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Crack . The wall behind the long-nosed ginger fractured beneath Lucci's claws as he towered over the newcomer. In his Zoan leopard form, any sane human would be petrified. Even the current members were put on edge by him. But... the ginger simply smiled."Good afternoon. You are Rob Lucci, I suppose? My name is Kaku." He said. Lucci stared into his dark, round eyes, searching for even the slightest glimmer of fear. Nothing. Instead he seemed amused by his display of power, almost nearing outright excitement. He couldn’t let that deter him."You should never have come here." Lucci growled. The other simply readjusted his high collar."I don't exactly have any other place to go. 'Trained Assassin' doesn't fit well on a resume." The shorter man let out a chuckle before doing something Lucci never could have anticipated. Kaku placed a hand on his arm, which was still stuck in the wall, and ducked under. “I need to take my leave now, if you don’t mind. Kalifa offered to show me around, and I would hate to keep her waiting. Perhaps we can continue some other time.”He stared daggers into Kaku’s back as the other walked down the hall. The audacity of it. He was the one running this show, and yet this newcomer acted as though nothing could touch him. Lucci couldn’t help letting out a low growl."Watch your back. I'm not done with you.""I appreciate the warning."Lucci watched as the new agent put a hand up in a sort of wave, not even bothering to turn around. Everything about him was infuriating. The poised way he carried himself. The odd, almost elderly sounding manner of speech. The fact he wasn’t afraid. It was only a temporary setback. He would simply have to get more... creative with how he went about forcing the other out. Well, unless... no. The group was effective as it was. He refused to entertain the idea of allowing him to stay so easily.---------------Lucci paced the halls, pondering how to get rid of that new thorn in his side. Occasionally he would look out over Enies Lobby, over which the moon had already risen. During one of these pauses his ears picked up a conversation."I have been wondering, is there any reason he hates me?" It was the newbie's voice."Lucci?." Her voice came through the door that separated her room and the hall. “He makes a big show of hating everyone. Don’t let him know I told you, but once he warms up to you he’s really not so bad.”“Any estimate on how long that will take?” “Well… no. A long time is all I can promise.”“I suppose I’ll simply have to make the effort myself.”Kalifa laughed, though Lucci wasn’t sure it had been a joke. The damn bastard was really going the extra mile to piss him off, wasn’t he? "I’ll be interested to see what progress you make." Lucci heard a chair scrape on the floor. "I should retire for the night. Besides, I will have to start as soon as possible. He knows nothing about me, and I know nothing about him." Anger flared in Lucci as he stalked off into the shadows to wait. Soon Kaku came down the hall. Just as before, he transformed and cornered the other, claws embedded in the wall on either side of Kaku. There was surprise in his eyes, but no fear."Kaku. Age 22, taken from his home island at the age of 10 to train as a government assassin. No food allergies, but has a reaction to bee stings." Lucci leaned in close. "I know everything about you."“If you truly believe I’m that one dimensional, then I’m surprised that your team has lasted this long.”For once, Lucci was at a loss for words. Kaku had barely been there a day and already had the guts to say something like that to him. “What else is there to know?” His tone was cruel, mocking. Or at least, it was supposed to be. He couldn’t let the other know how jarring the whole situation was."Oh, I’m not sure. My favorite color? My dream profession? I could go on."“That isn’t important.”“Maybe not. But it is interesting, don’t you think? There is a whole person behind that file.”Lucci dropped his arms, hands balling into fists. It was becoming harder to keep his cool, but he did his best to keep his composure. As if knowing nothing would come of it, Kaku stepped closer. The other’s hands found their way to Lucci’s tie, straightening it with a sweet smile. His throat was tight as he watched Kaku leave, disappearing down the hall. Lucci's heart was pounding hard and fast. Being so close to the other, whose long nose had only been centimeters from his own, had started his heart racing. He had never felt that way before. Was this fear? Why? What about the young new agent put him on edge? And it wasn't only fear, but... curiosity? Kaku had been right after all, they knew nothing about each other. Perhaps he was worth keeping around, just to see how it all played out...
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Sleep did not come easily to Lucci that night. His mind raced with thoughts of what he should do about the new recruit. A few times the thought that maybe he had finally met his match had crossed his mind, but they were quickly pushed aside. He would not entertain such ideas. The new recruit would not get the better of him.It was about four in the morning when he wandered out into the living area, needing the small change of scenery. There he paced, peering out the window every now and then. He could always push Kaku out of one. Though if he managed to get this far, chances are a fall wouldn’t stop him.Footsteps brought Lucci out of his thoughts. Not wanting to be seen just yet, he slunk back into the shadows. Kaku came in and went straight to the window. Not what he expected, but nothing could have prepared him for what came next. The other opened the window wide and stepped back several yards. Then, he was off. Lucci looked on, frozen and wide-eyed as Kaku launched himself out of the window at a full sprint.When he finally unfroze, Lucci ran to the window just in time to see the other land gracefully on the gate wall in front of the tower and continue running. His stomach dropped. Had Kaku cleared that entire distance? He must have used moonwalk, there was no other way. Still, it was insane jumping from such a height over essentially a hole straight to hell. It startled him more than he would ever admit. Even he would never have attempted to make that jump, and there was little he couldn’t do.