Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The recuperation from a fight was always soothing, like an iced drink on a sweltering day. Once the dust had cleared and adrenaline had faded from their veins, once all cuts and bruises had been bandaged, they could look around at each other and smile, rest. And after the crazy situation they’d all just lived through—fighting and overthrowing a literal Kami—all Nami wanted to do was sleep until she was thirty.

So why…

“Psst—Nami! Nami, wake up! We have to do the plan!” A string of not-so-quiet whispering filled the navigator’s ears. She turned on the fur blanket they’d been graciously given by the Sky People, trying to get away from the sound. Her eyes flickered open, a hint of curiosity forming as she wondered if the voice was truly there or a hallucination from her sleep-addled brain. With her vision barely a sliver, the dark brown eyes of her captain engulfed her view.

“What in the hell!” Nami jumped back in surprise, disrupting a snoozing Usopp beside her, who grumbled lowly in his sleep. “Luffy, what’s the matter with you?” she whispered angrily, the urge to grab and shake her silly captain growing by the second.

“Shhhh!” Luffy let out a quiet giggle, a short “shishishi” before continuing, “We’re gonna steal the gold and get out of here!”

Orange and yellow began to bleed together in the cloud-filled sky as the sun rose over the remains of Skypiea. Luffy was softly illuminated, a mischievous grin stretching across his lips as a nimble finger touched them, hat casting a shadow over the top of his face.

The scenery was breathtaking, a sight they’d barely appreciated amidst the chaos of the past few days. On another day, Nami would have twisted Luffy’s ear for waking her up, urging him to watch the sunrise properly. He loved sitting on Merry’s head and watching the dawn break over the sea, and she was sure he’d find this even more fascinating. Watching him in those peaceful moments never failed to make Nami smile; for all the stress and annoyance he caused, she loved Luffy like a little brother.

But today wasn’t that day.

At the mention of “steal” and “gold,” Nami’s eyes had already morphed into Berry signs.

“Huh!? Did you say gold?” Luffy might be dumb, but even a broken clock was right twice a day.

“YOU IDIOT! YOU’RE TALKING TOO LOUDLY!” He shouted directly in her face, mouth open so wide she could see the pink in the back of his throat. All heads around them, crew and otherwise, turned in their direction.

Looks like the clock is still a little off.

Nami sighed.

-

"Owowow! Nami, I said I was sorry," Luffy squawked as he was yanked away by Nami, her long fingers gripping his cheek. They stood near a break in the Shandorian ruins, far enough from the main clearing that Nami hoped their conversation wouldn’t be overheard, though still visible if someone happened to look their way.

"Your apologies won’t put that massive snake back to sleep!" she hissed. Luffy’s shouting had somehow roused the reptile from its party-induced slumber, and now it was lazily lounging around camp, playing with Skypieans and Shandians alike. It was heartwarming, seeing the ancient tensions start to ease. Cute even, seeing this massive snake play tag with children and bump the backs of adults for head pats. But it'd be a lot cuter if the snake didn't still have millions of Berries worth of gold in its belly.

Just the thought sent Nami slumping against an ochre-tinged wall in despair, her fingers trailing down its weathered surface.

"Luffyyyyy—" The last syllable of his name stretched out, cut off as she cradled his head in the palms of her hands. “How are we supposed to get the gold now? We can’t leave here in poverty!” The idea alone made her shiver.

"We won’t be in complete poverty." The calm voice startled them both, making them jump. Between the two, a mouth and an ear had appeared on the ruined wall.

Robin.

An arm sprouted from the stone, pointing down the main path toward the forest. There, Robin and a Shandian woman, Laki, approached with the tribe’s lead warrior trailing behind. Nami’s eyes widened as she took in his bandaged arm and the pillar he carried on his good shoulder, a feat that seemed impossible given his injuries.

Another crazy one, just like Zoro. His actions reminded her of their swordsman, who sometimes acted like a demon with no need for breathe or rest.

But then, something in the pillar’s gleam caught her attention.

"Is that...?"

"GOLD?" Luffy shouted, rushing forward and nearly toppling the warrior in his excitement. “Nami, Nami! This thing is pure gold!” His movement so sudden it sent his iconic straw hat right off his head, swaying against his back.

A triumphant laugh erupted from Nami's throat as she jumped into Robin’s arms, hopping in delight as she spun them around.

"Robin, you're amazing!" Happy tears pooled at the corners of her eyes as she pulled back. "I think this might be the best day of my life."

Robin’s lips curved into a small smile as she turned toward the rest of the group. “It’s not just me you have to thank. Turns out gold isn’t as important here, so the islanders are happy for us to take the broken belfry tower as payment.” She crossed her arms and glanced at Wyper, who stood holding the massive pillar. “This isn’t the whole thing, but I thought we should bring a piece while preparations are made to move the rest.”

