------------------------------------------------------

"I'm not giving you anything until you pay me kid!"

"Aw come on, don't be stingy" Luffy pouted

"I said no boy!" The man growled

"Luffy! There you are!" You called as you jogged over.

"(Y/n)!" Luffy beamed at you. "This place has such great food! But the stingy man won't let me try the different kebabs"

The stall was filled with large kebabs ranging from hunky grilled meat to juicy sweet fruit. You let out an airy laugh as you tried to catch your breath. "The day you learn how to save money will be an amazing day indeed"

"Oi (Y/n)! You know this little glutton?" said the man behind the stall.

"Sorry, Teddy! He's with me!" You gave a nervous chuckle.

"I guess I can let him off the hook for now, but you better watch yourself kid" the man huffed as he started to rearrange his different kebabs.

"Shishishi! You're name's, Teddy?" Luffy chuckled.

"You are in no position to laugh you little Monkey!" you shouted and gave Teddy an apologetic look.

"(Y/n)-swaaan~!"

"Oh, Sanji!" you smiled and waved as he dogged it towards you, hearts in eyes.

Luffy looked over as well, frowning slightly at the sight of his friend approaching, but soon that frown turned into a cheeky smile.

"Right!" Luffy yelled, grabbing everyone's attention.

In one swift motion, Luffy stretched his arm to snatch a bunch of different kebabs, in the same swing he used his arm and wrapped it multiple times around your waist. Teddy and a few bystanders yelled in horror from seeing the young man stretch before their eyes, whilst you gave an involuntary squeak of surprise. Luffy stretched his other arm up to grab hold of a rooftop and it was at that point when the color from your face started to drain away to the pits of your soul.

"L-Luffy? Please tell me you're not gonna do what I think you're gonna do?" You whimpered clutching your basket for dear life.

He looked over to you and gave you that dazzling Glasgow smile. 'He's totally gonna do what I think he's gonna do' You sobbed.

"Shishishishi! Hey, Plush toy! My friend, over there's gonna pay for us" Luffy chuckled as he nodded towards Sanji.

"Don't you dare you rubber bastard!" Sanji called out picking up his pace, but it was too late.

"GUMO GUMO NO ROCKET!" Luffy cried as you both shot into the air. "Thanks, Sanji!" Luffy laughed, as you screamed in complete horror.

'Why? Why does this always happen to me?' You wept.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

"Man that was fun" Luffy giggled as you groaned.

The crazy kid had somehow shot you both straight out of town back into the forest. You were now sat on a sturdy tree branch, your legs dangling either side. Luffy was sat behind you, in the same position leaning against the trunk of the tree. His arm was around your waist to keep you steady in case you fell, but that didn't make up for the scare he gave you.

"LUFFY ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME?!" You panted, still trying to recover from being a human bullet.

"You know I'd never let that happen to you (Y/n)! Especially, when you're with me!" Luffy laughed

'THIS! This is how I know I won't die from growing old and living a long and prosperous life' you moped.

"Luffy that's not the point"

Your stomach betrayed you yet again. There was no way you could head back to town with the risk of running into angry Teddy or livid Sanji. You closed your eyes in defeat and let a small sigh leave your lips only to be taken away by the cool breeze that rushed through the leaves. The sweet smell of meat and fruit wafting through the air almost makes you want to-

'Wait what?'

"Vant fome (y/n)?" Luffy muffled as he chowed down on half the kebabs. "Vey tafte gweat!"

Five kebabs were held up to your face in front of you, two consisting of meat and the other were made up of different fruits. You heard Luffy gulp behind then sigh contently.

"You're hungry right?" He smiled as he rested his head on your shoulder. "So eat!"

You looked at Luffy as if he'd grown horns 'Luffy is offering food? Did I do something wrong? Am I going to die soon? I'm so young!'

"What's with that face (Y/n)?" Luffy fell back against the tree trunk and laughed. "You're so funny!" He giggled

When he was done he immediately returned to resting on your shoulder.

'Is my shoulder that comfortable?'

'Alright alright, I hear you!' You sighed.

You reached for one of the meat kebabs in Luffy's hand, only to hear his breath hitch slightly. You spared him a glance and what you saw almost made you burst out laughing. Luffy's face was scrunched up in total concentration, his lips quivering as if fighting the urge to pull them from your reach, eyes not once leaving his beloved meat. He was going to let you take his meat, even though it was so painfully obvious that he wanted it for himself.

'Dang it! my worst enemy has returned, puppy dog Luffy!' You gushed at his cuteness. 'The puppy dog face never loses'

"Is it ok if I take these?" you smiled pointing at the fruit kebabs.

Luffy relaxed against your body and smiled.

