It barely took you a few minutes before you were frowning to yourself, wondering why you were doing this again.

I'm starting to think I'm too nice.

You thought to yourself, (e/c) eyes checking to see if the marines were still trying to find the Straw Hats that somehow disappeared from view before you used Kamisori to go into the Tower where Lucci was.

You managed to gather Kaku and Kalifa too, them being conscious as you deposited them onto your boat. Wondering why you were here only for you to tell them to be quiet and if they spot the others, to try to signal them to come to your boat. Kaku's eyes assessing with a frown that shouldn't be there with Kalifa seeming to be in thought when you stated you're going towards Lucci, hand keeping the blanket covering her bare form(you didn't even want to know what happened with that). Eyes behind glasses regarding you before hiding a smile behind her hand, which you didn't pay attention to as you moved on.

Why am I doing this? Really...

You thought as you landed by Lucci's unconscious body. Before you picked him up, you noticed the scar on his tanned back. The one that was practically a brand of the World Government symbol and still the only scar he's gotten based on what you can tell from his upper half alone.

It was less scarred then before. You reaching a hand towards it, to actually feel it's smoothness compared to before only to pull back.

You only smiling wryly, you touching your own scar on your left cheek in memory instead.

You though of a cream left outside a door. To heal and restore. To say bye.

He's been using it. That damn proud and sadistic cat actually has been using that cream you gave to him long ago.

"Heh..." You couldn't help but release, eyes behind your cap being half lidded and enigmatic. "You...really are a bastard..."

You picked him up gently, not wanting to move him that much because of his bloody injuries, throwing his arm around your shoulder and keeping a hand on his waist. You heard him growl, you glanced at him to see his eyes half lidded and open. Staring at you.

Those eyes.

He's asking why again.

You know he is. He's given that look to you before when the both of you were still a team. When the both of you were partners. Just two young teenagers that became young adults, stuck together whether they wanted to or not.

When you were still in CP9.

The organization that causes you to wake up with a cold sweat, tears threatening to fall as a result of your nightmares. Still to this day, that makes the space under your eyes look a tad more sunken at times. Learning to live with little sleep.

The organization that made your mind and memories a blur each time you looked at your hands, those bloody hands. Those, those very bloody hands. That would stick with red and stunk of copper and it felt as if your mouth was coated with it when you would bite your tongue. To not talk back. To keep your mouth shut or everything you wanted will go down to the shithole and everything you did at that point would've been for naught if you spoke up.

The organization that made you realize how the world works.

But...

Despite all of this...

You thought of the odd conversations you had with the other members, them having small smiles and smirks. While others gave big chortles or huge laughs. Of odd haiku's that made no sense, of feeding the watchdog's because "they're hungry!", of gossip not quite being whispered to your ear but a loud mutter, of a manicured hand around a martini glass and words of being a woman assassin, of a irritated expression when the purple booger mentioned hating baseball, of a ship in a bottle hidden in a room not quite under the bed as if ashamed but not wishing to be. The times where you actually let out those rare smiles, and chuckles. With Lucci smirking next to you. Even if it was sadistically.

You thought of campfires. The scent of wood, the sound of crackling fire and fish being cooked and pierced by two sticks. Hattori cooing.

You recalled once more of biting your tongue. Never saying what you wished. Not saying what you mean. How long it took you to even admit what you're about to say to yourself.

You thought of a promise.

You gave him a soft smile as you adjusted him so you can carry him easier. Dark eyes seeming to focus more in attention on you when your hand on his waist moved more to his abdomen at the adjustment.

"Because, dear Lucci, you're my comrade." You whispered with conviction and assurance. Back then, you weren't sure why you did the things you did for Lucci. You weren't sure at all.

You just knew it was because you saw him as a comrade. But you didn't know why. Why you saw the sadistic man as a friend. Why him? The one who loved to kill and fight? Reveled in it?

Except, for comrades, why should there be a reason?

You don't need reasons for being friends with someone, you just are.

That's what it means.

Your smile widened, your eyes closing as you gave the exhausted Lucci a bright smile.

"Cause you're my friend!"

