DRABBLE: YOU SPEAK HIS NATIVE LANGUAGE TO HIM (18+) (One Piece) (for Fem!Readers)
Writer's Note: I had this idea after remembering that Luffy is Brazilian. Enjoy! And please, PLEASE let me know if any of the foreign phrases used are not correct or accurate. I did the research on Google. Thank you! -Jazz 🩷🩷
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LUFFY (PORTGUESE)
You always loved it when Luffy spoke in his native language.
He is from Brazil and though he hadn’t lived there in years since meeting Shanks and traveling among the Grand Line with the Strawhats crew, nothing and nobody could ever take the Brazilian out of him. It was in his blood.
He always made it known with the Brazilian recipes he would ask Sanji to make and the music he would blast across the ship. Usually, this resulted in him forcing you to dance him with and holding your hips as his his swayed and rolled in ways that often resulted in your knees going weak and every part of you becoming tingly and sensitive (including the places where Luffy usually had his mouth on).
He wouldn’t speak Portuguese often; only sometimes and at random moments, like when something exciting happened or when he was asleep. You would catch him mumbling words in his native tongue as he drooled on the pillow, making you giggle.
He would do it during sex too, usually when his tongue was buried deep in your pussy: “Você tem um gosto tão bom, mama. Deliciosa (You taste so good, mama. Delicious.),” he would mumble into your pussy while you whimpered and moaned.
Or when he had his cock buried deep inside of you as he hammered away at your insides, gripping and smacking your ass: “Tão bom! (So good!)” he’d moan into the bedroom. “C’mon, mama, cum with me! Goze comigo!”
His usual high-pitched voice would get deeper and raspier in his native tongue as each foreign words rolled and flipped on his tongue. It would make you combust every single time, cumming all over his cock at the same time as him bursting inside of you. He would then peck your forehead once you snuggled up together, his hat on your head. “Te amo,” he’d whisper, never telling you what it meant, but you had a feeling.
So after picking up on some of his lines and inflections, you decided to try out speaking his language one night. It was a boring night and Sanji was cooking, trying to get Luffy out of the kitchen as he groaned and complained about being hungry.
“Y/N, would you please come get him?” Sanji sighed. “He won’t leave and I’m not gonna have him sneaking the ingredients off of the counter to eat.”
“I’m not gonna do that!” Luffy protested. “I told you so, Sanji!”
You had giggled and walked to the stereo sitting on the table, playing one of Luffy's favorite songs that was popular in Brazil. The captain’s head immediately shot up from the table, his big eyes staring at you. You smiled and began to sway to the music, opening your arms for him.
With the biggest grin on his face, he shot up and went to you, immediately gathering you into his arms. You giggled as he pressed his face into the crook of your neck and held your hips as he began to sway with you, your senses invaded by nothing but him. He softly sang the lyrics to you, his voice raspy and soft, each word rolling off of the tongue. He sang has if the very song was written for you and you decided now was the perfect moment.
“Luffy?” you whispered. He pulled away to look down at you, looking like a confused puppy. You cupped his face in your hands and pressed a kiss to his lips before whispering, very low, “Te amo.”
Once those gears in his head started turning, you’ve never seen him look so happy. His smile grew about ten sizes before he gripped you to him and coated your face in kisses. “Hey, hey!” Sanji yelled. “Not while I’m cooking! Do that outside!”
ZORO (JAPANESE)
Compared to Luffy, Zoro barely spoke Japanese.
He would only mutter his native language in swears when he was stressed or angry. Other than that, you could never catch him doing it. He barely even spoke about Japan as a whole.
“Why you askin’ so many questions?” he would grumble, glaring at your curious gaze. “I haven’t been there since I was a baby. Go read up on it or somethin’.”
But when he did speak Japanese, and that was very rare, you loved it. His voice would get even deeper when he spoke the foreign swear words during a battle and it would make your heart skip several beats. You wanted to somehow coax him to speak it more or even be closer to him than you already were.
So you started teaching yourself Japanese. You collected as many language books as you could during your stops on islands when walking into town with Nami and Robin and began practicing. In two months, you began speaking in sentences though not professionally or fluently. However, you got each inflection down.
The first time you said something in Japanese to Zoro, he was busy working out one hot, boring day and you had wandered in, feeling extra bratty. “What?” he demanded, grunting as he did his bench presses, his muscles bulging and glistening in sweat.
“Just came to see if you broke up with your dumbbell yet,” you asked sarcastically. “I don’t know how the cuddling at night works, but to each its own.”
Zoro cut his forest green eyes your way before going back to his exercises, barely pausing. “Woman, if you’re gonna come in here with that shit, leave it at the door. You know I need to focus on my training.”
“But you’re already so strong, Zo!” you protested, padding farther into the room. “And a great fighter. You can spare one day without training.”
Though Zoro looked pleased with the praise, he still didn’t let up and continued to pump those sexy arms away at his presses. Pursing your lips, you walked over to him and kneeled down before him, just as he lifted the dumbbell up and put it back up on the rack behind his head.
You began to run your hands up his thick, tree trunk-like thighs in his green slacks, squeezing the muscles and digging your nails deliciously into them. He liked that. He tensed immediately at your touch, breathing heavily from the workout. “Stop that,” he growled. “I’m tryin’ to cool down.”
“Then let me help you,” you purred, sneaking your hand over his cock to give it a squeeze. You were pleased to find that he was already hard. He grunted at the contact and began to squirm under your touch. “I mean it, Y/N,” he panted. “Cut it out.”
You looked up at him then, staring boldly into his eyes. "Watashi o tsukuru (make me)”, you said in a low, breathy voice that often made your man go absolutely insane.
At the sound of his native language coming from your lips, the swordsman sat up straight and stared down at you, astounded and extremely aroused. His cock grew in your hand as a blush appeared on his cheeks.
“What did you say?” he questioned, his voice dangerously low. You just smiled and stood up, tearing your hand away from his cock.
“Now are you gonna spend time with me?” you questioned, a hand on your hip and arching a brow at him.
While this didn't get him out of the training room, it did help tear him away from his workout to instead work you out, your legs spread over his bench and his cock pummeling your insides as he whispered how good you felt in Japanese.
Mission accomplished.
SANJI (FRENCH)
Sanji always felt proud of his ethnicity and heritage, so he always made it a point to speak his native language.
Like Luffy, it would be at random moments. He could be cooking and would mutter to himself in French about instructions or maybe lyrics to a song.
Sometimes, he would swear if he nearly dropped a bottle of sauce or about the noise Luffy and Usopp would make outside the kitchen door. But always, when he served you and the crew, he would give you all a bright, proud smile and a “Bon appétit!”.
And always, always, he would speak French during sex. He would whisper in your ear about how good you felt and how sweet you tasted, his words like honey in your ears.
“Je me send is bien en too, princesse, (I feel so good inside you, princess)” he’d moan into the tense, sexed-up air of your bedroom, your ankles on his broad shoulders as his cock stroked your insides. “Tellement parfait. Si belle. (So perfect. So beautiful).”
He would kiss your foot before taking one of your toes into your mouth.
That would usually set you off like a rocket, making you cum all over the bed and his cock. And because he thought you were so pretty, he would always explode deep inside you, filling you to the brim. That’s part of why he always let his native tongue slip in the bedroom with you.
Other than the nasty shit, he would always tell you, “Je t’aime”. When he would kiss you; before you went to bed; when you’d separate for an expedition or when when you’d go to the other side of the ship. It was only right as the love chef. “Je t’aime,” he’d say, an adoring smile on his face and hearts in his eyes. It would make you tingle and feel warm all over you.
So you surprised him one night when he cooked dinner specifically for you before the crew even ate. “Sanji, baby, you didn’t have to make me a whole separate meal,” you giggled as you sat down in the chair he pulled out for you. “I would’ve eaten the lamb!”
“Nonsense,” he tutted, looking sexy in his apron dusted with flour and spices. “You said you didn’t like lamb too much. And believe me, honey: fixin’ grilled fish for you is nothing compared to what these hooligans want.” He then pressed a kiss to your cheek and whispered, “Bon appétit, my love” before hurrying back to the stove to check the yeast rolls in the oven.
You stared down at the dinner spread on your plate: grilled fish drizzled in lemon and garlic with a side of honey-glazed, oven-roasted carrots, kus kus, and steamed broccoli. You cut a piece of the fish and put it into your mouth, humming in pleasure at the taste. You turned to Sanji, his back to you, as you gushed over the food. “This food is delicious, Sanji!” you said. "C'est trés bon! (It's very good!)”
Sanji visibly paused before turning around to look at you, confused. Your smile grew and you lowered your fork. “Mes compliments au chef (My compliments to the chef),” you giggled. Before you could take a breath, Sanji was flying across the kitchen and planting kisses all over your face as you giggled. “Since when do you speak French, my love?” he laughed, giddy.
“I’ve been practicing,” you hummed, playing with the color of his shirt. “I wanted to impress you.” Hearts in his eyes, Sanji pressed his forehead against yours. “And impress me, you did, mon there,” he murmured. “Now finish that food so I can hear more of my native tongue coming out of those sweet lips.”
You did and while he had you bent over the kitchen counter while the crew ate in the other room, you repeated one word to him, over and over again, as he pummeled inside of you: “Je t’aime”.
LAW (GERMAN)
Law never spoke German. Or at least, not in front of you or the Hearts crew.
“What’s the need?” he asked when you asked him to teach you something in his native tongue. “I haven’t lived there in years. Why are you so interested in my language anyway?” You would tell him you were curious, but that wouldn’t make him budge.
You found it sad. Though he claimed he felt pride in his ethnicity and his native land, he barely mentioned his time there or taught you any phrases. So, in order to coax him into it, you fixed him a German dish. One day when the ship docked on a little island, you ran out to town to grab the ingredients for it and fixed it for him that night. It took a lot of preparation and stressing over whether or not he’d respond well to it, but that night, you sat the crew down for dinner.
“I made something special for y’all,” you giggled, smiling secretively at Law. He scowled in confusion and suspicion at you, not sure what you were up to, until the crew took the silver covers off of their plates to reveal their meal: slices of roasted pork shoulder glazed with a cumin sauce and sitting on a bed of roasted potatoes and peppers. “Ta-da!” you shouted. “Sh-wen-braten!”
At you mispronouncing the name, the corner of Law’s lips quirked a bit while his crew barely blinked. They were too busy drooling over and gobbling down their food. “Wow, Y/N!” Bepo growled. “This tastes amazing! I haven't tasted pork this good in so long!”
“Thank you,” you giggled, but your attention was still all on Law as he took a bite. You stood behind his chair, nervously ringing a dish towel around your hands. “How is it?” you asked, bending down to hear him better over the chatter.
He continued to chew and chew, leaving you in suspense, before he swallowed. “S’good,” he murmured and you sighed in relief. “Though you pronounced the dish wrong.” You made a face, pouting cutely in confusion at him. “It’s pronounced “schweinebraten,” he said, his deep voice rolling over the foreign word.
“Sch.” He paused, waiting for you to repeat it back to him. “Weine.” You parroted him, doing your best to keep from smiling out of giddiness. “Braten.”
“Braten,” you pronounced, earning a satisfied nod before he turned back around to finish his meal. But you weren't done. you leaned down to his ear, loving how he tensed at your touch and presence. “Between you and me, I already knew how to pronounce it,” you purred. “I just wanted to hear you say it. Guten appetit (Enjoy your meal).”
Something happened to Law in that moment hearing you speak in his language. His cock swoll in his pants and he nearly broke his fork as he sat rigid in his seat. You turned and walked away back to the stove, swaying your hips and biting back a grin as he watched, wanting to fuck you right there in front of his entire crew and make you say some very nasty words in his native tongue.
“Law, why are all red like that?!” Jean practically yelled across the table.
“Shut up!” Law growled as you laughed. He was gonna get you back for that later tonight.
Pairings: Sabo x Reader, Ace x Reader, Law x Reader
Word Count: ~2-3k per character
tags: fluff, established relationship
my masterlist here ♡
Sabo
Sabo leaned back against the wall of the ship, his arms crossed as you sat nearby, chatting with a crewmate. You could hear their voices, but they were just background noise as your mind wandered to Sabo. He caught you glancing at him, a small smile tugging at his lips.
“You alright?” he asked, always attuned to your moods, even without asking directly.
You nodded. “Yeah, just… thinking.”
“About what?” he pressed, though the tone in his voice was soft, knowing not to push too much.
“I don’t know… just feels weird sometimes, you know? Being out here… so free.”
Sabo’s smile widened. “You should be. You’re free to do whatever you want. No one can control you, not now.”
You hesitated, remembering how different things were when you’d first met him, when he’d been bound by so many rules and expectations. “I just… never knew what it felt like to have this much freedom. You know, no one telling me what to do.”
Sabo nodded, his eyes intense as he looked at you. “I get that. Growing up with people telling me what to do, who to be… I never want that for you. You get to decide who you are. I’ll always support you, no matter what path you choose.”
His voice was steady, but you could tell that there was a deep yearning in him. A yearning to see you be exactly who you were, free from the shackles that once held him back.
Sabo as a boyfriend is the one who encourages you to be yourself, to live freely, because he understands how hard it is to be controlled.
——
You were talking with a few other crewmates about a recent accomplishment—a small victory that felt like a huge step forward for the Revolutionary Army. As you spoke, Sabo appeared from behind, standing silently by your side.
“I’m glad to see you getting the recognition you deserve,” he murmured, eyes gleaming with pride. His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried a weight.
You smiled at him, grateful for his steady presence. “It was a team effort,” you said modestly.
“No, it was your effort,” Sabo said firmly, turning toward you with a serious expression. “I’m proud of you. You’ve come so far, and I don’t think you even realize how much you’re capable of.”
He didn’t need to say more—his tone said everything. He never bragged about his own feats, but when it came to your accomplishments, he had no problem shouting from the rooftops. He wasn’t just proud of what you’d done; he was proud of who you were.
Sabo as a boyfriend is the one who always praises your achievements, no matter how big or small, because he knows you deserve to be recognized.
——
You had just gotten off the phone with a friend, your voice light and upbeat. When you hung up, you turned to Sabo, who was already watching you with a fond smile.
“You really don’t hang up on me like you do with everyone else,” you commented.
He gave a small laugh, shaking his head. “You don’t make me want to rush it. I like hearing you talk. I like… just being there with you. Even over the phone.”
You raised an eyebrow. “You usually hang up on people as soon as they start talking about business.”
Sabo smirked. “Yeah, but with you, it’s different. I don’t mind hearing your voice. Even if you’re just rambling about something silly, it’s the best part of my day.”
There was a quiet sincerity in his words that made your heart warm. Sabo didn’t just love you because of your strengths; he loved the little things, like your voice, your thoughts, the way you saw the world.
Sabo as a boyfriend is the one who will never rush you off the phone, because he loves hearing you speak, no matter what you have to say.
——
You hadn’t been expecting to see Sabo for a while—he was off on a mission with the Revolutionary Army, and the last time you spoke, he had been vague about when he’d return. But one day, as you were sitting alone in your room, you heard the familiar sound of footsteps outside.
The door swung open, and there he was, looking like he hadn’t been gone for months instead of just a few weeks. His eyes scanned the room and landed on you instantly. “I knew it was you.”
You blinked. “What do you mean? I’m not wearing anything special.”
He grinned, walking in with that unmistakable swagger. “You think I can’t recognize you from a mile away? You’re wearing the same bracelet you always wear on your left wrist. I’ve memorized every little thing about you.”
You blinked again, surprised. “You really do pay attention, huh?”
“Of course I do,” he said, sitting beside you, the same soft smile playing on his lips. “How could I not? You’re my priority. Every little detail about you matters.”
It wasn’t just that he could pick out the smallest things—it was the way he made you feel so seen, so important.
Sabo as a boyfriend is the kind of guy who remembers every detail about you. Even if you’re in disguise or afar, he’ll still know it’s you, because he has memorized everything about the way you move, speak, and even what you wear.
——
No matter how tough things got, how dangerous their missions were, Sabo always made sure to smile at you in the most gentle, reassuring way. It was as if his smile alone could calm you even when the world felt chaotic.
One night, after a particularly intense argument with some of the crew over the next mission, you were walking alone on the deck, your mind spinning with frustration. You didn’t hear him approach until his shadow fell over you.
“Hey,” his voice was soft, a contrast to the loud voices that had filled the ship earlier. He stepped closer, offering you that signature, gentle smile.
“I know you’re upset,” he began, speaking with a calm confidence. “But I want you to know that you’ve got every right to be frustrated. You just have to believe that things will work out.”
You didn’t say anything, simply looking up at him, drawn to the warmth in his eyes. It was like everything else around you faded, and you were left with just his smile—soft, reassuring, and always present, no matter what.
Sabo’s hand found yours, a small gesture but one that spoke volumes. “Whatever happens, we’ll figure it out together. You’re not alone.”
Sabo as a boyfriend is the one who offers you that gentle smile in the hardest moments, the kind of smile that reminds you that, no matter what, he’s there for you.
——
You had heard rumors that Sabo would be returning soon, but you didn’t know exactly when. So, when you walked out onto the deck one morning and saw him standing there, his familiar blue coat fluttering in the wind, your heart skipped a beat.
He turned as he heard your footsteps, his eyes lighting up when he spotted you. A soft smile spread across his face as he took a step toward you, reaching for the vivre card tucked in his pocket, something that always made you feel safe—because it wasn’t just a card. It was his promise.
“I’m home,” he said simply, his voice low and steady.
You laughed, shaking your head, a rush of emotions flooding you. “You don’t even know how badly I missed you.”
Sabo’s smile didn’t fade as he stepped closer, pulling you into his arms. As he held you, you could feel the warmth of his embrace, the quiet reassurance in the way he touched you. “I missed you more than you know,” he murmured into your hair. “And you don’t have to worry, I’m always coming back to you. I keep your vivre card with me, so I know where you are, and I’ll always make sure you’re safe. No matter what happens, I’ll find you. It’s not even a question.”
You couldn’t help but feel a rush of relief as you wrapped your arms around him. No matter how many missions took him away from you, Sabo always made sure you knew that you were his priority. The distance, the battles—it didn’t matter. As long as he had your vivre card, he would always know where you were, and he’d always come back to you.
Sabo as a boyfriend is the one who keeps your vivre card close to his heart, making sure that your safety is his number one priority. No matter the distance or danger, he will always go to you.
——
The evening was calm. You and Sabo found a quiet place to sit, and despite everything happening in the world, for once, everything was perfect.
He leaned back, his legs stretched out in front of him, and glanced over at you. You caught him staring and smirked. “What is it?”
His eyes softened, the playful smirk from earlier now gone. “Just thinking. I don’t think I’ll ever find someone like you.”
You gave him a side-eye. “Sabo, you don’t have to say that to be sweet.”
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I mean it. There’s no one else for me. I don’t care where this revolution takes us or what happens next—I just know that I’m not leaving you behind. You’re my future. And nothing’s going to change that.”
You felt your heart skip a beat. He was usually quiet, but when it came to matters of the heart, Sabo’s words always felt like a promise.
Sabo as a boyfriend is the one who makes a vow to stay with you, no matter the storm or the fire—the one who gives you a future in his heart.
——
Ace
“Ace,” you groaned, “why are you talking like that?”
He grinned down at you, chin propped on his hand, doing a terrible impression of a rich old noble. “My dearest, I do declare, the sun hath risen and so must we—lest the eggs be cold and the pirates be rowdy.”
You shoved a pillow in his face.
“I’m serious!” he said, muffled. “We mustn’t disappoint our crewmates, for they are in need of our stunning presence at breakfast!”
“Are you high on sea salt already?”
Ace burst out laughing, collapsing half on top of you. “Come on, that was a good one!”
You grumbled something into your pillow.
He poked your cheek. “Admit it. You smiled.”
You didn’t respond.
“You snorted. I heard it.”
“Did not.”
“I’m hilarious.”
And somehow, despite wanting sleep more than life itself, you were already laughing. Because it was impossible not to when he was like this—ridiculous and grinning and entirely too pleased with himself.
Ace as a boyfriend is the kind of idiot who performs a full comedy sketch at 6 a.m. just to hear you laugh before breakfast.
——
You were halfway through lunch when Ace stabbed the last piece of grilled fish off his plate. It was his favorite—the one Thatch made with extra spice, seared just right. He stared at it for a full second.
Then, silently, he slid it onto your plate.
You blinked. “…You’re giving that to me?”
He made a face like he was in deep spiritual agony. “Please appreciate the sacrifice.”
You snorted. “You sure?”
“No.” He shoved his chopsticks down dramatically. “But I love you, and this is how I prove it.”
“You could also say the words.”
“I just gave you my favorite food, what more do you want from me?!”
Ace as a boyfriend is the guy who eats like a wild animal—but still gives you the last bite like it’s the highest form of love. He won’t say it in big romantic speeches, but in the way he gives up his favorite things for you, you’ll always know where his heart is.
——
“So I was telling Haruta about your left hook,” Ace said, loud enough that the entire galley could hear. “Thing’s got range. Like a whole sea king’s tail!”
You groaned into your rice bowl. “Can you not brag about my punches to everyone?”
“Why not? It’s hot!”
Around you, crewmates started laughing. You heard Izo mutter, “Here he goes again,” while Jozu sighed into his drink.
Ace leaned across the table, grinning proudly. “You’re amazing. I just want people to know.”
“And if I want to lay low?”
“You started dating me. We passed ‘low-key’ like fifty ports ago.”
Ace as a boyfriend is someone who can’t shut up about you—and doesn’t want to. He’ll shout your name across the ocean if he thinks you did something cool. Even when it’s embarrassing, even when it’s loud, he’ll make sure the world knows he’s proud of you.
——
“You punched someone because they called me ‘dead weight’?!”
Ace looked totally unrepentant, knuckles scuffed and a grin spreading across his face. “They’re lucky I didn’t melt their boots to their ankles.”
“Ace, we’re not supposed to start fights over words!”
“Oh, right,” he said, throwing an arm around your shoulder as if nothing was wrong. “Next time, I’ll just accidentally sneeze and set their hair on fire.”
You glared at him.
“I love you,” he said simply, voice softening for just a second.
“And?”
“And no one gets to talk like that about the person who means everything to me.”
He paused, a flicker of something deeper flashing across his face. “I don’t like leaving people behind. Not when they matter. And you… you matter.” His eyes were fiery, but this time, the fire wasn’t about rage. It was about loyalty. “If someone tries to hurt you—if they try to put you down—I won’t back off. I won’t run away. You’re not alone in this, and I’m not gonna let anyone forget that.”
You tried to hold firm. You really did. But his arm tightened, heat rolling off his skin, and that stupid grin cracked your resolve right in two.
Ace as a boyfriend is the kind of man who defends your name like it’s the flag of his ship. He doesn’t just protect you—he honors you. Even your reputation is something sacred to him.
——
It was a quiet evening—rare. The sea was calm, the crew mellow, and Ace had convinced you to lie on the deck with him, watching the stars between drifting clouds.
You leaned into his chest, the slow thump of his heart grounding you.
“Y’know what I love about you?” he asked, voice surprisingly soft.
You smiled against his shirt. “My devastating charm?”
He chuckled. “That you’re just you. Doesn’t matter where you came from. Doesn’t matter who your family is or what you’ve done. You’re here. With me. That’s enough.”
You tilted your head to look up at him.
He met your eyes. No teasing. No grin. Just Ace—raw and honest.
“I’ve seen too many people judged for where they come from,” he said. “That’s never gonna be you. Not with me.”
Ace as a boyfriend is someone who loves you because of your soul, not your story. He doesn’t care who you were before, or what the world said about you—he sees who you are now.
——
That night, the sea turned colder. Not dangerous—but enough to make the whole crew bundle up. You curled tighter in your jacket, shivering despite yourself.
Then a warm hand slid into yours.
Ace tugged you close, resting your head against his chest as a soft wave of heat spilled from him—gentle, steady, safe.
He kissed the top of your head. “Better?”
“Mmm. You’re warm.”
He smirked. “That’s what I’m here for.”
You stayed like that, pressed to his heartbeat, the wind howling around you while his fire wrapped you up from the inside out.
Ace as a boyfriend is your shield against every cold night and every colder thought. When the world gets harsh, he wraps you in warmth—literal and emotional. With one touch, he melts away the chill.
——
The Moby Dick was quiet—rarest thing in the world. After a long battle and a long celebration, everyone had finally passed out. Ace had dragged you to the highest part of the deck, where the moon cut the sea into silver, and the stars looked close enough to catch.
He lay back with his arms behind his head. You curled into his side without needing to ask.
It was peaceful. And for once, Ace wasn’t running his mouth or teasing. He just watched the sky.
Then, out of nowhere, he said it. Low. Real.
“I never thought I’d get this.”
You glanced up. “Get what?”
He looked down at you like you were something sacred.
“This. You. Us. A crew that feels like home. A person who makes me want to stay.”
You opened your mouth, but he kept going—like if he didn’t say it now, it might burn a hole in his chest.
“I used to think I wasn’t supposed to be here. That the world didn’t want me in it. But you…” He swallowed. “You make me feel like I matter. Like I’m me—not Roger’s kid, not a Whitebeard commander. Just Ace. Just yours.”
You didn’t speak. You just held him, fingers tangling in his hair, while his arms pulled you in like he never planned to let go.
The ocean moved quietly around you, the stars above, the fire in his chest, and that look in his eyes like he’d found his place at last.
Ace as a boyfriend is the one who finds his home in you—and makes damn sure you feel like you’ve got one in him, too.
——
Law
You were humming again.
Not a real song—just something you made up, wandering around the Polar Tang with a broom in hand, sweeping while swaying slightly to your own rhythm. It had no melody. No structure. Just something light and stupid and undeniably you.
From behind, you heard it.
A low, familiar “Tch.”
You turned, grinning. “Something to say, Captain?”
Law stood at the door to the observation room, arms crossed, expression carefully flat.
“You’re off-key.”
“Rude.”
“You’re sweeping the same spot for ten minutes.”
“Multitasking,” you said cheerfully, spinning the broom.
He exhaled slowly, as if your entire existence was testing his patience.
But he didn’t walk away.
You cocked your head. “You don’t actually hate it.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t say I liked it.”
“You haven’t moved.”
“…I was watching to make sure you didn’t fall on your face again.”
You grinned. “So you were watching.”
His lips twitched—barely—and he looked away, ears a little pink. “Tch.”
You stepped closer, broom tapping his foot. “You like my humming.”
He didn’t answer.
You bumped your shoulder into his. “You think it’s cute.”
He closed his eyes for a second, muttering something under his breath, then finally said, “It’s tolerable.”
You laughed. “That’s a huge compliment coming from you.”
He didn’t deny it. And when you resumed humming on your way down the hall, he stayed in the doorway a little longer—watching, listening, lips tugged in the faintest smile.
Law as a boyfriend is the kind of man who secretly enjoys the little things about you—your bad humming, your quirks, your mess. He’ll roll his eyes and pretend it’s a nuisance, but deep down, he loves it more than he’ll ever admit.
——
“You skipped breakfast.”
His voice was calm, but the sharpness in it told you this wasn’t a casual observation.
You looked up from the mess table, caught mid-bite of an energy bar. “It’s fine, I wasn’t really—”
“Hungry? That’s not the point.”
Law sat across from you, setting a small tray down in front of you—your favorite warm soup, and a few cuts of fruit you were sure he’d stolen from the kitchen himself.
“You need proper food,” he said, tapping the tray. “You haven’t been sleeping well either.”
You blinked. “Are you tracking my habits or something?”
He didn’t even blink. “Yes.”
You stared.
He stared back.
“…You’re serious.”
“I’m a doctor,” he said smoothly, then paused. “And your boyfriend. You think I wouldn’t notice?”
You lowered your gaze to the soup, feeling your face heat as you quietly picked up the spoon. You didn’t need to say thank you—he already knew. This was his version of care: watching, remembering, fixing.
Law as a boyfriend is the kind of man who will monitor your health better than any physician. He’ll prioritize your safety and well-being over anything else—even if you don’t realize you need it.
——
You were lounging in his office, legs up on the couch, half-dozing while he scribbled something at his desk. The scratching of his pen was the only sound—until it abruptly stopped.
“You know what’s insane?” Law said suddenly, eyes still on the page.
You blinked, looking up. “Hm?”
He didn’t even wait for you to answer. “That episode of Sora, Warrior of the Sea—the one where Germa 66 attacks the Vega Kingdom? Stealth Black phases through an entire wall of seastone-infused armor plating. It’s not physically possible, but they don’t explain it. Not once.”
You sat up a little, blinking. “…Wait, what?”
“And people always forget, but that was the first time Stealth Black used that mid-air cloak burst move. You can actually trace the evolution of it across three issues after that. See, the author was setting it up early, but everyone thinks it just came out of nowhere.”
He finally looked at you then—and froze.
You were just staring at him, mouth slightly open.
“What,” he said flatly, though his ears were already turning pink.
You blinked slowly. “Are you fanboying right now?”
Law narrowed his eyes. “It’s a narrative analysis.”
You grinned. “Law, you’re gushing.”
“I’m discussing the mechanics of a fictional battlefield maneuver,” he corrected, straightening his notes. “It has strategic value.”
“You just quoted a comic from memory.”
He muttered something under his breath and picked up his pen again, clearly trying to move on.
But you weren’t done.
“You like Stealth Black the most, don’t you?”
He didn’t look at you. “…No comment.”
“Is it because he’s broody and wears black?”
Still no eye contact. “Coincidence.”
“You’re blushing.”
He dropped his head into his hand with a groan. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”
You scooted over, nudging his arm. “No, I like this side of you. The soft, nerdy one who thinks cloaking technology is cool.”
“…It is cool.”
You laughed, and he glanced at you from under his bangs, the faintest smile tugging at his lips despite himself.
Law as a boyfriend is the kind of man who’ll accidentally let you see the dorky fanboy underneath the surgeon’s coat—and once he does, he’ll let you in on every secret obsession, because your love makes it safe to be exactly who he is.
——
Law wasn’t the type to loudly declare his feelings, nor was he one to give extravagant displays of affection. Instead, it was in the smallest gestures that you could see how much he cared. It was the way he always made sure you had a spot beside him during the quieter moments on the ship, how he’d prepare your favorite tea if you were feeling down, or how he’d bring you the rarest fruits from islands the crew visited—those little things that made all the difference.
One evening, as you sat on the deck, lost in thought, Law approached with a plate of sliced fruit.
“You’ve been distracted all day,” he remarked, handing it to you without fanfare. “Eat something. It’ll help.”
You looked up at him, taken aback by the thoughtfulness. “How did you know I was hungry?”
“I didn’t,” he said with a small smirk. “But I know you tend to forget to eat when you’re deep in thought.”
You chuckled softly and took the fruit, finding the quiet care in his actions oddly comforting. It wasn’t over-the-top, but it was his way of showing affection.
Law as a boyfriend is the kind of person who shows his love through small, practical gestures. He’s not loud about it, but every action he takes is meant to make your life a little easier, a little happier.
——
You’d seen Law in battle. You’d seen him command a crew, outwit warlords, hold his own against legends. But now, he was sitting beside you in his quarters, the lamplight warm on his skin as he slowly unbuttoned his shirt.
He didn’t look at you—he rarely did when he was being vulnerable—but he moved carefully, letting the fabric fall away to reveal the tattoos you’d traced only in glimpses.
“Go ahead,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
You blinked. “What?”
His chest rose and fell with a deep breath. “Touch them. If you want.”
It felt sacred—like he was letting you in to a place no one else got to see. You reached out, fingers brushing the inky black letters spelling out DEATH, the swirl of symbols running down his arms. Your fingers traced the contours of old scars and fresh tension.
“These aren’t just marks,” he said, eyes closed. “They’re everything I’ve survived. Everything I carry.”
You leaned in, brushing a kiss to the side of his throat. “And you let me carry them too.”
He nodded.
Law as a boyfriend is the one who lets you see every part of him—not just his body, but the weight behind the ink, the past he rarely speaks of. He trusts you enough to let you close, even to the pieces that hurt.
——
It was one of those rare quiet nights—no battle, no storm, no urgent detours. Just you and Law curled up on the couch in his quarters, a thin blanket over your legs, and a book you weren’t really reading anymore resting on your chest.
You glanced at him as he scribbled notes in the margin of a medical journal, brow furrowed, concentration absolute. Even now, with ink on his fingers and the room barely lit, he was so composed it was unfair.
“Law.”
He hummed, not looking up.
“Why do you love me?”
He paused mid-sentence.
You watched him blink once, then close the book without marking his page. When he finally looked at you, his expression wasn’t confused—it was serious, almost pained. Like the question itself tugged something loose inside his chest.
“Is that something you’re doubting?” he asked.
You shook your head. “No. I just… wondered.”
He sat forward, elbows on his knees, hands clasped like he was gathering his thoughts carefully.
“I don’t love you because of your strength, or because you’re clever, or kind, or good with people. All of those things are true,” he said quietly. “But if you lost them all tomorrow, I’d still feel the same.”
You felt your breath catch.
Law leaned back, watching your face like he was daring you to disagree. “I love you just because. No reason. No conditions. Just… you.”
You sat in stunned silence for a beat. Then, slowly, you reached for his hand.
He didn’t move away.
You rested your head against his shoulder, and he let out a breath, threading his fingers through yours.
Law as a boyfriend is the kind of man who doesn’t love you for what you give or do—he loves you just because. He doesn’t need a reason. You, in all your pieces, are more than enough.
——
You didn’t hear the door open at first—just the sound of his boots, slow and steady down the hall. The crew had said the mission might take days. Maybe weeks. You’d told yourself not to wait up.
But here you were anyway. Curled up on the couch in his quarters, half-asleep with a book pressed to your chest.
He stopped in the doorway, pausing like he always did when he first laid eyes on you after being gone too long.
“…I didn’t mean to wake you.”
Your head lifted immediately. “Law.”
He walked in without another word, coat sliding off his shoulders, footsteps silent. He looked exhausted—dark circles under his eyes, blood still staining the edge of his sleeve. But his gaze was only on you.
You stood. “You’re hurt.”
“Already stitched.”
“You should rest—”
“I needed to see you first.”
You blinked as he reached you. His hand came up, cupping the back of your head like he was grounding himself. Forehead to yours, breath soft against your skin.
“I thought about you every moment I was gone,” he said. “Not because I was afraid of dying. But because the thought of not coming back to you…” He trailed off, voice lower now. Rougher.
Your fingers slid into the hem of his shirt, feeling the warmth of him, alive and whole and here.
“I don’t care how far I go,” he murmured, “how much blood I shed. I’ll always come back.”
“You promise?”
He looked at you then—really looked. Not just with his eyes, but with everything he’d never been able to say out loud until now.
“I live for you.”
Law as a boyfriend is the kind of man who never forgets to come back home to you. He lives for you.
You were born into justice— Admiral Akainu’s perfect daughter, raised to obey, to believe that fire could burn the world clean. But then you met him.
Portgas D Ace. Son of the Pirate King. Wild, golden-eyed, and free. He showed you a world beyond orders, beyond duty—a world where you could choose.
You weren’t supposed to love him. He wasn’t supposed to matter. But on the night you met, everything changed.
And when the war came, you had to make the hardest choice of all.
Stand by your father…
Or die for the man who taught you how to live.
Word count: ~4,500 words
my masterlist here ♡
——
The island was supposed to be quiet—just another checkpoint. You were out past curfew, your boots light on the sand, the stars above your only company.
Until he spoke.
“You shouldn’t be walking around here in that uniform, you know. Might give someone ideas.”
You froze, hand hovering over your sword. But the voice wasn’t threatening—just amused.
From the shadows, a man stepped forward. Black tattoo on his back. Orange hat. The moment your eyes met his golden ones, something in your chest shifted.
“Portgas D. Ace,” you said carefully.
He tilted his head. “And you are… a Vice Admiral’s brat?”
You stiffened. “Admiral. I’m his daughter.”
He let out a low whistle. “Didn’t expect Sakazuki to have a kid. You don’t have his scowl.”
Your lips twitched, despite yourself. “I get that a lot.”
He smiled then, soft and crooked. “So what’s a good little Marine doing walking alone?”
“I could ask you the same. You’re a wanted man.”
“And yet,” he said, stepping closer, “you haven’t drawn your blade.”
You didn’t. You couldn’t. For some reason, looking at him didn’t feel like facing an enemy.
“I’m not here to fight.”
He looked up at the stars. “Good. Neither am I.”
That night stretched longer than you expected—two hours of talking by the water’s edge. About justice. About pirates. About fathers.
“You trying to make yours proud?” he asked, picking up a shell and tossing it into the waves.
“…Yes.”
He turned to you, serious now. “You know that’s not living, right?”
Your voice faltered. “Then what is?”
He chuckled softly, plucking up another shell. “Living is… waking up and knowing the choices you’re making are your own. Not someone else’s. Not your father’s.”
You stared down at the water. “It’s not that simple. I was raised to believe in justice. That pirates were evil. That anything less than total obedience is weakness.”
Ace didn’t laugh this time. He just nodded. “Sounds lonely.”
You blinked at him. “It is.”
“Then why keep doing it?”
You sighed, fingers curling into fists at your sides. “Because it’s all I’ve ever known. Because I thought if I could just be strong enough, obedient enough, perfect enough—maybe he’d actually look at me like I mattered. Like I wasn’t just another soldier in his fleet.”
Ace was quiet for a long moment. Then he said, “You matter without any of that. You shouldn’t have to bleed yourself dry just to earn scraps of love.”
The words hit too hard, too fast. “That’s easy for you to say. You’re free. You get to be who you are. You’re not being crushed under your last name.”
He tilted his head. “You think freedom means not being weighed down? I’ve spent most of my life wondering if I even deserve to exist. Carrying my father’s name like a curse I never asked for.”
You looked at him, startled. “Your father?”
Ace looked away, a shadow in his gaze. “Gol D. Roger. The Pirate King.”
You swallowed. “But that means—”
“Yeah,” he said. “Everyone thinks I should be something—good or evil, depends who you ask. But none of them care what I want. They only see what I was born from.”
You stared at him, quiet now.
Ace sat down in the sand, arms resting on his knees. “So yeah. I know a little about trying to run from your blood. Or trying to live up to something impossible. But trust me… it never works. Either way, you lose yourself.”
You sat beside him slowly, the sea breeze brushing your face. “Then what do I do?”
He turned to you gently. “Start small. What do you want? Not as a Marine. Not as Sakazuki’s daughter. Just… you.”
You hesitated, breath catching in your throat. “I don’t know.”
“That’s okay,” he said quietly. “Knowing you don’t know—that’s a hell of a start.”
You looked at him then, really looked. At the man who was supposed to be your enemy. Who was offering you more kindness in an hour than your father had in years.
“Why are you telling me all this?” you asked.
He gave a crooked smile. “Because you looked like someone who needed to hear it. And maybe… because I wish someone had said it to me when I was younger.”
You didn’t respond. You just sat there with him, watching the waves roll in.
The wind stirred your hair, the ocean licking at your boots.
“I want to see you again,” you whispered, surprising even yourself.
Ace blinked—then nodded. “Then we will. One day.”
That night, there was a pull between the two of you—something magnetic, impossible to ignore. Without a word, Ace closed the space between you, his hand finding yours, warm and calloused, his fingers intertwining with yours.
You didn’t pull away.
He kissed you then, a soft press of lips that deepened slowly as the tension between you both flared into something more. There was no rush—only the pressing need to feel alive, to be seen, to be wanted. You kissed him back, hands gently threading into his dark hair, your heart racing in a way that felt both terrifying and freeing.
When you finally broke apart, both of you were breathless, the stars above you like silent witnesses to something new and raw. Ace’s eyes were dark, but his smile was soft.
“You’re not alone,” he murmured, his thumb brushing against your cheek, a promise in the quiet of the night.
You didn’t say anything, just nodded, letting his words sink in.
There, under the stars, wrapped in each other’s arms, you found something unexpected. You weren’t sure where it would lead, or if it would survive the world that lay ahead. But for that moment, it was enough.
“I’ll see you again,” you whispered, a promise between the two of you.
He nodded, the faintest glimmer of hope in his eyes. “One day.”
——
Marineford roared like a monster of steel and flame. Cannons fired. Blood painted the sea red. Above it all stood your father, barking orders with magma on his fists.
You stood with the other officers, heart numb, until your eyes found him—Ace, shackled on the execution platform, chest heaving.
You couldn’t breathe.
You hadn’t meant to fall for him. But those nights thinking about his laugh, the way he listened—like you were more than your name…
He found you too. His gaze locked with yours, even from the distance. You couldn’t tell what emotion flickered behind his eyes. Recognition? Regret?
Was this the future he’d imagined for your reunion?
——
“You seem distracted.”
Your father’s voice cut through the storm like a knife.
You stiffened. “Just focused.”
His eyes narrowed. “Don’t lose yourself. This war is for justice. For order.”
You nodded, throat tight. He’d never ask if you were afraid. He’d only care that you stood tall.
But inside, you were already breaking.
“Father…” you tried, voice trembling. “What if there’s more to this than justice? What if—”
“SILENCE.”
His voice boomed like thunder. “There is no ‘what if.’ There is justice. There is crime. And there is fire to purge it.”
You turned away before he could see the doubt in your eyes.
——
When Luffy burst through the chaos, a part of you hoped he’d fail. Another part—the part that remembered moonlight and laughter—begged him to win.
And he did.
The chains broke. Ace stood free.
You ran before you could think.
He was there, coughing, dazed. You called his name. He turned.
“…You came.”
You nodded, swallowing the lump in your throat. “I couldn’t let you die.”
He smiled, pain flickering across his face. “You always were too good for them.”
You touched his arm. “We have to go.”
But fate doesn’t care about love.
——
Admiral Aikanu stepped into your path —raw, unrelenting, and burning with hate. His coat billowed like smoke in the wind, and steam hissed off his molten fists. You saw the rage in his eyes before he even spoke. It was the same rage you’d grown up under, now aimed straight at the man you loved.
“Portgas D. Ace,” your father snarled. “You dare escape judgment?”
Ace instinctively pushed you behind him. “Stay back,” he said, voice low and urgent. “Don’t let him touch you.”
But you stepped forward, shoulder brushing his. “I’m not hiding, Ace. Not from him. Not anymore.”
Akainu’s eyes burned into yours. “So. You’ve chosen your side.”
His voice cracked like fire through stone.
“I chose it long before today,” you said, lifting your chin. “You just never wanted to see it.”
“You would throw away justice for him?” His voice seethed, disgust curling in his lip.
