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RUMBLE!	By : TreeStar Category: +M to R > One Piece Views: 7990 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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RUMBLE!

5

o Truce o

~~~ *** ~~~

�It�s been forever since I had a meal that someone else didn�t eat half of first.� Usopp started his meal loudly.

� �In everything a small mercy� da na?� Sanji put his smoke out in the tray on the counter.

�I guess. Oh!� he turned to Sanji, �Hey, Sanji, can I bring my new thing inside sometime soon?�

Sanji was instantly wary. �What new thing?�

�My latest invention. It�s almost done, I�m just trying to get it painted.� Usopp took a sip of his miso.

�Why do you want to bring it in here?�

�I just want to paint it in here. The wind won�t let me do a good job of it outside because it keeps making the paint dry too fast or too slow in different parts.�

�Usopp, I don�t want my galley to smell like paint. Can�t you do it in another room?�

�Like where? Our room has no real source of light, Nami and Chopper have their materials in the storeroom, the armory�s packed, and I�m not taking it into the girl�s room. It doubles as a sickroom, and has less ventilation than our room does.� The sniper finished overdramatically, �I already had to strip it once so I could redo it!�

Sanji frowned in thought.

Usopp turned away from him. �Luffy, can I paint my invention in the galley?�

�YEAH!�

�Dah!� Sanji intelligently said, that being the only thing he could think to respond with when the captain trampled the cook�s authority with his miniature feet. Not that there was an argument he could really make against the Captain�s orders, as they were final.

Usopp was gonna get it later� He glared at the marksman, who sensed the vibes even without looking at Sanji, and began to sweat markedly.

On the table, the littlest pirate was kicking his feet out and waving his hands in the air, and Sanji doubted he�d been listening to a word the other two had been talking about, and had just bellowed out a positive answer because he was like that when he was eating. And of course Zoro was laughing. Kuso-Kenshin.

And then Robin took up another conversation with Nami, and Sanji was thoroughly distracted from the morons on the ship by the sheer divinity of the ladies. �Koukaishi-san, when will the next island be coming up?�

�I�m not actually sure. Not for a while, I think.�

�Didn�t you say last night that we�d be docking late tomorrow or thereabouts?� Usopp asked around a mouthful of food.

Nami nodded, and finished swallowing her own bite of food before answering, �We were, but the wind keeps getting weaker. It�s making it hard for me to estimate a time.�

�Well, we�re used to that happening,� Sanji shrugged. �Happens all the time. Besides, couldn�t that sort of be a good thing now? With circumstances being what they are, I mean.� He nodded toward where Luffy was trying juggle with rice grains and making a tiny mess around his tiny self. At least he was keeping his hanky clean.

Sanji sighed at the display. He was feeling really short-tempered that morning. He was sure that it had to do with Chopper telling him last night that he wouldn�t be allowed to smoke cigarettes anymore for a while. And it wasn�t just because of Luffy.

Sanji�s last examination hadn�t gone too well in respiratory department, and Sanji had managed to avoid the issue with doctor for over a week, but now Luffy�s condition had given Chopper the ammunition he needed. The doctor knew that Sanji wouldn�t smoke if he knew it was a risk to hurting Luffy while he was in Rumble; he refused to be responsible for the boy�s health crossing the boarder into serious in any way.

So no more smoking� At least until Luffy was out of Rumble. Probably longer. In his heart, Sanji didn�t blame Luffy for this at all �but being a chain smoker, he was five cigarettes behind already this morning. And that thing about Usopp�s invention a minute ago� yeah, that hadn�t helped his current tolerance level for stupid antics in any way.

So he pretty much felt like he could just totally snap right now.

He had forgotten not to add soy sauce to one of the bowls, so of course Luffy couldn�t eat his top grains. It was reasonable, and Sanji knew it� but him wasting perfectly good food in such a way was (Sanji felt) obscene. It was simply something that a person should never do to food, ever� but especially not in front of the chef who cooked it.

