#Buggy: A stupid coward little clown? | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

writingmeraki · 1 year ago

Text

i. bravery or stupidity ?

a roronoa zoro series !

SERIES MASTERLIST | NEXT

chapter summary : you thought surely you were going to die a coward that day but little did you know, you'd be braver than you ever thought you were.

chapter warnings : canon violence and mentions of weapons, cuss words, descriptions of injuries and bruises ( lmk if i missed anything )

TAGLIST ( open ! ) :

@smolracoon25 ; @dimplewonie ; @hearts4zoro ; @katiemrty ; @emelia07 ; @hopefulrascalstatesmantoad ; @tfamidoingwithmylife ; @chims-kookies ; @stevenknightmarc ; @yoong1c0re ; @sseleniaa ; @lovefooi ; @alotofrandomfangirling ; @multifandomedsimp ; @taiwan0618 ; @nadlx33333 ; @ye0nvibezzn ; @candyquokka ; @blossomedfloweroflove ; @qalable <3

word count : 8.08k ( whew so much for an intro wtf )

The repetitive circus music began, flashing lights and the clapping, oh the clapping echoed in your mind, your head hung low, not wanting to look up even though you heard harsh whispers through the music to follow as the signs say.

How could you when your hands were constrained behind you with a rope?

Well, a rope you were almost through with cutting off with a very small blade you always hid under your tongue that wasn’t taken away with your knives and weapons.

But this time, you decided to look up, something in your gut told you that this was worth seeing, worth paying attention to as you saw three figures in the middle, the lights shining on them but from where you were, further at the back, you could not make out their faces.

Raising an eyebrow in curiosity, you peeked ahead trying to see if you knew them, though you were pretty sure they were new, perhaps not even from your town because surely you knew almost everyone.

You could see a guy with a straw hat, hair seemingly curly or just simply messy in a white t-shirt, you saw a redhead to his left who was looking around and from her body language, you figured she was just as confused as most of you.

When your gaze landed on the last figure, immediately you thought before you could even properly figure him out,

That is such an ugly hair color, looks like mold green good gosh!

You wondered as you continued to squint at him, somehow even from afar, you could tell he was the most nonchalant regarding, whatever the fuck was going on. He seemed taller compared to the others and stronger as you scanned his muscles.

One of the flashing lights caught onto something shiny on his left ear,

Ah earrings, maybe mold green does know about fashion huh?

Suddenly the music stopped as you heard the voice of the psychopath you hated more than you hated losing your knives.

“-top stop! No stop!” You tore your gaze away from ‘mold green’ as you nicknamed and looked at the clown.

He was once again, blabbering about how everyone had messed up his entrance and you couldn’t help but clench your jaw in anger as you saw him spit in the face of a guy dressed up as a lion.

It’s all wrong, it’s…wrong.

“Hey! I know you,” Everyone’s attention including yours shifted to the voice,

“I saw your wanted poster in Shells town. You’re the clown guy.” Now you were more than curious as to who exactly this character was, briefly pausing your excruciating task of slowly cutting the very firm and strong rope with all but a tiny blade.

“Um uh, Binky right?” Lightly snorting at the mispronunciation,

“Buggy” “Buggy the clown.” You scoffed at his words, already more than fed up with this nonsense, more specifically of your entire situation.

He continued introducing himself, but you tuned him out as you focused on the three before you. You had an instinct that they weren’t any ordinary townspeople or some sort of tourists.

You flinched when you saw Buggy leap forward as the audience gasped, you felt a sort of anger when he grabbed the Straw Hat’s face.

Cringing at the way he slapped straw hat’s hand when he was about to touch his nose, rolling your eyes at his pathetic attempt to assert his power.

“Hey! I am not a nobody, I am Monkey D. Luffy.”

“And I will be king of the pirates.”

Now, you were caught off guard, you didn’t think out of everything, Luffy was a freaking pirate. And what did you think of pirates? You hated them.

Your hatred sprouted from the scar that ran through your right eyebrow to your right cheekbone, it healed over time but it was always a reminder of what was once a past incident you’d never wish on anyone.

Buggy seemed to take that as a joke, countering with his own supposed accomplishments as a pirate which were making you more annoyed than you already were as the rope tying your hands seemed to make no difference in losing up even though it’d been a while since you started trying to cut them.

Though you must admit, all this blabbering Buggy did about the map to the treasure that will make one the king of the pirated had you more curious than ever. You knew about it, heard it through stories told in what was left of your town.

The One Piece.

And if it did exist, you’d rather it be in any other person’s hands but the boon of an existence clown and well…ex-pirate you suppose.

Even if it had to be in the hands of Luffy.

Somehow, your gut was able to tell, that he was…different. A different pirate from the known rogues that you knew and had encountered in your life. You preferred to trust your gut after one too many instances where you did the opposite and ended up regretting it.

“-said don’t make me laugh!” You snapped out of your thoughts, once again blocking out what was happening in front of you. You were never one who lost focus, you knew better as a fighter how important it was to pay attention to every detail but also who could blame you for not being fully conscious when you’d not even had food or simply water for the past two days?

Besides, your hands were your priority right now, freeing them would ultimately lead you even closer to freedom. Fortunately for you, you felt one part of it loosen up, allowing your left hand to wiggle.

“All right, listen up.” Suddenly it was silent, which for once stunned you as the spotlight shifted to one of the three “pirates”.

It was mold-green-headed guy, and of course, he had to be even better looking than you’d even guessed.

“I’m Roronoa Zoro.” He moved forward as he spoke, towards Buggy. And you had to admit though, it was the first time since a long time, you’d seen someone so-

“Drop your weapons and I may let you live.”

Now there goes the image you’d made of him. You felt he’d be rational, maybe try to negotiate something with the crazed clown but here he was, threatening a bunch of armed minions while he stood defenseless, his only weapon being well…his threat.

Though you must admit, it’s brave of him, as your father once taught you, there’s a thin line between courage and stupidity, you ought to know where you fall into, and taking in the situation, Zoro over here definitely was not passing into the brave territory much.

As you expected, Buggy didn’t take it lightly, he taunted Zoro and his minions were now preparing to attack.

