[A/N: to I remember if I swear grok If I tell him he will not filter swearing so if anyone does not likechapter contain swear You can tell me If I feel like it I could send it and This chapter a little bit spicy I hope you all can enjoy as much as I do when I write it]
**Chapter 65 — "The Night Before the Reverse Mountain"**
**Sunny's POV**
The sea was a goddamn mirror tonight, flat and endless, reflecting every fucking star like it was trying to outshine the sky itself. Too calm, too quiet—the kind of hush that crawls under your skin and whispers that shit's about to hit the fan. Tomorrow, we'd slam into Reverse Mountain, that monstrous upside-down waterfall screaming "welcome to the Grand Line, bitches." The Going Merry cut through the water like a knife through butter, her sails barely fluttering in the lazy breeze. Up above, the stars weren't just twinkling; they were stabbing down, sharp and insistent, like the universe itself was leaning in to watch the show.
Half the crew was dead to the world, sprawled out like corpses after today's absolute clusterfuck of a training session. "Hell Training Deluxe Edition," my ass. Courtesy of my two resident pains in the skull, {Ego} and [System], who turned the deck into a warzone of explosions, sweat, and screamed motivational bullshit.
{Ego}: "Correction, asshole—courtesy of me and my pint-sized psycho sidekick, [System]. We're the dynamic duo of destruction."
[System]: "Psycho? Please. I'm the loving overseer with a flair for dramatic flair." Her voice slithered into my ear like silk wrapped around a blade, that jealous little purr only I could hear. "But come on, darling, admit it—they all leveled up. Even Lucy stopped her bitching after the third boom. Girl's got lungs now."
{Ego}: "Third boom? Bitch, she stopped breathing for a solid minute. Thought we'd have to CPR her dramatic ass."
I let out a low sigh, the corner of my mouth twitching into a reluctant grin. These two were a nonstop circus in my head, but damn if they didn't keep things interesting. "You pair of chaos gremlins are gonna be the death of me."
The deck was a ghost town, nothing but the soft slap of waves against the hull and the occasional creak of wood settling into the night. Zoro was probably sawing logs in the crow's nest, swords clutched like teddy bears. Sanji, that curly-browed pervert, was no doubt dreaming up some gourmet fantasy involving mermaids and mise en place. Usopp snoring tall tales in his sleep. And the girls... well, Lucy was likely face-planted on Aqua's chest again, drooling like a faucet. Nami and Nojiko sharing a room for today, tangled in sheets and sisterly whispers. Everyone earned their blackout—today had been brutal.
Me? Sleep was a distant memory. I nursed a tall glass of orange juice, the pulp swirling lazily under the moonlight, casting this faint, ethereal glow that made it look almost magical. Barefoot, I padded across the deck, the wood cool and smooth under my soles, worn from countless adventures. The air smelled like salt and freedom, with a hint of the citrus groves back home that I could never quite shake.
I ended up at the figurehead, Merry's sheepish face staring out into the void, her carved eyes wide and innocent as ever. She looked so peaceful, bobbing gently with the ship, like she was dreaming of greener pastures.
"Hey, Merry," I murmured, lowering myself onto the edge beside her, legs dangling over the prow. The spray from the bow wave misted my skin, cool and invigorating. "Been a minute since we had one of these heart-to-hearts, huh?"
Silence at first, just the rhythmic whoosh of the sea. Then, a breeze kicked up—not strong, but deliberate, carrying a voice so soft it could've been the wind itself.
> "...Sunny."
My grip tightened on the glass; it nearly slipped from my fingers, orange juice sloshing dangerously close to the rim. Heart thudding, I leaned forward. "Merry? That you?"
> "Mm-hmm. You can hear me clear as day now," she replied, her tone shy, warm—like the first rays of sun peeking through morning curtains, chasing away the chill. "It's been… what, twenty chapters? Feels like forever."
I chuckled, the sound low and genuine, easing back as I rested a hand on her carved mane. The wood was smooth, polished by wind and wave, but there was a faint warmth to it, like she was alive under my palm. "Yeah, you've been playing hard to get. What's the deal? Cat got your tongue—or sheep, I guess?"
> "I needed the rest," she admitted, a soft rustle in the air like pages turning. "Watching everyone… laughing, fighting, growing together. It filled me up, made me happy. But tonight? Tonight felt heavy. You looked… lonely up here, Sunny. All by yourself under the stars."
Lonely. The word hit like a gut punch, but I played it off with a shrug, staring out at the black horizon where sea met sky in a seamless blur. "Guess I am. Crew's wiped out. Lucy's probably using Aqua as a pillow again, Zoro's ronking like a chainsaw, Sanji's off in la-la land cooking for his imaginary harem. Figured I'd let 'em crash. They deserve it after the beatdown you two psychos in my head dished out."
