Missy

A new friend and an old

I don't own One Piece. If I did, make myself able to throw cannonballs with my bare hands. I'd be buff af!

------------------------------------------------------------------

"This has gone on long enough. You need to forgive yourself, Franky."

It felt a little weird. Being a part of this deep and emotional moment. You really couldn't help but feel as if you were intruding on something you shouldn't. Especially when said deep and emotional moment was happening while a man was half nude for all to see.

To call this surreal was an understatement.

"Do you see him?"

...

'No. I don't.' Your eyes narrowed, now constantly doing sweeps of the piles of scrap material before you, 'But what about Usopp?'

"Are you going to be alright if, and keep in mind that's a big IF," Mello added as your lips began to purse in some unknown emotion, "he is allowed back onto the crew. Of course I would much rather he doesn't return, however I am getting a strange feeling that our journey would be incomplete without him."

Yeah. Funnily enough you were getting that same feeling too. Which was... weird. You weren't quite sure how to feel about that.

'I guess we'll just have to take it as it comes.' Your hand reached out to gently rub Mello's beak. Both of you taking comfort in each other. 'I understand why he was angry but...'

The beak flexed a little, nuzzling into your palm, "Understanding and accepting are two different things, Missy. Just because you may comprehend someone's reasons for going against you does not mean that you have to forgive them. You do remember his appalling attempt at an apology correct?"

Oh you did. Your knuckles clenched. You really did. That had left a bitter taste in your mouth.

"I believe you were fully in your right to act as you did," Mello said. His voice low and comforting inside your head. "And if the rest of the crew has any sense, they would agree with me."

You resisted the urge to look in their direction. For some reason, Mello's complete certainty felt like a block in your throat. And this entire conversation was triggering an all too familiar ache in your temples.

"Missy...you are allowed to be angry. In fact I would be worried if you weren't."

A beat passed. During which the Franky Family aggressively chucked a fully packed suitcase into Franky's body.

'I wasn't angry at Vivi.'

That argument felt so long ago now. Years even. That time in Alabasta called you a murderer right to your face and implied you were the scum of the earth. And yet once the blinding redness of your emotions had faded all you felt was... regret. For not handling things as you could have done.

"Well, you were in a very different frame of mind back then. And I believe it was easier for you in a way... since you used to refer to yourself in a similar manner." Wrinkles of frustration appeared on his beak. "And while I do not exactly condone such behaviour, I can unfortunately understand it. This situation, on the other hand..." He turned to you. And although he had no face, you could sense the softness in his gaze. "You really don't realise how much you've grown, do you?"

You... cocked your head at that. Squinting at Mello's beak with an arched and accusatory brow.

He snorted. "Well, aside from your physical power. I am talking about your emotional growth, Missy. That isn't a change that should be treated lightly."