Nami could hardly contain herself. They were giving them part of the belfry? That had to be at least a few tonnes of gold, and she wasn’t even sure it would fit on the ship—especially not if Zoro hadn’t recently improved his swordsmanship.

More tears welled as she imagined their bounty, a hold full on golden blocks and treasures.

Luffy was equally enthralled, only seconds away from grabbing an end of the golden piece. “Wow, even though it’s so old, it’s still super shiny.” He looked up at Wyper, who wore an expression of unimpressed stoicism. “You can carry that with all those injuries? You’re super strong.”

Though she wasn’t close to the warrior, Nami could have sworn she saw a hint of pink bloom on his face before his gaze turned and he let out a scoff, striding past them toward the main clearing.

Interesting.

Laki, standing nearby, found Luffy’s question amusing. She nudged him with her shoulder, a playful motion. “He may not look like it, but I think you just made his day.”

As they began to follow the path back, Laki continued, “Will you stay here for long? I know you must be eager to leave; the cleanup won’t be nearly as exciting.” She smiled warmly. “At least you were able to read the poneglyph before you left.”

"Poneglyph? There was one here?" Nami hadn't realised that Shandora was that old! The Poneglyphs were almost a millennium old, and the fact that one was apparently still intact even after being blasted into the sky and then dropped from a massive beanstalk was astonishing. "What did it say?"

"Well, the actual message is unimportant; the Poneglyph has already served its purpose. It seems we're not the only pirate crew to have visited here."

"Really?" Luffy, who'd started asking Laki questions about the food options for lunch, immediately had his interest recaptured. "A crew we know?"

"Yes. The Poneglyph had a note with Gol D. Roger's signature."

...Gol D. Roger?...

GOL D. ROGER!

"WHAT!!" Luffy's jaw was practically on the floor, right next to Nami's, as they took in the information. "Are you telling me that Roger was here?!"

Their enthusiasm was infectious, and it was evident in Robin's voice as she replied. "Gan Fall spoke with him when he was here years ago." An arm sprouted from their captain's shoulder and tapped him on the nose, eliciting a short giggle. "He said you reminded him of Roger."

If possible, Luffy looked even more excited.

"We've got to stay for longer and explore! There's no way we can go before seeing the whole island, not if Roger saw it too!"

Nami wanted to tell him off, remind him that they should get their gold and leave, back to the Blue Sea to cash in their Berries. They had plans, and the Merry needed fixing. It was the right thing to do, to allow the islanders to rebuild without the burden of being tour guides. But... the idea of mapping a sky island Gol D. Roger had explored. That was a feat no one else would be able to accomplish, it would truly make her one of the best cartographers in the world.

Nami looked at Luffy, who was practically bouncing on his toes, eyes sparkling with wonder. The excitement in the air was palpable, a current that even she couldn't resist.

"Alright," she finally said, a small smile creeping onto her face. "But we're staying just a little longer, and only if we can find something worthwhile."

Luffy's grin stretched wide as he whooped in delight, Robin and Laki’s laughter joining in. And just like that, the decision was made. Adventure awaited, and for once, Nami didn't mind the detour.

-

Dinner that evening was a grand affair, with Sanji clearly energised after spending the day helping Conis gather wild fruits and vegetables in Upper Yard. The meal was easily one of the largest feasts they'd had, the cook working tirelessly to incorporate every ingredient the Skypiean girl recommended.

Half of a large fallen tree served as a makeshift table, piled with dishes that people could pick from and take around the space. Tropical fruit platters, rich stews and soups, and several pumpkin-based dishes were laid out; the group couldn’t stop praising the effort Sanji had clearly put into every dish. The star of the feast seemed to be the roasted cloud bear, which Zoro and Braham (who apparently were friends now) had caught with Kamakiri’s help. The Shandians watched in amusement as Zoro and Sanji argued throughout the meal, an endless back-and-forth that no one expected to stop.

Laki clapped her hands together with delight, turning to Sanji, who melted into a picture of pure infatuation at her attention. “This is so good! I didn’t think there was any way to make pumpkin noodles even better!”

“Right?” Conis agreed, sipping juice from a hollowed-out conash. “Sanji, you really did an amazing job!” There was practically steam coming out of his ears as he blushed under the praise.

Conversation shifted and somehow came back around to the topic of getting the gold out of Nola, with Laki explaining a new plan.

“Nola’s friendly to anyone who rings the bell, so we should be able to convince her to rest long enough for us to retrieve the gold,” she said, gesturing to Chopper, who was sitting between Robin and Usopp, munching on a sweet piece of pineapple. “Your doctor says he could prepare a medicine to help her sleep through it.”

Chopper swallowed his bite and nodded. “She even told me she’d let us try if we found her a new place to nest! The old one got destroyed during the battle.”

