A Little Piece of Kripton (One Piece x Superman)

Royal found himself enjoying the lively atmosphere of the ship's cabin. The clatter of pans and the sizzle of ingredients in the kitchen created a symphony of activity as Sanji expertly prepared the crew's meal. The enticing aroma wafted through the air, making Luffy, who sat closest to the kitchen, visibly salivate. His wide, shining eyes were glued to Sanji's every move, as if watching a grand performance.

Royal's gaze shifted to Zoro, who sat across the room, diligently sharpening his swords. The rhythmic sound of the whetstone sliding against metal added a steady background note to the chaos. When Zoro felt Royal's eyes on him, he stopped and turned his head slightly, meeting Royal's gaze. 

"Do you need something?" Zoro asked, his tone straightforward and without malice. 

Royal shook his head. "No, nothing. I'm just observing everyone's interactions and how you all keep yourselves busy." 

Zoro shrugged at the explanation and returned to sharpening his blades, seemingly indifferent to being watched. 

Not far from Zoro, Royal noticed Usopp lingering near the cabin door. The long-nosed sharpshooter appeared hesitant, almost as if he was debating whether or not to approach. When their eyes met, Royal raised an eyebrow, silently inviting Usopp to speak his mind or ask whatever question seemed to be weighing on him.

But instead of stepping forward, Usopp abruptly turned around and walked away, leaving Royal confused by the odd behavior. 

"What was that about?" Royal muttered to himself, a small frown forming on his face. He couldn't decipher whether Usopp was simply shy, avoiding him, or if there was something more to his strange actions. 

Shaking his head, Royal leaned back in his chair, deciding not to dwell on it for now. There was a rhythm to the Straw Hat crew, a natural dynamic that he was still learning to navigate. 

The faint, electronic blip barely registered in the cabin's lively atmosphere, but it was enough to make Zoro pause mid-motion, his whetstone hovering above his sword. He furrowed his brows and looked up sharply.

"Did any of you hear that weird sound just now?" he asked, his sharp gaze darting between Luffy and Sanji.

Royal froze momentarily at the question, his body going rigid as Kalex, concealed on his wrist, subtly suppressed any trace of the signal. Quickly regaining his composure, he feigned nonchalance, his expression calm and unreadable.

"Hah! What are you even talking about, Marimo? There wasn't any sound, you idiot. Maybe it's just your ears that need cleaning," Sanji retorted, his tone laced with irritation as he rolled his eyes.

Luffy, chewing on a piece of jerky, looked serious for a second before nodding in agreement with Sanji. "Yeah, I didn't hear anything either."

Zoro grunted in frustration, clearly unsatisfied with their responses, but he didn't press the matter further. Instead, he shot a disgruntled look at Sanji and resumed his sharpening, his irritation evident in the extra force he applied to the whetstone.

Royal subtly exhaled in relief, his calm demeanor unbroken. He leaned back slightly, keeping his movements controlled and natural to avoid drawing any suspicion.

As the cabin's atmosphere returned to its lively normalcy, everyone resumed their activities. Zoro focused on his blades, Sanji continued cooking, and Luffy eagerly awaited his next meal.

Unnoticed by the others, Royal silently slipped out of the room. His departure was so seamless that it didn't disrupt the flow of activity, leaving no one aware of his sudden absence.

Reaching the stern of the ship near Nami's treasured tangerine trees, Royal stopped and lifted his wrist to his chest. The subtle hum of the ocean surrounded him as he whispered to the Kryptonian AI embedded in his watch-like device.

"What is it, Kalex?" Royal asked softly, his voice low enough to ensure no one overheard.

Kalex's mechanical voice responded promptly, calm yet precise.

"I am detecting a high level of radioactive activity approximately 90 kilometers from our current location."

Royal frowned, his brows knitting together in concern. "Is it dangerous for humans?"

Kalex hesitated for a moment before answering, as if carefully calculating.

"At the current distance, the levels pose no immediate threat to the crew. However, if we were to approach any closer, prolonged exposure could result in serious consequences for humans, particularly cellular damage or acute radiation sickness."

Royal's frown deepened as he pressed Kalex for more information. "Can you identify the source of the radiation, Kalex?" 

There was a brief pause before Kalex responded, its tone carrying a rare hint of hesitation. 

"...Master Kal, I don't believe we're discussing an object. My readings suggest the source is a human." 

Royal's breath hitched, and his blue eyes widened slightly. "What?" he whispered, his voice barely audible. "Is it... some kind of Devil Fruit power?" he asked, the thought of encountering yet another anomaly in this world crossing his mind. 