--The sun had risen fully by the time Kaku came back through the window. By that time the others had risen as well, and were arguing about Blueno and Kalifa refusing to cook, while Fukuro attempted to not burn toast. Lucci was sitting at the table, silently feeding his pigeon. It was easier to simply mind his own business than to get "Good morning!" Kaku waved as he entered the kitchen. The others returned the gesture, including Lucci's pet."Coo-coo!" Kaku's eyes went wide as he saw the white bird."Oh hello there! Aren't you a handsome bird. Do you have a name?""His name is Hattori." Lucci snapped as the bird cooed sheepishly. The last thing he needed was his bird liking him too. "He's mine.""I had had a feeling that was the case." He pointed to Lucci's neck with a smile. "You have the same tie."Before Lucci could respond, Kaku turned away to pull out various pans."Would anyone be interested in eggs and bacon?" As if to answer his question, the black and smoking toast soared from the toaster onto the floor, where the group looked at it for a few silent seconds."Newbie..." Jabra was the first to break the silence, "I think I'd be up for some eggs."There was a chorus of agreement. Lucci was the only one to refuse. He wasn't about to accept kindness from that long-nosed nuisance. Kaku wasted no time in getting started. When he was done, everyone was happy. Over easy for Kumadori, scrambled for Blueno and Fukuro, sunny side up for Kalifa (Spandam too when he showed up), and a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich for himself. Lucci was surprised when, once the others had left, a bacon-egg sandwich was slid towards him."Wasn't quite sure what you wanted, so I hope this is ok." Kaku said. "You can simply eat whatever parts you want.""Jumping out windows, cooking. Is there anything you can't do?" Lucci's voice oozed bitter sarcasm. Kaku sat across from him.A look of surprise crossed his face, but quickly turned into sheepish embarrassment. “Ah, I didn’t realize anyone saw that. It looked like it would be a nice drop, but I apologize if I caused any disturbance.”“You didn’t cause a disturbance. I don’t give a damn what you do.” Lucci took a brief sip of coffee. “But you’re avoiding the question.”The other lifted a hand, scratching idly at the back of his neck’“Well, I can’t swim.”"Your file says you aren't a devil fruit user.""I was never taught in my training." He smiled. "As for my morning run, perhaps you would care to join me one of these days?""Don't hold your breath." Kaku seemed to get the hint, and decided to eat out on the balcony with the others. That just left Lucci and the sandwich. As much as Lucci wanted to throw it out, that would be a waste of food for him to make one himself.Tentatively, he took a bite and... holy shit. Lucci hated how good it was. Why did that ginger have to be so talented? The fire was back full force. Kaku was fresh meat, but still seemed more generally competent than some of the current members. He kept eating, but wasn't about to thank the other. As far as Lucci was concerned, Kaku was a threat, now more than ever. He may not have all the answers he wanted yet, but he wasn't about to let that shitty long-nose beat him. Though it did make him wonder just how strong the long-nosed guy was. He'd have to ask Fukuro later...--"Coo?" Hattori tilted his head at his owner. Lucci stepped back from the pile of sand and fabric on the floor. There went another bag. It was that damned long-nose's fault, getting under his skin in a way nobody ever had. He was cute in a childish way. How had Kalifa put it that one time, when she was talking about a look for herself? He was cute, but with the aura that he could snap your neck if he wanted. Or… something along those lines. He hadn’t exactly been paying attention to what she had said.The door squeaked as it opened. Lucci glanced over his shoulder to see Kaku. Damn it. Was the ginger trying to follow him? It was odd, though, seeing him in a t-shirt and shorts. He may have only been around for a day, but Lucci was used to the high-collared look."Oh, I did not realize you were anyone present. You do not have to leave, I will not be in your way." He moved to one corner and laid a mat down. Then he laid down on his stomach."This isn't a place for a nap.""I wasn't planing on sleeping. Though you may want to join me sometime." Kaku put his hands on the mat, and pushed his torso up."And why would I do that?""It's not good to just work on muscle strength." Lucci wasn't exactly sure what he meant, so he left to retrieve another bag to hang. When he returned, he almost dropped the bag. Whatever Kaku was doing didn't seem humanly possible. He was bent backwards on the ground- as if he had been on his knees before bending to touch his forearms to the ground. But then he shifted into an even more impossible position. He held himself on bent arms, one leg moving in front of and below his arm an the other leg resting on top. He stayed suspended like that, barely shaking.Lucci left before Kaku noticed he had returned. He had no idea why it bothered him so much. So what if he was flexible? Kalifa was too. Somehow he managed to get deep under Lucci's skin, and something told him that the damned new recruit wouldn't leave easily. Maybe dinner would bring new opportunities to get rid of him...--Lucci sat hunched over his desk, writing. Well, it was more along the lines of questions and answers he had.Alright, fine. He was staring angrily at a blank page, trying to think of things he knew about the other. It… wasn’t a lot. Not enough to be worth writing down, anyways. A knock came from his door.His head shot up."What do you want?" He growled."You didn't show up for dinner." Thank the Celestial Dragons, it was Blueno. "I brought you a plate."Lucci opened the door and the tall man entered. He set the plate down on the room's coffee table. There was an uncomfortable silence, as Blueno didn't seem intent on leaving."Was there something else you wanted?" He snapped. Hattori cooed in agreement, resting on his shoulder."You've been avoiding Kaku." Blueno stated. Lucci let out a sharp breath. "You should give him a chance. He's stronger than at least Kalifa and Fukuro. They tried to fight him before dinner.""I bet that was quite a show.""It was. I've never seen anyone use Jabra's face as a springboard before." Part of him was disappointed he missed it, but he would never give Kaku that satisfaction. "Well, think about it."With that Blueno was gone. Lucci took the tray to his window, letting it fall into the abyss. Like hell he'd try to enjoy Kaku's presence. Tolerate, sure. There didn't seem to be a way to get rid of him, so he didn't have a choice. Hell would have to freeze over for him to want to get to know Kaku at all.
