020

— i know i don't belong here —

THE HOT GOLDEN SUN BEAT DOWN ON THE CREW AS THEY TRACKED THROUGH THE RIPE TANGERINE FIELDS. The journey was long, the hot dirt tracks seemed to continue on forever, but there was no stopping— they couldn't. Visenya refused to leave Nami and if that meant walking until the sun started to set she would. And did.

"I think I got more of a boat body than a long-journey-on-foot kind of body," Usopp huffed, slowly losing his breath across the long journey. Visenya and Oaklyn glanced back at him, but they didn't say anything and continued to let him ramble on. "Anybody else missing the ocean? No? Okay. I know Oaklyn wanted to try steering." He took a deep breath and reached out to grab a tangerine.

Oaklyn kicked a kicked a stone down the path, kicking up sand and again it wasn't long Usopp began rambling on again. "I could go bring the boat around if we don't want to—"

Oaklyn slapped the back of his head softly, but he still let out an over dramatic groan. "You need to stop complaining," Oaklyn said while rolling her eyes. "You ran around town every day for years."

"I'm just not built for long walks," Usopp excused, his voice high-pitched.

Oaklyn took a deep breath and shook her head, but thankfully Usopp stayed quiet for the next few minutes.

They stepped out of the tangerine fields and onto a dirt track, farmers with their tools and loads of fruit walking up and down. The Straw Hats stayed close together, following Luffy toward the house at the edge of the tangerine grove. The trees had overgrown and hidden part of the house and vines sprouted, spreading across the front of the roof tiles. A few tangerine fruits had started to grow and hang over the small porch covering.

There were a few other houses of similar design, with tangerine trees taking over the wood, but this was the last and was slightly separated from the others. 

Luffy led the way across the small path, but he didn't even make it to the steps when the door was thrown open. The girl with blue hair stepped out, a rifle loaded in her hands, the barrel aimed at Luffy.

Usopp shouted out in surprise, ducking behind Zoro quickly as the others froze.

"Turn around and leave. Now," the girl ordered.

"That's what I've been saying," Usopp said nervously, shrinking even further behind Zoro.

Luffy just looked up at the girl with a smile. "Hey, I saw you earlier. I think maybe you and I have something in common," Luffy spoke, keeping his smile without as much as a twitch, seemingly unfazed by the gun in his face.

The girl pulled the pin back and let them hear the sound of the built cocking into place. "I've got the gun, and you're standing in front of it," her voice was slightly taunting, and Sanji clenched his jaw as he watched the gun. "What could we possibly have in common?"

Luffy looked back at Visenya, nodding at her, and she raised her hand. The gun in the girl's hands slowly fell apart, the pieces of metals and screws popping out of place and falling onto the wooden deck. The bullets rolled down the small steps and onto the dirt at Luffy's feet.

"You no longer have a gun, we have more in common now," Visenya stated plainly as the girls stared at the pieces of metal in horror. "We just want to talk," Visenya added, keeping her voice soft.

"Let's start with Nami," Luffy spoke up, smiling brightly at the girl. "Seems you know her very well."

"She's a thief with no conscience. And when there's no more left to take, she leaves and doesn't turn back," The girl snapped, shaking aside her shock, the anger present in her voice again. "And I can still hit you with this," she threatened, holding the but of the gun like a bat. "Now get off my property."

"Nami's part of our crew," Luffy said sternly. "She's our friend."

The girl shook her head, "My sister doesn't have any friends. The sooner you realise that, the better."

"Sisters. That makes sense." Sanji chuckled nervously. "Both as beautiful as each other."

Visenya glanced over her shoulder at Sanji in confusion as the girl looked at him in disgust. Zoro shook his head softly and let out a tired sigh. "Give it up," he muttered.

The girl let her eyes wander over the group and she shook her head. "I can tell she really did a number on you guys," the girl said slowly. "You're not special, and I can't help you.'

"How about a meal?" Sanji questioned; his voice far more confident than it was just moments ago.

The girl's hands faltered for a moment, "What?"

Sanji's smile grew slightly, "An exchange of sorts for your valuable time and information."

"You cook?"