“Wait, wait what if I have something else to offer you?” The redhead spoke up, your eyes darting back to her as they’d been previously been unknowingly staring, not that you wanted to but it was like you couldn’t help it.

“Something more valuable than the map, what if I give you a new freak for your crew?”

“A rare talent. The most spectacular act in all of the East Blue.”

“Besides you, of course.”

She began to move beside Luffy, and abruptly she pulled off his straw hat and threw it in the air.

What the actual fuck?

You thought as Luffy screamed and now it was your turn to become more surprised when all of a sudden his arm…elongated and stretched up up in the air to grab the hat.

You blinked once, twice to make sure you were not hallucinating due to malnourishment but then it struck you.

He consumed the Devil Fruit.

Your gaze shifted back to the redhead and you promptly got another realization that it was a distraction to allow her to escape.

But, aren’t they in the same crew?

She…betrayed them?

You didn’t know what to think, and how could you possibly conclude if they even cared for each other because you didn’t even know them, barely their names and well…superpowers now.

Her attempt was a failure as she was dragged back in.

“What did you do?! What did you do to their town?! You destroyed everything!” She yelled as she stood in front of the clown again.

This hit you in a way it hadn’t in a while, you knew your town was ruined, destroyed but it also reminded you of how you weren’t able to do much to save it before you were held captive.

You’d fought and you’d fought hard, alas your defeat wasn’t truly because of not being able to take them down, instead, you were threatened.

A life for a life.

Buggy promised if you’d take down any more of his lunatics, he’d end up killing the children he’d held captive.

Giving up wasn’t a choice, you had to surrender before he could get through with his sickening words.

You gulped as you felt the familiar taunting in your head, chanting the repetitive words of how you failed to be a ‘hero’. How you failed to protect those who you loved, those who were innocent.

And that voice only felt louder as you saw two of the three being taken to the forbidden green room named by Buggy.

No, you couldn’t let more people suffer, you had to find a way to end this. You had to save your people.

Taking a deep breath, you concentrated on the blade cutting each fiber of thread as swiftly as it was possible.

Your left hand being more free was a huge benefit, letting you cut it more quickly.

And finally.

Finally, you felt the rope tug off completely.

You were in disbelief that your plan worked, the tiny blade you hid under your tongue being able to cut through the rope.

Moving your hands in front of you, you closed and opened them, trying to bring back life into them. Your shoulders ached, and you rolled them trying to ease the cramps.

Now all you needed was a plan.

But what plan?

You stood up firstly, quietly as you could without drawing anyone's attention and you looked sideways to see if anyone was observing you.

No one seemed to have noticed you, likely far too scared probably from not following what was on the signs, and that fueled your anger more.

In front, Luffy was being chained up, a sick feeling once again rising in you as you stood there helpless on how you could help him.

You weighed your options.

It would be quite frankly risky to just oppose Buggy from where you were, weaponless too, and not that you didn't trust your own fighting abilities, you did know it was a risk to count on stamina that was running on adrenaline purely out of survival at the moment.

You figured the first step was to find your weapons. Certainly, you'd be able to gain an upper hand, even if a small one that is.

And so you thought about where could they have possibly hidden your knives.

Then it hit you,

The green room.

You knew what it was, having been held there when you were first held captive.

"Now, now, you don't need to become so violent sweetheart, you just need to compel and everything will go smoothly."

Buggy taunted you as you glared at him with the intensity, if it could, bury him under the dirt.

He held your knives in front of you as you yanked your arms to try and get them back, impossible because the chains were glued to the chair.

"I'll store these for you safely, maybe one day you'll get it in your head that it's better to be on the right side with me."

You watched as he removed a box, shaped like a treasure chest, opened it, and threw them inside.

Shutting it harshly, he kept the box in a black cupboard which was near the corner.

"Now you'll know, you shouldn't pick a fight you'll lose."

Groaning when you registered that now you had to figure out how to get to the green room.

Another realization came to you when you remembered Zoro and the redhead were getting dragged there.

That's it! I just have to follow where those fuckheads drag them,

You felt a small wick of hope light up as you now had a sort of solid plan.

Once you'd be able to get your weapons, you'd also be able to free the other two and….

All you could hope was that they were willing to help you out, at least if it involved being able to save their other friend too.

Chances were low, remembering how redhead almost ditched the two, but you had a hitch that Zoro might be more willing.

With a deep breath, you focused on what direction they were getting dragged to, noticing it was to the left while you were on the opposite end.

You'd have to slowly creep your way down to the left of where you now saw them disappear.

Your heart did feel like it was in your throat as you took cautionary steps, hitching your breath if you made an unintentionally loud noise when the circus got quiet from the forced claps and unenthusiastic laughter.

Lucky for you, you didn't have anyone look at you and if they did, they'd chosen to ignore you.

It was taking longer than you hoped, seeing as you'd been all the way up the top row, and you had to keep ducking to avoid the flashing lights suddenly shining on you but you made it.

As you reached a few feet away from what seemed to be a made-up door, leading down a…hallway? You froze up and ducked as you saw a guy, from his ugly haircut you figured it was Cabaji, cycling on a unicycle down the path.

You thought you'd been hallucinating possibly, thinking your mind was playing jokes on you because this seemed ridiculous, a supposed dangerous guy, on a fucking unicycle.

You snapped out of your thoughts and followed your way, making sure there was no one else and fortunately, they all seemed busy doing what Buggy told you as you saw Luffy being strapped down to a table.

You were in contemplation, whether you should just say fuck it and free Luffy but the rational, or what was left of it, part of your brain knew it'd get worse for the both of you.

The hallway was quite narrow, and it reeked out ashes. It reeked of burnt-out items.

It was dimly lit and you walked on your tiptoes as quietly as you could.

You saw him enter a room to your right.

Bingo.

You knew this was the green room.

Slyly moving forward, you paused before you could enter the room. Now it was where the real part of the plan began. Having to take down one minion pirate, possibly by yourself.

And oh, of course, only using your combat skills.

You heard two people talking, it was subtle since they were likely murmuring, but you could make out one voice and that was Cadaji's.

The other was a bit deeper, with a lower timbre to it, so obviously it wasn't redhead's.

