Author's note: Really, are there any nakama past stories left? I feel like figures from Luffy's past are the only ones left to make an appearance. Dadan, bandits or those pirates. Can't leave Zoro out as well - who would have guessed Sanji to have such a past?

No sob story

After all the drama, adventure and excitement about Sanji's rescue was over, when the Straw Hats was together in one place and one time, they considered the crazy lengths their captain went for another nakama.

None of them could blame Sanji. He was neither the first in need of a rescue nor with the wildest consequences.

If you compare declaring war upon the World Government to angering a Yonko beyond belief - which one was more dangerous?

(Invading Impel Down and joining a war might win the cake.)

The thing was, they learned their captain wouldn't hesitate for a second if a nakama was in danger.

So, as the crazy Straw Hat Luffy's crew, they did damage control.

First - was there any sob, kidnapping-or-sacrificing-inducing back stories left?

Sanji grimaced, his caught-up-past still fresh in his mind. Robin gave him a sympathetic smile. Nami nodded at Jimbei's apologetic expression.

"You know my story already," Chopper chirped.

"Mine too. Super!" Franky shouted.

"Well, I guess the important parts of mine. The sad ones at least! Yohohohoho!"

"Don't look at me!" Usopp shouted. "I don't have a sad past! My father is part of Shanks' crew though," he trailed off.

"Would you run away to him?" they asked.

"So Luffy would punch his role model for me? Who is also ridiculously powerful? Scary!"

They gave a sigh of relief. Then looked at their newest member.

"I have a long past," Jimbei said, "While I told you about the Sun Pirates, I experienced many things. But joining this crew is my choice and I don't plan on leaving it for any reason."

They hummed, accepting it for now.

And, together, they turned to the sleeping swordsman. "You are the first," they said, "none of us know your past."

"I don't have a sob story," Zoro grumbled. "Since I was young, I wanted to be the strongest swordsman."

"Not enough," they said, "anyone to kidnap you?"

"I would cut them down."

"Anyone to blackmail you?"

"I would also cut them down."

"Anyone so powerful that you would sacrifice yourself for your nakama?"

"I would cut them down!"

They sighed, agreeing the swordsman was a helpless cause.

With their sob stories and the potential sacrificial situations covered, they focused on the future. They needed to make sure no one would defeat, blackmail or kidnap them.

No one powerful, at least.

More powerful than their captain.

Because they loved their captain. They, maybe not adored but at least liked, his love of crazy and dangerous adventures. They still got surprised every time he found someone to save or a selfish-sounding reason to help people. But their captain was a pirate in heart and his dream was to be the freest man in the world.

Yet if something were to happen to any of his nakama, he would go to the depths of hell to get them back and that wouldn't be a fun adventure. Their captain wouldn't be laughing and discovering a new place but would use his abundant will power to jump over obstacles with desperation to reach them.

And they knew he would come. However much it would hurt him or whatever consequences it would bring, he couldn't care if it was for his nakama.

So, his nakama had to make sure it wouldn't happen.

But - all the while - it felt good. The knowledge that their captain would raise hell to bring them back. Declare war against the greatest powers because they took a tiny, insignificant person who wasn't negligible to this larger-than-world person.

Protect them while they got stronger and walked towards their own dreams.

Because their insane captain not only shouted his dream to the world in every chance he got, he also protected his nakama's dream with all his strength.

They were grateful. Humbled. And -

And - if something were to risk their captain's dream, they would sacrifice theirs in a heartbeat.