Galan slipped a few books into Usopp's bag when he wasn't looking before leaving the island with Olvia.
They sailed to the 16th Marine Base, Olvia had found out where they came from with the Marine ship they left behind. She left everything on the ship for the villagers and even left the ship itself, telling them that they could do whatever they wanted with it, she didn't care.
She just wanted to leave here with Galan.
They passed by a prisoner who was sleeping on a boat. Galan blew the guy away, recognizing him as the rogue Marine Morgan from Shellstown. Turns out he escaped.
Well, he wasn't a problem anymore. Even his boat was sunk.
The duo went to the 16th Marine base and slaughtered every Marine there. Every single one of them was dirty… It wasn't a happy end to the trip. Olvia felt Galan was extremely sad ever since they left, she could only comfort him by being with him.
She didn't know what else to do, it made her very distressed.
After cleaning out the Marine base, Galan went back to Marineford. He had enough for today…
When they got back, it wasn't any different.
Galan took off his clothes and got in the bed, not sleeping on the couch. He laid on his side and stayed silent as Olvia held the door watching him sadly. She turned around and sent Sugar to sleep, telling her to sleep on the couch for tonight.
Normally she slept with Olvia but obviously… That wasn't going to work.
Sugar did as she was told and brought a blanket to the couch.
Olvia walked into the bedroom and closed the door gently. She took off the contacts and stripped down, turning her head to Galan. His back was facing her as he stared at the wall, thinking god knows what…
She clenched her fists and got into the bed, feeling him tensing up. Olvia said softly "Please don't leave…" he didn't answer and she hugged him from behind, continuing "I can't even begin to imagine how you feel, Galan… All these things, everything you can't control… It's not your fault."
She hugged him tight and whispered in a pleading tone "Can you turn to me? Please?" Galan stared at the wall for a long while in silence before slowly turning to face her. Olvia stroked his cheek and smiled sadly, looking into his eyes "It's okay to cry. Nobody will know…"
He ignored her and she slid into his embrace, pressing against his bare chest with her own, continuing "I'll be here for you, no matter what. No matter how heavy the weight, I'll share it with you. No matter how painful it is, I'll suffer with you. No matter how tough it gets, I'll never abandon you. You silently carry all these burdens, never showing weakness to anyone, crying in silence alone… Even if you don't want me to be there, I will be."
She rubbed his chest gently and looked up, smiling slightly, "It really hurts to see you so sad. None of this is your fault." she looked into his eyes and held his cheek before slowly stretching out her neck and kissing his lips.
Galan closed his eyes and broke off of her, making her tear up, but he wrapped his strong arms around her delicate and soft body, pulling her close. Surprise bloomed in her eyes before a tender smile graced her lips and her watery eyes closed as she rested her head on his chest, deep in his embrace.
She could feel his rough hands grabbing her flesh almost as if she was going to disappear somehow…
Droplets of wetness dripping on her head…
No sound, no noise, nothing.
Only the slow and soft breathing of a strong man. She didn't know if this was permanent or just a period of vulnerability, but she hoped it could last forever. Her hero, the strongest man in the world, was so… fragile at the moment.
She listened to his heart beat in her ears, holding him with her small and delicate hands, never being able to provide him with the securing feeling that she felt in his arms… But maybe she could give him a comforting feeling.
A place to come home everyday, a special place where he didn't have to be tough anymore, somewhere he didn't have to pretend, a place that accepted him for who he was instead of shunning him for being broken…
She thought about the pain he must feel and tears escaped her eyes, wetting his chest.
He held her tight and his rough hands could feel the smooth softness of her skin. Something so delicate and fragile in his hands… He didn't want to ruin it. He didn't believe he could be weak even for a moment. He didn't want to have anything that could make him hurt any more…
20 years he had been pushing this woman away and every single time she would come running back with that same smile and a promise.
She never abandoned him.
She never left him.
She never looked at him with disgust and fear like the rest…
This was precisely why he was so scared to hold her in his arms like this. He resisted every day, but she wouldn't stop. Relentlessly pressing forward into his life, no matter the difficulty, enduring the abuse and insults, feeling that he was in much more pain than her…
He held her like this and thought that just maybe, for a single moment, right now, he didn't have to pretend anymore… But the thought made him very, very scared… Another important thing in his life that he could taint with his bloodstained hands…
He didn't want her to stay, he didn't want her to go…
He wished his life would've been different.
Because if his sins devoured her too… he didn't know if he could continue moving…