”
Luffy leaned back and cracked his neck.
If the world government knew what that promise was, it would probably be Koby being executed tomorrow.
Luffy:”don’t do anything, Koby…I got this.”
Koby smiled, Luffy seemed to be convinced that his life was safe.
He could sugarcoat it all he wanted.
Koby knew that somebody was bound to die tomorrow.