The tears finally began to fall from Bonney's eyes.
She couldn't stop staring.
Luffy bounced down in front of her, rising and falling on the rubbery ground like this was all just a game to him, his body loose, carefree, completely unaffected by the chaos surrounding them.
Luffy: Hey Bonney, what are you crying for?
He lay back mid-bounce, hands tucked behind his head like he was relaxing, not standing in the middle of a battlefield.
Bonney clenched her fists, her voice shaking as everything she'd been holding in spilled out at once.
Bonney: why wouldn't I be crying you idiot?, I've been looking for you for such a long time
Luffy blinked at her, confused—then slightly amused, like he genuinely didn't understand what she meant.
Luffy: Huh? I've been with you since we got here though?
That only made it worse.
Bonney: but I didn't know you where Nika till now! It's a big deal!
Luffy tilted his head, glancing at her like she'd just said something completely random.
Luffy: Nika? What is Nika?
Her expression fell even further.
Bonney: that's not funny? You saw me didn't you? When I was in trouble I tried to throw a rubber punch like you
Luffy paused, thinking for a second—then his face lit up as he remembered.
Luffy: Huh?
And then he laughed.
Luffy: oh yeah ya did! You kind of sucked at it though
Bonney's eyes sharpened instantly.
Bonney: Then show me! Show me how to do it! Punch him as payback for what he did to vegapunk!
She pointed straight at Saturn, her arm trembling with anger, her entire body filled with fury.
Luffy followed her finger—
Still not fully getting it.
Luffy: wait..he did what to vegapunk
Then he saw him.
Vegapunk.
On the ground.
A hole through his chest.
Barely alive.
Luffy's eyes bulged out in exaggerated shock, his entire face twisting like a cartoon.
Luffy: Ahh! That's not good!
That's when Ryo finally spoke.
His voice cut through everything.
Ryo: He's dying luffy! So kick Saturn's ass!
For a moment—
Silence.
Then Saturn's voice broke through, heavy and suffocating, like something ancient deciding it had waited long enough.
Saturn: I tire of you foolish insects, I have eveyr right to smite you all from the earth
Luffy stopped bouncing.
Just for a second.
The laughter didn't disappear completely—but it faded.
He didn't even look at Saturn.
Luffy: No..you don't
Simple.
Certain.
Bonney stepped forward slightly, urgency in her voice.