But, believe it or not, watching the cause for his lack of nicotine goof off and then smile at that shit swordsman for approval of his behavior... that only bothered him to an extent. Even though Luffy knew better this time�

What bothered him a whole lot more was that Zoro did absolutely NOTHING to discourage this appalling behavior.

Failing to discourage someone like Luffy was just like offering encouragement. Everyone knew it; it was the main reason that Luffy was scolded by the others so much. If someone didn�t say something about his frequent acts of misconduct, sometimes he wouldn�t realize that misconduct was even happening.

Nami spared the captain a glance when Sanji indicated toward him, but she frowned in reply to his question. �I don�t know if it�s necessarily a good thing� but we have plenty of supplies, so it�s not as though taking our time will hurt anything. If the weather gets any calmer, I might get concerned, but there�s nothing to worry about ye- Luffy!� she exclaimed, turning her attention from her conversation as soy-sauce and rice ended up on her expensive new white blouse.

Somehow the rubber pirate had lost control of his juggling act, and dripping rice had gone flying. Luffy had jumped up when it happened, looking sincerely regretful. �Nami� I didn�t mean to�� The girl took her napkin and brushed it off, but it was ruined. The stain would never come out.

This caused Sanji to finally fly off the handle. �Luffy! How dare you waste food by getting it all over Nami-san! Look at what you did to her clothes! Eat that RIGHT NOW and STOP PLAYING with it!�

Luffy dropped into an obedient position, hands folded in his lap and eyes straight ahead. �Hai.�

He risked a look at Zoro, but his first mate was only frowned at him and offered no words.

�And you!� the cook spun on said swordsman, �Stop letting him get away with that crap! You let him act like he�s three years old!�

Luffy bit his lip. He knew he�d done wrong, but that was a low blow�

A little surprised at the redirected attack, Zoro was quick to formulate comeback, �Who the hell are you to say something like that, asshole? Because you�re such a picture of adult grace all the time, always thinking with the wrong head.�

�He acts more like a kid whenever he gets around you because he knows he can get away with it! You�re the only one on this ship from whom he takes discipline seriously and the ONLY time you EVER impart it is when he does something that directly affects YOU.�

As the volume increased, the others began to slide off the benches and back towards the wall. Even Robin rose to move to the step on the other side of the small room. Chopper was freaked, but the rest were exasperated�were they honestly going to have to deal with this inside the kitchen?

Luffy had started to curl in on himself. Things were getting really loud for him�

Zoro dropped his bowl on the table. �How the hell is what I do ANY of YOUR damn business?�

�It�s what you DON�T do that�s PISSING ME OFF! Watching someone involves more than just staring at them, moron! You actually have to engage.�

�Back off, princess. You have no clue how I engage with him.�

�Obviously not well enough!�

The two had always fought. It was just how �manly men� showed their affection; �Tough Love� was what everyone had called it on the Baratie. Any other form expression with another man was outside of Sanji�s comfort range. Zoro got that, and unlike Sanji, Zoro could adjust to almost anyone�s preferred form of affection-expression. But this time everyone could tell that something was off with the cook. He was more�venomous than normal. Or maybe it was just because he would normally be kicking Luffy for the mistake instead of attacking Zoro, but he�d been deprived of that option.

�So HIS misbehavior MY fault now? What the hell do you want me to do, pull a blade on him?� Zoro shot up fast enough to knock the bench over behind him.

Luffy was really dizzy now. His head throbbed like it NEVER had. Something inside his ears felt like it was expanding on both sides. He leaned his forehead on his knees to quell the nausea that taken him� God, he felt sick�

With everyone�s eyes on the fight, no one was looking at their littlest nakama. The insults were flying too fast, the fight heating to quickly for anyone to think about looking away from the action.

