Love's Treasure Map (Buggy Fanfiction) [One Piece]

Found Family

Seated at the compact kitchen table, Claire cradles a steaming cup of tea in both hands, her gaze fixed upon the inky depths of the beverage. In this quiet moment, it feels as though everything around her falls apart again leaving her yet again with nobody to turn to or anywhere to go in order to find some sense of comfort.

She resents the unwelcome emotions, attempting to push them aside, to bury them beneath the façade of normalcy.

Yet, with each passing encounter with Buggy, maintaining the resilient façade becomes an increasingly challenging task. The charade of appearing unaffected, strong, and independent is getting more and more difficult.

In moments like this, she feels small again... like a child who wishes for a parent to hold them and tell them what to do in order to fix everything.

With a weary sigh, Claire raises the cup to her lips, savoring the warmth that emanates from the tea. As the tea touches her tongue, the initial hint of earthy bitterness gives way to the comforting embrace of an herbal infusion, soothing her senses. The aroma rises gently, enveloping her in a fragrant cloud that seems to carry a subtle reassurance.

"You're feeling better, lassie?" Ray's deep voice cuts through the air, prompting Claire to lower her cup and turn her attention toward the man. He wipes his hands on an old kitchen towel before settling into the chair across from her, a silent but supportive presence.

Managing a small, grateful smile, Claire nods, though her weariness is evident. "Yes, thanks, Ray."

His weathered hands twitch, a silent impulse to offer more comfort, yet he restrains himself. "There's nothing to thank me for," he reassures her before steering the conversation in a different direction. "So, what's your plan?"

Claire avoids direct eye contact, her gaze fixed on the vast expanse of water outside the small kitchen window. "I don't know," she admits, uncertainty lacing her words. "Maybe I should just leave and finally stop playing pirate."

"Leave?" Ray sounds taken aback. "Lassie, I don't know if you noticed, but we're in the middle of the ocean."

"I know," Claire responds, taking another sip of her tea. She gazes out at the horizon, a silent contemplation of a new beginning. "There are several lifeboats here. I'll take one and be on my way."

Ray leans back in his chair, studying Claire with a thoughtful expression. The creak of the wooden vessel seems to echo the weight of their conversation, and the subtle rock of the ship adds a rhythm to the contemplative silence that hands in the air.

"Lassie," Ray begins, his voice a gentle undercurrent, "running away might feel like the answer, but it's not always the solution to what ails you." He reaches across the table, placing a weathered hand over hers. "Sometimes we feel all alone, but this isn't true. You've got a family here, on this ship. Whatever life throws at you, you don't have to face it alone."

Her eyes water with gratitude, and Claire manages a more sincere smile. "Thank you, Ray. I appreciate that, truly."

Ray's eyes reflect a genuine sincerity as he nods. "' If you're set on leaving, then we're set on leaving with you."

The cook's gaze sweeps across the kitchen staff, and a silent understanding passes between them. They exchange glances and smiles spread across their faces as if they were truly a tight-knit family. "Really?" Claire's astonishment is met with a chorus of affirmations from the crew.

"Buggy can easily find someone else to cook his food!" one of them jests, prompting laughter to ripple through the room. "It won't taste as good as anything Ray makes, but nobody'll starve!"

"Thank you, guys," Claire expresses, her eyes lingering on each crew member. "Honestly, I still believe leaving is the best option right now. Staying here and facing Buggy every day is causing more harm than good to me."