Stop it, Bro~ (44) (Patreon)

Title: Pickled Pride (3)

Brody's eyes widened as Pickle adapted to his attack for the umpteenth time and jumped off of the tree using all four of his legs like a beast before lunging at him once again.

The duo quickly separated as their chests heaved. Even after hours, they barely felt tired. With such a good 'friend' they found accidentally, how could they rest?

Although the two of them boasted the same height of around 2.5 meters, their stature couldn't be more different. Brody had trained conventionally since a very young age. His slightly darker, olive skin matched with Pickle's hide but unlike his proportionate body, Pickle's abdomen was a bit shorter which made his legs more pronounced. Yet, much to Brody's dismay, the beast barely knew any techniques. Again, Martial Arts are just a way to gain control over the body which he had achieved long before learning from Seimei Kikan. Again, the name was unknown to Brody but he knew the extreme level of control he had over his body.

So, compared to somewhat weaker opponents, Pickle would win. Heck, even compared to equals, Pickle would win if he's in a home territory like this jungle or catch his opponents by his surprise through his raw tenacity and animalistic instincts.

But Brody realized... he was cursed with experiences too extreme that made him a monster worse than Pickle...

'Yet... it's not stopping,' Brody felt his gut. Even Crocus who had the same pressure and intent as Yujiro and the two Giants was clear on relying on one's gut.

Looking at Pickle whose face was filled with bestial frustration as if he wanted to mount yet another saber-lion, Brody suddenly blinked and extended his hand with a serious expression, "Oi, Pickle," he called out, causing the youth to stop growling and watch cautiously. Under Pickle's observant gaze, Brody collected his fingers and balled them into a fist. Just before Pickle thought that Brody was going to attack, he raised his index finger from his free hand and stopped the youth.

"This is a punch."

Brody pulled back his fist and punched sideways.

Pickle nodded.

Brody pulled back once again, "This is a stronger punch."

He punched again and this time the force traveled out in a straight line similar to Shigan's but much more powerful as it tore down any and every tree in its path.

Pickle jumped and stood where Brody punched out while watching the devastation that lay in its wake.

"But your nails are too hard," Brody walked up to Pickle as the youth looked back cluelessly. Grinning, Brody extended his fingers and locked them down to mimic claws before slashing at the nearby stump, his fingers easily tearing into the wood and shattering splinters out.

Frowning, Pickled looked at the stump behind him and slashed, his nails being a much more precise tool and he was also familiar with this action, causing the wood to be sliced up neatly.

"Now try this."

Brody kept his fingers locked and attacked with a fierce force that once again mimicked Shigan. By now, Brody was practically sure that CP9 used Shigan just to be more effective in the assassination but it could be used with any body part with enough force and technique.

Pickle clawed air once again but nothing happened and he turned to look at Brody in confusion.

Instinctively knowing that he was a physical match for Brody, he simply could not understand why he couldn't cut things without touching them. He simply couldn't understand the existence of a technique.

Or so others would believe.

'Basic martial arts are just based on animals. The Germa Kingdom had some sons of bitches who thought crane style was the way to beat me... but he's at least got that right. Fighting animals just made him a martial artist for animal-mimicking techniques...'

Blinking in realization, Brody just clawed again.

So did Pickle.

Brody did it once again but as if finding something interesting, Pickle followed the suit.

This only confirmed Brody's suspicions.

Pickle can't just learn to be an animal. He must have trained. And if he is trained, that means he understands performing the same action time and again!

As time passed, Pickle's posture shifted to match Brody and he instantly felt 'stronger' while his arms clawed quicker. His eyes widened briefly before he looked at Brody who had a collected expression while performing the same move.

Observing his 'prey' in greater detail this time around, Pickle began to practice once again.

---

"It's already afternoon..." Vivi cast a worried glance towards the forest as yet another set of trees was cut down in the distance. But not sharing her worry, others merely shrugged while Reiju noted, "The fact that Pickle isn't here means Brody is fine."

*Boom*

*Boom*

Looking at the eruption, Dorry grinned and stood up, "Seeing the two enjoy themselves... I can't help but feel excited and young again! A good thing that it's already the time to fight!"

On the other side, Brogy, too, grinned and rushed to clash against Dorry in the center of the island.

---

"You really go all out even to hunt a weakling, huh... maybe I stand to learn a few things from you, too," Brody grinned as he crouched over a branch while watching Pickle take a break by hunting a large boar and then eating it raw.

One thing that Brody came to realize about this foe was... that it lacked any 'human' emotion and even mimicked beasts for this, too.

Pickle would use any advantage granted to him. For this man, no advantage was unfair because, in the world of beasts, those that survive are the only ones that can even feel anything including pride. If Pickle is taught, he will learn and then turn into the same individual. After all, Brody didn't expect any less from someone who learned from the animals to kill the same animals.

Even now Pickle ate without feeling any shame. He would eat. He would regain strength. He would then attack Brody with this strength granted by Brody just being amused.

Others would feel shame... But Pickle only felt grateful.

Brody just found this more refreshing than he initially believed.

"Really, you're interesting..." Brody had a soft, fond smile but Pickle's eyes widened as if he met something horrible and he instantly skipped back while staring at the red-haired youth cautiously.

'Really, you're an interesting ant...' Pickle's heart shuddered as he roared and shot at Brody only for the youth to laugh and attack with similar ferocity.

And unlike Brody, Pickle did need rest to recover from his bruises and injuries.

---

By the end of the day, Brody returned with blood and bruises all over his body and his clothes in tatters with Pickle carried between his arm and torso like a sac.

