Maelstrom

Chapter 28

Ruse's POV

"Oi ya damn brat! Where'd you run off to like that?" Yassop's voice shouts out to you, his yellow headband drenched in sweat, panting slightly from running so far in such a short distance.

Dammit, looks like Shanks had him tail you, but you couldn't complain. If the marksmen hadn't shown up, you could very well be dinner right now, that giant black hound having disappeared from your line of sight made you shiver. It could still be out there, watching, waiting, stalking you as prey. Hell's horns, you really were rather impulsive sometimes. You turn to greet Yassop, shouting at him, waving your arms, nearby fauna darting back into the depth of the jungle from your loud voice.

"Heya Yassop! Over here!" You call out, a nervous smile on your face, not trusting yourself to leave the spot of your almost-death. He could laugh at you, but you'd rather wait for him to walk with you, having actual guns on him, whilst you were unarmed.

The red-haired pirate gunman makes his way over to you, a scowl on his face, clearly not too pleased of having lost sight of you for less than a minute.

"Dammit Ruse, I told you not to go off on your own! What if you were eaten or something?" You chuckle nervously, scratching your cheek as you look at the ground.

"Well..." You reply, telling him what had just happened, and the reasoning of why you were out here in the first place.

The dreadlocked blonde sighs loudly, slinging an arm over your shoulder, guiding you back to the town, all the while lecturing you for your recklessness. You scowl, listening to his reprimanding words, before the voices of people start to get closer, and you glare at your comrade, wriggling out of his grip.

"Oi! I get it already 'Sop, you can lay off nagging me for like two minutes. I still haven't been able to use the damn power of the fruit, so unless you have a better idea, then shove off!" Your voice had been getting louder and louder with each word you growled out, nearly shouting now at the man who had guided you back to town. Yassop just facepalms, shaking his head at your antics.

"I know that you're strong Ruse, but you really should just ask for help once in a while. It won't be the end of the world, you know we care about you, Captain especially." Your eyes soften a bit, knowing you had scorned him unfairly, before you nod in agreement, offering him a small apology.

"Sorry 'Sop, I just- It's just really frustrating when all I have to go on is a crappy sketch and a couple words in a journal for this damn fruit." Yassop hums, deep in thought before his face brightens.

"Oi! Why don't you just picture a dog-sorry-a wolf and then try to change into it that way? Like really, really, really picture a canine's form." His honey-brown eyes brighten, as if he just had a million belli idea, and you struggle not to groan.

Alright, well, it shouldn't be that hard, right? Plus it's not like you'll actually turn into a canine if you picture it hard enough, but you might as well give it a try. With a half-hearted shrug you take Yassop's advice, plopping down on the forest floor, crossing your arms, giving the gunman a smirk as you wave him off. He laughs, telling you he was going to grab a mug of ale, and that he'd bring you back some in a few minutes. You assured him that you wouldn't move from your spot, too preoccupied with trying to concentrate on conjuring a canine in your mind.

Closing your eyes, you materialize a wolf in your mindscape. Long silver fur, strong jaws, razor-sharp fangs, sturdy frame built for speed and agility.

"Ruse?"

You can picture the ligaments, the joints, the muscles tensed, eager to run with a pack, howl under the moon. The wind caressing your pelt, the soft dirt under your paws, the-

"Ruse?!"

You curse, your eyes snapping open as you were interrupted from further delving into your mindscape. Growling with annoyance, you glare at the gunman. He just had to interrupt you right when you were thinking you got something.

Wide eyed, jaw slacked, Yassop stares at you. Two mugs of ale lay on the forest floor, forgotten as he gawks at you. You stare back, brow arched at his apparent confusion. What was he staring at you like that for? You turn your head, trying to see if he was playing a prank on you, but no one was behind you. With a frown you look back at your comrade, before he starts to yell hysterically, pointing at you accusingly.

"Ruse! You're Ruse aren't you?" Of course you were, what an idiot. " How the bloody hell did you do this to yourself?" He still sounds hysterical, as you snort, slightly amused at his antics.

You clear your throat to sass him in reply, but freeze.

Why couldn't you say anything?

Another sentence tries to make its way out of your throat, but gets caught the same way. Oh no, what the hell happened to you? You look up at Yassop, panicked golden eyes meeting his brown ones as you whine, panic evident in your voice.

What just happened to you? And why couldn't you get your voice to work?

"Ohhhhh nooooo. We need Captain, like right now. You- you stay there, I'll be right back, don't move an inch kid!" Yassop starts to sprint back to the bar, leaving you completely alone.

You continued to try to get your voice to work, but to no avail.

Maybe you had bitten your tongue without realizing it, or maybe you just thought so hard about the devil fruit that it backfired on you? Thinking before speaking wasn't something you were exactly skilled in. Was this part of the fruit's power? Growling again, you go to run your hands through your hair, a nervous habit you had picked up from Shanks, but pause your motions midway through.

Was that-

Was that a fucking paw?!

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