"Sure!" He laughed, now taking the other two meat kebabs and stuffing them in his face.

While eating you tried to get a better look at your surroundings. You had flown pretty far from town and you were pretty high up this tree. Not that it would be a problem, you could easily find your way back to the bakery from here. In the distance, you could see the vast ocean and how it made a thin line where it met the sky. It was almost the same view you got from your treehouse when you were kids. You relaxed into Luffy's embrace and rested. Both of you just enjoying the view and the company.

"When you were taken" Luffy started as you shifted your attention to him. "I was so... scared... I thought that my last memory of you was going to be the horror in your face when you realized we weren't going to be able to get you back" Luffy stared at the horizon, his straw hat firmly placed on his head. "I still get nightmares about it"

"Luffy you know that I never once-!"

"Blamed me or Ace for what happened?... I know... because you're a nice person (Y/n)..." he smiled. "that's why when I found out that you were still alive and I had another chance to see you again" Luffy tightened his grip around your waist. "I promised myself that if something like this ever happened again, I would be strong enough to change the outcome"

You sat quietly and rubbed soothing circles against his arm. There was nothing you could say that Luffy didn't already know. It hurt you to think that both Ace and Luffy felt responsible for what happened to you, but you had to be strong, for them.

"You used to wear red and yellow flowers in your hair when we were kids, now you're only wearing blue ones" Luffy stated, as he played with a loose strand of your hair.

"You remembered?" You sat up surprised and whipped your head around to face him.

"Why would I forget?" Luffy tilted his head in confusion.

"I just didn't think that-"

"The best memories I have of you was when you had all those flowers in your hair" He explained. "You were always happy"

"They're for Sabo" you whispered just loud enough for Luffy to pick up on it.

Luffy looked down at you, but you couldn't tell what he was thinking from the simplistic expression he was giving you.

"Blue was his color you know, so it just feels like he's always got my back. There was always a possibility that I would get to see you guys again, but I saw it for myself. I'll never get to see Sabo again..." You muttered the last part but Luffy still heard you.

He watched as you fiddled with your hair and avoided eye contact. When this topic came up, it was normally after someone had read your journal where it was explained in depth. All you had to do was nod, but saying it out loud to someone who understood the pain, was like reopening a war wound. Luffy gently grabbed your hand, effectively stopping you from fidgeting, forcing you to look into his soft brown eyes. His hat was strung around his neck so that you could see his messy raven locks getting slightly thrown around by the wind.

"I'm not going to die and leave you!" He said firmly. "And neither is Ace! We promised!"

Your (e/c) eyes became saucers at his outburst. It was so out of the blue, yet, it was just what you needed to hear. That was Luffy for you.

'Of course, you two would promise something like that...' you let out a small giggle.

"Well, if you guys aren't gonna die then I will do everything in my power to stay alive as well! Even if it kills me!" you nodded and smiled.

"You contradicted yourself (Y/n)!" Luffy laughed as you turned red from your mistake.

"Don't laugh Lu" you whined.

"Hey (Y/n)!" Luffy chuckled

"Yeah Lu?"

"You look way prettier when you smile" he beamed.

Your face practically exploded.

'A compliment? From Luffy? Does he even understand what he's saying?' You thought as you looked at that innocent smile 'He probably has no idea, he's too clueless' you sighed

"I still don't get why I have to share you with everyone" he grumbled into your hair.

"Share me!?" You repeated.

"Ever since we got here I've had to share you with everyone" Luffy complained. "You went to the woods with Usopp and Chopper without me, Sanji always gets to talk with you and Zoro gets to hold your hand!" He frowned. "It's frustrating!"

'Is that why he's been so serious around Zoro and Sanji lately?'

"Geez, you're just like Ace, you know?" you giggled.

"I am?" Luffy tilted his head in confusion.

"Yes, you are" you nodded "He nearly killed me on that board of death he calls a boat, and when I told him off, he said: he'd never let anything bad happen to me. Just like you! On top of that, he was also very upset about 'sharing me' with his crewmates. You two are brothers" You smiled

"...WAIT YOU MET ACE?!" Luffy screamed.

'Did I not mention it?'

"Yeah, almost a year ago now. He introduced me to Whitebeard and gave me their charm" You raised a brow at his reaction. "I thought you'd be happy to hear that Ace was here"

"BY A WHOLE YEAR!" He exclaimed.

'I said almost a year' you sweatdropped.

"That means he must've went gone to see you after the time we met me at the desert place..." Luffy surmised.

'Hold up! Did Luffy just put two and two together? Am I really talking to Luffy right now?' You gave him a concerned look.

"Luffy are you feeling ok?" You asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine... Ace was here..." Luffy muttered in a daze.

