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aster-tiger · 1 year ago

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The Raging Witch

Zoro x OFC, Luffy x OFC, Law x OFC, Zoro x Luffy, Law x Zoro

Warnings: swearing, pr0n with plot, shameless smut, bisexuality, consensual k!nk, 3some, b0ndage, emotional slow burn, developing relationship, hurt/comfort, fluff, angst, bonding, mating (not abo), post Punk Hazard, post Dressrosa, changing pov (no head hopping), mm relationship, mmf relationship, english is not my first language, no beta we die like men

Chapter 26: Kidnapping

You can find the whole story on AO3

A silver board appeared in the sky, heading straight for the Sunny. Zoro held his breath until the board landed on the main deck. Luffy stepped off with unconscious Rage in his arms, and Zoro's heart leapt at the sight.

Rage's face was smeared with blood, which slowly dripped from her split brow. But she was here, on their ship!

"Chopper, take care of her," Luffy ordered with a grin.

The reindeer hurried over, swiftly changing forms to carry Rage to the infirmary.

"Luffy, what did you do?" Robin asked, her gaze switching between the captain and Reid.

"I kidnapped Rage, shishishishi" Luffy announced, placing his hands on his hips.

"Why is she here?" Usopp pointed at Reid.

"He challenged Rage for the captain's title, and she lost. We're under his command now," the silver-haired woman answered with a frown. She slipped a backpack off her shoulder, tossing it onto the deck right by Zoro's feet. "Here are some of her things. Take care of her."

"What? Did you know Luffy was going to do this?" Usopp pointed an accusing finger first at Reid, then at Zoro.

"No," Reid answered. "But Mira was hoping that one of the mates would take Rage away, so she packed her stuff."

It stung like a slap. Luffy wasn't even a mate, yet he did more to keep Rage by his side than Zoro.

"So you took over a crew of sociopathic bounty hunters, and you're just leaving them in Wano?" Nami got into Luffy's face, stabbing her fingers into his chest.

"I put the lady with the cool spear in charge!" Luffy explained with a proud smile.

"I'm going back," Reid stated, pointing her thumb towards the island. "Good luck. She's going to be pissed when she wakes up."

"Wait," Robin stopped her. "What were your crew's plans after we left?"

Reid's head snapped towards Robin and the women stared at each other, a tense silence hanging in the air.

Finally, Reid sighed in frustration. "We were going to use Pluton to destroy Mariejoa."

Everyone erupted in outrage, shocked by the revelation.

"But to get to Pluton you'd have to take down Wano's borders," Robin pointed out.

"We've already set up explosives. Kaido had enough bombs to level the island," Reid shrugged.

"How would you even navigate Pluton? It's an ancient ship!" Franky was furious. He was the one who destroyed Pluton's blueprints, ensuring the replica of the ship was never built.

Reid frowned, clearly unhappy with the questions. "We have many talents."

"Momonosuke does not want to open Wano's borders yet!" Nami protested.

Reid stared at her with a flat look. As if the Witches would ever be concerned with the wishes of some overgrown kid.

"There are thousands of slaves in Mariejoa," Robin's voice was calm, but Zoro knew she was shaken by the plan as much as everyone else. "They all will be killed if you use Pluton's full firepower."

"I'm sure they're already wishing for death," Reid stated, her voice hard as steel. "The world would be rid of the Celestial Dragons, the scourge that lasted for centuries. Sacrificing a few thousand lives is a small price to pay."

"Hey!" Luffy exclaimed, his gaze fixed on Reid. "I'm your captain now, and I won't allow you to go through with that plan!"

"Tch," Reid made an annoyed sound and crossed her arms. "Without Rage, we wouldn't be able to do it anyway."

"Why?" Robin inquired.

A door slammed somewhere on the upper deck, then another and another until all the doors were banging as if they had a mind of their own.

"What's going on?" Someone shouted as the ship began to sway, leaning precariously closer to the water with each wobble.

"She's doing this!" Usopp screamed, pointing at Reid.

She was effortlessly balancing on the wobbling deck, one of her fingers ticking from side to side in sync with the ship.

Zoro reached for his swords, unsure what the woman might do next. She obediently brought Rage to the ship, but it didn't mean the Witches didn't have any ulterior motives.

Reid stopped when all the crew's attention was on her. The banging ceased and the ship sailed smoothly again. The woman outstretched her hand, hovering her palm above her surfboard. The board floated in mid-air, gradually shrinking until it fit into her outstretched palm.

"I can control any mode of transportation," she revealed, dropping the board to the deck. It landed with a soft tap returning to its original size. "The plan was to retrieve Pluton, shrink it until we reach Mariejoa. Then bomb the rotten place until there's nothing left but a gaping hole in the Red Line."

"It would require an immense amount of stamina to use a devil fruit for such a long time," Robin commented, her posture visibly tense.

Reid nodded in agreement, maintaining a neutral expression. "Yes, that's why Rage's devil fruit is crucial for the plan. She could have replenished my strength until we reached the Red Line.”

"Rage can't use her powers that much," Zoro protested, tightening his grip on Wado. "It would shorten her life span or even worse."

"That's why you should be grateful to your captain for kidnapping her," Reid replied, her piercing gaze locking onto Zoro. "This mission would've been a one way ticket for all of us."

"You're all insane!" Nami seethed, her fists clenched tightly at her sides.

"That may be true," Reid replied. "But I think you don't understand us because you haven't suffered enough."

Nami recoiled as if she had been slapped.

"Stop that," Usopp protested, standing in front of Nami.

"You can return to your crew," Luffy's calm voice cut through the commotion as he stared at Reid with an unreadable expression.

"As you wish," Reid replied, stepping onto her surfboard. "Do you want me to pass any orders to the crew?"

"Stay put in Wano and don't cause any trouble."

A crooked smile crawled on Reid's lips. "Aye aye."

In a blink she was in the air, racing towards the island without glancing back.

Zoro released Wado and turned towards the crew. Everyone was silent and unmoving, until Nami threw Luffy a hurt look and walked off towards the girl's quarters.

"I'll make her favourite dessert to cheer her up," the cook took a last drag from his cigarette before putting it out and heading towards the kitchen. He paused beside Luffy. "I hope you have a plan on how to handle this situation. I'd hate to see Nami-san hurt."

Zoro was sure that Luffy had no plan beyond bringing Rage on board. Anger boiled inside him as he stomped towards his captain. He grabbed Luffy's arm and pulled him towards the men's quarters.

How could he not have realized that Rage was planing a suicide mission? He had let her go so easily, simply because he respected her wishes to achieve her goal. But she lied! Fuck her wishes, from now on, she was clearly not to be trusted. How could she have left him and Law behind, all the while claiming to love them?

He slammed the door so forcefully that it nearly came off its hinges.

Fuck her wishes! He was determined never to let her out of his sight again!

"Zoro," Luffy's confused voice cut through the furious haze clouding his mind. He spun towards his captain, pressed him against the wall, and smashed their lips together in a furious kiss.

Luffy let out a surprised gasp, but opened his mouth for Zoro and reciprocated the kiss with as much fervour. Their tongues tangled together as their teeth clashed and their panting breaths mingled.

Zoro jerked back, ending the kiss as abruptly as he started it. He locked eyes with Luffy, his breath coming in heavy pants. "You saved her," he whispered, then dropped to his knees.

He grabbed Luffy's shorts and yanked them down, leaning forward to suck Luffy's cock into his mouth.

"Oh, fuck," Luffy groaned in a strained voice as Zoro swallowed his cock to the base.

A pair of hands grabbed his hair, while Zoro sucked his captain's cock with everything he had, channelling all his anger and gratefulness into the act.