Lucci's eyes widened in shock and surprise, and then slowly closed again. This time however, a small twitch of the lips was plastered on his face.

The quiet silence with a warmth on your back.

You blinked, eyes darting towards his sleeping expression, his body drooping  more on you as his breaths turned slow and heavy.

...what a stupid man.

Your lips twitched subconsciously despite the thought. Widening when you heard a flutter of wings and the feel of something landing on your cap, Hattori doing a sad Coo. You told Hattori to hang in there before strengthening the hold around him and keeping yourself upright as you started to drag him to the huge hole on the wall of the Tower.

You need to get him down there without jostling him too much. His broken ribs can worsen.

"Oi! What, you decided to throw that shit cat off the cliff finally?!" You blinked, turning back to see Blueno using his Open Door ability behind you and Jabra stepping out of it with a scowl and a fist raised in front of him, shaking it. Blueno looked like he didn't want to be here for this as he raised his eyes skyward. "Well, I don't care who you became or your weird relationship with that guy—but know this! I'm the only one that gets to kill that shitbag and not you!" At this point, Jabra reached in front of you and was pointing right at your nose. Your eyes crossed at it. "And I'm definitely not gonna just throw him off towards the devilish sea! The shitty cat is gonna be tortured by me first and show felines everywhere that—"

Jabra kept going on a tangent, your lips slowly growing as he went on before letting out a snort.

"What's so funny?!" Jabra asked, you only shaking your head as you adjusted Lucci's arm around you.

"Nice to see you too, Jabra." Jabra froze, doing a little sputter before he released a "Tch!" and scratched the back of his tied back head, kicking at the ground once. You could hear him mumbling something about "you too" or that he guesses they can both end Lucci, but the sick bastard might like it than but you turned your attention towards Fukuro who also stepped out the Open Door. Hattori flying away from your head and pecking at a yelling irritated Jabra now. Fukuro blinked his eyes in a way that made him appear like an owl with how wide they were. "Ah...Fukuro...long time no—"

The sound of a zip opening.

"Chapapapa! (Y/N)! Do I have stuff to tell you!" Fukuro said cheeringly. Blueno's, Kumadori's(who was still behind Blueno on the other side), and even the now freshly scratched Jabra along with Hattori snapped their heads over. "I missed you! Actually, everybody felt the Tower more empty now that you were gone! Jabra missed pranking on Lucci with you!"

"H-Hey!"

Fukuro went on, not seeming to care how everyone's eyes seemed to bore into him to watch his words while you stared at him incredulously.

"But you should've seen Lucci, he barely even wanted to take cat naps up at the roof any—"

Jabra grabbed Fukuro's cheek harshly, making Fukuro making a strangled "Chapapapa" before Jabra zipped his mouth back up.

"Don't say things you don't—I mean—" Jabra turned towards you, an odd nervous scowl on his face. Him gesturing towards Fukuro while still holding his cheek harshly. "He clearly still likes gossip. Don't pay him any mind. He just really likes rumors and spreading them." Jabra squeezed, smile turning threatening and not at all fitting his face as ticks formed. "Don't you Fukuro...?! DON'T THINK I FORGOT ABOUT THE GATHERINE THING!"

You shook your head, before Kumadori jumped out the Open Door and doing a pose. His hand out while the other was behind him holding his staff, one leg bent and the other straight as he held one eye in a prolonged wink.

"Yoyoi!" Kumadori exclaimed. "All this talk of lost love needs a haiku—"

"No it doesn't!" Jabra bellowed.

"—of the most despaired variety. It goes like this." Kumadori took a breath and closed his eyes, pink thick hair like a mane moving in the wind as you stared blankly at the man. How does he still have energy? Didn't he get beat up? "This is only I, thinking of you and smiles, Sacred memories."

Kumadori opened his eyes, smiling like a maniac and staring at everyone unexpectedly.

"..."

"That...was..." you said, looking in thought as Hattori was on your head once more, appearing as if it was patting under its eyes for tears with a wing.

"That may have been your best," Blueno conceded in a monotone, assessing Kumadori. Or was it appraisal?

A zip opened.

