Out of all the average human's many emotions, anger always seemed to be the one you couldn’t control.

It was just so easy to get you upset. Even if it wasn’t intentional, it definitely rubbed you the wrong way whenever it happened. Nail scratches, loud chewing, even the way others breathed sometimes would tick you off.

People always whispered about you in towns and villages. You were always considered the unmanageable one.

They're unstable, One’d whisper.

Clearly. Someone needs to get them some help. The other hissed.

All it succeeded in doing was making you angrier. You tried so desperately for people to see you differently. To try and make them perceive you in another light. Others looked at you with concern and pity. They all thought you needed help.

But you didn’t need help.

You needed love.

You needed support. You needed people who genuinely cared and who’d accept you for who you were.

Perhaps everyone else didn’t treat you with such respect..

But the Straw Hats did.

You could still recall the day which you joined. Luffy outstretched his hand to you with that huge smile on his face. The one that made your heart skip a beat.

"Come on! We’re friends now, aren’t we?"

You didn’t want to admit it, but that crew was the best thing that ever happened to you.

They treated you as everyone else deserved — with genuine compassion and kindness.

You experienced just about everything with them. You laughed, you cried, and, most of all, you joined a family.

As long as you had been with them, Luffy did catch on to your agitation and anger pretty quickly. That bottled up emotion never went unnoticed by him.

You always seemed so fired up during battles, so eager to get your emotions out somewhere. Sure, it was a big help to have you be so passionate against adversaries, but your sudden desire and urge to fight whenever the time called for it raised his suspicions.

Luffy couldn’t bring it up. After all, you never told anyone. You didn’t have to. You didn’t want to.

Not even you expected what was about to happen.

During a night to be celebrated, after the defeat of another crew of enemy pirates — just begging for fights and looking for trouble. There were drinks, good food, and plenty of conversation.

But he knew. He saw every sign.

Every glass clink, every utensil clatter, every goddamn chewing noise.

It made your demeanor falter with every small detail.

You noticed Luffy giving you these looks from distances, unable to make out what they meant.

Was it concern? Confusion?

Did he know? Did he suspect something?

It was all too much. You were overwhelmed, and, at that point, rather vulnerable.

You grit your teeth. When nobody was looking, you managed to slip away from the party unseen.

By everyone except him.

Quickly finding the way to your room, a loud slam echoed through the ship's empty halls, unheard over the sounds of the sea crashing against it and the crew's talking.

Luffy was watching you the entire night, and he watched you curl awkwardly into the Sunny's wing.

Somehow compelled by the sight of you stressed, he followed far behind you.

A meltdown was coming.

Within minutes, the sounds of loud, hoarse screaming filled his ears.

His feet moved on their own, running towards your room and pushing the door open. Apparently he forgot you locked it for a reason with the way he shoved it with such force.

The sight he was met with was shocking. You were losing it — punching walls until your knuckles bled, releasing anger bottled up over years of emotional trauma and distress.

He was stuck in place. He didn’t know what to do until he heard your angered screams turn into pained ones.

"Hey.." He said hastily, clearly confused at your sudden change in attitude.

"You’re gonna hurt yourself!"

He wanted to grab you, to tell you everything would be okay, but he couldn’t promise anything.

He was in a stupor.

He didn’t know what to do.

Suddenly, you felt long, rubber arms wrap around you, restricting your movement.

"Why didn’t you tell me..?" He asked, his voice strained but soft.