“Dibs on not doing that!” Usopp and Nami yelled simultaneously, clearly uninterested in trekking through the forest filled with larger-than-life animals. The sentiment was silently shared amongst the rest of the crew, with only Luffy looking forward to their (earlier than expected) next adventure.

“Say, Conis. Do you think you could go through all these dials with me?” Usopp had a bag of dials beside him, traded from islanders for materials (mainly rubber bands) that they'd had on the Merry. “I want to use them to upgrade my projectiles and Nami's climatact, but I haven't seen some of them before.”

The blonde girl grabbed the bag, ruffling through the assortment of different-sized shells, before handing it back to the marksman. “I can help you with the basics, but if you want battle ideas, you're better off asking one of the warriors.”

At that moment, Wyper looked up at the duo, having been occupied with his meal, watching with an unreadable expression. As Usopp turned, his gaze met Wyper's, and the silent stare he fixed on Usopp had all the warmth of a cliff edge. Usopp felt himself tense up, and forced out a shaky laugh.

“Haha... I mean, I think I can, uh, figure it out by myself,” he mumbled, backing away slightly, his nerves shooting up under the warrior’s scrutiny. Wyper gave a curt nod before looking back at the fire, disinterested.

"Wyper can't go with you anyway, Usopp. 'Cause he's gonna be with me exploring the forest." Luffy suddenly mentioned around a mouthful of bear meat, "And there's only one of him, so we can't share."

The expression on Wyper’s face clearly showed this was news to him, thick eyebrows raised with clear bewilderment in his eyes. He blinked, then gave a low, incredulous laugh, as though trying to process Luffy’s suggestion.

“The hell? Who told you I’d do that?” he demanded, his voice sharper than usual. His confusion wasn’t lost on anyone, but it only seemed to amuse Luffy more.

“I did.” Luffy said it as though it was the most obvious thing in the world, completely unfazed. "You're the leader, right? I'm the captain, so if someone's gonna take me around, it should be you. And you're the strongest, so it shouldn't even take that long.” A stretched arm grabbed a snake skewer from Zoro's plate, retreating before catching a fisted hit. “I wonder what other stuff related to Roger might be out there?” Luffy grinned, completely oblivious to Wyper’s growing frustration.

Nami almost felt sorry for the man, she really did. But if Luffy wanted to drag someone into the vast, uncharted forest, let it not be her to stop him. Sooner or later, their captain usually got what he wanted—his ability to look into people's hearts (and get on their nerves) unparalleled. Plus, having him far away from the camp meant it was less likely he'd eat all the provisions and force them all to go scavenging again.

Still, maybe she should stop him from further annoying one of their hosts.

"Zoro's not busy, is he?" she said, her voice light but pointed. "You can take him with you, as long as you put a bell on him."

If Zoro got separated in the forest, they'd surely never see him again.

“Oi, you witch! What’s that supposed to mean?” Zoro’s voice, though slurred from the copious amounts of alcohol he'd had, was still sharp enough to make Nami roll her eyes.

“Don't make me explain, I don't want to embarrass you.” Zoro's face turned bright red, and his mouth opened in retort before Luffy interrupted.

“Nah, don’t worry about it, Zoro. Wyper and I will go together!” Both Zoro and Nami relented with a nod and a shrug, despite the clear look of annoyance on Wyper’s face. Luffy laughed as he grabbed another piece of food, not noticing the interested looks bouncing between him and Wyper from Laki, Kamakiri, and Braham.

-

Looks like that was that. As the meal continued, Wyper found himself absently poking at his food, mentally gearing up for the “excursion” Luffy had planned. He thought about the way Luffy had insisted on dragging him into the forest like that—so casually, without a single thought to how Wyper might feel about it.

His chest tightened at the idea of spending more time with the unpredictable pirate. What if this wasn’t such a bad idea? He quickly shut the thought down. No, this was just another one of the boy’s wild plans. No reason to let himself get too worked up about it. Wyper was grateful to Luffy and his crew—for freeing them from Enel's tyranny, for helping them bring the light back to Shandora. The beautiful chiming of the golden bell... There were times when Wyper hadn’t thought he’d hear it in his lifetime. But Luffy had rung the bell, loud and clear for everyone on the island and below to hear.

As the meal went on, the laughter and chatter around him began to fade into the background, his thoughts grew heavier. He’d been in charge for so long, his will and direction always setting the tone for everyone around him. The idea of spending time with Luffy made him uncomfortable in a way that he didn’t want to examine too closely. What would it even be like to just… spend time with him? Maybe he just wasn't used to not being the one holding the knife.

