After weaving through the bustling streets, dodging vendors hawking their goods, and ignoring the wary glances of the townsfolk, the brothers finally arrived at their destination. The Marine base stood like a fortress of oppression, its tall, rigid walls casting dark shadows over the town below. Every step closer seemed to drain the air of its vibrancy, replacing it with a suffocating tension. Even the distant hum of the market faded into an eerie stillness.
Koby's gaze sharpened as they approached the base's gates, where armed Marines stood guard, their postures rigid with authority. Without missing a beat, he muttered under his breath, "Refraction."
In an instant, the world around them seemed to ripple. Using his elemental mimicry, Koby bent the light to wrap around their forms, rendering them nearly invisible. To anyone watching, the brothers simply vanished, as if swallowed by the shadows of the base.
Unseen and unnoticed, they slipped through the courtyard gates. The base's open courtyard stretched before them, stark and oppressive. At its center, Zoro stood bound to a weathered wooden post, his arms stretched and tied behind him. His green hair was wild in the wind, and though his body bore the marks of harsh punishment, his piercing eyes burned with unyielding defiance.
From the invisible veil, Te's voice broke the silence. "Hello."
Zoro's head snapped up, his eyes darting around the courtyard. "Who said that?" he demanded, his voice sharp and wary.
"I did."
Zoro's brows furrowed, and a vein bulged on his forehead. His irritation was palpable as he scanned his surroundings, seeing no one. "Whoever you are, leave me the hell alone," he growled, his patience wearing thin.
Te chuckled softly. "Ah, don't be like that. I came to rescue you. Heard from the townspeople about what you did a few weeks back, and figured I'd help."
Zoro scoffed, his voice cold and defiant. "I don't need anyone's help—especially from someone too scared to show his face. I'll get out of this myself."
Te smirked. "Suit yourself, but wouldn't it be easier if I made your life a little less... tied up?"
Without waiting for a reply, he glanced at Koby. "Undo the cloak for Zoro, but keep us hidden from everyone else."
Koby gave a quick nod, raising his hand. "Refracting Domain."
The air around Zoro shimmered briefly before his eyes widened in shock. The space around him became clear, revealing the two figures now standing before him, yet the rest of the courtyard remained cloaked from the outside world. Zoro's gaze locked onto Te and Koby, his jaw tightening as he sized them up.
"Well, now you're not invisible to me," Zoro said gruffly. "But you're still idiots if you think rescuing me won't get you both killed."
Zoro's eyes narrowed as he took in the two figures now visible before him. Standing side by side, they looked alike—too alike, almost unnervingly so.
The one who had spoken, Te, had an air of mischief and confidence. He stood tall, around six feet, with an athletic build that hinted at both speed and strength. His dark brown curls were loose and slightly unkempt, giving him a wild, carefree appearance. His skin was dark, smooth, and gleamed faintly under the harsh sun. His posture was relaxed, but his sharp eyes—deep brown and full of fire—betrayed a readiness for action. He wore a pirate-like outfit, complete with a long coat that billowed slightly in the breeze, and his faint, fiery aura seemed to dance around him, barely noticeable but impossible to ignore.
Next to him stood Koby, who shared the same height and build but contrasted his brother in demeanor. His curls were neater, framing his face in a way that gave him a composed, methodical air. His dark skin was the same deep hue as Te's, and his eyes carried a quiet intensity, calculating and observant. Unlike Te's fiery presence, Koby radiated a calm, mechanical hum, as if his very being operated with precision. His attire mirrored Te's pirate look but with subtle modifications—sleeker, more functional, as if built for someone always thinking a few steps ahead.
Zoro's gaze flicked between the two, his frown deepening. "Twins, huh?" he muttered. "You don't look like your average townsfolk—or pirates, for that matter."
Te grinned. "We get that a lot."
Koby remained quiet, his eyes scanning Zoro as if assessing every detail. His calm demeanor was unnerving, like someone who always knew more than he let on.
Zoro's lips curled into a slight smirk, despite himself. "You two might look the part, but don't think that'll scare Morgan—or me."
Te laughed. "Good. We're not here to scare you, Zoro. We're here to make sure you get a chance to show the world what you're really capable of."
Te crossed his arms, a confident grin on his face. "Good thing we're not afraid of a little trouble. Now, do you want out or not?"
Zoro's expression hardened. "No."
Te blinked, tilting his head. "No?"
"Yes."
Te's grin faltered for a second. "So yes?"
"No."
"Yes."
Zoro's patience snapped. His voice rose in frustration. "Dammit! If you don't leave me alone, I'll cut you down the moment I get out of these bindings!"
Te raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, calm down. No need to get so touchy. I know, I know—you probably don't trust people who look like us. Dark skin and all."
Zoro's eyes narrowed, his voice dropping to a chilling tone. "What did you just say?"
