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Koby’s Realization
Koby was staring out at the sea, feeling his heart hammer in his chest. A newspaper was gripped in his hand, hanging limply from his side.
The sea smelled amazing, looked amazing, with the sunset mirroring on the crystal water, but that wasn’t why Koby was staring out and feeling like he was about to have a heart attack.
His head tilted down as he looked at the paper again, at the news: STRAW HAT LUFFY BEATS KAIDO. A NEW EMPEROR OF THE SEA? YOUNGEST IN HISTORY!
He was proud. Proud of Luffy, and in…
No, he couldn’t say in awe. It was much more than awe that caused his heart to beat like this.
He didn’t know when the awe had turned into more. Koby had always admired Luffy, from the second Luffy had stated he was going to be the king of the pirates. He had followed Luffy’s adventures while with the Marines, always asking Helmeppo if the paper came in, and, more importantly, if Luffy was mentioned.
Sometimes he regretted looking at the paper. Articles discussing how dangerous and notorious Luffy was, mentioning how he needed to be killed and executed before he achieved his dream. Or the part where he saw Ace’s face on the front, and despite being there for that war, felt his heart shatter. Luffy, was all he was able to think. Luffy, I’m sorry for standing in your way.
Of course, other times he was thrilled to see Luffy in the paper. Like a new bounty price— from 30 million to 300 million to 3 billion.
During the Reverie, he had been thrilled when he had seen Luffy on the front page, given to him by Princess Rebecca (who seemed so happy to find someone to talk about Lucy/Luffy with.) He may have shed some tears—or a lot, he couldn’t remember—but at some point, he wondered, had Luffy ever heard about him?
Koby was now, while not the post popular marine, well known. He had been called a war hero from time to time (which he would bashfully disagree with, saying he was just doing what he loved.)
But had Luffy heard about him? It was no secret that Koby always listened in to conversations, just for snippets of Luffy’s name (it always made him grin, made his heart flutter to realize how quickly Luffy was growing.) Some of his fellow Marines Would teasingly raise their voices when mentioning Luffy-san, especially Helmeppo.
But did Luffy do the same for Koby?
He doubted so. Luffy was busy, most likely. Undoubtedly, really. He defeated Warlord after Warlord, allied with some of the most dangerous pirates, got a fleet of over 5,600 pirates, obtained a new crew member (“Jinbei, the former Warlord? With the Straw hats? OUTRAGEOUS!” Koby’s superiors had said.) And definitely not least, he had beat down a Emperor. Koby was nowhere near that level of popularity, of fame, of recognition.
Still. Some nights, as he laid in his hammock, rocking to the movements of the boat against the gentle waves, he imagined Luffy being proud of him. Imagined Luffy hugging him, exclaiming “Koby’s doing so good! You’re a captain!!” He created fantasies where he secretly met up with Luffy, talking about all his adventures (yet knowing they were nothing compared to Luffy’s, never would be, but even so, the dark haired pirate would be proud.)
Like now, as Koby lifted the paper, reading the first paragraph as someone called the rubber man “the sun god,” Koby found himself crafting a conversation with Luffy in his mind.
“You’re a captain! I’m proud of Koby, you used to be a nobody!” Luffy would say bluntly. (Always so blunt, always spoke what he thought.)
Koby closed his eyes, smiling softly. Picturing Luffy’s too-big-for-his-face grin, the childish laughter…
And then his imagination took off on a different course than usual.
Luffy wrapping an arm around Koby’s waste, grinning at him.
And then… and then Luffy gently taking the side of Koby’s face in his hand, pulling his jaw close and…
Koby’s heart thumped loudly, his eyelids flinging open before he could imagine it.
But it was already there.
A kiss he so desperately wanted.
He gripped his rib cage, trying to catch his breath. “What the heck?” He whispered, feeling his face heat up. “No. No, that’s crazy. I don’t…”
His voice trailed off as footsteps echoed behind him. He turned around, expecting to see Helmeppo—
Luffy was there, wearing a black cape over an unbuttoned red shirt, his straw hat crown hanging off his neck. The X scar on his chest was left for the world to see, but what caught Koby’s attention was that bright D like smile, the shut eyes. “Shishishishi! Koby!” Luffy said, waving at him.
“Luffy-san?” Koby’s face burst into a bright red. He lifted his fists, rubbing his eyes before looking again.
No, not Luffy. He didn’t even look like Luffy. It was Helmeppo, like he had expected, eyebrows furrowed like he was looking at Koby curiously. He guessed he was, for when Koby lifted his hands to his face to hide the shame, his cheeks felt hot.
“No, not Luffy.” Helmeppo chuckled. “Guess you’ve been reading about him too much again?”
Koby managed a nod, turning away from his friend and staring at the sea. What was that??!
“They’re calling him a Sun God. Nika, I think?” Helmeppo leaned against the railing. “Others are saying he’s Joy Boy. I think the Admiral really wants to burn the press. When I walked by his office, he was practically steaming as he ripped the paper up.”
“I’d bet. Most Marine’s hate Luffy-san.” Koby commented.
“But not you.”
It was stated simply. No undertones of teasing, no mocking drag of the syllables. Just put so simply, so obviously.
So why did Koby feel so embarrassed? Why did his face turn a slight pink?
