#an au where Mari doesn’t have abandonment issues and is more assertive right off the bat

[oneirataxia-girl]

okay people I need everyone to drop everything now and LOOK AT MY DARLING MARI OMG, Hadley @supermarine-silvally was kind enough to make me art of Mari and I Have Not Stopped fangirling over it since they sent it to me. this is my new roman empire now (as if I need another reason to go feral over Mari)

check under the cut for a surprise 🤭 minor spoilers for Wano, but it’s just one line tbh

"Bepo, don't touch that! It's not done yet!"

The polar bear hung his head as he drew his paw back from the half-finished cannon, "Sorry."

"Don't apologize!" Penguin chastised, the penguin charm on his cap shaking in tandem with his head.

"Yeah!" Added Shachi, tossing a dirty look at Kenji, who raised his arms in surrender, "We're all on the same level here, so don't order us around like you're higher than us, Strawhat!"

"Aren’t you bossing us around right now?"

As the Strawhats -- mostly Franky and Chopper -- and the Hearts started to argue, a huff of laughter diverted the two crewmates’ attention to the last crew’s second-in-command. Killer had his arms crossed in front of his chest, mask covering his face as always; Kenji didn't make a complaint as the blond-haired man shoved through the throng of people and wrapped a muscular arm around his shoulder.

"Pretty sure Kenji knows his stuff better than you, Heart. So listen to him on this."

"Stop ordering us around!"

Chaos descended back on the Sunny as the crews, now three rather than two, shot insults and jabs at each other. Under the deck, the captains exchanged glances at the ruckus.

"Your crew’s done something again, Strawhat."

"Why me? It’s probably Jaggy's fault!"

The redhead threw a spoon at Luffy while spewing a stream of insults. Sighing, Law raised a hand to tug on his hat, only to remember that the top of his head was empty. Kid’s head was similarly void of his usual headgear, something Luffy didn’t hesitate to point out as soon as he stepped into the room.

"Jaggy! Your hair looks good without your goggles!"

Kid snapped his head in Luffy's direction. The blue hairband holding his hair back was distinctly not a part of the captain's wardrobe. Indeed, the accessory stood out among the reds and blacks that Kid favored like how Law's lack of his cap also drew Luffy's attention as soon as he saw the doctor.

"Did I miss something? Why are you not wearing your hat, Tra-guy?"

Behind him, Kid made a sound that was a mixture of a scoff and a snicker, "Yeah Doctor, where's your hat?"

With a glance at the hair accessory perched on the redhead, Law’s mouth twitched slightly, "You know perfectly well where it is."

Up on the deck, the Heart, Strawhat, and Kid pirates had each taken up a corner of the ship. Arguing about everything from whose captain was the strongest, to which crew had the greatest feats; Zoro looked ready to draw his swords and dice up the next human (or mink) who said Law was the best out of the three captains, and Kenji just seemed flattered that he managed to start such a debate.

That was, until Mari slid down from the crow's nest.

"Brook," she started, striding across the wooden floor with soundless steps, "It's your turn to keep watch, my shift's done."

The skeleton opened his mouth, but only the clack of his jawbone falling to the floor came out. Bepo, Penguin, and Shachi had identical looks of shock on their faces; even Killer seemed surprised behind his mask.

Mari's forehead furrowed as she took in their expressions, "What?"

"Mari," Kenji said from his place next to the Kid Pirates’ second-in-command, "What's that on your head?"

Reaching up, Mari repeated her crewmate's question with a confused look, her eyes widened for a fraction of a second as she registered exactly what sat on her head, then her face returned to her usual expression of boredom.

"A cap."

"Just a cap?" asked Kenji, smile too wide for it to be normal. Mari’s eyes narrowed at him, but he didn't seem to be fazed by her as she answered simply:

"And some goggles."

Kenji nodded sagely, turning around to tap Killer on the shoulder, "Kill, don't you think my crewmate's new goggles look familiar?"

The blond man nodded back just as gravely, the gravity of his stance offset by a few gasps of laughter escaping him as he observed, "I've certainly seen it somewhere."

"Captain's cap?!"

"Are those Kid’s googles?!"

"Has anyone seen my jaw?!"

Numerous pairs of eyes turned around to look at Brook.

"Ah, here it is! Thank you, Robin."

Robin’s arm replied with a thumbs up.

"Ah-ah," said Kenji, bringing the attention back to the woman about to leave the deck, "where do you think you’re going, young lady?"

"I’m two years older than you."

"Barely two years older than me."

"Still counts."

"On paper maybe, but --"

"Why do you have Captain’s hat?!" Demanded Bepo, flanked by Penguin and Shachi, who were both glaring at Mari under the shades of their own hats, "You stole it, didn’t you!"

Removing her hand from the doorknob, Mari sighed softly and tugged at the spotted brim of the hat, "Your captain gave it to me."

"Did Kid also give you his goggles?" Came the question from Wire.

"He shoved them in my face and stomped off."

"Sounds like him," Heat muttered, getting a chorus of agreements from his crew.

The Heart Pirates, on the contrary, weren’t so easily convinced, "Why would our captain give anything to a Strawhat?"

Mari shrugged in response, tucking a hand behind her back as the other one started to open the door leading down into the interior of the Sunny, "He doesn’t explain things to me. And if that’s all, I’m going to finish my chores."

"I’ll come with," Sanji piped up, pushing his way through the throng to follow his crewmate, "it’s time to get started on dinner anyways."

The door swung shut behind the two.

Kenji held his hand out to Killer, who sighed and rummaged in his pockets for a wad of Berry, which he placed in the other man’s waiting palm. Brook, now with his jawbone, coughed awkwardly and moved to the crow’s nest to keep watch. Bepo, Penguin, and Shachi were still muttering and casting furtive glances at where Mari had left the deck. And for a moment, there was only the sound of waves lapping against the sides on the ship.

In the kitchen, Mari was silent as she chopped up the vegetables into small cubes; Sanji was the same while he grinded herbs and spices into a paste -- until he put down his pestle and asked:

"Is Kid wearing your hairband?"

Her knife suspended in midair, Mari glanced over at the blond, a small smirk growing on her face as she nodded.

the enabler's call: @arrthurpendragon @starcrossedjedis @auxiliarydetective @daughter-of-melpomene @bibaybe @supermarine-silvally @fakedatings -- want to be added? shoot me an ask!!