> "You could wake someone. Share the quiet."
"Nah." I shook my head, taking a slow sip of the juice, the tart sweetness bursting on my tongue. "They fought hard. Besides, you're here. That's plenty."
Her presence seemed to brighten, the air around the figurehead shimmering just a touch, like heat haze on a summer day. If you squinted, really focused, you could swear those carved eyes sparkled with life—curious, affectionate, utterly pure.
I held out the glass toward her, a playful grin tugging at my lips. "Here. Bottoms up. Caught you sneaking sips from the kitchen a couple times—might as well do it proper, no thieving required."
A pause, the breeze hesitating. Then, ever so faintly, her carved mouth shifted—just a fraction—and a soft,a sipping sound echoed, like wind through a straw.
> "...Ooh. Sweet. And so cold. Like a hug from the inside."
I barked a laugh, leaning back on one elbow. "Yeah? Told ya. Cold and sweet—that's my brand."
She let out this adorable giggle, light and tinkling, like wind chimes in a gentle storm. "You're not cold, Sunny. Not one bit. You're the warmest thing on this ship. That's why they all flock to you—like moths to a flame that won't burn them."
The words hung there, heavy with truth I wasn't ready to unpack. Before I could deflect with some smartass remark, she piped up again, voice dipping into bashful territory.
> "C-Can I… ask you something? Pretty please?"
"Shoot, Merry. What's on your mind?"
> "Can I… sit with you? On your lap? Like the others do?"
My brain blue-screened for a hot second. "Come again?"
> "Aqua, Nami, Nojiko, Lucy—they all take turns up there. And they always look so… happy. Blissed out. I just… I wanna know what it feels like. Please?"
{Ego}: "Oh, for fuck's sake. This is it—the origin story of haunted ship waifus. Next thing you know, she'll be demanding belly rubs and upgrading to full poltergeist mode."
[System]: "Zip it, {Ego}. Let the precious lamb have her win. She's earned it." Then, dropping into that possessive whisper that sent a shiver down my spine: "But if she lingers too long on his lap, I'll manifest and yeet her spirit ass into the ocean~♡"
I rolled my eyes so hard I swear I saw stars. "Alright, alright. Come on over, Merry. Lap's open for business."
The air around her figurehead rippled, light bending and twisting like a mirage. Then, poof—a silhouette materialized, delicate and ethereal, a girl woven from pure starlight. Her form was translucent, edges glowing softly, hair cascading in drifts of golden dust that caught the moonlight and scattered it like fairy glitter. She was petite, innocent-eyed. Hesitant, she floated closer, settling onto my lap with the weight of a feather—yet somehow, impossibly, I felt her. Warm, soft, real.
"Comfy now?" I asked, voice dropping to a murmur as I absently started patting her head, fingers gliding through that starry hair. It was instinctive, the same slow, rhythmic Knocking Technique I'd perfected on the girls—gentle pressure points, easing tension like melting butter.
She let out this tiny, contented sound—a mix of giggle and sigh that went straight to my chest. "Mmm… yes. That feels… amazing. Like floating on clouds made of sunshine."
We stayed like that for what felt like hours, the ship rocking us in a lazy cradle. The waves whispered secrets below, the stars wheeled overhead in their eternal dance. I kept up the patting, tracing lazy circles, feeling her relax deeper into me—her light pulsing softly with each breath she didn't technically need. The night air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of brine and distant storms, but right here, it was just peace. Pure, unadulterated peace.
After a long stretch of comfortable silence, broken only by the occasional splash of a flying fish, she spoke again, voice small but earnest.
> "Sunny… thank you. For keeping everyone safe. Always. It looks like it hurts you sometimes, all that fighting, but… you don't have a single scar on those muscles of yours. How?"
Tactical dodge activated. I smirked faintly, dodging the deeper implication like a pro. "Perks of the job. Gotta stay pretty for the crew."
> "No," she insisted, her starry form shifting to look up at me, eyes wide and shining. "It's your heart. That's what keeps you whole."
Damn. Kid—or ship, whatever—had a way with words. Before I could muster a response, her light flickered erratically, like a bulb about to blow.
> "Wait—someone's coming. Quick!"
In a blink, she dissolved back into mist and moonlight, vanishing into the figurehead as if she'd never been.
I whipped around just as footsteps padded onto the deck—soft, familiar. Nojiko emerged from the shadows, hair a tousled blue mess from sleep, wearing nothing but one of my oversized shirts that hung loose on her frame, the hem brushing mid-thigh. Her eyes were heavy-lidded, rubbing at them with the back of her hand, but even half-asleep, she was a vision—curves softened by the moonlight, skin glowing like polished bronze.
"Sunny?" she mumbled, voice husky with slumber. "Who were you whispering sweet nothings to out here? she asked, rubbing her eyes.
