Work Text:
Egg.
Horace.
Parrot.
Flame.
Minute.
Jaden.
Theo.
Spoke.
Zam.
Jumper.
..And Lettuce.
All their eyes shifted, landing directly on Wemmbu. Minute stared him down, his look blank yet readable. Jaden kept his gaze, a silent storm in his eyes. Egg said nothing, he looked on, right at Lettuce. Flame scowled, and even with the blindfold, Wemmbu felt Flame’s gaze piercing his soul.
And then there was Lettuce.
A resigned look on his face, like he already knew the outcome to this vote. Wemmbu was the deciding factor. Arguably one of the most affected by Lettuce’s reign.
Lettuce, despite all odds, had tried to create a better server for the people of Unstable. He had seen the rise and fall of every nation. But the odds had caught up. A sad resignation sat heavy on his shoulders. He understood the likely outcome.
In hindsight, it was a simple question. Should Lettuce be killed, or spared. In hindsight, it was simple.
Lettuce had destroyed the peace Wemmbu had strived to keep, and had imprisoned him as a pawn in his games. Wemmbu was just a tool for a greater picture.
If roles were reversed, Lettuce wouldn’t hesitate.
Lettuce would move right. He’d stare down Wemmbu with a cold, unnerving gaze as his fate was decided at that very moment. Lettuce himself would do the honor of executing Wemmbu, no doubt.
So why did he still hesitate?
Wemmbu’s hands balled into fists, his unkempt nails digging into his palms. Usually, Wemmbu prided himself in his pristine looks. But ever since Law had grown, he found himself with less time to take care of his appearance. His usual silky hair lay tangled, and dirtied on his shoulder. Blood soaked his clothes. His own, maybe. Others, definitely. Wemmbu had never felt so disgusting before, and he knew exactly who to blame.
Yet. He still paused. Why?
For a second, Wemmbu imagined Rejoice. His bright grin filled his mind, clouding his thoughts of hatred, and revenge. What would Rejoice say?
Simple. Forgive and forget, right? That’s what he said about Jaden, wasn’t it? And look at them now, the best of friends. Close enough that it even had Wemmbu second guessing fighting Lettuce head on when he heard the threat. Jaden was being held hostage. How that had turned out, huh?
Wemmbu gaze slid across the room, landing on Jaden. It was obvious the vendetta Jaden had against Lettuce. Other than the hostage situation, Lettuce had taken everything from him.
His entire civilization, all his pirates. Gone. Just because Lettuce believed he was a threat. An oppressor. How hypocritical that all was, huh? Was that what Jaden was thinking? Despite his immovable determination, in the end, Lettuce had still won.
Everyone in this room had the right to decide. All of them, one way or another, were wronged by Lettuce.
Wemmbu shifted, tensing, and untensing his hands. He looked to Egg, his best friend. Forgive and forget? He had said that, hadn’t he? Just like Rejoice had.
Wemmbu didn’t want to run anymore. He was tired of being the strongest, being hunted down. He just wanted to be himself.
Parrot’s eyes never left Lettuce, but Wemmbu knew he was thinking about his vote. The old Wemmbu would’ve laughed while choosing to kill Lettuce. Might’ve even offered to kill him himself. An easy blow to the head with his mace would’ve done it. It would shatter his skull into tiny, little pieces, and Wemmbu would’ve been satisfied.
The old Wemmbu, that is.
But he liked to think he’d changed. He’s far from his old self. And he was happy with that.
Again, he thought of Rejoice. If Wemmbu deserved a second chance, then shouldn’t Lettuce as well? After all, their circumstances had both shaped them into who they had become. Lettuce just hadn’t had anyone to set his morals straight. Wemmbu has Egg to thank for that.
In hindsight, it was a simple answer. Yes. Lettuce should be killed after everything he's done. But nothing was ever that simple, was it?
Wemmbu breathed in slowly, steadying his shaking thoughts. If someone like him deserved another chance, someone who had taken, and taken from others, then surely Lettuce deserved one as well.
Wemmbu breathed out a puff of air, straightening his chestplate as he turned to the left. He felt Jaden’s eyes leave him, and he saw as Lettuce swallowed.
A slow, proud smile creeped onto Minute’s face. Not just because Wemmbu had picked to spare Lettuce, but because he had actually thought it over. Slowly but surely, Wemmbu was improving. And that was all Minute could ask for.
Wemmbu situated himself next to Zam, a crooked smile spreading across his face.
“Forgive, and forget, right?”