❝ 𝙉𝙤 𝙇𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 ❞ LONG HIATUS

: ̗̀➛CORRUPTION

"Oh, grantors of dark disgrace. Do not wake me again."
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The two stood side by side, watching the car burn and the smoke rise into the air as the firefighters sprayed water on the flames to put them out.

(Y/N) was the first to utter out something. "I'm sorry."

They both stared at the tragedy in front of them with wide eyes, unable to believe that the five bright lights in Oda's life had been extinguished in such a short amount of time. A gathering of others who were similarly terrified had gathered around what they thought was an accident.

"I should have known what they would do...for fuck's sake, all to get you to fight them?" The last part (Y/N) thought aloud to herself. She brought a hand up to her throbbing head and bandaged eye, feeling the strain of thought. She was very familiar with the kids, yet she was unable to fathom the anguish and pain that Oda must be experiencing at the moment.

The girl gazed up at him in concern, observing how his face simultaneously conveyed every emotion and none at all. It had started to rain, and the few drops that landed on Oda's cheeks looked almost exactly like tears as they trickled down his face. However, when (Y/N) arrived at the scene, she could already tell that Oda had been crying by the redness of his eyes.

"Odasaku." Could hearing her voice ground him even the tiniest bit?

Eventually, Oda became aware of her presence and turned his head to stare at her with eyes that appeared vacant and a mouth that was slightly open, as if he had just come out of a trance. (Y/N) couldn't stand to see him like this. She looked down, in both shame and frustration as a frown laced her features. "I know what you're thinking."

She didn't sense any change from Oda, and why would she? Oda was aware of how well (Y/N) knew him, as evidenced by the fact that he was never taken aback when she expressed her ideas or alarmed when she discussed her straightforward observations. But now, it felt...wrong. For Oda to turn to her so casually in such a dreadful scenario made her heart ache.

"Please—"

"Don't say it, (Y/N)," Oda's soft voice rose. "I know it won't bring the kids back, but I have to. I need to go."

"We could go together," she responded. "Their strength in numbers doesn't matter much to you, but with me you'd have a higher chance."

"(Y/N)." Oda said firmly, a hint of anger in his tone. "You can't. If you get hurt in my place—" Oda thought for a moment, changing his words. "I'm not letting you die, too."