Kalex replied cautiously. "I cannot confirm that at this time. The readings do not align precisely with known energy patterns of Devil Fruits, but the possibility cannot be ruled out. Analysis is incomplete due to distance and interference." 

Royal exhaled slowly, the gravity of the situation settling in his chest. A human radiating this kind of energy—whether due to a Devil Fruit, technology, or something else entirely—could mean unpredictable danger. 

"Keep scanning," he ordered. "Let me know the moment you get more clarity. If it's a person, they might be in pain... or they could be a threat." 

"Affirmative, Master Kal," Kalex replied. 

Royal turned his gaze back toward the dark endless ocean, his mind racing. He hoped they would reach the surface soon, as his enhanced vision allowed him to spot the Sea Kings lurking and circling the ship with predatory intent.

Royal heard hesitant footsteps approaching him. "Hey, Usopp," he greeted without turning around, recognizing the owner of the steps instantly.

His greeting was met with silence. Intrigued, Royal turned to face the lanky man, his expression calm but curious. "Is there something I can help you with?"

Usopp shifted uneasily, his eyes filled with suspicion as he finally spoke. "I... I don't know why you're even here," he muttered, his tone laced with doubt.

Royal raised an eyebrow, feigning casualness. "Heh, I'm just... observing the darkness," he said, gesturing vaguely to the night around them. It wasn't the full truth—few could understand what his unique vision revealed in the shadows.

"I don't trust you," Usopp mumbled, his words sharp enough to make Royal's composure falter for a moment.

"And why's that?" Royal asked, his tone still light but with an undercurrent of curiosity.

"...You're strong," Usopp replied, his voice carrying a mix of envy and unease. "You could do anything—anything—without even breaking a sweat. And yet, you choose to be a servant on this ship? Doesn't that sound... completely absurd?"

Royal's expression softened, though his gaze grew distant as he considered Usopp's words. "Maybe it does," he murmured, a flicker of emotion crossing his face before he quickly masked it with a faint smirk. "But some choices aren't about what you can do—they're about what you should do."

"And you think you should be a servant?" Usopp asked, his tone laced with skepticism.

Royal paused, his gaze shifting slightly as if searching for the right words. "Ah," he finally replied, a faint smile playing on his lips, "maybe it's not about what I should do, but rather what I want to do."

Usopp frowned, clearly unsatisfied with the answer. "That doesn't make sense. Why would anyone want to be a servant when they have your kind of power?"

Royal chuckled softly, a hint of mystery in his demeanor. "Maybe because power alone doesn't always lead to fulfillment. Sometimes, it's about the small things—the things that make you feel... human."

The response left Usopp even more puzzled, but also oddly intrigued. "You're weird," he muttered, crossing his arms.

"Maybe," Royal replied, the smirk still lingering on his face. "But weird has its charm, doesn't it?"

Hearing Royal's response, Usopp hesitated for a brief moment before turning on his heel and walking back into the cabin, leaving the newest member of the Straw Hat crew alone on the deck.

As Usopp's figure disappeared, the faint smirk that had lingered on Royal's lips faded, replaced by his usual stoic expression. His eyes trailed off toward the horizon, deep in thought.

"What's got you looking all serious like that?" Franky's booming voice broke through the silence, drawing Royal's attention.

The shipwright approached from the opposite side of the deck, carrying two large bottles of cola in his hands. His easygoing grin contrasted sharply with Royal's composed demeanor.

Royal turned to face the cyborg, his features unreadable. "Just a small matter," he replied simply, his tone even.

Franky quirked an eyebrow as he plopped himself down on one of the nearby barrels. "Small, huh? You don't look like the kind of guy who gets hung up on 'small matters.'"

Royal raised an eyebrow, his gaze meeting Franky's with measured curiosity. The cyborg's observation had hit the mark with uncanny precision. 

A brief silence hung between them, broken only by the soft lapping of waves against the ship's hull, until Franky spoke again. 

"...If this is about Usopp, give him some time," Franky said, his tone surprisingly gentle. "You've had the easiest time fitting into this crew. It's only natural for someone to feel a little suspicious." 

Royal tilted his head slightly, his piercing blue eyes narrowing as he considered Franky's words. "Do you think joining this crew requires a difficult past?" he asked, his voice calm but with a faint edge of skepticism. 

Franky let out a hearty laugh, shaking his head as he took another sip of his cola. "Nah, it's not like that," he replied, walking closer to Royal and offering him the spare cola he had been carrying. 

Royal hesitated for a moment before accepting the drink, nodding his thanks. 

