The Last One (One Piece x Reader)

Prologue

"I don't understand... why am I so different from them, Ojisan?" sniffled a girl not above 10 years old as she sat on her grandfather's lap.

Garp sighed deeply as he wrapped his arms around the small figure. He was not one for affection, yet his newly adopted granddaughter had surely found a soft spot in him—a side he didn't even show to his only son.

"Because they're a bunch of snotty brats. Ignore them, (Y/N). They're just stupid kids anyway." Garp grinned sheepishly, and the girl scoffed softly.

"That's mean, Ojisan," she uttered, a small smile creeping onto her lips as she wiped her tears with her grandfather's marine coat.

Garp's grin softened as his granddaughter looked at him with bright, innocent (e/c) eyes.

"Ojisan... I dreamt about that thing again..." Garp's smile strained, and his hold on the girl slightly tightened.

"I dreamt again of being tied down to a metal chair, and a guy with blonde hair keeps hurting me..." The girl's eyes brimmed with tears again as her lips quivered. Her small body shook from fear.

"He won't stop until I close my eyes... and he keeps doing that... all the time... and I'm just in that dark room... waiting... hurt... alone..."

Garp's heart ached at the sight of her distress. He knew those dreams were fragments of her past before he found her and adopted her, but he didn't want her to know that. Stroking her hair gently, he tried to offer some comfort.

"Shh, it's alright, (Y/N). You're safe here with me. No one will hurt you as long as I'm around," he whispered, his voice soft and reassuring.

The girl buried her face in his coat, seeking solace in his presence. "But why do I keep having these dreams, Ojisan? Why can't they just go away?"

Garp didn't have all the answers, but he knew one thing for sure—he would do everything in his power to protect her. "I don't know why, sweetheart, but we'll figure it out together. You're not alone anymore."

As the girl slowly calmed down, Garp held her close, vowing silently to keep her safe from whatever nightmares haunted her. The weight of her past was something he would shield her from for as long as he could. 

But for how long can he protect her from her past?