The islanders retreated to their tents, the Blue Sea people leaving earlier to relocate their ship so it would be easier to load the gold. Despite his vehement denial of the trip, Wyper found himself unconsciously packing a small bag of supplies: sky shark jerky, extra dials, bandages, and his burn bazooka leaning against the chair in the tipi. Why did he feel so compelled to go along with this?

"Thought you said you weren't going?" A gruff voice spoke from behind him. Wyper turned to see Kamakiri and Laki in the entranceway, knowing smiles on their faces.

It was nice, having friends again. It was something Wyper felt he'd lost after becoming the leader, as their desperation grew. He’d become stricter, more serious; and his aggressive personality had forced childhood friends to distance themselves to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. But these past few days felt like the times back then, when there had been less of a burden on their shoulders.

Still, he’d forgotten how nosy they could be.

"I'm not going." Only then did Wyper realise the bag he'd packed, lips pursed as he threw it onto the handle of his weapon. "That's for something else." Good save.

Laki's eyes followed the bag, a knowing glint in them. "Wyper the Berserker off to make some new, foreign friends?" She smiled. "Never thought I'd see the day."

Wyper gritted his teeth, taking one last look at his bag before heading to the door to shoo the couple away. He wasn’t sure if he was more irritated by the thought of following Luffy’s orders or the nagging feeling that maybe, just maybe, this wouldn’t be as terrible as he’d thought. Maybe they’d even... become friends before the pirates had to leave. And maybe that wouldn’t be so bad.

"Just go. Don't you have anything else to do other than bother me?"

"We were just checking up on you." Kamakiri clasped his good shoulder in his hand before retreating, linking elbows with Laki. "Try not to injure yourself anymore on your little date." The two of them waved as they walked to a huddle of people by the fire, still animated as they chatted and played games.

...Date?

Wyper felt the heat rising in his cheeks, though he quickly scowled to hide it. It’s not like that. Even as he thought it, the idea seemed to settle in his mind like an odd, foreign concept. Could he really call what was about to happen a "date"?

How annoying.

Chapter Text

The next morning was just as busy as the last. Meals with Luffy always seemed to carry an element of chaos, and Wyper found it amazing how the crew put up with their captain’s antics. Luffy was as ravenous as ever, perched between his swordsman and navigator, loudly speculating on what adventures the day would hold.

He looked perfectly at home, surrounded by his nakama, all smiles and laughter. The Straw Hats were a friendly bunch—at least, now that there wasn’t a fight to be had. But it was obvious to anyone paying attention how at ease they were around their captain, with softened brows and upturned lips. They were ready to reprimand him at a moment’s notice, but it was equally clear how much they loved him.

Wyper couldn’t help but wonder if he’d ever been the kind of leader who made his people smile like that. Most of the time, all they gave him were stiff nods and wary glances.

He realised he’d been staring for longer than was socially acceptable when Luffy suddenly caught his gaze, perking up and waving a rubber arm his way. The acknowledgment jolted Wyper back to himself, and he refocused, hoping the conversation would keep Luffy busy long enough for him to make himself scarce and avoid an expedition. After finishing his food, he quickly cleaned up and headed toward his tent, reasoning that if he was “asleep” by the time Luffy finished, maybe he’d be left in peace. It was unlikely, but worth a shot.

The plan doesn’t hold for long. Wyper’s barely halfway to his teepee when he’s intercepted—by Kamakiri, of all people. His friend looks steadier than he did before, though a faint tremor lingers in his hand, at least the one not stationed firmly on his hip. The unimpressed look on Kamakiri’s face tells Wyper everything he needs to know, yet it’s still irritating as he starts his interrogation.

“What are you doing here?”

Wyper considers ignoring him, pushing past, but Kamakiri is determined, sidestepping and blocking his path until the other relents. Another day, Wyper would shove him aside, injuries be damned, but rekindling their friendship has been nagging at him. A fistfight might not help.

"I'm going to sleep, obviously."

“Sleep?” Voice dripping with doubt, his gaze scrutinising Wyper’s stance. “Right. Because while everyone else is clearing debris and planning for the rebuild, Wyper the Berserker—the most stubborn, protective bastard I know—is just going to sleep.”

Wyper rolled his eyes and continued his path, hoping his silence was enough to stop the conversation, but Kamakiri trailed inside after him.

“I’m not going with Strawhat, Kiri.” The nickname felt strange on his tongue, rusty from disuse. “There’s work to do. I don’t want to be stuck babysitting.” He leaves out how Luffy somehow manages to pull his attention no matter where he is, turning him into a moth near an open flame. He's a bit confused, honestly, about the way his body seems drawn to the other boy, even when he tells himself he doesn’t care.

Inside the teepee, Kamakiri picks up the bag Wyper packed the night before. “Who said anything about him?” The warrior smirked, hand open and outstretched, offering the pack to it's owner.  “Nola was raised by our ancestors, by Kalgara.” They don’t know for sure, but it’s a fair guess given her emergence in Upper Yard and her sudden attachment to the Shandians after the bell rang again. “After all these years of isolation, she deserves to be looked after.”