“I’m not throwing anything away,” you said. “I’m claiming what’s mine. My life. My choice.”
Akainu’s fists ignited with fury. Lava spilled from his knuckles, hissing as it hit the ground. “Then you’re no daughter of mine.”
Something broke in your chest—but it wasn’t grief. It was the last thread of fear.
Ace’s voice cut through the tension. “She was never yours to shape into a weapon.”
Akainu turned his wrath back toward him. “You speak of freedom while hiding behind her skirts?”
And then he moved.
His magma-coated fist blazed through the air toward Ace. Time slowed.
And without thinking, without hesitation—
You stepped in front of him.
——
The pain was instant. A white-hot agony tore through your side as the lava smashed into you. You felt yourself being thrown back into Ace’s arms, the world tilting, fire blooming across your vision like a dying sun.
You were weightless and heavy at once.
“No!” Ace caught you, stumbling as he dropped to his knees. His hands trembled, cradling you like you were glass already cracking. “Y/N—no. No, no, no…”
Your blood was everywhere. On his arms, on your uniform, soaking into the dirt.
Your breathing came in ragged gasps, and yet—you smiled.
“Why…?” he choked out, eyes wild and wet. “Why would you do that?”
You reached up with shaking fingers to brush his cheek. “Because I love you.”
He held you tighter, pressing his forehead to yours. “You weren’t supposed to die for me. You were supposed to live. With me. You were supposed to live.”
Your voice was barely a whisper. “I know… I wanted that too.”
“Then why—why—”
“Because this was my choice,” you said, voice thin but steady. “Not my father’s. Not the Marines’. Mine.”
He shook his head violently, tears spilling freely. “You idiot… you beautiful, stubborn idiot…”
You tried to smile again, even as the cold crept in. “This… this is freedom. I finally got to decide what I’d give my life for.”
Ace was sobbing now, arms wrapped around you like he could hold your soul in. “No. No, don’t go—please, Y/N…”
You leaned closer, eyes fluttering shut. “Live, Ace. Please. Not for him. Not for Whitebeard. For you.”
Your fingers slipped from his, and the last thing you saw was the sky—vast, open, free.
And Ace—broken, holding you like the world had ended.
Behind him, your father stood still. Staring. Silent. Like even fire had forgotten how to burn.
——
They say Ace fought like hell that day.
They say he screamed your name like a prayer turned curse, tearing through enemy lines with fire that scorched even the sea-slick stone beneath his feet. Magma met flame, and still, he stood. Burning. Bleeding. Unstoppable.
They say it took Luffy, broken and battered, to drag him back—his brother’s arms locked around his chest as he screamed and kicked and sobbed. They say Ace didn’t want to run. That he wanted to die there, next to you.
But Luffy wouldn’t let him.
Not after you had already made that choice.
After the war, Ace disappeared from the public eye. But everyone in Whitebeard’s crew knew where he went.
The first place he returned to was your grave.
Buried quietly, anonymously, far from Marine monuments or war heroes. Your marine pin sat at the headstone, cleaned and polished. And on it was carved only what Ace asked for:
“She died free.”
He stayed there for hours the first time. Maybe days. No one knows what he said. But when he came back, something in him had changed.
He still laughed. Still drank. Still threw his arm around Thatch and teased Marco and got into brawls with the crew. But the light in his eyes had shifted.
He lived like a man with a fire he couldn’t put out.
Every time the Moby Dick passed through a new island, he asked for any news of the Marine girl with the burning eyes and the fireproof heart. Every time he met someone who believed they were born into chains, he told your story.
Not to make them mourn you.
But to remind them what choice could look like.
“Don’t live trying to prove yourself to people who will never see you,” he’d say. “She taught me that.”
He never said your name out loud. Not often. It hurt too much. But your memory followed him like a shadow—like the steady heat of a fire that never died.
Sometimes, when he thought no one was watching, he’d take the small locket he wore under his shirt—a single photo of you, tucked behind a scrap of your old Marine uniform—and whisper,
“I’m still burning for you.”
And he was.
Not for Whitebeard. Not for revenge.
For you.
Because if someone like you—born into war, raised under fire—could choose love in the end…
Then he could choose life.
Just as he was.
And he would live every day the way you wanted him to:
In the two years you spent with the Revolutionary Army, you found unexpected companionship and love—with Sabo. Now months into a secret relationship, cracks begin to form when you realize there’s a part of him you can’t seem to reach. Koala, his childhood friend, has known him far longer and deeper than you have. You can’t hate her—she’s kind, loyal, everything you wish you were for him. But when your insecurity turns into distance and Sabo turns a blind eye, the question becomes: how much of yourself can you give before you start to disappear?
Word Count: ~4,000 words
tags: angst, breakup, jealousy, during 2 year timeskip after sabaody arc
my masterlist here ♡
The sun beat down on Baltigo’s training grounds, and sweat rolled down your temple as you lunged forward, blade meeting a staff. You were stronger now—smarter, sharper—but today wasn’t about technique. Today, your sparring partner was Sabo.
“You’re overthinking your footwork again,” he said with a crooked smile, twisting out of your strike with maddening ease.
“And you’re underestimating me again,” you snapped back, trying not to stare too long at the glint in his eyes.
He laughed, the sound warm and disarming. “Fair enough. But I like watching you think.”
You faltered, and in that pause, he caught your wrist and spun you into a harmless lock. His voice dropped a little as he leaned close. “Don’t worry. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
Your breath caught, heart thudding faster than your body could justify. “You promise?”
“I swear on my hat,” he murmured, tugging the brim of it playfully over your eyes.
It was stupid how fast you fell. But it was Sabo—loyal, brave, brilliant Sabo. How could you not?
⸻
Months later, you were still with the Revolutionary Army, your days filled with covert missions and letters sent back to the Sunny. But your nights… your nights were his.
You sat on the roof of HQ, legs tangled with his, head resting against his shoulder. Sabo’s gloved hand traced idle circles on your knee while the stars blinked overhead.
“Do you ever miss anything from your past?” you asked quietly, half-afraid of the answer.
He paused. “Sometimes. But it’s hard to miss something when what I want is right here.”
Your heart stuttered.
“Sabo…”
“I mean it,” he said, looking at you. “I never thought I’d feel… safe with someone again. But I do—with you.”
You smiled, but a soft ache pulsed in your chest. There were still things he wouldn’t say. Parts of himself he tucked away like classified files. But you told yourself it was enough.
It had to be.
⸻
Koala entered the training room with her usual energy, towel slung over her shoulder. “Sabo! You promised you’d go over the new intel drops with me.”
Sabo looked up from where he was seated beside you. “Right. I forgot.”
You gave him a smile, already pulling back. “Go ahead. I’ll see you later.”
Koala glanced at you with a small smile. “You’re getting really good. Your form’s almost as clean as mine now.”
You forced a chuckle. “Almost?”
She grinned, oblivious. “I’ve been at this longer. It’s nothing personal.”
But that was just it—everything about her wasn’t personal. It was natural. Easy. Koala knew his favorite meals, the way he fidgeted when nervous, how to calm him after nightmares. She’d been there through it all—before you.
And lately… you couldn’t shake the feeling you were trying too hard to catch up.
⸻
The skies over Baltigo had turned a dull gray, the wind restless with oncoming rain. You sat on the rooftop ledge outside your dorm quarters, overlooking the cliffside where ocean waves churned in quiet rage. Below, the base pulsed with activity—soldiers training, officers reporting in, laughter echoing from the mess hall. It was the same as always.
But not for you.
You hugged your knees, the usual warmth you felt in this place now replaced with something colder. Lonelier.
Sabo hadn’t noticed that you’d been skipping meals. You doubted he noticed the way your conversations had shortened, the way your laugh didn’t reach your eyes anymore.
He hadn’t said anything about how you trained alone now, or how you stopped waiting for him after meetings. And if he had noticed… maybe he’d just assumed it was nothing. Maybe, to him, it really was.
You rested your chin on your knee, blinking hard as the wind tousled your hair.
The thing was—you liked Koala.
She wasn’t mean or smug or spiteful. She was kind. She smiled at you during meetings, gave you water during long missions, even complimented your form after training. She was smart, sharp, a born leader. Everything the Revolution stood for.
She just also happened to know Sabo’s soul like the back of her hand.
You’d caught moments—little ones. The way she’d nudge him when he was brooding too long, and he’d instantly soften. The way he touched her shoulder gently when she looked exhausted, with a familiarity that required no words.
They’d been through so much together. You knew that. You’d heard the stories. You’d even seen the scars.
But that didn’t make the ache in your chest any less real.
⸻
Two days later, you were walking past the war room when you heard them.
Sabo and Koala.
“I still remember that night at Minerva,” she was saying, laughing softly. “You were so high on painkillers, you thought I was a marine.”
“And you hit me with a clipboard,” Sabo said with mock offense.
“Because you groped me, you idiot!”
“That was an accident!”
You stood there for a second too long, frozen in the hallway. The kind of laugh Sabo let out… it was deep. Free. Like something from a time before he ever knew you.
You turned away before they noticed, footsteps retreating down the corridor.
That night, you didn’t go to your shared room. You slept in the empty archive library, curled up between dusty ledgers, where your name wasn’t next to his on a clipboard or etched into a memory of war.
⸻
You told yourself you weren’t pulling away—you were just giving him space. You were just keeping busy.
That’s why you trained past sundown, sparring dummies until your knuckles bled. That’s why you volunteered for every boring logistics run, every solo recon mission. That’s why you smiled when you passed him in the hallway, even if it felt like a knife each time he said, “You okay?” without really looking.
You were afraid to ask for more—afraid he’d say no.
Afraid he’d look at you like you were just being needy.
Pathetic, a voice in your head whispered. He chose you, didn’t he? Isn’t that enough?
But late at night, when the base was quiet, and you were alone under the stars again… it didn’t feel like enough.
It felt like you were slowly being erased from your own relationship.
⸻
It was nearly midnight when he finally found you.
You were sitting alone at the edge of the cliff near HQ, the same one where you and Sabo used to sneak away to talk, to kiss, to just be. Now it felt too big, too quiet—like the wind itself could swallow you whole.
You didn’t turn when you heard his footsteps behind you.
“I’ve been looking for you,” Sabo said, voice carefully neutral.
“I’ve been here,” you replied softly, your gaze fixed on the crashing waves below. “I always am.”
He paused behind you. “You’ve been avoiding me.”
You gave a bitter little laugh. “You noticed.”
That made him frown. “Of course I did. I’m not—what’s going on with you?”
You finally looked at him. He looked tired. Concerned. But distant—like he didn’t quite get it. Like you were speaking in a language he never learned.
You swallowed. “This… this isn’t working.”
Sabo blinked. “What?”
“I feel like I’m drowning, Sabo,” you whispered, the words trembling out of you. “And you don’t even see it.”
He stepped closer, eyes narrowing in confusion. “Where is this coming from?”
“From everything!” you snapped, standing up suddenly. “From the way you never talk to me unless I ask first. From the way you light up when Koala enters a room, and I—”
You caught yourself, but it was too late. The word had left your lips.
Sabo’s expression changed instantly. “This is about Koala?”
Your fists clenched. “No. Yes. I don’t know. It’s not about her—it’s about what she means to you.”
“She’s my friend.”
“I know,” you said, stepping back. “And I like her, Sabo. That’s the worst part. She’s everything I want to be for you. She’s strong. Loyal. She’s seen every version of you—your past, your pain, your scars. She knows you in a way I never will.”
Sabo looked stricken, as if you’d struck him. “Y/N… that’s not fair.”
You shook your head. “Isn’t it?”
“She’s like a sister to me—”
“And I’m not asking you to stop loving her like family!” you cried. “But you treat her like she’s part of your core. And me? I feel like a shadow sometimes. I’m just… something soft you hold when the world’s too loud. But never someone you really let in.”
He ran a hand through his hair, agitated. “You’re making this into something it’s not.”
You flinched.
“I’m not making up how I feel, Sabo.”
He sighed harshly. “Then what do you want from me? To erase Koala from my life? To give you every memory I’ve ever had?”
“No,” you whispered, throat tightening. “I just wanted to feel chosen.”
Silence fell. Sabo stared at you, eyes unreadable.
“I gave you everything I had,” you went on, voice cracking. “I gave you my loyalty, my heart, my time. And I get scraps. Half-answers. Smiles meant for someone else. I waited for you to meet me halfway. You never did.”
His jaw clenched. “You’re being unfair.”
You looked at him, really looked at him—and that was the moment you knew.
He didn’t understand.
He loved you, yes. But not in the way you needed to be loved. He loved you like a flame loves air—quietly, conditionally, consuming you only when it wanted to.
And you were done setting yourself on fire to keep the illusion of warmth alive.
You stepped back. “You don’t get it. And maybe you never will.”
Sabo opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
You turned away before he could see your tears fall.
Behind you, the cliff wind howled.
⸻
The world was burning.
Smoke coiled through the air as the Revolutionary Army clashed with marines at a remote outpost. You moved through the chaos with practiced precision, dodging bullets, parrying blades, your haki flickering with every movement.
Sabo was beside you, his pipe smashing down on an opponent with crushing force. You locked eyes, wordless but perfectly in sync—until a sudden tremor split the ground.
“Split up!” Sabo shouted.
You nodded and dashed toward the northern flank, fighting through the smoke. But the explosion came too fast.
A wall of debris erupted behind you, sending you crashing into the wreckage. Dust filled your lungs. You tried to stand—tried to call out—but your vision was swimming, blood trickling from your scalp.
“Sabo…” you croaked, searching the smoke.
You saw him, just ahead.
He was scanning the battlefield—then his gaze locked onto something.
Koala.
She was crumpled near the east wall, unconscious and bleeding.
He ran.
You raised a hand weakly, voice barely above a whisper. “Sabo—”
He didn’t look back.
You watched, chest tightening, as he knelt beside her, cupping her face, panic clear in his voice as he called for medics.
Your hand dropped to your side.
He didn’t even see you.
⸻
The med bay was quiet, save for the beeping machines and the soft shuffle of nurses. You stood by the doorway, arms crossed tightly, your body still aching from the battle.
Sabo was at Koala’s bedside, his hand resting on hers. She was stable, her breathing even, the color slowly returning to her cheeks.
You didn’t speak.
Not until he finally turned—and froze when he saw you.
“Y/N,” he said, standing quickly. “You’re here. I was going to come find you—I didn’t know you were hurt—”
“No,” you said flatly. “You didn’t.”
He stepped closer, hesitating. “I… Koala was down. I thought she might be—”
“And I wasn’t?”
He flinched.
“I called for you,” you said, voice cracking. “I was bleeding, buried under debris. I called your name. And you ran right past me.”
Sabo’s expression contorted with guilt. “I didn’t see you. I didn’t know. If I had—”
“But you did see her,” you cut in. “That’s the difference.”
He reached for you, desperate now. “She’s like my sister, Y/N—”
“I know,” you whispered. “And I don’t blame you for caring. But it wasn’t just about the battle, Sabo. It’s everything. Every time I try to reach you, you shut me out. Every time I needed you to choose me, you looked somewhere else.”
“That’s not true,” he said, stepping forward. “Y/N, please—you’re the one I come back to at night. You’re the one I think about when I’m out there risking my life. Don’t do this.”
“I don’t want to do this,” you said, tears blurring your vision. “But I can’t keep pretending I’m okay with being second to someone you’ll always love more deeply.”
His voice cracked. “That’s not what this is.”
“Isn’t it?” You took a step back. “When I’m hurting, you don’t see it. When I’m afraid, you tell me I’m being dramatic. I can’t be the only one fighting to hold us together.”
Sabo’s voice dropped to a whisper. “I love you.”
You let out a trembling breath. “Then why didn’t you choose me?”
Silence.
He looked at you, devastated.
“I would’ve,” he said finally. “If I’d known—if I could take it back—”
“But you didn’t,” you whispered. “And I can’t keep bleeding for someone who only notices after I’m already broken.”
Sabo closed the distance, his voice cracking. “Please. Don’t go. We can fix this. I’ll do better—I promise—”
You touched his hand gently, then pulled away. “I believe you mean that. But it’s too late.”
He stared at you, eyes wide, breath shaky. “Please… don’t leave like this.”
You looked into his eyes—those eyes you’d once trusted with your whole heart—and felt it splinter.
“I love you,” you said. “But I need to love myself more.”
You turned, walking out the door as the sound of his breath hitched behind you. He didn’t chase you.
Characters: Roronoa Zoro, Vinsmoke Sanji, Portgas D. Ace, Sabo, Eustass Kid, Killer, Trafalgar D. Water Law
Content Warnings: GN! Reader
Author's Note: Hehe these were warmups for Sabo, and if you can't tell I really like that blond man. Don't worry I am working on requests too!
Roronoa Zoro
Zoro is surprised when you sit in his lap. He didn’t think you’d be so casual about claiming his knees but he’s not going to push you away. If you’re sitting with him during meal time with the rest of the crew, he’ll probably wrap an arm around you and smile. He likes having his partner close to him. If you decide to sit on his lap while he’s taking a nap or something I think he would subconsciously pull you closer. The warmth of your body definitely feels good on his usually open chest. He secretly craves the skin contact anyways.
Vinsmoke Sanji
Sanji is overwhelmed when you sit in his lap. He’s overjoyed that you would be so comfortable around him that you would use him as a chair, however he’s also trying so hard to confine his nosebleed from running your clothes! If he can stable himself from keeping enough blood, he’ll be placing sweet kisses on the side of your head. He’ll take in your sweet scent too, admiring how fragrant and lovely you smell up close. I don’t think he’d be too touchy, in fear of making you uncomfortable, but he’d certainly be hesitant to let you go.
Portgas D. Ace
Ace is proud when you sit in his lap. Hell yeah! The second division commander loves physical touch, so anything that has to do with you touching him he’s on board! He probably asks you to sit on his lap all the time, or even when he’s riding Striker, although that can be a bit difficult. He loves it when you sit on him during feasts too, his favorite person plus food? He can also use your shoulder as a little pillow for when he inevitably falls victim to his own narcolepsy too!
Sabo
Sabo is comforted when you sit in his lap. Usually, he’s the one to lay down in your lap, but he also likes having you on top of him too. He especially enjoys when you play with his vest and coat buttons. Your gentle hands roaming his chest send butterflies to his stomach even after you’ve been dating for a while. Please sit facing his body and preen him, he just wants to kiss your face and watch you play with his hair. He’ll even let you wear his hat while you smoosh his cheeks together as long as you’re nice to him.
Eustass Kid
Kid is boastful when you sit in his lap. He knows that he's your throne and everyone else should know it too. To claim that he’s cocky is an understatement. You love your confident boyfriend though and his oversized metal hand that wraps around your waist to show his dominance too. He likes it when you sit on him in bars, because of course everyone in the Kid pirates knows you're his. His top priority is showing everyone on the Grandline who has the best partner.
Killer
Killer is smug when you sit in his lap. He doesn’t feel the need to outwardly gloat like his captain, but he likes having your cute little self on his knee. You’re a nice accessory on his hip. He’ll put a hand on your thigh and smile under his mask, happy that everyone who passes knows what's up between you two. Sometimes he’ll pull you into his lap while he’s waiting for food to cook in the kitchen. This has also led to stains on the back of your clothes, but it’s hard to care when your boyfriend has washboard abs.
Trafalgar D. Water Law
Law is flustered when you sit in his lap. He’s not really used to the presence, and usually sits with his legs crossed so in the rare opportunity that you get in his lap, he can be embarrassed. He easily loves it though, there is no better way to tell everyone that you're his by having you so close to him. He thinks it's nice that you like it when he reads to you this way too. You don’t even mind that he’s reading Sora comics, so expect nights full of warm blankets and Law’s reading glasses.
in a way or another, accidentally or not, they end up making fake proposals...
fem!reader
characters: luffy, zoro, sanji, ace, law and shanks
a/n: put my whole heart for the shanks one and now I feel lonely af lmao
words count: around 0.6k - 1.9k each
masterlist || ao3 || ko-fi
── .✦ Luffy:
The smell of grilled fish and sizzling meats fills the air as you and Luffy settle into your seats at a bustling restaurant by the shore. The place is packed, laughter and chatter surrounding you as waiters move between tables carrying plates stacked high with food.
Luffy is already bouncing in his chair, eyes darting between different dishes on the menu. He’s practically vibrating with excitement.
“Oi, look at this!” He shoves the menu in your face, pointing at a special section “‘Lovebird Feast’, free dessert for nearly married couples! That’s awesome! I want it!!”
You snort, pushing the menu back down “You’d fake a whole marriage just for free food?”
Luffy tilts his head like it’s the most obvious thing in the world “Duh! Free food’s free food! It's always the most delicious.”
Before you can protest, he’s already turning to the nearest waiter, waving them down enthusiastically, “Hey! We want the lovebird thingy!”
The waiter, a woman with a kind smile, gasps in excitement “Oh! How wonderful! Congratulations, you two!”
You open your mouth to correct her “Stop Luffy, we’re not—“ but Luffy is already jumping ahead.
“Shishishi! We aren’t yet but I’ll do it right now!”
Wait what?!
He suddenly slides out of his chair and drops onto one knee in front of you. The entire restaurant seems to hush. A few heads turn. Somewhere in the back, a musician starts playing soft romantic music.
Oh. Oh no.
Luffy grabs your hand, grinning up at you like he’s having the time of his life “Y/N! We’ve been on so many adventures together, and you always give me food, and you’re really fun to be around!” His grip tightens “So, do you want to marry me?”
The restaurant erupts. People cheer, clapping and whistling like this is the most romantic thing they’ve ever seen.
Your face burns.
This idiot! He didn’t even try to make it sound real!
Still, two can play at this game.
You bring a hand to your chest, gasping dramatically “Luffy, I—I don’t know what to say!” You blink rapidly, pretending to fight back tears “This is so sudden! But...” You clasp his hands in yours, shaking them for extra effect “Yes! A thousand times yes!”
The cheering gets louder. Someone throws flower petals over you. The musician in the back picks up the tempo.
Luffy beams, bouncing to his feet “AWESOME! Now where’s the food?”
The waiter, practically swooning, claps her hands together “Right away, sir! And don’t worry, your Lovebird Feast comes with our cutest personalised decorations, so give us a moment and we’ll get it to you”
Luffy turns to you, grinning ear to ear “See? Told ya it’d work!”
You pinch the bridge of your nose, trying so hard not to laugh “You’re impossible.”
A few minutes later, your table is overflowing with steaming plates of grilled seafood, buttery rolls, and a massive chocolate cake that says Congratulations, Lovebirds! in fancy frosting and two small drawings of your caricatures with hearts around them.
Luffy digs in immediately, stuffing his face with meat and laughing between bites “Man, this was such a good idea! Maybe we should do it again at another restaurant!”
You snort, shaking your head “What, you gonna propose to me at every place we eat now?”
He swallows a mouthful of food and grins “Maybe! You’d say yes every time, right?”
Your heart stumbles over itself for a second, but you quickly recover “Only if there’s free food involved, I guess.”
Luffy laughs, shoving another piece of cake into his mouth “Then it’s a deal!”
You roll your eyes, but you can’t stop smiling. Even if it was fake, and even if he only did it for the food…
You kinda wouldn’t mind hearing him say those words again.
Maybe for real, next time.
You’re now on your way back to the ship and just thinking about telling everyone what happened makes you laugh.
“What are you laughin at?” Luffy asks while bouncing his own belly.
“Sanji’s gonna hate us when we’ll tell him what we did to get free food…” you laugh more.
Luffy suddenly stops and you turn to see what’s going on with him. Only to see him trying to mimic Sanji’s face and expression, “Food isn’t a game!! And why did you use my y/n for your stupid plan?!?”.
You start laughing so hard that your stomach starts to hurt.
“Let’s make a bet Y/N… I bet he’s gonna say the exact same words I said just now” he says putting his hand in front of you.
“Mmh okay. I bet he’s going to say something like ‘How dare you propose to Y/N before me!!!’”
Luffy smiles and “That’s a good one. What do you want if ya win?”
Oh, now this is a hard question… What do you want?
Then an idea pop up in your mind.
“If I win I’ll be the captain for one day!” You say smiling proudly at your own mind, imagining already the things you could do and make Luffy do as his Captain.
“Shishishi, that’s a good one. Okay. But if I win… we’re gonna get a real ring your size for the next time!” His eyes close as his smile widens even more, “So? Deal?”
You heart start beating so fast that you’re bearing breathing.
Why?
Why does he want a ring?
And why is he planning on proposing again?
Then you snap out of your thoughts as you hear his laugh again. You look at his hand in front of you, waiting to be shaken.
“Deal…” you say as you now shake his hand.
Back to the Thousand Sunny the first thing Luffy does is looking for Sanji and tell him everything that happened, excluding the bet part of course.
He even mimicked the expressions the waiters and waitresses had while he was proposing.
Then, after a moment of shock and as you were anticipating, Sanji finally speaks “Mon Dieu , food isn’t a game, idiot! And why did you use my precious Y/N for your dumb game…”
“Oh, you lost Y/N. Now we’ll get a ring!!” Luffy smiles at you, ignoring the way Sanji stopped his desperate act just to look at him like he murdered someone.
You blush hard, not being able to even say a word.
“WHAT RING NOW? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND? Y/N STOP LAUGHING, THE IDIOT IS BEING SERIOUS!!”
Sanji keeps trying to stop both you and Luffy, but honestly?
You wouldn’t mind getting proposed again, and who knows maybe with the ring it will feel real.
And you don’t mind it at all.
── .✦ Zoro:
Zoro knew coming here was a mistake.
The restaurant is way too fancy for his taste, golden chandeliers, white tablecloths, expensive plates that look like they belong in a museum. The portions are tiny, the waiters have that I’m better than you attitude, and worst of all… Sanji recommended it.
You, however, are having a great time.
You sip your drink, smiling at the romantic ambiance, while Zoro sulks across from you, arms crossed, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else.
“This place is nice” you hum.
Zoro scoffs “Tch. Feels like a prison.”
You roll your eyes, about to retort, when his fork suddenly slips off the table. With a sigh, Zoro pushes his chair back and kneels down to grab it.
And that’s when it happens.
A loud gasp echoes through the restaurant.
The soft clinking of silverware stops. Conversations halt. The waiter carrying a tray of wine nearly drops it.
Zoro freezes, fork in hand.
“…What the hell?” he mutters.
You glance around and immediately see the problem. The entire restaurant is staring at him, some people are covering their mouths, others are tearing up, and the woman at the table next to you whispers excitedly to her date “omg look, he’s proposing!”
They think he’s proposing...
Your lips twitch. Oh, this is gold.
Zoro must realize it too, because he slowly looks up at you, processing the situation. The restaurant waits with bated breath. You see the exact moment he decides to roll with it.
Still kneeling, he sighs dramatically and reaches for your hand instead of his fork.
“Guess there’s no backing out now” he says flatly.
A chorus of awws sweeps through the restaurant. Someone sniffles.
You bite your lip, holding back laughter. If Zoro’s gonna pull this, you might as well make him suffer.
So, with your most dramatic expression, you gasp, bringing a hand to your chest “Zoro! Is this—” You choke up for effect “Is this really happening?”
Zoro glares at you, silently daring you to push further.
You do.
You blink rapidly, pretending to fight back tears “I—I never thought this day would come!” You squeeze his hand, voice trembling “Ever since I first saw you, I knew—” You pause, just to let the anticipation build “that you were the love of my life!”
A woman two tables down bursts into tears.
Zoro’s jaw tightens. His ears are definitely red now. But he won’t let you win so easily.
He lets out a long, exaggerated sigh, rubbing the back of his neck “Yeah… you know, it’s been real annoying, carrying this ring around for so long.”
Your eyes widen. Oh, he did NOT just—
The restaurant collectively gasps again. Even the chef peeks out from the kitchen.
Zoro still doesn’t have a ring, so the bastard reaches over, plucks a tiny onion ring off his plate, and slides it onto your finger.
“There,” he says, smirking “You happy now?”
You nearly choke on air.
The restaurant erupts. Cheers. Clapping. Someone throws flower petals. A waiter rushes forward with champagne.
You need to end this. Fast.
So, with all the enthusiasm of a dramatic soap opera heroine, you throw yourself into Zoro’s arms, hugging him tightly.
“YES! A MILLION TIMES YES!”
The place loses it. Some guy at the bar is sobbing. The waiter brings out a massive cake with Congratulations! written in fancy chocolate drizzle. The restaurant manager himself personally congratulates you.
You and Zoro finally lock eyes, both of you struggling to keep a straight face.
Still holding you, he leans down, voice low enough for only you to hear.
“You are so dead after this” he mutters.
You grin “Worth it.”
Zoro sighs, but there’s amusement in his expression. He still hasn’t let go of your waist, and for a second, the noise around you fades, the restaurant blurring into the background.
His thumb brushes against your hip.
“You really wanna sell this?” he murmurs.
You raise a brow “What are you—”
And then he kisses you.
It’s quick, barely more than a brush of lips, but it still shuts you up completely. Your breath catches as the warmth of him lingers, his grip firm and steady as if grounding himself.
Then he pulls back, smirking at your stunned expression “Figured we had to make it convincing.”
The crowd loses it again. Someone pops open a bottle of wine. The cheering is deafening.
Zoro slides back into his seat, reaching for his drink like nothing happened, while you just stare at him. Your face is burning, your heart racing.
Did he... did he really just...
“Oi,” he calls, snapping you out of your thoughts. He nods toward your plate “Eat. We scammed our way into this food, might as well enjoy it.”
You pick up your fork numbly, still processing.
Later that night, walking back to the Sunny, still slightly tipsy from the free champagne, Zoro shakes his head, chuckling.
“You’re the worst.”
“And yet, you still went along with it” you tease.
He gives you a sideways glance, smirking “Yeah, well… guess I’d propose to you eventually anyway.”
You trip.
Zoro catches you easily, steadying you with a firm grip, and when he helps you up, he doesn’t let go of your hand right away.
Your heart does something stupid.
“…You serious?” you murmur.
Zoro just smirks, squeezing your hand and giving you a quick peck on your lips before letting go.
“Guess you’ll have to wait and see, idiot.”
── .✦ Sanji:
Sunlight spills over the ocean, turning the water into shimmering gold as the sea breeze carries the scent of freshly baked pastries. The café you and Sanji are at is charming, small round tables with white tablecloths, elegant teacups, and a dessert display so tempting even you had to stop and admire it before sitting down.
Sanji, as always, is in his element. He leans back in his chair, cigarette between his fingers, looking completely at ease as he watches the waves roll in. He’s been extra flirty today, not that it’s anything new, but there’s something almost mischievous about his smile as he rests his chin on his hand, eyes locked on you.
“You look stunning today, mon amour.”
You snort, sipping your drink “You’ve said that three times already.”
“And I’ll say it a hundred more if it makes you smile” he replies smoothly, winking.
You roll your eyes but can’t hide the way your lips twitch upward. Hopeless flirt.
A waiter suddenly approaches your table, setting down a small menu “Would you two be interested in our Eternal Love Special? It comes with a complimentary dessert for newly engaged couples.”
Sanji’s brows lift, and immediately, you see the dangerous glint in his eyes.
You raise a hand, ready to shut this down “Oh, we’re not—”
Sanji reaches across the table and gently takes your hand in his, cutting you off completely.
“Ma chérie” he sighs, looking at you with the softest, most heartfelt expression you’ve ever seen “I’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to do this.”
Then he quickly turns to the waiter “Thank you, I took it as a sign to finally do what I was planning for months now”
Your brain short-circuits.
Wait. WAIT.
The waiter gasps. The couple at the next table stops mid-bite. A hush falls over the café as all eyes turn to the two of you.
You know Sanji. You know this is fake. But the way he’s looking at you, the warmth in his eyes, the way his thumb gently strokes the back of your hand, it feels real.
You swallow hard “Sanji—”
He stands up, gracefully stepping around the table before lowering himself onto one knee. The sunlight catches his golden hair, framing him like something out of a damn romance novel.
“From the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew you were special,” he says, voice smooth as silk “Your laughter is my favorite melody, your kindness is my greatest treasure, and every day with you is sweeter than the finest dessert.”
Someone sniffs. You don’t dare look away, afraid your own face might betray you.
Sanji reaches into his pocket, and for a horrifying second, you think he might actually have a ring... He pulls out a thin silver napkin ring from the table setting.
The café erupts into cheers. Someone claps. A woman dabs at her eyes with a handkerchief. The waiter looks about two seconds away from fainting.
Sanji takes your hand, slipping the napkin ring onto your finger with such tenderness that your heart physically aches.
“Tell me, my love,” he murmurs, his voice low and teasing, but with an edge of something more “Will you make me the happiest man in the world?”
You could end this now. Laugh it off, tell everyone it’s fake, and move on.
…But where’s the fun in that?
You inhale sharply, pressing a hand to your chest like you just can’t believe this is happening “Sanji, I—” You let your voice waver for dramatic effect “Of course! Yes!”
The café erupts. Cheers, applause, a waiter brings out a fancy chocolate cake with “Congratulations, Lovebirds!” written in delicate script.
Sanji presses a lingering kiss to the back of your hand before rising to his feet. He leans in, his breath warm against your ear.
“You play dirty, sweetheart” he murmurs.
You smirk up at him “Right back at you.”
The two of you sit back down, and while Sanji smoothly dives into his slice of cake, you… you can’t stop staring at him. Your heart is still racing. He’s been teasing you for so long, but this felt different.
And maybe the little gleam in his eyes says he knows it too.
Sanji casually picks up his fork, cutting into his cake as if he hasn’t just dropped a bombshell in the middle of the café. But there’s something different about the way he looks at you now, a quiet intensity behind his smirk.
You, on the other hand, are trying your best to keep your composure, but your heart is still fluttering uncontrollably. That was not part of the act, you think, biting your lip.
“So,” you begin, trying to regain some semblance of control over your thoughts, “you think I’ll just say ‘yes’ to a napkin ring?”
Sanji grins like a cat who’s just gotten the cream “Only if you’re truly as smitten with me as I am with you,” he teases, his voice dripping with charm “Was that not the most romantic proposal you’ve ever heard?”
You blink at him. That damn smirk. It’s hard to keep a straight face when he’s so pleased with himself.
“Romantic?” You arch an eyebrow, playing along “More like cheesy, Sanji. I mean, come on... napkin ring? Really?”
He chuckles, brushing a lock of hair behind his ear “It’s not the ring that matters, my dear. It’s the gesture.” He winks, leaning back in his chair, looking completely smug now that the moment has passed “Besides, I’m sure I’ll get you a real one soon enough. Once I find the perfect one.”
You blink at him again, still processing how he just seamlessly went from a joke proposal to something that feels strangely serious. Did he mean it?
Before you can dwell on it too much, the waiter returns with another plate, this time with a much larger piece of cake.
Sanji’s eyes light up “Ah, my favorite!” He takes the plate and picks up his fork, but before taking a bite, he looks at you again, that same intensity in his gaze.
“So,” he says, his voice suddenly more quiet, more sincere “did you like it? The proposal, I mean. I know it was a little… unorthodox.”
You’re caught off guard by the seriousness of his tone. He’s not teasing you now, not putting on that flirty act he does so well. His gaze is soft, like he’s searching for your answer, his expression almost vulnerable.
You bite your lip, fighting back the heat creeping up your neck “I...” You hesitate for a moment, unsure of what to say. You want to tease him, but there’s something there in his eyes “It was… unexpected” you finally say, your voice softening “But… sweet, I guess.”
Sanji’s lips curl into a grin again, but this time, it’s gentler, less playful and more genuine. “You know, you’re the only woman I’d do something this stupid for.” He leans closer, his voice dropping even lower, his breath warm against your ear “So, maybe... just maybe, you know... when the time is right, I’ll actually make it real.”
Your heart skips a beat, and your breath catches in your throat. You can’t tell if he’s joking or if this is one of his moments of sincerity. But then, the way his hand brushes against yours as he pulls back from the table feels like something more.
You stare at him, and he meets your gaze, his blue eyes twinkling with something you can’t quite place.
Before you can say anything, Sanji’s finger gently taps the napkin ring on your finger, the little silver band now feeling strangely significant “Just wait,” he says softly, “the real proposal will be a thousand times more romantic. And you’ll be the one telling me yes.”
You smile, feeling a warmth spread through your chest at the thought, knowing he’s both serious and playful, making you realize that, despite all the teasing and drama, he does mean it. And maybe, just maybe, you’re a little bit more excited about the idea than you want to admit.
“You better keep that promise, chef” you reply softly, your voice almost teasing, but with a genuine undercurrent that you both recognize.
Sanji leans back in his chair, clearly pleased with himself “I’ll hold you to it, mon amour. You’ll see. I’m a man of my word.”
And as the two of you continue eating, the quiet intimacy that lingers between you both speaks volumes. Even if the proposal was a joke, the feelings beneath it were anything but a joke.
── .✦ Ace:
The crew is in the midst of celebrating their latest victory, mugs of rum and plates of food scattered across the long table. Everyone is laughing and teasing each other, the air thick with camaraderie and joy. Ace is leaning against the railing, surrounded by his crew, his usual playful energy filling the space.
You’re off to the side, chatting quietly with Marco, enjoying the rare peace amidst the rowdy celebration.
“Looks like everyone’s having a good time” you say, smiling as you watch the crew’s antics.
“Yeah,” Marco replies, “they definitely need moments like this. It’s been a while since we’ve had a reason to really celebrate.” He glances at you, a soft smile on his lips.
Meanwhile, Ace is leaning over the table, listening to the crew, and you notice the mischievous glint in his eyes as he exchanges a few words with Thatch. The two of them laugh, and you can see Ace’s trademark grin forming.
Suddenly, someone’s voice rises above the others, slurring slightly from the alcohol “Hey, Ace!” he shouts, clearly a little tipsy “I dare you to do something! You’re always pulling pranks, it’s your turn!”
Ace smirks and looks over at them, his eyes flicking to the rest of the crew who eagerly start egging him on “What do you have in mind?” he asks, leaning in as if he’s genuinely curious.
The others grin at each other, clearly having had too many drinks “I dare you to propose to Y/N, right now!”
The crew erupts into laughter, clearly loving the idea. You’re still talking to Marco and don’t hear it, unaware of the dare.
You turn around, confused, just as Ace, with his usual confidence, strides over to you. His eyes lock onto yours, and his smirk widens, his posture already dramatic as he drops to one knee in front of you.
“Y/N,” he says, his voice loud and theatrical, “will you marry me?”
The entire crew gasps and then bursts into laughter. You freeze, completely caught off guard.
For a split second your heart skips a beat, but then you notice the glint in his eyes. He’s teasing. It’s the same playful look he always has when he’s messing with someone.
You swallow hard, trying to laugh it off “Ace, what are you—”
But before you can finish your sentence, Ace stands up quickly, his grin widening as he grabs your shoulder and laughs loudly “Haha, come on! I’m just kidding! You know me!”
The crew, still in fits of laughter, cheers him on, but your heart sinks. You feel embarrassed, and the sudden realization hits you hard. You knew it was just another one of his jokes but for some reason, this one stings more than the others. You’re left standing there, staring at him, feeling both foolish and hurt.
“Ace…” you start, your voice quiet and suddenly trembling with a mixture of anger and something deeper. You can’t put your finger on it, but it feels like your heart’s being pulled in two directions.
Ace notices the change in your tone and looks at you, the playful glint in his eyes dimming for a moment as if he’s unsure of what’s happening “Hey, come on. It was just for fun, right?” He chuckles, brushing it off, but there’s something in his voice now, a hint of unease that wasn’t there before.
You force a smile “Yeah, sure, just for fun” you say, but your voice cracks slightly. You quickly turn away from him, walking off toward the edge of the ship, away from the crew and the laughter. You don’t want to face anyone right now, not Ace, not anyone.
Ace calls after you, but you don’t look back. You can feel his gaze on your back, but you don’t know if you’re ready to face the playful tone that always comes with his jokes. You’re hurt, and you can’t tell if it’s because you really thought he was serious for a moment or because it felt like he didn’t take your feelings into account.
The sound of the crew’s laughter is still behind you, but it feels distant now. You rest your hands on the cold metal of the ship’s railing, staring out at the dark, endless sea, trying to breathe through the hurt.
“Hey,” Ace’s voice suddenly cuts through the night air. You hadn’t realized he was following you. His playful tone gone, replaced by something softer, maybe even regretful “I’m sorry if I upset you. I didn’t mean to.”
You shake your head, not turning to face him “It’s fine, Ace. Just... just go back to the crew. I don’t want to make a scene.”
There’s a long silence, and you can feel him standing behind you, still close, but not daring to push further. You can hear the deep sigh he lets out.
“You know I mess around a lot, right?” Ace says quietly, after a beat “But that doesn’t mean I don’t care about you.”
Ace seems to sense your hesitation, and he steps a little closer.
“I was just having fun with the guys,” he continues, his voice low, almost apologetic now “I didn’t think it would upset you. I’m sorry. If you want to talk about it… I’m here.”
You take a deep breath, trying to push back the frustration that’s built up in you. You hate how vulnerable you feel, too exposed. But you can’t let him see that, not right now.
“I just need some space” you reply quietly.
There’s another long pause before you hear him step back and you finally allow yourself to breathe a little easier. Ace doesn’t push you any further. You hear his footsteps retreat, but you know he’s still watching you, waiting, just in case you need him.
You know Ace didn’t mean to hurt you. You know he’s always been like this reckless, playful, always laughing things off. But tonight, it felt different.
Why did it bother me so much?
You hear footsteps behind you again, slower this time, more hesitant. You sigh “Ace, I said I needed some space—”
“It’s not Ace.”
You turn and find Marco standing there, arms crossed.
“You okay?” he asks, but his sharp eyes tell you he already knows the answer.
You manage a small, tired smile “Do I look okay?”
Marco huffs a soft laugh “Not really.” He steps beside you, leaning against the railing. For a moment, the two of you just stand there in silence.
Finally, he speaks again “Ace is an idiot.”
You let out a surprised laugh, though it’s weaker than usual “Yeah, tell me something I don’t know.”
Marco tilts his head slightly, watching you “But he’s not heartless” he continues “He cares about you more than he probably realizes. And right now, he’s sitting over there, looking like a kicked puppy because he knows he messed up.”
Your fingers tighten on the railing “I know he didn’t mean to hurt me, Marco. But…” You hesitate, feeling vulnerable “I guess it just stung more than I expected. He laughed it off like it was nothing.”
Marco hums in understanding “Because to him, it was just a joke. But to you… it wasn’t.”
