COAST - Luffy x Reader

59. Unlikely Friends

Quick FYI, sometime over the next couple of days I'm going to host an event in the Gutz Crew Discord – A oneshot giveaway, where you can enter your name into the pool and winners will be chosen at random :)))

Just a fun idea I had with the holiday season coming to a close. A few of you have asked if I write for any other characters in the past (Sanji, for example), so this will be your chance to see something different from me other than the story (though I will still write for Luffy at the winners request if they'd like).

We also hosted a movie night recently! We watched One Piece: Gold, and there's been some interest in hosting another one in the future. So, that's also a thing if you're looking to watch the movies or somethin' ykwim.

Hope y'all have been well though!! I've been busy-busy, but glad to finally post again :))))

Happy reading <333 Hope you enjoy it!

—

"Hey, by the way... Did you see Ivory at all? Like, in the city, or something?"

The question pops into existence as soon as it forms in my head – I was ready to face anything, bouncing off the walls – energy sparked and spirits lifted via the newfound positivity of Usopp joining us–

Sorry, wait. Not Usopp:

Sniper King.

Banking on the good vibes that were flowing, whilst simultaneously trying not to be too ambitious (and failing), it's difficult to manage the conflict of exhaustion and vigor; Both of them are at war in my physical and mental being. "H-He's been lost for a while, and I just... I'm really worried."

Sanji looks at me in surprise, and there's a concerning glint of confusion that passes over his gaze. Like a flower deprived of its nutrients, I feel myself droop.

"Can't say I have, no. I'm sorry." Shaking his head pitifully, he offers a hand so that I can easily step along the slickened metal tiles beneath our feet. "But I'm sure he'll show up at some point. That feline's a lot stronger than he looks..."

Lifting my weary gaze from Sanji's sympathetic expression, I'm not exactly sure on how to respond. I knew that the chance was unlikely... Didn't make it any easier to swallow. I was really hoping that at least one person out of our six-man crew would've spotted him. "I mean... I guess no news is probably good news. Right? He's... Probably okay."

Behind my back, Sniper King freezes on the spot.

Having been softly singing his theme song to nobody aside from himself, it's as if he's been slowed by Foxy's slow-mo-photons; rigid, barring himself from movement mid-step. After all, he had completely forgotten about that little detail given everything that has been going on...

Y'know, that little tidbit about how Ivory was on the Going Merry – and how the Going Merry was likely at the bottom of the damn ocean.

Clearly, this is a whole new dilemma. Does he say something? Does he not?

Usopp, donned in his disguise, sweats beneath the mask in trepidation. Would he face further ridicule if he admitted what had happened? Would it just give you another reason to hate him more, given that he hadn't told you sooner? It took a lot of courage to put on the mask in order to face you and Sanji after all that stuff he'd said, even if it was for the right cause.

Overall... He's not sure what to do. He didn't mean to lose the kitten, it had just sort of happened.

Even so, this was Ivory, and Ivory was basically your baby–