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Three weeks later, it seemed Hell had actually frozen over. There was nothing to do. No missions, no sudden events, nothing that could be killed. And he was really itching to kill some time at the very least. It seemed there was only one person to help break the mundane cycle, no matter how painful that idea was.He made sure to be up and ready before Kaku, and waited for him by the window. When he showed up, the long-nose didn't even question why he was there. Instead he just grinned. "Are you ready?" Lucci nodded. If things went south he always had his moonwalk ability. "Then let's go!"Both took off to the window, leaping out. Then they were falling. Well, Lucci was falling. Tumbling down through the air trying to stay somewhat upright. Kaku, on the other hand, was flying. He was in control, every movement deliberate and steady. After several long seconds, Lucci managed to gain a foothold in the air and push off, doing it again and again as he made his way over the divide. Kaku was already waiting when Lucci landed on the roof with him, more shaken than he’d ever admit."I hope you aren't considering turning back now." Kaku said with a laugh, holding out a hand. Ignoring it, Lucci pushed himself up."How the hell did you do that.""You have to be in complete control, and not fight the wind. But it does take practice." The two walked to the edge of the building. "Come on, we're wasting darkness."Lucci hadn't the slightest idea what he meant, given the nature of the island, but still followed as the ginger began jumping from building to building without so much as a break in stride. As much as he would deny it, Lucci was not faring as well. He often landed badly on pitched roofs, and had to moonwalk over quite a few gaps. By the time they had safely made it to wherever the hell Kaku was leading them, Lucci was more winded than he had expected, and was nursing several bruises. Kaku sat down, the grace in his movements still present. Lucci settled heavily next to him."Are you alright?" Lucci didn't meet the other's curious gaze."What did you bring us out here for?" He grumbled, avoiding the question. Kaku shrugged."I enjoy watching the sunrise."That was it? Lucci frowned. All that work to get out here, and it was just to watch the sun. He was half tempted to go to ground level and leave, but found that he couldn't make himself move. His stubbornness held him rooted to the spot. He had come this far already, so he wasn't about to turn back now.“Won’t be much of a sunrise. This island never has a true night.”“Maybe. But the sun does disappear from view for a while, and it’s quite nice to see it come back.”The two fell silent. After a while, a blinding light crested over the horizon and the clouds were stained lilac. Bright spots danced on the water’s surface as it came into view. As much as he hated to admit it, Lucci found the sight beautiful. After so many years on the island, accepting the dim evening that it had instead of night, he had never seen the sun return like this."It's real pretty, isn't it?" Lucci glanced over at the other agent, that tightness returning to his chest. What was this fear, that couldn't be kept away? He both wanted to sit forever in the sunlight with the other, but also had the extreme urge to push the long-nosed man off the roof they were sitting on."It's interesting, I guess.""Could you tell me something?""It depends on what you ask.""Why do you hate me? More than everyone else, I mean." Lucci turned to stare at Kaku, eyebrow raised in mild confusion."I hate everyone." It wasn't really an answer, but he didn’t feel like thinking too hard about it."Yeah but..." Kaku shifted his position. "The others often walk right into your ridicule. But it's like you go out of your way to hate me. I'm curious as to why.""I don't have to tell you a damn thing." Lucci tried to think of something, some reason to hate the other. His damned soft face, the grace with which he moved, the oddly calming way he talked, how innocent his mannerisms were. If he were being honest, it was the lack of infuriating things Kaku had that pissed Lucci off so much."But I don't want you to hate me. So if there is anything I can do to change, I'll gladly do it."Lucci was shocked. Kaku was willing to change for him? Add that to the list of infuriatingly sweet traits Kaku had. But Lucci couldn't stand the thought. Recovering, he growled.“I’d still hate you.”It was something to say. Another easy answer to get out of thinking about it. He didn’t want to think about it. Kaku stood, and Lucci quickly followed."Are... are you ready to go back?" His voice was shaking. A tightness formed in Lucci's chest. But why? So what if his words were a bit harsh. He’d been rude enough to the others without feeling as anxious about it. Still, there was still time to salvage it."Only if we walk like normal assassins back." Lucci huffed. The other smiled. It seemed salvaging was easier than he had expected."I'll probably have to make breakfast when we return.""We can pick something up on the way."The two left the roof as the rest of the island woke, leisurely strolling back to where they had come from. It was almost a shame, going back to the other idiots. Perhaps Lucci would have to hang around more often. Well, after a great deal of personal practice. A repeat of the morning's disaster would be humiliating…
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"How long have you done that." Lucci mumbled, staring intently at his coffee. "I'm sorry?" The man glanced up at the ginger across the diner table. Kaku had a bagel halfway to his mouth. Lucci shifted. This shouldn't be so hard, but here he was. Assassin work was easy compared to holding a sincere conversation with the ginger. He cleared his throat and composed himself."Jumping the way you do. Even the others in our group wouldn’t be able to do that without assistance. It was impressive.” Across the table Kaku smiled. It was awful, completely horrible. That damned long-nose was so nonchalant about the whole situation. Eating his bagel while Lucci was left wondering if his heart would come out of his chest it was beating so hard. He was terrified, of what he wasn't sure, yet something kept drawing him closer to the other. Like a puzzle that Lucci couldn't solve. "Yeah?" Kaku paused and sipped his tea. "It’s one of those things I’ve always enjoyed. There’s a freedom in it, falling through the air like that. It took me years to get that good at it.”For a while they fell into a comfortable silence. Lucci sipped his drink, trying to think of something to say. Conversations like this had never been his strong suit. Thankfully, Kaku broke the silence. Meaning he didn’t have to. "Just- Out of curiosity. What’s your favorite animal?"Lucci thought for a moment.“Cats. And birds.”“Huh. Birds I’d guessed because of Hattori, but I never really thought you were a cat person.”“Do you not like them?”"No, no! That's not it at all."Lucci tilted his head. He had to admit, he was curious as to what caused the other to not think he was a cat person, given him being… well, a person who could become a cat. “I just thought you turning into a cat was a bit more of an ironic fate? Given Hattori and all. Golly, I’m… I’m real sorry I just assumed.”Lucci couldn’t bring himself to be angry. In fact he almost found it humorous to consider, the thought of being trapped with his devil fruit while hating cats. But appearances were appearances. He gave a low grunt. “Don’t do it again.” Kaku’s file had said nothing about any special abilities or devil fruit, but he held a real power that Lucci couldn’t place. It was like he was magnetic, drawing him into whatever trap he had. And Lucci couldn’t seem to make himself fight it. Whatever was happening was the most interesting thing on the island, and if it kept the boredom away then he’d take the risk."Can I ask you something else?" "You just did." "Yes but… well if we’re going to work together I’d like to at least know you." Lucci raised an eyebrow as Kaku gazed out the window. "If you had any other life, what would you do with it?”