[One Piece, 2 drabbles]

[.livejournal.com]

Title: Overcome
Fandom: One Piece
Genre: General/Friendship
Rating: G
Characters/Pairing: Robin, Franky/Robin
Prompt: onepiece_300, Fear
Word Count: 295


She has nightmares of flames and screams, burning books and running feet. She'll wake with a start, cold sweat on her brow and eyes panicked until she remembers where she is; until she remembers that she's safe.

The dreams are different now, yet still the same. There's flames and loved ones dying, that horrid mocking face looming over her and sometimes her mother, sometimes her captain. One night she'll witness the Tree of Knowledge burning all over again, the next night it's Going Merry, and on the worst of nights it's the Thousand Sunny. It's her one true fear, the one thought that can make her blood run cold. Those two simple words: Buster Call.

And sometimes she thinks that it might be best to run again, to spare her dearest nakama the fate that her companions have met before.

Then there's large, warm, comforting hands in her dreams. Sometimes the callused and steady hands of a giant, the echoes of laughter and the pain of loss. Sometimes it's the cold hands of a cyborg, his metal nose pressed against her cheek as he whispers to her, "You're safe now. There's nothing to fear."

She'll wake then, to a smile and a offer for a chilled cola. Often other concerned and caring faces will hover nearby, offering her anything to take away the nightmares. One night, it'll be a soothing medicine made especially for her, another night it'll be a rubbery hug and a strawhat by her pillow.

It's how she sleeps at night. Knowing that they're there, knowing they're safe; knowing that if ever someone dare come after her nakama that this time around she has nothing to worry about.

Because the Strawhat Pirates will never bow down to fear; they will overcome it.





Title: First Meetings
Fandom: One Piece
Genre: General/Friendship
Rating: G
Characters: Brook, Yorki
Prompt: onepiece_300, Beginnings
Word Count: 300


They had met over a song.

Glad the kingdom's war was over, but still without a job since they'd dispersed the battle convoy, Brook had taken to playing piano at the local bar for a few belis in tips. It was fate, he would later tell the crew, that Captain Yorki choose that bar to have a drink at that night.

"Do you take requests?" He'd gruffly asked the lanky man seated at the piano.

Brook tilted down his sunglasses, recognizing the man's face but not placing where from. "Anything you can name."

Yorki took this as a challenge, thinking up the most obscure tune he could. "How about the Gulliver Suite, in 24/1 time."

Cocking an eyebrow from behind his shaded lens, the pianist smirked. "That's a suite for two violins."

"Aha, so you can't play everything," he quipped, but Brook shook his head.

Standing, he towered over the pirate captain and reached behind the piano to pull an old battered violin case out.

"I can only play one part of it. But for someone to know of the piece, I can only assume they can play the second part."

The two shared a meaningful look at that, finally broken when Yorki started laughing. "You are quite something...?"

"Brook," he replied, extending a hand. "And you are?"

"Calico Yorki." He snapped his fingers and one of his companions came up carrying a violin case. "Of the Rumbar pirates. I've been looking for a violinist to play the suite with. Would you care to join me?"

And knowing it was much more than an offer to play a song, Brook accepted. "It would be my honor, yo-ho-ho-ho!"

Laughing and singing lyrics they made up as they went along, Brook and Yorki both played the suite masterfully.

Ending in a flourish, the pirate captain cheered, "Let's give a toast. To Brook, our new crewmate!"