Behind the Captain
The fight had ended... Mostly.
The last pirate crashes into the dock railing with a splintering crack, sliding down in a defeated heap.
For a moment, everything goes quiet except for the sound of waves slapping against the harbor.
Your chest rises and falls as you try to catch your breath.
Across the dock, Luffy stands surrounded by the aftermath of the fight like a storm that just passed through.
Crates overturned. A mast snapped in half. Three pirates groaning somewhere behind him.
You push yourself upright, brushing dust from your clothes.
“I think that’s the last of them,” you say.
Luffy turns toward you immediately. The intensity that had been in his eyes during the fight melts away almost instantly.
“Hey!”
He jogs over like the battle never happened.
“You okay?”
You nod.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
You mean it. Mostly.
Your arm stings a little where a blade barely caught you earlier, but it’s nothing serious.
Still, Luffy notices. He always does. His eyes narrow slightly as he looks at your arm.
“…You’re bleeding.”
“It’s just a scratch.”
“Hmm.”
He doesn’t look convinced.
You’re about to reassure him again when a loud crash echoes behind you.
Both of you turn.
One of the pirates you thought was unconscious staggers back to his feet. He’s gripping a sword, and he’s looking directly at you.
Your stomach drops. You barely have time to react before the man lunges forward.
But Luffy moves first. One step, and he’s in front of you on instinct. Like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
The pirate stops short when he sees Luffy standing there now.
Luffy cracks his knuckles.
“You still going?”
The pirate hesitates. You can see the moment the confidence drains from his face. Still, he swings anyway.
The fight lasts about three seconds. Luffy dodges. One punch. The pirate goes flying across the dock and crashes into a stack of barrels.
Silence settles again.
Luffy shakes out his hand.
“Okay, now I think that’s the last one.”
You step around him.
“…You didn’t have to jump in like that.”
He looks confused.
“Yeah I did.”
You blink.
“What do you mean?”
He tilts his head like the answer should be obvious.
“You were behind me.”
That… doesn’t explain anything.
“And?”
Luffy grins, big and bright. The same grin he always has right before doing something reckless.
“I’m the captain.”
He gestures vaguely toward the unconscious pirates.
“My job is to fight the bad guys.”
Then he points back at you.
“Your job is to stay behind me.”
Your chest warms a little at that.
“You make it sound very official.”
“It is!”
He nods firmly.
“Captain rules.”
You laugh.
“…Did you just make that up?”
“Yep.”
He stretches his arms behind his head like the whole conversation is settled.
Then he pauses. His gaze flicks back to your arm again.
“…But Sanji’s gonna yell if you’re hurt.”
“That’s not the reason you care.”
Luffy shrugs.
“Both.”
You roll your eyes, but before you can say anything else, he gently grabs your wrist. Just long enough to inspect the cut.
His expression softens.
“…Still bleeding.”
“It’s fine.”
He lets go after a second, satisfied it’s not serious.
Then he beams at you again like nothing happened.
“C’mon!”
“Where?”
“Sanji made lunch!”
Your stomach immediately betrays you with a loud growl.
Luffy bursts out laughing.
“See?!”
He grabs your sleeve and starts dragging you toward the Sunny.
“Food fixes everything!”
You let yourself be pulled along.
Behind you, the broken dock and unconscious pirates slowly fade into the distance.
And somehow, standing behind the captain feels like the safest place in the world.
— 🌊 —
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