Work Text:
Being in the marines is the best thing Coby could’ve wished for. He gets to help people in whatever way he can. Sometimes that means doing supply runs and carting boxes around and sometimes it means getting into fights with pirates to protect those who need it.
Most pirates are the worst of the worst. People who prey on others just because they’re weaker or don’t know how to defend themselves.
Once a pirate, always a pirate. That’s what the World Government thinks.
So what does that say about him?
He helped light those cannons, he helped in the raids and served the crew. He might not have killed anyone but does that matter when he stood by and did nothing? Does it matter when he hid until there was a mess to clean up?
Doesn’t watching make him worse? Even if he wasn’t strong enough, he could’ve done something, even if it killed him. Strength didn’t stop him from standing up to Akainu. Strength didn’t stop him from trying to fight Luffy.
It shouldn’t have stopped him from standing up to Alvida.
How many people got hurt because of him? How many of them could he have saved?
It’s these thoughts that plague Coby’s mind as he wipes down the outside of a windowsill. That’s one window done. He pulls at the ropes suspending the window cradle, lifting it up higher to the next floor. It’s effortless work and doesn’t require enough focus to keep his mind from wandering.
You’d think getting promoted to Captain would make him too busy for menial tasks but he knows the cadet who got assigned to the task. They got sick so Coby offered to help.
At the very least, it’s familiar work. He’s had plenty of experience cleaning on Alvida’s ship- “Damn it.” He curses under his breath.
It’s been two years since he’s joined the marines and yet that time of his life still haunts him. He still flinches when the drunk laughter gets too loud or when he fights against a mace-user.
At least he doesn’t flinch at the sound of cannonfire anymore. Not that he hears that often with Garp as his mentor.
Coby leans down and rinses the cloth he’s been using, wringing it out to make sure he doesn’t leave behind a soapy mess on the windows.
Does he even deserve this second chance? It only took him a few days for it to blow up in his face. Literally. He almost had to leave the marines because of the building he destroyed. What kind of marine does that?
Pulling the cradle up once more, Coby prepares to go through the motions again when he pauses and spots somebody moving inside.
It’s Hibari. Coby goes to wave at her but hesitates. What if she’s busy? What if he distracts her?
But then he notices something else. His friend who is usually so optimistic and determined looks a little down. Coby squints to get a better look at her through the murky glass.
Her hands are occupied with clearing out the barrel of her rifle but there’s a detached look on her face. Something twists in Coby’s chest. He’s never seen her like this before.
Before he can think twice, his hand taps against the glass. Hibari startles and looks over. Her eyes widen when he sees him sheepishly grinning and waving at her.
Setting down her rifle, Hibari crosses the room and unlatches the lock on the window. “Coby! What are you doing here? I thought you’d be training!”
“Well I was about to, but Vice Admiral Tsuru appeared and took Vice Admiral Garp away. Said something about paperwork.” Coby sweatdrops. He doesn’t pity his mentor in the slightest. Paperwork is the worst but it’s inevitable. “Are you busy? I can come back another time.” He offers.
Hibari is quick to shake her head and steps back. “No, come inside!” She watches as he ducks to get through the window. “If you’re not training, then why are you cleaning the windows? Do you need help?”
Coby smiles. Always a considerate one. “Thank you but I’ll be fine. Besides,” He gestures at the rifle further in the room. “You look like you’re already busy.”
Hibari follows his gaze and her eyes grow unfocused for a moment before she snaps back and shakes her head. “Right. I was just keeping my rifle clean. It’s important, you know?”
“I don’t use a gun, so I’ll take your word for it.” Coby frowns. “Hibari, are you okay?”
If it wasn’t obvious before, then the stiffening of her shoulders would’ve given her away. Her eyes flicker around the room before she sighs. “It’s stupid.” Her hand wraps around her elbow.
Coby’s frown becomes deeper as he tilts his head. He hesitates, biting the inside of his cheek. Should he ask? Or would that be too pushy?
“..Do you want to talk about it?” Coby asks. “I’ve been told it can help.”
Hibari hesitates before nodding. “It’s just..” She trails off. Coby waits patiently for her to answer as she fiddles with her sleeve.
“Do you want to sit down?” Coby offers after a few moments of silence. Hibari quietly nods and sits down near her rifle. Her hands automatically go back to cleaning it. The tension in her shoulder eases as she falls back into the rhythm.
