Marine || One Piece [ENG]

28

"Thanks, but I don't think so... I think we need to think about it. Think about it a lot longer," Marco said, gloomy but calm.

Leona nodded in understanding.

"Without the pressure. The offer will be open, well, always," she said, shrugging slightly. "My brother sees you as family after all. You can simply count on me. On us. If you need anything."

"Thanks," Marco repeated, though this time with a faint, barely-there smile. "I'll pass it on to the boys. We will remember this."

"It's cool," she replied. There was silence between them as they stood in front of each other, looking at each other.

Even though he remained calm, she could see how much of a blow the loss of the old man was. It was a big blow to all of them. She felt a little stupid for offering them a place on her ship right after they had lost the man they considered a father, their captain.

However, she also knew that there might not be another opportunity once everyone went their separate ways.

"You!" she suddenly heard a slightly croaky voice, she turned her head calmly towards him. She saw the clown she knew from the posters, Buggy, walking quickly towards her, followed at a distance by other pirates in prison uniforms.

"Me," she replied calmly, looking at him with Marco. Her dark piercing eyes studied the man carefully.

Under her gaze, Buggy became confused, his self-confidence decreased, although he continued to play to the audience he had in the form of pirates behind him. He came closer, standing in front of her.

"You, umm..." he grumbled awkwardly. "Ms. Leona," he corrected himself quietly with a cough. "Since you're Mugiwara's sister, I guess—no, it's a fact that you owe us for helping your brother," he corrected, straightening up.

She looked at him in silence, her hands behind her back. He squirmed under their gaze, coughing again.

"I mean, we're grateful for...for your help on the battlefield, Ms. Leona. And... And we would be grateful for some more help from you" he grumbled, less confidently, more politely. "Like you could take us on a ship and deliver us somewhere... and help us get started a little bit..."

"Okay," Leona said after a while, the corner of her mouth twitching lazily. She tilted her head, looking at him. "There will be a place for you if you behave," she said, glaring at the pirates behind Buggy carefully, the men giving her wide smiles at her words, expressing their agreement at the same time, their voices merging.

"Of course. We will behave... properly. After all, we are so grateful to you for... your willingness to help and everything. You have Big Captain Buggy to thank!"  he said, sticking out his chest proudly, and his crew eagerly raised their voices, delighted with him.

Leona smiled slightly amused, despite the situation. It was refreshing to see such goofy behavior displayed by goofy people.

"Vincent will..." she started but stopped when he appeared immediately next to them. "Vincent, take care of them," she told him, looking up at him.

"Yes, ma'am," Vincent said, glaring at the pirates with his cold violet eyes, silencing the pirates with them.

After a moment of noise, Vincent took the pirates behind him, disappearing from sight, only a few loud voices could still be heard in the distance. It was then that Leona noticed that Marco had disappeared and was no longer at her side.

She lightly rubbed her face with her hand, sinking into thoughts that had been troubling her for some time. She will have to make some decisions eventually. A tough decision.

"It's time to prepare funerals."