It took only a few minutes for Luffy to come with a strangled cry. Hot cum splashed on Zoro's tongue and he swallowed every last drop, lapping on Luffy's cock until his captain's grip loosened. He slid to the floor, facing Zoro. He panted heavily while watching the swordsman through hooded eyes.

"I almost lost her," Zoro uttered, something inside him crumbling. "You saved her."

Luffy's eyes widened, and he reached out, enveloping Zoro in a tight hug.

"It's ok," Luffy's voice sounded ragged. "Nobody's dying on my watch. Not anymore."

An explosion shook the ship.

They were both on their feet and out the door in a heartbeat.

"LUFFY!!!" Rage bellowed, fragments of the shattered door to the infirmary scattered by her feet. Her yellow eyes burned with fury as she scanned her surroundings. "Turn the ship back to Wano!" She barked at the crew.

"You're not going to Wano!" Luffy yelled at her. "I won! You and your crew are under my command."

She wasn't listening, fury burned in the bond, consuming any reason.

"Turn this ship around or I will sink it!" She threatened pumping haki into her fists

"Like hell you will," Zoro barked out, reaching for his bandana and stepping in front of Luffy. "Let me handle this," he said to his captain, tightening the bandana on his head and reaching for his swords.

"Do what you have to," Luffy replied as Zoro stepped towards Rage.

"Don't fuck with me Zoro," she growled through clenched teeth, falling into a fighting stance. "I'll do whatever it takes to get off this ship."

"You're not going anywhere," he replied, slipping Wado between his teeth.

The air cracked around him as a wave of raw power hit him through the bond. His body curled on itself under the pressure, he bit hard into Wado's handle, holding his ground.

STAND DOWN

The command came through the bond like a thunder, overwhelming all his senses. Conqueror's haki pushed into his mind, obliterating every thought in his head.

He felt his grip loosening on his swords, his body obeying the order.

He recoiled from the trance, his consciousness snapping back in place. He gripped his swords, focusing all his willpower into one strike. Enma sang in his grip, responding to the new kind of power that burst from Zoro.

He focused the energy on the bond and thrust it towards Rage.

How dare she use the bond to control him! He's nobody's slave!

She let out a stunned cry, and her hands fell to her sides, the armament dissipating.

"Zoro," she uttered in disbelief, her eyes going wide. "You have Conqueror's haki."

All the fight seemed to evaporate out of her at his display of power.

"You bitch!" Zoro shouted, pumping his anger into the bond. "You wanted to throw your life away!"

She recoiled at his words, shock written all over her face. "What?"

He yanked Wado from his mouth to shout at her. "Your fucking crew let you go! Reid brought you on board and told us everything," she took a step back, flinching from the force of his harsh words. "How could you, Rage?! We are bonded, and you choose to throw your life away!"

"I was-"

"Shut up!" he barked, fury swirling inside him, painting his vision red. "For how long have you planned this? How long have you lied to us?'

She gritted her teeth, keeping her mouth firmly shut.

"Answer me, Rage!"

"Since Usopp told me about Pluton, when we sailed for Wano!" She yelled back, balling her fists by her sides.

Zoro pinned Usopp with a glare and pointed the tip of Wado at the sniper. "You talk too much."

Usopp raised his hands in a placating manner and took a few steps back, his entire body shaking. "How would I know that she would take the ship to commit genocide!"

"Shut up," Zoro growled. Usopp yelped and jumped behind Jinbe.

Zoro pointed his swords at Rage. "You renounced your entire family, even killed your mother's mate to keep her away. You made enemies with the Red Hair pirates, convinced both me and Law to let you go, all with the sole purpose of throwing your life away. Too bad your crew abandoned you. You won't go back to Wano, and you won't be taking Pluton. Whether you like it or not, you're staying with us. I'll even put you in chains if that's what it takes to keep you here."

Rage squeezed her eyes tightly shut and her entire demeanour deflating under the weight of his words. Her will to fight crumbled.

"Robin, Franky," Luffy's calm voice carried over the deck. "Take her to my quarters and lock her up."

Zoro watched as his crewmates approached Rage. Robin placed a hand on his mate's back, gently guiding her towards the back of the ship. Rage obeyed, listlessly following Robin's guidance with head bowed in defeat.

Luffy stepped beside him, his hand resting on Zoro's shoulder with a firm squeeze.

"Good job," Luffy praised, catching Zoro's gaze. "Are you okay?"

"I will be," Zoro replied, sheeting his swords and removing his bandana. "Since when do you have your own room?”

A wide toothy smile spread across Luffy's face as he clapped Zoro on the shoulder. "Remember when we sailed with Romeo, and he gave me my own room? It was pretty nice to have a space when we didn't have to worry about anyone walking in on us. So, I asked Franky to make a separate room for me, you, and Rage."

"Well, fuck me," Zoro's brows shot up in disbelief. You actually had a plan to make her stay with us."

"Shishishishi," Luffy laughed contentedly. But then he leaned in, grabbing Zoro's shoulder, and their chests pressed together. Zoro's eye widened as he found himself pinned under Luffy's heated gaze.

"That was really hot what you did there," his captain's voice turned low and teasing. "I want you to fuck me with the same attitude you gave her."

Well, fuck. Zoro's lips stretched in a predatory smirk, while his cock shot up in reaction to his captain's words.

He pulled Luffy by the front of the shirt to the nearest empty room.

—-----------------

Rage paced the room. She had been imprisoned in many places in the past, some of them quite nasty, but as far as holding cells went, this was the nicest she had ever seen.

The room was spacious and bright, featuring a large window adorned with actual curtains and drapes. Curtains! Heavy fucking, dark green suede curtains! In Luffy's room! She growled in annoyance at the sight as she continued pacing

A large portion of the room was occupied by a bed. The thick mattress, big enough for five people, rested on a reinforced ornamental metal frame. The crisp white sheets were incredibly soft, and Rage was certain they must have cost a small fortune.

She turned away from the bed with a huff of annoyance and approached a heavy desk made of dark polished wood. It was a beautiful piece of furniture, with its shiny top completely smooth and devoid of even a single scratch. No wonder it looked unused, did Luffy even know how to write? The idiot surely had no need for a desk.

Pushing away from the desk, she resumed her pacing around the room. Her steps grew silent as she walked over a thick rug. She recognized the pattern immediately as her eyes fell upon it. She wasn't sure how the Straw Hats had come into possession of a Kashan rug, but she was certainly impressed.

She continued to pace, passing by a large upholstered armchair crafted from wood and fabulously soft velvet. Opposite the armchair stood a beautiful chaise lounge adorned with gilded decorative carvings.

Next to each piece of upholstered furniture were small, round side tables. The arrangement seemed perfect for spending relaxing time with a book or lounging with friends, carrying lazy conversations for hours.

She had to admit, the room came close to perfection. However, the fact that it belonged to Luffy was a significant flaw in her eyes.

Her pacing brought her around the armchair once more, and her gaze landed on the backpack resting on the plush velvet cushion.

Fucking Mira, it had to be her idea to compromise the plan. After all Mira went through, Rage thought she would be more than eager to obliterate the Celestial Dragons. But apparently the woman cared more about Rage than vengeance.

It never occurred to her that any of her girls would deem any personal sentiment more important than revenge. Hell, even she, with two bonded mates, had set everything aside to end slavery. And she never went through the things that Mira had endured before joining Team One.

She reached for the backpack and yanked it open. A piece of paper was wedged between tightly rolled clothes. She pulled it out and unfolded.