"He's a waiter," Zoro interrupted.

"He is a great cook," Visenya corrected, shooting a glare at Zoro.

"You never tasted anything better in your life," Usopp added with a grin. "Usopp's word!"

"Ain't got much to cook with," she countered, her eyes narrowing sceptical at Sanji.

"Ah! You'd be surprised how much I can make with very few ingredients," Sanji said with a shrug. He gave her a smile and a small nod, "Come on, what do you say? We have a little dinner, a little conversation."

The girl stared at Sanji for a few more moments before she relaxed and let her arms fall to her sides. "Fine," she said. "But there'd better be dessert."

◈

Visenya sat with the warm bowl in her lap, her hands holding it in place to warm up her chilled skin. Sanji's food was delicious, it always was. But as Nojiko told her and Nami's story, it alone made the food taste sour.

Nojiko and Nami were just children when Arlong attacked Coco Village, they terrorised everyone. Arlong made them buy their own lives, and even then, that wasn't always enough. Their mother had tried to save them, keep them hidden from Arlong and his pirates. But it wasn't enough. Arlong had found them and no matter how hard Nami and Nojiko tried to protect their mother, they were children facing a truly dangerous pirate. She traded her life for theirs.

By the time Nojiko had finished her story the rare sign of anger had flared in Luffy's eyes again while the others sat in a saddened silence.

Visenya listened but all she could see was herself as a little girl again. She had no one to protect her from the pirates, not that it seemed to matter. Nami had people that loved and protected her, but Arlong got Nami. And Niles got Visenya.

Luffy slowly pushed himself to stand, but he didn't meet anyone's eyes. Slowly he turned and walked past Sanji out the door and into the dark night. Zoro quickly grabbed his sword and followed him without a word.

"Wait. . . Nami's working for the pirate that killed your mother?" Usopp asked, not choosing his words very carefully. Nojiko nodded softly, her eyes still red from holding in her tears.

"Do not say work for," Visenya almost snapped at Usopp for his words. Working for. No matter how many years Nami had been with the Arlong pirates, no matter how many jobs she ran and people she conned, she would never work for Arlong.

Visenya didn't realise just how loud her words were until she looked up and noticed Usopp and Nojiko staring at her.

Visenya nervously cleared her throat and set her bowl on the table, "Excuse me."

"Vis—"

She quickly stood and brushed past Sanji out the door, ignoring Oaklyn's calls for her. Oaklyn glanced at Usopp beside her before she tried to stand and chase her. Oaklyn set her bowl on the table, but Sanji placed her hand on her arm and stopped her. "I'll go," he insisted, pushing himself from the wall. He closed the door behind him as he stepped outside and walked to the end on the small porch. Visenya leaned against the side of a tree, pieces of metal floating around her.

Sanji took a deep breath and walked toward her, leaning against the other side of the tree. He stayed silent and he reached into his pocket and pulled his case of cigarettes. Visenya didn't speak either, her hands moving quickly as she focussed of rebuilding Nojiko's gun.

Visenya's concentration only broke for a moment and the sound of Sanji flicking on the lighter, but she quickly turned back to her work. "Your home, you said it wasn't safe, you didn't get a lot of food," Sanji said carefully, keeping his eyes ahead of him. "You had an unlucky life."

Visenya clicked the last of the pieces into place and set the weapon aside. Sanji turned his head to look at her as he breathed out a cloud of smoke. He clicked his tongue before speaking again, "But Nami is—"

"I was Death," Visenya said quickly. Sanji froze, his eyes going wide as he stared at her. Visenya slowly turned her gaze away and crossed her arms across her chest. "The man meant to protect me, made me into a weapon when I was a child. I know Nami wants nothing to do with these pirates. So, spare me whatever speech you have."

Sanji settled into silence and Visenya took a deep breath. She swallowed hard but she still refused to meet Sanji's eyes. "If I had done anything that hurt you, I apologise," she said softly.

Sanji's mouth dried out and he lost his words. Visenya had weighed her options on revealing the truth to Sanji, but she'd rather the judgement now than later after all the lies she would need to tell. But God why did she care so much if Sanji judged her, she'd only known him a few days.

