Chapter 38
Hancock was following Luffy around the beach of the Island both The Strawhat Pirates and The Kuja Pirates somehow managed to both be on at the same time, as Luffy and Usoop looked for seashells. The sun kissed the horizon, casting a warm glow over the sand and the waves gently kissing the shore.
Hancock was admiring Luffy's carefree attitude and the way the sunlight danced in her eyes, making them sparkle like the ocean. And Hancock felt his cheeks heat up even more every time he looked at Luffy’s outfit. It’s was a completely unbutton red button-up long-sleeve shirt, with nothing but a red lace bra underneath it, with ripped jeans short shorts with frayed edges the show off the bottom half of her ass cheeks and the strawhat Pirates Jolly Roger embroidered on the pockets, and her iconic straw hat with a red hatband, and sandals.
It’s not much different from what she was wearing when they met two years ago, everything is the exact same, but for some reason, it just looks so much sexier on her now!
But Suddenly Luffy’s entire demeanor shifted, snapping him out of his thoughts. Luffy’s demeanor shifted from carefree as she looked for seashells to pure unadulterated excitement. “LOOK, USOPP! IT’S KOBY! IT’S KOBY AND HELMEPPO!” Luffy yelled, as she pointed off to a dock, jumping up and down and shaking Usopp slightly.
Koby and Helmeppo, and three other marines, two women Hibari and Kujaku, and one man Prince Grus, were walking down the dock, Koby’s pink hair sticking out like a sore thumb in the sunset. They were both wearing their Marine uniforms, which seemed almost out of place on such a tranquil island. Hancock tensed up at the sight of them, his eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the Marines. He stepped closer to Luffy, not wanting to leave her side.
But Luffy was off in a flash, sprinting off towards Koby, her long legs carrying her across the sand with surprising speed. “KOBY! KOBY! KOBY! KOBY! KOBY!” She yelled, not giving the poor boy any time to process before she was barreling into him at the speed of a bullet, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist and squeezing tightly, nearly sending them tumbling over the railing of the dock and into the water.
Koby, taken aback by Luffy's exuberance, blushed and staggered under the unexpected weight, his scarf fluttering in the breeze. "H-Hey, Luffy!" he managed to get out, patting her on the back gently. "It's been a while!" Helmeppo, standing next to him, couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. The other marines looked on with a mix of surprise and amusement.
Luffy pulled back, but didn’t let go, still holding herself up by her legs around Koby’s waist. “Oh, Koby, look at you. God, you’ve gotten big, and muscular, and that hair! You’re looking good!” she said, giving him a playful wink. Koby’s blush deepened as he tried to regain his composure, his hand reaching up to pat her back. “Thanks, Luffy. It’s been tough training, but it’s all paid off,” he said with a chuckle, Luffy finally letting him go, her grip on him loosening as her feet hit the dock.
Hancock couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy as he watched Luffy fawn over Koby, his heart racing and his mind swirling with a storm of emotions. He knew she didn’t see Koby as a love interest—.
That thought was blown out the wind with Luffy’s next few words. “Lord, Koby, you’ve gotten fucking hot.” She said, fanning herself dramatically.
Sanji and Zoro both had to bite their tongues to keep from laughing out loud at their captain's bluntness. Nami was smirking, while Chopper’s cheeks turned a dark shade of red as he looked away, and Franky and Brook chuckled quietly. Meanwhile, Usopp just stared in shock.
Koby's eyes widened at Luffy's comment, and his face turned a shade of red that could make a lobster jealous. “L-LUFFY!” He stuttered, his cheeks burning up like a pair of hot embers. Helmeppo couldn’t contain his laughter anymore and let out a hearty chuckle, slapping his knee. The other marines, Hibari and Kujaku, looked at the scene with bemusement, while Grus remained stoic, his arms crossed over his chest.
Hancock's heart skipped a beat. Luffy, Luffy he just called this… this… boy hot? This was unheard of! He had never seen her act like this before, not even when she had met the most handsome men in the world. He tried to push the feeling down, telling himself that Luffy was just being her usual carefree self. But it was hard to ignore the way his stomach twisted into knots as he watched her interact with Koby.
Hancock felt a sudden urge to claim her, to show her that she belonged to him. But before he could act on his emotions, Zoro’s, Luffy’s right hand man, Voice ran out through the beach. “Luffy!” He called out and her head snapped towards the Thousand Sunny railing beside the Gangplank where he was standing.
Zoro tossed a Wallet towards her, and Luffy caught it effortlessly. “You and the crybaby go out on a… date or something, go shopping or whatever, entertain yourself while Franky makes sure the Thousand Sunny is in top shape for when we leave tomorrow," he said with a knowing smirk. "It's been a while since you've had any fun outside of the ship."
“D-D-Date!” Koby squeaked, his face somehow turning even redder, and Luffy lit up with pure joy. “Yeah, Koby! Let’s go on a date!” She said, grabbing Koby’s hand, and all but sprinted towards the town, her laughter filling the air.
Hancock's eyes widened, his heart pounding in his chest as he watched Luffy drag Koby away with excitement. He couldn't believe what he was seeing; Luffy had never shown interest in anyone like this before, not even him. The jealousy grew like a serpent in his stomach, coiling tighter with each step they took away from the group.
The other Strawhat Pirates exchanged knowing looks, amusement dancing in their eyes as they watched Luffy drag the flustered Koby away. Sanji, ever the romantic, whispered a dramatic "Oh, young love," to which Zoro rolled his eyes. Nami smacked Sanji playfully, saying, "Keep it together, you two."
As the duo disappeared into the bustling town, the remaining marines took in the rest of the Strawhat crew with curiosity. Helmeppo stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the group. "It's been a while, hasn't it?" he said, his voice tinged with a hint of nervousness.
"Yeah, it sure has," Sanji agreed, smoothing his apron and giving a charming smile. "But it's always nice to see old friends."
"Friends?" Kujaku questioned, raising a perfectly shaped eyebrow. "You call the most wanted pirates in the Grand Line friends?" Her tone was teasing, but there was an undercurrent of disbelief that hung in the air.
"Well, we're all just here for a little R&R," Zoro said nonchalantly, sheathing his swords and leaning against the railing of the dock. "No need for the formalities."