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The snake, shocked for a moment at Coby's understanding, quickly turned and slithered back to its master. Within minutes, the Polar Tang began to follow the snake's path, moving silently through the water. Law still seemed skeptical, glancing at Coby. "You sure about this?"
Coby shrugged, leaning against the cold metal walls. "Yeah. It's better than getting blasted to bits up there."
The Polar Tang sailed through the icy waters, following Hancock's snake as it guided them safely away from Marineford.
"How's he doing?" Coby asked.
"Stable for now," Law replied without looking up, his focus entirely on Luffy's wounds. "But he's going to need a lot of rest once we're out of here."
"We're in the clear for now," one of Law's crew members announced after scanning the surrounding area for enemies. "No sign of pursuit."
Coby nodded, looking out one of the small portholes as the underwater world passed them by. The silence was oddly peaceful, a stark contrast to the madness they had just escaped from. He glanced at Luffy again, lying unconscious on the table, and then back at the rest of the crew, each of them focused on their tasks.
Minutes later, Hancock's snake stopped moving. The crew in the control room looked at each other nervously before one of them turned to Coby. "We've stopped. What now?"
Coby walked over to the periscope and took a look. Sure enough, Hancock's snake was coiled on a small rock formation just above the water. "Surface," Coby ordered.
The submarine slowly rose to the surface, the water parting around them as they emerged into the open air. Hancock herself stood on the island, arms crossed as she waited patiently.
"Bring Luffy up here," Coby said to Law's crew, who nodded and moved to carefully lift Luffy's unconscious body. Coby climbed out of the hatch and onto the deck, waving at Hancock.
Two weeks after the Summit War...
Coby lay back on Hancock's lap, feeling the soft touch of her fingers gently combing through his pink hair. Her calm presence was soothing, helped him relax after everything that had happened. It had been a full two weeks since they landed on Amazon Lily, and while he rested, Law was busy treating Luffy and the other injured survivors of Marineford.
Meanwhile, Jinbe, Ivankov, Bon Kurei, and the Newkama managed to take the ship Hancock's hijacked and make their escape from Marineford with her, much to Coby's surprise. He had thought the chaos would make it impossible, but somehow, they had pulled it off.
Coby let out a breath, closing his eyes. He was too exhausted to think too deeply. Right now, being here, with Hancock absentmindedly stroking his hair, was enough.
From the corner of his eye, Coby could see Hancock watching him with a soft gaze. She'd been oddly quiet, even for her. "Your hair… it's so soft," Hancock muttered, a small smile gracing her lips as she continued to stroke his head.
Coby turned over, burying his nose into Hancock's lap. He inhaled deeply, catching the sweet, warm scent of her skin, and muttered with a cheeky smirk, "Your thighs are softer."
Hancock's reaction was immediate. Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson, her hands still for a second before she started patting his head again—this time with a bit more force, as if trying to mask her embarrassment. "D-Don't say things like that," she stammered, flustered. Despite her usual composed demeanor, Coby's casual comment had clearly thrown her off guard.
Coby chuckled softly, finding her reaction amusing. "It's the truth."
Hancock's eyes darted away, but the corner of her lips twitched into a smile. She couldn't help but admire how at ease Coby seemed, even after the intense battles and all the tension that came with Marineford. There was a certain charm in his laid-back attitude. She continued to stroke his hair, trying to settle her own racing heart.
Coby felt Hancock's hands pause again, and he glanced up at her. "You're awfully quiet today," he said, noticing the faraway look in her eyes.
Hancock blinked and looked down at him, her expression softening. "I was just… thinking about everything," she admitted, her voice quieter than usual.
"About the war?" Coby asked.
She nodded, her gaze dropping slightly. "Yes. And you… you shown too much potential. I am afraid... I am afraid they will come after you."
Coby chuckled, taking Hancock's hand gently, then kissed it with a playful grin. "I'm a pirate. They're gonna come after me either way. I chose this life, same as you did." His tone was light but assured, showing he had no fear of the consequences. "After everything that's gone down at Marineford, the world's gonna change. Hell, in two years, there's a Levely coming up. I wouldn't be surprised if the Shichibukai system gets torn down. If that happens, you'll be in trouble too, right?"
Hancock froze, her gaze softening as she looked at Coby, unsure how to respond. His carefree attitude, even in the face of such serious matters, was both infuriating and... endearing.
"They will... not dare to attack my home," Hancock muttered, her grip on his hand tightening just a bit. Coby could feel the warmth radiating from her, though she tried to maintain her usual composed expression.
He shook his head, straightening himself up to meet Hancock's gaze head-on. "In two years, I'll be stronger," he said, his voice firm but light, showing his usual confidence. He reached out, cupping Hancock's chin as he looked deep into her eyes. "And if they come for you, I'll be here to protect you. But, if I'm right, Sengoku will resign after this war. Then it's either Aokiji or Akainu who'll take over."
Hancock's fingers twitched slightly against his skin as he mentioned the possibility of Akainu leading the Marines. She wasn't one to show fear easily, but the idea of that brutal man in power was enough to make anyone uneasy.
"If it's Aokiji, we don't have much to worry about," Coby continued with a small smirk, "but if it's Akainu… I bet he'll send someone here." His thumb brushed her cheek gently. "But like I said, this is the home of my woman, and I'm not letting them even step foot here."
Hancock's cheeks warmed again, though this time it wasn't just from embarrassment. She shifted a little, trying to maintain her usual composed demeanor, but Coby's words struck deeper than she expected. "You say things like that so easily," she muttered, looking away as if trying to regain her control.
Coby, however, kept his grin. "I mean it," he said, his tone sincere. "Besides, why wouldn't I protect you? You've been through enough to deserve someone standing up for you."
Hancock didn't reply immediately. Instead, she let out a soft hum, continuing to absentmindedly run her fingers through his. The intimacy of the moment was something she hadn't expected to feel, especially with someone like him. It was different from the way she had experienced others' admiration or worship. Coby's presence didn't demand or expect anything. He just existed in her space, laid-back and without pretense. It was disarming in a way she didn't know how to handle.
Coby broke the quiet with a chuckle, his voice teasing, "You're getting soft on me, Empress."
Hancock shot him a glare, though there was no real malice behind it. "Who are you calling soft, you insolent boy?" Her voice held a trace of her usual arrogance, but it lacked the sharpness she typically used with others.
He smirked, knowing exactly how to push her buttons now. "You, obviously. But don't worry, it's cute."
She looked at Coby with a gaze filled with love, but unlike her anime version, there was something stronger about her stance. It was a trait that Coby found appealing—he didn't like women who were just pretty on the outside but had no substance. He liked them fiery, strong, and independent. Hancock, with all her power and grace, fit that mold perfectly.
Sandersonia appeared and said, "Straw Hat woke up." She blushed, catching her sister and Coby in an intimate moment. Without a word, she turned her head slightly, trying to hide her embarrassment.
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