"If you have to choose between happiness and revenge, always choose happiness," the words were scribbled with Mira's slanted handwriting. Memories flooded her mind. Little child being slowly eaten alive by maggots crawling from their mother's decomposing body. Faeces being served on a silver platter. A woman's body being carved with a knife while she trashed against her bindings in agony.

A furious growl erupted from her throat as she crumbled the note in her hand.

What about their happiness? What about the people held captive, who can't save themselves?!

She flung the paper angrily, but it was too light and landed a short distance away with an unsatisfying rustle.

She crushed it underneath her foot and continued pacing.

No matter, Pluton remained in Wano with her crew. Even if the girls had let her go, they surely wouldn't allow anyone near the ship. Pluton was guarded, awaiting her return.

Luffy and Zoro sure as hell wouldn't let her go now that they knew of her plan. And she wasn't strong enough to fight them both. She touched the tips of her fingers to the bandage Chopper wrapped around her forehead.

She had yet to fully recover from the battle with the Beast Pirates. She wasn’t sure if she would ever regain her previous level of stamina after using the awakened technique of her Devil Fruit. Nevertheless, she was determined to utilise every ounce of her remaining strength to fuel the plan.

The fucking plan that was currently in shambles because of Luffy. No matter, all she needed was a backup plan, and a backup of the backup.

She figured Luffy had taken her on his ship because he wanted to bond with her eventually. The disillusioned fool. The bond between them had shattered once, only to return as they battled Kaido arm in arm. Luffy likely still believed it was possible for them to form a full bond, akin to what she had with Zoro. What he didn't know was that her hatred for him was infinitely stronger than the feeble connection they had.

She stood by the window, peering at the horizon. Mount Fuji's peak had already disappeared from sight as the strong wind carried the ship away from Wano.

All she needed to do was make Luffy and his crew's lives a living hell, so they'd be eager to leave her behind when they reached the next island.

A knock on the door echoed in the room. The lock clicked, and the door swung open. The smell of food wafted in as Sanji entered, carrying an overflowing tray.

"That's a first," she raised a brow, turning to the cook. "Out of all the cells I’ve been held in, this is the first time someone knocked on the door before entering."

Sanji crossed the room, and placed the tray on the desk.

"You are not a prisoner," Sanji explained, straightening up and shoving his hands in the pockets of his pristinely looking slacks. "Luffy said you have to stay in the room until we sail a bit further away from Wano. If the wind keeps up, you’ll be free to roam the ship in the morning."

Oh for crying out loud, this crew was so gullible. She strode towards the desk, stopping just a few steps away from the cook.

"I thought I'd get a ball and chain instead."

"We don't treat ladies in such a crude way," Sanji frowned, his words eliciting a low chuckle from her, which caused his frown to deepen. "I have a favour to ask of you."

"Oh?" She raised her brow in curiosity.

"Nami-san is still upset about the things you said to her in that club," Sanji's expression grew serious. She raked her brain to remember what she said to the navigator. "Nami had a hard life since she lost her mother. She said you remind her of all the bad stuff just by who you are and what you do."

Ah yes, she remembered the stuff she said about stealing from paedophiles. Frankly, Nami just chose a bad time to get on her nerves. Rage lashed out at her, but it wasn't anything personal. But since Sanji brought it up, the information could be useful.

"So Nami associates me with her trauma," she plucked a grape from the tray, and locked eyes with Sanji, giving him a small smile. "Don't worry. It won't take much to change that. I can make her associate me with something entirely more pleasant."

Holding Sanji's gaze, she slowly put the grape in her mouth. He stared at her in confusion until her lips curled into a seductive smile. His eyes grew wide, and a deep blush coloured his cheeks. No doubt, his perverted mind created an image of Rage and Nami together.

He was so easy to tease, this would be fun.

After Sanji left, she expected Zoro to show up and scold her. His side of the bond was simmering with anger, and she assumed he'd take it out on her. Besides the fact that she had lied to him, she had tried to control him through the bond. That was a major breach of trust. But frankly, she couldn't bring herself to care. Her own anger burned as hot as Zoro's.

When she woke up in the infirmary with a bruised face and a cracked sternum, she believed that Zoro knew about Luffy's plan to take her away. If he was going to meddle with her choices, she felt it was only fitting to give him a taste of his own medicine, but harder.

Apparently, Zoro hadn't been aware of his captain's intentions. But it didn't matter since he had sided with Luffy anyway, deciding to keep her on the ship. She hated when people interfered with her plans. She hated Luffy. She was going to end him, slowly, meticulously, taking everything from him, piece by piece.

Later in the evening, Robin came to take her to the bathroom. The older woman didn't try to talk to her, aside from a few pleasantries. She offered to take a hot bath together, and Rage agreed.

Sitting in the steaming bathtub, she watched Robin through hooded eyes. She had gathered enough information about the older woman. Robin was the last of Ohara, the World Government had killed her mother, she was hunted throughout her childhood, drifting between various crews and shady organisations until she joined Straw Hats. Luffy had declared war on the World Government to rescue her at Enies Lobby. The entire crew had fought tooth and nail to free her from the clutches of CP9. Robin possessed the unique ability to decipher the Poneglyphs, making her the key to guiding Luffy to Laugh Tale. Without her it would be infinitely harder for Luffy to find One Piece and become the Pirate King.

"How are you?" Robin's gentle tone disturbed her thoughts.

"Pissed," Rage replied without thinking.

Rabin gave a small nod and hummed in acknowledgement.

"Were you the one who designed Luffy's room?" she asked the woman as she sat up in the tub.

"I might have given a few suggestions," Robin replied with a small smile. "Franky did most of the work. Do you like the room?"

It sounded like a loaded question. Rage just shrugged. "It looks good. I'm not sure it fits Luffy though."

"He'll be happy to know you like it," Robin stated with a smile.

"Seems like everybody on this ship wants him to be happy," Rage remarked, keeping her expression neutral.

"Of course," Robin nodded again, smiling a bit wider. "We all love him."

Was that a warning, a peace offering or an invitation? She found it hard to see through Robin's facade. The woman had mastered hiding her true intentions to perfection.

That's why Rage liked her. She had a sharp mind and was able to see the world for what it was, unlike her crewmates.

She felt a kind of kinship with Robin, despite the fact that she was one of the Straw Hats.

She didn't expect to spend the night alone, but nobody came to her room. She managed to drift into a fitful sleep, comforted by the faint calmness from Law's side of the bond.

A knock startled her awake, and she bolted from the bed with a racing heart. Wide eyed, she scanned the room, searching for any sign of danger. Another knock on the door drew her attention. She sucked in a deep breath through the mouth, trying to catch the scent of the person on the other side. It brought up an image of a tall woman with dark hair and piercing eyes.

A deep sigh rose in her chest and she placed her palm over her racing heart. Memories of the previous day resurfaced and the panic subsided.

"Rage," a muffled voice came from the other side of the door. "Breakfast is ready. Will you join us?"

She glanced at the window. It was bright outside, with the sun already halfway towards its peak. She rarely slept through sunrise!

"Ye-yeah," she stammered, taking another deep breath and holding it in for a moment. "I just need to get dressed."

"Okay," came a short reply.

She sagged into the armchair, burying her face into her palms.

Her pulse slowed, but the grip on her stomach didn't ease. She wasn't supposed to be here. The entire plan had gone to shit. She needed to fix it, get it back on track, and return to Wano.

An overwhelming sense of exhaustion washed over her, the panic attack draining her energy despite having just woken up.

Forcing herself to move, she reached into the backpack, pulling out a sleeveless, deep cut t-shirt, underwear and black pants. After dressing, she tightly laced her combat boots, finger combed her hair, and left the room.