You don’t reply, but you know he’s right. Even if you hadn’t admitted it to yourself before, a small part of you had wanted it to be real.
Marco pushes off the railing and pats your shoulder lightly “You don’t have to talk to him yet if you don’t want to. But if you do…” He glances toward the other side of the ship, where Ace is sitting on a barrel, staring down at his drink, barely touching it. His usual carefree energy is gone “He’s waiting.”
You hesitate. A part of you still wants to be mad. But another part, the part that cares too much, wants to hear what more he has to say.
With a deep breath, you push off the railing and make your way toward him.
Ace notices you immediately, his head snapping up, eyes widening slightly. He doesn’t grin this time, doesn’t make a joke. He just watches you cautiously, like he’s bracing himself.
You stop a few steps away “Hey.”
Ace exhales, setting his drink down “Hey...” He looks uncertain, which is rare for him “Can I...” He hesitates “Can I talk to you?”
You nod and sit down on the crate across from him. He looks relieved but still fidgety, rubbing the back of his neck like he’s trying to figure out what to say.
After a long pause, he finally speaks “I didn’t think, okay?” His voice is quieter than usual, missing its usual cocky edge “I didn’t think about how it would feel for you. I was just messing around with the crew, and when they dared me, I just… went with it. I didn’t mean for it to be a joke at your expense.”
You cross your arms “Then why did you laugh it off like that?”
Ace winces slightly “Because… I panicked.”
That catches you off guard “Panicked?”
He lets out a slow breath and runs a hand through his messy black hair “Yeah. Because for a second, when I was kneeling there, looking at you, it didn’t feel like a joke anymore” He pauses, his voice dropping lower “And that scared the hell out of me.”
He looks at your confused face, and for once, there’s no teasing in his eyes. Just raw honesty.
“I mean…” He rubs his face, frustrated with himself “I mean that maybe it wasn’t just a joke to me, either.”
The world seems to tilt slightly. Your breath catches, and you stare at him, trying to process his words.
Ace sighs, leaning forward, resting his forearms on his knees “I don’t know how to say this the right way. I’ve never been good at this kind of thing. But you—” He exhales sharply “You matter to me. More than I probably let on. And when I saw how upset you were, I realized that I really, really don’t want to lose you.”
You swallow thickly, your emotions all tangled up “Ace…”
He leans back, giving you a small, hesitant smile “I won’t joke about something like that again. I swear. But…” He rubs the back of his neck “If—if I ever did propose… I’d want it to be real.”
For a long moment, you don’t speak. You’re still mad. Still hurt. But beneath all of that, there’s a warmth spreading through your chest, something dangerously close to hope.
Finally, you shake your head and stand up. Ace tenses, as if expecting you to walk away again.
Instead, you go closer. And before you can overthink it, you grab the front of his shirt and tug him down into a kiss.
Ace freezes for a second, caught completely off guard. But then he melts into it, his hands finding your waist, holding you like he’s afraid you’ll slip away. The kiss is slow, uncertain at first, but then it deepens, warm, real, full of everything you haven’t been able to put into words.
When you finally pull away, Ace blinks at you, completely dazed “...Whoa.”
You smirk, your heart still racing “No jokes this time?”
He grins, breathless “No jokes.”
You roll your eyes but smile anyway “Good.”
Ace watches you for a moment, then his grin softens into something more genuine “So… does this mean you forgive me?”
You pretend to think about it “Hmm. I dunno. Maybe you should actually try proposing for real and see how I feel.”
His eyes widen, and you laugh at the way he suddenly looks flustered. But the warmth in his expression tells you that maybe, just maybe, that day isn’t as far off as you once thought.
── .✦ Law:
The ballroom is suffocating in its elegance, gold chandeliers, velvet curtains, and nobles dressed in the finest silks. Conversations flow with laughter, political gossip, and expensive wine. You navigate the crowd effortlessly, your arm looped around Law’s as the two of you blend in among the guests.
This is just another mission.
Your goal this time is to gather intel on the underground auction happening later tonight. And to do so, you have to pretend to be a wealthy couple and gain access to informations. Tonight you are Law’s fiancée.
“You’re tense” Law murmurs beside you, barely moving his lips.
You glare up at him, keeping a pleasant smile for the guests “Maybe because I’m still processing how I went from ‘crewmate’ to ‘fake fiancée.’”
He hums “Would you rather be my wife?”
You elbow him discreetly, and he chuckles under his breath.
“Ah, you're Torao, right?” a nobleman approaches with a warm smile and glass in hand, but Law suddently snorts at the name already planning on getting revenge to however was supposed to arrange a fake name for him... you try your best to not laugh “And who is this stunning young woman?”
Before you can even open your mouth, Law speaks smoothly.
“My fiancée”
You freeze for just a fraction of a second, but you recover quickly, forcing a demure smile as the nobleman’s eyes widen in delight.
“Oh, my! I had no idea you were engaged! Congratulations!”
More nobles turn their attention toward you both, excited murmurs rippling through the crowd. You barely resist the urge to shoot Law a look, because you figured he’d introduce you as a partner or companion, but fiancée? That just complicate things.
You manage to slip away after a few more introdutions, excusing yourself to get a drink and some air. Meanwhile, Law stays behind, sipping his wine in silence.
That’s when an older noblewoman leans in conspiratorially.
“You know,” she hums, swirling her drink, “I couldn’t help but notice something peculiar.”
Law barely reacts “Oh?”
She grins “She’s not wearing a ring.”
His fingers tighten subtly around his glass.
Another noble nods “Yes, rather unusual for an engagement, don’t you think?”
A dozen responses flash through Law’s mind, he could say something like it’s being resized, or that you don’t like wearing jewelry. But instead, for reasons even he doesn’t fully understand, the words that come out are, “I have a ring.”
The noblewoman’s eyes sparkle “Oh? Then why isn’t she wearing it?”
Law exhales through his nose “I was planning to propose soon.”
The group of nobles collectively gasps.
“Tonight?!”
Law immediately regrets his words.
“Oh, how romantic!” one woman gushes “You must do it here!”
Law resists the urge to teleport himself out of this conversation, but when he turns, he sees you making your way back, completely oblivious to the trap he just walked into. And something shifts inside him, because in his pocket, there is a ring. Your exact size.
He never planned to use it. He doesn’t even fully understand why he bought it in the first place. Maybe it was impulse, or maybe it was something deeper, something he refuses to acknowledge.
But now he stands. The room falls silent.
You slow your steps, eyes flicking to him in confusion “What...”
And then he kneels.
Your heart stops.
The nobles erupt into cheers.
Law looks up at you as he pulls out the ring.
Your breath catches.
Why is he doing this? Why does he have that?
Law exhales, his voice quieter now, just for you.
“y/n,” he says, his fingers brushing against yours, “marry me.”
There’s no teasing in his tone. No playfulness. Just Law, holding your hand, holding a ring he never intended to actually reveal, and looking at you like he means every single word.
The entire ballroom is silent, every noble watching with excitement. Somewhere in the distance, someone murmurs about how romantic this is, but all you can hear is the rushing in your ears, the unsteady rhythm of your breathing... because Law is holding a ring. Your exact size. And for he looks like he actually means it.
Your mouth opens, but no words come out.
Law exhales softly, gaze unreadable. His fingers ghost over yours as he holds the ring between them, and you swear you feel a slight tremor.
“Uhm... say yes” he murmurs, voice too low for anyone else to hear.
Your breath catches “What?”
His fingers tighten around your hand, almost imperceptibly “Say yes...” he repeats, softer this time.
You swallow hard. You know this is a performance. Something must have happened while you weren't there and he's doing all this to keep up the cover and complete the mission. But something in the way he’s looking at you, so calm, so sure, makes your throat tighten.
You force yourself to move, to push away the whirlwind of emotions threatening to consume you.
“…Yes.”
The second the word leaves your lips, the room erupts. Cheers, applause, laughters, as the nobles celebrate.
Law stands smoothly, still holding your hand, and in one fluid motion, he slides the ring onto your finger.
A perfect fit.
Your chest tightens.
Why do you have this? you want to ask. Why do you have my size? Why does this feel real?
But instead, you let him pull you closer, his fingers resting lightly against your waist as someone shouts “The kiss! You have to seal it with a kiss!”
Your stomach flips violently. You glance up at Law, expecting him to show hesitation, annoyance... anything.
But his expression remains unreadable.
He exhales quietly, as if resigning himself to what comes next. Then, in one smooth movement, he cups your face, his calloused fingers brushing against your jaw.
His lips press against yours as the world blurs.
It’s soft at first, gentle, the perfect display for an adoring fiancé. But then his fingers slide into your hair, pulling you a fraction closer, and something shifts.
The air between you crackles, the warmth of his body pressing into yours. Your fingers clutch at his suit, unsure whether to push him away or pull him closer.
It doesn’t feel fake, not even for a second, and that breaks you.
When he finally pulls away, the crowd is ecstatic, clapping and cheering. You barely register them.
Law leans in, his forehead nearly brushing yours.
“You okay?” he murmurs, voice just for you.
You’re not. Not even close. But you have to force a smirk, masking the confusion, the longing, the ache in your chest.
“You’re a better actor than I thought” you whisper, trying to sound teasing, but it comes out unsteady.
His lips twitch slightly in almost a smirk.
And then, just as he turns to lead you away, his voice drops to a whisper.
“Am I acting?”
Your breath catches.
But before you can even process his words, he’s already pulling you through the crowd, his fingers brushing against yours.
“Come on,” he says “We still have a mission to finish.”
And just like that, the moment is gone.
The ring on your finger feels heavier than it should, and now you don’t know if you’ll ever be able to take it off.
── .✦ Shanks:
The Red-Haired Pirates are celebrating their recent success, the air filled with the sounds of laughter, clinking mugs, and music. You and Shanks are at the center of it all, the crew’s favorite couple. You’ve been together for a while now, everyone around you knows how close you two are. The bond you share is evident, whether you’re laughing together, sharing a drink, or pulling off your signature “fake proposal” routine at taverns to get free food.
Today was no different. You’d pulled off yet another hilarious fake proposal at a local tavern with Shanks dramatically getting down on one knee and you playing the blushing fiancée, and everyone else had completely fallen for it. The whole crew had watched from the sidelines, laughing at the reaction of other people around. You and Shanks had left the tavern with free drinks and a standing ovation, and now you’re back on the ship, basking in the afterglow of your latest successful scam.
The crew is still laughing, recalling the events from earlier.
“That was too good,” Yasopp says, slapping his knee as he chuckles “I swear, you two are getting better at this with every try.”
“Yeah, honestly, I almost thought it was real” Benn Beckman adds, leaning back in his chair.
You roll your eyes, trying to hide your smile “You guys are terrible” you tease, nudging Shanks playfully.
Shanks simply grins casually leaning against the railing of the ship as the crew continues to tease the two of you about your newer “engagement”. His eyes are full of mischief, the same spark you’ve always loved. But there’s something different tonight, they seem a little more serious, almost like he’s thinking about something far beyond the joke.
“You know...” Shanks starts, his voice quieter than usual, drawing your attention. The rest of the crew falls into a hushed silence, sensing something is about to shift “Maybe one day, we should do it for real.”
You blink, staring at him “What?” you ask, not sure if he’s still joking or if something else is going on.
Shanks smirks, but there’s a certain vulnerability in his gaze now that makes your heart skip a beat “I mean it. What would you say if I asked you for real one day? Like, if I asked you to marry me, what would you say?”
For a moment, everything around you goes still. The sounds of the crew’s laughter fade, and it’s just you and Shanks, standing there. You can see the sincerity in his eyes, something deeper than the usual playful teasing.
You feel a flutter in your chest as you meet his gaze, your breath catching in your throat. It’s clear he’s not messing around anymore.
“You really want to know?” you ask softly, your voice a little unsteady.
Shanks doesn’t break eye contact, his expression soft but steady “Yeah, I do.”
Your heart pounds in your chest. For a heartbeat, everything feels heavier... your emotions swirling as you take in the meaning behind his words. Then you smile, a warm, genuine smile. You take a deep breath, knowing what this means “Then ask me, and find out.”
Shanks’ lips curl into a gentle, tender smile, and for a moment, you think maybe he’s going to kiss you right then and there. But instead, he leans in slightly, lowering his voice.
“I’ll make you notice right away when it’s for real,” he says, his words full of affection “You’ll be so surprised when I’ll do it, you won’t even know what hit you.”
You laugh softly, a mix of emotions rushing through you “I can’t wait...” you say, your voice light but with a hint of excitement.
Without another word, Shanks pulls you closer, his arms wrapping around you as he presses his lips against yours in a slow, lingering kiss. You melt into it, the taste of his lips familiar and comforting, and for a moment, it feels like the rest of the world fades away.
The crew is watching you two, stunned into silence at first, but then the cheers start.
“Get a room!” Lucky Roux shouts with a laugh, and the rest of the crew joins in, clapping.
You pull back slightly, your forehead resting against Shanks’ as you both smile at the crew’s reaction. He gives you a playful wink, and you can’t help but chuckle.
“I’ll take that as a yes” he says softly, his grin full of mischief again.
“Yeah,” you reply with a smile, still feeling the warmth of his kiss on your lips “I kinda spoilered you my answer.”
The crew continues to laugh and tease, but you and Shanks know this moment is real. It might not have been an official proposal yet, but you both understand that when the time is right, he’ll ask, and you’ll say yes. For now, though, you’ll just enjoy this moment with him, the love between you two shining brighter than anything else.
And as the crew celebrates, you and Shanks share another kiss, a promise of what’s to come.
Shanks barely pulls away from your lips before a familiar glint of mischief sparks in his eyes. The crew is still laughing and whistling, throwing jabs about how disgustingly in love the two of you are, and you can practically see the gears turning in his head.
You know that look.
Before you can react, Shanks suddenly drops to one knee again, right there on the deck, holding out his empty hand like he’s presenting a ring.
“Alright, alright! Since the moment is so perfect... Y/N, will you make me the happiest pirate alive and marry me? For real this time?” His voice is exaggerated, his expression overly dramatic as he bats his lashes up at you.
The crew erupts, laughing and cheering like this is the best show they’ve ever seen. Some of them start slamming their mugs, chanting, “SAY YES! SAY YES!” Lucky Roux even tosses a handful of peanuts in the air like they’re flower petals.
Shanks is still kneeling, hand outstretched “Well?” he asks, tilting his head with a teasing grin “Are you gonna break my heart in front of my beloved crew, Y/N?”
You let out a dramatic sigh and step closer, leaning down just enough to flick his forehead.
The exaggerated thunk makes the crew howl with laughter.
Shanks rocks back like you’ve physically struck him, clutching his chest as if mortally wounded “Rejected… just like that?” he gasps, looking up at you with the most pathetic pout you’ve ever seen “You didn’t even consider it? Not even for a second?”
You shake your head, grinning “Oh, shut up. If I say yes to every proposal of yours, we’d be married a hundred times over by now. I can’t accept two in just one day.”
The crew explodes into laughter again, slamming their mugs together, completely losing it over the ridiculousness of it all.
“I think this is the first time Shanks has ever been turned down,” Yasopp says, wiping tears from his eyes “Somebody write this down, it’s history in the making!”
Shanks, still on one knee, sighs dramatically before looking up at you with a lopsided grin “Guess I’ll just have to try again some other day”
There’s something in the way he says it, something in the way his gaze lingers on yours, that makes your chest tighten.
And then, without warning, he rises to his feet and takes your hand.
You raise an eyebrow, confused, but he just smiles as he pulls you in closer “What are you—?”
“Dancing” he answers simply.
There’s no music playing, just the sound of the crew’s laughter and the gentle crash of the waves against the ship. But that doesn’t stop him.
Shanks starts to sway, leading you effortlessly into a slow dance, like the two of you are at some grand ballroom instead of the deck of a pirate ship, surrounded by a bunch of rowdy, drunken idiots.
The crew quiets slightly, watching in amusement. But then you hear Yasopp groan “Oh, come on. Really?”
“Oi, we’re in the middle of a celebration, not a honeymoon!” someone else calls out.
“Get a room, this time for real!” Lucky Roux laughs.
But you barely hear them.
Because you’re looking at Shanks, and he’s looking at you.
And suddenly, it doesn’t matter that there’s no music, or that your idiot pirate family is teasing you both in the background. It doesn’t matter that this started as a joke, or that moments ago, he was on one knee in the most ridiculous, over-the-top fake proposal.
Because right now, the way he’s holding you, one hand in yours, the other resting on your waist, feels so natural. So right.
You let yourself melt into him, following his lead as the two of you continue to sway in the middle of the chaos.
“You’re ridiculous” you murmur, but your voice is soft, affectionate.
Shanks smirks “And yet, you’re still here.”
You let out a quiet laugh, shaking your head “Yeah,” you whisper “I am.”
His grip on you tightens just slightly, and his expression softens “Perfect.”
Then, grinning, Shanks playfully lowers you backward while holding you, like in a dramatic dance move. Catching you completely off guard. You gasp, clutching at his coat, and the crew loses their minds.
“ALRIGHT, THAT’S ENOUGH!” Yasopp groans “I CAN’T TAKE THIS ANYMORE! If you're not going into a room then I am!”
The crew bursts into laughter, some covering their eyes, others raising their drinks in amusement.
Shanks, still grinning like a fool, pulls you back up and presses a quick kiss to your forehead.
“You really are the love of my life, y’know that?” he murmurs.
Your heart skips a beat.
You smile, reaching up to brush a few strands of red hair away from his face “Yeah,” you whisper “I know.”
And as the crew continues their antics around you, you realize that this is the best moment of your life.
what if the two of you are in a secret relantionship and suddenly everyone start to realize something is going on?
gn!reader
characters: luffy, sabo, kid, shanks, bartolomeo
(zoro, sanji, law, koby, ace)
a/n: sorry about the barto one, I got out of ideas but needed a 5th character...
words count: around 0.8k - 1.5k each
masterlist || ao3 || ko-fi
── .✦ Luffy:
You sit at the far end of the Sunny’s deck, legs dangling over the side. The sea sparkles in the sun, and the wind plays with your hair. Luffy is across from you, lying on his back with his hat over his face.
You glance at him for the third time in one minute.
He lifts the hat just a bit “You’re staring again” he says with a grin.
“I’m not” you lie, too fast.
“You are.” Luffy sits up, stretching “Why?”
“Because you’re weird” you say, kicking the air with your feet.
Luffy laughs “That’s true! Can I kiss you?”
You smile, but quickly turn away when you hear footsteps. Sanji walks by with a tray of drinks. He looks at you, then at Luffy, then back at you. He squints.
“Something wrong with your face, Sanji?” you ask, trying to sound casual.
He frowns “No. Just… never mind. Dinner is almost ready.” He walks off.
You glance at Luffy. He’s watching you now.
“Do you think he knows?” you whisper.
Luffy shrugs “Maybe. But who cares?”
“I care! We said we’d keep this a secret, remember? You’re our captain, they will think I get favouritism or something.”
He pouts “I show favoritism to every single one of them. None of you even call me Captain… Who else in the world is a captain but isn’t even called ‘Captain’ by his own crew? Just me! And I really want to tell them.”
“We can’t” you say, standing up “Not yet. It’ll be weird. They’ll tease us forever.”
Luffy tilts his head “So?”
“So… I like it like this. Just us.”
He grins again and nods “Okay, okay. Just us. I like this too.”
But then Usopp yells from the other side of the ship, “Luffy! Why were you smiling like that? Did you eat something without me?!”
Luffy shouts back, “No! Mind your business for once!”
You giggle.
He looks at you, serious for a second “They’re gonna find out.”
“You’re a terrible liar but if we’re careful we can at least have some more time.” you say.
But even as you say it, you know its just a matter of days before Luffy will “accidentally” expose you.
“DINNER IS READY!”
Everyone is gathered around the table, plates stacked high with meat, rice, and bread. Sanji’s outdone himself again. Luffy is already three plates in, sauce all over his face and hands.
You’re chewing on a piece of pizza when a bit of sauce drips onto your chin.
Without even thinking, Luffy leans across the table with a napkin he just stole from Nami and wipes it away gently.
“Messy” he mumbles smiling at you, like it’s normal.
Everyone freezes.
Nami slowly lowers her fork. Zoro raises an eyebrow. Usopp’s mouth falls open.
Sanji blinks “What the hell was that?”
Luffy freezes like a statue, still holding the napkin mid-air.
You feel your soul leave your body.
“Are you two…” Nami starts, squinting hard, “…dating?”
Luffy sits up fast, and stay still like he’s got caught in the middle of stealing all the food.
Then he suddenly snaps “Absolutely fucking not! Why would you even think that?!”
Silence.
You blink.
Zoro tilts his head “You sure? ‘Cause that was some weird-ass behavior.”
“Yeah, dude,” Usopp adds “You never wipe anyone’s face. You don’t even wipe your own face.”
Nami who is still shocked “Did… did he just say absolutely fucking not?”
Luffy looks like a deer caught in a very obvious lie.
Your eye twitches.
You sigh, lean back in your chair, and say, “Yes… yes. We’re dating. That lie was so bad I can’t even pretend anymore.”
Nami chokes on her drink. Brook lets out a dramatic gasp. Chopper claps his hooves together.
All while you whisper “Stupid me, I even thought the worst scenario was you finding out in the next few days.”
Luffy looks at you, then back at them “Wait—so we’re telling them now?”
“No, you! You told them by being the worst liar I’ve ever seen.”
He scratches his head “Oops.”
“You literally said ‘absolutely fucking not’, not really in character from you, don't you think?”
He grins “I panicked…That made it more dramatic, right?”
Sanji stands up like he’s about to give a whole speech “When did this start? How long have you been hiding this from your family?”
You groan. Luffy laughs. Everyone starts shouting questions at once.
He leans over and nudges you with his elbow “Hey. At least it’s not a secret anymore. And they don't seem to mind it at all! You were so scared for nothing, look at them!”
You shove a piece of bread in his mouth “You owe me so many meat dinners.”
He just grins wider and keeps eating like nothing happened but with a grin that actually says everything happened.
── .✦ Sabo:
It’s quiet after dinner. The hum of HQ fades beneath the warm weight of Sabo’s arms around you. You’re curled up in his lap on the couch in his room, legs tangled, his coat draped over both of you like a blanket. He’s kissing you softly, lazily, like the world doesn’t need saving for just a few hours.
“You always smell like smoke” you whisper, nose brushing his.
Sabo chuckles, pressing another kiss to your cheek “And you smell like peace. So I guess we’re even.”
You smile, fingertips trailing the line of his jaw, just about to kiss him again when BANG. The door flies open.
You launch upright, nearly taking the coat with you.
“WAIT—!”
But Sabo, not missing a beat, still lazily cradling your waist, says in a perfectly deadpan voice “Close the door. We’re not done yet.”
Hack’s brain visibly short-circuits.
He backs out slowly like he’s seen the gates of hell.
“Yup. Nope. Didn’t see anything. I need bleach. Where’s the bleach.”
The door clicks shut.
Silence.
You collapse against Sabo, face buried in his chest.
He just laughs, fingers drawing gentle circles on your back.
“Hack’s probably going to meditate in a cold stream after this.”
The next morning Koala kicks open your cabin door “Rise and shine, lazyass—training starts in twen—”
She stops.
Empty bed. No note. No sign of life.
Her eye twitches.
Cut to: Sabo’s room. She barges in without knocking.
“What the hell, have you seen—oh my GOD!”
You’re in Sabo’s bed. In his shirt.
He’s sleepily spooning you, arm wrapped tight around your waist, chin nestled in your hair like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
Koala freezes.
You freeze.
Sabo doesn’t move a muscle. Just groans, nuzzles into you, and pulls you back down under the covers.
“…So that’s why you’re both always smiling at morning drills” Koala mutters.
You peek over Sabo’s shoulder, hair a mess, whispering “Hack didn’t lock the door.”
Koala just turns on her heel “Unbelievable. I’m calling Dragon. You two need supervised training from now on.”
You’re both trying so hard to keep it a secret even now.
Swearing up and down: No more getting caught. No more accidental cuddling in public. No more open doors. NO MORE SPOONING IN SABO'S SHIRT WHILE KOALA SCREAMS.
And yet...
After a brutal training session, you’re the last two stragglers left on the field. The sun's setting, sweat gleaming on both of you, breath still heavy from sparring.
Sabo tosses his gloves aside, runs a hand through his messy, damp hair, and looks at you like you're made of starlight and rebellion.
He steps closer.
You’re flushed, smiling, practically glowing from the adrenaline.
He reaches out, fingers brushing your cheek.
"Nobody’s here," he murmurs, a little breathless “Just one kiss.”
You’re this close. This close. Lips nearly touching—BOOM.
Ivankov struts around the corner like they owns the damn place, fanning dramatically.
“OH honey, if you’re gonna get sweaty together, at least invite me to watch!”
You and Sabo JUMP apart like you’ve been electrocuted.
Sabo coughs violently and turns beet red while you trip over your own foot trying to act like you were doing literally anything else.
Ivankov is grinning like the cat who caught the canoodling lovebirds “You two are about as subtle as a sea king in a bathtub.”
Ivankov winks and keeps walking like nothing happened.
Sabo is frozen. You’re wheezing from secondhand embarrassment.
“…We suck at this.” you mutter.
Sabo just covers his face and groans, “I’m never going to hear the end of all this.”
By now, literally everyone has caught you and Sabo in some weirdly intimate moment, except for one man, Monkey D. Dragon. And that’s how the betting pool was born.
It started with Koala dropping 50 berries on “He finds them mid-make-out in the strategy room.”
Hack went in on “One of them slips up and calls the other ‘babe’ during a mission brief.”
Even Ivankov scribbled down “Sabo gets distracted by Y/N’s ass mid-battle. Dragon walks up behind him.”
There’s a whiteboard hidden in the break room with all their bets.
In all this you and Sabo are sitting on a bench overlooking the cliffside near HQ, pretending to "review maps". The sun is golden, the breeze is soft, and Sabo’s hand is definitely resting a little too high on your thigh for this to be strictly cartographic.
Sabo chuckles, tilting his head toward the training grounds “Koala’s been pointing at us through binoculars for the last ten minutes.”
You glance over and she waves. So does Ivankov, who is literally holding a notepad that says “DRAGON CATCHES THEM: THURSDAY AT 14:37”.
You groan, burying your face in Sabo’s shoulder “This is humiliating.”
He laughs, pressing a kiss to your hair “We could just tell him and so they'll stop.”
You both pause.
Then simultaneously say, “Nope.”
The next day, it’s supposed to be a standard mission call. Everyone’s focused, the mission is critical, and everything is tense.
Suddenly, in the middle of all the seriousness, something goes wrong. You’re trying to navigate a tricky situation on the field, and you have to quickly adjust your position, which means you shift out of the line of communication for a second.
Sabo watches, trying to get your attention, then blurts out, completely unintentionally “Careful, babe.”
The whole call goes silent. The Den Den Mushi crackles with static, and suddenly, everyone on the call freezes.
Dragon (deadpan, calm as ever) “...What did you just say, Sabo?”
You immediately go white and you whip around to look at Sabo with wide eyes, panic setting in. You can hear Ivankov’s voice in the background, already laughing.
You “SABO, ARE YOU DUMB?!”
Sabo turns a brilliant shade of red "I—I didn’t mean—"
Everyone on the call is absolutely losing it.
Koala, trying to hold back laughter “Oh my God. Did you—did you just call them babe?!”
Hack, in the most deadpan voice ever “I won, right? I absolutely won this bet.”
You’re trying to keep your cool, but you can’t. You can’t. You cover your face, groaning.
Dragon, ever the calm voice in the storm, but with a clear edge of irritation “Next time, keep the personal affections off the mission calls. You're lucky this wasn’t an urgent situation. We almost got compromised.”
You can feel the heat rising in your cheeks. You glance at Sabo, who looks like he’s about to combust.
You, exasperated “Sabo, f***, you made me get scolded! This is so embarrassing!”
Sabo, still trying to apologize “I—I didn’t mean it like that! It was just a slip—”
But the damage is already done.
Dragon, his voice slightly dry “We’ll talk about this later. Focus on the mission. And next time—be more professional.”
As the call ends, the atmosphere is tense. You and Sabo are left standing there, feeling like two complete idiots.
Later that day, the break room is chaos. Hack is smugly holding up his winnings from the betting pool. Koala is still laughing, and Ivankov is offering “support” by teasing Sabo non-stop.
You, on the other hand, are doing your best to avoid eye contact with everyone as Sabo sulks in the corner.
You, barely holding it together “I hate you right now. I really do.”
Sabo “I swear, I didn’t mean to. I’m so sorry.”
“You didn’t mean to, but you’re still an idiot.”
Sabo rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly “…I deserve that.”
── .✦ Kid:
You don’t really think much of it the first time.
A small, clumsily wrapped package left outside your room on the Victoria Punk. The paper’s crinkled like it was balled up five times before someone gave up and tied it with rough twine.
Inside a shiny little trinket you’d mentioned wanting in passing weeks ago.
You raise a brow but say nothing. Maybe someone’s just being nice.
Then it happens again. And again.
Each gift is messy but thoughtful, like someone’s trying to be sweet. A handmade weapon accessory here. Your favorite snacks there. One day, a scrawled note reads, “Don’t let anyone else have this. It’s for you only” not signed.
The crew notices. Of course they do.
Heat starts humming “Someone’s got a secret admirer~.”
Wire goes like “Who even knew you liked that kind of thing?”
Killer, raising a brow behind his mask “...It’s weirdly specific, though. Whoever it is knows you pretty well.”
You try to play it off, but the teasing doesn’t stop. It only gets louder. More obnoxious.
Kid, arms crossed, leaning against the railing “Tch. Who cares? Buncha idiots drooling over gifts like teenagers.”
That night, when the ship’s quiet and everyone’s turned in, you knock on his door. He opens it in a loose tank top and sleep-rumpled hair, eyes narrowing.
“What.”
You cross your arms “Are the gifts from you?”
He blinks “What?”
“The stuff. The notes. The snacks. You’re the only one who listens that closely.”
A flicker of something passes through his expression, too fast to catch. But then his scowl deepens.
“You think I’ve got time to play secret admirer with you? Hell no.”
You stare at him, caught off guard.
“…You’re serious?”
He scoffs and turns away “Go to sleep. You’re imagining things.”
He slams the door behind him. You’re left in the hall, heart twisting a little. Because he sounded so convincing.
But if it’s not him… Then who the hell is it?
After that night with Kid, you really do try to let it go. But the crew doesn’t.
You can't walk into the mess hall without someone raising an eyebrow or tossing a comment.
Wire leans back in his chair one morning, boots on the table, biting into an apple with a grin “Hey, Y/N, no new packages today? What a tragedy. Guess your mystery lover finally ran out of ideas.”
Heat chuckles, elbowing him “Or maybe they’re just planning something bigger. Like a grand confession. What do you think, huh? Gonna be roses next time?”
You, dryly “Right. I’ll expect fireworks off the port side.”
Killer, voice calm but laced with amusement from beneath the mask “Honestly, I’m more impressed by the consistency. Whoever it is, they’re either very devoted… or very stupid.”
Kid, across the room, is pretending not to hear, arms crossed, eyes on something that doesn't exist. His jaw’s clenched so tight, you can see it from here.
You catch his eye for a second but he looks away fastly.
The next morning, nothing shows up. Then the next. And the next.
You don’t say anything about it. Neither does Kid. But something’s different in the air now, like tension caught in a bottle, just waiting to explode.
One night, you’re lying tangled up together, the hum of the ship quiet around you. He’s half asleep, heavy arm slung across your waist, his hand lazily tracing circles on your skin.
Your head is on his chest, warm and steady.
“…I haven’t gotten any new gifts lately” you mumble, mostly to yourself.
He stiffens just slightly, but doesn’t say a word.
You chew on your lip “Think they found out about us? Maybe they backed off.”
Still nothing.
You lift your head and look at him “You ever think about who it might’ve been? Kinda funny, right? Maybe someone on the crew really had a thing for me.”
Still no response.
You grin a little “What if it was Killer? You think he’s the poetic type? Am I his type?”
Before you can say another word—whump.
A pillow slams into your face, hard enough to make you roll.
“HEY!” you shout, laughing “You absolute brat!”
Kid doesn’t even look guilty.
“You’re annoying” he mutters, but there’s a faint blush rising to his ears. He turns his head, scowling at the ceiling like it insulted him personally.
You smirk, poking him in the side “Ohh, someone’s touchy…”
“I’m throwing you off the bed.”
“You’re not strong enough.”
“Wanna bet?”
Weeks pass.
Everyone moves on. The secret admirer jokes fade. Kid goes back to normal, grumpy, snarky, yours. You figure that weird little mystery chapter is just done.
Until one day, you find a new gift.
Not one of its usual ones, no haphazard twine, no angry handwriting. This one’s clean, careful. Wrapped in deep red paper with a ribbon tied perfectly.
Inside: a carved charm. Elegant. Personal.
The note says “Couldn’t help myself. Thought you’d like this.”
Your heart actually skips a beat.
You march straight to the engine bay, holding it up like evidence. Kid’s elbow-deep in mechanical guts, oil smeared on his hands.
“Hey,” you call “Now... is this from you?”
He glances up, sees the box, and freezes “What the fuck is that?”
“A gift. Someone left it for me. Just now.”
The silence is nuclear.
Then his voice explodes “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!”
He storms past you like a cannonball with legs, throwing open the engine bay doors and stomping onto the deck.
“ALRIGHT,” he bellows, voice booming across the ship, “WHOEVER THE HELL THINKS THEY CAN FLIRT WITH MY PARTNER—UGH COME SAY IT TO MY FACE!”
Everyone stops what they’re doing.
A wrench drops. Someone chokes on their food. Killer just sighs.
“YOU HEARD ME!” Kid’s pacing like a madman, hair wild, coat half falling off one shoulder “YOU THINK YOU CAN STEAL MY ONE WITH PRETTY RIBBONS?! Y/N IS MINE. MINE!”
You bury your face in your hands and whisper "Please stop, this is really embarassing."
Killer, calmly from the upper deck “Well. That answers that. We all knew the original gifts were from you, Eustass.”
Heat, grinning “Yeah, but I thought he’d last a little longer before breaking.”
Wire, yelling from the mess hall window “PAY UP! I SAID HE’D CRACK WHEN A REAL RIVAL SHOWED UP!”
You’re still standing in the middle of the storm, holding the new gift while your hot-headed boyfriend is screaming at the ocean.
You, deadpan “Great. Now the whole Grand Line knows.”
Kid, turning to you like you betrayed him “WHY WERE YOU SMILING AT IT?!
“Because I thought it was from you again!”
“WELL, IT WASN’T. AND NOW I’M GONNA MURDER WHOEVER THAT WAS.”
The deck is still vibrating from Kid’s volume. He’s stomping around like a territorial lion, red in the face and shouting murder oaths into the wind.
“COME ON! WHO WAS IT?! WHO THINKS THEY’VE GOT A CHANCE?! I’LL BREAK YOUR TEETH IN.”
You’re standing there, clutching the new gift, wondering if you’ll have to tackle him to keep the crew alive.
But then Killer steps forward, calm as ever “Kid.”
Nothing.
Killer raises his voice slightly “Kid!”
That gets through. Kid slows, turns, still wild-eyed “What?! You want me to let someone just—?!”
Killer sighs like he’s been dealing with this since the womb “That gift wasn’t from a rival. It was from us all.”
The entire crew falls silent.
You blink “Wait—what?”
Killer glances at you, then back to Kid, arms crossed “We knew the first gifts were from you. We’ve known for a while.”
Kid opens his mouth. Closes it. Opens it again “You—WHAT?!”
Heat, leaning against the rail with a huge grin “C’mon. You thought we wouldn’t recognize your handwriting? You write like you’re trying to fight the paper.”
Wire, popping his head out from the doorway “And who else would wrap a gift in metal wire and call it ‘aesthetic’?"
Killer adds “We figured if we pushed you enough, you’d confess eventually. That final gift was just the nudge.”
Kid stares at them like they’ve grown two heads “So it was a trap?!”
Killer, with a shrug “It worked.”
Then Killer turns to you “What we didn’t know was that you two were already together.”
There’s a ripple of surprise through the crew.
Wire nods “Yeah! Let's go back to that because... like... what?”
Heat nods even more dramatically “Yeah! Since when?!”
You, dryly “A few months before the first gift showed up.”
Kid’s jaw tightens like he regrets every decision leading to this moment.
“You guys are the worst” he growls.
Heat, wheezing “We’re the worst?! You’ve been sneaking around and flirting through weapon mods!”
Wire, laughing “AND YOU STILL DENIED IT TO Y/N’S FACE?!”
Kid lets out a sound somewhere between a growl and a scream and turns to you like you’re his last hope of escaping humiliation.
You just grin at him “C’mon, Captain. Let’s go before you combust.”
He’s still grumbling when you tug his arm and drag him below deck, muttering curses under his breath the whole way.
── .✦ Shanks:
The sea is quiet tonight.
The crew laughs near the campfire, their voices loud under the stars. You sit a little away from them, pretending to look at the moon. But really, you’re waiting. Waiting for him.
A warm hand touches your shoulder from behind.
“Miss me?” Shanks whispers, his voice soft like a wave brushing the shore.
You smile without turning “You’re late.”
“I had to talk to Benn. Captain stuff,” he says. Then he leans in close “But I’ve been thinking of you the whole time.”
You giggle, quiet “Liar.”
“I’m a pirate. What did you expect?”
Finally, you turn to him. Shanks is smiling that lazy smile you know too well. His red hair glows under the moonlight. His eyes? All on you.
“Don't look at me like that, someone might see it” you whisper, looking at the crew.
“They won’t,” he says “They’re drunk, loud, and too busy telling stories.”
You glance again. He’s right. No one is looking.
So you let him pull you behind the palm trees. The sand is warm under your feet, and the wind carries the scent of salt and firewood. He sits down and opens his arms.
“Come here.”
You crawl into his lap like it’s the most natural thing in the world. He wraps his one arm around your waist, holding you close.
“I missed you today” you say.
“I missed you too” he says. Then he kisses the top of your head “You know what keeps me going?”
“What?”
“This. Just this.”
You press your face into his chest “You’re soft for a pirate.”
He laughs, his chest shaking “Only with you.”
The night is quiet now. Just the waves and the sound of his heartbeat.
He whispers, “One day, when this secret doesn’t have to be a secret anymore… I’ll hold your hand in front of everyone. I’ll kiss you right on the deck.”
You look up at him “Promise?”
“I swear on the one piece.”
You laugh again, and he kisses your nose “That’s a big promise” you say.
“I never break my promises” he says.
And in that moment, under the stars and hidden from the world, you believe him.
It’s late now. The fire has burned low. The crew is asleep, scattered in hammocks or on the beach.
But you’re wide awake.
You stare at the door of his cabin. You know it’s risky. But your heart pulls you there anyway.
You knock once, soft.
The door opens almost instantly. He’s there, sleepy eyes and messy hair. Shirt half buttoned.
“Couldn’t sleep?” he asks with a small smile.
You shake your head “Can I… stay?”
He doesn’t answer with words. Just steps aside, lets you in, and closes the door behind you.
His room smells like sea salt, old paper, and something that’s just him. It’s small but warm. The bed takes up most of the space.
“You sure you want to risk it?” he teases, pulling the blankets back.
You nod, already crawling in “You’re warm. That’s worth the risk.”
He chuckles, switching off the lantern “Come here then.”
The bed creaks as he joins you. You curl into his chest. His arm wraps around you tightly, like he’s afraid you’ll vanish.
You whisper into the dark, “I love when it’s just us.”
“I know,” he says, resting his chin on your head “Me too.”
Silence for a moment. Just your breaths, your hearts. Together.
Then he says, quietly, “I always sleep better when you’re here.”
You grin, even though he can’t see it.
“You snore” you whisper.
“Lies.”
“Loudly.”
He laughs, low and soft “I’m a captain. I’m allowed.”
You snuggle closer, legs tangled, warmth everywhere. His hand finds yours under the blanket. Fingers laced, easy and natural.
“Stay every night,” he says, voice almost a mumble now “Even if they find out. Even if it’s chaos. I don’t care anymore.”
“You’ll care when Benn gives you that look” you say.
“I’ll survive it,” he says “I won’t survive not having you.”
You go quiet at that. Because sometimes, he says things that hit your heart like a wave.
“I won’t survive not having you either” you whisper.
He kisses your forehead. Gentle. Safe. Real.
In the morning, the sunlight slips through the cracks in the window, painting golden stripes across the bed.
You stretch, warm and safe, still tucked under Shanks’ arm. He’s already awake, watching you with sleepy eyes and a soft smile.
“Morning” he whispers, brushing hair from your face.
“Morning” you mumble back, voice still scratchy from sleep.
He leans down and kisses your cheek “You drooled a little.”
“Liar.”
“You did.”
You groan, roll over, and bury your face in his pillow “I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.”
You don’t.
But you’re very late.
You were supposed to help Lucky Roux in the kitchen twenty minutes ago. But after all the cuddling and stealing kisses between brushing your teeth and Shanks being distracting (on purpose), you throw on the nearest shirt and rush out the door.
The morning air hits your face. The crew is already up, busy with chores, chatting, moving crates, laughing.
You walk fast, head down, trying not to look guilty. But then someone says behind you, “Hey…”
You freeze.
It’s Yasopp.
He squints, then tilts his head “That shirt looks kinda familiar…”
You look down. Big, red, half-buttoned pirate shirt. Smells faintly like rum and sea and... you.
It’s his shirt.
You force a smile “Oh, really? I, um… I just bought this yesterday in town! Crazy, right?”
Yasopp blinks “It’s just... Shanks has one just like that.”
You laugh. Too loud “That’s so funny! What a coincidence!”
He raises an eyebrow “Uh-huh.”
You start walking again “Okay, bye! Gotta go stir the stew!”
You practically run to the kitchen, slam the door behind you, and press your back to it, heart racing.
Lucky Roux looks up from chopping onions “You okay?”
“Fine! Everything’s fine! Great! Love onions!”
You spend the next hour hiding in the kitchen, trying to look very busy.
You’re scrubbing a spoon like it just insulted your whole family when you hear footsteps outside.
Then, his voice.
“Mmh…”
It’s Shanks.
You freeze.
“I swear I left it here somewhere…” he mumbles, mostly to himself.
Lucky Roux looks up “Captain?”
Shanks scratches his head “My red shirt. The one with the loose buttons? I wanted to wash it but… maybe I already did? Or someone moved it?”
You choke on air.
Lucky Roux’s eyes widen.
You slowly turn, still holding the spoon, sweat forming on your back.