“What?”"If you were not in CP9. What would be your dream occupation." Lucci thought a moment as he stood to toss his empty cup. Kaku followed suit and they soon found themselves walking through the town. "I can't imagine doing anything other than this. Yourself?" "Gosh..." Kaku sighed. "I've always dreamed of being a shipwright. Building, craftsmanship, my pa always said I had a knack for it. Before he died, at least. And I love it. Wanted to be a marine shipwright, but I ended up in CP9 instead." It was difficult not to pity the other. He wanted to build things that would last, but was instead recruited to destroy lives without mercy. The first was a noble dream. The second held no honor, only death. The pair walked in silence back to the tower. Something new was gnawing at Lucci's chest the whole time. It was something ugly and dark that felt like a crushing weight. Was this guilt? It was not a sensation he was used to. The feeling settled in his chest, not allowing itself to be forgotten so easily.Kaku deserved to have lived his dream, he decided. Lucci, well, he didn't have anything else he was good at. But Kaku was like a sunrise, full of life and potential. Warm and inviting with all the promises of a second chance, some comfort of redemption that Lucci could loose himself in were he not careful. He deserved all the good in the world, and Lucci would end anyone who thought otherwise. Lucci froze. Oh no."Lucci? Is something wrong?" "It's nothing." He forced himself to move. No. No, no he couldn't have these feelings, he was an assassin. A cold killer. Getting soft was not something he could accept. Friendship and sympathy had no place in an assassin’s heart. He needed to stop this. To wait until those feelings passed. Then he could continue on like nothing had happened.------- A few weeks later they still hadn’t subsided, and it was getting progressively harder to avoid the other. Especially since now he was stuck on assignment with him. Lucci still avoided speaking to him, which caused a few rough patches in the plan that were quickly smoothed out. He had to admit, Kaku had a knack for bringing the team back from a mistake. Unfortunately, their luck had to run out as their target was killed. Or rather, the decoy who tripped the alarm before meeting his demise. They were surrounded, left to fight their way through. The few times he noticed, he realized that Blueno hadn’t been lying about Kaku’s skill. He was almost as fast as Lucci, and much more agile. Of course, that didn’t mean Lucci was going to start talking to him like he was the others. That was his mistake. As Lucci turned to strike there was a sudden blur of orange between him and the target. It was too late to stop and his claws sank deep into the other’s back. Lucci’s stomach dropped, but then a gunshot rang out and Kaku crumpled to the floor. Lucci didn’t remember what happened next. He’d blacked out, and when he came to only the rest of his team was left standing. He stood surveying the carnage as Kalifa gingerly stepped over to where Kaku still lay. "He's still alive, would you like me to finish the job?" "No." For anyone else it would have been yes, but Kaku was his fault. He had left the other in the dark to guess, so it was Lucci's fault he was hurt. "We're taking him with us." Lucci joined Kalifa where she knelt. Gingerly he picked his unconscious ally up and held him close, turning to the others. Kaku let out a soft groan, head shifting to rest on Lucci's arm. The guilt was back, a shard of glass through his chest, but he kept cool. "We're done here." He growled. The others glanced at each other but said nothing. Blueno opened a door and they all passed through, leaving no trace that the group had ever been present.-----Spandam was pleased with their efforts, but Lucci was still dissatisfied. The mistakes that were made were his alone. He had let his pride get in the way of a mission, and that was unacceptable. But… there was something more to it. Already he had all but outright threatened the doctors into letting him be the first one to visit Kaku once he was well enough. It was a waiting game, and Lucci was quickly losing patience as the hours passed. It was late the second night back that a nurse came to get him. He followed her to the infirmary. Lucci pushed his way into the room, his guild growing heavier at the sight of Kaku covered in bandages. At least he was awake. "Finally." The ginger rasped, forced humor filling his voice. "someone other than a... oh." His face fell when he saw it was Lucci. It almost hurt, the other having not wanted to see him. Still, he moved closer. There was a long silence between them. "Lucci, I'm sorry. I was in the way, but I promise it won't happen again." There was fear in Kaku's eyes. After what Lucci had done to those who failed, there was a good reason to be afraid. But Lucci had no intention to harm the other."You did what you could in a situation where you had a severe disadvantage." He sat down on the edge of the bed. "You survived and the target is dead, that is victory enough." He glanced over at the injured agent, jaw clenching at the smell of blood."What's wrong?" "Your injuries were my fault." He stared at the sheets, unable to meet the other’s eyes. “I was an ineffective leader during this mission.”“Oh." He could hear the surprise in his voice.Lucci swallowed hard. It seemed neither knew what to do next."Can… Can I ask you something?""You don't have to ask every time.""Ah, ok. Then… Why are you here? You barely spoke to me for weeks but now… I think it sounds like you’re apologizing.”“I don’t know." He stood, silently walking out and leaving the other at the mercy of the nurses once more. Lucci couldn't do it. He was an agent of CP9, an assassin. He couldn't get soft. And yet here was someone who seemed genuinely interested in who he was other than an assassin, and that was more tempting than anything he had found before. Hell, he'd almost cracked in the room. But he couldn't allow that to happen again, for his own sake.
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It took quite some time for Kaku to recover, as he'd had to be very careful to not pull any stitches or reopen what internal injuries he had. Lucci stayed with him often while the others were off doing other activities. They would often sit by the window and talk over tea. If he were being perfectly honest it was nice to have someone other than Kalifa to talk to, as Blueno wasn’t one for long conversations and the others were fairly intolerable in that regard. Of course, the simple peace didn’t last long. Once Kaku was back to doing some things on his own, Lucci was called in to discuss another mission.
He couldn’t say he was thrilled to have another mission so large after the last disaster, but according to the superiors it was imperative that they start as soon as possible. It was a different tone of mission, that was for sure. Long term and under-cover. Lucci and his team would be stationed around Water 7 to get close to a man named Iceberg, in order to locate the plans to a super weapon.
“So who would you like on your team?”
“Kaku,” was the first name out of his mouth. Spandam frowned but trusted Lucci’s judgement. “The extra down time will still allow him to heal fully. He and I will go undercover as shipwrights. Kalifa and Blueno can find jobs around the city."
Lucci wasn't sure why he had bothered to say Kaku's name so quickly. Perhaps it was the memory of a few months ago, how Kaku’s face had lit up talking about being a shipwright. And even if it were just a short time, he would be able to live his dream. Of course, the other two would be useful as well, not to mention mature enough to not blow their cover. Damn. He was getting soft. Though... it wasn't all bad. It was a weakness that could protect itself and it was not as if he were soft with any other member of the group. He would simply have to be careful.