Franky leaned against the railing, the sunlight glinting off his metallic arms. "But you gotta admit, you're a multitalented guy—and you didn't choose to be a captain yourself. That alone makes you different," he said, giving Royal a sidelong glance. "Luffy doesn't care about our pasts; he only cares about who we are now. If you're here, that means he's decided you're nakama. But," Franky continued, gesturing with the cola bottle, "some of us can't help being a little cautious. Trusting Luffy's decisions doesn't mean we ignore what our instincts tell us." 

Royal took a sip of the cola, the cool, fizzy drink a surprising comfort in the moment. He mulled over Franky's words, his usually composed demeanor softening slightly. "So, trust is given, but acceptance takes time?" 

Franky grinned, lifting his bottle in a mock toast. "Something like that. We're all misfits in our own way, but it's the time we spend together that really seals the deal. Give Usopp a chance—he'll come around." 

Royal returned the gesture with a small nod, raising his bottle in acknowledgment before taking another sip. "Noted," he said simply, his voice carrying a tone of quiet understanding. 

As Franky walked away, whistling a cheerful tune, Royal turned his gaze back to the horizon. He felt the tension in his chest ease slightly. Maybe Franky was right—time had a way of forging bonds, even among those who were wary.

"Let's eat. I'm sure Sanji's got the food ready by now," Franky said with enthusiasm, slinging a massive metallic arm over Royal's shoulder as he started leading the way toward the galley.

The gesture caught Royal slightly off guard. The towering cyborg's sudden and exuberant movement could easily overwhelm anyone unprepared for it. However, Royal managed to maintain his composure, resisting the instinct to flinch.

"Sure," Royal replied, his tone calm and measured, though his subtle nod acknowledged the camaraderie behind the gesture.

Franky grinned, "That's the spirit! Just wait 'til you taste what Sanji's whipped up—best food on the seas, guaranteed!"

"You're not satisfied with just your cola?" Royal asked as they strolled toward the galley. His tone was neutral, but the faint hint of curiosity in his voice betrayed his genuine interest in the cyborg's seemingly unending love for the fizzy drink.

Franky's grin widened. "Cola is my lifeline, but there's no way I'd miss out on Sanji's cooking—even if my body doesn't exactly digest it." He leaned in conspiratorially, lowering his voice. "But don't tell Sanji that. He gets all bent out of shape if he thinks his food doesn't fully count for something. For me, it's all about the taste, even if it doesn't fuel this super machine!"

"Promise," Royal replied, a small, amused smile forming on his face.

"I only truly need sunlight to sustain my life," Royal admitted, revealing a fragment of his peculiar nature to Franky.

Franky raised an eyebrow, his mechanical hand pausing mid-repair. "Wait, you're telling me you can live off sunlight? Like some kinda plant or solar-powered robot?"

"I don't know about solar-power robot," the sentence remind him a lot of Kalex, a stark and he was nothing like that. "But... I ddefinitely like a plant."

Franky's boisterous laughter rang out across the open deck, breaking the tranquil hum of the sea. His enthusiasm was contagious, but it was soon joined by a louder, more excited voice from the galley.

"The FOOD is ready!" Luffy's wide grin appeared in the doorway as he called out, his voice brimming with anticipation. His eager eyes locked onto Franky and Royal, and he waved them over enthusiastically.

Franky threw a hand in the air in response, his signature grin intact. "You heard the captain! Let's not keep our stomachs waiting!"

Royal glanced toward the galley, catching a glimpse of the lively commotion inside. Through the doorway, he could see Nami sitting at the table, holding a steaming cup of tea while dodging Luffy's attempts to grab a plate prematurely. Zoro leaned casually against the wall, one eye on his surroundings as if gauging whether the impending meal might require defending from their ravenous captain.

Royal's thoughts drifted to Usopp, who had been distant ever since their interaction earlier. He hoped that, over time, things would improve between them. Usopp's skepticism was understandable—he was a sensitive person, often guarded, and the way Royal had joined the crew had been abrupt, with little explanation. 

But Royal wasn't in a rush. He understood that relationships, especially ones built on trust and camaraderie, couldn't be forced. The crew had a unique dynamic, one that wasn't easily changed, and Royal was determined to fit into it at his own pace. He had the time. They all did.

As he helped himself to a plate of food, he stole a glance at Usopp, who was sitting a little further down the table, picking at his meal. Usopp noticed Royal's gaze and briefly met his eyes before looking away, his expression unreadable. Royal felt a small pang in his chest but chose not to react.

He would give Usopp the space he needed.