Work Text:
The air was fresh and filled with the sounds of crickets and the rustling of trees. Dawn had only just peeked over the horizon, light cascading down into the little hollow of trees where they had made their camp. It was all so peaceful, placid, like it never was at headquarters.
Sakazuki enjoyed this time as much as he could, observing the gnarled twists and turns of the enormous oak that hung low over the grove. Birds began to stir, their morning songs filling the air. It was time.
Despite the fact that his cot was designed for a person several feet shorter than he was, Borsalino had managed to sleep soundly through the night. He didn’t like camping at the best of times, his yellow suit and jacket were entirely too susceptible to dirt, and now he had to share a campsite with… Him. Still, he never got to sleep in at headquarters. He was very much looking forward to it, and having a lazy day at camp.
Until.
BANG! CLANG! BANG!
Borsalino was shaken from his restful slumber by a horrible metallic clash.
SMASH! BANG!
The sound echoed off every surface and seemed to fill every nook an cranny of the not-nearly-spacious-enough tent.
CLUNK! BANG! SCHWING! CRASH!
He tried to screw his eyes closed, to recapture that bliss of sleep, but to no avail. The tinny fracas continued unabated, and he was forced to drag himself from the temporary domicile. His eyes burned as he attempted to adjust to the sudden change in illumination, blinking in the sunlight. The campsite came into focus and Borsalino was able to see that the rest of his companions were already awake. Sakazuki was standing near the fire, holding a pair of metal frying pans, glaring at him as he exited his tent. Aramaki and Issho sat by the fire, eating what smelled like coffee, and what looked like scrambled eggs.
"I see you’ve finally decided to join us," Sakazuki’s flat monotone drifted into his sleep addled consciousness. The plant guy sniggered to himself and elbowed the man next to him gesturing towards the unkempt visage of Borsalino. Purple guy didn’t respond, he just "stared" into the fire, sipping his drink.
"Was the banging so necessary?" Borsalino asked, trying to keep the betrayal out of his voice. "I was having a lovely dream, hmm?"
"It's time we get started," began the Fleet Admiral, ignoring Borsalino's comments, "on the task I brought you all out here to complete."
"You know I'm going to find it first, you lazy bastard!" teased Aramaki as they walked up the trail in the direction their superior had indicated. "You might as well just stay back at camp like Issho," he continued, a derisive sneer in his voice.
"Ohhhh, so intimidating— I'm so worried!" Borsalino replied before blinking far down the trail nearly out of sight. "Oh, but how are you going to do that from all the way back there, hmm?" He taunted back as his voice receded.
"Tch— Fucking logia think they own the place," Aramaki muttered to himself as he looked around, trying to figure out how he could catch up. The trail was fairly clear, and the trees around him stretched high into the sky. Which gave him an idea. He formed a pair of vine like tendrils from his hands, and swung one of them upwards to wrap around a tree branch. He gave the vine a tug, testing to make sure it could hold him. "Let's see that bright asshole catch up to this!"
The trail was quiet without Aramaki's constant boasting, and Borsalino (sure he'd put enough distance between them) slowed down to a leisurely stroll. The coffee he'd managed to down before being forced from the campsite was starting to take effect, but only just. His mind drifted back to the cot he'd been fast asleep on less than an hour ago, and he sighed. He could head back right now, nobody would have to know. But then, the face of that plant bastard, taunting him drifted behind his eyes.
His pace quickened.
"You're both going to have to cooperate if you want to find it," Sakazuki had warned them, after finally accepting Issho's stubborn refusal to take part. "Bring it back here before sundown."
'As if I'd need that gardener's help with this, hmmm,' Borsalino thought to himself as he gave up his terrestrial plodding and floated up into the sky. 'What a lovely view~ It shouldn't be far now!'
Aramaki swung through the jungle latching on to tree after tree, the wind whipping through his short green hair. "Well, I may as well just grab it in on my own," he muttered to himself between swings, "since I can't seem to find that idiot laser guy."
His journey through the dense foliage was wholly unabated, as the forest bent around him to let him pass. Within a couple hours, he'd covered the necessary distance and was rapidly approaching his prize. "Sakazuki-sama isn't familiar with my abilities yet," he announced triumphantly to himself as he completed his quest. "I just have to show him I'm more than capable on my own!"
Issho sat by the fire, sipping the broth from his lunch, and listening. Though he had no interest in participating in this treasure hunt, he did observe it. He watched the newest admiral swing himself through the trees with startling speed. He watched Kizaru floating above the treeline drifting lazily towards the target.
He was surprised when he saw Aramaki be the one to reach the goal, and begin heading back with the prize. He was less surprised when he saw Borsalino turn back as well, his attention fixed on the canopy of trees, shifting and swaying in Aramaki's wake.
Sakazuki sat cross legged near the fire, and simply observed the natural world around him.
'I'm almost back already! That shitty sparky fool will never catch me now,' Aramaki thought to himself as he neared the campsite at breakneck speed. The final row of trees broke away and he dropped into the center of the clearing. He could see Sakazuki looking his way, and he held his hand up to show him his success but—
"Woooow, so fast!" came a voice from the other side of the campsite, "Ohhhh, but weren't you supposed to bring something back?"
Aramaki glared at his empty palm, "Give it back, you shit, I got it fair and square!"
"Ahhhh," came the voice again, as Borsalino rematerialized next to Sakazuki, "but then why is it here in my hand, huh?"