On her way to the galley, she stopped at the restroom. After washing her face, she glanced into the mirror and frowned. Her usually warm brown skin now looked ashy. There were dark circles under her eyes, and her lips were pale.

The fight with Luffy and the process of healing her cracked head and sternum drained too much energy. She knew she wouldn't be able to fight again until she fully recovered. She always felt better after Daria's treatments, and if she had received them consistently over the past few days, she would have been in significantly better shape. Due to the huge amount of pain she felt while using the devil fruit, Daria decided against draining people for faster recovery. Her body was too exhausted and the pain not only slowed down her healing but also led to other complications. They had decided that she would only drain people while they were sailing towards Mariejoa.

Now, thanks to Luffy, her health was fucked. Daria was in Wano, and there probably wouldn't be anyone for her to drain for a long while.

She let out a heavy sigh while applying moisturiser she found on a shelf by the mirror. Ugly, anaemic pallor covered not only her face but her entire skin. She noticed more grey hairs than the last time she looked, her clothes hung loosely on her, and she had lost weight again. Overall, she looked like shit.

Physically and emotionally, she also felt like shit. She braced herself before entering the galley. Zoro's side of the bond appeared calm and focused, but she was sure he was pissed at her for many reasons. She expected he'd give her the cold shoulder for a while; the swordsman could hold a grudge like nobody else. And this time, Law wasn't around to manipulate them into make-up sex.

As she entered the galley, a heavy silence descended, and all eyes turned in her direction.

For the first time in a long while she didn't know how to react. She wasn't exactly a prisoner, but her actions had caused friction. Nami hated her, she used Usopp to get intel, she knocked Chopper into a wall, she tried to control Zoro through their bond, she threatened to destroy the ship, and Luffy's presence only fueled her helpless anger.

The silence stretched, while she stood by the door. She dropped her gaze. She couldn't do it after all, she didn't want to be among these people.

"Sit down," Zoro's irritated voice cut through the silence, before she turned to leave.

"Do you want coffee, Rage-chan?" Sanji jumped to his feet with a wide smile,

"Yeah, she wants one," Zoro replied. "Black and disgustingly sweet. She likes it that way." He nodded at an empty spot beside him, then tugged on the bond. "Come here and sit."

He was sitting next to Luffy and opposite Usopp, wonderfull.

Reluctantly, she sank into the seat, too drained to resist. A cup of coffee appeared in front of her, accompanied by a bowl of sugar.

"Thanks," she uttered. Inhaling the divine aroma, she quickly added three lumps of sugar to the cup. The taste was sublime; Sanji's coffee was among the best she had ever had. As soon as her cup was empty, the cook was at her side with a refill.

"Help yourself to the food," the cook encouraged, nodding towards the spread of dishes.

"Thanks," she replied courtly, taking another sip. Luckily he didn't hover over her, instead, he danced away to refill Robin's cup. She didn't have much of an appetite; the sight of food made her feel nauseous.

"Eat something," Zoro gruffly ordered.

"I don't want to," she replied without looking at him. Why was he even bothering to talk to her?

"Rage," Chopper called in his high-pitched voice. "Can I check your injuries after breakfast?"

She shook her head. "They're already healed."

"Then let me do some tests," the small doctor insisted. "Just some basic blood work."

Again, she shook her head. "No need."

"But you don't look so good," Chopper persisted. "I just want to check what's wrong so I can help you."

She set her cup down. "There's no need for testing because I already know what's wrong."

"Then tell him," Zoro cut in, his tone firm.

"I don't feel comfortable discussing my medical history over breakfast," she retorted.

"You're not eating, so talk," he pushed a surge of power through the bond, urging her to obey him.

That made her look at him. "What was that?"

A slow, wolfish smile spread across his face. "What? Isn't forcing each other into obedience our thing now?"

She snorted. "We both have conqueror's haki, it cancels each other out."

"Whatever," he waved her off. "Tell Chopper what he needs to know."

She sighed. She didn't have the energy to stand her ground, so she looked into Chopper's hopeful eyes and listed the results of Daria's tests.

"Daria considered a bone marrow transplant for a while, but ten units of blood with boosters seemed to jumpstart healing. We stuck to daily IVs and four units of blood every second day."

Chopper stared at her without blinking. "I see now why Torao was so hostile towards your doctor." He turned to the cook. "Sanji, would you be willing to donate blood? You're the only one on the ship who has the exact same blood type as Rage. You're both universal donors."

"Of course," the cook replied without a moment of hesitation.

"Can you make her a protein shake with electrolytes and fifty grams of glucose?"

"Yeah," Sanji turned to the kitchen, taking out several containers from the cabinets and measuring ingredients into a shaker.

She felt dejected as she watched his every move. She really didn't want to drink a stinky protein shake; the artificial taste didn't agree with her at all.

"You look queasy," Chopper said as he rounded the table and grabbed her wrist. "Do you feel faint? Will you throw up? Please tell me you're not pregnant on top of everything else."

Zoro let out a choked sound and started coughing.

She considered asking Chopper for a pregnancy test just to fuck with the swordsman.

She turned to Zoro and held his gaze with a serious expression, watching his horrified face until beads of sweat formed on his forehead. They could've made an army of babies with the amount of cum he and Law pumped into her during the past week.

Movement next to Zoro made her glance towards Luffy. He dropped the meat he had in his hand and stared at her with a horrified expression. The thought that he assaulted a pregnant woman and beat her unconscious probably didn't sit very well with him.

For a moment she toyed with the idea of provoking a period and accusing him of causing her to miscarry. That would surely fuck with his head and cause a rift between him and Zoro.

"No," she turned to Chopper with an eye roll. "I got rid of all my eggs on Onigashima. It's not possible for me to get pregnant."

"Oh," Chopper's ears twitched, his expression turning worried. "Did something happen-"

She removed her hand from his grip. "Nothing you need to be concerned with."

"Here you go, Rage-chan," Sanji presented her with a tall glass of milky pink liquid. "Please drink it; you'll feel a lot better with nutrients in your stomach."

"Thanks," she accepted the glass. When the cook didn't move and continued staring at her, she took a small sip. He smiled widely, grabbed Chopper, and walked away. She turned to Zoro with a smirk. "You had a pregnancy scare for a hot moment, didn't you?"

He scowled with disapproval.

"It could've been Law's or even Kyoshiro's," she teased. "No need to stress when there's a chance it's not yours."

"It wouldn't make any difference," he replied, still scowling. "You're mine, and so would be anything that crawls out of you."

"Gah, enough," she felt disgusted at the mere thought of something growing inside her. "That'll never happen, so let's never talk about me growing a parasite."

"Parasite?!" Chopper exclaimed. "You have parasites on top of everything else? No wonder you look so anaemic!"

She dropped her face into her palm.

"She doesn't have parasites! That's not what she was talking about!" Usopp yelled.

"She said she's growing a parasite! Oh no! Is it a tapeworm? Sometimes they get so big they have to be removed surgically!"

She took a sip of the crappy, overly sweet shake, trying to block the stupid bickering.

She finished the drink as quickly as she was able to stomach the taste, but in the end, it didn't sit well with her. She bolted from her seat, running to the restroom. She barely reached the toilet before the shake violently left her stomach.

She slid to the floor and leaned against the wall. Tears welled in her eyes, blurring her vision. The few days without any treatment and the fight with Luffy had caused her to revert to the state she was in shortly after Onigashima.

A pair of big furry arms gently pulled her up to her feet. Chopper walked her to the sink, and urged her to rinse her mouth with mouthwash. The intensive smell sobered her up a bit, but black spots danced on the edge of her vision.