Then you heard the sound of something slicing through the air and hitting a hard surface, piercing into it.

Your eyes widened, praying that the insane pirate hadn't actually stabbed any of the two and that you didn't really want to witness a murder right now.

You moved forward, now standing in front of the open door leading into the room.

Firstly, you made eye contact with the redhead who was trapped in a cage and facing the door.

Her eyes held surprise when you made an appearance, obviously not expecting anyone else other than the idiots she spotted on the stage. Your face was definitely not in that crowd.

You put your finger to your lips, a desperate look on your face, enough to have Nami somewhat not show more reaction which would make Cabaji suspicious.

Luckily, Cabaji's back faced you as you took a minute to scan your surroundings. Gulping when you recalled the last time you’d been in here was also in a worse if not similar situation.

The next thing catching your attention was the tied-up man to a sort of spin wheel.

You also noticed the knife right next to his face and realized that was the stabbing sound.

His face though, seemed as nonchalant as it had been since you first saw him. Now that just made you wonder if he even felt any emotion.

You didn't have time to wonder though as you scanned your surroundings for something that could knock out the pirate before he knew of your presence.

Spotting a baseball bat near your side, you lunged towards it, now Zoro’s attention turning to the new presence in the room as he said nothing but just raised an eyebrow in question.

Before Cabaji could look towards where he had a sudden stepping sound and where Zoro’s gaze was now, you concentrated all your force in one place and swung forward.

Splinters of sharp wood and splatters of blood flew through the space as the man groaned in pain, caught off guard and falling on his knees to the ground.

It was enough of a hit to have him collapse in heaves, the knives in his hands falling as well, blood gushing from the back of his head, down his neck.

You threw the baseball bat to the side, lunging forward and wrapping your right arm around his neck. You tightened your upper arm around the area and he began to scratch it, trying to free your hold.

You were breathing heavily, having to use more strength than what you had at the moment and you knew if you didn’t push yourself and end this, you’d end up going back to square one.

He was choking on his breath, you could sense he was losing consciousness, and you knew within a few seconds he’d be out.

And out he was, as you let go of him once his whole body weight leaned into you. He dropped face down, quite an anti-climatic ending to his life considering what they’d been putting your town through.

It felt like a huge weight had been lifted off your shoulders, being able to take the sort of revenge you’d been wanting since you’d been held captive. Exhaling in relief with deep breaths, also took a lot of your energy which was draining, very quickly now.

“...What the fuck ?”

“What just happ-”

Your gaze snapped towards the others in the room and your eyes widened in shock when you remembered it wasn’t just you in the green room.

The redhead seemed more shocked than Zoro did, you think you’d even seen a bit of fear in her eyes, but it may have been just her being surprised.

Zoro on the other hand, you think this was the first time you saw any emotion, well not that there were many other times considering this was your first time being this close, but he seemed surprised as one would be in that situation you suppose.

You opened your mouth, wanting to say something, and then shut it when you tried to figure out what you should say first.

“Y/N.” You turned towards redhead and then Zoro,

“Uh, my name’s Y/N.” You gulped as you now felt conscious, considering they were scrutinizing you as if you were some sort of experiment gone wrong.

You suppose there was no point in feeling nervous, also remembering they just saw you kill someone.

“I’m not a part of you know, Buggy or whatever’s crew, if that wasn’t obvious enough.” Turning your gaze for a second towards the dead body in front of you.

“I live here, this- this is my town, hometown to be more specific.”

“I came here to find my own weapons and maybe you could help me out too?”

Figuring there was no point in beating around the bush, also knowing you may just get caught if someone had heard the commotion. But also the lives of many were once again, in your hands. This time though, you would do anything to free them.

“How, how do we know you’re trustable?” The redhead asked to which you wanted to scoff, wasn’t the dead pirate enough to prove you weren’t definitely with Buggy? Perhaps she thought you had other motives.

“Look. I don’t care if you trust me or not, what matters right now is if you’re willing to help me so that we can all get what we want yeah?” Stating firmly, you spoke sharply, secretly hoping they would help you.

As if on queue, you heard the screaming of what sounded like Luffy. Talk about perfect timing.

“Fine.” This time, it was Zoro who spoke, in a gruff tone as if he’d rather be anywhere but having this discussion.

“We’ll help you and if you do anything suspicious,” Rolling your eyes at his empty threats, you reminded him of his position.

“You’re the one in captivity right now, aren't you? Consider it a favor that I’m also freeing you.”

You looked around, and you spotted the knife beside the deceased pirate. Picking it up, you held it tightly and moved in front of the moss head.

“I could just leave you both here, but I won’t.”

Now you were only a few inches away from him as you narrowed your eyes at him, his eyes going back to being stoic yet you saw a flare of irritance as if he hated how inferior he felt due to his current position.

“Hold still.”

Without waiting for another second, you moved your hand with the knife to his right one held up. And in one swift movement, you sliced off the rope wrapped around his hand.

It was quick since the knife was pretty sharp and then before you sliced the other one, you warned him.

For the other one, you had to hold his arm in place as you moved, repeating the same movements. It wasn't like you paid attention to how your hand could barely even wrap around the size of it-

“There.” You stepped back, gulping slightly from the proximity, as he threw away the cut ropes. Rubbing his wrists as he stepped forward, not really paying any attention to you now, he just nodded as if to say thanks.

You did take note however how much taller he was compared to you. Possibly, half a head or say six to seven inches. His larger frame did not help in making him seem less intimidating and maybe you really shouldn’t have almost threatened him.

Jeez, it wouldn’t hurt to say it verbally.

Ugh, whatever, why do I care anyway?

“Zoro.” He said which made you turn towards him in confusion, “My name,” He said nothing else to which you wanted to let him know you already knew after his marvelous introduction earlier but you just nodded.

“Mine is Nami.” A voice spoke up, and you remembered what you were going to do next. Ah, the redhead.

“Oh, right.” You smiled sheepishly as you felt a tinge of guilt for almost forgetting she was still trapped in the cage. It wasn’t like you were only freeing them for your advantage, you also didn’t want more to be held captive too.

She seemed like she was going to chuckle, but she just shook her head, not wanting to further emphasize anything she’d observed the past few minutes.