Sanji knew he was stepping way out of his bounds, but right then, he just didn�t care. He was stressed, pissed, in need of a smoke, and he�d sort of forgotten that the others were even witnessing this. He had set his sights on attacking Zoro and he was going to win, Damn it all! �He acts like a child with no regard to the people around him, and he�s just proved it by ruining something of someone else�s! Again! He does that all the time, and you just SIT BY and watch it all happen!�

Oh, that was IT! Now Zoro was really pissed. Reaching next to him where they were propped on the wall, he drew two swords from their sheathes. As he did so, he spoke, �I don�t know what your problem is today, Sanji. He screwed up, yeah. It�s not like it was the first time. But I am NOT his KEEPER, and I don�t really give a SHIT what he decides to do!�

On the table, Luffy almost stopped breathing. W-was Zoro mad at him? H-Had he done something to make Zoro mad? Some part of his brain probably remembered that Zoro was fighting with Sanji, and that this wasn�t an attack on him� But the severe pain in his head wasn�t letting his mind access it, and his emotions couldn�t take the battle right now.

Zoro pressed on without realizing how Luffy was taking his words out of context, �He�s the captain, and he can do WHATEVER he wants to and doesn�t need a WARDEN lording over him night and day.�

Luffy�s heart twisted painfully at the harsh voice. Whether the words were directed at him or not didn�t matter any more because his ears had gotten to the point where they almost blurring words into a long, booming thunder. He could only distinguish a few here and there.

Sanji decided here that he was done with words, because after that it only took a moment for the first blow to be made as the high-pitched sing of steel clashed harshly against each other and then loudly collided with Sanji�s kick.

THAT was what finally caused the full-blown attack to hit him. Luffy let out a cry that was drown in the sounds of the fighting as his head was surrounded by pressure so intense� it felt like pliers were squeezing his skull from either side in an unrelenting grip. His hands closed tightly over his ears in reflex, but only seemed to make the pressure worse. There was no defense and no respite.

Six more violent blows were made, just as harshly as the first, but faster together, making a constant barrage of noise in the enclosed space before Nami found the opening to make herself heard over the din.

�Both of you, stop it right now!�

Sanji stopped instantly. �But Nami-san, Luffy just got food all over your glorious self. Such action cannot be tolerated at my table.� He offered, as though that justified fighting with Zoro.

Nami would not stand down. She kept her voice scarily soft, and what she lacked in volume, she made up for in menacing tone. �He didn�t do anything offensive on purpose. Some of us were trying to enjoy a meal here, and I, for one, do NOT want to listen to you two yelling and fighting next to the table.� She conveyed her real reason they had to stop, however, by indicating toward Luffy with her eyes.

For the first time, everyone else now looked down at the tiny pirate on the table.

The little boy had curled into the fetal position, sitting with his forehead pressed to his knees. He was holding his ears and no longer making a sound. He was shaking, and though no one could see them, they all knew his eyes were squeezed shut as he tried to block out everything around him.

Robin, who had bloomed an arm out of the table to shield Luffy from whatever unforeseen things could have come from the fight, now allowed it to vanish in a swirl of sakura. Usopp and Chopper stayed pressed to the wall and didn�t say a word.

Both Sanji and Zoro looked at each other with near-identical expressions of realization. Hell, they both knew they hadn�t meant any of it, but Luffy� Thoughts of anger toward each other vanished completely to be replaced by thoughts of fear for their captain. Oh God�

Once the quiet had settled, the pressure in his ears finally began to fade quickly away, and with it went most of the pain in his head. The sudden loss of the pressure made him feel woozy, and he had to focus just not to tip over on his side, because a move like that right now couldn�t possibly feel good.

As the overwhelming pain in his head faded, Luffy was taken by the overwhelming pain in his heart� and that pain was so much worse. He remembered almost every word. He realized more and more that they probably hadn�t meant one of them. No way. ...But he was just too weak to get past the fear that suddenly he was on his own.

He just didn�t know how he could do this. How could he handle them being mad at him right now? He really didn�t think there was a way. Sanji was bad enough, but if Zoro was mad at him� whom could he stay with? No one else could understand him, so who would take care of him? Zoro was the only one who could make it okay and if he was mad at Luffy then how could anything be okay again?