The cup with the mouthwash clattered into the sink; her fingers felt numb. Then she was hauled against a broad, furry chest, and the air rushed against her skin. The septic scent of infirmary hit her nose before she was deposited on a cot. The last thing she registered was a sharp sting of a needle being inserted into the crook of her elbow.

She drifted into consciousness to a sight of a wooden ceiling, the steady beep of a heart monitor, and a pleasant scent of cologne.

"Chopper, she's awake," a smooth male voice informed.

Turning her head towards the source of the voice, she saw Sanji lying on a cot next to hers, with only a small gap between them. Medical tubes connected their arms.

"How do you feel, Rage?" Chopper's voice came from her other side, and she turned her head. The movement caused her vision to spin, but luckily she was already laying down. Nonetheless, the sensation was unpleasant, and her heart raced painfully in her chest.

"It's ok," Chopper assured. "Don't make any sudden movements. You'll feel better in a while."

He removed an empty IV bag and replaced it with another. After securing the new bag, he injected something into it and adjusted the drip.

"Do you want me to get Zoro?" he asked.

"He knows I'm awake," she mumbled hoarsely, her throat dry and scratchy. "Can I have a sip of water?"

A straw was placed against her lips, and she took a small sip. The cool liquid flowed down her throat, clearing away some of the grogginess she felt. After another sip, she released the straw, not wanting to risk another bout of nausea.

"Daria didn't give me food for several days, only pumped nutrients straight into my veins," she mumbled out the first random thought that came to her mind.

Chopper scowled at the words but didn't say anything, just shook his head.

"You're so stinkin’ cute," she giggled under her breath.

"I'll be right back," Chopper scrunched his nose and disappeared from her line of sight.

"How are you feeling, Rage-chan?" Sanji asked.

She slowly turned her head toward him. "Why do you call me that? I'm older than you, and I look more like a milf than a girl."

"You still look beautiful, my dear," he replied with a toothy smile.

"Damn boy, if you weren't such a perv, I would totally do you, despite the fact you're blond," she replied, mirroring his smile.

The grin dropped from his face, replaced by a look of shock. Apparently her brain-to-mouth filter was gone.

"I could never," he flushed, the pink of his cheeks matching nicely with his blond hair. "You're Luffy's and Marimo's partner."

"And yet you still found a way to pump inside me," she giggled when his eyes grew wide. His face burned red.

"You look good when you're flustered," she mumbled with amusement as her eyes drifted shut.

Sleepiness enveloped her like a cosy blanket, and she drifted off to the sound of flustered protests.

A sense of urgency woke her up. Her bladder was painfully full, and she scrambled out of the bed towards the door, faintly registering a muffled groan of pain. She almost sprinted to the restroom, squeezing her pelvic floor muscles tightly, so she wouldn't piss herself on the way.

She moaned with relief the moment she reached the toilet. IVs were a blessing, but only when accompanied by a catheter.

She splashed water on her face, examining her reflection in the mirror. Her skin looked better; the ashy pallor was gone, but she still didn't feel quite right. The dark circles under her eyes were still visible and she felt tired.

As she stumbled onto the deck, an arm snagged around her waist, pulling her close against a naked chest. Zoro's scent hit her nose, stopping her from throwing a punch.

His hair was tousled, and he looked like he had just woken up.

"Let me help you back to bed," he mused, nuzzling into her hair.

His scent and warmth were comforting. She wound her arms around his neck, and when he grabbed her ass, she wrapped her legs around his hips. The way he effortlessly carried her to bed made her want to do all kinds of things with him. But that trail of thoughts passed the moment he laid her down. Her head sank into the pillow that smelled of Zoro, and exhaustion overcame her.

Zoro climbed onto the bed behind her.

"We're switching places," the swordsman grumbled while lying down next to her. "So you won't knee me in the gut when you need to go again."

"I didn't even know you were in bed with me," she mumbled, turning her head towards him. "Why are you in bed with me?"

"You had your one night alone to cool off," he replied, catching her gaze in the moonlit room. "You're stuck with me now."

"No complaints here," the words left her mouth without her thinking, and a heartbeat later the guilt slammed into her.

"What's going on?" Zoro sounded alarmed.

"I could've changed the lives of millions of slaves," she whispered, her gut constricting. "But I'm here with you. How can I feel this happy, when I know I'm failing so many people?"

"I don't want you to die," Zoro replied, his voice hard as steel. "You told me you were going to get revenge for your crew. That's not what would happen if you carried out the plan."

"Yes it would. It would be the ultimate revenge against slavers," she whispered listlessly, the dissociation slowly pushing out all feelings from her body. "I want them all dead."

"You are way over your head," the harsh words echoed in her head as she drifted into sleep, full of dreams of basements filled with screams and rot.

When she woke up, Zoro was gone, and the sun was high up in the sky. The Straw Hats were scattered all over the ship, busy with whatever work they were supposed to be doing. The moment Chopper spotted her, he hurried over, bombarding her with questions about her well-being.

"Coffee first," she silenced the furry doctor with a raised palm. "I'll meet you at the infirmary after my caffeine fix. And I don't want to hear a word about coffee being bad for me. Coffee is life; you'll have to pry it from my cold, dead fingers."

Someone laughed. She didn't care. It was too bright, she was tired, the wind was loud, her limbs felt heavy, her joints ached, life sucked.

She made her way to the galley, where Sanji was busy preparing lunch. She wished she could turn off her sense of smell; there were too many scents attacking her nose.

"Have a seat," Sanji greeted her with a blinding smile. He placed his palm on her lower back and guided her towards the table. "I'll have coffee ready in just a moment."

She watched him with a frown. He moved gracefully, handling several tasks at once, brimming with energy. It made her acutely aware how bad her shape was. She barely had the strength to walk. Fuck her life and the fucking devil fruit that had ruined everything.

A tiny porcelain cup was placed in front of her. No spoon, no sugar, no glass of water.

She blinked at Sanji. Why was he doing this to her? Hadn't his captain done enough to ruin her life?

"What's this?" she asked as he continued to beam at her. "Have I offended you in any way? Did Chopper tell you to limit my coffee?"

She didn’t know if she wanted to scream, cry, or throw a punch.

“Try it, my dear,” Sanji encouraged with a confident smile. “I’m sure you’ll like it.”

His beaming smile was too much. She focused on the tiny cup, tears pricking at her eyes. She reached for the cup, deciding that a tiny coffee was still better than no coffee.

The moment the liquid hit her tongue, her eyes grew wide. It was the most concentrated coffee she had ever tasted, and it wasn't bitter at all. Instead, the heavy sweetness of sugar cane flooded her mouth.

She turned to Sanji in shock.

“It’s a cafecito,” he explained, wearing a satisfied smile. "I'm glad you like it."

“It's so good I could kiss you!” she exclaimed, while coffee worked its magic, making the world a better place with just one glorious sip.

Sanji’s cheeks turned a soft shade of pink, but his smile didn’t falter. “Your joy makes me happy,” he replied, taking a step back towards the stove where several pots were boiling over. He quickly stirred the pots and adjusted the flame, setting it to a simmer. He grabbed the wok, tossing its contents several times before dumping it all into one of the pots. “How do you feel today?”

“Better than yesterday,” she replied, taking another sip of the cafecito. She closed her eyes and let out a satisfied sigh as the taste bloomed in her mouth. “All thanks to you. I hope you didn’t lose too much blood because of me.”

“Giving you blood was never a loss,” he assured. “I’ll be glad to donate as much as you need if it means you’ll feel better.”

