The Clown's Kiss (Buggy Fanfiction) [One Piece]

Pirate's Domain

Scarlet trails behind Buggy as he leads her onto his ship, curiosity guiding her every step. Together, they venture through a weathered door, and as they cross the threshold, the sound of lively chatter and laughter reaches their ears.

Arching an eyebrow, Scarlet's gaze swivels towards Buggy. She hesitates to voice her surprise aloud, wary that her question might come across as weird. She assumed they would be alone on board. However, as she observes the annoyance etching across his features and the audible grinding of his teeth, it becomes clear that he, too, is taken aback by hearing a huge part of his crew partying in the kitchen area.

Concerned, Scarlet finally breaks the silence. "You're okay?" She reaches out, gently placing her hand on his arm, attempting to offer reassurance. Buggy shifts his gaze toward her, his mouth poised to respond.

Suddenly, a door farther down the corridor swings open with a sudden burst of activity, and the boisterous presence of the crew spills forth. Emerging from the kitchen, the pirate clutches a glass that, to Scarlet's keen perception, appears to hold an amber beverage – most likely beer. With a hearty gulp. He imbibes a generous sip before swiveling his gaze towards the odd pair in his line of sight.

"Captain!" The man bellows with an infectious enthusiasm that echoes through the kitchen, instantly igniting a cacophony of excited murmurs and animated exchanges among the crew members.

"The captain's here?" one exclaims in sheer delight. "Hell yeah!" another chimes in enthusiastically. "Save him a seat, you lot!" The crew's palpable joy at the unexpected arrival of their captain sends a warm surge through Scarlet's chest. It is evident that the man she grew inexplicably fond of is not just respected but genuinely cherished by his crew.

Yet, as she stands there, heart aglow with the knowledge of the camaraderie surrounding him, a poignant thought creeps into her mind. She wonders if there was ever a moment when she stumbled into a room and people greeted her with the same level of excitement. In that instant, she struggles to recall any occasion in her life.

"I think I have a bottle of rum in my cabin," Buggy declares, momentarily diverting his attention from the jubilant crew members. He leans in closer to Scarlet, a sense of concern etching his features. "We could go there. It's quieter."

He worries that an excess of excitement might not be what Scarlet needs in these trying times and his protective instincts are urging him to provide her with a calmer, more comforting atmosphere that'll allow him to look after her. Yet, he was met with a gentle shake of her head, her eyes conveying a different sentiment.

"No, it's fine," Scarlet assures him, her voice tinged with a hint of anticipation. She musters a small smile. "I think this could be fun." As long as she gets to opportunity to temporarily set aside the impending devastation looming over her home, Scarlet's open to embracing almost any experience that comes her way.

As Scarlet and Buggy approach, the bustling kitchen filled with pirates, a sense of apprehension begins to creep over her. The boisterous laughter, the clinking of glasses, and rowdy conversations emanating from within paint a vivid picture of the lively scene awaiting them.

Seeking comfort in this sea of exuberance, Scarlet's fingers nervously extend towards Buggy's gloved hand. She feels a gentle, reassuring response as his fingers interlock with hers, his gloved touch offering a sense of security.

As they step through the door, they are instantly engulfed in the tumultuous festivities. The kitchen is a kaleidoscope of motion and noise. Pirates of all shapes and sizes, adorned in an eclectic array of clothing, laugh heartily, clap each other on the back, and raise their glasses high in jubilation. Some were even engaged in raucous drinking games, while others danced with wild abandon to the rhythmic beats of sea shanties played by a spirited group of musicians in the corner.

"It's pretty full in here," Scarlet chuckles as she and Buggy make their way through the merrily intoxicated crowd.

Suddenly, two burly men stumble towards their captain, their senses somewhat dulled by the copious amount of alcohol they had consumed. Their initial focus is so myopically on Buggy that they almost completely overlook Scarlet's presence by his side. The young teacher, meanwhile, takes advantage of this moment to discreetly size up the two men.

One of them wears an outfit that makes him look like a bear, making him look rather odd. Scarlet struggles to suppress a chuckle at the uncanny resemblance, keeping her expression neutral. The other pirate has a more normal appearance, except for the long black hair cascading over one eye, giving him a somewhat mysterious air.

Her curiosity, however, is quickly satisfied when Buggy, even the gracious host, decides to introduce the men to her. "Those are my First Mate Mohji and Second Mate Cabaji," he announces with a flourish, his hand gesturing towards each in turn.

Scarlet seizes the opportunity to extend a polite greeting, her free hand raised in a friendly wave. "Hello," she greets them warmly. "I'm Scarlet. It's nice to meet you two."

It takes a moment, but her presence eventually registers in their inebriated minds. Mohji, the bear-like man, suddenly jolts in recognition, his eyes widening dramatically as he practically yells in surprise. "Woah! I know you! You're Captain's girlfriend!"

His exclamation triggers a cacophony of reactions from the surrounding pirates. All of a sudden, it seems like the entire room's abuzz with commentary. Shouts of "I knew it!" and "Hahaha, of course, she'd fall for him! Our Captain's the best!" ring out. Others chime in with questions like, "So, she's staying, right?" and "Can somebody tell me how exactly our captain managed to get himself a girlfriend?"

Scarlet finds herself both amused and touched by the crew's exuberant response to her presence. Their genuine enthusiasm is heartwarming, a testament to the tight-knit bonds that define this motley group of pirates. However, she soon notices that Buggy's reaction is quite the opposite.

As the crew members continue their enthusiastic chatter, and the room reverberates with boisterous laughter, Buggy's demeanor darkens. His teeth grind together audibly, and his eyes emitted furious sparks that darted around the room, scanning the source of each comment and whisper. The hand holding onto Scarlet gradually tightens its grip, a clear indication of his mounting irritation.

Sensing the need to defuse the brewing tension, Scarlet sought to redirect Buggy's attention. "Buggy?" she calls softly, her gaze determined to make him meet her eyes. When he finally turns to look at her, she offers a warm reassuring smile while reminding him, "You told me we'd find booze here, remember?"

It was an invitation, a subtle suggestion to leave the boisterous gathering area near the kitchen behind and retreat to the quieter back room where food was typically prepared.

Despite the curious glances and hushed whispers that their departure garnered from a few amused crew members, there was no malice behind their actions. Buggy makes sure to maintain a firm grip on Scarlet's hand, his protective gesture conveying that she's not getting lost amidst the crowd.

Once they retreated to the secluded back area of the kitchen, Buggy quickly takes stock of their surroundings and notes the presence of a handful of other crew members who had sought a quiet respite there.

Not one to mince words, Buggy wastes no time in encouraging their departure. "Fuck off, you lot!" he declares with a degree of sternness that Scarlet doesn't necessarily condone but could empathize with, given the peculiar stress of the situation. Even a pirate captain like Buggy, who was accustomed to basking in the spotlight, has his limits.

"The kitchen's rather big," Scarlet begins, attempting to steer the conversation toward lighter waters. She glances around the specious area, taking in the assortment of cookware and ingredients that line the shelves and counters.

Meanwhile, Bugg busies himself by rummaging through cabinets, fervently seeking the alcohol he suddenly so desperately desires too.

"Yes," he replies in the midst of his search, "We've got many people to feed. Aha!" His triumphant exclamation was accompanied by the sight of him emerging victoriously from a cabinet, brandishing a brown bottle of liquor. With a proud grin, he holds it high for Scarlet to see.

Scarlet couldn't help but chuckle at his enthusiasm, and she playfully applauded his discovery. "Bravo!" she commands, appreciating the levity he brings to the moment.