EPISODE 05 : EAT AT BARATIE!
( Death's Dove )

AT TIMES WHEN Estrella Narváez finds she cannot breathe — sinking within her suffocating skin — She clenches tightly the monument of her Home, cool metal searing against her palms like a palpitation of a bloody and broken heart.

Dracule Mihawk, as he promised, did not deter from Roronoa Zoro at dawn, despite Estrella's moderately benign protests.

She avoids the man the way she would anybody else; But Mihawk is not anybody else. He is a man who has killed Estrella countless times. He has watched her die for an eternity that consumes her, he has watched her fall into the depths of Mother Ocean, and he has fished her out.

From beside her, Monkey D. Luffy watches the scene with an expression that cannot possibly be contempt, but seems so all the same. He adjusts his straw hat the way Estrella does her sword — Cautiously. Expertly. As though such an object meant more than life itself.

Zoro is five steps ahead of them, and Nami is nowhere to be seen. Estrella knows because she spent countless minutes of her morning searching for that splash of orange hair and the smell of tangerines, only to find them gone.

An ill dread settles in the bounty hunter's stomach, replacing the alcohol she had so sparingly consumed last night in hopes of avoiding the pressure of discussing backgrounds and sob stories.

Estrella debates whether she should say any kind words of encouragement to the green-haired man, but she decides otherwise. The fleeting memory of the day before is still fresh in her mind.

Usopp is the closest to her, head bowed and neck exposed as he slouches his way down the rickety dock. His eyes are downcast, full of morning tears and mounting anxiety.

Estrella feels pity for him. She silently hands him a drink from her flask ( She stole it long ago from the ship's storage ) and motions for him to take it.

The sharpshooter is too trustworthy. He takes the drink without a second thought, washing away the alcohol plaguing his mouth with a thank you and a tired grin.

Estrella faces forward once more. She can feel the piercing stare of the Warlord, who watches her silently.

Don't tell me you're attached to that crew?

The words thrum dangerously against her temple, and her eyes close as she inhales sharply, turning away from Mihawk's hallucinogenic eyes.

It is the Warlord who speaks first, saving Estrella from her spiral into anger. She clenches her weapon, feeling her own pulse against the hilt.

"Monkey D. Luffy." Dracule Mihawk sounds the same as he always does; Dull, with slight intrigue hanging off his downturned lips.

"I'm surprised the Marines would require my services for such a small package." He adds, the twitch of his mustache hardly noticeable. "Though I do like your hat."

Estrella stays silent. She can see the flickering of a deep memory resurfacing within Mihawk. She remembers the things he would tell her, passing time within the Marine headquarters when they had nothing more to do but catch their breaths and tend to their wounds.

Mihawk had only mentioned the name of another to Estrella once, but her mind had long forgotten that name. She hadn't cared enough then, and she didn't care enough now.

"Enough." Zoro is impatient, his fervently polished swords refracting the early morning light. "Let's begin."

His hair is hidden beneath a black bandana — A staple of his determination to the battle he's soon to fight.

Mihawk acknowledges his conviction, but does not grant him the honor of being befallen by his most prized possession; His giant sword, Yoru. Instead, from his cross necklace he pulls a tiny blade, almost a dagger, and points it at the pirate hunter.

"What the hell is that? I'm here for a sword fight." Zoro's eyes flicker furiously from the Warlord's passive face to the tiny blade in his grasp.

The feather on Mihawk's hat flutters in the breeze. He scoffs, almost incredulously. "I don't hunt rabbits with a cannon."

Estrella grinds her teeth together. Even after years of knowing, Mihawk is still as calculating as ever.

Zoro snarls, and his hands reach for his blades. Out of the three, he only unsheathes his two obsidian blades, leaving the eggshell white sword sitting comfortably against his hip.

"I'm no rabbit." He grits out.

Mihawk has the ability to look amused. "That remains to be seen."

The breeze picks up to a heavier wind, enveloping the dock. Mihawk's blade glints sharply against the glow of the morning sun.

It is Zoro who initiates the first move. He charges towards the Warlord, blades drawn flat against his sides. He crosses them just as he strikes Mihawk.

The older man takes a swift step forward, thrusting his blade at Zoro. The force from the blow throws Zoro a few feet away, skidding to a stop.

His swords scrape against the wooden planks, whining painfully as metal meets lumber.