She squinted her eyes suspiciously at him. He was acting so nice towards her, and he only blushed when she offered to kiss him. Was he really taming his perverted side because his captain was interested in her and she was Zoro’s mate? Was this some kind of bro code, because Luffy staked his claim? But Luffy slept with Nami, and Sanji never changed his attitude towards her.

“Do you find me repulsive because I’ve slept with Zoro?” she asked, watching Sanji’s smile drop in an instant.

“Of course not!” He replied seriously. “That stupid Marimo is lucky you’re willing to have him.”

“Then why do you act weird towards me?”

“You’re sick, Rage-chan,” Sanji replied, turning to the stove. “You need to be cared for, so you can heal.”

His words were kind, but his posture was tense.

She drained the last of the coffee and slipped out of her seat. She walked towards Sanji and stood behind him, leaving just a fraction of free space between them. “What aren’t you telling me?”

He jumped in place, as if he didn’t hear her walking. He tried to turn around, but his back bumped against her chest and he froze, his face just a small distance away from hers. He was the same height as her, so their eyes connected at an even level.

She slightly pursed her lips and watched as the cook's gaze drifted down. She parted her lips just a fraction while tilting her chin up.

Beads of sweat formed on his forehead while he held his breath.

“Chopper was mad at Zoro,” the words gushed from Sanji’s mouth. “He prevented you from getting treated while we were still at Wano. Your health degraded, and when Luffy attacked you, you used up the last of your strength. Chopper scolded both Zoro and Luffy, and it was agreed that nobody would touch or fight you until you’re recovered.”

“Oh,” her lips stretched into a deep scowl, her mood dropping instantly. “So on top of kidnapping me, you are deciding for me what I can and cannot do.”

She stepped back, turned on her heel and strode towards the door, ignoring Sanji’s distressed excuses.

For a moment she considered locking herself in her room, but ultimately decided against it. She decided to take advantage of the crew’s resources, especially what she needed most: medical treatment. She headed to the infirmary, where Chopper was waiting for her. She didn’t look at him, replied curtly to his questions, and lay on the cot without a word until two IV bags were empty.

The quiet time in the infirmary calmed her anger, leaving her tired. She was tired of fighting, of planning, of all the responsibility. She couldn't achieve her goal, even though she worked on it for over ten years. Following the Straw Hats to Wano and fighting Kaido ruined her health and took away ten years of her lifespan. She knew she would never be as strong as she once was before the Battle of Onigashima. What would happen to her next while she sailed with this cursed crew? Could she survive the journey and go back to Wano to carry out her plan? Or would the next battle be the end of her? She might die. If she had to die, she'd rather make a change in the world. Dying for some insufferable boy’s dream would be the greatest failure of her life.

She left the infirmary, ignoring Chopper's sad expression and drooping ears. She wanted to be alone, so she climbed to the small deck above the observation room. Dropping down by the railing, she gazed at the horizon. Vast sea stretched around the ship without any land in sight. Her body ached, she was drained, both physically and emotionally. Thoughts of the future filled her with despair. When she was captured by Doflamingo’s minions, beaten and whipped, she thought she was going to die in a mouldy basement, reeking of sweat and piss. She survived, only to fall into Cesar’s hands. On Punk Hazard her life almost ended several times, but she pulled through. Dressrosa almost killed her when she restored Luffy’s energy. She survived, but Wano crippled her. She went through all that struggle only to fail, she’d rather be dead.

A stream of music woke her from her dark thoughts. The tune was vaguely familiar. She got to her feet and looked down. Brook sat by the main mast, a guitar in his lap, his fingers dancing over the strings, bringing out a simple melody.

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Lookin' in your eyes

I see a paradise

This world that I've found is too good to be true

Standin' here beside you

Want so much to give you

This love in my heart that I'm feeling for you

Let 'em say we're crazy

I don't care about that

Put your hand in my hand

Baby, don't ever look back

Let the world around us

Just fall apart

Baby, we can make it

If we're heart to heart

And we can build this dream together

Standing strong forever

Nothing's gonna stop us now

And if this world runs out of lovers

We'll still have each other

Nothing's gonna stop us

Nothing's gonna stop us now

Oh, whoa

I'm so glad I found you

I'm not gonna lose you

Whatever it takes

I will stay here with you

Take you to the good times

See you through the bad times

Whatever it takes

Is what I'm gonna do

Let 'em say we're crazy

What do they know?

Put your arms around me

Baby, don't ever let go

Let the world around us

Just fall apart

Baby, we can make it

If we're heart to heart

And we can build this dream together

Standing strong forever

Nothing's gonna stop us now

And if this world runs out of lovers

We'll still have each other

Nothing's gonna stop us

Ooh, all that I need is you

All that I ever need

All that I want to do

Is hold you forever

Forever and ever…

That fucking old song was so nostalgic. Some of her grandfathers used to sing it to her grandma. Old deluded saps thought that the old bag was the most miraculous woman in the world. They had an entire repertoire of old love songs, which they gladly played on every possible occasion. Grandma was always amused by their antics, and sometimes she got that look in her eyes that made Rage feel jealous. She had so many mates who doted on her, cherished her, and truly loved her. Sometimes, Rage wished she had her own mates, people who would love her no matter what.

She swiped her gaze over the ship, searching for Zoro, but her eyes landed on Luffy. He sat on the lion’s head, it seemed to be his favourite spot to sit and stare at the horizon.

However, at that moment, he wasn't looking at the horizon. Even though they were on opposite sides of the ship, their eyes found each other. He smiled at her, that happy rueful smile, that made all the cares disappear.

The song changed to a more upbeat tone.

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Now I've had the time of my life

No, I never felt like this before

Yes I swear, it's the truth

And I owe it all to you

'Cause I've had the time of my life

And I owe it all to you

I've been waiting for so long

Now I've finally found someone to stand by me

We saw the writing on the wall

As we felt this magical fantasy

Now with passion in our eyes

There's no way we could disguise it secretly

So we take each other's hand

'Cause we seem to understand the urgency

Just remember

You're the one thing

I can't get enough of

So I'll tell you something

This could be love, because

I've had the time of my life

No, I never felt this way before

Yes, I swear, it's the truth

And I owe it all to you

Hey, baby

With my body and soul

I want you more than you'll ever know

So we'll just let it go

Don't be afraid to lose control, no

Yes, I know what's on your mind

When you say, "Stay with me tonight" (stay with me)

Just remember

You're the one thing

I can't get enough of

So I'll tell you something

This could be love, because

I've had the time of my life

No, I never felt this way before

Yes, I swear (yes, I swear), it's the truth

And I owe it all to you

'Cause I've had the time of my life

And I've searched through every open door

'Til I found the truth

And I owe it all to you

The skeleton was seriously pushing it. But for a moment, she wondered how it would feel if she followed the yearning and let the bond form with Luffy. How would her life look with him by her side? The boy who never wavered, who never let go of hope or his dreams and goals. What if she shared that same conviction? What would happen if she let herself be as happy as he was?

She forced her gaze away from Luffy and jumped down from the observation room, scrambling in a hurry. The moment her feet connected with the deck, her legs gave out, and she fell forward. A bony hand encircled her shoulders, preventing her from face-planting into the deck.

“Thanks,” she mumbled to Brook, pushing away from him, her gaze averted. Her ears burned with embarrassment and impotent anger. She cursed the devil fruit, that had ruined her life, making her as weak as a fucking child.

Zoro walked up the stairs, his expression filled with concern. One glance at her and Brook, helping her stand, made the swordsman frown. He fell to one knee in front of her, presenting his back.

"Get on," he said, glancing at her over his shoulder.