"I have to spread that everywhere now! I'll make sure to tell Lucci too when he—" A slap to the mouth by Jabra as he seemed to be having a tough time, face morphed into a discomforted scowl.

"I..." Jabra scratched at his cheek, before shrugging, beginning to pick his nose with his pinky as he turned his back to everyone. "It was okay."

The wolf Zoan's voice sounded tense, almost tremulous. His shoulders seeming to be shaking and his hand seemed to either move deeper into his nose or covering his face.

You and the others blinked. Hattori moving to fly overhead and fly by Jabra only to cry out: "Crying! Crying!"

You blinked again.

"Jabra's crying...?!"

"N-No!" Jabra blubbered, clearly not crying as fat tears went down his face as he squatted down to the ground. "I—I—there's just shit in my eye!"

"Yoyoi, Jabra!" Kumadori sniffed, wiping a stray tear as he drew close to Jabra and away tree down with him, putting a hand to the Zoan's back. "I did not think...to see the day where my poetry went through to you...! You must've really loved Gatherine!"

"S-shut up!" Jabra cried, breaking down even further as you moved slowly away until you, Fukuro, and Blueno were staring at them blankly. If one would look, one would spot Lucci's brow twitching in irritation at his coma state hearing the wolf blubber as you held him. What a miracle! "T-That bitch...who does she think...she is...?! Breaking up with me...for...for that shitty cat of all people!"

Kumadori put his hands on Jabra's shoulders, shaking him.

"No! You—" Kumadori's voice was thick, tears falling from his own black eye-lined eyes. "You deserve someone better, Jabra! Have hope and not fall to loss!"

"Really?!"

"Yoyoi!"

They both looked at each other, starting to bawl loudly as they held each other, cheek to cheek.

Fukuro leaned heavily towards an unamused Blueno, unzipping the corner of his lips to whisper to the bull haired man's ear. You too focused on the odd scene, a spotlight seeming to appear on the two while the rest of the environment was dark in dramatically effect.

"I bet if I tell him what I heard on how Lucci responded, he'll feel better."

"I doubt that," Blueno deadpanned.

This is a lot more dramatic than I thought it would be. Despite this, you can't help but wonder who they're talking about. Who wants to date Lucci anyways?

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

In a Friendly Marine WarShip holding islanders of Enies Lobby rescued from Buster Call

A woman with ridiculously high and protruding cheekbones that can surely cut someone if they attempted to kiss her cheeks, had a handkerchief between exaggerated thick and big lips, large eyes with dark pupils in tears.

I can't believe it ended like this! Gatherine thought, sharp features turning sharper as she cried quite messily in her cabin. The island is gone, my job is gone, but most importantly...

Gatherine thought of a dark gaze that matched the tall, dark, and handsome that came back from Water 7.

I lost my future husband! Gatherine clenched her teeth around her handkerchief, pulling it as she did so. There's no way those rumors about him and that now pirate trash all those years ago whispered in the gossip groups are true. But than why did he deny me?!

Gatherine thought back to when she broke up with that mangy ugly mutt after she noticed the handsome man that is Lucci-kun come out the train, his hair that must be like silk billowing in the wind. And than having a difficult time trying to track him down before seeing him walk down the halls to reach what Gatherine believed was his room. Her blue empty eyes seeming to sparkle as they travelled up and down in his wonderfully suited form, only ruined by that bird on his shoulder.

But it's fine, she could change that. She can make a man do anything for she's the most beautiful in Enies Lobby! She can just tell him to get rid of that diseased pest so they can freely be happy together with no concern of white stains.

Well... some white stains.

Gatherine had her plan in place, a charming smile on her lips that looked plastered on her face as she cleared her throat behind him. Only for him to keep walking. When clearing her throat again, albeit louder, didn't do anything she gracefully walked quickly and started to walk beside him. Trying to catch his attention again but he must've not seen her, his nose seeming to crinkle cutely before his long legs made longer strides along the floor that made him appear as if he was wading and not walking!

It took for her to run and stop in front of him, hands on her voluptuous hips and a smile still on her face despite the sweat on her skin for him to finally stop. The mere sound of quiet embodying the hall now there are no footsteps made Gatherine feel tension.