�I�m sorry.� he choked. He hadn�t looked up, and he knew his voice was very quiet now -he was probably inaudible- but somehow he knew Zoro would hear him. Zoro would know how he felt, that he hadn�t meant to make him mad� �I�m sorry.� Zoro had to understand�

He was so afraid. For the first time since he became small, Luffy felt tears leak from his eyes and fall to his hanky. What if Zoro really didn�t want to keep him anymore? What would he do? He couldn�t make anyone else understand what he was feeling, he just couldn�t! Zoro was the only one who could give him what he needed now, and if Luffy had driven him away� he was alone. There was no one else. �I�m sorry.�

He hoped his tears weren�t evident in his voice, but they just wouldn�t stop. He didn�t know what to do. His instincts screamed at him to go back to Zoro, Zoro would protect him, Zoro would make it okay� but he didn�t feel safe enough to make the first move, lest he be rejected. If Zoro was mad at him, he had no place to go. He let a pitiful whine and hiccupped before managing to speak again, �I-I�m so sorry.�

Everything had suddenly become so scary to him. He wanted more than anything to have Zoro pick him up and make this all go away. He was desperate to have Zoro just reach out and take him up again. His voice finally broke, ��Zoro, please��

�And then there they were. Luffy detected the familiar scent of his swordsman surround him just before large, protective hands rescued him from his fear. Tear-filled eyes shot open and tiny arms reached for their safety. Even as they carefully scooped him up, Luffy tried to press himself into those hands as much as he could, closing his eyes and drinking of their comforting touch as a thirsting man did water. Even if everyone was mad at him, at least he hadn�t been abandoned.

Zoro lifted the helpless boy without a word. Luffy was pushing himself into the warm hands that held him as if no amount of contact was enough, and his captain�s desperate actions made Zoro�s heart twist.

He was sure now that he and Sanji had caused Luffy to have an attack of some sort, or Luffy wouldn�t be acting like this. They were just too loud and too brutal. They had scared the hell out of the boy, obviously, and disoriented him. Zoro knew they had probably hurt him as well. It didn�t show, but Zoro could feel the wet spot from the tears on the boy�s hanky, and Zoro could just hear his soft voice repeating something like a mantra, though he couldn�t make out the words.

�Get out.� Zoro ordered without raising his eyes from the boy. �Everyone get out.�

No one argued. Usopp was the first to move for the exit, and everyone followed his example, leaving their food and clearing the galley, making as little sound as possible. Hesitating only slightly, Sanji allowed the ladies to go before him, and was the last out the door. The galley was cleared within moments.

Zoro held the boy up to his chest. As soon as he was there, Luffy moved to clench the white shirt beneath his hands to press himself as firmly to the wall of muscle. His hands grasped and re-grasped his shirt in a constant effort to get closer, to feel more� as if he were afraid that if he stopped moving Zoro would vanish into thin air, leaving him alone.

Now Zoro could more clearly hear the words that Luffy had started to repeat in a constant stream: �I didn�t mean it, I didn�t mean it��

It hurt to see Luffy like this. It hurt like hell. He could tell Luffy was trying so hard not to cry... He began to rub the smaller pirate�s back again. �I know, buddy. I know.�

Feeling Zoro�s touch and hearing his words made Luffy lose what little bit of control he still had, and he began to sob freely. Tears ran rivers down his face, and those that were not absorbed by Zoro�s shirt splashed down onto his hanky and into Zoro�s palm.

The larger man held Luffy close through the whole thing. He made no attempt to stop the boy�s tears. Under normal circumstances, he would have reprimanded him for acting so weak, but right now the thought of any such action didn�t cross Zoro�s mind.

Zoro had underestimated everything. He had thought he had a handle of the situation. He had been wrong. So wrong. Only fainting spells and dizziness in normal humans, Chopper said. He listened to the pain-filled cries rising up from his strong and brave Sencho. If there was ever a time to regret being a Paramecia�

Luffy was experiencing both vulnerability and sensory overload for the first time in his life. So of course they had to be occurring at an extreme that no one should ever have to handle, let alone a person like Luffy. This would be hard for a normal person to experience, but for a person so previously strong and unchallenged� �hard� was far too simple a word.

The painful fact was that Luffy was NOT adjusting well to any of this at all. He could play games and laugh for a few minutes, sure, but he never strayed more than a meter away from his first mate, and Zoro had noticed that every time he so much as adjusted in his seat, Luffy�s eyes were on him and he usually moved closer.