“I’m not a kid to be carried around,” she protested with a scowl.

“Either you get on my back or I’ll throw you over my shoulder, you choose,” he stated firmly.

“So much for free will,” she commented, wrapping her arms and legs around him.

“Sucks, doesn’t it?” he shot back, rising to his feet.

She sighed at the jab. “Don’t hold your breath for an apology,” she whispered, brushing his ear with her lips, eliciting a grunt from the swordsman.

“Then I just have to make it even,” Zoro replied.

She huffed. “I’ve heard of the no sex rule. I can’t say I approve.”

“Nobody’s asking for your approval. There won't be any sex for you until you get better.”

The galley doors swung wide open, and the bell rang calling everyone for lunch.

“We’ll see about that,” she smiled widely, when her gaze landed on the cook. “Sanji,” she called, and the cook swirled around, greeting her with an equally wide smile.

"Hello, my dear. I've made something special for you that should be easy on your stomach," he said, reaching for a bowl and presenting it like a trophy.

"Thank you, Sanji," she replied with a beaming smile, “but I think some vitamin D would make me feel even better.” She winked at the cook.

Zoro’s head snapped towards her, while Sanji’s jaw dropped and the bowl almost slipped from his grip. “Was that a pickup line?”

She burst out laughing when Zoro unceremoniously dropped her to the chair at the table. “Behave yourself,” the swordsman scolded.

She just snorted. “Have you met me?”

“You’re not getting any, and that’s final,” Zoro looked pissed.

“That’s your resolve to keep, not mine,” she replied, winking again at Sanji. “Oh my, did I upset you, Sanji? I don’t know what’s gotten into me, but I wish it was you.”

Zoro’s expression turned incredulous. “Where did you get that one from?”

‘Oh, I’ve heard enough pickup lines in Sin City to fill a whole book,” she grinned at the swordsman. “And on that note, you remind me of my job. I’m not doing it, but I definitely should be.”

“Are we disturbing something?” Robin asked, standing by the door with Usopp and Franky crowded behind her.

“Come in, Robin-chan,” Sanji put down the bowl jerkily and danced towards the door, guiding Robin towards the table, his voice louder than usual.

The meal was as loud as always, with Luffy stealing food from everyone, and Sanji slapping his hands away when he tried to steal anything from Nami’s or Robin’s plate. He didn’t touch Rage’s plate, maybe because all she got was a soup with meat and vegetables chopped into small pieces.

Usopp was animatedly describing his new project, which she didn’t pay any attention to since it was something about his plants. Nami asked Usopp to upgrade her weapon for storing the talking cloud.

The navigator had her hair pulled into a fluffy ponytail and was wearing a very nice, low-cut sundress that revealed the straps of a bikini top tied around her neck.

"Aren't you creeped out by that cloud?" Rage pointed at the Clima-tact.

"Zeus is not creepy," Nami protested, sending Rage a furious look.

"He's a part of Big Mom's soul; it's like she's still alive through him," Rage frowned at the thought. "Maybe he can enter someone's body, so the person will become possessed by Big Mom's spirit. Imagine waking up one day and starting to mindlessly eat people."

Big Mom eating a person was one of the most hideous things that happened during her time on Onigashima. She could still hear the garbled screams as the Yonko's teeth crunched the bones.

"The only one who gets possessed by mindless hunger is you," Nami retorted.

"You wanna fight, little girl? I'm weak enough for you to land a hit, but I'm still able to whoop your wimpy ass," Rage pointed a finger at the navigator with a challenge.

"How civilised of you, solving everything with brute force. Who needs to worry about Big Mom, when we have you?" Nami's eyes burned with anger, and she wasn't backing down. Rage thought she would storm away after just one comment, but she clearly wasn't that weak. Rage liked that. She let go of her grip on her Conqueror's haki, allowing it to flow freely around her.

"The difference is, I only eat people consensually," she replied with a smirk.

"Yes, that seems to be all you do - fuck and fight," Nami bit back with a disgusted look.

"I prefer to fight first, then fuck," she replied with a wolfish grin.

"How unfortunate for you that you're stuck with us, then," Nami sneered.

Rage snorted and waved her hand dismissively. "Please, you're severely underestimating me."

"Clearly you're not that sick, if your mind's in the gutter," Nami retorted, holding her hand up to stop Sanji's attempt to intervene.

"I mean, that might be Sanji's blood working in my system," she tapped her chest above her heart. "Who knows what could happen if I get more of his perv juice, Nami-swan."

Nami flinched, disgust and disbelief mingled on her face.

"You realise that blood transfusions do not work that way," Chopper interjected, as he poured syrup on his toast. "Blood does not influence your behaviour."

"He's an artificially enhanced human being; anything could happen. Maybe his blood could work miracles and speed up my recovery," she winked at Sanji, whose expression grew cloudy.

"The only instance in which his DNA might affect you is if he got you pregnant, and the foetus's stem cells entered your bloodstream through the placenta," Chopper explained while slicing his toast into small pieces and gesturing with a fork. "There are documented cases where foetal cells have aided the mother's healing from significant injuries, but that's the best-case scenario. In most cases, these stem cells can cause severe immune reactions in the mother's body, leading to autoimmune diseases."

"And here I thought that falling out vaginas and bad teeth were the worst outcome of pregnancy, aside from actually having a child," Rage pondered with a scowl.

"Pregnancy and childbirth can be very risky for women. There are numerous complications that can occur, such as eclampsia, blood clots, strokes, and haemorrhages. Losing teeth after giving birth might seem like a minor issue in comparison."

"I remember a time when I infiltrated an estate known for breeding and selling slaves. On my second day there, I had to assist a midwife with a birth. It was the girl's fifth child. The labour was going smoothly until she started pushing, and her uterus raptured during a contraction. She bled out in a matter of minutes. The baby died too, so I and the midwife received twenty lashes each for causing the master to lose profit. That girl who died was Mira's older sister. Mira was supposed to take her place in spawning the next generation of slaves."

"You've always been tight-lipped about your crewmates' pasts,” Zoro chimed in with a frown. "Why are you telling this now?"

"Luffy seems to think he's the captain of The Witches,” she stated nonchalantly as she sipped her coffee. "Shouldn't he know what he’s gotten himself into?"

"I don't think I'm their captain, I followed your rules and became their captain," Luffy's firm voice carried through the galley.

A nasty smile crawled on her lips as she caught his gaze. He was staring at her with those wide brown eyes, stubbornness painted all over his face.

"They would never accept a man to rule over them," she replied, her voice firm. "They allowed you to take me, that's all. But thanks to you, I am five crewmates short by now."

Luffy raised an eyebrow. "I told them to stay put in Wano. It's not my fault some of them chose to run away."

"They're dead," Rage snapped.

"You don't know that!" Nami barked, her words full of fury. "Don't try to play your stupid mind games!"

"I'm not playing," Rage replied, maintaining eye contact with Luffy. "Makonde is now in charge, and for the first time, she can act as she sees fit. Before, the rules were clear - no killing teammates. But those rules were established by my mother and then by me. Now, she can act as she wants, under the pretence that leadership has changed, and you haven't established any rules."

"Not killing teammates shouldn't even need to be a rule," Luffy replied with a deep frown. "It's common sense."

Rage shook her head in disappointment. "My team consists of several psychopaths and sociopaths. Most of the team is severely traumatised, and some of them are not mentally stable. Common sense doesn't apply, and rules have to be spelled out clearly. Makonde is probably the most stable person among the team. In her homeland she would've been a queen, but she left with her personal guard to protect her people. She came to Sin City with my grandma and joined the fight with the slave trade."