Yasopp walks in right then, and Lucky Roux points at you silently.
Yasopp follows the finger… sees the very red shirt you’re wearing… and his jaw drops.
“Oh… my… GOD.”
You raise your hands like you’re being arrested “I can explain—”
“No no no no, don’t you dare,” Yasopp says, pointing now “This is amazing. Since when?!”
Shanks, confused, looks between you and them “Wait… what’s happening?”
Your face burns “Shanks. This is your shirt.”
He blinks.
Looks at you.
Then at the shirt.
Then back.
“Oh.”
The silence lasts about two seconds.
Then the entire kitchen explodes.
“What the hell?!”
“You two?!”
“I KNEW IT!”
Lucky Roux claps like he just saw a proposal “This is the best day of my life.”
You groan and hide behind a cabinet door.
Shanks laughs, holding up his hands “Okay, okay, okay, you got us.”
Yasopp shouts, “Since when?”
Shanks grins and leans casually against the table “Mmh… A while. Since that one stop in Lougetown.”
“That was months ago!” someone yells.
You peek out, blushing “We were being careful!”
“You wore his shirt” Yasopp deadpans.
Shanks throws an arm around your shoulder “Guess we don’t have to be careful anymore.”
The crew starts chanting something dumb like “KISS KISS KISS!” and you groan again, but Shanks just laughs and plants a quick kiss on your temple, bold and smug.
“Oh you're actually loving all this” you whisper.
“A lot” he whispers back.
── .✦ Bartolomeo:
You didn’t mean to fall for Bartolomeo.
It kind of… just happened.
Between the screaming, the fangirling, the way he glared at anyone who looked at you too long. But somewhere between the nonsense, you found something real.
He loves big. Loud. Unfiltered. But when no one’s watching? He loves so quietly, you can barely believe it’s the same guy.
Right now, you're hiding in the hallway of the ship, tucked behind a stack of crates. Bartolomeo is sitting cross-legged, handing you a rice ball.
“I made it for you!” he says, puffing out his chest “I watched a tutorial. It’s heart-shaped!”
You look down. It’s… more like a lumpy circle, but you smile anyway.
“It’s perfect” you say.
His face turns red “Y/n…” He sways a little, hand over his heart “You’re too kind… I’m gonna DIE!”
You laugh and take a bite.
“Don’t die. You still owe me cuddles tonight.”
“RIGHT. YES. I shall live for the cuddles.”
The secret has stayed safe. So far.
Except today, you dock on an island with a bunch of rowdy pirates who definitely pick a fight before lunch.
You’re in the middle of battle, blocking with a staff, when one pirate gets too close and knocks you to the ground.
You’re fine. A little scratched. But Bartolomeo sees it happen. And then it happens.
He turns.
He screams.
“THAT’S MY BABYYYYYYYYY—!”
Everyone stops.
Even the wind pauses.
You slowly get up. Face blank.
He freezes.
His hand is mid-air, about to use his barrier powers. His eyes wide.
“…Did I just say that out loud?” he whispers.
The entire crew is staring.
Someone goes, “Wait. Your baby???”
You try to speak “Uh—he means—”
“I MEAN WHAT I SAID,” Bartolomeo yells again, fully panicking now “Y/N IS MY BABY. MY LOVE. MY SWEET CHERRY BLOSSOM—”
“BARTO,” you hiss “Stop confessing in front of everyone!”
Too late.
He throws his hands up and suddenly there’s a giant heart-shaped barrier around you two. Sparkly. Pink. Absolutely not subtle.
He turns to you “At least we’re alone now.”
You facepalm “There’s a window, Barto.”
You hear cheering from outside.
“THEY’RE DATINGGGGG!”
“PAY UP, I TOLD YOU THEY WERE!”
“DOES LUFFY KNOW?!”
You sigh.
Bartolomeo wraps you in his arms, completely unbothered now “So… secret’s out.”
You look up at him “What gave it away? The screaming or the love bubble prison?”
“…Both?”
You can’t help it. You laugh. He kisses your forehead.
“I love you” he says.
“I love you too” you whisper, even if the entire world hears it now.
After that no one seems to actually care about the two of you.
Weeks later you and Bartolomeo are docked on a chill island when you run into the last people you expected: the Straw Hat Pirates.
Luffy spots you both instantly.
“YO, BARTO!!” he shouts, waving like a madman.
Bartolomeo screams, throws himself to the ground, and starts sobbing with joy.
“LUFFY-SENPAI! I WOULD DIE FOR YOU! THANK YOU FOR BREATHING IN MY DIRECTION!!”
You’re behind him like “Okay, this is fine.”
You greet the rest of the crew like normal. Everyone’s smiling, happy to see you, no one suspects a thing.
You and Bartolomeo agreed before getting there: keep it private. You didn’t want anyone or worse, Luffy finding out. Bartolomeo is just way better when it's just the two of you.
Pairings: Law x fem!Reader, Sabo x fem!Reader, Zoro x fem!Reader, Ace x fem!Reader
Word Count: ~1,000 - 2,000 words each
tags: fluff
my masterlist here ♡
——
Law
You caught Law alone in his cabin after a long day at sea. The sun was dipping low outside, casting a warm orange glow through the small window, stretching shadows across the sparse, functional room. Maps, medical supplies, and a few personal items cluttered the desk where Law was bent over his work.
“Mind if I crash here for a bit?” you asked, voice teasing as you leaned against the doorframe.
Law looked up slowly, his dark eyes sharp, narrowed in mock suspicion. “You mean, just to bother me?”
You smirked and stepped inside, closing the door behind you. “Maybe.”
His usual calm stayed unshaken, but you caught the faintest lift at the corner of his mouth, like a secret smile.
“Alright,” he said quietly. “But only for a moment.”
The cabin smelled faintly of antiseptic and sea salt, and you moved closer, feeling the coolness of the room contrast with the heat of your fingers as you brushed your hand lightly over his wrist.
Your lips brushed softly over his jawline, then you quickly pressed a kiss mark just below his ear—red and bold against his pale skin.
Law froze for a heartbeat, eyes flicking down to the spot, but then he simply tilted his head so you could see better.
“Well, well.”
You bit your lip, trying not to laugh softly. “What?”
His expression stayed unreadable, cool as ever. He didn’t say more, eyes flickering between you and the maps scattered before him.
Without breaking focus, he spoke, “You’re unpredictable.”
You grinned. “And you like that.”
Law’s eyes darkened, but he didn’t react to the mark on his neck—not outwardly.
You stepped back, heart pounding just a little, pleased that your secret was still safe.
——
The night air was cool, the stars blinking faintly overhead as the crew slowly filtered onto the deck. The work was done for the day, and a casual, easy quiet settled over the Polar Tang.
You leaned against the railing, glancing toward Law who stood near the helm, staring out over the dark sea. The faint red stain on his neck was hidden beneath his high collar, but not to everyone.
Bepo was the first to notice.
“Heh,” he said low, nudging Shachi with his paw. “You see that on Captain?”
Shachi followed his gaze, then grinned. “The lipstick? Yeah. She’s got guts, putting that there.”
Bepo laughed softly. “Captain’s so serious, he probably thinks it’s just a scratch.”
Shachi shook his head. “I bet you five berries he doesn’t even know.”
Bepo’s eyes sparkled. “That’s hilarious. Can you imagine? The Surgeon of Death, with a bright kiss mark?”
Just then, Penguin ambled over, curious about their whispering.
“What’s so funny?” he asked, tilting his head.
Shachi lowered his voice even more. “You know Captain, right? Well… someone left a little gift on him.”
Penguin blinked, eyes wide. “Really? But Captain’s so focused. He wouldn’t notice.”
Bepo grinned. “Exactly. It’s our little secret.”
Penguin chuckled quietly, and Jean Bart, leaning nearby with a cigarette, flicked ash and smirked.
“That’s bold. But no one messes with Captain like that unless they’re special.”
Bepo grinned wider. “We keep quiet though. No need to ruin the surprise.”
They all exchanged knowing looks, careful to keep their voices low so the Captain wouldn’t hear—except, of course, Law did.
You spotted the slight narrowing of his eyes, the subtle tightening of his jaw as he remained still near the helm, pretending to watch the dark sea.
Bepo whispered again, “Better keep it down, Captain’s listening.”
But Law’s voice cut through, calm and even. “If you’re all talking about me, I suggest you be more discreet.”
The crew froze for a heartbeat, then quickly scattered, chuckling quietly as they moved away.
You stepped forward, heart pounding slightly as you approached Law.
“Got caught,” you murmured, brushing your fingers lightly over the collar hiding your kiss.
Law’s eyes met yours, sharp but unreadable. “Did you think you’d get away with it?”
You smiled, trying to keep your cool. “Maybe I hoped. It’s not exactly subtle.”
He reached out, gently tugging the collar down just enough to reveal the faint red mark.
“Bold,” he said, voice low.
Your breath hitched. “You don’t mind?”
Law tilted his head, smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “I might even say I like it.”
You blinked, caught off-guard by the honesty buried in the calm edge of his voice. “Really?” you asked, tone teasing but quiet, testing him.
He didn’t look away. “I just don’t appreciate being the last to know I’ve been branded like property in front of my own crew.”
Your brows rose, lips twitching into a slow grin. “Property, huh? That’s a strong word for someone who lets me crawl into his bed every time I’m cold.”
Law didn’t flinch, though his fingers twitched slightly where they still held the edge of his collar. “That’s different. That’s quiet. This—” He glanced down toward the faint stain near his neck again, “—this is loud.”
“Mm.” You leaned in slightly, so close your lips nearly brushed his ear. “Then maybe I should go louder next time. Somewhere they can’t miss.”
His breath caught just enough for you to notice.
He turned his face just slightly toward yours, voice low and clipped. “You’re trouble.”
“And you like it.”
Law’s eyes searched yours for a long, still moment. Then he murmured, “Too much.”
There was something almost dangerous in how softly he said it. Not a warning. A confession.
The silence between you tightened, slow and heavy like a pull between magnets. You could hear Shachi and Penguin laughing faintly from below deck, Jean Bart’s footsteps fading toward the galley. But up here, it felt like the rest of the crew had disappeared.
You brushed your knuckles against his coat lapel, playful but deliberate.
“I can stop if it bothers you,” you offered gently—meant it, even if your tone still carried that bite.
He studied you for a second longer, unreadable. Then he reached forward and slipped two fingers under your chin, tilting your face up—not roughly, just enough.
“Do it again,” he said simply.
You blinked. “What?”
He stepped in, barely an inch of space between your bodies now. “Next time you decide to mark me—do it where I can feel it happen.”
Your stomach dropped and soared all at once.
“Oh?” you breathed, eyes gleaming. “Captain giving orders now?”
Law’s smirk was razor-sharp. “Just making sure I’m aware of the battlefield.”
You laughed under your breath, hand sliding to rest lightly on his chest. “And here I thought you’d be the one hiding in the dark, pretending not to care.”
He leaned in—close enough that your noses nearly touched.
“I always notice, y/n. Don’t forget who you’re dealing with.”
Your heart kicked hard behind your ribs.
But instead of kissing you, he stepped back. Just slightly. Just enough to drive you crazy.
Then: “Now get below deck,” he said smoothly, the Captain voice back in place. “Before you tempt me into something more reckless.”
You grinned and turned, making your way toward the hatch.
But just before you disappeared below, you looked over your shoulder and shot him a wink.
“Next time,” you promised, “I’ll use redder lipstick.”
Law exhaled a slow breath as you vanished from view, head tilting back toward the sky.
He didn’t say anything.
But he didn’t pull his collar up again, either.
——
Sabo
The meeting room inside Baltigo’s command hall was quiet, the long table lit by afternoon sun filtering through cracked windows. Maps were spread out across the surface, alongside hastily scrawled notes about incoming cipher intel and revolutionary cells in East Blue. Dragon sat at the head of the table, silent and composed, while Sabo leaned over the documents with his usual sharp focus.
You were seated to his right, scribbling logistics into a worn notebook, trying very hard not to grin.
Because you knew something Sabo didn’t.
You’d kissed him earlier. Just once. Light, teasing. A playful brush of lips as he adjusted that damn cravat of his. You’d leaned in and left a perfectly placed red lipstick mark right under the tied fold, tucked slightly into the side of the pristine white fabric.
He hadn’t noticed. Too busy grumbling about supply routes.
Now here you were, all gathered for a high-level meeting—and Sabo had a bright crimson signature under his collar.
Belo Betty sat across from you, eyeing the spot.
Koala leaned forward, whispering in her ear, trying and failing to suppress her smirk.
Hack was stone-faced… but you noticed the twitch of his fin as he sipped his tea.
Lindbergh was humming faintly, fiddling with his toolkit, eyes darting toward Sabo every few seconds.
You kept your head down, pen moving smoothly, until—
Dragon’s voice cut through the room like a blade.
“Sabo.”
Sabo glanced up from the map. “Yeah?”
Dragon didn’t even blink. “You have something red on your neck.”
Silence.
Sabo froze. “…What?”
Dragon gestured mildly, eyes back on the war map. “On the left side. Under your scarf. Lipstick, I think.”
Sabo’s hand flew up to his neck like he’d been stabbed.
He touched the edge of the scarf. Paused. Fumbled.
Everyone was watching.
Koala choked on her breath.
Betty outright cackled.
Lindbergh slapped the table.
You buried your face in your notebook, trying to look innocent—and failing miserably.
“I—” Sabo stammered, yanking the scarf free with slightly shaking hands. His eyes found the red smudge instantly.
“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” he muttered, bright scarlet blooming across his face.
Betty leaned over, voice sweet like poison. “Aw, who left you a souvenir, Chief of Staff?”
Koala was grinning ear to ear. “You said you were reviewing reports this morning.”
“I was!” Sabo snapped, his ears going pink. “I was—”
“Uh-huh,” Lindbergh snorted. “And was that part of the report? A personal… stamp of approval?”
You reached out and tapped your pen on the table, biting your lip. “Well… I did approve him.”
Sabo whipped toward you, scandalized. “You—!”
You blinked, all innocent eyes. “What? I figured you’d notice and wipe it off.”
Dragon cleared his throat. Everyone went quiet.
Then he looked at you with the faintest quirk of a brow. “Efficient marking technique.”
Another wave of laughter echoed through the room.
Sabo groaned and dropped his face into his hands. “I cannot believe this…”
Koala giggled, nudging you with her elbow. “Honestly, we should’ve guessed. You’ve had that lipstick all day.”
You shrugged with a smirk. “He looked too good not to. You know how he gets when he ties that scarf.”
“Do not encourage her,” Sabo muttered behind his palms.
Dragon turned back to the map like nothing happened. “Alright. If we’re done discussing Sabo’s love life—”
“We are not,” Betty cut in gleefully.
“—we can return to the South Blue supply chain.”
Sabo gave you a betrayed look as you leaned toward him, whispering with a grin. “You’re cute when you’re flustered.”
He gave a long-suffering sigh, cheeks still red, and muttered, “You’re dangerous.”
You bumped your knee against his under the table. “That’s why you like me.”
——
The meeting finally adjourned with scattered murmurs and the shuffling of papers. Dragon was already gone, Hack and Lindbergh trailing after him. Koala gave you one last wink before slipping out, and Betty was still laughing to herself as she lit a cigarette in the hallway.
You stayed seated. So did Sabo.
He hadn’t looked at you after that small talk, still pretending to organize his notes even though his ears were visibly red. The scarf lay useless in his lap now, the crimson smear glaring up at him like a crime scene.
You cleared your throat. “You gonna wear that again tomorrow?”
His pen paused mid-line. “Not if you’re going to vandalize it.”
You tilted your head with mock innocence. “Is that what it’s called now?”
He exhaled sharply, finally turning toward you—blue eyes narrowed, cheeks stubbornly flushed. “You think you’re so clever.”
“I don’t think it,” you said, sliding your notebook shut and leaning in, voice low and teasing. “I know it.”
He watched you, still not smiling. But his foot nudged yours lightly under the table. “That was a meeting with Dragon.”
“Yup.”
“And I walked in there like a target with lipstick on my neck.”
“Mmhmm.” You grinned. “You should’ve checked.”
Sabo rolled his eyes, but his voice had softened. “You’re going to be the death of me.”
“Oh please,” you said, inching closer. “You didn’t even flinch during the briefing on Cipher Pol infiltration. One kiss and suddenly you forget how to speak?”
“You call that one kiss?” he muttered. “That was strategic sabotage.”
You laughed, brushing a lock of hair behind your ear. “You love it.”
He didn’t deny it. Just stared at you for a moment, then quietly set his papers aside.
“Come with me.”
Your brows rose. “Where?”
“Somewhere without Betty’s commentary,” he said under his breath, already standing and rolling his scarf into his coat pocket. “I need five uninterrupted minutes with you.”
You raised a brow. “To yell at me?”
“To retaliate,” he said simply, and offered you his hand.
You didn’t hesitate.
As you followed him down the empty hallway, your fingers laced with his, the mark might’ve faded—but the heat he carried from it definitely hadn’t.
——
Zoro
“Someone’s gonna come looking for you.”
Zoro didn’t move. Just leaned back against the wooden crate behind him, arms crossed, eyes half-lidded, watching you like you were the only thing in the world worth tracking.
“They won’t look here.”
Your back pressed to the other crate across from him, just a few feet apart, breath still quick from the last kiss. Straw Hat’s supply storage — tucked behind the galley — was quiet. Safe. Stolen.
“I told you to stop sneaking off mid-training,” you said, not even trying to sound annoyed anymore.
“I told you to stop wearing that lipstick.”
You licked your teeth. “Why?”
He pushed off the crate and closed the distance.
“You know why.”
You tilted your head as he boxed you in. “You gonna complain?”
He didn’t answer — just kissed you again. Rough, hot, a little clumsy in that way he always was when he lost control first.
His hand curled under your jaw. Your palm slipped beneath his open collar. Lips clashed once, twice, then he paused—
You kissed the side of his throat.
Firm. Slow. On purpose.
He froze. “The hell was that?”
You smirked against his skin. “You’ll find out.”
“You’re being annoying.”
“You like it.”
Zoro grunted. “Tch. You’re lucky you’re cute.”
Then came the sound of heavy footsteps up above — someone stomping across the upper deck.
Zoro tensed.
You stepped back, patting his chest. “Go.”
“You’re the one who—”
“Go before someone asks where your shirt went.”
He muttered something rude under his breath, grabbed his gear from the crate, and disappeared out the side passage.
You waited a beat, adjusted your jacket, checked your lipstick.
Still perfect — aside from the very deliberate red smear now painted just below Zoro’s jaw.
You grinned to yourself.
And walked back up to the galley like nothing happened.
——
“Zoro.”
Sanji’s voice snapped across the deck like a whip.
Zoro didn’t look up. “What.”
“Zoro,” Sanji hissed again, marching over, pointing like he’d found a crime scene. “The hell is that on your neck?”
Zoro blinked. “What’re you talking about.”
Sanji stopped a meter away, planted his hands on his hips, and leaned in.
“That, moss-brain,” he said, stabbing a finger toward the side of Zoro’s neck. “That bright red smear. Looks like a damn kiss.”
Zoro frowned, reaching up. “What the hell—”
“You’re not even gonna deny it?!”
“I didn’t say it was—!”
“Oh my god,” Sanji reeled backward, spinning in a circle. “Who?! Who the hell would be desperate enough to kiss you?!”
“Shut up.”
“I swear, if you laid a finger on Robin-chwan—!”
“I didn’t!”
“Nami-swan?!” Sanji staggered. “I’ll kill you!”
“You’ll try.”
Then Sanji froze, eyes going wide.
“…Y/N?!”
Zoro blinked. “What?”
“You’ve been training with her a lot lately—skipping meals, disappearing after dinner—and now this?! Don’t tell me you corrupted her, you goddamn muscle goblin—!”
Zoro stood up slowly. “You say one more word about her and I’ll slice your tongue off.”
Sanji gawked. “So it was her?!”
“I didn’t say that!”
“You didn’t deny it!!”
Across the deck, Nami shielded her face with her hand, laughing silently. Robin sipped her tea with amusement.
You leaned against the railing nearby, pretending to watch the clouds.
Usopp leaned over toward you, stage-whispering, “So…was it you?”
You blinked innocently. “Why would I kiss Zoro?”
Usopp raised both brows. “You tell me.”
You sipped your drink. “Maybe the same reason someone hasn’t said a damn thing to stop Sanji yet.”
The swordsman still stood there, scowling as Sanji ranted about honor and lipstick and romantic delusions.
Nami leaned casually against the railing, one hand covering her mouth to hide a grin. “Well, well, looks like someone isn’t as sneaky as they think.”
You shot her a playful glare but smiled. “Maybe I like showing off a little.”
Robin sipped her tea, raising an eyebrow with a knowing look.
Sanji, still visibly steamed, muttered, “I can’t believe I’m the last to know.”
Zoro didn’t say much, just gave you a side glance — the slightest hint of a smirk twitching his lips.
“You really gonna keep doing this?” he asked, voice low.
You stepped closer, brushing your fingers lightly over his wrist.
“Only if you promise to keep noticing.”
Zoro’s eyes flickered to the spot on his neck.
“Damn it, you’re impossible.”
Nami laughed softly. “Honestly, it’s cute.”
Sanji groaned dramatically, throwing his hands up.
“Cute? I’m surrounded by fools.”
Zoro ignored him, pulling you just a little closer.
“Let’s keep this between us. No need to make it a crew thing.”
You nodded, resting your forehead briefly against his.
“Just us.”
Sanji muttered, “Good luck keeping that secret…”
Zoro glanced down at the faint lipstick mark on his neck, then quickly looked away like he wasn’t supposed to have noticed. His voice was quieter than usual, almost shy.
“You… left that there.”
You smiled gently, stepping closer.
“Yeah. Didn’t think you’d catch it.”
He cleared his throat, fingers twitching slightly as if unsure what to do next.
“I… I don’t really like showing off.”
You reached out, brushing a stray hair behind his ear.
“I know. That’s why I made it small. For just you.”
Zoro’s jaw clenched, but it wasn’t anger — more like trying to keep his cool.
“Don’t make a habit of it.”
You laughed softly, leaning into his side.
“Only if you want me to.”
His hand found yours quietly, thumb brushing over your knuckles.
“Just… don’t be too obvious next time.”
You looked up, catching the small, almost-hidden smile tugging at his lips.
“Deal.”
And for once, Zoro didn’t say anything else—just pulled you a little closer, and the quiet said everything.
——
Ace
The armory wasn’t where most crewmates snuck off to flirt, but you liked the smell of steel and the thick walls. It was cool inside.
Ace leaned against a stack of crates, sweat glistening at the base of his throat, shirt half undone and clinging to his back. The heat from his body didn’t help the temperature, but you didn’t complain.
“You’re late,” you said, arms crossed as you leaned back against the door.
Ace grinned, slow and sharp. “You said ‘when you’re done with rounds.’ I did my rounds.”
You pushed off the wall and walked toward him, letting your fingers trail over a rack of throwing knives. “Did you? Or did you let Blenheim take your shift again?”
“Does it matter?” he asked, voice dipping.
You stepped into his space, crowding him back against the crates. “Only if you’re trying to get out of putting your hands to use.”
“Oh, I’ll use my hands,” he said, catching your waist with one and tugging you in.
You didn’t resist. You kissed him first — hard, deep, your fingers digging into his belt loops as you bit at his lower lip just enough to draw a low noise from his chest.
Ace responded like he always did: with heat, with hunger, with that slight lack of patience that always gave you the upper hand.
You broke the kiss and let your lips trail down to his jaw. “Stay still,” you whispered.
“What—”
You pressed a slow kiss to the curve of his neck, right under his ear. Intentional. Deliberate.
When you pulled back, he looked dazed — but not suspicious.
“What was that?” he asked, breathless.
“Nothing.”
Ace blinked, confused. “You look smug.”
“I always look smug when I get what I want.”
His eyes narrowed, but he looked too wrecked to question it. “What the hell did you do?”
“Why don’t you go help Haruta with the cargo like you promised,” you said sweetly, pressing a hand to his chest. “You’re already late.”
“You’re kicking me out?”
“I’m letting you walk away before I keep you here another hour.”
Ace licked his lips, clearly debating it. He smirked finally, tapping your hip. “Fine. But you’re not done with me.”
You leaned in and whispered, “I know.”
And just like that, he walked out — shirt open, cheeks flushed, and a very bright lipstick mark stamped on his neck.
He didn’t feel it.
He didn’t look in a mirror.
And you?
You knew the second someone would notice.
Because you heard Izo’s voice echo across the deck less than a minute later:
“Oi… Ace. You forget to wipe off your girlfriend again?”
Ace froze.
You leaned against the armory door, smile creeping back into place.
Checkmate.
The moment hit the deck like a cannonball.
Ace stood dumbfounded, halfway to the rigging, completely unaware. The wind caught the edge of his shirt — still half open, still clinging to his flushed skin — and revealed the bold, unmistakable stamp of your lipstick on the side of his neck.
Bright. Smudged. Deliberate.
From your spot by the armory, you watched it unfold with delicious satisfaction.
“Yo, Ace,” Thatch called from across the deck, barely masking the amusement in his voice. “You get into a fight with a very small, very specific octopus?”
Ace stopped walking. “The hell does that mean?”
“Little red target on your neck, bro,” Thatch said, biting back a grin. “Kinda hard to miss.”
Izo appeared out of nowhere, sipping tea, his eyes sparkling. “That shade of red is very flattering on you. Subtle as a punch to the face.”
Ace reached up instinctively, rubbing the back of his neck. “What? There’s nothing—”
“You’re rubbing the wrong side, hothead,” Marco muttered as he passed by with a bored look and zero intention of helping.
Ace turned in place, trying to look over his shoulder.
“Is this a prank? What is this?”
“Better question,” Vista added with a raised brow. “Who’s bold enough to claim Fire Fist in broad daylight?”
You watched the scene build from the sidelines, arms folded, head tilted slightly. You didn’t say a word. Not even when Ace turned and locked eyes with you.
He knew. Oh, he knew.
“You,” he called out, striding toward you. “What did you do?”
“I didn’t say anything,” you replied, smiling too wide to be innocent.
“That’s exactly what’s suspicious!” His fingers pointed wildly at the crew. “Everyone’s laughing at me, and you’re just standing there looking—smug!”
“Maybe they’re just admiring your fashion choices.”
“Oh my god, you planned this,” he groaned, one hand dragging down his face. “You—You weaponized your mouth.”
You sauntered toward him. “You didn’t seem to mind my mouth ten minutes ago.”
That shut him up. Briefly.
From behind him, Haruta whispered loudly, “He’s been branded.”
“Like cattle,” Thatch added.
Marco raised his cup lazily. “Official property.”
You stood on your toes, brushing your thumb right under his jaw — not wiping it off, just getting close enough to make his breath hitch.
“Next time,” you murmured, “check the mirror before leaving me.”
Ace stared at you, eyes burning like a slow flame. “Oh. You think this is funny?”
You smirked. “I think it’s adorable how long it took you to notice.”
He stepped in, body heat radiating like a furnace. “You know what happens to brats who play games with fire?”
You leaned in, lips brushing his jaw. “They get burned?”
“No,” he growled, fingers curling at your waist. “They get dragged back into the armory and ruined.”
That got a loud wolf-whistle from Thatch.
“Only if you make it past Marco,” you whispered, grinning.
“Try me.”
——
Later that night, the ship was quiet — a lull after laughter and teasing had finally faded into the gentle creak of the Moby Dick’s hull and the ocean beneath.
You were halfway to your quarters when you felt it.
Heat. Behind you.
A hand caught your wrist, pulled you backward into the shadows between two storage rooms. Warm breath skimmed your neck.
“I owe you one.”
You didn’t flinch. You didn’t have to.
“I was wondering when you’d come collect.”
Ace pressed you to the wall, chest brushing yours, one arm braced by your head.
“Wanna tell me why I walked around for half the day marked like your territory?”
You tilted your chin. “Because you are.”
He went still.
Just for a second.
Then he grinned — that cocky, dangerous, beautiful grin that always meant trouble.
“You trying to start something, sweetheart?”
“I think I already did.”
He leaned in, slow and close, until his lips nearly brushed your cheek. “You know everyone saw it, right? Half the crew won’t shut up. Marco asked me if I needed help cleaning up.”
You snorted. “You left me desperate and smug in the armory. That was fair play.”
“Oh, no. That was bait.”
He grabbed your jaw gently, made you look up at him. “You wanted me to find out in public.”
You didn’t deny it. You just held his gaze, lips parted slightly. “You looked good in red.”
“I look better when I return the favor,” he murmured.
And before you could shoot back a smart reply, his mouth was on yours.
Hot. Deep. Claiming.
Not rushed — deliberate. Like he was carving the memory of this moment into your skin. Like he wanted you to remember exactly who you belonged to, the same way you’d left your signature on him.
His knee slid between yours, pressing your thigh up against the wall. His hands found your hips, then your waist, then back to your jaw — like he couldn’t decide where he wanted you most.
You barely managed to whisper against his mouth, “Thought you were mad at me.”
“I am,” he growled. “I’m furious.”
“Liar.”
He kissed you again, hard enough to steal breath.
When he finally pulled back, he was panting lightly, his voice hoarse. “You wanna make this a game? Fine. But don’t think you’re the only one who can leave marks.”
You opened your mouth to tease him—try me on your lips—but his fingers trailed under your jaw, brushing your neck like he was already choosing where he’d leave his signature next time.
He didn’t have to.
You were already melting.
“Next time,” he murmured, “I’ll make sure it’s somewhere you can’t hide.”
You smirked. “Big words, fire boy.”
He chuckled, resting his forehead against yours.
Then his tone softened — quiet in a way that made your chest ache.
“But for what it’s worth…” he whispered, voice barely a breath, “I liked it.”
You blinked.
“The mark,” he clarified, fingers lacing with yours. “Didn’t even care when I saw it. Just thought, hell… someone really loves me, huh?”
That hit you harder than anything else had all day.
Your heart stuttered.
So you leaned up and kissed him again — not to tease this time, not to stir him up. Just to say, yeah. I do.
When you pulled back, you whispered against his skin, “Maybe I’ll leave two next time.”
There are four rules that come with falling for your best friend’s sister, on the contrary here’s four ways you can easily fail them.
𝓬haracters: Sanji, Koby, Law, Sabo.
༯ 2k+ wc each / bit suggestive / fem reader / confessions / first kiss / one shots.
AN: sanji isn’t rlly Zoro’s bsf but lie with me, thank you…!! Took me so long to finish this because all of my finals were this week, but it was nice to take my time with it.
rule number ONE, you can’t fall in love back. ⸝⸝.ᐟ⋆
“Who the hell is Mosshead even supposed to talk to?” Sanji muttered, balancing a tray of food in one hand as he wandered through the crowded streets of the island. Honestly, he was more concerned about whether the swordsman could find his way back to the ship than hold a conversation with anyone.
Luffy perked up from where he was sitting, legs dangling as he happily chewed on meat. “Probably his sister.”
Sanji nearly stumbled over his own shoe. His head snapped toward the captain so fast his neck hurt. “His what?”
“His sister,” Luffy repeated around another bite.
He was still grinning happily until a shadow fell over him. Nami scolded him as she grabbed dragged Luffy by the sleeve toward a nearby row of shops.
The two disappeared into the crowd before Sanji could ask another question. He stood there for a moment, blinking as he set down the plate of food.
Zoro had a sister? How in the hell had nobody mentioned that before?
Not that Sanji could complain too much. Everyone on the crew had things they kept to themselves. Still, that felt like very important information.
The thought lingered in the back of his mind as he and Chopper spent the next few hours gathering supplies. The reindeer focused on medical necessities while Sanji hunted down ingredients for the kitchen.
Everything was casual until he passed a sword shop. The rhythmic sound of steel being sharpened echoed through the open doorway. Sanji would’ve ignored it entirely if a flash of movement inside hadn’t caught his attention.
Then he saw you, a pretty woman behind the counter. There was no way he could ignore it despite Chopper’s protest.
His posture immediately straightened once he stepped in. A practiced smile slipped onto his face as naturally as breathing, one hand finding its way into his pocket. “Looks like this island’s got something worth admiring after all, hello beautiful—”
The line died halfway through. Not because you interrupted him, intentionally at least, all you did was laugh after all. But it was his heart that automatically began to ache in a way it hasn’t before when he listened.
It was a genuine one, directed at an older customer before you turned your attention toward him. The smile lingered on your face as you walked over.
For a second, Sanji completely forgot what he’d been saying.
“Welcome to the shop,” you said with a grin, head tilting slightly. “Looking for anything in particular?”
Before he could answer, you’d already grabbed a blade from the display rack and offered it to him. Sanji blinked when it was in his hand.
“Oh.. Uh.” His eyes drifted to your face again, a heat raising to his face. There was something familiar about you, uncomfortably familiar. He tried not to think about it.
“You okay?” you asked.
“I.. yes. Perfectly okay.” He nodded pathetically, trying to seem genuinely interested in the sharpness of the blade. “Your hands are talented, expected from a beautiful lady.”
You raised an eyebrow, it was obvious you didn’t believe him. “Right.” You murmured, the smile tugging at your lips made his chest do something deeply inconvenient. “But, thank you.”
For once, he wasn’t trying to think of another compliment. He was trying to think of literally anything to say at all.
“There you are!”
Sanji swears he let out an agonizing groan. The familiar shout nearly made him jump out of his skin. Zoro was marching down the street, waving an arm overhead despite being impossible to miss in the first place.
Your entire expression brightened, while his frowned sharply.
“Zoro!?”
“Stupid Marimo.”
You turned to face Sanji, he looked at you with an equal amount of shock. You managed to speak first, “You know my brother?”
Sanji didn’t have time to respond, but it didn’t take long to realize he did the second Zoro caught up, a mixture of friendly familiarity and also hatred. But the attention slowly went back to the new found sibling.
He watched the exchange you guys had in stunned silence. This wasn’t just some beautiful stranger he was genuinely drawn to, it was Zoro’s sister. And he didn’t feel as bad he should’ve about it.
The rest of the conversation became a blur. Sanji couldn’t focus on a single thing being said whenever you spoke. The only sentence that actually registered was the one that mattered. You were coming with them to Water 7.
And judging by the stupid grin he couldn’t get off his face, Sanji knew that was about to become the best voyage of his life.
—
The trip to Water 7 taught you a few things, one of them was that Sanji was confusing.
Zoro already sent you many warnings the second you came on board, a lot of it coming from spite. And like your brother, you began sharing a similar dislike for Sanji.
At first, you assumed he treated you the same way he treated every woman. You’d seen him around Nami and Robin often enough. The occasional collapse onto the deck whenever either woman acknowledged his existence.
It was ridiculous.. a little entertaining, but ridiculous.
So when he immediately volunteered to carry your bags, pulled out your chair at meals, and somehow appeared whenever you needed help with something, you brushed it off as part of the package.
That was just Sanji, it was annoyingly sweet.
You didn’t notice how he treated you differently, how he stayed longer because he wanted to listen, the gestures that weren’t coming from chivalry, but rather his need to be near you. He never made a big deal out of it either.
But it made you want to avoid him, desperately even. Sanji did not particularly care about your brother’s opinion, but you certainly did. And even a small part of you knew the cook could tell your actions were close to disdain.
Either he didn’t care about the fact you didn’t like him, or he couldn’t let you go.
The first time you noticed something was different happened entirely by accident. You’d wandered into the kitchen looking for a snack, Sanji was preparing lunch, sleeves rolled up and cigarette balanced between his lips.
For a moment, you almost considered walking out. It’s not like you assumed he wouldn’t be here, but you didn’t want to too cordial before you left. It would be hard leaving after making an attachment.
And maybe it was also because it was him.
“Need something?” he asked, glancing over with a soft smile.
You leaned against the doorway before deciding to just fully stepping inside. “Looking around.”
“Just be careful.” His hand immediately reached toward a shelf. “Wouldn’t want a lovely lady getting injured.”
You blinked, slowly letting out a humorless laugh. “Of what?”
“The knife rack.” He hummed, a little bit more silent than usual.
You followed his gaze, noticing the blade you’d given him at the shop rested neatly above his workstation. It was displayed within arm’s reach, the metal practically gleamed. It was your work in his kitchen.
Your stomach did a strange little flip, slowly walking closer with a hand on the edge of the counter. This was the longest you’ve been willingly near him already.
“You kept it.” You stated, you hoped you looked as calm as you imaged yourself to be right now.
Sanji looked confused at first, a bit baffled before breaking out into quiet laughter. “Of course I kept it.”
“As decoration?” You murmured, eyes narrowing.
“Absolutely not.” He sounded genuinely offended, sticking the cigarette onto a tray. Crossing the kitchen, he lifted the blade from its place. He was close to you, a finger almost touching yours. “It’s made by you.”
The knife spun effortlessly between his fingers before settling back into his palm. “And it’s reliable. I can’t possibly have something you’ve put hard work into as just a display.”
For a second, you couldn’t speak. Eyes flickering from his fingers to his face, almost reaching out before a noise outside brought you back.
“I’m glad you’re using it.” You said silently, a bit flustered from the declaration. “As well as taking care of it.”
Sanji glanced down at the blade before looking back at you. “You gave it to me.” He murmured, sharing a smile of warmth. “It deserves the same amount of love I have for you.”
The answer came so naturally that neither of you seemed prepared for it. Of course he’s said things similar, but this felt different. So different. For a moment the kitchen felt strangely quiet. Then Sanji cleared his throat and turned back toward the stove, offering to make you something.
For the first time, you accepted the offer.
You spent the rest of the day thinking about it, or rather him. You never expected to start growing a fondness for the cook.. which was an understatement with how much you’ve been staring at his hands.
He treasured a knife you’d handed him after knowing you for less than ten minutes, and it made you a sucker. It wasn’t a fast change, but definitely one that made him oddly breathtaking.
The look on his face whenever you smiled suggested he might’ve fallen first, and you fell second in that race.
Your own brother didn’t notice how quickly your opinion changed on Sanji until it was just you two on the boat. You guys made a clean stop at the island you desired, but stayed behind with Zoro as he kept watch.
Subtly hinting you weren’t as eager as you were before to leave.
Your fingers tapped against the wood next to his sleeping position. “The cook is cute.” You said suddenly, pushing yourself back with a knowing look. “I might’ve just fallen for him.”
Brown eyes stared back at you in pure disgust, a little bit of shock as well. “Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
He made a baffled noise, falling deeper into his sleeping position. “Just tell me if he does anything.” He grunted reluctantly, knowing nothing he could say would convince you.
rule number TWO, don’t get caught by the brother. ⸝⸝.ᐟ⋆
Koby wants to say he was drawn to you a lot quicker than he would like to admit. You were already grabbing his hand, biggest glint in your eyes just from the things you’ve heard about him. At the time, you’d just been a person he’d heard about through stories or complaints.
There was a pause before you let go of his hand after a casual shake. It only lasted a second, maybe less. But it was enough for him to realize you were still holding his hand. The thought hit him so suddenly that he nearly let go on instinct, but instead he slowly pulled back with fingers tracing yours.
“It’s.. it’s nice to meet you too.” He murmured, straightened himself immediately.
Suddenly you pointed at him so quickly you nearly lost your balance, the sudden enthusiasm caught him off guard. “Sorry, I just can’t believe I’m seeing you.” You said a bit sheepishly, “You’re much cuter in person.”
But before he could respond you were already getting hugged by your teary eyed brother, also known as his closest friend, Helmeppo.
Koby mentally buried his face in his hands, there’s rules about liking his bestfriends younger sister, right? There should be, because he feels extremely guilty about it right now.
And judging by the suspicious look Helmeppo was now giving him, Koby knew he was turning red. Fast. Very, very fast.
The following weeks were easier, at least in his definition. His responsibilities as a marine hadn't changed. His days were packed from sunrise to long after dark. By all accounts, he should have been far too busy to spend time thinking about a single person.
Of course, he wasn’t. That realization became even worse when he found out you would be joining the same ship for a few months.
You joined training exercises with his unit. Ate lunch with them. Somehow became part of the routine so naturally that Koby couldn’t remember when it started. If anything, he didn’t mind it. The problem was that every single time you talked or smiled at him, it felt catastrophically unfair.
Still, he plays it cool to his best ability. Koby doesn’t treat you any different, keeping up with the harmless things. Like inside jokes, lingering conversations, the stuff he could handle.
One evening after training, the two of you remained on deck long after everyone else had gone below. You sat beside the railing with your legs dangling over the edge while Koby leaned nearby. He warned you it was dangerous, but you were stubborn.
The conversation drifted from stories, then to embarrassing memories then, to absolutely nothing important at all. At one point you laughed so hard you nearly lost your balance.
Instinctively, Koby reached forward for you, his hand caught yours with a sense of urgency. His face frowned subtly, holding his breath while you stared back at him.
The movement happened so naturally neither of you reacted immediately. His fingers wrapped around yours, something he was too scared to do the first time. Yours tightened back. For a second, neither of you moved from the spot.
Koby could feel the warmth of your hand, could feel your pulse. Could feel his own heartbeat becoming dangerously loud.
Any sort of laughter faded, silence taking up audible noise. Restraint felt far more difficult than it ever had before. You both pulled away at exactly the same time.
The rest of the conversation was significantly more awkward, Neither of you mentioned it, or could even forget it
Koby certainly couldn’t.
The memory followed him for days afterward, replaying itself at the worst possible moments.
It only pushed him farther from you. He thought it was too complicated, that it was fair to put a good making of distance. You heavily thought otherwise.
Just months of feelings sitting quietly, two people who had finally run out of reasons to ignore them, built up to this moment.
“Koby.”
His throat felt dry, a little strained at the current moment. “Yeah?”
The tension got worse during training, and unfortunately for Koby, you loved close combat exercises during private practice. Meaning you were constantly within arm’s reach, always.. touching.
This afternoon you had him pinned against the ground, your legs straddled around his waist. He could feel his breath hitch at every movement, unnecessary heat building up. Everything felt way too tedious.
Your forearm pressed lightly against his shoulder as you held him down. “You gave up way too easily.”
Koby’s brain stopped functioning, thoughts tripping over each other as he tried to find something, anything, that sounded normal. The worst part wasn’t even the position, it was you, close enough that he could barely think straight.
“Y-You’ve gotten better…?” He stuttered, tried and failed to get up from your hold. And in an extremely quiet voice, mistaken for the shuffling. “You’re too close.”
You sadly didn’t hear that one.
“You’re a liar.” You leaned down, a cheeky grin forming before it slowly faltered. His expression softened at the shift, it took a few second for panic to settle.