“Well, it looks like it’s pretty loose, did- did you, wait were you picking it with a lock picker or some sort of sharp object?” You’d moved towards the cage, holding the lock and shaking it around to which it did feel a lot lighter than it should, only a few more picks and it would be open.

“Then I don’t need to do much,” You stepped back and decided a small kick would probably break it.

“Just hold on to something.” She nodded as you took a deep breath, raising your right leg and swinging it with as much force, as you did a low roundhouse kick.

The sound of metal falling was heard, as you grinned lightly seeing the lock on the ground.

“I hope that didn’t shake you up too much?” You didn’t know why you’d felt the instinct to be more polite towards her as you rushed forward to open the cage door, considering she was probably the reason they got held into captivity in the first place.

The impact of your kick did shake the cage but since you didn’t put much force into it, Nami’s body weight was able to hold it still in one place.

She stepped out and you saw the relief on her face, she stretched out and groaned in satisfaction due to finally feeling…free.

“Here,” Zoro said as he tossed a sort of stick to Nami. You turned towards him and saw him holding three swords.

Ah, their weapons. I forgot they are pirates.

You saw him put the swords in their sheaths and it made you wonder,

One for each hand, but where does the third one go?

Then you also remembered something,

I came here for my knives-

“So what-”

“Wait!” You interrupted Zoro who was looking at Nami, now they both looked at you, one almost slightly irritant while the other curious.

“I uh- I need my own…knives. They took them from me when they caught me. It’s here somewhere, they hid them here.” You paid no mind to them as you looked around for the stupid box that had them.

It was in a black cupboard, that’s where I saw him keep it, now where else would it be?

Your frustration was slowly turning into panic as you saw no black cupboard. It was as if fate had chosen to make a fool out of you with passing time.

“Do you remember where they were? We-” Zoro was about to protest before Nami looked at him pointedly, “We’ll help you find them.”

“I do remember! I-I do! It was in a box, and a- black cupboard!” Looking around, Nami went ahead passing through the few cupboards, breaking them open to find them empty or with useless items, sitting the urge to grab what mght eventually help in the future. Zoro sighed, deciding he’d get done with this so they can get out quicker. He wasn’t particularly fond of the idea of wasting time but with the small decency he had, he figured he’d help you out since technically you did free them. ( even though he was positive he’d have freed himself soon enough).

You on the other hand, were frantic. It was horrible when they were taken away, but the thought of them being actually thrown away or perhaps even sold to someone else was terrifying. They were the last symbol of what your father was, what your father left left for you.

The thought was about to make you cry until you reached one specific cupboard that didn’t seem to budge open. It was locked.

“Here! I think. I think they are in here.” All movement paused as the other two stopped looking and turned towards you, “But it won’t budge, it’s locked.”

Contemplating how to break it, you didn’t notice Zoro was beside you until his voice startled you out of your daze. “Move.”

He gruffly ordered which made you wonder if he’d ever been thought on how to be polite, but nonetheless you followed as he said and moved behind.

Pausing for a moment, you wwondered if it was now he realised it was nearly impossible to open the firm doors without a key, but before you could voice out your thoughts, you saw him put his hands(making sure not too stare much at the veins that were very much visible and definitely not noting how large they seemed-) on the handles and in one swift motion pull it open with ease.

You just stared in disbelief as they came off their hinges and he tossed them aside as though they weighed nothing, they probably didn’t actually.

“Yeah he can do that, don’t worry, it’s not a big deal for him, atleast.” Nami said as she looked at you, amused a little at your comical shock expression.You just blinked and nodded slowly,

“This ‘is it?” Zoro asked as you looked into the cupboard.

Right, knives. Your knives.

Fate seemed to pity you as you realised lo and behold, there laid your knives, out in the open and in fact not in a box. Quickly going infront, pushing Zoro a little as he mumbled ‘ungrateful brat’ which you chose to ignore as your hands brushed over your set.

Seven. All seven were there.

You took one scanning it thoroughly until your eyes fell upon the initials. Your initials to which, for the first time in a while, you felt the corner of your lip rise into a tiny grin. With another quick scan, you put them in their respective sheaths.

Foolishly enough, the knuckleheaded pirates didn’t think to remove your sheath belt or other sheaths, deeming it unnecessary as they were empty so they wouldn’t be of any use.

Holding one dagger in one hand, you were fairly ready…for whatever would occur.

Zoro was silent, as if it was anything new, but for a brief moment he wondered just how much they meant to you.

Perhaps as much as his katanas did to him?

He didn’t give it much thought, instead turning to Nami. “What’s the plan now? You did come up with a plan right? That’s your thing, plans.”

You figured she was likely a navigator, given from your knowledge of pirates, they’d be the ones who could come up with plans for routes and all other…pirate related stuff.

Nami eyed you for a second, to which you nodded at his words, realising you did not object, but then again what were the options. Her gaze turned towards Zoro and she spoke, a light smirk forming on her face,

“I say, we beat the hell out of every clown we see.”

Since the time you’d spotted Zoro, you think, this was the first time you’d seen a grin on his face, a chuckle being another first.

And you had another realisation, that, it suited him more.

Wiping the sweat of your face as you kicked the limp arm of one of Buggy’s idiot that hit your leg as he fell from your punch. Turns out, you still had it in you to punch and boy did you use all your strength.

Nami was ahead, while Zoro was…behind her as well considering you couldn’t see him anymore.

Pausing for a much needed breath of air, you rubbed your aching hands together. Suddenly you began to feel the adrenaline slowly draining, your head feeling light.

No,I can’t pass out. Not now. Please,

You leaned against a wall, deciding you just needed to sit. For a few seconds at least. You figured everything might be handled by the other two considering you could hear a lot of muffled shouting and talking.

Sighing forcefully, you rubbed your eyes, wishing how life would stop treating you like a scapegoat for all bad omens. You missed your old life, your youth, your joyful town, its people and most of all…you missed your father.

You wondered if he were here, would he have let the people reach to this point?

With that thought you stood up, more determined than ever as you knew what the answer was. He wouldn’t have, he would have fought till his last breath to protect his people. And…and he did.