Once Pickle began to realize how to move his body a bit similar to Brody, his entire fighting style began to adapt as if an animal on steroids who had been trained by the world government. Injuries began to accumulate on each other. From the very beginning, both of them went all out physically but now Brody just used more of what he learned along the way except Seimei Kikan. Heck, he used Tekkai to protect his neck and then smash the hardened fists into Pickle's neck instead!

At this point... it wasn't just luck that Pickle survived. The Giant's Prehistoric Son was seriously monstrous.

Of course, making sure that Pickle doesn't jump any of his crewmates just because he wakes up with a boner the next day, Brody left a very... preserved animal next to him. A gift, really— To reciprocate the fun Brody had with 'fun' itself...

Finally, after quickly cleaning up, in days, Brody had a good night's sleep with his body still aching due to the wounds inflicted on him but when he woke up, pleasantly surprised, he found himself in Nami's room with the Orangette sleeping quietly.

'Wait... this is my room,' Brody blinked and looked around before shrugging. It didn't matter to him if he entered Nami's room while sleeping or vice versa. It's just that he hadn't really gone out of his way to disturb the crew because he understood deep down that it WAS distracting.

'Hmm... must spoon Tashigi and Alvida, too...' Brody closed his eyes and snuggled closer to Nami, 'Honey and Mikita... maybe Vivi, too? I do know two princesses now. May as well make a royal sandwich...'

He may have sported a boner after yesterday's fun and eventual rest but the prospect of waking others up since Nami happened to be one loud ride so early in the morning encouraged Brody to choose sleep instead. Anyway, sleep could pleasure him alone... while after an hour or two, he needed to please others in an orgy instead. So his choice was pretty clear.

"Hmm~" A soft voice whispered into Brody's ear, "Aren't you a lucky captain?"

Again, choosing sleep over anything, Brody ignored the cursed voice and slept.

His sleep was only disturbed when Nami stirred a bit and woke up, her body turning around despite his hold as she blinked and looked at Brody with a curious expression, "Are you awake?"

"Hmm..." Brody let out a noise in agreement but still kept his eyes shut, feeling too comfortable to move from a spot knowing fully well he wouldn't achieve this level of comfort again.

Prying herself out of his arms, Nami stretched her arms up and spoke, "Just so you know, I only came here because you said spooning increases the speed of recovery."

Brody turned and lay on his back while grinning, "Yeah, I'm all healed now." Though this artistic theory was already debunked as one of Reiju's many childish lies, Brody didn't have to call Nami out on it. As he fully lay on his back, Nami's gaze momentarily fell on the mast that erected a rather large tent that he kept on cushily nuzzled against her cheeks a few minutes ago and pursed her lips. Clearing her throat, Nami spoke again, "Say... Captain..."

He drowsily replied, "Yeah?"

"You know... I was thinking that Pickle kind of looked easy to the eyes..." She looked sideways the moment Brody's eyes snapped open while scratching her cheek, "I kind of like men that are more... wild. And if you give him a makeover, I'm sure Pickle will be extremely good-looking, too..."

Brody blinked.

'The hell! You can't just spoon a man and then praise another!' Sitting up, he looked at Nami who only glanced at him once before looking away again, "I'm saying all this because you did... do bad things. But now I'm all alone... poor little me. As a Captain, you didn't even take any responsibility... Maybe Pickle will know how to treat a woman right."

Before Brody could speak, the 'devil' over his shoulder appeared as an angel and whispered softly enough that only Brody heard her... but he was just aware that a tiny mouth appeared in his ear itself!

"Repeat after me with some sass." The voice directed with an amused tone but before Brody refused to heed the curse's order... the content made Brody blink in surprise and he grinned, "Oh, Pickle, huh. I guess that's fine. His nails are tough and all... and he'll probably stab and tear your ass off but sure, if you're into it, go for it."

Nami blinked in surprise and looked at Brody who continued to smile innocuously.

"Wai— Ehm... Oh, I see. But," Nami quickly thought and added, "Didn't you say Reiju and the rest of us were yours?"

Brody grew silent before he adopted a sincere expression, "I free you."

Nami pursed her lips and continued to stare at Brody, who in return held her gaze.

After a minute, Nami huffed in annoyance, "How the hell did you get so nasty with your words?"

Laughing, Brody pinned Nami onto the bed with him on top as she offered no resistance. While the 'voice' had something else to say and continue with the 'play', he chose to peck Nami's lips since she was rearing for it but didn't stop there and let his lips exert more pressure. His tongue parted her lips soon enough as she grunted against his and had her hands pressed against his chest which soon transitioned to her fingers somewhat trying to dig in as she closed her eyes.

Pulling back, Brody grinned, "Responsible enough?" The tip of his tongue traced his lips for a quick lick as Nami hummed and let her hands run down his arms slowly, "It's enough for me... again, the thing about Pickle is... he would want to feel good quite selfishly, too."

Rolling his eyes, Brody snorted, "Enough about him... I'll seriously get pissed off!"

The voice in the back of his head seriously advised against saying this and being 'honest' but Brody was indeed a bit annoyed even now. Smiling at his words, Nami gave a cheeky, somewhat mocking smirk before cooing, "What are you going to do about it, Captain? I know what Pickle would—"

Before she could speak any further, Brody scoffed and pulled HER out of her loose brown shirt as she yelped in surprise and lay topless on the mattress.

"You better stop screwing with my head now," Brody grinned, his warning not only for Nami but also for the voice that disappeared finally. But not knowing everything and wondering that she may have had gotten a bit too much against Brody, Nami still kept a confident front, "Oh~ So our Captain DOES get jealous."

"Don't you scream too loud," Brody chuckled in reply, "Or I'll have to spend more than half the day just to be responsible for others, too."

A bit unhappy at the prospect of being interrupted, Nami pulled Brody's left hand and gingerly bit into the side of his palm before winking at him.

***

Alternate Title: Devil's Pickle in Nami