Chapter 32
Kid didn’t know what he was expecting when his girlfriend stormed out of… well, her captain's quarters on the thousand sunny because… well, his ship was destroyed by Red haired shanks and two giants.
But Luffy had been gone for like four days, and he’s been in and out of unconsciousness for the past, God knows how long.
But now she was back, looking down at him as he lay in her bad. And she had The biggest, broadest, brightest smile on her face he had ever seen. Her dark brown almost black eyes sparkling with excitement. "Hey, me and my crew has a surprise for you and your crew.” She whispered, leaning down and giving him a gentle peck on the forehead. “Only of course if you’re feeling good enough to get up. If not we can wait.”
Kid's heart skipped a beat as he tried to sit up, ignoring the pain that shot through his body. He didn’t care if he was dying, Luffy was back, and she had a surprise for him. “I’m okay, I’ll be okay.” He managed to croak out. Luffy's smile grew even wider, if that was possible.
Luffy chuckled at him as he tried to stand. “Okay, okay. We’re docked at an Wano, I had Nami steer us back for this… surprise. But you’re going have to put pants on at least, there’s about 62 ships full of pirates outside waiting for you. And before you go crazy, it’s just mine grand fleet, they’re all here to help us. Not attack us.” She playfully poked his chest, trying to lighten the mood.
Kid looked at her in disbelief, his mind racing. “62 ships? Luffy, what the hell did you do?”
“Just hurry up and put on some pants nudist, I don’t think Sanji can distract your crew for much longer with just food.” Luffy chuckled, tossing a pair of black trousers at him. “And close your eyes when we leave the captains quarters, it is a surprise for a reason.”
With a grin, Kid slid into the pants, feeling a bit better knowing his crew was safe and fed. He had so many questions, but he knew Luffy had a habit of revealing things in her own dramatic way. They walked out of the cabin, her hand in his, kid’s eyes closed like Luffy told him to, and the sound of the crew's laughter grew louder as they approached the main deck. The scent of freshly baked bread and grilled fish wafted through the air, making his stomach growl despite the recent turmoil.
“Cavendish, Bartolomeo, Sai, Ideo, Leo, Hajrudin, Orlumbus! Will you go get Kid’s crew from me? And tell them to close their eyes for the surprise.” Luffy called out to the representatives of her Grand Fleet. They all nodded eagerly and dashed towards the mess hall and kitchen of the thousand Sunny.
The deck was bustling with activity, and the air was filled with the sound of hammering. The aroma of freshly cut wood mingled with the sea breeze and… paint? Kid’s curiosity grew, but he trusted Luffy. He had seen her pull off the impossible before.
“Okay, right here stand right here and don’t move! And don’t open your eyes yet!” Luffy exclaimed as they stopped.
Faintly kid could hear his crew crumbling about having to leave their food and why they have to close their eyes. They all sounded so confused, but also excited. He could feel his own anticipation bubbling up inside him. The sound of the hammering grew quieter, and then stopped entirely as the sound of his crew’s footsteps and chatter grew closer until they were all standing beside him.
Luffy lean over the railing of the thousand sunny slightly. “Franky! Is everything done, we ready to go?” Her voice echoed through the air and across the water to the shipyard Franky was at. The sound of his hammer pounding against metal was replaced by a cheerful, “Aye aye, Captain! You can show your little boy toy and his crew, I was just making sure everything was perfect!”
The excitement in the air was palpable. The crew of the Kid Pirates were all huddled together, eyes squeezed shut tightly, some with hands over their eyes just in case. Finally, Luffy’s hand left Kid’s, and she stepped aside.
“Alright, everyone! On the count of three, open your eyes!” Luffy shouted out.
Kid took a deep breath, his heart racing faster than it ever had before a battle. His eyes remained tightly shut, feeling the gentle touch of Luffy's hand on his shoulder. He heard the count, "One... two... three!" and finally, with a mix of excitement and trepidation, he opened his eyes.