One thing you knew, you couldn’t let more people suffer. And with the newfound will and strength you stepped slowly into the opening.

The benefit of the dark circus with only flashy lights was that there was a lot of shadows and dark spaces. You, discovered how beneficial it was since you first escaped to the green room and even now as you hid behind what seemed like a chest.

Fuck, fuck I forgot he also has eaten the Devil Fruit.

Helplessly staring as you saw a hand, presumably Bughead’s, strangling Luffy.

Hearing a groan from your hiding place, your eyes widened when you realised Nami had fallen in front of you.

Your eyes moved to Zoro, finding the swordsman in a similar position.

You gulped as you called out to Nami in a low voice, “Hey!” Whispering in a panic, “I forgot to tell you he’s eaten the chop chop fruit, any sort of weapon would be pretty useless!”

Nami looked around in confusion wondering who was speaking, when she saw you she realised it was you and she rolled her eyes, “Well yeah, clearly.” “Now isn’t really the time for sarcasm don’t you think?”

Think quick.

Clenching your hands as you saw the hand strangling Luffy, your eyes darted around clenching your dagger harder.

An idea struck you when you spotted empty craters.

“I think I have an idea-” You whisper-yelled out to her, wanting her to hear before she chose to do anything, “His parts, trap them- trap them into those empty crates!”

As she stood up, her gaze fell upon them and darted back to the body parts around. She realised it was worth taking the chance.

“Luffy! The crates!” She yelled out to him, to which the straw hut guy understood, very quickly you thought.

He rose up still trying to free himself from the hand strangling him, and with one harsh pull he yanked it away from his neck and tossed it in the air like a ball and as though her stick was a bat, Nami flung it across in the crate, trapping it.

Zoro seemed to get the hint, as he moved to the place and you were glad it seemed like the idea worked.

The next moments felt like blur as at one point when Nami tossed a part of the clown in a crate, you remembered rushing to shut it close and putting your weight on it.

It ended. It actually did.

Nami turned towards you as she closed the barrel, a grin on her face as she knew everything was over…for now.

But all you could see was a slow darkness, darker than what was in the circus, legs weighing like anchors as you sank down and finally, you dove head first, into uncocnciousness. Lucky for you, the redhead had faster instincts and before you bust your head open, she caught you.

The last thing you heard was a yell of your name and then it was as though you were in deep waters, mind blank.

The weight of the world got heavier, quite literally as you realised how abundant your limbs felt.

It wasn’t until your eyes began to open when you got the clue that you were indeed alive.

The familiar smell of sandalwood with hints of cinnamon was what hit you first as you inhaled.

“Am I dead?” The brief murmuring was what you registered as your ears felt unclogged, pausing as your croaked voice rasped. Your tongue felt like stone, mouth sandpaper like.

“Wa-water.” You could briefly see a familiar room. Everything seemed familiar, you knew you knew where exactly you were but it was taking some time for your memories to catch up with you.

Get up, get up.

“Now, now what’s the rush child?” A warm voice spoke up to which you turned your head to the man. As you took in his features, you recalled who he was.

“Da-dada?” The old man smiled, his wrinkles deepening as they always did. You noticed his hand holding a glass of water and before you knew it, you took it and gulped it down before you could even say anything.

“Aish- always impatient.” He scolded wanting, ready to yell to slow down so you don’t choke but he knew you’d pay no mind.

Dada was your guardian. He took you in as his own when your father was no more and considered you his own grandchild,because seeing he’d never had any kids to experience grandchildren, he felt the universe was giving him a chance that one night when a ten year old you, came to his door drenched in the rains, shivering as you asked if you could have something to eat.

“Am I dreaming dada? Am I dead?” You said as you scanned your surroundings, noting it was the living room of his hut, feeling as though what happened in the past few hours or even days was all dreams. Surely, it wasn’t that a damn crew of pirates had trapped your entire town and another bunch of pirates, different ones, apparently the good kind ended up saving you as you helped them too.

It seemed like one bizarre fever dream.

“Kid, why do you always insist on me dying! I am old but not too old-” Comically he coughed after his nagging to which you held back your laughter, knowing you’d only get scolded more.

With a half hearted glare, he shook his head, “You weren’t dreaming, at least not until you fainted in that rotten circus-”

“It was real?!” You looked at your hands and noticed faded blue-purple bruises around your wrists, the physical proof needed that yes indeed, everything was and is real. “Is everyone safe? I- are the people okay?” You were in a panic realising your memory that was slowly coming cut off the moment you last heard a yell of your name from Nami, not knowing what happened afterwards.

“Supposing I am here, you’re here in this room, yes i’d say everything is going back to…normal.” He knew it wouldn’t be right to say it was normal, it would take a while to get back to what the town once was but for now they got their freedom back, so with time, he knew it’d all be back.

“So- the- the ‘good’ pirates are also real?” You paused as you tried to frame the proper words and Dada just nodded in amusement, finding your brief amnesia moment hilarious.

“In fact, they are waiting for you.”

“Me- but why?” You wondered why they’d still be here, figuring they’d leave once they got what they required, a little sad knowing you couldn’t thank them but the sadness turned to curiosity and confusion once you processed his words.

“Come on in,” In stepped in the straw hut guy —Luffy— you recalled, a wide grin on his face, as he tipped his hat in greeting.

“Hello! I see you’re awake.” Raising your hand to wave back, your eyebrows furrowed on what exactly he wanted. Nami next stepped in and your gaze turned towards her as she smiled at you.

A light grin on your face forming on your face as she waved a little. “I hope you’re feeling better?”

“I think yeah?” You felt out of it still, but now you were beginning to feel a little grounded to reality.

You noticed a figure stood in the doorway leaning against it, arms crossed as he looked at you.

Zoro. You recalled and rather than any words he just nodded to you to which you just gave a tight lipped awkward smile and turned back to Luffy.

Yeah he’s still attractive in the daylight.

Back there you figured maybe cause you were loopy and distorted you were finding him more attractive than he actually just because he was the only decent male you’d seen in a few months but now you realised you were wrong.

He was definitely more than decent. And yeah more attrac- no stop.

“I-” “So-”

Speaking up at the same time as Luffy, you shut up and gestured for him to continue.

