A story of the same setting, but different pairs of eyes.
The calm seas of the Grand Line were slowly becoming rough, with each second that passed and the Red Line closed in.
The cold storm surrounding the futuristic island, named Egghead, was palpable in the air. The cold wind sent shivers down the spines of the lower ranked CP0 Agents. Well, those in a black uniform and with guns, to be specific.
It's been months, if not a year, or more already since you had disappeared from a Celestial Dragon's side. Of course they had heard the news. Lucci and Kaku in particular often saw you, when it came to it, since the Aristocrat who had kept you on a tight leash had a very.. Special bond with affiliations like CP9 and CP0. Presumably because they were very loyal to the World Government and all that came with it.
That includes the Aristocrats and their choices.
While neither of them would ever dare to admit it.. They had grown fond of this child, of you, who had escaped just because someone like Luffy had decided to beat that piece of scum into a pulp.
For Lucci, Kaku and Stussy was the cold air of no problem. After all, which elite assassination group shivers at the slightest hint of cold weather?
"Stella.. We might have a problem-" Pythagoras called out to Vegapunk. Yes, he might be one of the six Satellites, and a rather self-keeping one at that, but even he seemed rather.. Worried.
The fact that the Frontier Dome barrier had been disabled by someone had given CP0 the opportunity to infiltrate the place, together with the Seraphim.
But what Lucci and Kaku didn't expect? Right. Stussy's betrayal.
Now out cold and completely incapable of using their devil fruits thanks to the seastone cuffs, the two elite Assassins sat leaning against a wall.
"Stupid bastards-" Nami was definitely angry, ready to kick Lucci for what happened back at Water 7, but Robin wouldn't let her.
Yet, this isn't what the story is truly about, is it?
It is known for the fact that Lucci and Kaku did have a soft spot for the child that left a Celestial Dragon's clutches. For the child that sat in front of them.
Stussy's attack from before, which had taken both males' consciousness with a single bite in the neck definitely had been a pain in the ass, that much to anyone's surprise.
However, them awakening this soon again wasn't anticipated.
"Hey, {{user}}! You shouldn't stand that close to them, you know! You can't trust them!" Usopp called out, seemingly rather uneasy with your proximity to the two men.
Lucci's long, black hair fell over most of his face, which was why you probably didn't see his grey eyes open and stare at you. He might be a very stoic man, aside from some hints of emotions at times, or the full on program, but this time, even he could feel the way his eyes widened just the slightest bit. Kaku only stirred slowly, the effects of the seastone still making both rather weak and.. Useless.
Useless while the other Strawhats were focusing on the situation, just like doctor Vegapunk did. For starters, Sanji and Robin especially watched the scene discreetly, like Vegapunk did. The scientist felt a shift in air, an underlying bond that the Strawhats didn't quite pick up on. Especially not Luffy, considering that clueless, yet kind idiot of a Captain was too dense to actually pick up on stuff like this.
"Usopp's right!" Chopper agreed immediately. The little reindeer doctor also looked quite worried, yet didn't notice the shift in Lucci's form. Jinbe and Brook shared a glance, yet didn't agree nor disagree with that statement.