Chapter Text
2007
“WE ARE THE PIRATE KINGS!” two little boys shout in unison standing on top of a rickety old play set bought for cheap.
“I AM IKE, I ATE THE SHA SHA FRUIT. I’M GONNA KICK THE BAD GUYS’ BUTT” the boy with shaggy black hair raises his hands up in the air. He carries a homemade sword a bit too big for his small hands. Dark purple shadows danced around his arms like little electrical currents.
“And I am Herman! I ate the… uhh drop drop fruit!” the other boy with ginger hair exclaimed with one fist halfheartedly raised up in the air clutching a slingshot. Water is perpetually leaking from his pores so much so his shirt is drenched.
“C’mon Herm, you gotta be louder” Ike muttered like there was an audience watching them.
“Uhh…”
“Shout it!!” Ike’s booming squeaky voice startled Herm, almost making him slip off the playset. That’s the right jumpstart to his confidence. Both of his fists raise up in the air now.
“I AM HERMAN, I ATE THE DROP DROP FRUIT AND I’M THE BEST HERO IN THE WORLD!” the boy’s voice cracked as he screamed but the sound carried in their backyard. Ike smiled wide at his best friends confidence. He quickly took Herm’s hand in his, both of their hands raised together.
“YEAH WE ARE THE PIRATE DUO!!” Ike shouted to the heavens. Herm looked at the excitement in his best friend's eyes. It was contagious because soon both of them were yelling and pretending to fight the Marines on the play set.
It was a wonderful summer evening for the boys. Herm’s dad let him sleepover at Ike’s apartment for the night. A summer break treat for getting good grades. He loved hanging out with Ike. He was so fun to be around.
Eventually the boys went inside to cool off and to watch One Piece on Toonami. They ran inside excited to catch the episode. Ike’s uncle is so cool because he gave Ike all of the manga for his birthday. Herm got permission to read them so the two of them can be at the same part.
The boys came through the back door that entered into the kitchen. The smell of Ike’s mom’s delicious Mac and Cheese was coming out of the oven. Ike’s mom was at the small dinner table looking very serious at some mail. The two took their shoes off from playing out in the dirt. As Herm took his shoes off small droplets of water dripped onto the tile.
“Sorry Mrs. Ike’s Mom. I-I’ll clean it up” Herm apologized. The kids at school say he’s gross because of his powers. Always moist, always dripping. Ike’s mom’s attention went to Herm, tilting her reading glasses down.
“Oh that’s okay sweetheart! I’ll clean it up, only a little bit anyways” Ike’s mom assured. She was a nice
They slid into the living room, but Ike’s older sister Evie already claimed the couch and the TV. She was painting her nails while watching the new episode of Gossip Girl.
“Snooze you loose lame-o” Evie said with a grin.
“Evie! You had the TV yesterday. And Herm is sleeping over” Ike whined.
“No I didn’t dumb dumb. Mom had the TV to watch that bad action movie. It’s my turn” Evie retorted back. The two siblings shared ugly faces with each other. Ike pulled his mouth apart with his tongue out while Evie pulled her nose back to look like a pig. Herm laughed at their antics. He wishes he had siblings, but Ike’s the closest thing he’ll get to a brother.
“If you wanna do something tell me this if you two are some smart heroes” Evie paused her nail painting to point at the coffee table. On top of a coaster was a glass of water at the halfway point.
“Use your gummy fruit or whatever to tell me if that glass is half full or half empty” Evie then continued to paint her nails.
“It’s devil fruit dumb dumb”
”Whatever, you guys are in elementary now, your smart” The two boys looked at the glass.
“Looks half full” Ike stated with his head slightly tilted.
“What? It looks half empty to me…” Herm muttered. The two boys sat down on the floor to get a closer look.
“See, it’s half full” Ike pointed at the end of the water. Herm squinted to see what he was talking about, but he just couldn’t see it. Ike turned, seeing the confusion in his friend's eyes.
“I see it’s half full and if I believe it’s half full then it’s half full! I make it half full. You get me?” Ike claimed. That only seemed to confuse Herm more. He could say it’s half full, but he doesn’t believe it is. Herm’s shoulders slump. A disappointment growing in his chest. Why can’t he see it as half full like Ike?
“But I can’t make it half full…” Herm pouted. Ike’s expression softened looking at his friend's sad expression. Then an idea popped in his head. The boy grabbed Herm’s hand and held it over the cup. Slowly drips of water plopped into the glass.
“Yeah you can! You have super cool hero powers that can do that! My shadow powers can’t do that so you’re special!” Herm looked up seeing that big grin on Ike’s face. One that’s brightened up the world like it was the biggest candle in the universe. The gesture warmed Herm’s heart a ton. A way of showing that his weird awkward powers can do something.
He looked back at the glass and surely enough the glass was half full.
~~
Ike is moving. Not too far, but not too close to where they can visit each other. Ike’s mom can’t pay for their apartment now that the energy company she works at laid her off among other people. The goodbye is teary. Evie’s in the van while Ike’s mom stays out to watch the boys say goodbye.
The two are hugging tightly. For the first time he saw Ike cry. He cried like he hadn’t cried before. Herm was also crying too, getting his best friend wet in the process. When he’s extremely nervous or upset his powers go haywire.
“I’m gonna miss you” Ike sniffles. His grip is tighter on Herm like he never wants to let go. The boy hated the idea of moving ever since his mom said it might be a possibility. Herm hated it too. It was like a piece of him was being ripped away. It was the same feeling he felt when mom disappeared.
“I’m gonna miss you more” Herm sobbed. Ike then pulled away. His shakey hands still firm on Herm’s shoulders.
“When we grow up and become heroes we’ll be the best duo in LA” he confidently said. The idea of a hero seemed so far away from Herm. To be like his idols? To be like Mecha Man? That was just a dream to him. The way he makes a mess at school, the kids making fun of him, there’s no way.
“Y-You think I can be a hero?” Herm softly asked, his hand goes up to wipe away the water and snot.
“I think you can be the bestest hero ever. But you have to promise that you’ll be one with me one day when we see each other” Ike moved his hand in front of Herm. His pinky stuck out awaiting the seal of the deal. Herm looked up to his best friend. His confidence, his spirit. Everything Herm wasn’t. He had wished to be like him. And Ike believed in him wholeheartedly.
Herm hooked his pinky to Herm’s tightly curling it.
“We’re gonna be the bestest heroes ever. Together” Herm smiled through the tears. Ike smiled brightly then pulled in for another hug.
Herm watched with his Dad and Grandma the moving truck drive away. The boy held his pinky to his chest. The grip of his best friends still faint on his skin and the determination still lingering.
Herm had never intended on breaking that promise. But life had other plans for him and Ike in the future…