“So you see when we were leaving, sailing away to continue on our mission, I realised something.” You tilted your head at him in confusion as raised an eyebrow. Sitting up on the small bed was the good thing you’d done because at least you got a clear view of everyone.

You turned to Nami, eyebrow still up as you gestured ‘What?’ to which she rolled her eyes and pointed towards Luffy. You knew Zoro wouldn’t help as to what Luffy was saying so you didn’t even look towards him.

“I felt we were missing some thing and really I thought hard as to what we were possibly leaving behind and then it struck me.” You were beginning to hate his dramatic pauses because you did not know what to expect.The unexpected was something you hated.

“It was not some thing we were missing, it was rather someone and that someone is…you.” As he finished his sentence, he looked at you with still the same grin, merely observing your reaction.

“What?” Being taken aback was probably the only way you’d describe what you felt. It confused you, to the point you wondered if he was just fooling with you.

“Haha- um you got me there, nice joke?” You awkwardly chuckled suddenly feeling the stares of everyone in the room piercing through your soul as though they could see right through you.

“What no- pfft! It’s not a joke! I’m serious, join us, join my crew,this time it always seemed there was someone missing and I think finding you in this island was not just a coincidence but it was meant to be.”

You gulped as he looked at you in anticipation, finally turning your attention towards Dada as you observed him, his reaction. It was calm, a calm as if he knew this. You clenched your hands nervously, the bandages bunching up in the palm as you looked back at Luffy and then Nami as she looked at you nonchalantly.

“Luffy.” A deep voice resonated through the brief silence and your eyes darted towards Zoro who looked at Luffy. “Come on, come out, I think you should let them think of their answer”

Before Luffy could protest, he shot him a look that showed he wasn’t going to argue and to follow what he said. His eyes met yours for a moment, nodding in gratefulness as he spoke no further as he shut the door behind.

As they left, you looked back at your hands that laid in your lap. Wrapped in bandages and hints of dried blood. Your mind in a flurry of questions.

“Kiddo?” You were startled out of your thoughts as a hand laid on your shoulder, “Tell me, tell me what’s going on in that little head of yours.”

“I don’t know. I don’t know what to do. I don’t think I can do something. I- they are pirates! I can’t join them and- and leave this town, who would- who would take care of the people, who would take care of you? I just- I don’t think I can-” You spoke up what was in your mind, your heart tugging as you thought of how you could become a protector if you left?

“You know what I think? I think this is your chance. Darling, people like you are destined to do great and so far you have been doing that but this, this is a chance to accomplish your dream…your father’s dream. Do you trust me?” You nodded at him as he finished.

Each of his words sunk deeper into your heart as he spoke and you knew what he spoke was in full honesty. Dada would never lie to you as he’d always look for the best for you, so each word in what he spoke held full weight to it.

“You’ll be doing even greater things, and who cares if they are pirates! They saved us didn’t they? Perhaps just like how there’s two sides of a coin, there’s always more than just horrible pirates. Go for it child, this is your bigger fate that you deserve. Besides, the kid seems too adorable to be menacing”

You couldn’t stop the laughter that arose from his last remark. Though as you realised the choice you were knowing your laughter got less and your smile slowly faded.

“And who will take care of you old man? Will you be able to stay without me?” Your eyes held a mischief yet knowing you since you were a pestering child, he could see the underlying sadness of being separated.

“Don’t worry about me yeah? And who are you calling old man?! I can take care of myself just fine alright, I’ll show you!” He moved to ruffle your hair to which you whined at him, knowing how you hated it when someone touched your hair but this time you let it slide, feeling perhaps it would be the last.

“What will I take though- will they give me time to pack-” Pausing briefly as you threw your legs off the bed ready to get up and scanned around. Dada pushed your legs away and dragged a bag from below.

“Already done.” “You-! you were just waiting for the moment to get rid of me-!” You accused him as you looked at him in mock betrayal, the small grin on your face not wavering the slightest.

“I’ll miss you. Don’t die old man, stay alive until I’m back as what I want to be.” He was grinning up until you mentioned his dying once again and the change to a glare made you giggle slightly.

“You should let them know now, green head doesn’t seem like a patient one. Just like you.” You nodded at him as you slowly got up, the feeling in your legs coming back as you stumbled a little, glaring at him at the remark he made about you being impatient.

“He’s a swordsman Dada, I doubt he lacks patience.”

“And aren’t you the same?”

“I use dagge-”

You shut up when you stepped out, choosing to not let the outside audience know you’d been arguing about them only. More specifically, Zoro.

When you stepped out, you didn’t expect Luffy to be right out the door, raising his hand to knock,so you were startled when he was almost right in your face as you looked up. He took a step back, startled himself as a blush rose to his cheeks from the sudden proximity.

Coughing awkwardly, he looked at you in anticipation yet a small part of him was preparing for the rejection because as Zoro had kindly ( as kind as he can) explained, he shouldn’t expect a stranger, nonetheless one who sort of saved them, to be ready to up and about from their life with them but him being the optimist he was, he hoped that his anticipation was right.

You wore a blank expression as you looked at the three.

Dada was right, they are for sure not the regular pirates.

“So-?”

You took a deep breath as you shut your eyes, preparing for an answer,

“Sure. I’ll join you on your…mission.” Out of pure excitement, Luffy seemed to be a touchy type as he leaped into you and wrapped his arms around you as he screamed out while you squealed in surprise.

“Yes! YES! Thank you!” You awkwardly chuckled as you didn’t know what to do with your arms seeing they are trapped. Your eyes darted to Nami as she shook her head and grinned, her blue eyes gleaming with excitement, “Glad you made a choice, probably the right one.”

Zoro’s reaction was pretty questionable because it was a mixture of disbelief— how could you agree— and another you couldn’t quite put a name to it. You weren’t sure if you were still in a daze but you swore you could see a light smirk.

And as you looked back at the straw hut boy, you couldn’t help but fill a newfound sense of hope— the thought of looking forward to something new— filling your heart and leaving you with a wide toothy grin and a glint in your eyes.