I patted the spot beside me, grinning like an idiot. "Merry. She's chatty tonight. Gets lonely when the crew's snoring away."
Nojiko's expression softened, that knowing smile curling her lips as she sauntered over, hips swaying just enough to make my pulse kick. She slid in close, wrapping an arm around mine, her head dropping to my shoulder with a contented sigh. Her hair smelled like tangerines and sea salt, tickling my neck. "You really hear her, huh? Like, full sentences and everything."
"Yeah. Guess I've got the captain's ear for ship spirits now." I leaned into her, feeling the warmth of her body seep through the thin fabric. "Perks of being the glue holding this madhouse together."
She tilted her head up, those sharp eyes locking onto mine, glinting with moonlight and something deeper—affection, raw and real. "You always are. The one everyone leans on. Trusts. It's kinda your superpower, you know."
"Comes with the territory," I said, voice low, my free hand finding her waist, thumb tracing lazy circles on her hip. The shirt rode up just a bit, exposing more skin, and fuck if that didn't send a spark straight through me.
Tomorrow loomed like a shadow—Reverse Mountain, the Grand Line, all its monsters and madness waiting to swallow us whole. She must've felt the tension in me because her hand came up, fingers brushing my jaw, turning my face to hers.
"You scared?" she asked, direct as always. No bullshit.
I huffed a laugh, but it came out rougher than intended. "Scared? Please. I laugh in the face of the Grand Line—they should be pissing themselves over me." (Yeah, the guy who leveled an Alabasta-sized island like it was a sandbox, still chilling with six seals active, nerfing me down to a measly 1/64th power. Scared? Nah. But...) "Still... excited as hell, and yeah, a little twitchy. Human and all that."
Her smile turned wicked, eyes sparkling. "Good. Means you're not a complete reckless idiot. Yet."
{Ego}: "Human? Was. Then this fool adopted a pirate fleet of basket cases, a goddess, and enough emotional baggage to sink a battleship."
[System]: Ara Ara~ "that's precisely why he's perfect~♡ Mine, all mine."
I groaned, pinching the bridge of my nose. "You two ever clock out? Jesus."
Nojiko blinked, pulling back an inch. "The voices again?"
"Brain gremlins. Ignore 'em." I waved it off, but she just laughed—that bell-like sound that always unraveled me, light and free, echoing over the water.
"Then tell your gremlins to turn off for five minutes." She shifted closer, her body pressing flush against mine, heat building where we touched. The ship creaked in approval, wind picking up to wrap around us like a lover's embrace. Her breath ghosted my ear, warm and teasing. "Sunny…"
"Yeah, babe?"
Her hand slid up my chest, fingers splaying over my heart. "Don't you dare change. Not one bit."
Then her lips were on mine—soft at first, a gentle press that spoke volumes of comfort and history. But it deepened quick, her tongue slipping in to dance with mine, tasting like sleep and sweetness and Nojiko. I kissed her back like a man starved, hand tangling in her hair, pulling her impossibly closer. The world narrowed to this: her moans vibrating against my mouth, the salt on her skin, the way her thighs straddled my lap without hesitation.
We broke for air, foreheads touching, breaths ragged. "Promise you'll still kiss me like the world's ending."she whispered.
"No promises needed." I stood, scooping her up in one fluid motion—her legs wrapping around my waist, arms around my neck, that surprised gasp turning into a throaty laugh.
"Sunny! What the—put me down, you caveman."
"Fuck that." I carried her across the deck, her weight nothing, her body molded to mine like she belonged there. The door to the girls' quarters creaked open under my shoulder, and I kicked it shut behind us, navigating the dim hallway by memory and moonlight filtering through portholes.
Her bedroom door was ajar; I shouldered it open, depositing her on the bed with a gentleness that belied the fire raging in my veins. She pulled me down with her, lips crashing back to mine—hungrier now, teeth nipping, tongues battling for dominance. Hands everywhere: mine shoving that shirt up and off, exposing her to the cool air, goosebumps rising under my palms as I mapped every curve, every inch of tangerine-scented skin.
"God, you're beautiful," I growled against her neck, kissing down to her collarbone, eliciting shivers and soft whimpers. She arched into me, nails raking my back, legs hooking to pull me flush.
"Less talking, more—ah—doing," she demanded, voice breathy, eyes hooded with lust. Clothes hit the floor in a frenzy—mine, hers—until there was nothing but skin on skin, heat building like a storm.
I took my time after that, worshiping her with hands and mouth, drawing out every gasp, every plea. She was fire and silk, responsive as hell, her body singing under my touch. When I finally sank into her, it was slow, deliberate—eyes locked, breaths mingling, the bed creaking in rhythm with the ship.
Fade to black.