'He's definitely not fine' you confirmed, 'and it has something to do with Ace'

"Luffy are you hiding something from me?" You pressed further.

"N-no" he looked away.

'Still can't lie to save your life I see' you sighed but smiled.

"You shouldn't lie Luffy, it doesn't suit you at all" you pointed out.

"I-I'm not lying!" Luffy continued to avoid eye contact.

"Luffy~" you hummed. Because that's how all good lectures start.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Even after your lecture on lying is a bad habit, you still didn't get the truth from Luffy. So you gave up and moved onto other topics. What happened when you were taken, how Ace and Luffy had to calm the weeping Dandan, Garp's fists of love. You managed to get all up to speed whilst walking back to the bakery. Getting out of the tree was a terrifying experience that you don't want to recall.

"And that's when Zoro got lost" Luffy smiled

"Right? And I think I can fill in the rest" you giggled as you unlocked the front door to the bakery.

"THERE YOU ARE YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING RUBBERY BASTARD!" A familiar voice called out.

A black blur zoomed straight past your face and made a direct hit on Luffy's face, sending the poor boy flying into a tree.

"Aaah! (Y/n)-chan! Are you ok? Did that brainless idiot hurt you in any way? If so please point out any injuries and I shall be more than happy to kiss them-" Sanji was about took your hand in his inching closer to kiss it.

"I'm fine Sanji" You stopped him before he got the chance to act on his desires. "I'm actually more concerned about whether Luffy is still alive" you looked to where Luffy had landed.

"(Y/n)! There you are!" Nami waved as Robin followed behind her.

'Her bags have doubled I'm sure' you sweatdropped

Robin and Nami stopped just short of the bakery where they were able to put two and two together.

"I sure hope Sanji didn't crush Luffy's skull" Robin smiled.

'I can't tell whether she's concerned or not'

"I am working with children" Nami rubbed her head in annoyance.

"Yohohohohoho! What's all the commotion about?" Brook chuckled now making his way over from the woods.

He was followed by Usopp, Chopper, and Franky,

"We heard something super loud and came to investigate" Franky explained.

"Is everyone- AGGH Luffy is unconscious!"Chopper screamed as he rushed over to Luffy. "He needs a doctor!... That's me!"

'I'm so glad that there is one person on this crew who is concerned for Luffy's well being' you sighed.

"Ah, ladies! It's so nice to join you all! Would you perhaps show tell me the color of your panties?" Brook leaned forward.

The black blur strikes again. The skeleton landed on Luffy only freaking Chopper out even more.

"WHY THE HELL WOULD THEY!? YOU PERVY OLD MAN!!!" Sanji fumed.

"Sanji! Stop killing our crewmates!" Chopper wailed as he brought out more bandages.

"But I'm already dead" Brook clarified.

"Is now really the time to be making jokes Brook?" Usopp facepalmed.

"How lively" Robin laughed.

"The word you're looking for is annoying" another voice grumbled.

"Zoro!" you turned to smile at him but ended up getting one of the most interesting sights of your life.

Zoro was wrapped from shoulders to waist in rope and was forcefully being tugged along by a very tired Briggs. The poor guy had no idea what he'd gotten himself into.

'For someone who has experienced being a slave, this scene feels a bit too close to home' you thought to yourself. 'Zoro must've been really difficult'

"Thank you for bringing him back...safely? Briggs" you chuckled as you took the lead of the rope and started to untie the poor guy. "I'll bake you a drizzle cake for your troubles"

Too exhausted to argue Briggs just waved you off and trudged back down the path, not even taking note of the other strange people that had gathered.

"That look suits you marimo, tied up like the dumb animal you are"

"What was that shitty brows" Zoro growled.

'Even when tied up, it appears Zoro will still pick fights' you observed after undoing the last knot.

"You heard me you annoying piece of-!"

"That's enough you two" Nami knocked them both out, earning another wail from Chopper and a few chuckles from the rest of the crew.

'But, in this crew, Nami is the most intimidating of all' you concluded.

Everyone around you embraced the chaos that they called normality and couldn't help but laugh.

"Seen as how everyone is here, why don't you all come inside and eat something from the bakery" you suggested.

"Food!" Luffy shot upright.

"Cake!" The guys grinned

"Cookies" Chopper danced

"(Y/n)~" Nami hummed.

"Don't worry I won't charge you" you smiled, as Nami glomped you in her embrace.

You watched as everyone rushed into your bakery to start picking food before Luffy got to it. And of course you had to grab Zoro before you could follow everyone else inside.

'I think I'm starting to get used to the chaos' you smiled 'talk about worrying thoughts'

------------------------------------------------------------------------------