But then, Zoro reflected, how could he possibly get used to it? Everything keeps on changing for him. How can he adjust if his world changes every time he tries? Maybe saying that Luffy wasn�t adjusting well wasn�t quite right. Luffy just wasn�t adjusting. Plain and simple. As the sobs continued to drown a little spot on his shirt, Zoro began to rock from side to side. Because no one was watching. Maybe that�s why he keeps so close to me. I�m the only thing that won�t change on him.

This was why Zoro felt so guilty right then. This time he was partly responsible for Luffy�s attack. Their captain was being put through all this pain because Zoro and the cook hadn�t been able to keep their tempers in check. I can�t believe we did this to him. We�re so stupid�

After a little while, the pained moans quieted down, the sobs turning to hiccups. Zoro continued his ministrations, and Luffy finally relaxed against his swordsman�s heartbeat, lulled by his rhythm.

Zoro let this continue for a minute or so, and then softly spoke, �Luffy, are you okay?�

Luffy was flooded with relief when Zoro spoke so gently to him again. He sounded genuinely concerned, and even a little sad. He didn�t sound mad anymore. The tiny boy nodded in answer as exhaustion overtook him.

Zoro was even more relieved than his captain was, though the tiny one didn�t know it. �Luffy, I�m sorry.�

Now Luffy raised his wet face to look into Zoro�s eyes. �For what?�

Zoro�s guilt redoubled at Luffy�s naïvety. The little one wasn�t even going to lay blame for this. �For hurting you. For scaring you. For making you cry. Take your pick.�

The apology felt good. He wasn�t sure if he was owed one, but hearing an apology for so many things felt a lot like forgiveness for his making everyone shout� maybe they weren�t so mad after all. But Luffy knew that -babyish or not- he had to make sure. �Zoro, are mad at all? -at me?�

As soon as he heard the question, Zoro felt so bad. No wonder� he thought to himself.

He answered in a near-whisper, �No, Luffy. I�m not mad at you. I was never mad at you.�

As soon as the words were out, Luffy felt his remaining tension begin to ease away, and allowed himself to relax to Zoro�s heartbeat again. �Are the others very mad? Because, they sounded mad, but I-I couldn�t make everything out...�

Zoro began to rub his back with his thumb again (a touch-type that Luffy had realized created a very serene feeling inside of him) and answered, �I can�t speak for all of them, but I know most of them aren�t even upset. The cook and I were the only two talking.�

Luffy felt a little of his former anxiety return. Sanji�

Zoro felt the miniature shoulders beneath his thumb tense up again. He switched to his fore and middle fingers and focused more on that area. �It�s gonna be fine, buddy. You�ll see. Sanji didn�t really mean anything he said, it was just� you know how he is about Nami. I know he was more pissed than normal, but I don�t think he�s feeling well. His kicks felt different today. I don�t think it was so much anything you did, or he wouldn�t have aimed the attack at me.�

Luffy was involuntarily relaxing again as Zoro spoke. The fingers on his back felt even nicer than the thumb, and he arched against them for more. Zoro stored the reaction away for later revival.

Not even Nami was that mad, remember? And it was her shirt. She knows it was an accident. She even forgave you already.�

Hearing his first mate smile made Luffy finally smile, too. �Okay.�

�Are you sure you�re okay?�

�Yeah. It�s okay now, Zoro. I�m okay.�

Zoro stopped the rubbing on the little pirate�s back. �Is that why you kept apologizing?� Zoro asked, �You were afraid you�d done something to make me mad at you?�

Luffy hesitated, his smile fading, and looked at his first mate�s expression.

