Twenty-five days.
That's how long it had been since Lupin received his monthly quest: "Make Teach trust you and become a true brother."
It had sounded simple at first — drink together, swap war stories, bleed side by side. Act the part. But Lupin hadn't expected this. He hadn't expected to actually feel it.
And now the system notification hung in front of his eyes like a ghost, impossible to ignore.
[System Notification]
Monthly Quest: Brotherhood Bond — Marshall D. Teach: 100% Complete
To finalize: Initiate Brotherhood Ritual
The words lingered, and Lupin hesitated.
It wasn't that Teach didn't trust him — that part came easy. Everyone aboard the Moby Dick saw it. In under a month, the two of them were inseparable. At every feast, every raid, every round of drinks, there they were, side by side. Even Marco couldn't resist a jab.
"Oi, you two gonna start sharin' a bunk next?" he teased one evening, sending the whole crew into howls of laughter.
Lupin laughed too. A real one. Because, well… it wasn't a lie.
Somewhere in those twenty-five days, between battles and bottles, he'd spent more time with Teach than with anyone else in his life. They drank until the sun came up, hunted down bounties and rogue pirates, and when Lupin's legs buckled after a brutal duel, it was Teach who caught him with a grin and a slap on the back.
And it was real. Or at least, it felt real.
That was the part that terrified him.
Because somewhere along the way, it stopped being just a quest. Somewhere, Lupin stopped pretending.
Teach had that effect on people. The man could spin a tale so wild you'd follow him into hell itself, chasing the next impossible dream. He laughed louder, dreamed bigger, and called Lupin brother like he meant it.
And Lupin — if he hadn't known what was coming, the dark future Teach carried like a hidden dagger — he might've believed it too.
Hell, maybe a part of him already did.
It was late when Teach found him at their usual spot on the deck, the moon hanging fat and golden over a calm, silver sea.
"Yo, Lupin!" Teach's voice boomed out. "Hidin' from me again, brother?"
Lupin managed a grin, lifting a bottle. "Just needed a breather."
Teach dropped down beside him with a grin that split his bearded face. "Man, you know I hate drinkin' alone." He cracked open his own bottle. "The boys're still goin' wild over that last haul. Damn good raid, huh?"
"Yeah," Lupin said, though his stomach twisted. Another ship. More lives snuffed out. More names no one would remember.
But this was the life they chose. Or the one Lupin was trapped in.
Teach leaned back against the rail, gazing out at the stars.
"You know… I never told ya why I joined Pops' crew, did I?"
Lupin turned, one brow raised. "Figured it was for the glory, like the rest of us."
Teach chuckled, but there was something in his eye. A glint. A shadow.
"Nah," he murmured, swigging from his bottle. "Not glory. Protection."
"Protection?"
"Aye," Teach said, voice lower now. "A lone bastard like me wouldn't last long out here. But Whitebeard… that old man's a fortress. World's strongest. No one dares cross what's his."
He gestured out at the endless sea.
"If I'm gonna chase my dream, I need to stay alive long enough to reach it."
Lupin's stomach knotted. He knew the dream. Knew the shape of the storm Teach would become. And sure enough, the next words sealed it.
"I'm after a Devil Fruit," Teach said quietly. "Not just any. The Yami Yami no Mi. Power of darkness itself."
Lupin kept his face stone still. "You serious?"
"Dead serious." Teach grinned, teeth gleaming. "When I get it… this world'll remember my name. The seas'll tremble."
Then he turned, eyes sharp.
"And when that day comes, I want you with me. No one else. You and me, brother. Carvin' our names into history together."
A lump caught in Lupin's throat.
He wanted to say no. Wanted to grab Teach by the collar, shake him, scream I know what you'll do. I know the monster you'll become.
But his voice betrayed him.
"I…"
And then the lie came, easy as a breath.
"You can count on me."
Teach grinned so wide it made Lupin's skin crawl.
"Knew it! Ha! You and me, brother. Unstoppable."
They clinked bottles, and somewhere deep inside, something twisted.
The worst part was… a part of him wanted to believe it too.
Long after the others had drunk themselves unconscious and the ship went quiet, Lupin stood alone on the deck. The silver coin Teach had given him sat heavy in his palm — a simple thing, a crude emblem carved into the metal.
He'd put it off long enough.
I have to finish this.
If not for Teach's sake, then for his own.
The system notification pulsed softly in the corner of his vision.
[Quest Complete. Initiate Brotherhood Ritual.]
He let out a breath and turned.
"Teach."
The big man was leaning against a barrel nearby, bottle in hand, as though he'd been waiting.
"Finally ready, huh?" Teach grinned.
Lupin took a step forward. "Yeah. Let's get it done."
Teach set his drink aside, reaching into his coat to pull out a second coin — identical to Lupin's.
"Been holdin' this for ya," he chuckled. "Two tokens. Two brothers. One bond."
They stood beneath the moon, coins in hand, facing each other.
"Say the words, brother," Teach rumbled.
Lupin's throat felt tight, but he forced the words out.
"I, Lupin, swear this bond of brotherhood with you, Teach. From this day on, no matter the seas we sail, or the battles we fight, this bond won't break."
Teach grinned wider. "I, Teach, swear this bond of brotherhood with you, Lupin. Blood or no blood, you're my brother now."
They clinked the coins together, metal ringing softly in the night.
[System Notification]
Brotherhood Ritual Completed: Marshall D. Teach
Rewards: 3 Mystery Chests, 1 Creation Point, +100 Edit Points, and 1 Title Card.
Lupin felt a warmth settle in his chest. Not from the rewards — those meant nothing in that moment — but from something heavier. Something human.
Teach clapped a hand on his shoulder, the grin on his face genuine in a way few things in this world ever were.
"Damn glad to have ya, brother."
Lupin forced a smile, though a voice deep inside screamed.
"Yeah… glad to be here."
They shared one last drink, sealing the bond. And as Teach roared with laughter under the pale moon, Lupin stared out toward the dark horizon, knowing he'd just taken one more step toward a storm he couldn't outrun.
But at least now…
He wouldn't face it alone.