For the second time, the pirate hunter darts towards the Warlord, swinging his swords in a windmill of sharp blades.

The two exchange words between the clashing of metal, too swift and passing for Estrella to catch. It seems that Mihawk's curiosity is slowly dwindling, and his blade grows more and more restless with every passing second.

At last, he utters a simple word in reply, and Zoro is sent flying into a cluster of nearby barrels. Estrella watches with rapt attention, her eyes never leaving the green-haired man's figure.

"You're strong." Mihawk comments mildly, his focus solely on Zoro. He says the words in a voice just loud enough for the crew to hear — He wants them to hear. "But fighting isn't all about strength."

"Stop talking and fight." Zoro chokes out, and he uses his swords as a crutch to lift himself back up.

With every dance of Zoro's dual swords, Mihawk parries easily, thick angled brows arched with residue anger at the pirate hunter's lack of understanding.

"You're like a little frog croaking in a well." The Warlord grunts as his opponent forces his weight against his blade.

"Croak." He dodges the blow with ease.

"Croak." He slides around and steps, circling Zoro.

"Croak." He stands opposite his original position, his view now of Baratie's entrance.

Zoro crouches, standing between the two mermaid statues adorning the front door of the restaurant, swords raised outwards.

He makes a run for it as Mihawk turns to face him, brandishing his weapons. The Warlord is too quick — He aims the blade at Zoro, who slides behind him and slashes his back.

Or he tries; Mihawk is already facing him, and he throws the green-haired man into the entrance doors of Baratie.

Estrella feels Usopp grow limp beside her. His face is covered in cold sweat — Whether it is from the hangover or the battle, she doesn't ask.

Luffy stares straight ahead, his expressive face for once disclosing nothing. Estrella turns back to the battle, feeling her chest grow taut.

Don't tell me you're attached to that crew?

Once again, Mihawk's words strike a chord through Estrella, like a childish taunt that doesn't leave her mind. She grits her teeth and squeezes the hilt of her weapon.

Zoro aims a final strike at the Warlord, only to be met with a blade to the chest.

Estrella's mouth goes dry and finds that she can't say anything. The severity of the situation hits her at last.

Zoro is going to die. Zoro is going to die, and she doesn't want him to.

The acceptance washes over her like a tsunami — Cold and strong, tearing her off her home where it is just Estrella Narváez and those she loves.

Mother Ocean swirls dangerously as Zoro stumbles back, a red splotch on his blue shirt.

"You're brave, I'll give you that." Mihawk hums in acknowledgment. "So I'll do you the honor of killing you with Yoru."

Estrella looks away as the Warlord pulls the giant sword from his back, her eyes accidentally meeting crystalline blue. Nami stares back at her, eyes bloodshot and lips torn from being chewed on.

Estrella swallows harshly.

Don't tell me you're attached to that crew?

She takes a trembling breath, eyes flickering from the tumultuous ocean beneath her feet to the faces of the crew surrounding her.

Mihawk lifts his weapon, pointing it at Zoro. The pirate hunter grins weakly, adjusting his swords to one hand.

His free hand reaches to his hip, where he draws out the eggshell-colored sword.

"That's more like it." He grunts, and bites down on the hilt of his sword.

With his fatigued body, Zoro summons the last of his strength to stand and twirls his blades as he charges toward the Warlord.

Estrella watches as his blades dance to a rapid tempo, dangerous and deadly.

The two men charge towards each other, and their blades clash in a screech of metal. Sparks fly dangerously close towards the crew, and each opponent lands in the place they had been at the beginning of the battle.

Estrella clenches her hands tightly into fists. She watches as Zoro's swords crumble into worthless steel before her eyes. All that remains intact is the precious blade inserted between his teeth, left unharmed.

It falls with a clatter to the floor, scattering the broken fragments of his damaged blades through the gaps in the wooden planks. They are swallowed by the Sea, which mercilessly offers no solace to the man's loss.

Only resolution lies within Roronoa Zoro, and he calls upon his last remaining strength to haul himself upward, his katana acting as a crutch.

The green-haired man gasps weakly, every breath he takes falling short of his lungs. He greedily swallows as much air as he can, chest rising and falling in meager puffs of air.

"You're defeated," Mihawk says sourly. "Why do you persist?"

Estrella watches the hawk-eyed man. She can see the grim satisfaction on his placid face, and she knows that he is contemplating her words at that very moment.