You didn’t do well knowing a guy you thought had interest in you to start to distance himself. “Koby, have you been avoiding me?” You murmured, hesitant. “—Sorry, just.. I don’t want to assume.”
That hit very close to him.
Koby opened his mouth, then shut it again, words falling apart before they could form anything useful. What came out instead was a mess of half excuses and strained syllables, his gaze flickering away like he couldn’t quite hold yours anymore.
Your expression dropped into something a little like disappointed, and you eased off him, standing up. You were already turning toward the door, accepting it.
But before you could reach it, his hand shot out and caught yours again— firm this time, finally forcing himself to stay in the moment. When you turned back, he looked overwhelmed, flushed, but more certain than before. “Don’t go.” he said, voice cracking slightly before he forced it down.
He had an expression that showed multiple ways of saying please, something you didn’t know was possible. Koby swallowed hard before he began to confess everything, the truth, a real feeling he hasn’t been able to ignore.
For a second, everything went still. It wasn’t until he saw your subtle smile did he realize how easy this should’ve been. He closed the gap, pulling you into a tight almost clumsy hug. It was cute, really cute. His arms held on a little longer than necessary, tension finally breaking as he exhaled.
You laughed softly into his neck, your own arms crossing over his shoulder. His grip loosened just enough for him to tilt his head down, brushing a few shy, lingering kisses along your cheek and temple, still flustered.
The door creaked open.
You both froze instantly.
Standing there was Helmeppo, mid step, clearly looking for you— his sister, and now staring at the exact scene of you and Koby caught in a too intimate pause that neither of you had properly recovered from yet. Koby’s face went fully red, arms still half raised like he wasn’t sure whether to let go of you.
“Uh.. ahm.” he started, voice immediately betraying him, he could hear you let out a suppressed gasp.
Helmeppo blinked. Slowly, his gaze shifted from Koby to you, then back again, “Are you.. and my sister—?”
Koby took a sharp step back from you like he’d been burned. “It’s not what it looks like—”
Helmeppo cut him off immediately. “It looks like my sister is in your arms!”
…yea.
Helmeppo exhaled through his nose, expression flattening into something dangerously calm. And judging by the way you couldn’t even look at him, you havn’t told him anything.
Then instantly, that weird silence turned into his subtle whines. “Koby, how dare you not tell me first!”
“I’m sorry— wait what?”
rule number THREE, don’t give special treatment ⸝⸝.ᐟ⋆
Law’s first impression of you had been simple, a stray cat.
Not because you were troublesome, or particularly difficult to deal with. It was mostly because you appeared out of the north blue.
You were Penguin’s younger sibling, which wasn’t as surprising as it should’ve been. That was because he already met you once or twice as kids, it was inevitable. Now though, you were nineteen and standing directly in front of him, no longer that same twelve year old.
A few years passed quickly after that, you quickly eased into the group in that time. And somewhere during those years, Law became painfully aware of something that everyone else had figured out long before him.
You liked him.
You genuinely liked him, and it was embarrassing enough for you already.
He hoped it would fade. Especially crushes on people like him, you deserved that much. A chance to move on and find someone easier to love than him. The unfortunate part was that you seemed determined to do neither, or at least let him believe that you would.
Truthfully, he understood it more than he cared to admit. Penguin, by your own repeated admission, had been an absolute ass growing up. Law had lost count of the stories you had the chance to tell. To a younger version of you, seeing someone actually knock sense into your brother had probably seemed heroic.
It was funny to see, but still heroic.
Meanwhile, you had accepted your fate of love with surprising grace.
Law didn’t like you back. With how concrete he is with his emotions, it wasn’t hard to catch on. He didn’t say anything, so you assumed he was avoiding that uncomfortable conversation. It was hard sometimes, tedious. But it didn’t get in the way of being apart of the crew.
It’s not like you wanted something so unrequited, you just had to live with it, or better yet move on.
At least, that was what both of you believed until a month ago. Or rather what Law believed about himself on his feelings for you.
Law still hated thinking about it, mostly because it made absolutely no sense.
The crew had docked at a port town after two weeks under and on sea, the crew needed some land. Everyone scattered almost immediately, eager to enjoy solid ground for a change despite being used to the environment.
You had disappeared for less than an hour before returning soaked from head to toe, your hair still extremely damp.
Apparently the outfits became unbelievably stuffy for you. You had decided that after weeks inside a submarine, swimming sounded like the greatest idea imaginable, a little bit of freedom to change out of it.
Law hadn’t cared what you did as long as someone kept an eye on you, and thankfully Bepo had volunteered.
That should’ve been it.
What Law hadn’t anticipated was you marching directly toward him afterward. You were shivering hard enough that your teeth nearly clicked together, a little bit embarrassed yourself going up to your captain in a bathing suit and still wet.
Despite that, you still managed to smile. “Where are the towels at again?” You murmured, gaze avoiding his. “Bepo took mine.”
It was a simple question, completely harmless for you guys.
Yet somehow his mind went blank. For one horribly long second, all he could think about was how different you looked outside the usual white jumpsuit.
He felt like a total creep with how long it took him to grab you one.
After that day, things became inconvenient. Because suddenly he noticed everything, your laugh, the way your eyes lit up whenever someone praised you, when you absentmindedly leaned against nearby surfaces whenever you were tired.
But he could ignore that, he was good at letting it go.
The current situation still felt like torture though.
Medical training days were supposed to be straightforward, it was a good educational practice every month or so to maintain good nursing skills in case anything goes bad.
Unfortunately for him, it did not do as intended when you were currently leaning over him with a stethoscope.
“Move the diaphragm higher.” Law kept his voice level fairly firm, forcing his attention onto the lesson instead of your proximity. “It was better than the first attempt.”
You nodded immediately, following his advice, ompletely unaware of the effect you were having on him. The stethoscope shifted slightly against his thin shirt
Your brow furrowed as you concentrated, slowly relaxing when you heard the thumps better.
“It’s a lot louder.” You laughed softly, clearly fascinated by the sound.
Law nearly closed his eyes.
Because yes, it was loud, far louder than normal. Every beat seemed to echo inside his chest. He could practically feel the traitorous thing trying to expose him.
Still, you remained oblivious. If anything you made it worse by leaning closer. Trying to do exactly what he had taught you.
Your eyes widened. You instinctively pulled away far enough to look at him. “It’s getting a lot faster. Is that normal for you—?”
Before you could finish, Law caught your wrist and pushed the equipment slightly back. The contact startled both of you.
“Completely normal,” he answered immediately. It was a lie, a terrible lie. His pulse had never been less normal in his life.
Soon enough, Law realized his fingers were still wrapped around your wrist. He pulled his hand away back to his side, feeling an unfamiliar heat on his ears. And the cause still was too baffled to even realize it.
You blinked. “Alright, just don’t die.” You noticed the way his eyes narrowed at your tease. In that silence you tried cracking a smile, “My bad.”
He only made a grunting noise as a response.
You took the time to pull out the earpiece, placing the equipment on the medical tray.
“You did good.” The words slipped out before he could stop them, trying to fill the silence. “You get things down fast.”
Your entire face lit up, and suddenly the awkwardness was gone. “Really?”
“Yeah.”
The grin you gave him afterward nearly killed him. “So then I passed.” You cocked your head to the side.
“You want me to say it?” Law scoffed, but still amused by your determination. You didn’t falter, only nodding your head eagerly. “Alright then, you passed.”
You were pleased with the praise, but didn’t let that fact get to you. You appreciated his lessons and left without anything more than professionalism.
The door clicked shut, silence settled over the infirmary. And Law finally dropped his head into one hand. A month ago, he could have dismissed it.
Now all it took was a routine training exercise for his heart to betray him. All it took was you. And judging by the way his thoughts immediately followed you out the door, he was beginning to suspect this problem wasn’t going away anytime soon.
—
Law was still determined to stay in denial.
A year ago, he had made it clear that he didn’t return your feelings. At least that was what he told himself. Changing that now felt unfair to you. So whatever he was doing lately couldn’t possibly mean anything.
At least, that was how he chose to see it. The problem was that his actions rarely agreed with his fair reasoning.
He started to notice things about you. Every scrape, every bruise, every cut you came back with after a job. Half the time you weren’t even aware he’d spotted them before you did. The moment he saw an injury, you somehow found yourself dragged into the infirmary.
He always claimed it was because someone had to make sure it healed properly. The first treatment was reasonable, second was precautionary.. third was usually just an excuse.
You never questioned it, because Law was a doctor. Doctors fussed over injuries.
Unfortunately for him, that was only the beginning to his run of don’t make it obvious.
At some point, the crew started noticing how often he ended up paired with you. Somehow Law was always already going in the same direction of any place you guys walked.
If there was a task that required two people, he was there.
If you wandered too close to a ledge, missed your footing, or nearly walked into trouble, his hand was already on the back of your collar before anyone else could react.
Then came the familiar deadpan question. “Watch where you’re going.” Or sometimes just an irritated stare while he made sure you were steady again.
By normal standards, it wasn’t exactly sweet. By Law’s standards, it was kinda cute to see. The crew certainly thought so.
The crew somehow possessed restraint besides the few comments they’d throw. Had it not become unbearably awkward every single time the topic came up, they probably would have announced it over dinner every night just for entertainment.
But for you two, it was easy to act like it was nothing. If anything you just thought he was getting used to your presence since the awkward tension that came from you liking him
At least until you got sick.
You sat at the table with your elbow propped against the metal, fingers tangled in your hair. The room seemed warmer than usual. Every movement felt heavier than it should have, you were heaving like you’ve been doing something.
Law entered the dining room carrying a stack of papers, making a note to check every room before night came.
He barely glanced up at first, at least until he realize it was you that was out here. He stopped in his tracks, eyeing you with subtle surprise.
You managed a weak greeting. “Hello.”
Law didn’t answer, instead he took notes of every unusual behavior. A second later he was standing beside your chair. You barely had time to process it before his palm settled against your forehead. An action neither of you guys expected.
The contact lasted only a moment, still, it felt long enough. Your breath caught, heat already burning in your face became much worse.
Law seemed equally aware of what he’d just done. His hand disappeared almost immediately back to his sides, propping the papers on the table.
He cleared his throat before talking. “You’re sick.” The diagnosis was annoyingly simple, but made the point clear. He tilted his head toward the doorway, telling you to follow. “Should’ve told me sooner.”
Normally you would’ve argued, right now you didn’t have the energy. When you pushed yourself to your feet, however, your legs disagreed with the decision. The room swayed, you caught yourself against the table before you fell completely.
Law made a huff that could’ve been mistaken a laugh, only making you more embarrassed. With a quiet sigh, he stepped back toward you and offered an arm.
He was kind about it, didn’t even make a comment about your lack of ability to even walk. But it was still awkward. You accepted his help anyway.
The moment you did, you caught sight of Shachi. The man looked like he’d just witnessed a miracle, his jaw was hanging open. He had so much enthusiasm it shocked you. You didn’t even get a chance to comment on it but the time he was already walking away.
You ignored him. Mostly because a part of didn’t want to acknowledge what this looked like.
The following days weren’t much better, you sinked into the bed with no other option. Penguin handled most of your meals, still teasing you but made sure you ate. The crew hovered around you like you were on the verge of death instead of suffering through a miserable fever.
Law, however, was somehow worse than any of that. He checked on you constantly. Not enough to seem obvious, just enough that you noticed.
Every few hours he’d appear in the infirmary or your room under the excuse of retrieving something, filing paperwork, organizing medicine, or checking equipment.
Then he’d casually take your temperature, ask how you felt with a weird calmness. Inspect whatever symptoms remained, and leave.
..Only to come back again later.
With nothing else to do, you spent most of your recovery watching him work. That flutter in your heart thumping again.
On a rare occasion, small conversations happened.
“Thank you, Law.” You suddenly murmured, bringing the tea in your hand closer to your face.
That made his pen stop moving, glancing at you before uncomfortably shuffling in his seat. “Where this coming from?” He asked suspiciously, leaning back. “You’re still taking your medication.”
You suddenly let out a hearty laugh, despite your sore throat. “Can’t I be grateful?” You pulled the covers closer to your lap. “You’ve done so much for me, I feel guilty.”
“Don’t be.” He said instantly, his hand getting dangerously close to your face. You don’t know what you braced for, heart pounding, but it wasn’t a flick to the forehead.
You yelped at first, glaring at him with confusion. Though what you saw made all your anger go away, simply from how he was naturally able to laugh so nicely.
A smile still lingered on his face, finally turning back towards the papers. “I don’t.. can’t have you dying on me, so just rest instead of thinking too hard about it.”
You know exact why you fell for him, times like this made it so easy. Though you don’t know why it’s been recently starting to feel mutual.
You began to notice those same signs as well. It wasn’t enough to accuse him of anything. But it was enough to make you wonder, especially because Law treated everyone fairly.
That was one of the things you respected most about him.
So why were things different now?
Your crewmates constantly teased you about it, even your own brother. They would notice you watch him in awe or stay oblivious, and at the time you were certain they were just trying to make you feel better.
The realization settled slowly, or just the idea of it. Tiny moments collecting together until they became impossible to ignore. The extra attention, longer conversations, and then the way his eyes occasionally lingered before he looked away.
You tried not to think too hard about it, mostly because the alternative felt ridiculous. Law didn’t like you, you had accepted that whether you liked him.
Hadn’t you?
Yet every day made that certainty a little harder to hold onto.
—
“Captain.”
He didn’t even react to the sound.
“Law.”
Slowly, he looked to his side, noticing Penguin standing there with a grin on his face. The expression immediately filled him with dread. “What.”
Penguin nodded toward you, talking with Bepo, first day without the dreaded feeling of sickness. You were still smiling, head tilting back at something the bear said.
Law’s stomach dropped, eyes narrowing before looking back at the paper with a grunt. “What about her?”
“Interesting question.”
Law already hated where this was heading.
“You know,” he started, using a hand for emphasis. “You’ve been giving her special treatment, we’re kinda jealous.”
Law immediately returned his attention to the person next to him. Unfortunately that only made Penguin grin wider.
“I have not.” He hissed, closing his eyes like it would help with the situation.
A laugh escaped Penguin before he shook his head. “For years I thought she was the obvious one, but you’re the one sticking by her side for a week straight.”
“Penguin.”
“You’re making this way easier than she ever did.”
Law slowly lowered his paperwork. The warning look he sent would have stopped most people, it didn’t have the same effect with someone that’s known him since kids. Then, because fate apparently enjoyed his suffering, your laugh echoed through the room again.
Without thinking, Law glanced toward you.
The second he did, Penguin started laughing so hard he nearly doubled over.
And for perhaps the first time in his life, Trafalgar Law genuinely considered throwing one of his first friends overboard. He knew he liked you, but didn’t need someone to rub it in.
“Just don’t hurt her feelings, yeah?” His voice softened, and that caught Law off guard. It was kind of him to care for his sibling. “I really need to earn some money from the bet I made.”
Never mind, he’s still the same ass.
“Hell no.”
rule number FOUR, don’t leave marks ⸝⸝.ᐟ⋆
At first, you didn’t like him.
You couldn’t stand him, actually.
The first time you met Sabo, you were sixteen years old. Six years of wondering if Koala was alive, six years of hearing stories and rumors, six years of just wondering. Then one day she appeared again, older, stronger, smiling so brightly it hurt to think about the time you lost with your sister.
..And beside her stood Sabo.
At first glance, he looked respectable enough. Polite. Well spoken. It was the first thing you noticed when it came to his blonde hair and fancy top hat.
The illusion lasted less than ten minutes once he spoke.
From that point on, every interaction somehow turned into an argument. You hated how stubborn he was. Hated how he always seemed convinced he was right. There was not a single part of him that couldn’t push your buttons.
You were convinced Sabo was the most irritating man on the Grand Line.
Sabo, on the other hand, seemed equally convinced that you existed solely to shorten his lifespan.
Every time he saw you climbing somewhere dangerous, sneaking into conversations you weren’t supposed to hear, or volunteering for missions above your experience level, his expression would tighten.
The argument repeated so often it practically became tradition. A bruise on your hip, blood running from his nose after you elbowed him.
Koala standing between you both with the exhausted look, a hand pinching the bridge of her nose.
Seconds before she got her own hit on you guys too.
Thankfully, it wasn’t as common as outsiders would’ve assumed. At some point you became mature enough to realize you will be stuck with him till death. Dislike is still on the table.
As the years passed, Sabo became busier. That was natural considering his dedication to the revolutionary army.
Soon he was spending more time overseas than at headquarters. Missions lasted weeks, sometimes months. Entire seasons would pass without seeing him.
You didn’t mind at first, it’s not like you guys had the sweetest conversations.
Sometimes when you see him at the port, you send out a congratulations for finishing the mission. A small courtesy that lasted thirty seconds. You almost wondered if he was as awkward as you realizing how much has change.
Even as years have passed, you did not have a great relationship with him.
But not a bad one either.
You didn’t want to think about how every year made it a little harder to convince yourself he was as awful as you’d once believed. Those few good moments you had with him changed your entire perspective, he was addicting.
You hated how easily he could make your heart race right before saying something that made you want to shove him overboard.
Most of all, you hated the doubt that lingered behind every interaction.
No matter what he did, no matter how much he seemed to care, there was always a constant presence at his side. Someone he trusted without question. Someone who belonged in his life long before you did.
Koala. You weren’t particularly jealous of the relationship, you loved her too much for that, but rather how you were involved.
Every time he showed concern for you, every time he remembered something important, every time he went out of his way to help, that ugly little thought returned. Maybe it wasn’t you.
The possibility made your chest ache in a way you couldn’t explain. It was unreasonable.
Yet the more you found yourself caring about him, the harder it became to ignore. Because if you were being honest, that fear was no longer coming from annoyance.
It was coming from the terrifying realization that his answer actually mattered to you.
—
You were halfway down the corridor before you heard footsteps behind you. Of course he followed you after you left the conversation. Part of you had hoped he would let the argument die for a few hours. Apparently that had been too much to ask.
“Are you seriously still angry?” He hissed, it was sharp with disbelief.
You stopped so abruptly your boots scraped against the floor, spinning around, you finally faced him.
The frustration that had been simmering in your chest all evening started with him, ended with him. You do not know what changed in the two month duration he was gone. He stood several feet away, one hand clenched tightly around the black glove he’d removed earlier, his expression twisted into something between annoyance and confusion.
As if he genuinely could not understand why you were upset.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” You shot back.
Usually fights like these went physical, but that was the kid in you that wanted that. You guys were older now, so it meant having this uncomfortable conversation.
Despite it being the first switch in your guys relationship, you do not vividly remember it. It went on with the usual stubborn back and forth, but this time you did not hold back.
You said something that caught him off guard. He forgot everything he had to say. Sabo’s expression changed so quickly you almost missed it, for a brief second, he looked genuinely blindsided.
“You really think that’s it?” he asked quietly, he somehow lost all that bite he had. “That you’re only Koala’s sister to me?”
“What else am I supposed to think?”
His laugh was short and humorless. “Right.”
The word fell flat between you. You immediately wished you hadn’t said it. “Sabo—”
“It’s just funny.” He looked away briefly before meeting your eyes again. “I was sitting here wondering how much more obvious I could’ve been.”
Your stomach twisted, a feeling you weren’t prepared for when you started this. “What?” You murmured, the response sounded weak even to your own ears.
“I thought you just didn’t want to notice.” For the first time since the conversation began, Sabo took a step closer. He wasn’t entirely sure what would happen if he did. “So, do you really think I follow you around because of that?” he asked.
He didn’t even give you a chance to respond.
“You think I stay up waiting for you to get back because you’re Koala’s sister?”
The confidence behind your first answer faltered. When he actually said it out loud, the explanation you made sounded ridiculous.
“Every mission,” he continued, taking another step. “Every report. Every time someone mentions your name, I’m the first one asking questions.”
You wanted him to stop, you needed him to before it became real. But that was the logical part of you. The emotional one never felt so reassured before, and would have him never stop.
“And do you know how ridiculous that is?” His frustration finally cracked through “You are the stubborn girl who could never leave my mind. That’s who you are to me.”
The unfinished sentence lingered in the space between you. He didn’t say it, but you knew what the following was.
Looking at him now, standing only a few feet away, it became impossible to keep pretending otherwise. The denial you’d been clinging to felt thinner by the second. Very few people got to see this version of him. The one standing in front of you now, so vulnerable and honest.
His eyes drifted briefly toward your hands, then back to your face. He was silently asking permission. When he reached forward, his movements were slow enough for you to pull back.
You didn’t.
His fingers wrapped carefully around yours, it was oddly intimate. You’ve held his hand before, but not like this. The contact alone nearly undid you.
Sabo let out a quiet breath, following with a chuckle of disbelief. “I’m shocked it took so long.”
You let out an agonizing sigh. “Sorry.”
His thumb brushed lightly against your knuckles, bringing it closer to his face. “I don’t care because I have to.” His voice was barely above a murmur. “I care because it’s you.”
That realization terrified you almost as much as it terrified him, years of this irritation only continued for comfort, not because it was real. It was just easier acting like it.
That was the first day you left a mark. You vividly rememberer throwing the cravat, tugging down at the top of his shirt. Sabo whispered in your ear, a mixture of concern and tease, but shut his mouth when you sucked a spot of his skin. It was rough and mean, a bit of your old irritation in it.
Sabo hissed at first, slipping his hands into your hair as you continued. Once you let off with a pop, you both realized how much better that was than rustling on the floor when you guys ticked each other off.
A hickey on his neck for the first day of confessing, how romantic you guess. Expected from two people with no romantic experience.
You guys did not make it official yet for that reason. But slowly, other people began to notice how your guys relationships has changed.
They began to see you both alone a lot more, during lunch or any break. Sometimes training sessions were spent together as well. But neither of you showed romantic display until it was private. He would nip at your shoulders sometimes, only sharing a sneaky glance before walking away.
It was all the marking that became slightly public. He was a tease, and you were too stubborn to back out. Over time, it became impossible to not see despite how covered his outfit is.
Throughout all of this, Koala did not bat at eye in any romantic relation. You would assume she was actually good at picking up hints, and usually she is! But this was more out of ignorance.
For years she’s known as you guys to never get along properly. She’s now seen a couple of casual conversations, merely thinking you guys were finally becoming friends.
—
The infirmary was quiet, a rare thing for them. Koala sat on one of the stools, sorting through bandages while half listening to Sabo explain how he’d managed to get yet another bruise on his arm during training.
He was sitting on one of the examination beds while Koala checked over a mark near his shoulder. As she reached for another roll of gauze, she paused.
There were a few faint marks over his chest and neck, something he never mentioned before. He didn’t even seem to mind them, rubbing a thumb against it before pulling his shirt up again.
Koala was still curios though, inching closer. “How’d you get those?”
Sabo looked at her, then glanced down at the spot, then back at her. A terrible sign already. He shrugged, “..Kinda just happened.”
She knew he was lying. And it would’ve been left like that if she didn’t get a flashing thought the longer she looked at them. It was hard to play dumb.
“Is the second in command getting hickeys?”
Sabo made the mistake of smiling.
“Oh my god, you’re sneaky! Who is it? Since when? Why didn’t you tell me?”
His smile vanished instantly. “You’re getting nothing out of me.”
“No fun.” She snickered, but far from done. “Is it someone from the Army?”
Sabo stayed silent, which gave her a good enough answer.
“You’re lying.” She gasped, a little bit too excited prying into his life.
“Probably.”
“Sabo.”
He laughed despite himself, that only made her more suspicious. Usually he wasn’t this stubborn about these type of topics.
Plus, she’d know if he was spending time with someone a lot.
Then something clicked. Her eyes narrowed, a small bit of her connecting the secrecy. The way he disappeared during breaks, the way you’d disappeared during breaks.
The fact that whenever she went looking for one of you lately, the other was nowhere to be found either.
Koala slowly turned, a finger falling against her chin. “..no way.”
Sabo immediately recognized that look, it was someone who began connecting way too many dots about her sister and her partner in crime.
“Koala.” He started.
“No.”
“Koala.” Sabo stood up. Unfortunately, panic made him careless. “You can’t tell her I accidentally told you, she’ll kill me.”
The room went silent, maybe for a second or two.
“My sister!?”
Sabo closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. The entire infirmary echoed with her voice, hell, probably the hallway outside too.
Koala pointed at him in complete disbelief. “Sabo, what the hell? I couldn’t have known anytime sooner before it got to hickeys!”
“We aren’t good at this stuff, ok? Ignore that.”Sabo looked everywhere except at her, feeling a heavy gaze uncomfortably on his neck. Instinctively, he put a hand there. “You were supposed to figure it out slower.”
“Slower?!” She looked genuinely offended, pacing the room. “I thought you two barely tolerated each other!”
“We did.”
“For years.”
“Correct.”
Koala threw her hands into the air. “This makes absolutely no sense!”
Sabo couldn’t help it, he laughed at her reaction. Probably wasn’t the way he had it in mind when he began liking you, but pretty close.
That made her even more exasperated. “Oh, this is funny to you?”
“A little.”
“I’m gonna beat you.” For a moment, she actually considered it, and Sabo even waited for it. But instead she took a deep breath. The initial reaction calming down, giving her a chance to sit.
“Don’t think this is over.” Koala hummed, hands in her lap.
Sabo winced, almost shocked there wasn’t a bruise on his face yet. “Thought so.”
Koala buried her face in her hands. “I’m happy for you guys.. I guess. It makes things easier.”
At least now she finally knew why the two people she cared about most had been disappearing together for months.
art credit: huge thanks to @yintrusiva for the beautiful artwork made for this fanfic <3 she’s also open for commissions, so please check out her account!
zoro x gn!reader (fem!reader only in the illustration)
the crew make you two go on a date but you're both competitive af — what will happen?
law version + ace version
tags: first date, fluff, kinda enemies to lovers, soft, humor
word count: 5.6k
zoro m.list || anime m.list || ao3 || ko-fi
Game night was a mistake.
A HUGE mistake.
Especially when the moment Zoro cracked his knuckles across the table and gave you that look.
The one that says: I’m not losing.
You give him the exact same look back, because neither are you.
“Last round. With the three of you.” Nami announces smugly, shuffling the cards “Winner takes all.”
You and Zoro lean forward at the same time.
Competitive energy radiating like two angry thunderstorms about to collide.
Across from you, the rest of the crew watches with barely contained excitement.
This is not about the game anymore.
This is about pride.
Honor.
Ego.
And unfortunately… you remember you two aren't the only two playing. In fact, you both lose.
You stare at the table.
Zoro stares at the table.
Then slowly you both look up and scowl.
“Rigged.” you say flatly.
“Tch,” Zoro clicks his tongue “obviously.”
“Skill issue.” Sanji says immediately, lighting a cigarette.
“You’re just mad you didn’t even make it to the final round.” you snap.
He gasps like you stabbed him.
Zoro snorts.
You elbow him but he elbows back harder.
“Anyway,” Usopp claps loudly, eyes sparkling with chaos, “losers have to pay the price!”
You narrow your eyes “…Price?”
Zoro cracks his neck “Whatever it is, make it quick.”
Huge mistake.
The crew immediately huddles together in a tight circle, whispering like cartoon villains.
You and Zoro are left outside like two rejected bodyguards.
You cross your arms “This is stupid. Technically I arrived second. This doesn't mean losing… who made this dumb rule."
The circle breaks. They’re smiling. All of them. Even Nico Robin, which makes it worse… That woman only smiles when something dangerous is about to happen, you know.
Your instincts scream. Run.
“So…” Nami says sweetly, hands behind her back.
You don’t trust that tone.
“You both,” she continues, pointing between you and Zoro, “have to go on a date.”
“With who?” You ask innocently but as an answer everyone looks bad at you. Here you understand what they mean.
“No.”
“No.”
You and Zoro speak in perfect sync. Then pause to look at each other.
Scowl deeper.
“Absolutely not.” you add.
“Tch. Over my dead body.” he says.
“Aww,” Usopp fake-pouts “Are you two scared?”
You stiffen.
Zoro stiffens.
“We’re not scared.” you snap immediately.
“Yeah,” Zoro growls, “just not interested.”
Sanji smirks, “Then prove it.”
You narrow your eyes “Prove what?”
“That you’re not intimidated by a simple date.”
You feel your pride physically rise.
Zoro’s aura darkens beside you.
You both know what they’re doing, you both see their trap… but you both walk straight into it anyway.
“Fine, I'll show you.” you say.
“Tch. Fine.” Zoro echoes.
The crew explodes with cheering and capping.
You immediately regret everything.
And now… now you’re here. Sitting outside a cute pastry shop on some random island.
On a date.
With Zoro.
You hate everything.
The table is small and round.
Romantic.
Disgusting.
Both of you sit there, slouching like you’re attending a funeral.
You stare at the street.
He stares at the sky.
Neither of you looks at the other.
The silence is thick enough to cut with one of his swords.
“This is stupid.” you mutter.
“Tch. Obviously.”
You both keep looking away.
A couple walks past holding hands.
You both look even further away.
A bird chirps.
Then he speaks out of nowhere “You’re doing it wrong.”
You freeze and slowly turn your head “…Excuse me?”
He finally looks at you and smirks.
That stupid, smug, infuriating smirk “You usually would at least pretend you’re good at this. Just for the sake of winning for your own ego.”
Your eye twitches.
“I’d be good at it,” you snap, “if I wasn’t stuck here with you.”
“Oh yeah?” he leans forward slightly “You think you could do better and not be this boring?”
Your competitive instincts ignite instantly “Easily.”
He scoffs “Prove it.”
“Oh, I will.”
And just like that it becomes a competition.
“Oh wow,” you say dramatically, looking around, “this place is soooo nice.”
“Your acting is terrible.” he says flatly.
“At least I’m trying.”
“You’re trying too hard now.”
“You’re not trying at all.”
“Because I don’t need to.”
You gasp “Your ego is insane.”
“You noticed?”
“I noticed you’re insufferable.”
“Takes one to know one.”
You’re both leaning forward now and actually looking at each other.
“You’d be the worst date ever.” he says.
“You literally get lost walking in straight lines…” you reply.
“At least I don’t talk in my sleep.”
You freeze “…How do you even know that?”
He smirks wider.
You hate him so much.
Before the argument can escalate into an actual brawl a shadow falls over the table.
You both look up.
A sweet old lady stands there, smiling warmly, holding a tray of pastries.
“Here you go, dears.” she says kindly, placing them down.
You both stare at the pastries, then at each other, then back at her.
“…We didn’t order these.” you say cautiously.
She chuckles and points behind you “Those nice friends of yours sent them.”
You and Zoro turn slowly and there they are… at a table across the street… the entire crew.
Grinning.
Watching like it’s a live theater performance.
Luffy and Chopper are the only two completely oblivious, already inhaling sweets like vacuum cleaners.
Usopp gives you two thumbs up as if he's encouraging you two to continue.
Nami smiles and nods mockingly.
Sanji is just staring, he looks mad.
Brook is taking notes.
Robin and Franky smile like proud parents.
You feel your soul leave your body.
You turn back and Zoro is already scowling. Vein popping. Eye twitching.
You mirror him perfectly.
“I'm going to kill them.” you whisper.
“Tch,” he mutters darkly “I'll help.”
You both look at the pastries again. Then at each other.
Same thought.
You grab one.
He grabs one.
You both take a bite at the exact same time maintaining eye contact like it’s a declaration of war.
And somehow despite everything, the corner of his mouth twitches, like he’s trying not to laugh.
Which is unacceptable.
And just as you continue, the crew is whispering loudly. You hear snorts. You hear stifled laughter.
You hear Usopp failing miserably at whispering “I THINK THEY’RE MAKING EYE CONTACT—”
“SHUT UP!” someone hisses.
You close your eyes. Breathe in. Breathe out.
You lower the pastry.
“So.” you say flatly.
Zoro’s eye twitches “Yeah.”
“We should leave.”
“Yeah.”
You both stand at the same time, in perfect sync.
The old lady behind the counter smiles like she just witnessed a romance movie climax.
You feel a migraine forming.
You don’t even look at the crew as you walk away.
But you can feel them like a curse… a presence… a disturbance in the force.
You and Zoro walk side by side in silence, boots echoing against the cobblestone streets.
The city is lively.
You shove your hands into your pockets.
“This is still stupid.” you mutter.
“Tch. Obviously.”
At least he’s consistent.
You walk for a while.
You glance sideways.
Zoro is unusually calm. Hands in his pockets. Looking around lazily like this is just another day.
You narrow your eyes.
Why is he not mad while you’re furious? He should be furious too.
A loud crash echoes behind you, followed by a very familiar voice “OW—!”
You stop walking and you turn around, AND there they are… trying to hide behind a fruit stall but failing miserably.
Half the crew… not even subtle.
Usopp is crouched behind a basket that is clearly too small to hide him. Nami is pretending to inspect oranges while staring directly at you. Sanji is holding a newspaper upside down. And in the back Nico Robin waves calmly, like she’s not part of the crime.
You blink.
“…They’re still following us.” you say flatly.
“Tch. Idiots.” Zoro mutters, but he doesn’t sound mad.
That’s what gets you.
You slowly look at him.
He raises a brow “What?”
“…You’re not annoyed.”
“I am.”
“You don’t sound like it.”
He shrugs “Doesn’t matter.”
You narrow your eyes harder… suspicious.
And then a thought hits you. A terrible, brilliant, petty thought.
You slowly turn back toward the crew.
They immediately duck.
You smile.
Zoro notices instantly but instead of stopping you in whatever thing you're planning, he smirks.
You turn back forward and start walking again.
But now you have a mission.
They want a show? You’ll give them one.
You will make them regret this.
You suddenly grab Zoro’s sleeve “Come on.”
He blinks, surprised for half a second before letting himself be dragged along.
“Where are we going?” he asks lazily.
You don’t answer, you just march forward with purpose.
Behind you, the crew scrambles to follow.
You stop in front of the loudest, most chaotic street you can find. Music blasting. Performers shouting. Vendors yelling over each other.
You turn to Zoro with fake enthusiasm.
“Wow,” you say loudly “This is so romantic.”
He snorts.
You kick his foot lightly.
“Play along.” you whisper.
His grin widens. He’s enjoying this.
You spin dramatically and point at random things “Look! Matching bracelets!”
You grab the tackiest ones you can find and shove them toward him.
The vendor beams.
Zoro stares at them, then at you. Then, without breaking eye contact he puts one on.
Your brain short-circuits as you blink rapidly.
He raises a brow as to say, your move.
You feel your competitive spirit flare. You grab the other bracelet and slam it onto your wrist.
The vendor claps excitedly.
Somewhere behind you, you hear a choked noise that sounds like Usopp dying.
You keep going.
You drag Zoro to the loudest stalls. The weirdest shops. The most embarrassing spots.
You exaggerate everything. Fake gasp at ugly decorations. Overreact at cheesy couple items.
You even lean closer to him at one point just to make it worse for your not-so-invisible audience.
Your soul leaves your body a little, but the mission is bigger than your dignity.
Zoro is not helping at all.
He lets you pull him around like a ragdoll with hands in his pockets and that lazy smirk never leaving his face. Occasionally throwing in a comment just to make it worse.
“You’re really committed.” he mutters once.
You glare “Shut up.”
He chuckles.
You feel personally attacked.
You stop in front of a mirror at a random stall, pretending to inspect something shiny.
But really, you’re checking behind you and there they are.
Good. Let them watch.
Even if you have to destroy your own pride to make them regret this.
Beside you, Zoro watches you from the reflection, amused and quiet. And he has no intention of stopping.
As you keep on walking, as you’re mid-scheme, you see it.
You stop so suddenly Zoro almost walks into you.
Your eyes widen, your jaw drops and you gasp audibly and way too dramatically.
Zoro immediately narrows his eyes “What.”
You don’t answer because you’re already moving “No way—”
You bolt straight ahead.
Zoro watches you run like you’ve lost your mind. Then follows at a normal pace, hands still in his pockets, completely unbothered.
When he finally reaches you, you’re already standing in front of a game stall, practically vibrating.
It’s one of those festival booths with cheap prizes hanging everywhere.
Throw the rings and hit the targets to win something stupid.
You look like you just found heaven.
Zoro looks at the stall, then at you and then back at the stall.
“…Are you a kid?” he asks flatly.
You slowly turn your head toward him. Offended.
“You just don’t want to admit you’re a loser.”
And there it is the moment and the fatal blow.
Zoro’s eye twitches. His lazy smirk gone.
The swordsman who didn’t care five seconds ago? Dead.
You have awakened something.
“Tch,” he clicks his tongue, stepping forward “move.”
You grin.
Oh, it’s on.
Coins slam onto the counter.
The stall owner startles slightly but smiles nervously “W-welcome! Just throw the rings and—”
You’re already grabbing them.
Zoro grabs his own set.
Neither of you listens to the rules.
You don’t need rules.
You need victory.
Miss.
Miss.
Miss.
Clink.
Bounce.
Miss again.
You narrow your eyes.
Zoro frowns.
This is unacceptable.
Again.
And again.
And again.
You lean closer to the counter.
Zoro rolls his shoulders like he’s about to fight a war.
The stall owner laughs nervously “Ahaha… it’s just for fun—”
“I will win…” you mutter.
“Tch. Not before me.” Zoro snaps.
Time stops meaning anything.
People pass behind you watching with fear.
Somewhere, a performer shouts.
You hear none of it. You only hear the clink of rings, your own breathing and Zoro.
“You’re throwing wrong.” he says.
“You’re aiming wrong.” you fire back.
“At least I hit the table.”
“That’s not the goal!”
“Tch.”
You lose again.
You slam another coin down “Again.”
Zoro does the same.
The owner starts sweating.
“Y-you can try the shooting game instead—”
“No.”
“No.”
You and Zoro speak in sync.
Never looking away from the targets.
More throws. More misses.
Your frustration rises.
Zoro’s aura darkens.
You both lean so far over the counter you’re practically invading the stall.
The owner laughs weakly “Maybe… maybe take a break—”
You don’t hear him.
Neither does Zoro.
Because at this point it’s just you and him. And war.
You throw again.
Miss.
You snap “Is it rigged?? Damn!”
You slam your hands on the counter dramatically.
Zoro doesn’t even react, he just grabs another ring.
Eyes sharp.
Focused.
Terrifying.
The stall owner begins to panic. His smile drops completely.
You’re both still muttering under your breath, arguing between throws and competing like your lives depend on it.
Behind you, a small crowd has formed.
You don’t notice.
You don’t care.
“Stand back.” Zoro mutters, rolling his neck like he’s about to unleash a forbidden technique.
“It’s a ring toss.” you snap.
“Tch. Watch and learn.”
He throws.
Misses.
You gasp loudly “Pathetic.”
“SHUT UP.”
The stall owner looks like he’s about to cry. His hands tremble as he leans forward slightly, voice small “P-please leave…”
You grab another ring.
Zoro grabs another.
Neither of you acknowledges him.
Not even a glance.
You throw again.
Miss.
You slam the counter.
Zoro growls.
The owner looks like he’s reconsidering his entire career.
“Please,” he whispers again, voice shaking, “I beg you…”
But you and Zoro only hear each other, only see each other. Locked in the dumbest, fiercest battle imaginable.
And somewhere deep down, neither of you realizes you stopped caring about the crew watching a long time ago.
After many other tries you throw again but this time it wobbles.
You both lean forward at the exact same time.
The ring tilts. Balances.
And then it drops perfectly onto the bottle.
Silence.
You blink.
Zoro blinks.
The stall owner blinks.
“I GOT IT?!” You explode.
You jump up and down, hands in the air, laughing in pure disbelief “I GOT ONE IN!”
You spin around and, without thinking, grab Zoro by the shoulders “Did you see that?!”
He doesn’t jump, of course he doesn’t, but he’s looking at you and there’s a soft smirk on his face.
You’re still holding onto him when it hits you. You let go immediately, but you’re still grinning bright.
“Yeah,” he says quietly “I saw.”
Continue after illustration:
You don’t even realize that a minute ago you were trying to beat him and now you’re celebrating like you both won.
You turn back to the stall, scanning the prizes like you just unlocked a treasure vault.
And then you point dramatically where hanging slightly to the side there’s a plushie,
Green. Grumpy. Round little body. Perpetual scowl stitched onto its face.
You don’t even notice the resemblance, but Zoro and the stall owner do.
And somewhere behind you, someone snorts.
“I want that one.” you declare proudly.
The stall owner freezes.
He swallows “Y-you need three rings in for that…”
You turn slowly and your expression shifts from happy to calculating to dangerously competitive.
Everyone feels the aura change immediately.
You roll your shoulders slightly.
“Three?” you repeat.
The stall owner pales.
“B-But—!” he stammers quickly, hands flying up defensively “You tried so much! I-I’ll give it to you anyway! And— and I’ll give one of his choice to your boyfriend as well!”
Silence.
The word hangs there.
Boyfriend.
Your brain stops.
Your heart does something incredibly stupid.
You blink.
Heat creeps up your neck.
Beside you, Zoro stiffens just barely.
You glance at him.
He’s not correcting it. Not snapping. Not denying.
He’s just standing there, arms crossed, looking mildly annoyed at the implication but not offended. Not rejecting it.
Your chest tightens in a way that has absolutely nothing to do with competition, and you realize something terrifying… you don’t mind, not even a little.
“Oh…” you say weakly.
The stall owner nods rapidly, desperate to survive this interaction “Yes! Yes! Take anything! Please!”
You look back at the plushie then at Zoro.
He looks at the plushie then at you.
There’s a flicker in his eye.
He reaches up and grabs one from the side.
A different one.
The stall owner practically shoves the plushies into your hands like he’s paying a ransom “Thank you! Please enjoy the rest of the festival… far away from here!”
You don’t hear him.
You’re staring at the plushie in your arms. It’s soft, round and angry-looking.
You hug it instinctively.
Zoro watches you do it and that soft smirk of his returns.
You start walking away, quiet now.
The chaos of earlier is replaced with something… different.
Your heart is still beating a little too fast.
Your fingers brush against the plush as you hold it.
After a few steps, you notice Zoro is walking slightly closer than before.
Then without a word he holds out his plushie.
You blink “What?”
“Take it.”
“…Why?”
“Tch. I don’t need it.”
He doesn’t look at you when he says it, he just keeps walking, arm extended slightly in your direction.
You stare at the plush, then at him, then back at the plush.
Your heart does that stupid thing again.
You accept it quietly.
Your fingers brush his for half a second.
He exhales softly and you just pretend not to notice.
Now you’re holding both plushies.
You look at them, then up at him.
And for once you don’t hide your smile.