Zoro saw the answer in his captain�s face. �So ka�� Zoro closed his eyes for a moment, and then reopened them to look at his captain. �Luffy, for me to get mad at you, you�d have to intentionally do something either very wrong or really dangerous. Eating a bunch of Rumble Balls is a good example� but I�m over that and you haven�t done anything questionable since then, there�s no reason for me to be mad at you.� He gently flicked his finger, knocking the boy back into his palm where Zoro pinned him with his thumb. �Got it, Sencho?�

Luffy hugged his swordsman�s thumb so it couldn�t tickle his tummy, and smiled back full force. �Neehee! Got it!�

Zoro was smiling again, too, but he did still want to let Luffy know one other thing. �It was our fault you had an attack. We forgot how loud it was for you, and I won�t let it happen again.�

At the mention of the attack itself, his captain became instantly quiet and the grip around his thumb eased. Zoro understood.

They both knew it was something that would have to be talked about, but Luffy didn�t want to, and Zoro wouldn�t push when Luffy was still so tender. And not with the others waiting to come back in�

Knowing that they were done talking about it for now, Zoro decided to turn the conversation. If the others were going to come back in soon (and they would before too long, whether they were invited or not) then the two in the galley had to get a story straight.

Zoro lifted his captain away from himself, moving his hands toward the tabletop� only to have his circulation literally cut off by a death grip around his thumb.

�Zoro, not yet, not yet!� Luffy cried out, scrambling not to be put down by his first mate. He wasn�t ready. Not yet. He knew the attack was over, and he didn�t want Zoro to worry about him, but� he still wanted Zoro to hold him a little longer. Just a little longer�

�Okay, Luffy. Not yet.� Zoro withdrew the little one, holding him close again. Just like yesterday when I brought him outside that first time�

In at least one way, Luffy would always remain consistent; he had a strong need for physical affection. He just loved to be touched. Their non-verbal contact had always conveyed so much more emotion than words could, for both of them. And Zoro still knew what types of attention his captain needed and when.

He looked down at where Luffy had abandoned the grip on his thumb in favor of clinging back onto his shirt for dear life. �You want to stay with me for a little while?�

He heard his captain�s muffled voice, �Not on the table.�

Zoro smiled. �No, not on the table. Right here with me.�

Luffy nodded decisively, as if he were making some kind of official decision instead of accepting an invitation. �Right here with Zoro.�

Zoro laughed lightly, �Okay.�

He again remembered that the clock was ticking, and he figured now Luffy was probably ready for them again... Now that they�d established that he was going to be huddled in Zoro�s hands for a while longer like a rock crab. �You know, the others probably want to finish their breakfast sometime this morning.� The weight-lifter indicated to the full bowls still on the table, before meeting his captain�s refreshed grin. �Feel up to it?�

�Yeah!� Luffy chirped. He knew that Zoro would hold him until he was ready, so things were looking up for the rubber boy. �Where are they?�

Zoro stifled a laugh. �You don�t remember?�

�No,� Luffy said with a blank look, �Should I?�

Now Zoro just let the laugh go, shaking his head. And then, �I suppose not. They�re outside hanging around or something, I don�t know.�

�kay,� Luffy smiled again, and looked expectantly toward the door.

Zoro didn�t move for it yet, however. �What are you going to tell them?�

Luffy turned back to Zoro. �Tell them about what?�

Zoro stared at him dryly. �They might want to know what happened, Captain.�

Luffy�s face remained clueless. �Why?�

Zoro closed his eyes. �Because they�re worried about you. Everyone had a scare over what happened to you. They�ll want to know you�re okay.�

Luffy simply shrugged and craned his neck to look at his first mate�s face again. �Then we�ll tell them the truth: everything got too loud, but now I�m fine.�

Zoro nodded after a moment and sauntered to the door.

As was becoming habit, Luffy curled up as Zoro opened the door and walked out onto the balcony. The larger man wouldn�t call out, of course, but his appearance was enough for Sanji -who was leaning on the mast- to motion for the others -who were gathered into a tight circle around Chopper and chattering quietly- and regain their attention. That done, Zoro nodded and walked back inside, leaving the door open as an indication for the others to follow. And follow they did.

On the way back to the table, before the others had returned, Luffy remembered his earlier trepidation. What if Zoro was wrong and someone started shouting again? He uncurled himself to stand on Zoro�s pinky and relax against him again, the side of his face resting against his first mate as he looked to the door.