She remembered when she first laid eyes on Makonde when she set foot in Siny City. The woman had looked glorious, holding her head high with an air of calm composure surrounding her, as if nothing could faze her. Her orange hair was put into a multitude of thin braids and slicked back to cascade down her back. The jewellery around her neck was made of multicoloured beads woven into intricate patterns, and her leather armour was a thing of absolute beauty. The spear she carried glinted in the sunlight, polished and sharpened to perfection.

“Makonde deeply believes that psychopaths should be removed from society, otherwise they would lead us all to our detriment. But she recognized that they are useful during war, because war doesn't affect them as it does other people. Psychopaths have no empathy, therefore they can commit and witness atrocities without being emotionally affected, while others would return traumatised for life. They make great soldiers and spies. However, Makonde thinks that Karla and a few other girls are no longer useful because we allowed them too much freedom, and they are too far gone in their ways. So, by this time, I believe they are dead, either at Makonde's hand or due to Daria's poison."

“Don’t pin this on Luffy!” Nami protested. “You don’t have any proof if they ar actu-”

Luffy slammed his mug on the table, cutting off Nami’s outburst. The galley fell silent, and everyone’s attention focused on the captain. He stared at Rage until a crooked grin spread across his face.

“They would all be dead if you were in charge. It seems I’ve saved your crew’s lives. Five dead is a small loss in comparison. You’re too reckless to be a captain.”

Rage stared, speechless, while Luffy continued to smirk. She blinked, her brain working in slow motion.

“Did you just call me reckless?” she managed to recover her ability to speak.

“Do you have trouble hearing?” he cocked his head to the side.

“You called me reckless? You?” Her brows shot up in disbelief.

“I said what I said,” he laughed.

The adrenaline rushed through her body, making her forget her fatigue. She bolted from her seat, leaped on the table, and aimed a kick at his head.

He pushed back from the table, the legs of his chair screeching across the floor. He avoided her kick while still sitting, and he was grinning like a lunatic.

She jumped, aiming another kick, this time from directly above, but her foot landed on the chair, crushing it into pieces. She spun around, pumping haki into her arm to throw her elbow at Luffy’s face, but he deflected again, jumping onto the table.

“Get the fuck out of my galley!” Sanji roared at the top of his lungs.

“Ah sorry, sorry,” Luffy backflipped towards the door, managing to avoid knocking over any plates on the table.

He seemed to be enjoying himself more than he should have. She was going to make him regret everything he had said. She jumped after him, the plates crunching under her feet.

She slammed into Luffy, and they both fell through the open door.

“Don’t hurt her, Luffy!” Chopper distressed shouts followed them as they tumbled over the railing and fell towards the main deck.

Luffy’s legs coiled around her immobilising her arms, and she was hoisted into the air. He had stretched his arms to grip the main mast, boosting them upward. She struggled to break free from his hold but found herself lacking the strength. She kicked her legs out, trying to generate enough momentum to swing high and catch hold of any part of the rigging. However, Luffy’s legs stretched to wrap all around her, rendering her unable to do anything.

“Come on,” Luffy called to her. “You’re supposed to take it easy.”

She shot him a furious glare. As a last resort, she channelled all her anger into a burst of Conqueror’s haki, hoping to stun him for even a brief moment, allowing her to escape his grip.

The world spun around her, and she lost all sense of direction. Her vision blurred, and pressure built inside her head until something wet trickled from her nose. She closed her eyes, attempting to block the unpleasant sensation, but the vertigo persisted. Suddenly, her body went limp, drained of all energy. Her head slumped to the side, and more wetness streamed from her nose, dripping down her chin. She could smell blood.

“Hey, Chopper, I think she fainted!” That was Luffy’s voice.

“Why can’t you just get along!” the doctor sounded distressed.

The scent of grass mingled with the smell of blood, and she felt her body being gently placed on a flat surface.

"She won't get better if you keep fighting every day!" A blurry image of Chopper appeared above her. "She's awake. Rage, you have a massive nosebleed; we'll need to give you another blood transfusion. Can you hear me, Rage?"

She could hear him, but the words didn’t mean much, and she lacked the energy to reply. Things happened around her while she floated on the edge of reality.

Strong arms lifted her from the ground, and she was carried away, enveloped in the familiar scent of Luffy. It was a nice scent, she wanted that scent all over her. The desire to claim him surged to the surface from the deep place inside her where she shoved all her yearning for her third mate. She craved to see that bright smile every day for the rest of her life.

“Put her on the cot,” Chopper's voice interrupted her swirling thoughts, and annoyance flickered within her. All she wanted was to drift away into her dreams, where all her mates were with her. She wanted to see Law, she missed him so much.

“Sanji, could you lie down beside her? I’m sorry to ask for your blood again, but this is an emergency.”

The scent of cologne and cigarettes displaced the scent of her mate, and she wasn't happy about it.

“This wouldn’t have happened if not for you, shitty rubber boy,” Sanji sounded angry. “You trashed my galley, dipshit. You'd better go help Marimo clean up, or you won't get any more food today."

“That wasn’t my fault,” Luffy sulked. “She blows up at me no matter what-”

A loud slap echoed through the room.

“Cut this fucking crap,” it was Nami, beautiful and brilliant Nami, who looked so hot when she was angry. “You’re acting like an idiot around her, provoking her every chance you get. Don’t even try to play dumb, I know you do it on purpose.”

“That hurt, Nami. Why are you so mean?”

Another slap, followed by a yelp of pain.

“Look at her! She’s already one leg in her grave! Did you bring her on the ship just to watch her die?”

“Of course not, I made a promise!”

“Well you’re fucking it all up. Picking fights with her won’t make her fall for you, you’re only making things worse!”

“She’ll come around.”

“Luffy,” Sanji’s grave voice interrupted the bickering. “Listen to Nami. You can’t win Rage over with a fight. You don’t have to fight for every single thing in your life.”

The infirmary was enveloped in a heavy silence, interrupted only by the slow beeping of the heart monitor. Its rhythmic sound was strangely soothing, luring her toward the peaceful dreams of her mates.

“You said it wasn’t fair for me to hate her for what was done to me in the past,” Nami’s voice chased away the visions of her perfect life.

A prick of pain in the crook of her elbow was followed by a surge of foreign hormones entering her bloodstream. Her body swiftly assimilated these unfamiliar hormones, fueling the healing process.

“Maybe you should take your own advice and stop projecting your own trauma onto Rage."

"I don't do that!" Luffy sounded defensive.

"You never talk about your family or your childhood. All we know about you is what your brothers told us, and we’ve only met your grandpa once. You never met your dad, while Rage had many fathers, including the man who you idolise. Shanks never took you aboard, while Rage was born on his ship. She had a mom, grandma and a great grandma to take care of her. We don't even know if you know your mom. Rage grew up rich in a bustling city, while you had to fend for yourself in a forest and a garbage dump. She has a home she can return to, a family, and friends who would welcome her back with open arms. She rejected it all, while your dream is to create a family of your own. You have us, Luffy, we are your family. But all she seems to have for us is disdain. I'm sure it rubs you the wrong way, that the woman who had everything you didn't rejects the one good thing you managed to create for yourself."

A weak chuckle bubbled up inside her. She managed to crack open her eyes and fix her gaze on Luffy. He was staring at her with a displeased frown. Silly boy, they could've been bonded long ago if he wasn't such an idiot.

She decided she would tease him to his wits end before she claimed him. Her lips stretched in a content smile as her eyelids dropped. Finally, sleepiness came to claim her, and she welcomed it with relief. The last thing that she registered was the door slamming shut.

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