He catches it from the corner of his eye and doesn’t say anything, but the tips of his ears turn slightly red.
Behind you, somewhere in the distance, you hear faint whispering and dramatic gasps.
You don’t look back, you don’t care anymore, because as you walk beside him, plushies in your arms and something unfamiliar but not unwelcome blooming in your chest, you realize, quietly, that this stopped being about proving anything a while ago.
You walk back to the ship side by side.
Zoro walks with his usual lazy stride, hands in his pockets, expression neutral, like nothing life-altering just happened.
You reach the ship and go aboard.
Still no words about anything, just silence, but comfortable.
You stop near the stairs that lead below deck.
“…Night.” you say casually.
“...Night.”
That’s it. No dramatic pause. No lingering touch.
You turn and head to your room.
Behind you, hidden very badly behind barrels and ropes, half the crew deflates in disappointment.
“THAT’S IT?!” someone whispers aggressively.
“No kiss?!” another hisses.
You don’t hear or see them, because you’re too busy trying to understand why your chest feels warm.
Why you’re smiling, why replaying the night makes your stomach flip in a way that’s not annoyance.
You flop onto your bed, staring at the ceiling.
“…Why am I feeling like this…” you mutter.
The plushies sit beside you.
You bury your face into them to hide your smile and that’s when it hits you that you didn’t hate tonight.
You just… liked being there… with him.
The next morning is a disaster.
You step into the dining area and immediately freeze.
Everyone is there.
Brook leans forward eagerly, teacup in hand.
“Good morning!” he sings “May I ask how your romantic evening was? Yohohoho!”
You contemplate throwing him overboard.
“SUPER curious!” Franky flexes dramatically “Was it SUPER romantic?!”
“Did you hold hands?” Usopp demands.
“Did you confess?” Nami adds sweetly.
“Did you fight?” Sanji asks suspiciously.
You inhale slowly and exhale slowly.
You sit down and say nothing, you just start eating very calmly as they continue relentless.
“You brought back matching plushies!” Usopp points accusingly.
Your eye twitches but you keep eating.
Across the table Zoro sits like nothing is happening, drinking tea or whatever’s in the cup, calm and unbothered, not even reacting to the chaos.
The only difference from other mornings is that he isn't teasing you.
He just looks… anywhere but at you.
That’s new.
Days pass and something changes.
Zoro still trains, naps, gets lost somehow on the ship, and argues with Sanji…
But with you he’s… different. Less sharp and less provoking. If you reach for something, he doesn’t snatch it first as he used to. If you say something competitive, he just hums instead of biting back as he used to.
If you challenge him, he lets you win.
You stare at him suspiciously but he avoids your gaze.
You preferred the fighting and its sparks.
Now it feels like he’s stepping back, like he’s giving you space you didn’t ask for.
And you hate that.
One afternoon, you find him alone on deck, sitting against the railing with sunlight hitting his face, sleeping or pretending.
You approach. Arms crossed.
“Are you sick?” you ask bluntly.
One eye opens.
“…What.”
“You’ve been weird.”
“Tch.”
“That’s not a denial.”
He sits up slightly “You’re imagining things.”
“No, I’m not.”
Silence.
You step closer “What’s going on?”
He looks away and scratches the back of his neck “Nothing.”
You narrow your eyes “Zoro.”
He inhales, about to speak, and then—
“NEW ISLAND!” Luffy screams from the crow’s nest.
Everyone rushes, excited yelling, footsteps thundering past you.
But you don’t move and neither does Zoro.
You’re still looking at each other with something unsaid hanging heavy between you.
He stands.
Still silent.
Soon, the ship docks.
Everyone spills out eagerly.
You start walking toward the town when—“Y/N.”
You freeze.
He rarely calls your name like that.
Quiet.
Almost hesitant.
You turn.
He’s standing a few steps behind, not looking at you but looking somewhere to the side, like the sky is extremely interesting all of a sudden.
“…You… wanna go eat something?” he mutters.
You blink.
You don’t answer.
Your brain refuses to function.
At the silence, he finally looks at you and sees your shocked expression.
His jaw tightens slightly.
“It’s fine,” he mutters quickly “I’ll go alone.”
He turns but you grab his sleeve “Wait.”
He stops and looks at your hand, then at you.
“…I’ll go.” you say.
His shoulders relax just slightly “Tch. Good.”
You both start walking side by side.
The town is lively but it feels quieter to you.
After a moment, you glance at him “So…”
He grunts.
“…Is it a date?”
He stops walking instantly.
You stop as soon as you notice.
His head snaps toward you, eyes wide for a fraction of a second “What?”
You laugh lightly “Relax. I’m joking.”
You quickly continue to walk so he doesn’t see your expression as you say “...but I wouldn’t mind if it was.”
You say it casually but your heart is trying to escape your body.
You hear his footsteps rush behind you.
Suddenly a firm hand grabs your wrist.
You turn, surprised and see him close.
His grip isn’t rough but steady and certain.
He looks at you directly.
No more avoidance.
“Then it is.” he says quietly.
You blink.
He exhales “…A date.”
Silence.
Your brain melts but somehow you relax and a soft smile spreads across your face “Perfect.”
He lets go slowly.
You both turn and start walking again like nothing monumental just happened.
Like your hearts aren’t lighter.
Like your steps aren’t a little closer.
Like this isn’t exactly what you both wanted all along.
The restaurant is loud and perfectly pirate-coded. No fancy decorations. No romantic lighting. Just noise, food, and the smell of grilled meat.
Exactly the kind of place neither of you has to pretend in.
You sit across from each other, but unlike last time, none of you is scowling.
Zoro rests one arm on the table. You sit with your hands loosely folded, pretending the menu is the most fascinating thing you’ve ever read.
Silence. Not hostile. Just shy.
You glance up and he’s already looking at you but he immediately looks back at the menu.
You blink.
A few seconds later, he looks up again and your eyes meet. Neither of you smirks or challenges, it’s softer than that.
Then the waiter arrives and breaks the tension.
You both order quickly.
When the waiter leaves, you sit there in silence again.
“So…” you start.
“So.” he echoes.
You both pause.
You clear your throat “Training’s been… good?”
“Tch. Obviously.”
You nod “Right.”
Silence.
He shifts slightly in his seat “You’ve been winning more lately.”
You narrow your eyes “You’ve been letting me.”
He huffs faintly “You noticed.”
“Of course I noticed.”
A small pause.
“…Why?” you ask.
He looks at you then away “Didn’t feel like fighting.”
Your chest does something strange at that “Oh.”
Food arrives.
You both focus on eating for a moment and it helps. Talking with food around feels less intense.
You exchange small comments about the seasoning. About the island. About how Luffy is probably already banned from three establishments.
You’re still shy but it’s not heavy, just new.
Then the drinks arrive and you stare at yours, then at him.
Then you sigh dramatically “Okay, that’s enough.”
He pauses mid-sip “What.”
“We’re being weird.”
“Tch.”
“We just have to relax,” you insist “So let’s drink a bit, okay?”
A slow smirk appears on his face.
There it is, the Zoro you know.
He lifts his glass “Fine.”
Clink.
You drink, not a lot but enough to take the edge off.
He sets his glass down and you follow.
Something shifts, your shoulders loosen, his posture eases.
You start talking again. You tease him about getting lost on the way here and he denies it.
You call him out and he calls you stubborn.
You call him worse and he smirks.
You both laugh.
At some point you’re leaning forward slightly and he is too.
Later, you step outside.
The air hits cooler after the warmth of the restaurant.
You walk side by side, not touching but close.
Your hands brush once and neither of you comments.
You reach the quieter part of the dock.
The ship is visible in the distance.
You both slow down as neither of you seems eager to climb back aboard yet.
You lean lightly, looking out at the water.
He stands beside you close enough that you can feel his warmth through the fabric of your sleeve.
You glance at him and he’s already looking at you this time.
Your heart beats faster.
“…This was nice.” you admit softly.
“Yeah.”
You smile faintly.
Another pause. Longer this time.
Neither of you moves. Neither of you steps closer. But you don’t step away either.
Your hand shifts slightly on the railing and his fingers brush yours again.
Your pinky hooks lightly against his.
He still doesn’t move but his hand turns just enough that your fingers slide into his palm.
You lace them together.
He exhales slowly.
Your heart is loud in your ears.
You’re so close now that you can see the faint scar over his eye clearly.
You don’t plan it, you don’t announce it. You just lean in slightly.
He notices but he doesn’t pull back. Doesn’t rush forward either.
You’re both terrible at initiating.
So you don’t… not fully. Instead, you lift your free hand and rest it against his chest, right over his heart.
It’s steady. Strong.
He inhales sharply at the contact and his hand tightens around yours.
You look at each other.
So close.
“If you don’t want to…” you start quietly but he cuts you off by leaning down enough that his forehead rests against yours. His nose brushes yours slightly. Breath mingling.
“You talk too much.” he murmurs.
Your lips twitch “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.”
Neither of you moves for a second longer, like you’re both silently asking the same question.
Then you both close the distance at the exact same time.
It’s almost clumsy and hesitant, but warm.
His hand slides to your waist.
Yours tightens against his chest.
The kiss is firm but careful.
When you pull back, you’re both breathing a little heavier, foreheads still touching.
You smile first. He pretends he didn’t notice but he doesn’t let go and neither do you.
EPILOGUE
The walk back to the ship is quiet.
Not awkward, just… calm.
You and Zoro walk side by side along the dock. Your shoulders brush once in a while, but neither of you comments on it… neither of you needs to.
When the Thousand Sunny finally comes into view, you both slow down a little.
The ship is mostly quiet, a few lights are on.
You stop at the foot of the ramp.
Zoro looks at the ship, then at you.
“Well…” he says.
“Well…” you echo.
A beat of silence.
Neither of you says “so we’re together now” or “what are we going to tell them?”.
You just… look at each other and then you shrug “Goodnight.”
He almost laughs and then he nods once “Night.”
You both walk up onto the Sunny and that’s it. No announcement. No dramatic reveal.
You just go to your rooms.
The next morning, nobody asks anything because they don’t know… and neither of you brings it up. Not because you’re hiding it. It just… never comes up.
You still argue with Zoro. You still compete with him. You still sit across from him at meals.
Sometimes your knees bump under the table. Sometimes your hands brush when you both reach for something. Sometimes you catch him watching you. Sometimes he catches you watching him. Sometimes you kiss when no one is around.
The crew is completely oblivious.
Somehow even Robin, who probably knows but chooses chaos.
Weeks pass.
The Sunny sails through calm blue seas and life goes on.
Then one day… “GAME NIGHT!!!”
Luffy’s voice explodes across the deck.
The crew cheers and somehow you all end up around the big table.
Cards, dice, snacks, chaos.
And of course you and Zoro would never skip a competition.
Hours pass.
Rounds are played.
People get eliminated.
Luffy gets distracted halfway through by meat.
Chopper loses because he keeps trusting Usopp.
Franky dramatically blames the rules.
Sanji gets eliminated early and spends the rest of the time glaring.
Eventually it’s down to two players.
You and Zoro.
The crew leans in.
The atmosphere is intense.
Usopp is commentating dramatically.
Chopper and Luffy are vibrating with excitement.
“FINAL ROUND!!!” Usopp announces.
You lean forward, eyes sharp.
Zoro leans back in his chair, smirking “Tch. Ready to lose?”
You scoff “In your dreams.”
“Been winning a lot lately.”
“Because I’m better.”
He raises an eyebrow “Or because I’ve been going easy on you.”
You gasp in mock offense “Oh please.”
The crew oooohs.
Luffy is yelling something dumb.
Usopp shouts, “THE TENSION IS REAL!”
You point at Zoro.
“Don’t worry,” you say confidently “I’m gonna kiss you anyway even if you’re a loser.”
Silence.
Total.
Absolute.
Silence.
Every Strawhat freezes.
Usopp and Nami’s mouths hang open.
Chopper blinks.
Sanji drops the plate he was holding.
Brook stops mid-laugh.
Robin smiles.
Franky’s sunglasses slide slightly down his nose.
Luffy tilts his head “…Huh?”
Your brain catches up with your mouth… way too late.
You slowly look around and see nine pairs of eyes staring at you. Wide. Horrified. Curious. Exploding.
And then—BOOM.
“WAIT WHAT—”
“YOU WHAT?!”
“WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?!”
“YOU KISS?!”
“ARE YOU DATING?!”
“WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL US?!”
“WAS IT ROMANTIC?!”
“WHO CONFESSED FIRST?!”
“DID YOU HOLD HANDS?!”
“DID YOU—”
You slowly slam your face onto the table.
Thud.
“…I hate all of you…”
The yelling continues. Questions fly over your head like cannon fire.
You stay face-down on the table, accepting your fate.
Then a warm hand lands gently on your head.
You look up and look at Zoro who is completely unfazed.
He smirks down at you.
The crew is still shouting too loudly to hear anything else.
He leans down slightly, close enough that only you can hear him.
His voice is low and amused “Told you you talk too much.”
You glare weakly and he smirks wider.
Then he adds quietly “But you’re keeping that promise… the kiss?”
Your brain short-circuits and before you can make your brain function you casually lean in and kiss him.
Right there… in front of everyone.
The crew explode.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAA—”
Sanji collapses dramatically.
Chopper screams.
Usopp falls out of his chair.
Franky shouts “SUUUUUPERRRRR!!!”
Luffy claps like this is the best game night ever.
You bury your face in your hands as soon as you understand what you just did.
Zoro just sits back down like nothing happened but he's obviously dying inside and somehow you're both still fully ready to win the game.
seaside rendezvous (red-haired shanks x admiral!reader)
summary: Shanks is smitten with you, the newest admiral of the marines, and he'll do whatever it takes to sweep you off your feet
a/n: the planning for this fic took WAY longer than i expected bc i didn’t rly like the initial 3rd act :’ i'm pretty happy with the end result though! (imma be real, if this flops i'll be so sad :') but i rly did have a lot of fun writing this so at the very least it was a nice post-work activity HAHA)
also!! the title is based off a Queen song of the same name :D i’ve been getting back into listening to their music and struggled a little to think of a good title until i realised this song generally fits the entire story hehe
contents: simp!Shanks, fem!reader, slow burn, yearning!!, fluff!!, very mild angst, pre-established relationship, vvv mild descriptions of body horrors (reader is a Zoan-type DF user and i love describing the physical transformations), reader does not have an exact age but would probably be in their late 20s at least :3c, SPOILERS FOR MARINEFORD ARC
wc. 6.5k (bruh)
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Seaside, whenever you stroll along with me
I'm merely contemplating what you feel inside
Meanwhile, I ask you to be my Clementine
You say you will if you could, but you can't
I love you madly
Let my imagination run away with you gladly
A brand new angle, highly commendable
Seaside rendezvous
—
i.
you feel your temples begin to pulse as you shut your tired eyes for a brief reprieve from the endless paperwork scattered across your desk. you’d been promoted to admiral for a handful of years now and yet you still can’t seem to get a hang of managing your workload efficiently.
after rubbing your eyes, you reopen them slowly to adjust to your surroundings. it’s nearing evening and your office in Marineford is illuminated solely by the golden rays of the sun casting through your open windows.
in spite of the recent warmer temperatures–leading to many of your subordinates shedding their coats in their downtime–you can’t help the shiver that runs down your spine. more often than not, unless you’re standing directly under the sun, you feel a little too cold; it’s a side effect from having eaten the Uo Uo no Mi in your youth.
Kinryuu is the alias that had been assigned you to after your promotion and, sure, it sounds pretty badass but you sometimes wonder what people would think if they learned that being a dragon Zoan-type gives you the cold tolerance of a dying lizard.
a gentle knocking against your open office door pulls you out of your thoughts.
“your hubby’s here again, with flowers this time.” Kuzan smirks, just barely dodging the pen you throw in his direction. without saying anything else, he leaves, laughter echoing through the halls of the marine base.
letting out deep sigh, you rise from your seat and stretch your stiff body before exiting your office because you know that Kuzan really meant was: “Sengoku’s giving you 15 minutes max to make him leave before any action will be taken against the Emperor.”
it’s the same shit, just on a different day, really.
for years, the Red-Haired Shanks himself has been… wooing you by dropping by your workplace regularly, completely disregarding the fact that one little misstep could result in catastrophic results. had he been any less notorious than he is, surely by now he would’ve been easily killed by your coworkers.
“... marry me?”
“HUH?”
in your half-Zoan form you had him pinned to the dirt ground. a clawed hand covered in impenetrable shining gold scales was pointed straight at his jugular while the other was buried in his fluffy red locks, gripping onto a handful of his hair firmly to keep him restrained to the floor.
you had come across his crew by sheer coincidence and ended up in a duel with the Emperor himself for nearly half an entire day. his subordinates had simply stayed by the sidelines to watch, instructed by their captain not to interfere at any point.
the realisation that you clearly had not won this fight, despite having him in such a vulnerable position, dawned on you when you felt his hand brush gently against the side of your thigh. Shanks’ eyes were blown wide open as he stared at you with nothing short of pure reverence, lips parted slightly as he breathed like he was perpetually out of breath.
he swallowed thickly and your eyes flickered down to his throat as his adam’s apple bobbed. his skin and clothes were mildly roughed up–as yours surely were, as well–and yet the look on his face indicated no apprehension or malice.
he simply looked like a lovestruck fool.
you can’t help but smile a little at the memory. you recall leaving him in the dirt that day, taking off to the skies in your full Zoan form without saying a word, hoping that would be the last you see of him, completely unaware of how absolutely wrong you were.
leaning your elbows against the railing, you watch as the Red Force rests on the calm ocean water, slightly closer to Marineford than it had been last week.
‘he’s getting bolder,’ you think to yourself. your eyes are drawn to a striking head of red hair, illuminated brilliantly by the setting sun. his face, however, is partially covered by a pair of large sunglasses and a ridiculously fake moustache. ‘or maybe he’s actually just stupid.’
Shanks must’ve finally noticed your arrival because at one point he begins waving his arm around excitedly. petals from the bouquet of flowers he’s holding onto begin to rain into his hair, some getting stuck in the fluff of red while the rest drops to the deck.
you give him a small wave back and have to choke back a laugh when his entire being jolts in surprise at your acknowledgement of his existence. the waving of his arm increases in desperation, the violent motion absolutely wrecks the poor flowers in his grasp.
beneath the fake ‘stache that’s beginning to slip off his face, his mouth moves. the distance, however, is a tad too far for you to catch any of what he’s trying to say.
after a few more seconds, you gesture for him to leave. Shanks’ body visibly deflates as he drops the destroyed bouquet to his feet but he shuffles off to heed your instructions regardless. you can’t help but feel a little bad, you’ve never seen a grown man become so depressed so quickly.
you watch as the Red Force gradually disappears over the horizon and into the fog that perpetually surrounds Marineford. as you turn to leave to resume your very important admiral duties of signing a million papers, you idly wonder when will be the next time you see him.
ii.
the hotel bar is especially peaceful during the afternoons.
nearing the end of your long-awaited resort holiday, you savour the tranquility of the live piano performance; the gentle music only occasionally interspersed by a cough or the sound of a bellboy’s heels clicking against the marble floor.
sipping your bloody mary, you hum softly in satisfaction at the savoury, spicy flavour as you keep your eyes glued to the book you tossed into your suitcase last minute. the only complaint you have, if you can even call it that, is that the air is a tad too cold.
since you’re at a tropical island resort, it’s only natural for there to be air-conditioning indoors. while you’re sure it’s nice for the other visitors, you can’t help but scrunch your nose and sniffle every few minutes, your sinuses slightly aggravated by the dry, artificially-cooled air.
the moment you find yourself wishing you’d brought a jacket, you feel a thick coat land on your shoulders, immediately engulfing you in warmth and the smell of sandalwood, seasalt and a hint of musk. before you can turn to see who’s committed the deed, the perpetrator himself sits on the bar stool to your left.
“fancy seeing you here, Admiral Kinryuu,” Shanks greets as he props his elbow up on the counter and rests his chin at the base of his palm. his voice had dropped dramatically in volume when he said your title, ensuring that no one but you could have possibly heard him.
internally, you thank him for keeping your identity secret. most of the general public don’t actually know what you look like, many having only seen pictures of your full Zoan-form in the newspapers. your alias is famous for being that of the youngest marine to ever be promoted to admiral but your face is virtually unknown and you like it that way.
if anything, Shanks is the most recognisable person in the hotel bar right now. the low chattering amongst the guests has ceased and the pianist has started to play out of tempo. you can’t help but notice as well that the bartender who’d been casually flirting with you here and there is now standing on the extreme other end of the bar.
“what’re you doing here, Red Hair?” you ask in as neutral a tone as possible in spite of the slightly nervous pounding of your heart. you very much do not want to fight any pirates during your vacation.
“can’t a guy stop by a famous resort for some booze?” he chuckles. “the bartender doesn’t seem to like me, though.” he pouts and the sight forces an amused snort out of you before you can stop yourself. Shanks’ smile grows even wider and you swear the colour of his ears match his hair a little more than it did earlier.
“i’m off-duty so as long as you don’t start being a menace, i’m just here as a guest.” you take another sip of your drink through the paper straw that’s beginning to get soggy. in one breath, you finish it off and raise your hand to gesture the bartender back over. forehead absolutely beading with sweat, the young man shuffles over, his nervous eyes avoiding your new companion as much as possible.
“hey, can i have another one of these?” you point to your empty cup. “and also a beer for him, i don’t know.” you wave your hand noncommittally in Shanks’ direction and you swear to god you hear him gasp a little under his breath.
to the Emperor’s credit, his company isn’t as bad as you initially worried. despite inviting himself to sit beside you out of nowhere, he remains quiet as you read and sip on your freshly made drink. it strikes you as a little odd he seems to want nothing more than to exist in your presence but you’re certainly not complaining; especially since his coat’s keeping you warm.
“y’know,” you finally speak after nearly an hour of silent reading, flipping your book closed. “you smell surprisingly clean for a pirate.” you turn to Shanks as you speak.
he blinks at you once. twice.
‘how cute,’ you think to yourself before a devious idea crosses your mind.
maintaining eye contact, you grab the collar of his coat and bring it close to your nose before leaning in and taking a deep breath.
‘sandalwood, seasalt and musk.’ it’s a very masculine smell, you note.
meanwhile, Shanks’ face is turning as red as his hair and his lips are parted ever so slightly. it happens within a split second but you manage to catch the way his eyes flicker down to your mouth before darting back up. his tongue darts out to lick his lips.
for whatever reason, your heart starts racing.
“i’m just messing with you,” you say swiftly, turning your attention back to your drink. the Emperor coughs before straightening his posture.
“right– yeah, i know that,” he lies through his teeth. “so what brings you here, Admiral?” he asks as he wipes the palm of his hand against his pants.
“i’m on vacation,” you reply as you stir your bloody mary with the new paper straw that–like its predecessors–is already starting to get soggy. “when i’m not risking my life, i’m dying drowning in paperwork so i decided i needed a break.” you turn to him briefly to flash him a cordial smile.
“sheesh at least try to sound less enthused about your job,” he teases sarcastically before finally taking a swig of his beer that’s long started to become lukewarm.
“well, with the pay and authority, i can’t really complain, i guess.” you shrug half-heartedly.
Shanks doesn’t point it out but he can tell just from the look in your eye that you’re not entirely telling him the truth; but he chooses not to pry. he already deems himself more than lucky to have this chance to sit and talk with you, he shouldn’t try to toe any lines.
you chat until hours past the setting of the sun. the hotel bar is bustling with visitors, staff and performers now, though there’s perpetually an empty region around the both of you, with Shanks at its very centre.
“well, this has been a nice chat,” you say, fighting back a yawn. “i should go to bed soon.” you slide off your bar stool and leave a tip for the bartender on the counter.
“yeah, it has,” Shanks replies with a polite smile as he tries his absolute hardest to mask the disappointment welling in his chest. it seems to work–either that or you’re simply too tired to notice.
“here.” you shrug off his coat. goosebumps ripple over every inch of exposed skin as you do but still you return the piece of clothing to its rightful owner. “thanks. for the coat and the nice day.” you don’t wait for a response before you walk away in the direction of the building’s elevators.
the notorious pirate captain watches silently as you disappear from sight. once you’re gone, Shanks lifts the coat to his nose and smiles to himself when he notices it smells a little like you.
iii.
the night air in Marineford is always frigid and tonight is no exception.
resisting the urge to sneeze for the nth time in half an hour, you wrap your hands around your fresh cup of scalding hot coffee. the burning sensation you feel on your palms does little to warm your freezing bones but it’s better than nothing.
it’s 11:25pm on a Friday and your colleagues and subordinates are probably out drinking or sleeping away a week’s worth of exhaustion. yet here you are, in your office, hunched over a mountain of paperwork that had accumulated throughout your vacation.
illuminated only by a few candles you’d lit earlier here and there, the overall darkness of the room is relentless in its efforts to lull you to sleep. every time you feel the urge to doze off, though, you take a sip of coffee and pray that the caffeine overdose combined with burning your tongue with the super hot liquid can keep you going for another hour.
it mostly works–but clearly not enough when you fail to notice the intruder climbing in through your window. it’s only when their feet touch the tiled floor are you alerted to their unwanted presence.
your heart races from the shock of it all and, instinctively, your body begins to transform. within the span of mere seconds, you feel the familiar, itchy sensation of your skin turning into golden scales and the ache of your jaw elongating to accommodate your growing, razor-sharp teeth. your eyes sting as they begin to swell and shift, and the dimly lit room becomes crystal clear as your pupils expand beyond human limits.
your surprise turns to complete and utter disbelief when you register who exactly it is that’s standing in your office right now.
“what are you doing here?!” you whisper-yell as you return to normal. “are you crazy, Red Hair?!”
before he can reply, you rush over to your door and close it as quietly as possible. all the while muttering prayers to gods you don’t believe in that none of your colleagues appear to bother you right now.
“choosing to protect instead of reporting me, huh?” Shanks teases, sounding almost giddy with delight. “that’s basically treason.” you shoot him a dry look as you return to your desk.
“in all honesty, i’d just rather not deal with extra work in the future.” you’re not totally lying. the endless stacks of paper on your desk and cabinet almost seem to be mocking you.
“honestly, Red Hair,” you sigh, picking your pen back up, “if you don’t have any good reason to be here right now, i suggest you leave. i don’t have time to chat.” without waiting for any response, you return to signing documents after scanning their contents halfheartedly.
Shanks approaches your desk and places a lunch bag on top of a stack of completed papers.
your head shoots up and your breath hitches in your throat when you notice how good he looks in the candlelight–you would never admit this to anyone, of course, not even to your subordinates who love to gossip about the hottest pirates during lunch. Shanks always makes the list.
the Emperor smiles at you before walking over to the couch you keep an arm’s length away from your workstation, in case you ever have visitors–or need to take a nap.
“you should eat, at least,” he says softly, just loud enough for you to hear. “i won’t cause any trouble.”
even though you really shouldn’t, you believe him wholeheartedly. so you unpack the food and dig in, chopsticks in one hand, pen in the other.
for over an hour, you eat and work in complete silence. true to his word, the notoriously wanted criminal lounges quietly by your side. at some point, he even shut his eyes and reclines his head, though you can tell he isn’t trying to fall asleep.
you seize the opportunity to look at his face. your eyes scan the slicked-back mop of red hair and the loose strands that frame his head, down to the scars over his left eye, to the stubble that looks at least a few days old. you end at his lips. he doesn’t have the most luscious set you’ve ever seen but they’re well-proportioned and don’t look very dry in spite of the frigid night air.
‘get a grip,’ you scold yourself, tearing your eyes away from the man to get back to work. before you can remember where you stopped, though, a knock at your office door tears through the tranquility of the room. Shanks’ eyelids fly open.
without a second thought, you lunge over to grab the man by his collar and throw him unceremoniously under your desk. you silently thank whatever high being exists that you have an executive desk and not the kind that’s just four sticks and a tabletop.
“come in!” you call out just as your butt returns to your seat.
a vaguely familiar face steps into your room. using your devil fruit powers, you limit your transformation solely to your eyes for a split second, just to get a clear look of their face. sure enough, it’s someone you barely know.
“hey, Admiral Kinryuu,” the rear admiral (that much you remember, at least) greets casually. if you had been Sakazuki instead, he’d be fired on the spot. “i just finished my own paperwork and wanted to know if you’d like to join me for dinner and maybe a drink or two?”
as the man spoke, the Emperor under your desk makes himself comfortable by resting his cheek on your knee and wrapping his single arm loosely around your lower leg. a quick glance down reveals a big, contented smile on his stupid face.
“ah, i see you’ve already eaten…?” the rear admiral awkwardly points out, gesturing to the almost-finished lunch box Shanks had brought you.
seizing the opportunity to get him off your back as quickly as possible, you shoot him your most convincing apologetic smile and say, “yeah, see, my fiancé dropped this off for me since he knew i was gonna stay overtime.”
even without looking at him, you can feel Shanks’ smile grow even wider as he peers up at you with what you suspect might be a lovesick expression. he traces shapes into your calf with his index finger and you don’t stop him.
surprise blooms across the rear admiral’s face, alongside a faint blush.
“o-oh! i see. congratulations on your engagement, Admiral Kinryuu!” you feel a little bad now, seeing how sincerely the man responds to the ‘news’. “with all due respect, i wasn’t aware you were seeing anyone.”
Shanks’ finger trails up from your calf to your thigh and that’s when you’re forced to stop him–not for the sake of your modesty but rather to not compromise his very illegal presence in your office. you grab his hand and squeeze gently, hoping the single action can convey the message of: “please don’t, i’m extremely ticklish there and we’re both dead if i get caught.”
“ah, yeah,” you reply, your espionage training from your CP7 days kicking in without a hitch. “i like to keep my personal life very separate from work. that’s why i haven’t worn the ring and all that.”
as you listen to the rear admiral–almost embarrassingly–yammer on and on to cover his failed attempt at asking his superior out on a date, you feel Shanks guide your hand to his hair and leave it there.
‘this grown man wants headpats?’ you think to yourself, nearly unable to help the amused smile threatening to stretch across your face. you indulge him, running your calloused fingers through his tresses. you swear you can almost hear him purring like a fat, pampered housecat.
eventually the unwanted guest finally takes his leave. you slump backwards in relief and nearly slide off your chair entirely once you know he’s long gone.
“so does this happen a lot?” Shanks asks, not making any move to leave his hiding spot.
“you mean rear admirals asking me on dates or Emperors hiding under my desk for head pats?”
“the first one.”
you sigh and fix your posture, unwittingly even returning your hand to his head and resuming the headpats. he doesn’t complain.
“it’s… a fairly regular occurrence,” you answer honestly. “i think i’m too friendly with subordinates, so some try to shoot their shots here and there. i’ve never been interested, though.” Shanks hums thoughtfully.
“if i asked you on a date, would you say yes?”
“what’re you? 14 years old?” you snort and he laughs, shuffling closer to lay his head more comfortably on your thigh.
“i’m 37, thank you very much.”
“old.” you smirk.
“i’m not that much older than you,” he scoffs halfheartedly.
“touché.”
you continue to banter long into the night, the enjoyable company and lighthearted chatter helping to salve the dull monotonous ache of working overtime on a Friday.
he talks about his childhood on Gol D. Roger’s ship and you share about embarrassing mistakes you made as a cadet.
you learn that he loves kimchi fried rice but hates blueberries; you tell him you think the flavour of the fruit is fine, it’s the texture you’re not really a fan of.
he learns you ate your Devil Fruit when you were 14 and only realised it wasn’t a normal fruit after you tried to swim but nearly drowned to death.
he tells you about his crewmates; you share how out of all your coworkers, Kuzan is your favourite to hang out with and that you like Sakazuki the least.
he says he really likes you; you tell him you’ve known for a long time.
when the silence gets too awkward, Shanks asks if you’re allergic to anything. you tell him kiwi seeds taste spicy in your mouth so you’re probably allergic to those, and he laughs because who the hell is allergic to kiwi?
eventually, though you’re unsure exactly when, you fall asleep.
your eyes flutter open when a ray of the morning sun shines at just the right angle to hit your face. rubbing your stuffy nose, you try to recall ever moving over to the couch but fail to remember doing so. taking in a deep breath, you pick up a familiar mix of sandalwood, seasalt and a hint of musk and it’s only then does the revelation hit you: Shanks’s coat is draped over your body like a blanket.
you come to two important conclusions: firstly, Shanks’ must’ve carried your sleeping body to the couch, and secondly, he did, in fact, appear last night and it wasn’t all just a weird dream.
although you definitely feel a certain way about being carried like a baby–by a dangerous, rugged pirate, no less– after passing out, the warm morning air and comforting smell of his coat easily lulls you back to sleep.
‘i’ll just return this to him… the next time we meet.’
iv.
kneeling on the frozen sea, the icy terrain stings the skin of your knees as you try your best to catch your breath. in spite of the battle raging on around you, your eyes stay glued to your hands resting on the ground, watching as your body slowly transforms back to normal.
for hours you’d been in your Zoan form, fending off all sorts of airborne enemies and missiles whilst avoiding friendly fire from all directions. it seems you’re finally succumbing to exhaustion.
every inhale hurts your sinuses and every exhale serves only to bounce more cold air back into your face. as useful as this icy platform has been in defending the execution from pirate invasion, you can’t help but curse Kuzan under your breath. he may be the colleague you get along with the best but fuck do his ice powers not complement yours in the slightest.
vaguely in the distance, you hear Sengoku order subordinates to cover you as you rest in the midst of all the bloodshed. you silently accept the chance for a quick reprieve but now that you’re no longer fighting for your life, your mind can’t help but wander.
as your breathing steadies and your heartbeat returns to normal, you turn your attention to the droplets of blood hitting the frozen ice. your forehead had gotten grazed at some point but it doesn’t hurt–you didn’t even realise you’d been bleeding until right this instant.
an explosion goes off in the distance.
‘is this truly justice?’ you wonder, images of a dead young man with a molten hole in his chest and his catatonic young brother who’d failed in his efforts to rescue him flash across your mind.
you tilt your head in time to barely dodge a stray bullet.
‘is killing people for being their parents’ children really justice? can it be a crime just to be alive?’
you notice the dried blood caked under your now-rounded nails. you can’t recall how many pirates you’ve slaughtered just today alone.
‘does someone like me even deserve the luxury of pondering the ethics of my actions? i’ve spent my whole career abiding by the moral codes of other men in the name of the law… but was it ever just?’
you swallow thickly when you feel the acidic sting of vomit begin to claw its way up your throat.
“fuck,” you curse under your breath. shame and guilt burn your eyes in the form of fresh tears when the scene of Sakazuki punching through Portgas D. Ace’s body forces its way to the forefront of your mind once again.
‘i could’ve stopped it but i didn’t. what am i doing here?’
you rise to your feet shakily only to notice the entire battlefield is now dead silent. briefly, you wonder if you’ve become deaf instead but a quick scan of the terrain proves the entire war has come to a screeching halt.
you notice him almost instantly. how could you not? with his brilliant red hair and near-oppressive aura, one would have to be dead to not immediately be aware of Shanks’ presence on a battlefield, of all places.
unbeknownst to anyone but himself, the Emperor seeks out your face first above all else. whilst maintaining his hardened expression, his eyes scan the ruins of Marineford. although imperceptible to most, you catch the way his gaze softens when he finally finds you.
for the first time since Shanks’ started inserting himself into your life every moment he could, you wish so badly to be able to talk to him but are held back by circumstances.
you wish to tell him that you’re not so sure about this whole marine thing anymore; that you watched countless friends die and that you probably killed people in front of their friends, too; that witnessing your least favourite colleague brutally murder a young man makes you feel sick to your stomach.
you wish you could tell him that you still have his coat; that you keep it safe in your closet and bring it out only during particularly cold nights; that you haven’t washed it since you woke up buried underneath it several months ago because you didn’t want his scent to go away.
you wish you could say you regret not telling him you liked him, too, that one night; that you’ve been looking forward to his visits and when he stopped showing up for the past few months, you kept your eye on the news to make sure he wasn’t dead.
Shanks speaks to the crowd but none of his words register in your head. you only notice when his eyes flicker back to you, as though checking to make sure you’re still there.
by the time the dust has settled, you’ve both gone your separate ways without having exchanged a single word but with an unspoken mutual understanding that you will see one another again someday.
v.
the day Sengoku informs you that Sakazuki had defeated Kuzan on Punk Hazard is the same day you hand in your resignation letter.
“i’d rather tell you than Sakazuki.” you shrug when the soon-to-be ex-fleet admiral raises an eyebrow.
“you know that’s not exactly what i’m curious about, Kinryuu.” he’s putting on his ‘interrogation’ face but you know he’d never force you to say what you want to keep secret. Sengoku’s always had a soft spot for you, that’s probably why he doesn’t reject your resignation.
“i just…” you chew on your tongue, contemplating how to put your feelings into words. “after the Paramount War, i feel like this job isn’t for someone like me.”
he nods thoughtfully. the regretful events of that fateful day haunt him, too.
“very well. what will you do in the future, though?” he asks. “surely you won’t become a pain in the World Government’s side, right? you’ll use your Devil Fruit responsibly and not have your face printed on a wanted poster… correct?” Sengoku stares at you intensely as he warns you in the least subtle way possible.
you can’t help but laugh and a smile breaks across the older man’s face as well.
“i’ll make sure to not cause any trouble until after you’re retired, how about that?” you offer your hand for him to shake. he squints at you but shakes it anyway because deep down he knows the kind of person you are. he’s watched over you ever since you joined as a cadet, after all.
somewhere in the back of his mind, Sengoku even thinks that perhaps the New World will be a better place when you’re freed from the shackles of the marines’ code of justice. but he’ll just have to wait and see.
vi.
just a week after New Marineford is established, a familiar ship drops its anchor dangerously close to its borders. Inspector General Sengoku is the first to notice since he’d just happened to be lounging by the seaside with a bag of rice crackers when the Red Force made its appearance.
“you should leave, Red-Hair,” Sengoku warns. the distance between his relaxation spot and the ship is just short enough for the pirates to hear him clearly. “the new fleet admiral won’t be as lenient as i used to be, i’ll tell you that.”
“i’ll leave once Admiral Kinryuu tells me to!” he proclaims with a laugh and a fresh bouquet in his hand.
“she resigned. she’s gone and don’t ask me where to because i have no clue.”
the silence that follows is deafening.
behind him, Shanks’ crew watches as his shoulders sink and the bouquet drops to the deck with a sad thud.
“if anything, as someone who mentored her,” Sengoku continues as he dusts the rice cracker crumbs off his shirt, “i don’t think you should pursue her any longer. she deserves to live out her life in peace and i’m not confident that’s something an Emperor of the New World can securely provide.”
there’s no malice in the older man’s words but the sentiment stings anyway, not because Shanks particularly cares about what others think but because he knows Sengoku’s not entirely wrong. the truth that he’d kept tightly locked away for years was now breaking free and forcing its way to the very forefront of his mind.
vii.
for the next several months, the general mood aboard the Red Force is… not great.
sure, the captain of the ship still performs his rightful duties with a smile on his face but, to the higher-ranking members at the very least, it never looks quite right. it’s always a tad too unnatural, too forced, too sad.
Shanks has also been drinking significantly more which is, frankly, quite concerning considering the entire crew is full of alcoholics and even they feel like he needs to slow down a little.
in hushed tones, when their captain isn’t around, the crew members make a habit of exchanging intel about the possible whereabouts of the ex-admiral who’d stolen the Emperor’s heart and never gave it back. they chart maps, make discreet phone calls to landbound old friends, and pour over every news article in hopes of gaining even an iota of information.
all of their efforts remain woefully fruitless.
in their desperate bid to save their poor heartbroken captain’s soul, they’d forgotten who they’re dealing with: a prodigy, Cipher Pol-trained, Devil Fruit-user ex-marine admiral… who can fly.
the gradual revelation that they’d only find you if you wanted to look for them took a toll on the pirates, further souring the already-terrible mood aboard the ship. that is, at least, until a golden dragon descends upon their deck one sunny Friday afternoon.
by the time your feet hit the ground, you’re back to your normal form. although to the Red-Haired Pirates, you look awfully out of place without your marine uniform on, the coat over your shoulders looks familiar enough that they know your appearance can mean nothing but good news.
“mind if i pay your captain a visit?” you ask no one in particular, with a smirk on your face. you figure that enough of them are gawking at your sudden arrival that surely one would step up to give you an answer.
true enough, the first mate volunteers to lead you to Shanks’ quarters.
as you trail quietly behind the larger man, you recall all the times Shanks bragged about how great his crew is and how Beckman, in particular, is someone he holds in high regard. in spite of his silence, you can feel the first mate’s warmth; especially when he grumbles a “good luck” before leaving you outside Shanks’ door.
after taking a deep breath, you knock, and when there’s no response, you decide to just let yourself in. if you forgave Shanks for crawling into your office through your window, surely he won’t make a fuss about you coming into his room–after giving him the courtesy of knocking, even.
as you gently push the door open, you’re immediately hit with a wave of the scent that’s been fading from the coat that was lent to you all those months ago. your heart flutters at the familiar smell and now that you’re here, you never want to leave.
Shanks is lying in bed, face-down. you wonder if he can even breathe like that.
upon hearing the intrusion, he waves his hand carelessly, a silent “get out” to someone he presumes is part of his crew.
“and here i thought you’d be happier to see me.”
his body practically flies off his mattress, like a corpse reanimated after being struck by an obscenely large bolt of lightning. he tumbles ungracefully to the floor, tired eyes wide open as he gawks at you. his mouth opens and closes, as though he has so many things to say that he can’t decide what should come first.
the light casting in from the open door behind you gives you an almost-ethereal glow and for a moment Shanks wonders if he’d actually died and snuck his way into heaven. it’s only when you come closer to kneel in front of him with a concerned–and also mildly amused–look on your face does he realise this is real.
“hey.” you smile, reaching out your hand to brush his messy hair out of his face. his eyes flutter shut at the comforting sensation, only to spring back open when you cup his face between both hands to pull him in for a kiss.
something in Shanks’ chest explodes upon contact. your lips feel soft against his and they taste mildly of strawberry. he reaches up to cup your left hand with his own, nuzzling into your warm touch as he hoists himself onto his knees and leans closer into the kiss.
his eyelids quiver shut when he feels you lick his bottom lip, seeking permission that he very enthusiastically gives. when your tongue touches his, he releases a moan so embarrassing that he would not blame you for leaving right now after hearing it.
little does the Emperor know, the silly sound only fuels the burning in your chest even more. you deepen the kiss even further, pouring years’ worth of unspoken feelings into a single moment of intimacy. by the time you pull away for air, both your lips are swollen and shining with spit as you pant to catch your breath.
still, even though your lips have separated, your hands remain holding his face. you tenderly rub his cheeks with the calloused pads of your thumbs, taking note of the darkness of the skin directly under his eyes.
