Basic Essentials

I look at the downed Marines and see swords and guns littered on the ground.

'Sword and a gun, huh. Would be nice if I had one or two...' [Loot 'em]

'...Yeah, good idea.' After a bit of hesitation, I drop of the wall outside the base and sprint off to the Marine's blind spot and get over the wall.

For some reason I see the marine soldiers pointing their rifles at their heads.

'Yo, what the fuck!? Did this really happen!?' I stop in my tracks at the absurd situation.

The soldiers stop what they are doing as Luffy rushes towards Morgan.

'They got their weapons back, huh... but the base should be empty by now, since everyone is here... I better be quick.' I rush inside the base as I glimpse Luffy confronting Morgan.

'Hopefully no-one notices me...' [FLAG!] 'Shut up!'

After some navigation and looking at the facility map that was kindly posted on a noticeboard, I found the weapons storage and the storeroom. From the armory I grab a bullet pouch and a pistol with a holster and stuff a rifle, sword and some more bullets into a sack. From the storeroom I pilfer some foodstuff and a spare marine uniform of my size just in case and I stuff a pillow in the sack with the rifle and the sword so it won't make noise when I make my exit.

I glance outside and see no-one. I start to make a semi-hasty exit so that I have enough speed to not make a ruckus. As I go down the corridor and make a turn my eyes meet with another pair of chocolate brown eyes. We both stop.

As I look at the orange haired girl in front of me, she also looks at me. We both put our index fingers on our lips in a shushing gesture and nod at each other and continue on our way. I pat on my pocket just in case she somehow stole my phone but thankfully it's still there.

As I get out, I see that the battle is already over and the marine soldiers are partying for being freed from Morgan's terror.

"I guess you're done here? Shall we go?" I ask Luffy and Zoro nonchalantly like I didn't just steal stuff and everthing is normal... except my beating heart but what can you do.

[P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face~] lyrics ring in my head as I keep up my act.

"Yo, Dravde! Where have you been and what's in the sack?" Luffy asks me since he hasn't really seen me after I kicked him off the wall.

"Nothing much, just got some basic essentials." I shrug at him.

"So? Back to town?"

…

"Aahhh!! I'm full! Haven't eaten for nine days, almost starved to death." Zoro utters in satisfaction.

"Eh? Is that all you're going to eat?" Luffy looks at Zoro as if he was a rare animal.

"You know Luffy, not everyone eats like your family."

"But even you are eating more than Zoro." Luffy retorts back to me.

*Cough cough* "Well, I do eat a quite a lot than normal..." [I demand chocolate]

"How do you two scrawny guys eat so much!" Zoro questions the two of us.

Me and Luffy look at each other and the Zoro.

"'Cause it's good..." We give a nod like that is all the reason that we need.

"Good to hear. Don't worry and keep eating, you saved our town!" says the girl's mother happily.

"You were amazing back there, onii-chan!" the girl praises Luffy.

"Yeah, I'm amazing! I'll be even more amazing. I'm going to become the King of the Pirates. I even got a nakama." Luffy brags and then looks at Zoro.

"So, how many crew mates do we have? I remember you saying that you were looking for crew members. To become the King of the Pirates, you probably have a crew already." Zoro the situation of the crew.

"It's just you two." I hurriedly say before Luffy tries to drag me into it again.

"As for me, I'm just a passenger. This bastard broke my way home and now owes me a ride." I glare at Luffy who keeps stuffing his face.

"Oh, come one! Why won't you join!?" Luffy starts complaining.

"Can we be pirates with just us two? Even more with a passenger?" Zoro the voice of reason asks the obvious.

"What does it matter, we're strong."

'You are fucking weak.' I zone out for a bit until Luffy mentions about going to the Grand Line and Koby once again freaking out.

Koby starts talking about how dangerous Grand Line is and how we shouldn't go there. Luffy and Zoro are being nonchalant about it but I remember all the horrors in there and I utter words that silence the crowd.

"I'm gonna die then." Silence fills the room.

"You won't die! We are strong!" Luffy reassures me to no avail as I retort.

"You are weak. You are nothing there. You might handle the small fries but not the big fish."

"See, even Dravde-san agrees with me!" Koby continues to persuade the two.

"How do you know?" Zoro asks as Luffy also looks at me demanding for answers.

"I've been there." 'Technically.' I say to the surprise of the crowd.

"But anyway, you are going there and I can't stop you or my inevitable demise."

'Fuck. I wish alcohol tasted good so that I could get myself hammered.'

I once again zone out as Koby starts speaking about how he is worried for us as we are his friends and his dream about being a Marine.

"Excuse me!" Suddenly a bunch of Marines arrive. "Is it true that you guys are pirates?"

"Yep, I just found my first crew member. So that would make us pirates now." Luffy answer back.

"You can consider me as a hostage." I raise my hand to draw attention to me.

"OI!" Zoro looks at me with a face that says 'What the hell are you talking about?'

"... Do you need help?" The Marine asks me but I "Nah, these two are just a fun bunch of idiots." tell them not to worry.

"Well then... We are grateful that you saved us from the clutches of Morgan. However, now that we know you are pirates, we can't look the other way." He gives a brief pause. "You must leave this town immediately! We owe you our lives, so we will not contact headquarters."

At this declaration the townsfolk start to shout at the unfairness of the situation.

"Well then... Let's go! Thank you for the food ma'am!" Luffy says as we pick up are things.

We walk past the now still Koby, who can't fathom the situation.

I keep walking towards the boat since I don't want to witness the stupid fight that comes next. Behind me I hear some shouts and sounds of a brawl. I look towards the docks and see Nami preparing to set sail on her boat. As I plop myself on the boat, I wave at Nami who had noticed me and look at the sky while waiting for Luffy and Zoro.

"Nice act! This way, even though he's been a pirate before, it wouldn't be a big deal!"

"I believe Koby will become stronger and more independent in the future!!"

I hear Luffy and Zoro getting close and turn towards them.

"Time to go, or else there's no telling what else will happen! Not leaving anything behind, that's what pirates are all about!"

"Hahaha! That's right!" Luffy laughs as he unfastens the boat.

"Luffy-san!!" A wild Koby suddenly appears.

"Thank you very much! I will never forget you for the rest of my life!" Koby gives a Marine salute.

"I've never seen a Marine saluting pirates." Zoro jokes.

"Shishishi." Luffy laughs through his teeth.

As the sails unfurl and boat starts to ride the wind, we turn to wave at Koby.

"We'll meet again, Koby!" Luffy shouts as rest of the Marines that have sneaked behind Koby also start to salute us.

"YAHOOO!!! WE'RE OFF!!!!! GRAND LINE! HERE WE COME!!"

'I'm so fucked.'