“Oh.” Helmeppo patted Koby on the back. “I’m starting to feel bad for you, Koby. Marines and Pirates aren’t supposed to be friends.”
“I know.” Koby whispered, hands trembling.
“Luffy’s counting on you.”
“I know.”
“Yet you like him.” Koby froze, feeling his heart come to a screeching stop. “Would you really arrest him if you ran into the Straw Hats?”
Koby licked his lips, trying to figure out what to say. “P-pardon me?”
“Would you arrest him.”
“No, before that.”
“Ah.” Helmeppo grinned. “You like him.”
“I admire him.” Koby corrected. Half-heartedly. Something in him knew already, knew that this protesting was fruitless. It already knew how he truly felt.
“Which is almost worse. But no, Koby. You like like him.”
Helmeppo sounded like a teenage girl, gossiping about a cute town boy.
When Koby didn’t say anything, his friend continued. “It’s understandable. Luffy is certainly good looking, and his personality seems to attract everyone. I’m still surprised he was able to make an alliance with Trafalgar Law. And Boa Hancock, as we know, is completely obsessed with him as well.”
Koby felt a twinge of irritation at that.
Boa Hancock. Koby recently had to be rescued from her and Black Beard (thank the seas Garp came for him, which had been something he didn’t expect to happen) When he had mentioned her infatuation for Luffy, she had seemed to change entirely. While before she had been aggressive to him for being, well, a boy, the second he mentioned Luffy-san, she had became a monster.
“How do you know him?!”
“He rescued me.”
“And yet you threaten to capture and kill him? How dare you endanger my love!”
Koby knew well enough to tell a delusion from reality. Boa was definitely delusional, talking about Luffy being her husband, her love…
Koby couldn’t even imagine Luffy being married, let alone in love with someone.
But yet, he had felt a twinge of jealousy—burning like a fire, stinging like an open wound, at the way Boa Hancock knew more about Luffy than he did.
And that wasn’t saying much, because Boa seemed to have an entirely different version of Luffy in her mind.
How could Koby like Luffy when he knew barely anything about him?
“I don’t like him.” Koby stated plainly. “I just admire him for his stubbornness and ambition. Besides, he’s the reason i’m here in the first place. I owe him a lot.”
“Then why did you say ‘Luffy’ when I walked up?”
Koby held back a curse at that, and Helmeppo’s chuckle said it all: Bingo.
Koby didn’t say anything. Fear was starting to flood through his thoughts.
How could he balance this? What if Helmeppo was right?
He had a duty, a job, but he also had a friend.
Was there a way to balance these things out? To have both?
“You don’t have to answer.” Helmeppo replied after what felt like minutes of silence. “And I obviously won’t tell anyone. But realizing how you feel is important.” He clasped a hand on Koby’s back. “You’re on watch duty tonight, Captain.”
Koby nodded, listening to Helmeppo walk away before slumping against the rails.
He lifted his head, just barely, so he could see the new flyer for Luffy.
Beautiful.
Koby was wrong. It was awe that he felt. Admiration, too.
However, Helmeppo was right as well. Koby did like Luffy.
But he didn’t acknowledge it because…
What right did he have to feel this way about someone in a totally different world
It sounded like something out of a fairytale. A Marine and a Pirate.
That made him think about Garp. Luffy’s grandfather… a pirates grandfather and the father of the Revolutionary Army’s leader, guardian of the son of Gol D. Roger.
How did he choose? If Luffy got captured, would he sit back and let his grandson be executed? Or would he try to help, speak up for his family?
The answer was partially there. Garp had stood in Luffy’s way during Ace’s public execution. He had made no attempts to help the boy he had been in charge of, as rumors said. (Koby knew better. Garp had talked to him afterward, saying he had let Luffy punch him, let Ace get away.) Would that be any different for Luffy?
Koby felt torn. He felt like he owed Luffy for getting him this far, felt devoted to the pirate, and, of course, love for him.
But he also had a dream, a dream so important to him and so close he could practically reach out and grasp it.
When the time came, if he faced Luffy again, would he have the ability to arrest Luffy, the boy he liked? Or would he throw away his dream?
He had promised Luffy that one day, he would capture the pirate. He would be the one to arrest him.
If he failed to do this, if he ran into him and refused to do anything, would Luffy be disappointed in him?
He gazed at the wanted poster and the news paper, heaving a sigh.
That was a choice for the future. In the meantime, he could just realize…
He could just realize how much Luffy really meant to him. He could dream about secret meetings, forbidden dates, soft touches and moonlight walks.
Even though he knew he stood no chance in the line of winning Luffy’s affection.
Last time he had seen Luffy, Zoro had been practically attached to him by the hip. Zoro, the one who had stayed with Luffy. Zoro, the one hopelessly devoted to the pirate.
Koby could have done that. He could have given up his dream to stay with Luffy.
He could imagine what Luffy would say to that. The slight, childish scowl as he said “Koby’s dream is more important. Don’t give up on it! If I really mean that much to you, then know that I’d rather you chase your dream!”
But you’re important too, Koby thought sadly. Yet I’m a Marine, and I promised I would be the one to catch you when you became King of the Pirates.
I will get stronger. Koby smiled. I will get stronger so I can catch you.
And maybe I can catch your heart in the process.