Chapter Text
Buggy the Clown. The pain in your ass since you met all those years ago that never seemed to go away. You were a pirate hunter, a lot money to be made ever since Roger led everyone and their mama on that wild goose chase.
You first met him in a bar, not caring who he was at first. He didn’t have a high bounty at the time, the annoying clown cracking jokes and jabs at any pretty face before he landed on you. You threw in a jab about his nose, thinking it was fake. That was the first scar he gave you, a broken glass slicing your cheek. You broke a few fingers, and got you both kicked out.
”Fuck you bitch!”
”Bite my ass!”
Pretty soon, Buggy made a real name for himself. So did you. The next time you met, you heard of a terrifying circus act in a town raider by pirates. Who else would it fucking be? You pretended to be a victim, picking the lock on your shackles while he monologued. The circus wasn’t all that spectacular, you wondered why he ever bothered with it at all.
Slipping through the crowd, you followed Buggy to his green room. Before he could react, you sliced his throat. Expecting blood, you hear a laugh instead.
”You-“
Recognition flashed in his eyes, “the bitch from that bar. Come back to finish the job?”
You sliced the arm he held around you, popping back into place like nothing happened.
”Is that? Y-You ate-,” you stuttered.
”Surprised?”
You didn’t think those even existed, your mind racing for your next move. It was made for you, Buggy stabbing your stomach. You been stabbed before, fighting through the shock. You stab him back, punching his nose for good measure. He let you go in pain, long enough to escape.
His arm flew to your throat, slamming you to the ground. You weren’t about to be killed by a fucking clown. Biting down on his arm, he loosened his grip enough for you to kick it away.
You never ran so fast in your life, figuring it was way too easy the way you dodged body parts. He was toying with you. You ran to the docks, jumping into the ocean. He didn’t follow you there, the stories were right. He couldn’t swim. You swam under the dock, floating as you heard him swear and stomp.
The salt stung, your ribs hurt. He was going to pay for that. He wasn’t going to be the one laughing anymore.
You hid again, months later. Another show, another town demolished. It made you sick, the more you did this job, the more you hated pirates. The more you hated him.
Buggy stood in the spotlight, in another life he’d be handsome. Sparkling eyes scanning the crowd for a victim. You locked eyes, the creased greasepaint spreading on his face with a smile.
“Ladies and Gentlemen! The incorrigible pirate hunter is with us yet again! Come on down, sweetheart.”
You smiled at him, “you can’t get rid of me that easy honey.”
He draped his arm around you, like you were both old friends. You’d believe it if he treated his friends like this anyway. With a flourish, he gestured to your act.
”Since you love knives so much, I figure this one is right up your alley.”
”I’m gonna make you eat that big, red nose of yours, clown.”
He laughed, and the adrenaline caused you to also. You couldn’t deny the rush chasing these pirates down gave you, Buggy was like a cat playing with a mouse. You just needed him to stick his hand in the wrong trap.
”I have to say, that scar highlights your face beautifully.”
“You ever find that pinky? Or is it still at the bottom of the ocean?”
He smiled turning to his audience, “now folks, this lovely assistant of mine has no fear of silly little knives so…it’s time to up the ante.”
Meat cleavers, how cliche. You willingly let yourself get tied up to the wheel, Buggy studying your face. Now he was the one thinking this was all too easy. You closed your eyes as the wheel spun, standing still as the blades hit the wood with a loud thunk.
”What you playing at? Huh?”
”Maybe I just like the show so much, I always loved the circus.”
He laughed, “of course you do. Is that all though?”
”Maybe I have something you want.”
”Go on.”
A knife landed near your head, you opened your eyes to face the pirate. He had one more left, he could aim it anywhere. You still liked your odds.
”The map your been looking for. A log pose too.”
The look on his face was worth it, he stumbled his throw causing him to hit your leg. You grit your teeth, a smile on your face. Buggy shouted for his crew to take you back to the ship. You never been on his before, circus themed of course. The crew’s doctor worked quickly, with frown letting you know the knife cut to the bone.
