22Summary: Drabbles and prompts and quotes.
Warning: I don't own these quotes and I may modify them from the original. The owner is F. Gabdon.
Breathing Just A Little
There are days I am fully there;
bubbling and bursting with life;
where conversing feels like
the most natural thing
and my instinct first
is to hug and kiss,
and dance with anyone
who is near and dear,
I am alive and here.
And there are days like today,
where I begin to drift away
and the words in my head need
all the energy in my body to speak,
I feel weak and distant;
all I want is to retreat to a space,
that is quiet and warm,
where I am alone
and breathing is easy.
It seems as though I am
two opposing beings
vying to live in a single body.
even I,
do not know
which version will show,
each day.
- Gemini
Luffy is quiet.
The crew don't notice at first, busy with their own tasks and it's only a while later that realize the absence of stretching rubber and laughter that fill their souls to the brim with brightness.
Luffy is quiet.
They freeze, his form: still, hunched, uncomfortable, the definition of peaceful; to most.
Luffy is quiet and with that realization something akin to protectiveness and something within is stirred, burns; fury alight.
Luffy is quiet and Luffy should never be quiet.
(Because Luffy is sunshine and perfect and loud and fills the silence with bright laughter and a curve of a mouth they can't help but love).
Luffy believes himself to be selfish.
It was only a few days ago they celebrated Chopper's birthday and it was not even twenty-four hours ago they celebrated the new year.
And then Luffy paused, grin fading to nothing: a blank canvas.
New Year?
First of January.
Ace.
First of January: Ace's birthday.
The day Ace was born.
And so, almost robotically, Luffy settles himself onto Sunny's head, absentmindedly petting the lion underneath him.
Luffy ignores the rumbling of his stomach and the wide grins of his nakama; he does not deserve them.
He takes his Strawhat off, placing it in front of him and Luffy closes his eyes; a life of no worries and laughter and grins and exploring flashing through his mind.
Zoro is the first to come, next to the rails, keeping Luffy in sight but not in his vicinity and at the same time letting him know that Zoro is there.
Sanji comes every few hours, snacks and lunches made and if they are Luffy's favorite foods and drinks reserved only for the ladies- nobody mentions it.
Nami navigates them to the next Island, trusting her nakama to deal with the problem and hopefully the thought of an adventure will put Luffy's mind off whatever was hurting him.
Usopp is with Chopper, fishing for some more things Sanji can cook and talking loudly about the biggest Seaking he's ever caught and how the one he'll catch now will never compare.
Luffy doesn't even twitch but Usopp and Chopper still talk loudly.
They'll be there, no matter what.
Franky, who took one glance at Luffy and declared the situation completely UN-super, has left for most of the day and carries a very comfortable arm-chair that Zoro may even stop drinking just to sleep in it forever.
He heaves it up onto the Sunny where Luffy resides and without warning, scoops the boy up and places him onto the chair.
Luffy stiffens and Franky leaves, displeasure coursing through him but knows later on that his bro, his captain will be loving it.
Jimbei is quiet, respectful but his worried eyes are on Luffy at all times and he knows he cannot beat the darkness out of Luffy this time: he has to mourn and get up on his own feet.
But that doesn't mean he will be alone.
Robin takes over, used to bouts of depression and shadows trailing her mind when she was on the run, alone.
She taps Luffy, watching him closely, his eyes that reveal everything and snaps him out of it when he goes too far into the darkness but she knows she cannot make it go completely.
Brook sings and plays, his voice going hoarse and playing Luffy's favorite songs without stopping and he is tired but does not stop until he sees the smile they all love.
Yes, this is serious. There's no time for a Skull joke.
And when it's dark they all cuddle around him; the glittering hues of gold and pink and yellow and red and purple painting and coloring their bodies as if they were in a disco.
The Straw-Hat's hold him close, their warmth no where near as close to Ace and Sabo's burning inferno but love and protectiveness just the same.
And when the firefly's green illuminates Luffy's tear tracks, none of them say a word but their support is heard.
Luffy moves, slow and barley unnoticeable but to them it's everything.
"Happy Birthday, Ace," Luffy mumbles but his voice is loud among the silence. He picks up his beloved Straw-Hat and it lands on his mess of black strands with a plop.
"What are you waiting for?" Luffy's sharp voice cuts through their thoughts. "Let's have a Birthday Party, for Ace!"
So they celebrate and although they feel horrified and selfish and cruel for thinking so, they all thank Ace for giving up his life to save their captain.
(And if they could, they would use their own-dreams be damned).