Zoro, who was beginning to pick up on Luffy�s new visual cues, knew what the problem was and brought his other hand up so that both were hiding him from anyone besides him. �Luffy, it�s okay.�

The boy nodded, but Zoro knew that only seeing would bring believing this time.

Zoro was still in the process of sitting back down when the others flooded back into the room en masse and made their way to the table to re-congregate. They obviously had questions, but none wanted to be the first to speak out. Mostly they were just worried, because Chopper had already filled them in on the major details of what had probably happened. It was made a little harder for them to relax with Zoro completely shielding Luffy from their view as he sat.

Sanji was the first to make a move. He walked right over to Zoro and squatted to put himself at Luffy�s level. Zoro pulled his upper hand away a little so that the chef could see him from where he was. Sanji spoke very softly, almost in a whisper, �Hey, Luffy.�

Luffy kept his still-bloodshot eyes on his cook, but didn�t move away from how he was rested against Zoro�s front. �Hi, Sanji.�

�And Sanji immediately understood why Zoro had him hidden. The picture his captain made was heartbreaking. His eyes were red, obviously from tears. His voice was timid, his posture shy, and he occasionally still had little hiccups left over that further testified to earlier crying. Luffy looked� vulnerable. So vulnerable. And afraid.

Sanji sighed softly, and looked down at his hands for a moment. �Luffy, I�m so sorry.�

And after only a second, Luffy gave him a smile, �Me too.�

Sanji returned a sad smile and nodded, not saying anything for a moment� and then he slowly stood up and began to recollect the bowls. �I�ll just reheat this. It�ll only take a minute or so.� And that was all.

There was no blame laid for interrupting the meal. No lecture about wasting food. Only forgiveness. Luffy�s smile grew confident, and he pushed himself away from Zoro�s chest to spin and drape himself over his fingers. With Luffy sprawled across his base hand, Zoro took his upper hand away. He would be fine now.

The others were put at ease upon seeing Luffy acting normal again. Whatever had happened, it seemed it was over now. They weren�t close enough to see the littlest pirate�s red eyes.

�You okay now, Luffy?� Usopp finally had the chance to ask.

Luffy grinned at him. �Aa!� he piped. �It got kinda loud. It�s okay now.�

Then Nami decided to speak up as she handed Sanji her bowl of rice across the table. �Some of us were talking outside, and we wanted to bring it up when we came back in here, so I�ll go ahead and say it.� she addressed Zoro and Sanji by stabbing her ohashi (chopsticks) in both of their directions, �You two can�t fight inside anymore. It�s too dangerous, you�re both too loud, and you�re going to break something.�

Chopper raised his hoof as if seconding the motion, �I don�t think you should fight around Luffy anymore right now, because if he gets caught in the middle somehow you could really hurt him.�

Robin put in her two cents of wisdom. �It�s probably not a good idea to fight anywhere for a while. Sen-san said earlier that he doesn�t really know the extent of Luffy�s symptoms or his sensitivity. It might be prudent, therefore, to form a temporary truce between all members. It is clear that more than one person aboard would appreciate the consideration.�

Having finished reassembling all the food on the counter, Sanji spoke up, �Sounds fair. It�s not as though I have the spare time to waste on the marimo anyway.�

�Back at you, dart-face.� Zoro agreed uncaringly without opening his eyes.

Luffy laughed out loud, and Usopp took the opportunity to push the envelope. �I don�t think you should fight with each other anymore ever again!� he brazenly declared, punching his fist into the air in firm support of his own statement.

Zoro raised an eyebrow. �Watch it, Usopp.�

Usopp dropped his hand back into his lap.

Nami decided to seal the deal. �So it�s a truce!� she said with finality. �I don�t care about arguing, but nobody is allowed to actually start shouting or fighting with each other on the ship. At least until Luffy�s better.�

Zoro nodded. Sanji began praising Nami�s decisiveness. Chopper and Usopp both looked relieved. Luffy giggled. And the atmosphere was restored to normal �with only one huge difference, the one Luffy had been dreading the unavoidable arrival of: Looks.
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RUMBLE!