Off you began with a leap in your life, only time your teller of what would enfold but honestly, you were more than ready for what would come because afterall only the bravehearted would dare to be stupid by risking it all.

author's note : omg it's out, after five-ish whole months, i'm beginning this series. i was very excited for this when i first thought of it but due to reasons i wasn't able to get into it and stopped midway in the intro chapter/first chapter, nonetheless today i finished the first chapter and officially this series begins! i thought if i'm coming back after so long why not with something nice :) i may or may not have another thing coming in a few days (don't count me on that but i feel motivated to write so who knows!) let me know your thoughts on this !!

all written works as well as images and edits (unless credited) belong to pri.do not plagiarise, repost, re-edit or claim as yours. pics mostly found on pinterest. I don't own any of the characters from the movie, rightfully belonging to One Piece creators and the Netflix franchise and also this is a fictional work, not relating to any of the cast in real life.

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acescorazon · 1 year ago

Text

Title: Buggy's guide to bagging boyfriends

Chapter: 2/?

Word count: 2200

Rating: T (bc Crocodile has a potty mouth, asjdlaksjda like always.)

Chapter Excerpt:

“Please?” Buggy pleads, and it seems like he has a lot more courage now that he realizes that Crocodile isn’t going to kick his ass. “Please, please, pleaseee?” He begs and then that clown, actually has the nerve, the gall, the audacity to… Grab Crocodile’s hand with his own two, still begging him to give him what he wants, “Please, it won’t be that long. I promise.”

Crocodile glances down at their hands, and his mind is screaming at him now: Yank your hand back, you fool. Punch him, yell at him, do something, don’t just let him touch you… He’s an annoying, pathetic, worthless little clown, remember? And yet...

“Yeah, sure, whatever.” Crocodile replies flatly, now avoiding both Buggy’s gaze and the sight of their hands pressed together. “Just don’t screw around, got it, Bug-... Clown?” Oh, good god. He almost called him by his actual name. What is wrong with him? Is he sick? Did that clown poison him somehow? What the hell is this?!

[Previous Chapter]

As soon as the alarm at his bedside goes off, Crocodile groggily hits the snooze button and then feels around his nightstand for his hook. Instead of touching cold metal though, his hand touches the cool wooden surface of his nightstand, and he opens one of his eyes, confused for a moment. Did it fall on the floor? He groans, not sure how the damn thing managed to fall on the floor, but annoyed nonetheless. He finally sits up and then looks down at the ground. What the hell? It’s not there either...

Now there’s no way in hell that it could have fallen off his nightstand and rolled under the bed, it’s just too damn heavy, yet what other choice does Crocodile have but to look? He gets out of bed and crouches down, feeling under the bed for his hook…

Nothing.

Where the hell is his hand?

Crocodile turns on the light on his nightstand and uses it to check under his bed and, sure as shit, there’s no hook under there. He frowns and takes a moment to think back to last night. He ate dinner, took a freezing shower, and then went to bed… Hmm, he wouldn’t take his hand off during dinner, and he wouldn’t just leave it in the bathroom either... Still, he retraces his steps, checking the bathroom to see if it’s in there, and when he still can’t find his hook, he starts getting really pissed. Where the fuck could it be?

Did someone steal it?

Who would be stupid enough to steal his hook?!

The answer to that question pops up in his mind a moment later, “Fucking, clown.” He mutters under his breath. He bets Buggy did it. Why? He has absolutely no idea why he would decide to steal his hook. Maybe he did it as a ‘cute’ little prank, or maybe he did it to finally get back at Crocodile for all the times he’s been a dick to him, either way, Crocodile’s gut is telling him that Buggy stole it.

Crocodile gets himself dressed, and it’s the tiniest things that start to piss him off now that he doesn’t have his hand, like how he struggles to put on his belt or get his shirt buttoned, and he just keeps muttering to himself how he’s going to catch that damn clown and beat him senseless throughout the entire process. Seriously, what a pain in the ass! Eventually, he does get himself all nice and tidy even with one hand, and then rushes out of his tent (Christ, he sleeps in a fucking circus tent!) and then looks for that annoying clown.

The first place he checks is Buggy’s own bedroom, and he’s even more annoyed when he doesn’t find him there. He moves on to checking each and every one of Buggy’s hang-out places afterwards, ready to knock his lights out for taking his hook, and yet...Buggy’s nowhere to be found? Where the hell is he and where is Crocodile’s hand???

Tsk. Annoying.

At some point, he runs into Mihawk, who looks just as pissed off as he is, “Have you seen that coward?” He asks as he approaches him, “My sword’s missing and I know he’s behind it.” Ah, so this has to be something like revenge, right? Chairman Buggy is tired of being picked on and so he’s finally getting his revenge, and the first step is disarming both him and Hawkeye, right? Pathetic, Crocodile doesn’t need his hook to kick Buggy’s ass. “Don’t know if you could tell or not,” Crocodile replies, and there’s a hint of sarcasm in his voice, “But my damn hook is missing, and i’m pretty damn sure that the clown’s behind that too.”

Mihawk clicks his tongue, looking almost as if he’s annoyed for both of them now. How sweet. “I looked all over for him, but i honestly don’t know where he is.” Ain’t that the truth? Crocodile’s spent all morning looking for that damn clown, but he still can’t find him.

They decide to join up and hunt the clown down together after that, asking various wimps and overly devout followers of Buggy’s where their beloved Captain, or Chairman, (or whatever the fuck title he’s going by this week.) is, but no one seems to know where the clown is, and Crocodile isn’t sure if it’s because they’re covering up for him or if they’re all idiots around here.

It’s probably both.

By the time they finally run into someone of use, it’s about eight in the morning, and the follower says he doesn’t know where Buggy could be, but thinks he saw him heading towards the direction of their workshop earlier, and Crocodile asks why Buggy would even be in such a place because it’s not like he does much work anyways, to which, his subordinate simply replies, “I don’t know, really.”

Of course. Everyone around this island is so fucking useless, they couldn’t even plan a funeral.

Still, Crocodile and Mihawk take the tip seriously and head over to the workshop, and Crocodile swears that if that little shit is in there, he’s going to kill him. He’s actually going to kill him because there is absolutely no excuse for taking Crocodile’s damn hand so early in the morning or at all, really!