Which had to be sexual tension! He was staring so harshly at her, as if he wanted to take her right now~!

Gatherine ignored the bird, who stared at her with pupil-less eyes before releasing a Coo that sounded like a dismissal a he turned his head up before proceeding to clean his feathers.

She mentioned how she saw him earlier, how powerful he looked coming out of that train with that Devil Child in tow. How he must've gotten much attention in Water 7 but he's back home now and certain prospects are available for him to exclusively use. She made sure to lower her voice, tone seductive and eyelashes fluttering as she mentioned that he's a great man that would give no attention to a pirate offspring, calling him "Lucci-kun" as she did so with a hand reaching towards his chest that Gatherine knows holds ripples and tantalizing muscles.

Lucci's eyes seemed to darken before she couldn't see it anymore underneath his top hat, his form moving past her with smooth cold words.

"I don't cohort with someone that sleeps with dogs."

It made Gatherine's smile freeze on her face, the flying pest repeating "Cohort~!" a few times before saying "Waste~!" a couple more before they disappeared around a corner. Leaving Gatherine wondering of rumors that have to be impossible because who would sleep with a pirate bitch?! And choose you over her?!

"I don't cohort with someone that sleeps with dogs."

The words still repeat in her head even now!

Gatherine tightened her hold on her handkerchief, balling it in her fist before her empty eyes turned aflame.

I'll get you, pirate pest! And that mangy bird too!

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

You and Hattori sneezed, your boat sailing next to the others on the train tracks to head to St. Poplar. Lucci's body near you and laying on the ground face up to not move him too much.

Kumadori telling you bless you and you giving a small thanks as you rubbed your nose in mild confusion. You felt the others stares keep glancing at you, Kaku as well who was on your boat along with a now covered Kalifa due to Jabra donating his shirt to her. Their stares seeming to want to question you but holding back for whatever reason as they left the destroyed Enies Lobby behind.

Good riddance.

You may recall a handful of nice moments, but that island is not one you call home.

Back when they were at the island and Kumadori and Jabra recovered from their...breakdown, Bleuno wanted to ask you something than to. Only to meet your eyes and how gently yet firmly you were holding Lucci before he shook his head and used his Devil fruit ability to go back to your boat and start their travel. It would've been faster if you used Geppo against the water as you held your boat, feet kicking, but that would mean piling all their bodies on boat in a dog pile which would've been uncomfortable. Something that Kaku pointed out despite you mentioning the idea.

You finally landed in St. Poplar by the empty barren shores, helping Lucci out while the others assisted with Kaku and Kalifa. You placing Lucci carefully against a rock wall, his body leaning heavily against it and his head bowed.

"What are you doing?" Blueno, the first to finally ask as the others stared at you in quiet assessment and confusion.

You glanced at him, a neutral expression on your face.

"I dropped you guys off in the nearest island by the now destroyed Enies Lobby. If I didn't, all of you would've drowned. Well, most. You guys seemed to have woken up just in time before they would've sunken you along with the island."

Jabra's expression twisted, glancing away as he seemed to mutter Spandam's name with clenched fist before meeting your gaze once more.

"Why would you care?" Jabra sneered from his place. You glanced at him, the other CP9 members all waiting for a response, except for Lucci who was unconscious. "I remember how it was for you back than. It wasn't that long ago. You didn't grow up with us like we did in Guanhao, but we could tell based on your expressions and how you spoke you despised the work."

"Indeed," Kalifa interjected reaching for glasses that weren't there to be fixed, her hand falling, "you hate us. You despise us, what do you want from us? To perhaps kill us yourself?"

You sighed and scratched the back of your head, looking skyward.

"You guys are idiots."

Jabra and Kumadori seemed to take offense to that, as well Kalifa. If their offended expressions and yell of protests had anything to do with it. You don't get them. They were all just acting like idiots with you a bit ago. Well, Fukuro did. But Fukuro always seems eager to tell you things.

You pointedly looked at all of them, shutting them up with a look.

"I don't hate you guys. I never did."

And it was true. If you did, you would've left them. If you did, you would've left them to die.

If you did, then you knew you wouldn't