The Copyist (One Piece & OC)

Chapter 57: Final Preparations

His face was blank. I could read a single thought either on his face or in his eyes. Even his body was still.

I didn't realize I was holding my breath until his deep laughter started to resonate throughout the office.

"A punch would not be preferred. Instead, I'll opt for the traditional method as that is my preference." He didn't give me much time to process before he'd closed the distance and gave me a short kiss on the lips.

I was slow to process what happened. I stayed still even after he distanced himself for a few seconds before snapping out of it.

My eyes closed as I could feel the similar feeling of my body copying another devil fruit ability. The feeling spread throughout my limbs until a full copy of the sand-sand fruit was remaining dormant by the others housed inside of me, waiting to be tapped into.

Once it was completed, I opened my eyes and raised my hand to watch sand swirl within my palm. "Yup, still legit! Thanks, Crocy." I smiled before turning back to the desk that had the letters. "Do you know where Luffy is?" I ask, as I picked up the letters and put them into my leg pouch.

"Your moronic friend decided to give his name over the transponder snail just now, so he's probably still on deck." His tone turned slightly irritated.

I have a huff of amusement. "Sounds about right." I walked over to the office door about to leave before a question caught me off guard.

"If I asked you to work for me, you'd answer no wouldn't you?" The former Warlord said, looking out the small window as he avoided eye contact.

"Flattering as that offer is, you'd be correct. I've got too many things I want to do to be tied down. Besides, I'm the 'sky goddess', so I don't like being permanently tied to the ground. I'll gladly be your friend though if that's an option?" I proposed.

He finally looked at me with his usually resting grimace. Despite his look, emotions of sadness, acceptance, and hope resided in his eyes. "Yes," he answered. "That is an option." He finished with a business tone.

I gave a small smile as I started to leave. "Glad to hear it, Crocy."

Having entered the deck, I soon found Luffy near the ship rail. He was looking at Ace's vivre card. It was so small, and the edges were slowly dissipating into the wind.

I walked over and gave him a hug from the side. "Don't worry, Lu. We'll get him out of this. I'm sure of it." I tried to cheer him up.

Breaking the hug, I used the same hand to steal the hat off his head. At the same time, I used my other hand to stealthily grab the letter out of my leg pouch.

"Hey! Ama, why'd you steal my hat?" Luffy questioned as I held it sideways.

I just smiled at him as I slipped the letter into the pockets that he had sewn into the inside. "Well, don't you keep Ace's vivre card in here? I think you should put it away before you accidentally lose it." I suggest before plucking the card from his hand.

He just pouted as I placed the card next to the letter. Having hid the letter, I slipped his hat back on his head.

I smile again at him. "Yeah, that hat still suits you perfectly." I then turned my gaze to the sea while Luffy did the same.

"Hey, Lu?"

"Hm?"

"Once we get there, let's stick together. Okay?"

"Of course, how else can we keep our promise to each other as we also keep our one with Ace." His infrequent serious side made a brief appearance. "Besides", he turned to me with his large grin. "I still gotta prove to you that my gum-gum fruit is better than Ace's flame-flame, so you'll copy it." He finished with his laugh.