They sit in silence for a while until “What if I’m not a good marine.” Hibari blurts out. Coby blinks at the question. “What if- What if I only got this far because of my dad? I know I’m a good sniper but am I good enough? There’s marines who are much better than me out there but I’m a Commander while they somehow are not.”
Coby’s eyebrows furrow in concern. “Hibari, you’re an excellent shot. And you’ve been on plenty of missions!” His friend has gotten him out of plenty of sticky situations before where he rushed into the fight unaware of another threat that she quickly took care of.
Coby nearly had a heart attack when he found out that the man who almost killed him was her father. Admiral- No, Fleet Admiral Akainu certainly hadn’t been happy to see him.
But Hibari is nothing like her father.
Hibari still looks doubtful so Coby puts a hand on her shoulder. “Listen.” He leans in. “You got here because of your own accomplishments. You’re a Commander because you know when to take action and because you take the actions needed to make sure everyone comes out alive.”
Hibari begins to tear up causing Coby to flail. “I-I’m sorry, was that too much?”
Shaking her head, Hibari wipes away her tears. “N-No! I-I think I just really needed to hear that.” She smiles at him. “Thank you.”
“Of course! What are friends for?” Coby smiles. “And if you ever get worried again, just come find me or Helmeppo, okay? He keeps me from spiralling sometimes, so he knows how to help.”
Hibari blinks. “You spiral too?” Realising what she just asked, her eyes widen in panic. “Ah- I mean you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I just-” Hibari flounders to find the words before taking a deep breath. “You helped me.” She looks him in the eye with a determined look on her face. “A-And I want to help you too.” She bashfully looks away. “If that’s okay.”
The words take a moment to process in Coby’s mind before he waves his hands. “That’s alright. I don’t want you to burden yourself with me.”
Hibari gets an odd look on her face as her hand still on the rifle. “Coby. You’re not a burden?” She sounds surprised at the idea that he doesn’t know this already. Like it hadn’t even been a possibility in her mind.
But that couldn’t be the case, right? She’s had to step in so many times because he got careless.
The lack of his answer makes Hibari frown. “You know this, right?” Her eyes flicker over his face. “Y-You’ve helped so many people.”
“Have I?” Has he helped more people than he hurt by doing nothing?
There’s a stubborn jut to her face. “You’ve helped me.” Hibari says as if daring him to argue.
Oh.
“I-I don’t know why you think you’re a burden but you’re not.” Hibari continues. “You go above and beyond to save people, to help them in any way you can even if you get hurt.” Boldened, she squares her shoulders and looks him in the eye. “You’re someone who cares about people even if they’ve done something wrong. I’ve seen you try and understand them and that makes you a great person. And I won’t let you think otherwise!”
When did he start crying? “Hibari..” Coby wipes away his tears with his sleeve. “I..”
“It’s okay if you need time to accept that.” Her eyes soften. “But I’m not letting you talk bad about my friend.”
Coby wetly chuckles as he tries to stop his tears. “You sound just like Helmeppo.”
Hibari huffs with a small smile on her face, crossing her arms. “Well maybe Helmeppo’s right. You should listen to him.”
Coby laughs softly. “I’ll try.”
And he would. Pirate or no pirate, it won’t stop his friends from caring about him. Hibari might not know about his past with Alvida, but something tells Coby that she wouldn’t blame him.
And maybe it’s best that she doesn’t know. For all that people underestimate her, she is a marine Commander. One who has earned her rank and keeps sharpening her skills. If she knew about Alvida? Impel Down would get a new prisoner in record time.
“Will you be alright?” He asks once his eyes no longer sting. Hibari nods and tilts her head. “Will you?” She echoes back.
Coby gives a weak smile. “I think so.”
Hibari waits a beat before picking up her rifle and slinging it over her shoulder. “I’ll go find Helmeppo.” She promises and throws him a look “Come find us when you’re done?”
“I will. I shouldn’t have that many floors left to clean.” Coby says as he walks back over to the open window. Hibari closes it behind him and waves as she walks out of the room.
Cleaning is a menial task that lets his mind wander. But when Coby finds his reflection staring back at him, he realises that maybe, he doesn’t have to keep thinking about the past. Not when there’s a bright light on the horizon.