The meeting couldn't be over fast enough, but when it was he went searching for the ginger. Spandam could handle informing the others, but Lucci wanted to tell Kaku himself.
After a period of wandering, Lucci found himself at the door of the other's room. Without knocking he let himself in.
"O-oh, Lucci! Gosh, sorry you've got to see this." The ginger was flushed pink with embarrassment as the bandages he was trying to reapply fell from his hands. It seemed dressing the injuries maring his back was not going well.
"Let me help." Lucci strode over and took the bandages from his hands, re-wrapping them snugly over the wounds. He worked quickly, not wanting to linger on memories of those injuries. "We have a new mission."
"Really? I thought I'd be out longer... Not that I mind! I simply don't see what use I can be like this."
"It will be a long-term surveillance mission. You and I will be working as shipwrights at the docks on Water 7." Kaku's face lit up the way he had hoped it would. A warm feeling filled Lucci's chest, eating away at the heavy guilt that had settled there.
"We'll be working as shipwrights?" Lucci nodded. "Oh golly, this is- this is a dream come true. Lucci, thank you so much. I know you pick who goes, so you could have left me, but you didn't."
Lucci let out a huff. "Don't read into it. You know more about being a shipwright than anyone else here." Still, the reaction had taken the weight off of him. Maybe it was selfish, but if the other’s excitement lessened his own guilt then he’d be willing to "I've finished. Make whatever preparations you need, we leave in two weeks."
"Y-yes! Thank you."
—
Kalifa departed the next day. It would give her time to find some work and send information back to the rest of the group. Finding work was easy, Iceberg had taken a liking to her and hired her as her secretary. From there things fell easily into place.
The two weeks passed quickly, and before they knew it the night before they were to leave had come. Lucci had finished the final preparations later in the day, and was walking back to his own room when he noticed Kaku’s light was still on. There was talking inside, so Lucci quietly slipped in. Kaku was pacing around his trunk, wringing his hands nervously.
“Oh gosh... What if I can’t do it? I might get there and find everything I think I know about ships is wrong! Or what if the other shipwrights don’t like me? They could make fun of how I speak, like everyone else...”
“I won’t let that happen.” Kaku nearly jumped out of his skin.
“You have to stop surprising me like that.” Kaku gave a relieved laugh when he saw who it was. “But it’s inevitable. Even the others tease relentlessly.”
“I promise I will do what I can to not allow that.”
“Thank you.” Lucci turned and moved back to the door.
“Get some rest. If you insist on worrying, do it on the train tomorrow.”
“R-right. Goodnight, then.” With that Lucci left him and retired to his own room. Hattori was waiting for him and hopped into his shoulder when he entered. He stroked the bird’s head.
“Let’s see if we can still pull this off...” Lucci mumbled. It was going to be a long night…
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Sure enough, the next day Kaku spent the train ride worrying. Or at least the beginning of the ride. At some point he trailed off, and they sat in silence for some time
“Lucci...” Kaku smiled at his hands. “Thank you for asking me to come with you. It… means a lot to me.”
“You don’t have to worry about it.”
“Still...” Lucci’s chest tightened as Kaku’s hand found his, interlacing their fingers. “I know you’re fond of me.”
Lucci looked around. They were alone in the train car. He turned back to Kaku, allowing himself to give the other a soft smile. “I think you’re right.”
“Of course. And, well, I’m fond of you too.” Lucci’s heart was pounding. “Lucci...” He didn’t think his name could sound so perfect said by someone else. “Lucci...” The space between them grew smaller.
—
“Lucci!” He jerked, blinking his eyes open. His head was resting on Kaku’s shoulder, and Hattori dozed in his lap. He must have fallen asleep at some point during the other’s worrying. Whatever he’s been dreaming about faded as he lifted his head, trying to brush off the fact he had fallen asleep on the other.
“How long was I out?” Lucci mumbled quietly, so the other passengers wouldn’t listen.
“Most of the ride. I think I managed to bore you to sleep.” Kaku gave a nervous laugh. “Anyways, we are almost at our stop.”
Lucci looked out the window to see Water 7 looming above them. It was impressive to say the least. He then leaned close to the other, mouth almost touching his ear. “I need you to do most of the talking at first.” He breathed. Nobody else would have been able to hear the exchange.
“Huh? Oh, of course.” Kaku smiled. It was obvious he was confused, but Lucci doubted he’d press the matter. It wasn’t long after that the train rolled to a stop.
The city itself was lively, full of vendors and people out shopping. There would be time to join the fray later, but for now they had two goals- finalize where they would be staying and inquire about job openings at the docks. The first was mostly sorted out, as they’d already found a place to purchase before, and only had to finish signing some paperwork and settle in.
Their temporary home was admittedly very cute. a rust-colored exterior with white window sills. Inside was a light grey-blue with white accents. The main level consisted mainly of a decent sized kitchen connected to a dining area with windows overlooking the docks, and a cozy little living room. The second floor had two bedrooms and a full bathroom, which was quite lovely. It had white walls with sea-green tile around the tub and accents of the same color. The tub itself was big enough for two, and a shower head was in the wall above it.
Kaku chose a room first. His was the smaller of the two, but it was cozy. It had the same pallet as the other rooms, but the window gave a gorgeous view of the ocean over the buildings. Lucci’s room was clearly meant to be the master bedroom, with its larger size. It had a view of the street, but its size more than made up for it. Chances were he wouldn’t have looked out the window either way.
“Quaint.” He mumbled to himself, pleased with the house.
“I love it. It’s absolutely gorgeous.” Kaku gushed, standing beside him. Lucci huffed in agreement, gazing at his excited housemate. His expression softened. It was going to be hard to be tough with someone like Kaku as a housemate. Still, he’d manage. He’d had to do harder things before. Lucci glanced at the clock.
“We should be leaving.”
“Right.”
__
Lucci wasn’t sure what he expected from the docks, but the welcoming committee was certainly not it. There were three different men. One would not stop shouting, another had an odd spike of hair that seemed to change places whenever he pushed it in, and a less than interested man puffing on a cigar. But what was an even stranger sight was the boss himself. It seemed like their soon to be boss was almost a large child, doing what he wanted and skirting responsibilities.
“So, who are you?” Iceburg asked, uninterested.