Kamakiri was too clever, using Wyper’s dedication to his people as leverage.

Before he realises, the bag is in his hand, and Kamakiri is all but shoving him out through the doorway. “Go on! Do your job! And try not to bore our saviour to death.” Kamakiri’s arm brushed against Wyper’s wings as he nudged him forward, closer than they’ve been in a long time. Wyper barely remembers the wings are there—until they’re hurt or in the way.

He stepped outside, only to be greeted by Nami and Luffy. Nami’s giving Luffy her list of strict warnings in a tone that’s more command than suggestion, and Luffy, distracted, is unprepared as Nami, finished with her speech, softly pushes him in the direction of the newcomers.

The boy clearly wasn’t ready, half-listening to Nami’s endless rules, not paying attention to his surroundings. As a result, he crashed right into Wyper, his wide, honey-brown eyes catching the sunlight as he looked up in surprise.

Bah-dum. Bah-dum.

Wyper’s pulse skipped a beat at the unexpected closeness, the feel of Luffy’s breath against his chest, his warmth spreading through Wyper’s limbs, making his face flush. It’s been happening more often lately—these moments where Luffy’s presence catches him off guard. His body is betraying him, like a pull, an itch that he can’t ignore, no matter how much he tells himself it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t make sense. It shouldn’t make sense.

Luffy grinned, pivoting in Wyper’s arms with a cheer. “Let’s go! We’re gonna fight all the animals in the forest!”

Wyper’s too busy trying to calm his heartbeat out of overdrive to correct him. Fighting animals isn’t exactly the plan.

Great. Just great.

-

Wyper wondered if this was how Luffy had been feeling these past few days—his gaze burning into the other boy’s profile whenever he thought he wasn’t looking. Except, Luffy definitely isn't making any attempts to hide his interest, nor does it take long for him to come close and bluntly explain his staring.

They've not been in the forest for long, an hour or so at the most. From the start, Luffy had been bursting with energy, radiating an aura as palpable as the fake Kami’s mantra. It poured through his every movement, expression, and word. The beginning had been challenging—trying to keep the younger one from darting off into the thicket to fight (or catch) large creatures, all thanks to the thick, dense atmosphere of the sky islands. Luffy, with no sense of direction (and frankly no sense whatsoever), was only placated by the promise of finding and eating conache once they located a suitable nesting place for Nola. Wyper's not even sure if they'll find any, but pumpkins are hardy and adaptable fruits, so it's not a complete lie (even though he can't say he'd be jumping for joy if they find any.)

He spent most of the walk wrestling with his anger, which churned beneath his skin like embers waiting to ignite. Luffy was increasingly aggravating to be around, and the recent staring wasn't helping. It felt like the culmination of all his attempts to temper the fire in his personality, the same fire that had so often driven people away. That passion, the anger, was helpful in times of war, but even Wyper knew that from now onwards, no one wanted to experience war again.

It wasn’t even about Luffy, not really. It was about the loss of control—trying to navigate these uncertain times. Skypieans and Shandians living together? At times, the thought almost made him laugh—the image inconceivable. The offkilter feeling was heightened by Luffy's proximity, warm like your stomach after a good meal and beautiful like sunlight. It left him feeling off balance, as if he were on the verge of falling into something he couldn’t yet understand.

"What are you staring at?" It came out harsher than expected, but Luffy seemed unphased, a smooth hand reaching out to poke the golden earring in Wyper's left ear.

"Why're you so grumpy?" He flicked the earring again, before grinning. "These remind me of Zoro's, so cool!"

His and Zoro's earring have nothing in common aside from their material, though the swordsman doesn't seem the type to spend hard earned cash on accessories. Wyper couldn’t help but wonder where the other man had acquired them—were they a gift from a friend or a master? Or perhaps a prize won in battle, the three dangling earrings symbolising his three-sword style.

"Are his even gold?" Wyper questioned, swatting Luffy's curious fingers away.

If it'd been anyone else he'd probably have ignored the question, as he so often did when faced with inquiry and invites to socialise back home. He never saw the point of it, needlessly entertaining people who probably were only asking out of obligation, to soothe their guilt in growing far from him as they grew older. Kamakiri, Braham, Genbo, hell even Aisa (once she was old enough to realise the reason why Wyper never hung around long after dinners) were amongst the many who tried to reach out to him back then. He hadn't been interested, the responsibilty of leading them through war taking all space in his mind, and now that he was... it felt too awkward to start.

But Luffy was different. Around him, he never felt this pressure to be anyone other than himself. The boy took everyone as they were, even if that person wasn't someone he liked, and didn't impose any preconceptions. It was nice.

