1 Piece AU Luffy Charlotte
By: FunahoMisaki
(AN: I own nothing and read last chapter)
"I think I'll have my daddy execute Zoro tomorrow so everyone come watc-" SMACK! The whole restaurant went dead silent as Helmeppo was sent sprawling to the floor looking stunned that someone dare slap him.
"No one should make a promise they don't plan to keep." Luffy growled slightly before glancing at the scared little girl that had started crying at Helmeppo's announcement.
From what her mother had said, Helmeppo's wild feral pet wolf had lunged to attack the girl Rika when Zoro killed it and saved her and also agreed to be the one put on the cross and starved in Rika's place.
"Don't worry Rika-chan. I won't let them kill Zoro." Luffy promised with a smile and he saw how she relaxed at that, smiling slightly and wiping away her tears. Then Luffy turned to the little brat on the floor who was holding his cheek.
"You…You hit me." Helmeppo seemed to be in shock now as he stared up at Luffy.
"You plan to break a promise. More than that you never planned to keep a promise you made." Luffy picked up Helmeppo by the front of his shirt and pulled him up to Luffy's level.
"Your word means nothing and most believe that a mans word is what makes them a man. That means that you aren't a man at all. You're just a weak pathetic little brat who hides behind daddy's coat tails and wouldn't know a day of hard work if it bit him in the a…nose." Luffy quickly changed his curse to something more appropriate as he glanced at Rika again. His Aunt Hachee had beat it into him through rigorous training, and also by shoving soap or other foul things into his mouth, that one should not curse in front of a child under the age of ten.
"Pardon me ma'am but it seems like you have some trash that needs taking out." Luffy tipped his hat slightly to Rika's mother, making Rika look confused while her mother was wide eyed. His mama's had drilled manners into him since they didn't want him to be completely rude and crude. They said it was because he wouldn't always be the stronger one and it's best to be polite to those stronger than yourself, especially out on the seas.
They didn't tell him it was also because they might want grandkids out of him one day and being polite would go a good ways for that. He had seemed confused enough when they once told him that when he eventually did find a 'woman he liked more than food' that he should make sure she was strong enough to protect herself. They had given him the talk about where babies come from, especially when he had asked about it when Aunt Citron got married and had a kid, but they had noticed that he seemed to have the sexual drive of a dead fish.
Whatever that meant he wasn't sure but they seemed happy that he wasn't 'chasing any pretty faces in skirts' so he just shrugged it off.
Calmly walking to the door, while effortlessly carrying Helmeppo by his collar with one hand, Luffy opened the door and then promptly threw Helmeppo out on his ass.
"There we go. Trash removed. Anyone else want to act like trash?" Luffy asked with a forced pleasant smile on his face as he looked at the marines who had been with Helmeppo. As one they shook their heads and returned to their drinks and snacks, slipping money into the tip jar for Rika and her mother.
"Are you really going to save him?" Rika asked tugging at Luffy's shorts and looking hopefully up at the teen who smiled at her and patted her head.
"You bet I am kid. And when I do I'll bring him here to try some of your amazing rice balls. I'm sure he's still hungry and would love them." Luffy said making her beam up at him while Coby had already moved towards the door to go with Luffy, his face set into a determined look.
"Guess we should go save the Pirate Hunter now huh?" Coby asked giving Luffy a determined if frightened smile and making him nod but then glance back at the marines. Something his Uncle Morgans and Mama Stussy taught him coming forward in his rubbery brain.
"Oi you marines." Luffy had each of their eyes on him fearfully immediately.
"You'd better protect these two or I'll kick your behinds worse than I'm going to do to Captain Morgan. And forget that Coby was with me. He's wanting to join the marines but can't with such a corrupt person in charge." Luffy said making the marines glance at each other and then look at the highest ranking one present.
"Kid if you take down Captain Morgan and don't let the rest of the world know we're cheering for you then we'd be happy to take the pink haired one in. He's got a stronger sense of courage and justice than we do at the moment and we could use good men like him." The lieutenant spoke up making Luffy grin at them.
"I'll even do you a favor and let you tell Marine HQ that a pirate came to town and Morgan got his ass kicked so badly to warrant an investigation into how he got his promotion. That way you keep everything nice and clean for your branch." Luffy said making the marines grin at him sharply before he turned and nodded to Coby who was staring at him stunned.
"Alright Coby. Let's go save a Pirate Hunter and get you into the marines." Luffy said clapping the boy on the shoulder and walking past him out the open door.
"Luffy…thank you." Coby whispered, having not thought about how being seen working with Luffy would damage his marine career before it starts.
Luffy just grinned and patted the boy on the head before he began to take off, slowly enough that Coby could catch up given a few minutes. He didn't want to show all of his skills while stuck here in the East Blue after all.
"Anytime. Now come on I've got a swordsman to save!"