Visenya grabbed the gun again and tried to turn but Sanji quickly stopped her. "If you are a good person, so is Nami," he said with confidence. Visenya turned to him, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. He held his hand out and offered the lit cigarette to Visenya. "If you believe in Nami, so do I."

Visenya cautiously reached out and grabbed the cigarette, making Sanji smile when he did. "And what you did before, that's not you Angel," Sanji assured her with a nod. His eyes wandered back to the house, and he motioned toward it, "Come get some more food, can't have my favourite girl going hungry now."

◈

"Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick. . ."

Buggy's low taunting voice filled the room and Nojiko had left long ago, promising to kill the clown at any moment. Sanji and Visenya worked slowly to clean up, and whatever dishes they had Oaklyn would put away. Usopp tried his hardest to ignore the clown and continued to slowly fill the pellets with gunpowder, but the clown constant taunting made it quite hard.

"Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick— Boom!"

Usopp shouted in surprise, nearly knocking the table and all the gunpowder. Buggy cackled as he watched Usopp fumble and for a moment Visenya considered Nojiko's offer to kill the clown.

Usopp shook his head, "Can you just be quiet?"

"Aw, come on. Where's the fun in that?" Buggy questioned in low lone. "Do you really think your little toys can get through the skin of a fishman?" His buggy eyes narrowed at Usopp but it didn't faze Usopp at all.

"These are smoke bombs," he explained, continuing to fill the bombs.

"Smoke? That's rich," Buggy chuckled but then his eyes shifted as he thought. "Makes me think of how long it's been since I've had any smoked fish." Buggy swallowed hard and looked up at Usopp with the best pleading eyes he could muster. "Maybe if you guys had some extra? Please?"

"You get nothing," Visenya snapped.

"Ah, screw you guys!" Buggy shouted; his low taunting voice replaced with a childish tantrum. "Arlong's gonna bite the shit out of you anyway. You know you don't stand a chance against him and his army. And you dumb pieces of garbage, you ain't gonna do anything against that stupid—"

"Vis beat the last fishman," Oaklyn countered loudly in hopes of getting the clown to be quiet.

"Yeah, she'll get some action!" Buggy screeched, bouncing his head to glare at Visenya and Sanji. "But your lover boy's gonna have to wait for you before he gets any!" Buggy laughed out loud which only made Oaklyn grow even more annoyed.

But Visenya looked at the clown confused. She had always been annoyed at the clown and leaned in favour of his death, but she was never confused about what ridiculous thing he shouted. Yet he had made her so confused he could see it in her face. Buggy's eyes widened as if they would bulge out of his head. "You don't know what I mean. . !"

Buggy cackled like an old witch, his amusement growing with every second. But before Visenya could even begin to be embarrassed Sanji had stormed over to the clown and shoved a tangerine in his mouth.

Buggy struggled and complained but all his words died as the muffled in the fruit. 

Sanji smiled at the clown, "New guy shuts up the clown head."

Sanji walked back to Visenya's side, and she quickly swallowed whatever emotions were trying to surface. "Thank you," She whispered.

"Anything for you Angel," he said with a soft love, smiling at her with his charming grin.

"You keep calling me Angel. It is starting to sound a bit like an obsession," Visenya glanced up at Sanji, still feeling a slight embarrassment.

Sanji chuckled softly and ran the metal on his tongue against his teeth. "Oh, I'm way past obsession, sweetheart," he teased. Visenya raised her eyebrows at him, fighting to hide her smile. He sent her a wink, "You'll see."

Visenya could feel a blush crawling up her neck, but she couldn't exactly place why, "And what exactly does that look like?"

Sanji leaned in closer, just enough to let her smell the cigarette and vanilla musk that clung to him. "Let's just say. . . I've already got the next few hundred ways to impress you planned out. Might even have a list." Visenya tried to roll her eyes, but she couldn't help but let out a sweet laugh.

And just in that moment, Njoka ran through the door breathless and crying. Oaklyn tossed aside the rag and rushed to Njoka's side, trying to calm her down and get her breathing steady. "It's Nami," Njoka said through shaky breaths, her hands gripping Oaklyn tightly. "She's been trying to buy back the town, but Arlong. . . he—"

"Where is Nami now?" Visenya asked, taking a step forward.