“bad sleep?” you ask softly.
“bad everything,” Shanks replies without missing a beat. “until now.” you smile apologetically before leaning over to press a kiss to his forehead.
“sorry i took a few detours before coming to find you, Shanks,” you murmur.
hearing his given name finally leave your lips flips a switch in his brain. without thinking, he catches you off-guard by lunging forward, wrapping his arm firmly around your middle as he buries his face into your tummy. the rumbling of your laughter soothes every ache of his, inside and out.
“say it again,” he asks, words muffled.
“Shanks?” you feel his fingers clench onto the fabric of your shirt.
“Shanks,” you say again, louder this time, and he takes a deep, unsteady breath.
“Shanks, my love.” you wrap your arms around his head as his body begins to tremble. in an effort to soothe him, you run your fingers through his red hair, scratching your nails gently against his scalp.
as he basks in the warmth of your body and the scent of your skin, Shanks thinks about all the things he’s been wanting to tell you. for now, however, he chooses to savour the moment he’s been dreaming about for years, knowing full well you’re finally here to stay.
⋆.𐙚 ̊ ft. monster trio, law, ace x fem reader (seperate)
style: uncapitalised headcanons, modern au
in which: you challenge the one piece boys at a round of just dance ♡
fluff, humor, established relationship (dating/married idk)
warnings: i mean i sure hope the characters aren't ooc LOL
ALSO I ADDED IN THE SONG THAT THEY WOULD DANCE WITH YOU TO BUT YOU CAN CHANGE IF YOU WANT
monkey d. luffy: hips don't lie by shakira
you make the mistake of saying “bet i could beat you at just dance.”
he accepts immediately, obviously.
he has absolutely no idea what the heck just dance is, and he thinks that the only goal is to dance as hard as possible.
“so, i just jump around, right?? i can do that!”
you try to tell him that’s not the point, but he continues anyway.. lol
before the game even starts, he’s bouncing on the balls of his feet, asking if there are prizes for winning
you roll your eyes playfully instead and just grin. “why don’t you try and beat me to find out?”
during the game, he keeps missing his own moves because he's always looking over at you and laughing whenever you miss a move
LMAO every time he gets a perfect, he celebrates immediately, which causes him to miss.. the next five moves.
wow, luffy
real slick there buddy
anyways, he treats every round/song like a life or death competition... for about three minutes.
after those minutes pass, he's back to staring at you lol
halfway through a song, he asks "why are the background dancers dressed like that?"
you have no words.
by the end of the night, you both are laughing too hard to care about the scores
a little blurb:
you're both dancing (well not really for luffy), but he keeps pausing and staring at you, which loses his focus. a minute later, he notices your score.
then his.
his jaw drops.
"WAIT."
you raise an eyebrow, still (somehow) managing to keep up with the screen. "what?"
"why are you winning by so much??"
"because i'm doing the dance."
he pouts. "hey, i'm doing it too!"
you look and him, and he looks at you.
you both know it's a lie.
roronoa zoro: animals by martin garrix
getting zoro to actually play is harder than beating him at it in score.
"play with me!" you'll tell him, shoving a remote into his hand.
he'll turn away like a tsundere. "no."
"why?" you ask
"looks stupid."
"you're stupid, you scaredy-cat!"
he narrows his eyes. "i'm not scared."
you point and laugh, "scaredy cat!!"
ten minutes later, he's standing in front of the tv, looking like he'd been drafted against his will.
the first song is a disaster. not because he's bad, but because every singly move he makes turns out to look robotic ASF
you're laughing so hard, you're barely paying attention to your own screen.
he glares at you, "what is it, woman."
"you're litersally fighting the music."
"i am not."
either way, if he wins, he'll bring it up forever.
if he loses, he'll demand a rematch—and you're going to have to beg him for any other physical attention (he'll fold eventually dwdw)
little blurb:
while you're playing, he notices that you keep laughing at him.
and as you may know, roronoa zoro does not like getting laughed at...
so suddenly, he starts trying harder. like, genuinely trying to do the dance moves on teh screen
and that is way scarier...
his score starts climbing—fast.
"wait." you try to 'intervene'.
"hm?" he keeps dancing. curse this man and his insane stamina.
"WAIT." IT'S NOT WORKING. HIS SCORE'S STILL CLIMBING.
"what is it, lady." he side-eyes you WHILE STILL DANCING.
"STOP LEARNING." you panic.
"no."
vinsmoke sanji: timber by pitbull + kesha
sanji walks into the challenge confidently, already convinced he'll win.
"my love, i should warn you." he sighs dramatically
"warn me?"
"i'm naturally gifted."
you raise an eyebrow "at dancing?"
he gives you a closed-eye smile. "at everything."
when you start, he'll start adding dramatic flourishes at the ends of every move that earn him absolutely no points.
extra spins.
extra poses.
jumps.
finger guns.
the game does not care, man.
he always insists on doing the two-player one female, one male dancer songs
when you win, he'll do one of two things:
pepper you with love and adoration that you won
or protest.
in the end, you've gotta pepper him with love as well, or your dinner might come out a little cold.
just kidding, he would never treat you like that! he might just act way more grouchy than usual
little blurb:
the problem while you play is that he keeps looking at you instead of the screen, and then blame you when he misses points.
every few seconds: "you look beautiful."
MISS.
"that's soooo cute!"
MISS.
"i like your shirt, heh"
MISS.
finally, you take matters into your own hands. "SANJI"
"WHAT."
"PLAY THE GAME ALREADY."
by the way, it fails.
portgas D. Ace: gagnam style by PSY
ace is confident. very confident.
WAY too confident.
"im gonna destroy you, love." OOP
"you've never even played."
"that doesn't matter." and then he'll smirk (OH MY GOODNESS sorry back to the fic)
it matters.
a lot.
he misses the first move, then laughs.
then, he misses another move because he's laughing
and then laughs harder.
before long, neither of you are actually dancing...
he loses horribly.
like, catastrophically. worse than sanji
the scores aren't even close, and yet you're both still laughing (ah, young love)
"good—" he starts laughing again.
"ace, that wasn't even close. you lost by six thousand points." you stare at him, trying not to laugh with him.
"a win is a mindset, what can i say?"
in the end, you'll just laugh with him—it gets lowk awkward just standing there staring...
little blurb:
halfway through the song, he'll start asking some very... questionable questions.
"why is that background dancer dressed like that?"
"ace."
"what?"
"that 'background character' is a pixel tall. how do you even spot what they're wearing?" you roll your eyes playfully.
"i'm just askingg" he'll whine
"dance."
"I AM DANCING."
he's standing completely still.
trafalgar d. law: whip/nay nay by silento
law says no.
repeatedly.
and somehow, he's standing right in front of the TV.
the moment the game starts, you realise you've made a huge mistake.
because he's studying it.
actually studying it.
like he's preparing for an exam.
"law."
"hm." he says, his eyes trained on the screen
"why are you concentrarting so hard?"
"i'm not."
liar.
his movements aren't flashy—they're controled and precise.
annoyingly precise.
every move is somehow, exactly right
you hate it. (AS A JOKE I SWEAR)
if he wins, he gets unbearably smug
not obvious smug, law smug.
which is somehow worse.
he'll glance at the scoreboard and go, "good game."
you throw the controller at him.
he catches it.
geez, you showoff.
little blurb:
when you beat him once, you'll feel all proud and respected and happy for yourself. and then, he'll just beat all the hope down in the most nonchalant way possible.
"ha!"
"interesting."
"why'd you say it like that?"
"no reason."
within the next twenty seconds, his score suddenly jumps by almost a thousand points.
wow, dude.
a/n so erm i had some ideas and then i had none again... can ygs tell i wrote half of luffys on google docs bcs of the quotation marks and then gave up?? LMAO
- ❝request; You're shorter than your man, too short to reach for a kiss unless you tiptoe, tug on his collar and have him lean down for you, that is.❞
˚₊‧꒰ა Tags ໒꒱ ‧₊˚: Suggestive themes, fluff, teasing, short!reader; SFW. Reader is she/her. 𓂃۶ৎ wc: 300 for each seperate fic, roughly.
₊˚ʚ Characters/status: Rob Lucci, Sir Crocodile, Trafalgar D. Water Law, Donquixote Doflamingo, Roronoa Zoro (established relationship ˖ ໒꒱)
❝ ᝰ.ᐟ note: Oda make Mlem and Lucci canon already, thanks! >ᴗ<❞
Rob Lucci 𓏲 ࣪˖♡𓂃
He gave you a brow. Hands in his pocket, wearing a dark suit and watching you with darker eyes.
“Have you no dignity?” His voice is flat, cold but you don’t care.
You keep tiptoeing, lips still pouting and hands fisting his shirt. Pulling him. “Robbie… please, just one kiss.”
His brow line creases. Half-offended. “Don’t… call me that.”
You hum, going back to your feet. Pouting.
He’s not indulging you. Not moving one inch to kiss your lips.
Fine then.
It’s war.
You’ll nag him till he gives in.
“Luuuuci, pleaseee,” you whine out and he sighs through his nose as you keep tiptoeing up.
No answer. Just condescension seeping through his gaze.
You keep tugging, whining and only when you hear Kaku’s voice calling you both from a distance do you stop. Glancing to the source of his echo. And when you let go of Rob’s collar, eyes drifting away to the distance and heels padded fully on the floor—does he place a hand on your jaw, sliding your face to meet his gaze.
And you blink.
long, dark hair trail down your face. Tickling your shoulders, as one smooth motion of his hand slide down your hips to the small of your back, bringing you up to meet his lips.
Rob’s calloused fingers digs into your flesh, forcing a whine to leave your mouth, which he seals with a kiss. muffling you.
And the kiss is not soft but raw—pushing, claiming, forcing you to lean back so to retain footing but his hand on your jaw has made its way to the back of your hair. Forcing you deeper into his kiss.
And when Kaku’s footsteps trudge closer, only then does Rob part from you—lips clicking, strings of saliva between your tongue as he straightens himself, and your cheeks burn at the sight of his face.
Smug, cocky and entirely pleased with himself.
Jerk.
Sir Crocodile 𓏲 ࣪˖♡𓂃
Sir Crocodile was giving you a look… quite similar from what he gives that tardy clown except there is a hint of amusement in it. But only a hint.
You were pulling on his vest, frowning.
It’s been ten whole minutes and he’s not budging.
Meanie.
“Sir… please.”
He gives you a brow, a corner of his grin going up.
“Please, what?”
Your cheeks burn flushed. “You know what.”
He tilts his head to the side, ash falling off his cigar. “No, I don’t. Indulge me.”
Your knuckles clenches, tugging at the fabric of his shirt.
He’s taunting you! What a rude little….
“You look like you’re about to explode, need a hand with anything?”
“You—…” You bite your tongue, trying to tiptoe even higher, pull his shirt even harder.
You start growing frustrated and embarrassed, but he’s been so handsome the whole day, you can’t imagine yourself leaving without kissing him—but it’s been a whole ten minutes, and still! He’s not budging.
The frustration starts to make you teary, hands clutching the fabric of his shirt so hard you feel like you’re going to tear it off of him and only then—when your eyes start glaze with tears, and your breathing starts growing hot with fury, does he lean in.
Arms unfolding. One last smoke taken before the cigar is dropped to the ground. Hook landing around your waist, tugging you closer as he grabs your ass, ringed fingers digging into the soft of your flesh as he lifts you up by the back.
Meeting his lips.
The kiss is soft, faint—until you press deeper, further, growing desperate enough that his tongue skims over your lips. Your heart starts beating out of your chest, hard and erratic as the kiss grows hotter, heavier, wet sounds escaping you both.
And when he parts? Setting you down by the ground?
It’s all smugness and adoration.
His larger hand making it to the side of your face.
“Be a good girl and fetch a new cigar in my jacket for me.” his voice rasps, thumb rubbing your lower lip.
And that’s all he has to offer for you to pad across the room. Face completely burnt.
Trafalgar D. Water Law 𓏲 ࣪˖♡𓂃
“What are you doing.”
“What does it look like, Law!?” You huff out, toes starting to ache as you try and tiptoe further up. And Law looks at you like he should take pity on you or mock you completely.
“Law, please, just—”
“Just what?” He muses, smirk coming into place and your cheeks burn.
“Please. Just, one kiss,” your voice comes out soft, too soft and it makes him want to tease you harder.
“Why should I? Last time I checked, you called me a jerk.”
“That was two days ago!”
“And still no apology.”
You clutch onto his collar with both of your hands, trying to tug him down but he’s not budging, and the smug grin of his isn’t either.
“please Law…”
“go on, please what?”
Your brows pull, face turning into fire, “Please, I'm sorry… Can you kiss me?”
Law tilts his head, the expression he wears on his face is untelling—the grin hasn’t dropped, the cockiness as prevalent as ever and your heart beats into a storm at the sight of it. Knuckles clenching, cheeks sizzling and brows pulled hard enough to form a vein. And just when you think he’ll mock you once more, do you feel his hands land on your shoulders, sliding down your ribs, slow and streaming—landing under your butt, lifting you off your feet.
the gap closes and the friction of clothes grinding between one another makes you arch, as he lands his mouth on yours.
Pushing, claiming, and you feel his tongue skimming over yours—and on instinct—you suck.
The kiss grows hot, wet; saliva and groans exchanging between you two, parting only to breathe.
For a moment, Law only looks at you.
Taking in your features.
Breath hot on your face, and something soft settles in his gaze.
His voice low, almost a mumble under his breath and you barely catch it.
“Pretty.”
You blink. “What—?”
He kisses you again. Pushing your ass even further up, and you whine into it.
Yeah.
You two are going to be kissing for a good while.
Donquixote Doflamingo 𓏲 ࣪˖♡𓂃
He was being a mean, rude, cocky, snobby and a barbarous little shitbird about your situation.
And it makes you seethe, hands tugging onto the pink feather of his coat.
Pulling, yanking, face fuming with frustration as you stare up his stupid handsome face.
“Doffy… please, just lean down.”
He has the audacity to snort out loud and you scoff, offended.
Your cheeks burn into fire, swallowing your pride—you’re not giving up, not yet.
“You’re mean.” You huff and he takes a strand of your hair between his fingers, twirling it.
“Yeah? If I’m so mean, the why are you beggin’ for a kiss, hmm?”
You pull out the trump card. “Because I love you.”
And he freezes.
You decide to go in for the kill — you give him that doe eyed look, the coquettish, begging one. “Please Doffy.” Your voice is soft, pleading, “Just one, it’s all I want.”
Doflamingo flicks your hair from his fingers, hand grabbing your jaw, as he leans down—slamming his mouth into yours.
And the taste of wine, cocktails, pineapple juice and corruption seeps all into you; his tongue sloshes over yours. Wet, hot and messy as he forces you deeper into it, possessive hands travelling down your waist and latching onto your hips. Hoisting you up.
The kiss starts growing sloppy; clicking sounds and moans slipping every time you tilt into a new angle.
And when you part, its only to breathe, huff and ground yourself. Head dizzy. Doflamingo’s forehead nudging yours.
“You love me, huh? Then you have no one to blame but yourself.” He grins, and it’s not sweet or adoring, no—it’s got wickedness written all over it; but you know what’s worse?
He is right. This is no one’s fault, but your own.
Roronoa Zoro 𓏲 ࣪˖♡𓂃
You were practically doing mini jumps to get to this man.
Tiptoeing. Neck arching. Hands tugging his collar as he gives you a long, long stare.
Arms crossed.
“Zoro.”
“No.”
You tug his shirt. “Zoro!”
“No.”
“Please!”
“Still; no.”
This is how it has been between you two for ten minutes.
You’ve been trying to steal a kiss, he’s been watching your failed attempts with the most aloof, most unbothered, most ‘this-gotta-be-a-joke-but-I-also-dont-want-it-to-end-just-yet’ face ever.
You were leaning forward, he was leaning back.
“You’re not giving me a chance!”
“So?” He gives you a brow and your face pulls into a frown. Cheeks starting to burn.
“Lean down. Please.”
Zoro blinks, slowly, before eventually tilting his head to the side, a cocky smirk coming into place.
“Sure.”
You regain some hope, tiptoeing further up, straining yourself even.
“Really!?”
“Yeah. if you beg.”
At that, your face sullen once more.
“I’ve been begging.”
“Yeah? Well, I guess you don’t want to kiss me that badly then—” He unfolds his arms, moving away and you panic. Latching harder onto him.
“Please!” You tug him towards you, ignoring the widening grin on his face.
“Please, please kiss me, please it’s all I want. Just one.”
“You want it that bad huh?”
You swallow your pride, and nod.
And at that, he scoffs. Hands going to your ass, groping, squeezing as he lifts you off the ground, his crotch grind against yours, fabric causing friction between one another as he hoists you further up—meeting his lips.
Soft. Sweet.
Lips clicking when he parts.
And he gives you a smaller smile, “Happy?”
“As if.” You lock your arms over his shoulders, bringing you two into a kiss once more.
And this time, it’s deeper, longer and messier. you have decided to reap your reward to the fullest.
❝Hiding your devil fruit from everyone is the only rule. Unless it's your crush.❞
PAIRING: Monkey D. Luffy ╱ fem!reader
TAGS: fluff, angst, the timeline starts at Thriller Bark and contains spoilers up to Egghead
WORDS COUNT: 13k
LOU'S NOTES: Hi! English is not my first language, so let me know if you see any mistake, I would be very grateful <3
The sea obeyed your voice.
Its waters danced and whispered just for you, caressing your feet and soothing your pains, thrilling your soul with its gentle mirages that carried you back home. Pleased to embrace you in its waves once more. Pleased with your return.
The sea waited for you for centuries. Patient. Longing. Tearful.
No soul had been born who could tame its ferocity. The times were divine, rushing to shore without coinciding with him could be a catastrophe. So it forced itself to endure. To tolerate the pain. To tolerate the desire to see him again.
It remained hidden under the wing of a specific family, protected by them on a remote island in Grand Line, for centuries without being disturbed. They passed the word down from parents to children, grandparents to grandchildren. That devil fruit, kept in a locked chest, with its peculiar conch shell shape that glowed in shades of blue and light blue, was not to be consumed.
The fruit would choose its bearer. Like no other, it would sing to attract whoever it desired, until it made them carry an unknown destiny. Anyone who coveted it wrongly would be punished.
And everyone learned to respect it.
You had always been curious. Why was your family the only one who knew about its existence and could take care of it, when there were so many others on the island? Why couldn't anyone else even get close enough to appreciate it? What was known about that devil fruit was passed on by word of mouth. Your aunt had told you about its appearance during a festival in the village, while dancing with laughter, one jump after another, to the rhythm of "don, don, don, don", but she didn't know if it was real either. Someone else had told her about it.
Your grandmother wouldn't let anyone near the old temple on the highest hill on the island. The task of caring for it was relegated to a few women in the family, those who had the gift of hearing. Hearing what? You thought it was nonsense. How could anyone hear a fruit? As a child, you couldn't make sense of it.
But curiosity kept you awake.
And you understood everything at the age of seven.
A festival to an ancient god was being celebrated in the village. Sitting on a bench —a tree trunk cut down by your father—, you admired those present. There it was again. That rhythm. That dance. It was fun, it was playful, it was free. The huge smiles on their faces were something that only that dance could give.
The dance of Nika.
They did it once a month, as if trying to call him, intending him to join in the fun if he saw them, and something inside you told you that this god would do just that. He would join them with a huge laugh. And the party would never end.
But what was happening here was more than just a party. It was a plea. The people of your village and your family believed that he would return to save them. And someone important would come with him.
You shook your head from side to side, playing with the fabric of your white dress when you heard it.
A melancholic voice sang melodies that pressed on your heart. You were too young to understand the longing behind that song, the pain of loss. Its slowness differed from the joy in Nika's rhythm.
You covered your ears, not wanting to hear any more. But it was calling you. It was making you get up from your seat against your will.
Under the watchful gaze of your grandmother, whom you could not see through the sea of people, you made your way towards the forest. The old woman heard the crying in that song, more intense than ever. It was different from what it always whispered to her. Now it was crying out for you.
You followed the path with a grimace. It was lit by small golden lanterns shaped like flowers. Despite your fear of being scolded for entering the forbidden area, you couldn't help but follow that voice. Its broken song gradually changed, becoming a little more cheerful. Enough so as not to break your heart. You wondered if this is what the song of the sirens sounded like, the ones you read about in your book, the ones who lived on gyojin island.
You stopped in front of the temple. How many minutes had it taken you to climb the hill? You had lost track of time while enveloped in those melodies.
Seeing it up close took your breath away. Tall marble pillars surrounded by ivy stood before you. A glass dome revealed the interior of the place, making your blood run cold.
A golden statue of a woman stood in the middle, surrounded by water. Would you sink if you approached it? Or would it be shallow, free to walk towards it? That woman looked up at the sky with her back to you, her arms outstretched, her fingers curved as if touching something.
Was she singing? Could a statue sing? Or was it...? You searched with your eyes until you found it. A chest rested at her feet, surrounded by vines. As if it had never been touched before.
But something in that voice asked you to. Something in that woman's position begged you for something.
You dipped your tiny feet into the water and a sigh of relief escaped from within you when the water only reached your hips. For an adult, it would reach their knees or lower.
You walked across the slimy ground covered in seaweed, pouting in disgust. Your grandmother protected this place, but it seemed she didn't clean it, given its condition.
The singing grew softer as you got closer. The moonlight made the statue look more beautiful, but its golden colour would shine brighter in the sun.
When you reached its feet, which were in front of your face, you raised your hands to the vines, pulling them off one by one. The chest, once freed, looked old. Conveniently, a key lay beside it. You shook your head in confusion. No one had stolen it in centuries, and you had made it there without anyone stopping you. What were they afraid of? It was silly to fear a fruit. Surely it had some foolish power, like the men on the reward posters that arrived every week. There were a few incredible powers, but there were also fruits that seemed bad to you.
You inserted the key into the lock, opening the chest carefully so as not to break it. You widened your eyes in amazement when you saw it. It shone in shades of blue and light blue, shaped like a seashell. So this was what the devil's fruit looked like. You took it in your hands, not knowing that you were being allowed to do so. Not knowing that your destiny was being forged.
Standing by the island's beach, with the celebration behind her, your grandmother smiled softly. The clock was ticking again.
He had already been born and consumed his fruit, and he had chosen you at the same time to accompany him.
With the sudden violence of the sea that night, the people dancing merrily and a little girl spitting in a temple alone, the old woman welcomed the goddess of the sea.
The "Hito Hito no Mi, model: Naia" had chosen its bearer.
Your growth since that night had been quite an adventure. Your grandmother had told you things, like the name of the fruit and where it came from. The reason why your family had protected it for generations and generations finally had an answer. You were direct descendants of Naia, but the goddess was jealous and refused to choose a woman before the time. You didn't know who she was waiting for, and the old woman didn't have a concrete answer. Only old beliefs that had been instilled in her, which she couldn't vouch for as being true.
But if you were there, in front of her, surrounded by fish that seemed to be talking to you, then there was a chance that he was also in another sea.
The longer you lived in the village, the more miracles happened. The famine ceased with the increasing abundance of fish. Your unconscious attracted large fish and beasts from the Grand Line, which were hunted to feed the villagers. They ate through tears, thanking the sun god for his help, without knowing who was really responsible.
Ships began to stop there. After four years, your voice began to attract sailors, bounty hunters, and pirates. With their visits, the families around you were able to support themselves. The imminent improvement in the standard of living among these villagers caught the attention of the world government. An island was rising and should not remain outside their hands, living according to their laws. Abiding by the rules was the best they could do.
However, no one could accept it. The hatred in their hearts consumed them alive. These people were not the kind who wanted to be protected by the marine or receive the light of the world government by paying tribute. No. These people had their beliefs, beliefs that those above despised. Beliefs for which they would seek to silence them.
Your grandmother knew that your devil fruit would bring trouble. If the legends were true, the search for your existence would be relentless.
A woman with the ability to control the sea was an aberration to everyone who admired her. A forbidden existence hidden like a myth.
But myths had an origin and, in turn, someone who tried to destroy them.
As a very young girl, you had no control over the sea. The strong emotions he was unaccustomed to sent him into a frenzy. Your cries stirred up hurricanes, impossible to stop until your heart was calm again. Your anger violently shook the waves, your sudden outbursts calling forth tsunamis.
Their frequency was not something that the world government —who kept their eyes on the island that was suddenly making a name for itself— could ignore. Marines disguised as sailors or ordinary tourists came and went, reporting what they saw. Was that island changing its magnetic field? After centuries of maintaining the same one? Or was something beyond their control happening?
It was after a huge earthquake and a subsequent tsunami, one that was out of the ordinary, with waves so big that they flooded the coast and left the island without a port, that your grandmother made the decision to expel you. CP0 began prowling the area when you were seventeen. They walked around looking at all the women, with instructions to pay special attention to the youngest ones.
Any who showed abnormalities. Any who seemed to interact unnaturally with the sea. Any who talked to fish.
The one who could be the woman the five elders wanted desperately.
Your grandmother, your aunt, and your mother did everything in their power. Sooner or later, those government agents would find the temple to the goddess Naia, confirming the suspicions of the celestial dragons. That temple, that golden statue facing the sun, was the only one in the world.
Those who knew her believed she had died, leaving no trace of her passage through life, a woman who would never set foot in such a rotten place again. But there she was, laughing in their faces, always hidden, always waiting for the right moment to return.
The three women in your family knew that news of such magnitude would not sit well. Everyone was in danger, not just you. And they were willing to face them as long as they could be reunited.
Your mother pulled you by the hand, all of them covering their mouths to stifle their tired gasps. The forest was the village's domain, illuminated in every corner, trees marked to indicate the paths back home. Your aunt carried a bag of clothes and your grandmother led the way.
They came upon a flooded coastline. Four villagers were holding onto tree trunks, pulling on ropes tied to the boat to keep it steady. They had placed two barrels of provisions inside. You looked at everyone in alarm, not knowing what to say, not wanting to leave.
This island was your home. Everyone had watched you grow up. Why did you have to leave everything behind? Just because of an ancient legend that no one knew was real?
The old woman placed her hands on your cheeks after your aunt had wrapped the bag around your body.
"You must flee, child." She whispered.
You shook your head, frightened. Yes, your devil fruit seemed to control the sea, but you had never sailed. You had never gone out into the world. And you would not be going out onto a calm sea. You lived in Grand Line, and out there were fearsome pirates, the yonko sailed those waters.
"It's for your own good. And for the good of the world." She tucked your hair behind your ear with trembling hands. "One day you'll understand."
"I don't want to go." You whispered, looking at your mother pleadingly.
"It is Naia's will." Your grandmother called your attention again. "You, Y/N, must continue living."
Naia, that mythical goddess again. What did it matter if you were her chosen one for something you couldn't understand?
"Lie. Don't talk about your devil fruit. Don't reveal it to anyone. That way you can survive." Your mother's words squeezed your heart.
"Don't worry about us, we'll be fine." Your aunt said with a smile.
"Destiny will bring the two of you together." Murmured the older woman.
Her kisses on your forehead, the calm sea as the villagers lifted you onto the boat, their hands waving in the distance, your uncontrollable crying.
You didn't know how long you had cried as the small boat sailed on its own course. The sea remained calm around you as it carried you as far away as possible from your native island. An island where government agents searched relentlessly for a young woman who fit the description, interrogating and silently murdering those who refused to cooperate.
At some point, your eyes closed after crying for so long, each tear altering the sea around your island, unknowingly embracing the lifeless bodies of many girls you called your friends, as well as those of adults and elderly women. Among them, your family.
All protecting a goddess who would help a new dawn arrive.
Usopp prepared his bait, ready to catch something. They hadn't put anything in the aquarium for days. Luffy had put another shark in, and it had eaten all the fish, leaving them without provisions, without meat. Their captain was more unbearable than ever, and he had only gone a day and a half without eating meat.
He cast his line, humming his song as he tapped his feet. The sun burned his skin, and the sea seemed particularly calm that day. Would he catch anything if no fish came near the worms he had stolen from Robin's garden?
Zoro left his weight on the ground, opening the window of the crow's nest.
"Oi, there's something shining in the water." He announced.
Usopp raised his fishing rod, looking for his binoculars. Nami and Robin put down their magazines and books and stood up.
"Something shiny? Treasure?" Nami asked, smiling.
"I want to see!" Luffy shouted, opening the kitchen door. His rubber arms stretched out to the deck railing, throwing himself towards it to get there faster.
Robin smiled as she watched him jump up and down excitedly. Soon the others arrived, crowding around the railing. Chopper was lifted up by Zoro, who sat him on his shoulder so he could see better. Sanji stood next to them, smoking.
"We have to catch it!" Said Luffy.
"Oi, Luffy, wait." Usopp murmured, placing a hand on his shoulder. "First we need to see what it is from a distance."
"We can always throw it back into the sea." Added Robin.
"You're so scary!" Shouted Usopp.
"Luffy, bring that shiny thing over here." Ordered Nami to the rubber boy, looking excitedly at the glint in the distance.
The captain's arms stretched out as far as they could, pulling the small boat towards the Sunny Go at a speed that the sea offered no resistance to. Refusing to protect her from him.
"I see barrels!" Chopper shouted.
"Super!" Franky celebrated.
"Will they have food? I hope it's in good condition." Said Sanji.
"I hope it's treasure..." Nami said dreamily, clasping her hands together with a huge smile.
"I hope it doesn't kill us." Usopp lamented, thinking it was a trap.
"We can always throw it back into the sea." Robin repeated.
Luffy blinked, tilting his head to one side. Inside the boat was a girl, sleeping as if she weren't in the Grand Line. He pressed his lips together when he noticed the trail of tears on her cheeks. Her eyelashes were still wet, as if she had never stopped crying, even in her dreams.
"Chopper, we have to help her."
The seriousness in his tone alerted the crew. They looked closely, the sun no longer dazzling their eyes, revealing the figure trembling as she hugged a bag.
"We have to get her on board!" The crew's doctor ran to Franky after Zoro brought him down.
They all worked together without asking any questions yet.
There was a girl in their infirmary. A girl who had suddenly appeared amid those treacherous waters, sleeping as if she didn't care about the danger of her actions. A girl who was burning with fever while the little reindeer placed damp cloths on her forehead.
Sanji made tea for everyone while they waited for news from the doctor, curious about her identity.
"I checked her belongings. There was nothing with her name on it. Just clothes and food." Robin commented.
Nami tucked a strand of her short hair behind her ear and sighed.
"All we can do is wait for her to wake up."
"How did she survive?" Murmured Zoro, leaning against the kitchen wall with his arms crossed.
"It's a mystery. Falling asleep in Grand Line with all the pirates around who could have killed her..." Robin shook her head.
"Lucky we found her." Nami acknowledged.
Sanji was holding back, but the soft smile on his face and the multiple turns he made while serving tea told everyone how happy he was with the presence of another woman in the crew. The swordsman insulted him under his breath, earning himself a kick, and then starting a fight.
Everyone ignored them, accustomed to their behaviour. As the hours passed, uncertainty grew among those present. They continued with their activities while you were being treated. All that remained was to wait for you to wake up and tell them about yourself.
You opened your eyes slightly, looking around in confusion. It wasn't your boat. There was no captivating sky above you. There were no waves rocking your body to calm your crying.
You sat up a little on the examination table, leaning on one elbow. The two lamps that illuminated the area provided good lighting. On your left were two small shelves with bottles, their labels showing you the names of their contents. Medicines. Looking to your right, a single desk stood with more medical instruments. Laboratory tubes with different coloured caps, a stone mortar, many books and posters with drawings, from lungs to bones.
But what caught your attention most was the creature sitting in the chair. It looked like a stuffed animal. You had never seen anything like it on your home island.
"Oh! You're awake!" A shrill voice startled you.
Did that stuffed animal talk?
"What are you?" You asked, raising your eyebrows. "Can you talk? Where am I?"
"I'm the doctor for this crew." He climbed onto a stool next to you to examine you.
You seemed to be feeling better. Sanji could prepare something to boost your strength.
"A pirate crew?" You whispered fearfully.
The worst-case scenario was being captured by pirates. You mentally berated yourself for not being more careful. For falling asleep. For not begging harder to stay at home.
"Wait here." Said the little one, adjusting his tiny doctor’s coat as he left what looked like the infirmary.
You found him cute, but you weren’t going to admit it. You had to escape, not succumb to this creature. You found your sandals next to the examination table and put them on. You climbed down, making as little noise as possible, and opened the door again. You found yourself on the deck, its grass making you gasp, but you covered your mouth so as not to be discovered.
You had to survive. You had to hide. That's what your grandmother would have wanted. Your mother. Your aunt. They had all given you the chance to live. You just hoped they were all right.
You ran towards the deck in search of your boat, but growled when you didn't see it.
"Wait! Don't jump!" A female voice shouted behind you.
You turned around fearfully. A beautiful woman with short orange hair was approaching you slowly, careful not to scare you any more.
"I'm Nami. The navigator of this crew." She introduced herself with a sweet smile.
"Am I on a pirate ship?"
"We're not like other pirates." The woman assured you.
"We're good!" Shouted the doctor behind her. "And you shouldn't be out of bed. You could get sick again."
"My angel, allow this cook to be your slave and treat you like the princess you are." Said a man crouching in front of you with a bowl of soup. It smelled good. Did he say slave?
You blinked in confusion.
"Why don't you become my slave and, as your first order, jump off the ship?" Said a man with green hair and two katanas at his waist.
The blond's eyebrow twitched and he turned towards the swordsman, kicking him.
"You're going to scare her." Said a melodious voice. A woman with black hair and bangs looked at you with a sweet gaze.
"You're not going to kill us, are you?" Asked a man with a long nose hiding behind the black-haired girl.
"I thought you were going to kill me."
"Usopp is afraid of cockroaches. You could kill him with that before he tries anything." Teased the orange-haired girl.
"Oi, Nami, why are you telling her that!?"
You watched them interact for a few minutes. They were... funny. Like a little family. They didn't look like the pirates you read about in your books or in the newspaper. The dreaded Rocks D. Xebec, the mighty Whitebeard, the youngest yonko Shanks. They were all intimidating, with powerful crews, but these pirates were strange.
You smiled softly, unaware of the gaze of a certain rubber boy sitting on the lion's head.
His eyes, curious about the girl in front of him, tried to find something he had seen before. Some trace of those tears that soaked your cheeks, as if the pain you carried was greater than you wanted to show. What you hid inside you would one day explode, but until then, until you let him see it, he only wanted one thing from you.
"Join my crew!" He shouted from above. "That way you won't have to go on that little boat."
You looked up, and the air around you seemed unreachable, forbidding you to have it as you lost yourself in that smile, so bright as it melted into the setting sun.
It wasn't like you to trust so quickly. It wasn't like you to wander around with your eyes closed, without trying to figure out other people's intentions. But nothing in his gaze, in their gazes, showed you any hostility or malice. That young man who stood above everyone else as their captain had a calming aura. As if everyone would be fine by his side. As if even the greatest dangers could not disturb them with him by their side.
You knew you could have refused that day. Sailed alone until you found another island. But wherever you went, you would carry the danger with you.
And along with them, you discovered that the danger was represented by their captain.
On your first day after agreeing to join, everyone introduced themselves to you. The doctor was called Chopper, a cute blue-nosed reindeer who loved telling you medical facts, eating cotton candy, and hated the heat. He knew a lot about medicinal herbs and had an incredible dream.
The beautiful black-haired woman was Nico Robin, wanted by the World Government for being the only survivor of Ohara. She was an archaeologist and her knowledge of everything dazzled you. They told you that they had defied the World Government to save her life, and your heart beat faster.
If they knew that CP0 was after you, would they fight for you? Could you be that important to them?
The navigator, Nami, had been part of the crew from the beginning. She liked to buy pretty clothes and treasures. But what fascinated you most was her knowledge of the weather, her ability to anticipate the sea. You didn't need to announce the whispers of those waters if she could interpret them.
The long-nosed guy, Usopp, served as a sniper. His weapon confused you, forcing you to shut your mouth when you saw him use it. He never missed a single shot, always hitting the target. Nami and Robin would bet, and the short-haired girl always won because she trusted him.
The green-haired man was Roronoa Zoro, who had earned a reputation as a pirate hunter. He was serious and slept a lot, but when he laughed, he laughed heartily. He also had a strange obsession with annoying the blond man. The cook with the weird phrases and compliments, Sanji. His meals were a delicacy, and he had taken the time to ask you what your favourite was so he could make it and make you smile.
The man who only wore swimming trunks was the ship's carpenter, Franky. He had built the Sunny Go, and you considered it a work of art. You complimented the aquarium, and the area would possibly become your favourite.
And the captain, Monkey D. Luffy. That boy with his silly rubber devil fruit that made you smile. He was cheerful, playful, and funny. If everyone was here, he must be someone trustworthy.
Everything about him caught your attention.
As the days passed, you allowed yourself to feel comfortable around them. Perhaps this wasn't what your grandmother would have preferred, but if these people were enemies of the world government, then there was no safer place for you and your true identity.
No one could find a faceless girl with forbidden abilities, let alone imagine that she was now a pirate.
You told them what you could about yourself. Saying your name or talking about where you were born was not a challenge. These people did not judge you or pry into your past, not if it did not directly affect them. You discovered that they tolerated being mocked, but they did not tolerate anyone talking to or touching their friends. It was a silent respect for one another, a fondness that went beyond understanding. They were friends, they were where they needed to be. Where they belonged.
And just as everyone had their role in the crew, you couldn't really find yours.
They didn't force you to learn how to fight like an expert, but they wanted to teach you the basics so you could defend yourself.
You couldn't reveal the truth about your devil fruit. You had only mentioned that you had one, but you didn't know its powers. You had never used it to attack, as you had never been forced or needed to do so. You had never seen what it limited you to and what it promised you. With the "Hito Hito no Mi, model: Naia", you could only hear fish and sea creatures. And there was something else. Something you had discovered that embraced you in your darkest moments.
The addition of Brook —a skeleton who played various instruments and sang, which almost gave you a heart attack when you saw him— helped a lot to maintain a façade. His devil fruit had worked after he died. Everyone assumed that yours would awaken when the time was right.
Living day to day, joke after joke, disaster after disaster, was relaxing you.
You played with water pistols with everyone, shared clothes with Nami and Robin (and at night you spoiled each other with face masks and massages), you laughed at Sanji and Zoro's fights, rejected the cook's attempts to take you on a date, played guessing games about what was inside Chopper's laboratory tubes to make him smile, gave Brook ideas for songs while you drank tea together, joined in Franky and Usopp's shooting competitions, betting on who would hit the target. Always trusting the sniper, winning berries that you shared with Nami.
Luffy taught you your little training sessions to learn how to defend yourself. More than once he found you staring at him blankly, thinking you didn't understand how to throw a good punch, when in reality you were just mesmerised. Enchanted by his joy. By his smile. By his disposition. By his beauty.
"You have to bring one arm back and then push with the other! Like this!" He said, frowning in concentration.
Nami and Robin watched them, both leaning against the railing on the upper floor, outside the room the three of you shared.
"Luffy always gets like this when he decides to take on a pupil..." Sighed the navigator. "Luffy, Y/N isn't a kung fu dugong!"
The rubber boy looked at you.
"You're not going to make it?" He lamented, lowering his arms. "Zoro! Lend her one of your katanas!"
"No way." Muttered the swordsman without opening his eyes, trying to sleep.
Preparing your mind and body to improve your defence, those weak blows you used to deliver, was something you never imagined you would have to do when you lived in your village. Keeping up with your captain and the crew's cook was torture. Kicks to the head, hips, legs. Punches to the chin, stomach, nose. They were trying to teach you something you could use in a complex situation, if you didn't have time to hide. Which seemed silly to you.
Luffy's dream was to become the pirate king.
A noble dream. A dream for the brave.
He talked to you about freedom, about how the freest man in the world would be the one who became the pirate king, and you listened to him. He would sit next to you after training, when Sanji left them alone to prepare a snack at sunset. The rubber boy talked about everything and nothing. The words flowed from him as if from an inexhaustible source.
In a short time, you got to know his older brother, Ace, who, impressively, was the commander of Whitebeard's second division. A certain Dadan who raised them both alongside some mountain bandits. A young woman named Makino who always brought them clothes and taught them manners. His grandfather Garp, who served as a vice admiral in the marine and always wanted to force him to join. The yonko Shanks, who was the original owner of his straw hat, with whom he had a mission to return it when he surpassed him. And his brother Sabo, who died as a child and whom he missed madly.
Luffy talked and talked, filling your silences, smiling at you when you said something. Patiently waiting for you to talk about yourself. Eagerly waiting for you to open up. For your freedom by his side. Because that was what he wanted most for his friends. For them to be free.
But what chance of freedom could he give them if he was suffering so much?
His reality hit him like cold water. He was there, and yet he wasn't.
His world was falling apart.
He had lost them all in Sabaody. He believed he was strong, he believed he could overcome anything with enough courage, with enough confidence. If he had them by his side, he could overcome anything that came his way. He would fight for his dream, for the dreams of his friends, for the dreams of the people he met along the way.
He would do everything possible to put a smile on their faces.
So why were they determined to take his smile away? Why did they make them disappear before his eyes? Why did they let him smile broadly when he saved his brother, only to force him to hold him in his arms as he whispered his last words? Why did they have to kill Ace? Why?
Luffy was devastated. Those who were present when he awoke heard his cries of agony in the jungle. His pleas for Ace. His questions about his whereabouts.
He banged his body against the trees. His head against the rocks. He cried uncontrollably, asking, begging, pleading. A soft "thank you for loving me" repeated over and over in his mind, breaking him as he hugged himself.
It was Jinbe who pulled him out of the constant spiral his thoughts were caught up in. The doubts that gnawed at him were stagnating. Luffy wanted to be strong. He wanted to be strong enough not to lose anyone else. He wanted to be strong enough to carry his brother's will with him so that one day he could look up at the sky and smile at him, showing him that he had succeeded. He had become the king of pirates.
The news of Whitebeard's and his commander's deaths spread around the world. It received positive reactions from those who feared them and had been harmed by them. Fear spread throughout the territories that had been protected by this powerful crew. But those who suffered the most were the small family who had raised and watched these brothers grow up in Foosha.