"I dunno." Luffy tilted his head as though the answer would reveal itself if he thought hard enough before finally move back and out of the warrior's personal space. "Maybe they're coated brass? Or bronze? If they were real gold Nami would've tried to steal them when we first met."

Wyper raised an eyebrow at the casual accusation as Luffy thoughtfully scratched his chin before breaking into a laugh. "Or maybe Zoro was too scary for her to try."

The thought amused him: Nami’s sharp eyes assessing Zoro’s earrings, calculating the risk, and deciding it wasn’t worth the trouble. If the swordsman had noticed her intentions, it was doubtful the outcome would’ve ended in her favour. The Strawhats were young—except for Nico Robin, who carried herself with an ageless maturity far beyond her years. They couldn’t have been together for long, but they’d already achieved much—their presence in Skypiea was proof enough—and they were so close despite it. They knew each other well and weren’t afraid to poke fun: Sanji’s legs quick to strike Luffy’s wandering hands, or Zoro pretending to sleep when Nami sought someone to haul gold back to the ship.

It must be freeing, being so unapologetically yourself—fearless in your boldness, unbothered by abrasiveness.

Luffy definitely wasn’t afraid, and it was something Wyper greatly admired about him.

Their brief conversation bled the tension from Wyper’s shoulders, and his lighter disposition seemed to boost Luffy’s curiosity even further. So many questions—about himself, his tribe, what food he liked, the coolest thing he ever fought? It was distracting, steering them off track from the purpose of their forest trek, but as the questions continued, Wyper could feel part of the high walls around his heart melt away. Luffy’s reactions were so genuine: oohs and aahs, wild hand gestures, shoulder taps; the boy was very tactile. He spoke with Wyper as if they hadn’t been enemies mere days ago.

“—And she had a pet dragon! Well, he wasn’t a pet; they were friends, and he was super old!” Luffy enthusiastically relayed a story about a small girl and… a dragon? To the pirates, the sky islands themselves must’ve seemed like a miracle, but an ancient dragon? That was the stuff of fairytales.

“He was strong too—like, really strong!” Luffy added, puffing out his chest. “I bet he could’ve taken on a whole army if he was younger. So cool!”

Wyper stiffened. Take on a whole army. He’d done that. He’d fought, bled, and burned for his people, only for peace to feel like an afterthought, a compromise. Now here he was, searching for pumpkins and nest sites, wondering if he even mattered anymore.

Luffy didn’t seem to notice, his voice still light and carefree, but the sound grated against Wyper’s fraying nerves. The forest felt heavier somehow, the trees crowding closer, the shadows stretching longer. His grip tightened on the strap of his bag, jaw locking with barely contained frustration.

He took a deep breath, trying to use the air to blow out the flame in his chest.

The cool forest air was tinged with the earthy scent of moss and distant rain, its calm at odds with the storm in his mind.  As they walked, the minutes stretched into hours, the forest seeming to close in around them. Luffy, for all his boundless energy, was starting to grow restless. He darted between trees like a child chasing fireflies, his earlier focus replaced with an unmistakable hunger.

It had been hours, but a suitable nesting place for Nola had yet to be found. It didn’t need to be found today, or even tomorrow. Really, it wasn’t like anyone would light a fire under his ass if they returned with nothing but a deeper understanding of each other and some conaches as a consolation prize. But to Wyper, it felt like he was spiralling. This should’ve been an easy task. Tracking and locating was a fundamental skill for a warrior. Even if they didn’t find the exact spot today, at the very least, they should have a general idea. He’d done harder things—so why couldn’t he do this?

With no war to fight, was he really just useless?

They had been walking in silence for a while now, Luffy humming a tune under his breath. Wyper trudged behind, trying to keep his irritation in check. It wasn’t working. Every chirp, every snap of a twig under Luffy’s careless steps, the sound was growing, growing into a cacophony that surrounded him, isolated him. Why couldn’t Luffy just focus for five minutes?

When he veered off again, this time chasing after a bird that had swooped low, Wyper finally snapped.

“Will you focus for once?” Wyper barked. “This isn’t some game. You’ll get yourself killed running around like an idiot.” They'd been lucky, or unlucky, so far. No cloud bears or any of the other predators that lived in these forests had approached them, though this also meant they'd not gotten any game they could bring back to camp. Both of Wyper's arms were still bandaged, weak enough that he hadn't been able to bring his usual weapon to the forest with him. Granted, using a burn bazooka in a forest probably wasn't the brightest idea, but at least a wind dial could be used as an attack should they encounter anything.

