In his mind. He didn't know how much time had passed. To his mind, in the haze that got thicker and thicker from the exhaustion of emotional fatigue, it felt impossible. The trees above only showed a blue sky blocked by the branches. He had never felt so tired…No he had it. It took a bit for him to fully remember when. It was after Sara died. That same haze, a non physical weight on his shoulders. The creaking in his joints…
As he did his mind remembered again
The Days Between when they met the Former Roger Pirate Dr. Livsey. Those were the days weren't they? The first days of ignorance of being on the Grand Line for the first time. He remembered how Kirk held such a contented smile on his face as he steered the whipstaff in the galley…
He remembered the smell of wood that the Palm had. It was like nothing else he'd ever smelt before. The way the salt on the wood had been absorbed through years on the sea. The old odor that one could smell if they got close enough to its surface.
The gentle creaking of the ship.
The Ambience of hearing the waves crash and attempt to break through the wood fruitlessly. The sound that sent him to slumber many times.
He remembered the first time they ever experienced the Weather the Grand Line could offer. It was astounding. Kirk came out of the galley, sniffed the air and upturned his nose, it went from a cloudless nice 73 degrees, to having a dense fog cover to the horizon…
Then mere moments later there was not just rain. But a total downpour of rain! It was an enormous typhoon! Thunder, Lightning, Rain the Size of Coins, and Hail that was as big as bullets! All coming at the ship from all angles! It was literally raining sideways!
The Ship wracked from side to side! Dishes in the cabinets broke, even the treasures from Leroys previously scattered across the shelf which they sat on! Everyone that day had to bare down and grip the railings, hold on to whatever they could, for dear life! At one point, a colossal wave so large that not even the Monster Trio could do anything to it that day!
Once it all subsided though. It took hours to clean up all the damage. Mop the water, dump the buckets, and anything else leftover.
Still, when it was all done. The Crew couldn't help but laugh!
Why was he thinking about all of this now? They were gone? There was a voice in his head that was telling him just to give up. Leave them behind. The Voice of Anxiety.
And Leroy was listening…
On the other hand, Leroy kept having flashes of memory! His mind was fighting with itself! The part of him that wanted to find them, screaming and tearing at the side that was fatiguing him. Both causing him only more fatigue
He remembered Dezzi. Oh Dezzi…Such an unexpected meeting. Someone he would've never expected to be friends with. As if they lived ordinary lives, both probably would've never met one another
There was a day just after The Captain was fully healed where the two sat in front of each other. Leroy was similar to Dezzi when he was young. Reserved. When Leroy was young he had gone from being incredibly bullheaded, to quiet, then to being a 'People Pleaser' only to end where he was now.
So they were able to get along very easily. It was common for Leroy to find Dezzi in moments of Contemplation, anxiety. Sometimes even homesickness and feeling as if they did not belong. But at every turn. Leroy was there to help. He'd sit with the Masked mink, help them Organize, or play a game together. Leroy loved those moments…
He Remembered Raven. How there were days before they arrived at the Island of Jaya Vanem, how the crew held trepidation around her. Even during meals where she would just smile while the others felt tinges of nerves in their bodies. Leroy and Raven would just sit together. And he just asked questions as if she were a walking Encyclopedia. And Raven loved every moment of spreading her knowledge
He remembered Calliope. How the two of them chased each other constantly. Always playing antics on one another. Rather it was small pranks or just getting on each other's nerves. Leroy loved to watch Calliope build and tinker, he'd sit around with wide eyes and watch as she used her powers to take things apart, and then put them back together. She made plenty of figurines that Leroy loved to play with
He Remembered Eddie. And how even in the Short time that he knew the man. He loved to talk to him. Eddie was such an old soul in every way. Yet so free spirited. Leroy would ask him questions about the past concerts he had. Enemies faced. And the way that he could play any instrument, all of the melodies, the strumming of his guitar. It was an ambience that in this moment now, he missed dearly. How it could soothe him, fill his ears that sought something other than emptiness of the air around. The same that could lull him to sleep as he was out on Deck….
All of them….
All of them.
Leroys fist tightened as he dropped the bottle at his feet. Standing in the middle of a thicket. Knuckles white as he could feel all the emotion inside of him begin to overflow…
His teeth clenched, jaw tightening, every muscle in his body constricting into tense steel cables as the tears began to flow once again, but this time it was followed by an immense reverberation! His throat filled with air released a might wailing roar!
"AHHHHHHH!" He lurched forward, the sob was a powerful thing, shaking and quaking the ground with such force that it began to crack! Shaking the trees and even causing them to snap and crack! It was as if an immense power was rushing from within him and out to an explosion of agony! The Rippling pressure came in waves like a heartbeat!
...Eventually it came to pass…
Leroy fell to his knees. Dirt rubbing against the fabric…
His hand limply grabbed at the bottle, dragging it close, and then to hold it close to his chest as all he could do was sit and cradle it…he couldn't even think to remember…
He was drowning in an indescribable emptiness…
There is never rest for the wicked. Leroy was now being watched…and an arrow was currently flying straight towards him…