“My name is Kaku, sir. We are hoping to fill the open shipwright positions.” Kaku’s introduction didn’t seem to interest the man any more, so Lucci hoped his little… trick… would help.
“My name is Rob, er, Hattori. And this is Rob Lucci.” Lucci said through his bird. Iceburg’s eyes widened, and it wasn’t just him. Kalifa looked shocked, and the trio of workers went from looking at Kaku with contempt to trying to wrap their heads around the mute with a talking pigeon. Lucci glanced over to see Kaku’s look of utter delight. He’d be hearing about that later.
“Kalifa, hire these two.”
“Yes sir.”
“Paulie, I want you to show these two around. Have them help you with the new repair project. Start small, alright?”
The man with the cigar looked appalled. “Sir, we don’t even know what they can do. Do you really think this is a good idea?”
“If I may,” Kaku offered, “My companion may be a bit new, but he is a fast learner. As for me, I have studied ships extensively. While hands-on practice is something I lack, I understand what I will be doing.”
“That seems like a good start.” Kalifa added, for which Lucci was silently grateful. They needed this job, or else the whole assignment was bust. He wasn’t expecting Paulie’s reaction.
“A good start would be you covering up more, you indecent woman!”
“That… is sexual harassment.”
Eventually everything settled down, and Paulie ended up showing them around. They seemed pleasantly surprised by what Lucci and Kaku were capable of, which bode well for their future. Even Lucci would have to admit he was impressed by how much Kaku knew about ships, while he was left to figure things out as he went. He would have to make a point of asking about it later, but for now he could make do. Learning what he needed would take much longer than they had at the moment.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The end of the day came quickly, but Lucci couldn’t complain. It was different from being at Enies Lobby, a peace here that couldn’t be found with some of the others’ constant noise. In the house it was just him and Kaku, having dinner with different ship diagrams spread out across the rest of the table. Kaku was pointing out parts of the ship and explaining what they were for. Lucci would ask about parts at times, comfortable that his ignorance on the topic would not be revealed to the others back at the marine base. As it was he was learning quickly, and the hands-on experience he had already gotten that day was helpful. Afterwards they found themselves on the couch, resting in a companionable silence. Lucci pretended to read as he watched Kaku work on crocheting what appeared to be a tiny sweater as Hattori perched on his knee. For a good few minutes he just watched before getting up.
“I’m going to bed.” He announced curtly, stalking off.
“Good night!” Kaku called after him, sounding tired himself.
Lucci laid in bed for a while unable to sleep. It was odd. Never before had he felt lonely during the night, but now despite the smaller room it seemed empty. Damn it. He really was going soft. The worst part was that he couldn’t seem to avoid it. Especially now. A part of him knew living with the other was going to be more trouble than it was worth.
Wishful thinking would not stop plaguing him. Domestic life had forever been out of his reach, but this was a look into it that he never could have expected. He closed his eyes, wondering how things could have been different. The question the other had asked him so long ago played in his mind. What would he have done if he was never a part CP9?
That night he was restless, tossing and turning as he was tormented by nightmare after nightmare. Always similar scenarios. Always the same fear. Loss. Losing Kaku, first to the ocean, then in a work accident, and then the blood on his own hands like before. Staring at the blood on his hands, his chest seizing as...
Lucci woke with a start, drenched in a cold sweat, breathing heavily. Quickly, quietly, he left his room and carefully opened the opposite door. The sight of Kaku curled up under the covers, with his soft snoring the only sound in the air, was a great comfort. Reassured, he returned to bed and made another attempt to sleep.
When he woke to his alarm, Lucci was exhausted. He pulled clothes on and wandered downstairs, he found Kaku sitting at their small table, bagel in one hand and newspaper in the other. He glanced up as Lucci entered, Hattori perched on his shoulder.
“Good morning!” He was upbeat, as per usual. “Looks like today’s going to have pleasant weather. There’s still coffee in the pot, if you’d like.”
Lucci gave a noncommittal hum as he went to the counter. Coffee would be nice, after the night he had.
“How’s your back?”
“Hm? Oh, I’d say it’s just fine. Hurts a touch when I lift things, but overall it’s much better than before.”
“Just don’t injure yourself again.”
“Oh don’t you worry, it’s not on my to do list.”
Hattori tugged at Lucci’s ear, demanding his own breakfast. Lucci relented, pouring his companion some bird seed before returning to his own breakfast preparations. He couldn’t help being curious about the day ahead. Their first day had been interesting enough, and he couldn’t imagine how interesting their second day would be.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The next few weeks were no less exciting than the first day. Between the clients and their coworkers, there was always something new to keep them on their toes. Kaku stayed on the ground for the most part, doing preliminary inspections on the ships people brought in. He was good at it, from what Lucci heard. Not that he was surprised. The other had an amazing eye for detail, and an understanding of ships that could put many to shame.Lucci was having a rougher time comparatively, but he found himself picking up the basics quickly. His understanding of ships as a whole was still shaky, but the work was easy enough. Especially with the other shipwrights there to lend a hand. It was a strange feeling, being shown what to do. No longer being the expert in what was meant to be his job. In the past he found that having his hand held while undercover always infuriated him. He was not an imcompetent child whose hand needed to be held, despite being treated that way time and time again. Galley-La was different. Every time he was corrected, there was no pity. No anger or condescending comments. The other shipwrights would stop him and show him a better way of doing things, or point out something he missed, but then they would let him fix it. Things were friendly, and even the more senior shipwrights had no fear in admitting when they themselves made mistakes. Lucci had never been somewhere that mistakes were something to be discussed and improved upon, and the shift was… nice. Not that he would ever admit it. And then there was the fact he and Kaku had been assigned to Dock 1, the most prestigious of the company’s docks. A lucky break. Still, he wasn’t about to look a gift yagara in the mouth.It reminded him of CP9, too. The chaos of their fellow shipwrights was an unusually pleasant background for the work they were doing. Taking the work seriously, but not themselves. In a way it-“Hey, Lucci!” The call of his name snapped him out of his thoughts, and the rhythmic work he had been doing while thinking. Paulie was approaching, with the other foremen and Kaku following behind him. He stood and Hattori settled on his shoulder.