When you woke up in his cabin, your leg was gone. Of course it was. Buggy seemed to take and take and you got nothing in return. You considered your options carefully, wondering how you can kill the bastard once and for all. At the very least you could take his head and ask the marines to let you toss it into the ocean. Either scenario worked for you.
”Where’s my map?”
”You took my leg, Bugs. Let’s call it even.”
He gazed at your leg, a frown on his face.
“Sorry about that. I really am.”
You both knew it was a lie, but you felt weak. You needed to stay on his good side, at least for now.
”You’re the only devil fruit user I know, I knew what I was getting into.”
Saving the best for last right?
”You couldn’t let me go, I suppose your type never does.”
”Says the guy chasing after a fairy tale.”
He sat down on the bed, “oh it’s real alright. So about my map…”
”Buggy, let me rest. At least get a girl a drink first. Don’t glass me this time neither.”
He sighed, getting up to find a bottle of rum that he usually kept around. He toasted you before taking a swig, the both of you taking turns drinking.
“So why offer this to me anyway, hm?”
You smirk, “you know what they say, if you can’t beat them, join them.”
”Is that right?”
”Oh yeah, I seen your act plenty of times to know it needs work. I can make you shine, baby.”
He laughed, “tell me why I shouldn’t kill you right now.”
”What’s the matter, don’t like this thing we got going anymore?”
He leaned closer to whisper, “if all you wanted was a ride that’s all you had to say.”
”Think I got it bad for clowns, huh?”
”I think you got it bad for me.”
You had him right where you wanted him. Leaning forward, grabbing his scarf to pull him close.
”I think you gotta earn my forgiveness first, baby,” you said, pushing him away.
“And how can I do that?”
You briefly wondered if he was truly as flustered as he looked. You didn’t think he’d fold this quickly. You needed to test this out.
”Maybe…let me stay here awhile. Rest up. My map is hidden in a safe place. Maybe I can take you there if you play nice.”
You kissed his lips, Buggy stared at you like you were crazy. Before he said a word you held up your hand.
”But, hey. I’m tired, I have a lost limb to scream about now.”
You never told him what exactly were the magic words to make the map appear, the next few days you slept in his bed while you recovered. Buggy forced to sleep in his chair, you didn’t care, quick to motion at the wood leg someone on the crew carved for you.
He tried; buttering you up, training with you to become stronger, flirting endlessly. It was all annoying, you never spent so much time around one person before. You decide to see how far his begging will go, allowing him to share the bed with you.
One morning you wake up before him, the sunlight shining through the tiny window. Buggy was still asleep, facing your direction. It had been weeks, and you still had not really gotten to know him. He never questioned your change of heart, you probably both expected a stab in the back at any moment.
He was handsome, in his own way. You brushed the hair from his face, causing him to shimmy closer to you. You backed up, unsure of what he meant by that. You gazed at your hands, unsure of why you did that in the first place anyway.
With a groan, you swing your legs to the side, rubbing the nub gently. It was still taking some time to get used to, wishing you had his powers.
“You okay?”
“Go back to bed, Buggy. It’s cool.”
So he was a light sleeper after all, good to know. You couldn’t kill him yet, wondering if he’d be lulled into safety at all.
Your felt his eyes on you as you changed clothes. You let him think he was being sneaky, bending down on purpose to find your pants.
“Nice ink.”
“Bite my ass.”
”With pleasure.”
You both laughed, you throwing a shirt at his head. His smile was honest, cute even. This was going to be easier than you thought.
”Buggy, I have a map I want you to look over.”
”You mean?”
”Well,” you smiled, “a map to a map.”
He kissed you, “you have no idea what this means to me.”
You pushed him away, “thank me later.”
While he wasn’t looking, you wiped your mouth. He never done that before, men were too easy to trick. A guy like that was easy to mold into whatever you wanted.
“Lead the way, sweetheart.”
”Aye, aye. Captain.”