Your eyelids were heavy. So heavy, weighed down by anxiety and lack of sleep. But at the same time you couldn't feel more awake. Every fiber of your being was thrumming. Aware of every jolt from Dadan's back as she vaulted over various obstacles. Conscious of more smells than you could have ever thought possible.
And ears straining for two familiar voices.
"Anything?"
"No." Your voice sounded so pitifully weak even to you, verging on the brink of being breathless. "Not yet."
Dadan hmphed and pushed you further up her back. "Hang in there, 'kay? We don't want you loosing yer grip or anything."
No, that would be disastrous. The last thing you wanted was to fall off now and be stranded in the middle of Gray Terminal moments before the whole thing erupted into flames. That would be...
HOT HOT HOT ORANGE SMOKE HOT MOTHER WHERE HOOOOOOOOT!
You shuddered, nestling your head further into Dadan's thick curls.
Please let Ace and Luffy be somewhere around here. You didn't want to linger for longer than you absolutely had to.
"Shit..." Dadan cursed under her breath. "We're running outta time here!"
Huh? Why, didn't you have the entire day? You gingerly raised your head, only for all the colour to drain from your face.
How... it had been morning when you'd reached Edge Town. And it didn't take that long to get from there to Dadan's shack... You may not be the speediest of individuals, but you weren't that slow either.
So how on earth was the sun beginning to set already?!
The mewling feeling in your leg began to roar.
But with an injured leg... and so much weight you had to drag with you... It had probably taken you hours just to cross Gray Terminal and you hadn't even noticed. Without Dadan here to carry you... you may not have made it through the forest.
Your fist clenched into Dadan's tunic.
Were you too late? Had all of your efforts been in vain? W-were Ace a...and L-L-Luffy-?
"They're fine."
No they weren't.
"Don't you worry about those two!" Dadan stumbled a little as she accidentally landed on some scree, only to right herself immediately after. "They may be brats, but they can handle themselves."
But could they handle fire?! Could they handle gunpowder?!
SIZZLING SMOKE HOT IT HUUURTS ARM ORANGE YELLOW SIZZLE SIZZLE OWOWOWOWOW MOTHER WHERE MOTHER
No one could handle fire... no one... no one... no one... no one...
"Oi... You okay back there, Angel? ANGEL!"
Snap out of it. You weren't there. You weren't. The air was clean and blue. No smoke. No orange. You were safe... for now.
"I'm okay."
You were safe.
"Please." You metal arm gripped tighter onto Dadan's tunic. "Hurry!"
"No need ta tell me twice!"
She passed by you faster than a blur, but you knew it was HER. With her mocking smile. Her curled lips. Her crooning voice that still somehow managed to whisper into your ear.
"That's right, brat. Start panicking."
As strange as it was, that actually made you calmer. Perhaps out of spite... or just some general acceptance of whatever insanity your mind was concocting... but you found you could focus again. At least on the environment around you. Panic was still there, thumping through your veins and hastening every breath... but it took a backseat.
YOU ARE READING
Broken Faith
Fanfiction[F!ReaderxASL] It's hard sometimes to accept who or what you are. That thought came to you when you were only six years old. Because being one of the infamous World Nobles wasn't enough, now you have to live with a robotic arm after the fire that de...