Before him stood the most magnificent ship he had ever laid eyes upon. It was a colossal vessel, a true testament to the power and camaraderie of the Strawhat Grand Fleet. The ship, gleaming in the early morning light, was a masterpiece crafted from Adam Wood, its sleek lines and intricate carvings reflecting the grandeur of its predecessor, the Victoria Punk. The ship was a replica of the Victoria Punk, but with a new name etched into its side: The Phoenix of Victoria Punk. The sight of it took Kid's breath away, his eyes widening in disbelief as the reality set in.
The ship was a sight to behold. Its gleaming hull reflected the setting sun, casting a fiery glow across the water. The same skeletal design was present, but this time, the flaming skull of the figurehead looked more fierce and alive than ever. The masts stood tall and proud, the sails billowing in the wind, displaying the jolly roger of the Kid Pirates in all its glory.
Kid's heart raced as he took in every detail of the new ship. It wasn't just a replacement; it was an upgrade. The Phoenix of Victoria Punk was a symbol of rebirth and power, a clear message that his crew would rise from the ashes of their defeat stronger than ever. His mind swirled with a mix of emotions: shock, gratitude, and disbelief.
Franky who was leaning on the railing of The Phoenix of Victoria Punk, watching the kid pirates reaction and smiling broadly laugh. A loud boisterous sound, as he waved a hammer in the air gesturing to the whole ship. “This is your new ride, Kiddos!” Franky exclaimed, pride resonating in his voice. “Built with love by the best shipwright in the world, the one and only, ‘ME’ your beloved franky, and paid for by your old 'friend', Shanks after Luffy beat the shit out of him and his crew!” His laughter was infectious, and soon the entire Strawhat Grand Fleet echoed with the sound of their merriment.
Kid's eyes widened in disbelief, as he took in the majestic sight before him. The ship was not just a mere copy, but an upgrade, a symbol of rebirth and power. It had a fiercer skeletal design, with intricate carvings that seemed to pulse with life, as if the very essence of the Adam Wood itself was imbued with the fiery spirit of the Kid Pirates. He looked over to Luffy, who was grinning like a Cheshire cat, her dark eyes sparkling with excitement.
"This... this is..." Kid stuttered, unable to find the words to express his gratitude. His crew, equally stunned, stared in awe at their new vessel. The representatives of the Strawhat Grand Fleet watched eagerly, waiting for their reaction. The air was thick with anticipation, the salty sea breeze carrying the faint scent of victory and hope.
Then Dive what’s the first to break the silence, bursting into tears and throwing her tiny frame at Luffy in a tight hug, "Thank you, Strawhat!" she sobbed into Luffy's shoulder. "Thank you for giving us a second chance!"
Luffy didn’t hesitate to wrap her into a tight hug, patting her back as she felt the warmth of Dive's gratitude. She looked over at the rest of the Kid Pirates, their expressions ranging from shock to awe.
Killer, standing next to a visibly shaken Kid, managed a small, rare smile as he watched the emotional exchange between Luffy and Dive. He stepped forward, his eyes meeting Luffy's. "Thank you, Strawhat," he said sincerely, his voice firm despite the gravity of the situation. "This means more to us than you can imagine."
Luffy, maintaining her calm and collected demeanor, nodded. "No need for thanks," she replied, her dark eyes gleaming with determination. "We're all pirates here, and we stick together. Plus, I can't have my boyfriend's crew sailing around in a patchwork mess of a ship, can I?"
The tension on the deck of the Thousand Sunny eased as the crew members of the Strawhat Grand Fleet chuckled at Luffy's words.
Nami Who was standing at the gang plank of the thousand Sunny rolled her eyes. “Are all of you just going to gawk at the ship or are you gonna go explore your new home? Because I can promise you, it’s not just the ship your getting, there’s certain… things inside of it you might want to see again.” Nami smirked at Luffy, Who just chuckled, and the others, who looked puzzled.
