The journey had been long and uneventful, the rhythmic lull of the sea offering a deceptive sense of calm.
As the warship approached Marineford, the imposing silhouette of the Marine Headquarters loomed ahead like a monolith of order, its towering structures standing defiant against the sky, pristine and immovable, just like the World Government wanted them to be.
The harbor below was alive with activity. Marines in crisp white and blue uniforms marched with precision, shouts of officers echoing as fresh recruits scrambled to follow orders. Giant cranes swung cargo from arriving ships, and seagulls circled overhead, their cries nearly drowned out by the buzz of drills and patrol briefings.
Amid the orderly chaos, the ship bearing Rear Admiral Monkey D. Luffy cut through the water like a shark—quiet, deliberate, and wholly out of place.
With a soft thud, the ship docked.
Luffy stood at the prow, hands in his pockets, the shadow of his white Marine cap covering his eyes. A single gust of wind ruffled his marine coat, the justice kanji on the back billowing like a flag. He scanned the structure ahead with a sharp, almost predatory look.
"Still the same boring-ass place," He muttered, cracking his neck with a slow roll. "Even the paint hasn't changed."
Behind him, the click of heels echoed down the gangplank. Hina descended with elegance and grace, the faintest smile tugging at her lips as her eyes swept across the bustling docks. Her long pink hair shimmered in the morning sun, but her demeanor remained as composed as ever.
Unlike the other officers watching with hushed reverence or envy, she walked beside Luffy—not behind.
"It's been a while since I was stationed here," She murmured, voice tinged with nostalgia. "Still smells like damp pride and cigarette ash."
Then, catching the twist in Luffy's mouth, she let out a low chuckle.
"You're sulking again."
"Tch," Luffy clicked his tongue. "The old man's ship's not here. Bet Grandpa ran off again… probably sitting under a tree somewhere with crackers and sake while I'm stuck playing errand boy for a bunch of suits."
Hina leaned in just slightly, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Then let's run."
Luffy blinked, caught off guard.
She grinned. "Just say the word. I'll turn this ship around. You and I disappear into the wind."
Luffy gave a short, surprised laugh, but his eyes sparkled with interest. "That's tempting."
Before the thought could simmer longer, a lazy voice cut through the dock's noise.
"Now, now… let's not entertain such rebellious thoughts."
The two of them turned together to catch the sight of the owner of the voice.
Admiral Aokiji, in his usual half-buttoned coat and sleep-deprived aura, approached with long, slow strides. His hands were buried deep in his pockets, a pair of dark glasses resting atop his forehead. His breath curled visibly in the spring air, a tiny cloud escaping as he yawned.
"Yo, Luffy," He drawled, blinking slowly. "Didn't think you'd actually show up."
Luffy raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Aokiji? I figured you were still napping in some iceberg."
Aokiji scratched his head. "Was. Then Sengoku decided you needed supervision. Told me to babysit, make sure the 'Divine Fist' doesn't pull a vanishing act."
He sighed theatrically. "And here I thought I'd retired from dealing with brats."
Luffy snorted. "You? Working? That's new."
Aokiji gave him a lazy side-eye. "Don't make me freeze your feet to the dock."
Hina chuckled, clearly enjoying the banter. "You two sound like old drinking buddies."
"Weirdly," Aokiji mused, "it's not far off. He's got that same headache-inducing charm as Garp. Makes you wanna punch him and ruffle his hair at the same time."
Luffy grinned. "I'll take that as a compliment."
"Don't."
There was a beat of comfortable silence before Aokiji's expression shifted—just a little.
"Why are you so set on avoiding Sengoku anyway?" He asked, the question casual in delivery, but heavy in tone.
Luffy's smirk faded, replaced with a sharper edge. He turned slightly, the shadows beneath his cap casting his face into something colder.
"You already know why," He muttered.
Aokiji raised an eyebrow. "The Vice Admiral promotion?"
"Exactly." Luffy's voice was calm, but his jaw was clenched. "I already said no."
Aokiji shrugged. "It's just a title. You've earned it."
"It's not just a title. It's a collar." Luffy turned fully to him now, fire dancing behind his eyes. "Next thing I know, I'll be in some damned war room with fossils arguing over tax policies and territory lines. Or worse… being told to bow to scum like the Celestial Dragons."
He spat the last word like it was poison.
Aokiji sighed. "You can't just go around saying that. Especially not here."
Hina's eyes flicked to nearby Marines who had paused to glance their way. She stepped subtly closer to Luffy, not stopping him, but clearly prepared if he needed cover.
Luffy didn't care. His voice dropped to a growl.
"You know what they are, Kuzan. You've seen what they do. How they treat people. Slaves, torture, murder—entitlement. All behind that damn bubble glass of theirs."
He shoved his hands deeper into his coat pockets.
"I'm not going to be part of the machine that protects them. Not now, not ever."
Aokiji stared at him. Long and hard. Then he gave a short chuckle.
"You really are Garp's grandson."
Luffy smirked, but it was darker now. "Wouldn't have it any other way."
"Even if it costs you everything?" Aokiji asked quietly.
Luffy turned back toward the headquarters, his voice was soft but firm. "Then I'll build something better."
There was silence between the three for a moment, broken only by the cry of a gull and the distant clang of metal striking metal from a drill formation nearby.
Finally, Hina clapped her hands once, sharp and decisive. "Enough politics. If we keep Sengoku waiting, he might throw a hip."
Luffy barked a laugh, the tension slipping away like mist. "Can't have that. Let's go."
As the trio began walking toward the main compound, Aokiji hung back just a step, watching the young man ahead of him.
He murmured to himself, "The future's already writing its own rules…"
Then, with a slow stretch and a groan of exaggerated effort, the Admiral turned and strolled in the opposite direction, hands back in his pockets, as if nothing serious had just passed between them.
But the Marines who'd been watching from the sidelines?
They weren't laughing.
Because when Divine Fist Luffy passed them by, they stood a little straighter. Whispered a little quieter. And realized the storm they'd once feared had already made landfall.
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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