COAST - Luffy x Reader

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

GUYSSSSSSS

IT'S OFFICIAL!! WE HIT 200K!!!

This is SOOO crazy, seriously never imagined the story would get this far. It feels as if we hit 100k not even that long ago like what :')

A HUGE HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who's been reading up until this point. Couldn't have done any of this without you guys, it means a lot that so many people enjoy my hard work <3333

That being said, it is quite unfortunate that this chapter is not as fluffy as the last... it's time for some more angst, and a little bit of drama, before we finally move to better times (like I mentioned, it'll be worth. I swear).

I don't want peace, I want problems, always. So, it's time to introduce... KYLE

LMAO – Happy reading!! <33

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Chopper sits on my thighs, his face nestled against my collar, body wracked with sobs. Happy tears drench the front of my shirt as I run my fingers over the top of his fuzzy head. The doctor's pink hat has been discarded, left on the grass somewhere nearby, along with a pile of the crew's jerseys from roller skating.

"Thank you... for winning..." The doctor mewls, voice breaking. I want to be happy about our victory, for recruiting him back onto the crew, but as it stands I can't bring myself to respond.

Nami sits on my right, Usopp on my left. All three of us are in a state of mourning, downcast and trodden – the only thing missing was a black veil being part of our wardrobe.

"Why did Luffy call for another Davy Back fight?" The doctor sniffs sorrowfully, inhaling his streaming-snot before it can travel down his face. "I don't want to be taken again..."

I look down at him, ready to match his expression as tears bundle in the corner of his eyes. I blink my own away, and shake my head with bite-laden lips. He was looking to me for an answer, because I was the nonsensical captain's soulmate. But, I didn't have one for him – after all, I hadn't spoken to Luffy since he'd fired the gun a second time.

Clearing my throat, I attempt to find my voice. "I-I don't know... But, we're not gonna let you get taken again, okay? I'm... I'm sure Luffy had his reasons."

I don't even believe my own words. For the life of me I couldn't wrap my head around why the captain had unwillingly subjected us to another bout of games after everything we had gone through – after everything we had talked about. It felt like he had stabbed me with a knife and then twisted it in place.

The betrayal was draining, pulling the plug on whatever hopes that had built up based on our closeness, one that I thought had established a foundation of understanding between the two of us. I had wanted this day to be over from the very moment we finished barrel racing... Apparently, he still wasn't aware of that.

"You don't have to defend him, y'know." Usopp huffed, looking equally sympathetic as he was disgruntled.

"That idiot never has a reason, he just does whatever he wants." Nami seethes, her slumped shoulders stiffening at the mention of the captain. She turns and points at me, an accusing finger jabbed in my face. "Stop sticking up for him! I get that he's your soulmate, but I bet he didn't even think of you when he agreed to three more rounds– He doesn't deserve it!"

My bottom lip quivered, turning away from the redhead to look at the ground so that she couldn't see it. Nami's claim was devastating, but she was probably right. And I couldn't blame her for the words, everyone had the right to be upset, forced to oblige and entertain more wasted time with the Foxy Pirate crew... it sounded insufferable.