Te smirked, feigning innocence. "Nothing. Forget it." He waved a hand dismissively. "Anyway, if you don't want us to set you free, how about some food instead? I'm guessing the Marines aren't exactly treating you to gourmet meals."
Zoro's stomach growled loudly, betraying his hunger despite his defiance. He gritted his teeth, glaring at Te. "Tch. Do whatever you want. Just don't expect me to thank you."
"See? What did I tell you? It's the skin color, isn't it?" Te teased, his grin widening as he leaned in slightly, clearly enjoying himself.
Zoro's face darkened, and his voice dropped to a menacing growl. "Fuck you. Get out of here."
Before Te could push further, Koby stepped forward, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to his brother's antics. "Ignore him," he said with a sigh, giving Te a pointed look. "He thinks he's funny."
Turning his attention back to Zoro, Koby reached into his pocket and pulled out a neatly wrapped dumpling from his storage space. He extended it toward the swordsman. "Here. You've been tied up for days; you need to eat."
Zoro's eyes flicked from Koby to the dumpling, then back again. His expression remained hard, but there was a flicker of hesitation. His pride was clearly warring with his hunger. Finally, after a long pause, he muttered, "I don't need your pity."
"It's not pity," Koby replied evenly. "It's fuel. You'll need it if you plan on surviving long enough to keep that promise of yours."
Zoro's jaw clenched at the mention of his promise, his resolve momentarily cracking. After another tense moment, he relented, leaning forward just enough for Koby to place the dumpling within reach.
"Eat," Koby said simply. "No strings attached."
Zoro stared at the dumpling for a moment before biting into it, his stubborn silence the only acknowledgment of their help.
"I guess you people aren't so bad," Zoro muttered, his voice low as he bit into the dumpling, his hunger finally overriding his pride.
Te's eyes lit up instantly, and he threw his arms wide in Zoro's direction, pointing dramatically. "SEEEEE?!" he exclaimed. "The rumors are true! Who even says 'you people' anymore?!"
Koby sighed, rubbing his temples. "Te, could you not?"
But Te was already on a roll. "I mean, come on! 'You people'? What is this, a bad Marine propaganda film?" He gestured wildly, his expression one of mock indignation.
Zoro paused mid-bite, his brows twitching in irritation. "It was a figure of speech," he growled, clearly regretting his choice of words.
Te smirked, crossing his arms. "Sure, sure. Next you'll tell me you've got plenty of dark-skinned friends, right?"
Zoro's glare could have cut through steel. "Do you want me to break out of these bindings just to shut you up?"
Te raised his hands in mock surrender, still grinning. "Alright, alright, no need to get violent. You're welcome, by the way."
Koby stepped in again, giving Zoro a more serious look. "Don't mind him. He likes to push buttons. But honestly, we're just here to help."
Zoro took another bite, chewing thoughtfully. His glare softened slightly, though his tone remained gruff. "Tch. You've got a weird way of showing it."
"Whatever, Minority Hunter," Te said with a chuckle, clearly enjoying himself. "We'll be back tomorrow to set you free."
Zoro's brow furrowed. "What? Why not now? Your brother obviously has some strange ability to make us invisible. You could sneak in and out without anyone noticing."
Te hesitated for a second, then shrugged dramatically. "Oh yeah, uh… but you see… there's a timelimit on how long he can keep this up. Yeah, resets once a day. So, we gotta wait until tomorrow." He nodded, clearly pulling this explanation out of thin air.
Zoro sighed, clearly unimpressed but too hungry to argue. "Fine. I'll see you tomorrow."
"I guess we'll take our leave now," Koby said, turning to leave. Both brothers began to walk away, their footsteps light against the courtyard's stone surface.
"WAIT!" Zoro's voice echoed across the yard.
The brothers stopped in their tracks. "Yes?" Te said, glancing over his shoulder.
Zoro shifted slightly against his bindings, his pride visibly cracking. "You wouldn't happen to have any more food on you?"
A devilish grin spread across Te's face. "Hmm… I don't know if we have any more food for YOU PEOPLE." He burst out laughing, his voice carrying through the courtyard. Before Zoro could respond, Te vanished with a sudden burst of speed, using Soru to disappear from sight.
Zoro blinked, momentarily stunned. "What the hell is wrong with that guy?" he muttered, baffled at how someone could joke so much and still manage to seem so capable.
Koby sighed, shaking his head. "I know. He's an idiot," he said flatly. Without another word, he pulled out another dumpling and casually tossed it, landing it perfectly in Zoro's mouth. "Here," Koby added before disappearing himself in a blur of motion.
Zoro bit down on the dumpling, chewing as he stared at the now-empty courtyard. For a moment, he was silent, then muttered to himself, "Idiots. But not bad ones."