The kid pirates looked at each other, and with renewed energy and excitement, they down the gang plank of the thousand and over to the The Phoenix of Victoria Punk, and up it’s gangplank onto the deck. The sound of their footsteps echoed through the ship as they raced to explore every nook and cranny of their new vessel.
And the ship was filled with their things.
The ship was filled with their things that should be lost at the bottom of the ocean. The moment the Kid Pirates stepped aboard, they were greeted by a blast from the past. Each cabin, each corner, held a piece of their history, meticulously salvaged by the Fishman and Merfolk from the Strawhat Grand Fleet. The emotions on their faces were a mix of amazement and nostalgia. They couldn't believe that after everything, their personal belongings had been restored to them. It was as if the sea had given back a piece of themselves.
Kid didn’t know what to do as his crew explored the deck of The Phoenix of Victoria Punk as he just… stared at Luffy. He was still kind of high off of whatever fucking pain meds Law had given him, but he could still feel his heart racing.
As Kid blink a couple times and did the only thing he could think of, he walked right up to Luffy, wrapped his, now, only arm around her waist and pulling her close. Kiss her like she’s the only thing that mattered in the world.
No, it wasn’t just a kiss, it was a kiss, A kiss filled with a lot of emotions that would make people want to burst into tears, sobs even as their hearts race like a freight train off the rails with how much love is put into the one gesture.
Their kiss was a kiss that would make you want to cry to sod with how much emotion is in it, with how tender the kiss is, with how much love is in that one simple gesture. It’s a kiss that makes you feel like you're watching some goodbye scene where the couple has to go to war or something and you know one of them isn’t coming back, but they don’t, and it’s beautiful. It’s like watching a scene from a romance novel play out in real life, it’s a kiss the two main characters in a book, a movie, a comic book, were the two people that are utterly and completely in love kiss each other because they know the world is going to end and they’re going to die in the end, but they’re happy that at least they had that one perfect moment together.
It’s a kiss that’s so soft, so gentle, so so so so gentle, so so so tender, it’s like watching a leaf flutter down to the ground on a calm autumn day. It’s like watching two people who have found their soulmate and they’re just taking in every second of their existence together. It’s like watching two people who have been together for a hundred years and they still find something new to love about each other every single day. It’s like watching a Romance movie where the two love interests have been reincarnated over and over and over and over and over and 100 times over again with all their past life memories intact and they finally found the love of their life that they haven’t seen since their first life and they finally get to kiss again, and it’s everything they’ve ever dreamed of.
It was the type of kiss somebody would share with the love of their life if the world—no the entire universe was ending right here and right now, and they both knew that they were going to die in each other's arms, but they were okay with it.
The crew of the Straw Hats and the Kid Pirates watched the two, some with smiles, some with tears in their eyes, as the kiss grew in intensity. Luffy’s hands found their way to the back of Kid’s neck, her thumbs gently caressing the bare skin underneath the bandana.
Breaking away, they both took a deep breath, their cheeks flushed with color. “Thank you, Luffy. This means everything to us,” Kid whispered, his voice filled with emotion. Luffy just chuckled, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “It’s just what I do.” She playfully poked his chest with her index finger, lightening the atmosphere.
The crew members of both the Strawhat Pirates and the Kid Pirates erupted into cheers and applause. Zoro, ever the stoic one, gave Luffy a firm nod of approval, while Sanji blushed and looked away, fanning himself dramatically. Nami couldn’t help but wipe a tear from her eye, and Usopp had to clear his throat to keep from becoming too emotional.
The celebration grew louder as the realization of their newfound home sank in. The Phoenix of Victoria Punk was more than just a ship; it was a symbol of their enduring friendship and a testament to the power of unity in the face of adversity. The ship's grandeur, built with the finest Adam Wood, gleamed under the setting sun, its two masts reaching towards the heavens as if challenging the gods themselves.