Now, if they had to fight, he'd probably be left relying on Luffy to protect him. Not that he couldn't, the boy was stronger than anyone Wyper had ever met, but the position was unusual. Wyper wasn't used to being the 'weak' one, the one that had to be protected. He could still fight, and everyday tasks were still doable, but he wouldn't be leading an attack for a long while. Though, he guessed, it didn't seem like they'd have to do that for a long while. Not until either Enel or his disgraced priests came back to cause trouble (if they hadn't drowned somewhere in the cloud sea.)

Luffy stopped mid-step, his wide grin fading as he turned to face Wyper. “What’s your problem?” he asked, tone even but confused.

“My problem?” Wyper scoffed, throwing up his hands. “You don’t take anything seriously! You think this forest—or life—is just some big joke!”

Luffy tilted his head, as if trying to puzzle something out. “I don’t think it’s a joke. I just don’t see the point of getting so worked up all the time.” He waved a hand dismissively, "If we can't find a place today, we can always come back tomorrow! What's the big deal?"

“Of course you wouldn’t. You—” He broke off, his words caught in his throat. You don’t understand. You don’t have the weight of an entire people’s history crushing you. You haven’t had to fight for every scrap of dignity, every inch of freedom. Not useless, like a dull knife in a kitchen.

“What? What is it?” Luffy pressed, stepping closer, his gaze unusually sharp.

Wyper took a step away, coming back to himself. The warmth in Luffy’s eyes was overwhelming, almost disarming. “Just… stay focused,” he muttered, looking away.

“No.”

Wyper’s head snapped up, startled by Luffy’s firm tone.

“You’re mad,” Luffy said, crossing his arms, “but not at me. Not really." His gaze was piercing, analytical. Like he could see ever angered breath and know exactly what it meant. "So what is it? Why’re you so mad all the time?”

“Because—” He started, but the words caught again.

“Because what?” Luffy moved closer again, his voice soft but insistent. “Is it me? Did I do something?”

“Yes! No! I don’t know!” Wyper burst out, his hands clenching into fists at his sides, tendrils of pain moving up his arms. “You’re just—you’re aggravating! You don’t listen, you’re reckless, and you—” He stopped, his voice cracking. You remind me of everything I want to be. A great leader, a good friend. You make me feel like this. As though my brain has no hold on me, just my heart pushing my actions. And you don't even notice, because you're not even trying to.

Luffy blinked, waiting. For once, he wasn’t pushing, wasn’t teasing. He was just… there.

“Forget it,” Wyper muttered, turning away.

But Luffy didn’t let him escape, tilting his head to catch the other's eyes. "You act like the weight of the world’s on your shoulders,” Luffy said, his voice pushing now, trying to get a clear answer. The look on his face told he already knew what was going on in the other's head but he wanted to hear it, out loud. “It’s not just the forest or the pumpkins, is it? You’re mad at yourself too." Silence greeted him, then he went in for the final blow. “Or is it because you like me, and you don’t know what to do about it?”

The words landed like a punch, knocking the air out of Wyper’s lungs. His first instinct was to deny, to snarl something defensive and storm off. But his throat felt dry, and the words wouldn’t come.

Luffy grinned, not unkindly, and poked Wyper lightly in the chest. “You’re funny, y’know that? All that shouting and stomping around, but really, you’re just shy.”

“I am not shy,” Wyper snapped, finally finding his voice.

“Uh-huh.” Luffy leaned back, hands behind his head, and started walking again, effectively ending the conversation. “C’mon, we’ve still gotta find those pumpkins! We didn't find any stupid nest sites, and I'm so hungry my stomach's eating itself.” The boy pouted, a whine evident in his voice.

Wyper stood frozen for a moment, his heart pounding in his chest. Like him? No. That couldn’t be it. Except… it was, wasn’t it? The irritation, the frustration, the way his chest tightened whenever Luffy smiled at him—it wasn’t anger, not really.

It was something far more terrifying.

-

"Can you, teach me?" The question was sudden. They didn't complete the mission objective, but finally spotted some conache and other fruits to eat as they walked back to camp. At least more of Upper Yard had been mapped, Wyper thought. There were talks in the tribe about where they'd settle, once rebuilding started. It was likely this wouldn't be until Angel Island was cleared enough for the Skypieans to return to, their restored Kami telling the Chief that Upper Yard was all theirs, as it should've been  centuries ago.

Gan Fall was hesitant to take his old title back, but no one (including Wyper) could see anyone else having the role. He may not like the old man, but at least he could admit he was trying, and maybe now, they could grow the relationship between the two people like he'd wanted. The shandian warriors had been offered places as Kami's guards, should they want the positions. Allowing them to have input on decisions in Skypiea, and keep protecting not just their tribe but all people living in the sky islands. Wyper wasn't sure just yet, though others seemed excited at the idea.

Back to the conversation being started, Wyper had approached Luffy before he'd gone back to the Going Merry to retire for the night. The rest of his crew were scattered, a few already back on the ship, though the warrior could see Usopp telling a story to a circle of islanders, though the truth in his words was debatable.