Njoka took a deep breath, "The fields."

Visenya quickly rushed out the door and shouted out to Luffy and Zoro.

The air was thick and cold, the pale moonlight barely lightning the dirt track ahead. Visenya could see her breath coming out in a thick fog, and with every step her chest tightened as they searched for Nami. The air was freezing but they followed Nojiko's directions through the tangerine fields.

When they saw Nami, crumpled to the floor, the darkness of the night draining her of any colour, they froze. Luffy stepped forward but the others hesitated to follow. Luffy walked after Nami along the dirt track, and even if Oaklyn followed him a few extra steps, the others let him go; Zoro taking a seat on a barrel and Usopp sitting by the rocks.

Nami's knees pressed to the cold dirt, eyes staring out at Coco village so far away. Her body wracked with shivers, eyes swelling with tears. "Arlong. Arlong." Nami whimpered, her voice shaking and cracking. A tear ran down her face.

Nami looked at the swordfish tattoo and her hand moved to squeeze the skin, her nails digging in deeply. It stung and pricked her skin, but the pain kept her focussed, it didn't let her sink into her own mind. "Arlong," she cried. "Arlong! Arlong!"

Nami screamed and grabbed her knife driving the blade deep into her skin. The pain burned, like fire bleeding into her veins and over her skin. "Ah! Arlong! Arlong!" She drove the blade into the tattooed skin over and over, blood running down her arm and disfiguring the swordfish. "Arlong! Arlong—!"

She raised her arm again, but Luffy caught her wrist.

At first, she froze, feeling his warm hand on her cold skin. Her body felt heavy again and she slowly turned to look up at Luffy. Nami stared up at him with wide, terrified eyes and no matter how hard she tried, Nami couldn't find any words. She nearly sobbed as she turned her head and when she found her voice her words were drenched in anger, "I told you to get the hell out of here."

"You did," he said.

Nami let the knife slip from her hand and Luffy let her go. Her hands fell back into the dirt, and she let out a choked sob. "Then leave," Nami ordered, her voice broken but still strong. "You don't know anything about what's going on here."

"I don't," he said.

Quickly she realised Luffy had no clue what was going on, what Nami was involved in, what danger he would face. But he would come for her, they would come for her. She was their crew, their friend.

"Luffy," Nami sobbed. She looked up at him, "Help me."

Without a word Luffy raised his hand and he pulled the straw hat from his head. Nami stared at him with wide eyes as he placed the hat on her head with a steady hand. He looked at her, his eyes full of promise.

"Of course I will," Luffy said.

Luffy turned away from Nami and slowly walked down the dirt track toward his crew. The dirt crunched under his feet as his eyes mixed that promise with anger. "Of course I will," he said softly. He stopped, his breath coming out in fogs as he took a deep breath. He threw his arms up high and shouted into the night, "Of course I will!"

Nami pressed her hand to her mouth as she cried.

Luffy walked toward the rest of his crew and Visenya looked up at him, her hair caught in the soft breeze as she watched him walk. She glanced up at Sanji taking a drag of his cigarette and he met her eyes, looking at her with confidence.

"Let's go," Luffy ordered.

"Right," They shouted.

Oaklyn looked up at Nami and met her halfway down the track, her eyes swelling with tears. She reached out and took Nami's hand, her fingers brushing the bandana she secured to her wrist. Oaklyn carefully unwound it and pushed it higher up Nami's arm. She secured it tightly around Nami's cuts to stop the bleeding.

Nami watched Oaklyn through teary eyes and as soon as she secured the bandana in place Nami pulled her close. Her arms secured around Oaklyn, and she squeezed back as hard as she could. "I'm sorry I left," Nami whispered.

"I was always with you," Oaklyn assured.

Usopp pushed himself to his feet, but the sound of clamouring and gunshots in the distance made his head turn. "What's that?" Usopp shouted and the others rushed to his side,

Oaklyn's eyes widened as she saw the distant village slowly burning. "They're attacking the village," Visenya mumbled. 

— lethal lust —