“Hey, Clown, you in there?” Crocodile calls out as they approach the entrance, voice filled with irritation. If he’s in there, he better hope that he can outrun Crocodile because that twerp is as good as dead.

As soon as Crocodile steps foot into the tent and sees blue in front of him, he wants to lunge forward and attack that clown, but then he notices something…strange.

They find him sitting on a stool, polishing Hawkeye’s sword, but Crocodile doesn’t give a shit about Hawkeye’s sword, he wants to know where his hand is. “Where’s my damn hook?” He asks, with a frown, ready to beat the shit out of Buggy at any moment, until he sees Buggy look up with soft eyes and pick his hand up from beside him on the table. Crocodile notices that it’s glittering brightly and that the damn thing looks better than the day he got it, and he’s so confused.

He watches as Buggy stands up and then willingly gives him back his hook, “I know i shouldn’t have taken your stuff,” He admits “But i just suddenly thought to myself: ‘Wow, these guys would look so cool if their weapons were all clean and shiny… and i was hoping that i could get everything polished before you even noticed your things were gone, but obviously that didn’t happen…” He sighs, rubbing the back of his head, “But, yeah, i wasn’t trying to make you guys mad or anything, just wanted you to look cool.”

He…what?

Cool? He took their things in the early hours of the morning to polish them and make them look cool… that’s it…? There’s no revenge plot or anything like that…? No pranks? No wanting to piss Crocodile and Mihawk off, he just wanted to do something nice for the two of them… He just wanted them to look, ‘cool’?

What the fuck?

There's no way he's telling the truth, right? Crocodile stares at Buggy for a moment and then turns his attention to his hook, twisting and turning it, and checking to make sure there's nothing wrong, and…

All is as it should be?

Crocodile isn't sure how to respond. He's mad that Buggy took his hook…but, at the same time, it's perfectly fine. In fact, it looks better than it has in years… He looks back at that clown again, and it’s kind of annoying, but he can feel his anger dissolving on the spot, "Whatever…just don't do it again," he tells him before he rushes out of the room, no longer in the mood to kick his ass.

Huh, ain’t that a first?

What was that clown thinking? He wonders as he puts his hand on, and he's honestly so relieved to have it back, he feels weird without it. He heads to their meeting room because, honestly, it’s the only place that he can relax in this damn circus, everywhere else he’s hounded by Buggy’s men who always ask him annoying questions and try to be his pal. Ugh.

As the day drags by and he tries to get some work done, He continues to look at his hook, and the more he thinks about what Buggy's done for him, the more he grows confused. Who cares if Crocodile's hook looks cool or not? It's not supposed to look cool, it's…it's his hand and his weapon, at the very least it's just supposed to be there and provide him some aid… It doesn't have to be cool or anything like that.

But, maybe it does look better now… only a little better though, because before Buggy shined it, Crocodile's hook was already beautiful and intimidating…but now, it’s both those things, and it's cool…?

Hm… Maybe he shouldn’t be too mad about this whole thing, maybe he should just put everything behind him…his hook does look really nice now… Just as he’s having those thoughts, he hears a soft voice call out to him from behind, “Um, Croccy?” Oh, what now? Crocodile thinks, glancing over at that clown as he peeks his head into the meeting room. “I’m sorry.”

What is he sorry for? Did he mess something up again? What was it this time? He waits for Buggy to tell him that he accidentally lost something or ruined something, or that he did some other thing that will undoubtedly annoy the hell out of Crocodile, but instead, he quietly adds, “Please, don’t be mad at me. I know I shouldn't have stolen your hook…” Huh? That’s what this is all about… ? he thinks and suddenly Crocodile feels strangely…

Soft?... Wait...Huh?! What the hell is this emotion he’s feeling?

“Let me make it up to you!” Buggy says, now slowly, cautiously creeping his way into the room, and it’s weird, usually by now Crocodile would be heated and ready to yell at his ‘boss’, but that’s not how he feels right now. He calmly watches Buggy and waits for his next move instead. “Please! I really want to be your friend!” He tells him. Crocodile doesn’t need friends... he never has and he never will, but…

He continues to hear Buggy out regardless?

“I know stealing your hand was wrong!” Buggy repeats, “I get that. I messed up big time, so let me make up for it!” And how exactly does he plan on making things up to Crocodile? “Uh, but first i have to ask for a tiny little favor, okay?” He says, clapping his hands together, “I need…like… a week off?”

“Okay.” Crocodile simply replies, and afterwards both he and Buggy are shocked by his nonchalant attitude. Wait, what? This is definitely not how he would normally handle a situation like this. Normally he would tell Buggy he’s out of his mind and to go back to work, but he just… wow, he really just agreed to that the first time around, didn’t he? What the hell is wrong with him? “Uh…You aren’t going to ask why?” Buggy asks, chuckling nervously. Yeah, perhaps he should have at least done that.

God, what is wrong with him?

“Why do you need a week off, clown?” Crocodile asks, leaning back in his chair and sighing, but honestly… he still doesn’t feel annoyed like he usually does whenever Buggy comes around. Buggy smiles at him, bright…and…prettily? “I just want to go into town and pick something nice up for you and Hawkeye!” He announces, still smiling, “It’s a surprise though, so you can’t know what i’m going to get you.. But, uh, can I borrow Daz and Galdino?”

Crocodile doesn’t give a shit about Galdino, but Daz is another story… “Please?” Buggy pleads, and it seems like he has a lot more courage now that he realizes that Crocodile isn’t going to kick his ass. “Please, please, pleaseee?” He begs and then that clown, actually has the nerve, the gall, the audacity to… Grab Crocodile’s hand with his own two, still begging him to give him what he wants, “Please, it won’t be that long. I promise.”

“Thank you, thank you!” Buggy exclaims happily, squeezing his hand tightly, “You won’t regret this, Croccy!” He says before letting his hand go and leaving the meeting room happily, leaving Crocodile to stare down at both his hands, confused.

What the hell, man?!

#one piece #cross guild #my writing #spare feedback?#plz spare feedback????#AJSDKASKLDJASLKDASDASDAD #Mihawk's chapter is coming TOMORROW!

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