For once, she prays to the Sun and the Stars, that Dracule Mihawk is a man with enough heart to grant her this one request.

Zoro coughs out a breath. Estrella feels her own chest to be achingly tight against her skin.

"Wounds on the back are a swordsman's greatest shame." He says in a rasp, his blade curving against its sheath as he puts it away.

The pirate hunter raises his arms in acceptance — He renounces at last.

Mihawk looks at the man for a moment. His eyes flicker to Estrella, who feels dread crawling up from her stomach.

"Magnificent." He drawls.

Estrella watches as his blade rises to the sky. She watches as Mihawk brings the blade down.

The brunette feels a dull sort of warmth envelop her palm, and Nami's at her side, tears in her beautiful eyes.

They say nothing, only watch as the Warlord strikes Zoro across the chest.

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‎AT TIMES WHEN Estrella Narváez finds she cannot breathe — Particularly at this very moment, watching someone she put her trust in struck down by someone she thought she knew well enough — She usually finds the objects from Home to be a comfort.

Not now, she realizes, as her fingers are clenched achingly tight around her blade. Not as her nails chip from the sheer strength of her grip.

She finds the dull warmth belonging to Nami's hand slightly better, but not enough so.

The crew stands around Roronoa Zoro's fallen body, and Estrella Narváez feels overly bitter saltwater fall against her lips.

The taste is almost metallic. She brings a hand to wipe it away. The only thing that greets her eyes is golden liquid.

Estrella swallows thickly. It's not salt water.

She feels her eyes burn — When was the last time she cried? Estrella can't remember.

Their captain is shaking Zoro as if he is a ragdoll, and Estrella subconsciously reaches out a hand to stop him. It lands gently on the curly-haired man's shoulder.

"Luffy."

The words are quiet, hardly audible as they tumble out of Estrella's dry mouth.

"Luffy." She tries again, louder this time. The man pauses and turns to stare at her. "Don't shake him. He's injured."

The man scans Estrella's face, and he sees the glow of her odd tears, the redness of her nose — Estrella doesn't recall rubbing it — And nods once, his hand still against Zoro's outstretched arm.

Estrella turns to look at Mihawk. He's already staring at her, a difficult expression on his face. She understands without needing to be told — He hadn't done this for her.

"Monkey D. Luffy." The Warlord calls, breaking his stare to address the captain. "What's your goal?"

Luffy's mouth twitches. His eyebrows are furrowed, eyes sharp.

"I'm going to become King of the Pirates." He says through gritted teeth.

Mihawk looks intrigued. "King of the Pirates, ay? That's a much more treacherous path than even defeating me."

The straw hat turns to glare at him. "I don't care. It's what I'm going to do."

"Maybe you will at that." The Warlord offers no emotion to go with his words. "This world could use a few more wild cards."

"Roronoa Zoro," He addresses the pirate hunter next. "It's too soon for you to die. Grow strong and come find me. I'll be waiting."

With that, he turns on his heel and walks away, and this time there is no one willing to stop him.

Usopp and Nami clamber over to the injured man at once, peering at his condition from beside Estrella and Luffy.

Estrella wipes away the tears staining her skin as she stares at the green-haired man on the precipice of death.

Don't tell me you're attached to that crew?

And at last, she lets the thought consume her without further complaint.

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‎ ✣ AUTHOR'S NOTE !

double updates yay!! also this is the end of ep 5!!

mihawk is a cruel man, but at least estrella finally admits that she cares for the straw hats!! now writing their relationships will be much, much easier 😓

did anyone catch the fact that she finally used luffy's name 😱😱😱 crazy ik !!?! i wonder whose name she'll use next...

also i lowk rlly love the complexity between estrella and mihawk's relationship it was fun to write 😣 now i have to say goodbye until next time (unless he appears in her backstory but idk ab that!!)

i started both sections off the same (idk if yall noticed) but i really liked the parallels

btw i lied ab the sanji chapter, he appears in the next episode so i will def be adding more of him next chapter 😭

as always feedback would be very appreciated !! questions, advice, etc, anything goes!!!! i take criticism pretty well so dw ab hurting my feelings

anyway pls lmk if there are any mistakes in the spelling or anything so i can fix it !

also don't b afraid to vote or comment, i will probably (very likely) reply!!!! and if you don't understand something, plsplspls lmk!! i want yall to fully understand what's going on

happy reads!

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─── ANNIE