4 Years Before the start of Canon
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*The Splashing of waves could be heard*
"I knew I'd find you here. Of all the places to be, you always come back to the same spot where you were washed ashore five years ago," the mayor of Foosha Village said as he gazed at the teen sitting in front of the small crackling fire.
His back was turned to Woop Slap, still unconcerned and unresponsive to the old man's words even as he had snuck up on him quietly.
He continued staring out at sea, lost in thought, before letting out a soft sigh…
Soft enough for only him to hear.
"Ironic as it sounds, it's the only place on this huge island where I can truly find peace." The teen says without sparing the man a gaze.
"Perhaps that may be true, but peace can also be found in one's….heart, even if you don't think so. I know you miss your home, your family and whatever else it may be, but we must always remember not to lose ourselves in the pursuit and thought of what we desire most," Woop Slap said as he walked over to take a seat on the log beside the teen.
"So you always say, old man. I think this may be the 215th time you've told me this," Tobias mocked, trying to rile up the mayor…to his chagrin, which worked.
A few veins popped up along the man's forehead.
"You mischievous brat!" he shouted as he sprang to his feet as fast as he sat down, pointing a finger at Tobias, looking thoroughly embarrassed, a common habit of the man.
Tobias chuckled cheekily at the response.
"Alright, Mr. Woop Slap, I'm sorry," he feigned an apology to calm the man down, which did the trick.
"Hmph!" the man huffed.
"You're lucky I ain't as young as I used to be, or I'd give you a beating right here and now," he added.
"I believe you, Mr. Woop Slap. Ms. Jenny said you were a great warrior back in the day. She said you saved her from a few bandits then," he japed again, completely unnoticed by the elder this time.
Woop Slap puffed out his chest in pride, looking all smug.
They both knew that was untrue. Ms. Jenny the baker had said he ran away at the first sight of danger before eventually turning back to fling her over his shoulders and running away again.
He had to give it to Woop Slap, the man was a good joke teller. He was funny even when he didn't want to be, even when he was mad.
"Since you're already here, it's best I tell you now," Tobias said, finally getting his attention.
"What is it?" Woop Slap asked, looking curious and serious this time.
Tobias went quiet for a second, creating a brief moment of suspense before laying the news on him.
"When Mr. Garp comes back this summer, I'll be leaving with him to become a Marine."
The words hit like a rock.
The mayor's eyes narrowed for a second before he managed to stammer something out.
"A m-marine!?" he exclaimed , bewildered by what he heard.
"Are you sure?" he continued. "A Marine's life is one wrought with danger and even death. You should think wisely about this." He tried to convince him.
"Well…. I have been thinking on this for weeks, and I've given myself the clarity I needed. The answers I've been looking for , I think the Marines could help me find them. Finding a way to reach back home if not something along the lines."
'There he goes again with that mysterious home of his,' Woop Slap thought with a mental sigh. A home which was nowhere to be found on the Grand Line nor in the Four Seas. The boy kept what knowledge he knew about the place a secret only giving hints and vague descriptions to which annoyed him at times.
"Plus," the teen continued, raising his index finger close to his head to which an orange flame now hovered over the tip of his nail calmly.
"with my talents, I think I'd see myself progressing through the ranks, wouldn't you say?"
No matter how many times Woop Slap saw it, he couldn't stop being amazed. Not a Devil Fruit eater, yet Tobias had developed an ability to generate fire from his body.
Magic, he called it…..to which the man was doubtful. But the seas were expansive, and anything could be possible, so why not magic he supposed?
The boy had used those same so called magical powers to defend the village a many times. He used them to also hunt in the mountains, and do odd jobs to earn money from time to time.
He had almost burned down the damn town a few times, but thank God they acted quickly.
"I see," the elder said, nodding while stroking his beard.
Woop Slap saw the look in his eyes… that look of determination. He wouldn't be able to change his mind no matter what he said.
Those eyes told him everything he needed to know.
"I won't be able to change your mind, will I?" he tried again.
"Unfortunately, no, Mr. Mayor. But nevertheless I thank you for all you've done for me. I thank the town for their kindness. If it weren't for you, I'd be living in the heaps of Grey Terminal and we've seen and heard what happened there," Tobias said sincerely as he looked him in the face.
Woop Slap only nodded before sighing.
A Marine, he thought to himself. He wondered if Garp was complicit in this decision? He could be. But Tobias found Garp rather bothersome and delinquent even at his old age.
He didn't dislike the man, but they never had the best conversations whenever they encountered each other. Garp called Tobias a cheeky rat faced brat every time, while Tobias returned the favor by calling him an old mattress due to his tendency to fall asleep at the most inopportune moments.
"I'll be telling Makino myself, so you don't have to go through the trouble," Tobias said.
"Of course," Woop Slap nodded in understanding.
Makino was like an older sister to him, after all. She was like a older sister to many of the village folk.
"The children will miss you, you know this right?" the mayor said.
"They'll miss my magic tricks, and the fireworks," Tobias chuckled, reminiscing about using his powers to impress the children of the small town, shooting balls of flame into the night sky that exploded beautifully. A fun activity to watch.
A tense silence followed after , both the old man and the teen stared at the dark waves calmly splashing ashore, neither daring to interrupt the moment.
Until…
"Are you crying, old man?" Tobias mocked, breaking the tension.
And Woop Slap did as he always did, he jumped to his feet and pointed accusingly.
"I'm not crying, you bastard! Hurry up and be gone. At least then my blood pressure won't be so high!"