Marionette - [One Piece]

8

3rd pov

Following their auras, Y/N finally found the boys sitting under the trees. Sabo scolded Ace for his reckless action which served to be fruitless with Ace not listening to a single word he said while Luffy sobbed in the background from his (another) near-death experience.

"That was scary!! I thought I was gonna die!!" Sobbed Luffy. Fed up with all the crying, Ace stood up from his position and proceeded to scream at the poor boy.

"AAHHH!! You're so annoying! Shut up! Stop crying already! I don't like cowards or people who cry a lot!!"

Hearing that, Luffy immediately bites his mouth shut shocking the two boys. After a moment of silence, Luffy thanked them, causing him to cry once again which irked Ace more, thankfully Sabo stopped him before he could yell to shut the poor boy up again. From his peripheral vision, Ace saw a pair of glowing e/c eyes observing them, he briefly looked at them before continuing to question/yell at the crying boy.

"Why didn't you cough it up in the first place? They're the kind of people who kill women or kids without hesitation!"

"I thought if I had said anything... you wouldn't be my friend."

Ace then told him it was better than dying, telling Luffy about the things he had done to him yet he still wanted to be friends. Luffy's response to him being lonely, how he could no longer go back to the village, his unlikeness to the mountain bandits, and his grandpa and Y/N's busy work as marines visiting him once a month and twice if they manage to escape from their work.

"If I didn't follow you, I'd be all alone! And being lonely is more painful than getting hurt!"

"Where are your parents?"

"Grandpa and Y/N are all I have."

...

A moment of silence before Ace questioned him again.

"Do you want me to live?" Ace narrowed his eyes looking at Luffy waiting for his reply but was caught off-guard by the rubber boy's fast reply.

"Of course I do!"

"I see. But I don't like spoiled kids like you." Ace said to the annoyed Luffy, of course, he won't back down. After a while of them going back and forth, Y/N decided to finally get out of their hiding place causing the bickering children to stop and look at them.

"Y/N!!" Luffy shouted happy to see them safe, he did not waste any time and tackled them but because of his small stature, Y/N effortlessly caught him in their arms.

"Luffy! You do not go and tackle them like that! What if they're injured huh?!" Ace berated Luffy for his reckless action. Luffy simply stuck out his tongue.

"Bleehh!! Y/N! Ace has been mean to mean!" Luffy complained while clutching the hem of their top. They just silently pat his head for comfort, smiling at the boy's antics.

Y/N's tail swayed playfully behind them, and their cat-like ears twitched as they observed the three boys. Their smile widened, amused by Luffy's complaints and Ace's frustrated expression.

"Nya, Luffy, Ace wasn't being mean," Y/N said in a light, teasing tone, "He just wanted to make sure you don't get into any more trouble. Right, Ace?" They glanced over at Ace, who huffed and crossed his arms, trying to look aloof but failing to hide the small blush forming on his cheeks.

"Whatever," Ace muttered, glancing away. "He needs to toughen up."

Sabo, sensing the tension, chuckled. "Well, at least we're all safe now, thanks to them." He turned to Y/N with a grateful smile. "Seriously, we owe you one. And I believe I haven't introduced myself to you, I'm Sabo, nice to finally meet you! I heard a lot about you from Ace." Sabo looked towards the said boy with a cheeky smile, Ace glared at his smug face, his own turning red that you could almost see smoke coming out.

"Hello, nya~! Nice to meet you as well Sabo! You probably know my name if Ace has spoken about me but I'm Y/N." They shook hands smirking at each other, Ace suddenly felt a chill run down his spine as he saw their expressions, it felt like they had made an agreement on something and he sure no doubt it was about him.

"Hey, by the way, I have a little problem." Sabo started after his chat with Y/N, looking at the two other boys, "What? A problem?" Luffy questioned with a head tilt to the side.

"Uh-huh. Bluejam and the others will try to kill the three of us after this for sure, right? This forest that I've been living in is close to where they are - the Cove of Pirates! What if they attack me when I fall asleep exhausted?" Sabo continued to voice out his concerns.

"You're gonna die." Ace nonchalantly said with Luffy agreeing with him, "Yeah, you're gonna die."

"Right? That's why I need your help. Guys huddle up." Sabo beckons the two to come closer, whispering their plans and suggestions while Y/N just silently watches the three do their thing.

'Doubt they would come, nya.'

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Sabo: They might come and kill me.

Y/N: It might seems crazy what I'm about to say~

Um hi🧍‍♀️

Bye-🏃‍♀️💨

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