“Coo-hoo! Do you need something?” He said, Hattori acting as his voice.“Yeah. We’re going for drinks after work today. You should come! Won’t be as fun with just Kaku.”Lucci’s brow furrowed. He had to be missing something. Usually they were content to leave him be, so there had to be something going on. Right?“Is there some sort of occasion? Coo-hoo?” “Well you’ve been here a month already, so we figured we’d celebrate. Not many people can handle starting and staying on Dock 1.” Paulie shrugged.That was all? It was such an inconsequential thing to celebrate. He didn’t want to go, but deep down Lucci knew he had to. Things like this would help cement his place in the group, so he couldn’t keep avoiding it forever. He nodded at the others. Kaku gave him a quick thumbs-up as the others cheered. At least they were all content.He turned back to his work, dreading when his work day would end and subject him to the rowdiness of whatever bar his coworkers dragged him to.The end of the day came far too soon, but Lucci took comfort in the fact that the bar they were approaching didn’t seem crowded. Stepping inside crushed that comfort. Behind the bar was Blueno, who looked over the group with a glass in one hand and cloth in the other. Of course he had to be stuck there. Quickly looking away from Blueno, he took the seat next to Kaku before anyone else could. Was it silly to try and stay close to the one person he really knew in this situation? Probably. It wasn’t going to stop him, though. Drinks were brought by one of the other shipwrights and the impromptu party was kicked off. Lucci was a man of many skills, each one coming in handy as an assassin. He’d killed countless people and deceived even more. But somehow… somehow trying to act like he wanted to be at a loud, enthusiastic party he definitely did not want to be at was the hardest thing he had ever done. The alcohol helped take some of the edge off of it, but it still wasn’t nearly enough. Not yet, anyways.A number of drinks later- the last few being of a much stronger alcohol- Lucci was partially slumped over the table. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew he was going to regret it tomorrow, but for now it was doing what he needed it to. The party didn’t feel so bad anymore. He half listened to the conversation Kaku was having with Paulie, barely able to decipher most of what Kaku was actually saying.“I told her, I was part of that conversation from soup to nuts and her crewmate never said anything about wanting to get replacement canons. Got madder than a wet hen, but eventually we got things straightened out.” Kaku laughed, taking a sip of what was still only his second glass of beer.“That kind of thing happens a lot around here.You learn to deal with it. Besides, pirates itching to get out of paying are a good way to let off steam whenever a paying customer gives us a hard time!” The whole table erupted into laughter then, and Lucci couldn't help but grimace. It was too loud again. Too crowded. He caught Kaku’s eye, and the other nodded in understanding.“Tonight was fun, but I should be getting home. Lucci’s looking a bit soapy eyed and we do still have to work tomorrow.” Lucci, dazed as he was, didn’t need any other convincing to get to his feet while a chorus of goodbyes rang out. He felt the other slip an arm under his own, helping support him on his feet. Whether he wanted to argue or not didn’t matter. He knew he’d need the help even if he wasn’t a devil fruit user. Finally stumbling through their door was like a weight off Lucci’s shoulders. He pushed Kaku away, no longer needing him for support. There were no canals to fall into while inside. He started to stumble towards the stairs, but Kaku grabbed his shoulder.“You should get some water.”“I’m fine .”“When morning comes you won’t be. We have work.”“I don’t need your fucking help. I’m fine, and you need to remember your place.” Lucci snarled, whipping around to stumble up to his room. He didn’t hear footsteps behind him, or the familiar sounds of Hattori’s flapping. It seemed he was alone. He fell into bed and sighed. Finally he could rest. Finally he had some freedom from others, at least for a little while. Lucci’s eyes closed, and he allowed himself to drift off to sleep. What ever happened tomorrow, it wasn’t his problem now.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Light filtered through Lucci’s window, falling over his face and waking him. Claws dug into his headboard and dragged down as he opened his eyes. Everything hurt. He didn’t want to move, but he knew he’d have to. Work wouldn’t wait on him.
He pushed himself up, taking a moment to sit on the edge of the bed to collect himself. A glass of water sat on the side table. It hadn’t been there the night before. He knew that. Kaku must have put it there at some point, then. He took it as he stood, sipping it as he made his way downstairs.
“Well, look who decided to join us this morning.”
“Coo!”
Lucci glared at where Kaku stood in the kitchen, back to him. Hattori stretched out a wing in greeting before flying over to perch on Lucci’s shoulder. Kaku sure seemed pissed about something, and though he couldn’t remember the better part of last night it was probably his fault. He sat at their small kitchen table, focusing on the wood patterns as he tried to will his headache away.
“Thanks.” He mumbled, just loud enough to hear over whatever Kaku was cooking. “For the water, I mean.”
Kaku hummed an acknowledgement before turning and setting two plates on the table. Eggs. Bacon, too. A nice breakfast, though strangely disconnected from how upset Kaku seemed.
“Didn’t poison it, did you?”
“You’d like that, wouldn't you.” Kaku cracked a smile, starting on his own food.
“I’d like it more than going to work like this…” Still, he dug in. With any luck he’d be able to function by the time they had to leave. “How’d the rest of last night go? Think I blacked out after we left.”
“That’s not surprising. I don’t know why you were trying to drink yourself into a stupor, but you certainly did a good job of getting that way.” The other leaned back, pointing at Lucci with his fork. “You get madder than a wet hen when you’re drunk.”
Oh. So that’s why he’d been given the cold shoulder this morning.
“Not usually. Last night was… too much for me.” Lucci paused to take a sip of water. “I apologize for whatever I did. Perhaps next time we could do our drinking in a less crowded setting?”
Kaku nodded at the statement, seeming more at ease than he had been. The rest of their meal passed in silence, Lucci dumping their dishes into the sink after they both finished before going back up to change. He wasn’t enough of an animal to wear the same clothes to work twice, even if his work outfits all looked the same anyways. When he finally returned downstairs, Kaku was looking over a map of Water 7.
“I’m going to look at bulls this evening. We’re going to be here a while, so it’ll be easier to just buy one. Care to join me?”
“I’ll pass.” Lucci passed the other without looking at him, Hattori settling on his shoulder as the trio started on their way to the docks.