He'd been thinking about it, the way back here. Luffy wasn’t just a good captain—he was magnetic in a way that defied logic. People gravitated toward him, trusted him, even when the odds were stacked impossibly high against him. Wyper had seen it firsthand, not just with the Straw Hats, but with the way even his own people, hardened warriors like Kamakiri and Braham, had started to soften toward him after just a few days. It wasn’t just strength that made Luffy who he was. It was... something else.

And that something else gnawed at Wyper. He needed to understand it. Not just for his sake, but for the sake of his people, who were finally beginning to emerge from centuries of bitterness and isolation.

That’s why, despite the unease creeping through his chest, Wyper had asked.

“Can you teach me?”

"Teach you what?" Luffy shot him a quizzical look, but it wasn't unwarranted as the question came out of nowhere. "I thought you knew about devil fruits, I can't teach you how to stretch!"

"No, not that." Wyper quickly rectified, eyebrows furrowing at Luffy’s ridiculous assumption. He took a deep breathe before continuing, wings slightly fluffed. "I want you to teach me how to...." Dammit, the words were caught inside him, scratching at his throat. Why was this so hard? "How to... be like you."

That fully caught Luffy attention, brown eyes widening as a finger pointed to his face, "Like me?" He was still clearly confused.

"You're just-" The warrior had to think carefully, wording his sentences as to not accidentally bare his soul to the pirate captain. “The way you act. The way people follow you. How the hell do you do it?” Teach me, so I can be better. So I can be useful again.

The younger took pause, before scratching the back of his head, the movement rustling the straw hat hanging behind him. "I don't really know what you mean. I don't do anything."

“That’s exactly it!” Of course he wouldn't know, but maybe questioning him would make Wyper understand. “You don’t do anything, and people still listen to you. They _like_ you.” He paused, the intensity in his voice lowering just slightly. “How do you... make people trust you like that?” People trusted Wyper to make decisions, to make the tough call. They didn't trust him with their secrets, their feelings. And he hadn't trust them either. He wanted to change that.

Luffy stared at him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he plopped down on the ground, crossing his legs like he always did when he was about to have a serious talk—or at least what passed for serious with him.

Wyper stayed standing, his arms crossed defensively.

Luffy leaned back, resting his weight on his hands. “I don’t really think about stuff like that,” he admitted with a shrug. “I just do what feels right. Like, if someone’s in trouble, I help them. If I’m hungry, I eat. If I like someone, I tell them.”

What.

"Stop dodging the question, Strawhat." The boy was always thinking about food, but Wyper was trying to be serious here. Maybe he should've brought some leftovers as a bribe to focus him.

Luffy rocked in his position and giggled. "No, I'm serious." Suddenly, his face looked much more serious, "You just have to focus on what really matters. If you're hungry, eat. If you wanna be like me, just be you. It’s easy." He tilted his head, his grin softening. “I think people like it when you’re honest, you know? When you don’t try to be something you’re not.”

Don't try to be something you're not. It was good advice, but Wyper felt like who he was wasn't someone that people actually liked.

Wyper crossed his arms tighter, trying to make sense of it. He thought back to the times he’d kept people at arm’s length, how he’d justified it as “protecting” them. But maybe it had just been fear. Fear of being vulnerable, of being seen as something other than the warrior they relied on.

“That’s easy for you to say,” he muttered. “You’re not afraid of anything.”

Luffy laughed, bright and carefree. “That’s not true! I’m afraid of lots of things—like losing my nakama, or running out of meat!” He leaned closer. “But being yourself isn’t scary. People might not like you, sure, but at least you’ll like yourself. That’s the important part.”

It was such a simple answer, yet it carried a weight Wyper hadn’t expected. Maybe that was the difference? Luffy didn’t carry walls around him. He didn’t need to.

Wyper sighed, sitting down across from Luffy. “So, what you’re saying is... stop trying so hard?”

“Exactly!” Luffy beamed. “Just be you. But the real you. Not the scary warrior guy all the time.”

Wyper huffed, but there was a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “What if the scary warrior guy is the real me? Then what?”

“Then you’re fine just the way you are!” Luffy said with a grin, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. He stood and dusted off his pants, stretching his arms toward the sky. “Sometimes you have to act tough to fight, but the rest of the time? Just remember who you are underneath all that.”

Strangely profound. Honestly, Strawhat never failed to surprise him.

“You’re ridiculous, you know that?”

“Yup!” Luffy chirped, already walking ahead. "I'm gonna go back now, see you tomorrow!"

Wyper let out a small chuckle. Maybe there really was something to this. Maybe being himself didn’t have to feel like such a burden.

For the first time in years, he wondered if letting people in might not be so terrifying after all.