Holding the newspaper in your hands, you read and reread the news. Just like everyone else in the crew, you wanted to be by his side. You could feel where he was. The sea whispered it to you, and you were impulsive. You never measured your actions. You never said enough to yourself. So you stole a small boat on that desolate island where you had ended up after their separation in Sabaody.
You let the sea guide you without a log pose, leading you to your captain. After a few days, you ignored the new newspaper announcing that Luffy had returned to the scene of the tragedy. Two years. You would all be reunited in two years. But you couldn't not go to his side.
You wanted to give him something to hold on to. Something that would give him calm and strength while everyone waited for their reunion.
The sea beasts cleared your path and escorted you somewhere. It took you three days to reach a jungle island. You got off your boat, nervously smoothing your white shirt. You trusted the sea. It wouldn't be wrong. But if Luffy was in this place, how would you get to him without being killed by one of those beasts growling in the distance? Sanji had taught you a few kicks, and your captain a few punches, but you were still weak.
This island was covered in vegetation. The trees stood proudly, as tall as if they were competing with each other to be the first to reach the sunlight. The plants with strange leaves were striking, to the point that something in your mind told you not to touch them. And in the distance, threatening to erupt, you could see three volcanoes.
You entered the jungle, startled by the sound of quick, heavy footsteps running towards you. You looked to your side and your scream echoed through the trees.
A larger-than-normal tiger was approaching you, baring fangs as long as your arm. You froze in fear, falling to the grass as you closed your eyes when it lunged to bite.
"Young lady? I don't know how you got here, but this is no place for beautiful girls."
You opened your eyes when death did not come, and instead there was an elderly man adjusting his glasses in front of you, smiling sideways. The tiger lay between you both, unconscious.
"Old man Rayleigh! Where are you?"
The speed with which you stood up impressed the man in front of you, whose name was Rayleigh. Rayleigh? You looked at him again. He closed his eyes, a gentle smile on his face, crossing his arms. You had read about him. You had read everything about the pirate king and his crew.
"Huh? Y/N?" You looked behind the dark king and there he was. Your captain, completely bandaged, looking at you in surprise. "Y/N!"
His movements were, all in all, normal. He didn't use his powers as he ran towards you and wrapped you in his arms. He seemed to be careful with his body, and he certainly needed to be.
"What are you doing here? How did you get here? How are the others? We were supposed to meet in two years!" His excited voice as he pulled your body close to his using what little strength he had devastated you.
You hugged him back, careful not to disturb any areas where the injury was more severe. You felt a slight tremor in his body as he asked a thousand questions, not giving you time to answer.
Rayleigh watched the two of you thoughtfully, Jinbe joining him at his side, having felt a sudden calling.
"I came by boat." You whispered.
"The little boat? That's dangerous." Said Luffy.
"Young lady, you crossed the Calm Belt and overcame all those sea beasts in a simple boat? You must be very strong." Rayleigh inquired.
"It's not that." Jinbe wanted to say, but the words reached no one but you in your mind.
Your eyes quickly found him, and he smiled at you.
"Oi, Y/N, Y/N, are you going to stay?" Luffy asked with a huge smile, capturing your full attention.
"No. I'd be interrupting whatever is going on here."
"You need to train, you're still weak." He teased.
"I'm not!" You complained.
But you were. The right-hand man of the Pirate King and the first son of the sea smiled amusedly. One, knowing the whole story. And the other, having grown up with a legend.
The sun and the sea belonged to each other. And the sun and the sea were unknowingly facing each other.
"If you don't mind, I have a proposal for you, miss Y/N." Said the gyojin.
Luffy and you stopped arguing and looked at him.
"I would like to train you in gyojin karate."
"Gyojin karate? I'm bad with my fists." You muttered, embarrassed.
"That would be great, Jinbe!" Said Luffy, picking his nose. "But doesn't it only work with gyojin? Will she turn into a mermaid?"
"She'll make it work better than anyone else." Said Rayleigh, walking towards a campfire. "I'll give you a month to talk and for Luffy to recover. Then you'll leave with Jinbe. Is that alright with both of you?"
Luffy nodded, dragging you by the hand towards the campfire.
In a month, he and you grew closer. You discovered all kinds of beetles, a hobby of his that you loved. You made them fight, betting on which one would win, groaning in frustration when you lost. You could never beat him when he had the advantage of knowledge over you.
You fought over the food Rayleigh hunted, receiving teasing from the adult who quickly grew fond of you. In his eyes, you were a sweet girl who needed to bring out that hidden strength. Jinbe only scolded Luffy when he bit your hand before you could take some meat.
It caught your attention how in the mornings your captain was a cheerful boy, giving a huge smile to anyone, but at night he would break down. You slept separately. Rayleigh used to cover him with his cape, and Jinbe covered you with his. But when no one was looking, when they went to the island's shore to talk in private, Luffy would move.
He sought refuge in your arms. He didn't ask for permission. He didn't ask questions. He didn't speak. All you felt were his bandaged arms wrapped around your waist and his face against your chest. If tears wet your shirt and silent sobs shook his body, you said nothing. You stroked his hair silently until he fell asleep, and only after making sure he was, did you sleep yourself.
It was the morning after a nightmare woke him up that you made your decision.
You had done this three or four times in your life. You weren't sure you could do it, but that was the only reason you had visited Rusukaina.
On the shore, you took off your sandals and put your feet in the water. The weakness of seawater, which must bother all users of the devil's fruit, never bothered you. When they said it was an anomaly, this was why.
You stretched your hand out over the water and it rose just ten centimetres. You clenched it into a fist and opened it again. Fifteen centimetres. You closed it again and the water fell, splashing as it formed a puddle. A puddle in the sea. The water was mirrored, confirming your success.
"How can you be there if you ate a devil fruit?"
You looked up, frightened.
Luffy looked at you confused, his head tilted to one side and his lips pursed.
"You didn't eat one then?"
"Luffy..."
"I saw you lift the water."
"It must have been your imagination." You said, smiling nervously.
"No. Earlier on the Sunny Go, I saw you attract the fish. I thought it was Camie, but Camie doesn't eat her friends."
You remained silent.
"It must be great to be able to swim with a devil fruit!" He laughed as he approached you. "What were you doing with the water? Something like fium and splash!"
You scratched the back of your neck while the bandaged boy moved his hands in exaggerated movements. That was just how he was. And you were becoming more attached to him than usual. The way he explained things with the sounds they made made you smile.
"If I tell you, it will be a secret between us."
"Are you going to show me your treasure?" He asked, his eyes sparkling.
"Something like that."
You took his hand, pulling him close to you. You both looked out at the puddle in the sea, so much like a mirror.
With the end of the month and the promise to meet again in two years, you parted ways. The truth about your devil fruit was kept by your captain, who smiled happily at learning more about you. Happy at how little by little you were opening up to them. To him.
He begged you for different tricks with water, bursting into laughter when the sea water weakened him. He understood why Jinbe had to be the one to train you, eager to know how strong you would be in two years. He was saddened when, at night, he no longer had your warmth by his side and your caresses on his hair to soothe his pain and trauma.
But he took refuge in your gift.
That puddle you had created in the sea was trapped in a seashell. You had taught him how to take the enchanted water out and put it back in, with no limit on its use.
He believed it was the best thing in the world after his hat, his brothers, and his crew.
His lonely nights were filled with laughter by the sea. Laughter that had previously only existed in his memories, but which he could now hear and see. The puddle formed mirages, reflecting his memories.
He saw Ace. He saw Sabo. He saw the three of them running through Mount Colubo. Hunting, playing, fighting. He cried at everything he witnessed. Just hearing his brothers being happy, Sabo counting the points in their training sessions, Ace teasing him for being weak, his taunts at seeing his older brother embarrassed when receiving compliments from Makino. It all made his heart ache.
The two years passed more quickly than the crew had expected. The strength they had all gained, their new skills and their new appearances were something to be appreciated.
Your training with Jinbe on a remote island in order to hide your identity had been laborious. You were good at gyojin karate. Your devil fruit responded to you with ease now. You could defend yourself and attack without relying on others, but the adult had told you that you still had a long way to go. The Hito Hito no Mi would not stop there. You still had to awaken it. You still had to learn more with it, without limiting yourself. You could do anything you could imagine with enough determination.
You smiled amusedly when you saw Nami sitting at the bar, drinking alone. You approached her from behind, hugging her and whispering in her ear.
"Are you free tonight?"
The woman, now with long hair, shuddered when she recognised the voice and turned around with a smile.
"Y/N!" Her arms wrapped around you in a big hug. "It's been so long! You look amazing!"
"You look beautiful, Nami." You said, sitting down next to her with a smile.
"Ladies, would you like me to buy you a drink?"
You both turned towards the voice with disinterest, your expressions instantly changing when you recognised it. Usopp was smiling, looking more confident than ever. Nami and you rushed to hug him, starting to talk about everything the three of you had done in those two years. You talked a little about your training, saying that you were now good at karate, proud of your attacks.
As the minutes passed, you met up with the others again.
The Sunny Go was still in the same place you left it, without a single scratch. Seeing most of the crew filled your heart with joy. Those people who had welcomed you with open arms two years ago were finally in front of you again.
Franky whistled and complimented the beautiful women in front of him. His appearance had changed a lot since the past, but he was approached by Usopp, who looked at him excitedly and asked all sorts of questions. Chopper, wearing a new hat and looking cuter than ever, jumped around and hugged Robin excitedly. He had missed everyone dearly. Robin, more beautiful than ever with her long hair, talked about her days with the Revolutionary Army.
Everyone looked healthy, but above all, they looked happy. Happy to be back where they belonged.
But someone was missing.
And just thinking about seeing him again made your heart race wildly inside your chest, wanting to escape.
"I can't wait to see how much Luffy has changed since last time!" Usopp exclaimed with a smile from ear to ear. "I'm so excited to see him!"
"Me too." Said Robin.
You nodded silently, smiling fondly. When the assumption was made that he might have gotten himself into trouble, Chopper offered to go find the three remaining members. The moment the little one left, an irreplaceable presence fell from above.
Brook had left behind his life as a world-renowned musician to return to his beloved friends. They all welcomed him with smiles.
"And I thought you couldn't get any more beautiful…" Commented the skeleton, looking at the three women. "Well… Two years have passed."
He sat down on a barrel and a few strings of his guitar resonated in the air.
"Would you all be so kind and show me your panties?"
"No way!"
Nami kicked him away, while Robin and you laughed.
"Oi! Guys!"
You looked up just as his voice reached your ears. Your big smile matched those of the others, but the sparkle in your eyes hid the longing in your heart, those feelings that had blossomed when you spent a month together, completely alone, sleeping in each other's arms every night. Those feelings you tried to fight, repeating in your mind like a mantra that they would pass if you didn't see him, breaking down when you dreamed of his smile or when you thought of his reaction to seeing you again.
You stayed behind the others with a sudden blush on your cheeks.
You had never seen him without his multiple bandages. And now there he was, stepping onto the deck of the Sunny Go while greeting everyone, wearing an open red shirt that revealed that huge scar.
Luffy had gained muscle. He looked stronger. More confident. And yet, you could see that he was the same as always, that his strength and confidence were centred on the people around him.
The rubber boy looked for you, smiling when he saw you.
Neither of you spoke, at least not out loud, pretending that nothing had happened between you.
The journey to Fishman Island had been quite an adventure. Seeing the underwater world left you speechless. Holding onto the railing, you admired the different schools of fish that surrounded the ship from time to time, circling twice before swimming away. You wanted to reach out and feel them against your skin, but that would have exposed you. The sea water did not weaken you, and the crew knew you had an “unused” devil fruit.
"I think they're greeting you." You looked to your side, to that warm presence.
Luffy was looking at a school of pink fish that had come up to your face to look at you from the other side of the bubble.
"Yes?" You said, amused.
"We could eat them."
"Don't even think about it." You scolded him.
"But you're not a mermaid!"
"But they talk to me. They're friends."
"Friends aren't for eating." He muttered, pressing his lips together.
You giggled admiringly at the little pout he made as his stomach growled. That soft sound from you disturbed the sea animals around the Sunny Go, who were happily swirling around.
"Are there always so many fish? How cool!" Said Usopp, standing next to you.
You snuggled up to Luffy a little, pretending not to know anything. Luffy moved his mouth into a pout to one side, also pretending not to know.
"You're bad at lying." You whispered.
"I'm not." He whispered back.
You laughed, leaving him with Usopp.
Fishman Island was a dreamlike place. Your devil fruit seemed comfortable there, and the mermaids and gyojin looked at you excitedly.
The powerful goddess of the sea, Naia, stood before them.
The legend told for generations spoke of how she was always accompanied by a man. A clingy man who never left her side. A playful man who always made her laugh. A selfish man who never refrained from looking at her with love and wanting her for himself.
That man was the sun god.
They said that when they separated, the goddess cried so much that her tears disturbed the sea. The catastrophe caused by the forced breakup of their love made her sleep for centuries. And at some point, when the sun rose again, she would wake up.
Mothers and children never stopped talking about how they, the inhabitants of Fishman Island, would be the first to recognise her. After all, Naia was a kind of mother to that race.
Everyone wondered who the man accompanying you would be.
Nami and Robin watched amused as the little mermen, mermaids, and gyojin children clung to you shamelessly, asking you to play with them. You had no idea how to refuse. Throughout the banquet, you were here and there, performing water tricks hidden from your crew, entertaining the little ones who were excited by the slightest thing you did.
Jinbe, happy to see your progress and how you were doing in the water, smiled as he drank his sake.
Everyone was having a good time. Everyone except for a rubber boy who occasionally remembered that you weren't by his side and, capriciously, pouted. He calmed down again when they gave him meat, enjoying the party.
You sat down next to him, exhausted. You didn't know what other tricks to do for those children. You took a sip of sake, on the verge of spitting it out when another gyojin child came up in front of you.
"Oi, kids, she's mine for now." Said Luffy, frowning and taking a bite of meat.
You blushed, trying to drink the sake faster. Robin raised an eyebrow at his words, giving the orange-haired woman beside her an inquiring look. They both knew how possessive the rubber boy could be. His hat and his friends were equally important to him. But that phrase… That tone was different.
The impact his words could have on one's life or day was foreign to Luffy. Noticing that what he unconsciously said brought a revolution was not something he cared about.
He continued as if nothing had happened.
And so, his normal behaviour over the following days came as no surprise to anyone. The navigator and the archaeologist watched you both closely, knowing that there was something else going on between you.
Even though your captain sat next to you at breakfast, fighting with you over the portions you hadn't eaten yet (something he would do with anyone), there was something strange about it. The natural way you would slap his hand and growl at him. The way he would bite your hand hard, making you cry out. They did not remember the two of you being so close before Sabaody, two years ago.
You had not had time to develop such a friendship.
And it did not seem like a simple friendship.
One night, when you hadn't yet come to your room to sleep with them, they talked.
"Seriously, if those two are a couple and they didn't tell us..." Whispered Nami.
"I don't think they are. In fact, I think that's where they're headed." Robin refuted.
"If Luffy feels something for her, he won't notice." Growled the navigator, burying her face in her pillow.
The black-haired woman smiled as she sat on her own bed.
"We just have to give them time." She murmured.
"We have to keep an eye on them."
"Without interfering." Robin concluded.
Island after island you visited in the future, day after day that passed, both women decided to give you privacy, paying attention only during dinners. As if reviewing the day, looking for some sign of progress.
It was amid the heat of the flames and the volcanoes about to erupt in Punk Hazard that Robin noticed the first detail: Luffy talked to you like he didn't talk to anyone else.
The heat was unbearable, you could barely stand that kind of hell, ignoring that your captain now looked like a centaur and shouted excitedly that he liked having four legs. If you looked closer, you noticed that the ones at the back, which had just been attached, were barely working. They flew through the air because Luffy's legs did all the work.
You wiped the sweat from your forehead for the fourth time when the smiling boy approached you. He leaned over to you, whispering in your ear.
"Why don't you make something like a sphere of water and hydrate yourself?"
"I can't. There's no source of water nearby." You whispered.
"Your sweat."
You parted your lips, not believing what he had said. Use your sweat? And why was he looking at you like that? With his brow slightly furrowed, as if he had said the most serious, intelligent and obvious thing in the world. You smiled amusedly, patting his shoulder.
Robin noticed it again when all of you arrived on the other side of the lake, where the island became wintry. The small group was shivering from the cold, freezing after falling into the water. The archaeologist sighed as she felt her body warm up, turning to check that everyone was okay, raising her eyebrows briefly in surprise.
Her captain was wrapping a coat around your body, as if it were a practised movement. Neither of you knew that Luffy had actually watched others do this and wanted to try it himself.
Because that's what people who loved someone else did, right? Give them a coat so they would never be cold. Rayleigh had done it for him when they trained together. Hancock had lent him hers to get to Sabaody.
In his mind, if you cared about someone, you should give them a coat.
Although he knew very well why he only wanted to give it to you.
During the banquet, when you walked away to comfort Chopper, who was frightened by Trafalgar Law, the two women sat down to exchange information. Nami hadn't seen anything unusual, so she was surprised to hear about her captain's actions towards you.
The navigator became frustrated when she couldn't stay in Dressrosa, feeling like she was missing out on everything. Robin promised to keep her informed when they met again.
And so she did.
You had signed up with him for the coliseum tournament, wearing one of the many gladiator outfits. Luckily, you had been placed in a different block from Luffy, saving you from a difficult fate. It wasn't time for your competition yet when Zoro came looking for the two of you.
The urgency with which you began searching for the exit made you anxious. Outside, it would soon be chaos, but the thought of Luffy abandoning one of the few physical reminders he had of his brother made your heart ache. You wished you could get it for him, but he had forbidden you to do so. If he left, you would go with him.
You stopped in your tracks for a few seconds when you realised there was nowhere to escape. Encountering Bartolomeo and Bellamy only confirmed your suspicions. It was all a trap and you were trapped in the coliseum, only he knew the way out.
"Luffy senpai, what will happen to the Mera Mera no Mi?" Asked the green-haired man, staring at the wall.
"The lives of my comrades are more important."
You bit your lower lip. A physical reminder of Ace that he couldn't have. A physical reminder that would give him a glimpse of his time in the world, something that would show him that he was there. You could stay in the coliseum without any problems. Win it, take it away in its chest, keep it safe, and run away with it until you could give it to Luffy...
Luffy tugged on your little finger without looking at you to pull you out of your thoughts. Bartolomeo talked non-stop, still facing the wall, about how he had always planned to win it for him. Because he admired him. He admired the whole crew and would do anything for any of you, but especially for the young man next to you.
You turned to look back when approaching footsteps interrupted you. You frowned at the man. He was dressed like a noble would be. And he wore a custom hat.
"I won't let you keep the Mera Mera no Mi, Straw Hat Luffy."
"What are you talking about, idiot?" Bartolomeo growled, walking towards him. "I don't know who you think you are, but to you he is Luffy senpai. Respect him!"
The green-haired man continued talking, trying to intimidate him, but that man was not fazed. He was calm, not taking his eyes off the boy you loved. You began to frown.
"I've known all that for a long time." Said the man, pushing Bartolomeo away.
You stood in front of Luffy, trying to protect him when he started to approach. Your right hand took a familiar gyojin karate stance, and something in the blond's gaze seemed to sparkle in recognition. The rubber boy stood in front of you again, hating that you were protecting him.
But what happened next was something neither of you were prepared for. You stepped aside, your lower lip trembling, unable to interrupt them.
You could only watch your rubber boy crying as he hugged him. His sobs were loud, letting out more than he had allowed himself to do at your side. He apologised. He repeated to the blond that everything was fine and that he shouldn't apologise. The older one thanked him for staying alive.
And you were broken, thanking whoever for this joy in his life.
Living two years of his life believing that he had lost his two older brothers must have been the greatest torture.
In Zou, despite the situation they had to face in Big Mom's territory, Nami and Robin made a space for themselves.
"So, his brother is the second in command of the Revolutionary Army?" The navigator whispered.
Robin nodded. She had kept that secret for two years.
"Sabo noticed something too."
"What?"
"I don't know what happened between the three of them, but when Luffy and Y/N were sleeping after the battle..."
"Separately?" Whispered Nami.
"Yes and no. Luffy was in bed and Y/N was holding his hand, sitting on the floor."
The navigator nodded thoughtfully, waiting for her to continue.
"Sabo said he liked his little brother's girlfriend."
Nami's eyes widened in surprise.
As if Zoro and Franky hadn't heard the revolutionary's conversation too. Now you had two more pairs of eyes watching you from afar.
As night fell, you yawned relaxed in bed. You couldn't be at peace for long. Your stomach churned at the thought of Luffy going to the territory of a yonko without you. It calmed you to think that the friends he was going with were good and trustworthy. Bringing Sanji back was essential.
You couldn't imagine your days without him in the kitchen, occupying every corner and filling the room with his twists and compliments.
The blanket was lifted carefully and arms wrapped around your waist.
"Luffy?" You whispered.
"Mhm."
Your heart skipped a beat. Should you put one hand on his hair and the other on his back like you used to? Should you tell him to go back to his room? To his bed? And not feel his warmth. Not feel his heartbeat. Not comfort him in silence. Since you saw each other again, you hadn't slept together.
"Y/N?" He whispered, resting his chin on your chest. "You must stroke my hair."
His demanding tone, trapped in a pout, made you giggle. He relaxed under your touch. He hadn’t wanted to bother you when you saw each other again, but he had missed this. Your fingers in his hair, the gentle circles traced on his back, waking up without you leaving him.
You had stolen his heart in a month, and he wasn't doing anything about it.
"Sorry." He murmured, his cheek resting on your chest. His tone didn't seem to regret whatever he was regretting in the slightest.
"Why are you apologising?"
"I gave Sabo your gift. The seashell." He whispered without looking at you. "I thought he would need it more than I did."
You smiled, resisting the urge to kiss his forehead.
"It’s okay. I can make you another one if you want."
Luffy didn't say what he was thinking. He knew you would make those magical pools for him if he asked, without needing a seashell. Next time, he wanted to show you everything he had to show.
But that would have to wait.
Wano was unlike anything you had ever seen before.
The suffering of the people in this village made your blood boil. Poor people had nothing to eat, and their water was contaminated. Seeing them live dehydrated, with sick children and rumbling stomachs, pushed you to your limit.
Hiding your identity would be difficult in this country. They needed you, so you allowed yourself to do something in secret. The gentle touch of your hands began to purify the water of the river of Ebisu, the pollution seeping into your bones. You didn't mention it to anyone, it was an experiment. You wanted to know your limits.
The flowing water was clean, perfect for the children, elderly and adults in the area. It was the little you could do while enduring the pollution. You had to find a way to expel it from within you without causing havoc. Throwing it away and contaminating plants, the land for future crops or the sea itself disgusted you.
But maybe, enduring it was your mistake.
Perhaps if you had gone against your principles and stopped trusting Luffy's words, those that promised to save this country, you would not be suffering now. But it was impossible for you not to do so. It was impossible for you not to trust him. You knew he would succeed, because he never lied. He worked hard for what he set out to do.
He was like sunshine in the lives of those who knew him.
You tolerated the contamination in your bones during the battles in Onigashima, but weeks had passed since you received it and your body began to take its toll at the worst possible moment.
You could only hear Nami and Usopp's screams when you stood in front of them. The three of you had a little girl with you. Otama was Luffy's adoration, and putting her in danger was something you would never forgive yourself for. The powers of your devil fruit did not respond in time to counter the threatening attack of the yonko Big Mom, an attack that was aimed at your friends.
The "heavenly fire" struck your body, its impact propelling it and slamming it against the walls. That homie, Prometheus, pushed your body wall to wall, breaking them one by one as if he were on a mission. As if he wanted to kill someone from the straw hat crew.
You spat out a little blood when the fire became more intense. It was burning your torso and arms. If you moved your fingers slightly, you didn't have the strength to call on the sea water, nor to send Prometheus backwards.
A song reached your ears. You opened your eyes slightly, meeting the gaze of the homie, so threatening and sinister. You smiled slightly, knowing you would be safe.
That soft intonation, almost as if a mother were tucking her beloved child into bed, could not be heard by anyone else present on Onigashima. Naia's song was exclusively for you, only heard on special occasions. The first time you heard it, you consumed her fruit. And this time, everything was a mystery.
"Y/N!"
Was that cry from Usopp or Nami? You couldn't see them. You could only watch Prometheus rage at your smile.
A gasp escaped from within you as the force of his attack tripled. The other homies joined him, Hera and Napoleon, carrying you through the hard rock wall.
A beep stunned your ears.
Your body fell from a height impossible to calculate. The abyss drew you into its darkness, and you could do nothing but embrace it.
The severity of your injuries left you with no strength to scream. To call for help. To call out to anyone.
Luffy, your friends, the people of Wano who trusted you. Was this your end? Was this Naia's will, for which you had been expelled from your native island? Did you really have to die like this?
The water engulfed you as you hit hard, sinking you to the depths.
"Announcement to all of Onigashima!"
Bao Huang's shout echoed in every corner. The fighting didn't stop, but everyone was paying attention. Something had changed.
"A member of the straw hat crew has been defeated!"
Usopp growled, wiping away his tears in despair. He felt useless. He should have taken the attack, not let you cover him. He couldn't do anything because of the fear. He couldn't do anything to stop you from falling. Nami hugged Otama, sobbing hard, apologising to Luffy over and over again even though her captain wasn't in front of them. How could she explain to him that she let the woman he loved be killed right in front of his eyes? Everyone's friend? Another straw hat.
"Y/N has been killed by Big Mom-sama!"
At different points on Onigashima, the crew was moved. Different reactions crossed their faces. Anger, sadness, regret. Some, like Chopper and Brook, shouted through their tears that you couldn't have died. That Bao Huang was lying. Others, like Zoro and Sanji, silently continued to fight. You were just as stubborn as Luffy, whatever had happened to you, you wouldn't stop there. Jinbe stopped dead in his tracks as Robin hugged Chopper, looking for something to hold on to before her thoughts consumed her mind.
Luffy's heart scratched at his chest as he was forced to hold back.
He wanted to run to the edge of the terrace. He wanted to look down. He felt the need for his longing to become one with the sea despite his inability to swim. And he felt you. The soft beating of your heart, how weak your pulse was, and how calm the waves were. Could you drown if you were the sea itself? Could your wounds condemn your soul to an irreversible fate?
He clenched his fists, unflinching. One mistake, one moment of weakness, would end everyone's life.
For some strange reason, the news from Bao Huang did not affect him like it did the others, who were crying incessantly.
Luffy trusted you, even when his observation haki could no longer sense your heartbeat.
You had spent a month together. You had slept together. You had shared and fought over food. You had cared for his mind and his nightmares without him asking. You had listened to his whole story and his dreams, while opening up about yours only to him. You had been one of the reasons he was standing there today, fighting.
He trusted you. He trusted that you would be okay.
If your origin was the sea, then you would return to it. And the sea would do its thing to bring you back.
Because you belonged by his side, in a silent agreement that neither of you would break.
In the depths, hundreds of fish and sea creatures surrounded your lifeless body, giving you space, shy to be near their goddess. Your outstretched arms allowed them to see you. The burns on your torso and neck continued to bleed, despite the water's attempts to soothe them. The pollution tolerated for weeks drained away little by little, oozing from your body until it gathered into a sphere.
"Nika, you've got yours!"
"Oi, Luffy! That's my food!"
The voices, clearly reproachful, echoed among those present under the sea.
"Naia! Come jump!"
"Y/N, let's play something!"
A heartbeat.
"Nika, stop moving, you're annoying."
"Luffy, I can't sleep if you move around so much. Go to your bed."
Another heartbeat.
"Naia is mean."
"Y/N is mean, she wouldn't let me eat her food."
Fire ravaged Onigashima. Everyone began to gather in one place, desperately searching for a solution. The captain of the straw hat pirates continued to fight Kaido, filling the atmosphere with anxiety. No member of the alliance wanted to hear any more bad news.
"Even if Straw Hat-ya wins, we'll all die in the fire." Said the captain of the heart pirates. "We have to find a way to put it out."
Nami took a few steps towards the centre, standing next to Marco as some surfaces began to give way.
The sudden tremor in the floor frightened everyone. Several fell to the floor, breathing heavily amid the flames and two powerful presences fighting on the terrace. The navigator held Otama tightly in front of her.
"An earthquake? How is that possible up here?" She said, confused.
"This isn't normal. Something's happening." Robin drew some minks towards the centre with her powers.
"Is Straw Hat provoking it?" Kid growled.
"No..." Law said. "He's still fighting Kaido."
"I sense another presence-yoi."
"It’s not Luffy or Kaido? What’s going on? Robin!" Chopper hugged the archaeologist, crying.
"There’s something in the sea!"
The scream of one of the beast pirates alarmed their opponents, with Law being the first to look into the hole you had made in the wall before dying. His crew had been on the Polar Tang at the moment you fell, but according to their reports, it was impossible to reach your body. A blue sphere surrounded you and the sea beasts threatened to attack them. They could have killed his friends, but something was holding them back. The waves battered his submarine, sending it away every time it approached where you were supposed to be.
One by one, they took clumsy steps to look through the hole, at a considerable distance, afraid of falling. Most of the straw hats did not want to see what was left after your death. The pain in their hearts could not be revealed, and their tears could not be shed. Not until it was all over.
The waves crashed into each other with fury, their directions unnatural. Not even the weather in the New World could explain something like that. Nami left Otama next to a sleeping Zoro, holding onto the wall to get a closer look.
"The water is receding." She whispered. "Everyone, stay in the centre!"
"Oi, oi, Nami, the waves can't reach up here, why are you worried?" Asked Usopp.
"Because of that thing that's taking shape."
The metres receded by the sea rose up in a wave. A wave almost two thousand metres high, immovable. And in its centre, there was a figure. A woman created from water, rivalling a giant in size.
"We won't get out of here alive." Cried Usopp.
"Robin-chan, Nami-swan, I'll protect you."
"Sanji! Me too!" Chopper whimpered.
"She looks like..." Law whispered.
"That's Y/N!" Jinbe shouted.
The entire crew's eyes widened before they began screaming and crying.
"Monster!" Usopp exclaimed upon seeing the figure.
"What is that thing, it's scary!" Nami cried.
"Y/N-chan had that kind of power all along?" Sanji shouted, leaning further out of the hole.
"I'm glad she's alive, yohoho!"
"It's a super miracle!" Franky sobbed.
"What a peculiar shape..." Robin murmured thoughtfully. "Do you know anything about it, Jinbe-san?"
The gyojin smiled broadly.
Naia had returned.
"I would recommend everyone stand in the centre and hold each other. Y/N is going to do something."
You cupped the water in your hands. Just as you had practised for two years, you had no reason to be nervous. Your body felt healthy and light as you became the sea itself. The burns would still be there once you broke this form, but now it was enough. Jinbe had trained you relentlessly so that you could achieve his hikishio ipponzeoi.
You prepared your attack and, without hesitation, half the sea was thrown towards Onigashima.
The flood was unprecedented.
The fire was completely extinguished. The devil fruit users weakened. The few gyojin who were there saved everyone from being swept away by the waves. Nami carried Otama, Usopp saved Robin, Sanji held Zoro, Franky grabbed Brook, and Jinbe put Chopper on his shoulder. Everyone in the crew smiled as they looked out to sea, where your figure stood in all its grandeur and splendour. To say they were surprised would be an understatement. They had so much to ask you. Two wanted to apologise for everything you had been through. A certain swordsman would seek you out to train when he woke up and heard the news. The archaeologist wanted to know everything about your devil fruit and its rarity.
You were something that transcended the unnatural.
"Shishishi!"
You looked up at the island's roof. Luffy, in a strange white form, floated in the air, reclining with his arms behind his head. His beautiful pink eyes looked at you fondly. And amid all that radiant happiness, you could see tears threatening to escape.
"Thank you for coming back, Y/N."
The land of Wano made headlines worldwide. The bounty posters were updated. The crew now belonged to a yonko, straw hat Luffy.
It made you happy to see how he was getting closer and closer to fulfilling his dream. And, in turn, how you were now one of the members with the highest bounty.
You held the poster in front of your face, grimacing from time to time as you felt Chopper's hooves on your burns, applying an ointment that he claimed was excellent. You would be left with scars on your neck and chest, but you couldn't dream of leaving that country without a scratch. You didn't regret defending your friends.
Although Nami and Usopp never left your side, the sniper crying and hugging you every time you passed by him, and the navigator offering you berries (something she wouldn't normally do with anyone) and multiple strokes on your hair.
You paid attention to your photo on the poster. It was you, from head to toe, every little detail, every tiny imperfection, but all loved by the sea. The sea goddess you had awakened had been captured and everyone admired her. For some she was terrifying, for others magical.
You smiled dumbly. You couldn't always use such a powerful attack, but being immortalised like this was nice. You traced the numbers with your index finger, curious about the insane sum.
Why was your head suddenly worth 1,000,000,000 berries? You had only died, come back to life, and extinguished the fire on Onigashima. Perhaps you had also purified all the water in Wano, and Trafalgar Law had used his devil fruit to remove the pollution from inside you. But that was not something others could know.
You never got a straight answer to that.
Egghead was about to be a disaster. CP0 was on the island with clear instructions. Your boots echoed on the floor as you stepped aside to wait for Luffy. You were supposed to take him back to Labophase, but he was more interested in facing an old enemy he had encountered again.
You looked up, entranced. His Gear 5 was mind-blowing. Everything he could do with his devil fruit, the ease with which his brain came up with new ideas, it all made you laugh. Not to mention the floor, which now made you bounce.
Vegapunk hurried over to the monitors.
"Have the white and blue warriors appeared yet?" He asked, his eyes shining as he caught sight of Luffy laughing. "Tell me about those transformations. The white one from Straw Hat and the young girl on her wanted poster."
"We don't know, to be honest." Said Nami. "Luffy's is the Gomu Gomu no Mi, but Y/N's is unknown to us."
The scientist pressed his lips together, holding back a smile.
"There is no fruit with that name in the devil fruit encyclopaedia!"
The crew gasped, unable to comprehend.
"What? That's impossible!" Exclaimed the navigator.
"Luffy always says gomu gomu when he attacks." Added Usopp.
"Look how beautiful he is! I'm sure she is too!" Rambled Vegapunk, raising his hands. "It's fate! I didn't expect to meet them like this."
"If you know anything, tell us. Y/N-chan doesn't talk much about herself." Sanji requested.
"What happened to those two?" Franky asked, approaching the screen to look at the two of you.
Luffy was still floating there laughing, and you looked at him with a sparkle in your eyes.
"They look like gods."
The cook choked on his own words, unable to believe it.
"Luffy a god? He's an idiot!" He shouted. "Y/N-chan is a goddess, that's true."
Robin looked at Vegapunk in surprise.
"Are you saying that those appearances we saw are those of gods?"
"Yes." Said the scientist, his expression turning serious. "The warrior of liberation. He who plays the fool and brings smiles to all. The sun god, Nika!"
The few crew members present were surprised. The answers that no one else could give them were in the brain of this man who stared at the screen excitedly. Eager to talk. Eager to educate the world.
"And the goddess he loves, the one capable of punishing everyone for him. The goddess of the sea, Naia."
Nami shook her head, approaching Vegapunk.
"Nika and Naia? I've never heard those names."
"Of course not. Their names were erased from history." The scientist said abruptly. "Nika and Naia were inseparable."
The revealed legend left them speechless. In the end, the archaeologist was right.
It was best not to interfere.
The sun god felt a deep longing for the sea. Seeing it every day made him feel free, and he wanted to reach it more than anything else. Then, one day, he met its goddess. He thought she would help him help. If he could make people laugh, then she could give them freedom.
Naia was closed off, only willing to care for those she loved: the gyojin, the mermaids, the mermen. Opening the doors of her heart to let Nika in went against her principles. He knew how to make her laugh effortlessly with a joke or a silly expression. He fought with her over food, hitting him every time he wanted to eat a fish. He invited her to have fun jumping with his friends. He asked her to do water tricks for him.
Falling in love with each other was natural. Nika always admired her foolishly, his gaze never leaving her. He loved her loudly with his actions. He loved her silently with his words.
Naia always looked up, because he loved to float. He shone in a way that only he could. Her love was protective, ensuring that he never lost his smile. That he never shed a single tear.
For him, she was freedom. And for her, he was.
Someone feared their powers together, the ease with which people became attached to and trusted them, asking them for things they could give them. So, under false pretences, he murdered the sun god.
The two lovers agreed to meet again when destiny required it. When the time came. First, Nika would return, accompanied by a man who shared his ideals of freedom. Then, Naia would notice him. Her living love.
That devil fruit that had eluded the world government for centuries, and that devil fruit that was believed to be non-existent, would wait to be reincarnated.
Nika would choose who would bring a new dawn to the world, and Naia would take into her sweet arms the one who would support him on his journey. A mystical love, a destined love. Unconsciously, their successors would love each other just as they had.
Because their souls resonated. Their souls yearned for each other. Their souls waited.
And that statue that had been looking —alone, hidden from everyone with its arms outstretched— at the sun for centuries, would finally be able to feel his skin under her fingers once again.
this is an obvious one, but when sanji falls, he falls hard, no matter who he's with. now when it comes to you, the first person he has experienced genuine true love AND who also reciprocated his feelings, sanji is all in. the way that he is passionately devoted to you from day one is something that not even robin or nami have ever seen. sanji loves so genuinely and purely, and the utter care he gives to your relationship is proof of that.
you fall first, but zoro falls harder.
who wouldn’t fall for roronoa zoro? the way that he works out on the deck, all sweaty and chiseled. not to mention how soft and kind he can be when he wants to. it was inevitable you ended up with a crush on him. when zoro realizes he reciprocates these feelings, you open his eyes to an emotion that has evaded him his whole life. he becomes softer, more eager to let loose and enjoy life, knowing he has you by his side.
when it comes to luffy, you fall first and then fall equally as hard.
luffy is irresistible. his pure heart and the happiness he brings to others drive you completely insane; you were bound to fall in love. like zoro, luffy is unfamiliar with the feeling of love and has trouble understanding it when it comes to you. but like any adventure, luffy is always ready to trek the unknown. and as unpredictable as he is, love with luffy is a never-ending surprise.
usopp falls first and harder.
to be frank, love with usopp is riddled with insecurity and angst. it was a huge surprise to him that you even reciprocated his feelings, so he treads lightly when it comes to your relationship. you see right through usopp’s lies, too, so he’s especially vulnerable with you. the way that you understand and know usopp is so genuine that he can’t help but fall even more in love with you than he already is.
you fall first, but nami falls harder.
nami is reluctant to feel any sort of romantic feelings, so it was difficult to tell if she even liked you back. the beginning stages of your relationship start off slow. she’s not eager to let her walls down, but once you show her loyalty and gentleness, nami starts to let you in. she would never say this, but the vulnerability she feels with you reminds her of bellemere. it makes her so scared, but so eager to jump into it with you.
robin falls first, but you fall harder.
robin may fall first, but she could take that secret to the grave if she chose to. you’ll confess first and reveal an entirely different woman than the one you fell for. her genuine charm and wit are admirable on the average day, but paired with her quirky awkwardness? it’s enough to make you fall head over heels. that’s the best thing about robin: no matter what side of her you get, you can’t help falling in love anyway.
you fall first, but franky falls harder.
franky has undeniable charm and charisma; his silky smooth tongue is enough to have anyone hooked. coupled with his smoking bod, it was inevitable that you would fall for him. now, franky isn’t a man who can be tied down, but if you happen to earn his affection, it feels like his charm is cranked up a hundred notches. franky isn’t quick to love or show any vulnerability, so when he does, it’s unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. the way he speaks to you is as smooth as butter and has you blushing harder than you ever thought possible. he treats you like royalty, with a deep, devoted loyalty that only a special few get to see.
ace falls first and harder.
ace is one of the biggest sluts on the grand line. he gets insane play, but is also fiercely loyal to anyone who has his heart. so once he’s fixated on you, there is nothing in the world that could change his mind. as good of a flirt as he is, ace can become pathetic pretty quick. he’ll ask you on dates and beg for your affection any chance he gets. but once he figures out you like him back? gods wish they could experience that type of devotion. ace would die for those he loves, and his love envelopes you so tightly that it’s impossible to resist.
sabo falls first, but you fall harder.
unfortunately, sabo is another grand line slut. he has crushes often, and they are almost always reciprocated. so when he makes his crush on you known, he expects you to feel the same way. you do, obviously. but you don’t expect how stuck up and conceited he is about it. it’s stupidly charming and makes you want him even more. but the more you get to know him, you realize how deep sabo’s passion and loyalty run.
law falls first and harder.
if it’s not obvious by his devotion to corazon, law is another man encaptured by passion. he loves so deeply that he’s willing to lock it all inside and keep it to himself forever. but it’s pretty obvious to everyone else that he has a huge crush on you. when you reciprocate those feelings, law can feel himself falling for you more and more. especially when you accept all his nerdy quirks that could be seen as off-putting or strange to outsiders. if it’s also not obvious by his crew, law chooses those around him based on how much comfort and emotional support they bring him. when you not only offer that, but a reciprocated emotional connection, he can’t help but fall in love.
you fall first, but kid falls harder.
kid is too sexy not to have a crush on. it seems almost juvenile to have a crush on a man like kid; he’s reckless and basically insane. however, kid’s secret softness topples those ideals. anyone rarely gets to truly experience the love and compassion of eustass kid, but when you do, it solidifies your crush almost instantaneously. and on his side, once kid shows you just how much he cares about you, he is completely aware of his feelings for you. actually, he’s actively trying to deny them to anyone who notices, far too embarrassed to admit how he feels.
shanks falls first, but you fall harder.
shanks falls in love extremely easily. he’s basically an older version of sanji. he flirts, he puts himself out there, he has one-night stands with both men and women all the damn time. it’s difficult to resist shanks’ charm, which you learn very quickly. much like sanji, shanks will be honest about how he feels from the start, but given his reputation, you have a hard time taking him seriously. but once you see past his sleezy, playboy attitude, it’s nearly impossible not to fall in love with him.
you fall first, but corazon falls harder.
given that cora was a high-up executive in the donquixote family who barely acknowledged his own brother, you didn’t think he knew you existed. that being said, when he finally gets you alone and reveals that he can talk, his goofiness allures you even more. cora letting you in is a huge risk to his plan, but when you not only agree to keep his secret, but offer to join him, his heart melts. you learn about his kindness and compassion, and welcome it with open arms in a way he had never known. it was inevitable that he fell head over heels for you.
theartofmadeline
janainaart
vaporwave
kianamaiart