“Fine by me. Don’t need you being sour about it the whole time.”
The day passed uneventfully. For the most part, at least. The work he had was repetitive and simple, easy enough even with the headache he still had. He’d be turning in early that night. Hopefully it’d make the next day somewhat easier.
When he saw Paulie approaching, Lucci put down his tools.
“Hey, uh… sorry about last night.”
Lucci’s eyes narrowed.
“What do you mean?” He asked through Hattori, genuinely confused. Had something happened that he couldn’t remember?
“Look, you don’t need to be a genius to know you weren’t havin’ a good time. And Kaku said it wasn’t really your thing. So… Sorry. Didn’t mean to make you feel like you had to come, y’know? Lots of dock workers don’t like it.”
Lucci stood in shocked silence, trying to find something to say. Not only was the other apologising to him, something he quite frankly never would have expected from someone with more authority than him, but was also offering him a way out of any future events.
“Oh… Thank you, coo-hoo.” Lucci gave a small nod and Paulie shrugged.
“Don’t mention it.”
He didn’t stop thinking about the interaction for the rest of the day. Such a mundane display of decency had left him feeling… pleased, in a way he rarely ever felt. Lucci was never one for such things but now he couldn’t help but wonder what it was like to be on the other end. Well, if there was ever a time to try such things it was now. If it didn’t go well he could simply not continue.
Once he got off, Lucci met Kaku over by the dock entrance. It had become routine for them to walk home together, though today it seemed they had something else in mind. He was honestly surprised to see Kaku waiting for him. After that morning he’d expected the other to have simply left him on his own.
“Coo-hoo! Where are we going?”
Kaku glanced his way, eyebrow raising in confusion.
“I’m headed down to a bull shop. Didn’t think you were going to join me.”
“Had a change of heart. And the headache’s gone, coo-hoo.”
The other gave him a soft grin, and tilted his head down the street. They set off, Lucci staying beside the other until the walkways began to narrow. He trailed along behind his companion, listening to him talk about the ships he’d spent the day assessing. If he were one for sentimentality, he’d say it was almost heartwarming to hear how well the other had adjusted. But he wasn’t. So his interest was solely professional.
His mind wandered as he listened and took in the city. What would the other have done if he weren’t here? He couldn’t imagine that Kaku would have the same energy, but it was probably conceited to believe the other’s mood relied so heavily on his presence. He’d always been a kind soul, for better or-
Lucci was jerked back, and snapped out of his thoughts. He was on the edge of the walkway, dangerously close to the water. Glancing behind him, he saw Kaku holding the back of his shirt tightly. A look of concern filled his eyes.
“You sure that headache’s gone?”
His face warmed as he stepped back, trying to hide his embarrassment. He should never have come. If he hadn’t, he wouldn’t have suffered this humiliation. When he realized Lucci wasn’t about to answer him, Kaku started walking once more. Every now and then he glanced back, as if Lucci was going to make that same mistake twice. They couldn’t get this over with fast enough…
Their errand went quickly once they actually reached their destination, and for that he was thankful. Kaku and Hattori had settled on taking a pale purple yagara, who seemed mild-mannered at the very least. He let the other settle things, not keen on getting too involved. It was a necessary purchase. Not something he needed to bother getting attached to. And he couldn’t say he was thrilled about the idea of getting into such a flimsy mode of transportation. A ship or a sea train was one thing, but something relying on some beast was not something he was all too keen on.
Kaku waved him over. It seemed it was time to bury his pride. That’s what it was, after all. Pride. Being on such a thing would be humiliating, even without the water.
“Lucci, meet Seaweed. She’s steady, if a bit rough around the edges. I’m sure you’ll get along great!”
“Coo-hoo!”
Lucci glared at Hattori. In public, so long as Hattori wasn’t with him, he was rendered speechless. It seemed Hattori understood that well enough to not let him insult the new friend he seemed to have made. He let out a soft huff, watching Kaku step into the small boat attached to the beast’s back. Then it was his turn. He tried to move carefully, steadying himself with the back of Kaku’s seat. It shifted ever so slightly and Lucci’s knuckles went white with how tightly he was gripping the painted wood. Taking a breath, he decided to move quicker. All he had to do was get in. It shouldn’t be that difficult. He wouldn’t let himself be humiliated a second time that day.
Getting settled was no easier than getting in. He was tense as they started their way back to their house, focusing intently on the back of his companion’s head. He couldn’t stand being so close to the water. Being on the walkway was one thing, but this was a special brand of torture. They couldn’t get back to the house soon enough.
Lucci let out a sigh as he walked through their door, going straight for the couch and collapsing onto it. Finally he was able to rest. Kaku eventually came through the back door, having gotten his new pet settled. Lucci refused to get attached, but if Kaku wanted to then that was his own issue to deal with. He watched the other wander over to the kitchen, putting his jacket by the door before starting to pull out materials for dinner.
“Thanks for coming with me today.” Kaku called over from this place by the counter. “I know you didn’t really want to.”
He’d been that obvious, huh? Well, he supposed he didn’t exactly try to hide it. Lucci gave a noncommittal grunt, not wanting to discuss things any further. Of course, that wasn’t about to dissuade his housemate from continuing to chatter. It was amazing how well he could keep secrets with the time he spent talking.
“It seems like we’ll be out of work in the next few weeks.” The other continued, paying more attention to what he was doing than Lucci’s reaction. “The annual high tide is coming, and a large storm with it. They call it Aqua Lagoona. Can’t say I’m looking forward to the flooding, but we’re high enough in the city that it won’t cause us any issue.”
Lucci’s brow furrowed. Aqua Lagoona… He’d read about it before they had left for Water 7. An annual high tide that creates a wave large enough to flood the lower parts of the city. It had been the thing he had been looking forward to the least on this mission, and to think it would be coming so soon… The worst part was that there would be no distraction from it. With the rain the docks would be closed. It simply isn’t safe to work in those conditions, especially on ships.
“Damn it.” He mumbled to himself.
“Did you say something?”
“No.”
“Oh. Alright then.”
He let out a huff, tuning out the rest of his housemate’s ramblings. For a mission that had started out seeming so easy, it was really starting to test his patience. With any luck, things would go back to being simple soon.