The Ones Chosen By Death
Atlantis grunted as she pulled on the large bag she had dragging behind her, quickly scrabbling to not fall as the weight suddenly disappeared. Flinging herself around she came face to face with the judging eyes of Smoker who simply raised an eyebrow at her before brushing past her with her bag in hand.
Scurrying after him with a smile Atlantis calmly walked past him as she took in the dock before gleefully making her way to the correct ship. Smoker followed behind at a calm and slow pace only stopping once she found a nice spot to sit to put her bag down beside her.
Narrowing his eyes at her relaxed form, he lightly kicked her in the side to get her attention. Once she opened her eyes to stare at him did he finally comment, “You aren’t acting like a good marine.”
“Oops,” Atlantis sheepishly commented as she crossed her ankles causing Smoker to narrow his eyes even further before huffing as he gave up.
“Just be careful.” With a wave Smoker turned away from her to make his way off the boat as Atlantis chuckled at his reaction from behind him.
“Aw, you do care.” She called after him watching gleefully as he quickened his pace before falling back against the railing to relax into her spot waiting for Garp’s arrival, closing her eyes she shifted her shoulders to get comfortable.
It only took a few minutes before she fell asleep, especially with the extra lessons Smoker had been trying to beat into her which took away from the time she had to relax or sleep. For the past few weeks, Atlantis had been the most alone she had ever felt, and in a way, Smoker had fixed that by taking all of her free time away.
There hadn’t been a moment when she could even think of missing Luffy because Smoker had filled the time entirely. The only time the thought could enter her head was when she was alone, but Smoker had a solution for everything it seemed. The times she couldn’t fall asleep she would find Smoker sitting at the kitchen table eating something. An invitation to join was always presented and it was always easier to return to her bed and fall into sleep with the reassuring thought that Smoker was sitting right outside.
The jolting of the ship awoke her as the marines rushed to tie off the boat to the dock. To the dock? Sitting up in shock she took in the shore of Foosha Village and Garp’s retreating back. Jumping up she dodged in between the rushing marines to jump onto the pier and follow after the large steps of Garp.
Garp waited for her patiently outside Partys Bar with Makino, her bag sitting in the doorway as they both watched Atlantis approach them. Huffing she glared at Garp as he shook his head with a laugh, “Stay here. I’ll go find that brat.”
With a huff Atlantis watched Garp make his way to the mountain before turning to enter the bar alongside an excited Makino, “How was it?”
“It was exhausting, but Smoker was nice to me so it was kinda fun,” Atlantis exclaimed as she jumped up to sit in a chair beside Makino. “Oh, and Smoker took me to this festival thing…”
Meanwhile, Garp made his way to the treehouse where he found his three troublesome grandsons shouting about someone getting eaten by crocodiles or something. With a shake of his head, he burst into the clearing laughing at the shouts of horror his presence sprouted, “There you brats are!”
“Go away!” Ace screamed out as the boys tried to run away from Garp’s Fist of Love.
Garp laughed in glee as he chased each one down individually and delivered his specialty. Dazed and in pain they groaned as they clutched their heads while laying on the ground as Garp looked down on them fondly before clearing his throat. “I’ve got a surprise for you.”
Sabo groaned while shaking his head, Ace froze in horror, while Luffy quickly jumped up excitedly dancing around conveniently forgetting about the pain he had just been in. “Is it meat?”
“Nope,” Garp commented with a sly grin as he took in the quizzing faces of his grandsons. “It's something better than meat.”
“No way,” Ace shook his head in denial with a sigh. “Knowing you it’s a marine offer or something along those lines. I’m good. No surprises wanted here.”
Sabo nodded his head along while Luffy tilted his head curiously before he startled into falling over, his nose twitching. Jumping up Luffy quickly sniffed Garp cautious shocking his brother and grandfather as they stared at him confused. Pouting Luffy pulled back to stare at his grandfather in disappointment and betrayal expression building on his face as he continued to take in the scent attached to Garp, “You smell like Coco and Smokey.”
“What?” Sabo whispered to Ace as he tried to find a combination that made sense with smoke and cocoa, maybe a slice of flavored meat?
“I don’t even know. Maybe it’s food?” Ace whispered back as they continued to take in the staring competition between their little brother and their grandfather.
Garp stared at him in surprise before sighing in defeat as he gestured towards the trail. “Makes sense. She’s waiting for you.”
The moment he had gestured Luffy had taken off in a shot with a large grin as he hollered while racing down the hill causing his brothers to shocking bolt after him leaving Garp behind shaking his head fondly before he started chasing after them while yelling at Luffy to slow down.
Luffy on the other hand had no care for what they wanted as he ran as fast as he could towards the village, his heart beating out of control as he lost control of the wide grin on his face.
She had come back. She was back.